Chapter 10

As Lilith put her son to bed she contemplated on tomorrow. Koschei and her son were both eight, and it was time to enter them into the Academy. This would be where they obtained their education and chose the titles to replace their names in life. That would be of course once they graduated. Tomorrow was a harrowing event that Lilith was completely against. When the Curator had told her about it he tried to downplay just how dangerous it was but Anna had insisted that he tell the truth. Lilith had thrown an absolute fit when she had come to understand the ritual performed with the children who entered the academy. The Untempered Schism was a gap in the fabric of reality. The Time Lords apparently thought it was a good idea to risk insanity in their children by bringing them to look in the Time Vortex itself. Though what exactly a time vortex was, completely escaped her understanding. She watched as Anna waddled into the room. Turned out that the same night that Lilith had ruined the Lord President's campaign, the Curator proposed to Anna. Truly Lilith had not realized that they had been so close. Lilith smiled, "You're smoothie is labelled darling. But you could always have asked me to bring it to you."

Anna smiled as she reached into the fridge. "Honestly this bed rest is killing me. The baby won't come for another four years and yet they insist on putting me on maternity leave so quickly. My baby boy is so big already and all he wants to do is sleep." She rubbed her belly, smiling happily as she sat down with her smoothie. She moaned happily, "You are such a blessing to have. The Curator really did miss his chance marrying me instead of you." She grinned to Lilith who smiled back. Lilith harbored no more ill will. She had been a bit sore but seeing Anna so happy made her not mind. Anna was a Time Lady with a rough past who worked her way up from the commoners to become high in station among her people even with both her parents dying in a Tardis accident.

Though something did bother her, "My boy grew in three months. Why is your baby taking so long?"

Anna smiled, "You were in danger. Time Lords grow faster when they sense their lives in danger. It's an ancient survival technique from our time as animals of the earth. We evolved quickly but it was still useful."

Lilith looked up as the Curator walked in, shirt a mess and hair askew. "Boys are in bed. Koschei snuck into our boy's bed. He likes his new room but isn't used to it." He looked at the dark angry look on Lilith's face. "Now Lilith-"

Lilith slammed down her plate, breaking it on the table. She stood, "We aren't putting the boys through that barbaric ritual. You will have to walk over my dead body! They could go mad, you said so yourself."

Anna was the one who spoke softly, "Lilith, you must understand it's rare for that sort of thing to happen. It's how our children become inspired to invent great things. Every son and daughter that attends the Academy goes through this trial. Its how we will continue to improve our people throughout history."

Lilith turned to the Curator, "You looked into the Untempered Schism? What did you see?"

The Curator fell silent. He looked slightly haunted, but he smiled. "I saw that I am only a shadow. That an even greater man will come beyond me, to remember our bloodline in a way that I never could imagine."

Lilith stared at him, shocked. "You saw that?"

The Curator looked to her, "Yes. Why do you think I didn't ask you more about the attacks you endured?"

Lilith sighed, sitting in the chair. The Curator pulled Anna to her feet and walked with her back to their bedroom for the night. Lilith was left sitting at the table staring at Anna's empty smoothie cup. He had seen their son in some form or another. So she knew now what she had to do to escape things. She remembered the last words her mother said to her.

Run, run you clever girl, and remember.

Lilith came into her son's room, "Son wake up. Get out of bed. Grab a blanket quickly." She rushed into the other room, waking up Koschei. She walked Koschei back to her son's room. She knew where he belonged, where they both belonged. She had no doubt the two boys would go in that Tardis together with that girl Clara to see the world. That girl had been the spitting image of her mother at a younger age. Another mystery about this strange world that Lilith would never understand she suspected. Her son asked, "Mom what are we doing? It's really late."

He yawned but Lilith grabbed a blanket off the bed. "Come on sweetie, get your shoes on. We've got to go; I'm taking you to the museum." Lilith rushed out to the platform with both boys. Koschei was barely awake as he stumbled along to where the transport platform was. Lilith loaded both boys on with her and the machine was off, taking them obediently to the museum. Lilith had stolen the keys from the Curator so once they arrived she rushed both boys inside the building. "Type 40, type 40, type 40…" She rushed along a row of the funky canisters that were full of amazement and wonder, each and every one.

Lilith suddenly realized she had lost the grip on her son. Koschei turned as well, seeing his best friend moving to a door. Lilith looked up at the Galifreyan writing. She had a hard time grasping it but after a moment she asked, "Koschei what's that writing? I never could get numbers."

Koschei looked up, "Type 40."

But her son had already opened the door and walked in. Lilith followed him inside, looking at the familiar if a bit dusty console. The machine seemed to almost purr as the lights were dim. Lilith watched her son as he walked to the main console, touching it. The lights came up as the machine hummed to life, almost as if greeting them. Lilith smiled, realizing far more things than she truly needed to know. That was why this ship had always come to Earth. This was indeed the very same ship she had seen her son fly.

"You are the most beautiful thing I've ever seen." Lilith looked to her son who stared up at the pillar, smiling at it. His eyes full of wonder and amazement. He turned to Koschei and his mother. "Mom isn't she so beautiful? I've never seen anything so amazing."

