Up now - The Silence in the Library!
The second half of the two-parter should be up by next weekend!
Enjoy
The Tardis, thankfully, seemed to take pity on the Doctor for once as the next video came up on screen. The latest title revealed itself to the group, and the Doctor immediately wanted to take back any thanks she was about to lay down on the Tardis.
"Silence in the Library?" Bill said, head tilting to the side in confusion. "What kind of title is that?"
"Not a promising one, if it is what I think it is." The Doctor muttered, face grim as she realised exactly what this video was likely to be about, after all she didn't actually have that many adventures in libraries. She couldn't help but glance at River and Donna, both seemingly to have reached the same conclusion as the Doctor based on the look they shared.
"Well, that's not reassuring." Rory grimaced, he didn't like the sound of this to begin with and based off of the Doctor's gaze, it appeared his daughter was also involved. A recipe for disaster if he'd ever seen one (and he'd seen many).
Nursery music plays in the background as someone (Moon) tells a girl to close her eyes and tell them what they see. The girl sees the library, which she floats above. Moon asks her to open her eyes asking where she is now
"What?" Rose blinked, of all the ways for a video to start that wasn't what she had expected, though it maybe wasn't the weirdest opening they'd seen so far. No one knew what to say to her, all equally confused, except for those who had actually spent time there – though none of them were likely to give anything up this early in the video.
They're at the girl's home as Dr Moon makes notes while the girl's father watches. The girl says they are in the living room, but when she closes her eyes, she goes to the library. Dr Moon tells her to go there now
"I'm guessing this is the library from the title?" Martha asked, aiming her question at the Doctor.
The Doctor shrugged in response, "Probably."
"Very helpful Doctor." Martha sighed.
"As always." Mickey snorted.
We see a circular wood panelled room with a dome above providing natural light. Moon asks if she's back there, which she is, but in a different part as it goes on for ever. He asks how she moves around, and tells him by wishing. The big entrance doors rattle
"I think someone wants in." Ryan declared, eyeing the doors on screen wearily. There was about a 50-50 chance that it was someone friendly, likely the Doctor, or someone threatening, which was also likely with the Doctor around.
Moon asks what is wrong and the girl is scared as something is there, something got in when nothing is supposed to. Her father says she's never mentioned anyone else, she's always been alone. The girl says it isn't allowed; someone is in her library. Moon asks her to listen saying the library is in her mind. The girl says she knows but something got inside
"Wait, is this library actually real or is it in this little girl's head?" Amy asked.
"Why can't it be both?" The Doctor answered. At this point the group couldn't tell if she was being purposely annoying or just her normal level of annoying.
In the room, Donna and the Doctor (10) burst in. The Doctor grabs a book and uses it to jam the door handles so it won't open
The group relaxed a bit upon seeing it was just the Doctor and Donna breaking into the library. For the minute, whatever threat the Doctor was concerned about was not visible and they were going to enjoy that brief moment of respite while they could.
He turns to her (from her view) and apologises for bursting in, asking if they can stop there for a bit
"Are you talking to her?" Graham asked, "The little girl?"
The Doctor tilted her head to the side in consideration for a second, "In a way yes, though we were unaware of it at the time."
Earlier, we're in the Tardis. The Doctor is talking about books and how people never really stopped loving them
"For good reasons." Clara smiled.
The Tardis is in an empty-ish area with just a few small book cases, he declares it the fifty first century and says they have holovids so can directly download books to their brain but they need the smell, telling Donna to take a deep breath
"Ooh, so we get to see another adventure of Donna and the Doctor." Martha grinned at her friend.
Mickey snorted, "I can already imagine the chaos."
They reach a massive staircase, as the Doctor calls it The Library, so big it doesn't need a name just a the. Donna declares it is like a city and the Doctor tells her it is a world, literally and the core is the index computer. They have every book ever written and biggest hard drive ever, continents of books
"You could get lost in a place like that." Bill muttered, eyes widening as she took in the scenery, and she'd thought the university library was impressive.
"More than lost." Donna muttered, sharing a grave look with the Doctor and River. No one else heard thankfully, or they would have been even more unnerved than they already were.
They look over a balcony onto roofs below, and the Doctor says they're near the equator so must be in biographies which he loves. Donna says they are very him as they always have a death at the end. The Doctor counters you need a good death as otherwise there would only be comedies and dying gives us size
"For once I wish this was a comedy." The Doctor sighed, squeezing River's hand tight to comfort herself more than anything. Jack was the only one that heard that comment, giving the Doctor a concerned look which she missed, River answering silently in her stead with a shake of her head, this wasn't the time to ask.
Donna picks up a book and the Doctor takes it from her claiming spoilers as the books are from her future and she doesn't want to read ahead and spoil all the surprises
"I don't think reading one book is going to give away everything." Rose pointed out.
The Doctor shrugged, "You never know."
"Then why bring her there when she can't even read the books?" Martha pointed out with a raised eyebrow.
The Doctor shrugged trying to spear casual, but no one missed the dark look lingering in her eyes, "You know the Tardis, we go where we need to." Even if she wished she'd never needed to go there, that River hadn't gone so she would never have gotten her message to go.
Donna argues that travelling with him is one big spoiler. The Doctor says he tries to keep her away from major plot developments but honestly, he's very bad at that, because this is the biggest library in the universe so where is everyone, the place is silent
"You are very bad at that Doctor." Jack declared with a raised eyebrow at the Doctor who grinned unrepentant. She tried but she couldn't control where the Tardis took them all the time.
The Doctor uses his sonic on a nearby information screen, bringing it online as Donna says the library? The Doctor corrects her to the whole planet and Donna suggests it is a Sunday but the Doctor says he never lands on Sundays as they are boring
"So giant library and no people. Plus, a mysterious young girl. Totally not a recipe for disaster." Yaz muttered, glancing between the screen and the Doctor and Donna in the room.
Donna suggests everyone is just really quiet, the Doctor agrees it could be bust says they'd show up on the system. Donna asks why they are really there and the Doctor tries to wave her off saying they're just passing
Everyone in the room turned to the Doctor with disbelieving looks, "When was that ever true Doctor?" Clara shook her head.
"It could be." The Doctor argued.
"But it never is." Rory said with a resigned sigh to which the Doctor only shrugged.
Donna pushes, saying he was talking about going to the beach and then they're in a library so why
"You always promise us beaches and we always end up everywhere but the beach." Amy complained.
"And when we do end up at the beach, there's always some danger that ruins our peace." Martha added on.
The Doctor raised her hands in surrender as the pair turned on her, "Well that's hardly my fault."
"It … kinda is Doctor." Bill argued.
The Doctor has found something interesting – he scanned for life forms and gets nothing for basic humanoids but if he widens parameters to all kind of life – the screen shows an error as it can't go beyond a million, million
"That's not good." Nardole muttered. No one missed the long look that Donna, the Doctor and River shared.
"So, an uncountable amount of an unknown entity. One that going off all the glances is not friendly." Rose summarised, "What is your luck?" She finished with a glance at the Doctor.
The Doctor grimaced, "Tell me about it."
Donna argues there is nothing there. The Doctor adds there isn't a sound, millions of life forms and silence in the library
"Roll the title." Ryan muttered. For once, it seemed the library being silent was not a good thing.
Donna continues saying it's just books and there's no one there, she says it can't be the books, as they can't be alive right? They both reach slowly for a book before a voice makes them jump
The group in the room all jumped in sync with Donna and the Doctor on screen, before letting out a breath of relief as they released it was not the book that had spoken (weirder things had happened to them). No one asked any questions, having figured out by this point that it was often quicker and less painful to wait for answers than ask the Doctor who was prone to avoiding questions and giving limited information that left them with more questions than they started with.
The voice says welcome and Donna points out where it came from
"Off to find a mystery voice in a silent library surrounded by millions of unknown creatures." Mickey said. "Just your normal weekend with the Doctor."
"Millions of millions." Nardole corrected, earning a grimace from the group at the reminder.
