Forbidden Paradise

Episode One
by esherrouse

"It has been a long time since we kicked back our heels and relaxed, Peri. What do you say?"

The brunette looked across the console and responded, "The last time we tried to do that, I was nearly eaten by a who knows-what-it-was. I vote for staying in the TARDIS and not finding out what is outside, good or bad."

"Nonsense. Just because you had a little spot of trouble with a Saringian Needle Plog, is not any reason to shun the joys of one of the most beautiful planets east of Rectarus B."

"Just promise me one thing, Doctor. I will not get attacked by a swarm of sting ray lookalike creatures with bad breath."

"It is a done deal," replied to the Doctor as he extended his hand in what appeared to be a gentleman's agreement shake but soon turned into a readjustment of one of the controls.

"A few more, and there we are. Super."

He then activated the monitor which opened to reveal a plush forest of verdant green and a thicket of flowers which would make any florist run and hide in shame.

"It is wonderful, Doctor." Peri gaped in awe at the screen.

"Well then, let's smell the roses and inhale the exquisite aromas of this abandoned paradise."

He then extended his left arm as if to escort Peri, as the door opened.

The two strolled out of the TARDIS and looked around at the brilliant colours in every inch of nature. The Doctor continued in his escorting role and the walked off a narrow pathway which was glistening in a morning dew.

"This is marvellous Doctor. Why have we never been here before?"

"I have, but it has been centuries since I last stopped by. I have always meant to come back. Leela would have loved this place."

"Who?" Peri asked bewildered by the name.

"Never mind, just an old friend."

They continued along for most of the morning listening to the animals sing beautiful songs and the wind blowing through the limbs singing it's own tune.

"Can we stop for a minute and rest?" Peri whimpered a bit.

"But of course. I was just captivated by the strange smell in the air."

"What smell?"

"Don't you smell that? It smells... " - he trailed off as his face fixed on something just beyond the bordering trees.

"What is it Doctor? what do you see?" Peri turned her head and a look of disgust fell across her and she covered her mouth.

Hidden in the shadows, was a row of crude sticks coming out of the ground. On top of each of them was a skull nearly completely decayed...

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Episode Two
by Blamelewis

The Doctor cautiously approached the gruesome display. The rotting skulls glistened in the half-light creeping through the foliage. Teeth grinned through putrid, ragged lips, and the stench grew stronger and stronger as he approached. With horrified fascination, the Doctor reached slowly towards one of the skulls...

It toppled from the spike.

A voice crashed out of the sky above them...

"Cut!" it thundered, the ground shaking and several more skulls falling to the forest floor with the reverberation.

"Goddamn it! Cut it! Who the blasted gartlesnack are those two?"

Peri looked around in bewilderment as the forest came alive around them. Out of the shadowy bushes came dozens of frantic figures, bearing clipboards, waterproofs and mugs of hot, steaming liquid. A leopard took off a pair of headphones, and started rewinding its tape-recorder. Nearby, several chimps swarmed up the trees to readjust the branches - each armed with a roll of Gaffer Tape. Several parrots flapped around a well-hidden camera, adjusting the focus with precise pecks. The Doctor was standing, hands on hips looking all around as if this was the sort of thing he'd expected.
A large Elk-like creature approached them, and they were ushered brusquely out of the clearing, and towards a huge tree with "Production Office" neatly spelt out in leaves over the large door carved into it's side. Peri glanced back over her shoulder to see a tall, ape-like man busily resetting the fallen skulls on the stakes, retouching the rotted flesh from a bag marked with the letters: "TFwSSoS: Scenic Design Dept."

The production office was tastefully furnished in oak. Corrach, as the Elk-like creature introduced itself, offered them seats and tea, then asked them politely how they came to be on the set?

"Set?" asked the Doctor. Corrach blinked at him, so he said it again, louder.

"Indeed, Doctor. It is a closed set during the filming period."

A small monkey dashed into the room, and slapped a memo on the desk. Corrach glanced at it, then continued: "...and it will be dismantled afterwards, as usual. Fred knows how popular his films are..."

"Fred?" yelled the Doctor.

"...but all landings on the set must be arranged through the production team."

Peri was getting more bewildered by the instant, and spoke up to try and diffuse the Doctor's usual bluster. "I'm sorry if we wandered into your set... but we were just enjoying a break on this planet. We didn't see any signs telling us we'd gone onto your set..." she broke off, disturbed by the way both the Doctor and Corrach were now looking at her.

The Doctor sighed. "Dear Perpugillium... This lady here..." he began, pointing at Corrach, "...is Corrach Bermantle. Producer."

