. . . OK, now all I really want to do is finish these two up. Davanna is really getting to me guys. Does anyone mind if we have a Kasterathon? Pros: you'll get more Kastera quicker, and you find out sooner rather than later if Alice lives. Cons: the more Kastera you get, the quicker it may be over, and you'll find out sooner rather than later if Alice lives.

So, Kasterathon: yay or nay?

I'll let you decide. ;) Meanwhile, enjoy the first part of the Library! What's a certain River Song's reaction to the Time Lords?

Here's "Silence in the Library!"

***

The Alchemist took one step out of the TARDIS, inhaled, and let out a happy sigh. "Oh, now that's a good smell."

"Books," the Doctor grinned as he came out with Donna, looking around the massive shelves. "People never really stop loving books. Fifty-first century. By now, you've got holovids, direct to brain downloads, fiction mist, but you need the smell. The smell of books, Donna."

"Wonderful every time," the Alchemist smiled fondly.

"The Library," the Doctor led them to a marble staircase. "So big it doesn't need a name. Just a great big The."

"It's like a city!" Donna's eyes widened as she looked over the thousands of shelves.

"It's a world," the Doctor corrected. "Literally, a world. The whole core of the planet is the index computer. Biggest hard drive ever. And up here, every book ever written. Whole continents of Jeffrey Archer, Bridget Jones, Monty Python's Big Red Book. Brand new editions, especially printed."

"We're near the equator, so this should be biographies," the Alchemist looked over the balcony.

"I love biographies," the Doctor grinned.

"Yeah, very you," Donna snorted. "Always a death at the end."

"You need a good death," the Doctor shrugged. "Without death, there'd only be comedies. Dying gives us size. Way-a!" The Alchemist looked back to see the Doctor snatch a book from Donna's hands. "Spoilers!"

"What?" Donna blinked.

"These books are from your future," the Alchemist shook her head as the Doctor replaced the book. "He doesn't want you reading ahead and spoiling all the surprises."

"It's like peeking at the end!" the Doctor protested.

"And how many times have you done that, bozo?"

"Yeah, isn't traveling with you one big spoiler?" Donna folded her arms.

"I try to keep you away from major plot developments," the Doctor sniffed.

"And how well has that been going?" the Alchemist raised an eyebrow.

"Very badly," the Doctor admitted.

"Good boy. Now, new topic. This is the biggest library in the universe. So where is everyone?" The Alchemist looked around. "It's silent."

The Doctor blinked, then went to a nearby information screen. "The library?" Donna asked.

"The planet," the Doctor shook his head, booting up the screen. "The whole planet."

"Maybe it's a Sunday?"

"No, I never land on Sundays. Sundays are boring."

"That day you met me in Van Statten's vault?" the Alchemist looked over his shoulder. "That was a Sunday."

"Correction," the Doctor backtracked, grinning at her. "Love Sundays."

"Love you, too," the Alchemist giggled, giving him a quick kiss.

"Well, maybe everyone's really, really quiet," Donna suggested.

"Yeah, maybe, but they'd still show up on the system," the Doctor shook his head, checking the computer.

Donna frowned. "Doctor, why are we here? Really, why?"

"Oh, you know . . . just passing."

"No, seriously, it was all 'let's hit the beach!' then suddenly we're in a library. Why?"

"Now that's interesting," the Doctor blinked as a screen came up.

"What?"

"Scanning for life forms. If I do a scan looking for your basic humanoids - you know, your book readers, few limbs and a face, apart from us - I get nothing. Zippo, nada. See? nobody home. But if I widen the parameters to any kind of life . . . a million million." They watched the number max out, then read error. "Gives up after that. A million million."

"But there's nothing here," Donna said in confusion, looking around. "There's no one."

"And not a sound," the Alchemist nodded. "A million million life forms, and silence in the library."

"But there's no one here," Donna shook her head. "They're just books. I mean . . . it's not the books, is it? I mean, it can't be the books, can it? I mean, books can't be alive."

The Alchemist narrowed her eyes at one book, reached out to grab it -

"BOO!"

She actually screamed, flinging the book away from her, right at Donna, who fumbled to catch it. The Alchemist spun around and fumed at the Doctor, who was now laughing hysterically. "You bozo!" she screeched, chasing after him when he ran back into the library. "What the hell was that for?!"

Donna sighed and rolled her eyes to the sky. "Why can't they just get married already?" she asked no one in particular as she replaced the book, going after them.

She found them in front of a humanoid sculpture with a female face on it, which was talking. " - zero slash aqua. Please enjoy the Library and respect the personal access codes of all your fellow readers, regardless of species or hygiene taboo."

Donna stopped, eyes wide. "That face, it looks real."

"Yeah, don't worry about it," the Doctor shook his head.

"A statue with a real face, though? It's a hologram or something, isn't it?"

"No, but really, it's fine. It's a Courtesy Node."

