The story immediately picks up from the cliff-hanger of ‘Too Much Reality’. Jago and Litefoot emerge from the dimensional portal into a dingy alleyway. Both men are relieved to be back in familiar London. As they exit the alleyway, Litefoot notices a large machine hovering in the night sky that looks like a hot-air balloon. Jago is despondent as the unfamiliar machine could only mean they have landed in another dimension. Litefoot however remains optimistic and deduces the possibility that despite the possibility of this world being another dimension, they should not rule out the possibility that this could just be a few months or years into their future. Both men decide to investigate.
The Infernal Investigators purchase a paper from an evening newsvendor and discover that the vendor is not distributing the evening news yet but rather the morning edition, despite the evening atmosphere. Litefoot deduces that they are experiencing the Golden Hour, in which the sky is still light despite the sun settling or yet to rise. Litefoot notes that the year on the paper is the same as the one they had left, but it has been a few months since they left. He flicks through the paper in hopes of finding any information on the strange machine in the sky but find nothing of particular interest except an upcoming bridge opening ceremony in which the Mayor of London is in attendance. Jago asks the vendor about the strange machine in the sky, but the vendor is bemused and unsure of what they are trying to describe. Jago asks the customers if they can see the strange machine, but discovers they cannot either, but a hint in a woman’s voice suggests otherwise. A young man approaches the Infernal Investigators, relieved that they can also see the machine like he can. The man asks if they can also see the strange policemen roaming the streets. Jago is perplexed, but before he could question further, the newsvendor and the customers angrily tell them that if they keep asking questions, they will be arrested. At that moment, Jago and Litefoot realise that they can no longer see the machine in the sky. Plus, a policeman approaches them and asks what they know about the machine in the sky. The young man and the newsvendor feign ignorance. Nonetheless, the officer takes hold of the young man’s arm and leads him away, warning him not to make a fuss. Once the officer was out of sight, the customers sadly acknowledge that the man is heading for the asylum for asking questions…
Jago and Litefoot walk the streets and begin to wonder if they had truly imagined the machine. Upon hearing Big Ben chime, Jago decides to adjust his pocket watch to the correct time. Upon realising the time of 11am and Litefoot’s explanation of the Golden Hour, Jago realises that it is impossible for it to be the Golden Hour as it should have been daylight for hours by now. Before both men can ponder further, they both strangely begin to forget the young man disappearing and the strange machine in the sky. Both men struggle to recount what they were discussing, but Litefoot decides to dismiss it and advises that they head for the Red Tavern. They both soon arrive at the Red Tavern and discover a strange marking on the side of the building…a red hand with the words ‘Wake Up!’ painted beneath it.
Both men enter the Red Tavern and are delighted to see their old friend Ellie Higson reprimanding a rowdy patron Tommy Rogers. Ellie is less than pleased to see her old friends, angrily demanding to know where the Infernal Investigators had been in the three months since they disappeared during the events of ‘The Stuff of Nightmares’. After angrily venting her frustrations, she forgives the pair and asks to know what had happened to them. Before Jago can elaborate on their whereabouts in the parallel universe, Ellie urgently shushes them and quietly asks them if they had noticed anything strange since their return. Both investigators cannot say that they have, but Litefoot does note that they have seen quite a few policemen patrolling the streets. Ellie explains that the number of officers patrolling the streets are because of the new Chief Inspector ‘Frant’, whom she explains is a rather vicious individual who has been ordering his officers to abduct anyone who steps out of line for even the most minor transgressions. Before returning to the bar, Ellie warns them not to trust anyone…not even their friends.