Peri looked again at the creature. "Um... hi!"

The Doctor began pacing around the room. The small monkey dashed back in the room, chattering wildly. It slapped down another memo, ate the old one, then left through the window. The Doctor watched it go.

"I was here about three hundred and fifty years ago, Ms Bermantle, and wandered for several weeks around your set, without meeting any of your crew." he muttered. Then he turned sharply and bellowed "In fact, I recall an arduous adventure rescuing what I believed to be the indigenous tribespeople from an alien threat! And all with no sign of a clapperboard!"

Corrach stiffened, "Well this is one of our larger sets!" she said, frostily, "and we'd hardly begun primary filming at that time."

"Three hundred and fifty years on one film?" laughed Peri, stopping abruptly at the fierce glance from the Producer.

"We're just a little behind. That's all. Nothing a couple of night-shoots by the second unit won't sort out." Corrach said sternly. "But it doesn't help when unauthorised visitors come crashing into the main shot of the opening scene." She shot a glance at the memo, then back at Peri. "And we're filming out of running order, before you ask, girl." she added.

"What's the films title?" asked Peri, trying to break the ice.

"The Forest with Several Skulls on Sticks" Corrach replied. "That's the working title. The Distributors want to call it 'Forbidden Paradise' or somesuch, but that's Distributors for you. And now I must ask you to leave the set. You've put us right behind schedule again, just when we were catching up."

"We're sorry!" said Peri, as the Doctor now seemed to be gazing out of the window, completely disinterested in the conversation. "Perhaps you'll just tell us which way is the quickest to leave your set, and we'll be going along..."

The Doctor let out a grunt of derision, and Corrach's eyes narrowed, as if she suspected sarcasm.

"The quickest way?" she said. Then she slowly lifted a hoof and pointed straight up.

"It is one of their larger sets, Peri" said the Doctor, chuckling. "Fred Bermantle never was one for small-scale productions..." he mused.

Peri's eyes widened. "The whole planet is your set?" Corrach nodded wearily.

Just then, the huge voice from earlier boomed across the Forest: "Ok folks, that's a wrap for today." And then, the voice was within the room, no longer huge, but tiny - tinny, as if coming from an intercom: "Corrach honey? You got those scene-spoiling -" a burst of static drowned the voice. "...ers in there with you?"

Corrach said "Yes Fred, but...."

"Did you deal with them?"

"They were about to leave..."

"Naaah. They ruined my best setup of the day. I think we need some adverse publicity for the film - keep the media drooling for the premiere. Have 'em shot."

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Episode Three
by moky_9

The Doctor and Peri were disturbed by the threat of impending doom.

"Shot?!" bellowed the Doctor angrily.

"Yes, can't have intruders walk in and ruin my movie" said Fred maliciously.

Peri, after recovering from the threat of death, stuttered... "May, Maybe we can help you someway...."

"Help us? By dying you'll help the ratings..." said Fred.

"Darling, there are a few actors missing and our budget can't cope to rent others. As it is the actors we have are doubling up on scenes...." said Corrach.

"Perhaps we could act just for a while" said Peri.

The Doctor glanced at Peri with a look of distaste, then smiled. "Why not? Why not indeed" he said.

"What an interesting idea...." said Fred with a nasty tone to his voice.

"Doctor, I don't like the way he said that, do you?" said Peri quietly to the Doctor. The Doctor ignored Peri's question.

"Corrach, dear, have them sent to the actors quarters for the night. In the morning they will put on their best performance for my movie or ELSE!!" bellowed Fred.

"Very well, darling" replied Corrach.

"The scenes will have to be rewritten" said Fred with a malicious tone.

"What?! Again? Do you know how many times we've done that already, Fred, dear?" said Corrach, upset.

"I'm sure you can manage, Corrach, dear" said Fred authoritatively.

Corrach sighed heavily. "It will take all night"

"You'll manage, darling" said Fred.

"And in the morning prepare them for their scenes...." said Fred, closing the channel on the intercom with an annoyed crackle. As Corrach was summoning a security guard, (in the form of a Lion), the Doctor and Peri were having a quiet whisper to each other.

"There's something wrong here, Peri, I can feel it" whispered the Doctor.

"Is that why you agreed to act?" asked Peri. As the Doctor was about to reply, Corrach spoke to them.

"This is Eric. He is one of our movie set security guards. He will show you to the actor's quarters where you will remain for the night."

Eric, standing beside Corrach, produced a gun and pointed it at the Doctor and Peri, nodded in response to his name and started to usher the pair out in the direction of the huts door. The Doctor and Peri moved to the front door with Eric following behind them.