"Additional," the Node said. "There follows a brief message from the Head Librarian for your urgent attention. It has been edited for tone and content by a Felman Lux Automated Decency Filter. Message follows. Run. For God's sake, run." The Time Lords looked at each other oddly, then back at the Node. "No way is safe. The Library has sealed itself. We can't - Oh, they're here. Argh. Slarg. Snick. Message ends." Donna looked at the Time Lords to see both of them with narrowed eyes. "Please switch off your mobile comm units for the comfort of other readers."

"So that's why we're here," the Doctor frowned. "Any other messages, same date stamp?"

"One additional message. This message carries a Felman Lux coherency warning of five zero eleven - "

"Play it," the Alchemist ordered.

"Message follows. Count the shadows. For God's sake, remember, if you want to live, count the shadows. Message ends."

The Alchemist's eyes narrowed further. "Donna?"

"Yeah?" she asked.

The Alchemist looked around, reaching under her jacket for her blaster. "Stay out of the shadows."

"Why?" Donna looked around as they headed into the stacks. "What's in the shadows? So, we weren't just in the neighborhood."

"Yeah," the Doctor cleared his throat. "I kind of . . . sort of lied a bit. I got a message on the psychic paper." He opened it and held it out to Donna. "What do you think? Cry for help?"

Donna raised an eyebrow as she read. The library, come as soon as you can. X. "Cry for help with a kiss?"

"Oh, we've all done that," the Doctor rolled his eyes.

"Who's it from?"

"No idea."

"And you're OK with this?" Donna raised an eyebrow at the Alchemist.

"Haven't met the person yet," she shrugged. "Then I'll decide if I'm OK with it."

Donna sighed. "So why did we come here? Why did you - "

"Donna!" the Alchemist grabbed her, yanking her back.

She turned around to see the lights behind them going out. "What's happening?"

"Run!" the Doctor shouted, taking off.

"Get that door open!" the Alchemist pointed, drawing her blaster and aiming it back down the stacks.

"Come on!" the Doctor banged on it, trying to yank it open.

"What, is it locked?" Donna asked.

"Jammed! The wood's warped!"

"Well, sonic it! Use the thingy!"

"I can't, it's wood!"

"What, it doesn't do wood?"

The Alchemist rolled her eyes. "Oh, get out of the way!"

They hastily went to the sides, leaving the Alchemist to snap kick out, the door bursting open. They all quickly got inside, and the Doctor jammed a book into the handle to stop it from opening again. He sighed in relief, only to jump in surprise when he turned to see a small metal globe hovering in front of him. "Oh, hello!" he smiled, the other two turning. "Sorry to burst on you like this. OK if we stop here for a bit?"

The globe fell to the floor, and the Alchemist went over to it. "What is it?"

"Security camera," the Alchemist answered, picking it up and holding up her other hand. The Doctor tossed his sonic to her, and she caught it without looking before going back to examining the globe. "It's switched itself off."

"Nice door skills, by the way," the Doctor grinned.

"Yeah, well," she smirked. "You'd be surprised how often Creators needed to kick doors open when you had your hands full."

"What was that?" Donna pointed back at the door as the Alchemist used the sonic on the globe. "What was after us? I mean, did we just run away from a power cut?"

"Possibly," the Doctor admitted.

"Are we safe here?"

"Of course we're safe," the Alchemist smirked, pointing the sonic off to the side. "The Doctor's got his little shop."

"Oh, I love a little shop!" the Doctor grinned happily when he saw it.

"Gotcha!" the Alchemist cheered as the camera opened, only to pause when she saw words spiraling across a little panel on the camera. No, stop it. No. No. "Ooo," she cringed. "I'm sorry, I really am. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." She quickly closed the camera and got to her feet, still holding the globe. "It's alive."

"You said it was a security camera," Donna frowned.

"Yeah, it is," the Alchemist nodded. "It's an alive one."

"Wait, wait, wait," the Doctor frowned, squinting. "What else is it saying?"

Donna blinked at the next words. Others are coming. The Library is breached. Others are coming. "Others?" she echoed. "What's it mean, others?" She walked up to another Node. "Excuse me, what does it mean, others?"

"That's barely more than a speak your weight machine," the Doctor shook his head as it turned around, a man's face on it this time. "It can't help you."

"So why's it got a face?"

"This flesh aspect was donated by Mark Chambers on the occasion of his death," the Node answered.

Donna blanched. "It's a real face?!"

"It has been actualized individually for you from the many face aspects saved to our extensive flesh banks. Please enjoy."

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

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

"It's donating a face!" Donna backed away.

"No, wait, no!" the Doctor grabbed her and yanked her back.

"Oi!" she slapped his arm. "Hands!"

"The shadow," the Doctor pointed at the flor. "Look!"

"What about it?" she frowned.

"Count the shadows."

"One. There, counted it. One shadow."

"Then what's casting it?" the Alchemist looked around.

"Oh, I'm thick!" the Doctor whined, hitting himself on the head. Look at me, I'm old and thick! Head's too full of stuff. I need a bigger head."

"I like your head just fine."

"Thank you."

Donna tilted her head, then pointed at the light in an adjoining corridor that was going out. "The power must be going."

"This place runs on fission cells," the Alchemist narrowed her eyes. "They'll outburn the Sun."

"Then why is it dark?"

"It's not dark."

