The TARDIS landed. The Doctor bounded for the door enthusiastically, but Amy was quick to stop him.
"Oye! What do you think you're doing? Angels could be surrounding us at this very second, and you just want to skip right out of here. Do a scan or something first!" she scolded him. The Doctor turned gracefully on his heel, mid-stride and began typing things into the consul.
"Oh, of course he'll do a scan for you, but I want him to scan for alien tech. and he just ignores me! You've trained this one well," Rose mumbled to Amy. Amy just gave her an innocent smile and moved to stand behind the Doctor.
"Are we clear?"
"Anything but... What's surrounding us?" he whispered, hitting more buttons. A live picture appeared on the screen, showing an empty room. The room was beautiful. Dark wood shelves lined with books were stacked floor to ceiling. Sadly, it was so dark. "Why is it dark? It's high noon at this part. There shouldn't be all these... shadows." The Doctor cried out in anguish, scaring everyone around him. "I'm so stupid. They're not gone. They're still here. Oh, no wonder, no wonder. It's practically suicide to come back here. If only Donna were here... Donna. This is a terrible place. No one you should leave this TARDIS!" he shouted at them, grabbing his jacket and screwdriver. "It's not safe at all. This place is just death waiting to happen. I won't lose anyone again. No, no, no!"
"And when has that ever stopped us before?" Rose called back at him. "Listen to me," she said slowly, a dangerous edge to her voice as she grabbed him by the suspenders. "I will not let you go alone. I've come this far, and I am not just going to wait here while you risk your life. Doctor, when have I ever left because a situation was too dangerous? I came back with the Daleks were invading the Game Station. I stuck with you when you had to open to Void even though I could have been sucked in. How is this any different? Now, you are going to explain what is going on with the shadows, and we're going to go out there, and find The Doctor." She slowly released him, breathing heavy with emotion. He stared at her dumbstruck.
"Rose Tyler, you've grown up," he breathed in awe.
"And you're just as emotional as ever I see," she said with a slight smile. "A little younger looking too."
"Just lucky that way," he agreed, snapping back into his happy-go-lucky self. "Now, here's the situation," he began, straightening his bow tie. "These shadows are a swarm of aliens called Vashta Nerada. They're microscopic, but when in a swarm, they create something like a shadow. This planet is infested with them. All the wood here, and all the books were made from their forest. I... honestly forgot they were still here. Time's been so wibbly-wobbly that I didn't think they would still exist on this planet. But I was wrong. So, in addition to staying all circled up, we also need to remain in the light. The instant we step outside these doors, we'll have two predators charging at us. There aren't any Angels out there right now, but it won't be long before we encounter them. Rory, my good man, do you have the DNA scanner? That will make this job a million times easier as long as the doctor moon doesn't interfere, which it shouldn't right now."
"Uhm, yes. It's right here," Rory confirmed, holding up the small device.
"Excellent! Jake, follow me. We're going to attach a big light to that gun. I'll have the front covered, and you'll scan the back with that. Oh, Rory, why don't you come with us?" he suddenly added. The three men trooped off, leaving the girls alone.
"How much do you want to bet he's telling them that if he says to run, they make sure we leave?" Amy suggested.
"Incredibly likely. He tricked me into going home once. I still came back. It's silly that he thinks he can still control us," Rose agreed.
"You sound quite stubborn. I quite like you! It's too bad you have to go back after this. We could be good friends," Amy sighed.
"Definitely. By the way, how old are you?"
"Almost 22... I think. I might actually be 22. I just know I was 21 when he picked me up." Rose laughed at that.
"Glad to hear he's not picking up 19-year-olds anymore. My mum did not approve."
"Oh, I was 7 the first time he offered to take me with him. Told me he'd be back in 5 minutes. Didn't see him again until I was 19! Left for a few years after that too. But, the TARDIS was fixing itself or something, so I guess it's not his fault," she explained.
"Seven? That's a bit creepy."
"Isn't it though?" they gossiped.
"I was just going to give you one ride! It wouldn't have been strange!" The Doctor interjected. They were back. "All right! Let's do this." Everyone headed for the door. Rose slowly made her way towards Jake.
"You do know you won't be able to get me to leave," she said preemptively.
"Oh, I know. He still asked though," Jake confirmed their suspicions.
