{"Who are you?"}

Theta had decided he wanted to take Donna to the Library, it was an ancient legend that had been around for centuries. Fay hadn't been putting up much of a fight, Donna had reluctantly agreed after heavy convincing from me seeming as she liked me better. Although things didn't exactly go as planned.

We burst through the doors, Theta grabs a book and uses it to jam the door handles so it won't open again. "Oh. Hello. Sorry to burst in on you like this. Okay if we stop here for a bit?"

"Books. People never really stop loving books." Theta smirked and winked at me cussing Donna to fake gag and push me gently with a smile on her face. We had a big library in the TARDIS with a bunch of ancient text and literature, it was practically where I lived but Theta wanted something bigger. "Fifty first century. By now you've got holovids, direct to brain downloads, fiction mist, but you need the smell. The smell of books, Donna. Deep breath." I snorted as he grabbed Fay and spun her around causing the little girl to giggle happily, she was growing like a weed. We come across a massive marble job causing me to cock my head at the sight of it. "The Library. So big it doesn't need a name. Just a great big The." Donna laughed lightly at him, "It's like a city." She mused lightly.

"It's a world. Literally, a world. The whole core of the planet is the index computer. Biggest hard drive ever. And up here, every book ever written. Whole continents of Jeffrey Archer, Bridget Jones, Monty Python's Big Red Book. Brand new editions, specially printed." We look over a balcony onto roofs below. I couldn't help but bounce Fay lightly in excitement causing my little girl to laugh enthusiastically. "We're near the equator, so this must be biographies. I love biographies." Theta spoke as he turned to us with a wide smile of his own. Gently kissing my forehead, he let Fay play with his fingers. "Yeah, very you. Always a death at the end." Donna muttered lowly, "You need a good death. Without death, there'd only be comedies. Dying gives us size." Donna picks up a book and Theta takes it from her.

"Way-a. Spoilers." He uttered out causing me to chuckle at the look on her face. "What?" She asked looking confused, "These books are from your future. You don't want to read ahead. Spoil all the surprises. Like peeking at the end." I explained to her causing her to raise an eyebrow back, "Isn't travelling with you one big spoiler?" She asked with a cock of her head, I paused making a face as I finally thought about it. Shit. "I try to keep you away from major plot developments. Which, to be honest, I seem to be very bad at, because you know what? This is the biggest library in the universe. So where is everyone? It's silent." Theta explains as we moved along before he uses his screwdriver on a nearby information screen, bringing it online. "The library?"

"The planet. The whole planet." Theta muttered looking at the screen as I adjusted Fay. "Maybe it's a Sunday." Donna suggested with a shrug, "No, I never land on Sundays. Sundays are boring." I rolled my eyes in amusement as he cooed at Fay. He only didn't like Sundays because I used to always have lessons and he couldn't ever see me. So he insisted that Sundays were bad days in his mind. I actually found it quit cute. "Well, maybe everyone's really, really quiet." Donna mused lightly, "Yeah, maybe. But they'd still show up on the system." I told her as we looked at the screen. "Doctor, why are we here? Really, why?" Donna asked raising an eyebrow at him, I immediately frowned at his reaction. "Oh, you know, just passing." I watched him refuse to make eye contact with me, his thoughts also seemed closed off. "No, seriously. It was all let's hit the beach, then suddenly we're in a library. Why?" Donna asked looking between us but Theta decided to change the topic. "Now that's interesting." He muttered lightly, "What?"

"Scanning for life forms. If I do a scan looking for your basic humanoids. You know, your book readers, few limbs and a face, apart from us, I get nothing. Zippo, nada. See? Nobody home. But if I widen the parameters to any kind of life." The screen says Error 1,000,000,000,000 lifeform number capped at maximum record. "A million, million. Gives up after that. A million, million." Theta repeats with a frown on his face, I though couldn't get over the fact that he was lying to me and hiding something from me. "But there's nothing here. There's no one." Donna uttered looking around to prove her point. "And not a sound. A million. million life forms, and silence in the library." I muttered out as Theta looked towards me, I shot him a look which caused him to wince. "But there's no one here. There's just books. I mean, it's not the books, is it? I mean, it can't be the books, can it? I mean, books can't be alive." They both reach slowly for a book but a voice makes us all jump.

"Welcome."

"That came from here."

"Yeah."

