Huzzah for extended homeroom! And while I was writing this, I remembered I have a quiz tomorrow in Environmental Science.

Oh, well. XD

So, since you all love your comment trains *glares* I have decided you all can make them on "Amy's Choice." No offense meant, but I do not have the time or the patience to sort through a chain 180 something comments long and pick mine out from everyone else's. "Amy's Choice" is when the answer will be revealed, so no comments there will count towards anything. Have at it then.

The forest is full of Angels, and a not-so-friendly object returns. Who lives and who dies this time around? And what is Octavian's warning to the Apocalypse?

Enjoy "Flesh and Stone!"

***

"Up! Look up!"

As Amy struggled to get to her feet, River came over to help her. "Are you OK?"

"What happened?" Amy winced.

"We jumped."

"Jumped where?"

"Up, up!" the Apocalypse herded the Clerics to their feet. "Look up!"

"Where are we?" Amy looked around.

"Exactly where we were," River answered.

"No, we're not!"

"Move your feet," the Apocalypse ordered Amy, who moved so the Apocalypse could get to the circular hatch in the floor.

"Apocalypse, what am I looking at?" Amy looked around, seeing Jenny helping Rose over. "Explain."

"Oh, come on, Amy, think," the Apocalypse rolled her eyes. "The ship crashed with the power still on, yeah? So what else is still on? The artificial gravity. One good jump, and up we fell. Shot out the grav globe to give us an updraft, and here we are."

"Apocalypse, the statues," Octavian said. "They look more like Angels now."

"They're feeding on the radiation from the wreckage, draining all the power from the ship, restoring themselves," the Apocalypse said as she got the hatch open. "Within an hour, they'll be an army." One of the lights exploded, going out. "They're taking out the lights. Look at them. Look at the Angels. Into the ship, now. Quickly, all of you."

"How?" Amy turned to look, only to see the Apocalypse drop in and appear to stand sideways. "Apocalypse!"

"It's just a corridor," she promised. "The gravity orientates to the floor. Now, in here, all of you. Don't take your eyes off the Angels. Move, move, move!"

Rose scrambled in after her, followed by Jenny. "OK, men," Octavian said as Amy and River followed. "Go, go, go!"

"Can the Angels jump, too?" Rose asked as the Apocalypse worked on a control panel.

The Apocalypse looked up as the hatch closed. "They're here, now. In the dark, we're finished." A bulkhead up above started closing with a screech. "Run!"

"We won't make it!" Jenny shouted, but Rose ran anyway.

"Yes, you will! Go, go, go!"

The Apocalypse took the rear as everyone sprinted for the closing bulkhead. It was halfway shut before they were even close -

And then a golden silver portal sprang to life in front of Rose. Amy shrieked, but Rose jumped through, followed closely by Jenny. On the other side, they hurried Amy and River through, the Apocalypse almost having to push Octavian and his Clerics in before she herself hopped inside. "What was that?" Amy demanded.

"Being attacked by statues in a crashed ship," the Apocalypse shrugged as she brushed her hands off, looking around the flight deck they were on. "There isn't a manual for this. I improvised."

"That's one way to fight them, ten," Jenny nodded.

The Apocalypse blinked. "Say that again?"

Jenny frowned. "That's one way to fight them, then."

"And yet you did nothing prior to this with what you can do," Octavian narrowed his eyes.

"And I apologize," the Apocalypse said sincerely. "But the less the Angels know about me, the better. Because if they get me, that's an infinite power source."

Octavian watched the Apocalypse check the controls, then scowled at River. "Doctor Song, I've lost good Clerics today. You trust this woman?"

"I absolutely trust her," River nodded.

"She's not some kind of madwoman, then?"

River paused. "I absolutely trust her."

"Oi!" Rose protested in defense of her sister.

"Nah, that's me," the Apocalypse grinned. "Madwoman with a box!"

Octavian scowled, looking at River. "I'm taking your word because besides her, you're the only one who can manage this girl. But that only works so long as she doesn't know who you are. You cost me any more men, and I might just tell her. Understood?"

River's eyes narrowed to slits. "Understood," she muttered.

There was thumping on the door suddenly, and everyone turned to look at it. "Apocalypse!" Amy turned to see her working on the controls. "What are you doing?"

Octavian went to the door and put a device on it, the wheel on it stopping its rotations. "Magnetized the door," Octavian said. "Nothing could turn that wheel now."

"You want to bet, Bishop?" the Apocalypse raised an eyebrow.

Octavian stared, horrified, as the wheel started turning again. "Dear God!"

"Ah, now you're getting it," she nodded darkly. "You've bought us time, though. That's good. I am good with time."

"Caly!" Rose scrambled away from the door on the right side of the room, the wheel on it starting to turn.

"Seal that door!" Octavian shouted, one of the remaining Clerics going. "Seal it now!"

"We're surrounded," River watched, horrified, as the door on the left then started to open.