They return to a mostly empty room with a vaguely humanoid sculpture by a desk, it turns its head and shows a female face attached to the surface which had spoken to them
"What the heck is that!?" Bill shouted, recoiling from the sight on screen. She wasn't the only one.
Donna grimaced at the sight, reminded of her own first thoughts. Even now she didn't like the nodes.
The Doctor raised her eyebrow at that reaction before waving at the screen to the group's annoyance.
The sculpture introduces itself as Courtesy Node seven one zero slash aqua, telling them to enjoy the library and be respectful to everyone. Donna says the face looks real; the Doctor says yeah but not to worry about it
"I feel like that's something we should worry about!" Yaz argued.
"Nah." The Doctor drawled, channelling her Pinstripes regeneration.
Donna pushes about the real face hoping it is a hologram or something, the Doctor says it isn't but it is fine really
"No, it's really not." Martha crossed her arms, annoyed at the Doctor's continued dismissal of what was bothering the majority of the room. Her annoyed glare waned after catching Donna shaking her head, this wasn't an issue to push, and not now.
The node continues giving a brief message from the Head Librarian for their urgent attention which has been edited for tone and context; run, for god's sake, run, no way is safe, the library has seal itself, they're here, arg, slarg, snick. The node continues telling them to switch off their mobile comm units for other readers' comfort
The group listened in growing horror as the message played out, all feeling more and more restless as the realisation of the danger Donna and the Doctor were already in.
"You can't even go to the library without finding trouble, can you Doctor?" Amy sighed, she kept glancing at River and the Doctor. She really didn't like how the danger seemed to already be making an appearance and it seemed her daughter was also going to be involved, which didn't spell out anything good.
The Doctor declares that's why they are there then, asking about other messages and date stamp
"You are far too calm about everything." Jack narrowed his eyes as he came to a realisation, "You already knew something was wrong."
The Doctor shrugged, "I had an idea something was wrong, not what though." She glanced at Donna and River, if she'd known she might have hesitated a bit more, not that she would ever regret her first meeting with River (from her perspective), just the ending. She'd always regret how that had ended.
The node has another message which has a low coherency warning but the Doctor tells her to play it, the node does: count the shadows, remember if you want to live, count the shadows. The Doctor tells Donna to stay out of the shadows as Donna asks what is in them
The group started to glance around, eyeing the shadows warily despite not knowing what was actually in the shadows, and that the Tardis wouldn't allow anything dangerous into the room with them.
"What's in the shadows?" Ryan asked nervously.
No one missed the silent conversation that occurred between River, Donna and the Doctor, yet they received no answers (as usual, you'd think they'd be used to it now, but they could always hope).
Donna says they weren't just in the area then. The Doctor admits he lied and shows her that he got a message on the psychic paper – The library come as soon as you can x
Rory and Amy both sighed in sync, "River." Their daughter just smirked at the pair, though both could see the slight nervous edge to it which didn't make them feel any better about the ending of this video.
The remainder of the group glanced between the parent and daughter/daughter-in-law duos, interested in the family dynamic they were getting to witness.
The Doctor asks what she thinks, suggesting a cry for help. Donna is doubtful as it has a kiss at the end, but the Doctor declares they've all done that
"That we have, Doc."
"Jack!"
Donna asks who it is from but the Doctor doesn't know. Donna starts to ask why they are there then but behind them the lights are going out
"Stop talking, start running." Mickey stated seriously, no one in the room was naïve enough to think that those lights going out were by chance or a technical glitch. No, that was very deliberate and didn't promise anything friendly based on the limited information they had.
Donna asks what is happening as the Doctor shouts to run. They can't get the nearest door open, as it is jammed from the wood warping. Donna tells him to sonic then, use the thingy
Despite the tense situation (which had the majority of the group on the edge of their seats, as if that would help the pair on screen escape) they couldn't help but grin teasing at the Doctor.
"Gee, Doctor. You know what would help with that?" Rose raised an eyebrow.
The Doctor sighed, "Don't start, please."
"I think I know what would help!" Clara joined in, ignoring the Doctor's pleas.
"You know, I think I know what you're thinking too!" Amy grinned, enjoying the brief break in the tension.
"A wood setting!" Donna finally out the Doctor out of her misery. "Seriously Doctor, would it kill you to add a wood setting?"
"At this point I think it would kill any remainder of pride she has left." Martha snorted.
The Doctor gave them a flat look, "Are you all done?"
"For now." Clara grinned.
"Great." The Doctor sighed, knowing this was going to come back to haunt her later.
The Doctor says it can't as the door is wood, Donna is annoyed and shocked it doesn't do wood. The Doctor has an idea about vibrating the molecules etc but Donna tells him to get out the way and kicks the door open
"Who needs a wood setting, when you have a Donna?" Mickey grinned at the red-head.
"And don't you forget it!"
We're back to the circular room where the girl was. The Doctor apologises for bursting in as we saw before and then a small metal globe falls to the ground with a glimpse of the girl opening her eyes at home. Donna asks what it is and the Doctor tells her it is a security camera that switched itself off
"Wait. Rewind." Graham blinked, "That was the young girl we saw at the start. But you saw a security camera. Is she one of those talking computer things?"
"An AI, grandad." Ryan sighed.
"Yeah, one of those! Doc?"
"Not quite Graham, it's best to watch if you want to understand." The Doctor smiled fondly at her latest companions.
"You'd say that even if it wasn't Doctor." Yaz argued to which the Doctor simply shrugged, a non-answer if there ever was one.
Back with the girl she's asking how they can be in her library as Moon asks who they were. The girl puts her hands to her head asking what a noise is, her father asks what noise. Back in the room, the Doctor uses his sonic on the security camera
The Doctor winced; she hadn't realised her sonic had hurt the young girl so much.
The Doctor compliments Donna's door skills, as Donna shrugs about boyfriends and how you sometimes need the element of surprise. She then asks what was after them and if they'd just run from a power cut
"You good, Donna?" Martha asked her friend quietly, a bit uncomfortable with that casual comment from Donna.
Donna smiled reassuringly, "I am, promise."
The Doctor declares it possible before Donna asks if they are safe there. The Doctor says of course they all, there's a little shop
River sighed, she really questioned how the Doctor had survived so long sometimes. "I don't think that's quite how these things work, Sweetie." The Doctor just smiled cryptically in response, to her wife's frustrations
A sign on the wall says the Shop and entrance, the Doctor gets the camera open. The girl falls onto a rug with the same motif as the camera lens cap – a stylised eye, she begs it to stop as Moon and her father comfort her
"Doctor …" Rose muttered, shifting uncomfortable. They knew the Doctor likely didn't know quite what she'd been doing to the poor girl, but it still wasn't fun to watch her suffer. The Doctor just winced again, regretting her actions but unable to do anything about it now.
Her words scroll across the camera's panel and the Doctor apologises, realising it was alive. Donna says it is a security camera and the Doctor agrees but it is an alive one
The group let out a breath of relief as the Doctor realised the sentience or alive-ness of the little camera drone/young girl.
Moon asks if she can here him and if she's alright. The girl declares other are coming, threat the library has been breached. Moon asks what others
"Others?" Nardole muttered, glancing at River who had yet to make an appearance but had been mentioned to be involved.
"Please be friendly, please be friendly. Please for once." Rory muttered, pleading with an unknown entity that had never seemed to listen beforehand.
"That's hopeful." Amy snorted, depreciatively.
Donna asks what is means by others, then she goes to the node to ask. The Doctor days the node can barely speak more than her weight machine so can't help. Donna asks why it has a face and the node answers saying the flesh aspect was donated by someone on the occasion of their death
"It's a real face!" Bill's eyes widened, almost falling off her beanbag as she shuffled back as if that would save her from the truth.
The Doctor grimaced, there'd been a reason she tried to avoid telling Donna (and then the rest of the group) the truth about the faces – it wasn't something humans from their century reacted well to typically (in her experience).
The Master decided to take that opportunity to speak up for the first time in a long while. "Can't take the truth? And I thought humans were supposed to be hardier than that." He was leaning back in his seat, putting on a fake (to those that knew him best, aka the Doctor) nonchalant attitude, though it edged towards smug, like the act that had got the cream.