"Do make sure they get a solid nights sleep, Eric, as they have a big day of acting tomorrow" said Corrach, before Eric closed the door behind him with an ominous thud.

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Episode Four
by esherrouse

As the Doctor and Peri were Escorted out of Corrach's hut, the Doctor looked over to Eric and said,"Not a very demanding job, hm? I mean one of your stature surely could be doing so much more."

Eric looked over with an all but less interested gaze.

Peri leaned near to the Doctor and whispered, "He doesn't seem too amused."

Eric looked at the Doctor and then to Peri and replied,"One might say I have a mild case of ennui when it comes to poor attempts at humor. I am more than a mere custodian of the actors' quarters. I am one of the key roles in this film. One might say I am the closest thing to a runner up for supporting actor."

Peri looked a bit bewildered and replied,"I..I guess that's good then."

The Doctor gave her a look of disgust and then began, "So it is a typical Fred and Corrach ensemble with all the glamour of an intergalactic cast." The Doctor then looked to Peri and said, "Like that Spewcus or Looberg character from your country." Peri rolled her eyes and looked back to Eric. "So what role to you play?"

Eric puffed up his chest a bit and said proudly,"Head Security Guard". Peri began to laugh but then stiffed it as the Doctor glared at her.

"So this is a brilliant meshing of reality and fiction in a grand scale encompassing the entire planet! Excellent! I can not wait until morning." said the Doctor.

They arrived at a large metal gateway set in the side of a hill. Eric walked over and hit a stone release switch and the gates unlocked and began to open. It was dark inside with the flicker of a few candles throughout the cave. The images of various animal-like people looked up from what they were doing. Each seemed to be reading scripts and getting ready for the next day. Eric clapped his paws together and everyone sat up from what they were doing and paid close attention as if a God had just began to speak.

"These are two new cast members and they will be taking Tonks and Be-atu's places in the film. I want you to help them with their lines for the next hour or so before bedtime. I will be back for the evening closer and I expect everyone to be ready to go to sleep." Eric then gestured for the Doctor and Peri to enter the room and he then walked out and shut the gate behind him. Peri watched him as he locked the gate and began to stroll off into the forest again. He seemed in a much more playful mood when he left.

The Doctor and Peri looked about the room as some of the faces stared at them and others returned to their personal Bibles.

"Well who here would be willing to show us the ropes as it were?" announced the Doctor. A little man resembling a Turtle without his shell approached them with a slight smile and said,"Come I will share with you my script." He seemed to speak in a very broken tongue.

Peri and the Doctor followed him back to his corner and sat down. "I am called Brent. I play the part of the old slave working in the mines. My character has done this for years and is considered wise by many of the other characters."

A voice piped in from the ceiling, "and Stupid by many of the others, hehehehe". The Doctor and Peri looked up to see a small Batlike creature hanging upside down looking at them.

"Pay no heed to the little one. He is only upset because he lost the part of freedom fighter to Tommy." He then pointed to a weasely guy in the corner wearing a camouflage jacket.

Peri looked to the Doctor and then back at Brent, "So what are we supposed to do? Who are our characters?"

The Doctor smiled and announced, "If this is a Fred film then we are as much ourselves as we are our characters. Should make for a nice change..."

Brent looked at the Doctor and said,"Fred, you know Fred? I have never seen the man. He is a tyrant and runs this place with an iron fist. Mad man too. Wants too much from us. And they wonder why so many people disappear. Too much I say!"

"Shhhh" came a collective response from the cave.

Peri said, "Well it was act or be killed for interrupting his precious film."

There was then a tapping on the gate. They looked around and saw Eric there with a large book in his hand and a rocking chair behind him. "The boss wants everyone in bed for an extra bit of sleep tomorrow. He says we may be doing a 24 hour shoot to get this scene over with ASAP."

Brent leaned forward and began to whisper, "You don't know your parts do you?"

"Quiet!" exclaimed Eric as he set back in the rocker and opened the book. He began to read, "The little kittens all loved to play with the ball of yarn. Each had a favorite colour and would fight with the others over his share....." He continued to read from the story book as a slight purring sound could be heard under his breath.

Peri leaned toward Brent,"what about our parts?"

"Well, you both die, don't you.

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Episode Five
by The Sixth Doctor

Peri dragged the Doctor to one side. "Right Doctor. We're getting out of here!"

The Doctor turned and smiled at the other "creatures" in the room then turned back to Peri and whispered, "And how do you suggest we do this?"

"We aren't far from the TARDIS! We could reach it in a few minutes!"

