Storm: Angel and Demon

Planet of the Ood 2

With the end of the presentation, the group scattered a little and chatters filled the room. Solana meanwhile left the room with a gracious nod of her head. Terry watched the woman leave before she and the Doctor quickly ducked over to the podium. Donna was looking around at the Ood curiously so they left her to it as the Doctor whipped on his spectacles before he clicked a few buttons on the lectern. The large display screen in front of them switched to an image of the planetary system they were currently in, and Terry forced her eyes away from admiring the Doctor's glasses to look at the screen as the Doctor exclaimed quietly.

"Ah, got it." The Doctor tapped the screen slightly. "The Ood Sphere, I've been to this solar system before. Years ago. Ages."

"There's no one around to impress, Sweetie." Terry pointed out and the Doctor smirked at her. He should not have looked so good doing so.

"What are you talking about? The most important being in my life is right here in front of me, of course I've got to impress you." The Doctor winked and it was not healthy for Terry's hearts. Especially when he was wearing those glasses.

"Okay, fine - so, you were saying?" Terry asked a little too breathlessly. The Doctor's smirk widened, proud of the effect he'd had on her but he returned his attention to the screen.

"The Ood Sphere is close to the planet Sense Sphere. Let's widen out." He tapped the image to show the full system around the area. Terry peered at the image of another sky and she examined it just as Donna joined them with a drink in her hand. The Doctor meanwhile was peering at the date.

"The year 4126."

Terry watched as several red circles appeared on the screen, linked by red lines across the various systems and all centered around the Ood Sphere, while the Doctor continued thoughtfully, "That is the Second Great and Bountiful Human Empire."

"4126?" Donna interjected incredulously as she leant over to peer at the screen. "It's 4126."

She looked at Terry with a mix of shock and excitement.

"I'm in 4126."

Terry's lips twitched into a smile although it wasn't as bright as it normally was. It couldn't be when she dreaded what was coming. The Doctor however was his usual grinning self.

"It's good, isn't it?"

But Donna had another question. "What's the Earth like now?"

The Doctor shrugged.

"Bit full. But you see," he gestured at the image on the screen again. "The Empire stretches out across three galaxies."

He pointed to the three concentrations of red dots outside of the Ood Sphere. Donna stared with wide eyes.

"It's weird." She admitted breathlessly. "I mean, it's brilliant, but. Back home, the papers and the telly, they keep saying we haven't got long to live. Global warming, flooding, all the bees disappearing."

Terry paused as that reminded her of Donna's last journey while the Doctor muttered thoughtfully, "Yeah. That thing about the bees is odd."

"But look at us." Donna continued, ignoring him as she peered at the screen. "We're everywhere. Is that good or bad, though? I mean, are we like explorers? Or more like a virus?"

"Sometimes I wonder." The Doctor admitted and Terry chuckled.

"More like... bacteria." At Donna's offended expression, Terry's grin widened. "Some of you are absolutely terrible, bringing illness and disease; but others, the majority of others, breathe life into places."

Donna nodded thoughtfully before making a face. "Still, calling us bacteria... ugh."

She shuddered before looking back at the screen. She tilted her head curiously.