"Seal it!" Octavian ordered, Clerics now at every door. "Seal that door! Apocalypse, how long have we got?"

"Five minutes, max," the Apocalypse answered.

"Nine," Jenny nodded.

The Apocalypse frowned. "Five."

"I said fine."

The Apocalypse frowned. "No, you said nine."

"No, I didn't."

"We need another way out of here," River said, even as the Apocalypse and Rose frowned at Jenny, who started looking uneasy. First ten, then nine. What was up with Jenny?

"There isn't one," Octavian shook his head.

"Yeah, there is," the Apocalypse looked at him. "'Course there is. This is a galaxy class ship. Goes for years between planet falls. So, what do they need?"

River's eyes widened. "Of course!"

"Of course what?" Amy looked back and forth between them. "What do they need?"

"Can we get in there?" Octavian looked behind them at the rear wall of the flight deck.

"Well, it's a sealed unit, but they must have installed it somehow," the Apocalypse answered, checking every control. "This whole wall should slide up. There's clamps. Release the clamps."

"What's through there?" Amy looked at it. "What do they need?"

"They need to breathe," River answered.

The rear wall slid up, and Amy's jaw dropped. "But that's . . . that's a . . . "

"It's an oxygen factory," River said.

"It's a forest," Rose's eyes widened.

"Yeah, it's a forest," River said in a "duh" voice. "It's an oxygen factory."

"And if we're lucky, an escape route," the Apocalypse nodded.

"Eight," Jenny grinned.

The Apocalypse frowned. "What did you say?"

"Great," Jenny frowned. "What, did I stutter?"

The Apocalypse slowly looked back. "Is there another exit?" she asked. "Scan the architecture, we don't have time to get lost in there."

"On it," Octavian headed for the forest. "Stay where you are until I've checked the Rad levels."

"But trees on a spaceship?" Amy was still trying to wrap her head around it.

"Oh, more than trees," the Apocalypse said. "Way better than trees. You're going to love this. Treeborgs!"

"Treeborgs," Rose repeated, staring at her sister incredulously.

"Treeborgs!" she nodded. "Trees plus technology. Branches become cables become sensors on the hull. A forset sucking in starlight, breathing out air. It even rains. There's a whole mini-climate. This vault is an ecopod running right through the heart of the ship. A forest in a bottle on a spaceship in a maze. Have I impressed you yet, Amy Pond?"

"Yes," Amy nodded.

"S - "

They all turned to see Jenny clap a hand over her mouth, her eyes wide in fear. "What were you about to say?" the Apocalypse asked, narrowing her eyes.

Jenny swallowed. "Seven," she said hoarsely.

"Apocalypse, there's an exit, far end of the ship, into the Primary Flight Deck," Octavian said as he came back.

"Oh, good," the Apocalypse said in relief. "That's where we need to go."

"Plotting a safe path now," Octavian worked on his device.

"Quick as you like."

"Apocalypse?" a voice called from the radio. "Excuse me? Hello, Apocalypse? Angel Bob here, sir."

"Ah, there you are, Angel Bob," the Apocalypse took the radio. "How's life? Sorry, bad subject."

"The Angels are wondering what you hope to achieve."

"Achieve? We're not achieving anything. We're just hanging. It's nice in here. Consoles, comfy chairs, a forest. How's things with you?"

"The Angels are feasting, sir. Soon, we will be able to absorb enough power to consume this vessel, this world, and all the stars and worlds beyond."

"Well, we've got comfy chairs. Did I mention?"

"We have no need of comfy chairs."

The Apocalypse grinned. "I made him say comfy chairs."

"Six!" Jenny suddenly blurted before clapping her hand over her mouth again, her eyes wide in fear.

The Apocalypse snarled, eyes flaring gold as Rose went to check on Jenny. "OK, Bob, enough chat. Here's what I want to know. What have you done to my daughter?"

"There is something in her eye," Bob answered.

"What's in her eye?"

"We are?"

"What's that mean?" Jenny frowned. "Mum, my eyes are five." Every head swung to her, and her eyes widened. "I mean five." She choked back a sob as Rose hugged her. "Fine!"

"You're counting," River's eyes widened.

"Down from ten," the Apocalypse nodded. "You have been for a couple of minutes."

"Why?" Jenny asked in a whimper.

"I don't know," the Apocalypse admitted.

"Counting down to what?"

"I don't know that, either," the Apocalypse growled, frustrated at not knowing how to help her daughter.

"We shall take her," Bob said. "We shall take all of you. We shall have dominion over all time and space."

"Get a life, Bob," the Apocalypse narrowed her eyes. "Oops, sorry again. There's power on this ship, but nowhere near that much."

"With respect, ma'am, there's more power on this ship than you yet understand."

There was a massive screeching sound, causing everyone to jump. "What's that?" River gasped. "Dear God, what is it?"

