Iota

== Origin ==
Accessing Gallifrey’s TARDIS records... Reading files.
TARDIS Type 103, registered “Iota”. 
Pilot: Cardinal Omnicron, deceased. 
Current pilot, Veritasavbylegeseveris (Edit made by Castellan Rhylus).
TARDIS history: TARDIS Iota was born from Compassion in the middle era of the Time War. She was quiet in the cradle, thinking of her bright future. Ignorant to the war that Gallifrey was crippled by, Iota developed in a world of ignorance and peace. She had all of Time in her hands, and her imagination and dreams were the only limits to what she could do. Iota had many siblings, whose presence filled her with great joy. They were her only friends, although, they never exchanged a word.
After graduating from the cradle, Iota chose to inhabit the body of a child. As a type 103 she enjoyed being able to take on a physical form. She rarely spent time in her computer, but rather elected to wander her interior, and live in the console room. She welcomed visitors from the TARDIS bay staff, but whenever she wasn’t talking, she would be singing to herself-- or, at least it always looked like that. Iota was always quite happy and cheerful. She never complained or cried, and was in fact, quite content, and loved every new challenge that arose to her. One of note, being the challenge of choosing an exterior for herself to play with one day. She sat cross legged under her console room, book in her lap. She was quietly humming to herself. One of the TARDIS bay interns was strolling by, and was captivated by her song. She walked into the console room, and knelt down besides the young TARDIS.
“What are you reading, little TARDIS?”
Iota grasped the book in her hands, and gave the intern one of the cheeriest and happiest smiles she would ever see.
“I’m looking at possible exteriors.” Her young voice cracked, and she found herself pausing for breath. She looked down at the book and flipped the page. She eagerly pointed to a red telephone booth. “Look at-- look at this! It’s so cheery! It looks like it could never frown, like me!”
The intern seemed to look concerned. 
“But TARDIS, this is from Earth, a primitive society, are you sure there is nothing else you desire?”
Iota set the book aside, and stood up, barely standing taller than the intern’s knees.
“But it looks so much like what my sisters and brothers clothe themselves with. Plus, it’s pretty! Just look at it!” She eagerly picked up the book and shoved it in the interns’ face.
“I will look like them! They will know it’s their sister when I see them! I will always have them.” The book slapped shut and Iota danced around the console, singing. “Oh how I look forward to a life in this big bright world! I can see all of Time and Space, and one day I will learn to see beyond these walls! I will see all of Gallifrey!”
The console began to quiver, and Iota lit up in orange, she almost seemed to be floating as her eyes began to blaze orange, and her only voice being the roaring of TARDIS engines. The intern, barely knowing what she was doing, ran back outside. Iota fell a short distance back to the floor, her countenance returned to normal.
“Wait, where are you going?! Don’t run away, don’t leave me, please!” 
Iota sat down in defeat, seeing that intern was long gone. She was sad for the first time, her new exterior shining it a fresh coat of red paint, and the new glass sparkling like diamonds and casing pretty reflections into the console floor.
Iota still kept smiling for several hundred years. She grew up alone, her form changing. She grew to be a teenager, still reading books, and learning everything she could. She was always optimistic, and still accepted visitors, but no one ever tried to bond with her. Eventually, she reached a stable age. She had filled her databanks with every story, every animal, every world known to the Time Lords. But it wasn’t enough. Her thirst for knowledge continued. She had a nagging feeling that something was going on. She began studying gruesome things. Battle, weaponry, and how to kill someone with just your bare hands. The cheery demeanour of old became replaced with that of a serious woman. She still smiled, and talked as if nothing had changed, but inside, her matrix was swirling like a storm. She knew that something was wrong. People, vanishing, TARDISes, dying, resources and weaponry, vanishing and being used up. She knew what was coming. Something told her one thing, and that thing scared her more than being alone; that she was going to loose someone dear to her. Iota took her head out of the fourth dimension and swore to not look back, but of course, that was hard for her to keep. And on one day, she broke her promise.
She had always seen the day coming, but she still was still surprised when it came. She was sitting down by her console and reading, but someone let themselves into her TARDIS, and shouted her name. Out of the corner of her eye, Iota could see the colours and design of Gallifreyan battle amour. She swallowed, shot up, and saluted.
“TARDIS... I need you to come with me.”
Iota tried her best to look serious and ready, but a concerned look shot though, and despite her efforts, her cloister bell rang. The general looked around at the console, then back at her.
“It’s alright to be scared, TARDIS, we all are.”
Iota nodded, and then followed the general, but inside, there was nothing but screams and wailing. Iota’s future forever changed.
After a short briefing with the general, Iota’s suspicions were proven true. Gallifrey was indeed in a war. The Time War. The worst war in all of history. She had to help out, Gallifrey needed all the help they could get. Iota was paired to seven Time Lords. Her pilot: Cardinal Omnicron, and her crew: Isha, Flavia, Sandar Rundgar, Benny, Pressius, Greydred, and Rullpax. Something in her sparked like it never had before, and she felt like she had some duty to them, like, she had to protect them with her life. She came into that greeting being called TARDIS, and left Compliment Omnicron, although, Iota knew that her pilot would give her a name of her own one day. She relished the thought like the possession of a loved one. 
Shortly after their meeting, Iota retreated into her computer for one of the first times since she had grew past the cradle. Her hearts were sad, but she knew she had to do this. After a moment’s silence, the console room erupted in flames of orange Artron energy as Iota embrased the regeneration into her wartime self.
