'Hey! Who turned out the lights?'
Rose feels the Doctor press her closer against him as she watches that creature draw closer and closer to them. Turning back over to the other end of the aisle, the hungry darkness inches ever closer to them. Rose bites her lip; she's never experienced anything as terrifying as this.
This is more petrifying than the werewolf they faced in Scotland; this is something so much more tangible, something that can never be avoided. It is everywhere and it will always cast a shadow of doubt in her mind. She will, from this point on, constantly question whether or not she is truly alone in the darkness.
'Doctor…what about Donna? Where is she? Is she safe?' Rose turns up to him and the Doctor shakes his head.
'I don't know…we'll find her. We'll figure this all out.' He reassures her and Rose nods. He looks at the Vashta Nerada creeping closer. He wishes he could have found a safe place for Rose. And yet he's glad that she didn't go with Donna, wherever she may be.
It only furthers his worry, how did she become a Node? What interfered with the teleport? He's got so many thoughts buzzing around in his head and is unsure of which one to focus the most energy on.
'Hey! Who turned out the lights?'
River, seeing no other option, primes her squareness gun once more. She's never been more conflicted in her life. She steals a glance at the Doctor and Rose. It makes sense to her, why they were never able to grow close. Why, he never allowed her to. How, even though they had such fantastic adventures, he was never there with her, mentally. Now, after she's met the mysterious Rose Tyler, she wonders if their little ploy to save the world in the future, meant anything to him at all.
But she was there when he was asked the most important question in the universe. And she was there when he had answered that question. She knows it. His real name, however, has Rose been privy to it first? It's finally struck a cord, in his life, Rose will always come first. Even in his future, when she is no longer there, even when they had all those adventures, those interactions. Was he doing it because he truly wanted to? Or was it because he wished it were Rose? He truly must be just going through the motions.
River wondered if the adventures they had shared together was because he wanted to feel close to someone again. All of the dates he took her on…was it simply because he wanted to connect with her? And then it hit her. He never could have the same relationship with her as he had with Rose. Maybe he realised that. Perhaps he had wanted to make it up to her. By giving her these wonderful tours of the universe to make up for his eventual inability to recognise her? He was giving her the best possible trips to make up for his own failings. A great send off, in his eyes perhaps.
Did they grow close? Sure, they had to have, but maybe not in the way River was seeing it. It certainly explains his close guarded nature. How she didn't find out about Rose until she stumbled upon her by accident. Or when she had met Amy in the hallway not seconds after and discovered that her room and the Doctor's remain side by side. Maybe that's why it took so long to recall her face, it had been in a blurry photograph from 1918. Why she needed to hear her name spoken.
She had wanted to know about this girl, but he simply wouldn't tell her. And every time she tried to find out, she was met with a dead end. Almost like she had vanished without a trace. He never told her why. Every time their paths crossed there was no Rose, and he seemed to be getting more and more despondent. And true to his nature, would carry on, as if there was nothing wrong.
She knows he gets lonely, how could she not? Maybe the cause of his loneliness and the cry for isolation is because of a human from Earth named Rose Tyler. And the way in which they seemed to long for each other.
River lowers her squareness gun in a moment of hesitation. She turns to look over her shoulder and hurts at what she sees. Maybe there's an underlying tone of jealousy as well. He's got Rose tucked close to him; he's protecting her…she'll have to accept it. She and the Doctor will never have a relationship like that. He's too bonded to her.
Now is not the time to be thinking of memories like these. Not with death breathing so far down their necks. River closes her eyes and inhales deeply. Again she aims the squareness gun at the wall. She shoots it and creates another hole in the wall. Everyone immediately draws their attention to it and River motions to the group quickly.
'This way, quickly, move!' She shouts and they all begin to run towards the hole. The Doctor ensures that River and Rose go ahead of him, before he turns over his shoulder and stares at both ends of the aisle.
'Hey! Who turned out the lights?'
Rose grabs the front of his suit jacket and forcibly pulls him into the next room.
'Whoa!'
The girl is now watching the Library on TV. It's on every station. What did that man do to get it on her TV? That's never happened before. She doesn't understand it. If it's on TV, is it real?
'Dad? Dad, the Library, it's on television now.' She calls to him. He doesn't appear, but merely calls to her from another room of their house.
'How many times, darling? The Library is just your imagination.'
She puffs out her cheeks in annoyance, wishing that her father would only just step into the room so he could see. Not believing that it was all in her mind, the little girl picks up the remote again and flips through the channels.
All different parts of the Library are now on the television. It only serves to confuse her more. Finally she settles on one that isn't in the Library. It's outside of a hospital and there appears to be an ambulance driving up to the front doors.
Once the ambulance has stopped, the crew gets out and rushes towards the back of it, throwing the doors open. They reach in and grasp the stretcher tightly pulling it towards them and lower it onto the ground.
The little girl straightens up when she finally glimpses the patient they are rolling into the hospital.
'Donna?' She asks, confused. How did she get there? The girl shifts slightly, making herself comfortable.
Donna sits up slightly in the bed and looks around. Funny, she doesn't remember being in a hospital, or how she got here. She looks down; it must have been awhile because she's in pyjamas. Donna looks to a mirror next. She frowns. She doesn't remember a thing. Why she's in here, where she is. Nothing. It's like her mind has been wiped clean.
There is a knock on the door. Without being let in, the door to her room opens and a man steps through, he has a serious look on his face. But a nod in her direction when he sees that she's awakened. Donna frowns as he takes a seat in the chair located to her right. Who is this man? Why doesn't she know who he is?
'Hello Donna.' He says, well he seems to know her name.
'Who are you?' Donna questions and the man sits back. He frowns a bit at her question and then leans forward again.
'I'm Dr. Moon. I've been treating you since you came here, two years ago.' He informs her. Donna suddenly recognises him, like a light has switched on in her head.
'Oh, god, Dr. Moon, I'm so sorry! What's wrong with me? I didn't recognise you for a moment.' Donna laughs nervously. But it worries her still; some parts of her mind are still shrouded in shadows.
'And then you remembered. Shall we go for a walk?' Dr. Moon suggests.
After he's spoken that sentence, Donna finds herself outside. Walking the hospital grounds. They are pristine and well manicured. Donna blinks from the bright sunlight that assaults her eyes and she looks over her shoulder. How did they get to the grounds so fast? She didn't even remember leaving her room.
Dr. Moon walks slowly beside her, studying their surroundings and turns to Donna. 'No more dreams, then? The Doctor, Rose Tyler and the blue box, time and space?' Dr. Moon questions, but Donna doesn't even hear him.
'How did we get here?' She wondered and Dr. Moon stops walking, causing Donna to as well.
'We came down the stairs, out the front door. We passed Mrs. Ali on the way out.' Dr. Moon informs her and they round the corner to the front of the hospital again. Donna walks past a board near the hospital that only has a solitary word on it. CAL. Donna however, doesn't notice it. She continues to stroll alongside Dr. Moon. Her face is clouded over in thought as she tries to place that event. She vaguely remembers it.
'Yeah. Yeah, we did. I forgot.' Her voice is shaky; she's trying to convince herself. Why doesn't she believe herself? Why doesn't she believe Dr. Moon?
'And then you remembered,' Dr. Moon states confidently and Donna nods, her memory is still hazy as she tries to piece together their journey from her room to the gardens. 'Shall we go down to the river?' He inquires.
Before Donna can answer him properly, they've appeared beside a river. Funny, when he questioned if she'd like to go to the river, she thought she knew someone named River. Funny how everything slips away, her memory never used to be this bad, did it? Did she always forget such large portions of her life?
She looks around and notices that they are sitting it on a bench facing the river. Some ducks have swam by and stopped, investigating Donna and Dr. Moon.
'You said 'river' and suddenly we're feeding ducks.' Donna smiled a bit. Still unsure of the route they took to get to this river.
Every time she hears that word, something in the back of her mind says she's met someone named River. But she doesn't remember it. Donna turns her head when she hears the sound of gravel crunching behind her. There is an attractive man walking by them carrying his fishing gear and he waves to them.
'Dr. Moon! Morning!' He calls as he approaches them. Dr. Moon steals a glance at Donna who hasn't taken her eyes off of him. This may be a perfect opportunity for her to be fully accepted.
'Donna Noble, Lee McAvoy.' Dr. Moon motions and Donna smiles warmly at him. It causes Lee to blush.
'Hello, Lee.' She extends her hand to him and he shakes it. Her beauty instantly makes him revert back to a phase he thought he had gotten over with the help of Dr. Moon.
'Hi, D…D…D…' He attempts and reddens further at his inability to pronounce her name.
'Oh, you've got a bit of a stammer there…bless!' Donna smiles warmly to him and attempts again.
'D…D…'
'Oh, skip to a vowel, they're easy!' Donna informs him and he stops, smiling at her feistiness. She begins to laugh and he joins her. He's never met someone like her before, she beautiful, she's funny and he can tell how loving she is.
Dr. Moon notices the instant attraction and smiles to himself. This meeting is perfect for them. Now, they will have each other and all will be well.
Suddenly Donna looks around; she and Dr. Moon are once again in the hospital gardens. Donna studies their surroundings, but she doesn't spot Lee. What happened? Did he fancy her? She did. She turns to Dr. Moon.
'How did we leave it, him and me?' Donna inquires, she's starting to believe that she's getting used to these huge gaps in her memory. Maybe it's something that just can't be fixed. But she's sure with Dr. Moon's help; she can over come this problem.
Dr. Moon smiles at Donna and places his hand on her shoulder. 'I got the impression he was inviting you fishing tomorrow.'
Donna's face lights up and instantly her surroundings go white. When she is able to refocus, her body automatically steps into a room she's never been in before. But sitting on the bed is Lee!
Odd, Donna doesn't remember being offered an invitation to visit his home, nor the sexy, glittering clothes that's wearing. Inwardly, Donna smiles. Rose would have loved this outfit. No. That's not right. There is no Rose. She's part of those wonderful dreams she had. And she does not exist. It's funny, though, that Donna can recall vivid details of Rose's life. Her mind does have quite the active imagination. Maybe she should write a book on her fantastical dreams.
She snaps out of her daze when she notices the once over that Lee is giving her. He grins and Donna smiles. 'So…finishing!' She grins at him.
Donna looks around and smiles at the comforting sounds of the rain hitting the river. She inhales and the calming scent of the rain relaxes her, where could they be now? How did they get here? It sure doesn't look like fishing to her, after all, that is the last memory she has of the two of them. She turns to look at Lee as he adjusts the umbrella they're sitting under, so they don't get wet.
He thinks Donna looks wonderful in her dress. And yet, oddly out of place. There's something he's been dying to ask her now. And he had wanted this day to be perfect for her. Because she deserved it. Now the rain had gone and spoiled that. Still, it wouldn't deter him from doing what he wanted, and hoped that the day could still be salvaged, and hopefully she'd agree.
He covers her hand with his own and smiles to her. She grips it tightly and he inhales deeply, trying to steady his nerves and calm himself. 'D…D…'
Donna puts her hand on his cheek, absolutely enamoured with him. 'Gorgeous and can't speak a word. What am I gonna do with you?'
He figures that means yes.
Donna struggles to shift the poufy wedding dress out from under Lee's step as he scooped her up into his arms. She wraps her arms around his neck, and beams up to him. What a perfect day. It had been unseasonably warm. Everyone was talking about that. How warm it was, how perfect the wedding had been. How beautiful a bride she made. Um, of course she did…did they not see the dress she's got on? Doesn't matter that she spent a small fortune on the dress, at least she thinks she has…she got the reaction she wanted.