We return to the mostly empty room, a vaguely humanoid sculpture by a curved desk turns its head and speaks with a female voice from a small face on its surface. "I am Courtesy Node seven one zero slash aqua. Please enjoy the Library and respect the personal access codes of all your fellow readers, regardless of species or hygiene taboo." It spoke robotically, "That face, it looks real." Donna gasped as I cocked my head to the side at the sight of it. "Yeah, don't worry about it." Theta uttered out causing me to frown, but it was real. Something was happening here an it wasn't good. "A statue with a real face, though? It's a hologram or something, isn't it?" Donna asked, "No, but really, it's fine." Theta insisted, I finally caught onto what he was saying. He wasn't trying to ignore it, he was trying to make sure Donna didn't flip out when she found out it was a real human face. "Additional. There follows a brief message from the Head Librarian for your urgent attention. It has been edited for tone and content by a Felman Lux Automated Decency Filter. Message follows. Run. For God's sake, run. No way is safe. The library has sealed itself, we can't. Oh, they're here. Argh. Slarg. Snick. Message ends. Please switch off your mobile comm. units for the comfort of other readers."

"So that's why we're here. Any other messages, same date stamp?" Theta asked the human node, "One additional message. This message carries a Felman Lux coherency warning of five zero eleven..." It continued on causing Theta to roll his eyes in annoyance. "Yeah, yeah, fine, fine, fine. Just play it." He grumbled out, "Message follows. Count the shadows. For God's sake, remember, if you want to live, count the shadows. Message ends." Our eyes widened as we made eye contact with each other. I gripped Fay a little tighter, I really hope it wasn't what we thought it was. "Donna?" Theta called back to her, "Yeah?" She asked turning to face him.

"Stay out of the shadows."

"Why, what's in the shadows?"

"So, We weren't just in the neighborhood." Donna spoke with a raised eyebrow at him. "Yeah, I kind of, sort of lied a bit. I got a message on the psychic paper." He holds it up, it reads - The library come as soon as you can. x - I frowned at the paper, "What do you think? Cry for help?" Theta asked looking towards me with a certain look causing me to frown. "Cry for help with a kiss?" I asked him back, "Who's it from?" Donna asked at the same time as me. "Well I hope it's Kate. In the future, she used to do that to me all the time. Made for some exciting se..." I immediately smacked my hand over his mouth as Donna rolled her eyes in disgust. "I don't think it was me, my love." I told him gently causing him to frown and pout, "But you always leave kisses." He whined out grumpily, "I leave two kisses an one hug, plus I'm more specific about things." I told him with a smirk causing him to immediately blush and nod. "Your right. Not you. So who?" He uttered lowly with a frown at the paper. "So why did we come here? Why did you..." Theta spotted something behind us, immediately making me to turn around. "Donna." I breathed out, The lights behind us are going out.

"What's happening?" Donna yelped,"Run!" We can't get the nearest door open. "Come on." Theta grumbled loudly in annoyance. "What, is it locked?" Donna asked looking at him confused, "Jammed. The wood's warped." I stated before Theta could, my hands keeping a protective grip on Fay. "Well, sonic it. Use the thingy." Donna grumbled sarcastically as if it was the most obvious thing. "I can't, it's wood." Theta stated with a frown, "What, it doesn't do wood?" She gestured in exasperation and annoyance. "Hang on, hang on. I can vibrate the molecules, fry the bindings. I can shatterline the interface." Donna rolled her eyes and gently backed me up. "Oh, get out of the way." Donna kicks the door open and we're back to where we were before the titles. "Oh. Hello. Sorry to burst on you like this. Okay if we stop here for a bit?" A small metal globe fall to the ground, "What is it?" Donna asked as we walked over, "Security camera. Switched itself off." I answered as Theta uses his sonic screwdriver on the security camera.

"Nice door skills, Donna." Theta and I complemented together causing her to smile with a blush. Theta was sitting cutely in the middle of the room on the floor, "Yeah, well, you know, boyfriends. Sometimes you need the element of surprise. What was that? What was after us? I mean, did we just run away from a power cut?" Donna asked with a raised eyebrow in confusion. "Possibly." Theta shrugged, "Are we safe here?" She asked looking towards me knowing that I would tell her the truth. "Of course we're safe. There's a little shop." A sign on the wall says The Shop, and Entrance This Way. Theta soon gets the camera open, "Gotcha!" He shouts in victory, suddenly words scroll across a little panel on the camera. "Ooo, I'm sorry. I really am. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. It's alive." Theta mumbles gently as he reads the words of pain. "You said it was a security camera." Donna cocked her head in confusion. "It is. It's an alive one." I told her causing her to nod back in acceptance. Soon more words come across the small screen, "Others? What's it mean, others?" Donna goes to a Node. "Excuse me. What does it mean, others?"

"That's barely more than a speak your weight machine, it can't help you." Theta grumbled causing me to chuckle, he never like things that knew more than him. Fay cooed gently once again at her father causing him to pout at her insult. "So why's it got a face?" Donna asked with a cock of her head, "This flesh aspect was donated by Mark Chambers on the occasion of his death." Donna's eyes widened, "It's a real face?" She gapped, "It has been actualised individually for you from the many facial aspects saved to our extensive flesh banks. Please enjoy."

