", we make them better. Because at heart, what is an Ood, but a reflection of us? If your Ood is happy, then you'll be happy too." Solana smiled, concluding the baseline presentation on the Ood and what they did here with them.

"So, they make Ood?" Valarie asked. She frowned. "She's talking about them like they are Christmas's next hottest toy. But they are living. Living and breathing." She looked up at him with concern, eyes searching his for an inkling of an answer. She received a look of return that simply said, 'I know'.

"I'd now like to point out a new innovation from Ood Operations. We've introduced a variety package with the Ood translator ball. You can now have the standard setting." Solana approached the first Ood in a lineup of three. "How are you today, Ood?"

"I'm perfectly well, thank you." It spoke in the same voice the previous ones they had seen had.

"Or, perhaps after a stressful day, something for the gentleman. How are you today, Ood?" She asked the second one.

"All the better for seeing you." A husky female voice emitted from the orb.

"You know, they got phone lines for that back on Earth." Donna commented, causing Valarie to restrain a giggle.

"And the comedy classic option. Ood, you dropped something." Solana informed the last one. When they pressed their orb, a 'D'oh!' emitted causing chuckles and laughter from the business professionals watching. "All of that for five additional credits, more information is in your brochure. Now there is plenty of food and drinks so don't hold back." With that Solana left the floor and ended the presentation. The Doctor immediately quietly slipped towards the front towards what could be perceived as some kind of computer hooked to a large screen, taking up a portion of the wall. He put his glasses on. Donna had turned, grabbing herself a drink and Valarie one as well upon her request. They joined him at the front with the computer as a map opened.

"Ah, got it. The Ood Sphere, I've been to this solar system before. Years ago. Ages. Close to the planet Sense Sphere. Let's widen this out. I do believe the year is 4126. This is the second great and bountiful human empire." It displayed red dots that were dispersed in three's among three solar systems.

"4126? It's 4126? I'm in 4126?" Donna seemed to ask herself aloud. "What's the Earth like now?" She asked.

"Bit full. But the Empire stretches out across three galaxies. You two would seem a bit primitive or lower class coming from the Earth and all."

"It's weird. I mean, it's brilliant. But, back home. The papers and the telly, they say we haven't got long to live. Global warming, flooding, bee's disappearing."

"Yeah, the thing about the bees is odd." He stated as if he had meant to look into it himself.

"But look at us." Donna continued, glossing over his comment. "We're everywhere. Is that good or bad though? I mean, are we like explorers? Or a virus?" She pondered.

"Sometimes I wonder." He revealed.

"What are those red dots?" Valarie asked, who had been nursing on her drink for the entire conversation.

"Ood distribution centers."

"Across three galaxies?" She asked. "Don't the Ood get a say in this?" Donna took the initiative and approached a nearby Ood with the others following. She attempted to greet them, but they simply ignored her until she finally reached out and tapped their shoulder. They turned to Donna.

"Hello." She began, unsure of herself. "Tell me, are you all like this?"

"I do not understand, Miss." They replied.

"Miss?" She perked up. "Why do you say miss? Do I look single?"

"Back to the point."The Doctor interjected.

"Yeah. What I mean is, are there any free Ood? Are there Ood running wild somewhere like wildebeest?" Donna asked. The Ood's orb lit up as it responded.

"All Ood are born to serve, otherwise we would die." They vaguely replied.

"But you couldn't have started like that, surely." Valarie commented. "Before the humans, what were you like?" They visibly flinched at the word human.

"The circle."

"What do you mean?" He asked. "What circle?"

"The circle. The circle is-"

"Ladies and gentlemen. All Ood to hospitality stations, please." Solana called from the front. Like a switch had been flipped, they perked up. The Ood before them asked to take Valarie's empty glass, before departing with no other words.

"I've had enough of the schmoozing." He held his map of the complex out. They had been given it at the start of the event, conveniently enough. "Do you fancy going off the beaten track?

"Rough guide to the Ood sphere? Works for me."

----

They had found themselves outdoors again, standing on a catwalk overlooking what seemed to be a warehouse. An alarm and announcement for a new shift to begin signaled herds of Ood out, being ushered by heavily armed men. One in the back of a group stumbled and fell. A guard approached, yelling for them to get up. When it didn't move as fast as he liked he cracked a whip, causing them to scurry to their feet and fall back into formation.

"Their slaves." Valarie shook her head, horrified at this future of humanity and its cruelty. But then again, wasn't like humans ever exactly treated other humans that kindly either.

"Last time I meet the Ood I never thought. I never asked." The Doctor revealed, horrified with himself for this slipping by him.

"That's not like you." Donna commented.

"I was busy." He stated. "I was so busy I couldn't save them. I had to let the Ood die, suppose I owe them this one." A man exited the warehouse in a nice suit, followed by a second man in a lab coat, a guard, and an Ood.

"I suppose that's the big boss." Donna observed.

"Let's keep out of his way then. Come on." He ushered them away and off the catwalk and out of a line of vision.

