The Initiation Ceremony - (8 year olds)

[Seren Ash]

There was a pretty little girl, so pretty. Her hair was kept in a messy short hairstyle - that was definitely quite a bit different then some of the others in her class. Messy and often like a fluffball - but she didn't care. Pretty hazel eyes, and a bright smile. Most people didn't really know her by her full name - most took to shortening it. Libertaniasiel was a bright and rather pretty little girl. That didn't know her world would be forever changed by the Initiation to happen on that day. That ceremony that would completely open her mind - and destroy her currently rather sunny personality.

She saw the group of gathered children, as she looked back at her mother - who smiled at her and waved. Mother was called 'The Mist', and her father was "The Deviant'. And interesting combination - but mummy and daddy were very smart. Mom could understand the mists of time - and the workings and turnings of it. Libby was very interested in that, she wanted to work in the TARDIS systems when she got older. But she wasn't sure what the Initiation would do to her. Because of the fact that some people came out changed from it.

Changed wasn't the exact phrase, some were fine - and some just broke. She didn't know what she would be, or if she would run. She didn't know any of that, all she knew is she was at the camp, she had checked in and now she was wandering around. Voices were heard so the girl snuck behind something that could hide her and watched the group. Anyone paying close enough attention to the surroundings - would see her little auburn head poking out from her hiding place.

[The Mentalist]

The little girl defending Nathaniel didn't step down yet. Even though the adult seemed nice, she wasn't totally sold on the idea yet. Most adults were mean to her. They always spoke down at her and her mom, she couldn't stand it when they did. Keeping her stance, the little girl put her arm down and huffed, now putting both hands on her hips.
"Well, that better be it. If you upset him one bit I'll... I'll... I'll pull your hair! Or your robes! Then I'll tell my mom. Oh, then they'll be trouble!"
She turned away with a 'hmph' and looked a Nathaniel. She smiled, whispering to him.
"It's okay, I won't let him hurt you. You don't have to talk to him if you don't want to..."
Nathaniel looked up and back at her, seeing her sweet smile. She could easily have rotted his teeth, her smile was almost sickly. He looked over her and to the adult. He'd been nice, he might as well act civil. The boy was too scared to act any other way.
"Th-thank you f-for being concerned s-s-sir. I'm okay, I was-j-j-just about t-t-to check in, then g-go and play with h-h-her... she's just e-excited, she didn't m-m-mean it..."
Appalled as she was, the little girl made a loud protest.
"I DID SO MEAN IT!"
Nathaniel put his hand on her shoulder and patted it, trying to calm her down as he apologized to the adult, the gardener.
"C-c-come on, c-c-c-alm down, you're u-u-u-upsetting people..."
She pouted at the adult across the room and quietened down. Lily was a good little child really, just a bit excitable, as all six year olds were. Nodding at her, the eight year old boy spun and went back to the desk.

Standing on his tiptoes, he spoke to the lady at the desk who quickly confirmed his arrival. She wished him luck, gave him the directions to his room and the key, then let him go back to the girl.

He then returned to Lily, standing beside her and waiting for the adult to say something. The boy wasn't keen on leaving, unless the adult said he could go.

[The Tenth Doctor]

Tyler's face turned slightly red as Rhea introduced herself to him. "Oh...um...yeah....I'm Nathan's brother." He glanced at Nathan, wondering why he had told this particular girl that they were brothers. Now the other kids around them would know, if they didn't know before.

"It's nice to meet you, too," he said with a small smile on his face.

Nathan shrugged at Rhea's comment, "Maybe...I but I'm not going to run away. I don't think anyone seriously would." He tried to give her a look of confidence.

As Nathan was talking, Tyler glanced around, catching the site of auburn hair. Tyler tried to think of which kids had that color of hair, recalling the mean children. He hoped it wasn't one of them.

"I...I think someone's trying to listen in on us," Tyler ventured. "But I'm not sure who it is."

___________
Tylerhathan merely nodded at the red headed child. "Well, it seems as though I've disturbed your friend....go on, then...play with your friend."

He forced a smile at the children. Supposing that these two Time Tots had been taught not to talk to people in his social rank, Tylerhathan let out a small sigh. Even the children shunned him.

He turned away from the children and began working on the landscaping, trying to get everything just right for the ceremony to take place the next day.

