IV

Borusa suspiciously side-eyed Koschei immediately as he strolled the Deca common room.

The aforementioned Junior Time Lord, wrapped in a crimson night-robe, was perched on a curved, dark orange plush chair, nearby to the artificial fire-pit in the middle of the sunken lounge. A large, Sol-3 tome was angled upon the left arm rest as Koschei lazily took a sip from the goblet of spiced Thrybien wine in his right hand, before turning a yellowed page of the book with his left.

"You should be in your quarters at this hour, Koschei." Borusa voiced pointedly.

Koschei looked calmly up at his friend's grandfather, looming above near the dark brown marble steps that lead down to the sunken lounge, with an agreeing nod of his head.

"I should, yes." Koschei went back to his book. "But Thete has gone all moony-eyed and chatty over some girl. I couldn't take much more of his prattling, so I came out here to read."

A raised eyebrow of surprise came from Borusa, "A girl?!" He exclaimed, louder than he intended, making Koschei raise his gaze up to smirk at the frazzled Jurist, before Borusa composed himself and cleared his throat. "Who is she?"

Shrugging, Koschei took another sip of his wine, "Go ask him yourself, Mentor Borusa. I'm all ready sick of her name." He glanced back down at his book to avoid the glare of his silver haired mentor.

Borusa growled, but didn't press the issue, and instead walked off to his right, towards where the Deca's sleeping quarters were located, heading straight to the location of the room his grandson shared with his best friend.

Pressing the door panel, as it slid across, Borusa observed Theta sitting in the middle of the floor upon the fine woven scarlet and orange rug, strumming his candonwood perigosto stick. Clad only in his dark scarlet sleep-pants, Borusa's fair-haired grandson cut an almost romantic figure as he hummed away to himself.

"Theta."

Pale blue eyes looked up with a sudden serious expression as Theta's musings were interrupted, "Yes, Grandfather?" He questioned breezily.

Borusa folded his arms. Not for the first time did he see Ulysses' first incarnation almost reborn in his youngest grandchild's almost fully grown features, but there was also a dreamy nature to Theta that was far removed from Ulysses serious practicality.

It's Sol-3 human to have such a personality...

"Koschei tells me you all but drove him out of here, because you wouldn't stop talking about a girl?" Borusa finally managed to get out, watching as Theta put aside his perigosto stick and got to his feet.

"I swear he's turning into such a drama queen," Theta muttered, before readdressing his solemn grandfather. "I didn't drive Koschei out, Grandfather...at least not on purpose. I was just—"

Borusa held up his hand to halt his grandson mid-sentence, "Who is she?"

Exhaling, Theta folded his arms over his bare chest. "Melialeirionmoria."

Raising his eyebrows in surprise, Borusa leaned forward to look down at his slender grandson, "President Jostin's daughter?"

When Theta nodded in response, Borusa almost smiled, but instead cleared his throat and clasped his hands together.

"Good. Very good." Borusa replied, openly pleased. "Well done."

Theta blinked, "Pardon?" He questioned, as Borusa walked over to sit down at one of the desk chairs, looking over at his grandson as he folded his arms.

"Are you two courting, Theta?"

Hesitating a moment, the fair-haired Junior Time Lord finally nodded, "She agreed we could start." Theta admitted.

Borusa actually smiled, "Good. I'm proud of you, boy." He unfolded his arms and started drumming his fingers on the chair's armrests. "This could be quite the match. Excellent for your future career."

Theta pushed back his hair from his eyes, "We're still very young, Grandfather, and it's only courting. We won't be eligible for marriage for another few decades, not until we're both Time Lord ranked." He reminded his overly zealous grandparent, who nodded, clearly only half-listening.

"Yes, yes." Borusa was continuing to drum his thin fingers on the armrests. "A good influence...political advantages...I'd hoped something might come of you two meeting...however, after the accident I was beginning to have my doubts...but now." He looked over at Theta. "Well done, boy."

Half-lidding his eyes, Theta walked over to sit on the edge of his bed, "I'm glad I'm back on your good approval, Grandfather." He mentioned succinctly, as his grandfather got to his feet and walked towards the door.

"Yes, excellent work, Theta." Borusa was clearly too far gone in his own thoughts to pay any attention to the side-eyeing of his grandson. "I'm glad to see the disruptive events of twenty years ago have clearly past. You're back to working hard to achieve your career goals—"

Theta got to his feet, "That's not true, Grandfather." He interrupted his rambling grandparent and mentor, Borusa mildly turning his head to regard his scowling grandson. "I don't care about any 'career goals'. I like Melia. I like her very much."