"It chose me a dead face it thought I'd like? That statue's got a real dead person's face on it."

"It's the fifty first century. That's basically like donating a park bench."

"It's donating a face!" Donna shouted in horror, "No, wait, no." Theta grabs Donna as she backs away. "Oi. Hands." She slapped his hands causing me to laugh and him to roll his eyes. "The shadow. Look." I pointed, "What about it?" Donna asked looking between us, "Count the shadows." We murmured together, "One. There, counted it. One shadow." She grumbled with an eye roll. "Yeah But what's casting it?" It is a triangular shadow. "Oh, I'm thick! Look at me, I'm old and thick. Head's too full of stuff. I need a bigger head." The light in adjoining corridor is going out. "The power must be going." Donna tried to reason more to herself than us, "This place runs on fission cells. They'll outburn the sun." I explained to her, "Then why is it dark?" She asked back with wide eyes.

"It's not dark."

"That shadow. It's gone."

"We need to get back to the Tardis."

"Why?"

"Because that shadow hasn't gone. It's moved."

"Reminder. The library has been breached. Others are coming. Reminder. The library has been breached. Others are coming. Reminder. The library has been breached..."

A door is blown open in a flash of bright light, and six spacesuited figures enter. The leader adjusts her polarising filter so we can see her face. I immediately moved back, cuddling closer to Fay. I frowned at her and my own reaction, what the hell? "Hello, sweetie." The way she looked at Theta, I definitely didn't like it. Her eyes slowly moved over to me, that's when I realized why I reacted the way I did. Her eyes darkened and she practically snarled at us, Theta seemed to take notice right away. Donna looking between us as well with a frown, "Get out." He snarled at her, "Doctor." Donna glared at the women who flinched slightly under his gaze. "All of you. Turn around, get back in your rocket and fly away. Tell your grandchildren you came to the library and lived. They won't believe you." He snarled as Donna finally stepped in between us, her own eyes hard. "Pop your helmets, everyone. We've got breathers." They all began taking their helmets off, an we were met with blonde curly hair. "How do you know they're not androids?" A dark haired girl asked, "Because I've dated androids. They're rubbish." A man speaks, "Who is this? You said we were the only expedition. I paid for exclusives." The blonde rolled her eyes in annoyance and I almost agreed with her. "I lied, I'm always lying. Bound to be others." She winked at Theta who shivers in disgust. "Miss Evangelista, I want to see the contracts." The annoyance commanded towards the young dark haired girl. "You came through the north door, yeah? How was that, much damage?"

"Please, just leave. I'm asking you seriously and properly, just leave. Hang on. Did you say expedition?" Theta got distracted causing Donna to groan and me to chuckle lowly at him. "My expedition. I funded it." The annoyance announces smugly, "Oh, you're not, are you? Tell me you're not archaeologists." Theta grimaced in even more disgust as he looked back at me with a pout. I smirked at him as I leaned up to give him a kiss which seemed to brighten him up immensely. "Got a problem with archaeologists?" The blonde snipped glaring at me, "We're time traveler's. We point and laugh at archaeologists." Theta snarked back in annoyance, "Ah. Professor River Song, archaeologist." She held out her hand but he didn't take it. "River Song. As you're leaving, and you're leaving now, you need to set up a quarantine beacon. Code wall the planet, the whole planet. Nobody comes here, not ever again. Not one living thing, not here, not ever. Stop right there. What's your name?"

"Anita." She responded back with a smile, "Anita, stay out of the shadows. Not a foot, not a finger in the shadows till you're safely back in your ship. Goes for all of you. Stay in the light. Find a nice, bright spot and just stand. If you understand me, look very, very scared. No, bit more scared than that. Okay, do for now. You. Who are you?" He walked over to a man, "Er, Dave." He introduced awkwardly with a small wave, "Okay, Dave." Theta started only to be interrupted by the man. "Oh, well, Other Dave, because that's Proper Dave the pilot, he was the first Dave, so when we..." Theta rolled his eyes in exasperation before interrupting the man this time causing me to chuckle in amusement. "Other Dave, the way you came, does it look the same as before?" Other Dave frowned at the question, "Yeah. Oh, it's a bit darker." He uttered out slowly. "How much darker?" I asked loud enough for him to hear me. "Oh, like I could see where we came through just like a moment ago. I can't now."

"Seal up this door. We'll find another way out."

"Would you.."

"We're not looking for a way out. Miss Evangelista?"