Iota and Omnicron grew very close. He was in his later regenerations, reaching his eighth regeneration, and a longtime soldier in the Time War. He was well collected, a sure leader, charismatic, and loving to his crew. Almost like a father to them. They were placed under the command of Captain Preda, in the Fifth Time Lord Fleet. Preda was a good woman. She cared for all of the TARDIS compliments in her care like a mother. She always got everyone out alive. The Daleks had nothing on her. Omnicron and Iota saw victory after victory for many years. It seemed that they too, had overcome the Daleks. But that fantasy didn’t hold for long...
It was a normal day on the front. Omnicron was gazing out into the vortex, while his younger crew members darted about around him. There had been word of a battle, and the taste of victory was sure to be embraced. Omnircron snapped out of his trance, and moved to the console. Calling his crew to his side. The battle had begun, and Time and Space wait for no Lord or Lady... Omnicron placed his hand on the dematerialization lever, and looked around at the young faces piloting the console. They were all too young to die. Just graduated, all of them. No more than 200 years old. However, Omnicron had faith in them, and himself, that they would all get out of that day alive-- after all, they hadn’t died yet.
Isha, a young Dromenian crew member, muttered something, and the whole crew felt encouraged. 
“For Gallifrey.”
Omnicron smiled, he held the console fast. “Not only for Gallifrey, but for out futures!”
The whole crew smiled, even Iota. But none of them had any idea how short that future might be... As Iota roared into life, the Prydonian of the group, Rundgar, excitedly cheered.
“Omnicron! We outnumber them two to one! We’ll win this for sure!”
Omnicron smiled, but quieted the excited Prydon. “Remember Rundgar, these are Daleks we’re talking about, they could have reserves elsewhere.”
Inside her computer, Iota growled with anger, she hated the Daleks. A hate that would only grow in the next hour. Her engines roared, in war, Iota was a beast. Being a Type 103, she was the most resilient. She sometimes though herself to be almost like a goddess, but she shoved those thoughts to the back of her mind. She had a war to fight after all. She could take pride in her victories when she won the war, and lived out the rest of her days with Omnicron. How she cherished the thought. 
In the moment, Iota felt something rush over her, and Bennie, the Arcallian, groaned in frustration, her face was distraught.
“Oh great, he’s here now.” Her tone was a mixture of frustration, and lividness “Scrap the calculations, folks, we have no way to calculate the outcome now. The renegade lovingly known on our home as, ‘Get Off This Planet, Lord President’ has shown up.” Benny crumpled up the papers and threw them out the door, hitting the blue box with incredible accuracy. “THAT’S FOR MESSING UP MY WORK, DOCTOR!”
The Prydon, Rundagr, snickered. Benny, the Arcal, went red in rage.
“Oh go rot in a black star!” She huffed, directed her words at the Doctor.
Isha looked up at Omnicron. 
“I have a Dalek saucer in my sights, should I fire the Time Torpedos?”
Omnicron nodded. “Always, I’ll swing the TARDIS around.” He smiled.
The exterior of the TARDIS shifted to form two torpedo cannons. Iota licked her lips with the thought of killing Daleks, she was almost mad with the passion she had for it. With an array of shots fired, half a dozen Dalek Saucers became frozen it time, with no idea what hit them. Omnicron smiled, and congratulated Isha on her shot. Isha, proud of her accomplishments, accepted his words. However, the remaining saucers started to hit TARDISes, picking them off like flies. Iota, always aware of this danger, knew that she would have to move quickly. 
“Phase!” A voice shouted over the console.
Benny quickly worked the console, the Time Rotor roared, and Iota sped into gear. Behind them, hundreds of bolts of Dalek fire faded away as Complement Iota lept two seconds into the future. The whole crew sighed in relief, expect Iota, who was just getting started. 
“Thank Rassilon.” Rundgar sighed “No damage to report.”
“No more Dalek saucers to report, Cardinal.” Greydread smiled “Captain Preeda always cares for her children.”
Preeda’s voice filled the console room “there may be more Daleks stealth ships hiding behind the shadows of those planets. We’re going to investigate. Prepare yourselves.”
Benny guided Iota in behind a pack of other War TARDISes. She would be safer there.
Daleks rays suddenly started splitting open TARDISes. A fleet of Dalek stealth ships materialized. Iota, for once, was slightly scared. But she still roared. Benny starting flipping levers as random, trying to escape. Iota felt something hit her, the doors flew open, and Benny was sucked out into the void, screaming the pain of a hundred burning suns. 
“Benura!!” Screamed Sandar, he rushed to the open doors, drops of tears flying out into the void. Greydread rushed to his side and pulled him back towards console.
“She’s lost, Sanddar, and we will be too, if we don’t do anything. Come on, we can mourn later.”
A stray Dalek beam flew into the TARDIS, hitting the two Time Lords. They screamed as their bodies were disintegrated into ash. 
Iota was terrified now. She wanted to cry, but she knew that it would have to wait. She had to get her remaining crew out alive. This was now her job. But little did Iota realize, it was now her time. The whole console lurched, as the splintering of wood, the shattering of glass, the sparking of wires, and the noise of the cloister filled the room as a Dalek saucer crashed into her. Iota felt herself slowly start to die. This was her sacrifice, she had to save the others. 
She opened her mouth to speak, but found herself choked. A new voice took over, not letting her talk at all.
“Life support systems failing, please exit at your earliest convenience.”
Iota broke free for a moment and ran into the side of her computer’s wall. She tried to materialize in the console room, but she had been trapped inside.
“Omnicron!” She screeched, praying her words would get through. “Omnicron get the hell outta there!!”
“Fat load of good that will do.” Omnicron muttered, clearly not having heard her words. “TARDIS, what’s the nearest ship?”
“Nearest TARDIS complement is Tauon.”
“Omnicron, listen to me!” Iota screamed “I can save you! Please, please don’t leave me!”