Borusa shrugged, "It is good that you feel that way. It is better to choose your marriage partner on mutual feelings, rather than purely selfish reasons." He walked over and patted Theta's shoulder. "You just got lucky with this girl that you can have it both ways, didn't you, boy?"

Setting his jaw, Theta forced a smile, "I expect so." He managed between clenched teeth, at this point willing to agree on anything for Borusa to depart his sleeping quarters.

"Of course it is so." Borusa turned on his heel. "I expect I'll be hearing from President Jostin sometime soon. We can begin to start laying the plans for your future with his daughter...perhaps I'll contact him tomorrow morning to arrange a suitable gathering for us to cement these plans." He stepped out of the open door and looked back at Theta.

"You have made some valuable steps in redeeming our family's name and place in our society, Theta, both politically and socially. I am very proud of you."

Theta inclined his head as Borusa breezed his way down the hallway, then shook his head and scowled as he heard chuckling from behind him. Glancing over his shoulder, Theta observed Koschei leaning against the wall behind him, his large tome tucked under his arm and a wide smirk on his face.

"I take it old Borusa was thrilled with the news, then?" Koschei commented with a further laugh at Theta's eye-roll.

"And I suppose I have you to thank for dropping the news to him in the first place?" Theta responded sardonically, as Koschei breezed past his room-mate into their room.

"You're very welcome, best friend." Koschei replied. "It looks like things are finally get a lot more interesting around here for you..." he dumped his book down on a desk and looked over at Theta, who was leaning against the door-frame and rubbing his eyes with a groan, with a devious grin.

"...and at the very least they're bound to be far more amusing for the rest of us."

-:-:-:-

Standing outside of the Presidential apartments in the Citadel at twilight, three days after the arrangements were made to discuss Theta and Melia's courting, Borusa, dressed impeccably in his best scarlet and orange robes of state and skullcap (but minus the collar.) was adjusting his grandson's half-cloak with a sigh.

Theta was dressed to match the scarlet and orange of his grandfather, his scarlet breeches, knee-high dark brown boots and cream coloured shirt (laced at the top.) was matched by a dark orange half-cloak, (that Borusa was currently fussing with,) embroidered with a metallic scarlet around the edges, and subtly flocked with the symbol of Rassilon in a lighter orange.

His hair neatly braided back in a single braid at the nape of his neck, Theta kept a calm expression as Borusa finished fussing with the cape and looked him over.

"You do look so much like your father when he was your age," Borusa muttered, before clearing his throat. "All right. Straighten your shoulders, and keep silent until spoken to for a change, Theta. Remember what we talked about earlier. There are certain things that are always discussed between Time Lord families in order to allow couples to court one another, especially between us Prydonians."

Theta inclined his head, "Yes, Grandfather." He concurred, thinking that the usually benign expression Borusa usually wore in these situations seemed slightly askew, looking subtly more nervous than he would ever let on to his grandson.

Reaching over to press the visitor announcing panel, Borusa then took a step back to stand next to his grandson as the door slid across after a moment, revealing President Jostin, (dressed in his white presidential robes) his wife Lady Ambrosia, (dressed in a fitted, light scarlet jumpsuit with darker scarlet edging,) and, standing slightly behind them, Melia.

Dressed in an ankle-length, short-sleeved gown of silky satin fabric in scarlet, with a band of dark orange around Melia's slender waist, her dark hair was braided around her head like a crown, and dotted with tiny golden orbs.

Melia's kohl lined eyes crinkled in the corners and her coral coloured lips turned up in a slight smirk when she saw the way Theta was staring over at her while Borusa, Jostin and Ambrosia formally greeted one another. And then Melia's smirk turned to a full blow silent laugh when her father cleared his throat, causing Theta to jump to attention and look up at him.

"How goes your day, Junior Time Lord Theta Sigma?" Jostin offered out his right hand and the younger man clasped his upper arm in greeting.

"Well and fine, as I hope both your day is today, and the night may do so as well." Theta responded with an incline of his head, before releasing Jostin's grasp and turning to incline his head to Lady Ambrosia, a light-brown haired, green-eyed, almost replica of her daughter, and taking her hand to kiss it. "And further greetings of the same to you, Lady Ambrosia."

Ambrosia flashed a smile, "And you as well, young Junior Time Lord." She offered out her arm. "Escort me to the dining room and we can talk some more." Ambrosia caught Theta's subtle eye movements across to Melia and chuckled. "I promise my daughter is going no where. Come and talk to your potential future mother-in-law, young man."

Theta flushed a little, but duly linked his arm through Ambrosia's and let the Time Lady glide him along the polished wooden floor of the entrance hallway, the rest of their party following behind them.