"I'm Mister Lux's personal everything. You need to sign these contracts agreeing that your individual experience inside the library are the intellectual property of the Felman Lux Corporation." She went to hand me one but I gestured to Fay causing her to look back at the man who rolled his eyes and nodded for her to move on. "Right, give it here." Theta insisted, "Yeah, lovely. Thanks." They tear up the contracts, I let out a small laugh as Lux glares in anger. "My family built this library. I have rights." He shouted in anger, "You have a mouth that won't stop." River snarled at the man before turning towards Theta and moving in close to him. "You think there's danger here?" She asked looking up at him, he back up with a wince as he wrapped his arm around my waist. "Something came to this library and killed everything in it. Killed a whole world. Danger? Could be." He shrugged looking down at me as I nodded back up at him. We would both keep Fay safe no matter the cost. "That was a hundred years ago. The Library's been silent for a hundred years. Whatever came here's long dead."

"Bet your life?"

"Always."

"What are you doing?"

"He said seal the door."

"Torch."

"You're taking orders from him?"

"Spooky, isn't it?" Theta takes Lux's torch and shines it into the far recesses of the round room. "Almost every species in the universe has an irrational fear of the dark. But they're wrong, because it's not irrational. It's Vashta Nerada." I explained to everyone as Theta nodded along with me. "What's Vashta Nerada?" Donna asked looking between us, "It's what's in the dark. It's what's always in the dark. Lights! That's what we need, lights. You got lights?" He spoke towards the crew but River stepped forwards. "What for?" River asked, "Form a circle. Safe area. Big as you can, lights pointing out." Theta shouted out towards everyone as Fay watched him spin in a circle. "Oi. Do as he says." River demands, I watch her with a frown. "You're not listening to this man?" Lux asked in annoyance, "Apparently I am. Anita, unpack the lights. Other Dave, make sure the door's secure, then help Anita. Mister Lux, put your helmet back on, block the visor. Proper Dave, find an active terminal. I want you to access the library database. See what you can find about what happened here a hundred years ago. Pretty boy, you're with me. Step into my office."

"Professor Song, why am I the only one wearing my helmet?"

"I don't fancy you."

Theta goes over to Dave at the terminal. Lux takes off his helmet, I sit on one of the desks before Donna hands Fay back to me. She leans against it as we both watch him, "Probably I can help you." I spoke up causing him to look over at me with a smile. "Pretty boy. With me, I said." River shouted, Theta frowned looking at me in confusion as I raised an eyebrow at him. "Oh, I'm pretty boy?" He asked in shock causing me to chuckle bouncing Fay lightly in my lap. "Yes." Donna paused thinking about her response, "Ooo, that came out a bit quick." Donna quipped back, "Pretty?" Theta asked again looking between us. "Meh." We responded together in a teasing manner causing him to roll his eyes. He quickly made his way over, giving Fay a kiss on the forehead and me one on the lips. "I'll keep communication open." He murmurs lowly against my lips causing me to hum in agreement. Pulling away, he spins to face the others. "Don't let your shadows cross. Seriously, don't even let them touch. Any of them could be infected."

"How can a shadow be infected?"

"Excuse me, can I help?"

"No, we're fine."

"I could just you know, hold things."

"No, really, we're okay."

"Couldn't she help?" Donna asked with a frown as we watched the young girl. "Trust me. I just spent four days on a ship with that woman. She's er..." He paused slightly with a wince, "Couldn't tell the difference between the escape pod and the bathroom. We had to go back for her. Twice." Evangelista talks with her boss as I glared at everyone.

River takes a battered book from her backpack. Its cover is blue with eight squares, I listen an watch from Theta's mind. "Thanks." River started out, causing us both to frown. "For what?" He asked her cocking his head, "The usual. For coming when I call." I scoffed lowly under my breath causing Donna to eye me with a raised eyebrow. "Oh, that was you?" Theta asked, looking over at me. She looked as well but with a glare, "You're doing a very good job, acting like you don't know me. I'm assuming there's a reason." She uttered out lowly, as she moved in closer with a purr. My eyes widened as I looked away, was it possible? "A fairly good one, actually." He snarled causing me to flinch as he moved away from her.

I didn't mean to let that one slip through. "Okay, shall we do diaries, then? Where are we this time? Er, going by your face, I'd say it's early days for you, yeah? So, er, crash of the Byzantium. Have we done that yet? Obviously ringing no bells. Obviously not." I frowned even more, if she's had so many memories in that book shouldn't she remember his faces. Shouldn't she know where and when she met him. She didn't make sense, "Blimey, very early days, then. Whoo, life with a time traveller. Never knew it could be such hard work. Look at you. Oh, you're young." She steps closer again causing me to growl in annoyance. Donna placed a hand on my shoulder, I jumped slightly when she looked down at my hand. Frowning I looked myself to see it was glowing, shit. "I'm really not, you know." Taking a deep breath I released the power a little before turning back towards them.