[Seren Ash]

Libby went rather stiff - her eyes going wide as she realized that someone had heard her. Her head hid behind her hiding place as she leaned back against it. Her cheeks flaring with color - she was a shy little thing most of the time. Didn't really have many friends - none her own age at least. She heard her mother and father in her head for a moment - a comment they had said to her before. If Libertaniasiel didn't try, she would never succeed. So maybe she should try and make friends.

She came out, her clothes had a nice look to them - but not high council children look, and there was a rather neat look to it. Despite the fact there was a little bit of dirt smudged on her face, and she could use with brushing her hair. "I was... I was just watching you." She finally said - her voice rather quiet, but chipper all at once.

[The First Doctor]

Just outside the Gallifreyan Noosphere, the Vortex...

The Meddler slowly orbited his console, working the controls. As he did, the time rotor continued it's labored, drawn out vwwwwooooooooooorrrrrrrps. He pushed a button. "Hunter? Kyra? We're nearly there."

This was the hard part. Getting in to Gallifrey unnoticed could be done - he'd done it before - but it required caution. He checked the sensors (passive only, no reason to go active and announce his presence) watching for casts. As he did, his fingers danced over the controls and his TARDIS tacked into one of the Vortex eddies created by the Untempered Schism.

[The Tenth Doctor]

Eight year old Tyler glanced at at the newcomer curiously. She'd spoken and Tyler nodded to her.

Nathan happened to see the female as well. He grinned at her. "Come join us," he said. "We're just talking." He didn't know whether or not this girl would be friendly, but he did know that she wasn't one of the mean children who had given him or his friends a hard time during the camp.

A look of relief also washed over Tyler's face as he didn't recognize her as being with Eiougougol's crowd of friends. "Yeah...you can talk to us," he added.

______________________
The Hunter glanced around nervously at the console, as though he thought that they'd be detected at any moment. "Good...he said. I don't know where Kyra was before we went over to the camp grounds for the initiation ceremony, but I do remember where I was. I was waiting in the Citadel with my brother and several others. I don't remember if there were any adults around."

(We need more adult Time Lords to plot with Emmehujidat)

[Seren Ash]

Libby came forward her eyes lighting up as she approached the group. "I'm Libertaniasiel." She said as she smiled brightly - her head tilted down as she rocked back and forth and giggled faintly. Her hands folded into the small of her back as she watched the boys. "My mummy and daddy set me off here - so that I could see ... it." She said as she stopped and watched them.

She looked worried, more then someone rightly should. But her father had been changed by it - according to everyone that knew him back then. Her mother had been changed in another way. And they were sure that something would happen to her - though they had never said anything. It was at this moment that a tall and slim woman walked towards the group of the children gathered for the Schism. It was The Mist, and she had returned to make sure her daughter was doing alright.

"Libby dear, seems you have made friends." She said as she gave the males a rather heartbreaking smile.

"Mmmm well they are talking to me - mummy." Libby said as she looked up. "Who are you guys - anyways?" She said with a bright smile.

[Gwen Cooper | The Rani]

Ieshanavaretta nodded once and watched as the other children interacted. She nodded once to Rhea. "I'm Ieshanavaretta, although I'd prefer Ieshana over my full name... I'd actually prefer Ushas though." She stated. Then she listened, it was true though. She'd heard of people running away as well, which didn't really do anything for her.

She was about to respond when another new girl popped in, and she thought. She just didn't quite know how to respond, although she knew that she should have been able to. She glanced between the other children and thought to herself. "Other then the obvious of being a Time Lord, or Time Lady, which chapters are you expecting to be placed into?" She asked, wanting to get to know the other children more.

[The Master]

"Libby dear, seems you have made friends." She said as she gave the males a rather heartbreaking smile.

"Mmmm well they are talking to me - mummy." Libby said as she looked up. "Who are you guys - anyways?" She said with a bright smile.

"I'm Koscheipopisiva," said the young boy in black.

"Other then the obvious of being a Time Lord, or Time Lady, which chapters are you expecting to be placed into?" asked Ieshana - No, thought Koschei, Ushas. Father always says details are important.

"Well," he answered, "my father is an Arcalian, so I guess I want to be in that chapter. He says the particular chapter isn't that important and I should work hard in whichever one I'm placed, but he's the best dad in the world and I want to be just like him."