Bill glared at him but edged a bit further away, still uncomfortable with his presence. She didn't know how to respond to him so she chose to ignore him, turning instead to the Doctor for answers.
The Doctor sighed, shooting the Master a disappointed and disapproving glance to which he scoffed, before turning back to Bill with what she hoped was a reassuring smile. "It's not as bad as it seems. This is far into the future, things change. Donating a face to the library is like donating a park bench." No one was very reassured by her explanation based on their expressions.
Donna is shocked it is a real face as the node says the facial aspect has been individualised for her enjoyment. Donna doesn't like the statue having a real face, or choosing one it thought she'd like
"Good to see someone reacting to this situation like a normal person." Rory muttered.
The Doctor declares it is the fifty first century and it like donating a park bench, she starts to back up arguing but the Doctor grabs her telling her to look at the shadows
And with that, the face on the node was shoved down the group's list of priorities. The shadows and the unknown threat within jumping straight back up to numbers 1 through 10.
He tells her to count the shadows, she does – one, the Doctor agrees but ask who is casting it
"That's a very good question." Clara muttered, "One that I am suddenly very scared to know the answer to."
It's a triangular shadow. The Doctor declares he is old and thick and his head is too full of stuff so he needs a bigger head
Amy snorted, "That's the last thing you need."
Light in the adjoining corridor is going out and Donna says the power must be going out. The Doctor disagrees as it runs on fission cells so will outburn the sun
"So … definitely not a technical glitch?"
"Unfortunately, not, sorry Mickey."
Donna asks why it is dark then; the Doctor says it isn't dark. Donna sees the shadow has disappeared
The group was silent as the dots connected into place and the weight of the situation the pair were suddenly in emerged.
"The shadow's sentient. It doesn't need to be cast and can cover lights to make it darker. Great, just great." Martha sighed, as always with these videos seemed to get worse and worse, yet they never got straight answers until near the end (if they ever got any at all).
"Not quite Martha." The Doctor muttered quietly, sharing a knowing look with Donna and River but she didn't elaborate when the group's questioning eyes turned on them.
The Doctor declares they need to get back to the Tardis, as the shadow isn't gone but moved. The node reminds them the library has been breached and others are coming, repeating itself
"The shadow can and has moved, and there is some other unknown in the library. Because things can't get worse." Rose grimaced.
"Oh, they certainly can."
"Not helping Donna."
A door is blown open in a flash of bright light and six space suited figures enter, the leader adjusts her polarising filter so we see her face – River says hello, sweetie
"River!" Several people exclaimed at one upon seeing the familiar face, relived that it was someone friendly and not another threat to add to the already terrible situation.
"Of course, it's River." Rory muttered, glancing at his daughter in concern.
The Doctor declares to get out
The Doctor winced at the reminder of her first words (from her perspective) to her wife. The majority of the group blinked, confused at the Doctor's greeting towards River, it wasn't very in character.
Rory and Amy shared a concerned look, a bad feeling was building high in the pit of their stomachs. They were starting to think they had an idea what this video was going to be about and they hated it already. They didn't want to start an argument now knowing the chances of their questions actually being answered were slim, they would have to choose their moment.
The Doctor tells all of them to turn around, get back int their rocket and fly away, to tell their grandchildren they came to the library and loved as they won't believe them. River tells her group to pop their helmets as they have breathers. Anita asks how they know they're not androids, and River says because she's dated androids, they're rubbish
"Depends on the android." Jack argued with a wink at River who just smirked back to the Doctor's (fond) annoyance.
Lux demands to know who they are as they are the only expedition, he paid for exclusives
"Oh, he's one of those." Bill muttered a Lux on screen, those people, the ones who wouldn't listen no matter what you said, were always the most dangerous (which wasn't what you wanted really when everything was already plenty dangerous).
River declares she lied, is always lying, and there is bound to be others
"Apparently that's a habit with time travellers." Amy sighed, more resigned to the fact than anything. It still earned a kind of sad, bittersweet smiles from her daughter and the Doctor.
Lux asks Miss Evangelista for the contracts as River asks the Doctor and Donna if they came through the north door and how much damage there was. The Doctor asks them to leave again, before pausing and asking about the expedition. Lux funded it, and the Doctor dreads asking if they're archaeologists
"Brilliant priorities as always Doctor." Mickey sighed.
"Still have a problem with archaeologists, sweetie?" River teased her wife.
The Doctor grumbled, but made the smart decision not to answer.
River asks if he has a problem with archaeologists, the Doctor says he is a time traveller so he points and laughs at them. River introduces herself as Professor River Song, archaeologist. The Doctor declares it a lovely name and they're all leaving, and need to set up a quarantine on the whole planet so no one comes there again. He tells another crewmember to stop where they are, and asks their name
"You don't know her?" Clara's eyes widened, as the realisation kicked in as to why the Doctor was reacting so weirdly to River.
The Doctor shook her head sadly. "Everything has a beginning, for me this was my beginning with River." She shared a long bittersweet look with her wife, ignoring the group's reactions. Neither of them mentioned, but both of there were thinking it: for River it was the end of the story, but it seems they were, thankfully, being granted a sequel.
The wives were also purposely avoiding the concerned eyes of Amy and Rory, both very aware of how painful this was going to be for River as she'd expressed that thought on many occasions with them. The day where she would know the Doctor and the Doctor would not know her.
Anita introduces herself. The Doctor tells her to stay out the shadows, and expands it to all of them, find a nice spot in the light and stay in it, and if they understand look very scared. He points to someone else and asks who they are
"I don't think they're going to listen to the random maniac they found in the Library." Yaz said with a raised eyebrow at the Doctor's approach.
Ryan nodded along, "Yeah Doctor, you sound like one of those people on the street shouting about doomsday." The Doctor just sighed, feeling the urge to put her head in her hands and hide.
"Don't worry Sweetie." River patted the Doctor's knee in mocking commiseration, "You're our favourite maniac."
He introduces himself as Dave, Other Dave as Proper Dave is the pilot. The Doctor asks him if the way they came looks the same as before, Other Dave says it does but a bit darker
"Darker is not good. Darker is very much not good." Nardole declared shaking his head worried.
The Doctor asks how much darker, and Other Dave said he could see where they came through a few moments ago but can't now. The Doctor tells them to seal up the door as they'll find another way out
"A map would be useful at this point." Graham announced.
"Very helpful, Graham." The Doctor rolled her eyes.
"Oi! Just trying to help."
Lux argues they aren't looking for a way out. Evangelista declares herself Mr Lux's personal everything and gives them contracts to sign agreeing that their individual experience in the library is the intellectual property of Felman Lux Corporation. Donna and the Doctor happily take the contracts and tear them up in sync
Jack grinned approvingly, "The only way to deal with contracts." The rest of the group all laughed a bit at that, enjoying the brief moment of lightness (metaphorically and literally) and the ever-fantastic dynamic between Donna and the Doctor.
Lux declares his family built the library so he has rights
"Definitely one of those." Bill muttered, her thoughts from earlier cemented firmly.
River declares the Doctor has a mouth that won't stop, and asks if he thinks there is danger there. The Doctor informs them something came to the library and killed everything in it, so it could be dangerous. River adds it was a hundred years ago and the Library has been silent since, so whatever came there is long dead
"Unfortunately, when the Doctor's around you can't bet on that." Mickey grimaced.
"Not everything lives as short a life as humans, several people in this room are a perfect example of that." The Doctor reminded River, with a disapproving look for her lack of consideration, it really wasn't like her. Usually she was purposely reckless, after having considered all the options.
"You can't talk."
The Doctor asks if she'd bet her life on it, River replies always. Lux asks what Other Dave is doing – sealing the door
"Been around for five minutes and they're already taking orders from you." Clara shook her head, failing to hide her fond smile.
"I just have that affect." The Doctor grinned proudly.
"You have something alright." Donna snorted earning laughs from the rest of the group and a pout from the Doctor.