“Warp members to Tauon.” Omnicron ordered in a harsh tone, he and Iota both knew what was going to happen.
“No! Omnoicr--” Isha shouted, but she and the other five living members vanished.
Iota was now desperate to escape, she had to, she had to stop Omnicron from doing what he was. She knew him well, she could predict him like the future. 
“Omnicron!! Listen to me! Let me talk to you, please!” Iota pleaded, finding tears to overwhelm her vision. 
Omnicron stood back from the console, stumbling as he felt himself gain less and less oxygen from every breath.
“Hello TARDIS.” He smiled weakly.
“Omnicron! Yes! It’s me! Please don’t do this! Please don’t!” Something told Iota that he couldn’t hear her. She closed her eyes, and allowed herself to slide down the wall, reaching out to Omnicron’s mind. She was silent.
“Today, I, Cardinal Omnicron of house Jadedreamers, name you, Type 103 Mark 2, Iota.”
Omnicron started coughing, he became forced to lean on the safety railing. Iota felt his consciousness start to fade away.
“Make a difference, Iota.--” He collapsed, gasping for air. “Always be kind”
Omnicron took in a scarce breath of air, Iota felt herself break, literally.
“Goodbye TARDIS.” Omnicron croaked, and breathes his last. His eyes were wide, his mouth open ever so slightly. His spirit left him.
Iota felt her bonds break. Without a pilot, Iota was now her own commander. She pushed through the walls of her computer, and into the console room. 
“OMNICRON!!” She screamed, falling to his side. But knowing him to be dead, there wasn’t much she could do. She was silent for a moment, then closed his eyes. 
Behind them The Time Rotor roared into life, Iota knew she had to go home. Gallifrey laid just below them. Having given it’s last, the Time Rotor cried, then shattered into thousands of pieces on the floor. 
Iota felt herself begin to crash. She took Omnicron’s body in her hands, and prepared for impact. 
After this, the records of Iota’s travels have been erased by an unknown source, it is unknown what happened to Omnicron’s body, but it was never found. 
What is known, however, is that after crash landing not too far from the Capotol, Iota spent some time mourning over the loss of her pilot. After several hours there. Iota was retrieved by TARDIS mechanics  and put into a repair bay. Iota spent her time in the repair bay alone, she thought many times of committing suicide, claiming to be ‘a disgrace to Gallifrey’ and so on. She vanished mysteriously after approximately 320 years. She has not been seen on Gallifrey since.
Veritas smiled, closing the digital record. She loved reading about her TARDIS, however, the story didn’t end there. Iota didn’t die a widower, in fact, she didn’t die at all. She merely changed, met a new face, made a new friend, and took off again. Never stopping, never dying. That sounded like Iota... Veritas closed her eyes, and allowed her mind to drift away to the thoughts of when the two of them had first met. The library was always calming and quiet, so this was never a hard feat.
Iota had been lucky. If she hadn’t landed nearby the Capitol, then she would have died. But she was found and stabilized. Iota became harsh to visitors, however, there were barely any. With the Time War raging on, no one really came to visit the old, damaged, and dying TARDISes. Even though Iota was alive, she had a feeling that any hope of finding another pilot would be impossible. Iota had a lot of time to think, and she chose to think about Omnicron. Of course, Iota put the responsibly of Omnicron’s death on herself, but later, Veritas had changed her mind. However, she still carries his death with her daily. 
Iota considered herself to be a disgrace to Gallifrey, she deemed herself a traitor, and worthy of death. However, whenever she would try to end her life, Iota would think of what Omnicron told her. To make a difference, to be kind. Including to herself. Iota, under his orders, whether alive or not, obeyed them. But she was, by no means, better off. Her console was in ruins, and she could not fly. The console was in literal pieces, and the Time Rotor still remained shattered. Iota spent most of her days laying under the console like she did when she was a child, and crying. No red book, no visitors, just grief and tears. 
Two hundred years alone in self-isolation was something that scarred Iota. She had so much time to sit around and let her thoughts haunt her, and make her cold with guilt. Although she sat in the same place she once did almost a thousand years ago, there was no one to comfort or tell her that everything was going to be alright. That is, until she met someone else. A new face, and someone who would never, never, leave her.
Iota felt the presence of someone in the halls, she tried to reach out to them, but pulled back, knowing that they wouldn’t want to care for a mourner and a widower. No, never. Iota hunched over, and went back to her solitary life. 
“Hello TARDIS!” a girl’s voice echoed from just beyond the door, Iota felt something rekindle within her, but she tried to subdue it. 
The noise of footsteps grew closer and closer, eventually stopping beside her. The young girl sat down next to Iota, and looked up at her. Iota stopped crying for a moment, and looked over at the child. “Child, do not bother yourself with a widow.” Iota warned, sniffiling from her tears “Go see the other TARDISes. I am destined to die. Just look at me. I’m a living wreck-- and by no means worth your time. Please, spare yourself my suffering, go, find a TARDIS worthy of Gallifrey’s honour.” 
Iota looked away, and tried to centre her thoughts back on Omnicron, but the child persisted
“TARDIS, tell me, why should I not pick you? You called to me. I can feel it. And I know I can help you. So, please, TARDIS, let me stay. I only want to be with you.” Her voice was sweet and caring, something Iota hadn’t heard for hundreds of years.
“You have no idea what you’re getting into. I have seen things, been though so much, lost so very much... I don’t want to burden another soul with it-- I should die with it.” Iota’s tone was serious, and just telling the child to go away.
“Please, TARDIS” the girl pleaded, “Tell me what you’ve been though, I want to know what’s beyond these walls.”
