Coninabeldanyr raised her left arm to shield her eyes from the blistering heat. None of her instructors had mentioned regeneration as being so violent, but then again, most regenerations, especially in the newer Houses, were trigged by choice. Another finger of flame shot out, singeing her hair. "Aveanomaitanirr!" she screamed.

"Not now," he yelled back.

The steaming heat lessened slightly, and Coninabeldanyr lowered her arm. Golden light hid the fallen Time Lord from view, sharpening into a humanoid shape. "Well, I admit that was a fascinating experience," Euraiunoreyntæƾ stated as his new body began to take shape. "I must record my experience for a special report to the Academy. Coninabeldanyr, why are you looking at me like that?"

She covered her mouth. "You—you—"

"What is it? Am I now bicraniumial?" Euraiunoreyntæƾ reached up and patted her forehead. "Only one. Aveanomaitanirr, your vertical dimensions seem to have increased by a factor of .8342, but your horizontal dimensions-"

"You're a baby," Coninabeldanyr burst out laughing. "You don't even look old enough for the Academy."

Euraiunoreyntæƾ scowled. "Impossible, the regeneration process—"

"Little baby looks so cute when he uses big words, yes he does."

"Aveanomaitanirr, do I really look like a baby?"

"I think we have more important things to deal with right now. The TARDIS is still crashing. Rhanassastarchor's staser damaged some of the dials, and the Council must have locked others. I'll need your help to stabilize our flight pattern. Coninabeldanyr, take these sides; Euraiunoreyntæƾ, the other two—"

Euraiunoreyntæƾ pulled himself to a standing position, nearly tripping over his oversized robes. "I can't reach the controls!"

"Find a box or something."

Euraiunoreyntæƾ crossed his arms. "Just because I have temporarily regressed is no reason to question my intelligence."

"I've been doing that since the beginning of this trip!" Coninabeldanyr smirked.

"Now is not the time for this," Aveanomaitanirr yelled.

Fifteen minutes later, with the aid of Coninabeldanyr and Euraiunoreyntæƾ (who found a box), Aveanomaitanirr stabilized the flight pattern. "It will take all available power, but the TARDIS will be able to make three stops."

"Three?"

"One for each of us."

"Why?" Coninabeldanyr gasped. "It's not safe to separate."

"Rhanassastarchor will be searching for us. He'll find three more easily than one."

"But the Time Ring—he'll be back on Gallifrey," Coninabeldanyr replied.

"Even though I couldn't destroy it, the sonic blast damaged the power circuits. He wouldn't be able to return to Gallifrey, even if they had meant for him to return."

"You think the ring was a trick?"Euraiunoreyntæƾ rolled up his sleeves, trying to walk without stumbling.

"Why would the council send him with us unless they wanted to exile him as well? I suspect Naludan saw Rhanassastarchor's aspirations as a threat to his own position."

"Even if we separate, Rhanassastarchor can still find a Time Lord. Especially an eight-year-old one." For the first time, fear shaded Euraiunoreyntæƾ's eyes.

"I know," Aveanomaitanirr pulled a lever, releasing something from the overhead storage units. "That's why we'll have to use the chameleon arch."

"Become human?"

"A level-two species?" Euraiunoreyntæƾ moaned.

"Not exactly. I managed to reach their twentieth century, where they're a level five planet. We'll be safer as humans, anyway. Remember that hospital on Rahticia?" All three shuddered. "If we're humans, the odds of becoming lab specimens are much lower."

"I still don't think it's a good idea." Euraiunoreyntæƾ shuddered. "They're so primitive."

"You'll grow up faster as a human."

"Oh, well, if you put it that way…I'll go first."

"Coninabeldanyr, keep an eye on the TARDIS." Aveanomaitanirr nodded, adjusting the fit of the arch. "It might be a bit loose, but it will still work."

Euraiunoreyntæƾ shuffled over, careful not to trip on his robes. He stood statue-still as Aveanomaitanirr fastened the arch on his head.

"It rewrites every cell in your body—this will hurt." Aveanomaitanirr warned.

"Worse than a staser? I doubt it."

Aveanomaitanirr took a deep breath, secured the fob watch, and flicked the switch.