Lux asks about them taking orders from the Doctor who says it is spooky, isn't it. The Doctor takes Lux's torch and shines it in the far recesses of the round room as he explains almost every species has an irrational fear of the dark but it isn't actually irrational, it's the Vashta Nerada
"Vashta Nerada?" Amy raised an eyebrow at that.
"Vashta Nerada." The Doctor nodded in confirmation, either missing or purposely mid-understanding Amy's question.
"I can't decide if it is good or bad to have a reason to be scared of the dark." Rose muttered with a grimace.
Donna asks what they are, and the Doctor explains it is what's in the dark, always in the dark, and they need light, asking if the group has lights
The Doctor's comment led to the room all nervously looking around the room and into the small portions of shadows cast by the chairs, despite knowing that they were safe wherever they were.
River asks what for, and the Doctor tells them to form a circle, create a safe area as big as they can with lights pointing out. River tells them to do as he says
"At least you have River's support." Martha said. "They're more likely to listen to you if one of their team trusts them."
"You'd think that." Donna muttered quietly, drawing a concerned look from Martha.
Lux asks if they're really listening to the Doctor, River says they are as she orders the group to get to work. She tells Anita to unpack the lights and Other Dave to secure the door, she tells Lux to put his helmet on and block the visor, then Proper Dave to find an active terminal and search the library database for what happened. She says pretty boy is with her. Lux asks why he's the only one wearing his helmet and River replies she doesn't fancy him
"River." Rory sighed, but everyone could tell it was fond and more relieved to see her act more like herself, even in the face of the Doctor's lack of recognition than anything else.
"Yes, dad?" River queried innocently. Rory just shook his head, smiling fondly.
The Doctor goes over to Dave at the terminal as Lux takes off his helmet. He offers his help before River shouts for him, and the Doctor realises he's pretty boy
"It's River. What do you expect?" Amy shook her head.
The Doctor didn't match her grin, answering quietly and reluctantly, "I'd never met her before remember Amy." Amy's smile swiftly vanished at the reminder.
Donna declares that came out quick, he asks if he's pretty, to which Donna says meh
"Always nice to have your support, Donna." The Doctor smiled at the English red-head.
"And don't you know it, Spaceboy."
The Doctor tells them to not let their shadows cross, to not let them even touch as any could be infected, Other Dave asks how a shadow can be infected
"I'm liking these … Vashta Nerada? Less and less." Mickey declared with a grimace.
"They're not going to get any better, Rickey."
"Great, just great."
Evangelista asks how she can help and Anita waves her off saying they're fine, Evangelina pushes saying she can hold things
"Oh, poor Evangelista." Donna muttered sadly, thinking about the poor girl's fate.
Other Dave also chimes in they don't need help. Donna points out Evangelista could help but Other Dave says to trust him as they spent the past four days on a ship with her. Anita cuts in to say she couldn't tell the difference between the escape pod and bathroom and had to go back for her twice
"It doesn't mean you have to be cruel to her." Bill frowned disapprovingly at the crew. The group was so caught up in their disapproval that they missed the sad exchange between River, Donna and the Doctor.
Evangelista talks to Lux as River takes a familiar battered blue book from her backpack – her diary
"Your diary." Amy muttered, recognising the familiar blue book that River had caried everywhere with her since Berlin. It made her shuffle uncomfortable to see how full it was, River and the Doctor's words from their time on Darillium ringing in her mind.
River thanks the Doctor for coming when she calls
"Oh River." Rory's eyes widening as he realised why River seemed so calm about everything – she though the Doctor was pretending not to know her. She wouldn't meet anyone's eyes.
The Doctor says that was her. River says he's doing a good job of acting like he doesn't know her and she assumes there is a reason, the Doctor says he has a good one. River suggests comparing diaries, saying based on his face it is early days and lists things like Asgard, crash of the Byzantium. She realises it is very early days, then stops and looks at him realising how young he is
The Doctor leaned over to her wife, eyes sad as she whispered, "I'm sorry River."
River squeezed her hand, an attempt to reassure both of them. "You have nothing to be sorry for."
The Doctor just shook her head, "We both know that's not true."
The Doctor argues he really isn't, but River says he is, his eyes show he's younger than she's ever seen him. The Doctor asks about her seeing him before them and River begs him to tell her he knows who she is, the Doctor asks who she is. A device rings
The whole group almost visibly jumped at the sudden ringing of a device distracting from the painful moment they had been watching as River realised that the Doctor really didn't recognise her. No one was quite sure what to say, the whole thing seeming far too personal and most of them didn't have enough knowledge of their relationship to really comment on it. Plus, it really didn't seem right to do so.
Amy and Rory both were shuffling uncomfortable on their sofa, looking like they want to join their daughter on the sofa but knowing it wouldn't be appreciated. Like the Doctor, River didn't like having her emotions exposed like that.
Donna was also watching with a sort of guilty curiosity. She'd missed so much of the Doctor and River's interactions, and she'd never met River again after her sacrifice at the end of their time at the Library, but their dynamic had been so odd she couldn't help but be curious. Knowing that the Doctor had married River, many things made much sense now but it was all so much more painful, knowing what she knew. The rest of the group weren't prepared for what was coming.
Dave apologises as it was him trying to get into the security protocols and set off something, Donna points out it sounds like, and the Doctor adds it is a phone
"A phone?" Yaz frowned, "I don't suppose one of you is carrying one?" River, Donna and the Doctor just shook their heads.
At the girl's home, a wired old telephone is ringing, the girl has the TV on with her back to if as she draws on some paper. She calls for her dad who says to give him a minute
"The girl again?" Rose asked, "Are you going to explain how she's there and not?"
River, Donna and the Doctor all held a silent conversation before River answered for them, "It's easiest to just watch." Rose rolled her eyes at that knowing she should have expected that sort of answer.
Dave is trying to call up the data core but it isn't responding. The Doctor asks to try something. At the girl's, she asks if her dad is going to answer the phone but he says it isn't ringing and she moves towards the phone only for it to stop ringing. Back in the round room, the screen says Access Denied, the Doctor says it didn't like that and he'll try something else
"Hopefully something that's not going to hurt her." Clara gave the Doctor a pointed look, who held her hands up in surrender but nodded to the screen.
At the girl's home, she's drawing the library as the Doctor appears on the TV. The girl asks if he is in her TV and he argues he's kind of in space and trying to bring up the data core of a triple grid security processor
"You're in her TV." Mickey countered, pointing at the screen.
"Yes, I'm on the TV from her perspective, but I wasn't from ours. Perspective is important Rickey."
The girl asks if he'd like to speak to her dad
"Good response." Martha smiled, at the very childlike response.
The Doctor would. The girl knows him as he's in her library, but it's never been on TV before, asking what he's done. The Doctor says he rerouted the interface, then the cartoon returns as he's gone
"And you've broken up." Bill sighed with a grimace; she had a bad feeling something was about to go very wrong.
River asks what happened and who was that. Access is still denied and the girls starts changing channels on the TV. The Doctor needs another terminal and reminds them to keep the lights working. River agrees with him as he goes to another terminal where River left her diary. He picks it up but she takes the book from him
"Ah, ah, ah!" River shook her head at the Doctor.
The Doctor smiled fondly, "I know, I know. Spoilers."
River apologises but he can't see in the book as it is against the rules, the Doctor asks what rules, and River tells him his rules. The girl opens a section at the bottom of the remote control and presses a button, books start flying off the shelves in the round room
"It really is her library." Ryan mused as they all watched the books fly across the room.
The Doctor asks what it is as he didn't do it, Dave didn't either. The screen says Cal Access denied and the Doctor asks what Cal is. The girl keeps pressing the extra buttons and the book stop flying. Donn goes to Evangelista
"I'm going out on the limb here to say, that young girl is Cal?" Jack asked, turning to the Doctor with a raised eyebrow.
"It seems your instincts haven't failed you yet, Captain."
Donna asks if she is alright, Evangelista wants to know what is happening. Lux doesn't know, and Donna thanks Evangelista for offering to help with the lights. Evangelista says they don't want her as they think she's stupid because she's pretty. Donna argues they don't, but Evangelista says they are right as she's a moron, her dad said she had the IQ of plankton and she was pleased
"That's just a shame; I mean she seems so nice." Rose frowned.
