"River!" Zoe hissed. Seeing the girl continue to tremble and cry on the floor, she took a deep breath and slapped her firmly. River gasped as her eyes flew open, and Zoe laid a hand on her back, the apology written in her eyes. "Little one, you are scaring me beyond all belief. We don't have time for this, and they don't have time for this. Dong ma?"

River nodded, getting to her feet with quiet grace and leading out wordlessly. Zoe followed, uncomfortable with the whole notion of following the still misty-eyed River. Nonetheless, her instincts told her that the calm certainty in River's stride was informed by something she would do well to heed.

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Simon wandered the massive backstage of the coliseum, searching for a path to the giant, domed roof. Blue and purple stage lighting was flickering through from the arena to the darkened rooms as he made his way rapidly through the maze of equipment. He paused, spotting a flight of steep stairs constructed of metal grating leading up to a lighting derrick.

The doctor took a deep breath to steady himself and overcome the effects of the adrenaline surging through his veins. The lighting, the energy-charged music pounding through the walls, and the fear of discovery were contributing to a growing feeling of excitement. Remember why you're here, he reminded himself firmly as he began his climb up the stairs.

He reached the top, finding himself on a darkened lighting control platform just under the ceiling overlooking the entire stadium. His head spun sickeningly as he looked straight down through the steel grating he was standing on, seemingly miles above the thundering crowd. He grabbed the safety railing hard and forced himself to scan his surroundings.

There was a full section of seating directly below him, thousands of people in a giant, indistinct mass. I can't do it, he thought. I can't blow it here, I can't kill them all. He