Chapter 14: Day of the Moon

Disclaimer: I don't own Doctor Who.

PREVIOUSLY

Jenny said, "Amy, no. Amy, don't!"

The Vixen asked, "What are you doing!"

Amy replied, "Saving your life!"

The two Galifreyans shouted in unison, "No!" Amy fired the gun.

3 Months Later…July, 1969 Amy was running through the desert, two cars chasing her. She had a pen on a lanyard around her neck. Amy stopped at the edge of a small ledge. The two cars converged behind her and a number of agents stepped out, Canton in front. Amy snarled, "Canton."

Canton greeted, "Miss Pond." He motioned to one of the other agents who spread something out on the ground.

Amy asked, "Is that a body bag?"

Canton replied, "Yes, it is."

Amy noted, "It's empty."

"How about that."

Amy asked, "Do you even know why you're doing this, eh? Can you even remember? The warehouse?"

Canton flashed back to the night in the warehouse. Jenny helped Canton and the Doctor while Amy stared at the girl in the spacesuit. The Vixen shook her. "Amy! Amy!"

Rory and River climbed up from the tunnels and they all rushed for the TARDIS. Canton asked, "What the hell's going on?"

The Doctor said, "Look behind you."

Canton said, "There's nothing behind me!"

The Vixen snarled, sheathing her sword, "Look! Canton, look!"

Canton turned and saw one of the aliens walking towards him. He fired and Amy fell to the ground. There were tally marks in pen on her arm.

Inside a large warehouse, there were armed guards stationed around an open area in the middle. Canton walked up to it, past signs that read: Do Not Approach the Prisoners. The prisoners in question were the Vixen and the Doctor. Their hair was longer and the Doctor now had a beard. They were both in straightjackets and were chained to chairs. There was a yellow circle painted around them. The PA said, "All visitors to remain behind the yellow line. All visitors to remain behind the yellow line."

Canton said, "We found Amy Pond. She had strange markings on her arm." He held up a photo. "Do you know what they are?" He threw the folder closer so the Vixen and the Doctor could see it.

The Doctor asked, "Why don't you ask her?" Canton didn't answer and the Vixen and the Doctor, realizing what happened, looked at each other.

River and Jenny were in an office under construction. They both had tally marks on their arms as they walked through nervously and gasped when they heard a pipe fall. There were more aliens. River called, "I see you!" She took out a pen and marked her arm and Jenny's. "I see you!"

Canton and his fellow agents arrived. Canton called, "Doctor Song. Miss Tyler." River and Jenny turned around. "Miss Tyler. Doctor Song?"

River looked back and the aliens were gone. She hissed at Jenny, "Go, go, go!" The girls ran.

River and Jenny stopped when they reached the open side of the building. Canton ordered, "Don't move! It's over!"

River said, "They're here, Canton. They're everywhere."

Canton replied, "I know. America's being invaded."

Jenny said, "You were invaded a long time ago. America is occupied."

Canton declared, "You're coming with us, girls. There's no way out, this time."

River and Jenny smiled slyly at each other. River said, "There's always a way out." She grasped one of Jenny's hands. Arms outstretched, they both fell backwards out of the building.

Two scientists were building a wall of black stone around the Vixen and the Doctor, who watched with some interest. Canton reported, "We found Miss Tyler and Dr Song."

The Doctor asked, watching the builders, "These bricks, what are they made of?"

The Vixen asked Canton, "Where are they?"

Canton replied, "They ran. Off the 50th floor."

The Vixen closed her eyes and sighed, "I'd say zero balanced dwarf star alloy. The densest material in the universe. Nothing gets through that."

The Doctor said in realization, "You're building us the perfect prison." He and the Vixen faced Canton.

The Vixen snarled, eyes glowing, "And it still won't be enough."

Rory burst out of a door onto the road across Glen Canyon to find both sides blocked by agents. His face, arms and neck were covered with tally marks. He looked over the side, contemplating a jump. Then, deciding not worth it, he put up his hands and turned to face Canton. "What are you waiting for?"

Canton replied, "I'm waiting for you to run." Rory lowered his arms. "It'll look better if I shot you while you were running. Then again, looks aren't everything." Canton raised his gun as Rory closed his eyes. There was a gunshot and Rory fell to the ground.

Canton walked into the warehouse, two soldiers dragging body bags behind him. The Vixen and the Doctor's cell was complete. The soldiers dragged the bags inside. The Doctor asked, "Is there a reason you're doing this?"

Canton said, "I want you to know where you stand."

The Vixen replied, "In a cell."

Canton corrected, "In the perfect cell." The soldiers left. "Nothing can penetrate these walls. Not a sound, not a radio wave." He inserted his fingers into holes in the wall and the door slid shut. "Not the tiniest particle of anything. In here, you are literally cut off from the rest of the universe. So I guess they can't hear us, right?"

The Vixen nodded, "Good work, Canton. Door sealed?"

Canton replied, "You bet."

The Doctor and the Vixen stood up and shook off the chains and removed the straightjackets just as the body bags sat up. The Doctor unzipped Rory's bag. "You OK?"

The Vixen helped Amy out. Amy sighed, "Finally."

Rory said, "These things could really do with air holes."

Canton said, "Never had a complaint before."

The Doctor stretched his arms and put an arm around the Vixen as he kissed her. Amy climbed out of the bag and asked, "Isn't it going to look odd that you're staying in here with us?"

Canton replied, "Odd, but not alarming. They know there's no way out of this place."

