The Bradbury Method (Eleven/Emilie)

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"But gold what, Doctor?"

He shrugged his shoulders, then took a guess, "It could be a gold chain, a coin. Who knows. We won't find out until we get our hands on him. This is a bit of an, unusual case." He smiled, "But that's what makes it so intriguing."

When The Doctor heard the word 'Ceaser', a big grin crossed his lips, "Oh good. He's a friend of mine, Ceaser. And a couple of his successors as well. I wonder if he's actually here or not."

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The Doctor's enthusiasm buoyed Emilie's spirits despite what she felt was a slow pick up to the party on her part. It was his bright smile at the overheard conversation that brought Emilie over completely to enjoying the induced adrenaline rush and puzzle.

"Oh good. He's a friend of mine, Caesar. And a couple of his successors as well. I wonder if he's actually here or not."

"Of course you know him," Emilie shook her head in amusement, edging around the corner. "That means you get to be the one to talk nice to the soldier," she declared. "I'm not letting the others stay in there."

Reciting what she remembered of the hypnotism had reminded Emilie of more than just gold... Emilie remembered again the screams of those who Eustarchus had meddled with too much.

The empty ones burn.

Humans were not meant to be books, removing the essence of a human, the soul, howsoever he was managing it... was horrid.

And Emilie might have escaped thanks to the Doctor, but because she had escaped, Emilie felt that much more responsible for getting them out.

So without waiting on the Doctor, she dashed into the study room alone.

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"Of course you know him," Emilie shook her head in amusement, edging around the corner. "That means you get to be the one to talk nice to the soldier," she declared. "I'm not letting the others stay in there."

"Excellent, I'll talk to them and explain the situation, it'll only take-" Emilie dashed off, and The Doctor yelled, "Emilie!" He was worried she would run into trouble again, "If you're going to run off again, at least take my Sonic Screwdriver."

He pulled it out of his pocket, wanting her to have something that could at least provide her a little bit of protection out there. He waited for her to turn and look at him, if she did, he'd toss her the tool.

He still had his Psychic Paper if he needed it.

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Emilie did turn around when he called out, managing to catch the screwdriver he tossed - if only just. Giving him a wink, she headed inside the room.

Several of the scholars had left by now, but a few had stayed behind and were trying to talk to the hypnotized. It was clear they thought it some type of magic or devilry, but the fact they were clearly trying to help given the opportunity made her a little less mad. Especially given the fact their families were essentially being held hostage to a degree.

There were only a few now, Eustarchus burnt through his 'test subjects' too quickly it seemed and despite whatever political unrest was present outside, the missing did not all go unnoticed.

Kneeling down in front of the three remaining, it quickly became clear to Emilie that they were muttering their stories. Living books, forever reciting what they knew. They had, in effect, been made mad, although it was the 'empty' ones that felt it hardest.

But Emilie remembered the feel of the gold well enough, and when calling for them did not work, nor shaking, nor tugging at the hands, she decided to try and duplicate the scattered word pattern that had made up her own thoughts when the Doctor found her hovering on the edge.
Even if she did feel extremely foolish, as Emilie began to speak, the listeners slowly stirred and ceased their muttering. Which was a start, if nothing else.

"Life stands still within the gold,
Though children weep as old men's souls
The world moves on without you;
Life stands still within the gold,
I have said it twice!
The metal chains you away from hearth and home
Ne'er to return if it had its way;
Life stands still within the gold,
I have said it thrice!
What I tell you three times be true,
Awake, dreamers, remember to live
For the world has need of you."

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Distracted from his furious interview with the librarian by the sound of a man's voice, the soldier called out, "Come out, then. State your purpose here."

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Having no doubt that Emilie could handle herself, The Doctor went on ahead in the other direction.

The Doctor walked out, Psychic Paper up, "Hello! I'm The Doctor, good friend of Ceaser." He smiled and said, "And I've discovered that there's far more than just written words and animals here." He had more than enough information to turn them to his side to help him.

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The soldier glanced to the man's credentials, but they were hardly necessary given his next words. He and a group of nine other men had been sent to scout the library for there were rumors that the head librarian was close to Achillas. And after the man had murdered those ambassadors sent to attempt to make piece, Caesar was keeping a wary eye.

"Then share it, sir,"he responded, ignoring the protest of the librarian that they both needed to leave.

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The Doctor began to explain the situation, "You're not looking at a library. The man in charge has been harming visitors for what seems like a very long time. Taking them and turning them into his warped sense of human books, slaves to the library. I have a friend in hear helping deal with him already, though, I'm sure you'd like to take him into custody and put him onto trial, wouldn't you?"

The Doctor wanted to take Emilie and leave before anyone died. That meant time was of the essence.

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The soldier listened attentively for the first half of the Doctor's speech, but the librarian's break away attempt caused him to miss part of the last. Fortunately, the man ended up running in to one of the 'test subjects' Emilie had roused.

