"You mean this isn't really happening?" Rose blinked.

"Of course it's happening." Susan smiled, happy to be discussing the differences in how the physics of their universes worked. The ladies were following the Doctor down the hall, just chatting amongst themselves, unaware of the dangers that lurked around them.

Susan explained, "Just not yet. Time travel. In this reality at least, is not truly possible. Each time you travel to the past, what you are actually doing is creating a pocket dimension. A dimension that has no effect on the reality it branched off from. Where as the future is an infinity of possibilities, all happening simultaneously. The Future can effect the present but not the past."

"With Gallifrey acting as the present." Rose speculated.

Susan grinned eagerly, "Exactly, Gallifrey is the oldest civilization ever to exist. In fact, it is the only known civilization to exist in our time. Most of the very planets, that will one day form, are still space dust. With Gallifrey, and her two suns, having evolved near the center of the universe. As one of the first astral bodies. The first to develop life, as far as we know.

"The future however, that intrigues us. There are billions of trillions of possible planets, that will one day develop life. The Time Lords of Gallifrey are happy to explore and record the possibilties, eagerly awaiting the day the next lifeforms evolve into the present.

"The future is always in motion, but there are fixed points that must always happen. Moments in history that intersect so frequently that they bind reality itself. If these moments are disturbed then the present, even the past, will be affected... and we are in one. We appear to be a part of it. So we can't just run away. We have to be here-

"Or rather, the Doctor has to be here. Me and you aren't. We are intruding on a fixed point. So just try to keep your head down and let reality play out as it's supposed to... that is easier said then done, I realize. Honestly it might be best if we wait for Grandfather in the TARDIS." she tried.

"I've handled fixed points before. Relax, I know what I'm doing. Even fixed points have wiggle room. That is why things didn't go to hell when the wrong Doctor got the distress call."

Rose smiled eagerly as she looked back at her Tricorder, and showed the readings to Susan. "I'm more interested in this. I'm picking up some kind of radiation. It appears to be harmless but it infects every corner of this universe. I even took a long range scan while in the TARDIS. It is literally EVERYWHERE in this dimension."

Susan looked at the readings, then up at Rose. "That's nothing to worry about. It's the psychic energy of the Universe's conciousness."

Rose stopped, and the whole party stopped with her. "You mean to tell me... your universe... is ALIVE!"

Susan blinked, "Of course. All Universes are. Your's might just be too young to be self aware yet. How can you be a dimension hopper and not know that?"

Rose blushed, "To be honest the universe I'm from only started dabbling in dimensional engineering a few years ago. We are still learning. Only recently did we figure out how to safely travel between them, without punching holes in the fabric of reality."

Susan nodded, interested. Then explained, "Well, to my understanding, the universe works like a living organism, that is just more aware of us then we are of our cells.

"Each galaxy inside her is a different organ, with the planets and stars acting as her cells. The various creatures of the universe act as bacteria. We live in her, and can be either helpful or detrimental to her existence."

Rose nodded, "So these readings are basicly the brainwaves of the universe?"

"Not quite. More like the Magical signature of it's soul." Susan shrugged.

"SOUL!" Rose gaped, "You not only believe in souls but have proof of them!?"

Susan blinked. She pulled a short metal rod out of her pocket, and buzzed the older woman. The light at the tip of the rod lit up. Rose just stood patiently during this, recognizing a sonic screwdriver when she saw one. When she was done, the girl held the device to her ear... her eyes widening in shock. "You... you don't have a soul... at least not as we understand it."

"Not all universes run by the same laws," The Doctor informed from his place ahead of them. Encouraging the young ladies to follow him once again. The party got moving, with Susan and Rose thinking about their discoveries.

The girl did her best to steady herself.

"What exactly is your definition of a 'soul'." Rose tried.

"A soul is the electrical impulses your body uses to function. Your brain, or rather our brains, imprint on them. This energy continues on after your death, getting reincarnated. Then the energy effects the new brain as that mind imprints on it, and so on and so on. Until an individual learns how to survive without physical form. We call those Celestials and they eventually evolve into gods, after a few trillion years of experience and growing their magical power."

