Episode 8: Virtual Reality Part 3

The Virtual World; red skies burn, and the ground rots. The world is very big: its programming goes on forever. Large sheets of glass form barriers around the world. Zac, Kaylie and Georgia can talk to each other, and hear noises, but only in the virtual world. For projected onto the glass barriers form the view from the Television screens outwards.

“Oh my God!” Georgia gasped “we’re in the computer game! This must be alien.”
“Grr, not another alien lot! I’m all out of vinegar!” Kaylie complained.
“Not all aliens can be defeated with vinegar. Just the farting, calcium ones,” Zac smiled.

Then a massive bird swoops over their heads and flies down at them.

“Get down!” Georgia cried.

She pushes them onto the floor and the bird can only try and grab them. It gets bored, and flies off.

“This world’s dangerous,” Kaylie said quietly.
“Then we’d better take extra care. If we win this game, maybe we can get out of here,” Zac said.
“Or, we could wait for the Doctor,” Georgia reasoned “he’ll save us.”

Zac steps forward, and turns to face Georgia and Kaylie.

“We’re a bit too experienced for that,” he said “it’s not the Doctor, and then his travelling companions. It’s the whole team. We all make the team. We can do this.”
“Anything you say, Churchill,” Georgia muttered.

So together, they set of into the desert, with Kaylie scurrying in their wake. The Doctor and Conner are in the TARDIS. The name Virtual Reality is on the console screen.

“Just us- err- boys, now eh?” the Doctor grinned.
“Right,” Conner said “let’s just get on with it.”
“Oh, okay,” the Doctor said, disappointed “I just thought we could, maybe, play a few games.”
“Err- no,” Conner said “Georgia and Zac have been ages. What’s taking them so long?”
“Maybe they got caught up,” the Doctor reasoned “mind you, I hope Georgia’s not too bored watching them kiss.”
“He’s my best mate,” Conner realised quietly “yuck! I’d better go and find an excuse for Georgia.”

Maria entered Sarah Jane’s attic. Clyde and Sarah Jane were stood in front of Mr Smith.

“Hello,” Sarah Jane smiled “how are you?”
“Fine,” Maria said “except mum’s back. She always causes trouble.”
“She’s your mum, she has a right to,” Sarah Jane smiled.
“Where’s Luke?” Maria asked.
“He’s over there,” Sarah Jane said, turning around “well, he was a moment ago. Maybe he went down stairs. Mr Smith, do a scan. We need to know where Luke is.”
“Would you like me to fetch you a cup of tea too Sarah Jane?” Mr Smith asked with a hint of cheekiness.
“Who put sarcasm in his circuits?” Maria retorted good naturedly.
“Very good Maria,” Mr Smith said “report: Luke is not within the house.”
“Well, where is he?” Clyde asked “he was playing the Game a minute ago.”
“Would you be referring to the Game with alien technology in it?” Mr Smith asked.
“What?” Sarah Jane asked.
“I have just discovered an element of alien technology within the Game Virtual Reality. Luke has disappeared, so I assumed they were connected,” Mr Smith said.
“I think you’re right,” Clyde muttered, pointing to where Luke was pressed against the inside of the screen of the Television.

Sarah Jane ran over to him. She didn’t touch the screen. Luke waved, and mouthed ‘this is amazing!’ Sarah Jane smiled, and mouthed ‘we’ll get you out of there soon’ back.

“It looks like we’ve got another case on our hands,” Sarah Jane said walking back to the others “Mr Smith, could you run through the list of the missing persons and find out which of them bought Virtual Reality recently?”
“Scanning now,” Mr Smith informed.

Dorris backs away, keeping one eye on the snake, and one eye on the ground. It would be an embarrassing death if she fell over something. Suddenly, the snake vanished, leaving Dorris sighing with relief. The Game must have had a slip in its programming. She turned, and began to walk across the desert, looking for a way out of the game. Dorris wasn’t even sure if there was a way out, but she had to escape, or die trying. She just hoped it would be the former.

Lisa was walking through the bamboo forest when she first heard it. The soft patter of paws. She turned around, to see a black shape come hurtling at her. She ran. She wasn’t going to escape- it wouldn’t let her. It was snarling, yet enjoying her fear. Lisa reached a dead end; she was dead meat.

Conner walks out of the TARDIS, and runs off to Kaylie’s flat. He reaches her door, which has been forced open by Georgia. He walks inside.

“George?” Conner called “Zac? Kaylie? Anyone? Hello…”

He hears a noise, and steps into Kaylie’s brother’s room. He notices the game, and glances at the TV, which is still on. He sits on the floor.

“Well maybe I could play one quick game…”

He leans forward, and touches the console. He is slowly being pulled into the Television. He reaches for the off switch on the Television. Before he can turn it off, he is gone.

To be continued…