And the past echoed – Pt. 3
It was only a second after Rose was separated from her parents – now she felt like she was lying on the cold floor.
Slowly opening her eyes, she looked around. All she could see was white walls, a pile of books and people in white costumes that reminded Rose of the ones astronauts usually wear.
"Where am I?" the girl asked, feeling a slight headache and wincing.
"You are in a planet-sized book repository called 'The Library'," one of the group said and turned around, smiling at confused Rose. "Professor River Song explained to us that you are her sister and you will help us with this expedition. My name is Anita, and these are Strackman Lux, 'proper' Dave, 'other' Dave and Miss Evangelista." Anita said, motioning to each person. "You are Rose, yeah?"
"Yeah, Rose Ty- Song. Rose Song." she replied, trying to keep calm. "Anyway, have any of you seen my... sister?"
"Ohh, I'm here, Rose," River sing-sang, entering the room. "I hope you met all of my colleagues. Now, Rose , I need you to promise me that you won't wander off because we're not sure if it's safe here."
"Alright. Do I need to wear a costume like you do?"
"Yes, young lady," Strackman Lux nodded, motioning to the costume that laid near the wall, "and you also need to sign the contract agreeing that your individual experience inside the Library are the intellectual property of our company. Miss Evangelista, please give her the contract."
"Yes, sir," brunette hurried towards Rose, giving her the paper and the pen. After sighing everything, Tyler put on the heavy costume and the helmet.
"Okay, everyone, we can now leave the spaceship but keep close to each other," Strackman announced and people started leaving the ship. Rose walked close to River and quietly asked her, "How come they are so calm about us appearing here out of nowhere?"
"No, they didn't see us appearing – all they saw is me coming into another spaceship and then come out carrying you in my hands. I explained that you are my sister and you are unconscious because you are claustrophobic and to keep you from being nervous and scared the captain of the other ship decided to give you a sleeping pill."
"Em, but what about other ship?"
"The other ship was empty and I opened it with my sonic screwdriver." Song showed her the object she was talking about. "Before you ask – yes, it's Doctor's screwdriver and I know it might look different from the one you last saw. The reason he gave it to me... only he'll be able to explain it to you."
Rose was still confused about lots of things but she tried to keep herself calm, "And why was I unconscious for so long?"
"First time travelling with this bracelet – the same happened to me. Now, I'm surprised you are asking me questions like this – you are about to see the Doctor! Aren't you excited?"
Blonde gulped turning away from River and looking straight. Suddenly her hands began trembling and her breathing hitched. Millions of possibilities – what if he's not here, what if we're late, what if he forgot – and millions of thoughts – how will he react, will he be happy, did he find someone. She was going to see her Doctor – after everything that happened, after all they went through.
"Hey," River took Rose's hand, "don't you worry: Doctor is here – I can feel it – and he will be extremely happy to see you. Everything is going be okay."
Nothing is going to be okay.
"I trust you." Rose suddenly said, taking her friend's hand and intensely looking into River's eyes. "I trust you with my life. It is irrational and wrong on so many levels but I trust you no matter what."
Silence.
"Then, before we meet him, I need to warn you about something: he won't remember me. At all. This is our first meeting – for him, of course – so don't be surprised if he will start questioning you who I am and why do you trust me. Do you understand that?"
"Yes."
"Right then." River smirked, letting go of Rose's hand that she was squeezing so much without realising. "Also, I want to tell you before we meet the Doctor... yes, you can show that you know him but if he asks about me, try to change the conversation because it will get really awkward if you'll call me your sister while, clearly, we've never met before."
"Sure thing, River – you can count on me."
Song smiled, "Oh, I didn't doubt for a second." Then she turned around and announced, "Okay, no one takes off the helmet because we don't know if there is any oxygen."
"Which century is it?" Rose whispered to River.
"Fifty-first." Song answered and then smiled. "Thirty centuries after you were born, and yet people still wear same hair styles and don't fly just by wishing, huh?"
Tyler laughed, "Yeah, and just four years ago I thought that we will be able to do everything just by wishing near the end of thirty's century. Turns out things aren't that exciting."
"I can assure you that most things stayed the same."
"If people still need deodorants, I'm not amused at all."
Both women laughed and continued their way. Right now the group was in the hall, searching for anyone or anything. As they came further, the group found the weird plastic figure that, upon realising someone's presence, turned around and revealed the face of a girl.
"Oh my God, is this face real?" Rose asked, clearly freaked out about some plastic having face of a real person.
"Dear God, where have your sister being the whole time – didn't she read about the place before coming with us?" Other Dave wondered aloud, talking to River. "This, Rose, is a node. It will give us any information about the library it will think is important to us."
