Summary:

A look into the life of the early years of The Doctor. From the wide-eyed Theta Sigma of the Time Lord Academy to the young First Doctor's early steps on his remarkable journey.

A/N: This is a re-upload and a more polished, better quality version.

Disclaimer: I don't own Doctor Who.

Marked For Greatness

I

Thete!" A reprimanding, loving voice called up after her only child.

"Son, mind your mother, don't climb up nearly so high without us."

The sharp pair of blue eyes, (half-hidden under a mop of straight, dark blond hair,) turned back to regard his parents.

Designation Theta Sigma's mother, Penelope Gate, pale and beautiful, clad in a simple white shirt and a pair of tan breaches, was the parent closest to her son. The woman's long, red hair was braided around her head and her blue eyes were set upon Theta with a soft smile.

Close behind Penelope on the winding mountain path, was a tall, brown haired, bearded man, with sharp, hawk-like brown eyes that regarded the world with the same expression as his son, abet with greater wisdom than his youngest son yet possessed.

Ulysses was an impressive sight, like the statues in the Earth museums of their Greek heroes.

He adored his alien wife, and was lovingly strict with their biological son. Ulysses exasperation regarding his son had abated slightly, ever since Theta managed to pass the examinations to study to become a Time Lord two days previously.

Theta knew why. His father had been so nervous that the alien blood his son bore would be dangerous and wouldn't allow him to become a Time Lord, despite the arguments of Theta's grandfather that he would be just fine.

Out of concern, Ulysses would have been much happier to see Theta stay at home, and then join the army, as the Time Tots who didn't pass the examination and the drylander children often did.

Theta had observed his father several times late at night in his study, (peering unnoticed from behind the half-open door,) pouring over Theta's examination results with a furrowed brow of concern. As a consequence, Ulysses was constantly monitoring his son's behaviour in the year till he was due to attend the Academy…where Theta would live for the next few decades till he transferred to the Prydonian Chapter as an adolescent.

Secretly, Theta was petrified. He'd never lived with anyone other than his parents and occasionally his older half-brother, Irving, (who was already at the Prydonian Chapter.) and their various cousins.

The eight-year-old Time Tot also knew he wouldn't be able to visit his family home until he moved to the Prydonian Chapter, and that also during this time, his contact with his beloved mother would be severely limited to distant communications. And short visits during celebration periods.

Theta wondered if it was his Sol-3 half that made him so afraid and so emotional. Penelope had told him to be proud he wasn't the stoic Time Lord his loomed cousins were. Ulysses had always be different from the rest of his family. The Prydonian Chapter was filled with oddities amongst the Time Lord race.

Perching himself atop of a rock to wait for his parents, Theta folded his arms as he looked down into the green grass filled valley with a frown. Penelope caught up to her son first and sat down beside him, resting her hand on his shoulder with a sigh.

"My little Thete…it's going to take me time to remember to call you that, my darling." Penelope placed a kiss atop Theta's head, the boy leaning against his mother, but his expression not changing from it's frowning state.

"You've been so serious ever since you came back from the Gallifrey Capitol."

Ulysses joined his wife and child, sitting on the other side of Theta with a deep sigh. "The Untempered Schism often leaves the Time Tots with a personality change." He glanced over Theta's head at Penelope.

"When his hormones kick in in the next few decades, he'll settle back down."

Theta scowl deepened, "I'm right here, Father, don't talk like I'm not." He bowed his head. "Koschei didn't look well, he wouldn't stop screaming…his father said he was okay now."

Ulysses patted his son's shoulder gently, "You were very brave, my son. Not so many Time Tots handle the Untempered Schism so well–"

"Well?" Theta looked up at his father in disbelief. "I ran away!"

Cocking his head to the side, Ulysses smiled in reassurance. "But you still looked, you still accepted and you came straight back to me after you ran away. You made me proud." He squeezed Theta's slender shoulder.

"And I know you will continue making me proud at the Academy."

Ulysses got to his feet, "We should continue on if we want to catch sunset from our usual spot." He walked on ahead, while his son and wife remained seated, gazing out over the valley.

Penelope stroked her son's hair, "You could stay with your father and I, Thete…"

Theta hugged his mother, "I'm a Time Lord in training now, Mother. I can't let Father or Grandfather down," he pulled back and nodded. "I'll be a Time Lord. I want to make the galaxy better. I want to make Gallifrey and the Time Lords better."

Gazing down at her precocious son, Penelope let a small, sad smile pass her lips, "How do you intend to do that, little one?"

Theta looked serious, "I want to make them more accepting of other alien species, to stop looking down upon them, like they do with you, Mother." He pulled his small backpack around to his front and opened it up, pulling out a crudely carved, wooden horse. "I made this for you."

Penelope's eyes widened as she took the wooden horse in her hands, "Is this the Trojan Horse?" She questioned knowingly, as Theta nodded slowly, allowing his mother to pull him into a tight hug. "It's beautiful, darling. It look just like its described by Virgil."

Mother and son stayed in that loving embrace for a few moments, before Penelope pulled Theta back with a concerned expression.