The Doctor opened the door and scanned the ground around them. "All right. We're safe. Now, create a circle, backs together. No Amy, I need Rory by me. He's got the scanner. Okay Jake, turn the light on. Good, now we're off." They slowly walked out of the TARDIS. Rose had to gasp at the sheer size of the room. It was gigantic, unlike any room she'd even been in before! And the smell, oh how she loved the smell of books. Her Doctor was constantly dragging her to libraries in their universe. It reminded her of him. At least he should be content here. "Oh, they're coming for us. Everyone, eyes open once we hit that door. Now, if there is an Angel outside that door, we are going to spin slowly. Everyone will have their eyes glued to the statue until Rose can blast it. I don't want to risk that light coming off."
"Will that work?" Amy asked nervously.
"It's a decent theory. If it's blasted to tiny bits, it will be hard for it to move. But, I've been wrong before," he admitted. Rose heard Amy say something about confidence, but it was too quiet for her ears, even in this room. They finally approached the door, and the Doctor opened it as they all held their breath.
Nothing. A collective sigh was released and they made their way into an outdoor hallway. "Rory, which way?"
"Down?"
"Down? How far down?"
"All the way?"
"Excellent! Let's find a lift then!" The group proceeded down the hallway. Rose's finger was glued to the trigger as they made their way down the hall. It was too quiet here and nothing had happened yet.
"Doctor? Where are they?" she whispered, unable to fully break the silence.
"At the end of this hall and moving. Jake, how's the light doing?" Rose had forgotten about their second foe.
"The shadows are moving, but they're staying along the wall. They haven't come past the light," Jake reported. He and Amy slammed into The Doctor and Rory. Amy cautiously turned her head and whimpered as she grabbed Rory's hand. Three angels stood at the door, claws bared, and teeth exposed.
"Okay, slowly to the left so Rose and Jake can fire. Don't lose eye contact!" The Doctor warned as they slowly began to spin. No breathed as Jake and Rose positioned themselves in front of the monsters. Rose focused on the one closest to her, while Jake aimed at the middle Angel. They counted down to three and fired.
Dust and smoke filled the air, obscuring their vision. Jake screamed for half a second, and then it was silent again. "Jake? Jake!" Rose cried out, grasping through the dust next to her. "They took him!"
"Come on, we need to get out of here! It isn't safe to linger here. Our vision in impaired, which means they can grab us," The Doctor urged, pushing the group forward. The dust continued to linger unnaturally in the air. Once they were in the light, the Doctor broke the circle, scanning the air. "Still quantum locked. Even in death, they're stuck. Well, shooting won't work. They'll just have to tail us the entire way." Rose wiped the tears from her eyes as Amy hugged her sympathetically. "I'm sorry Rose," he told her.
"It'll be all right. He knew the risks," she reasoned. There would be a time for morning, but right now, they had to get to John. They reluctantly proceeded on down the hall.
They reached the lift, and the Doctor pushed the button to signal it. It was the most tense moment of their lives. Angels had suddenly appeared at the far end of the hall and the Vashta Nerada were still pursing them. But finally the lift arrived. Amy dared to give a sigh of relief while Rose dug her nails into her palm. What might be in there?
The doors open and darkness poured out of the lift. The Doctor pushed the group back against the windows, momentarily breaking the groups eye contact on the angels. Rose looked over and jumped as an Angel froze an inch from her. Amy stumbled backward and Rory barely caught Amy before she stepped into the shadows.
"Careful everyone. Don't panic. We can find another way down. We're only ten stories up, so it's not a problem. Rory, is John still in the same location?" The Doctor asked.
"Well, he's been moving with us, but yes. Uhm... when you say ten stories, is there an alternative measurement for a story?" Rory inquired hesitantly.
"Doctor, we need to get a move on! We're losing floor space!" Amy cried, pushing the group closer together.
"All right, all right. Past the Angels. They can't hurt us while we're watching them. Amy and Rory, keep your eyes on the ones behind us, Rose and I have the front. And Rory, give me that scanner. How far down?" The group reformed and proceeded past the statues. Amy took Rory's hand tightly as they proceeded. The hum of the sonic screwdriver went off several times as the Doctor scanned the scanner. "This can't be right! No... But it's not broken. Oh. I know where he is," The Doctor announced with a tone of dread.
A/N: So yes. This chapter was a bit of a struggle, but I kind of enjoyed it. Let me know what you all think and I hope to have the next chapter out soon!