"They're back," Octavian warned, the Clerics raising their guns.

"It's hard to put in your terms, Doctor Song, but as best I understand it, the Angels are laughing," Bob said.

"Laughing?" the Apocalypse repeated.

"Because you haven't noticed yet, ma'am. The Apocalypse in the TARDIS hasn't noticed!"

"Apocalypse," Octavian gestured to the forest.

"No, wait," the Apocalypse shook her head. "There's something I've missed."

"Caly," Rose said shakily, and they turned to see her looking up at the bulkhead above where they had come in. "Look."

They all did, only to see a w-shaped crack widening in the bulkhead, light and steam coming from it. "That's, that's," Amy sputtered. "That's like the crack from my bedroom wall from when I was a little girl!"

"Yes, two parts of space and time that should never have touched," the Apocalypse nodded.

"OK, enough," Octavian decided. "We're moving out."

"Agreed," River turned to the Apocalypse. "Apocalypse?"

"Yeah, fine," the Apocalypse took out her sonic screwdriver.

"What are you doing?"

"Right with you," she worked on scanning the crack.

"We're not leaving without you!"

"Oh, yes, you are," the Apocalypse shoved a hand out, and River stumbled out, propelled by the telekinetic push. "Bishop!"

"Miss Pond, Miss Tyler, Doctor song, now!" Octavian grabbed onto River, yanking her away.

"Mum?" Jenny asked, eyes wide.

"Come on," Rose took her head, and they ran off.

"So, what are you?" the Apocalypse checked her screwdriver, and her eyes widened. "Oh, that's bad. Ah, that's extremely very not good." She paused, looking around to see Angels were now on the deck. "Do not blink," she reminded herself, only to stumble when she felt a stone grip on her cloak. "Argh!"

***

Jenny started wobbling only a few feet out into the forest. "Jenny?" Amy asked, seeing Jenny barely able to walk. "Jenny, what's wrong?"

***

"Why am I not dead, then?" the Apocalypse asked, then saw the Angels reaching for the crack. "Good, and not so good. Oh, this isn't even a little bit good. I mean, is that it? Is that the power that brought you here? That's pure Time Energy. You can't feed on that. That's now power, that's the fire at the end of the universe. I'll tell you something else." She pressed a button on her sonic, and something went bang. She ran away from the Angels and into the forest, now without her cloak. "Never let me talk!" she sang.

***

"Jenny, what's wrong?" Rose demanded.

"Four," Jenny whimpered, nearly tripping.

Rose instantly grabbed her and laid her down on a mossy tree trunk, Jenny curling up, shaking. "I need a scanner," she looked around.

"Med scanner, now," River barked as Amy sat by Jenny's head, Rose holding her niece's hand.

"Doctor Song, we can't stay here," Octavian shook her head. "We've got to keep moving."

"We're waiting for Caly," Rose said stubbornly.

"Our mission is to make this wreckage safe and neutralize the Angels. Until that is achieved - "

"No," Rose said sharply, making everyone look at her. "You heard what she said. If the Angels get her, she's an unlimited power source, and that is terrifying to imagine. When my sister's in the room, the only mission is to keep her alive long enough to get everyone else home, and believe me, it's not easy. And I don't know if you never noticed, but Jenny is her daughter. We are not moving until the Apocalypse says it's safe for her to be moved."

"That's my sister," the Apocalypse said as she ducked under a tree, running to Jenny's side, crouching by her, putting one hand over her daughter's forehead as Rose worked with the med scanner. "Bishop, the Angels are in the forest."

"We need visual contact on every line of approach," Octavian ordered, and the Clerics spread out.

"How did you get past them?" River asked.

"I found a crack in the wall and told them it was the end of the universe," the Apocalypse shrugged.

"What was it?" Amy raised an eyebrow.

"The end of the universe," the Apocalypse said bluntly as Rose fastened the med scanner around Jenny's arm, the Apocalypse taking the screen. "Let's have a look, then."

"So what's wrong with me?" Jenny asked as the Apocalypse watched her vitals go.

"Nothing," River lied. "You're fine."

"Everything," the Apocalypse said. "You're dying."

"Apocalypse!" River shouted.

"Because lying's going to make it better!" Rose shouted back at her. "I don't know who you think you are, but where we are, you're nothing to us, so stay back, and let us help her!"

River's jaw dropped at Rose's shout, but the Apocalypse just put a hand up to stop the fight that was sure to start. "Rose is right," she said. "Lying isn't going to help her at all."

"Mum," Jenny whimpered.

"I'm right here," the Apocalypse promised, taking her other hand, Amy swallowing as she looked down at Jenny, a usually fearless girl, shaking in pure terror.

"Scared."

"Everyone's scared when they're dying."