"My son, don't forget above all, you are unique. You are not another brick in the wall for the Time Lord race. Push the boundaries, make them remember you. Show them they can be better, that there is a better way…"

A hard object collided with a soft thump against Theta Sigma fair haired head, almost knocking the seventy-nine-year-old, Prydonian Chapter Time Youth off of the tree branch he'd been dozing upon.

Picking up from his lap the offending object that had hit him in his head, Theta observed the oval shaped, dark grey rock with a frown. Hearing a sharp laughter from below, Theta glared down at the culprit of both the laughter and presumably the rock.

"What are you doing up there, Thete?" The dark haired Time Youth called up. "Daydreaming about Lady Glymtheria again? You know she only plays a Time Lady in the hologram entertainments, she's really just an ordinary Gallifreyan in real life, called Prunell Glopthorpe."

Throwing down the rock back in the direction of his best friend, who jumped aside to avoid it and the projected object landed harmlessly on the nearby ground with a soft thud, Theta put his hands behind his neck as he lent back against the tree-trunk, "So what? And no, Koschei," he blinked his large blue eyes as he stared out at the late-afternoon, binary Gallifreyan suns.

"I was thinking of the last time I was with my father."

Koschei furrowed his brow, "I see. That was the day before your father was exiled. He didn't tell you he was going into exile, did he?" He remembered, folding his arms as he lent against the side of the base of the tree trunk.

Theta shook his head as he closed his eyes. "No. He didn't." He confirmed, opening up his eyes to look down at Koschei, who had snorted in response.

"Real nice family you've got there, Thete. Exiled father, an older brother who hasn't spoke to in decades, and cousins who dumped you off for a year to live with Drylanders in an orphanage. Not to mention a paternal grandfather, who was coincidentally assigned our mentor, and yet didn't bother to lay any claim on you for nearly four decades."

Sighing, Theta flipped off of the branch and landed neatly on his nimble feet. "At least I get to spend the celebration periods entirely away from the Academy now. Though it's almost as bad as having to spend them partially at your parents residence." He shuddered at the thought of the cold, formal atmosphere of Oakdown, where he was treated very coolly by the majority of Koschei's family, with the exception of Koschei's father.

Of course, Koschei, being Koschei, would ignore his family and promptly defend Theta against them, but Theta was glad his grandfather and mentor had finally admitted to their relationship. Even if the celebration periods were mostly spent in study of non-complying subjects, such as Old High Gallifreyan and the ancient scrolls of Omega.

Theta didn't mind, this meant there was less time spent in Lungbarrow. Borusa had chosen a life in the Academy to escape the house, and he would never attend the Otherstide celebrations in the ancient mansion.

However, the Kithriarch of Lungbarrow, (whom Theta affectionately called Quences,) made it no secret he adored his youngest cousin, and insisted on the 'brilliant boy' returning to his ancestral home once a year now that Borusa had custody of him.

Naturally Borusa didn't like the way Quences spoilt Theta. In fact, much to Borusa's disdain, for Theta's sixtieth birthday, the slightly senile old Time Lord had bought the Time Youth an insane present, a striped avatroid, whom Theta had given the name: Badger.

Though only the size of a Great Dane puppy on it's hind legs at the present moment, the creature would eventually grow to be over seven feet tall and have a pair of mighty tusks, and equally impressive curled horns.

Theta, naturally, thought he was absolutely marvellous, although most of the Academy was already wary of Badger, (except for Ushas, of course.) who was only really affectionate to Theta, and, strangely, also insisted his affections upon Borusa. Of whom barely tolerated Badger, but didn't have the gumption to ignore him, like he did the rest of Theta's menagerie of animals.

Along with the avatroid Badger, there was Solis the flubble and her mate, Noir, an entire family of cobblemice and another of rovies, (half of which were rescued from Ushas' experiments.) two Sol-3 native cats, Alpha and Beta, (the only animals Koschei liked,) and lastly, Theta's beloved, riding vortisaur, Perseus. (Who was housed just outside of the Academy in the riding stable.)

Peruses had been the only animal Borusa had bought for Theta. Vortisaur riding was considered a skill that not many Time Lords could master. But seeing how his grandson had taken to riding them, like a fish to water, Borusa had bought him one for his fiftieth birthday, naturally to show up his peers, of course.

(Although Borusa still would have had a fit if he'd caught Theta riding the wild ones bareback, as he was wont to do often enough, showing off to his thoroughly impressed classmates.)

Borusa's 'Deca' class had been given the reputation by the other senior classes at the Academy, as mad-house crossed with a zoo, not just in referral to the collection of animals, either. Most of the Mentors would resort to clucking their tongues, citing nepotism in the way Borusa let his grandson and friends run wild.

(Looking back on his time in the Academy, many years later, The Doctor realised Borusa had been running his class as an experiment for the ninety decades he would have his students, first as their mentor, then as their tutor. For what purpose, The Doctor could only surmise it was purely for power sake alone, biding his time until his hand-picked, rather brilliant, as well as creative and anti-establishment, students would start to mess with the status quo of the Time Lord society.

Not to mention something buried in the prophecies, that Borusa had refused to discuss with his grandson for years, which would lead to many dark turns in The Doctor's life and their eventual estrangement.

But that was centuries from the current awkward Time Youth and his dominating paternal grandfather Mentor. At the moment it was a stand-off between the only immediate family who would, or could, be Theta's guardian, and the Academy student, who was still a lost little boy.)