Lee shifts Donna in his arms and together they cross the threshold into their new lives. This is something that she's always wanted. To be married and start a family. But…her mind…strangely tells her that she was engaged before. She doesn't remember to whom, maybe she's imagining things again. It's that great imagination of hers.
'Welcome home, M-Mrs. McAvoy.' Lee states happily and Donna tilts his head down to him, they share a loving kiss. Donna can't believe how lucky she is to have met a man like Lee. When Donna opens her eyes again, there is a piercing white light that surrounds her.
Donna re-crosses her legs as she looks over to the photos that Dr. Moon is looking at. Two children dash into the room, apparently playing some sort of game, they laugh and run around the couch.
'Stop it!' Donna turns to scold them. 'Stop it now, we've got a visitor.'
'You've done so much in seven years, Donna.' Dr. Moon commends and Donna nods deeply. She turns to her children as they dash out of the room.
'Ah, sometimes it feels more like seventy,' She pauses, rather confused. 'Mind you, sometimes it feels like no time at all.' Now why would she say that? It only confuses her more.
Dr. Moon stands, placing the photo album on the coffee table and reaches for his briefcase. Donna stands with him and smiles.
'Can I just say what a pleasure it is to see you fully integrated?' He compliments and as Donna is about to respond to him. Dr. Moon becomes fuzzy. Donna frowns and widens her eyes as he disappears.
He's replaced by the Doctor and Rose. They are both looking upwards to something that Donna can't see.
'No, the signal's definitely coming from the moon. I'm blocking it, but it's trying to break through.' He frowns and looks at the screwdriver. Rose lowers her gaze and covers her mouth in shock.
'Donna?' She questions and it immediately causes the Doctor lower his gaze as well. His face breaks out into one of confused shock.
'Donna!'
Suddenly the Doctor and Rose disappear, to be replaced with Dr. Moon once more. He's no longer fuzzy, but as solid and as real as ever.
'Oops, sorry. Mrs. Angelo's rhubarb surprise. Will I never learn?' He smiles and chuckles a bit. Donna back away from him in shock.
'The Doctor! I saw the Doctor and Rose!' She cries and Dr. Moon's face becomes one of concern.
'Yes, you did, Donna. And then, you forgot.' Dr. Moon states.
At the end of his sentence Donna blinks and any concern or shock she felt about seeing those two from her dreams are gone. Donna doesn't even remember why she'd felt scared to begin with.
She notices Dr. Moon standing there and smiles at him, she didn't know that Dr. Moon had decided to pop in for a visit.
'Dr. Moon! Oh, hello! Shall I make you a cup of tea?'
Rose stops and turns her attention to the huge moon that is in the sky. The sky is colouring into deep hues, it will set soon. Then they will be in real trouble. The entire planet will be plunged into darkness.
River uses her sonic blaster to open a way into another room. Her group moves towards it and then in. River follows them and the Doctor has to take Rose's hand and lead her through the open hole.
'We just saw Donna…but…where is she?' Rose looks up to him.
'It has something to do with the moon and that signal.' He responds and they go through the hole. River is pointing to a clear spot in the room.
'Okay, we've got a clear spot. In, in! Right in the centre, in the middle of the light, quickly! Don't let your shadows cross. Doctor…'
'I'm doing it.' The Doctor lets go of Rose's hand and begins to examine the shadows around them with the Sonic Screwdriver.
Rose wraps her arms around herself trying to stop the sick, nervous feeling from devouring her. They are here, at least, some of them are. She can feel their eyes watching their group, but it wasn't as strong as it had been in the one room.
'There aren't any lights here, the sun is setting.' Rose informs them and River looks over to her.
'Right, we can't stay long.' River agrees and the Doctor makes a bit of a sound. River and Rose both turn their attention to him. He's bent down over a small cluster of shadows and frowning.
'Did you find them?' Rose wonders and he doesn't look over to her.
'Maybe, it's getting harder to tell,' He admits and then thrashes his sonic abruptly. 'What's wrong with you?' He mutters and hits it against the heel of his hand.
'We're gonna need a chicken leg. Who's got a chicken leg?' River turns to her group and Other Dave digs through his pack to find his lunch. He pulls out his lunch and hands River the chicken leg.
'Here.'
She smiles at him and turns to the shadows that the Doctor is examining and tosses it into them. Instantly it is stripped to the bone and lands with a thud on the ground.
'Okay, okay, we've got a hot one. Watch your feet.' River instructs and Rose instinctively looks around her. She shifts her weight from one foot to the other and wraps her arms around herself.
'They won't attack until there's enough of them,' The Doctor informs them and he stands beside Rose, placing his hands on her shoulder. 'But they have our scent now, they're coming. Are you all right?'
Rose nods a bit, although she is rather sceptic. 'It's just…kind of…disturbing…to know that a creature like this exists.'
'Yeah, I know.' The Doctor agrees and rubs her arms, trying to comfort her. Rose smiles and stops him. She takes the sonic out of his hand and frowns as she examines it.
'What's wrong with it?'
'Mm there's a signal coming from somewhere. It's interfering with it.' The Doctor has a bit of a sigh in his voice as he takes the sonic back from Rose and starts fiddling with it again.
River watches the two of them talking, although she can't hear what they're saying. She's caught the looks the two of the steal from one another when they believe no one is looking. It just confirms everything she's suspected. When she knows him, he's never stopped loving her.
Other Dave seems to have noticed something as well. He walks towards River who is still staring at the two of them.
'Who is he?' He questions, River turns to him and he keeps his voice low. 'You haven't even told us. You just expect him to trust him?' Other Dave wonders and River has a confident smirk on her face.
'He's the Doctor.'
'And who is the Doctor?' Other Dave crosses his arms, wanting there to be some answers. River has been like this since they first joined with her. She always just answers enough, or not at all.
'The only story you'll ever tell, if you survive him.' River informs him and Other Dave isn't convinced. She says they know each other, but he acts like he doesn't even know her.
Anita joins them; the two of them, too, intrigues her. 'You say he's your friend, bit he doesn't even know who you are.' She informs her and River places a hand on her hip. She shouldn't have to explain her private life to them. But she can tell they want some sort of explanation. She'll have to give them something to go on.
'Listen, all you need to know is this…I'd trust that man to the end of the universe. And actually, we've been. Rose isn't the only one.' River adds. Of course they arrived without incident. Maybe she's a little jealous that they didn't get to have an adventure like Rose had had.
'He doesn't act like he trusts you.' Anita observes and that hits River hard. He doesn't. He's been on edge around her. She hoped it wouldn't have to come to this, but she's beginning to think she has no choice. She doesn't know another way to win his trust.
'Yeah, there's a tiny problem. He hasn't met me yet.' River sighs and goes to approach the two of them.
The Doctor is still fiddling with it, and Rose is fishing for something in his coat pocket. She withdraws her hand and shakes her head. He shakes his head in return, sighing.
'So, did you figure out what the problem is?' River questions as she approaches them. They turn to look over to her and the Doctor nods his head.
'Yeah, there's a signal coming from somewhere.' The Doctor says and shakes the sonic again.
'Then use the red settings.' River states casually. The Doctor frowns at her.
'It doesn't have a red setting.' The Doctor informs her.
'Well, use the dampers.' River explains and Rose is confused. The Doctor gives River a funny look.
'It doesn't have dampers.' He responds.
'It will one day.' River informs him and he looks back to Rose who shrugs. The Doctor narrows his eyes. Rose knows that look and reaches for his hand. River pulls out her own sonic and wiggles it in front of the Doctor's face. He narrows his eyes at her.
Why would he just give her something that he hasn't even let Rose borrow yet. With Rose it'd be different. He trusts her so completely that if she asked, he wouldn't even hesitate. Who was this River to him, which he'd feel at ease giving her something so treasured to him. He wants to know who she is to him. Why does she feel like it's okay to speak to him in such an intimate tone and familiarity? He's growing annoyed with her ambiguous answers.
'So, some time in the future, I just let you borrow my screwdriver?' The Doctor folds his arms and narrows his eyes.
'Yeah.' River beams to him.
'Why would I do that? Tell me? Because I wouldn't just lend it to anyone. In fact, if I did lend it to someone, it'd be Rose first and foremost.' He states angrily.
'Look, I didn't pluck it from your cold dead hands, if that's what you're worried about.' River responds, rather annoyed that he'd imply that, but also that he mentioned Rose at a time like this. She'll have to tell him. He's picking fights with her over nothing. She is not his enemy.
'And I know that because…?' He wonders and leans forward for his answer.
'Doctor…let's save this for another time, yeah?' Rose tries to interject, and River steals a glance at her.
'Rose is right. Listen to me. You've lost your friend, you're angry, I understand. But you need to be less emotional, Doctor. Right now…' River is cut off by the Doctor's reaction to her last statement.
'Less em…' He stops and attempts his sentence once more. 'I'm not emotional!' He shouts at her.
'Doctor…' Rose takes her hand in his and he turns to her. 'Losing Donna is hard, okay? I want to find her just as badly as you do, if not more. But I know we'll find her. But let's think about this, there are still six of us in this room that are alive. And we have to focus on that.'
River admires Rose's ability to calm him down. Usually, she never could when they were together and he was upset. Now, though, he doesn't even appear to be annoyed with her anymore. Rose just gives him a meek smile and he suddenly embraces her. He nods in her embrace.
'Thank you. You're right.'
'Dear god, you're hard work young!' River observed, and really she meant nothing by it other than an innocent comment on how hard Rose appears to have to work to keep him in line. Though she wonders if she should have said anything at all, what with Rose being so close. She tilts her head and frowns at River.
'Young?' She echoes and that seems to set the Doctor off again.
'Who are you?!' He shouts at her again and River sighs. Why does she keep going on about how young he is? Just how far in his future do the two of them actually meet? She's amazed by his youth; at least she claims she is. How old is he when they do meet?
'Oh, for heaven's sake! Look at the three of you. We're all going to die right here, and you're all just standing around and bickering.' Lux angrily informs them and River realises that this is the moment. She needs him to see that he does trust her. Or at least he will.
'Doctor…one day I'm going to be someone that you trust. And right now, I can't wait for you to find that out. And so, I'm going to prove it to you…I'm sorry. I'm really very sorry.' River gets closer to him and leans in, she ensures that she is leaning away from Rose, after all, it is a secret. Rose can't help but notice that her last sentence is one that the Doctor would use…obviously River's picked up some of his habits in the time they'll be together. She feels the jealousy prick her.
Rose watches as River leans into him and whispers something into his ear. She watches at the Doctor's face goes from one of anger and annoyance into one of shock, stunned silence. When she pulls away from him, he doesn't move a first. He closes his mouth and Rose tilts her head.
'Are we good? Doctor…are we good?' River questions and the Doctor nods his head slowly.
'Yeah…yeah we're good.' He replies, lost in his own thoughts. How incredible. Rose doesn't even know that part of him. How did River get to know and Rose didn't? That can only mean one thing.
'Good.' River states, her voice is rather cold.
Rose is feeling a bit out of the loop. What did River tell him that would make him trust her and leave him in a shocked silence and amazement? Was it something about his eventual regeneration, maybe she was there? But that would mean that she'd have to tell him a portion of his own future, and surely River knows that she can't do that. What else is there? A code word? Rose is so lost in her own thoughts that she doesn't see River leave the two of them and head back to her own group.
The Doctor is still stunned, that River would know that before Rose. What does that mean for Rose? Where was she? He doesn't like the thought of that; it confirms that River seems to be out of sync with his timeline. Maybe Rose would be there…they just haven't made it that far ahead yet. But he can't worry about the oddity of that now, he has work to do. And so, he snaps himself out his daze and into reality.