Donna looked down and pointed. "The shadow, it's gone!"

"We need to get back to the TARDIS," the Doctor looked around.

"Why?" Donna frowned.

"Because that shadow hasn't gone," the Alchemist shook her head. "It's moved."

"Reminder," the Node suddenly said. "The Library has been breached. Others are coming. Reminder. The Library has been breached. Others are coming. Reminder. The Library has been breached - "

The door across from them was suddenly blown open, and the Alchemist instantly drew her blaster, pointing it at the figures in spacesuits that climbed out. One stopped right in front of her and lifted her polarizing filter. She took one look at the Alchemist and smiled. "Hello, Misty."

The Alchemist blinked. "Say what now?"

The Doctor poked his head over her shoulder. "Get out," he said bluntly.

"Doctor!" Donna groaned.

"All of you," the Doctor insisted, the Alchemist surprised when the woman in the suit gave him a glare and rolled her eyes. "Turn around, get back in your rocket, and fly away. Tell your grandchildren you came to the Library and lived. They won't believe you."

"Pop your helmets, everyone," the woman said, taking hers off to reveal very curly hair. "We've got breathers."

"How do you know they're not androids?" a dark-skinned woman frowned.

"Because I've dated androids," the first woman smirked. "They're rubbish."

"Who is this?" one of the men scowled. "You said we were the only expedition! I paid for exclusives!"

"I lied," the woman shrugged. "I'm always lying. Bound to be others."

"Miss Evangelista, I want to see the contracts!" the man turned to a dark-haired woman.

"You came through the north door, yeah?" the woman turned back to them. "How was that? Much damage?"

"Please, just leave," the Doctor sighed. "I'm asking you, seriously and properly, just leave - " He broke off, eyes wide. "Hang on, did you say expedition?"

"My expedition," the first man grumbled. "I funded it."

"Oh, you're not, are you?" the Doctor whined. 'Tell me you're not archaeologists?"

The curly-haired woman raised an eyebrow. "Got a problem with archaeologists?"

"I'm a time traveler. I point and laugh at archaeologists."

"Ah." She held out a hand. "Professor River Song, archaeologist."

"River Song," the Doctor shook her hand. "Lovely name. As you're leaving, and you're leaving now, you need to set up a quarantine beacon. Code wall the planet, the whole planet. Nobody comes here, not ever again. Not one living thing, not here, not ever."

"Stop!" the Alchemist pointed at the dark-skinned woman, who froze before she could put one foot down. "What's your name?"

"Anita," she answered.

"Stay out of the shadows. Not a foot, not a finger in the shadows."

"Not until you're safely back in your ship," the Doctor agreed. "Goes for all of you. Stay in the light. Find a nice, bright spot, and just stand. If you understand me, look very, very scared." All he got were very dubious looks. "No, bit more scared than that."

"Let it go," the Alchemist put a hand on his shoulder, noting with curiosity that River seemed a bit surprised by the move. "You," she pointed at one of the other men. "Who're you?"

"Er, Dave," he answered.

"OK, Dave - "

"Oh, well, Other Dave, because that's Proper Dave the pilot. He was the first Dave, so when we - "

"Other Dave," she interrupted, making the Doctor snicker. "The way you came, does it look the same as before?"

"Yeah," he took a look. "Oh, it's a bit darker."

"How much darker?"

"Oh, like I could see where we came through just like a moment ago. I can't now."

"Seal up this door," the Alchemist gestured. "We'll find another way out."

"Would you - ?" Other Dave asked.

"We're not looking for a way out," the first man said firmly. "Miss Evangelista?"

"I'm Mr. Lux's personal everything," the dark-haired woman walked up to them. "You need to sign these contracts agreeing that your individual experience inside the Library are the intellectual property of the Felman Lux Corporation."

"Right," the Doctor nodded slowly, holding his hand out. "Give it here."

"Yeah, lovely," Donna took hers.

"Thanks," the Alchemist nodded, taking another.

"You want the honors?" the Doctor asked her.

"Please."

The Doctor took all of the contracts, held them away from his body, and the Alchemist did a quick draw, taking one shot and sending the contracts to flames. "There we are, then," he said brightly as the Alchemist twirled her blaster around her finger. "Sorted."

"My family built this library!" Lux sputtered. "I have rights!"

"You have a mouth that won't stop," River countered, looking at the Alchemist. "You think there's danger here?"

"Something came to this Library and killed everything in it," the Doctor answered, making River roll her eyes and turn to him, making the Alchemist surprised at her attitude towards him. If she knew any better . . . River didn't like the Doctor. That was something. Usually he did something first before anyone decided they didn't like him. "Killed a whole world. Danger? Could be."

"That was a hundred years ago," River told him. "The Library's been silent for a hundred years. Whatever came here's long dead."

"Bet your life?"

"Always."

"What are you doing?" Lux said suddenly.

They turned to see Other Dave look up from what he was doing to the door. "She said seal the door," he shrugged.

"Torch," the Doctor looked around.

"You're taking orders from them?" Lux asked in surprise.

