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Chapter 12 – We Rule The Night (Part 2)
They arrived in what seemed to be an office. A big mahogany desk stood facing the towards the door. On the left side were just shelves on the wall, filled with books. Off on the right side of the room stood a coffee table with a luxurious armchair and a plush sofa. Also a couple of big windows were on that side of the room. And what especially caught River's eye was a glass cabinet with some things in it.
She walked over to it and studied the artifacts. "I see you have a good taste in artifacts, Mr Doyle." River addressed him.
"Why, yes I do pride myself to have assembled quite an unusual collection. Are you familiar with these?" Doyle walked over and stood next to River.
"In fact I am. You see I'm an archaeologist." Behind them Shadow couldn't suppress the slight snort that had burst forward. River whirled around.
"You got a problem with archaeologists?" She asked Shadow, challengingly.
"Well...actually..." Shadow thought hard how to put it without messing it up before it had even started. "You see...I'm a time traveler. Usually whenever I see an archaeologist, I point and laugh at them. Digging in dirt all day long, unearthing small fragments of tools and whatnot's. And then making assumptions about what these things could have been used for. And usually they are way off. I just find archaeologists somewhat entertaining." On seeing River's slightly offended look Shadow tried to save face and continued. "But...you know...you are also a time traveler. So you're not limited to making assumptions about things. Theoretically you could just go back in time and look what certain things were used for. And actually I don't think it's ridiculous to dig in dirt all day long. It can be fun. And when you find something you just feel accomplished, happy to have found something." Shadow trailed off. She didn't know what she could say anymore to save the situation.
River stepped very close to Shadow and looked her straight in the eye with a strong look. Time seemed to stand still until River broke the silence. "Good save. But be careful. Not every archaeologist is as forgiving towards you as I am." She whispered and then winked. "But you wanted to discuss something with Mr Doyle, right?"
River stepped back to the glass cabinet. "I'll be just be over here and admire his artifacts." With that she bowed forward again and looked as if she had slipped off into a world of her own.
Gabriel Doyle walked to his desk and sat down behind it. Shadow simply jumped on the edge of the desk to the right of Doyle, thus looking down to him.
"What do you want to discuss?" Doyle started the conversation.
"Her." Shadow simply stated looking over to River with a slightly bemused expression on her features.
"I don't know her. So I think this will be an awfully one-sided discussion." Doyle chuckled.
Shadow refrained from rolling her eyes. "No. I want to keep her safe and you sort of rule the city. I just want that whenever anyone gets inappropriate with her they will be hunted down until they're dead." Shadow stated with a dead serious expression.
"I don't even have a name for her." Doyle deadpanned.
"River Song."
"You want me to protect the most dangerous criminal in the known universe?"
"Oh. So you've heard of her? I must admit, I'm a bit offended." Shadow huffed. "I seem to be the last to know."
"Well, she is a criminal and I'm the head of, what others call, a criminal organization. You hear about the famous others. But what is she to you?" Doyle looked questioningly.
Shadow thought hard. What was River to her? They had met barely 24 hours ago and yet here she was making deals with the boss of the underworld of London. Shadow sighed and let her eyes rest on River, who still seemed to be engrossed by the artifacts, were it not for the slight twitch of her ear. But Shadow didn't want River to know that she knew that River was eavesdropping. A smile stole itself on Shadow's features as she answered. "Everything."
"Do you think you love her?" Doyle inquired further.
"What do you think?" Doyle just looked at her and nodded understandingly. "Do I have your word that no harm will come to her whilst she is within your borders?" Shadow asked with finality.
"You have my word. And you can personally hold me responsible, if any harm should come to her." Doyle acquiesced.
"And I most certainly will." With that Shadow got up and walked around the desk again. Doyle also got up and rounded his desk on the other side. River also came over from her fascinating things and joined the other two at the door.
"Oh, and before I forget it." Shadow began. "The two guards outside are arrogant pricks who are more muscle that control over muscle."
"You didn't beat them into a puddle?" Doyle worried.
"No. But I would have, if they weren't new. But I think today you just can't get the staff." Shadow joked.
"Apparently not." Doyle smiled and opened the door for River and Shadow.
"Well, it has certainly been a treat seeing you, Doyle." Shadow shook his hand.
"I have to agree. Your collection is quite exquisite. Keep up your keen eye." River smiled sweetly.
"I will try." Doyle inclined his head. "River. Shadow."