The two Time Youths walked slowly, side-by-side, across the red, grassy field, winding their way back towards the Prydonian sector of the Academy in relative silence. The wind was beginning to pick up and whip the crimson coloured robes of both teenagers about them as they walked.

Despite both having the close-cropped hairstyle, (semi-enforced upon the male Time Youth students of the Prydonian chapter,) both Koschei and Theta were still quite in contrast to one another.

Koschei was already well built for his age, broad, tanned and dark haired, his dark blue eyes full of the cunning and defiance that already made him enemies amongst most of his peers. (His only friend really being Theta, as it had been since they were born, practically, as their fathers had also been friends since they were Time Tots, and arranged family gatherings were often.)

Theta, meanwhile, was still as skinny and awkward as he had been his whole sixty years. Slightly shorter than Koschei (at about 5'5.) Theta's large, light blue eyes stared out succinctly at the world around him. Theta's shy nature, very much in contrast to his braggart best friend, surprised most who encountered them together. Theta only really becoming talkative once he'd known someone for a long time.

Because Theta's studiousness was often balanced by his occasional willingness to do something exceptionally brave, like ride wild vortisaurs bareback, he had endeared himself to many of his fellow students, and especially with the majority of the members of Deca.

"Borusa sent me out here to find you." Koschei raised his voice slightly, to be heard over the top of the rising wind. "I thought you'd be in the vortisaur stables."

Theta folded his arms across his chest, "I was. I came out here afterwards to think." He looked aside at his best friend. "Koschei, have you ever had the feeling something is watching you? Just waiting for the right moment to spring upon you?"

Koschei raised his left eyebrow as they arrived at the red paved path, that lead back into the Academy grounds, "How do you mean?"

Shaking his head, Theta lowered his gaze to look down at his tan, suede boots, "I've been feeling odd for the past few months. I haven't been sleeping well. I keep dreaming about my parents, and about my early Time Tot-hood." He admitted. "Not just on Gallifrey, either, also when we were on Sol-3."

There was a pause in the conversation, as they nodded in greeting to the two guards outside of the Academy gate, before Koschei spoke up as they passed through the massive, ancient, arched gateway, bearing the huge, gold disc of the Seal of Rassilon.

"Do you think maybe your father was exiled to Sol-3? That's why you're picking up a connection to the planet?"

Theta looked sharply over at his perceptive friend as they crossed the empty courtyard, and rubbed the back of his neck. "It's possible. My Father spent so much time on Sol-3, studying anthropology mostly, it's very possible they sent him there in exile. Borusa still won't tell me." He revealed quietly.

Climbing up the grey-white, Prydonian mountain marble staircase that lead to the main entrance, Koschei shrugged his shoulders. "Maybe he will one day. Maybe your father wanted you to finish your training to be a Time Lord before you know where he is. I know you, Thete." The Time Youth halted his friend, mid-way up the staircase.

"You would want to see him. I'm not saying you'd do something foolish, because that's not you. But you've been lonely, and you may resent Borusa enough to try and find a way to contact him."

Theta ran his hand over his short-cut hair and lowered his gaze. "I don't think I would, Koschei. Even if I did know where they were, I wouldn't disobey the law. Like you said, I'm not foolish. I'm not a risk taker." He mentioned. I'm not my Father, Theta added silently to himself.

Koschei sighed heavily as he put his arm around Theta's shoulders, leading them up the last few stairs to the crimson coloured, heavy wooden door enclosed entrance to the Prydonian Chapter building.

"Sometimes you are, Theta. Like when you go running off alone, or go on your ridiculous bareback vortisaur riding escapades. But these are things you've done most of your life, you have to be pushed to try anything new, and I can't remember the last time I heard you laugh."

Theta rubbed his eyes, looking out ahead at the opulent, red and gold marble entrance-way of his schooling location for the past thirty years, his gaze trailing upwards towards the arched ceilings, held up by massive, flourished, carved dark coloured wooden pillars. Theta couldn't help but think back on his primary school, so much more simple and less imposing.

The High School sector of the Prydonian Academy seemed determined to remind its young students of the grave, seriousness awaiting them in the University sector.

Borusa had dragged his grandson to the aforementioned University sector a few weeks ago on business, allowing Theta to explore the grand, heavily windowed and gilded building, which had awed the young Time Youth.

"I don't need to try anything new, Koschei, and laughter is for those who are truly happy. At the moment, I'm under too much pressure from Borusa to succeed in my studies, and far too busy for anything else." Thete pulled away from Koschei's one armed embrace.

"I'll see you later in the common room."

"Right." Koschei replied simply, watching his long-time friend move quickly across the expansive, polished, marble floored entrance hall, folding his arms across his chest. "Right."

-:-:-:-

Frowning over a large, gilded, brown leather-bound tome, resting on the bronze coloured lectern in front of him, Mentor Borusa turned the page of the hand written, illuminated manuscript with a furrowed brow as he muttered the text out-loud.

"…I shall walk again amongst my fellow Time Lords. For there will come a day when they call to me, and I will graciously answer their pleas. Although, there is one who will live at that time, a warrior Time Lord, like those of our past, who will openly defy my will. He will, however, despite his defiance towards I, aid our people. But, his aid will come at a cost. For in his wake, there is something that will come to stand in the ruins of Gallifrey. This creature will be born of two races, and this warrior Time Lord knows their name—"

There was a single knock on Borusa's office door and he walked over to his desk to press the comm button. "Yes?"

