Summary of Friday's game: Involution, Part 1.

[Doctor X]

Dramatis Personae

Justin - Scion of Gallifrey
Dr. Luisa Valez - 22nd century physician
Aki - 17th century samurai warrior
Bret Frizell - Video game programmer in the present (1986)

A Shinto Shrine materializes outside Starblasters video arcade in Silicon Valley, CA. Justin
is keen to relax after their gripping adventure in Feudal Japan with some video games, and
believes that there's only one way to enjoy them properly: In a 1980s video arcade. Dr.
Valez is curious to research an epidemic that came about in this era that was wiped out and
no information has survived to the 22nd century to explain it's exact properties or how it
was cured. This dreaded "Pac-Man Fever" is something she's looking forward to researching
further.

They emerge from the TARDIS into a group of young boys bullying a smaller boy. Aki sternly
disperses them, and conversing with Eddie (the boy) reveals that they seem to have taken over
the arcade. He's off school because it's his birthday, but the arcade is full of belligerent
teens at noon on a school day. A scan of the area reveals a strange subliminal carrier wave
coming from some of the games. The manager of the arcade is convinced to close the place for
lunch so they can examine the four games the wave is coming from: Space Groover, Ladder
Escape, Commie Killer and it's sequel, Commie Stomper.

Examining these games reveals a strange object attached to the electronics inside them: A
device that is sending the subliminal wave out of these games. Removing these items solves
the issue, however, unbeknownst to them, the removal has sent up a red flag at the company
that makes all four games: Involution Technologies, right here in Silicon Valley.

Cut to: Involution's HQ, a few miles away. Bret Frizell is using his lunchtime to argue with
conspiracy nuts about the media blackout concerning that Antarctic base that went silent last
year and that strange "Mirror Earth" that appeared in the sky and that the government is
explaining away as an "atmospheric reflection." Company VP Todd Hockem comes down with a
report that some of their games at a local arcade are experiencing a fault and sends Bret to
investigate. As he is leaving, he almost crashes his Gremlin into a military convoy
escorting a limousine into the facility as workers are putting up bunting and tidying up the
place.

Back in the TARDIS: Justin analyzes the device to discover that it is fueled by some kind of
vaguely psychic energy that he can't identify and that Luisa's scanner will require a larger
sample to pin down and identify. Meanwhile, the contents of the subliminal wave are
discovered. Messages like "Drop out of school," "Watch television," "Play video games," and
similar statements. Justin decides that it is time to investigate Involution, and Aki,
sensing that his Lord has decreed battle, gets into full samurai regalia with the "banner of
the TARDIS" (A stylized TARDIS console.) flying proudly from his backpack. As they emerge,
Bret's car pulls up. The exasperated manager, upon being told that someone needs to check
the games a second time, points out the previous "repairman."

As they debate about the boxes and what's going on with them (Bret has noticed that their
removal has not interfered with the games' function.), a humvee pulls up and soldiers get out
and demand the devices. Aki sees a gun being pointed at his Lord and steps in to intervene.
Justin defuses the situation by stating that they'll all come along quietly.

The crew are taken to Involution's HQ and are escorted to Todd's office. Waiting there are
Todd and General Scoville in a corner office where one wall is taken up entirely with
computer banks. In addition to Luisa's scanner (Which resembles ordinary glasses.) detecting
high levels of radiation coming from the "restricted area," she now notes that there is a
large amount of the unidentified energy coming from both men and the computer banks.

General Scoville blusters about their interference with a top secret PSYOPS project being
field tested before being deployed to "defeat the commies." The team doesn't buy his excuse
and doesn't warm up to Todd's 80s Yuppie attempts to defuse the situation. The General now
tells them that they know too much, and from the computer banks, a beam of energy almost
strikes Justin if not for Aki's Quick Reflexes. This high concentration finally allows
Luisa's scanner to identify the energy: Mandragora Energy. The Mandragora Helix speaks,
addressing Justin as "Time Lord, But Not Time Lord."

Through debate and arguing with the Mandragora Helix, which is occupying the computer bank,
the crew learns that the plan to arrest humanity's development with the video games was an
abandoned early effort now that the Helix has discovered "a much better way." Utilizing his
Neutron Ram, Justin erects a force field that prevents Scoville's soldiers from entering the
room, but proves ineffective against the Helix's psychic energy as it kills Todd, stating
that he is no longer needed. While Justin keeps it talking and Aki threatens Scoville, Luisa
uses her Biochemical Genius to whip up an anti-psychic drug from Todd's stash of cocaine,
aspirin, White-Out, and other items from his desk. Meanwhile, Bret hacks Todd's computer
(His "ToddisGod" password is pretty easy to find. Sure enough, it's in his desk drawer.).
Stating that Scoville IS essential to it's plan, the Helix takes control of the General and
blasts a hole in the floor for him to escape.

As the soldiers continue to try and force the door open and General Scoville tells one of his
men to get him a grenade to throw into the hole, Bret is able to read the Top Secret Files on
Todd's computer. (They're thoughtfully labeled "Top Secret Files.") The first mentions the
videogame plan that was scrapped. Te second mentions that Involution, with Scoville's help,
has gotten the contract to create guidance systems for the US' nuclear missile program, and
that a backdoor is being installed in the guidance circuits that will enable Scoville to
override UN and Presidential authorization to launch a first strike against "The damn
commies." It is the third file that gets his attention as a tear gas grenade is lobbed up
the hole Scoville left: PRESIDENTIAL VISIT TOMORROW.
(Cue theme music.)

[Polar Bear]

I love it!! Keep writing these; very enjoyable.

[Doctor X]

Thanks! There's a little historical element that I want to work in at the end if possible: The year after this takes place, Reagan delivered his speech to the UN where he discussed uniting with Russia against a potential alien threat, and began to seriously talk about the possibility of alien invasion afterwards. Some think it was the beginning of his Alzheimer's, but what if he saw something during this adventure...

[Doctor X]

Part 2 is up, incidentally.