His name was Hasheth, and he had been hanging on by a thread when Emilie tried speaking the language of the mad. Truthfully, he was not recovered, that would require the help of someone skilled in the art of the mind. He was, however, mobile.

Life stands still the girl had said. And so they chose to move.

The librarian had frozen, in fear or wonder, Hasheth did not notice either way. He only saw that the man was still, and dimly recognized more in the area.

Clearing his throat, the soldier saluted to the Doctor before speaking, "I will watch these two, sir. My commander should be at the front entrance, send word to him, if you would."

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Speaking with the commanding soldier went quickly for The Doctor, he made the man aware of his identity, then went on to explain the situation. Things were not safe at the moment, they both knew that much. The Doctor had two escorts with him before he looked back to the man who Emilie had sent their way.

"Just a moment men, I'd like to try something."

The Doctor walked up to the half-cured man and said, "Hello, I'm The Doctor. Let me help you alright?" He slowly tried to place his fingertips on the man's head, so he could tap in and remove anything blocking him off.

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The soldier had stepped back with the librarian from Hasheth when the Doctor approached. His eyes appeared unfocused, with the dark of his eyes widened unnaturally. Hasheth had not moved in the time between the Doctor leaving and returning, fidgeting but not trying to escape, as if he could not see what was in his way clear enough to tell if it was a person or a wall.

When the Doctor approached him, Hasheth shifted again, uneasily, but was aware enough to understand the concept of 'help' and therefore did not fight.

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Looking into his mind, The Doctor tried to wipe out the moments involving Eustarchus trying to control the poor victim. The Time Lord took a deep breath before stopping, "I think I've done it. Hasheth, are you alright now? Can you respond?" He'd learned the man's name while searching his mind.

He waved his hand in front of the librarian, trying to test his reactions.

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Hasheth blinked slowly, adjusting with some confusion to a clear mind and the ability to truly see again. It felt like a sun had melted his eyes and ears, and yet... the world was real again. Crisp and achingly new.

Stumbling back at the sound of his name, Hasheth blinked rapidly to clear the remaining fog from his mind, focusing on the tall, pale young man with old eyes in front of him.

"When did you come in? Do you have my test results?"

Hasheth frowned, noticing the librarian and soldiers, "What is going on here?"

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Emilie, meanwhile, had found another exit from the study room and was exploring it while the other two who had only been under a few hours longer than herself followed along as back up.

From what Emilie could see, Eustarchus kept quite a few secrets from the library at large. Machines that she recognized as beyond this time stood on small shelves like statues. It took them a few twists and turns, but they found Eustarchus inspecting an already long aged clay tablet. He appeared to not have a care in the world, which was odd of itself, but it was the gold chain glinting on his wrist that caught Emilie's attention.

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"When did you come in? Do you have my test results?"

"Passed with flying colors," The Doctor exclaimed with a big grin. He patted the younger man on the face and said, "Now the nice soldiers will take care of you. I'm The Doctor, and you are very, very welcome. Good by!" He jumped to his feet before taking off in the direction Emilie had gone.

He knew she could use his backup, especially since he had soldiers with him.

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"Thank you?" Hasheth managed to mumble before the strange man had left and one of the Roman soldiers moved to speak with him and inter...er.. ask a few questions.

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Emilie eyed the pendant as warily as a mouse might eye a slice of cheese or a fish a dangling worm. She knew it was bait and therefore should be approached with care, but at the same time, the Doctor had made it clear this gold image she remembered was the focus for Eustarchus' meddling. Without it, all the mutilated hypnotic technique that he possessed meant nothing because it was highly unlikely the man was able to put a human in a hypnotic state without said focus. Otherwise, well, he wouldn't need to carry one.

Her back up stirred uneasily when Eustarchus met their gaze, but Emilie held firm since her mind was clearest.

"We've been waiting for you, Eustarchus," Emilie spoke slowly, deciding a plan of action on the spot. She met his gaze as she knelt down beside the head librarian. "Waiting within the gold. There are so many stories. But the library is not complete. It needs to be complete, doesn't it Eustarchus?"

Beneath his bewildered, uncertain gaze, Emilie slipped off the chain and pendant from his wrist so it dangled just before his eyes.

"You know what needs to be done, don't you?"

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The Doctor was in close pursuit of Emilie. He could just feel that he was practically on her heels. He held up a hand to let the soldiers with know to be quiet, if Emilie was already doing something, or if she was in trouble, he wanted to be able to here her.

They neared the end of their search when The Doctor could hear Emilie speaking, "Waiting within the gold. There are so many stories. But the library is not complete. It needs to be complete, doesn't it Eustarchus?"

Standing out of her way, The Doctor continued listening, a smile was on his face, from the way he heard things, she was definitely in control of the entire matter. 'Clever girl,' he thought, 'It's like I don't even have to teach her a thing.'

The Doctor was honestly very impressed, and a bit curious. Where had she learned such things?