"It's Theta." An adolescent male voice, just starting to settle into it's deeper tone, answered swiftly.

The middle-aged Prydonian Time Lord pressed the entrance button, next to the comm button, on his desk panel. The silver door slid across and Borusa's youngest grandson strolled into the sparsely decorated, red carpeted office.

Filled with mostly bookshelves, there was a painting of Rassilon in the far corner and a large, arched window next to it, that looked out over the grand courtyard. Theta's favourite part of the office was, however, the small series of portraits of his grandfather with Theta's father and aunt, Ulysses and Flavia. The portraits showed Ulysses changing from a fair-haired, slender youth, to the tall, brown haired figure of his second regeneration that Theta knew from his Time Tot-hood.

Borusa watched with an observing stare as Theta sat down on the plush chair opposite the desk. He does looks a little like Ulysses at the same age in his first regeneration, the same hair and the same nose, but that pale complexion, wide mouth and light blue eyes are like Penelope...

"Koschei said you were looking for me." Theta spoke up, interrupting his grandfather's musing.

Nodding, Borusa sat down on his chair behind the desk, eye-to-eye with his grandson and student. "Yes. You know the celebration period commences tomorrow." He clasped his hands together and rested them on his desktop. "You will be accompanying me to the Capitol."

Theta blinked his eyes in surprise, "Why?"

Borusa looked solemn. "You know I have full intentions of returning to politics once you have graduated to Time Lord status, Theta. As you know, I wish for you to also pursue a career in politics. I've been granted a request to have you accompany me to the Panopticon."

Nodding, Theta looked down at his hands, clasped tightly and resting on his lap, "Is that all?" He questioned.

More than little concerned now, Borusa leaned back in his high-backed chair, and took a moment to take a closer observation the grandson he had custody of.

Theta was slightly paler than usual, there were large, dark circles under his eyes, and he looked almost utterly exhausted. It was quite unlike the usually energetic, if quiet, Time Youth, who was only a year away from Junior Time Lord status.

Already? Time flies. Borusa thought to himself. Although I'll likely change from Mentor to Tutor for the Deca when they move to the University, so it's not like I'll be seeing less of the boy.

"That is everything," the elder Prydonian finally responded, pressing his fingers together and resting them against his lips. "Is there anything you wish to talk to me about, Theta?"

The head shake was a little to quick for Borusa's liking, but he said nothing as Theta got to his feet.

"No, Grandfather." Theta addressed him as they did in private, amongst his classmates he called Borusa: 'Mentor Borusa' as the rest of the Deca did.

"All right." Borusa nodded. "You can leave."

Theta inclined his head and headed towards the office entrance, the silver door slid across and the crimson robed Time Youth slipped out, leaving his grandfather to quiet contemplation as the door closed behind him.

"I wonder sometimes if I did the right thing." Borusa murmured to himself, running his hand through his short-cut, greying fair hair. I could have intervened with Ulysses' exiling, but then I might not have such close watch of the boy. He folded his arms.

I've no doubt Ulysses would have intervened and not allowed to pass what need to happen. He's not much like myself…nor even his mother. Ulysses has grown to care too much, a trait I blame on his second wife…I worry Theta might have that same inborn tendency. He does love his animals, and still cares for the Drylanders who had a hand in raising him.

"That's your own fault, Borusa." The middle-aged Time Lord chided himself. "You should have taken in the boy sooner, but you wanted to watch and see if the prophecies were correct." He looked aside at the leather-bound tome he'd been perusing prior to Theta's arrival.

I wonder if even now I was right. There's nothing about Theta that seems outright rebellious in the slightest, nor warrior-like, and certainly not a madman. Perhaps I should just be contented that the future seems to have changed…

-:-:-:-

Women with brown eyes. This was the shade that made his heart leap to his throat, though he wasn't quite sure why. There were other eyes belonging to other women that turned to him, eyes of blue, green…but the women with brown eyes…brown eyes made him want to laugh, and cry, and scream in loss…

"Then what should I do?"

Theta heard a man's voice he didn't know, then one of the women, the one with the largest pair of brown eyes, and features the most hazy, spoke up.

"What you've always done. Be a…"

Theta woke up with a startled gasp, his head was tilted backwards and he locked it back into place as he stared across the plush, Citadel capsule over at his startled grandfather, who lowered the tome he'd been reading.

"Are you quite all right, Theta?" Borusa, dressed in his elaborate, crimson and orange and robes of state, (complete with the high arching collar with the symbols of Rassilon on either shoulder, and skullcap placed upon his head,) addressed his grandson with genuine concern.

Theta nodded shakily, taking in a deep breath. "I'm all right. I just dozed off." He forced a small smile to his grandfather and folded his arms into his wide sleeves of his Junior Time Lord robes of state.

His current clothing had been gifted to him that morning by Borusa. Usually, the Junior Time Lord robes of state would be granted when a Time Youth turned eighty and reached young adult status, but, as Borusa was intending to keep Theta as an apprentice in the Council chambers, he needed to be properly outfitted for the role.

