Chapter Text
The sunset painted the sky in shades of blazing orange and deep purple as the TARDIS, with its usual gentle groan, materialized on a small square paved with smooth, almost mirror-like stone. The Doctor, in his trademark long coat, flung open the doors, and Rose, holding her breath, stepped out after him.
"Well, Rose Tyler, welcome to Escrutia-7!" The Doctor turned to her with a wide smile, his eyes sparkling with anticipation. He gestured to the surrounding landscape. "As you can see, a perfectly Earth-like planet. Breathable atmosphere, gravity almost the same as back home."
"Wow…"
Rose looked around. The city spread out before them was extraordinarily beautiful. Buildings, as if carved from ivory, stretched towards the sky, their smooth lines reflecting the last rays of the setting sun.
"Not too different from Earth," Rose remarked.
"Yes, just a tad smaller and… it's a bit unusual."
"Unusual? In what way?"
The Doctor smiled his signature, slightly mad smile.
"In the sense that we are in the Moon."
Rose frowned. "You meant to say 'on'? Doctor, are you sure? Where are the craters? Where's the… you know, lunar landscape?"
The Doctor laughed, his eyes gleaming.
"Ah, Rose, you're so terrestrial! It's not that moon. This is the city Moon. See?" He pointed to the sky.
Rose followed his gesture and gasped.
In the sky, right above the city with its tall brick buildings, hung a huge moon—larger than any Rose had ever seen—perfectly round. It wasn't like Earth's. Its surface was smooth and almost mirror-like. And it seemed… motionless.
"Wh… What is that?" whispered Rose.
The Doctor grinned. "That, Rose Tyler, is the reason this city is called Moon. Or the Moon City."
He walked to the edge of the square, watching as the last rays of the sun disappeared below the horizon.
"You see, the rotation of this planet and its natural satellite is such that the moon never illuminates this particular area. Never. Can you imagine the dreariness? Eternal night, without a single ray of silver light."
"And they built their own?" Rose was astonished.
"Exactly! Brilliant, right? Engineers who lived here centuries ago decided it was utterly unacceptable. They built this artificial moon to light their city. A huge, complex mechanism hanging in the sky like a giant spotlight. A spotlight that turns on and off on a schedule."
He pulled his sonic screwdriver from his pocket and aimed it at the moon.
"It's made of an alloy they developed themselves. Incredibly strong and light. And, most interestingly, it runs on energy they harvest from… Well, that's another story. Not so important right now."
Rose stared at the moon, mesmerized. "That's incredible. Who would have thought someone would build an entire moon just to light their city?"
The Doctor smiled. "People, Rose. People are capable of anything. Of great achievements and terrible atrocities. The question is only what they choose."
He lowered the sonic screwdriver and looked at Rose.
"So, shall we go see what this Moon City hides? I'll bet there's more here than just beautiful architecture and artificial lighting. Heard they have excellent cafes."
Rose nodded, still unable to tear her eyes away from the moon.
"But, Doctor, what if something goes wrong? What if the moon breaks?"
The Doctor shrugged. "Then we'll have a very dark night. But I'm sure they have a Plan B. After all, they built an entire moon! Come on, Rose. Adventures await!"
He headed towards the city, his coat billowing behind him in the soft twilight. Rose followed, feeling her heart beat faster with anticipation. The City of Moon promised to be a place full of mysteries and wonders. And, as always, the Doctor was ready to unravel them all.
The sun hadn't completely disappeared below the horizon yet, and the last golden rays played on the smooth surfaces of the buildings. The city was truly beautiful, with wide avenues and elegant squares.
Except it was empty. No cars, no people, no sound. Only silence, broken by a light wind rustling the leaves of trees lining the avenue.
"Wait," said Rose, stopping and looking around. "Where is everyone?"
The Doctor stopped and turned. He looked around too, and his smile faded slightly.
