"It's time to be the hero..."

"Time is in chaos...
the fate of earth hangs by a thread...
and you are our only hope...
It's time to be the hero."

Project Time Vortex

"Did you get my shoe?"

The Doctor

The universe is in danger, and the Doctor needs your help.

In fact, several Doctors, based on video logs from a former UNIT* Black Site. The site is built around a time anomaly known as the Time Fracture, which has been under study by UNIT scientists for 14,682 days (I'll save you finding a calculator - just over 40 years).  

After years without change, chronon and artron energy levels from the Fracture have unexpectedly spiked, accompanied by the arrival of an enigmatic artifact - okay, it's a shoe, very much in the style of the 10th Doctor.**

The changes in the Fracture have resulted in additional time anomalies being reported from around the world, and allowing alien incursions by Time Lords, Daleks and Cybermen, incursions which are quickly dealt with by security forces.

In an attempt to determine the cause of the changes in the long-dormant anomaly, former UNIT Sergeant Robert Dudley is sent in investigate the interior of the Fracture. A massive energy surge drags him in and severs his lifeline - the Sergeant is lost.

An additional video log from the black site reports that one of the UNIT scientists has come up with a plan to build a portal stabilization gateway based on technology from a vortex manipulator from the Black Archive.  The PSG would balance the artron and chronon energies to allow someone to safely enter the fracture, but they need volunteers, volunteers who understand the dangers that they will face.

"On who those volunteers should be, well, someone has a suggestion."

Following the loss of Sergeant Dudley, another piece of footwear has come through the fracture - this time strongly reminiscent of the current Doctor's boots - after which Doctor's private communication channel becomes active, first confirming receipt of the shoe, then followed by a list of hundreds and hundreds of names.

"Which brings us to you."

The video then switches to former UNIT chief scientist Kate Lethbridge-Stewart, who violates security protocols to deliver the astonishing news that one of the names on the list is yours, and earnestly suggests that this is your time to join the fight. "Consider this your invitation to step up and save the universe.  I know you won't let us down."

And so, the scene is set for the next Doctor Who Experience - Time Fracture, an immersive, interactive experience that spans time and space as you attempt to save the universe.

Time Fracture was announced on August 18th, and tickets went on sale two days later for a start date of February 17th, 2021, with performances available through to the 11th of April 2021.  Participants will also be able to add an exclusive merchandise package to their ticket, which includes a UNIT t-shirt, a UNIT pin, and an event poster.  (Sadly, the merch package is apparently only available on site - "for collection after your chosen performance.")

As part of my 50th birthday trip to Europe in 2011, I attended the first Doctor Who experience,which I found to be excellent fun for a Doctor Who fan, and there would be a kind of symmetry in attending another immersive experience for my 60th birthday.

As such, under normal circumstances I'd be gently lobbying for Karli and I to do a return trip to England early in 2021, but even if we both felt comfortable with international travel right now (which we don't), under the current restrictions it's just not practical.  We might well be called upon to self-isolate for 14 days at either or both ends of the trip, and let's face it, that's just not feasible.

But, in the famous words of baseball coach Yogi Berra, it ain't over till it's over.  The Time Fracture experience is on until almost May, there's been a lot of talk about vaccines, Trump** keeps saying the whole thing will just go away*** - anything could happen in the next few months.

To use an even older quote, who knows, the horse may learn to sing.

- Sid

* Originally the United Nations Intelligence Taskforce, now the UNified Intelligence Taskforce, UNIT has been a mainstay of the Doctor Who universe since 1968, but apparently UNIT operations were suspended in 2019 due to lack of government funding, which is presumably why everyone refers to themselves as "former" UNIT operatives.  This begs the question of how the black site has remained in operation.

** It says a great deal when you can recognize a shoe based on the character who wore it.

*** You know you're desperate when you start to quote Donald Trump as support.

**** As, hopefully, will Trump himself.