The Doctor shushed her a bit more. "Peri our best chance may be to run through the scene tomorrow and use it as a tool to get back to the TARDIS. No doubt it will have been shifted by now however..."

"What sort of film crew murder set trespassers anyway?"

"This type of film isn't quite what you'd normally encounter in an urban cinema. The Crew are mainly computer programs. There will be some actual people around too, they've probably had a trip through a transformation Barge. But for these productions the Producers word is law."

"Who'd wait 350 years to see a film?"

"Not all races live as short a life as Humans Peri. The film will be one of Fred's famous Life perception drama's. You literally step into the film. Live the life of the main character for the whole of their natural life, then come out of the perception field only a few weeks after entering. Very popular, but not even they take several centuries... usually."

"But a whole Planet?"

"Money can buy anything. Now come on. We have to study our parts for tomorrow."

Fred swished his tail about. He always did when things were not going to plan, and he had been building up his tail muscles for a while now. He gave his long green hairy tail a good thrash to relieve the built up tension. The Tail satisfyingly knocked some minor officials over at the back of the office. Horrible scuttling creatures. It was good that they knew their place! It was good indeed being one of the top 10 largest sentient creatures. People respected his authority, and when it came to filming a production, His authority was absolute.

Fred stuck out a long pudgy finger and flicked on the Vidlink. Script Editor? Bellowed Fred in a deep gravelly voice which would bass boost with his own heartbeats every few seconds.

The Timid visage of the SE appeared. He looked up at Fred and stuttered, Y, y Yes sir?

I have an idea to put to you. Two Unauthorised set crashers have appeared. Both Humanoid. One Male one female. I was going to have them shot, but it seems they may be of use. What do you think?

Well, s, sir.. I suppose they could provide some sort of Love interest?

Fred settled over the vidlink and rubbed his giant webbed hand over his chin. Maybe, but I was thinking more on the lines of disposable characters.

Oh no sir, not more. We already have an acting deficit. No one will work with us!

How would you like to transfer to acting? Fred sneered at the little Script Editor.

Erm, I am quite happy in my err, current position sir!

Fred narrowed his eyes on the SE. Now find me a good role for these two fools, or Ill give you the part of 'Jack'.

The SE looked suitably horrified. Jack after all had the fate of being ripped apart by the Lizards in scene 4,591.

I already have my muse talking to me sir! babbled the SE, who promptly vanished from the screen.

Fred yawned. It had been a long day. Time for a nap.

The set never slept. There was constant activity and Peri could get no sleep whatsoever. She couldnt act! And what would she have to do? Surely they werent serious about actually killing them. The Doctor was deep in concentration over the impossibly long script. Occasionally he would smile. Perhaps he had a plan. Peri hoped so. She had no intention of being killed in the name of art, no matter how good the production.

There was a strange tapping Peri could hear. It was probably another Prop hand carrying a tree, but no there it was again. A message? Peri crawled over to a door at the back of the darkened room and slowly opened the door. Outside she was on a treetop balcony overlooking part of the set. There was what looked like a Badger looking around anxiously. Peri stayed still and quiet in the shadows. From behind the badger came a Monkey.

In perfect English the two spoke.

Confirm your identity.

You put your lips together and Blow.

This could be the beginning of a Beautiful friendship.

The Queens Pawn guards the night.

Phew. Youre late! What kept you?

Theyre building the village in sector 3. I had to help out.

I have the stuff you wanted!

Good. Primers and detonators?

Yep. Plus there's a Transmat scrambler.

There was movement as something was exchanged. Will payment be as agreed?

14,000 in Opeks.

Good. Very good!

Take this data card to Malborough! He may find it useful!

With that the Monkey swung off into the trees carrying a bag. The Badger looked around to make sure he wasnt being observed. Peri backed a little further into the shadows. This had been a bad move. The Badger had obviously been using a motion scanner which was bleeping in her direction. Peri froze hoping the Darkness was hiding her. The Badger snarled and in a strange sliding motion it became something akin to a 4 foot long cockroach with a massive brain pan. It produced a weapon. The weapon had a small front mounted torch that highlighted Peri in her corner. She shrunk away from the bright light.

Well well. A snoop! said the cockroach in a synthesised voice. With that he fished a small control device from a utility belt strapped around his shell and spoke into it,

Ship. Transmat for two. Now.

Peri and the Cockroach vanished in a glowing cube of light. No one had seen them go.

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Episode Six
by Lord Soldeed

The Doctor paged through his script, pondering. He needed a plan, and a good one. But that shouldnt be much of a problem, after all, that was the sort of thing he was best at.

