The Trio of Time

 Chapter One – Madness Comes Home 

I wake up, startled. I was dreaming of Koschei. He was in the TARDIS, and he tried to kill me and Melody. I look over at her. She’s dreaming. I can tell because she has this sweet little face that she makes when she dreams. I look behind her at the table with the flashing screwdriver. I lay back down, not thinking anything of it. I sit right back up, and stare at it with terror. I didn’t believe this could be happening. No, it couldn’t be. I’m dreaming, right? RIGHT?! I pinch myself just to make sure, but there it was. My sonic screwdriver was flashing like a warning signal. I jump out of bed, and run to the console room.

I pick up the phone, and dial Sigma’s phone number. I stand there, waiting vigorously. Finally, at the seventh ring, he answers.

“Hello?” his voice sounds spent, like I had just woke him up.

“Sigma, I need you to get your ass over here right now.” my voice is full of panic and worry.

“Whoa, man… What’s wrong?” he sounds immediately alert, at the sound of my using a curse word.

“My sonic screwdriver’s flashing, and I don’t know what to do!!” I almost yell.

He sighs, “Maybe it’s a distress signal?” he offers.

“No,” I shake my head, as if her were here with me already, “last time it flashed like this, Koschei came for blood.” I remembered it like it was just yesterday, “He terrorized my children and broke my arm in three places!”

“I’m on my way.” He hung up the phone, and I stand there, waiting anxiously.

Finally, the familiar sound of his home-made, partially destroyed, and squeaky TARDIS reverberates throughout the air. I sigh, glad that he didn’t take forever this time. He bursts through the doors of my TARDIS that was definitely NOT home-made.

“Theta! Are you guys alright??” his voice is full of anger and worry. This wakes Mels up, and she comes out into the console room as well, very confused.

“We’re fine, for now. But I don’t know how much time we have until he gets here…” I look toward Iota and Rho’s room, worried that they’ve overheard what we’re talking about. I really didn’t want to worry them.

Melody looks back as well. A mother never does stop worrying about her babies. She glances at Sigma, “Is there any way you could tell if he’s coming?” she asks, still staring at the twins’ door.

Sigma sighs, “No, I don’t think I do…” he pulls out his sonic screwdriver, and turns it over in his hands subconsciously.

I stare at the screwdriver, and realize that Sigma’s actually nervous. Of course, this makes me terrified of what might happen next. I was right to worry. Suddenly, there’s a loud knock on the doors of my TARDIS. He knocked in the beat of “The Drums.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">He bursts through the doors, “Honey, I’m home!” there was the all-too familiar insane look on his face, the slightly messed up hairstyle that could only be his, the stench of rum lingering into the poor, unsuspecting TARDIS.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;">It was Koschei. And he was going to kill me.

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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"> Chapter Two – Mels and The Twins Play Hide and Seek 

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I stare wide-eyed at Koschei. Fear welled up in my stomach, and I wanted to run. But I stayed right there with Melody and Sigma. I had to protect them no matter what. And I couldn’t bring any attention to the fact that Iota and Rho were sleeping away in their room.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Koschei sighs, as if he’s bored, “What? No warm welcome home?! No “Oh how are you, Koschei, after all, we left you for dead?!” You know I at least deserve that much, guys. Come on.” his frown turned into a sneer, and he looked at Melody.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I pushed Melody behind me. He wasn’t going to hurt her, and she didn’t protest. Koschei gave her the creeps, and this way, if he killed me, she could at least be here for the twins, and Sigma would rip his head off.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">What happened next was completely unexpected. Koschei walked over to the chair that was next to the console, and sat down. The TARDIS doors slammed shut, locking all of us in. Koschei wearily turned his head to the side to look at the doors, and laughed, “You guys are so rude. You’d be terrible party hosts…” he notices we’re all staring at him, “What?!”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Sigma moves very quickly, and jumps on Koschei, throwing him to the ground. He’s pinned him in place, “I told you never to come back!” Sigma screams in his face.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Koschei starts laughing hysterically. Sigma stares at him in confusion. I slowly inch to Sigma’s lab to find something to kill Koschei with. Melody notices me, but does a great job of pretending she doesn’t. She continues to stare at Koschei, and she starts inching toward Iota and Rho’s room. Koschei tries to sit up, but my brother slams him back down again, “Ouch, Sigma. You’re hurting me…” there’s a sinister smile on Koschei’s face. He’s trying to make his voice sound sweet and child-like.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Sigma grins evilly, “That was the point.” He pushes down harder on Koschei’s shoulders, so he won’t get up. By now, I know that Sigma’s realized that Mels and I have started to plan for what would happen next. But he doesn’t let it show on his face, so Koschei won’t notice. I slide into the lab, and start quietly rummaging through the chemicals, looking for a very specific one. Melody opens the door to our kids’ room very quietly, and slips in.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Koschei looks behind my brother, “Where did Theta and Melody go, Sigma?” his voice is no longer playful, just murderous.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Sigma looks behind him, “I don’t know what you’re talking about…” there was a nervous lump in his throat.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Oh come on! Don’t you think that by now, I would know when you’re lying to my face?!!” his voice booms throughout the TARDIS.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">This scares me, and I drop a glass container on the floor. I freeze in my spot, not daring to breath. I was terrified of Koschei.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Don’t you dare hurt my family.” Sigma’s voice turns to the same tone as Koschei’s had turned.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">I hadn’t heard my brother sound like that for a very, very long time. I never wanted him to sound like that again, but here comes Koschei, and it starts again…