Donna says that is funny but Evangelista insists she was actually pleased. More book start flying
"You might want to do something about the flying books." Amy suggested.
The Doctor rolled her eyes, "Funnily enough, that's what I was trying to do."
"It doesn't seem like it." Amy continued to tease the Doctor, taking any opportunity she could to distract herself from the ever-growing fear about River's fate.
River asks if the little girl is causing it, and the Doctor asks who the girl is and what does she have to do with the place, and how the data core works, what's Cal. River tells him to ask Lux, and he does ask Lux about Cal. Lux says he's sorry but they didn't sign the contract
"Aka, he knows and isn't going to tell you anything." Martha grimaced.
Mickey snorted, "Not until there is almost no hope of everyone getting out there alive and he has no option. That's how these things usually go anyway."
The Doctor tells Lux he's in more danger than ever before in his life, and he wants to protect a patent. Lux says he's protecting his family's pride
"Ah, its personal then." Clara said. They'd all had a lot of practice reading between the lines with people like Lux during their adventures.
The Doctor argues he doesn't want to see everyone dead because of Lux's family pride. River asks why he didn't sign the contract then; she admits she didn't either as she's getting worse than him
"You say that like it's a bad thing." The Doctor asked her wife.
River gave her a deadpan look, "And why do you think that is Sweetie?"
"I think that sounds like a trick question."
The Doctor says to start at the beginning, asking what happened here a hundred years ago. The girl presses a button and a panel slides up in the wall – Evangelista notices it. River explains there was a message from the library – the lights are going out – then the computer sealed the planet and there was nothing for a hundred years
"So, what's changed now?" Yaz asked eyes narrowed at the screen, her detective mindset firmly locked onto the mystery in front of her.
The Doctor smiled fondly, "Just watch Yaz." Yaz shot the Doctor an annoyed look for avoiding the questions as normal, but reluctantly turned back to the screen to watch.
Lux adds it has taken three generations of his family to decode the seals to get back in. Evangelista tries to get their attention but Lux waves her off
"I think you should pay attention to her." Bill muttered; she was getting bad vibes from the whole situation. The look that Donna, River and the Doctor shared really wasn't reassuring.
River says there was something else in the message, Lux cuts in that it is confidential but River argues she trusts the Doctor with her life, with everything
The Doctor squeezed River's hand tightly, both to express her thanks but also to try and deal with the squeeze of guilt in her heart. River had trusted her completely, yet in the end she couldn't save her, she hadn't been there for her wife and River had paid the price. Now it seems everyone was going to get to see her failures, Amy and Rory were going to have to watch their daughter die, because she couldn't save her.
Sensing her wife's guilt spiral, River shuffled subtly closer and moved their joint hands onto the Doctor's knee in an attempt to bring her back to reality. The Doctor turned to River, confused by her actions to which River answered with a knowing, bittersweet smile. The Doctor looked away, guilt heavy in her stomach, River's attempts to make her feel better having the opposite reaction.
Lux argues they've only just met and River argues no, the Doctor has only just met her
"The tragedy of being time travellers." River sighed. Jack and her shared a long glance; they understood each other in a way many others couldn't. Their situations similar yet not at the same time, but it was still more similar than the majority of people would ever get to them.
"A tragedy for you, maybe." The Master sneered, earning glares from the rest of the group. All three were concerned (in their own ways, and some more noticeably than others) by the Doctor's lack of reaction. She was determinedly watching the screen, thoughts spiralling with every moment of silence.
Evangelista insists that it might be important but Lux says in a moment. River explains data was extracted with the message – four thousand and twenty-two saved, no survivors. River says that was the number of people in the library when it was sealed. Donna asks how those people could be saved it there were no survivors
"Saved? That's an interesting choice of words." Rose's face crinkled in confusion.
Ryan's eyes narrowed, mouth opening before he closed it again. Yaz watched him with a raised eyebrow, knowing that sometimes you had to patient as Ryan decided what he was going to say. "Saved? Like with a computer? The technology seems really advanced and it seems to keep getting brought up?" He finally spoke, uncertainty clear in his voice.
The uncertainty didn't last long, but it seemed to have the positive of breaking the Doctor (however temporarily) out of their stupor. "Brilliant Ryan! 10 points to you!" She ignored Yaz, Ryan and Graham's groans at the resurgence of the point system, and Bill's mutter of '10 points to Gryffindor' in the background in favour of sending a blinding smile at Ryan.
River says that's what they're there to find out. Lux adds so far, they haven't found any bodies
"Maybe there aren't any bodies to find." Rory said.
Amy turned to her husband; a bit startled by his remark, "That's very dark and pessimistic."
Rory blinked confused, then his mouth opened wide in realisation and he hurriedly spoke to clear up the confusion. "Oh! No, no, no. I meant there's no bodies because they didn't die! Not that there are no bodies because they were eaten or something."
Clara didn't miss the wince of Donna, River and the Doctor at the word 'eaten', narrowing her eyes at the group. She considered questioning them for a moment before closing her mouth without saying a word. It wouldn't do well to panic the group unnecessarily (well, more than they already were) and it wasn't like the three were likely to answer anyway.
Evangelista explores the open panel alone, going down a short passage to a kind of reading room or lecture hall. She steps into the darkness and screams. The Doctor leads the way to investigate but they just find a skeleton in rags
The room fell silent in shock. Donna, River and the Doctor all shared a sad look, waiting for the group to actually register what had occurred and the fallout that was bound to occur.
"That isn't … I mean … That can't be …" Bill's eyes were wide as she shook her head in denial, turning to the Doctor pleadingly for answers. The Doctor's sunken shoulders and silent shake of her head said everything the group didn't want to hear. Everyone was distracted, their minds racing as they mentally ramped up their danger rating for the Vashta Nerada. Things were even worse than they had thought, and they hadn't been aiming high.
The Doctor tells them all to be careful and stay in the light. Dave mentions he keeps saying that but he doesn't see the point
"The point is right in front of you." Donna muttered quietly, despite knowing it was pointless it still felt good to say. This was one of her adventures with the Doctor that had weighed heavier on her mind (when she could remember it, that was), and she wasn't eager to relive it knowing what she knew now. She wasn't sure she believed in the whole 'therapeutic benefits' of watching it in the comforts of where ever they were amongst friends. Maybe for the Doctor, but her? She wasn't sure reliving her computer simulated life would help now that she knew what the real version was like (the computer simulation couldn't even compete on a bad day).
The Doctor asks who screamed, and Dave says it was Evangelista, so the Doctor asks where she is. River requests Evangelista's current position through a radio on her suit but her voice echoes nearby. They find a lit comm. unit on the remains of the skeleton's collar
It was the unwanted confirmation of a terrible thing they'd already in their hearts known had happened. They had a moment of silence for Miss Evangelista, she hadn't remotely deserved her horrible fate. It also didn't bode well for the people around when the Library went dark, or the group on screen.
River realises the skeleton is Evangelista. Anita points out they heard her scream a few seconds ago so what could do that to a person in a few seconds. The Doctor says it took a lot less than a few seconds
Several people in the group shuffled uncomfortable with that thought. They'd all encountered horrible deaths over their travels, it had never been something they searched out yet, but it had always somehow found them. The Vashta Nerada, for that was what must have killed Miss Evangelista if they'd been listening right, were on a new terrifying level. One they weren't eager to watch in person, not that they had a choice in the matter.
Anita asks what did. Evangelista says hello, and River apologises as this isn't going to be pleasant as she's ghosting. Donna says she's what?
"I'm with Donna! She's what?" Martha turned a stern look on the Doctor and River, determined to get an explanation for once.
The Doctor and River shared a silent conversation, trying to decide who was going to brave Martha's wrath. It seemed River was the brave one, or rather the one who lost the silent battle. "It's easier to just watch, If I remember correctly, I will explain."
"I hate that answer." Amy muttered, like Martha she'd been eager for an answer, but apparently, they weren't going to get one.