However, it did turn out to be a bit of a problem. For many hours, he pored over the script, desperately trying to think of something. Sometimes, he smiled and acted like he knew what to do, so that Peri would think that he did. But the ideas wouldnt come.

Finally, after several hours, he had an idea. He decided to tell Peri about it. Peri! he called out. No answer.

He called out again. Peri? But again, there was no response. She must have wandered off without him and gotten lost. Why did his companions do that so often?

He looked around. The set was still bustling with activity, and many people were around. Perhaps she had just gotten lost in the crowd. But the Doctor couldnt shake the feeling he had had earlier that something was very wrong here, even though he still had no idea what.

Suddenly, something caught his eye. Someone was walking by, him, furtively, cautiously. It was Corrach, and she was acting like she didnt want to be seen.

Something is very rotten in the state of Denmark, said the Doctor. He waited until he was out of Corrachs sight, then cautiously followed her.

***

Corrach entered Freds office. She was in a bad mood today, and would rather not be called into a meeting. But she knew, just as her husband knew, that their investment backer did not like being kept waiting.

Fred was there, sitting on his pedestal, and the investment backer was there, too. He was a man, humanoid in form, wearing a black cloak with a cowl that disguised his (or maybe her?) facial features. Corrach wondered what was under that cowl. She wondered if she wanted to.

Hello, Corrach, said the investment backer. His voice had a strange, mechanically altered quality about it, perhaps because he was trying to disguise his real voice. How is Project Serpent coming along?

Excellent, said Fred. This movie is the perfect cover for it. No one suspects the truth. Its almost complete.

Have there been any problems?

Only one, just a minor one. Theres an intruder, an outsider. Two of them, actually. One is called the Doctor, and--

The Doctor? said the investment backer, anger seething in his voice. What does he look like?

Oh, middle-aged, wearing silly clothing, a bit fat.

This is what I feared. If the Doctor finds out about the Project, we are lost. Kill him.

But we were going to use him for-- protested Corrach.

No ifs, ands, or buts, said the investment backer. The Doctor must die!

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Episode Seven
by The Sixth Doctor

The floor was smooth and cold, like polished steel. Peri scrunched her eyes up trying to clear the dazed sensations from her head. She must have passed out. She had been lying on her arm and it was numb, a red mark stretching from her elbow to her wrist. She rubbed some life into it and sat up to take a look at her surroundings.
There was not a great deal to see. The room was well lit and the atmosphere was humid, Peri could already feel the damp clinging to her skin. It was bare and square with a single light and one "locked" door. The standard cell layout she was so familiar with. Peri picked herself up off the cool floor and gazed around. On second thoughts it was more like a pen than a cell. It was only an inch higher than she was, and there was barely 2 metres to move about in. She had lost a shoe and realised that if she were going to keep her balance she had better remove the other as well.
"H....Hello?" She called. All she could hear was a soft electronic hum. She noticed a fold of steel in the wall and ran her hands over it, but all it revealed was a simple toilet and washbasin facility that promptly folded out from the wall. She was parched and risked tasting the sterile tasting water from the tap. When she left the basin alone the whole lot folded back into the wall again. This was a cell that you were not expected to escape from. She paced aimlessly about for a minute, her bare feet uncomfortable on the cold metal. In a flare of anger she hammered on the sealed door. She obviously aroused some attention because she then jumped in pain as the whole of the cell suddenly charged with electricity. She fell back to the floor which had thankfully discharged of energy.
"OK! OK!" she yelled into space. It reverberated around her but no reply came. She glanced back at her single shoe. It had a plastic sole. If she wanted to try that again she was going to have to keep a good balance.

The Doctor had succeeded in following Corrach only as far as a coded Transmat station. He had attempted to follow but the encryption was too complex for him to crack in the short time he had. He had returned to the dressing room and was dismayed to find Peri had still not returned. Light was creeping into the forest as dawn raced on. The Doctor stood on the wooden balcony of the tree and looked over the set. Down below him a group of monkeys were dragging a large ferocious lizard along on a chain. It kept snapping at passers by and occasionally eating some of the scenery.