Just then the node started speaking, "Welcome. I am a node 710/aqua. Please enjoy the library and respect the personal access clause of all your fellow readers, regardless of species. Additional, there follows brief message from the head librarian for your urgent attention. It has being edited for tone and content by Felmen Lux's decency filter. Message follows: 'Run. For God's sake, run. Nowhere is safe. The library has sealed itself – we can't. Oh, they're here. Ugh, slug, sniff.' Message ends. Please switch off your mobile communits for the comfort of other readers."
The group members started looking at each other. Unlike others, Rose looked completely terrified.
"Any other messages that follow the same date?" River calmly asked – it looked like she wasn't really surprised.
"One additional message. Message follows: 'Count the shadows. For God's sake, remember – if you want to live, count the shadows.' Message ends."
"This... node has human's face – real human's face." Rose choked, not understanding why everyone else is so calm.
"People 'donate' their faces after their death but it's not a big deal – it's like donating a bench or some sort," Anita explained, looking slightly amused because Rose didn't know such an obvious thing. "Anyhow, this message... should we take it seriously?"
"It might be truth, or it might be a silly joke," Strackman argued, "so I don't think we need to take it seriously and might as well continue our journey. Anyone is too scared and want to go to the ship and fly back to mommy?" Silence. "Well, then, we shall continue our way through the library."
The group started moving, though Rose looked unsure and still freaked out about the whole 'real face on the node' experience. Maybe, in future it was completely normal, but for her it was like a... walking wardrobe – surreal and definitely stupid.
As the group continued their way through the library, some of the members making a couple of comments on the design or emptiness, they finally came across the door that was the entry to the shop.
"Mind if we go check the shop?" The 'proper' Dave asked Strackman, motioning to the door.
"I do, actually, but we are archaeologists so it's in our nature that we explore everything we come across, don't we?" The oldest man in the group answered, pushing the door. "It doesn't open."
"Let me," River said, taking out her sonic screwdriver and using it on the door. The bright light, then the door was forcefully pushed inside, letting the group of archaeologists and Rose step inside.
∞ DW ∞
"That shadow... it's gone," Donna nervously said, tapping the Doctor's shoulder, who looked just as – if not more – concerned.
"We need to get back to the TARDIS," the Doctor thickly replied.
"Why?"
"'Cause that shadow isn't gone – it's moved," he explained.
"Reminder, the library has been breached – others are coming." The node with a young man's face said. "Reminder, the library has been breached – others are coming. Reminder, the library has been breached..."
The door – the other door that was locked from the start – was suddenly flying inside the room, following the bright light. Donna and the Doctor closed their eyed and ran away from it, expecting the worse.
After the door was opened, a group of people in white costumes came inside. All of them were in helmets, so it was impossible to tell if those were humans or aliens. However, the person in the lead came near the Doctor and, pressing the button at the back of the helmet, revealed her face to the Doctor – it was River.
"Hello, sweetie," Song said, smiling. She didn't know whether to cry or to laugh because at this very moment the Doctor didn't know anything about her – for him she was just a stranger, passing by. It surely hurt but River pushed herself to smile and not look completely devastated.
"Get out." The Doctor said sternly. River tried her best not to laugh because that's what the Doctor would always do – whether you are person he knows or someone he met for the first time. "All of you, turn around, get back in your rocket and fly away."
"Oh, so you want me to take her with us – after everything I've done?" the woman remarked, enjoying how confused the Doctor was. Then, looking to the side, she said, "Everyone, you can take off your helmets – we have breathers. And, oh, Rose – just as I promised."
Doctor looked at River, not believing his own ears. What... did she just say Rose? No, he probably misheard, or there was some other Rose, because, really, there were hundreds and hundreds girls with a name 'Rose' and he should probably stop reacting so confused and lost every time he heard the name, and...
"Hello, Doctor."
Swallowing, Doctor blinked, and blinked some more. Then he started slowly turning his head to soon meet her. Brown eyes, blonde hair, cheeky smile that was always present on her face.
Rose.
His Rose was standing not 10 metres away from him, having tears in her eyes and trying hard not to cry.
The Doctor choked, sighed and then the huge smile was placed on his face, "Rose Tyler. The Rose Tyler. The most amazing and incredible human I've ever met."
And then they ran towards each other.
Rose jumped into Doctor's hands that immediately entwined her waist. Rose's left cheek was pressed to Doctor's right and all they could do was hold onto each other for the dear life. They didn't see each other for two years. Two bloody years of having no way of contact whatsoever.