"So, Theta Sigma," Ambrosia patted the arm Theta had linked with her own. "We've been hearing quite the stories about you lately, young man. They're quite in contrast to the tales we'd previously heard about you being a serious, well behaved Time Youth." She mentioned conversely, her green eyes curious as she looked up at the Junior Time Lord, Theta looking slightly a taken back.

"Well, Lady Ambrosia—" Theta began, glancing back over at Melia, who looked over at her father for assistance.

"Honestly Ambrosia," Jostin interrupted his wife mildly, as he sided up beside Theta and rested a hand on the boy's shoulder. "Theta's a young man in his last years at the Academy now. Being a little more adventurous than his peers just shows he has greater strength of character."

Ambrosia pursed her lips slightly, "I would agree in any other circumstances, Jostin, but if I remember Lord Ulysses was an adventurous one, and that only ended—"

"Ah, but my dear Ambrosia," Jostin intervened, stepping around and resting his hand on Ambrosia's free arm. "Theta Sigma barely knew his father, and I've got it on good authority been raised much more strictly by Jurist Borusa."

Borusa inclined his head as Ambrosia looked around to regard the middle-aged Time Lord, "You may hear this from the very source, Lady Ambrosia. I took not only much stricter liberties with Theta's raising than with his father's upbringing, I have also gone out of my way to oversee all of his studies as well. You may be confident in that Theta is nothing like his father."

Ambrosia nodded, turning back and patting Theta's arm again as she looked up at him. "Well, he obviously got his parents good looks at the very least. It does a potential mother-in-law good to see her grand-Time Tots could get those lovely blue eyes." She continued to lead Theta along into the dining room.

"Now we've gotten that out of the way, we'll no longer talk on the subject. Let us sit down and discuss a much more pleasant subject, these two young things beginning their courting."

The black, glossy, panelled walled dinning room, containing the long, stark white marble rectangle table in the centre, paired with high-backed matching chairs in marble with soft black cushioning, bore witness to Borusa of Lungbarrow, and Jostin and Ambrosia of Fordfarding laying out the courting plans for their youngest grandson and only daughter respectively.

Sitting on opposite sides of the table, seated beside their respective guardians, Theta stole a quick glance over Melia and flashed her a small smile, before rolling his eyes. Melia matched his smile and eye roll, as they both turned to look over at their guardians continuing to lay out their plans.

"...they're both still very young, so any plans for marriage will not be for at least three to four decades, of course." Jostin proclaimed firmly. "I won't have my daughter being burdened with any family responsibilities before she's established her career, and I would not wish that upon Theta Sigma either. Regardless of the little contact they will have with their Time Tots, the first eight years are vital."

Borusa inclined his head, "Naturally so. We must strive to continue the traditions of our proud culture. I concur on all points." He tapped the hologram document in front of them. Ambrosia regarded Theta across the table with a careful expression.

"While we're on the subject of the continuing of our family lineage. The Fordfardings have always been opposed to Looming, as we've seen it cause many problems, both physically and mentally." Jostin continued further.

"We would rather Melia remain without progeny, as you are no doubt aware, Looming has been made illegal under my presidential reign as a point. Any Time Tots will have to be incubated in the artificial wombs, as our Time Lord ancestors have done for the past few millenniums."

Borusa inclined his head, "Naturally. You don't have to worry about that from our side of the Lungbarrow family. My parental and maternal lineage, and my children's maternal lineage also, is without the blemish of Looming. Only several of my paternal cousins were selfish enough to indulge in such activities."

Ambrosia remained with her piercing green gaze on Theta, "What of the boy's maternal lineage? I've heard several scandalous suggestions over the years?" She tilted her head as she regarded Borusa.

Melia looked over and raised her eyebrows at Theta, who grimaced slightly and lowered his gaze. This was a subject rarely broached by anyone outside of the Lungbarrow house, out of politeness or something akin to morbid curiosity unvoiced.

Borusa shook his head, "Nothing scandalous at all. Lady Plelais, the mother of my eldest grandson, Irving Braxiatel, was also Theta's mother. Plelais and Ulysses had a fetus prepared before her untimely passing. And thus Theta was incubated a few decades later." He explained smoothly.

Ambrosia smiled sympathetically over at the plain faced Theta, "I apologise from bringing up such a sensitive subject, Theta Sigma. Raised without a mother and an exiled father, you are fortunate to have such a grandfather who has taken such diligent care of you."

Theta inclined his head, "I'm very grateful, Lady Ambrosia." He responded automatically, now knowing how far his grandfather had planned for further events was evident in the lies he was spinning about his maternal lineage...and he wasn't sure how well these lies sat with him.