Amy frowned when River went to talk. "Let her think," she said, River looking at her incredulously. Sure, she thought River was a pretty neat woman, but she wasn't blind. She, too, had seen the jabs she made in Rose's direction now and then. She knew the Apocalypse well enough to know that if Rose was being threatened by someone, the threatener would never be welcomed warmly by her, certainly not be made family.

"Amy, what happened?" the Apocalypse looked up at her. "Tell me exactly what happened with the Angel."

Amy thought back. "She stared at the Angel," she answered.

"She looked into the eyes of an Angel for too long," the Apocalypse thought.

"Sir!" one of the Clerics called. "Angel incoming."

"And here," another one said.

"She watched the Angel come out of the screen," Amy continued. "She stared at the Angel."

"The image of an Angel is an Angel," Jenny whispered.

"A living mental image in a living human mind," the Apocalypse realized, eyes wide. "But we stare at them to stop them getting closer. We don't even blink, and that is exactly what they want. Because as long as our eyes are open, they can climb inside. There's an Angel in her mind."

"Three," Jenny whimpered, curling up even more. "Mum, it's coming. I can feel it."

"Is she going to die?" Amy looked up.

"Shut up," the Apocalypse pinched the bridge of her nose, Amy obeying. It was her daughter, after all. It would hurt to think of her dying. "I'm thinking. OK, counting. What's that about?" She took out the radio. "Bob, why are they making her count?"

"To make her afraid, ma'am," Bob answered.

"OK, but why? What for?"

"For fun, ma'am."

The Apocalypse threw the radio over her shoulder in annoyance, River just managing to catch it. "Mum, what's happening to me?" Jenny asked. "Explain."

"Inside your head, in the vision centers of your brain, there's an Angel," the Apocalypse answered. "It's like there's a screen, a virtual screen inside your mind, and the Angel is climbing out of it, and it's coming to shut you off."

"Then what do I do?"

"If it was a real screen, what would we do? We'd pull the plug. We'd kill the power. But we can't just knock her out, the Angel would take over."

"Then what?" River asked.

"Shush!" Rose glared at her.

"We've got to shut down the vision centers of her brain," the Apocalypse thought, giving Rose a grateful look. "We've got to pull the plug. Starve the Angel."

"How do we do that?" Amy frowned.

The Apocalypse thought. "How would you starve your lungs?"

"You stop breathing," Rose answered.

The Apocalypse squeezed Jenny's hand. "Jen, close your eyes."

"No," Jenny shook her head wildly. "No, I don't want to!"

"Good, because that's not you, that's the Angel inside you. It's afraid. Do it. Close your eyes."

Jenny hesitated, then closed her eyes. The med scanner went from red to green, and the Apocalypse slumped in relief. "She's normalizing," River grinned. "Oh, you did it!"

"Sir, two more incoming," one of the Clerics announced.

"Three more over here," another said.

"She's still weak," the Apocalypse shook her head. "We're not moving her."

"Can I open my eyes now?" Jenny asked.

"No," the Apocalypse told her. "Listen to me, Jen. If you open your eyes now for more than a second, you will die. The Angel is still inside you. We haven't stopped it, we've just sort of paused it. You've used up your countdown. You cannot open your eyes."

"Apocalypse, we're too exposed here," Octavian said. "We have to move on."

"We're too exposed everywhere, and Jenny can't move," the Apocalypse shook her head. "And anyway, that's not the plan."

"There's a plan?" River raised an eyebrow coolly.

"I don't know yet, I haven't finished talking." Rose snickered as the Apocalypse jumped up. "Right! Father, you and your Clerics, you're going to stay here, look after my daughter. If anything happens to her, I'll hold every single one of you personally responsible, eleven times. Rose, Amy, River, we're going to find the Primary Flight Deck, which is - " She licked her finger and held it up. "A quarter of a mile straight ahead, and from there, we're going to stabilize the wreckage, stop the Angels, and cure Jenny."

"How?" River frowned.

"I'll do a thing."

"What thing?"

"I don't know. It's a thing in progress. Respect the thing." She clapped her hands. "Moving out!"

"Apocalypse, I'm coming with you," Octavian said. "My Clerics'll look after your daughter. These are my best men. They'd lay down their lives in her protection."

"I don't need you," the Apocalypse frowned.

"I don't care. Where Doctor Song goes, I go."

The Apocalypse snorted. "What, you two engaged or something?"

"Yes, in a manner of speaking," Octavian said bluntly, ignoring River giving him a nasty look. "Marco, you're in charge till I get back."

"Sir!" Marco snapped to attention.

"I'll stay, too," Amy volunteered, making them all look at her.

"Amy, you're sure?" the Apocalypse asked.

"Yeah," Amy nodded. "I'll look after her. It was either her or me looking at the Angel, and it was her. Might as well keep her company."

"Thank you," the Apocalypse sighed in relief, walking over to Jenny and crouching down, helping her sit up. "Jenny, I wish you could come, but we can't protect you on the move. I'll be back for you soon as I can, I promise."