"No, but you are. Your eyes. You're younger than I've ever seen you and them as well." I raised an eyebrow as she refused to say our names. "You've seen us before, then?" Theta questions as he crosses his arms, trying to stay as far from her as he can. "Doctor, please tell me you know who I am." She asked going to reach for him again but he doesn't allow it. "Who are you?" Brng, brng. Brng, brng. Theta dropped the connection as he moved away from her with a shiver in disgust. "Sorry, that was me. Trying to get through into the security protocols. I seem to have set something off. What is that? Is that an alarm?" Dave asked looking towards Theta who made his way over with River following behind.

"Doctor? Doctor, that sounds like.."

"It is. It's a phone."

"I'm trying to call up the data core, but it's not responding. Just that noise."

"But it's a phone."

"Let me try something." The screen says Access Denied. "Okay, doesn't like that. Let's try something else. Okay, here it comes. Hello?" A little girl appears on the screen as everyone surrounded the terminal to watch. "Hello. Are you in my television?" Theta frowned in confusion, "Well, no, I'm, I'm sort of in space. Er, I was trying to call up the data core of a triple grid security processor." He uttered pulling me forwards while pushing River back, she glared harshly at the movement. "Would you like to speak to my Dad?" She asked us, "Dad or your Mum. That'd be lovely." I told her gently with a smile causing her to cock her head at me. "I know you. You're in my library." I raise an eyebrow in shock, "Your library?" Theta and I ask together, "The library's never been on the television before. What have you done?" She asked with a frown, "Er, well, I just rerouted the interface." The connection was broken, "What happened? Who was that?" Access denied, "I need another terminal. Keep working on those lights. We need those lights!" River nods as she pushed past me, ah. Another Rose. "You heard him, people. Let there be light." Theta and I go to the other terminal, where River left her diary. When he picks it up, she takes it from him. "Sorry, you're not allowed to see inside the book. It's against the rules."

"What rules?"

"Her rules."

"My rules?"

Books start flying off the shelves. "What's that? I didn't do that. Did you do that?" Theta shouted in annoyance as he watched the books, quickly pulling me in front of him to protect Fay and I. We hide in front of the terminal while everyone else tried to take cover. "Not me." Theta's screen says Cal Access Denied. "What's Cal?" The bombardment of books finally stops. Donna goes over to Miss Evangelista. "You all right?" Theta asked looking down at me as he spun me around. He knew something was wrong, "I just don't like how she knows you, the way she looked at you. It's familiar." I whispered to him causing he to grip me tightly. "Nothing. I mean nothing is going to change. I don't want you to feel like that ever again, who ever she is, she's someone I don't like. I don't know what it was but when she stared at me like that all I could feel was pure hatred." I nodded along with him, "So it isn't just me. She someone we don't like in the future. Someone we hate." I muttered causing him to nod back in agreement.

More books shoot off their shelves, "What's causing that? Is it the little girl?" River asked as she moved over to us, her eyes hardening as studied our positions. "But who is the little girl? What's she got to do with this place? How does the data core work? What's the principle? What's Cal?" Theta rambled a bunch of questions at once causing her to look slightly lost. "Ask Mister Lux." She stated with a shrug, "Cal, what is it?" He now sits on the counter with Fay and I leaning against it next to him. "Sorry, you didn't sign your personal experience contracts." He spoke smugly causing me to growl in annoyance. "Mister Lux. Right now, you're in more danger than you've ever been in your whole life. And you're protecting a patent?" I snarled angrily and annoyed. "I'm protecting my family's pride." I scoffed, handing Fay over to Theta before I moved to get in his face. "Well, funny thing, Mister Lux. I don't want to see everyone in this room dead because some idiot thinks his pride is more important." I snarled, "Then why don't you sign his contract?" My head whipped towards her, my eyes glowing causing her to flinch and clear her throat. "I didn't either. I'm getting worse than you two." Theta reaches out to grab me and pull me back in between his legs. "Okay, okay, okay. Let's start at the beginning. What happened here? On the actual day, a hundred years ago, what physically happened?"

"There was a message from the Library. Just one. The lights are going out. Then the computer sealed the planet, and there was nothing for a hundred years." River explained to us, "It's taken three generations of my family just to decode the seals and get back in." Lux spoke up, "Er, excuse me?" My eyes moved over to the girl with black hair as I noticed her moving towards the dark room. My eyes glowed again as she disappeared, safe inside the Tardis.