Jostin cleared his throat, "Well, we have a few more things to work out here, but I have no doubt the children are feeling stifled. Melia, take young Theta Sigma for a stroll around the gardens will you?" He suggested kindly.

Melia got to her feet and smiled at her father, moving around to the other side of the table to offer out her hand, "Come along, Thete," she encouraged. Theta took Melia's offered hand and stood up, wordlessly allowing the young woman to escort him out of the dining room as his thoughts continued to trouble him.

-:-:-:-

Later that evening, back in the Deca quarters of the Prydonian chapter of the Time Lord Academy, Theta, clad now only in his scarlet coloured sleep-pants, lay back on his single bed, staring up at the coloured photograph he held just above his narrowed blue eyes.

What Grandfather said...I know he was making sure that the courtship could go ahead...and no one outside of the family should know...would ever know…

"Who are they?"

Almost jumping out of his skin, Theta sat up and looked up at where Koschei was standing over him, tomes tucked under his left arm, looking down at the Sol-3 photograph curiously in his friend's grasp.

"Is that a Sol-3….what do they call it...photographic print?" Koschei lent closer and Theta cleared his throat.

"Yes. You can't tell Borusa. Irving smuggled it to me when I was in the hospital after...well...twenty years ago." Theta offered out the photograph to Koschei, who took it, looking down at it curiously. "It's my father."

Koschei lifted up his gaze with surprise, "Really? He's regenerated then." He looked back down at the photograph. "I had heard that regeneration is forced upon exiles. Who is the female next to him?"

Theta cleared his throat, "A work colleague. He's teaching at a university on Earth—Sol-3, according to Irving." He took back the photograph and Koschei raised a dark eyebrow.

"I see. The woman in the image wouldn't be a human mate he's taken in his exile, would she?" Koschei suggested, walking over and sitting down at a chair at one of the desks, tossing his pile of books onto the desk carelessly.

Shrugging, Theta slid the photograph back in his copy of The Time Machine, "I wouldn't know, and Irving didn't say," he mumbled out the lie.

Koschei yawned, "Well, humans look Time Lord at the very least. But the thought is still a very strange one, they're only one step up from their primordial ooze, compared with us, in almost all other respects." He said dismissively. "Fascinating to watch develop, though. I suppose your father's okay amongst them, being an anthropologist."

Theta shrugged again and turned around, "I expect so. I'm going to sleep. It's been a long day." He managed, not wanting to continue this conversation with Koschei that was starting to irritate him in a way Theta hadn't really thought about before...or at least since he had been a young Time Tot.

"Of course. How did meeting the parents go, Thete?" Koschei inquired boredly, turning around and opening up one of the books on his desk. "Fascinating political drivel, mixed in with discussion on how big of a residence you two love flubbles are going to need to raise your future little politicians?"

Theta rolled back over to glare at Koschei's back, "You know I'm not going into politics, Koschei. As I told you and The Corsair so a month ago at the Drylander pub."

Koschei glanced over his shoulder, "You say as much, then you're making plans to court the President of Gallifrey's daughter." He turned back to his book. "Face it, Thete, you've gone and dug yourself back into a hole, precisely where you grandfather wanted you in the first place. Now, instead of one authority figure trying to control your future, you're going to have two."

Theta pressed his face into his pillow, "It's not like that." His voice was muffled. "Melia knows that I don't want to go into politics, and she says she'll stay beside me, regardless of what I choose to do."

Koschei chuckled, "You must really like this Junior Time Lady to go though all this, don't you? And likewise for her." He mentioned conversely. "It must be nice to have someone to stand and face the world with...we were like that, once."

"Yes," Theta lifted up his head from his pillow. "When we were Time Tots. We've all go to grow up sometime, Koschei." He smiled. "It still doesn't stop you from being my best friend."

Glancing over his shoulder, Koschei sighed deeply, "Don't get overly sentimental on me, Thete. You're not married yet...Hell, we haven't even managed to graduate out of this tedious place either." He pointed out dryly, closing his book with a shake of his head. "Let the future figure it all out."

-:-:-:-

"Melia, this is crazy."

Turning her hooded gaze to the side, Melia looked up at her wary, paternal first cousin.

Rayaperseplia was almost the direct opposite of Melia. Taller by at least five inches, dark-blonde haired and pale, but with the same dark brown eyes, and their hair was both worn in simple braids down their back. Rayaperseplia personality, also, was almost the direct opposite of cousin, restrained where Melia went in head first, cautious as opposed to bold. The only thing the same aged cousins, (raised together practically like sisters,) had in common most of the time was a shared sense of humour.