The Vixen replied, "Exactly. Whatever they might think we're doing in here, they know we're not going anywhere." She pulled her leather jacket on and leant to the side on the TARDIS. She snapped her fingers and the doors opened. The Doctor went in and asked, "Shall we?"

With a smile, Amy followed Rory into the TARDIS. Canton asked, following Amy, "What about Jenny and Dr Song? They dove off a rooftop!"

The Vixen replied, "Don't worry. River does that. Sadly, Jenny has caught that habit as well." She closed the TARDIS doors and ran to the console. "Doctor, Amy, Rory, open all the doors to the swimming pool." The Doctor, Amy and Rory went to do as they were told.

Jenny and River let go of each other's hands as they turned their fall into a dive and went through the open TARDIS doors. Water splashed up.

The Vixen and the Doctor walked around the console, using the controls. The Vixen said, "So, we know they're everywhere. Not just a landing party, an occupying force. And they've been here a very, very long time. But nobody knows that, cos no one can remember them."

River and Jenny arrived, drying their hair. Canton asked, "So what are they up to?"

The Vixen replied, "No idea. But the good news is...we've got a secret weapon." She ran to the door.

The Vixen stepped out onto the wetlands followed by the others. River asked, "Apollo 11's your secret weapon?"

"No, no, it's not Apollo 11, that would be silly. It's Neil Armstrong's foot." The Vixen grinned.

The Vixen injected something into Canton's hand. "Ow!"

The Vixen just moved on to the Doctor. "Ow!" He rubbed his palm.

The Vixen asked, "So, three months, what have we found out?"

Rory said, "Well, they are everywhere. Every state in America." The Vixen injected his hand. "Ow!"

The Doctor replied, "Not just America, the entire world."

River said, "There's a greater concentration here though."

The Vixen injected Jenny. "Ow! What is this thing?" Jenny rubbed at her palm.

The Vixen injected Amy. "Ow!"

She asked, "You OK?"

Amy replied, "All better."

The Vixen asked, "Better?"

Amy said, "Turns out I was wrong. I'm not pregnant."

Rory walked over and asked, "What's up?"

Amy replied quickly, "Nothing. Really, nothing, seriously."

Canton said, "So you've seen them, but you don't remember them."

River replied, "You've seen them too. That night at the warehouse, remember? While you were pretending to hunt us down we saw hundreds of those things. We still don't know what they look like."

Rory said, "It's like they edit themselves out of your memory as soon as you look away. The exact second you're not looking at them, you can't remember anything."

Amy said, "Sometimes you feel a bit sick though, but not always."

Canton asked, "So that's why you marked your skin?"

Jenny replied, "Only way we'd know if we'd had an encounter."

Canton asked, "How long have they been here?"

Jenny said, "That's what we've spent three months trying to find out."

Rory said, "Not easy, if you can't remember anything you discover."

Canton asked, "But how long do you think?

The Vixen said, "As long as there's been something in the corner of your eye, or creaking in your house, or breathing under your bed, or voices through a wall. They've been running your lives for a very long time now, so keep this straight in your head. We are not fighting an alien invasion, we're leading a revolution. And today the battle begins."

"How?"

The Vixen replied, "Like this."

She reached back and injected River. "Ow!"

The Vixen grinned, "Ha-ha! Nano recorder. Fuses with the cartilage in your hand." She injected herself. "Ow! You're right, that does hurt."

The Doctor said, "Then it tunes itself directly to the speech centres in your brain. It'll pick up your voice, no matter what. Telepathic connection. So the moment you see one of the creatures, you activate it." His palm glowed red. "And describe aloud exactly what you're seeing."

He pressed his palm again and the playback began. "And describe aloud exactly what you're seeing."

The Vixen said, "Because the moment you break contact, you're going to forget it happened. The light will flash if you've left yourself a message. You keep checking your hand. If you've had an encounter that's the first you'll know about it."

Canton asked, "Why didn't you tell me this before we started?"

The Vixen replied, "I did. But even information about these creatures erases itself over time." She pressed a few buttons on the console. "I couldn't refresh it, cos I couldn't talk to you."

Canton glanced over his shoulder and then straightened the Vixen's jacket. The others watched him. Canton asked, "What? What are you staring at?"

Jenny said, "Look at your hand."

Canton looked at his palm which was flashing red. He asked, "Why's it doing that?"

The Doctor asked, "What does it mean if the light's flashing? What did I just tell you?"

Canton started, "I haven't..."

The Doctor said, "Play it."

Canton pressed his palm and the recording began. "My God, how did it get in here?"

The Vixen's voice came on, "Keep eye contact with the creature and when I say, turn back, and when you do, straighten my jacket."

Canton slowly turned around. He asked on the recording, "What? What are you staring at?"

Jenny's voice said, "Look at your hand."

Standing in the TARDIS was one of the aliens. The Vixen explained, "It's a hologram, extrapolated from a photo on Amy's phone. Take a good long look." The hologram dissipated. "You just saw an image of one of the creatures we're fighting. Describe it to me." She snapped her fingers.

Canton stammered, "I can't."

The Vixen said, "No. Neither can I. You straightened my bow tie because I planted the idea in your head while you were looking at the creature."

Amy said, "So they could do that to people. You could be doing stuff and not really knowing why you're doing it."

Rory suggested, "Like post hypnotic suggestion."

Jenny said, "Ruling the world with post hypnotic suggestion."

