Trapped! (TV21 short story)

Trapped! was a short story printed in TV Century 21 that contained elements from the Doctor Who universe. Framed as the front page of an in-universe periodical, the titular article made reference to the Zero X comic story Prisoners of the Eye Leaves, which was a crossover with the DWU.

Summary
In the morning, Glenn Field receives an "astounding" radio message thought to be from Zero X captain Paul Travers. Stating that the Zero X crew have been enslaved by "eye-leaf plants" with only its sender escaping, the message causes grave concern at the highest levels. Colonel Price immediately briefs the World President on the situation, with the possibility of expeditionary rescue craft being launched to investigate soon emerging.

Meanwhile, further reports come in as world radar trackers are targeted on the Siamese-twinned worlds which Zero X was surveying. Specifically, TV 21's theory that crewmen Brad Newman and Greg Martin are slaves of the Eye Leaf aliens is confirmed, leaving Paul Travers to fight his way back to the MEV alone.

Characters

 * Paul Travers
 * Brad Newman
 * Greg Martin
 * Colonel Price

Worldbuilding

 * The confirmation of TV 21's theory was received by their Fleet Street office at "the instant" of going to press.

Story notes

 * Trapped! marked the final cover story from the original run of TV Century 21 to contain or reference elements from the Doctor Who universe.

Continuity

 * Paul Travers would make it back to the MEV, eventually freeing Brad and Greg (as well as Ray Pierce) from the influence of the Eye Leaves. (COMIC: Prisoners of the Eye Leaves)