Fabula
S20E3 · Arc of Infinity Part 3
S20E3
· Arc of Infinity Part 3

Tegan and Stuart confront Colin's desperate hiding place

Tegan and Stuart navigate a grimy service passage beneath the Time Lord complex, searching for their missing friend Colin. Their discovery of his abandoned sleeping bag and locked door confirms his presence nearby, heightening the tension as Omega's plans unfold. The bleak surroundings mirror their isolation and the urgency of their mission, while Stuart's attempt to rationalize the situation contrasts sharply with Tegan's growing fear for Colin's safety. Their conversation turns paranoid as the physical evidence of Colin's concealment forces them to confront the possibility of a trap or danger far greater than mere disappearance. key_dialogue: [ TEGAN: Colin could be behind there, hurt. STUART: Look, Tegan. TEGAN: Colin's. ]

Plot Beats

The narrative micro-steps within this event

3

Tegan and Stuart enter the service passage and discuss its condition.

curiosity to concern ['service passage']

Tegan expresses concern about Colin's possible injury behind the locked crypt door.

concern to anxiety

Tegan and Stuart find Colin's sleeping bag, confirming Colin's presence.

anxiety to hope

Who Was There

Characters present in this moment

2
Tegan Jovanka
primary

Urgency masking underlying fear for Colin’s safety

Tegan moves through the oppressive pump room with palpable frustration, her sharp commentary on the filth underscoring her discomfort. Her eyes immediately lock onto the sleeping bag, her voice cracking with sudden emotion as she identifies Colin’s presence.

Goals in this moment
  • • Determine Colin’s immediate location and condition
  • • Overcome the physical barrier preventing access to him
Active beliefs
  • • Colin is vulnerable and in need of rescue
  • • Neutral spaces like this hide more than they reveal
Character traits
Direct in speech Expressive with hands Impulsive in action
Follow Tegan Jovanka's journey
Robin Stuart
primary

Feigned calm masking unease about the sleeping bag and locked door

Stuart remains deliberately composed, using measured language and physical gestures to downplay the situation. His reference to practical explanations like a gardener suggests he is trying to control the escalating tension while processing the sleeping bag’s revelation.

Goals in this moment
  • • Keep Tegan from acting recklessly in pursuit of Colin
  • • Rationally assess the environment to find a viable path forward
Active beliefs
  • • The environment is likely mundane despite appearances
  • • Premature action risks unintended consequences
Character traits
Restrained in speech Protective of personal reactions Quick to reframe threats as mundane
Follow Robin Stuart's journey

Objects Involved

Significant items in this scene

2
Colin Frazer's Sleeping Bag

The sleeping bag, once Colin’s makeshift shelter, now serves as a pivotal clue drawing Tegan’s attention. Its presence confirms Colin’s passage through this grimy corridor, turning a functional object into irrefutable evidence of his proximity.

Before: Crushed and folded in the service corridor beneath …
After: Still on the floor in the same location, …
Before: Crushed and folded in the service corridor beneath the pump room, seemingly abandoned.
After: Still on the floor in the same location, now central to the tense exchange between Tegan and Stuart.
Pump Room Access Door

The locked door becomes a physical manifestation of uncertainty and danger, blocking immediate access to Colin. Its bolted state transforms it from a normal barrier into a symbol of hidden risk within the Time Lord complex’s labyrinthine depths.

Before: Secured on the far side with a visible …
After: Still locked and bolted after inspection, its inner …
Before: Secured on the far side with a visible bolt, rusted but intact.
After: Still locked and bolted after inspection, its inner workings obscured by grime.

Location Details

Places and their significance in this event

1
Time Lord Capitol Core

The pump room functions as a claustrophobic investigative stage where every surface and shadow amplifies tension. Its hidden service passage reveals forbidden access beneath Time Lord authority, making it both refuge and trap for those seeking Colin.

Atmosphere Oppressive and damp with a palpable sense of unseen threat
Function Confinement hub for stealthy investigation
Symbolism Represents the hidden costs of temporal politics and the isolation of allies in peril below …
Access Unrestricted physical access but functionally barred by locked doors and bolted mechanisms
Damp chill from underground exposure Echoing footsteps in tight, uneven spaces

Narrative Connections

How this event relates to others in the story

What this causes 1
Causal medium

"Tegan's expression of concern for Colin's whereabouts (beat_c28a8b583d26fa93) leads to the discovery of a device with flashing lights and the warning to hide as a bang is heard (beat_bef28d2fefd4e70b), creating a moment of tension and uncertainty that mirrors the broader themes of surveillance and sudden peril."

Tegan and Stuart hide from Colin in Pump Room
S20E3 · Arc of Infinity Part 3