The Junior Time Lord robes of state were virtually identical to Borusa's, except Theta only donned a skull cap and wide, sleeveless orange mantle over his shoulders. The shoulder gracing collar would be granted to him when he attained full Time Lord ranking, replacing the mantle.

Borusa had been proud as a flubble as they'd strolled through the Academy on their way to depart for the Citadel, though Theta had been completely embarrassed as he tailed beside his grandfather, his ears tinged red.

Earlier that morning in the common room at breakfast time, Koschei, Magnus and Ushas didn't help matters, approaching their friend with mock congratulations, and tugging on the mantle, Ushas asking if she might borrow the skullcap for a feeder for her rovies.

Vansell, of course, the first to scold them, saying that at least Theta was already making something of himself, but he was quickly knocked down by Magnus with a smirk.

Millennia and Rallon stood by Theta, and shooed away the three troublemakers.

"Leave him alone, or you'll have me to answer to!" Rallon, towering and imposing, eyed down the rest of the Deca, as he rested his arm on the much shorter Time Youth's shoulder.

Both Rallon and Millennia were very fond of Theta, and Rallon had long been defending Theta against the much more aggressive members of the Deca, even having to step in between him and Koschei sometimes.

Nodding her blue haired head, Millennia also rested her hand on Theta's shoulder. "Shame on all of you. Especially you, Koschei. What kind of a best friend are you?"

Looking only slightly chastened, Koschei folded his arms, "I'm only jesting. There's no need to rush in to protect Thete like he's a Time Tot. And what right do you have? Thete and I have known each other practically all our lives. Honestly…you know I was joking, Thete, don't you?"

Jelpax snorted, as he and Drax had shoved Magnus away, helping Vansell to his feet. "How is he suppose to tell when you're joking or insulting him, Koschei? You're prone to doing both all the time!"

Luckily Borusa had arrived in the common room before Koschei and Jelpax could turn their stand-off into a scuffle. Rallon had been ready to pin down Koschei to help Jelpax, and Ushas threatening to unleash her mutant rovies on him if he dared.

Magnus was laughing his head off at the chaos, slapping Drax's back so hard in his mirth, that the other Time Youth had the breath knocked out of him, leaving the rest of the Deca to go back to their breakfast with knowing a shake of their heads.

Theta almost rolled his eyes. After over seventy years of knowing his classmates, and over thirty of sharing close quarters with the Deca, they knew each other too well, which was starting to breed contempt, and lines were more clearly drawn in the stand.

Looking down at his robes, the mark of a Junior Time Lord of the Prydonian Chapter, Theta knew this was a turning point, and he should be feeling that way. But there was something else that seemed to be overshadowing his impeding young adulthood…something strange.

Theta could almost sense something radiating from the approaching Panopticon, (set upon the imposing tower he could already see from the windowed shuttle.) a feeling of arrival, a feeling beyond attaining a new position in life.

The Time Youth couldn't shake that feeling's impression upon him, that more than one thing awaited him in the Capitol. Things that would lead to far greater turning points in his life than merely donning robes of state.

Borusa peered over the top of his tome to look over at his grandson, staring out of the window with a wistful look on his face, the Jurist sighing as he went back to his book.

He's still such a boy…

-:-:-:-

The crowded Panopticon was filled with bustling Time Lords and Ladies of politics, colourful robed figures from all chapters murmuring and discussing issues, both personal and political.

Forcing himself not to blush, Theta became keenly aware of the curious eyes turning upon him as he tailed behind his grandfather, his hands folded into the wide sleeves of his robes and his gaze staring ahead.

"Ah! Flavia, my dear." Borusa called out suddenly in greeting.

Theta looked over to see his tall, graceful, fair-haired aunt, dressed in the Prydonian robes of state, (but, like most Time Ladies often did, went without the skullcap.) who turned away from her conversation with a Patrex Time Lady, and strolled over to clasp her father's arms in greeting, smiling as Borusa leaned over to kiss her forehead.

"Father." Flavia greeted, before she turned to Theta. "Oh, this can't be my little nephew in junior robes of state!" She exclaimed, clasping her brother's son's arms in greeting, the two of them eye-to-eye. "Tell me you aren't Theta, you can't possibly have grown up this quickly!"

A wide smile passed over Theta's face at Flavia's exclamations. "It's me. But I'm still only seventy-nine, Aunt Flavia." He assured her. Theta loved his aunt, who was twin sister to Ulysses, and shared some of the teasing nature of her brother.

Flavia placed a kiss on her nephew's forehead, "That's still too far grown-up for my liking." She linked her arm through Theta's and guided the Time Youth across the Panopticon floor.

"At least this way we can see each other in person more often. You will be bringing him here even after the celebration period, won't you, Father?" Flavia turned her braided haired head to address Borusa, who was following after his daughter and grandson.

"It is my intention, provided it doesn't interfere with his studies." Borusa smiled indulgently. "But Theta is such a dedicated student, I should imagine nothing should convince me otherwise."

Flavia patted her nephew's arm, "Well good. I should hope to see our Theta graduate highly decorated, and then gain a good job, hopefully here in the Capitol. Then maybe settling down with the right partner as he rises through the ranks of politics, and then giving his old aunt some great-nieces and nephews to spoil." She nudged the Time Youth playfully, and Theta blushed at the thought.