Jago and Litefoot wander aimlessly towards the Thames. Both men discuss what Ellie had told them about not trusting anyone. They spot a large crowd formed on a bridge. Jago inquires to a policeman about the situation, to which the officer informs him that it is the opening ceremony of St. Catherine’s Bridge. Jago notices that the Mayor of London is also in the crowd and rushes through to introduce himself. The Mayor politely tries to dismiss Jago. Jago’s insistences are only interrupted by a gang of policemen standing between him and the Mayor. Suddenly, the sound of several gunshots ring in the air and the crowd disperses in a panic. Several figures wearing hoods and their faces covered by red scarves rush through the crowd and grab the Mayor by the arm. An army of police officers rush to the scene on horseback, led by a much larger officer. The Mayor’s accoster fires a gunshot in the air, further instilling panic into the crowd. Jago grabs hold of the Mayor’s arm and frees him from the hooded figure. With no choice and the police rapidly converging on the area, the terrorist rushes into the crowd with the police in hot pursuit. The Mayor accuses Jago of distracting him so that the terrorists could attack. A policeman arrives and prepares to escort Jago to the station. Litefoot tries to protest the Mayor’s accusation and states that he was with Jago the entire time. Litefoot realises his poor choice of words as the officer decides to arrest him as well as Jago…
Several hours later, Jago and Litefoot are locked in an interview room at the police station. Their old ally Inspector Quick arrives, but their reunion is less than warm as the Inspector bluntly tells them to sit down and be quiet. Quick informs the duo that he has witnesses that place them at the scene of the attack and beforehand, Jago was conversing with the Mayor. Litefoot explains that their presence was happenstance. Tired that his interrogation is getting nowhere, Quick drops his pretence and laments on how the new Chief Inspector Frant has been working him hard because of a terrorist group called the Red Hand have been plaguing London. Their insignia are the red handprints dotted around the city. They have been linked to multiple kidnappings over the past few months and spreading anarchic propaganda. He echoes Ellie’s warning to the duo…do not trust anyone.
Later, Jago and Litefoot are let go by Quick with a verbal warning (much to Jago’s chagrin). Both men discuss how their allies have been behaving oddly since they have reunited with them. Litefoot recalls the message under the Red Hand insignia ‘Wake Up’ and ponders who it’s target audience is. He and Jago recall how their memories were foggy when they returned from the parallel world, much like when they arrived there after their brief trip to the 51st century. Both men decide to return to the Red Tavern to talk with Ellie once more. When they arrive outside, Jago is surprised to find that the handprint they saw on the wall of the pub earlier had been freshly painted over.
Inside the pub, Litefoot quizzes Ellie on the Red Hand insignia on the wall outside. Ellie nervously feigns ignorance, but her body language told the Investigators a different story. The gentlemen take their drinks and sit down in the corner of the pub. Litefoot deduces that Ellie is aware of the hand outside, but the question is why is she not telling them what she knows? Before they can discuss further, a scrawny young man approached their table – Tommy Rogers, the rowdy patron that Ellie had thrown out of the pub earlier. Rogers tells the duo that they were right about the hand disappearing, but the duo make it quite clear they doubt his credibility. Rogers turns to leave in a huff, but an elderly woman called Nancy raises her voice and affirms Rogers’ claim about the strange goings on. Another patron, Charlie Harris, tells her to keep her voice down as her talk is dangerous. But Nancy is defiant and echoes the words of the Red Hand. Harris, fed up with arguing, angrily leaves the pub. Nancy starts to panic and believes that Harris is going to inform on her. Before Litefoot can quiz her, Nancy hurries out of the pub. Now it was Jago’s turn to be cross. Fed up with everyone talking in riddles, he decides to get to the bottom of the mysterious goings on and storms out of the pub.
Out on the streets, Jago catches up to Harris, who was also been pursued by Nancy. Nancy immediately accuses Harris of threatening to report her to the police, to which Harris vehemently denies. Jago asks to know what Harris thinks Nancy had done to deserve being reported. Harris reveals that Nancy had his brother abducted by the police for having knowledge of a conspiracy at work. He further elaborates that Nancy had told his brother that London had been taken over. Before he could finish, all three of them hear clanking footsteps and hissing steam coming towards them…a tall mechanical man dressed as a policeman approaches them. Jago is astonished by the sight of the robot while Nancy and Harris look on nervously. The robot asks in a strangely cheerful but robotic voice what the commotion is…
In the Red Tavern, Litefoot asks Ellie about the commotion between Nancy and Harris, but once more Ellie remains dismissive. Litefoot turns to find Tommy Rogers sitting next to him, but to his chagrin. Litefoot notices something in Rogers’ hand and asks him to show him what he has got, but Rogers refuses. Ellie aggressively opens his hand and finds a small red pill. Believing Rogers was planning to spike Litefoot’s drink, Ellie throws him out of the pub. She and Litefoot hear a loud commotion outside.