Something Rayaperseplia was sorely lacking that night, as they had sneaked out into the open, red-grassed fields outside of the Prydonian chapter of the Time Lord Academy, quietly bemoaning the events that had lead to this moment.

"Sneaking out to meet your boyfriend, and what's left of the Deca, at a bonfire party, in the middle of a field, in the middle of the night? Why did I agree to come along?"

Melia wrapped her arm around her cousin's thin shoulders, "Raya, you couldn't let me go alone. You're my cousin and my best friend, you couldn't let me march out at this time of night all by myself." She pointed out. "Besides, you haven't met Theta yet, really. You'll like him, won't you?"

Raya furrowed her brow as they continued to stroll along, "You certainly seem to like him very much, so I'll try my best." She sighed. "I was with you when you went to see him in the hospital after the Cloister incident, remember? You were a mess. I even knew back then, if he recovered, there was a chance of Theta Sigma being your intended."

Melia smiled, "You think we suit each other, Raya?"

"I have to meet Theta Sigma in person to make a full assessment, but you've been so happy since the courtship announcement, I'm guessing that it's so." Raya admitted primly, her expression mildly concerned. "I wonder, though, if the poor thing knows what he's gotten himself into."

"Raya!" Melia nudged her cousin with mock outrage, the two of them giggling as they walked along the tall grass lined path, looking up ahead they saw a slender figure in Prydonian Academy robes, holding a glow-rod in his left hand. Theta grinned as he went rushing towards the two Junior Time Ladies.

"Hello, hello!" Theta greeted, putting the arm clutching the glow-rod around Melia's shoulders, he kissed the top of her head, before holding out his free hand to Raya. "And you must be Rayaperseplia."

Raya took Theta's hand with a smile and a nod of her head, "I am. It's nice to meet you again after all this time." She replied simply.

Theta inclined his head as he dropped Raya's hand, "Thank you for coming with Melia. The party's just up ahead," He offered out his arms and the two Junior Time Ladies linked their arms through Theta's, the Junior Time Lord clearing his throat.

"Melia tells me you're studying universal anthropology, Rayaperseplia."

"Yes." Raya replied. "Your father's genius in this area is still highly regarded, despite his exile. You never had any interest in pursuing the subject yourself, Theta Sigma?"

Melia glanced up to see Theta pursing his lips.

"Only in passing. I never had the opportunity to know my father well enough to feel otherwise about his work, Rayaperseplia. And please, call me Thete." Theta added with slightly more lightness.

Raya inwardly cringed, "Of course. I apologise, Thete. Please call me Raya." She amended.

Theta shrugged his shoulders, "It's all right, Raya. I like hearing people mention my father in a good light," he smiled broadly. "He did a lot of respectable things in the biological science world, and I'm glad his contributions are still regarded highly."

Nodding, Raya smiled in return, "You're a very kind young man. If you don't mind me saying so, I'm sure your father is proud of you, wherever he is."

Theta inclined his head, "I hope so." He raised an eyebrow. "Do you always talk so formally, even around peers, Raya?" He grinned. "Relax, we'll be family soon. I'm going to need all the allies I can get in your family."

Raya actually let out a small laugh, which made Melia laugh in turn, "You're quite wicked, Thete. My Aunt has been bragging about you to both sides of the family. You know how my father and Melia's are twins, and then married twin sisters. Almost all of our family are making plans to meet you."

Melia poked her boyfriend's side, "And we have a lot of family." She added.

Raya nodded, "We sure do. Twins are very common in our family...and your father was a twin too, wasn't he?" She chuckled. "It looks like I could be getting another set of twin cousins at this rate."

Theta flushed slightly, "Possibly...I mean, we all came out as only Time Tots, but those odds," he looked stunned. "I hadn't thought about that..."

Melia laughed, "Thete, when we have Time Tots, they're going to have you wrapped around their fingers from day one." She looked over at Raya. "You should see him with the Time Tots from the primary chapter, they climb all over him like he's a candonwood tree."

Theta grinned and shrugged at the young women's laughter as they reached the crackling bonfire, where several of Theta's Deca alumni were pouring out tumblers of Ulterianan wine from a casket and making small talk. They glanced over at the approaching trio of Theta, Melia, and Raya, with interest.

"So you've finally brought your courting partner around, Thete." Magnus commented with a raised brow, then gave a sigh of indifference as he took a sip of wine. "Trust you to pick the President's daughter."

Jelpax punched Magnus' shoulder halfheartedly, and strolled over with Vansell and Drax in tow. "How do you do? I'm Jelpax, this is Drax, Vansell...and the grump by the wine casket is Magnus."