Lilith took her son's hand, "Just remember what you want son. Because one day you will get tired of following rules and you will take your life into your own hands. You must be ready to one day tell the world that you are done playing by their rules. One day you will shine brighter than any star in the sky." She looked to Koschei. "And you too Koschei. You will shine so bright and burn so hot. Both of you boys will make the entire universe marvel at your genius. Never forget to be absolutely magnificent." Both boys smiled sleepily at her. She found a bunk bed sort of just sitting just inside the hall.

Her son squealed, "A bed with a ladder! Bunk beds are so cool!"

Lilith turned hearing a phone ring. "Is that a phone? Get some sleep boys." She walked to the main console, hearing the phone ringing. She walked over and picked it up. "Curator I'm not letting you in and I'm not letting the boys go through that ritual. We will go to Earth and you won't ever bother us again because your stupid and I'm awesome and blah!"

"Ended well that argument."

"River! Oh god you have to help me. They want my son to see the Untempered Schism and go insane! What should I do?"

River laughed on the other end of the phone, "Oh my dear girl, you mustn't interfere in this. He has to see it, because this is a defining moment in his life."

"River, can you promise me that he will be alright? That he won't become some sort of madman?"

"Oh my dear, he has always been a madman. But I don't think that's from the Schism. Sweetie, you must not change this part of his future. The things he sees are things he must see. And If you get in the way you will change the man I love. So please Lilith, trust in the future, be his mother, and show him the future he must have."

Lilith watched the pillar, thinking on what she said. "River, where are you?"

"I actually just left you. You were in labor."

"You killed that woman."

"I did."

"I'm not sure what to think about that. She was going to do horrible things to my baby but you murdered her."

"Sorry Lilith, but I've got to go now. Got a date in Utah to get to so good luck."

Lilith heard the phone click. Darn that woman for not giving Lilith the chance to say goodbye yet again. Lilith sighed, hanging up the phone just as the Tardis door opened. The Curator frowned at her, "Lilith did you honestly think you could fly this thing?"

Lilith looked to him, smiling sadly. "Let us spend the night. You can take the boys in the morning to the thing." The Curator nodded, sighing. Lilith walked to the hallway and found a bed had set up right by the bunk beds. She climbed into the bed, covering up. The smooth humming of the Tardis lulled her to sleep. The Curator looked in on his son and Koschei. He watched them with happy eyes. Tomorrow they would face their destinies in front of the Untempered Schism. He knew Lilith was opposed to it but the Curator knew it would be alright for his son.

The next morning before sunrise the boys were dressed in traditional time lord clothing. Usually Lilith was against it but she knew if she protested then she wouldn't be able to come. They were led to the foot of mount Solace and Solitude, where stood a line of torches. Lilith didn't understand why they needed the torches. With how dry Galifrey was, they could easily cause a forest fire. Lilith missed oceans. Galifrey had very little surface water. There were no oceans but there was indeed miles and miles of underground rivers. Something about the compounds of Galifrey made the dirt lighter than the water, so the water didn't have too many surfaces they were on. It was hell on Lilith's skin, she had to moisturize every single day after she took her showers. The way water was used was always very strict as well since everything went through thorough filtration. Lilith had been immunized to most of the diseases and micro-organisms of the planet but there were still parasites in the water that could cause her issues. Lilith looked at the torches, stopping right at the entrance. She could see down the way that there was something there. It was round but covered with a sheet. Rassilon walked toward them, reaching Koschei. As a rule a parent had to walk the child to see the object. He gave Lilith a curt nod then said, "Koschei come along, its time." Koschei nodded, turning to look at Lilith.

"Will you stay?"

Lilith smiled, "I'll be right here waiting for both you boys." Koschei smiled to her, turning and walking with his father. When he tried to reach for his father's hand, Rassilon moved it away. Lilith wanted to run down the way and slap the man for his obvious rejection of his own son. But she waited, holding her son's hand. He looked up and smiled nervously at her. So she smiled back.

The Curator walked over. "Everything will be fine Lilith. I know it will be." He took his son's hand. "Come on son. It's time to go take a look into destiny."

Lilith's son took his father's hand. But he turned to look at his mother. "Mommy?" Even though he was eight years old, he still called her mommy when he was scared. "Will it be alright?"

Lilith kneeled down, taking his hands. "It will be son. I've seen enough in this world to know you will be just fine." She stroked his head, trying for a reassuring smile. When her son smiled back, she knew she nailed it. She stood up, "Now go with your father. I'll be right here. Be good for your dad or the Toclafane will get you."

Her son grinned, "Mom I'm too old to believe in the Toclafane anymore."

She watched as her son walked toward the covered object. She wanted to go with them but this was a Time Lord only sort of thing. So she simply watched as her son headed toward what she feared was his destiny.