"Not just now." Lux continues, "There was one other thing in the last message." River stated, "That's confidential." Lux glares at her causing her to glare back, "I trust this man with my life, with everything." Her eyes shined with secrets as she looked towards me smugly but Theta grunts. "You've only just met me." He snapped angrily in annoyance at her, "No, you've only just met me." She stated with a pointed look, "This is a data extract that came with the message." She shows him the data on her hand held, "Four thousand and twenty two saved. No survivors." He reads out with a frown, "Four thousand and twenty two. That's the exact number of people who were in the library when the planet was sealed." She responded back looking up at him, seemingly happy that he was so close. "But how can four thousand and twenty two people have been saved if there were no survivors?" Donna asked, "That's what we're here to find out."

"And so far, what we haven't found are any bodies."

There is suddenly a loud bang in the dark room which causes Theta to lead the way to investigate. It's a empty room with a skeleton in it, "Everybody, careful. Stay in the light." Thera demanded as he slowly moved over to it, "You keep saying that. I don't see the point. Wait, where is Miss Evangelista?" Dave frowned finally noticing she was gone. "She's safe." I spoke aloud causing everyone to turn to me with frowns. "Where is she?" Theta asked, "The Tardis, she was going to die. I saved her." I spoke gently rocking Fay as my head pounded, "My love, you know that hurts you more than it helps." He muttered moving over to me, "I know but I wasn't about to let her die because the rest of y'all didn't care to listen." He flinched slightly but kissed the top of my head in agreement. "I don't understand, where did she go?" Dave asked again, "She used her teleport powers." Theta and I turned to watch her, "Her what?" Other Dave asked with a frown looking slightly scared as well. "Although, you get a lot stronger later." She grumbles annoyed before looking down at the skeleton.

"It doesn't matter anyway, whatever did this, whatever killed this person, I'd like a word with that." She pointed towards the skeleton finally returning everyone's attention to the problem at hand. "I'll introduce you." Theta leads everyone out of the room, "I'm going to need a packed lunch."

"Hang on." River digs into her bag and pulls out the book again, Theta taking notice bends down next to her. "What's in that book?" He asked her, "Spoilers." She smirked at me, I flinched back. She knew. She knew that he was fascinated with things he didn't understand. "Who are you?" He asked again, my heart couldn't help but clench. His curiosity always got him into trouble. "Professor River Song, University of..." He was quick to interrupt her, "To me. Who are you to me?" He asked causing me to flinch as I backed away, Donna gently grabbed my hand as I looked away from them. "Again, spoilers. Chicken and a bit of salad. Knock yourself out." She hands him the lunch, his eyes finding mine. We paused staring at one another, something was going to change. Between us, I didn't know yet. "Right, you lot. Let's all meet the Vashta Nerada."

Theta is scanning the floor with his sonic screwdriver, I stand by Donna.

"You travel with him, don't you? The Doctor, you travel with him." River asked coming over, completely ignoring me which causing Donna to growl in annoyance. "What of it?" She snipped angrily, she was just as annoyed with the River situation as I was. "Proper Dave, could you move over a bit?" I frowned at Theta, "Why?" The man asked confused, "Over there by the water cooler. Thanks." He looks over towards me and Fay with a smile but frowns when he notices my face. "I was just wondering. It was curiosity. Nothing more, Nora. Please. Don't do this.." I growled in annoyance, "I'm not doing anything. I just don't like that your curious about her." He frowned before he nodded, "Your right. I'm sorry. I love you. Please know this." I nodded back, this time with a smile, "Of course I know. I love you too, my love."

"What are you talking about? Are you just talking rubbish? Do you know him or don't you? Don't you see he's married, don't look at him like that!" Donna's voice snapped us out of our mental connection as Theta growled in annoyance. "Donna! Quiet, I'm working." He snapped, I rolled my eyes. "Sorry." She whispered looking at me causing me to give her a smile back. "I do know the Doctor, but in the future. His personal future, they're personal future." Her eyes turned to me, "So why don't you know me? Where am I in the future?" Donna asked in a panic, "I d..." She was interrupted by Theta. "Okay, got a live one. That's not darkness down those tunnels. This is not a shadow. It's a swarm. A man eating swarm." He throws a chicken leg into the shadow. It is only bone by the time it hits the floor. "The piranhas of the air. The Vashta Nerada. Literally, the shadows that melt the flesh. Most planets have them, but usually in small clusters. I've never seen an infestation on this scale, or this aggressive."

"What do you mean, most planets? Not Earth?"

"Mmm. Earth, and a billion other worlds. Where there's meat, there's Vashta Nerada. You can see them sometimes, if you look. The dust in sunbeams."

"If they were on Earth, we'd know."

"Nah. Normally they live on road kill. But sometimes people go missing. Not everyone comes back out of the dark."

"Every shadow?"

"No. But any shadow."

"So what do we do?"