The Doctor said, "Now then, a little girl in a space suit. They got the suit from NASA, but where did they get the girl?"

Canton said, "Could be anywhere."

The Vixen said, "Except they probably stayed close to that warehouse, cos why bother doing anything else? And they take her from somewhere to cause the least amount of attention. But you'll have to find her. I'm off to NASA." She used the scanner to zoom in on possible coordinates in Florida.

Canton asked, "Find her? Where do we look?"

The Vixen replied, "Children's homes."

In a thunderstorm, a black sedan entered the grounds and pulled up in front of the large building that has seen better days. Canton turned off the radio and looked to Amy in the passenger seat and the Doctor in the back seat. Amy was dressed like an agent in a black suit and the Doctor had been persuaded to wear a proper suit for once. Canton asked, "Ready. Check?"

Amy looked at the palm of her left hand. "Clear."

The Doctor looked at his palm as well and nodded. "Clear."

Canton looked at his palm. "Clear." As the Doctor and Amy got out of the car, Canton rubbed his left palm with his right index finger.

The Doctor, Amy and Canton knocked on the door of Greystark Hall. A man opened the door. "Hello."

Canton held up an ID. "FBI. You must be Dr Renfrew. Can we come in?"

Renfrew said, "The children are asleep."

Amy reassured them, "We'll be very quiet."

Renfrew asked, "Is there a problem?"

The Doctor replied, "It's about a missing child."

"What are you...? Yes, yes, come in, please."

Amy pushed the door open and they followed Renfrew inside. The architectures showed the house was once beautiful but it was now very dilapidated with paint chipping from the walls as well as signs of damp. Painted on the walls in large red letters were demands such as "GET OUT" and "LEAVE NOW".

Renfrew said, "This way." He led them upstairs. "Please excuse the writing. It keeps happening. I try to clean it up."

The Doctor and Amy exchanged a look. Amy asked, "It's the kids, yeah? They do that?"

Renfrew replied, "Yes. The children. It must be, yes." He reached out to wipe the wall and the Doctor, Amy and Canton saw "GET OUT" written on his wrist. "Anyway, my office is this way."

Canton said, "We nearly didn't come to this place. I understood Graystark Hall was closed in '67."

Renfrew replied, "That's the plan, yes."

Amy asked, "The plan?"

Renfrew replied, "Not long now."

The Doctor said, "It's 1969."

Renfrew said, "No, no. We close in '67. That's the plan, yes."

Canton said, "You misunderstood, sir. It's 1969 now."

Renfrew asked, "Why are you saying that? Of course, it isn't."

"July."

Renfrew said, "My office is this way, this way." He veered off to a smaller stairway.

The Doctor made the cuckoo sign to Amy, who said, "I'll check upstairs."

Canton said, "Be careful." He and the Doctor followed Renfrew and Amy continued upstairs.

Amy pushed the door open to a dorm room. There were a number of bed frames lined on either side of the room. Painted on the wall was the message "LEAVE ME ALONE".

The Vixen and Jenny were in the Apollo 11 module, working on a myriad of wires when the Vixen's phone rang. Jenny picked it up and held it to the Vixen's ear so she could keep working. "Amy?"

Amy said, "I think we've found the place she was taken from."

The Vixen asked, "How do you know?" She motioned to Jenny to hand her one of the wires.

Amy replied, "Cos those things have been here. But the whole place is deserted. There's just one guy here and I think he's lost it."

Jenny sighed. "Repeated memory wipes fry your head eventually."

The Vixen said, "Find out what you can, but don't hang around."

Amy asked, "Where are you two?"

The Vixen said, "Gotta go! Got company!" Jenny ended the call and they sat up. The door was open and two men were looking in on the girls. The Vixen said to them, "Don't worry. I put everything back the way I found it."

Jenny held up a piece in her hand and chuckled nervously, "Except this. There's always a bit left over, isn't there?" The component they were working on gave off a steady beep.

Amy put away her phone and continued to walk through the window. The door slammed shut behind her and she whirled around wondering if she was alone. She ran for the door and, as she tried the knob, she saw markings on her hand. She turned her hand over and saw red flashing. She pressed her palm with her other thumb. "I can see them, but I think they're asleep. Get out! Just get out!"

Amy tried the door again then tried the windows. She saw more markings on her hands and the reflection in the window showed marks on her face. She turned around and slowly looked up. There was a mass of the creatures hanging upside-down from the ceiling like bats. She walked towards the door, not taking her eyes off them, and kicked a pail there to catch water. One of the creatures hissed at the noise. Amy touched her hand to her mouth to leave a message when the door opened. She looked away and all thoughts of the aliens hanging above her were gone. As she left the room, one of the aliens stood in the room.

The Vixen and Jenny were sitting in two chairs, legs crossed even though they were handcuffed. An MP stood behind them as two men question them. "One more time, ladies. How the hell did you get into the command module?"

The Vixen replied, "I told you! I'm on a top secret mission for the President." She bit the chain of the cuffs.

The man said, "Well, maybe if you just get President Nixon to assure us of that, ma'am, that would be swell."

The Vixen rolled her eyes. "I sent him a message."

The man scoffed just as the double doors behind him opened and Nixon walked into the room. Rory and River, in period dress, acting as his aids. Behind them was the TARDIS. Nixon said, "Hello, I believe it's Mr Gardner, is that correct? Head of security?" He shook his hand.

Gardner replied, "Ah, yes, sir. Yes, Mr President."

