Chapter Six

Through pure diplomacy, Modrem had been able to get Theta accepted back into the academy. When Theta and Koschei found each other in the courtyard upon arriving back at school, they both had secrets that, for the first time, they didn't wish to share with each other.

"How was your dad about our end of the year stunt?" asked Theta.

"I was confined to my room for the break," said Koschei.

"I'm sorry."

After a moment Koschei added, "He doesn't want me to see you anymore."

It hit Theta like a shot through the heart. "Are going to-?"

"No!" Koschei said quickly. "I don't care what he says. I'm never leaving you."

Theta was immensely relieved and he knew it showed. He hugged Koschei.

Koschei was shocked and dropped his books. "Th-Theta! What are you doing?"

"I'm hugging you." He said without letting go.

"Well, stop. We're in public!"

Theta laughed and let him go.

"What's wrong with you?" asked Koschei. "You've always been… sentimental, but this is a bit much."

"The most wonderful thing happened to me over the break! I met this old monk and, oh Kos, the things he taught me! I'll never look at the universe the same way again!"

"What exactly has he been teaching you?"

"Life, Kos. He showed me this flower, and the way he made me see it… Oh, it was the most flowery flower I've ever seen!"

Koschei stared at him for a moment, then he said, "That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard."

Theta gave him an exasperated look. "Fine. Don't listen to me. But you're missing out."

"As long as you're happy," said Koschei.

"I'm surprised to see you two" they heard a voice say next to them.

"Hello, Vansell," Theta sneered.

"I can't believe they let you back in after last year's fiasco."

"Oh, I'm sure you were hoping they wouldn't," said Koschei. "I'm sure you were hoping to get a nice gold star for turning us in."

"Who said I turned you in," he said, shifting uncomfortably.

"Who else would it be?" said Theta. "You're the biggest rat in school."

"Well, at least I'm not the biggest disgrace," he huffed and walked swiftly away.

Theta and Koschei rolled their eyes and headed to class.

They were sitting in the library studying later that day. Well, Koschei was studying. "You know you wouldn't have to copy off me all the time if you just read what you were supposed to"

Theta looked up from his book. "Hm?"

Koschei sighed. "What is that, anyway?"

"Earth literature," said Theta, burying his nose back in the book. "I asked the librarian what, in her opinion was the best Earth story, and she said, she'd heard that most Humans considered William Shakespeare to be Earth's greatest writer, so I'm reading him. This one is called Much Ado About Nothing."

"Why the sudden interest in Earth literature?" asked Koschei.

"No reason," Theta shrugged.

Koschei looked at him skeptically. "It's a primitive planet."

"I don't think so," said Theta. "By the end of known time, they'd accomplished more and explored more than any other species."

Koschei snorted. "In most people's opinion, they did more infesting than exploring. Just some stupid little apes with ambitions beyond their station."

"Don't talk about them like that!" Theta snapped.

Koschei was surprised. Why was he taking it so personally? "Sorry," he said. "Why do you care so much?"

Theta looked back at his book. "Call it a hobby."

"Hey, Thete, Kos," It was Drax, followed by six other students. They all joined them at the long table.

"Please don't call me 'Thete'," asked Theta.

"And he's the only one who gets to call me Kos," said Koschei, nodding towards Theta.

"Fine, sorry," said Drax. "Look, we were all really impressed with your freeing the animals last year."

"You were?"

"Yeah"

"Even you, Ushas?" asked Koschei, eyeing her.

"As annoying as you two can be," she said, "You have ambition and you think outside the parameters you're given, and that's more than I can say for anyone else here."

"We propose an alliance," said Magnus.

"Don't make it sound so dramatic, Mags," said Drax. "It's not a war or something." He turned back to the two young Time Lords. "We were thinking we should start a group. Renegade Time Lords!"

"What would this group do?" asked Theta.

"Meddle in things!" said Mortimus excitedly.

"Don't be stupid," Ushas scoffed. "We would advance our society in ways none of these dregs could ever think of."

"I like that," said Theta.

"For instance," said Ushas, "I've been experimenting with one of the birds you let out. I've found a way to augment and control its brain."

"That's disgusting!" cried Theta.

"Fine. No animal testing, then."

"Good, yes," said Theta, "I think we should make that the first rule."

"We just think you guys are really cool," said Millennia.

"I like this idea," said Koschei. "With our intelligence and creativity, we could do so much!"

"Alright then," said Theta, "Then I call to order the first meeting of the… the, uh, The Nine! Oh, no, that's terrible isn't it? We'll have to think of a better name."

"Maybe something in another language!" said Drax.

"Yeah!" said Theta.

Koschei watched Theta discuss the name of the group with Drax. Then he leaned over to Ushas. "Tell me more about this bird."