Both didn't know what to do – either to cry or to laugh – but the moment was broken by Strackman's cough.
"I see that this is some kind of... reunion but can you tell us, Rose,who are these two and why did he call you 'Rose Tyler'?"
"Oh, it's 'cause I'm married." Rose quickly responded.
"You are married?" The Doctor looked disgusted – he was always against marriages.
"No, I'm not, but if you continue I might as well call you my husband," Rose whispered warningly and the Doctor put his hands up in a defensive way, stepping back.
"Got it, got it. But what are you doing here and how did you-"
"I'll tell you later, and stop or you will blow up my cover completely!"
"Okay, sorry, sorry, I just thought-"
"You thought what – that you can just waltz in and reveal my true identity to people I obviously don't know well? Is that what you thought?"
"No! But what was I supposed to think? Do you even know how it looks?"
"Well, you tell me how it looks?"
"I'm sorry – are we interrupting something?" The 'other' Dave politely asked and the couple finally turned around, looking quite exasperated and synchronously said 'No!'.
"So who are you?" Anita asked, looking at three of them as if they were talking Chinese.
"Oh, I'm the Doctor," the Doctor brightly replied, putting hands in his pockets in his usual manner. Then he motioned to Donna, "This lady here is the brilliant Donna Noble and the woman that came with you is, as you already know, Rose Tyler. Are we clear?"
"Yeah, except you should call her 'Rose Song' just as the rest of us," Anita said, looking around the shop.
Because the rest were looking somewhere else, the Doctor looked at Rose and soundlessly said 'Rose Song?'
'Yeah deal with it!'
"So, Doctor, what were you saying about us getting out of here?" River said, looking at the happy couple from the corner of her eyes.
"Ah, you're still here. I think I told you to get out of here and you didn't listen – typical humans," the Doctor said off-handedly. "There is something here – something that killed all the people that previously entered this library and you don't seem to understand just how dangerous it all is. This something lives in the shadows, so don't you dare step into any shadow or you can consider yourself being already dead, got it? You should be scared right now." He looked at each one of them. "A bit more scared than that."
Silence.
"Also, I didn't catch it – who are you?"
"We didn't say our names." Strackman replied sharply but was calmed by River's soft smile. Song looked at the Doctor and told him the names of everyone in the group.
"And why exactly are you here? Because, please, don't tell me you are..."
"Yes, we are archaeologists," River answered. "Got something against us?"
"I'm a time traveller – I laugh at archaeologists," the Doctor remarked.
Rose came near Donna, who looked really confused and pissed off about everything.
"Hi, I'm Rose Tyler," Rose held out her hand, smiling but she was met with unamused Donna.
"Please don't tell me you are Doctor's previous companion, now you met after a long time and you want to travel with him again with me gone because, blondy, I'm not giving up my Doctor so easily," Noble replied while shaking Rose's hand.
She laughed, "Believe it or not, I actually hope that you will travel with us. What's your name, love?"
"Noble, Donna Noble." The ginger woman replied, looking at the blonde as if she was assessing her.
"I feel like someone over watched 'James Bond'," Rose wiggled her eyebrows.
"I'm pretty sure James Bond just copied me."
"What, he travelled in future and, liking your way of introducing yourself, just copied you?"
"You can never know when you have a time traveller near you all the time."
Both women snorted and then laughed looking at the Doctor. He, in returned, asked 'What?' and felt déjà vu – Rose and Sarah Jane were laughing at him as well the first time they met.
"So, you are his new companion?" Tyler asked, enjoying Donna's company. "And you help him save the world all the time?"
"You can say that but, let me tell you a secret," Donna cautiously looked around and then leaned in, whispering the words into Rose's ear, "I save the world while he mumbles about some scientific nonsense and makes comments on how 'brilliant' and 'interesting' all the aliens we meet are."
"Oh, he loves doing it, doesn't he?" Rose agreed. "And does he still wear glasses though he doesn't even need them?"
"Yes! And when he gets embarrassed or doesn't know what to say he stares into space and makes some weird sounds like 'er... oh... am'."
"I know, right?" Rose was almost jumping with excitement. "And his 'well's are always long – I swear, he can never just say 'well' – he's always like 'weeell' and then says a lot of science stuff I'll never get."
"Ohh, I hate it," Donna remarked fiercely, mimicking the Doctor, "Oh, look at me, I'm the Doctor in the TARDIS and you should always know what I'm talking about, otherwise I will look at you like you are a five-year-old."
Both women laughed, clearly enjoying each other's company, but then they started to talk about the situation they were in.
"So, it's dangerous to stay in the shadows? How so?" Rose asked.