"Daleks, aim for the eyestalk. Sontarans, back of the neck. Vashta Nerada? Run. Just run." Theta looked towards Fay and I with a horrified look on his face. He was worried for us, "Run? Run where?" River asked looking between us, I noticed finally that she hadn't once actually looked at Fay. Her eyes would glance by but she never actually looked at her, why? "This is an index point. There must be an exit teleport somewhere." Theta's voice snapped me back, "Don't look at me, I haven't memorised the schematics." Dave snapped at his look, "Doctor, the little shop. They always make you go through the little shop on the way out so they can sell you stuff." Donna suggested, "You're right. Brilliant! That's why I like the little shop." He let out a laugh, "Okay, let's move it." He heads towards the shop but he spots something. "Actually, Proper Dave? Could you stay where you are for a moment?" I noticed it as well and slowly moved back, "Why?" He asked looking at the two of us with a frown. "I'm sorry. I am so, so sorry. But you've got two shadows." He has, at right angles to each other. "It's how they hunt. They latch on to a food source and keep it fresh." I explained to everyone out loud, "What do I do?" Dave asked in a panic, "You stay absolutely still, like there's a wasp in the room. Like there's a million wasps." I insisted causing him to immediately stiffen up more than he already was. "We're not leaving you, Dave."

"Course we're not leaving him. Where's your helmet? Don't point, just tell me." Theta demands quickly, "On the floor, by my bag." Anita goes to get it, "Don't cross his shadow. Thanks. Now, the rest of you, helmets back on and sealed up. We'll need everything we've got." Theta puts Dave's helmet on him. "But, Doctor, we haven't got any helmets." Donna stated with wide eyes, "Yeah, but we're safe anyway." Theta grunted out, "How are we safe?" I scoffed with a eye roll, "We're not. That was a clever lie to shut you up. Professor, anything I can do with the suit?" He snipped back, yep panic Theta was here and ready to stay. Rose had one thing right, he did like to insult people when he was scared or thinking. "What good are the damn suits? Miss Evangelista was wearing her suit. There was nothing left." Dave snarled angrily, "We can increase the mesh density. Dial it up four hundred percent. Make it a tougher meal." River suggested with a shrug, "Okay." Theta uses his screwdriver to adjust Dave's suit. "Eight hundred percent. Pass it on." He goes to hand it over, "Gotcha." River holds up a sonic screwdriver of her own. "What's that?" Theta asked frowning, "It's a screwdriver."

"It's sonic." I spoke up with a frown causing her to smirk at me. "Yeah, I know. Snap." River upgrades everyone's spacesuit. Theta grabs Donna's hand and mine, pulling us along. "With me. Come on." He utters out quickly, "What are we doing? We shopping? Is it a good time to shop?" There is a lectern by a small dais with three roundels in it. "No talking, just moving. Try it. Right, stand there in the middle. It's a teleport. Stand in the middle. Can't send the others, Tardis won't recognise them." I watched with a raised eyebrow as she looks at him with a frown. "What are you doing?" She asked looking between us, while I didn't agree to using this method. I wasn't strong enough to teleport anyone else just yet. "You don't have a suit. You're not safe." I told her gently trying to calm her down, "You don't have a suit, so you're in just as much danger as I am and I'm not leaving you.." Theta interrupted her, "Donna, let me explain." Donna teleports away. "Oh, that's how you do it."

"Doctor." We rush back into the room, quickly noticing the shadow had disappeared. "Where did it go?" I asked with a frown, holding Fay tighter as I eyed the whole room. "It's just gone. I looked round, one shadow, see." Dave pointed out with a shrug, "Does that mean we can leave? I don't want to hang around here." River asked looking towards Theta. "I don't know why we're still here. We can leave him, can't we? I mean, no offence." Lux asked looking towards us, I growled in annoyance. "Shut up, Mister Lux." I snarled angrily, "Did you feel anything, like an energy transfer? Anything at all?" Theta asked him, "No, no, but look, it's gone." Dave turns around. "Stop there. Stop, stop, stop there. Stop moving. They're never just gone and they never give up." He sonics the floor by Dave, "Well, this one's benign."

"Hey, who turned out the lights?"

"No one, they're fine."

"No seriously, turn them back on."

"They are on."

"I can't see a ruddy thing."