"Spooky, isn't it?" the Doctor asked, taking his torch and turning it on, looking around with it. "Almost every species in the universe has an irrational fear of the dark. But they're wrong, because it's not irrational. It's Vashta Nerada."

"What's Vashta Nerada?" Donna frowned.

"It's what's in the dark," he shrugged. "It's what's always in the dark."

"We need lights," the Alchemist looked around. "Please tell me you've got lights."

"What for?" River asked.

"Form a circle," she gestured. "A safe area. Make it as big as you can, lights pointing out."

River nodded, then barked at Lux. "Oi! Do as she says!"

"You're not listening to these two!" Lux gawked at her.

"Well, I'm going to listen to her," River jerked her head at the Alchemist.

"Oi!" the Doctor complained.

"Yeah, and until he messes up, I might just listen to him, too," River huffed, making both Time Lords blink and look at each other in surprise. Until the Doctor messes up? What did River mean by that? "Anita, unpack the lights. Other Dave, make sure the door's secure, then help Anita. Mr. Lux, put your helmet back on. Block the visor. Proper Dave, find an active terminal. I want you to access the Library database. See what you can find about what happened here a hundred years ago. Pretty girl, you're with me. Step into my office."

"Professor Song, why am I the only one wearing my hemet?" Lux asked as everyone went to work.

River smirked. "I don't fancy you."

Lux quickly took off his helmet as the Alchemist went to help Proper Dave. "Probably I can help you," she began.

"Pretty girl!" River called, and the Alchemist blinked, looking over at her. "With me, I said!"

The Alchemist blinked, looking around. "Oh, I'm pretty girl?"

"Yes," the Doctor confirmed.

"Ooo," Donna teased. "That came out a bit quick."

"Well, I could go on if you want a longer response."

"Save that for later," the Alchemist giggled, kissing the top of his head and ruffling his hair. "Keep working, bozo."

"Yes, ma'am," he answered almost automatically, trying to get his hair back to normal, much to Donna's amusement. "Don't let your shadows cross," he added to everyone as the Alchemist headed over to River, who had narrowed her eyes at the exchange. "Seriously, don't even let them touch. Any of them could be infected."

"How can a shadow be infected?" Other Dave frowned.

"Excuse me, can I help?" Evangelista asked, looking around.

"No, we're fine," Anita shook her head.

"I could just, you know, hold things."

"No, really, we're OK," Other Dave shook his head.

"Couldn't she help?" Donna asked with a frown.

"Trust me," Other Dave shook his head. "I just spent four days on a ship with that woman. She's, er . . . "

"Couldn't tell the difference between the escape pod and the bathroom," Anita explained. "We had to go back for her. Twice."

***

The Alchemist walked over to where River was by one of the desks, noting with suspicion that they were blocked from the Doctor's view. "Thanks," River told her as she pulled out a worn blue book from her backpack.

"For what?" the Alchemist asked as she sat with her.

"The usual." She looked up when she heard nothing from the Alchemist. All she got was a confused face. "For coming when I call?" she prompted.

"Oh, that was you?" the Alchemist said, impressed.

River raised an eyebrow at her. "You're doing a very good job, acting like you don't know me. I'm assuming there's a reason."

"Yeah," she said slowly. "A fairly good one, actually."

"OK, shall we do diaries, then?" River flipped open her book. "Where are we this time? Er, going by your face, I'd say it's early days for you, yeah? So, er . . . crash of the Byzantium. Have we done that yet?" The Alchemist shook her head, still a bit surprised. "Obviously ringing no bells," River flipped through more pages. "Right. Oh, picnic at Asgard! Have we done Asgard yet?" The Alchemist just stared at her. "Obviously not," River frowned, looking through the pages more. "Blimey, very early days, then. Whoo! life with a time traveler. Never knew it could be such hard work - " She paused, then looked up, taking another look at the Alchemist. Her eyes widened, and her jaw dropped. "Look at you," she whispered. "Oh, you're young!"

"I'm really not, you know," the Alchemist looked at her, confused.

"No, but you are. Your eyes . . . they're younger than I've ever seen you . . . almost happier than I've ever seen you."

The younger part didn't scare the Alchemist much. The happier part certainly did. "You've seen me before, then?" she asked.

River chewed her lip. "Alchemist . . . please tell me you know who I am."

The Alchemist shook her head. "Who are you?"

River took a deep breath, then they heard a trilling noise go off. "Sorry!" Proper Dave called as he and the Doctor backed away from their terminal. "That was us! Trying to get through into the security protocols. We seem to have set something off. What is that? Is that an alarm?"

"Doctor?" Donna frowned as the Alchemist ran over to join them. "Doctor, that sounds like - "

"It is," the Doctor nodded, taking another look at the terminal. "It's a phone."

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

"But it's a phone," Donna said in confusion.

"Let me," the Alchemist pushed through them to work on the terminal. She tapped a sequence, then frowned when ACCESS DENIED came up. "OK, doesn't like that. Let's try . . . " She took the Doctor's screwdriver. "Thank you." She buzzed the terminal, grinning when the monitor lit up. "OK, here it comes." A little girl on screen was drawing, and the Alchemist leaned in. "Hello?" she called.