And both left Doyle's office. He closed the door after them and they stood in the darkened corridor.
"He was quite the interesting figure. Did you notice that there where non-human artifacts in his possession?" River looked at Shadow.
"I know. I even got some of them for him." Shadow answered and started to walk down the corridor.
"You did? But they must've been quite expensive." River caught up with her.
"Not for me." Shadow looked at River and winked.
When they had entered the area where there were people again, River stepped a bit closer to Shadow. But nevertheless one guy was trying to get handsy. He gave River a short butt slap, which was answered with a sharp intake of breath from River, who whirled around and faced the guy. Shadow tried to step in front of River and show that guy what she thought about his behavior but River put an arm out in front of Shadow and signaled her to stay put. Consequently Shadow leaned against the opposite wall and watched.
"Uhh...what do we have here for a nice specimen?" River purred sweetly, backing the guy into the wall.
"Why do you hang around with that one when you can have a strong fella like me?" The guy was actually pretty big and muscular.
"Well...do you think you got what it takes to satisfy me?" River leaned close and whispered to him. Shadow caught River's right arm sneaking around the guy to the knife he had sheathed there.
"I think I got more than that." Shadow briefly closed her eyes in disgust. Did that guy have to grab his crotch?
"I wasn't talking about that. I meant, if you think you could be able to satisfy my more...special urges?" River slowly unsheathed his knife. Shadow narrowed her eyes. River was playing with that guy like a cat with a mouse. But what was her goal?
"Sure. What are you into? I will give it to you good." Could that guy be any more arrogant? But River was ready to strike.
"Well, into...knife play." And she brought the knife up to the guys throat. "But I won't be on the receiving end." She had a slightly manic look in her eyes. "You really should have kept your hand to yourself." River proceeded to lightly drag the tip of the knife across the guys throat. Then she lowered it. "I just haven't decided yet where I should put the blade." She put it directly above his heart. "I think I'll just put it here. Fast and just a small mess." Now that guy seemed to realize that he had messed with the wrong woman. He smartly put up his hands in surrender.
"I'm sorry. Really lady, if I had known. You are clearly taken. Don't mind me. I sometimes don't even know what I do." Shadow smirked in the background. But River just seemed set on driving her point home fully.
"Oh, I should make sure that you will never ever repeat something like that again." She put the knife back to his throat. Pressing the blade slightly into the flesh, drawing a drop of blood.
"Please. Please, don't kill me. I swear I will never do something like this ever again. But please, don't kill me." The guy started to pitiably beg. River smirked and took a step back, withdrawing the knife from his throat.
"Good." She then lunged forward and rammed the blade into the wooden doorframe next to the guys head. Then she just turned around and started to walk down the corridor again.
"Oh...and you might want to change your pants." River threw over her shoulder like an afterthought. Shadow took one glance at the guys pants and immediately spotted what she had meant. There was a telltale dark area on the guys pants. He really had peed his pants. Shadow chuckled and pushed off the wall, following River and taking her hand. She had to grin the whole way out of the building and down the dark alley until they where back on the main road.
Then Shadow took the lead again and brought them to a snack bar. "You hungry?" She asked.
"I could eat something." River replied.
"Alright. How about some chips?" River nodded. "Good. Then you can go ahead and find us a table and I will order. I'll be with you in a moment." And they parted, River looking for a table and Shadow to order.
A short while later Shadow joined River at the table and pushed River's chips and a tea over to her.
"Here you go. And I took the liberty of getting us some tea." Shadow smiled shyly.
"Thanks."
"So...whoa. Why didn't you tell me that you can be so badass?" Shadow exclaimed.
"I thought you would realize that, as the most dangerous criminal in the known universe, I can hold my own." River answered, shrugging.
"Oh, you definitely can. And I quite enjoyed the show. But tell me this, before we enter the business of the night, how adept are you in close combat?" Shadow raised an eyebrow.
"Actually not very. I was conditioned to be a psychopath to kill the Doctor. Any means possible. But they never trained me in close combat. Just in the ways of sneakily killing and with guns."
"I don't like guns." Shadow made a face. "So you're a silent assassin. Well, do you at least have the guts to gut someone when necessary?"
"I try not to. But I could." River narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "Why?"