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Right now, I was scared of everything. I honestly didn’t know what could happen. After about five minutes of complete silence, I start to breathe again, but my chest feels like it might explode from my fear. I look for the chemicals to mix together to make the poison I thought of in my head. Since Sigma never had any of it around, I had to make it myself. I found the chemicals necessary, and started to mix them together.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Back in the console room, Sigma was trying to convince Koschei to leave, “Please, Koschei. Just go. I couldn’t bear it if you hurt my fam-”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Oh, so now they’re YOUR family?! Since when was I kicked out of the family??” Koschei’s voice explodes in the console room, making me spill some of the solution onto the counter I was standing at.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Since you tried to kill my brother!!” Sigma booms back, making me spill more of the solution.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">I pick up a bunch of towels, and try to clean up the mess that I had made. As the solution soaked into the rags, it burned my skin. I tried to keep quiet, but it burned. And it was eating through the skin on my fingers. I finally got it all cleaned up, and my fingers were really raw, some of them even bleeding. It really felt like someone had burned the tips of my fingers off with a match. I go into the cabinet to find a knife that Sigma had kept from me until about 2 years ago. I pull it out of its box, and walk back over to the counter to soak it in the chemical solution I made.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Koschei was glaring at Sigma. He was clearly angry that Sigma no longer considered him part of the family anymore. I watched quietly while soaking the knife. I made sure that Koschei couldn’t see me, and I took the knife out of the chemical solution, and walked quietly over to the doorway. I held the knife in my hand very tightly.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">The solution I made was going to prevent Koschei’s regeneration once it entered his bloodstream, and cause him to die for real this time. I really didn’t want to do it. I had known him for so long. He was what made us the Trio of Time. Otherwise it would just be my brother and me in a stolen TARDIS with somebody we kidnapped… I never really thought about it that way.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">I stood there listening to their conversation for a while, trying to gather all my courage to go and kill Koschei. Finally, after what felt like forever, I went out into the console room, “Koschei, I’m giving you one chance to just leave. I really don’t want to hurt you.” I tell him as calmly as I can.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Sigma turns to look at me in shock, “What are you doing with that knife, Theta?” he tried to make his voice calm enough so he wouldn’t freak me out. Well, more than I already was.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">I didn’t answer him. I just kept my eyes fixed on Koschei, and tried as hard as I could to formulate a plan. I really didn’t want to hurt Koschei. But if he tried to harm my family in any way, this was going to get ugly, and quick.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Koschei simply strolled over to me, and took the knife from my fragile hand, “Now, now Theta. I think we both know that you were never going to use this knife.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">I just glare at him, “I would do anything for my family.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Except use the knife.” He challenges me crudely, with an evil grin.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Deep inside myself, I know that he’s right. I couldn’t just hurt, or kill anybody, for that matter. I sigh, and tears well up in my eyes. I didn’t want any of this to happen. If you asked me about 10 years ago if I thought that this would ever happen, I would have just stared blankly at you.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Koschei tossed the knife onto the TARDIS console, and it made a loud clattering noise. The TARDIS moaned in protest. She really didn’t want Koschei here with us. He glared up at the ceiling, “Oh, shut up, Sexy! No one asked you!” she moaned loudly this time, and Koschei turned back to me, and grabbed my left arm.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Sigma’s muscles tensed and he looked like he was going to kill Koschei, “Don’t you touch him.” My brother reached to make Koschei let go of my arm, but, in a very quick movement, Koschei snapped my forearm.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">I screamed in pain, and dropped to the floor. Koschei let go of my arm just in time for Sigma to tackle him back down to the ground. The throbbing in my arm was almost unbearable. I couldn’t scream anymore, and I just lay on the ground, holding the now useless arm.

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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Melody was sitting on Iota’s bed, trying to calm the twins down. Rho was holding Iota, and his face looked scared, despite his normal brave grin. He had to take care of his sister no matter what. Melody had turned the lights off, in order to keep Koschei’s attention on Sigma and I. She didn’t know what else to do, other than hide with her only children, and wait for all this to just be over. She smiled down at Iota’s face, now wet with tears, “It’ll be okay, sweetie. Your dad and uncle Sigma will get rid of him. You’re going to be fine. I promise.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Iota could sense that something very, very bad would happen soon. She didn’t know what, but she didn’t like the feeling. It was like a rock in her stomach. She wasn’t crying because she was scared, it was because she was afraid of what might happen next. It was going to be very bad.