Something within Iota clicked. She felt like a child again. As she looked into the child’s eyes, she forgot about Omnicron. She seemed to connect with this child, somehow, and for the first time in many years, Iota felt herself reach into the child’s mind, connecting with them. She instantly felt closer to this child-- no not just any old child. Iota wiped the tears from her eyes and began to sweep away the shards of glass from the Time Rotor, and the frazzled wires of the console. She wrapped her arms around the child, and allowed her mind to focus on just her. It felt good to not have to worry about other things. Iota smiled for the first time in a hundred years.
“If you insist on staying, Veritas, then I insist on you calling me by my name.” Iota’s tone was cheerful, and glad. But it still carried the guilt, it would for a very long time.
The child, Veritas, seemed to be surprised that the TARDIS knew who she was. 
“What is your name, TARDIS? I’d be delighted to call you by it!” Veritas chimed, happily.
Iota had had almost 200 years to think about her new name, but for some reason, it still felt new to her. Somehow. She had to think for a moment before she said it.
“Call me Iota.” 
Veritas etched closer to Iota. The two found a great deal of peace in the other. Almost like two wrongs made a right. Iota found herself to stop thinking about her dead pilot, and start thinking about caring for Veritas.
Somehow, Iota felt indebted to this Time Lady. Somehow, Iota felt that Veritas was as good as her child. She hadn’t felt that before, not since she let her crew back in the Time War... It was, like, a motherly feeling. She hadn’t felt it for so long, but it was the feeling of bonding. It felt so good to Iota, like a feeling from home, her time. 
Iota and Veritas grew quite close very quickly. Iota found herself not thinking of Omnicron much, but rather anticipating Veritas’ next visit. It was hard for the two to get together, since Veritas’ studies at the Prydonian academy took up much of her time. Iota longed to see her friend again. She found great peace in her company. 
As time passed, Iota began to think more and more of a future for herself, rather than condemning herself to become scrap. Almost like, in Veritas, she had something to live for. All of those long nights alone, crying. They were suddenly replaced with Iota, taking up a tool, and slowly piecing together herself. It wouldn’t be a short process...
Veritas and Iota had a problem, though. Neither of them were supposed to be seeing the other. However, they did it anyways. Iota was in a great deal of pain from her console being in such bad shape, and a regeneration looked likely. However, Iota knew that the moment she regenerated, she would be paired with another Time Lord and be sent back out into war. She would most likely would never come back. She was lucky enough to have survived once. After some time of thinking, Iota decided that she would bear the pain, like badges of honour. She knew, she felt it, that Veritas was important. Whether that be in several hundred years, Iota didn’t know. She had eternity for all she knew. But was it worth it? Iota knew that it was, without a doubt.
Some time passed, Veritas grew older, and Iota became less distant. The two picked up working on Iota, trying to fix her up, as a project they could so while they talked. There was nothing holding them back, as the proper tools were littered everywhere in the repair bay, and a five minute search could produce as little as one or two tools, but as much as a whole toolbox filled. 
Veritas was never good at repairing TARDISes, however Iota began to teach her. Iota was good at repairs, she had to help her crew with them a lot during the Time War. Not only that, but she was, in fact, the TARDIS herself. It was part of her nature. 
During their meetings, Iota and Veritas almost had a set of unspoken rules. Iota would never ask Veritas about her relations on Gallifrey, and Veritas would never ask Iota about sensitive things. Wounds that were still healing. Like her crew, and what happened to them. However, Veritas knew that one day, she would have to ask. And one day, when she was 37, it came.
The two were working silently in the console room, and enjoying each other’s company. Some time had passed without a word being said, and Veritas knew that the time had come.
“Iota” She shyly began. “you mentioned, in our first meeting, that you lost your first pilot. What happened to them?”
Iota put her tool down. She was silent for some moments. She too had seen this coming, and it hurt, but for some reason, Iota accepted the question. To help her cope, Iota resumed her work.
“Omnicron, was his name. He and I were paired together as part of the war effort.” She paused again, then plugged in some wires, and the console lit up with beautiful lights. “I loved him.”
Veritas was hesitant to continue. “How did he die?”
Iota paused, her mind splitting two ways. She knew it was good for her to talk about it, but she also felt the pain, the guilt, the loss. “Omnicron died in this very room. We were in the middle of a Dalek assault under the watchful eye of Commander Preeda. But everything went wrong. My crew-- Isha, Flavia, Sandar Rundgar, Benny, Pressius, Greydred, and Rullpax. They-- a lot of them died. Benny, Greydred, Sandar. Not much older than 100. Just kids. They all sacrificed themselves in the name of Gallifrey. The rest I teleported to another TARDIS under Omnicron’s orders. I was shot several times by a Dalek saucer, and I almost bloomed. But the life support failed, and Omnicron died. He gave me my name, Iota, in his last moments of life... I tired to tell him that I loved him, but I was choked back by my automated warnings that the life support had failed and that I was going to crash. 
I managed to dematerialize shortly after his death, but I miscalculated, and ended up crashing on Gallifrey not too far from the Capitol. Everything shattered, and then, I had to deal with Omnicron’s body... He never regenerated. I still don’t know why to this day. Maybe he had just had enough of the war. Maybe he was content to die.”
Iota felt it all rush back to her, the memories. Her screaming at Omnicron, ordering him to regenerate. Iota’s choked back tears as her crew perished. And her forced silence as Omnicron breathed his last. It hurt. But at the same time, it felt good to get all of it off of her chest. To share it with another being who genuinely cared for her. She smiled, a feeling of calm rushing over her. Starting then, Iota truely felt like she could start to let go of Omnicron’s memory. 
Veritas must not have felt the same way. She sat in silence for the rest of their visit. Iota followed her example, not wanting to hurt her friend further.