'Know what's interesting about my screwdriver?' The Doctor questions the group, they all have vague looks on their faces, and Rose appears to have shaken herself out of her thoughts as well, shaking her head at his question. 'Very hard to interfere with, practically nothing's strong enough…well, except for Rose's hairdryer, don't know why that seems to be the only one, I'm working that. 'So there is a very strong signal coming from somewhere, and it wasn't there before, so,' He rubs his hands together. 'What's new, what's changed?'
The group just looks at each other, confused. Was that question directed at them or was it rhetorical?
'Well come on! What's new? What's different?'
'I dunno, nothing. It's getting dark.' Other Dave informs them and the Doctor looks up to the quickly darkening sky over the dome. He tilts his head at the moon and frowns.
'Moon rise…' He mutters to himself and turns to Lux. 'Tell me about the moon. What's there?'
'It's not real; it was built as part of the Library. It's just a doctor moon.' Lux informs them and he too takes a glance at the moon.
'What's a doctor moon?' The Doctor inquires and Lux breaks his stare with the moon to turn his attention back to the Doctor.
'A virus checker. It supports and maintains the main computer at the core of the planet.' Lux responds, unsure of why he needed to explain that to him.
The Doctor turns his sonic back on and studies it before turning his gaze back to the group. 'Well, still active, it's signalling, look,' He shows them. 'Someone somewhere in this Library is alive and communicating with the moon, or, possibly alive and drying their hair using the same brand that Rose uses. No, the signal is definitely coming from the moon. I'm blocking it, but it's trying to break through…'
Rose is staring off, only half listening to his explanation; more of her energy is focused on trying to figure out what River told him. It's driving her nuts. When she looks up she sees a fuzzy image of Donna that appears in the Library.
'Donna!' Rose cries and steps forward. It causes everyone to turn to where she's looking. But just as soon as she spotted Donna, she's gone. Rose frowns turns to the Doctor who appears to be equally as stunned as she is.
'Doctor, that was your friend!' River exclaims. 'Can you get her back? What was that?'
The Doctor continues to fiddle with the sonic. 'Hold on, hold on, hold on. I'm trying to find the wavelength,' He informs them, pointing the sonic at the air in different spots. 'Ah, I'm being blocked.' He sighs defeated. Something doesn't want him interfering with it. What is it? The moon is blocking his attempts to divulge deeper into this mystery. Almost as if it doesn't want to give up whatever it is that it's doing.
'Professor?' Anita calls to River, her voice is shaking a bit as she tries to remain calm. She hadn't felt the feeling until it was too late; the cold, wet feeling suddenly surrounded and then engulfed her. She stays perfectly still, not wanting to disturb the creatures that are now a part of her.
'Just a moment.' River states, but she doesn't look back. Anita begins to tear up, feeling them fall down her cheeks.
'It's important…I have two shadows.' Anita responds. And she feels the tears run down her face again. She can't even wipe them away.
'Okay, helmets on, everyone. Anita I'll get yours.' River feels immensely guilty now for bringing them here. For allowing everyone to die, they were on her watch and she's failed them. They are being picked off one by one and it hurts her immeasurably.
She brushes away Anita's tears before she puts her helmet on, locking it into place. 'It didn't do Proper Dave any good.' Anita reminds her and River places her hand on Anita's shoulder, trying to comfort her as best she can.
'Keep it together, okay?' River smiles to her, trying to reassure her. It causes a fresh wave of tears to fall from Anita's eyes and her bottom lip trembles. She doesn't want to die like this…
'Keeping it together…'Anita scoffs at River's remark. 'I'm only crying…because I'm about to die, it's not an overreaction.' Anita closes her eyes as River places the helmet on her head.
'Hang on.' The Doctor informs her as he's suddenly thought of something and he aims his sonic at Anita's visor. It instantly blackens and River covers her mouth in horror and sadness.
'Oh god, they've gotten inside.' River points and Rose closes her eyes, disheartened that they've had to lose another member of their team.
'No, no, no, I just tinted her visor. Maybe they'll think they're already in there, leave her alone.' The Doctor hopes and Anita becomes a bit more hopeful that she can survive this.
'Doctor, do you think that they can be tricked like that?' Rose questioned but the look he gave her tells her that he isn't sure. Rose hangs her head and then turns to Anita, hoping with her all that she can overcome this.
'Maybe…I don't know. It's a swarm, it's not like we chat.' The Doctor turns to Rose and she flings him an unimpressed look to show she didn't appreciate his sarcasm.
'Can you still see in there?' Other Dave ventures closer to Anita in case she can't see. Anita doesn't move, but she does squint her eyes so she can see him better.
'Just about.' Anita admits and Rose walks closer to her, so she can see that she hasn't scared everyone away.
Rose notices something out of the corner of her eye as she walks towards Anita, mindful that their shadows do not cross. Quickly she double checks to ensure that she hasn't mistaken it. She hasn't. They are in for some trouble now. And what about Anita? Will she be safe to move? Or will that speed the process up, because then the Vashta Nerada will know that their prey is alive.
She backs away from Anita and bites her lip. She doesn't want to alert everyone so that they don't panic.
'Doctor…' Rose whispers to him and beckons him over to her. Confused the Doctor approaches her and she quickly spins him around so that they have their backs to the group.
'So, um…remember how I said there were six of us still here…alive?' Rose whispers, keeping her voice barely above an audible tone.
'Yeah…what about it…?'
'I think…there are seven of us now…' Rose bites her lip as the Doctor spins around quickly. It causes River and Other Dave to do the same. They see the ominous figure in a spacesuit standing in the background.
'Hey! Who turned out the lights?' That familiar looping has driven its into the depths of Rose's head, she will never be able to forget that sound, the voice…nothing.
'Run!' The Doctor shouts to them and he takes Rose's hand. They all run of room as fast as they all can. Rose turns over her shoulder as they run from the creature. He awkwardly lumbers after them, repeating the loop over and over, as it surrounds them.
'Hey! Who turned out the lights? Hey! Who turned out the lights? Hey! Who turned out the lights?'
'Rose, don't focus on it!' The Doctor calls to her and Rose snaps out of her daze, realising that she was starting to fall behind. He gives her hand a quick pull forward and she lets out a cry of surprise.
The little girl has been watching the channel of the room that the Doctor and the rest of his group had been on with great interest. But when she encounters the creature that had been chasing them on the television, she grew scared of it. It was a skeleton, and it was chasing them!
While she wants to continue to watch them, to see if they can escape and make it to safety, she can't go on staring at the scary creature that is pursuing them. It's terrifying her.
Instead, she reaches for the remote and changes the channel to one that shows the interior of Donna's home. She smiles and settles herself into a comfortable position on the floor, resting her chin in her hands.
Donna enters the living room, holding two cups of tea in her hands.
'Here we are, Dr. Moon.'
She frowns, that's rather odd, she was sure Dr. Moon had just been in here. Because she went to make him tea, because he mentioned Mrs. Angelo's rhubarb…and he had accepted her offer. So, where did he go? Donna looks around, he isn't here…
'Mummy I made you!' She shoves a clay figure up into Donna's face. Donna looks down to her daughter and smiles warmly at her. She notices that something is off with the replica.
'Oh, that's nice, Ella. Where's the face?' Donna questions and Ella lowers the clay figure and turns it back around to look at it. Ella studies for a few moments and then looks back up to her.
'I don't know.' She admits and watches her mother set down the cups of tea, unsure of why she made two to begin with. She watches her mother look around the entire room and frowns.
'Did you see Dr. Moon? Did he leave?' Donna questions. Ella doesn't answer her when she notices that another person has entered the room.
'Daddy!' Ella cries and notices that her brother rushes in to greet him as well.
'Hey! Ella, Joshua! Come here! Big hugs!' Lee embraces them tightly as they vey for his attention. When he looks up to Donna, he finds her staring at him rather confused.
Ella lets go and runs to the table where she's left the clay figure. She picks it up and quickly runs back to her father. She holds it up in Lee's face and wiggles it enthusiastically.
'Look what I made!' Ella says excitedly and Lee takes it from her hands, he examines it and smiles.
'Oh, it's mummy?' He questions and Donna frowns slightly.
'Um, it hasn't got a face,' Donna informs him and she takes a quick look around the living room once more. Dr. Moon must have had to go. Maybe Lee passed him on the way out. 'Did you see Dr. Moon?' Donna questions and Lee frowns.
'No, why, was he here?'
'Yeah, just a second ago. You must have passed him.' Donna insists. Slightly bemused, she walks towards the window in the living room, thinking maybe she could wave him off.
Once she gets there, she doesn't see Dr. Moon at all. Instead there is a woman in a black, elegant Victorian dress passing by her house. The woman stops for a brief moment and turns up to look at Donna. Her face is veiled, so Donna doesn't know whom she could be.
The woman continues on her way, leaving Donna more confused.
'You all right?' Lee inquires, snapping Donna from her thoughts and she turns away from the window.
'Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine, it's just…' Donna pauses. What was it just? Who was that woman, and more importantly, where had Dr. Moon gone? He had just been standing in her living room. But then he was gone. It all so confusing…
'Just?'
'Nothing,' Donna assures him and embraces him tightly. 'It's been a long day, that's all. I'm just tired.' That's all it had to be, she's tired and it's her brain playing tricks on her. It has to be.
Donna looks around to find herself in her pyjamas. But it had just been early evening. What happened? Did they really go through their entire evening already? They must have, they're in their bedroom and they are getting ready for bed. Lee has noticed that Donna is staring off into nothingness and he reaches out to touch her shoulder. Donna jumps slightly.
'You okay?' Lee questions and Donna is still off in thought, confused. What exactly is going on here? Donna is mentally trying to go over the rest of their night.
'I said I was tired, and…' She trails off as the memories begin to come back to her. Of course, everything is there, she didn't forget. Of course, why was she feeling confused and nervous? 'And we put the kids to bed, and we watched television.' She confirms and lets out a shaky breath.
An odd sounding noise from the front door causes them to turn their attention to their bedroom door. It was almost like the mail slot had been opened.
'Was that a letter?' Donna wonders and she stands.
'It's midnight.' Lee turns over to the analogue clock sitting on the night table. He too stands and walks out of their bedroom towards their front door. Donna goes over to the window and widens her eyes.
On the softly lit street, the woman in the black dress is standing right in front of Donna's house. She is looking right at Donna and lowers her hand, almost in acknowledgement.
She hears Lee's soft footsteps as they come down the hall and into their room. He's staring at the letter's odd contents.
'The world is wrong.' He announces as he reads the strange letter.
Donna turns away from the window confused at what Lee has just said. He's holding a letter in his hands. 'What?'
'It's for you. Weird, though. 'Dear Donna, the world is wrong. Meet me at your usual play park, two o'clock tomorrow.'' Lee recites and Donna approaches him, taking the letter from his hands. She walks back towards the window and still sees the woman as she continues to stare at Donna, she lingers in the streets for a few moments for she turns and walks down the street. Her dress's train trailing behind her.
'Nutter.' Donna mutters as she watches the woman disappear. She glances at the letter again and frowns. As she sits on her side of the bed, Donna angrily shoves it into the night table drawer.
Whose world is wrong? It isn't hers; she's got a perfect world, a loving, gorgeous husband and two beautiful children. Her life is perfect. However there is this little voice in her mind that silently agreed with the note. A part of her questioned her existence here. It takes a lot of effort to silence that voice within her. And out of curiosity, she decides that she will go. So she can meet this odd woman who seems to be hell bent on disproving her life.
The little girl watches the television in horror. Donna can't go! She simply can't. Her world will start to crumble. She leans back, hoping that Donna won't go.
'Don't go…please don't go.' She whispers frantically, but is unable to tear her gaze away. That woman in black will ruin everything.