Nixon said to the other man, "Mr Grant, is it?"

Grant replied, "Yes, Mr President." He shook Nixon's hand.

Nixon said, "The hopes and dreams of millions of Americans stand here today, at Cape Kennedy, and you are the men who guard those dreams. On behalf of the American people, I thank you."

Gardner said, "You're welcome, Mr President."

Nixon asked, "I understand you have a baby on the way, Mr Grant?"

Grant replied, "Yes, Mr President."

Nixon asked, "What are you hoping for, a boy or a girl?"

"Just a healthy American, sir."

Nixon chuckled, "A healthy American will do just nicely." He gave Grant a friendly shoulder punch. "Now, fellas, listen. These girls here – codenames, the Vixen and the Anomaly – are doing some work for me, personally. Could you cut them a little slack?"

Gardner said, "Er, Mr President, they did break into Apollo 11."

The Vixen and Jenny winced. The Vixen mouthed 'Sorry'. Nixon said, "Well, I'm sure they had a very good reason for that. But I need you to release them now, so they can get on with some very important work for the American people. Could you do that for me?"

Grant started, "Well..."

Nixon reminded him, "Son, I am your Commander-in-Chief."

Gardner said, "Then I guess that would be fine, Mr President."

Nixon nodded, "Glad to hear it."

The MP unlocked the handcuffs and the Vixen and Jenny stood up. Jenny grinned, "Thank you!"

The Vixen shook Grant's hand. "See ya." She shook Gardner's hand and headed for the TARDIS, Jenny and River in tow.

Nixon said, "Carry on, gentlemen." He followed Jenny, the Vixen and River.

Rory accidentally broke off a piece of the model lunar module sitting on the desk. When he couldn't fit it back on, he slipped the piece on the desk and cleared his throat. "America salutes you." Rory saluted them in the British fashion, palm facing outwards, before joining the others and closing the doors.

As Renfrew sat at his desk, Canton and the Doctor searched the filing cabinets. The Doctor said, "This place, it's been closed for years. What have you been doing?"

Renfrew said, "Oh, the child, she must be cared for. It's important. That's what they said."

Canton asked, "That's what who said?"

Amy searched the halls upstairs, shining her torch. She heard a metal clink and looked ahead. A woman with an eye patch peered through an opening in a door. Amy asked, "Hello. Who are you?"

The woman said, possibly to someone inside, "No, I think she's just dreaming." The window slid shut.

After a slight pause, Amy went to the door and opened it to find a small nursery that still looked like it had been occupied recently. Amy called, "Hello? I saw you, looking through the hatch..." She looked back at the door and there was no sign of a small hatch. She rubbed her hand along the door and checked the back of it.

Amy walked inside and saw stuffed animals on the bed, a mobile hanging from the light and framed photographs on the bureau. All of them were of the girl at various ages. One hidden in the back caught Amy's eye. She picked it up to find that it was her holding a baby. Amy murmured, "How? How can that be me?"

She put the picture down with shaking hands and turned just as the astronaut entered the room. Amy asked, "Who are you? I don't understand, so just tell me who you are!" The astronaut lifted the visor and it was still the girl. The inner visor was cracked from the bullet when Amy shot her. Amy said, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to shoot you. I'm glad I missed. But you killed the Vixen. You're going to kill her. But who are you? Just please tell me, because I don't understand!"

The girl said, "Please help me. Help me, please." Two of the creatures entered the room. Amy screamed and the door slammed shut.

There was a slight thumping and Renfrew went to answer the door. He opened it a crack and spoke to the person outside. "It's just some questions." The Doctor and Canton glanced at each other. "Yes, I see." Renfrew closed the door and sat back down.

Canton asked, "Who was that? Doctor Renfrew? Who was that?"

Renfrew asked, "Who was who?"

The Doctor walked to the door but stopped when it opened and a creature entered. Canton asked, "What are you? You can tell me." He and the Doctor activated their recorders. "Cos we won't remember. You invaded us. You're everywhere."

Amy called distinctly, "Help me! Doctor, please will you help me?!" The Doctor tried to move forward but the creature stopped him.

Canton asked, "Are you armed?"

The creature said, "This world is ours. We have ruled it since the wheel and the fire. We have no need of weapons."

"Yeah?" Canton took out a revolver and shot the creature three times. "Welcome to America."

The Doctor nodded his thanks and headed down the hall with Canton. "Amy!"

Nixon was sitting at his desk and the Vixen was walking to the TARDIS. She said, "You have to tape everything that happens in this office, every word, or we won't know if you're under the influence."

Nixon said, "Vixen, you have to give me more than this. What were you and your agent doing to Apollo 11?"

The Vixen replied, "A thing. A clever thing. No more questions. You have to trust me and nobody else."

River opened the TARDIS door and said, "Vixen, it's the Doctor and Canton! Quick, they need us!" The Vixen ran into the TARDIS and it dematerialized.

The Doctor and Canton arrived in the same upstairs hallway. Amy called, "Help me! Please, I can't, I can't see! Somebody help me!"

Canton and the Doctor tried to break down the door, the Doctor completely forgetting about his sonic. "Amy!" The Doctor pounded on the door. "Amy, can you hear me?"

Canton said, "Amy, I'm going to try to blow the lock. I need you to stand back."

Just as Canton raised his gun, the Vixen, Jenny, Rory and River arrived. The Vixen said, "OK, gun down, I've got it! Come on, Doctor, you've got your sonic haven't you?" The Doctor smacked his forehead and pulled out his screwdriver. "Amy, we're here. Are you OK?"