"Hmm, that's odd," he muttered, frowning. "Usually, this place is teeming with life at this hour. Maybe… a holiday? Or… an evacuation?"
The Doctor pulled out his sonic screwdriver and began scanning the area.
"I don't understand," he mumbled, looking at the readings. "No signs of danger, no anomalies… Just… silence. But there are life signs in the city. There are people here."
Rose approached him, her face showing concern. "This is creepy. Why are they hiding?"
The Doctor lowered the screwdriver and looked at Rose.
"I don't know. But we'll find out. Come on. Let's see what's happening in this strange, empty city."
He started forward again, but this time his steps were more cautious, his gaze more attentive. Rose followed, feeling goosebumps run down her spine. Something was wrong. Something was very wrong. And they had just arrived right in the center of this strange, deserted place.
The wind whistled through the deserted streets of Moon, kicking up dust devils and scraps of newspaper. The sky overhead was unnaturally clear, and the silence pressed on their ears. The Doctor, gripping his sonic screwdriver, frowned as he scanned every corner. Rose, huddling in her jacket, followed, feeling the goosebumps persist.
"Anything, Doctor?" she said, trying to keep the tremor from her voice.
"Impossible," he muttered. "A metropolis, thousands of inhabitants… Where are they all?"
He stopped in the middle of a wide avenue, staring at the horizon. Rose came up beside him, trying to spot any slightest movement around them.
"I don't like this. It's too quiet. Too…"
Her words were cut off by the sound of an approaching engine. In the distance, from around a bend, an armored jeep appeared, decked out with spotlights and steel plates. Without a second thought, the Doctor jumped into the road and waved his arms.
The jeep screeched to a halt. Two men in camouflage and a sturdy-built woman with a shotgun jumped out. They looked at the Doctor and Rose with confusion and alarm.
"Who are you? What are you doing here? You can't be outside after sunset!" the woman barked, keeping her shotgun ready. Her anxious glance darted to Rose, sending shivers down her spine.
"We're travelers," the Doctor replied, trying to stay calm. "We just wanted to know what happened here. Where is everyone?"
"Travelers? At sunset? Are you insane? Get in the vehicle, we'll take you to the bunker," said one of the men, nervously looking around.
"Bunker? What for? What's happening?" insisted the Doctor, his curiosity overriding caution.
"No time to explain! Get in the car, now, before it's too late!" shouted the woman, her voice shaking with fear.
"No, I'm not going until I know what's going on!" the Doctor declared stubbornly.
Rose, watching the exchange, felt panic rising. She saw the fear in these people's eyes, and it was contagious.
"Doctor, maybe we should listen to them?" she whispered, tugging at his sleeve.
But the Doctor was adamant. He had to know the truth.
As they argued, the sun sank slowly but inexorably below the horizon. The last rays stained the sky crimson, and suddenly the city was plunged into deep shadow. Sunset had finally given way to night. Rose shivered, but then felt a soft, even light fall upon her. The artificial moon had switched on.
It was dazzlingly white, but not harsh. The light it emitted was warm and soothing, like hundreds of candles burning at once.
The people in camouflage froze, their faces contorted with horror.
"Run! Run to the car! Quickly!" screamed the woman, tossing the shotgun inside and grabbing the Doctor's arm.
Rose, not waiting for an invitation, was already running towards the jeep. She felt her heart pounding in her chest, a single thought pulsing in her head: "Run! Run as far as you can!"
And then, from the very depths of the city, from dark alleys and empty skyscrapers, came a howl. Not just the howl of a dog or a wolf, but something much more eerie and sinister. A howl saturated with pain, rage, and primal terror.
"Oh no…" whispered the woman, pressing closer to the Doctor. "They're awake…"
The howling grew louder and closer, making the ground tremble under their feet. Rose, already in the jeep, watched in horror as the Doctor seemed frozen, listening to the nightmarish sound.
"Doctor! Hurry! Get in!" she yelled, but he didn't move, staring intently at some point in the distance.