Melia inclined her head, "I'm Melia, and this is my cousin, Raya." She motioned to her cousin, Raya smiling in greeting.

Theta looked around, "Where's Koschei?"

Vansell thumbed behind them in the direction of a faded red, large cloth tent assembled off to the side of the bonfire, "He had enough of Magnus and went to go sulk in the tent with that big old tome he carries around with him everywhere lately."

Theta took Melia's hand in his own and headed towards the tent, Raya tailing behind them, ignoring the smirking expression Magnus threw her with an indignant frown, as she followed behind her cousin and intended towards the dimly lit tent.

Pushing aside the door panel, Theta strolled inside and marched over to his sulking, dark haired best friend, who was curled up in the corner of the tent with his favoured old tome, as was usually the case, clutched in his hands and his head hidden behind.

"Koschei! Get your big old head out of that book and come and meet my intended and her cousin." Theta encouraged boisterously as he marched across to stand over his room-mate, Melia's hand still firmly in his own as she stood beside him. Raya moved a little further into the tend and stood just behind her cousin and her intended.

Pulling down his book, Koschei looked up at the two Junior Time Lords looking down at him with a sigh, "Excuse my rudeness, Lady Melialeirionmoria." He got to his feet and offered out his hand. "Koschei of Oakdown. May I call you Melia?"

Melia smiled and inclined her head as she took his offered hand, Koschei kissed Melia's hand with well practised charm. "You may, Koschei. It's nice to finally meet you again."

Koschei smiled indulgently, "You as well, Melia. You're almost all Theta ever talks about," he lent forward. "I'm glad to see his foolish giddiness is not unfounded, you're quite obviously everything he brags about."

Melia laughed as Theta playfully punched Koschei's shoulder, "Oh I am, am I?" She glanced behind her and stepped aside to motion Raya forward. "Koschei, this is my cousin, Lady Rayaperseplia."

"How do you do?" Raya offered out her hand. "Everyone calls me Raya, if you'd prefer."

Koschei raised his eyebrows in a friendly manner as he took Raya's offered hand, "I very much do." He flashed a very wide smile. "The beauty of Fordfarding women seems firmly founded in truth. I've also heard your accomplishments are equally grand. What are you studying again, Raya?"

Raya blinked her eyes in surprise at Koschei's forwardness, as Theta hid a grin behind his hand and glanced aside at Melia, who looked back at him with an equally sneaky expression. "I'm currently studying universal anthropology." Raya revealed.

Koschei clasped his hands in the small of his back, "Oh. I happen to minor in universal anthropology. What do you think about Ulysses' theory of the origin of the Eternals?" He brought up. "Do you think they really exist, or, like the Guardians are no more than hearsay and myth?"

Raya shook her head, "I think we have to look beyond what we establish as universal truths, as Ulysses noted in his last published work. I believe all myth and legends have their basis in truth, however radical those truths might be."

Koschei nodded, "Oh quite so. Have you indulged in any discussions about the Great Vampire wars recently in your classes? The interference of Eternals is inferred in several texts, I believe."

"Oh yes," Raya began. "I believe it was Rassilon himself that..."

Theta inclined his head towards the tent door and Melia nodded, the two of them departing the tent, glancing back over at Koschei and Raya continuing their animated discussion on Eternals with amused expressions.

"I told you those two would suit each other," Melia pointed out, nudging her intended with her right elbow, as they walked back over to the bonfire. "Raya can be so serious sometimes and close herself off, but is so kind and playful once you get to know her, and when you said Koschei was just the same." She grinned. "You could end up as cousins-in-law."

Theta nodded, "I'd like that. You're quite the matchmaker, my dear." He sighed. "It would work out well, wouldn't it? Koschei and I have always been close. If he and Raya do hit it off, we would always be close. Our Time Tots could run together across the red grass fields of Oakdown, as Koschei and I used to."

Melia put Theta's arm around her shoulder and lent against his chest as they walked, "You speak so well and passionately." She murmured. "I know politics is not what you want, Thete, but—"

Theta's body stiffened, remembering Koschei's words from the previous night. "...you've gone and dug yourself back into a hole, precisely where you grandfather wanted you in the first place..."

"But what?" Theta interrupted in a low voice as he stopped mid-step.

Catching his tone, Melia looked up in surprise, "I...Thete. I just meant you speak so well. Perhaps you'd make a good mentor at the Academy, guiding young minds. Perhaps at the junior level, or the primary level, since Time Tots are so drawn to you." She explained.

