Training task (Luke, 10, 4 and Trance)

[farmboyjedi]

He'd listened to the Librarian's talk and demonstration, still trying to take it all in. He wasn't as completely surprised as he surmised some of the others in the room might be. It was strange and new, but his life hadn't exactly been normal since he'd left Tattooine all those years ago. Most of the beings, human or otherwise, were strangers to him, although he was still coming to grips that somehow, Tarkin was here as well. He had what Han would call a bad feeling that they were going to squabble a lot before this was through. Part of Luke still wanted to kill the Imperial, after what he'd done to Leia and Alderaan. But, a Jedi did not seek revenge. He'd probably just do his best to stay out of Tarkin's way when they were all in here and not get into too many fights.

The books, apparently, were like portals or gates, passages to different worlds. The one his fingers ended up opening was...great, a farm. Just about the lowest thing on his list to see. Of course, raising crops and animals was a different thing than moisture farming in the desert, but he suspected there'd be some similarities, too.

He'd been told it was best to go about this with partners, so he'd talked to a few of others and there were four of them now as they prepared to step through the portal.

Comments

[borntolove]

Ten wonders how many more of their abilities are 'turned on' in a book vs the library.
"Oh and you're more terrifying?" As Ten eyes around at the swordsman and the few bows - unblinking.

They called his bluff. Good thing Ten had a backup idea.

"Warned you."

"Cover your ears. NOW! Don't ask just do it!"

Which switches the sonic to send out a high pitch noise and leaves Four's back to quickly rotate in a circle to hit all of them.

[teethncurls]

"Naturally." There is a huge grin to that, even though Four remains curious and passive on the outside. A simple quirk of his lips as he watches the men.

Then, as the bard said, things began to get a bit crazy. He heard the warning in his head, covering his ears in time to block most of the sonic noise. He winced at what little of the sound did make it through. Eyeing his older self, he managed a small humph.

The bandits winced, dropping their swords to cover their own ears. A few arrows are sent out before their owners drop the bows. Four pushes his other self down, covering his own head as those arrows stick to the tree and grounds behind him.

Four grins and looks over at Ten, "That was a bit closer than intended."

[borntolove]

Sweet naive younger self. If only you knew how icy cold your older self can get or how the fire of Ten's soul can burn with rage. Both of which Rose had been very good at keeping at bay.At the moment, his more innocent self will do.

That's when Ten feels himself being pushed down to the floor by his other self.

"Isn't it always?" Ten jokey remarks and promptly stands up and with a very authoritative voice and stare, "Let that be a lesson - don't mess with us." Then signals for his other self to run with him.

[teethncurls]

Running was best. Between the both of them they could easily over come the bandits, but Four would rather avoid that. Even if there was a small chill in his hearts over that voice and stance that his older self had taken. There was experience there...he tightened down his mind, keeping his thoughts safe for the moment.

While the bandits recivered, Four followed Ten. Silence between them until they were bear to where they had separated. Resting against a tree he started to carefully pluck the arrow out of his hat. "That was quite a show you put out on there, old man. Very frightening. Sounded, almost real."

[borntolove]

Ten line faces at his younger self verbally applauding his chilly voice because it wasn't acting. That was what The Doctor's soul had become and takes a seat next to himself, making sure to block his younger self from his mind. After a moment or two, eyes his younger self still with a line face expression and into those soul-piercing blue eyes. Can you see your own soul, self? How fiery that's become?

The comment from Four before echoes in Ten's mind; So that's why they're brown in regards to Ten's eyes and thinks about ears and leather, The Doctor, Ten had regenerated from. The one who came out of the Time War with gray eyes.

[teethncurls]

It takes his considerable amount of will power not to sigh out loud. Again the silence reigned! There was a new goal now. One that exploring would take second place to. He needed to find out just what would happen. Or at the least find out when and to which of him it would happen. He twirls the arrow in his hand, watching his older self carefully.

"It's nice to see I still remain clever as anything. Brilliant maybe." He flops down next Ten, limbs stretched everywhere, staring at the hole in his hat. "It was faithful, but I may need to replace this when we return. Perhaps take a day to myself, and this I me this body self, to find out just what is available." He prods Ten gently with the pointy tip of the arrow, "You may sulk about if you wish."

[borntolove]

Ten is about to give a small smirk about the 'brilliant' comment, however, when his younger self-flops down next to him and then stretches next to Ten on the grass - there's shock at first on his face and then horror and falls sideways and then scampers to his feet. Self - have you any idea how horribly awkward that position is to your other yourself? No, of course, you don't and Ten refuses to eye himself while his younger self is stretched in the grass comfortably.

It's a good thing his younger self-enjoys that so much because that's how you'll die.

[teethncurls]

Well.

That was a different reaction. Four pushes himself up on his elbows, head tilted to the side as he simply stares at his older self. Perhaps there was some catastrophic event in his future that would drive him completely bonkers. "There's nothing horrible in the grass. This planet, this...this time is too peaceful for that." He gestures with his head behind him, "Those brutish oafs aside of course but they hardly count as something to remain paranoid about."

He sits up completely, pulling his knees up and resting his long arms against them. Pale eyes narrow as he looks at his older self, noticing the psychic block and frowing.

[borntolove]

If Four could see the sheer horror on his selves face, Four would probably get the message that Ten just felt like he saw a dead person at his own feet. Himself at that.