The howling reached a crescendo, turning into a deafening roar that made their ears pop. And at that moment, something burst from the shadow of a nearby building… Something huge, dark, and incredibly fast. Rose only caught a glimpse of a fleeting silhouette before the woman screamed and pulled the Doctor into the vehicle. The door slammed shut, and the jeep sped off, leaving behind a cloud of dust and the echo of the dreadful howl.
Rose, gasping for breath, gripped the seat. She saw the woman driving, shifting gears with manic speed, and the men in camouflage, clutching their weapons, nervously scanning their surroundings. The Doctor, snapping out of his stupor, sat on the other side of her, his face worried but his eyes burning with a strange, unreadable fire.
"What was that?" asked Rose, but no one answered her.
The jeep raced through the deserted streets, navigating barricades of abandoned cars and debris. The moon, huge and ominous, hung over them, as if watching their flight. The howling pursued them, sometimes closer, sometimes farther away, as if playing cat and mouse.
"Hold on!" yelled the woman, pushing the vehicle to its limits.
Finally, they swerved into a narrow alley and stopped in front of an inconspicuous metal door set into a building's wall. The woman jumped out, entered a code on a keypad, and opened the door.
"Quickly! Inside!" she shouted, pushing the Doctor and Rose.
They rushed into a dark corridor, and the door slammed shut behind them with a crash. The woman turned on a dim light, revealing a narrow concrete room. After a short walk, they descended a steep staircase. It was damp and cold inside, smelling of mold and machine oil.
"Welcome to the bunker," she said, exhaling with relief. "We're safe here… At least until dawn."
Rose looked around. The bunker was a huge basement space with several rooms.
The people huddled inside looked exhausted and frightened. They watched the Doctor and Rose with anxiety, as if they were unwelcome guests.
"Lys, Greg, good job today," the woman said, addressing the two men. "Once things settle down, go to the vehicle and unload the supplies. You've earned a day off tomorrow. Have a strong drink."
"Yes, boss," one of the men saluted jokingly and turned into one of the rooms.
"Welcome to our little hell," muttered the second man as he passed the Doctor. "Now you know why we don't go out after sunset."
"And now you, travelers," the woman approached them. Her long silver hair was tied tightly in a high ponytail, revealing equally cold silver eyes. Her gaze swept over the strangers, scrutinizing even the smallest details. "Who are you?"
"I'm the Doctor, and this is Rose Tyler," the Doctor greeted her with a bright smile. "And you, I take it, are in charge here?"
"Yes," she nodded. "My name is Selena. I run this bunker. Everything here goes through me, and if you want to stay, you'll have to live by my rules."
"Living by rules has never been my strong suit," the Doctor waved a hand. "But," he continued, noticing Selena's threatening look, "nothing stops me from trying again. Who knows, maybe this time it'll work."
Selena narrowed her eyes, giving the Doctor a displeased look, then turned her attention to Rose.
"Rules are rules," Rose raised her hands. Unlike the Doctor, she had no problem with that.
Nodding with satisfaction, Selena led them to a small room with a large table where the second man was already sitting. Maps of the city and photographs hung on the walls—pictures of… something Rose couldn't immediately make out.
"What are these photos?" she asked, pointing to one.
Selena walked over to her and, sighing, replied:
"That's them. The ones who come out at night. We call them Moon Hounds."
"Moon Hounds?" the Doctor asked, also becoming interested in the photos.
"Yes," Selena answered. "They just appeared. First there were rumors, then disappearances. And then… then we saw them. Huge, like bears, with wolf-like muzzles and eyes burning with moonlight. They were people… once. But now they've turned into monsters that hunt in the night. They're only dangerous at night, so we hide in bunkers until dawn."
Rose looked at the photos. Now she could see. They showed distorted, beast-like figures with burning eyes and sharp claws. They were horrifying. And they looked very much like earthly werewolves.