"I know," Jenny whispered.

"Amy, do not let Jenny open her eyes," the Apocalypse said as she stood.

"Got it," Amy nodded, sitting down next to Jenny and taking the girl's hand.

"Clerics, keep watching the forest," the Apocalypse said. "Stop those Angels advancing. Amy, later. River, going to need your computer!" she ran off, Rose, River, and Octavian following.

"Yeah," Amy muttered. "Later."

For a moment, the area was silent. Then the Apocalypse came running back, crouching in front of Amy. "Amy, you need to start trusting me," she said. "It's never been more important."

"But you don't always tell the truth," Amy frowned, seeing Jenny's head tilt.

"If I always told you the truth, I wouldn't need you to trust me."

"Apocalypse, the crack in my wall. How can it be here?"

"I don't know yet, but I'm working it out. Now, listen. Remember what I told you when you were seven?"

Amy thought. "What did you tell me?"

"No, no, that's not the point. You have to remember."

"Remember what?" The Apocalypse just ran back off. "Apocalypse? Apocalypse!"

The Clerics watched her go, and Jenny shifted her position. Amy sighed and squeezed the girl's hand, resolving herself to wait.

***

As the quartet went on, the Apocalypse snatched River's computer and put in the readings from her sonic. "What's that?" River asked.

"Er, readings from a crack in the wall," the Apocalypse answered, checking.

"How can a crack in the wall be the end of universe?"

"Don't know, but here's what I think. One day, there's going to be a very big bang, so big every moment history, past and future, will crack."

"Is that even possible?" Rose asked, only for the Apocalypse to shrug. "How?"

"How can they be engaged, in a manner of speaking?" the Apocalypse looked between Octavian and River.

"Well, sucker for a man in uniform," River smirked.

Octavian just shook his head. "Doctor Song's in my personal custody. I released her from the Stormcage Containment Facility four days ago, and I am legally responsible for her until she's accomplished her mission and earned her pardon." River gave him a nasty look as the Apocalypse raised an eyebrow. "Just so we understand each other," Octavian said innocently.

"You were in Stormcage?" the Apocalypse asked River, only to turn back to the computer when it chirped.

"What's that?" Rose asked.

"The date," the Apocalypse answered. "The date of the explosion, where the crack begins."

"And for those of us who can't read the base code of the universe?" River asked.

The Apocalypse swallowed, looking down at it: 26 06 2010. "Amy's time."

"What?" Rose gasped, trying to look at it, only for the Apocalypse to put it away.

***

"Amy, you need to be my eyes," Jenny told her. "I need to know what's happening while I can't see."

"The Angels are still grouping," Marco answered, then frowned. "Are you getting this, too?"

"The trees?" another Cleric asked. "Yeah."

"What's wrong with the trees?" Jenny asked.

"Here too, sir," another Cleric said. "They're ripping the Treeborgs apart."

"And here," the last Cleric echoed. "They're taking out the lights?"

"What is it?" Jenny insisted. "I can't see. What's happening?"

"The trees are going out," Amy's eyes widened as she looked around.

***

"This doesn't open it from here, but it's the Primary Flight Deck," Octavian said as they found another wall, examining an opening. "This has got to be a service hatch or something."

"Hurry up and open it," River said. "Time's running out."

"Hang on," the Apocalypse snapped her fingers. "What did you say?"

"Time's running out," Rose answered.

"Yeah, but I just meant - " River frowned.

"I know what you meant," the Apocalypse held up a hand, a thoughtful looking coming on her face. "But what if it could?"

"What if what could?" River asked.

"Time," the Apocalypse looked at Rose. "What if time could run out?"

"Got it!" Octavian called as he opened the hatch.

***

"Angels advancing, sir," Cleric Phillip called tightly.

"Over here again," Cleric Pedro added.

"Weapons primed," Marco ordered. "Combat distance, five feet. Wait for it."

"What is it?" Jenny asked. "What's happening?"

"They're preparing to fire at the Angels," Amy answered.

"Keep your position," Marco looked at them. "And ma'am, keep your eyes shut."

"What do you think I've been doing?" Jenny grumbled, making Amy snort.

"Wait," Marco suddenly said in surprise.

Amy squinted as bright light flooded the forest. "The ship's not on fire, is it?" she asked.

"It can't be," Pedro shook his head. "The compressors would have taken care of it. Marco, the Angels have gone. Where'd they go?"

"What, the Angels?" Jenny asked in surprise.

"This side's clear, too, sir," Phillip added.

"The Angels have gone?" Jenny clarified.

"Well, they're not here," Amy looked around.

"There's still movement out there, but away from us now," Marco nodded. "It's like they're running."

"Running from what?" Jenny asked.

Amy gasped when the light took a certain shape. "Phillip, Crispin, need to get a closer look at that," Marco ordered.

"No!" Amy blurted, and the Clerics stopped in their tracks. "No, you can't! That's not safe!"