Ten - Ten remembers that very long fall from the satellite on Earth from keeping the rest of the universe being disintegrated when The Master's plan to take the universe hostage - backfired.

"Are you still lying on the ground?"

Why yes, Ten is going to speak to himself with his back to himself.

[teethncurls]

Really, self? Four can't help the deep chuckle that escapes him as he stares at his older self's back. Stretching out his arms he shakes his head, "Of course not! I'm sitting up and wondering how many creatures have blasted my mind to end up with such reactions in my old age." There was nothing he could figure that would have him nearly crawling up a tree in a fit, simply because someone was laid out on the grass.

After a moment he leans forward a little bit, smile still on his face, "Cockatoo? Do you need an afternoon nap? Old bones weary?"

[borntolove]

Very slowly, Ten turns his head towards his younger self and Four will be able to see how dead looking one of his brown eyes are and replies in the driest remark,

"...

... You don't want to know. You really - don't.

No, scarfy. I don't."

[teethncurls]

The smile slips from his eyes, his lips tightening but still retaining a half sort of grin. It is far from jovial as that dead look has taken his mood away. There should be sorrow or empathy streaming from his hearts. This was himself, several centuries older perhaps but still himself. There should be compassion and honest want to comfort.

Instead he finds himself doubting. Finds himself wondering if there is mercy enough in him to feel compassion for another Time Lord; for himself. "If you were in my place, and you were. Once. You know that you would want to know." With a graceful sort of arch, he stands up. With purpose he walks towards his older self, hands behind his back and peering down his nose at the younger looking man.

"Answer me one thing, my dear self."

[borntolove]

Ten listens and has a pretty good idea where this is going, "I can't tell you what changes you." What breaks you because Ten doesn't want his innocent self-filled with those horrid thoughts of all of Gallifrey dead.

"We both know - knowing before isn't something that we should. Fixed points in time. They'll - happen."

Ten states as he feels his stomach twist in knots.

[teethncurls]

There's a short growl and Four steps closer, pressing a finger directly to Ten's forehead. "In one regeneration I have forgotten nearly everything. You are at least two away from myself." The finger doesn't move and Four suddenly grins.

"Whatever is happening here, time has little to do with it. Fixed points, paradoxes, time streams- all of it! Inconsequential." He smirks and removes his finger, dusting his hands off in his coat and stepping around his older. He turns around and shrugs, "But my interest is not in my future, simply in your past. Our past-but is it." He taps his nose, "So I ask again, can you answer me one question."

[borntolove]

Ten's eyes follow himself how do you know it's inconsequential? Just because they're both outside of time doesn't mean a thing! The TARDIS changes your brain, self, how do you know they don't remember what happens here?

When his other self-states that the interest isn't in Four's future, Ten does seem to loosen up and not appear so dire.

There's not even a wince when Ten's nose is tapped, just get on it with self, "Alright."

[teethncurls]

It means everything, self. Absolutely everything. Four watched Ten carefully, narrowing his eyes a bit to see just what his older ws thinking. There didn't seem to be any other reason to hide, at least now so...

"Why?" Vague enough that he'd get some sort of answer, and with enough hope it would be an answer to why he ended up like this. Sad, dark and cold. Like a star that's gone out.

[borntolove]

Self you are very clever leaving such a short and vague question. However, keeping in both their pasts is what Ten is going to do - key is keeping it both their pasts.

"Because - the story of the Hybrid scared both of us."

[teethncurls]

That was not the answer he'd been expecting, but then again he had been expecting something as vague as his question. He smirked again, "It's only a legend." A rather ridiculous one at that. "Improbable."

[borntolove]

"Thar's truth in legends." Ten continues to listen to himself fish for information.

[teethncurls]

Four stared at Ten for a few moments, looking half aghast and half annoyed. Then he broke out into a grin, a deep and rumbling chuckle following.

"Said like a true Time Lord." There's a sharpness in his eyes and he steps off to the side, heading back towards where the bandits had last been. He knew there was a chase ahead but the sonic screw driver was powerful. He just needed to see if they were only out for the moment or if he'd need to see about a cart and undertaker.

[borntolove]

Listening to the deep and rumbling chuckle Ten forgot that use to be a thing that he used to do and how there's something dark about that chuckle too.

Yes, self. Ten knows you don't want to go. Ten himself doesn't want to go either and has already decided that if he should die again - he's coming back as is. Then proceeds to follow himself.

Not letting anything happen to you here - self.

[teethncurls]

There's always been something dark about them. Perhaps not in One or Two but after that. Betrayal stings a bit, self, it does. Four whistles softly to himself as he pushes past shrubs and branches. Not being weary enough, or at least seeming not to be. His sharp eyes are watching every shadow, even as he points out a funny colored birds to his other self.

He is making an awful lot of noise though, isn't he. Either these bandits were alone, or any others were heading somewhere.

"Ah!"

[borntolove]

Ten seems to switch rather naturally to the opposite of where his other self isn't eyeing at the moment. Then when himself points out the birds, Ten eyes himself back and telepathy remarks with dread in his eyes;

You don't think -

A pause.

We should check on Trance and Luke. NOW!

[teethncurls]

Four doesn't even answer. Instead he takes off towards where the farms were. The small, defenseless village and farms! It made sense yet he'd been focused on something else. With a soft mental mutter to himself he pushed more branches aside.

Luck was never on their side.

[borntolove]

Right along side you - self!