Theta's expression changed, "Oh." He hugged Melia. "I'm sorry, it's just the pressure from Borusa, and then perhaps your father—"

"Theta Sigma!" Magnus' voice interrupted in a booming tone, his shadowy figure outlined by the light of the bonfire as he pointed over at his fellow Deca member. "You've been missing out on the games. Get over here!"

Sighing, Theta pulled away from Melia, and the two of them walked over to Magnus.

"Here I am, Magnus." Theta opened up his arms. "What game have you got for me?"

Magnus smirked and began circling the shorter Junior Time Lord. "You know, Theta, something that hasn't been attempted for quite a long time is what I have in mind." He halted and looked down smugly at Theta with a wide smirk. "You like a challenge, don't you? You've turned into quite the daredevil rebel lately."

Theta narrowed his eyes, "What are you contemplating, Magnus?"

Leaning forward so they were only an inch apart, Magnus' smirk grew even wider as he announced his challenge, "Eighth-Man-Bound."

Melia took in a sharp breath, "No!" She grabbed Theta's arm. "Theta Sigma don't you dare take him up on this."

Looking down contemplatively at his intended, Theta raised a fair eyebrow, "He has a point, Melia." He set his jaw confidently. "I can break the record. I take your dare, Magnus."

"What?" Melia let go of Theta's arm and stepped in front of him. "I can't let you do this. Why would you—?"

Theta rested his hands on Melia's shoulders, "Because I can do this, Melia. I'll be fine. I'm going to break the record, I know I can." He smiled deviously. "Won't Borusa be impressed?"

Melia shook her head, "You could hurt yourself...it hasn't been so long since the Cloisters, how can you think of doing something so foolish?" She grabbed his hands. "Don't do this!"

Shaking his head, Theta pulled away from Melia. "I'm going to do this because I can. How many times do I have to say it? Let's get started, Magnus." He sat down tailor style on the ground, pushing up his sleeves as Magnus sat down facing him in the same pose.

Jelpax lent down to Melia's ear level with a concerned expression, "Go get Koschei. If he won't listen to you, Koschei might be the only other person he would. Drax and I will try to talk Theta out of it while you're gone." He suggested in a low whisper.

Melia glanced up at Jelpax with an expression of thanks, before turning on her heel and rushing back towards the red fabric tent as fast as her booted feet could carry her. "Idiot, idiot, idiot." She muttered under her breath in worry. "He can't—he mustn't...by Rassilon…!"

Pushing aside the fabric panel, Melia burst in on her cousin and Koschei still conversing, but having switched to reclining on the woven carpets scattered over the ground and drinking goblets of wine.

"Why Melia, what's—" Raya began.

Melia lunged towards Koschei and grabbed his arm, "Quickly! Come with me now!" She interrupted her shocked cousin. "There's no time, please hurry."

Koschei got to his feet, "What is it?" He questioned quickly, noting the panic all over the dark haired Junior Time Lady's flushed features.

"Hurry, you have to stop Theta!" Melia explained. "Magnus has goaded him into playing Eighth-Man-Bound, and Thete's agreed to do it!"

"What?!" Koschei exclamation was breathy as he grabbing Melia's upper arms in surprise.

"They're all ready in position. Please, come with me, we have to try and stop this!" Melia pulled Koschei along as she ran out of the tent, Ray quickly following their racing steps back down the path to the bonfire.

As the trio reached the bonfire area, Drax and Jelpax met them.

"We've been trying, but nothing will get through to either one of them." Drax admitted with a helpless shrug.

Koschei marched right over to Theta and Magnus with a snarl, before he lunged at Magnus and grabbed his robe front, pulling him to his feet, "Magnus you bloody, conniving bastard—!"

Magnus laughed up at Koschei, "It's too late." He inclined his head to Theta, who's eyes were firmly shut, a radiant golden glow beginning to encapsulate the Junior Time Lord. "He's all ready in the trance. It's all ready begun."

"No!" Melia exclaimed, flinging herself forward, only to be held back by Jelpax and Raya.

Raya shook her head at her struggling cousin, "You can't. He's surrounded by regeneration energy. You know the radiation would harm anyone who try to touch him." She explained quietly, but firmly.

Magnus nodded, "She's right, Melia. Have confidence in your intended, he needs your support." He straightened his robes as he pulled away from the glowering Koschei. "And mind yourself, all of you, since my voice is the only one that can end Theta's trance."

"Do it then." Koschei growled. "Do it now."

Magnus shrugged and lent down to Theta's level, while keeping half-a-foot distance. "First regeneration, Second incarnation." He began, everyone cried out in dismay.

"I swear to Rassilon, I am going to kill you, Magnus!" Koschei exclaimed.