"Amy, what is it?" Marco asked, looking at her. "You know what it is?"

Amy swallowed. "That's the crack in my wall."

***

"Cracks," the Apocalypse thought out loud. "Cracks in time. Time running out. No, couldn't be, couldn't be . . . but how is a duck pond a duck pond if there aren't any ducks? And she didn't recognize the Daleks . . . OK, time can shift. Time can change. Time can be rewritten . . . ah!" Her eyes widened. "Oh."

"Not good?" Rose guessed.

"Very not good."

***

"Don't go near it," Amy begged. "Please, don't. It's following me. How can it be following me?"

"Amy, are you sure?" Jenny asked, suddenly hunching over.

"Yeah, why?"

"Because I'm feeling really sick, and it started when the Angels left."

Marco slowly looked back towards the crack. "We stay here," he decided. "If Amy knows it's bad, then it's bad."

"Yes, sir," the Clerics all responded.

***

"Doctor Song, get through, now," Octavian ordered. "Miss Tyler?" River went inside, followed by Rose, neither woman looking happy about having to climb in that way. "Apocalypse?" Octavian prompted. "Apocalypse!"

"Time can be rewritten," the Apocalypse mumbled. "Time can be unwritten." She nodded. "It's been happening all around me, and I haven't even noticed."

"Apocalypse, we have to move!" Octavian insisted.

"The CyberKing. A giant Cyberman walks over all of Victorian London, and no one remembers."

"We have to move it. The Angels could be here any second."

"Never mind the Angels," the Apocalypse waved a hand. "There's worse here than Angels."

Pause. "I beg to differ, ma'am."

The Apocalypse blinked, then spun around. An Angel had its arm around Octavian's throat, perfectly poised to snap his neck. "Let him go," she ordered coldly, eyes glowing gold.

"Well, it can't let me go, ma'am, can it?" Octavian asked miserably. "Not while you're looking at it."

"I can't stop looking at it. It'll kill you."

"It's going to kill me anyway. Think it through. There's no way out of this. You have to leave me."

"Can't you wriggle out?"

"No, it's too tight. You have to leave me, ma'am. There's nothing you can do."

The Apocalypse took a deep breath. "There is indeed something I can do that might be incredibly stupid and might not work, but it'll only do this if you trust me. So I need to know, Bishop. Do you trust me?"

"I have complete faith, ma'am."

"Then reach out and take my hand." Octavian did just that, and the Apocalypse clenched his hand tightly. "You know," she said nonchalantly. "If you and your men ever get tired of the Cleric business, I can think of a place you lot can go."

"That depends on where it is, ma'am."

The Apocalypse smiled. "Come back alive, and we'll discuss it more."

"I will do my best, ma'am."

"Do better."

The Apocalypse squeezed his hand, and Octavian vanished in a flash of gold Vortex energy. The Apocalypse backed up rapidly into the hatch, still keeping her eye on the Angel. As she entered the hatch, she hurriedly closed it, then ran off before the Angel could get her.

River was messing with the controls when she made it to the flight deck. "There's a teleport," she said. "If I can get it to work, we can beam the others here."

"Where's Octavian?" Rose asked.

"He's not dead, but that teleport is," the Apocalypse eyed it. "You're wasting your time. River, I'm going to need your communicator."

***

There was a warping noise behind them, and Amy gasped, looking behind her to see Octavian stumble, wisps of gold energy fading away. "Sir!" the Clerics snapped to attention.

"At ease," Octavian breathed, taking deep breaths.

"Bishop?" Jenny's head swung in his direction. "Bishop, where's Mum? Is she OK?"

"Your mother just saved my life," Octavian told her. "I owe her immensely." He paused, seeing the rippling crack. "What in God's name is that?"

There was a crackle of static. "Apocalypse to the Clerics," the Apocalypse's voice rang out from five communicators. "Are you reading me? Bishop, if you're dead - "

"I'm not dead, ma'am," Octavian answered, Jenny sighing in relief. "Thank you."

"You're welcome. You can start your thanks by telling me if your men are all still there."

"All accounted for, ma'am," Octavian looked around.

"God bless your faith, Bishop."

Amy giggled slightly at those words. There was a murmur of something from someone that sounded like Rose, then the Apocalypse said, "Time running out. Jenny, Amy, I'm sorry. I made a mistake. I should never have left you there."

Amy looked at the crack, knowing exactly what the Apocalypse meant. She gestured to one of the Clerics, and Marco handed over a spare communicator. "Well, what do we do now?" she asked.

"You come to us. The Primary Flight Deck, the other end of the forest. Father?"

"This way," Octavian beckoned, and Amy helped Jenny stand and walk in his direction, the Clerics forming up around them.

"You have to start moving, now," the Apocalypse said. "There's Time Energy spilling out of that crack, and you have to stay ahead of it."

