The Mysterious Child

Chapter 1

Disclaimer: I own no one but Elita, her Time Lord/Lady parents, Brinethor, the Earth mother…basically everyone but The Doctor, Martha, and the Daleks. They belong to their respectful owners.

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Right before the calling to fight in the Time War…

"Elita! We must hurry!" Amarantha urged as she and her husband barged into a child's room at the Academy.

"We haven't much time." Czeslaw reiterated as he held the door, keeping a lookout for anyone who might stop them. No one was paying them much attention, as Amarantha and Czeslaw tried to urge their only child out and to what they had planned for safety.

The child, Elita, hurried to do as her parents' wishes. She had packed her bag and clothes, and headed for the door and to the exit of the building. Before making their escape through the doors, a loud explosion sounded not too far off from the small family. Elita turned her head just as teachers and other students crowded the hallway right behind them. She caught a glimpse of giant metal looking shakers that can be found at a dinner table on Earth. "EXTERMINATE! EXTERMINATE!" Distorted maniacal voices shouted out over the screaming voices.

The race that Elita correctly identified as Daleks, made quick work of the crowd by turning anyone in their way to ash. They were now the only beings between the metal shakers and the door to the Academy. "EXTERMINATE!" The Daleks shouted as they saw the Time Lord family. Amarantha and Czeslaw shoved Elita behind them and urged her to run.

Elita hesitated but thought better of it, and ran as fast as she could. She didn't get very far before the horrible sound began to gather, and she paused where she was and turned around. She was just in time to see her parents turn to ash. "NO! MOMMY! DADDY!" She cried and started to head back for them, instead she stopped the moment the Daleks entered her view on where her mother and father stood just seconds before.

The Daleks began advancing on the lone child and shouting in those eerie voices, "EXTERMINATE!" Elita only froze in her tracks as those that killed her parents came toward her. Just as the blast fired from the weapon on the nearest Dalek, a strange Time Lord grabbed her from behind and pulled her out of the line of fire. He then dived into his TARDIS, taking Elita with him.

Elita stayed limp with shock, as her rescuer carried her to safety. He placed her down in a seat in his TARDIS and started it up. He looked over at her from the pilot's position, and sighed. "Let's get you to safety. Just like they planned. I was backup." Elita's rescuer said carefully as the TARDIS took off. He pulled out a stopwatch, and held it in front of him so that she could look at it. "This is you. I can't promise that it won't hurt, but I can promise that you won't remember anything that just happened."

Elita looked up at her forced friend through wide eyes as she carefully looked at the offered timepiece. The promise of forgetting the horrible image of her parents turning into ash out of her mind, she tenderly took the offered watch and nodded her head. He took her gently by the hand and led her to a machine stretched out from the ceiling. He put the watch into a slot that was designed for it. He then placed the machine on her head like some sort of helmet from hell. "Ready?" He asked and at her slight nod, he threw the switch. He waited until the process was complete, even though he wanted to abort at her screams, before turning the machine off. He carried her unconscious figure over to his couch, and laying her down. She stayed that way for the rest of the journey.

Once Brinethor had arrived at the new home of Elita, according to her parents who were also long time friends, he picked up his small passenger and carried her sleeping figure to the front door. He stood there and rang the doorbell, and waited for an answer. A portly, homely woman answered the door and ushered them inside. He laid little Elita on the pointed couch, before turning to the woman and handing her two envelopes. One addressed to the family with instructions, and the other addressed to the Time Lord who will finally receive her. And the pocket watch, of course. He paused briefly by the girl and gently laid his hand on her soft hair at the crown of her head. He then left, as he needed to return to Gallifrey.