Donna holds both of her children's hands as they reach the play park. It's busy today; there are a lot of children running around. Of course, she can see why, it's a beautiful day. While the sun isn't out in full force, marred partially by clouds, it's still warm in the air. It's pleasant in the sunlight, but slightly cooler in the shade.
Donna adjusts her children's coats and smiles warmly at them. They impatiently tug at her hands, wanting to have permission to be released so that they could go and play with the others.
She catches sight of the woman in the Victorian dress sitting on a bench nearby looking very still and stiff. Donna narrows her eyes and then turns her attention back to her children.
'All right, you two, off you go,' They let go of her hands and run towards the playground. 'No fighting!' She calls after them.
Smiling to herself, Donna turns to the woman and approaches her. It's unnerving that she can't see the woman's face shrouded behind that veil and Donna sits, feeling her eyes on her.
'I got your note last night. 'The world is wrong,' what's that mean?' Donna questions and the woman quickly glances to the children playing along with the other parents standing on the sidelines. This will not be easy to get her to understand. She's been integrated; she believes this to be real. But she and Rose had been so kind to her, and while she doesn't understand where Rose is, she will help Donna. She wants to extend her the same kindness that they had showed her.
She takes a deep breath and tries to word it in a way that Donna will understand. 'You didn't get my note last night. You got it a few seconds ago,' She replies and Donna's face knits into one of confusion. 'Having decided to come, you suddenly found yourself arriving. That is how time progresses here, in the manner of a dream. You've suspected that before, haven't you, Donna Noble?'
'How do you know me?' Donna inquires, so confused. She doesn't ever remember having met this woman in black before, in all of the seven years she can remember. And yet, this woman knows her, knows her maiden name, not her married name. Why would she refer to her by that name and not her married name? Is this a woman from her past? Donna would entirely remember a woman of her nature, but there seems to be such large gaps in her memory…
'We met before, in the Library. You and Rose were kind to me. And now, I hope to return that kindness…' She replies and remembers their attempts to cheer her up after her friends didn't want her help, how deciding to explore that room cost her life.
'Your voice…I recognise it.' Donna informs her and her mind starts to assault her with images.
'Yes, you do. I am what is left of Miss Evangelista.' She states and Donna widens her eyes.
The images push themselves into the forefront of her mind as she recalls how that young woman had stepped forward with contracts, which she, Rose and the Doctor tore up, how she had wanted to help her team set up equipment, but they wouldn't let her. They were frustrated with her perceived stupidity. How she and Rose attempted to comfort her when the flying books had unnerved her. And when she wanted to help out and explore that room, it had killed her.
Donna remembers the skeleton in the spacesuit resting against a load-bearing column. The neural relay, how she attempted to talk to them, even though she had died. She couldn't do it. But Rose did, they talked her into her death.
'Miss Evangelista?' Donna echoes, slightly unnerved. How did she get here? She's supposed to be dead.
'Let's go, faster, faster!' The Doctor shouts back to the group as they've started to fall behind. He looks past everyone else to Anita. How he hopes this won't affect her in any negative way.
The group continues to run through the corridor that is connecting two high buildings. This looks like it might work. The Doctor stops suddenly and Rose crashes in to the back of him.
'You've gotta stop doing that.' She playfully scolds him. He turns to her, and his grin is playful as well.
'You need to pay attention more.' He counters and Rose places her hands on her hips. Although, she wonders why they have come to a halt when that creature is still chasing them.
River and the rest of what remains of her original group catches up to them and River catches her breath before she turns over her shoulder, confused and then back to him.
'Professor, go ahead, find a safe spot.' The Doctor instructs and River narrows her eyes at him. What is he planning to do?
'It's a carnivorous swarm in a suit, you can't reason with it.' River informs him. They will not listen to him, they can't. All they care about right now, it the chase, the hunt. They are enjoying every moment of this pursuit. It isn't as if a man in a brown coat will suddenly convince them to leave them alone.
'Five minutes.' His voice breaks her thoughts and she shakes her head in a reluctant agreement, she turns to Rose.
'Rose, stay with him, and pull him out when he's too stupid to do it himself,' River turns to leave but another thought strikes her. She turns to Other Dave and points her finger at him. 'Other Dave, stay with Rose, pull them both out when they are too stupid to do it themselves. You've two minutes, Doctor. Rose, minute and a half. Other Dave, a minute.' River warns them, and she gathers the remainder of her group, turning them in the direction, which she believes will be safe.
Rose opens her mouth to protest, but the Doctor shakes his head and River just raises her eyebrows, with a smirk on her face. She winks at her and turns to leave, Anita, and Lux follow River out of the room.
The creature appears at the end of the corridor. 'Hey! Who turned out the lights?' The voice travels down the corridor and surrounds them. It sends chills down her spine and the Doctor freely approaches the creature. Shoving his hands into his pockets, he waits, rocking back on his heels. Rose walks towards him a bit, keeping her distance and sharply inhales as the creature stops in front of the Doctor.
'You hear that? Those words? That is the very last thought of the man who wore that suit before you climbed inside it and stripped his flesh,' The Doctor takes another step towards the creature. It stands before them rather awkwardly. 'That's a man's soul trapped inside a neural relay, going round and round forever. Now, if you don't have the decency to let him go, how about this? Use him. Talk to me. It's easy, neural relay. Just point and think. Use him, talk to me.'
'Hey! Who turned out the lights?' Is his only reply.
Undeterred the Doctor exhales slowly. 'The Vashta Nerada live on all the worlds in this system, but you hunt in forests. What are you doing in a Library.'
'We should go. Rose, tell him!' Other Dave cries, but she holds out her hand to silence him, without turning to him. She's too captivated by the creature, wondering if it will truly speak to them.
'In a minute.' Rose informs him.
'You came to the Library to hunt, why? Just tell me.' The Doctor pleads and Rose watches the creature shift its body, tilting its head. Rose takes a careful step closer to the Doctor, hoping she won't spook it.
'We…did not.' The creature manages to get out and the Doctor and Rose exchange surprised looks.
'Oh, hello.' He smiles at the creature.
'We did not.' The creature insists and the Doctor frowns at that statement. But something else strikes him. This will be new to them; they've never been given the chance to speak to anyone before.
'Take it easy, you'll get the hang of it,' The Doctor encourages and he turns back to Rose, who despite being rather scared of these creatures, she's looking at them with a candid fascination. After all, they did just speak, and not on a rather eerie loop. 'Did not what?'
'We…did not…come…here.' The creature insists. They are starting to get the hang of this communication thing. Using the neural relay hasn't been that difficult, and the strange man was right, it was easier if they took their time.
The Doctor frowns. 'Well, of course you did, of course you came here.' He insists. The question was, how did they get here. What brought them here, into a library to hunt.
'We come from here.' The creature insists, the voice becoming stronger as it gains more confidence in using the neural relay.
'From here?' The Doctor echoes and ponders that statement.
'We hatched here.' The creatures replies and shifts the body again, Rose turns away, finding the movement a bit odd, and unnerving.
'But you hatch from trees, from spores in trees.' The Doctor maintains, confused by the riddles, they're as bad as River.
It dawns on Rose; she understands their anger, their rage and their confusion.
'These are our forests.'
'You're nowhere near a forest, look around you.' The Doctor motions to their surroundings and Rose inwardly sighs, he's a bit thick sometimes.
'These are our forests.'
'You're not in a forest, you're…' Rose abruptly cuts him of by nudging him. 'What is it?'
'Don't you see? Don't you get it?' Rose questions and the Doctor merely stares at her. 'You daft alien, they've come from the books.' Rose sympathetically shakes her head at him.
He turns over his shoulder and nods his head, the vastness of the Library; it all makes sense to him now.
'We should go! Rose, tell him!' Other Dave pleads with her and Rose shakes her head, still fascinated by the creature standing before them.
'Books…you came in the books. Microspores in a million million books.' The Doctor informs them and Rose closes her eyes. They were essentially harvested, their home taken from them. Everything has a story, and sometimes the story doesn't get told. In this case, the revenge driven Vashta Nerada decided to claim all those Library patrons as food. Maybe in a form of punishment.
'We should go! Rose, tell him!'
'In a second!' Rose insists and the Doctor looks past the creature. He really studies the Library's surroundings.
'Oh, look at that,' The Doctor continues to stare out into the endless city of bookshelves, oh how could he have missed the message. He was so thankful for Rose having understood the hidden message. 'The forests of the Vashta Nerada, pulped and printed and bound. A million million books, hatching shadows.'
'Do you think it was done deliberately?' Rose questions and the Doctor ponders that.
'Hard to say, maybe not. How could they have known? Many of those who encounter the Vashta Nerada don't live to get the story out. I can't recall any time of someone encountering them and recording a conversation. They usually eat first and don't ask questions.'
'We should go! Rose, tell him!' Other Dave calls her to Rose.
'Hush! Just a moment, Other Dave!' Rose stops as she really digests the words that Other Dave has been staying to her over the course of this conversation. He's been repeating them.
'Oh no…Doctor…it's Other Dave…' Rose informs him and the Doctor turns and sighs slightly.
'Oh Dave! Oh, Dave, I'm so sorry.' The Doctor states sadly and together they notice that his neural relay is blinking, and now, behind the helmet, there is just a skull. They've become trapped. It seems the creatures in the other suit have finished their attempts at a conversations as it takes another step towards the two of them.
'Hey! Who turned out the lights?'
'We should go! Rose, tell him!'
The Doctor pulls Rose towards him and smirks at the two creatures closing in on them and holds Rose close. 'Thing about me, I'm stupid, I talk too much, always babbling on, this gob doesn't for anything, well, maybe for Rose here. Wanna know the reason I'm still alive? Always stay near the door.'
The Doctor points the sonic at the floor, opening up a trap door in the floor and they plummet, Rose lets out a scream from surprise. They are falling hundreds of floors to the ground. She looks up to see the creatures staring down at them, confused.
'Grab a hold Rose!' The Doctor instructs, rather mumbled and Rose grips the metal structures that are underneath the corridor. Rose tries to build up the momentum needed and together they begin their climb. She tries not to look down, but her heart is beating out of her chest. She was never really scared of heights before, but this is seriously making her reconsider it.
They continue to climb until they've reached solid ground. The Doctor climbs up and helps Rose, who is shaking, she shakes her hands, trying to get the feeling back into her fingers. They embrace each other tightly, Rose is still shaking in his arms, and the adrenaline is still going through her body. She pulls away and gives him a meaningful stare.
'Warn a gal next time you decide to do that, yeah?' Rose lets out a shaky breath.
'Sorry…' The Doctor smiles sheepishly, and he gets to his feet. He extends his hand, but Rose waves him off.
'I'm gonna…I'm gonna need a second. I'm still too…' She doesn't continue, she doesn't need to, he can see it.
The Doctor pulls her to her feet anyway. 'Sorry, Rose, but we haven't got time. We need to find the others.'
He wraps his arm around her waist and leads her back out of the small platform they climbed to. He walks quickly, but keeps Rose close, slowing down when he needs to.
'What are we going to do?' Rose looks up to him. 'I mean they've been turned into books…I'd be angry too…'
'I'm not sure yet. Working on it, we have to find Donna though, it's like she's here, but she's not. I think it has something to do with the moon.'
'I hope she's okay…wherever she is.' Rose looks over her shoulder, never understanding how much she missed Donna until she wasn't with them. She wants to find her soon.
'I suggested we meet here because a playground is the easiest place to see it,' Miss Evangelista informs Donna, but she stares at her with a vacant look. 'To see the lie.'
'What lie?'
Miss Evangelista smiles sadly at Donna. 'The children, look at the children.'
Donna ignores her statement and tilts her head, staring at the veil that shrouds her features. Donna remembers Miss Evangelista being a very beautiful young lady, why would she want hide that?
