As we all know, we don't know when exactly Eight regenerated into Nine, but it is theorized that it probably either happened at Arcadia or the Moment. If there's a new Doctor Who movie to be made, I really hope it covers the Time War and we are given the chance to see that regeneration.
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Part V: The Middle
He shifted in his new uniform as those under his command warily watched him. It had been two days since he had accepted the Council's offer. In those two days, Arcadia had fallen, three-quarters of the Time Lord team had died, the rest regenerated. The Doctor was still hovering, his wounds not bad enough to warrant regeneration, but had burned severely enough to leave scarring. He would be out of commission for quite some time.
The Daleks had set a nice little trap, which, he had to admit, he really should have thought up himself. Threaten a planet of humans, dangle the bait, plant explosives at the most likely landing areas, and wait for the Doctor to show his face.
He was quite jealous, actually.
"Sir, we're approaching the temporal coordinates," spoke one of the pilots of their TARDIS. There were ten of the ships, each containing about 50 soldiers. About a quarter were Time Lords; the rest Gallifreyan soldiers. Each Time Lord would take their allotted soldiers and use multiple points of attack in an attempt to keep the Daleks at bay. 500 of them versus 5,000 Daleks. He, on the other hand, would lead a smaller team to the very heart of the Cruciform, and set the explosives.
"Land each TARDIS at the best camouflaged area," he ordered. "Begin troop dispersal."
Unlike the Doctor's, or his own, TARDIS, these ships were newer, less temperamental, and, most importantly, being piloted by a crew of six. Each TARDIS was able to land silently and blend in perfectly with working chameleon circuits. He exited his own to find himself looking at a bulkhead. Making a note of its location, he gave orders to each team and began making his way to the central room.
At least, that's how it looked to his team members. In reality, he was noting every step, and every turn.
About halfway there, the speakers crackled to life.
"TIME LORDS, YOU WILL NOT SUCCEED," they boomed. "I AM THE DALEK EMPEROR AND I HAVE TAKEN CONTROL OF THE CRUCIFORM. RESIST AND YOUR EXTERMINATION WILL BE SLOW AND PAINFUL."
"Well, that's my cue," he muttered. He threw the bag of explosives to the nearest Time Lord and dashed back towards the TARDIS. So great was his "team's" surprise, that by the time they caught up, it had already dematerialized.
The Cruciform was now fully controlled by the Daleks.
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He dashed around the console. There was only one way he could avoid being tracked down by the Time Lords for desertion. If they found him, they would execute him.
He brought down the Chameleon Arch and set it for human. At the same time, he set the machine to forcibly regenerate himself into the body he had chosen.
If the Time Lords wanted to find him, they'd be hard pressed looking for him as a human child at the end of the universe. Eight years old, perfect, the same age as when he'd looked into the Untempered Schism.
He fixed the fob watch into position. With any luck, he would grow up, bide his time, and force himself to open the watch in a few decades' time.
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Well, we kinda know how that plan turned out, don't we? Last chapter will be posted tomorrow.