"Just hypothetically. I was trained in close combat. And with guns. I am also capable of basic medical procedures. I once was a sniper and then a medic. Those weren't nice times." Shadow got a faraway look but quickly shook herself out of it. "What I'm trying to say is that, on my patrol rounds, I generally encounter things, people that are not the talking kind. They usually start to attack and try to beat the crap out of you. I just need to know how far you can take care of yourself in situations like that. Because I can protect you even when they are in the majority. But when you can defend yourself I can fully concentrate on beating them. If you get what I mean."
"Well, I think I can defend myself. Although I wasn't taught in close combat, I picked up a few self defense moves in my years."
"Good. Because we will go into the worst part of town." Shadow smirked.
"Which?"
"The financial district. Or also called Canary Wharf." Shadow intoned ominously.
"Alright?" River had her forehead in creases. "Do you expect to be attacked by loan sharks?" She joked.
"No." Shadow chuckled again. "But there is a slight breach between dimensions. Therefore the alien activity converges there. Have you never heard of the Battle of Canary Wharf?"
River looked confused. "No. What was that?"
"Well, basically a stand off between Cybermen and Daleks. With the Doctor in the middle. He lost my mom that day. And Torchwood was involved. The old Torchwood, not the Torchwood under Jack's command."
"Interesting. And sad." River touched Shadow's hand across the table.
"You have no idea." Shadow was grateful for River's silent support and covered River's hand with her other one.
"So, we're going there and what kind of trouble do you expect?" River tried to slightly change the subject.
"Can't say." River raised an eyebrow at that. "I really can't say. Some nights I was flooded with Weevils, other nights I found some Ood."
"I thought Ood were really nice."
"They are. That's why I brought them to places where they can live. Most of them just want to serve. So I mostly gave them into private hands or asked UNIT members I know are nice to take them in." Shadow looked at the clock on the wall behind the counter. It was time to go.
"You are really nice." River emphasized.
"Except when I'm not." Shadow packed the empty dishes together and got up. "But come on, we have to go."
About half an hour later they had arrived at Canary Wharf.
On the train River had thought about what to make of Shadow's warning earlier. Until now she hadn't seemed on the brink of killing someone. She had kicked the hell out of these guards but hadn't seemed willing to kill them. Scare them maybe. And then the business-like personality with Doyle. That was another facet of the personality. Both seemed to be a mask to protect herself. But when they were alone again the mask seemed to vanish.
And then there was the bit about her having been a medic and a sniper beforehand. What was that about? Had she been to a war. If, which one? Thinking about it left River in a conundrum. The more she thought about it, the more questions arose.
But River realized one thing, for as young as Shadow was, she was already a very complex person and had probably an equally complex timeline.
She probably would have to ask Shadow herself, if she wanted to know more. Or she waited for what would happen later. Maybe that would explain some things. Or Shadow would.
When they left the station at Canary Wharf, Shadow stopped and pointed to the right.
"See that big tower there?" She began.
"Hard to overlook." River internally shook her head over Shadow's antics.
"That is One Canada Square to the public."
"And?"
"To the informed, meaning us that know what went down at the Battle, it's the Torchwood Tower or Torchwood One."
"So, here was the site of the Battle. But where did all the Daleks and Cybermen go? I studied Earth history and I never encountered that the Earth was overrun by them." They had begun to walk into the other direction away from the tower.
"That's because the invasion only lasted for a few hours until they all were sucked into the Void. Well...the Cybermen were here a little longer but they were in disguise." Shadow explained conversationally.
"Cybermen in disguise? How can they disguise themselves? They are big, make a lot of noise when they move and have quite the distinctive voice." River answered doubtfully.
"They were ghosts. And I don't mean bedsheet-over-the-head-I'm-a-ghost...ghosts, I mean real ghosts, like walk-through-walls ghosts."
"Ghosts?" This was getting absolutely absurd in River's opinion.
"Yes. Well...they just looked like ghosts. Actually they were brought here through the Void by Torchwood. And it's all very complicated and I don't really care about how they did it. But they did built the tower. And do you know why?"
"They always forgot where they worked?" River said sarcastically, earning a short burst of laughter from Shadow.
"No. There was a sphere hovering in the air that had no mass and shouldn't even be there in the first place. So Torchwood came and simply built a tower up to the sphere to build a room around it to study it." Shadow lead them around all the small streets, always on the lookout for any sign of trouble.
"Really? They just did that? That seems a bit pretentious." River's brows knitted together. "Not to mention stupid."