Evangelista repeats a hello and a sorry. Dave says he doesn't want to be horrible but couldn't they, you know. River says it is her last moments so no, have some respect. Evangelista asks where she is
"This is horrible." Rose said, eyes locked on the screen. She didn't know exactly what 'this' was but that didn't stop her hating the whole situation.
River explains to Donna it is a data ghost and she'll be gone in a moment. She then tells Evangelista she's fine and to relax as they'll be with her soon. Donna asks what a data ghost is and the Doctor explains the neural relay in the communicator is the green lights they can see, and sometimes it can hold an impression of a living consciousness for a short time after death
"That's …"
"Creepy." Bill finished Graham's sentence with a shiver.
"Not exactly what I was going to say, but sure." Graham shrugged at the young woman.
Anita shares that her grandfather lasted a day. Evangelista says she can't see and asks where she is again. Dave tells Donna she's juts brain waves now and the pattern won't last long. Donna argues she's conscious and thinking. The Doctor states she's a footprint on a beach and the tide is coming in
The Doctor's analogy caused a few shudders across the room, the whole idea rather unnerving to the 21st century humans in the group.
Evangelista asks where the nice woman is, Lux asks what woman as Donna realises she means her
The Doctor smiled softly at Donna which went unnoticed by the normally brash and loud red-head, whose sole focus was the screen in front of them. She had really missed Donna, and it was nice to relive some of their glory days (even some of the more horrible and depressing moments). She tried not to compare her companions (with mixed results), but Donna would always hold a special place in her heart that no one else had come close to since. It was always nice to see others see the true Donna behind the persona she put on.
River tells Evangelista that Donna is here, telling Donna to go ahead as she can hear her. The Doctor tells her to help her, Donna argues she's dead, the Doctor agrees repeating to help her
"Everyone deserves kindness, even the dead. Especially the dead." The Doctor declared solemnly, sharing a silent conversation with Donna who nodded back.
Donna tells Evangelista she's there, and she tells Donna to not tell the others the thing about being stupid as they'll only laugh. Donna promises not to, and Evangelista repeats her words as the green lights start blinking
"The patterns fading." Jack frowned, he'd had limited encounters with the neural relays during his travels (he'd never worn them himself, having not wanted to find out what would happen if he died wearing one) but he knew enough to recognise that Miss Evangelista was fading. He'd also been digging through his mental archive of alien species he'd heard about over the years and he knew he'd heard about the Vashta Nerada before, but it was never anything positive.
River explains Evangelista is looping as the pattern's degrading. Evangelista says she can't think, she doesn't know, scream, ice cream, repeating the last several times. River asks if anyone minds and when no one protests, she turns the comm. unit off
"That was horrible." Clara said, then another thought occurred to her and she whipped around to face the Doctor, "If any of the others die are we going to have to go through that again?"
The way the Doctor, River and Donna avoided eye contact was all the answer the group needed. Yes, they would have to go through that again which also meant more of the group was going to die. If the room had already been tense, it grew worse with that realisation.
Donna declares that it was the most horrible thing she's ever seen
"And still is." Donna muttered to herself; she wasn't sure anything could top the neural relays for horrible. Miss Evangelista had been the first victim, but she certainly hadn't been the last time they'd had to hear the neural relays in action.
River says it is just a freak of technology but she wants a word with whatever killed ger. The Doctor says he'll introduce her
"I wish I hadn't." The Doctor muttered, guilt retuning like a sledgehammer to her hearts. River shot her a glare, taking the Doctor's comment as a challenge to her skills rather than an admittance of the Doctor's guilt over her fate.
Back in the round room, the Doctor says he'll need a packed lunch. River tells him to hang on and he asks what is in the book – spoilers. He then asks who she is, and she starts to introduce herself as a professor again
"I don't think he's asking for your profile, River."
"Then he needs to be more specific father."
The Doctor cuts her off asking who she is to him. River says spoilers again and gives him the lunch he requested – chicken and salad. The Doctor tells the group they're going to meet the Vashta Nerada
"Personally, I'd like it if we didn't mee the shadow monsters." Ryan muttered and despite the general consensus of the group, as normal they weren't given a choice as the video continued.
At the girl's home, she throws the remote on the floor as her father tells her Dr Moon is going but would like a word with her alone first. Moon tells her to listen as there's the real world and the world of her nightmares, and she understands that right. The girl does. Moon says he wants her to remember, and he knows it is hard, but the real world is a lie and her nightmares are real, the library is real with people trapped that need to be saved. He says the shadows are moving again and the people are depending on her as only she can save them
"So, Dr Moon knows what's going on?" Mickey asked for clarification, the situation with the young girl was confusing enough without everything else going on.
"I think he's the only one that does." Nardole muttered, earning a roll of the eyes from the Doctor.
"Just watch."
"I hate that answer." Mickey grumbled.
"We all do." The rest of the group (excluding the Doctor, but including River and Donna who at least knew what was going on for this video (and whether that was a good or bad thing is left up for debate)) announced as one. They were all frustrated by the lack of answers and annoying mysteries these videos kept presenting them with and then taking forever to answer (if they ever did that was)
In the round room the Doctor scans the floor with his sonic. River talks to Donna, saying she travels with him, right? Donna asks what of it
Donna and River shared a long look, both having a much better understanding of each other, and the other's situation now than they had had back then. All the danger and running (and Donna's time in the computer/fake reality) hadn't really left much room for chitchat, despite how much the Doctor tried.
The Doctor asks Proper Dave to move over a bit, as Donna says River knows him. God does River know that man, sha says they go way back but just not this far back
"Far forward, is perhaps the better way of describing it from their perspective." River mused, with a bittersweet smile.
"You know Spaceboy over there in a way I have no desire to ever think about." Donna snorted.
"Donna! We've had this conversation!" The Doctor grumbled.
"Don't remind me!" The pair's exchange drew several curious glances from the others in the group but no one pried, knowing they wouldn't get answers and in truth, all their focus was taken up on the video at hand.
Donna doesn't understand. River explains the Doctor hasn't met her yet, she sent a message but it went wrong and arrived too early, and this is the Doctor before he knew her. She says he looks at her and sees right through her and it shouldn't kill her but it does
"River …" The Doctor whispered hoarsely.
River's smile wavered noticeably to those that knew her well enough, "I'm fine."
"No, you're not."
"Hypocrite."
"This isn't about me River!" The Doctor hissed, "Why won't you admit that you aren't, okay?"
River turned to face her wife, silent and assessing for several moments before finally countering, "I'll admit I'm not okay, when you do the same. We both have issues that we need to address, with each other and with ourselves but now is hardly the time to do so, unless you want to start?"
Suitably trapped in between a rock and a hard place the Doctor shut her mouth and turned back to the screen frustrated. River had perfectly trapped her, as she was not willing to admit to her own issues, though for River maybe she'd make an exception. But River was also right, now was not the right time to open that can of worms. The group had watched the exchange awkwardly, unable to not hear every word despite the pair's attempt to be quiet, but not wanting to intrude on the pair's personal relationship in this situation.
Donna asks what she is talking about, if she's talking rubbish, does she know him or not. The Doctor tells her to be quiet as she's working and she apologises. River realises she's Donna Noble
"They talked about me?" Donna asked, she'd never really gotten a clear answer on that matter although there had been a serious suggestion in her words.
River smiled softly at Donna, "They talked about everyone who travelled with them, but I always enjoyed the stories of your adventures. That mess with Agatha Christie was always one of my favourites, although I'm not entirely sure I believe everything he said happened."
Donna snorted, but grinned at the memories River's words evoked, "Who knows with that bozo -."
"Oi!"
"- I'd happily tell you what actually happened at some point." Donna and River shared a grin.
"I resent those accusations." The Doctor grumbled, but no one missed the fond smile on her face at seeing her wife and best friend get along.
Donna says she is, why? River says she knows the Doctor in his personal future and Donna asks why Rover doesn't know who she is then, where is she in the future
"At home." Donna muttered to herself, "With no memory." It was somehow both better and worse than what she'd been imagining at the time.