[The Mentalist]

The little red-head in the reception nodded at the landscaper who then went away. He frowned a little, he didn't want to come across as nasty or mean, he just didn't trust adults all that much. The only person he could say he truly trusted was his mother. She always did everything right, was always so nice and so helpful. His father... wasn't so great. Nathaniel found it was difficult to remember the last time his father had said, "Well done. Well done, son!" or "I'm proud of you." It made him sad when he did remember, as he knew his father hadn't meant it, He didn't trust his daddy, and by this example he didn't trust other male Time - Lords. If they were all like his dad, he didn't want to speak to them.

The little girl, who'd moved next to him, tugged at this sleeve. She too looked upset as she spoke quietly to him.
"I didn't mean to make you sad... I was just trying to help... any man time-lords are people to be careful around, or so my mommy says.... I've seen some be really creepy to my mommy, so I don't trust them..."
Lily felt a little bit of sick come up in her mouth at the thought of some of the Time-Lords and fellow psychologists. The way they treated her mommy scared her, they often shouted at her... or worse... The little girl shook her head of it, looking back up at the red-head.

He looked back down, replying as quietly as he could and down at her level.
"It's o-okay... I understand...."
He wouldn't dare talk to her about his father. Picking up his bag and slinging it over his back, he smiled down at little Lily. She grinned back, giggling a little. He spoke, as cheerfully as he could possibly manage.
"N-Now, I p-p-promised I'd p-p-play with you, s-s-so I will. Come on, m-m-maybe there w-will be s-s-some other kids that have a-a-arrived that want t-t-to play t-t-too..."
His speech was very broken, but little Lily understood it well enough. She grinned like a Chesire Cat, laughing happily as she grabbed his hand and dragged him out of the reception and back out onto the grounds. It was evident, she really wanted someone to play with!

*~*

As the two children ran out back onto the fields, Lily saw a clump of people in the far distance. They looked like a good few in number and she was too young to think of the social implications of just running up to them. So she did. She ran right up to the group, Nathaniel in tow and stopped so suddenly, that Nathaniel lost his footing and flew forward. Bumping carelessly into one, they both fell to the ground. Nathaniel fell first, right into the center of the group while the boy he knocked over, fell to the side of the center. He quickly apologized to the group, refusing to look up from the spot on the ground he'd been on. Scuffling around in the dirt, he looked at the shoes the kids were wearing. They were very expensive and shiny ones. These kids were of a high and rich background and as he mustered up the courage to look up, he really wished he hadn't.

It was the nasty Eiougougol and his crowd of friends. He'd just gone and barged into the most ruthless and mean boys he'd seen in camp! It was the boy who always went on about his dad, the scary High-Council member who would beat you up, if you did anything to Eiougougol.

Lily watched and looked at the big boys around Nathaniel. They looked rich and tidy, they looked mean! But she was scared of these boys, they looked really scary. As she stared more, the more scared she got and she ran away from the group and Nathaniel.

As he saw her leave, Nathaniel shrunk more into the center of the little circle, wanting to disappear completely. The group would either make fun of him or punch him now. Either way, it would hurt.

[The First Doctor]

The Hunter glanced around nervously at the console, as though he thought that they'd be detected at any moment. "Good...he said. I don't know where Kyra was before we went over to the camp grounds for the initiation ceremony, but I do remember where I was. I was waiting in the Citadel with my brother and several others. I don't remember if there were any adults around."

"The Citadel sounds like a good start, then."

The Meddler threw switches. "Engrammatic emulators, on. That'll help us make it through the noosphere unnoticed. Yeh may not wanna watch the main screens for this next part, though. Most people, even if they've been initiated, don't care for it."

He turned a dial and the monitor screen illuminated, showing an unfiltered view of the Vortex. He stared into the depths, watching the shifting colors and patterns, fingers making subtle adjustments to the controls of the TARDIS. His eyes seemed to burn as he did, reflecting (or maybe radiating) the view from the monitor.

---

The Meddler's TARDIS drifted in a Vortex eddy, slowly and circuitously homing in on its spacetime destination. As it entered the noosphere the casts - semiautonomous thoughtforms, created to guard the outermost limits of the transduction barriers - moved to investigate. Within moments, they dismissed it as nothing more than a lost passing thought.