"Gods!? Even magic?" Rose gaped, "Mind you I have seen lots of things, with magic like abilities, but the Doctor always gave it a scientific explanation."

"Magic is Science," Susan explained. "Magic, in our dimension, is a fundamental law of the universe. There is nothing supernatural about it, though it can scare primitive cultures. Magic is nothing more then a category of energy. It's radiation allows for both minor and extreme manipulation of physics. However, even how it does that has rules and limitations.

"Magic inhabits every sapient race. The very definition of Sapiens is a creature aware of mind and magic.

"Most humanoid races are listed as 'Intelligent Lifeforms' rather then acknowledged as truly sapient. Strictly due to their lack of magic, most humanoid races are considered pest. As a result, humanoids will be frequently used as slaves. Until they rebel and eventually conquered a total of one thousand galaxies.

"The point is, magic, for us, is real, and firmly rooted in science. However, Time Lords don't typically study magic unless they are training to be a priest. Grandfather taught me a bit, as he was studying it due to his Class.

"That's quite enough Susan." The Doctor huffed, taking a break from arguing with the Data Pad he was holding. "No sense airing my dirty laundry."

"Sorry Grandfather."

Rose couldn't resist asking the Doctor, "So you went to school to study magic? To become a priest."

"Not willingly." The Doctor huffed, wanting to leave it at that but the Rose girl wasn't backing down with her questions. "Fine, I'll tell you. You see I was orphaned at a young age, where my Atypical magical manifestation was discovered.

"Like in those Dungeons and Dragons games humans play, some people are born with a 'Class'. I have a mage class with a Time Agent Archetype. That means I am more proficient with magic then most, and don't even need a focus to cast spells. Where as my Time Agent abilities are rather self explanatory. They allow me to manipulate the flow of time, to a minor degree."

"Like Hiro Nakamura from the show heroes." Susan helpfully supplied. "Basically, Grandfather can accelerate his time stream to move at such fast speeds it appears time has stopped. As well as manipulate local time streams of others."

The Doctor huffed, "I try to avoid using that power, as it's a holy ability for holy men, which I have no interest in being. I take it your Doctor can't do that?"

"No... he can't..." Rose frowned. Then a soft smile touched her face, "He basically just talks clever. Then stumbles his way through lucky encounter, after lucky encounter, until the planet is saved."

The Doctor stopped, looking back at her, "He saves planets?"

Rose smiled, "Spoilers." then trotted off.

About an hour of walking later, The Doctor once again stopped, holding up a Data Pad in front of his face. Trying to look at both it and the rows of bookshelves. He got the pad from the Terminal. It was an interactive map of The Library, showing him where he was going. He just had to tell it where he wanted to go... if only that was all it did.

"You need to get out," a young voice demanded through the speakers of the pad. It sounded much like a girl that hadn't yet hit puberty. Several floating orbs circled his party, security cameras.

"Cool your Circuits." the Doctor waggled a finger, as he stopped to look at the map, for the hundredth time. "I just want to get to the nearest dock. While you're constantly recalculating my route. Trying to trick me back to my ship, don't think I hadn't noticed. We want to help get you running again. Don't you want people exploring these halls again."

"There are already too many people." The main interface insisted, "You need to leave! Now! Not safe!"

"The danger is over my dear." The Doctor tried.

"Grandfather," Susan smiled. "You're treating that Computer far more gently then you do me?"

The Doctor sighed, "It's the 51st Century, my dear, during the height of the Human Empire. They are rather big fans of using AIs rather then VIs, as Time Lords do. Where our VIs can only do preprogrammed task, AIs are capable of true independent thought. They are as much people as any organic lifeform. This one just appears a bit scrambled. Quite strange given it was designed to last for trillions of years. Some of it's hardware must have been damaged. Remind me to inform that Professor Song, we need to get down to the Data Core, to make repairs."

"No!" The AI screamed, "You need to leave!"

"Maybe we should just follow the signs." Rose spotted a plaque mounted between the shelves, pointing them in the direction they needed to go.

Just then, there was a THUNK sound from deeper behind them. Each of the lights started cutting out, as if the Darkness itself was charging after them.

"RUN!" The Data Pad screamed.