The Doctor interrupts as he declares he has a live one, it isn't darkness in the tunnels, not a shadow but a man eating swarm
"My favourite kind." Rory grimaced, voice dripping with sarcasm.
The Doctor throws a chicken leg in the shadow and it is only bone by the time it hits the floor. The Doctor declares them the piranhas of the air, the Vashta Nerada who are shadows that melt flesh. He explains most planets have them but usually in small clusters and he's never seen an infestation on this scale or this aggressive
"Wait! No, no, no, go back!" Bill sat up straight in her seat, waving her hands at the Doctor. "Are those things on Earth?!" Her question led to all the 21st human's attention being locked onto the Doctor, awaiting an answer.
The Doctor winced but reluctantly nodded.
"How have we not heard about them before? I'm pretty sure we would have noticed shadow piranhas!" Clara argued.
The Doctor raised an eyebrow, "You'd be surprised what you humans miss. But they usually live more on road kill than anything else, although occasionally someone goes missing and doesn't come back." With that haunting statement the video resumed.
Donna asks what he means most planets, not Earth? The Doctor says Earth and billions of other worlds, wherever there I meat, and you can see them sometimes the dust in sunbeams. Donna argues they'd know if they were on Earth, and the Doctor counters the wouldn't as normally they live on road kill but sometimes people go missing and not everyone comes back out of the dark. River asks if it is every shadow, and the Doctor say no, but any shadow
"Oh, that really clears that one up, thank you." Amy rolled her eyes with a huff.
River asks what they do then, the Doctor outlines the Dalek's weakness then the Sontarans before saying for the Vashta Nerada – run, just run
"Good thing that's your speciality." Yaz grinned at the Doctor, although it quickly faded as the Doctor didn't reciprocate, instead sharing a troubled look with River and Donna.
River asks where they run and the Doctor says they are in an index point so there must be an exit teleport somewhere. Lux says to not look at him as he hasn't memorised the schematics
"That feels like something someone should have done." Rose considered.
"We were expecting an empty Library, not an infested one." River shrugged although she couldn't help but agree with Rose.
Donna points out the little shop as they are always at the exits to sell you stuff, the Doctor says she's right, that's why he likes the little shop
"Not this again." Martha shook her head with fond exasperation, thinking back to her first meeting with the Doctor. On the same wavelength for once, the Doctor offered her a grin to which she rolled her eyes, but reciprocated.
Dave says to move it then, and they head to the shop before the Doctor spots something, he asks Proper Dave to stay where he is for a moment. Dave asks why and the Doctor apologises as he has two shadows – two at right angles to each other
The room immediately tensed; eyes locked onto the screen as the danger came back to the front of their minds.
"Is there anything you can do?" Yaz asked, eyes assessing on the screen, only glancing at the Doctor for a second. The Doctor just shook her head with a grimace, her own eyes barely leaving the screen.
The Doctor explains it is how they hunt; they latch on to a food source and keep it fresh. Dave asks what he does and the Doctor tells him to stay absolutely still like there are a million wasps in the room
"That sounds like another nightmare." Nardole grumbled at the mental image. It sounded like one of those 'would you rather' questions. Would you rather stand in a room with a million wasps, or a room with man-eating shadow piranhas? It was a hard choice.
River says they aren't leaving him and the Doctor agrees asking where his helmet it – it's on the floor by his bag and Anita goes to get it
"What's his helmet going to do?" Ryan asked confused. He wasn't feeling very hopeful about Dave's fate based on the Doctor's responses so far, but he hadn't completely given up yet.
Clara narrowed her eyes at the Doctor, a sinking feeling settling heavily in her stomach as she came to a realisation. "It won't do anything will it? You're just trying to make it easier on everyone when he dies."
The Doctor's wince along with Donna and River's grimaces were all the answers the group needed. Any last slithers of hope for Dave's survival quickly disappearing.
The Doctor warns her to not ross his shadows, then tells the rest of them to put their helmets back on and seal them up. The Doctor puts Dave's helmet on him and Donna points out they don't have helmets; he reassures her they're safe anyway
The majority of the group sent the Doctor disbelieving looks.
"How does that one work, Doctor?" Jack asked with a snort.
"It doesn't."
Donna asks how they're safe and the Doctor says they aren't and it was a clever lie to shut her up. The Doctor asks River if there is anything he can do with the suit. Lux points out Evangelista was wearing her suit and there was nothing left, River ignores him as she tells the Doctor they can increase the mesh density to make it a tougher meal – he does that, further then River suggested, and tells her to pass it on
"Always have to be extra." River rolled her eyes fondly, though it was tainted by the reminder that in the end it hadn't helped anyone.
River agrees and pulls out a sonic of her own, the Doctor asks her about it, stunned to see her have a sonic, River says snap
"That's the one you gave to her on Darillium, right?" Rory asked, glancing between his daughter and the Doctor, who both nodded in answer.
River upgrades everyone's' spacesuits as the Doctor grabs Donna and tells her to come along. Donna asks what they're doing as they go into the shop, asking if they're shopping and if it is a good time
The Doctor sent Donna a confused look, "Why would it be a good time to go shopping?" She really hadn't registered Donna's comment at the time.
Donna sighed, "Who knows with you, Spaceboy! Besides, I can always dream."
"What do you mean? We've been shopping plenty of times!"
"Yet the ratio of dangerous situations to nice shopping trips is very unbalanced."
"You know I don't control where the Tardis decides we need to be!"
"We all know that, Doctor."
There is a lectern by a small dais with three roundels in it. The Doctor tells her no talking just moving, stand tight in the middle as it is a teleport, he explains he can't send anyone else as the Tardis won't recognise them. She asks what he's doing and he says she doesn't have a suit so isn't safe
"You're sending her away!" Amy announced, eyes widening as she realised what the Doctor was planning. Despite how much the Doctor enjoyed having companions travelling with her, it was almost guaranteed that the moment things got 'too dangerous' by the Doctor's standards they would try and force them to safety. It never ended well for anyone.
"He tried to." Donna muttered, glaring at the Doctor who only looked a bit sheepish. It seemed the group would have to have another conversation about trying to force them to leave when things got 'too dangerous', the first one apparently hadn't sunk in hard enough.
Donna points out he doesn't have a suit either so is in just as much danger and she isn't leaving him. The Doctor says to let him explain but teleports her away. River calls for him and he returns to the group as Donna materialises inside the Tardis, then flickers, screams and vanishes
"Donna!" Was exclaimed from most corners of the room, the group all shooting Donna concerned glances. Even the Doctor looked worried despite knowing what had happened broadly, she hadn't known the details of how Donna had gotten trapped in the computer system and she hated seeing Donna in pain and knowing that she was the cause of it (although she didn't regret keeping Donna away from the Vashta Nerada).
The Doctor asks where the shadow went and Dave says he looked round and found only one shadow
"Unfortunately, I don't think that's a good thing." Martha grimaced.
River asks if they can leave as she doesn't want to hang round there. Lux says he doesn't know why they are still there and they can leave him, no offense. River tells him to shut up
"Yeah, shut up Mister Lux." Bill declared in support of River; Lux had been grating on her nerves all video.
The Doctor asks if Dave felt anything like an energy transfer, Dave didn't and turns round to show it is gone. The Doctor tells him to stop moving as they're never just gone and never give up
As much as she disliked the fake reality she'd been put into, Donna couldn't help but be a little thankful that she'd missed this. She didn't know the details of what had happened while she was gone, but she could guess based off of how few members of the group had remained alive when she was rescues from the computer system.
The rest of the group seemed to agree with the Doctor, watching the screen carefully and remaining tense as the Doctor inspected Dave and the shadows surrounding him.
He sonics the floor by Dave and determines the shadow on the floor is benign. Dave asks who turned out the lights
Both the Doctor and River winced, sharing a grimace. That line had chased them for their entire time in the Library.
The Doctor says no one as they're fine. Dave says seriously to turn them back on, and River argues they are on as Dave says he can't see anything
"They're in his suit." Clara declared hoarsely, eyes widening in horror as she reached the only conclusion that would explain the shadow's disappearance and Dave's lack of sight.