After almost 100 years of visits, Iota sat alone in her near-repaired console room, alone, and in silence. She had changed so much over the past century. Mentally, she was a brand new person, but on the outside, her clothes, her skin, her hair. It was all the same as it had been with Omnicron. She had grown farther from the past, she had learned to move on, to let go. 
Iota felt something sting in her hearts, she knew that the time had come. She closed her eyes, and tried to look over the records of her visits with Veritas from the last 100 years. To analyze them for one thing, the answer to one question; why did Veritas come back?
That’s what stood out about Veritas compared to the others who had visited her. Veritas came back. There was something she saw, something she knew, that caused her to return time and time again. Then, it clicked. She knew.
Veritas wanted to run away.
Iota rose, the lights flickered, the console chimed. Iota saw more, she saw what Veritas wanted to do. Iota smiled. Oh this Time Lady, she was something more, she was exactly what Iota needed. But there was a part to play, and Iota was ready to play hers.
As Iota held her hands in front of her, she thought of the big day tomorrow. It was the graduation ceremonies for the Prydonian Academy, and there would be TARDIS pairings too. She had to look her best. 
Iota looked at her hands once more, they glowed orange. She felt something tingle inside of her. Her amour felt heavy on her chest. It had held her down for so long, it was time to change. Iota flung her arms outwards, and let the regeneration consume her. The whole room around her exploded in waves of orange Artron energy. 
Iota had never felt so sick but so new before. Her whole body was screaming at her, she needed to focus. She had to recover. She slowly opened her eyes. 
Iota was laying down on the floor, she must have backed out when the pain got too bad. Last time she regenerated, Iota had retreated into her computer, and not endured the physical pain too. But for some reason, Iota had tried it now. She felt so bad on the inside, like something was eating away at her insides. It was an odd feeling, since Iota didn’t exactly have internal organs, but she shrugged it off. She shot upright, then had a terrible thought. Was she wearing any clothes? Last time she had regenerated, she didn’t need to worry about clothes, but now, they mattered. Iota looked down at herself, and was thankful to find that she had, in fact, regenerated new clothes. 
It was a dress, but it was so lightweight compared to her armour. She felt free. It was simple, and shifted from a cream, to a darker orange. She liked it a lot. Iota tried to stand up, but tripped. It was almost like her legs were longer than they were before...
Oh right, yes, she was taller. That would take some getting used to. Iota tried to get up again, and succeeded. She stumbled around for a while, then found her balance. New body, it always confused her. “Maybe not new...” Iota thought “Maybe just older...”
Iota checked the time, the graduations would just be starting... She had very little time left. Iota took a quick glance around the shining new console room-- and the Time Rotor. 
She hadn’t noticed it at first, but the Time Rotor was whole again. It was functioning, and ready to fly. That feeling, the feeling of being restored as a TARDIS, it was such an encouragement to her. However, there was still one thing missing...
There was a shy knock at the door. Iota shot a look over at the restored glass-panelled door. It looked so pretty. She quickly tidied her hair, and adjusted her dress, then walked over to the door, quietly opening it. 
Veritas stood there, all dressed in her ceremonial robes. She looked like she was ready to graduate, but she was missing her ceremony. Iota smiled, she had seen this coming.
“I’ve been expecting you.” Iota offered Veritas her hand.
Veritas smiled, and took it, pulling herself into the console room. She looked around, smiling, and wide eyed like a child on Christmas. 
“What do you think?” Iota had her arms outstretched, and she backed up towards the console. Showing off her beautiful console, restored to it’s former glory.  “You want to run away, don’t you? You’ve seen what Gallifrey has to offer, and you have shunned it. But why? I’ve looked into your mind as you have looked into mine throughout our visits. But I can still not determine why.” Iota put her hands down, and neatly held them behind her back.
Veritas blushed, her gaze sank to the floor. “I-- I-- Do you remember, how you were telling me about Omnicron?”
Iota was confused, but her mind, for once, didn’t sting at the thought of Omnicron. “A good man, and an excellent pilot. I will remember him always.” Iota felt sad, but she could let go. 
“Well, Iota, the thing is, Veritas started, clearly anxious “Like Omnicron, I see the beauty in you. To me, to think that Gallifrey has trapped you here for two hundred years, it makes me sad. And for me, as a Time Lady, what do I have here on Gallifrey? I want to see the universe. But I’ll only see it if you, the widow, would make yourself whole once more. And allow me the honour of being your pilot-- no, your companion.”
Veritas smiled, keeping her posture. Iota could tell that she had put great thought into this. It made her happy. She smiled and flipped a lever on the console. The Time Rotor roared to life for the first time since Omnicron’s death. And as she stood in front of it all, Iota smiled, but not for a fleeting moment of happiness, but for her resurrection. She set her gaze on Veritas, looking at her for the first time, as more than a friend--but as her pilot.
“Where to, Veritas, pilot of Complement Iota?”
Veritas lit up in a sense of pure joy; Iota did likewise. As the TARDIS dematerialized, Iota wrapped Veritas in her arms, and held her close to her beating hearts. For the first time since Omnicron breathed his last, Iota could say with confidence that everything would be alright.
After over a year together, Veritas and Iota developed a different kind of relationship. Iota yielded up her physical form and retreated into her TARDIS computer. This left Veritas to have Iota’s physical TARDIS as her means of transport, rather than her friend of before. Iota still watched over Veritas, but not quite in the way she used to. Electing to protect Veritas from the confines of her computer, rather then in the flesh as before. Veritas never quite found out why, but that’s what happened. After a little travelling on their own, Iota and Veritas collided with two other Time Lords, literally.