"But why?" she asked, feeling horror grip her. "Why did they turn into monsters?"
Selena shrugged. "We don't know," she answered. "Maybe they sense the moonlight, maybe they're just hungry. But they are relentless. They track, they pursue, they kill. Some think it's some kind of mutation caused by lunar radiation."
"Rubbish," said the Doctor, wrinkling his nose. "The moon has been hanging here for centuries, and there's never been a single case of infection."
"We tried to fight them," said the man at the table. "We have weapons, armored vehicles. But they're too strong, too fast. And there are too many of them."
"How many of you are here?" asked the Doctor.
"About three hundred," the man replied. "There used to be more, but… the Moon Hounds take their toll."
The Doctor fell silent, lost in thought.
Rose walked from one wall to another, peering at every photo, every drawing. The more she looked, the more she remembered their first encounter with a werewolf. She never thought she'd meet another, especially in such numbers.
Rose approached the Doctor, who was examining something on the table, and whispered: "You saw it, right? The werewolf."
"I saw it," he confirmed. "Not too different from the one we met in Scotland, but…"
"But what?"
"Its eyes… They were like a predator's, driven only by instinct. I didn't see a shred of consciousness in them. Not like our wolf-boy acquaintance, who acted purely for personal gain."
"And what does that mean?"
"Not a clue," he answered. "For now."
Suddenly, the Doctor walked over to a radio set and began tuning it.
"What are you doing?" asked Selena.
"Trying to contact someone. Maybe there are other survivors, other bunkers," the Doctor replied, not looking up from the radio.
Minutes passed, but there was only silence on the air, broken by static interference. The Doctor kept twisting the knobs, hoping to catch any signal.
Rose, sitting on a chair, hugged herself, trying to get warm. She felt helpless and scared. Monsters, a huge moon, an empty city… It was a nightmare made real. They had barely handled one werewolf once. How could they defeat a whole pack?
"How long has this been going on?" she asked, looking at the woman.
"Three months," she replied. "Three months since people started disappearing."
"And what are you doing? Just waiting for dawn every day?" asked Rose.
"We're trying to survive," Selena answered. "We gather supplies, look for other survivors, try to understand what's happening. But it's hard. It gets more difficult every day."
Suddenly, the Doctor froze, his hand hovering over the radio knob.
"I've caught something," he whispered. "A very weak signal."
He began slowly tuning the radio, trying to catch every word. Fragments of phrases, full of interference and distortion, came from the speakers. The static hissed like a nest of snakes, drowning out any attempt to make out the meaning. Nothing clear could be discerned from the noise, but the Doctor didn't give up. His fingers, usually nimble and quick, now moved with careful precision, as if he were trying to mend a dying bird.
Rose hoped he would succeed, but time passed, and the words didn't become any clearer. She sat on a rickety chair, watching his concentrated face illuminated by the dim light of a kerosene lamp. The room smelled of dust, old wood, and hopelessness.
"Something's jamming the signal," the Doctor stated, standing up. He put the screwdriver aside and rubbed the bridge of his nose, where a deep furrow had formed.
Selena sighed. Her face was now shadowed with fatigue. "Most likely, it's the transmitter tower. Tomorrow, the guys and I will check it."
"I can go with you," he offered.
Selena frowned, looking at the Doctor. Her gaze was studying, as if she were trying to solve a complex puzzle.
"Do you know about… what? Radio towers?"
The Doctor hesitated. Rose knew he couldn't just say, "I know about everything, from quantum mechanics to fixing broken time streams." That would sound insane, even here, in this godforsaken corner of a post-apocalyptic world. And she was very curious what he would say.
"I have… experience with electronics," the Doctor answered evasively. "And I want to help."
Selena continued to look at him without shifting her gaze. Rose felt the tension rising. She understood that Selena was unlikely to trust strangers who appeared out of nowhere.
"Experience?" Selena repeated, raising an eyebrow. "What kind of experience? You're a doctor, aren't you?"