"But the Angels, they're everywhere," Amy said.

"I'm sorry, I really am, but the Angels will only kill you, like one nearly did to Octavian."

"So what does the Time Energy do?" Jenny asked.

"Just keep moving!"

"Mum, please. I open my eyes, I die. The Angels get us, I die. What will the crack do?"

***

The Apocalypse sighed. "If the Time Energy catches up with you, you'll never have been born. It will erase every moment of your existence. You will never have lived at all. Now, Jen, keep your eyes shut, and keep moving."

"Will they get here in time?" Rose asked nervously.

"I bloody hope so," the Apocalypse ran a hand over her face. She hadn't just saved Octavian just to get him killed again. And when they got back, she had an offer she was certain he wouldn't outright refuse, he or his Clerics. Besides, Jack had mentioned Ross wanted to expand the 1001st as much as he could.

There was a clanging sound in the ship, and River looked up and around. "What's that?"

"The Angels running from the fire," the Apocalypse blanched. "They came here to feed on the Time Energy, now it's going to feed on them." She grabbed the communicator. "Bishop?"

"Ma'am," Octavian replied instantly.

"The Angels have run from the crack, and they're everywhere. The forest is full of Angels."

"Moving as fast as we can, ma'am."

"Be with you in a moment, then, Bishop."

"And you, ma'am."

"That Time Energy, what's it going to do?" River asked.

"Er, keep eating," the Apocalypse paced anxiously.

"How do we stop it?"

"Feed it."

"Feed it what?"

"A big, complicated space time event should shut it up for a while."

"Like what, for instance?"

"Like me, for instance!" the Apocalypse shouted, making Rose jump.

***

"Sir," Crispin said from behind them tightly. "They've found us."

Jenny gasped, and Amy whipped around to see Angels surrounding them. "Oh, God," she whispered.

"Ma'am," Octavian held the communicator up to his mouth. "There are Angels here."

"Don't look away from them," the Apocalypse said instantly. "For God's sake, don't look away, and keep moving. They're scared and running, and right now, they're not that interested in you. You can see them, and their instincts are kicking in. Jenny, walk like you can see. Just don't open your eyes."

Octavian slowly led the way through the Angels, Amy guiding Jenny behind him, when suddenly Jenny tripped and fell. Amy darted to catch her, the Clerics all moving to help, the Angels moving towards them -

There was a flash of light, and Amy gasped when they were on another flight deck. "Don't open your eyes!" River warned Jenny as Amy and Octavian helped her up, the Apocalypse sighing in relief, running to hug her tightly, Rose smiling at Amy. "You're on the flight deck. The Apocalypse is here."

"And Rose," Amy pitched in.

"And Rose," River added. "I teleported you. See?" she smirked at the Apocalypse. "Told you I could get it working."

"River Song, I could bloody hug you," the Apocalypse sighed in relief.

River smirked. "Wouldn't mind that."

"Nah, too busy," the Apocalypse brushed it off.

River scowled, only to look around when an alarm went off. "What's that?"

The Apocalypse checked it. "The Angels are draining the last of the ship's power, which means the shield's going to release."

"Sir!" Marco shouted as the bulkhead to the forest rose.

The Apocalypse and Octavian spun around, her hand and his gun raised, to see an army of Angels right outside. "Angel Bob, I presume," the Apocalypse raised an eyebrow at the one in the lead.

"The Time Field is coming," Bob said. "It will destroy our reality."

"Yeah, and look at you all, running away. What can I do for you?"

"There is a rupture in time. The Angels calculate that if you throw yourself into it, it will close, and they will be saved."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," she rolled her eyes. "Could do. Could do that. But why?"

"Your friends will also be saved."

" . . . well, there is that."

"I've traveled in time," River said. "I'm a complicated space time event, too. Throw me in."

"So am I," Rose said, making River glare at her. "I jumped several parallel worlds, in different times and places."

"No," the Apocalypse shook her head. "Neither of you are throwing yourself in. Compared to me, these Angels are more complicated than you, and it would take every one of them to amount to me. So, get a grip."

"Apocalypse, I can't let you do this," River shook her head.

"No, seriously, get a grip."

"You're not going to die here!"

The Apocalypse sighed. "Bishop? If you would get a grip?"

Octavian stared at her, then grinned. "Apocalypse, you are a genius."

"Well, I try," she smirked as Octavian grasped onto one of the console handles, Marco doing the same as the Clerics spread out to hold onto the wheels on the doors. Slightly confused, Rose held on by Octavian, Amy clinging on by Marco.

"Ma'am, the Angels need you to sacrifice yourself now," Bob said.

The Apocalypse snorted. "Thing is, Bob, the Angels are draining all the power from this ship. Every last bit of it. And you know what? I think they've forgotten where they're standing. I think they've forgotten the gravity of the situation. Or, to put it another way, Angels - "

As the monitor flashed GRAVITY FAILING, Octavian latched Jenny's hands on the handles. "Hold on tight, and do not let go," he told her.

