Chapter One: Keeping Appearances
"Who is he?" Braxiatel asked, looking at the baby that had been brought into the House. Brax was around 5 as he saw Ulysses cradle the baby in his arms.
"Oh! Brax!" Ulysses exclaimed, he was shocked to see his son. Night was typically not the time you would see an 5 year old little boy walking around. But Brax was up due to a nightmare, the first he'd ever experienced, and one that he'd never forget. A scary man with a big moustache trying to take him away.
Ulysses walked across the hallway to his son, his footsteps were muffled by the red carpet of the houses wooden floor. Suddenly he lurched in pain, yelping and gasping as he did so before cursing himself for the noise he was making.
Ulysses was, for lack of a better term, Brax's father. He had a soft almost aristocratic face and a straight nose, with luscious brown hair that flowed to the bottom of his neck. He wore the traditional red Time-Lord garb, which was strange given the circumstances. He hadn't been at any political meetings today. It didn't take long for Brax to forget his nightmare once he saw his father. His thoughts were abruptly flooded with the notion that his father might have been doing something he shouldn't have. It seemed to be that his father had not wanted to be seen, which was undoubtedly strange.
Ulysses faced his son before kneeling down to remain on eye level, the illumination of the ever-lasting candles that filled the hallway brightened both of their faces. He placed his left hand on Brax's shoulder in a paternal and friendly manner. His face softened as he talked to his son. "This is your new brother, Brax." He said happily, with watered eyes. A sight uncommon for someone such as Ulysses.
Brax didn't question why his father was sneaking in, he didn't question why this baby wasn't from the pods like the rest of them. He looked at the baby, with their pale skin and flecks of blonde hair. He looked into their sweet blue eyes. The baby flashed a big cheeky grin once they looked at their big brother Brax, before spitting out a big giggle.
"What's his name?" Brax inquired while smirking. "His name is..." His father stumbled to find one, he simply hadn't thought of any yet. "His name is Thete, Brax. His name is Thete." Ulysses said hopefully, his eyes bright and joyful. Sadly his face shifted to a stern expression as he eyed his son. "Listen, you must never tell anyone you saw this, ever. Do you understand?" He explained to his son.
Brax was confused and his face showed it, but he looked at his father and with all the seriousness an 5 year old could muster. "I promise." Ulysses looked calm before scolding his child for being up so late and sending Brax off to bed.
Ulysses placed the baby, wrapped up in a milk white blanket, onto the floor before pulling up the backside of his robe to check his wounds. His bleeding was vicious, it was like he was burning up from the inside. "I'm so sorry Thete. I'm so sorry for what they did to you."
"As am I." The grey haired woman said, she was in white and black robes, a colour scheme considered more casual by Galifreyian fashion. "Ulysses! You reckless bastard, you could've gotten killed! Why didn't you wait for me!?" She yelled at him. "They were going to kill her, Marrow!" He had argued back.
"Is the forced regeneration complete?" She asked, concerned. "Yes, as well as the age regression and memory wipe." He answered. "But before we finish this..." He continued "I'm not gonna be able to come back. I'm sorry, but I have to go off world, I'm dying. No regeneration. If I die here then our plan was for nothing."
"Ulysses..." She softly whispered, saddened to hear the news. "Promise me that he'll be okay. I've named him Thete. You wouldn't be here without the documents so please. Just promise me he'll be alright, please?" He pleaded with her. She looked him dead in the eyes, her words like bricks. "I promise you."
Ulysses lurched out of the house with crimson drops following. He struggled to open the large wooden doors as he made egress. This was the last night Braxiatel saw his father and the last night anyone saw Ulysses. This was the night a type 65 Tardis went missing. This was the night that Brax had his first nightmare. This was the night the House of Lungburrow changed forever. But most importantly. This was the night a little boy met his even little-er brother.