The girl looked up and blinked at them. "Hello," she answered. "Are you in my television?"

That made them all look at each other, surprised. "No," the Alchemist said slowly, turning back. "We're . . . we're sort of in space. I was trying to call up the data core of a triple grid security processor."

"Would you like to speak to my Dad?" the girl asked.

"Dad or your Mum, that'd be lovely," the Alchemist nodded.

The girl suddenly lit up. "I know you! You're in my Library!"

"Your Library?" the Doctor asked in surprise.

"The Library's never been on the television before. What have you done?"

"What have you done?" he looked at the Alchemist.

"I just rerouted the interface!" she protested, then the screen went back to ACCESS DENIED. "Oh, come on!"

"What happened?" River leaned forward. "Who was that?"

"I need another terminal," the Doctor looked around. "Keep working on those lights. We need those lights!"

"You heard him, people," River turned. "Let there be light!" The Doctor walked towards the other open terminal, then curiously looked at River's blue book. He picked it up, when it was snatched out of his hand. "Sorry," River said with mock sweetness. "You're not allowed to see inside the book. It's against the rules."

"What rules?" the Doctor scowled at her.

"Her rules," River looked over at the Alchemist.

He looked over at her, in time to see books fly out of the shelves and right into her face. She yelped and fell backwards, landing on the ground, wincing and crawling under a table to avoid being hit with books. "What the hell?" she shouted angrily.

"What's that?" the Doctor asked, looking around as more books flew out. "I didn't do that! Did you do that?" he asked Proper Dave.

"Not me," he held up his hands.

The Doctor looked back at his screen, frowning when he saw the message on it: CAL ACCESS DENIED. "What's CAL?" he wondered.

***

As the barrage of books ended, Donna walked over to Evangelista. "You all right?" she asked.

"What's that?" Evangelista looked around the shelves. "What's happening?"

"I don't know," Lux answered.

"Oh, thanks," Donna told her. "For, er, you know, offering to help with the lights."

"They don't want me," Evangelista shook her head. "They think I'm stupid, because I'm pretty."

"'Course they don't," Donna scoffed. "Nobody thinks that."

"No, they're right, though," Evangelista shook her head. "I'm a moron, me. My dad said I have the IQ of plankton, and I was pleased."

"See? That's funny."

"No, no, I really was pleased. Is that funny?"

Donna's smile slid from her face. "No. No."

***

The Alchemist crawled out from under the table, just barely able to get a hand up in time to snatch a book that flew at her, using it to bat the others away. "What's causing this?" she looked around.

"Is it the little girl?" River suggested.

"But who is the little girl?" the Doctor asked. "What's she got to do with this place? How does the data core work? What's the principle? What's CAL?"

"Ask Mr. Lux," River shrugged.

The Doctor did just that. "CAL. What is it?"

"Sorry, you didn't sign your personal experience contracts," Lux sniffed.

The Doctor growled. "Mr. Lux, right now, you're in more danger than you've ever been in your whole life, and you're protecting a patent?"

"I'm protecting my family's pride!"

The Doctor snorted. "Well, funny thing, Mr. Lux, I don't want to see everyone in this room dead because some idiot thinks his pride is more important!"

"Then why didn't you sign his contract?" River asked snidely.

The Alchemist snorted. "You didn't, either, did you, Dr. Song?"

"No, I didn't," she admitted almost cheerfully. "I'm getting worse than you."

The Doctor sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "OK, OK, OK, let's start at the beginning. What happened here? On the actual day, a hundred years ago, what physically happened?"

"There was a message from the Library," River answered. "Just one. The lights are going out. Then the computer sealed the planet, and there was nothing for a hundred years."

"It's taken three generations of my family just to decode the seals and get back in," Lux added.

"Er, excuse me?" Evangelista asked.

"Not just now," Lux waved her off.

"There was one other thing in the last message," River said.

"That's confidential!" Lux protested.

"I trust these two with my life, with everything," River turned to him.

"You've only just met them!"

"No, they've only just met me!"

"Er, this might be important, actually," Evangelista tried to cut in again.

"In a moment!" Lux snapped.

"This is a data extract that came with the message," River handed the Doctor a handheld computer.

"Four thousand and twenty two saved," the Doctor read, narrowing his eyes. "No survivors."

"Four thousand and twenty two," River nodded. "That's the exact number of people who were in the library when the planet was sealed."

"But how can four thousand and twenty two people have been saved if there were no survivors?" Donna frowned.

"That's what we're here to find out," River nodded.

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

"What do you think, Alice?" the Doctor looked up, only to blink and look around. "Alice?"

"Where'd she go?" River looked around.

Donna blinked. "And where's Miss Evangelista?"

***

"Evangelista!" the Alchemist hissed as she ran after Evangelista down through a passage behind a panel in the wall. "What are you doing?"

"They wouldn't listen to me!" Evangelista looked at her, eyes wide as she pointed into a large hall. "So I came down here myself!"

"Evangelista, no!" the Alchemist ran after her, only to skid to a halt when she heard an ear-piercing scream. "Evangelista!" She ran into the doorway of a lecture hall, eyes widening when she saw a skeleton in rags. "Oh, my God," she clapped a hand over her mouth, then rapidly threw up a gold Vortex shield in front of her when she saw shadows extend towards her.