'Why do you wear that veil?' Donna couldn't take the mystery any longer. 'If I had a face like yours, I wouldn't hide it.' She compliments and Miss Evangelista breathes a small sigh of relief.
'You remember my face, then?' She nods slightly. That's a very, very good sign. Because everyone here has mostly forgotten. 'The memories are all still there, the Library, Rose, the Doctor, me. You've just been programmed not to look.'
Donna frowns at that statement. It's true, but something else bothers her, Miss Evangelista is no longer a part of the living. How is this possible? 'Sorry, but…you're dead.' Donna didn't know how to phrase that statement nicely. Is her ghost visiting her?
'In a way, we're all dead here, Donna. We are the dead of the Library.' Miss Evangelista informs her and Donna shakes her head. That's impossible; they are all so very alive. Every one of them. If she believes in one thing, it's her children. Her children keep her going. They are her life, and they are very much alive.
'Well, what about the children?' Donna challenges and motions to them. Miss Evangelista watches them playing around, the giggling. How false this world of hers is. 'The children aren't dead. My children aren't dead.' Donna's voice shakes with conviction.
'Your children were never alive.' Miss Evangelista replies simply. Donna begins to tremble with anger and she points her finger into Miss Evangelista's face.
'Don't say that,' Donna whispers furiously at her, trying to keep her voice low so she won't draw attention to them. It's funny, why aren't they drawing attention to themselves. There's a woman in a black Victorian dress…how is she not sticking out. Donna doesn't want to focus on that now, she narrows her eyes at her. 'Don't you dare say that about my children!'
'Your children were never alive.' She counters and Donna narrows her eyes at her, she leans in closer to Miss Evangelista trying to become intimidating.
'Don't you say that. Don't you dare say that about my children!' Donna feels the heat rising in her cheeks; she's never been more angered by a simple sentence in her entire life. To infer that her children are not real, or that they are not alive sickens her to her very core.
'Look at your children. Look at all of them, really look.' Miss Evangelista extends her hand and motions to them, all of them playing on the playground without a care in the world.
Donna widens her eyes in shock. They are all wearing the same clothes as Joshua and Ella. How is that possible? How does that even make sense? Donna's breathing becomes uneven as she stares at the children in utter astonishment. Miss Evangelista places her hand on Donna's shoulder.
'They're not real. Do you see it now? They're all the same. All the children of this world, the same boy and the same girl, over and over again.'
'Stop it. Just stop it!' Donna cries in disbelief and shock. 'Why are you doing this? Why are you wearing that veil?' Donna snatches the veil from Miss Evangelista's face and recoils from the horror.
Her face is completely contorted, Donna screams from the repulsion and it causes her children to as well.
The little girl had been watching on the television from her living room, and she too screams when Miss Evangelista's face is revealed to her. She hides her face in a pillow, hoping that girl will put that veil back on. She doesn't want to be scared anymore.
River has found a safer place for Anita and Lux. She is carefully examining each of the shadows to ensure that they are safe, for now. She quickly looks over shoulder to the only door in the room. She lets out a soft sigh and goes back to studying the shadows. Is he okay? What about Rose and Dave? Was he successful in talking with the Vashta Nerada? She doubted that greatly, they are simply a swarm. It's unlikely that he could communicate with it.
She worries for him, she always will. And she supposes she'll always love him as well. But, she understands, now, that he could never return it. He enjoyed her personality and attitude. Meeting him, who he is now, it painted a very clear picture for her. Of a woman who came first in his life, and was still first even when they were no longer together. The real reason, she had yet to get from him.
'If you two were so close, where'd she go? Why isn't she here?
'I…asked something of her…and she didn't get a choice in the matter. So, she's gone.'
'Then go visit her, isn't it simple?'
'If it were that simple, don't you think I would have done it already?'
Maybe that's where she picked up her perceived mysterious streak. It was from him, because he is certainly good at it. And while she's had many adventures without him, and many amazing ones with him…River smiles at all the whimsical places he's taken her, his attempt at offering his condolences for something he couldn't or wouldn't give her.
'You know…it's funny, I keep wishing the Doctor was here.' River informs the other two; he gives her strength when she needs it. And right now, she needs it.
'The Doctor is here, isn't he? He's coming back, right?' Anita quietly asks. She hopes that he will be able to help her get out of this situation. Maybe she will be the lucky one.
River ponders her life a bit more and this meeting that she's had with the past version of him. Especially how she talks to him without revealing certain points in his future. Well, she certainly is good at that. She turns to Anita and Lux, a bit of a wistful smile is on her features.
'You know when you see a photograph of someone you know, but it's from years before you knew them? It's like they're not quite…finished, they're not done yet? Well…yes, the Doctor's here. He came when I called, just like he always does. But not the Doctor that I know. Now, the Doctor that I know…' River pauses and remembers the one time that simply left her speechless. 'I've seen whole armies turn and run away. And he'd just swagger off back to his TARDIS and open the doors with a snap of his fingers. The Doctor…in the TARDIS…next stop, everywhere.' River shakes her head a bit and presses her lips together.
'Spoilers!' The Doctor's voice cuts through the silence, announcing his return. 'Nobody can open a TARDIS by snapping their fingers. It doesn't work like that.'
'It does for the Doctor.' River counters and Rose frowns, looking up to the Doctor who has an unimpressed look on his features.
'I am the Doctor.' He insists, but River just flings him one of her cocky smiles.
'Yeah. Some day.' She admits and the Doctor walks by her, so he can see Anita. Rose just stands there, unsure of what to do. So she twists her sweater sleeves. Dissecting River's comments about opening the TARDIS with a snap of his fingers. Do keys become obsolete?
'How are you doing?' The Doctor inquires and Anita closes her eyes.
'Where's Other Dave?' River questions and she turns to Rose.
'He…won't be coming. I'm sorry, River.' Rose informs her and River closes her eyes at the loss of another one of her team members.
'Well, if they've taken him, why haven't they gotten me yet?' Anita wonders and the Doctor looks around and still notices that she has two shadows.
'Maybe tinting your visor's making a difference.' He tells her and Anita lets out a bit of a huff.
'It's making a difference all right. No one's ever going to see my face again.' Anita replies and the Doctor closes his eyes.
'Can I get you anything?' He offers. Anita ponders that for a moment before she thinks of something.
'An old age would be nice. Anything you can do?' She questions and the Doctor nods his head.
'I'm all over it.' He turns to leave but Anita calls him back to her. She could really do with some supportive words.
'Doctor…when we first met you, you didn't trust Professor Song. And then she whispered a word in your ear, and you did,' Anita begins and the Doctor had hoped that they wouldn't have been paying attention to that. He looks over to Rose, who is just standing there, unsure of what to do. He sighs a bit. 'My life so far…' Anita continues and she smiles ruefully. 'I could do with a word like that. What did she say?' She pauses. 'Give a dead girl a break. Your secrets are safe with me.'
'Safe…' The Doctor echoes and he widens his eyes. Oh, of course, how could he miss something so vital like that?
'What?' Anita questions.
'Safe,' He repeats. 'You don't say saved, nobody says saved, you say safe. The data fragment! What did it say?' The Doctor asks, as he turns to Lux.
"4,022 people saved. No survivors." Lux recalls.
'Doctor? What is it? What'd you think of?' Rose calls to him and he turns to the group as he starts to pace.
'Nobody says saved, nutters say saved, you say safe. But you see, it didn't mean safe, it meant…it literally meant…saved!'
Donna swallows nervously as she studies Miss Evangelista's horrible face and she leans back.
'What happened to your face?' Donna whispers quietly, her face still has the remnants of shock on it.
'Transcription errors. Destroyed my face, did wonders for my intellect,' Miss Evangelista smiles regretfully. 'I'm a very poor copy of myself.'
The little girl has pulled her face away from the pillow and she continues to watch Miss Evangelista and Donna on her television, but she is looking very scared. That woman could spoil everything.
'Where are we? Why are the children all the same?' Donna inquires as she looks back at the children. Indeed they are all the same.
'The same pattern over and over. It saves an awful lot of space.' Miss Evangelista informs her and Donna frowns.
'Space?' She echoes.
The little girl widens her eyes in despair and covers her ears from the shock.
'No! Don't tell, you mustn't tell!' She cries out in anguish.
The Doctor has located another information terminal and Rose is standing beside him fascinated as he works through the information.
'See, Rose, there it is, right there!' He points on to the screen and River joins them. 'A hundred years ago, massive power surge, all the teleports going at once. Soon as the Vashta Nerada hit their hatching cycle, they attack. Someone hits the alarm, the computer tries to teleport everyone out.' He explains and River stares at the terminal in shock.
'It tried to teleport, 4,022 people?' River repeats, simply stunned.
'Succeeded, pulled them all out, but then what? Nowhere to send them, nowhere safe in the whole Library, Vashta Nerada growing in every shadow. 4,022 people all beamed up and nowhere to go. They're stuck n the system, waiting to be sent, like emails. So what's a computer to do? What does a computer always do?' The Doctor questions and Rose widens her eyes.
'It saves them. A computer saves them.' Rose states and the Doctor nods deeply.
'The Library, whole world of books, and right at the core, the biggest hard drive in history. The index to everything written, backup copies of every single book. The computer saved 4,022 people the only way a computer can. It saved them to the hard drive.' He declares and River doesn't know what to think, and yet, it all makes sense. Incredible.
Miss Evangelista can still see the confusion written all over her face and so she takes a small breath and tries to explain it as best she can.
'Your physical self is stored in the Library as an energy signature. It can be actualised again whenever you or the Library requires.'
'The Library? If my face ends up on one of those statues…' Donna starts, immediately annoyed her. She remembered being angry that the Library used people's faces. And the Doctor attempted to explain it away.
'You remember the statues?' Miss Evangelista inquired, hopeful.
'Wait, no, just…hang on. So…this isn't the real me? This isn't my real body? But I've been dieting!' Donna cried exasperated. All that hard work for naught.
'What you see around you, this entire world is nothing more than virtual reality.' Miss Evangelista gestures to their surroundings.
'So why do you look like that?' Donna wonders.
'I had no choice. You teleported. You're a perfect reproduction. I was just a data ghost caught in the Wi-Fi and automatically uploaded.' Miss Evangelista replies sadly. Cursed to forever look contorted, a shell of her former self. Although it gave her intelligence, so, perhaps, it can't be all bad.
'If this is a all a dream…whose dream is it?' Donna questions and Miss Evangelista ponders.
'It's hard to see everything in the data core, even for me, but there is a word. Just one word. CAL.'
The girl begins to cry as Miss Evangelista reveals the word on the screen. More tears push themselves down her face as she reaches for the remote and pushes a key hard on the remote. She pushes it with force. She has to make an attempt to keep them here and ensure that they don't start to question. She has to keep Donna Noble safe and believing her world is real.
'Mummy! My knee!' Ella calls to her from the ground, she is crying and Donna is on her feet running to her child. She kneels down and smiles sadly at her daughter's injured knee.
'Oh, oh look at that knee! Oh, look at that silly old knee!' Donna hugs Ella tightly.
Miss Evangelista looks on sadly and attempts once more to shake Donna into the actual reality. 'She's not real. They're fictions. I'm sorry, but now that you understand that, you won't be able to keep a hold. They are sustained only by your belief.'
Donna snaps her head to Miss Evangelista and narrows her eyes. 'You don't know, you don't have children!' She spat.
Miss Evangelista, unfazed, offers only a simple response. 'Neither do you.'
Shocked by that statement, Donna takes Ella's hand, pulling her to her feet and reaches for Joshua's hand once he approaches them. She pulls them away from Miss Evangelista and her lies.
'Donna, for your own sake, let them go!' She calls to them.