Ahead, through the shifting radiances, could be seen a narrow sliver of sane, four-dimensional reality.

---

"There it is," the Meddler announced. "The Untempered Schism. That's our access point."

[Hermione Smith]

Hermione looked doubtfully at the other kids. She was on her own behind everyone, her arms wrapped round herself. The wind blew her haiur. She shivered, wishing she had something warm round her. She was scared of looking into the schism. She was terrified. What would happen? She refused to let it make her go mad. Never.
But as she glanced at te other kids chatting, she realised she was mad because she didn't really have friends. She never tried to talk to anyone.

[The Tenth Doctor]

Tyler responded, "Oh....I'm Tylerelrug.....you can call me Tyler, though."

Nathan then spoke up next, "My name is Nathanufdofehadik, but you can call me Nathan..or Theta...Theta's my middle name."

Both boys looked at the Mist and smiled back at her. It wasn't very often that a grown up was nice to them, outside the librarians at the library. Not all the librarians were nice to the twins, though. Their own father was nice to them, obviously, but their father and some of the librarians seemed to be the only exceptions so far. Kyra's mother was nice to them as well. The woman who had treated Tyler had been kind. However, generally, in their experience growing up, all of the adults had treated them as though they were nothing.

Nathan glanced at Ieshanavaretta and shrugged. "I don't really know much about the chapters. My dad didn't really tell me much about them. I just want to get into the Academy...haven't thought about chapters. It would be nice to be in the same chapter as at least some of you...." With that he glanced at his brother, his twin. They'd never really been separated before, and they had both been there for each other when adults and children alike had been mean to them. They had been through everything together -- their entire lives.

Tyler looked back at his brother and nodded. "I don't really want to be separated from you...not sure what I would do."

_________________
With a sudden force, Eiougougol was knocked over. This was something he hadn't been expecting at all. He'd been so absorbed in his conversation with his friends that he hadn't managed to see the two other children running in their direction.

Being knocked to the ground was an embarrassment. That was for certain. However, Eiougougol recovered as quickly as he could, getting to his feet the moment he realized he was on the ground. Quickly, Eiougougol turned to look at the person who had dared to knock him over.

Fully expecting it to be the cripple named Nathan, he blinked. It was the other Nathan -- the one who had gone by the name 'Nathanial' -- the one with flaming red hair.

Eiougougol glared at the red head. "Hey...what do you think you were trying to do to me, you idiot. I think all people with the name Nathan have a problem walking." Eiougougol stomped over to where Nathanial was on the ground.

He swung his leg back as hard as he could, fully intending to bring it forward and kick the kid in the stomach. With a quick move, the leg was let loose and made contact with the other little boy.

The other little boys started snickering as the red head was kicked in the stomach.

[The Tenth Doctor]

Tylerhathan, who had just finished talking to the red headed child, and had gone ahead to do some more landscaping work, happened to glance up from the branch that he was trimming. Not far away from where he stood was another child. This one was female, and she looked very, very alone and afraid.

Tylerhathan cautiously moved closer to Hermione, not wanting to scare her as he had the other two children. A rather tall adult, he was likely imposing to the eight year old children. In as gentle a voice as he could muster, he quietly asked the child, "Are you all right?"

__________________
The Hunter nodded at the Meddler's comments. "Right....the Citadel...." He heard the Meddler's suggestions and chose to close his eyes instead of looking at the TARDIS viwscreens. Unsure of what his wife was doing, he reached out to hold onto her closely.

[Seren Ash]

The Mist smiled at her daughter - then her head turned. Eyes narrowed as she felt the change roll through her. SHe wasn't in normal clothing, like her daughter. She was in her full regalia - of her craft. The high level of Science she was entered into. Her eyes narrowed even further as she patted her daughters head. "You play nice with the guys." She said lightly as she smiled at the boys.

"I'm gonna work in the Science section with my mummy. She's working on some of the important thigns that will make our world move." Libby said as she approached the boys. "So I can be friends with you?" She said as she blushed and looked down a little.

The Mist turned and started walking something didn't feel right. She frowned as she walked towards were the man was already approaching the children. Was someone about to get harassed? Well The Mist wasn't one to stand up for that kind of thing. The pale woman hung back a little and waited patiently - to see what was going on.