"Why don't they use actors put through a transformation barge for the lizards?" the Doctor asked a large parrot eating its pasta breakfast.
"Wha?" replied the parrot munching hungrily. The Doctor gestured to the enraged monster below. The parrot followed his gaze and shrugged. Another lizard of a similar temperament was being dragged across the set now. When it refused, one of the monkeys threw it a piece of raw meat, which it devoured in a single snap. Its yellow scales quivered with the action of its digestive system below. It appeared to grin and scuttled along after its captors happily sated.
"Realism. I seem to recall we did have a couple, but Oscar down there probably ate them."
"Never work with children or animals" murmured the Doctor. The parrot gave another passive shrug.
"Why do you do it?" Asked the Doctor. "Work in this career?" The parrot considered a moment flicking some mincemeat from its beak with a manicured claw.
"Money's good." it replied. With that it took off into the air and flew across the set to wherever it was needed.
"Where have you got to, Peri?" the Doctor asked the empty balcony. Oscar roared violently. The Doctor raised his eyebrow. "This is not a place for her."
Oscar suddenly lunged at one of its monkey captors. The handler was not fast enough this time and Oscar succeeding in severing its arm like a twig, chewing and then returning for seconds. There was a number of screams and shouts as workers fought to keep the monster under control. By the time they had wrestled it back under controlled, the unlucky handler was dead. The Doctor glared horrified.
"This is not a place for anyone."

Fred glared at the Investment Backer. He dressed more camp than most of his actors, and the mechanically filtered voice was a piece of nonsensical melodrama.
Corrach had quickly left to "deal" with the Doctor. She would follow this fools orders but Fred was not convinced. His little darling was too soft at times. Being transformed into that hideous form was obviously having an effect on her. They would have to take that 4th honeymoon for a couple of years to Promarisi soon. The Investment Backer may have been the money behind the operation but Fred was still the size and weight of a shuttlecraft. This could still be used to his advantage when it came to brow beating people. "Pray tell me what is so important about the Doctor." The cowled features of the Backer turned to Fred. Damn. How could he meet the gaze of someone who didn't show their eyes?
"He's a Timelord." Fred was impressed and slightly unnerved. Messing about with Gallifreyan staff was asking for trouble. He kept a totally calm face however and pretended to be passive.
"And.....?" Fred narrowed his eyes a fraction on the Investment Backer.
"He caused great losses to the company!" the Backer replied almost cagily. He did not like giving any information away without charging. He did however add another sentence in for free. "There is a standing liquidation order on his life. "
"Is there now?" Fred thought quickly. If his life was that in demand, then it may be worth something. He may be a film Producer, but never one to miss an opportunity to make money. "Well I am sure my dear Corrach will soon dispose of him for you." Fred smiled sweetly. The black hood of the Backer nodded fractionally.

"I have a report to make." returned the Backer emotionlessly. He left without another word, walking purposefully out into the corridor and away.
Very interesting. The Company was not only concerned, but seemed almost panicked by this Doctor. Fred hated the company, and this was a tantalising opportunity. Knowledge was power and these intruders knew something. The Doctor must not die. Fred now wanted him. He just had to place trust in his wife.