Why won't this lady stop telling lies? She begins to yell at the television out of frustration, desperation and fear.
'Stop it! You'll spoil everything! I hate you; you're going to ruin everything! Stop it!'
Her shouting has alerted her father and he comes into the living room to see his daughter pointing her finger at the television.
'Sweetie, what's wrong?' He inquires and the little girl turns to him. Her face is red and there are numerously falling from her eyes.
'Shut up!' She yells and snatches the remote off the table and forcibly pushes a button. Her father disappears into thin air. 'Daddy! No! Daddy!' She sobs and tosses the remote to the ground in despair.
An alarm has begun to sound in the Library and everyone begins to search for the source. Lux begins to grow panicked.
'What is it? What's wrong?'
'Autodestruct enabled in twenty minuets.' A computer's voice fills the room.
'Ah, nothing like a bit of a time crunch for us to figure out the mystery.' Rose replies and the Doctor smiles.
'That's how I prefer to work anyway.' He agrees and Rose grins.
Donna is still fuming at Miss Evangelista for implying that this reality is false, that they aren't real. She can feel their hands in hers, the grime off of Joshua's hand, how are they not real?
'Mummy? What did that lady mean? Are we not real? Where are we going?' Ella questions tumble out of her mouth in a rush. Donna answers only the last one.
'Home!' She cries out desperately.
When she blinks, she finds herself in their living room. Donna looks around confused. The lights are red now, why is that? And there's an alarm blazing, piercing the usual comforting silence. Has someone let their car alarm go off?
'That was quick, wasn't it, mummy?' Ella states and Donna frowns at her.
She watches as Joshua gets down from the couch and goes over to the window, confused and scared he turns to Donna. 'Mummy, what's wrong with the sky?'
Donna approaches the window and covers her mouth; the sight of the sky terrifies them.
'What's maximum erasure?' River questioned as she studies the terminal.
'Twenty minutes, this planet's gonna crack like an egg.' The Doctor states and Lux shakes his head in denial.
'No!' He shouts. 'No, it's all right; the doctor moon will stop it. It's programmed to protect CAL.' He states confidently, although his voice has lost some of its certainty.
The girl is now sobbing uncontrollably on the ground, she's lost her father and that mean woman in the black dress is trying to wake everyone up. Question their existence.
She is vaguely aware that Dr. Moon has come forth, and it speaking to her in his usual calming tone. She doesn't want to hear him anymore and she reaches for the remote.
'Now, you really must stop this, you know,' He gently chides. 'You've forgotten again it was you who saved all those people, haven't you? And then, you remembered.' He reminds her.
'Shut up, Dr. Moon!' She cries and rolls onto her back and presses the remote button again. Dr. Moon disappears as well.
The Doctor lets out a sound of frustration as the screen for the terminal goes blank, frozen and he can't turn it on.
'No, no, no, no, no, no, no!' He cries out.
'What's wrong? Why has it turned off?' Rose turns up to him but he doesn't answer her question.
'All Library systems are permanently offline. Sorry for any inconvenience. Shortly…'
'We need to stop this, we've got to save CAL!' Lux cries out.
'What is CAL, Mr. Lux?' Rose inquires and he inhales deeply, recomposing himself.
'We need to get to the main computer, I'll show you.' Lux states and the Doctor approaches him, rather concerned.
'It's at the core of the planet.'
'Well then, let's go!' River announces and she smirks. She aims her sonic at the symbol that is on the floor, in the centre of the room. It opens up and places her hand on her hip. 'Gravity platform!'
'I bet we have good times together.' The Doctor smiles at River and she just grins at him.
'Oh, we do!' She steps on to the platform, followed by Lux and Anita. The Doctor steps on and holds out his hand to Rose. Reluctantly she accepts it. Still jealous of River. In his future, when she's gone, they have a relationship, she's positive. He does move on…and the thought hurts.
The Doctor notices the hurt in Rose's eyes, although he isn't sure what's caused it. It is still River's familiarity with him? Or what the future holds for them? Even when they meet River, Rose will be there. It isn't like she won't be; he holds her close, hoping that it may comfort her a bit.
Donna, still terrified of the sky, is sitting on the couch, holding her children close, and gripping their hands tightly. What is going on? Their lives are real, so what's going on?
'Mummy, you're hurting my hand.' Ella tugs her hand in Donna's. But it only causes Donna to hold on tighter.
Donna feels the tears starting in her eyes and she attempts to blink them away. She wants to wipe them, but she doesn't want to risk letting go of her children.
'You just…you just stay where I can see you. Right, you, you don't get out of my sight.' Donna informs them and her voice cracks at the end of her sentence.
'Is it bedtime?' Ella inquires and Donna blinks.
When she opens her eyes, they are in their bedroom. Donna attempts to remain composed as she smoothes down the sheets on Ella's bed.
'Okay, that was lovely, wasn't it?' Donna says, through the tears in her eyes. 'That was a lovely bedtime. We had warm milk, and we watched cartoons, and then mummy red you a lovely story.' Donna says that more for herself. To convince herself of the events that led up to tucking her children in. Because they were real, and what they did was real.
'Mummy, Joshua and me, we're not real, are we?' Ella questions and Donna leans back, surprised at her question.
'Of course you're real. You're as real as anything. Why do you say that?' Donna whispers to her.
'But mummy, sometimes, when you're not here, it's like we're not here.' Joshua states innocently.
'Even when you close your eyes, we just stop.' Ella adds and Donna covers her mouth.
'Well, mummy promises to never close her eyes again,' But when Donna looks back to the beds, her children are gone. Donna jumps immediately to her feet and scans the room, but it's empty. And silent. 'No!' She cries in anguish. 'Please! No, please! No! No, no! No!' Donna screams in a panic as she searches the room for her children. But when she finds nothing, she falls to her knees and cries.
'Autodestruct in fifteen minutes.'
'The Data Core! 4,000 living minds, trapped inside it.' The Doctor observes and he is unsure of how he's going to get them out.
'We'd better think of something fast, we're running out of time.' Rose turns to the ceiling, wishing she understood what was causing this all of a sudden.
She can't stop crying, she's trying to, but she can't. She pounds the floor out of desperation and covers her head.
'Help me. Please help me. Please, please help me!' She cries out.
Everyone in the Library falls silent, they stopped running as the words surround them and pierces the silence. They can't pinpoint the origin of the sound, but the voice sounds scared and pleads for relief.
'Help me. Please, help me.'
The Doctor locates another terminal and notices that the cry for help is coming from that. He frowns as he starts to push keys on the keyboard.
'What's that?' Anita whispers quietly.
'It sounds like a little girl.' Rose observes and the Doctor turns over his shoulder to her briefly.
'Computer's in sleep mode,' He tries another combination of keys. 'I can't wake it up. I'm trying.'
The more he fiddles with the keys, the more destruction reveals itself in the girl's home, which they can't see. Although it makes her cry enough more.
'Doctor, something's wrong, you're hurting her!' Rose tells him but he gives her an odd look.
River has pulled out her PDA and widens her eyes at the surprise she finds. 'Doctor, these readings!' River shows him her findings, it seems to go hand in hand with Rose's thoughts on the odd behaviour coming from the terminal.
'I know,' He agrees with River. 'You'd think it was…dreaming.' The Doctor makes a bit of a face that statement.
Lux finally pipes up, unable to take the arguing about CAL any longer. 'It is dreaming…of a normal life, and a lovely dad, and of every book ever written.' Lux informs them, upset that he'd have to divulge this information. He leads the group to a large door and he inhales sharply. He hopes that now it will all end. She will be saved. After all these years, CAL will be saved.
'Computers don't dream.' Anita state haughtily. What an absurd notion to think that an inanimate object has a conscious that can dream.
'Help me. Please help me.' The voice from the terminal calls out to them.
'No, maybe not. But little girls do dream.' Rose tells her and Lux turns to her and gives her an endearing smile.
'Well put, Rose.' He compliments and he pushes a lever on the wall, next to the door and it opens slowly.
They all rush into the adjoining room. They all stop in front of a large Node who turns its head to them. Rose gasps and her hands fly to her mouth. The Node is wearing the face of the little girl pleading for help.
'Please help me. Please help me.'
'Oh, my god…' Rose whispers and she instinctively takes a step forward to her. 'It's the little girl…that we saw in the computer.'
'She's not in the computer,' Lux informs them; he has no emotion in his voice. 'In a way, she is the computer. The main command node. This is CAL.' Lux extends his hand to motion to the Node.
'CAL is a child?!' The Doctor cries and Lux nods his head. 'A child hooked up to a mainframe? Why didn't you tell me this? I needed to know this!'
'Because she's family!' Lux snaps at the Doctor. He looks fondly at the Node, and he turns back to the rest of the group. 'CAL…Charlotte Abigail Lux. My grandfather's youngest daughter. She was dying, so he built her a library, and put her living mind inside, with a moon to watch over her, and all of human history to pass the time, any era to live in, any book to read. She loved books more than anything. He gave her them all. He asked only that she be left in peace. A secret, not a freak show.'
'So you weren't protecting a patent, you were protecting her.' The Doctor acknowledges and Lux nods deeply, turning back to Charlotte.
'This is only a half a life, of course. But it's for ever.'
'And then the shadows came.' The Doctor informs him, it seems to awaken something in Charlotte.
'Shadows. I have to…I have to save. Have to save…' She repeats.
'But she did save them. She saved everyone in the Library.' Rose turns to Charlotte, a wistful smile is on her face
'She folded them into her dreams and kept them safe.' The Doctor finishes and Anita thinks of something.
'Then why didn't she tell us?' Anita questions. How could you forget to tell someone who you are, and what you've done? Yes, she's saved them all, but wasn't there any other way for her to let them know what had happened in the Library?
'Because she's forgotten. She's got over 4,000 living minds chatting away inside her head, it must be like…being…well, me.' The Doctor concludes and Rose suppresses the urge to say something back to him. Now was not the time, maybe later. Instead, she settles for something more neutral.
'Okay, so what do we need to do? She inquires and the Doctor opens his mouth to answer her, but is cut off.
'Autodestruct in ten minutes.'
'Easy!' He exclaims, trying to keep Rose as calm as possible. This was a risky plan, and he didn't want her to be worried. 'We beam all the people out of the data core; the computer will reset and stop the countdown. Difficult, Charlotte doesn't have enough memory space left to make the transfer…' He trails off and then smiles at the group. 'Easy! I'll hook myself up to the computer and she can borrow my memory space!' He decides. Rose stares at him with a blank look but he's forgotten someone else who can understand his plans just as well as Rose can.
'Difficult! It'll kill you stone dead!' River cries and he winces, he'd forgotten about her. Rose narrows her eyes at him, but he presses onwards.
'Yeah, it's easy to criticise.' He waves his hand at her, but River continues on.
'It'll burn out both your hearts and don't think you'll regenerate!' River cries and that seals it for Rose.
She walks towards him and he doesn't look her in the eye when she steps in front of him. 'Is that true?'
'Well…'
'No. Don't do that. It's simple. It's either yes or no.' Rose keeps her voice steady and he finally lowers his gaze to her. Her face is expressionless, but he can see the hurt, worry, and anger in her eyes. He hates when she looks at him like that, her gaze is so deep and sometimes, steely. She can see right through him when she does that.
'I'll try my hardest not to die,' He informs her, and Rose opens her mouth to protest that statement. But he shakes his head at her and she closes her mouth. 'Honestly, I do try. It's my main thing.'
'Doctor!' Rose whispers furiously to him, unhappy that he would just be willing to run that huge risk of dying and not being able to regenerate.
'Rose…'
'No.'
'I'm serious.'
'So am I.'
'We're running out of time.' He pleads with her to simply drop the matter.