The Doctor used his sonic on the lock as Amy said, "I can't see!"

The Doctor opened the door and they went in. They entered the room but Amy wasn't there. On the floor was the spacesuit. Rory asked, "Where is she?"

The Vixen scanned the suit with her sonic and River opened the visor. She said, "It's empty."

Amy said, "It's dark, it's so dark. I don't know where I am. Please, can anybody hear me?"

Jenny looked down and found the nano recorder blinking on the floor. Rory picked it up and asked, "They took this out of her? How did they do that?" Amy sobs came over the recorder. "Why can I still hear her?"

Jenny asked, "Is it a recording?"

The Vixen scanned the recorder and said, "It defaults to live. This is current. Wherever she is right now, this is what she's saying."

Rory spoke into the recorder, "Amy, can you hear me? We're coming for you. Wherever you are, we're coming, I swear."

The Vixen said quietly, "She can't hear you. I'm so sorry. It's one way."

Rory said, "She can always hear me, Vixen. Always, wherever she is. She always knows that I am coming for her, do you understand me? Always."

Amy asked, "Vixen, Doctor, are you out there? Can you hear me? Vixen? Oh, God. Please, please, Vixen, just get me out of this."

Rory looked at the Vixen and said into the recorder, "She's coming. I'll bring her, I swear."

Renfrew called, "Hello, is someone in there?" He appeared in the doorway. "Who? I think someone has been shot. I think we should help. We... I can't... I can't remember."

Renfrew led them back to his office where the creature was on the floor. It backed away as the Vixen knelt and reached out. She asked, "OK. Who and what are you?"

The creature said, "Silence, Vixen." It held its wound as the Vixen and the Doctor exchanged a look. "We are the Silence." The Vixen flashed back to her past where the Silence had been mentioned to her. In Leadworth and Venice. "And silence will fall."

The cell door opened and the soldiers aimed their guns. Canton strolled out. "Hello again."

A soldier said, "Sir, you've been in there for days. What the hell have you been doing?"

Canton replied, "Doesn't matter. I need Dr Shepherd here right now."

The soldier said, "Sir, I need to talk to Colonel Jefferson right now!"

Canton said, "No, you really don't."

Nixon stepped out of the cell and the soldiers snapped to attention. "Hi, fellas. I'm President Nixon. I want to tell you, on behalf of the American people, how much we appreciate all of your hard work."

The Vixen and River were examining the spacesuit while Rory, the Doctor and Jenny tried to get the connection on the small black-and-white TV that was playing the news, "The target for the Apollo 11 astronauts, the moon, at lift off, will be at a distance of 218,096 miles away. We're just past the two minute mark on the countdown. T minus one minute 54 seconds and counting..."

River said to the Vixen, "It's an exo-skeleton. Basically, life support. There's about 20 different kinds of alien tech in here."

The Vixen asked, "Who was she? Why put her in here?"

River said, "Put this on, you don't even need to eat. The suit processes sunlight directly. It's got built in weaponry and a communications system that can hack into anything."

"Including the telephone network?"

River replied, "Easily."

The Vixen asked, "Why phone the President?"

River explained, "It defaults to the highest authority it can find. The little girl gets frightened, the most powerful man on Earth gets a phone call. The night terrors with a hotline to the White House." She looked up to see the Vixen examining her envelope and then licking it. "You won't learn anything from that envelope, you know."

The Vixen murmured, "Purchased on Earth, perfectly ordinary stationery, TARDIS blue. Summoned by a stranger who won't even show his face. That's a first for me. How about you?"

River said, "Our lives are back to front. Your future's my past, your firsts are my lasts."

"Not really what I asked."

River said, "Ask something else then."

The Vixen asked, "What are the Silence doing? Raising a child?"

River said, "Keeping her safe. Even giving her independence."

The Doctor came over and said, "The only way to save Amy is to work out what the Silence are doing."

Rory replied, "I know."

The Vixen said, "Every single thing we learn about them brings us a step closer."

Rory said, "Yeah, Vixen, Doctor, I get it, I know."

Jenny called, "How about you boys help me out here a bit?" The Doctor and Rory returned to helping Jenny.

The Vixen said, "Of course, it's possible she's not just any little girl."

River said, "Well, I'd say she's human, going by the life support software."

"But?"

"She climbed out of this suit. Like she forced her way out. She must be incredibly strong."

The Vixen grinned, "Incredibly strong and running away. I love her."

River said, "We should be trying to find her."

The Doctor came over and said, "Yes, I know, but how? Anyway, I have the strangest feeling she's going to find us."

Rory and Jenny came over as well. Rory asked, "Why does it look like a NASA space suit?"

The Vixen walked over to the TV. "Because that's what the Silence do. Think about it. They don't make anything themselves. They don't have to. They get other life forms to do it for them."

Jenny asked, "So they're parasites then?"

The Doctor said, "Super parasites."

The Vixen turned around and said, "Standing in the shadows of human history since the very beginning. We know they can influence human behaviour any way they want. If they've been doing that on a global scale for thousands of years..."

Rory asked, "Then what?"

The Vixen asked, "Then why did the human race suddenly decide to go to the moon?"

The reporter on TV started the countdown. The Doctor said, "Because the Silence needed a space suit."

The Vixen opened a video on River's handheld. On the video, the Silence said, "You should kill us all on sight."