The Doctor was clutching a half-Time Lord Dalek(or at least that’s what he later claimed to be). They collided with Veritas, and the three crash-landed onto an alien planet. Left to deal with the Doctor, who had recently regenerated into his 14th incarnation. 
Veritas was hostile to the group at first, trying to take thier problems on by herself. However, she quickly discovered that that’s not how that worked... The Dalek and the Doctor didn’t exactly get along either. The Dalek, claiming to be good and an enemy of the Daleks, was quite forceful on getting the two Time Lords to work with him. After nearly leaving him to die, the Doctor and Veritas stumbled across the Dalek’s protector, a Time Lord by the name of the Professor... This began what Iota would describe as the start of her abusive days. 
The Professor was an unusual Prydonian... He was full of promise, and of knowledge. However he had very little morality. He used his knowledge against those around him, but in a way that just barely made everyone tolerate him-- save for the Time Lords. Iota and Veritas didn’t get along well with him, especially Iota.
Shortly after meeting the Professor. He revealed to Veritas and the Doctor that he wanted only one thing; to prove that some Daleks were indeed good. Of course, neither Veritas or the Doctor stood for this. The Professor was stubborn in his ways, however hard either of the Time Lords tried to convince him. The Doctor, having had enough, wished Veritas well, and left for other travels. However, Veritas stuck around with the Professor, determined that she could change him somehow, but her efforts would be in vain.
Once, as a part of one of their many travels, after the Professor returned to Gallfrey, tangling himself in the affairs of the Lord President, and trying to assert himself as ruler. He ran away, however, a TARDIS fleet was sent after him. His half Dalek half Time Lord friend was killed, but he, and four other “good” Daleks escaped. During that squabble, Veritas met someone by the name of Cardinal Rylus, but he’s not important, just another Time Lord fighting the war. Veritas and Iota soon moved on.
Veritas starting thinking about leaving the Professor, realizing that he would only drag her and Iota drown with him. Iota started calculating new options for her and Veritas. But Veritas tried to still have faith in the Professor, but it was slowly diminishing.
There were very little things in this point of Iota’s life that were worth noting. A pattern kept repeating itself, and Veritas and Iota grew frustrated. The Professor would talk about his Daleks, they would go somewhere, something bad would happen, Veritas would try to correct things, the Daleks would get involved and ruin things, then they would all run back to their TARDISes in defeat or victory. Iota, still hiding out at this time, got frustrated of having to put up with the Professor’s Daleks. She became forced to act, her anger of old rekinding within her. A plan began to brew in her mind...
Veritas had taken a day off travelling, to rest on Earth. She had gone to a quiet little pub in England, and casually read a book. Of course, she had some food too, but she was mostly there to get her shoulders down from her ears. Travelling with the Professor had really caused her to question her sanity, and morals. For the most part, she did find herself to be calmer by herself, but she missed her early days with Iota. Her afternoon was going well, until she accidentally ordered ginger beer, and didn’t bother to double-check that it wasn’t ginger beer. She soon found herself to be hazy in mind, and unable to think properly.
Two Daleks ended up showing up, and Veritas was forced to deal with them, however, she collapsed soon after. Iota came, in Time Lord form, and took her back to the console room, taking Veritas’ other things with her, and the Dalek travel machines. Of course, Kombucha got accidentally invented, but that’s another story. Iota had had enough of being locked away in her computer. It was time she took matters into her own hands.
Veritas ended up being sick in bed, and Iota was left to deal with the Professor. After receiving a call from him, requesting she come and help him with repairs on his TARDIS, Iota knew that her time to act had come. The four “good” Daleks had congregated in the Professor’s TARDIS. After arriving, Iota found the group, and broke into their meeting-- with the exterior of her TARDIS. Armed with a flamethrower, Iota killed them all, after they pleaded with her for mercy. Reducing the four pepperpots to molten piles of scrap. Iota had no more mercy left to give. Her hearts were cold now. This was only her first revenge in the name of Omnicron.
After that, Iota’s relationship with the Professor deteriorated significantly. Eventually, in their finaly joruney together, when the Professor ordered them to try and save a Dalek-converted friend of his. Iota drew the Professor aside, knocked him unconscious, and left. They have not sene each other since, and Iota is more than grateful.
After leaving the Professor, Iota and Veritas spent some time by themselves, talking, and recovering from their ordeal. Not only that, but their constant, and taxing travels had left several rooms, and entire sections of the TARDIS in great mess and in need of repairs. Not wishing to give a life in the name of the Professor, Iota and Veritas returned to their habits of when they first met, and spent their time repairing the TARDIS, laughing, and talking about their experiences. It helped them to recover, and put their problems in the past. Together, they had the TARDIS cleaned and repaired in just under a week-- of course, taking breaks to go to the odd planet and relax. But the two repaired the emotional damages that the Professor had caused them too. Ready to move onto new travels, Iota and Veritas took their places on the console, and pulled the throttle, praying for the best.
Iota and Veritas have been on many travels since that day. They’ve made new friends, and even new allies tying them back to Gallifrey. Iota has saved many lives, included that of two TARDISes she holds very dear to her-- Aeon and Isha. Iota now finds herself surrounded by friends and allies once more, except, her bonds are stronger, and slowly she is becoming less and less afraid of being betrayed. But she will always be cautious, that will never go away.
One of the most memorable friends that Iota made was finding one of her sisters. A Type 103 TARDIS by the name of Arc. She belongs to the CIA Agent known as The Angel. Although, Iota is of a similar shoot-first questions later mindset. Iota finds herself able to get along much better with Arc. The two can find a trusted spirit in the other, and get along very well. Iota enjoys seeing Arc, and will never not enjoy her presence. 
