They sat in the doorway of the Tardis, their legs swinging out over the edge, and between them on the floor sat the star.

"So is this what you do with your time?" River asked finally, "Float in space and steal stars?"

"Borrow..." he corrected, "...borrowed without permission. And a lot of time... yes... floating keeps me out of trouble... I tend to use the pool quite a lot... shame the books get so wet... oh well... come along Song... let's find us somewhere to explore...it can get a bit... boring up here"

River looked sadly after him; she knew she shouldn't feel hurt by his off the cuff remark. He'd seen so many things in his long life, sitting and chatting must be very boring and unimportant to this man. She got to her feet, gathered the glowing jar in her arms and gently closed the Tardis doors. Without warning a phone began to ring, her head darted in all directions in an attempt to place the phantom ringing. The Doctor reached casually onto the console and picked up the handset. In all her time piloting the Tardis she'd never noticed the phone sat there on the control system. She'd always assumed that he'd be cordless at this point in his time stream.

"... Obviously not..." she sighed marching her 'star in a jar' into her room.

"River?" she heard the Doctor calling her.

"Hmm?" she asked popping her head around the door. He was waving the phone around in the air.

"Road trip...? Thought I'd check in with you first," he smiled.

"Sure..." she shrugged turning and retreating into her room once more.

The Doctor threw the handset down and raced around the console with a new lease of life burning inside him. River sighed as she marked the next few pages of her diary sadly. Once she was done she flicked back over the pages they'd already covered together. Turning the pages she frowned realising that from every chapter... one page was torn out... missing... as though the events written on those pages had never took place. She closed the diary quickly her eyes darted from side to side as her mind ticked over.

"River..." she jumped. The Doctor's smiling face distracted her, "Come along Song," he beamed hand outstretched towards her. Letting the diary fall forgotten onto her pillow she took his hand and allowed herself to be led away... swept off her feet... by that man... that impossible man.

"Where...?"

"You'll see," he replied simply hurrying her towards the doors. They were on a grassy hillside overlooking a large dome-covered city. River stopped, taking in the purple sky and white buildings, cars flying over them to and from the city. She looked down checking her PDA, tapping away quickly. The Doctor rolled his eyes, "New Earth..." he sighed disapprovingly eying the PDA suspiciously. She continued to tap away without looking up, "Okay..." he snatched the PDA from her hands and tossed it over his shoulder, "Enough of that. Let's go"

"But Doctor...!" she protested looking over her shoulder for her PDA as he dragged her down the hillside towards the illuminated city.

"Lot's to do..." he half yelled over her protests.

"Doctor! Listen to me...!"

He stopped suddenly, her bumped into him hard, "What is it...?" he gasped as he caught his breath.

"On my PDA... it showed something here..."

"A something..? What kind of something?" he frowned.

"Well I don't know!" she cried, "You threw it!"

"Oh... well let's go see if we can find it then," he grinned before taking her arm and dragging her onwards, "Now... how do we get in?" They neared the edge of the dome, the Doctor stretched out his hand to touch the solid structure.

"Doctor... This doesn't feel right... We should get back in the Tardis... and leave," River insisted her voice shook slightly as she glanced nervously around them.

"Don't be silly..." he laughed ignoring her worried tone, "It's New Earth... what could possibly...?"

A blue light surrounded them. River shook her head in despair... too late to turn back now. They were instantly teleported to the central building, what would have been in any small town... the town hall. When the blue flash had subsided and their eyes adjusted to their new surroundings it was apparent that they were surrounded by numerous armoured guards. The Doctor assumed that the only smartly dressed, greying man standing before him was in fact the city's Prime Minister.

"I'm glad you came Doctor," he said sternly, "You always come running when people and cities are in danger. But perhaps... some journeys are best left untraveled. So I'm sorry Doctor..." The pair were grabbed roughly and restrained by the Guards.

"What?" the Doctor cried, "Why...?"

"For the greater good Doctor"

"How is this for the greater anything?"

The PM turned to the Guards holding River, "She won't be needed... Take her to be assimilated. The Doctor will remain alive, he's theirs now. Our agreement is almost fulfilled... our people will be free from this evil soon"

"What? ... Wait... Assimilated? Cybermen!" The Doctor fought against the iron grip of the Guards as River, putting up a good fight of her own, was dragged away.

"Doctor! ..." she cried, "Doctor! ... Doctor!" he screams became distant.

"Let her go! They don't want her! Let her go!" he yelled as the PM, whose head was hung, stood in silence.

"Take him to a holding cell," he said finally, he turned and left the Doctor to the mercy of the surrounding Guards.

"No!" the Doctor yelled, "River...! No...!"