'Then you'd better think of something else. Go on, you've apparently got 4,000 chattering minds in your head…ask one of them to help you.' Rose crosses her arms defiantly.
Seeing that Rose isn't able to make any headway with trying to convince, River takes a stride towards them. Rose needs help. He can't simply just go through with this. The Doctor notices that River is now walking towards them and he rolls his eyes. As she approaches them, she opens her mouth to protest but he cuts her off before she can get a word in.
'I'm right and this works! Shut up. Now listen, both of you. Rose stop protesting. Now, River, you and Luxy boy, back up to the main Library. Prime any data cells you can find for maximum download, and before you say anything else, Professor, can I just mention in pass as you air, shut up!'
River just gives him a crooked grin and shakes her head. 'Ha! I hate you sometimes.'
'Yeah, yeah, I know.' He waves his hand dismissively.
'Mr. Lux, with me! Rose, watch after him. Make sure he doesn't kill himself!' River instructs and she takes Lux with her and they exit the room. Anita remains behind, not wanting to put her through the risk of moving that far again, River didn't know if that'd encourage the swarm to attack her.
The Doctor begins to work frantically at the computer terminal, and Rose stays by his side in case he needs her for anything.
Anita shifts her weight from one foot to the other, beginning to grow impatient with this continuing ruse. 'What about the Vashta Nerada?'
'These are their forests. I'm gonna seal Charlotte inside her little world, take everybody else away. The shadows can swarm to their hearts content.'
'So you think they're just gonna let us go?' Anita questions again, Rose turns over her shoulder and then looks back to the Doctor.
'Trust me, that's the best offer they're going to get.' Rose responds, but doesn't look over her shoulder to her.
'You're gonna make them an offer?' Anita echoes the question again and the Doctor nods his head, without looking at her.
'They'd better take it, cause right now; I'm finding it very hard to make any kind of offer at all. You know what…?' The Doctor turns to really take a hard look at Anita and then turns back to his work. Rose can only assume that it's over. 'I really liked Anita. She was brave, even when she was crying, and she never gave in. And you ate her,' He states, disgusted. He points his sonic at the visor and it becomes transparent, revealing a skeleton inside. 'But I'm gonna let that pass. Just as long as you let them pass.'
'How long have you known?' The creature wonders and the Doctor smiles to himself. He pauses at the terminal and then walks towards the creature, Rose takes a few steps before she stops and places her hands on her hips.
'I counted the shadows. You only have one now,' He informs the creature and then notices the blinking neural relay. 'She's nearly gone. Be kind.'
That comment does not sit well with the creature. 'These are our forests. We are not kind.'
'We are giving you back your forests,' Rose informs the creature. 'But you will give us the others. Because you are letting them go.'
Shadows stretch from the creature and the Doctor walks backward toward Rose, pushing her with him until he simply turns around and walks back to the terminal.
'These are our forests. They are our meat.' The creature states and the Doctor turns around to face the creature once more.
'Don't play games with me!' He shouts. 'You just killed someone I liked, that is not a safe place to stand. I'm the Doctor and you're in the biggest library in the universe. Look me up.' He states and the creature pauses.
The shadows slowly withdraw from the suit. 'You have one day.' That's all the time in the world for him.
He doesn't hear River creeping up behind Rose and grab Rose in a sleeper hold. She's worked the manoeuvre so quickly, that Rose is unconscious in a matter of seconds, falling limply into River's arms. Carefully she sets her down to the floor and stands up, pretending to have just gotten in the room herself.
'Anita!' She exclaims when the spacesuit collapses into itself.
'I'm sorry, but she's been dead for awhile now,' The Doctor finally turns to River, upset that she's come back. But then he notices Rose on the floor. Unmoving. 'Rose? Rose?' He starts to walk towards her. 'River what happened?'
'I'm sorry but Lux can manage without me, you two, can't.' She announces and meets the Doctor half way. Before he can answer that, River has knocked him out. She sighs and looks at the two of them.
One can't live without the other. She checks her watch quickly and decides that Rose will be the easiest to move first.
River glances down to the Doctor who starts to move first. He groans a bit and then opens his eyes, he shifts when he sees River sitting in a wired chair. He widens his eyes and attempts to move towards her but he can't.
'Autodestruct in two minutes.'
Why can't he move? Where's Rose? His vision is still a bit blurry but he can make her out. Good, okay, she's safe but still unconscious. Her head is in his lap and her left hand is handcuffed to his right one? What on earth…? He goes to move his left one, but it too is handcuffed to a series of pipes. He turns back to River who is still furiously working away.
'Oh, no, no, no, no, no, come on, what are you doing? That's my job!' He exclaims and River just gives him her usual cocky smile.
'Oh, and I'm not allowed to have a career, I suppose?' She questions innocently.
'Why are we handcuffed? Why do you even have handcuffs?' The Doctor tugs at them, Rose still hasn't awoken yet.
'Oh, you never know when they may home in handy.' River states, but her smile is flirtatious.
'This is not a joke, stop this now, this is gonna kill you!' The Doctor cries and tries to rouse Rose back into the world. She could potentially reach the sonics. 'I'd have a chance, you don't have any!'
'You wouldn't have a chance and neither do I,' She states evenly. 'I'm timing it for the end of the countdown; there'll be a blip in the command flow. That way it should improve our chances of a clean download.' She presses onward, suddenly realising something. It shocks her to her very core. Oh, he always was such a crafty man.
'River! Please! Don't do this!'
'Funny thing is, this means you've always known how I was going to die. All this time and you knew I was coming here. The last time I saw you, the real you, the future you, you turned up on my doorstep…and you took me to Darillium to see the singing towers. Oh, what a send off it was. Even though you didn't see me the way I saw you, it was still a great, a wonderful night. And now I wonder if that was your way of apologising to me. For what you couldn't give. It was a great night…' River repeats and she understands that all those trips and adventures had to be his way of making it up to her. How he wouldn't recognise her when she was going to die.
'Autodestruct in one minute.'
River smiles affectionately to him, noticing Rose is beginning to stir. That beautiful girl. His lover, always, even when they couldn't be together. 'You wouldn't tell me the reason for taking me there, though,' River recalls. 'But I suppose you knew it was time. My time. Time to come to the Library. You even gave me your screwdriver, that should've been a clue.' River comments, how could she have so blind to this. He can just stare in shock as the sonics that are lying together, just out of their reach and right there with them, it the TARDIS coloured journal. 'There's nothing you can do.'
'You can let me do this!' The Doctor calls to her and furiously tugs on the handcuffs.
Rose is slowly starting to come to; she can hear the muffled voices of the Doctor and someone else. What had happened? Her head hurts and when she opens her eyes, the light assaults them, and so she closes them once more.
Who is the Doctor arguing with?
'If you die here, it'll mean that we never will have met.' River glances up to him, but quickly lowers her gaze. It's hurting her so deeply to know that this is their final adventure together, and he doesn't know her at all. Ah, but he's always known. River feels the tears start, but she blinks them away. Not right now.
Rose's head is swimming. That sounded like River…but why are she and Doctor arguing?
'Time can be rewritten!' He calls to her desperately. But River adamantly shakes her head and she gives him a determined look.
'Not those times. Not one line! Don't you dare!' She pauses when the Doctor opens his mouth to protest. 'It's okay. It's okay; it's not over for you. We'll meet again. Oh, Doctor, do we have some amazing adventures. And you've got all that to come. Watch us run!' River smiles, but she can't stop the tears as they fall, but the Doctor watches in horror.
Rose opens her eyes to see River sitting in some kind of wired chair. Rose doesn't understand…what is she doing? Rose realises that her head is in the Doctor's lap. That's not good. Something has changed.
'River, you know my name!' The Doctor calls to her and Rose widens her eyes, instantly sitting up. What? Did he honestly just say that? He doesn't even notice that Rose is now awake and staring at him and then at River.
'Autodestruct in ten…'
'You whispered my name in my ear.' He states and Rose is taken back. That was the last thing she had been expecting. Her breathing becomes fast and deep. Why…did she get to know…?
Rose tries to push those thoughts from her mind. Now…now really isn't the time for those feelings. She bites her lip…but it still hurts.
'Nine, eight, seven…'
'There's only one reason I would ever tell anyone my name. There's only one time I could…' He tells her but River shakes her head.
'There may be one other reason. And she's sitting beside you. Hush now…spoilers…' River gives him a tender smile and motions to Rose. The Doctor, however, doesn't turn to her, his gaze still fixated on River. Rose tries to cover her mouth, but the hand she wants to use is…handcuffed…to the Doctor? What in the world…?
Rose spots the two sonics and she tries to reach for them. Hoping that if she reaches them then they can help her. There has to be another way. River watches Rose attempting to reach the sonics and smiles at her. But Rose doesn't see it.
'Three, two, one…'
Rose freezes and turns to River, her eyes are wide and River plugs together the two ends of the cable, there are tears in her eyes and in River's as well. River doesn't stay in their sight for long as a blinding, white light engulfs her.
Rose doesn't know what to say, or what to think. She still shields her eyes from the white light and wonders if it will work. The Doctor intertwines his hand with Rose's and draws her close. He hopes it works.
Donna doesn't know what to think anymore. She can't find her children anywhere. Miss Evangelista must have been right. But why her? Why did she believe it for so long?
She sits up as she sees Lee walking towards her. He gives her an odd look, noticing that she's sitting on the stairs to the inside of their home.
'Donna? What's happening?' Lee inquires and Donna gets up, meeting him half way. She's frantic and he puts his arms on her shoulders, trying to calm her.
'I don't know, but it's not real! Nothing here is real. This whole world, everything, none of it's real.'
'Am I real?' Lee questions and they look to the sky as a white light also surrounds them, it gets stronger and stronger.
'Of course you're real, I know real,' Donna informs him and then thinks of something. 'Oh, god, oh, god, I hope you're real…' Donna watches as Lee drifts away into the light and then disappears from her view. 'I'll find you! I promise I'll find you!' Donna calls and that's all she can remember.
Lux is still in the reception area, working diligently on the terminal, hoping to everything and anything that this will work. He's working so hard, thinking about Charlotte that he doesn't hear a man approach him until he's tapped on the shoulder.
'Excuse me,' Lux finally looks up to see the room is filled with people, all looking around, confused as to how they got there. A large grin slowly spreads across his face. 'What happened? How did we get here?'
He jumps to his feet and is shocked at everything; there are people on the planet again. 'Look at you, you're back! You're all back!' Unable to contain his joy, Lux goes around to random patrons and begins to hug them. 'He did it! You're all back. Look at you!'
He starts to laugh with shock and delight, he walks out and is amazed at the life that has been breathed back into the planet. There are people walking around, confused, but there and alive.
'Look at that! Oh look at that, he did it. 4,022 people! Saved!' He cries out in jubilation.
Silently they continue to watch the chair were River used to sit. She was like him, maybe too much. Her willingness to sacrifice herself humbled Rose. But then again, who's to say she wouldn't do the same thing it the opportunity arose. She very nearly did, she recalled, but was saved before it could destroy her. In the end, it destroyed him.
He's been quiet for so long, that Rose places her free hand on his cheek. Only then does he turn to look at her. He's devastated that he's lost someone…again.
Rose gingerly places a kiss on his forehead. 'I'm sorry…'
'Is that what I make people do? So that the universe will still have me?'
'Oh no, don't think that. River did this to save us, to ensure that time wouldn't be changed. You heard her…every end is a beginning. You'll see her again. Don't worry…'
He turns to look at Rose, who just gives a small smile. 'Why did you say 'I'? Don't you mean 'we'?'
'Yeah…yeah, sorry…' Rose admits and looks down. She's got to start paying more attention to how she phrases things.