Borusa looked slightly put out. "There's plenty of time for all of that, and certainly not any time before Theta is well into his hundreds." He scolded his daughter. "Besides, Theta hasn't any time, nor shown any interest, in courting right now."

Flavia looked over at her nephew, who nodded in acknowledgement.

"I'm really far to busy to think about courting, Aunt Flavia." Theta confirmed, and his aunt inclined her head.

"Of course, Theta. But you know your grandfather doesn't think of these things." Flavia patted Theta's arm again. "I tell you what, whenever you're ready to start courting, I shall have a list of eligible young partners. Is that fine with you, Father?" She questioned her parent.

Borusa sighed, "Whatever would please you, daughter." He conceded, and Flavia gave a satisfied smirk in response from within her gold-lace edged collar, reaching over to straighten Theta's mantle.

"Do you know my friend, The Corsair, was asking me about you the other day, Theta," Flavia mentioned, her eyes twinkling as she rested her hands on her nephew's shoulders. "He's back on planet and I must take you to see him. How old were you the last time you met?"

Theta rubbed the back of his neck, "Oh…twenty? I think? Didn't I want to run away with him as his assistant?"

Borusa frowned heavily and put his hand firmly on Theta's shoulder. "Oh no, not that Time Lord. You keep him away from Theta and out of my sight, Flavia. I don't know what is with you and your brother inviting trouble, but—"

"Jurist Borusa!" A booming voice called out, cutting off Borusa mid-sentence.

The Jurist in question, his Inquisitor daughter, and startled grandson, looked over at the white robed, tall, dark haired, bearded Time Lord, wearing a distinct gold collar, approaching them through the parting crowd.

The white and gold robed Time Lord was flanked by two Chancellery guards, one of them more gaudily dressed than the others, presumably the Castellan.

"My Lord President Jostin," Borusa bowed his head in greeting, as did Flavia and Theta.

The President of Gallifrey clasped Borusa's arm in greeting, "It is good to see you again." Jostin's eyes fell on Theta and the Time Youth bowed again. "Oh enough of that, young man, please." The President implored and Theta obediently straightened.

"This must be your youngest grandson, Borusa." Jostin observed knowingly.

Borusa inclined his head. "Indeed. Designation Theta Sigma of the House of Lungbarrow. Currently my student at the Academy," he introduced, and the President took the Time Youth's arm, smiling down at him.

"You have grown, young Theta. The last time I saw you was during the Untempered Schism ceremony, you were with your father." Lord Jostin mentioned.

"Your father and I were in the same class at the Academy, but he was always far more scientifically inclined than I was. Do you wish to pursue politics, like your grandfather?"

Theta inclined his head, "That is my grandfather's wish." He answered simply, and Lord Jostin nodded his head in approval.

"Good then." The President of Gallifrey glanced behind him. "I should think the company of us older folk will be tedious for too long," Jostin smiled kindly back at Theta. "My daughter is here today. You might not remember her, Theta, but she is your age. She's in the Prydonian Chapter at the Academy also, abet in a different study area than you."

Turning behind them, Jostin gestured with his right, gloved hand, "Melialeirionmoria, will you come here? There's someone I wish to introduce you to."

Gliding through the crowd was a petite, lithe figure, clad in the female Time Youth robes of the Prydonian Academy High School sector. The teenage girl's dark, almost black, hair was braided and loped about her ears. Large brown eyes were deep-set in her lightly tanned features.

The female Time Youth walked with a seemingly effortless grace, and Theta felt a little jolt of intrigue as he watched her approach. Even if he'd met Melialeirionmoria before, he was not sure if he'd ever laid eyes on the young woman version of her.

Melialeirionmoria flashed a small smile as she inclined her head in greeting to the elder Time Lords, before turning her gaze on the Theta, who stood around three inches taller than her.

"Theta, this is my daughter, Melialeirionmoria, she is studying medicine. My dear, this is designation Theta Sigma of the House Of Lungbarrow. You met as Time Tots, and I do not know if you've interacted since." Jostin introduced.

Holding out her hand, Melialeirionmoria bowed her head to Theta. "It's nice to meet you again."

Taking Melialeirionmoria's soft hand, Theta bowed over it and straightened, locking his blue eyes with that sharp brown gaze. "It is also nice to see you again." He responded stiffly, trying to ignore the sudden onset of growing interest in the other Time Youth.

"Melialeirionmoria, why don't you take young Theta Sigma on a tour of the Triumvirate Gardens, and then go find something else interesting for the two of you to preoccupy your time, until I send for you both." Jostin requested.

Inclining her head, Melialeirionmoria motioned ahead and Theta followed the young woman through the crowd of politicians.

Melialeirionmoria leaned in close, whispering to Theta as they travelled across the Panopticon floor. "Walk quickly. We want to get out of here fast. Well, I know I do, at least. You're probably so fascinated by all this political mumbo-jumbo talk, aren't you?"

Theta looked over at his fellow Time Youth in surprise. "Well…it's..it's what my Grandfather wants me to pursue as a career." He stammered out, not sure quite what Melialeirionmoria meant.

Melialeirionmoria stared calmly up at Theta as they exited the main arena of the Panopticon. "But what do you want, Theta Sigma?"