Pointing at Theta, Magnus smirked. "He's in my power. Did you not hear me, Theta Sigma? First regeneration, now."

Theta turned his head upwards to regard Magnus, his eyes remaining shut. "I see...will I actually grow that old…? There's a light…then dark hair...recorder..." his expression twisted, his voice different. "...oh my giddy Aunt…!"

Magnus cleared his throat, "Second regeneration, Third incarnation." He continued blithely.

"Stop it!" Melia demanded.

"The High Council is upset...you can't just...what are you doing...tall, grey haired...sharp nose...shoes..." Theta let out a quiet breath, "...where there's life, there's..." He halted his talking and Melia took a step forward towards Magnus.

"I won't let you do this!" Melia grabbed a hold of Magnus arm and shook him. "Stop this right now!"

Magnus shook his head firmly, "I couldn't if I wanted to now. Look," he pointed at the still glowing Theta. "He's not come out of the trance himself. I have to continue until he brings himself out now. The shock otherwise could kill him on the spot."

Melia felt faint as fear began to drain the colour from her features, "Do it then." She whispered in painful resolve as she let go of Magnus. "Continue."

Magnus inclined his head, "Third regeneration, Fourth incarnation."

Theta let out a deep laugh, startling the gather group and even shocking Koschei out of his nervous pacing. "Curly brown hair...quite tall again...the nose is a definite improvement...it's the end, but the moment has been prepared for..." he breathed out hard again and his head slumped forward, but Theta's eyes remained shut.

Raya rested her hand on Melia's shoulder comfortingly as Magnus pushed back his hair from his forehead, even he looked hesitant as he continued. "Fourth regeneration, Fifth Incarnation."

Theta's head straightened and he looked solemn, "Blond again...youthful...that's the problem with regeneration, you never know what...different this time..." he shook his head, the group of Junior Time Lords collectively wondering if this was last from Theta's words.

"Fifth regeneration, Sixth incarnation." Magnus intoned cautiously.

Theta smirked, "Blond again...curly though...change my dear, and not a moment..." he sat up straighter, pointing a finger. "...corrupt!...carrot juice..." Theta groaned as he threw his head back, making Koschei clench his nails harder into his palms in frustration.

Raya lent her head on Melia's shoulder, deliberately obscuring her vision of Theta twisting in pain, her slightly older cousin stood firmly with her eyes fixed her her intended, silently pleading him to come out of this horrific experience unscathed and soon.

Even Magnus had the good graces to look guilty as he cleared his throat, "Sixth regeneration, Seventh incarnation."

Theta's head snapped forward again, a smirk on his face. "Sly...shorter...dark haired...Oh that was a nice nap...I gotta stop him!" He exclaimed, his legs slipping out from his tailor position as he jumped to his feet.

Magnus took several steps back out of unvoiced apprehension, "Seventh regeneration, Eighth incarnation." The Junior Time Lord shook his head as he added in a low whisper: "Eighth-Man-Bound."

Melia clung to her cousin tightly as she watched her intended spread out his arms.

"I...I can't see my own face...who am I?!" Theta shook his fair haired head in frustration. "Who am I?!" He yelled, the glow fading away from his form and he collapsed on the ground. Theta's eyes snapped open as he looked up at the sky. "Stars..." he whispered, before his eyes sealed tight again and he breathed out.

"...Melia..."

Letting out a cry of relief, Melia raced to Theta's side and pulled his prone form to her, resting his head upon her lap she glared up at the rest of the group as they came closer. "Call the medics! Bring the medics!" She rested her head against Theta's sweating brow.

Jelpax shook his head, "It's too risky, his breathing is all ready laboured," he sighed. "Quickly, we'll have to carry him back and get him into the infirmary immediately."

Rushing to Theta's side, Koschei shouldered his prone best friend and looked gratefully over as Jelpax took Theta's other arm, but the dark haired Junior Time Lord snarled as Magnus stepped forward.

"Don't you even think about—"

Drax shook his head as he interrupted, "Koschei, we'll need his strength so we can hurry back with Thete faster." He intervened quickly.

Koschei narrowed his eyes and turned his head away with an angry glare.

The Decca hoisted up their unconscious comrade, Drax and Magnus grabbing Theta's legs, and Koschei and Jelpax draping Theta's arms around their necks as they set off at a quick pace, trying not to jostle Theta too much.

Raya and Melia rushed behind the male Junior Time Lords, Melia fighting back hot tears of worry as they sped across the red grassy planes.

Theta Sigma, I know there's something you're hiding from me that makes you so damn reckless...and by Rassilon you will regain your consciousness and tell me what it is!

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Thank you for reading. The next chapter will be along soon.