"Clouds suit my mood just fine." ― Marie Lu, Champion
The Paternoster gang arose early the next morning, alert and frantically scanning for artron energy. It was shaping up to be a dead end pretty quickly.
"Just how many anachronisms can one ape city have?" Vastra complained, only to earn a glare from her wife as they were led in a circle around the city.
"Well, the Doctor does like it here. Perhaps this is why," Jenny proposed, holding the scanner that led them around a corner.
"I believe that the Doctor likes this hostile planet of 'London' because it has weak defensive and poor offensive opportunities," Strax declared with confidence, ignoring the fact that the others had been ignoring him.
Vastra sighed and rolled her eyes, glancing at the scanner in Jenny's hands. "The Doctor is a pacifist- or at least he tries to be. I doubt he likes London because it'd be easy to conquer."
"Or perhaps that's exactly why; so he can play hero," Jenny argued playfully. Vastra rolled her eyes. The Doctor, they knew, for all of his perceived excellence and arrogance, was truly oblivious to most of the good he did.
Strax muttered his protests, but both Jenny and Vastra ignored him. Annoyed, Strax snatched the scanner from Jenny.
"Oi!" Jenny complained, while they all stopped walking.
"Strax," Vastra scolded, "What have we told you about snatching things?"
Strax looked at her and recoiled. "Not to."
"Give the scanner back to Miss Jenny," Vastra commanded. It was still dark, but they could see the sun rising in the horizon. When Strax continued messing with the scanner, Vastra stepped closer to him.
"Strax," she warned. "We're running out of time." Strax then pressed one more button before returning it to Jenny.
Jenny was utterly confused.
"Is this a map?" she asked, shifting on her feet. "Yes sir," Strax admitted proudly. "I knew that your puny human mind wouldn't be able to find the map, so I took the liberty of going to the map for you."
Jenny examined the map, and then she started to touch the screen. "It changed angles," she observed.
Vastra shrugged, and peered over Jenny's shoulder.
"So it does. Strax," she addressed, "Thank you. However, next time, inform us of what you are doing."
Strax nodded (the best nod a Sontaran could manage) and also looked at the scanner. While peering over the scanner, Vastra noticed something odd about the map.
"That line, the yellow one," she specified, "Is that where the artron energy leads?"
"Yes, Madame," Strax affirmed. "And when it turns darker- into red, what does that mean?" Vastra puzzled. Around a certain park near them, there were multiple red lines and orange lines branching off from them.
"At a higher concentration of artron energy, the line turns into a shade that is of a lower light frequency," he said, while Jenny started walking towards the direction of the park.
"And that blank place in the middle?" Jenny asked, while both Vastra and Strax looked at her as if she had said something silly at an opportune time.
"There is no blank place on the scanner," Vastra informed her slowly. Jenny looked at the scanner, stopping once again, and squinted. "Yes, there is," she stated.
"Strax," Vastra said with a worried tone, "Can you look at her eyes?"
"There's nothing wrong with my eyes!" Jenny argued.
"We haven't the time for that now, Madame," Strax claimed. "It's a common slight in the human species. They are unable to perceive many colors. We should move to tactical positions at the park."
"Agreed," Jenny muttered with annoyance. Vastra looked at her once more before moving along with them.
It took only a short time for them to arrive at the park. (Why was it so close to 13 Paternoster Row? Was the Doctor expecting them?)
Then they were at a stand-still.
"There's nothing here," Vastra fretted, unsure of what to make of the situation.
Jenny merely started fiddling with the scanner. Strax them huffed at her, "What are you doing, boy?"
"I am a girl, Strax," Jenny frowned. "Vastra," she said, turning to her lover, "When I turn the angle, it get's red in the sky."
"What? The sky?" Vastra chuckled in disbelief. "Look for yourself," Jenny shrugged.
While Jenny handed Vastra the scanner, a voice came from behind them. "It should be in the sky."
Spinning around, the Paternoster Gang saw Professor Song leaning against a tree.
"There's a ladder in this tree, hidden by a perception filter. For practicality's sake, invisable," she clarified. "If you go up, you should be able to find the TARDIS."
Vastra handed the scanner to Jenny and approached Professor Song, nodding. "Thank you, Professor. I assume you just came from him?"
"It's River," she said, "But whether I came from him is a complicated question. If you meant if I just spoke with him, then yes."
"Of course that's what I meant," Vastra assured, "I doubt you would willingly run his errands."
River smiled knowingly. "Never," she promised, "Unless I had a good incentive."
Vastra laughed a bit, while Strax and Jenny stepped forward.
"I assume you three are planning on seeing him?"
"Naturally," Vastra shrugged. "He seemed off when we ran into each other a few days back."
"Yes, he mentioned that," River said, "I do hope you do not have an injury from that, and have caught your suspect."
"I have not and have," Vastra answered.
River nodded, and stepped forward from her tree.
"I've taken the redirect off of his phone, and he won't be putting it back on," she claimed, smiling flirtatiously.
"That's well. I assume that took some effort on your part," Vastra sympathized. As temporarily being on the TARDIS had proven during the planning of the Battle of Demons run, they were both as stubborn as each other.
"Less than you currently think," River smiled, but it flickered a bit. A micro-expression of displeasure, as if the reason he relented was unpleasant.
"Oh? I assume we'll find out this reason?" Vastra mused. River nodded and smirked, "Spoilers."
"You three best be back now. It's nearly day, and now is not a good time to see him," she sighed, closing her eyes for a moment. "I wish you three the best of luck. Just remember: he won't be like this forever."
"Luck?" Jenny asked, confused, "With what?"
However, before she obtained her answer, River had disappeared in with a flash.
"Well, at least now we know how to contact him," Jenny said, trying to be optimistic.
"Yes, Jenny, at least," Vastra said, holding her wife's arm. "However, I believe the Doctor is worse than we originally believed."