The Doctor tells Dave to turn around, he does to reveal his visor is completely dark. Dave asks what is going on and why can't he see, is he safe? The Doctor tells him to stay absolutely still, Dave jerks and the Doctor asks him to talk to him. Dave claims he's fine as the Doctor repeats the order to stay still. Dave repeats he's fine, and then why can't I – his comm. unit lights blink
"He's dead." Jack grimaced. That was another member of the already small group down, they were dropping fast and they still had no explanation for what was really going on or how they would escape.
Mickey shook his head, not in disbelief, just confused, "He's still standing. How is he still standing?"
"Please don't tell me the shadow piranhas have taken control of the suit. That's just too far. Doctor?" Rose asked, unnerved but hopeful she was wrong.
River and the Doctor's shared wince was all the group needed to know the answer to Rose's terrible theory.
River realises he is gone and ghosting. Lux asks why he is still standing as Dave repeats hey, who turned out the lights?
"That's so creepy." Ryan muttered with a shiver.
"Why are our lives so much like horror movies?" Bill bemoaned.
Yaz shook her head at both of them but didn't argue.
River tells the Doctor don't
"Why do I even try?" River shook her head frustrated with her wife's lack of self-preservation and need to know everything. She shared a commiserating look with Jack.
The Doctor creeps closer asking if Dave can hear him, Dave grabs him by the throat and a skull is now visible in his helmet as Dave repeats who turned out the lights. River zaps the suit with her sonic, freeing the Doctor
"Thanks River." The Doctor said, rubbing her throat as if she could feel the ghost of the Vashta Nerada controlled suit's hand.
"Anytime Sweetie." River replied, "Although I'd rather we didn't get into these situations so often."
"You love the danger."
"I do, but I don't love dying or seeing you almost dying."
"It's a fine line."
"But one we tread so well. Usually."
The Doctor tells the others to get back form it as Zombie Dave lurches a step towards them. River points out he doesn't move very fast and the Doctor explains the swarm is in the suit and it is learning. Zombie Dave now has four shadows and they're growing
"I think it's time to start running." Martha decided, clenching and unclenching a fist over the arm of her sofa. She hated just having to sit there and do nothing while she watched the Doctor and her friends in trouble, even knowing it was the past and everyone was in the room alive and well (mostly).
"I think it's well past time to start running." Amy declared firmly, with a glare at the Doctor born out of concern more than anything.
Lux asks what they do and where they go. River points out the wall behind him telling him to duck – she fires a gun at the wall and makes a square hole in it as the Doctor shouts it is a squareness gun
"Wait just a minute!" Jack declared, sitting up and turning in his seat to face River and the Doctor. Rose had a similar reaction from her own sofa, while the others just watched confused. "Doctor … Is that my squareness gun?"
"You left it in the Tardis!" The Doctor countered, shifting in her seat.
"Because you confiscated it! Why does River get to use it but I don't?" Jack argued with crossed arms and a pout. River smiled smugly at him, as if the pair were toddlers arguing over who got the last slice of cake.
"Because … I was about to say because I trust River with it more, but that's not true. She gets it because she stole it from the Tardis when I wasn't paying attention and I sort of had other things to think about at the time!" The Doctor tried to defend herself. To the rest of the room's amusement her explanation only made Jack pout (playfully) harder and River's smirk smugger.
River shouts for them all to move and get out
"Good to see one of you is still reasonably sane."
"I think you'll be taking your words back by the end of this Rory the Roman."
"Really not reassuring Doctor."
River remembers the Doctor said not every shadow and the Doctor adds but any shadow again. Zombie Dave is following behind him saying who turned out the lights as River shouts to run
"Definitely a horror movie now. Great." Bill sighed.
At the girls' home, her father says dinner is ready. The girl declares Donna Noble has been saved to her father's confusion
"Saved? Like how the other people were 'saved'?" Mickey asked, turning to the three who would know hopeful for any sort of answer.
The Doctor considered her answer for a moment before nodding, "Yep. Just like the others." Well, it was more than he'd been expecting honestly, but it still didn't tell them much more than their working theory of the survivors being 'saved' into the computer.
Amongst massive shelves of books, the Doctor is trying to sonic a light fitting to boost the power as he explains the light won't stop them but it will slow them down
"You need all the time you can get." Rose nodded approvingly. She didn't know what they needed time for exactly but any moment they weren't in immediate danger and could come up with an actual plan was good.
River asks what the plan is, but the Doctor just states her screwdriver looks exactly like his, and River admits he gave it to her. The Doctor says he doesn't give his sonic to anyone and River replies she isn't anyone
"You are certainly not." The Doctor smiled softly at her wife who leaned closer, hands locked together again as they shared a quiet moment. The eye of a hurricane so to speak.
The Doctor asks who she is as River repeats what is the plan. The Doctor shares he teleported Donna back to the Tardis and if he doesn't get back in under five hours emergency program one will activate. River adds it will take her home so they need to get a shift on
"Wait, that's a thing?" Yaz asked, blinking at the Doctor and wondering why she'd never heard of it.
The Doctor nodded. "Yes, always good to have a back-up plan in case anything bad happens." Only a few people noticed her glance at Rose.
The Doctor says she isn't there as he should have received a signal – the console signals him if there is a teleport breach. River suggests the coordinates slipped as the equipment is ancient in the library. The Doctor goes to a nearby Node asking where Donna Noble is and if it can locate her. The node turns its head to reveal it has Donna's face on it
A few members of the group let out a shriek at the sight of Donna's face on the node. Even Donna seemed startled, staring at the screen in mounting horror.
"Why's that thing got my face?! Doctor, Doctor how did it get my face!?"
The Doctor winced, "It chose a face in its memory bank that it thought I would most like, just as the first one we met did. Apparently, they can use the faces of people in their system, not just those donated."
"Well, it should bloody well never do that again! I don't want my face on a node thing!" Donna exclaimed.
"You're not in its systems anymore Donna, it likely won't use your face ever again. Besides the Library wasn't really in a good state when we left." The Doctor tried to console the shocked red-head, who seemed to calm down marginally at that explanation. River, Donna and the Doctor all shared a long look at the thought of how things ended in the Library. The rest of the group however, was still in the dark (metaphorically only, thankfully) but did not appreciate the suggestion that things did not end remotely well.
The node declares Donna Noble has left the library, Donna Noble has been saved. River asks how it can be Donna and how it is possible as the node repeats its words. They hear Zombie Dave approach again
"Time to start running again." Clara decided. As unnerved as they were about the node and Donna, the Doctor and River couldn't help anyone if the Vashta Nerada got them. They needed to retreat somewhere safe to work out their next steps.
River shouts on the Doctor who is still distracted with the node which is still repeating its words, she says they have to go now
"I think we got the message, creep." Donna muttered with a glare at the screen. There was far too much happening for her liking, though she couldn't deny she was curious to know what had happened while she was gone. The Doctor had never gone into any details, and she'd never pushed sensing the Doctor wouldn't budge on the matter, but unlike her, the Tardis wasn't giving the Doctor a choice.
River and the Doctor run, followed by Lux, Other Dave and Anita. The node and Zombie Dave both repeat their words as the group are trapped between shadows. River asks the Doctor what they're going to do
"That's the end?!" Bill exclaimed, sitting up sharply in her seat as the screen faded to black. "How can that be the end? We don't know anything!" Several others made various sounds of frustration agreeing with her.
"It's another two-parter." Rory muttered with a grimace, "That's not a good sign. Every two-part video so far has been terrible and ended badly." He really didn't want to wait to find out what happened to his daughter any longer.
"Anyone want a break?" The Doctor asked hopefully, personally she'd be quite happy if they could delay what was coming for just a bit longer.
Amy shot her a glare, as did many others, but Amy's was fuelled by parental concern. "No one is moving from these sofas until we know how this mess ends and what happens to River, Doctor!"
"How do you know anything happens to River?" The Doctor tried to argue but it came out weakly.
"We're not stupid Doctor. We've known you and River long enough to know something's wrong, and you haven't exactly been quiet about it. Now, shut up and let the video continue!"