The Doctor hesitated again. He couldn't tell her the truth. He couldn't talk about the TARDIS, about traveling through time and space, about battles with Daleks and Cybermen. They were on the brink of survival as it was, and his stories would only sow panic.
"I… worked in a hospital where I had to repair equipment," he finally said, trying to sound convincing. "There were complex devices there."
Selena remained silent, as if weighing his words. Finally, she nodded.
"Alright. But be aware, Doctor," her voice became firm, "if you hide anything from me or try to deceive us…"
She didn't finish, but her look said it all. Rose shivered. Selena wasn't someone to mess with.
"I understand," the Doctor replied seriously. "I just want to help."
Selena nodded.
Unexpectedly, the door to the room swung open, and a man entered. He was tall, with silver hair like Selena's, softly framing his face. His large brown eyes showed genuine concern.
"Selena! Are you alright? I heard you were back!" He was breathless, as if he had run a long way.
"Clyde, everything's fine. I'm okay," the woman tried to reassure him. "Meet the Doctor and Rose. They're new."
Clyde nodded awkwardly.
"Hello. I'm Clyde. I… Well, I help out here however I can. Run errands."
"Clyde is our sort of medic and jack-of-all-trades," Selena explained. "He's not strong in a fight and can't handle weapons, but he's very caring and always ready to help the wounded or sick. He's indispensable."
Clyde blushed at the praise and lowered his eyes. Then he looked up and gazed at Rose. His gaze was long and studying, as if he were trying to solve some puzzle. Rose felt goosebumps run down her skin. There was nothing threatening in his look, rather… surprise? Admiration? She couldn't tell.
"Nice to meet you, Clyde," said Rose, trying to smile.
"Likewise," he whispered, not taking his eyes off her.
The Doctor, who had been watching the scene with interest, coughed.
"So, Clyde, maybe you know something more about these… Moon Hounds? Besides that they appeared suddenly and someone blames the moon?"
Clyde, as if snapping out of it, looked away from Rose and glanced at the Doctor, embarrassed.
"Oh, right… Well, I don't know much. Only what people say. That they only come out at night, that they're very strong and fast, and that they kill everyone in their path. They say silver is their weakness."
"Silver, you say?" The Doctor rubbed his chin. "Interesting… Very interesting…"
Rose still felt Clyde's gaze on her, even when he was talking to the Doctor. She felt uneasy. He seemed like a nice guy, very kind and shy, but that look of his… It was too intense, too piercing. She couldn't understand what he saw in her. Was she that different from the people here? Or was it her dark roots? She noticed that everyone she'd seen here had light hair, even if it seemed pure silver. There were more people with light hair than dark. Maybe she and the Doctor stood out among the locals?
"And some say they turn back into people during the day," Clyde added, lowering his voice. "But no one knows who exactly. Everyone's afraid that one of us might be one of them."
Silence fell in the room, broken only by the hum of generators. Rose looked at Selena. Her eyes showed fatigue and anxiety. She understood that Selena carried a huge responsibility for everyone sheltering in this bunker.
"We have to be careful," Selena said, looking at the Doctor. "We can't afford to risk people's lives. If you're going outside with us, you must be extremely careful."
"Of course," the Doctor replied. "We're not going to be reckless. We just want to gather information. Find out what these creatures are and how to stop them. Maybe even find a way to turn them back."
"Turn them back?" Clyde looked at the Doctor in surprise. "You think that's possible?"
"Anything's possible," the Doctor answered with a mysterious smile. "You just need to find the right key."
Rose stood up from her chair. "I don't know about you, Doctor, but I'm terribly tired. Clyde, could you show me where I can lie down?"
She hoped that being in a more populated area, she wouldn't feel so awkward under his gaze. Besides, she wanted to talk to him a little. Maybe that way she could understand his interest.
Clyde blushed even more and looked at Selena. "Should I do the check-up?" he asked.