The Curator walked closer to the line of children all waiting to be initiated. The Untempered Schism, the only place in all of time and space that wasn't completely joined. He'd explained it to Lilith as basically when a paper was folded at the corners and there was always at least one small gap where the pages could not join. It wasn't anything like that but the visual did seem to help her. But this indeed was the place in space and time where it did not join entirely. And from it, the Time Lords could do so very much. He watched many children step forward to see into the Untempered Schism. A few smiling as they looked to their mom or dad afterwards, but one boy started crying. The Curator felt his son grab his hand tighter, and then felt his other hand taken. The Curator looked down to see Koschei holding his hand. Rassilon barely seemed to notice. Koschei looked up at the Curator, fear evident on his young face. Eight years old and it was time for his turn. Koschei walked forward, his father right behind him. Naturally like all the adults, Rassilon avoided looking directly into the gap in reality. The Time Lords found it and made a special frame around it to make it easy to move. Then the Schism was brought to Galifrey for protection.

Koschei stared into the Schism, and the Curator watched. He felt his son hold onto his hand with both of his own. The Curator grabbed held him right, "It'll be alright son." He watched Koschei stare directly into the time vortex.

But the boy finally turned, looking to his father. "Can I go back to Lilith now?" Koschei didn't seem affected by what he saw though perhaps he was hiding it. Rassilon looked a little perplexed as did most the adults. They expected some sort of reaction but Koschei had looked at it as if it was simply a painting. Koschei turned and headed down toward where Lilith stood.

Lilith smiled, kneeling down to greet Koschei. "You alright Koschei? What did you see?"

Koschei shrugged, "I'm fine. I didn't see anything I just heard… drums. I'm alright."

The Curator looked to his son who looked a little braver now that Koschei had seen into the Vortex. "Alright son, it's your turn." He brought his son forward, keeping hold of his hand. His son kept his eyes tightly shut for a minute. "It's okay son. You can open your eyes. I'm right here and your mum is waiting."

He watched his son open his eyes, looking into the Time Vortex itself. He was quiet for the longest time as no one could really know what he was seeing. But the Curator felt his son's hand going clammy, his breath quickening. Then he watched as his son opened his mouth and let out an almighty wail. He turned, letting go of the Curator's hand and went running into the darkness. The Curator heard Lilith shouting after her son, her and Koschei running off.

Lilith called after her son, knowing he'd run so very far. "Koschei we need to find him!"

Koschei looked up at her, "Where could he have gone though?"

Lilith looked out over the fields as the smaller sun began to rise in the south. But she had an idea. She called a platform to them. Lilith and Koschei flew toward the city. Her suspicions were confirmed when she saw the family platform waiting at the museum. Lilith walked into the museum with Koschei, moving along until she found the type 40 tardis. She took the handle to open it but it was locked. She looked at the door, "Please let me in. He's scared and he needs his mother right now." She looked at the door and heard the lock come undone. The she pushed open the door.

Sitting underneath the main console as close as he could get was her son, crying and shaking. Lilith walked in, Koschei moving and sitting down. He stayed quiet as Lilith took her son into her arms. "I'm so sorry sweetie. I'm so sorry that you had to see that." Her son looked up at her, sniffling.

"I saw him."

"Who sweetheart?"

"Me." Her son lifted up his hands, putting them to her head. Lilith was then thrown into the vision that her son had seen in the Untempered Schism.

"He's like fire, and ice, and rage."

A man in an old jacket stared out over the chaos and death. "No more." He turned toward his Tardis, the solitary friend he always had.

"He's like the night and the storm and the heart of the sun."

A man in a dark leather jacket, "Rose just stop! Please you're going to burn!" He grabbed a lovely blonde's hand, "Run!"

"He's ancient and forever."

A man in a lovely suit with great hair gave a blissful smile. A smile Lilith recognized as her own. This man had traits from his mother even years later. The man looked to her, "Bad Wolf."

"He burns at the center of time."

A man in a bowtie adjusted it, smiling. "Never forget where you came from. Oh and bowties are cool. Hello, mother."

"And he can see the turn of the universe."

A man with a strange coat that was a patchwork of different colors looked toward Lilith, "Mother."

Her son in a lovely suit, aged and professional looking. He smiled, "I remember this moment from my vision. Hello mother."

Lilith saw as countless men all stood watching her. So many remembering the exact moment when the vision saw them and they knew Lilith would see the vision. All of them speaking her name, speaking her title as they knew her. Until she realized she was standing in the Tardis and three men stood looking at her. The man in the bowtie, the man with lovely hair and his blue suit, and finally an older gentleman wearing a worn leather brown coat.

The man with the bowtie, her son, smiled to her.

"Hello mother. We can't see you, but we remember this moment well. Right when we are about to do something so great."

The man in the suit said, "You gave me the courage. You gave me what I needed to do what had to be done. All of it. And you give me the courage to keep going through the good days and the bad days. Thank you mother."

The older gentleman simply smiled to her, "Come on boys, we've got a job to do. Goodbye mother, and thank you for giving us the love we always remember."

Lilith watched the fires, the explosions, the smiles, the hugs, the entire of her son's life in a blink of an eye. He wouldn't even remember a portion of what he saw. But it gave him the overwhelming feeling that came throughout his life.

"And… he's wonderful."

Lilith hugged her son tight as she heard the thousands of companions he took, the millions of people he encountered, the billions of people he would save.

"He is the Doctor."