"Alice!" the Doctor yelled as he barreled down the hall, only to blanch when he saw her nearly doubled over as she held up the Vortex. "What are you doing?"

"They got her!" the Alchemist winced as she backed up, trying to get back into the hall without lowering the shield, which was starting to buckle.

"Got who?"

"Miss Evangelista," Donna looked around as the rest of them appeared around the corner. "Where is she?"

The Alchemist just swallowed and shook her head. "I'm sorry."

"What?" River gasped.

"We heard her scream a few seconds ago!" Anita protested.

"Trust me, it was quicker than a few seconds," the Alchemist winced, looking around. "Does anyone have anything on them of particular value?"

"Er - "

The torch the Doctor was holding flew out of his hand and into a control on the door. It sparked, and the door to the lecture hall slid shut. When it did, the Alchemist's knees buckled. She would have hit the floor if the Doctor, Donna, and River hadn't jumped forward to catch her. "Easy," the Doctor pulled her bangs out of her face as the Alchemist gagged, one hand over her mouth. "Professor, have you got a towel of some kind?"

"What for?" River frowned.

"Oh, my God!" Donna's face drained of color.

The Alchemist just choked as she pulled her hand away from her mouth, wincing when she saw the blood she had coughed up. "That's why."

"Oh, my God," River's eyes widened as she hastily went through her pack, all of the others checking to see what they had. "How did that happen?"

"You see, this is why you don't use the Vortex!" the Doctor growled.

The Alchemist just scowled at him. "Pardon me for not wanting to die by the Vashta Nerada."

"The what?" River interrupted, looking between the two of them. She had no idea what had just happened, but the Alchemist was coughing up blood . . . that was not good at all. "If that's what did . . . whatever to Miss Evangelista, I'd like to have a word with that."

"I'll introduce you," the Doctor put one arm around the Alchemist, leading her back the way they had come. When they were back in the rotunda, he put her in a chair, crouched so they were eye to eye, narrowed his own eyes, and hissed, "Don't move."

"Won't argue," she cracked a grin, then spat out a bit more blood, clearing her throat. "This isn't fun."

"Then maybe you won't use the Vortex again before you kill yourself," the Doctor shook his head and walked over to River. "I'm going to need a - " He paused, then snapped a finger in front of her eyes. "Professor?"

River snapped out of whatever shock she had been in, tearing her gaze away from the Alchemist. "Sorry? What?"

"I'm going to need a packed lunch."

"Hang on," River nodded, taking off her backpack and checking.

The Doctor watched her pull out her book, then asked, "What's in that book?"

"Spoilers," she answered.

"Who are you?"

"Professor River Song, University of - "

"To us," the Doctor interrupted. "Who are you to us?"

"Again, spoilers." River pulled out a few containers. "Chicken and a bit of salad. Knock yourself out."

The Doctor took the chicken. "Right, you lot. Let's all meet the Vashta Nerada."

***

The Alchemist was watching the Doctor scan the floor with his sonic while Donna stood to the side. "You travel with them, don't you?" River asked as she walked over to the ginger. "The Doctor and the Alchemist, you travel with them."

"What of it?" Donna asked with a frown.

"Proper Dave, could you move over a bit?" the Doctor asked.

"Why?" he asked, even as he did.

"Over there by the water cooler, thanks."

"You know them, don't you?" Donna finally asked.

"Oh, God, do I know them," River laughed. "We go way back, those two and me. Just not this far back."

"I'm sorry, what?" Donna blinked.

"They haven't met me yet," River explained. "I sent them a message, but it went wrong. It arrived too early. This is the Doctor and the Alchemist in the days before they knew me. And they - especially she - look at me, they look right through me, and it shouldn't kill me, but it does."

"What are you talking about?" Donna scowled. "Are you just talking rubbish? Do you know them or don't you?"

"Donna!" the Doctor looked over his shoulder sharply. "Quiet! I'm working!"

"Bozo!" the Alchemist hissed.

"Well, it's true!"

"Sorry," Donna held up her hands in mock defeat.

River, however, had blanched so much, Donna wasn't sure if she had ever seen that shade of white before. "Donna," she repeated, eyes wide. "You're Donna. Donna Noble!"

"Yeah," she frowned. "Why?"

River turned slowly to stare long and hard at the Time Lords, an unreadable look in her eyes. "I do know them, but in the future," she whispered. "Their personal future."

"So why don't you know me?" Donna folded her arms. "Where am I in the future?"

"OK, got a live one!" the Doctor announced, jumping to his feet. "That's not darkness down those tunnels. This is not a shadow. It's a swarm. A man-eating swarm." He tossed a chicken leg into the shadow, only for it to only be a bone when it hit the floor. "The piranhas of the air. The Vashta Nerada."

"Literally means the shadows that melt the flesh," the Alchemist explained. "Most planets have them, but usually in small clusters. I've never seen an infestation on this scale, or this aggressive."

"What do you mean, most planets?" Donna frowned. "Not Earth?"

