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]

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!