"Check-up?" asked the Doctor.
"Usually we check all newcomers for bites," Selena explained, pinching the bridge of her nose with two fingers. "There's no need, Clyde. They saw the moon and didn't turn. They're clean."
"Okay," Clyde nodded and looked at Rose. "Shall we go?"
"Doctor?" she looked at her companion.
"I'll stay a bit longer. You go ahead. I'll catch up later."
Rose and Clyde left the room and walked down a narrow corridor lit by dim lamps. The hum of generators was even stronger here. Rose felt the vibration penetrating her bones.
"It's quite noisy here," she said, trying to start a conversation.
"Yes, those are the generators," Clyde answered. "They work around the clock to provide us with electricity. Without them, we wouldn't survive."
"Three hundred people, I heard?"
"Yes. Mostly women and children. The men either died or decided to leave."
"That's terrible," whispered Rose.
"Yes," Clyde agreed. "But we try to stick together. Help each other. Hope that all this will end soon."
They reached a door leading to a small room. There were a few simple cots, a table with chairs, a small door leading to another room, probably a bathroom or toilet, and a small refrigerator. A middle-aged woman was changing the bedding on one of the cots. Her hair was similarly silver, but slightly duller.
"Clyde!" she greeted. "How's Selena?"
"She's fine," he replied. "She brought two new people with her."
"Yes, I heard. So I decided to prepare the room in advance. I'm Amalia, nice to meet you," she looked at Rose.
"Rose," she smiled. "I thought the room would be bigger," she remarked, looking around the space again.
"This room is specifically for newcomers," Clyde explained. "Even after the check-up, newcomers have to spend a couple of nights in a separate room. It's a safety procedure."
"I understand. Safety first," Rose smirked, making Clyde blush again.
"Clyde is our eternal shy one," Amalia said with a mischievous glint in her eyes. She had finished her work and headed for the door, stopping briefly in front of Rose. "Welcome to our humble bunker," she said with a smile.
"Thank you," Rose replied.
Clyde showed Rose where the food and water were stored in case of an emergency. He explained the rules and assured her that they would find suitable work and a room for her soon. He kept looking at her even as she walked around, examining every corner. Rose felt awkward but tried not to show it. She understood that Clyde was just very shy and perhaps a bit lonely. In a place like this bunker, it was easy to feel isolated and lost.
"So you mostly help out with everything here?" Rose decided to ask, sitting down on a cot.
"Yes. I'm not much use," Clyde admitted. "But I can make tea. And bandage wounds."
"That's very important too," said Rose. "Especially here."
With that, Clyde said goodbye to Rose, giving her a chance to rest, and left. Rose tried to wait for the Doctor to find out what he and Selena had talked about. Tomorrow the Doctor was going to the transmitter tower with the others. She wondered if he would go alone or take her with him?
She was almost asleep when she heard the door click open. She opened her eyes and saw the Doctor. He was pacing the room back and forth, muttering to himself.
"I take it you're not planning on sleeping," Rose remarked.
"Can't," the Doctor replied. "Too many questions, too few answers."
"I understand. I keep thinking about those Moon Hounds. And the people in the bunker. They're so frightened."
"We have to help them," said the Doctor. "We have to find out what's happening and find a way to stop these creatures."
"I know," said Rose. "But can we? There are so many of them."
The Doctor stopped and looked at her. "Don't doubt it, Rose Tyler. We'll manage. We always manage. We're the Doctor and Rose, after all! We're legendary!" He winked at her and resumed pacing.
Rose closed her eyes and tried to sleep. She kept thinking about the people, the werewolves, Clyde, his intense gaze, his shy smile. She couldn't understand what he saw in her. And why she felt so uneasy around him.
Soon she fell asleep, but her sleep was troubled and restless. She dreamed of Moon Hounds prowling the streets, and Clyde standing in the shadows, his silver hair gleaming in the moonlight.