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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"> Chapter Three – The Monster Inside 

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Koschei grinned at Sigma, who was now on top of him, “Now, doesn’t this remind you of something..?” he giggles like a child.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Sigma glares down at him, “You’re seriously not thinking about that, are you?” his voice sounds disgusted, despite their relationship in the past. I was slowly inching toward the knife again, and Sigma noticed I was moving again, “Theta, if you even try to grab that knife, I’ll break your other arm, you moron.” His voice was murderous, and it really scared me. I left the knife alone, and tried to keep calm. He obviously didn’t want me to have a weapon, but I didn’t understand why. Maybe he couldn’t bear it if I killed someone. And here I was, the older brother getting protected by him.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">I slide over to the lab doorway, and lean against the doorframe. I really wanted to at least wrap up my arm, so I didn’t have to see the white of my bone sticking out from the dark crimson already clotting around the edges of the wound. I go quietly into the lab, and look for some gauze and alcohol to disinfect the parts where my bone was peeking out of. Sigma would probably call me an idiot, and make a splint for me when all this was over, but right now, a splint was going to make too much noise. Finally, I found the alcohol and gauze. I carefully opened the glass bottle, and poured some of it into the wound. I clenched my teeth. It really burned, but I didn’t want to bring attention to myself. After that horrible pain, I started to wrap my arm up in the little bit of gauze that I had found under a sink in my brother’s lab. I also tried to straighten out the broken bone, but I knew that if I pushed any harder, I would make noise, so I made it as straight as possible, and wrapped it up. After about 5 minutes, I gained my courage again, and, like an idiot, went back out into the console room.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Sigma turned around and looked at me, “Theta, get out of here.” His voice still sounds a bit murderous, so I obey. I make sure Koschei can’t see, and slide quietly into the twins’ room.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">I find Melody, and hug her tight. She grabs my broken arm, and looks at it, “I can’t believe he did that to you!” she hisses, squinting through the nightlight. She had all the lights turned off except for that one. I was pretty sure it was so Iota wouldn’t go into full breakdown mode.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">I sigh, “I can. He really seems to hate me, Mels.” I look into her worried, scared eyes. She seemed like she knew something more than I did.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Then I realized it, “Melody, what’s wrong?” I ask suddenly. She looks over to Iota.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">I also look at Iota, and give her a questioning look. She doesn’t say anything. Instead, she hides behind Melody, and avoids eye contact with anyone in the room. This wasn’t hard, considering the fact that it was pretty dark in the room. Rho slides closer to his sister, and comforts her. He might not see it right at the moment, but he was brave. Iota seemed to calm down a little when he put his arm around her shoulder. He really was a good brother.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">I looked at Melody, and she shrugged at Iota’s behavior, although I had grasped the fact that she knew what this was about, “We’re going to discuss this when I get back.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Melody’s eyes widened, “You’re not going back out there?!!” she looked at my arm, “Seriously! Look at what’s happened already!” she exclaimed urgently.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">I stood up, towering over my family, “I’m not going to let him terrorize my family.” I open the door, and leave them to stay safe. I look up at the TARDIS ceiling, “TARDIS, keep them safe.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">There’s a lot of noise, and then the door I just came from was gone. Sigma and Koschei were staring at me like I was the insane one. Finally, after what felt like forever, Sigma speaks up, “Theta, I told you to stay out of this room.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">“This is my family, and he has the nerve to come and terrorize them? I say no to that,” I turn to Koschei, “now, are you going to leave, or am I going to have to kill you?” the look in my eyes was murderous. I was scared of myself right now.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Sigma stayed silent, out of shock, probably. He wasn’t used to me acting this way. I didn’t think anybody was. I felt even weirder because I never really thought it was possible for me to act this way in the first place. Koschei starts laughing, “You really are a funny little dude, there Theta.” He continues to laugh.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Sigma tenses, and turns to look at me. His eyes were actually a little scared. This threw me off, and gave Koschei just enough time to strike. He jumped onto Sigma, and they both flew to the floor with a thud. But, luckily, my brother retaliated with a hard punch to Koschei’s ribs, and he started coughing. Sigma stood up, and went to the console of the TARDIS. He pushed a couple of buttons, and looked up at the ceiling, “Sexy, make a room where I can lock Koschei up.” The TARDIS agreed, making a lot of groaning and cracking noises.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Sigma glared over at Koschei, whose eyes were full of fear, “No… No, you can’t do that again. You know what happened last time!” his voice matched the way his eyes looked.

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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Last time Koschei was locked in a room in the TARDIS, he was drunk. Simply drunk. Nobody knew what to do with him, so we locked him in a room to sober up. Little did we know, time passed very differently in that room. What had been only a mere 2 hours to Sigma, Melody and I, had been 20 years for him. Sigma keeps trying to tell me that it’s not my Fault Koschei went completely and utterly insane, made the Drums worse, but it was my idea to put him in the room. I still feel guilty to this day about it.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">If only I hadn’t made such a mistake, maybe everything would have been okay. Our lives wouldn’t be so messed up. I wonder how things would have turned out if I hadn’t locked him in that room. I sometimes find myself wishing that I hadn’t locked him in there.

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