Shattered Angel [Book 2-Angel Amongst the Stars]

The Time of Angels [5]

Angela paused next to Amy. "You alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," Amy said. "So what's a maze of the dead?"

"Ah, it's not as bad as it sounds." River reasoned, "It's just a labyrinth with dead people buried in the walls,"

"So fairly bad," Angela corrected.

"Right, give me your arm..." River took Amy's arm as she took out a needle. "This won't hurt a bit,"

"Ow!" Amy hissed as the needle hit her.

"There, you see. I lied. It's a viro-stabilizer. Stabilizes your metabolism against radiation, drive burn, anything. You're going to need it when we get up to that ship,"

Angela knew why River hadn't given her the same treatment and watched the Doctor up ahead. "So what's he like? In the future, I mean. 'Cause you know him in the future, don't you?"

"The Doctor? Well, the Doctor's the Doctor," River reasoned cryptically.

"Oh," Amy mused, "Well, that's very helpful. Mind if I write that down?"

"Yes, we are," River called out.

"Sorry, what?" The Doctor asked.

"Talking about you,"

"I wasn't listening, I'm busy,"

"The other way up," River corrected the machine he was holding.

River winked at Angela.

"You're so his wife," Amy laughed.

Angela rolled her eyes.

"Oh, Amy, Amy, Amy! This is the Doctor we're talking about. Do you think it could be anything that simple?" she smiled as she watched Angela walk over to the Doctor.

The Doctor immediately wrapped his hand around hers.

Angela looked up in shock when she heard the machine gun fire and ran towards the sound.

"Sorry. Sorry, I thought...I thought it looked at me," One of the Bishop's apologized.

"We know what the Angel looks like. Is that the Angel?" Father Octavian declared.

"No, sir,"

"No, sir, it is not! According to Angela, we face an enemy of unknowable power and infinite evil. So it would be good, it would be very good if we could all remain calm in the presence of décor,"

Angela shook her head with fury at Father Octavion's words, his attitude reminding her very much of John's. "What's your name?" she asked the Bishop.

"Bob, ma'am," The Bishop replied.

"Oh, that's a great name." The Doctor mused, "I love Bob,"

"It's a sacred name." Father Octavian explained. "We all have sacred names. They're given to us in the service of the Church,"

"Sacred Bob. More like Scared Bob now, eh?"

"Doctor," Angela hissed.

"Yes, sir." Bob nodded.

"Oh, Good. Scared keeps you fast." The Doctor reasoned. Anyone in this room who isn't scared is a moron. Even Angela is scared. Carry on,"

Father Octavian nodded. "We'll be moving into the maze in two minutes. You stay with Christian and Angelo. Guard the approach,"

***

"Isn't there a chance this lot will just collapse?" Amy voiced as they continued walking through the tunnels. "There's a whole ship up there,"

"Incredible builders, the Aplans," River noted.

"Had dinner with their chief architect once. Two heads are better than one,"

Angela stopped at the saying.

"What, you mean you helped him?" Amy asked.

"No," The Doctor said, "I mean, he had two heads." he looked at Angela. "That book. The very end, what did it say?"

Angela shook her head. "Huh?"

"Read it to me,"

Angela opened the book. "Um...What if we had ideas that could think for themselves? What if, one day, our dreams no longer needed us? When these things occur and are held to be true, the time will be upon us. The Time of Angels,"