JWaIkers
An alternative and ambitious plan of Peter Capaldi's era between 2014 and 2017. With aspects both fresh and from the televised episodes, culminating into an arc that spans his tenure.
Deep in the heart of the Universe, isolated by the vast emptiness of space; an oasis in the desert: the Caradon Cluster. Considered to be one of the birthing grounds of life in the Universe, the Cluster boasts many stars within its systems, and upon the orbiting planets, many life forms grow. From simple prokaryotic and single-celled organisms, to complex multicellular and advanced life, some capable of travel between planets and star systems.
Given its remoteness and the difficulty of reaching somewhere so isolated, most news escapes the Cluster on a delay, or through word of mouth at spaceports. Eventually though, one whisper begins to reach the rest of the Universe: Something is... wrong. Something dark, deep at the Cluster's centre is said to have appeared. It's said it doesn't register on any instruments or any measuring apparatus, but still, it's there. And it's growing.
They say it grew slowly at first, not worth anyone's trouble, but as it expanded, its rate of growth increased. Beginning to envelop any rocks, dust or light it came across, before it finally reached a size where it consumed planets and stars. Anything swallowed by the blackness is lost: nothing comes out. The dark mass encroaches on all the Cluster holds dear, and shows no signs of slowing.
The Universe is slow to respond: isolation, few reliable sources, and other matters delay their notice to the crisis of the most ancient interstellar metropolis. The distance is great between them and the Cluster, and although tragic for those affected, it gives them time to investigate, assemble plans and build theories, though each is less likely than the last. Rescue missions reach into the Mass, but none return. And still it grows. Its silence terrifying to all who know of it. But what, or who, could be behind it?