They slipped into the outdoor factory complex, searching for a non-obvious entrance. Valarie and the Doctor kept their rapid pace as Donna stopped by a door. When they didn't stop she placed two fingers against her lips and whistled loudly, causing both to jump. They came back to her as he worked on the door.

"Where'd you learn that?" He asked.

"West Ham. Every Sunday." She smiled proudly. The door opened to a large warehouse full to the brim with shipping containers, and a large overhead crane claw.

"Ood export. See." He pointed to the claw grabbing a container. "Lifts the containers up and takes them to the rocket ships. Ready to be flown anywhere in the three galaxies."

"What is in the containers?" Donna asked.

"What do you think." He opened a nearby container on the ground with them. A foul stench immediately emitted from it, and the faces of Ood met them. They were crammed in the container like sardines.

"How many are in here?" Valarie asked.

"One hundred. Maybe more."

"A great big empire built on slavery." Donna spat.

"Not so different from your time." The Doctor commented.

"Oi, I don't have slaves." Donna retorted.

"Who do you think made your clothes?"

"Is this why you travel around with humans? Not to show them the wonders of the universe? To either sit there and ogle them all day or make cheap shots at them?" She asked him.

"Sorry." He replied.

"Don't." She said harshly. "Spaceman." She mumbled under her breath.

"I don't understand," Valarie interjected. "Why can't you just run? The door is open." She asked aloud to the Ood.

"For what reason?" They asked in return.

"Freedom." She breathily whispered.

"I do not understand that concept." They replied.

"What is it with that ball? I mean they can't be born with it. They are all plugged in." Donna added.

"Ood, tell me. What does the circle mean to you?" All the Ood's orbs in the container lit up together. In one big voice they all announced,

"The circle must be broken."

"Oh that's creepy."

"But what is it? What is the circle?" He asked louder.

"The circle must be broken." They all stated again.

"Why?"

"So that we can sing."

Above them alarms suddenly blared within the warehouse. They looked up and moved fast to exit the shipping container.

"That's us. Go!" They ran through what felt like a maze of shipping containers. Before Valarie could make logic of it, they had all ended up separated. Valarie finally spotted Donna ahead and moved to catch up when a door in front of her sprung open and armed guards rushed Donna. Valarie threw herself against the back of a shipping container, knowing she stood no chance against them.

"Sir, one of the intruders is over there." Valarie looked up.

"God, it's Valarie again."

"Withdraw!" a guard commanded. Valarie turned, watching them pour out after a series of bangs. Donna was no longer in sight, but Valarie could hear her speaking in a container. She sighed and smiled. Then she heard it - the claw.

She looked up to see the giant crane's claw swinging wildly.

"Just one time, please. All I ask." She whined. When it dove towards her and forced her into a second sprint, narrowly tripping over herself around corners. She came crashing into barrels and empty boxes, before crashing into a warm body. The Doctor's arms caught her.

"Val!"

"Doctor." She smiled a smile that read 'we have bigger concerns'. "Donna is in a shipping container, if we can outrun the claw we can-"

"Outrun the claw?" He asked as if he wasn't aware.

"You," her eyebrows furrowed and nose crinkled in confusion. She brushed the hair off her face. "You didn't notice the big claw? Chasing me? Nine hundred-year-old genius didn't notice the claw dive-bombing his partner are you?-" The claw's mechanical sounds grew closer as it rounded a corner.

"Run the other way." He instructed.

"What?" She asked, more than confused.

"If it's chasing two of us with only one claw it'll be harder to catch both of us. Almost impossible. Go!" He pushed her down a section to the left and ran the other way. Valarie constantly glanced over her shoulder, realizing the claw was now chasing him. Her legs ached and her lungs burned, but she couldn't stop moving. She knew she couldn't. When she came into contact with him again it was across an intersection of the containers. She watched him trip over barrels and fall to the ground.

"Doctor!" She shouted as the claw dove towards him. He rolled to his back, with no way to escape it. The claw suddenly jerked to a stop, dangling above him. She watched only for a moment before taking advantage of its stop to drop to her knees and crawl towards him. He stared at it with wide eyes and a rapidly heaving chest. She crawled between its heaving claws and placed her hands on the ground on either side of his head. She looked down at him and began to laugh as much as she could for someone so out of breath. He joined her for only a second, finding the situation he laid under almost funny and also finding her somewhat delusional laughter contagious.

"Wait, Val-" Valarie felt strong hands on her upper arms ripping her to her feet. Her head hit the metal of the claw and she yelped in pain, only to be silenced by the feeling of the barrel of a gun being jabbed into her ribs on her left side. She watched as guards apprehended him as well and forced him to his feet. They escorted them back to where Donna's shouts to be let out originated.

"Doctor, get me out!" Donna yelled.

"Listen, if you don't do what she says you're really in trouble. Not from me, but from her." He cautioned them. They tossed the two into a human circle of armed guards, Solana among them. Valarie rubbed her arms from their grip. They released Donna, who tripped over herself to embrace them.

"There we go." He told her. "Safe and sound, for now."

"Nevermind about me." Donna began, her head whipping to the open container. "What about them?"

The full container's contents began to unload - a hoard of red-eyed Oods.