(no subject)
Every time you make a decision, a new set of doors open...
1.
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy has this to say about Pan-Universal Travel: it's a bugger to arrange and you'll regret it in the morning.
The Dalek's lights glowed with four unheard syllables: Ex-ter-mi-nate. The glass that separated Lynda from space smashed and she screamed-
"Two to the power of three hundred thousand against and falling."
Lynda opened her eyes. Twenty-three sponges danced a can-can past her.
"...The hell?"
"Two to the power of two hundred fifty thousand against and falling."
Lynda attempted to communicate her earlier statement once more, but was hampered by the discovery she was a hamster. A piece of mozzarella cheese blew a raspberry in her face, a rainbow ended in a pot of leprechauns, and she felt the sudden, inexplicable urge to play jazz.
"Two to the power of two hundred thousand against and falling."
A small cake with the words "Eat Me" written on it in icing appeared. Lynda stepped on a penguin that had been racing a tortoise while a hare cheered on the sidelines.
"Is anyone there?" Lynda called out and watched her hand grow gills and flop away with a detached interest. A cow delicately stepped over the moon.
"Two to the power of one hundred thousand against and falling." The silence gave the impression of clearing its throat as an enormous vat of chocolate upended itself over the nearest planet. "You are on the Heart of Gold. Normalcy will be reached in an estimated thirteen minutes. Relax. Two to the power of seventy-five hundred thousand against and falling..."
2.
[text taken from The History of the Earth, Volume 5032.]
[In the original textbook, tapping the bolded items would bring up the footnotes. For ease of transcribing to current computer technology, the footnotes are placed at the bottom of the page.]
... In 200,000, due to reasons that are still unknown to historians, Satellite Five, the station most responsible for news networks and communication, shut down. At this time, the Earth was thrown into a blackout. It was unable to communicate with other planets in the Milky Way Alliance, and riots broke out all over the world. The major powers of the world were at a loss until the Bad Wolf Corporation took over Satellite Five.
The Bad Wolf Corporation offered supplies and peace to any country that would accept it, and in return the countries gave over most of their ruling rights. By 200,002 most countries had accepted Bad Wolf's offer (with the exception of Australasia, which didn't accept until 200,006). In 200,003, Bad Wolf renamed Satellite Five 'The Gamestation' and revived many of the old game shows that had been banned in 100,675. Many humane groups cried out about the game's inhumane treatment of the contestants, but they were soon silenced. The Bad Wolf Corporation's reign lasted until 200,100. During this time, the state of Earth's planet declined, and the population of the Earth decreased by an approximate 25%.
In 200,100, once again, the former Satellite Five ceased transmission. The Earth was attacked by an unknown fleet which laid waste to whole continents. It has been estimated that this attack took less than an hour. The fleet disappeared as mysteriously as it appeared, leaving the Earth in shambles.
It was at this time that Lynda Moss (200,074-?) founded the Ruling Council of Earth in 200,101. The Council organized the Earth again and re-established communication with other planets. New technology was acquired to help bring the Earth back to its former glory, and the new government was slowly but surely stabilized. Lynda Moss was Head of the Ruling Council from 200,101 to 200,136 at which time she resigned and disappeared. Antorian Lumas, one of her co-members in the Ruling Council, was voted Head after her resignation. ...
25% It is estimated that 22% of the population were killed by the Games and 3% by Earth's declining atmosphere.
? The date of her death is still unknown.
disappeared. The most popular theory to explain her disappearance is that she re-founded the Torchwood Institute and worked there until her death. This theory has not been proven up to the writing of this text.
3.
"The Doctor, please leave the Big Brother house."
Lynda followed the door as it shut, trying to keep him in sight for as long as possible. He couldn't be like this, it just never happened.
"Come on, then! Disintegrate me! Come on, what are you waiting for?"
"He is, he's mad, he's bonkers," Lynda said, unable to tear her eyes from the viewing screen.
"Eviction in five..."
He'll be disintegrated.
"Four..."
She'd known him for a couple hours, what did it matter to her?
"Three..."
He was mad.
"Two...
One."
Lynda screwed her eyes shut, unable to watch.
"Haha!"
She opened her eyes. He was alive. It was impossible, it had never happened before, he was alive. The disintegration beam had powered down and he was alive.
"I knew it! You see? Someone brought me into this game. If they'd wanted me dead, they could've transmatted me into a volcano! They want me alive." He stared right into the screen. "Are you following this? I'm getting out!"
She watched him pull out that screwdriver of is and the door opened.
"Come with me."
She glanced back at Strood. "We're not allowed," he said.
She turned back to the Doctor. "Stay in there, and you've got a fifty-fifty chance of disintegration. Come with me, and I promise I'll get you out alive. Come on!"
She shook her head numbly. "No, I can't- I can't."
"Lynda, you're sweet. From what I've seen of your world, do you think anybody votes for sweet?"
She had to stay, nobody could just leave, she'd been in the Big Brother house for nine weeks.
And besides, two people in the Gamestation. How long would they last, really? She didn't even know the Doctor. He just waltzed in and acted like everything was new to him. Strood was right, he could be a plant. And she, sweet little Lynda Moss, so close to winning, walked out with him.
"I can't."
A door closed.
Community: Library of Winds
Prompt: Three
Word Count: 1,031
Verse(s): 42, 5, 6 (respectively)
Rating: G
Note: With the exception of one line, the dialogue from the third segment is taken directly from the episode Bad Wolf.