"Dave, turn around." Dave turns back to the Doctor, his visor completely dark. "What's going on? Why can't I see? Is the power gone? Are we safe here?" He asked in a panic, I really liked this guy. I grunted upset at myself for not being able to save him. "Dave, I want you stay still. Absolutely still." Dave jerks, "Dave? Dave? Dave, can you hear me? Are you all right? Talk to me, Dave." Theta panics as we watch him from behind. "I'm fine. I'm okay. I'm fine." He wasn't. He was gone. "I want you to stay still. Absolutely still." I place a hand on Theta's arm causing him to look back at me. I shake my head causing him to slouch in sadness. "I'm fine. I'm okay. I'm fine. I can't. Why can't I? I, I can't. Why can't I? I, I can't. Why can't I? I..." Dave's comm. unit lights blink. "He's gone. He's ghosting. It's a data ghost." River uttered out noticing us, "What's a data ghost?" Anita asked in confusion, "There's a neural relay in the communicator. Lets you send thought mail. That's it there. Those green lights. Sometimes it can hold an impression of a living consciousness for a short time after death. Like an afterimage." Theta quickly explains to everyone, "Then why is he still standing?" Other Dave asks, "Hey, who turned out the lights? Hey, who turned out the lights?" Theta slowly moves towards the dead suit. "Doctor, don't." River warned lowly, Dave grabs the Theta by the throat. A skull is now visible in his helmet. "Who turned out the lights? Hey, who turned out the lights?"

"Excuse me." River zaps the zombie with her sonic screwdriver, freeing Theta. "Back from it! Get back. Right back." Zombie Dave lurches a step towards them. "Doesn't move very fast, does it?" River asked watching it with a frown, "It's a swarm in a suit. But it's learning." Zombie Dave has four shadows, and they are growing. "What do we do? Where do we go?" Lux asked in a panic, "See that wall behind you? Duck." River fires a gun at the wall and makes a square hole in it. "Squareness gun!" I frowned again, why does she have something of Jack's? "Everybody out. Go, go, go. Move it. Move, move. Move it. Move, move." We move out into a hallway and pause to try and check the shadows.

"You said not every shadow."

"But any shadow."

"Hey, who turned out the lights?"

"Run!"

Somewhere amongst the massive shelves of books, Theta is trying to sonic a light fitting. "Trying to boost the power. Light doesn't stop them, but it slows them down." He explained to the group, "So, what's the plan? Do we have a plan?" River asked with a frown, "Your screwdriver looks exactly like mine." He stated with a glare, "Yeah. You gave it to me." His glare worsened as he watched her, she flinched slightly. "I don't give my screwdriver to anyone." He snipped back, "You're right. You refused. She gave it to me." She nodded towards Fay causing me to frown, Theta immediately stepped up protectively. "Who are you?" He snarled angrily at the thought of her being around our daughter in the future. "What's the plan?" She asked again, ignoring him. "I teleported Donna back to the Tardis. If we don't get back there in under five hours, emergency program one will activate." He then frowned, "Take her home, yeah. We need to get a shift on." River smiled but Theta was checking his sonic data. "She's not there. I should have received a signal. The console signals me if there's a teleport breach."

"Well, maybe the coordinates have slipped. The equipment here's ancient." Theta goes to a nearby Node. "Donna Noble. There's a Donna Noble somewhere in this library. Do you have the software to locate her position?" The node turns its head, It has Donna's face. My eyes widened in shock as the books behind us start to shake. My powers. "Donna Noble has left the library. Donna Noble has been saved." Her voice came out, and the shelves began to fall over. Loud booms echoing, "Donna. Kate, calm down!" Theta spun to face me in horror, his hands gripping my shoulders to stop me. "How can it be Donna? How's that possible?" River asked looking between us, "Donna Noble has left the library. Donna Noble has been saved." It kept repeating as Theta finally managed to calm me enough. "Hey, who turned out the lights?" It was dead Dave at the end of the hallway. "Doctor!" River shouted in shock, "Donna Noble has been saved."

"Hey, who turned out the lights?"

"Donna Noble has left the library."

"Doctor, we've got to go now!"

"Donna Noble has been saved."

"Hey, Who turned out the lights?" Theta and I run, followed by Lux, River, the other Dave and Anita. "Donna Noble has left the library." The group are trapped between shadows. "Doctor, what are we going to do?"

"Hey, who turned out the lights?"

"Donna Noble has left the library. Donna Noble has been saved."

My eyes flash and Fay disappeared from my arms. Safe. Inside the Tardis.

๑๑

Next Chapter will be flashbacks, and main story. I will be replacing Donna's part with Flashbacks so there is enough for y'all to read. I hope y'all like it.

River Song has officially been introduced, what do you guys think her problem is and what connections do you make for her and The Doctor's family...

Once again, an announcement!

I will be going live tomorrow at 7pm EST, if I'm not then it will be at 8 because my grandma might need me.

Either way I will be live to answer any questions about my books.

Please join my Tiktok live, @shittyhair_cosplay_fore0

I hope y'all enjoyed this chapter. Seeing a lot more powers appearing.

I wanted to update this tonight so everyone who doesn't see my message board will hopefully read my authors note at the bottom.

Thank you all for the love and support!

Please let me know if I need to correct anything. I usually go back but sometimes I skip over things.

7,682 Words