As Olivia enters Miss Maitland’s classroom, the light fittings explode. Eldritch and Osley follow her in. Across town in the garage, Reet and Thomas fall backwards to the ground away from the computer screen glare. In the control centre, a power surge is detected.
Miss
Maitland attempts to confront Eldritch about the explosion, but he is able through
some form of suggestion to convince her she was mistaken in what she saw. Eldritch
tries to discover who Marcie is, but she resists. As power returns, Eldritch
and Osley return to the control centre, leaving Olivia at the school.
On Reet and Thomas’s computer screen a word appears - symbiosis. They discover that the keyboard seems to respond without direct pressure from their fingers. Troubled, they set off to find Marcie. En route back to the school, they briefly encounter Mr Polsinski, who realises something has happened. In the Polsinski house, Mrs Polsinski tells her husband they must pack their bags: ‘we’ve run before, we run now.’
In
the school bathroom, Olivia nurses a glowing ball of energy in her hand. A
couple of girls enter, but leave scared on seeing her. The mirror shatters
when she stares into it.
In the control centre, Osley and Eldritch confer. Eldritch is angered when Osley refers to the project as his work – it is the work of Professor Bejinski, who the computer has been trying to locate for the last three months.
Reet
and Thomas confer with Marcie and the sceptical Miss Maitland. Thomas explains
that he now has an instant understanding of the computer, as if ‘Eldritch is
in your head’. Marcie realises that because of symbiosis they can find out
about Eldritch via the classroom Abyss computer. Thomas is able to access Eldritch’s
file, and brings up the search for the Professor, current location unknown.
Thomas recognises the scanned photo as Marcie’s neighbour, Mr Polczinski – and
the missing details suddenly appear on screen…
In the control room, Eldritch has become aware of Thomas’s hacking. He now knows the location of the Professor. Taking a team of men, Eldritch sets off to find him.
Leaving the still doubtful Miss Maitland, the trio race off to warn the Polczinskis. Olivia observes their departure.
Marcie and friends arrive in time to warn the Polczinskis, and they all try to escape. In the lane behind the Polcinski house they are confronted by Eldritch. Mr Polcsinski is snatched. Eldritch taunts Marcie, ‘Who will save you now, child?’
At
the school, Miss Maitland begins to have second thoughts. She heads for her
car, becoming caught up in the crowds of children collecting their free computers
from the school lobby. Eventually she reaches her car, and settles in the driver’s
seat. Unnoticed, Olivia sits up in the back…