Rory was off to the side listening to Amy's sobs over the nano-recorder as the Doctor and Jenny worked inside the TARDIS. River scanned the spacesuit and the hand/glove twitched. She said, "This suit, it seems to be repairing itself. How is it doing that?" Rory sat on the floor, his back against a packing crate. River asked, "Vixen, a unit like this, would it ever be able to move without an occupant?"

The Vixen asked, "Why?"

River replied, "Well, the little girl said the space man was coming to eat her. Maybe that's exactly what happened."

Jenny came out of the TARDIS. "Hey Mum, how long has it been since Dad slept?"

The Vixen replied, "Must have been right before we were made prisoners. He hasn't slept since then. Why?"

Jenny said, "He's unconscious." The Vixen and River rolled their eyes. "Should I wake him up?"

The Vixen replied, "Nah. Let him sleep."

Jenny asked, "What about you?"

The Vixen grinned. "I stayed awake for 2,000 years, remember? I'll be fine. You keep working." Jenny nodded and went back in.

Amy began to speak and Rory lifted his head. The Vixen also heard but left Rory alone. "I love you. I know you think it's... y'know. I know you think it ought to be. But it's not, it's you. And when I see you again, I'm going tell you properly, just to see your stupid face. My life was so boring before you just dropped out of the sky." Rory dropped his head again. "So just get your stupid face where I can see it. OK? OK?"

The Vixen came over and sat beside Rory. She said, "She'll be safe for now. No point in a dead hostage."

Rory asked, "Can't you save her?"

The Vixen shrugged, "I can track that signal back. Take us right to her."

Rory asked, "Then why haven't you?"

The Vixen sighed and asked, "Because then what? I find her, and then what do I do? This isn't an alien invasion. They live here. This is their empire. This is kicking the Romans out of Rome."

Rory said, "Rome fell."

The Vixen grinned, "I know. I was there."

"So was I."

The Vixen's grin vanished. "Personal question."

Rory asked, "Seriously? You?"

The Vixen asked, "Do you ever remember it? 2,000 years, waiting for Amy together? You and me, the Last Centurions?"

"No."

The Vixen asked, "Are you lying?"

Rory replied, "Course I'm lying."

The Vixen said, "Course you are. Not the sort of thing anyone forgets. I didn't either."

Rory said, "But I don't remember it all the time. It's like there's… a door in my head. I can keep it shut."

The Vixen sighed again. "See Rory, that's the only difference between you and me." Rory looked at her. "I've seen too much to keep a door like that shut." She smiled and stood up, walking back to River.

Amy said, "Please come and get me. Come and get me." She sobbed.

Amy awoke, a bright light in her eyes. She was strapped to one of the tables tilted upright. "Where am I? Where is this?"

One of the Silence turned to face her. It said, "You are Amelia Pond."

Amy said, "You're ugly, has anyone mentioned that to you?"

The Silence said, "We do you honour. You will bring the Silence. But your part will soon be over."

Amy said, "Whatever that means, you've made a big mistake bringing me here, because wait till you see what's coming for you now."

The Silence said, "You have been here many days."

Amy argued, "No. I just got here. You just put me in here."

"Your memory is weak. You have been here many days."

Amy said, "No. No, I can't have been."

The Silence said, "You will sleep now. Sleep." It leant over her.

Amy shrieked, "No! No! Get off me!"

"Sleep."

"No! No!"

The TARDIS materialized. The Silence turned to stare at it as the Vixen, Jenny, River and Rory stepped out. Jenny was carrying a TV. River had her gun out. And the Vixen was playing with her sword. She said, "Oh! Interesting. Very Aickman Road, seen one of these before. Abandoned, wonder how that happened. Oh, well! I suppose I'm about to find out." She said to the others, "Jenny, Rory, River, keep one Silent in eyeshot at all times." The Vixen turned back to the Silence. "Oh, hello, sorry. You're in the middle of something. Just had to say though, have you seen what's on the telly?" She noticed Amy. "Hello, Amy, you all right? Want to watch some television?"

Jenny set the TV on the console and pulled out her sonic pen, just in case. The Vixen said, grinning cheekily, "Ah, now, stay where you are. Because look at me, I'm confident. You want to watch that, me, when I'm confident. Oh, and this is my friend, River. Nice hair, clever, has own gun, and unlike me, she really doesn't mind shooting people. I shouldn't like that. Kind of do." She sheathed her sword.

River grinned, "Thank you, sweetie."

The Vixen said, "I know you're team players and everything, but she'll definitely kill at least the first three of you."

River moved so that she and the Vixen stood back-to-back. She said, "The first seven, easily."

The Vixen asked, "Seven, really?"

River replied, "Oh, eight for you, love."

"Stop it."

"Make me!"

The Vixen grinned, "Yeah, well, maybe I will."

Amy asked, "Is this really important, flirting? I feel like I should be higher on the list right now."

Rory asked, "And you're sure, absolutely sure-"

The Vixen and River snapped in unison, "We're not gay!"

Amy said, "Fine. But I still feel like I should be higher on the list."

The Vixen said, "Yes, right, sorry. As I was saying, my naughty friend here." Rory, Jenny and Amy rolled their eyes. "She is going kill the first three of you to attack, plus him behind. So maybe you want to draw lots, or have a quiz."

Rory was trying to free Amy, who asked quietly, "What's she got? And where's the Doctor?"

Rory replied, "Something, I hope. And the Doctor's asleep, hasn't slept in 3 months. Enough to make even a Time Lord drowsy."