"Oh, yes. That was the Torchwood of the oldern days. Pretentious and arrogant. Always taking what it wanted without asking. But they got their kick up the butt. Almost everyone at Torchwood One was converted by the Cybermen. A few survived. Like Ianto. But that's another story for another day."
"And the Doctor came and ended the invasion?"
"Actually he was there before the invasion happened. He was there when the invasion happened and then ended it and saved the day. Like always." Shadow gave a half shrug.
"Like always. Only the cost varies." River uttered quietly.
"And it's paid in blood. Most times the blood of innocents." Shadow had heard River. "And that is the guilt he has to live with everyday." They had stopped. Shadow looked at River. River looked back not sure how her comment was received because Shadow's reply sounded like a rebuke, although she had said it in a monotonous voice. But then Shadow made eye contact and River knew that Shadow didn't think ill of the way she saw the Doctor's methods.
Shadow saw the look of uncertainty on her features and tried to reassure her. "Know one thing, River Song." Shadow placed her hands on River's shoulders. "I don't judge people by what they did or by what they will do. I judge people by what they do, in the present, the here and now. That's what's important." She paused for a moment, her eyes briefly flickering over River's left shoulder. "And right now it would be really nice of you to take a few steps to your left." River was momentarily confused but then understood and stepped aside.
Shadow charged at something that looked a bit like a fish. It was humanoid and had fins on his head. His skin was red with orange stripes.
The fight took place about six feet from River. And now she understood what Shadow had meant earlier.
The fish guy was able to throw a few blows but was always blocked. Shadow was indeed very adept at close combat. But the most unsettling thing about it was that Shadow's aura changed into something dark and despairing.
Then Shadow threw the guy onto the pavement and brought her foot down just a few inches from his head. The ground literally shook.
"I told you to stay away from this part of town." Shadow growled menacingly.
"I had an errand to run." The fish guy answered.
Shadow grabbed the guy at the front of his shirt and roughly pulled him up. "What kind of errand?"
"I had to deliver something for someone." He stuttered.
"For whom?" Shadow's voice was still very disturbingly threatening.
"Some guy."
"Which guy?" One could literally see how Shadow's patience was wearing thin.
"Some random guy. Humans are all the same to me. I don't care for your filthy race." And he promptly got a hard punch to his face and Shadow let go of the front of his shirt.
"Say that again and I might reconsider letting you live." She narrowed her eyes. "Now tell me...who was the guy?"
"Sevar. Some guy called Sevar. From the Graveyard Knights." The fish spilled.
"See, was this so hard?" Shadow janked the guy up again and smoothed his shirt a bit. "And now get out of here and never come back."
The fish guy stared at Shadow as if he wasn't sure he could trust what he was hearing. Shadow rolled her eyes exasperatedly. "For the ones among us with a lower intelligence. That means: Run!"
And run the guy did. Very fast. And Shadow stood there chuckling slightly, with a self-satisfied smirk on her face.
River was a bit hesitant to step to Shadow's side again. But decided to jump the fence and laid a hand on her shoulder. Immediately the darkness around her dissipated. Shadow turned and looked at River with a slightly confused look but caught herself pretty fast.
"Well, that guy won't come back here so fast." Shadow tried to joke away the situation. But River was having none of it.
"What was that? You really had me scared for a moment."
"I told you I'm completely different sometimes tonight."
"But you were cruel and dark and..."
"And you thought I might snap and kill him?" Shadow cut her off.
"No. But I thought for a moment that you might beat him to pulp." River admitted.
"I sometimes do that to some of them. The ones that don't break that easily." Shadow's mask was sliding into place again.
"Alright. Come on, I don't think we're finished with our patrol." River tried to steer the conversation into another direction, to not let Shadow hide behind her mask.
"Yep. You're right. Let's go." And they walked again to patrol the area, each hanging after their own thoughts.
A few hours later they arrived back at the Canary Wharf station. But this time Shadow wasn't going in, she passed it by and was heading straight for One Canada Square. She had a plan. And now she also knew what it was the voice had tried to tell her. But she didn't think River was going to accept it that easily. She probably wouldn't even like the idea very much. But it was something that was again necessary for the greater good.
Shadow was grateful that it had been a relatively calm night. Now all she had to do was figure out how to get on the roof of the tower. But that shouldn't be a big problem, she figured, after all she had her multifunctional scanner with her. And she had a lot of talking and convincing to do. But she absolutely refused to bend the truth for what she had to do. She would tell River the truth and nothing but the truth. She deserved at least that much.