The two met purely by chance, when a Dalek saucer crash landed in Athens, Earth, in 750 BC. The CIA was sent to invistiage, in the form of the Angel and Arc, along with another CIA agent by the name of James Alicaster. Veritas, Iota, Arc, and the Angel, managed to set things right. Stopping the Daleks, and saving most of the city’s population. Unfortunately, the Angel was severely injured during combat and forced to regenerate. After that, Iota and Arc became close friends, often having Iota call on Arc during times of great strife and struggle.
Iota, in her time since she left the Professor, has saved many TARDISes. One of those TARDISes, is TARDIS Isha. Isha is a type 102 TARDIS who crash landed on Darthi V. Her personality matrix was damaged, and her link to the Eye of Harmony shattered. She bloomed, and her pilot died brutally, several times. Her physical form splintered into many different versions of herself. Not having control over herself anymore, Isha became forced to hunt out other TARDISes in an attempt to keep herself alive, since she had no more Artron Energy being produced. This attracted another sentient TARDIS by the name of Aeon, and several Time Lords. The Doctor, James Alicaster (a CIA agent), Londrin, and Veritas. However, Iota managed to find her was into Isha’s computer and repair her matrix, returning her from a four hundred year trance. However, James saw Isha for an unchanged figure, equally as guilty for the murder of hundreds of TARDISes, she would be a hunted figure. The Doctor, however, protested, claiming that Isha was changed. Iota, having enough of it all. Stole Isha’s matrix, and implanted it into a TARDIS shell, running away into the Vortex with her. However, Iota couldn’t imagine life having to be at odds with the CIA-- especially hurting her relationship with Arc. She gave away under the pressure, and called Arc, begging her to help her. Arc, responding to her sister’s pea for help, materialized in Isha’s new console room. After comforting Iota, and helping her to calm down, Arc received Isha’s records from Iota, and let her go. Iota materialized on Darthi, collapsing from exhaustion. Veritas fell to her side, trying to encourage her, and restore her strength. However, Iota truly needed time to rest. So, as part of her commitment to Iota, Veritas kept watch over Iota for an entire day, barely stopping to rest, herself. Eventually, Iota did rise again, and with the help of another TARDIS, Aeon, she got back to her TARDIS, and managed to dematerialized again. Iota never found out what happened to Isha. However, recently, with the help of the Twelfth Doctor, Iota managed to find Isha again, and apologize for running away. Iota has sworn to always be there for Isha, a promise she fully intends on keeping.
The other TARDIS, TARDIS Aeon, is older than Iota in type, however, in age, Aeon is far younger. Iota sees Aeon as her equal, and they see each other often. Aeon is a Type 102 TARDIS, with her pilot being a Time Tot by the name of Londrinwarpstrumstrum-- or Londrin for short. Aeon loves Londrin deeply, despite the fact that he is only 10 years old, and she’s only about 200 years of age. However, their relationship is purely like that of a mother-son rather than anything physical. However, the two would have never met had it not been for Iota’s assistance, and that of a member of Torchwood by the name of Good. Aeon (who at the time was called “102” in reference to her type) escaped Gallifrey, after looking into Gallifrey’s future and seeing the oncoming war-- the Time War. Regretting not taking a pilot with her, Aeon fled to Earth, seeking peace and help. Aeon, finding another Artron Energy signal. Met up with Iota, who was waiting for her on a street corner. Aeon, having not been primed for flight, or her life with a pilot, was quite under prepared for life as a TARDIS-- especially a renegade. Iota, after some thought with Aeon, decided to copy her data banks over to Aeon, giving her a perfect copy. From this, Aeon was able to set herself up for flight, and better understand the war she had escaped from-- however, the things she saw from Iota’s memory, all that she had seen and been through, scarred her. She never wanted to see it again.
However, Iota did have good news for Aeon. Recently, a young Time Lord by the name of Londrin, had been found by Torchwood, and put into care. Iota knew that the child was alone-- no parents, not even an education to keep him safe. Iota had no idea what Torchwood would do to him. Aeon, for a moment putting her own well-being aside, dropped everything and flew off into the Vortex with the hopes of not only meeting Londrin, but helping him to see her for who she was, too. 
Iota later found that the two had bonded successfully, and have been travelling together for some months now. Aeon, still going by 102 not that long ago, finally received her name, Aeon, as a promise from Londrin after she was almost killed by Isha for her Artron energy. The two have gotten along well, since, and Iota has high hopes for their future together. She likes to remain in the shadow of their lives, however, the time is coming that Aeon may be able to repay Iota for her help. But of course, I can’t possibly tell you how or why.
But it isn’t all just TARDISes for Iota, she’s made good allies of Time Lords too, however, she has made enemies too.
A friend of hers now, is the Time Lord known as the Doctor. Even though they had met back in Iota’s time with the Professor. He seems to not bring it up, maybe because he’s not sure if Iota’s been there in her personal timeline. But Iota doesn’t hold it against him. The two first met again on an alien planet, whilst tracking down a missing NASA crew. He was in his 14th regeneration, the same that they had first met in. After that ended, Iota decided to not ask him if he remembered her, but rather elected to bring it up later.