"Doctor didn't explain what all of this was about – all I know is we need to 'count shadows' otherwise we are... dead." Donna replied seriously, though then she looked a bit sceptical. "And our faces are taken to be used in these horrible nodes. Just think about it – when another group of explorers will come here, just as confused as us, they might see my face without shivering! How gross is that!"
"Travelling with the Doctor is gross, so don't sound surprised." Tyler winked.
"Girls, stop chit-chatting – you can do it later – and come here," Doctor shouted. Donna and Rose looked at each other, soundlessly saying 'so bossy', and went towards the group.
The Doctor – who now wore the glasses - did something on the computer and then the screen has shown them that access is denied. After a couple of attempts, the screen has finally shown them a small girl that was sitting in her living room, drawing something.
"Hello." The Doctor said.
"Hello," the girl replied, looking scared, "are you in my television?"
"Weeell, no... I'm... I'm... somewhere in space. I was trying to call a data security processor."
"Would you like to speak to my dad?"
"Dad or mom – that would be lovely."
"Wait, I know you – you are in my library."
"Your library?"
"The library has never been on television before. What have you done?"
"I, erm... I just..."
But then the signal was lost.
As the Doctor tried to restore the contact, nothing happened and the only things he saw is the sign 'Cal. Access denied.'
Suddenly there was a book flying from the shelf. In a second, the other one followed and then there were books flying everywhere. The Doctor, however, didn't react to it and continued working on the computer.
In some time Doctor finally left the computer and called everyone towards the centre of the room.
"So what happened?" The Doctor asked. "What physically happened here 100 years ago?"
"There was a message from the Library," River explained, "just one. 'The lights are going out'. Then the computer sealed the planet. And there was nothing for a hundred years."
"Erm, excuse me," Miss Evangelista said as she realised the door at the back suddenly opened.
"There was one thing in the last message," River said as no one pain attention towards Miss Evangelista.
"That's confidential." Strackman Lux said, stepping towards Song.
"I trust this man. With my life." River replied, surprising everyone in the room, except for Rose. "With everything."
"You've only just met him!"
"No, he's only just met me."
"Erm, this might be important actually!" Miss Evangelista shouted.
"In a moment." Strackman sternly replied.
"This is a data extract that came with a message," River explained, showing Doctor the said message.
"4022 saved. No survivors." The Doctor read in plain voice.
"But how come 4022 people are in here and there are no survivors?" Donna asked.
"That's why we are here to find out." River answered.
"So far what we haven't found are any bodies", Strackman Lux added.
Miss Evangelista realised that no one was going to listen to her so, feeling brave, she went through the opened door and in the corridor. Looking around, she decided to just go wherever she felt like going and soon found herself in a room with a chair in the centre. She went towards it and...
A loud scream erupted from some other room and everyone stopped doing what they were doing just a second ago to stand up and run towards the scream.
As the group entered the room, they have realised there was a skeleton sitting on the chair. The skeleton, however, wasn't usual: it was covered in mangled white costume. The costume was mangled by really small pieces and it made the skeleton look even scarier.
"Everybody careful, stay in the light." The Doctor warned them and the following 10 minutes were one of the most unpleasant minutes in Rose's life. The skeleton was talking but, as River explained, Miss Evangelista was only ghosting. Still, hearing the person's voice that you've only seen a couple of minutes ago and realising this same person was now dead... Rose felt like crying and, looking over at Donna, she saw that Noble was about to cry too.
As her pattern degraded, she kept repeating herself and River, excusing for doing so, finally switched off her suit.
"That was the most horrible thing I've ever seen," Donna said and Rose couldn't agree more.
After taking in a thought of Evangelista being gone, everyone went back to the shop where the Doctor started explaining to everyone what the alien that did it was.
"Now, we are surrounded by creatures called Vashta Nerada. Vashta Nerada are creatures that appear as shadows to hunt. Every planet has them but they are usually in much smaller numbers and not as aggressive."
"Every? Even Earth?" Rose asked, slightly bemused because Doctor has never mentioned it before.
"Yep."
"Wait, it can't be truth – I've never seen them!" Donna loudly announced.
"Weeell they're still there – even if you don't see them. Everyone, we'll need to move, but not the 'proper' Dave. 'Proper' Dave, stay still."
"Why, what happened?"
"I'm sorry, I'm so, so sorry, Dave. But you got two shadows."
A/N: things you should've already understood:
1) River in this story is SO very different to River in the show (I mean, her past and all)
2) I changed the way the group of archaeologists entered the library & the shop
3) I LOVE River & Donna so you'll see more of them later on
4) reviews make me happy :)