'Well…let's do something about this,' The Doctor motions to their still handcuffed hands. 'Can you reach them?'
'Yeah, hang on,' Rose leans across the floor to get them. 'Shift a bit,' Rose instructs and she grazes his sonic. She frowns leans a bit more, shifting it towards her until she's able to reach it, grasping it firmly in her hand. She passes it off to the Doctor who sonics the cuffs off and Rose rubs her wrist. 'Why does she even have handcuffs?'
'I don't know if we want to know the answer to that,' The Doctor admits and sonics his hand free from the pipe. He also rubs his wrists and looks at Rose, still staring at the chair. 'You know…we should go. Donna…Donna will be looking for us.'
He puts his arms around her shoulders and steers her away from the computer core, He stops and collects River's sonic and journal. When they leave the room, the door shuts behind them. They see a lone figure walking towards them and they stop in their tracks and breathe a huge sigh of relief when they see that it's Donna walking to them.
Rose lets go of the Doctor's hand and runs towards Donna. She embraces her tightly and Donna closes her eyes. The Doctor has joined them and Donna hugs him next, holding him tightly.
'How did you know where we'd be?' The Doctor question and pulls away.
'I saw that Lux guy in the reception area. He seemed very hesitant to point me your way. Why?'
'Because I shouldn't be standing here…it was part of my…plan to get everyone back.'
'I can't help but notice there are fewer of us now…' Donna looks around and Rose links arms with her, leading her back the way they came.
'What happened to you, though, Donna. Where did you go in there?' Rose inquires and the Doctor follows behind them, taking one last look at the computer core and the objects he holds in his arms.
Donna walks back towards Rose and the Doctor as they linger in the little shop, with people brushing by them on the way to get out.
'Please be patient. Only three can teleport at a time. Do not state your intended destination until you arrive in…'
'Donna, did you find him?' Rose meets Donna half way and Donna shakes her head sadly.
'There wasn't even anyone called Lee in the Library that day. Suppose he could have had a different name out here,' Donna surmises, but then smiles ruefully. 'But, let's be hones, he wasn't real, was he?'
'Maybe not.' The Doctor chimes in and Donna sighs.
'I made up the perfect man. Gorgeous, adores me, and hardly able to speak a word. What's that say about me?'
'Nothing, it doesn't say anything about you.' Rose assures her and the Doctor remains quiet, lost in his thoughts. Why did she have his sonic, what does that mean?
'Stand right in the middle of the teleport, please. Keep your hands and feet inside at all times.'
'What about you two?' Donna wonders and the Doctor turns his attention to her.
'I'm fine. Always. That's me.'
Donna pulls Rose a ways away from the Doctor, but he doesn't seem to notice that. 'Spill it. What's bugging you?'
Rose turns over her shoulder, but still sees him off in his thoughts. 'It's just…' Rose pauses and tries to phrase it right, so that it doesn't sound like she's being petty. 'River…knew the Doctor's real name. And he confirmed it…while we were in the computer core.'
'And remember to switch off your mobile comm. unit.'
'Whoa…hang on one hot second. Seriously?' Donna questions, shocked. Rose merely nods her head.
'I mean…I don't want to sound petty, and maybe I'll know it too, one day, but…' Rose trails off, unable to continue.
'It hurts?' Donna offers and Rose nods.
'I don't know why it should. And I don't know why I'm letting it bother me the way it does.' Rose admits and Donna places her hand on her shoulder, she opens her mouth to say something but the Doctor approaches them.
'Come on, we should get going too.' He informs them and they nod. He takes Rose's hand and Rose inwardly sighs.
Donna walks beside Rose, and together they exit the little shop. Just as they exit through the door, the man that Donna knew as Lee stands in the middle of the teleport and catches sight of her. He attempts to call her name but is unable to do so. He struggles with his stammer, but it's too late, and Donna's gone. Seconds after, he's teleported away.
The Doctor leads them to the place where they had first been when they came to the Library and the Doctor places River's journal on the balustrade. The three of them look at it longingly.
'Doctor…Professor Song…she knew you in the future, but she didn't know us. What happens to us?' Donna wonders and the Doctor turns to her.
'Yeah, when she heard our names, especially Donna's…she gave her, I mean the way she looked at her…' Rose chimes in and the Doctor turns back to her journal.
'Well, this is her journal. My future. I can always look you both up. What do you think, shall we peek at the end?' He offers and Rose immediately shakes her head.
'Spoilers, right?' Donna offers a half-hearted shrug.
'Right,' The Doctor looks at the two of them and they all resist the temptation. He pulls out River's sonic and places it on the book. He turns to Rose and Donna, places his arms around their shoulders and leads them away. 'Come on, the next chapter's this way.'
They get about half a way's away before the Doctor stops in his tracks and runs back to the book, picking up River's sonic. 'Why? Why would I give her my screwdriver? Why would I do that? Thing is, future me had years to think about it, all those years to think of a way to save her, and what he did was give her a screwdriver! Why would I do that?' On a whim, he opens a part of it to reveal green lights behind it, much like those of a neural relay. 'Oh! Oh! Oh, look at that! I'm very good!' He declares and Rose frowns.
'What did future you do?' Rose wonders and he runs by her and Donna, turning back to them.
'Saved her!' He announces and Donna and Rose exchange hopeful looks.
He runs back to across the Library so he can reach the computer core before he loses her completely. He glances at the sonic and shakes his head.
'Stay with me! You can do it, stay with me! Come on, you and me, one last great run! Sorry, River, shortcut!' He informs her and uses the sonic to disable the gravity platform and then jumps into the hole.
He runs to the computer core and opens the door, noticing that the lights have begun to go out and now there is only one remaining. The blinking is becoming longer in between.
He rushes into the room and plugs the screwdriver into the computer and smiles at Charlotte. Some days, nobody dies at all. Some days, everyone lives. Those days are few and far between but that doesn't mean that they go any less unappreciated.
Rose looks up to him, a confident smirk on her face as they stand in front of the TARDIS in the reception area. He looks down at her and matches her confident smile. He holds out his hand and snaps his fingers. Indeed the doors do open, revealing Donna inside, waiting patiently.
'Looks like some day, is today.' Rose says and is still mesmerised.
He smiles triumphantly and takes Rose's hand, leading her into the TARDIS, where Donna is smiling at him. Once inside he turns back to the doors and then to Rose.
'Two for two?' He questions and they nod.
Once more, he snaps his fingers and the doors shut.
She can't stop the swirling thoughts in her mind, about what River last told him while in the computer core. How there was only one time he could even tell someone his name.
Wanting to be alone so she can figure out her thoughts and her emotions, Rose rises from the console chair and gives Donna and apologetic look before turning on her heel and disappearing into the corridors. Donna sighs softly and picks up the book that she'd left on the ground.
The Doctor doesn't notice Rose has left until he asks her a question and receives no reply. He pokes his head out from under the console and looks around.
'Where'd she go?'
'Not sure, somewhere to be alone I'd imagine.' Donna informs him, without looking up from her book. Hoping he'd figure it out.
'Alone? Why?' The Doctor frowns and can't possibly think of why she'd want to be alone. What happened?
'You're thick.' Donna tells him and again, she doesn't look up from her book.
'What?' He replies, taken back by her statement.
'If my mistress found out an integral part of me that I haven't even told my wife, and then the wife finds out that she didn't know…you'd better believe my wife would be upset and hurt.' Donna lowers the book and eyes him.
'My…what?' He echoes.
'You're smart, figure it out.'
'I don't have a wife or a mistress.' He replies adamantly.
'God help us all, you prawn.' Donna smirks behind the book and he just pulls himself out, utterly confused.
He's quiet for some time before he slowly starts to connect Donna's words. 'You think I should go find her?'
'That might be in your best interest.' Donna agrees and he frowns, walking down the halls.
But when he opens the door to his room, she isn't in there. Rather surprised he tries the library next. However, nothing. Concerned he wanders the halls for some time until he stumbles upon her room, completely by accident. It's tucked away and he goes to open the door, but something heavy blocks it.
'Rose?'
There is no reply, and Rose hasn't moved from her spot behind the door, not even after he's attempted to open it a few more times.
She needs to just forget this incident. Why is she being trivial like this? She rests her head on her knees and sighs. So she doesn't know something about him, there's probably lots she doesn't know about him, why is she making such a big deal over this one thing.
Because it's a pretty important thing. A voice within her reminds her. Probably the jealous part of her. Well, that's something she has to over come. Slowly she rises and opens the door.
He's sitting against the opposite wall and he stands when he sees her. Donna was right, something is bothering her. It's written in her eyes, because her face is devoid of emotion.
'Everything okay?' He questions and she nods a bit.
'I'm all right.'
'Really? You don't look right. Donna said…' He stops when he notices that Rose has given him an unimpressed look. 'Uh, she said that maybe something is bothering you…because River knew something about me…that, well, that you didn't.'
And as soon as the words leave his mouth he understands Donna's comment about the three of them. He was an idiot for not seeing it sooner.
'What makes you think that?' Rose questions and raises her eyebrows at him. 'It is because she knows the most important thing about you?' Rose's hand immediately fly to her mouth, she hadn't meant to say that last part. And certainly not in the snarky tone that accompanied it.
'Ah, that's it…you um, heard that…?'
'Look it doesn't matter, all right?' Rose folds her arms and mentally kicks herself for bringing it up.
'No, it matters to you.'
'Who cares what matters to me?'
'It matters to me. What are you afraid of?' The Doctor questions and walks towards her. Rose doesn't look him in the eye.
'That somewhere in your future, River learns your name, and I'm not there.' Rose quietly tells him.
'Rose, don't be silly, of course you'll be there!' He embraces her. 'It's just she's from the future, so she'd know before you did. That's all.'
'But you still seemed so surprised that she knew at all. And you certainly aren't in a rush to tell me. What makes future you suddenly decide to spill it?' Rose inquires, muffled by his embrace. He pulls away from her and is genuinely surprised at her hurt exterior.
'Because…because…it isn't important. No, wait, don't interrupt. There is only one time, ever, ever that I'd be forced to reveal my name. In the Fields of Trenzalore, should I ever go there, a question could be asked, and it could be asked of me. I would have to tell the truth. I couldn't lie.'
'That's the only time you would?' Rose repeats and he nods. And then he recalls the comment that River made to him. The only other reason he would.
'Well…' He begins but Rose cuts him off.
'So…sometime in your future, you go to this Trenzalore place with River…and someone asks you your name…and you'd have to tell them?'
'Right, no choice in the matter.' Although he wonders why he'd have to go there anyway. It's definitely not a place on his top one hundred list. In fact he'd do his everything to stay way.
'Huh…' Rose whispers and her features cloud over in thought.
'Well, don't forget Rose, you'll be there too,' He reminds her and she smiles ruefully at him. She doesn't want to tell him that she doubts highly that she will. 'But…I suppose, if you'd like to know ahead of time…' He trails off slightly. But why the hesitation? He trusts Rose more than he trusts himself. So he starts again. 'If you'd like to know, it's…' He's silenced when Rose presses her finger to his lips.
'No…everything in its time.' She tells him and he blinks at her.
'Why?'
'Because…why spoil the surprise? I'll be there…' She tries to sound confident.
'Yeah, that's right, course you will.' He agrees and presses a soft kiss on her lips. Rose closes her eyes but feels the solitary tear slide down her cheek. Thankfully he doesn't notice.
Hey all!
Sad to say I've been working on this since last Saturday. Sad. Again I'm not overly happy with these last two chapters. I don't really know why. It's another long one. And the last section. I decided to add in on a whim. So, go easy on me for the last section. I tried to leave it as ambiguous as possible.
Anyway please share your thoughts, and thanks for reading!