The next time the two met was in Egypt, 2020, where an unknown species from the Time War was trying to take over the Olympics in an attempt to kill all of the Time Lords and TARDISes present (this list consists of; Iota, Veritas, The Doctor [11th regeneration], The Doctor [6th regeneration], and a younger Time Lady by the name of Hope). Their home planet had been destroyed in the name of the Time War, but had received no pity or compromise from anyone-- especially the Time Lords. After a Time Distortion sent the local area into havoc. Iota was forced back into the Vortex, and looking for other options. Separated from Veritas, who became severely sick shortly after, Iota struggled to find options. In the end, she travelled back in time to 2012. There she was left to follow the future from the past, only having her sonic screwdriver as a means of communication. After killing a police officer for self defence, Iota was restrained and teleported onto a colonist ship. There the species plotted, and tortured Iota, connecting her systems to that of their own ship. This granted them limited time travel abilities, however, after managing to escape, Iota gathered The Eleventh Doctor, Hope, and Veritas. After a little discussion, Iota fired several Time Torpedoes into the side of the ship, sending it into a timeless dimension where it would eventually decay into nothingness.
This, however, brings us to our last Time Lord ally, Caldarzuuzonfonar , also known as Hope. Iota and Veritas both had very little time with Hope, however, Iota prays that their relationship will strengthen in the future. In Egypt, Hope was able to disable the power running the Time Distortion, and managed to save the TARDISes. 
However, when it came time to send the colonist ship into the timeless void, Hope was against it. She claimed that Iota had acted wrongly, and it cost a species. Whatever Hope’s words might have been. Iota was hit hard by them, and regrets her actions to a degree. But Iota has a duty to those around her; to protect them, and ensure their safety-- something she failed to do with Omnicron and his crew. That promise will always come first in Iota’s mind.
But Iota has encountered several foes as well. These foes, like her enemies with the Professor, consist mostly of Dalek origin. Since after Omnicron’s death, Iota has sworn vengeance on whatever Dalek she sees-- especially ones that claim to be good. One Dalek like this was 8585, but Iota never developed much of a rivalry with it, since, not long after they met (and by this I mean a couple seconds) her staiser had the final word in the form of a fatal shot to the Dalek’s eyestalk, it died instantly.
Iota has also met a human, a weapons collector (specifically of the Time War era) from what readers of this record may refer to as “the far future”. Carlos Smith was his name. After talking Iota into giving his TARDIS shell life, Iota was abused over the time period of around a month. After thier recent squabble whilst stranded in the ocean, Iota has not seen him since.
A similar Time Lord by the name of The Nomad, acted very similar. Closer to the Professor, Iota quickly cut ties with him after only a single adventure. Neither Iota or Veritas have heard anything since.
But, returning to foes of other races, it is said that Iota has one final nemesis, one that is equal to her is almost everything. Except, a creature so terrible and constructed in such a way that only something of a similar build would have any hope of taking this down. Of course, I’m speaking of-- 
[DATA CLASSIFIED, SEE DATA-BANK ENTRIES LISTED “Iota’s Past” FOR DATA PERMISSIONS AND EXPLANATIONS]
=== Companions And Thier Origins ===
However, Iota, despite all of the betrayal, and hardship, has managed to allow certain individuals to grow close to her, in the form of companions. Since she left the Professor, Iota has taken on a total of three part-time companions, this however, does not include Veritas. Two of the companions still live.
The first companion Iota ever took on, was of course, Veritas. But overlooking that, Bethany was the first. A beekeeper from 2050, Beth worked very hard in her own time to save the wild pollinators, and to genetically modify honey bees to take their place. After Veritas and Iota accidentally landed in Beth’s house, Bethany has proven to be loyal and a lovable figure. Beth still goes back to her own time from time to time. But likes to stay mostly in her custom apiary that is one of Iota’s many weird and wonderful rooms.
The second companion Iota had taken on was a Swedish teenager by the name of Adam. He barely travelled with them, but Iota knew from her telepathic circuits that Adam had feelings for her. Iota, however, elected to play the fool, and pretend that she had no idea that Adam fancied her.
However, in a recent turn of events. Iota, seeing that Adam was going to die that day, had pity on him, and sent him to a parallel universe where his father still lives. Yet, Iota doesn’t let people go that easily...
Iota’s and Veritas’ most recent companion, was purely by chance. After the events of what took place in Egypt, Iota and Veritas took time off in London. Their location was near an orphanage, and unannounced to Veritas, a young girl was drawn to Iota’s exterior. Emily Kaldwin’s mental recognition of Iota’s box was immediately picked up by Iota, although they were in the middle of dematerializing. However, this didn’t stop Iota and Veritas from coming back. Although a couple of weeks had passed for Emily, only a moment had gone by for Iota and Veritas. Seeing what Emily had to live through at the orphanage, Iota offered Emily a part-time companionship. In addition to giving her her own TARDIS key. Always on call, and never giving up. That’s what Iota promised. Though, under unexplained circumstances, neither Iota or Veritas ever heard from Emily again after only their third meeting...
But all of Iota’s companions and friends are about to be put to the test. When on a journey to Extrian II, everything went wrong. And now, coupled with Veritas, the clock is ticking for Iota as time is being rolled back, letting Iota fall back in her own personal history. Will she be saved in time before her own clock rewinds itself to the point of Iota never being born? Or will dark secrets finally become brought into the light? But what matters most? My life.
Please help me, whoever you are. I don’t know who I am-- and I-- and I think it’s killing me.
[END OF DATABANK ENTRY]
== Abilities ==
* Time Travel
* Regeneration
** Also has the ability to change into a Time Lord form from a matrix and vice versa
* Channel Artron energy
* Can connect people to her computer via touch
* Good shot with weapons
* Emotionally strong
== Weaknesses ==
* Struggles to make and keep allies
* Overtly protective of both herself and Veritas
* Trigger happy
* Quick to assume the intentions of others
== Paraphernalia ==
* Sonic Screwdriver 
* Customized Gallifreyan Staiser Riffle 
== Other Notes ==
Iota, being roleplayed by Veritas (Something) falls under the guidelines found in Type 102+ TARDIS Roleplay Guide (Veritas' Interpretation). Category:TARDISes