Season 01 - Episode 02

‘well travelled man’

“Thank you! Thank you!” cries the host to the camera. “And welcome back! Later on we'll meet a young couple who met by passing notes through their food hatches.”

He pauses as the studio audiences awws then changes his expression abruptly.

“But first folks,” he says, suddenly serious. “Over the last twenty years, the popularity of Constructionism has grown at an incredible rate. Polls today show that more than eighty percent of people now believe that The Levels are infinite and were created by God.”

The audience applaud their approval.

“Now many people over a certain age, ahem,” he pauses again while the audience titter. “Grew up with the Theory of Renovation. For our younger viewers, that was the idea that in the distant past, humans built The Levels inside an even bigger, very mysterious place called The Outer Side.”

A few boos and hisses swell from the audience which the host now nods away.

“As you can see,” he says sagely. “This is no longer a popular opinion. What is very popular however, is our next guest's latest book. Ladies and gentlemen, who better to tell us about the size of The Levels than a well travelled man? He's the most prolific explorer of all time. No human being has ever travelled further and he's here today! Ladies and gentleman, it's Ak Williamston!”

The audience go wild as Ak walks out on stage, smiling and waving all the way to the pastel coloured sofas. Ak and the host take their seats but the whoops, cheers and applause all continue and even grow.

“They love you!” cries the host, grinning. “They really love you!”

“And I love them!” says Ak firmly. The applause clatters on for several seconds more.

“Now then,” says the host after the audience finally calm down. “Your new book, '100 Days North, 100 Floors Up', I've read it and I have to say, I think it might be your best yet. It's incredible!”

“Oh! Thank you so much,” says Ak warmly. “I had a great time researching it.”

The audience laugh, delighted.

“And with regards to our topic today,” says the host, switching back to serious. “Do you consider yourself a Constructionist?”

The silence that falls is total. The audience hold their breath, leaning forward in anticipation.

“Well...” says Ak thoughtfully, drawing out the moment. “Let's just say that, if The Outer Side or The Roove or any of those other myths do exist...”

The tension builds unbearable.

“I haven't found them yet!” he says with a smile and a wink.

The audience goes wild. Ak and the host share grins and a handshake.

“And if anyone could,” says the host, trying to be heard over the hysterical crowd. “It'd be you, Ak!”

Afterwards there are autographs and photographs. Then his security team force a hole through the throng then force that hole through the corridors. Eventually, Ak enters his private apartments.

He makes himself a drink and enjoys the wide open space of his lounge. He sits down and puts his feet up before noticing the masked figure in black in the corner of the room. He leaps back up, spilling his drink.

“Who are...” he begins, all bluster.

“You're a fraud, Ak Williamston,” hisses the figure.

“How dare you!” cries Ak, taking a step forwards.

The figure produces an envelope and waves it, stopping him dead.

“This proves you've never travelled anywhere,” they hiss. “And that all your books and documentaries are fake. Unless you want all of The Levels to know, you're going to do exactly what I say.”

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