The Vixen walked around the console and said, "Or maybe you could just listen a minute, because all I really want to do is accept your total surrender, and then I'll let you go in peace. You've been interfering in human history for thousands of years. People have suffered and died. But what's the point in two hearts, if you can't be a bit forgiving now and then." She stared into the leader's face as her eyes glowed. The leader shuddered.

The Vixen said, "Ooh! The Silence. You guys take that seriously, don't you? OK, you got me, I'm lying. I'm not really going to let you go that easily. Nice thought, but it's not Christmas. First," She turned on the TV. "You tell me about the girl. Who is she? Why is she important? What's she for? Guys, sorry. But you're way out of time. Now, come on, a bit of history for you. Aren't you proud, because you helped?" She pulled out the TV antennae. "Do you know how many people are watching this live on the telly? Half a billion, and that's nothing, because the human race will spread out among the stars, you just watch them fly. Billions and billions of them, for billions and billions of years. And every single one of them, at some point in their lives, will look back at this man, taking that very first step, and they will never, ever forget it." The Vixen stopped and watched as the moon landing unfolded. "Oh." She took out her phone. "But they'll forget this bit." She spoke into the phone, "Ready?"

Canton replied, "Ready."

The TV said, "It's one small step for man..." The broadcast was interrupted with the video of the Silence that Canton had shot earlier. It was on a loop and kept repeating.

The Vixen grinned, "You've given the order for your own execution, and the whole planet just heard you."

The TV switched back to the broadcast, "One giant leap for mankind."

The Vixen grinned, "And one whacking great kick up the backside for the Silence! You just raised an army against yourself. And now, for a thousand generations, you're going to be ordering them to destroy you every day. How fast can you run? Because today's the day the human race throw you off their planet." The leader advanced on the Vixen who backed away, her eyes glowing. "They won't even know they're doing it. I think, quite possibly the word you're looking for right now is, "Oops!" Run! Guys, I mean us! Run!"

The Silence began to draw on their energy. River started to fire. The Vixen and Jenny used their sonics to keep the Silence back. Rory said, "I can't get her out!"

Amy said, "Go, just go!"

Rory said, "We are not leaving without you!"

Amy asked, "Will you just get your stupid face out of here?!"

Rory stopped and looked up at Amy. River said, "Right, into the TARDIS, quickly!"

The Vixen nodded to Jenny who used her sonic on the straps and freed Amy. Jenny and Rory helped Amy to the TARDIS while River and the Vixen covered them. The Vixen said, "Don't let them build to full power!"

River replied, "I know. There's a reason why I'm shooting, love! What are you doing?"

"Helping."

River said, "That sword of yours is more powerful. You've got a screwdriver. Go build a cabinet!"

The Vixen whined, "That's really rude!"

"Shut up and drive! Where's your boyfriend when you need him?"

The Vixen went into the TARDIS and River spun and fired at the Silence, killing them all. She ended in a crouch then slowly stood up. Rory was in the TARDIS doorway, staring at her in amazement. She twirled her gun into its holster and asked, "Old girl didn't see that, did she? She gets ever so cross."

Rory asked, "So, what kind of doctor are you?"

River replied, "Archaeology." Without looking, she pulled out her gun and fired at the Silence behind her. "Love a tomb." She entered the TARDIS.

River pushed the Vixen out of the way and worked the controls. The Vixen said, "You can let me fly it!"

River argued, "Or we could go where we're supposed to. I know you taught me how to drive, but frankly, love, you failed your driver's test." The Vixen stuck her tongue out.

Amy walked down to steps to Rory by the door. She asked, "What's the matter with you?"

Rory said, "You called me stupid."

Amy scoffed, "I always call you stupid."

Rory said, "No, but... my face." Amy reached out and opened Rory's hand to reveal her recorder. "I wasn't sure who you were talking about. You know, me, or..." He looked to the Vixen.

Amy asked, "Her?"

Rory said, "Well, you did say, 'Dropped out of the sky.'"

Amy said, "It's a figure of speech, moron!" She pulled Rory into a kiss.

Rory pulled away and said, "Thanks."

Amy smiled, "You're welcome."

Nixon shook the Vixen's hand. "So we're safe again."

The Vixen asked, "Safe? No, of course you're not safe. There's a billion other things out there, waiting to burn your whole world. But if you want to pretend you're safe, just so you can sleep at night, OK, you're safe. But you're not really." She turned to Canton and grinned, "Canton. Till the next one, huh?" She shook hands.

Canton said, "Looking forward to it."

The Vixen said to Nixon, "Canton just wants to get married. Helluva reason to kick him out of the FBI."

Nixon said, "I'm sure something can be arranged."

The Vixen said, "I'm counting on you."

Nixon started, "Er, Vixen... Canton here tells me you're... from the future. Hardly seems possible, but I was wondering..."

"Should warn you, I don't answer a lot of questions."

Nixon said, "But I'm a President at the beginning of his time. Dare I ask? Will I be remembered?"

The Vixen sighed, "Oh, Dickie. Tricky Dickie. They're never going to forget you." She headed for the TARDIS. "Say hi to David Frost for me."

Nixon asked, "David Frost?" He and Canton watched as the Vixen entered the TARDIS and it dematerialized.

The TARDIS was in the hall as the Vixen said goodbye to River by her open cell. The Vixen said, "You could come with us."

River replied, "I escape often enough, thank you. And I have a promise to live up to. You'll understand, soon enough."