The Doctor took one last look at the script. He was going to be dragged on set any time soon and if he was to make a move it would have to be then. Something with 4 legs entered the room. The Doctor could tell who it was.
"Ahhh Corrach, I saw you last night but you did not appear to be in a talkative mood."
Corrach's voice replied harshly. "Turn around Doctor!" The Doctor did so, holding the foot thick script open studiously. Corrach was holding a small plasma weapon, training it on him with a little hesitation.
"I do not recall this part of the script." the Doctor said calmly. A scared frown suddenly crossed his face. "What have you done with Peri?"
"Nothing... yet.." Corrach was obviously confused by this question so she could not be the reason for Peri's disappearance. The dressing room was empty, all the cast were down on the forest floor. They were alone, yet Corrach was still uneasy with the gun.
"Why the weapon?" enquired the Doctor.
"Change of plan on your role in this production." said Corrach shakily.
"I though shooting me would be a waste of resources?"
"It is, was. But we have new orders." The Doctor stepped forward towards Corrach which made her even more uneasy.
"Which you have been told to carry out?"
"Yes" gulped Corrach.
"You have never held a gun to someone before have you?" Corrach was seriously unprepared for this question.
"No" she replied quickly.
"You know one of your crew was killed this morning by a Sargalian water lizard." Corrach stared at him.
"Yes, an unfortunate accident." She said trying to sound dismissive.
"Hmm a predictable response Corrach Bermantle, but you don't have your Husband's despotic streak really do you? There's the bluster over shootings for ratings, but when it comes to it you are concerned over what's happening here." Corrach did not reply.
"Sargalians... hmmm... you're from Sargalia aren't you?" Corrach nodded before glancing at the gun remembering what she came for. "Large heavy gravity world covered in expansive savannahs interspersed with tropical swamps?"
"Thats home alright, well whats left of it."
"Turning into a cityscape is it?" replied the Doctor conversationally.
"Isn't every planet in the Galaxy?" The Doctor ignored the counter question.
"You must in reality weigh seven hundred tons or so?"
"Hey I like to keep in shape you know! 694 as it happens!" Corrach grinned. The Doctor smiled and felt his stomach.
"If only I were that good at keeping my weight down."
"This is an active lifestyle." The Doctor stood right in front of Corrach, eye to eye. The gun was still trained on him but Corrach was beginning to wonder why she was doing it.
"It must be terrible, being forced to assume this form for so long?" the Doctor gestured to the elk shape in front of him.
"I hate it!" spat Corrach. Trapped for decades in this abhorrent form. It's Company policy though."
"I see," replied the Doctor. "What else is company policy?" Corrach looked puzzled.
"What?"
The Doctor looked at the gun. "This for instance."
"I have never had to kill anyone before."
The Doctor shook his head. "You're not a killer."
Corrach looked down, and lowered the gun. "No." She looked back at the Doctor. "This isn't the business I used to know. Arranged deaths, Terrorist attacks, Company directives polluting all the creative spirit we came here to build."
"How did it use to be?" asked the Doctor sadly.
"Oh the discipline was always harsh! Thats showbusiness! But we believed in what we did. Everyone dreamed of being a part of the Life Perception production team. Greatest job in the Galaxy. But my husband made a deal for extra funding with the Company. We got it and things were wonderful."
"Until?"
"Unless we followed their instructions they would pull out investment, and we can not afford to repay what we borrowed for this film. The delays and attacks have put us so heavily into debt that only the company is keeping this production going."
"The Company?"
"They make us... do things... no one will work with us now! The ratings have never been bigger but no one sees what is going on! I am not even sure my Husband does anymore!" Corrach, realised that her confessions had turned to rants quietened down. "It's madness. We're working on an obscene project now. This film is a front. No one cares what happens to "Skulls" now."
"What is this project?" asked the Doctor politely.
Corrach looked shocked, partly at the Doctor's question and partly at what she had just told him. "If I told you that I would be shot! Director or not! I was sent here to kill you by our Company investment backer Doctor! He thinks you're a threat!"
"Then he is right" said the Doctor darkly, folding his arms across his multicoloured waistcoat.
"But what can you do against the Company? They have spacefleets, mercenary armies and public opinion on their side! They won't send one weak willed old woman against you next time." Corrach lowered her head in shame. The Doctor lifted the elks head slowly.
"There was nothing weak willed about what you have done my dear. You have taken a stand against injustice. I am sure that we can fight this company together."
Corrach looked back at him with a mixture of hope and confusion over the trust she was placing in him. The Doctor was struck by a thought. "This Company... what is its name?" Corrach looked at him as if he were daft.
"Its The Company, Doctor. It needs doesn't have another name."
The Doctor's eyes widened. "The Company of Usaurius!" The Doctor paced about the dressing room in a sudden fit of energy. "You allowed yourself to be controlled by the Usaurians!" Corrach was not about to make any comment so the Doctor continued. "Anyone who sells themselves to the squids is selling their soul to the devil, is that not what is said? If they are left to continue their control over you, then you will be lucky if anyone in this film is left alive."
The bleeps were heard again, but there was a terminal sound about them the Doctor sprang away from the west wall of the room and dived for Corrach.
"DOWN!"
The wall across from them exploded in sheets of flame and debris knocking the Doctor and Corrach back savagely. Both lost consciousness, their heads battered against the wall. Within seconds the room was engulfed in smoke and flame.

Across the forest clearing, the devastation was being watched by a lone monkey on a high branch. It was holding a canvas bag in one hand, and a detonator in the other. It grinned.
"Death to the Company!" it shrieked, unheard amongst the fury and chaos far below him.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Episode Eight
by Consumer Info Knows

The Doctor helped Corrach to her hooves and performing a neat double take looked at the plasma gun.

How on some giant studio were you going to shoot that thing without an opposable thumb?

I didnt set out to kill you Doctor, just to let you convince me not to kill you. Im not some cold blooded reptile, well not for several years anyway.

The Doctor scanned the burning around them, Looks like bomb damage, but this place should hold, wed be dead if this were a professional job. If you pay peanuts you get monkeys

So how do we get out Doctor?

Corrach Im sorry but this has to be done. The Doctor wrenched one of Corrachs antlers backwards, levering open her mouth. He shoved his hand down her neck as her eyes followed, gawking. With a sound like a foot in a bog the elk began to shake.
In the space of 3 seconds Corrach had turned into a giant lizard, exploding the hut around them, and propelling the Doctor away safely in the folds of her hide.

Emergency tissue restore Corrach, sorry if it upset you at all.