There was a moment of silence between the two Time Youths, blue eyes staring aside, not quite able to meet that intent brown eyed gaze affixed on him.

"I…my Grandfather says this is the best path for me." Theta honestly responded. "I've never really thought about anything else."

There was genuine sympathy Melialeirionmoria expression, "How could you never have thought about what you want to do with your life, Theta Sigma?"

Theta bristled slightly, "Because…because…does it really matter, Melialeirionmoria?" He helplessly questioned, knowing he should have an answer to that question, what he wanted in life.

But there was nothing. Only what Borusa had told him he should want.

"It should matter." Melialeirionmoria replied simply, knowingly shaking her head. "But look at you. Your grandfather has you so controlled, you can't even look at me in the eye in case you might end up with thoughts about something else other than your studies." She insinuated.

Theta blushed terribly, "I…no…I mean…" He looked helplessly down at his boots.

"I suppose it's not your fault, but, I should let you know, before we're forced to spent any more time together, I don't like politicians." Melialeirionmoria explained, Theta raising his gaze to see the female Time Youth fold her arms under her breasts, her mouth set in frown of contemplation as she regarded him.

"I feel they inevitably become corrupt, despite all good intentions. And ergo, I don't like future politicians. I only put up with my Father because he's my father." Melialeirionmoria shrugged, and leaned her back against the semi-transparent, green wall of the balcony edged walkway they'd exited into.

"Besides, you're a Deca. I doubt you think about much outside of your little clique. And you're a show-off. I saw you once, riding wild vortisaurs bareback." Melialeirionmoria tilted her head to the side.

"You present this studious, arrogant front, and then you go do something like that? At the Academy most of us call you: 'The enigma Theta Sigma' behind your back."

Lowering his gaze again, Theta kicked the floor with the tip of his boot. "I learnt to ride vortisaurs bareback when I was living with the Drylanders as a Time Tot." He admitted slowly, lifting his gaze to see Melialeirionmoria still observing him, but with a raised brow now.

"Well now, you see? There is something I find interesting about you, future politician." Melialeirionmoria mentioned breezily, waving her hand towards the right side of the walkway.

"I'm going to go get us a shuttle. Don't go wondering off anywh—wait, who am I talking to? You wouldn't dare disobey your grandfather, would you?"

Theta silently watched the young woman swiftly depart down the walkway, a mixed expression of shame and miff running dually across his features. Leaning against the railing of the balcony, Theta looked down into the many levels below him, the treetops belonging the Triumvirate Gardens could be seen at the base of the building.

"I do so think for myself," Theta whispered, not liking how the President's daughter had made him not only question his whole life up until this point, with only a few remarks, but also the strange feeling that was coming over him whenever he looked at Melialeirionmoria.

It's not…I'm not…I can't be…I mean, I haven't even given thought to anything like that before…

"Theta Sigma…"

Lifting up his head, Theta whipped his gaze from side to side to locate the origin of the low, whispered voice, but he was alone upon the green crystal walkway. The only sound resonating was the indistinguishable murmurings coming from the main arena behind him.

"Theta Sigma…son of Lungbarrow...Listen!" The voice echoed again, the last word a gasping, loud whisper that seemed to echo in his ears.

Almost immediately, Theta could feel a coldness wash over him, and then the soft whispers seem to control his movements, guiding him in the direction they so desired. Under the unknown voice's power, Theta silently walked, slipping and hiding behind objects, and lurking in the shadows whenever other Time Lords and Gallifreyans passed by.

None of the Time Lords or Gallifreyans seemed to be aware of the Time Youth's presence at all, almost as if the owners of the whispering voices distracted them, making Theta invisible to their senses completely as he passed by. Theta himself passing through various stages of a semi-conscious state, not entirely aware of his surroundings or movements.

It seemed like no time had passed at all when Theta found himself exiting an elevator, suddenly conscious of himself again and able to survey his now surroundings.

There was low light. It was cold. The brightly lit elevator behind Theta slammed shut, and the Time Youth was a fraction too slow to stop it. Theta rapidly pressed the buttons on the side of the elevator entrance, but it wouldn't open.

Pausing and taking in a deep breath, Theta slowly turned around and blinked his eyes, his gaze slowly adjusting to the low light. There were ancient stone arches covered in bare, dead ivy. Lines of Old High Gallifreyan writing carved across the walls, barely visible to the eye between the dried ivy plant covering it and worn surface.

Theta looked down at the stone floor, and observed the circular Gallifreyan swirling in gold upon it.

Struggling to read the text, the Time Youth muttered it out loud, "In good conscious be aware, for in the footsteps of the ancestors you find yourself treading…" he paled and fell back against a stone pillar.

"The Matrix." Theta whispered in singular horror.

There was an anguished, piercing, screaming sound, followed by a low hum and the Time Youth scrambled to his feet, Theta's boots slipping on the polished, ancient stone floor. He'd never heard that noise before, but Theta had a very good notion as to what it belonged to.

"Cloister Wraith." The frightened whisper fell from Theta's lips, as his light blue eyes darted from side to side. The stories he'd been told, from the cradle to the classes in the Academy.