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

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

"Vashta Nerada mainly live off roadkill on Earth," the Alchemist shook her head. "But haven't you ever wondered what happens to people who get lost in the dark and never come out?"

"Every shadow?" River looked around cautiously.

"No," the Doctor shook his head. "But any shadow."

"So what do we do?"

"Well, I've got this list of what to do around enemies," the Alchemist got off her chair, wobbling slightly on her feet before regaining her balance. "Daleks, aim for the eyestalk. Sontarans, back of the neck. Vashta Nerada? Run. Just run."

"Run?" River echoed, looking around. "Run where?"

"This is an index point," the Doctor looked around. "There must be an exit teleport somewhere."

All eyes went to Lux, who held up his hands. "Don't look at me. I haven't memorized the schematics."

"Doctor, the little shop," Donna told him. "They always make you go through the little shop on the way out so they can sell you stuff."

"You're right," the Doctor grinned. "Brilliant! That's why I like the little shop."

"OK, let's move it," Proper Dave headed off.

"Wait," the Alchemist held up a hand, making him stop. "Proper Dave, don't move again. Stay right where you are."

"Why?" he asked.

She pointed at the floor. "You're not supposed to have two shadows." Everyone looked down at the shadows, and Proper Dave blanched. "That's how they hunt. They latch onto a food source and keep it fresh."

"What do I do?" he asked hoarsely.

"Stay absolutely still like there's a wasp in the room. Imagine it huge, like a Vespiform, if that helps. Great big wasp. Don't move at all. Or a million Vespiforms, that works, too."

"We're not leaving you, Dave," River promised.

"'Course we're not leaving him," the Doctor snorted. "Where's your helmet? Don't point, just tell us."

"On the floor, by my bag," Proper Dave answered.

Anita moved that way. "Don't cross his shadow," the Doctor ordered. Anita obeyed, taking Proper Dave's helmet and returning. "Thanks. Now, the rest of you, helmets back on and sealed up. We'll need everything we've got." He put Proper Dave's helmet back on, and the other people on the expedition followed suit.

"But, Doctor, we haven't got any helmets," Donna frowned.

"Yeah, but we're safe anyway," the Doctor shrugged.

"How are we safe?"

"We're not," the Alchemist sighed. "He was trying to find a clever way to shut you up."

The Doctor ignored the nasty glare sent at him by his sister. "Professor, anything I can do with the suit?"

"What good are the damn suits?" Lux grumbled. "They obviously did Miss Evangelista no good."

"We can increase the mesh density," River suggested. "Dial it up four hundred percent, make it a tougher meal."

"OK," the Doctor used his sonic screwdriver on Proper Dave's suit. "Eight hundred percent. Pass it on."

However, before he could pass the screwdriver on, River held up one of her own. "Gotcha," she winked before moving around to work.

"What's that?" the Doctor blinked.

"It's a screwdriver."

"It's sonic."

"Yeah, I know. Snap!"

The Doctor shook his head, not ready to deal with that yet. "With me, come on," he grabbed Donna's arm, pulling her to the shop.

"What are we doing? We shopping?" Donna frowned. "Is it a good time to shop?"

"No talking, just moving," the Doctor shook his head, putting her on a dais next to a lectern. "Try it. Right, stand there in the middle. It's a teleport. Stand in the middle. Can't send the others, TARDIS won't recognize them."

"What are you doing?" Donna blinked.

"You don't have a suit. You're not safe."

"You don't have suits, so you're in just as much danger as I am, and I'm not leaving you!"

"Donna, let me explain - !" Donna vanished before he could say anything else, and he blinked. "Oh, that's how you do it."

"Doctor!" the Alchemist shouted. "We've got a problem!"

He ran back outside to see them staring down by Proper Dave's feet. "Where did it go?" he demanded, only seeing one shadow now.

"It's just gone," Proper Dave shrugged. "I looked round. One shadow. See?"

"Does that mean we can leave?" River asked hopefully. "I don't want to hang around here."

"I don't know why we're still here," Lux snorted. "We can leave him, can't we? I mean, no offense."

He let out a squeak of some sort when the Alchemist punched him in the back of the head. "Offense taken," she snapped. "So shut up, or the next one knocks you out."

"Did you feel anything, like an energy transfer?" the Doctor asked Proper Dave, not seeing River give the Alchemist an impressed look. "Anything at all?"

"No, no, but look, it's gone," Proper Dave turned around.

"Stop there," the Doctor warned. "Stop, stop, stop there. Stop moving. They're never just gone, and they never give up." The Doctor aimed at the floor, sonicking, then huffed. "Well, this one's benign."

"Hey, who turned out the lights?" Proper Dave asked suddenly.

"No one. They're fine."

"No, seriously, turn them back on."

"They are on," River frowned.

"I can't see a ruddy thing!"

"Dave, turn around," the Alchemist ordered.

He did, revealing his completely dark visor. "What's going on?" he asked. "Why can't I see? Is the power gone? Are we safe here?"

"Dave, I want you to stay still," the Doctor told him. "Absolutely still - " He paused when Proper Dave jerked. "Dave? Dave? Dave, can you hear me? Are you all right? Talk to me, Dave!"