No, I feel fine. Its good to be back Doctor.

The Doctor looked over the giant, green and slightly slimy lizard; I think I preferred you as an elk, but thanks for saving my life.

No Doctor Im back in this body which relies on high levels of osmosis to the skin, and therefore doesnt need a heart.

Point being?

I think I can kill you without guilt now. Corrach raised her tail.



Peri looked skyward to see a shifty air vent, apparently left to aid prisoners on escapes. She managed to reach it on the fold out toilet and pushing the grid aside, climb up and in.
Inside was a small concrete room about two metres in diameter. A large red button in front of her read; Push for surface. Without hesitation Peri hit the switch, and found herself floating skywards rapidly.



Corrach, isnt that Freds hut over there? The one thats collapsed completely, no doubt rendering all inside dead? The Doctor pointed to what had been a majestic bamboo palace, now mostly crushed by bomb wreckage from a next door block of flats.

In a minute Doctor, after Ive killed you.

As Corrachs tail soared down towards the Doctor, he rolled underneath making her spin round to raise her tail once more to his new position. As Corrach briefly noticed what had been her husbands hut from her new position, she paused briefly and the Doctor seized his chance and ran off. Looking from the Doctor running away to the hut, Corrach chose the latter and set off at a hasty waddle.



The Doctor kept running till he was sure Corrach was nowhere to be seen, then still glancing around nervously, he stopped for breath. Slowly, a noise like a hundred frustrated Chihuahuas seemed to creep up on the Doctor, until it seemed to be underneath him, and then flowers began to fly out of the Ground all around. The grass then joined these by propelling out of a ring of about two metres across. Then almost before the Doctor had jumped aside, huge lumps of mud flew out of the circle that the vegetation had vacated. Finally as the noise grew loudest, Peri came flying through the assorted debris screaming as loud as she could.

Peri, thank goodness, I thought that maybewell Im glad youre okay. The Doctor hugged her.

No sweat Doctor, I think I need a lot of explaining though.

Gravitational propulsor lift for a start  but presumably you knew that before you hit the red button.



By the time the Doctor and Peri cautiously arrived at Freds hut Corrach was in no state to pose a threat, it seemed she was already deep into mourning. Fred had a large metal girder through his back and was as dead as a Firellian Space Dodo.

The Doctor nudged Peri and looked toward Corrach, Looked like she has compassion as a lizard after all.

I heard that, and no, I dont. Its that my husband is dead leaving me twelve figures into debt. And now that the film of his life he was making for The Company has reached its dramatic conclusion Im a job short, unless they want 25 years of grieving widow as an epilogue.

This was all about Fred?

Oh yeah. "The Forest with Several Skulls on Sticks" started as his side project of a chance to experience his life, but when The Company started to see it through it became an obsession for him. By now there are few enough creatures existing with life spans extensive enough to sit right through the film. I guess the company will still find a way to make megabucks from the material, they always do.

Peri raised her hand. So whats the whole business with the tunnels under the planet?

They were here when we arrived, some kind of space station that we landed and built on. We let the locals take part as extras since they warmed up the plots with amateur terrorism from time to time. I guess we underestimated them at last. Corrach began to settle back into crying.

From under some rubble the investment backer stood up. Freeze. I own you all!

Oh shut up! This is a time for sadness. The Doctor kicked backer over, sending a load of tiny squid out from under his cloak and all over the floor.

Squid Doctor?

Yes Peri. They stand on each others backs to feign formidableness. And they talk through this. The Doctor picked up a small voice synthesiser.

The synthesiser swore madly at the Doctor so he hid it in a deep coat pocket.

Peri suddenly looked thoughtful, Doctor why did Fred want the film of his life to be overrun with animals?

He didnt, this is what happens when you go to a subdivision of Disney for investment.

So Disney is run by Squid?

No. Many believe the boys at the top to be deer or a similar docile grazing animal.



Outside Freds ruinous shack animals of all kinds were using the matter barge to turn themselves into rugged handsome types, giant rodents and humans with fly heads. Some even resorted to their original shapes.

The TARDIS had been hidden in a prop hut but seemed to be unscathed. Peri and the Doctor entered, having had quite enough of paradise.

What happens to the set now doctor?

I think the natives will probably turn it back into a space station. They seemed to have a firm opinion that it was better that way.

Shame to waste such a nice planet.

Theres always room for a sequel Peri

And so the TARDIS dematerialised. On the planet trees began to fizzle away and the ground faded to reveal dull metal.

Words appeared in mid air:

You have been participating in:
"The Forest with Several Skulls on Sticks"
Based on a true story

The End

