By the time the four of them returned to the Academy, Koschei looked as good as new. Nella joked that it was because of the regeneration energy that was beginning to develop in him ever since his one hundredth birthday.
They all had the same begin happening to them. It was the same as what happened to all the other students at the Academy. On the entire day of their one hundredth birthday, their eyes glowed golden and occasionally bursts of golden energy darted out of their hands. It was the only thing that announced to everyone when people's birthdays were. Nella explained, as Tirin screamed whenever the energy erupted from his hands, that it would happen every year in the future. At their Naming Ceremony the process would be quickened and they'd receive the rest of the energy at once.
Nella and Iota went back to their rooms, teasing Koschei and Theta until they separated. Almost immediately Iota went tense. No pain had come the entire time she was dealing with the TARDIS, but she knew it had to come at some point. The pain couldn't have just left. She had tried to pretend she wasn't worrying about anything for her brother and Koschei.
Nella didn't seem to notice that Iota went silent. She seemed happy to go between cursing the two boys who had woken them up in the middle of the night to being amazed at what they had just done. It was impressive.
Iota fell onto her bed the moment they entered the room, slamming her face against the pillow. That didn't deter Nella from speaking until her voice faded away into sleep. It was more difficult for Iota to speak, though that may have been from her face being pressed into the pillow and her unwillingness to move..
Even though it had been so long since she last touched the console, her body was tense as she breathed into the pillow. She clenched the blanket beneath her and her teeth began to grind, preparing herself for the certain onslaught of pain.
But it felt like the TARDIS had given her a gift. By holding back, it kept the pain away. She wanted to rush back and thank it, even though she knew it would be the worst idea ever to do so. It was dangerous to go the first time; the second time would be even worse. All she could do would be to whisper thanks in her mind.
Somehow, there was a buzz in her mind like the TARDIS was acknowledging that she had realized what happened even though she was no longer inside it.
-I-
The moment her eyes flew awake the next morning, Iota waited for pain to hit. But still, there was nothing. Not even the buzz from the TARDIS she had felt the night before. Her mind was empty and still.
Nella seemed to have lost most of the excitement she had when they hurried back to their room. She, though clearly tired, was prepared to begin another day. They were both yawning as Nella lead the way to the dining hall for breakfast.
Tirin was sitting at the normal table. For once, he was more awake then the two girls. He looked surprised to see how tired they were. "How late did you stay up last night? Did I forget to do something?"
"Theta and Koschei arrived in the middle of the night with a kidnapped Rosi that we brought back to Zouti. Iota piloted." Nella leaned on her elbows. "So yes, we're rather tired."
"You piloted?" Tirin widened his eyes. Iota knew they would be having a conversation about it later.
Iota shrugged. "I do have a one hundred percent in the class."
There was a loud bang and everyone's attention was brought to an entrance door to the dining hall; it was one that only professors came through. A small group of Time Lords strolled in with clear anger on their faces. "A Rosi has gone missing from the labs," the Time Lord in the front said. His eyes were cold and they swept across the room. "We know one of you stole it. What we don't know is which one."
Nella and Iota glanced across the room to where Theta and Koschei sat. The two boys were doing a good job at pretending they didn't know what was going on.
"It would solve quite a few problems if the culprit could confess currently." No student moved. A few coughed. "Very well. The TARDIS used will be scanned. The one of you that did this will be punished even more severely now that you have not confessed." With a swipe of their robes, the Time Lords turned and stalked out of the room.
Immediately the room was filled with whispers. Iota could only giggle and when she looked to Theta and Koschei she found that the boys were feverously whispering to their fellow Deca members. The other members seemed impressed; the boys must have been telling them what happened. Ushas hit Theta on his head with a napkin.
"What are you going to do? The two of you will get in trouble as well after they look at the TARDIS records." Tirin glanced between the two. He seemed much more worried than the members of the Deca.
Nella started to wring her hands and bit her lips, mumbling about how their lives would be destroyed and they would be kicked out of the Academy. Tirin quickly began to try and calm her down. Iota closed her eyes and focused. It was a hunch, but something inside her felt that if she focused every aspect of her mind she would be able to do something to help. She didn't know what would happen but it felt like it would help.
Something jumped painfully in her head, but it wasn't great pain. The buzzing she had heard the night before arrived. Slowly, the buzzing formed into a quiet voice.
"What do you need of me?" The voice blended almost entirely with the buzzing, but she was able to make out the words when she blocked out every other sound. It sounded feminine and almost as though it was singing.
Iota wasn't able to respond with a voice in her mind, but she directed her attention to the idea of deleting the visible records on the TARDIS. There was a sharp pain behind her eyes and her vision flooded red for a moment.
The voice felt as though it nodded and then it left with the feeling that it rested its hand on her forehead. The touch was cold. Red peppered Iota's eyesight as she reopened her eyes to watch Tirin giving Nella a comforting hug.
Iota had no idea if she had actually done anything to help; it was perfectly logical that it had only happened inside her head and it had no effect on the world around. But the small pain that jolted the back of her mind, spreading like fire before vanishing, told her otherwise.
It was almost as though she had the bond with TARDISes that the Hunter and Percy still believed she did.
-I-
It was only during the second study period of the day, when Nella worked with Ulysses, that Tirin and Iota were able to have any type of conversation alone. They made certain to sit a few tables away.
"Are you alright?" Tirin reached for the hand that rested on the table. "Did anything happen?"
Iota shook her head. "That's the strange thing. Nothing happened. No pain. It was just like I knew how to fly the TARDIS already. I could have passed the test for a license then and there."
Tirin squeezed the hand. "I'm glad you're okay. But be even more careful next time, if there is a next time." He laughed quietly. "I know there will be thanks to your brother. But I don't want you to get hurt again."