"I'm fine," Proper Dave answered. "I'm OK. I'm fine."

"I want you to stay still. Absolutely still."

"I'm fine. I'm OK. I'm fine. I can't. Why can't I - I - I can't - why can't I - I - I can't - why can't I - I - "

The Alchemist blinked, then saw a blinking light on his comm unit. "Is that a neural relay?" she asked.

"Yes," River nodded, gulping. "That means he's ghosting."

"Which means he's dead."

"Then why is he still standing?" Lux asked.

"Hey, who turned out the lights?" Proper Dave asked. "Hey, who turned out the lights?"

"Doctor, don't," River warned as the Doctor walked forward.

"Dave, can you hear me?" the Doctor asked.

"Hey, who turned out the lights?" Proper Dave grabbed the Doctor by the throat, and his visor lit up, revealing a skull. "Who turned out the lights? Hey, who turned out the lights?"

The Alchemist stepped forward and threw a sharp left hook, sending Proper Dave away from the Doctor. "Back from it!" the Doctor leapt up, backing them away. "Get back! Right back!"

River watched as Proper Dave lurched forward. "Doesn't move very fast, does it?"

"It's a swarm in a suit," the Doctor said like that explained everything. "But it's learning."

Lux gulped as four shadows extended from Proper Dave. "What do we do? Where do we go?"

"See that wall behind you?" River asked. "Duck!"

They did, and she shot at the wall, cutting a square hole in it. "Squareness gun!" the Doctor cheered.

"Everybody out!" River ordered. "Go, go, go! Move it,! Move, move! Move it! Move, move!" When they were all through, River sealed the wall behind them. "You said not every shadow!"

"We said any shadow!" the Alchemist said as they ran.

"Hey, who turned out the lights?" Proper Dave's voice asked.

"Run!" River pushed them on.

***

"Trying to boost the power," the Doctor mumbled as he tried to sonic a light fitting. "Light doesn't stop them, but it slows them down."

"So, what's the plan?" River asked. "Do we have a plan?"

The Alchemist looked at the screwdriver in her hand. "Your screwdriver looks exactly like the Doctor's."

"Yeah," River nodded. "He gave it to me."

The Doctor scowled. "I don't give my screwdriver to anyone except Alice."

"I'm not anyone," she shrugged.

"Who are you?"

River didn't give under his intense gaze. "What's the plan?" she asked.

He sighed, checking his sonic. "I teleported Donna back to the TARDIS. If we don't get back there in under five hours, Emergency Program One will activate."

"Take her home, yeah," River nodded.

"I still hate you for that," the Alchemist grumbled.

River just smirked. "We need to get a shift on."

"She's not there," the Doctor said in confusion, frowning. "I should have received a signal. The console signals me if there's a teleport breach."

"Well, maybe the coordinates have slipped?" River suggested. "The equipment here's ancient."

The Doctor walked up to one of the Nodes. "Donna Noble," he said. "There's a Donna Noble somewhere in this Library. Do you have the software to locate her position?"

The Node swung around to reveal Donna as its face. "Donna Noble has left the Library," the Node said smoothly. "Donna Noble has been saved."

The Alchemist's jaw dropped. "Donna?" she squeaked in disbelief.

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

"How can it be Donna?" River demanded as the Doctor's face drained of all color. "How's that possible?"

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

"Donna," the Doctor swallowed hard, the Alchemist squeezing his hand.

"Donna Noble has left the Library."

There was a crash behind them. "Hey, who turned out the lights?" Proper Dave asked.

"Doctor!" River yelped.

"Donna Noble has been saved."

"Hey, who turned out the lights?"

"Donna Noble has left the Library."

"Doctor, we have to go, now!" River shouted.

"Donna Noble has been saved."

"Hey, who turned out the lights?"

The Alchemist tugged the Doctor on, and they led the way further into the stacks. "Donna Noble has left the Library. Donna Noble has been saved."

"Hey, who turned out the lights?"

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

"Hey, who turned out the lights?"

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

"Hey, who turned out the lights?"

"Donna Noble has left the Library."

The Alchemist skidded to a stop before she reached a growing shadow, only for Proper Dave to appear behind them. "What are we doing to do?" River demanded.

"Er . . . " The Alchemist swallowed, looking around, hearing the Donna Node and Proper Dave both together now. "Well . . . "

"Well, in case we do die . . . " River brought her hand back and slapped the Doctor with all her might.

"OW!" he shouted, grimacing and reaching for his cheek.

"River!" the Alchemist's jaw dropped.

"He deserves it for what he does in the future!" River glared lasers at the man.

The Alchemist's jaw dropped further as she stared at River, somehow getting the feeling . . . she wasn't lying. There was something the Doctor did in the future that River certainly did not like. The question was, what was it? More importantly . . . how did it affect her?

***

So . . . yeah. Things are . . . interesting with the Doctor and River. And River's got a nickname for Alice!

How much more will the Time Lords find out from her? I don't know - partly because I haven't even started "Forest of the Dead" yet. XD Happy Halloween, everyone!