The Vixen smiled, "OK, up to you." She started walking to the TARDIS when River groaned. The Vixen turned back around concerned. "What's wrong? You hurt?"

River clutched her side and said, "It's nothing, it's fine."

The Vixen walked over and held River's hand. She said softly, "Let me see." River took away her hand to reveal a bleeding wound under ripped fabric. "Crap."

River teased tiredly, "Told you that sword was more powerful."

The Vixen said, "Hold on. Um. Okay." She bent down and held her hand to River's wound.

River asked, "Vixen, what are you doing?"

The Vixen murmured, "That sword was made by me, if it even scratched you, you'll go insane. I'm trying to heal it. I learnt some stuff a while ago, y'know in case I 'drink my own medicine'. Should help." She grunted and gold energy wafted out of her fingertips but quickly withdrew. The Vixen sighed. "It's not working, I'm too weak right now."

River said, "Vixen, it's fine. It'll heal."

The Vixen said, "This won't. Unless…"

"Unless what?"

The Vixen said, "River, I'm very sorry if you feel offended by this, but it needs to be done."

River asked, "What does? Vixen, what are-"

As the Vixen pressed her lips to River's, the wound on her side was enveloped in gold energy. The Vixen pulled back and said, "Right. There we go. Direct connection to the DNA results in healing of wounds." She grinned. "I should write that down, might help sometime. Better?"

River examined her side, where the cut was closed with not a scar to show it was ever there. She looked back up. "Much better. Thanks."

The Vixen grinned, "Don't mention it." She walked to the TARDIS. "See you next time. Call me."

River asked, "What, that's it? What's the matter with you?"

The Vixen walked back and asked, "Have I forgotten something?"

River scoffed, "Oh, shut up." She hugged her and the Vixen's eyes went wide, not really expecting anyone to truly hug her except the Doctor or Amy and Rory or Jenny. The simple reason was that others were just too scared. She soon settled into the embrace and put her arms around River.

The Vixen pulled back and said, "Right. OK. Interesting. I don't understand what just happened here."

River said, "What's wrong? You're acting like we've never hugged before."

The Vixen replied, "We haven't."

River asked, heart shattering, "We haven't?"

The Vixen said, "Oh, look at the time, must be off." She backed away to the TARDIS. "But it was very nice. It was good. It was unexpected." She grinned warmly. "You know what they say, there's a first time for everything." She entered the TARDIS.

River murmured, "And a last time."

Inside the TARDIS, the Doctor was awake. He asked, "So, what did I miss?"

The Vixen replied, "We defeated the Silence, saved Amy and showed a video of a Silent telling the humans to kill them all on sight on TV instead of the moon landing. Rory, I'm going to need thermo couplings. The green ones and the blue ones."

Rory nodded, "OK, hold on." He headed off.

The Doctor said, "I am going to sleep some more. 3 months wide awake, how did you live 2,000 years, Vixen?" The Vixen shrugged. "Anyway." He yawned and went down one of the corridors.

The Vixen started, "So..."

Amy asked, "So?"

Jenny came over and asked, "You're OK?"

Amy replied, "Fine. Head's a bit weird. There's lots of stuff I can't quite remember."

The Vixen smiled fondly, "After effect of the Silence. Natural enough. That's not what I was asking. You told me you were pregnant."

"Yes."

The Vixen asked, "Why?"

Amy replied, "Because I was. I thought I was. Turns out I wasn't."

Jenny asked, "No. Why did you tell me and Mum and Dad? Dad's probably forgotten it by now. But why us?"

Amy replied, "You're my friends. You're my best friends."

The Vixen asked, "Did you tell Rory?"

In another section of the TARDIS, Rory still had Amy's recorder and could hear everything.

Amy replied, "No."

The Vixen asked, "Amy, why tell me and not Rory?"

Amy asked, "Why do you think? I travelled with you in this TARDIS for so long. All that time. If I was pregnant for some of it, wouldn't it have had an effect? I don't want to tell Rory, this baby might have three heads, or like a time head or something."

Jenny and the Vixen asked in unison, "What's a time head?"

Amy replied, "I don't know, but what if it had one?"

The Vixen asked, "A time head?"

"Shut up, all right!" The girls laughed. Amy called, "Oi! Stupid face."

Rory made his way back to the console. He said sheepishly, "Er, yeah. Hello."

Amy saw the recorder. "Taking that away from you, if you're going to listen in all the time."

Rory said, "OK, that's a fair point. But you should've told me that you thought you were pregnant. I'm a nurse, I'm good with pregnancy."

Amy said, "Not, as it turns out, that good. So can you stop being stupid?" She hugged Rory.

Rory replied, "Er, no. Never. I'm never, ever going to stop being stupid!"

The Doctor came out again and said, "Hello. So, this little girl, it's all about her. Who was she?"

The Vixen walked over to him and grinned, ruffling his hair, "Or we could just go off and have some adventures. Anyone in the mood for adventures?" She pecked the Doctor on the cheek and walked back to the console. "Cos I am. You only live once."

Jenny, the Doctor, Amy and Rory shared a look as the Vixen fiddled with the scanner controls. She smiled at Amy and looked back to the scanner. The TARDIS was performing a full-body scan on Amy, testing for pregnancy. The results kept switching between positive and negative.

Ok. So I know that the Doctor wasn't in this chapter much, but I needed him to be aside for a bit while I did other stuff. Reviews are always appreciated.