Cloister Wraiths, also known colloquially as 'Sliders'. Theta thought, trying to calm the rapid beating of his binary hearts. Automated statues set up to protect the Matrix, housed within the Cloisters, inhabited by the data of deceased Time Lords. No one has ever faced them, and lived to leave alive—

Theta's eyes suddenly locked with a hazy projection of a pale, black and white face caught in mid-scream, and he screamed in shock in response. Looking to the left, there was another face, and whipping himself around, yet another.

Four stone statues, carved to resemble Time Lords in their traditional robes of state, hand in hand encircled him, apace changing faces all gazed down at the Time Youth, and the whispering…the voices that had drawn him to this place…it had been the Cloister Wraiths…somehow…

"Theta Sigma. Theta Sigma. Theta Sigma." The Cloister Wraiths chanted in unison.

"Son of Ulysses..." The Wraith on Theta's left spoke.

"…birthed of Lungbarrow…" The Wraith directly behind Theta broke in.

"…to the human woman, Penelope Gate." The Wraith in front of Theta continued.

"Half-human, half-Time Lord." The Wraiths collectively chanted. "Half-human, half-Time Lord..."

Theta looked around at the Cloister Wraiths, "Does it matter?!" He found himself shouting at them over the top of their chanting.

All of a sudden the loose circle the Cloister Wraiths had formed became a tight circle, becoming so that they were but a hairsbreadth away from the horrified Time Youth, the stench of decay and dying engulfing him.

"Just a child now. Such a long way to go." One Cloister Wraith commented.

"Running, always running away from the inevitable." A second Wraith countered.

"Says he's not a warrior, but he's not the coward he claims to be, either." Another Wraith chimed in.

"The Hybrid." The Wraith on Theta's right spoke up.

"The Hybrid will stand in the ruins of Gallifrey, and destroy a billion hearts to heal his own." All four Cloister Wraiths, sounding like a hundred voices, called out collectively.

Theta could taste blood on his bottom lip from biting down on it so hard in his terror. "Who," his throat was dry, and his voice sounded raspy, barely legible to his ears at all. "Who is the Hybrid?"

A Cloister Wraith leaned forward and whispered directly into Theta's ear, the Time Youth's mouth slacked open as it spoke to him.

Then as the Wraith pulled back, Theta was suddenly bombarded by voices and images, overloading his senses, the Time Youth fell to his knees as the Cloister Wraiths chanted in unison a single word of Old High Gallifreyan.

"Iατρός. Iατρός. Iατρός. Iατρός..."

"All of Time and Space…"

"Have you ever thought what it's like to be wanders in the Fourth Dimension?"

"Ten million years of absolute power. That's what it takes to be really corrupt!"

"...Iατρός. Iατρός. Iατρός. Iατρός..."

"…everywhere and anywhere…"

"No one's going to turn me into an interplanetary puppet."

"The illusion is always one of normality."

"You want dominion over the living, yet all you do is kill!"

"...Iατρός. Iατρός. Iατρός. Iατρός..."

"…every star that ever was…"

"That's the exciting thing, that nobody in the universe can do what we're doing."

"What's the point?! Don't you see? It's all gone. Everything you were, everything you stood for."

"Time is born, matter, space. The universe cries out like a newborn."

"...Iατρός. Iατρός. Iατρός. Iατρός..."

"Great men are forged in fire. It is the privilege of lesser men to light the flame."

"Do I have the right?"

"It's taken me all these years to realise the laws of time are mine, and they will obey me!"

"No more!" Theta cried out, as he pounded his fists against the stone floor beneath him, his skullcap tumbling off of his head. "Please, no more!"

"...Iατρός. Iατρός. Iατρός. Iατρός..."

"Wherever you go, whatever path you take, it will follow. Never faster, never slower, always coming."

"…where do you want to start?"

Lifting up his eyes to the faint, sunlight streaming through into the dark Cloisters, the tears flowed down his youthful features as Theta screamed out in Old High Gallifreyan.

"Iατρόςἀντιφωνητής?!"

-:-:-:-

Theta never figured out how he managed to find an exit out of the Cloisters and away from the Matrix. He thought Cloister Wraiths might have directed him. Perhaps they had even dragged him, screaming and crying in his hallucinating state, and flung him out of the Cloisters themselves.

Regardless, Theta found himself crawling slowly, purposefully, along the stark white hallway outside of the Cloisters. His once fine robes were torn and tattered. There were dark smears left by the young man's bloodied, dirtied, bruised hands along the shining, smooth white floor as he made his painful escape.

Breathing shallowly, Theta was too exhausted to drag himself further, and struggled to pull himself up against the nearby wall to his left, settling into a seated position with fatigued resignation.

Staring out blankly at the stark white wall across from his prone position, the pale Time Youth blinked a few times, before starting to laugh.

Slowly at first, then louder, and louder.

Theta's almost maniacal laughter mingling with the growing noise of the sounding Cloister Bells, at last alerting the rest of the population of Gallifrey that something had taken place in the Matrix.

Theta felt a firm grip of his shoulders, and, looking upwards stared into blue eyes framed by a crimson veil. He fell forward into the figure's arms and continued to laugh as the slender, veiled figure held him gently, rocking Theta soothingly until the Time Youth collapsed against them into unconsciousness.

Thank you for reading. The second chapter will be up soon.