She smiled in thanks. "Thank you. Theta and Koschei didn't seem to fully be worrying. They were more focused on the Rosi."
"Now there's something I don't believe." They laughed loudly, but were made to fall silent because of the glares the students the next table over sent towards them. Tirin's face fell. "What's going to happen when they find out you were there? How much trouble are you going to get in?"
"We will likely get kicked out." Iota glanced at Nella. The girl was as bright as she always was when working with Ulysses. They appeared to be holding a conversation in 51st century Italian. "Nella will be devastated."
Iota could tell that Tirin wanted to comfort her, but he couldn't do so without lying. All he could do would be to reach for her hand and squeeze it tightly before returning to their work.
-I-
The next few days were spent with Nella and Iota shying away from every professor that walked towards them. They expected every word out of a professor's mouth to be telling them that it was discovered they assisted in the kidnapping of the Rosi. Time Lords would surround them and they would be escorted away to vanish just like Kado.
But all that happened was the kinder ones gave them slight nods of respect as they passed in the halls and the others did nothing, looking over the girls' heads as though they weren't there. Nella and Iota would let out the breaths they had been holding every time.
They would discuss what was happening every night sitting across from each other on their beds. Iota was only able to shrug and say she had no idea what was happening. Nella scribbled in her notebook every idea that drifted into her head and she shared them with Iota eagerly. However, after reading them out loud, she scribbled over the page and started over.
None of the theories lasted that long. When Nella and Iota went to talk to Theta and Koschei about what happened, the boys were thankful rather than questioning. Nella scolded Koschei more than she scolded Theta about it. His excuse was that he didn't want to press anything and engager their luck.
After a few days Iota began to smile internally as she made her way through the Academy. Something had happened when she had focused and the voice arrived. Somehow, she had contacted the TARDIS they had used and it had stopped the Time Lords from figuring out who used it.
Nella had the idea to casually ask Ulysses how the search was going in the library one day. Theta and Koschei sat a few feet away with the Deca, attempting to listen without appearing to.
"Have you found any clues yet? On who took the Rosi?" Nella started the conversation at the beginning of her language lesson for the Study Period. Tirin and Iota still stood there after dropping her off.
Ulysses sighed, his face morphing into a large frown. He rubbed his forehead. "We have nothing. The records on who used the TARDIS were deleted." He leaned forwards. "The most confusing thing is that the TARDIS used had a lock on the records for just this reason and still it was deleted."
"How do you know it was the TARDIS used if the records are deleted?" Nella continued the conversation. Tirin and Iota sat the table over so they would still be able to listen.
"The only thing we have is that the TARDIS left the storage facility and was returned thirty minutes later. Even the cameras set up to record the TARDISes froze a few seconds before the TARDIS left and a few seconds after it arrived back. We have nothing."
Iota hated to smile at what he said, but she did. They were safe. There was no evidence that they had done anything wrong. When Nella and Iota informed Theta and Koschei, the four of them jumped in joy.
As soon as they stopped, Nella swatted Theta and Koschei on their heads. The boys winced. "What was that for?" Theta glared at her.
"Do not drag us into anything else. This was already too risky; I do not want to get kicked out of the Academy!" She crossed her arms.
"But…" Theta seemed to collapse; he almost reached Iota's tiny height. "Why?"
"While you," she poked Theta in the chest, "don't seem to care about your education you," she poked Koschei, "should. You shouldn't risk your education like that and you definitely shouldn't drag us into it."
The boys turned to look at Iota hopefully. "You don't think that, do you?" Theta looked like he was begging. He even lifted his hands up weakly. Koschei just widened his grey eyes and gave her an overly large frown.
"Honestly, I agree with Nella. I don't want to get in trouble. Think of what it would do to Papa? And Braxiatel?" Iota crossed her arms and glared. Something about her expression shocked the boys into her seeming older than them. Nella was the only one who didn't seem fazed.
The boys leaned away from her, blushing. They looked like they were five again and just broken one of Koschei's mother's vases. "Sorry. We'll try to keep out of trouble."
"Yeah, that doesn't seem likely, knowing you." Iota turned and walked away with Nella, the two girls beginning to laugh at the boys' expressions. They glanced back to see Theta and Koschei attempting to figure out the best way to avoid trouble and avoid Iota's wrath while still having adventures. They had never seen her wrath before, but they knew they didn't want to.
They didn't have any ideas.
A/N: This chapter was mainly an explanation of the events after the Rosi adventure, but there was still an important event none the less.
Things are developing with Iota and TARDISes! How exciting! Maybe Percy and the Hunter are right and she does have a bond...we'll have to wait and see.
Notes on reviews:
Teddy bear 007: It is a fun challenge to attempt for writers, so that may explain why so many are doing it.
Sonic Key: I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter! After Nella and Iota's scolding, I find it unlikely they'll go on any more. But who know's; leave it to Theta and Koschei to drag the girls along on an adventure even after the girls actively protested. Yep, you spelled that right :). Hope you enjoyed this update! Currently, as of posting this chapter, I have 27,449 words of my Nanowrimo story finished. However, I did start with about 10,000 words, so technically I've written about 17,449 words in November. Koschei will definitely begin to turn more 'Mastery' as the years progress, even more so once they leave the Academy.
TheShootingStarl (Guest): This is part 1 because Iota is currently in her first regeneration. Each regeneration will get it's own separate part since I've decided to combine the entire story into one story. There will be a part two once she regenerates.
Lacuna Everspring: I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter! Good luck with your venture into Nanowrimo!
finally (Guest): I'm glad to see you're excited for the updates :D