The Apocalypse smirked. "Night night!"

As the gravity failed, the Apocalypse turned and grabbed onto the remaining console handles. She, River, Jenny, Rose, Amy, Octavian, and Marco were lifted off their feet, desperately hanging onto the console handles while Pedro, Phillip, and Crispin clung to the door wheels. As Rose looked over her shoulder, she watched the Angels fall backwards, back into the forest, and into the crack.

***

"This way," River said as she guided them out of the wreckage.

The Apocalypse was about to follow when she felt a tug on her arm. "Apocalypse," Octavian whispered. "A word?"

The Apocalypse nodded and dropped back, letting Amy and Jenny go. "What is it?" she asked.

"I meant to tell you when that Angel had me . . . but there was something I wanted to tell you."

"What is it?" the Apocalypse frowned.

Octavian took a deep breath. "You can't trust her."

The Apocalypse blinked. "Trust who?"

"River Song." The Apocalypse tensed, and Octavian nodded. "You may think you know her, but you don't. You don't understand who or what she is."

"Then tell me."

"I've told you more than I should already."

"What about why she was in Stormcage?"

Octavian looked back towards the group heading out. "She killed a woman," she answered. "A good woman. A hero to many."

The Apocalypse scowled. "Who?"

"You don't want to know, ma'am," Octavian shook his head. "You really don't."

"Who did she kill?"

Octavian just shook his head and kept climbing out of the wreckage. The Apocalypse looked back, frowning thoughtfully as she thought about who River had - or would, in her case - kill.

***

"Ah," Jenny winced as she sat on a rock, curled up in a blanket. "Bruised everywhere."

"Me, too," the Apocalypse pulled her cape around tighter, a similar one she had found back in the TARDIS.

"You didn't have to climb out with your eyes shut," Amy reminded her.

"Neither did she," the Apocalypse countered. "I kept saying. The Angels all fell into the Time Field. The Angel in her memory never existed. It can't harm her now."

"Or did you really just want to climb out with your eyes shut?" Rose grinned.

Jenny blushed. "Shut up," she muttered.

"Then why do I remember it all?" Amy asked.

"You're a time traveler now, Amy," the Apocalypse shrugged. "It changes the way you see the universe, forever. Good, isn't it?"

"And the crack, is that gone, too?"

"Yeah, for now. But the explosion that caused it is still happening. Somewhere out there, somewhere in time."

She patted Jenny's back and walked over to River, who was standing in the middle of the beach, the Clerics in a half circle behind her. "You, me, handcuffs," River held up her cuffed hands, the cuffs beeping. "Must it always end this way?"

"What now?" the Apocalypse looked at Octavian.

"The prison ship's in orbit," he answered. "They'll beam us up any second."

"I might have done enough to earn a pardon this time," River shrugged.

"We'll see," Octavian gave her a look.

The Apocalypse eyed Octavian, then turned to River. "Octavian said you killed a woman."

River's eyes darkened. "Yes, I did."

"A good woman."

"A very good woman," River sighed. "The best woman several people've ever known."

"Who?"

"It's a long story, Apocalypse. It can't be told. It has to be lived. No sneak previews." She paused. "Well, except for this one." She leaned closer. "You'll see me again quite soon . . . when the Pandorica opens."

The Apocalypse stared at her. "The Pandorica," she repeated before laughing. "Ha! That's a fairytale!"

"Apocalypse, aren't we all?" River winked. "I'll see you there."

"We'll see."

"I remember it well."

"Bye, River," Amy smiled.

"See you, Amy, Jenny," River nodded to them before curling her lip. "Rose."

Her cuffs beeped, and Octavian checked his teleport. "That's our ride."

"Come back down, Bishop," the Apocalypse requested. "I've an offer to make for you and your men."

Octavian raised an eyebrow. "We'll be down as soon as we can be."

The Apocalypse looked at River again. "Can I trust you, River Song?"

"If you like," River shrugged, grinning. "Ha! Where's the fun in that?"

The six of them went up in whirls of sand. Rose frowned, seeing the Apocalypse thinking. "What're you thinking?"

The Apocalypse shook her head. "Time can be rewritten," she said as she looked at the TARDIS thoughtfully.

"So what're we waiting on them for?" Amy asked, folding her arms. "Shouldn't we be leaving?"

"What offer?" Rose asked instead.

"There are few men as good as Octavian and his Clerics are," the Apocalypse answered. "The last time I met men that were willing to risk it all on a whim . . . was the ATMOS crisis."

Amy frowned, confused, but Jenny's eyes lit up. "You're going to ask them to come back with us."

"And see if Ross would like some new men," the Apocalypse confirmed.

***

Or, as Matt Smith said in the blooper reel, "the Angel is full of forests." XD That was hilarious.

Interlude is up next, all!