Outside, Jago is still disbelieving of what he is seeing – a mechanical policeman! Harris tells the robot that Nancy has been spreading discourse with her words. The policeman cheerfully decides that the pair of them should be arrested, and a black carriage pulls up alongside the group manned by two more robotic policemen. The robots bundle the two pub patrons into the carriage and prepare to depart. Jago angrily demands the robots let them go and punches one in the chest. The robot, with a glint of menace in its voice, asks Jago to come with him as well. Jago in an act of fight or flight angrily punches the robot across the face, but to no effect apart from injuring his hand on the robot’s metallic chin. With no other choice, Jago runs away from the officers. He hears police whistles behind him as the robots give pursuit…
Litefoot leaves the Red Tavern to investigate the commotion. Several of the Red Tavern patrons are engaged in rather angry and violent exchanges. Litefoot fails to get any information from the more amicable patrons. Soon, the police arrive, and the crowd begins to slowly disperse. Amongst the police, Litefoot recognises Inspector Quick and the two men converse. Quick advises Litefoot to find Jago and leave quickly before things get further out of hand before leaving to disperse the crowd. Rogers arrives and tells Litefoot that Quick and his officers had Nancy and Harris arrested earlier. He points out the black carriage containing the two vagrants. Now more determined to find out what is happening. Litefoot and Rogers resolve to find out what the police are up to.
Meanwhile, Jago is being relentlessly pursued by the robotic policemen he accosted. He had circled back to the Red Tavern and spotted Inspector Quick in the crowd outside. Jago panickily asks him if he can see the robotic figures chasing him. Quick looks oblivious to the sight of the robots and identifies one as Constable Smith, a regular looking officer of the law. Another robotic officer arrives, which Quick identifies as Constable Norris. With Quick not helping, Jago rushes away once more with the robots in pursuit again.
Behind the Red Tavern, Litefoot and Rogers find the black carriage. Rogers is wary of it as he tells Litefoot that people inside are usually escorted to the asylum and never seen again. Litefoot knocks on the carriage to no response. Checking that there are no officers in sight, Litefoot opens the carriage to find it empty. But Rogers implores him to look again, and Litefoot finds the floor of the carriage is covered in ashes. Fearing that it is too late for the old woman and the disagreeable gent, Litefoot and Rogers leave.
Jago had been running through the back alleys to escape the mechanical policemen. Once realising that he had lost them, Jago walks out onto the road to see more mechanical police patrolling the roads, yet no one seemed none the wiser to their presence. Jago carefully darted around the streets to avoid their gazes but collides with another mechanical man. This one however was not dressed as a policeman, but in civilian clothes. Jago makes way to the one place he felt safe…his New Regency Theatre. Upon arriving, he discovers a sign on the box office with one word…OBEY. A couple arrives and reads the sign, Jago is perplexed when they tell him it is the playbill for the Theatre’s performances – Madame Sosostris is due to perform. But Jago could not see that, all he could see was the word OBEY…
Jago entered his office in the theatre and sat down, trying to process everything he had endured up until this point. He even began to doubt if he could trust Litefoot. His old friend O’Leary the stagehand arrived with a knock on the door. Jago opened the door, but instead of finding O’Leary, he found Litefoot waiting for him. Momentarily, Jago was relieved to see his steadfast companion, but his relief turned to suspicion as he began to ask questions that only Litefoot could know the answers to. Litefoot responds, but Jago struggles to believe that Litefoot standing before him is real until Litefoot responds with knowledge that Jago could only know. Jago is once more relieved that Litefoot is safe. Jago asks Litefoot if he can see the robotic police as well. Their conversation is interrupted by Rogers poking his head around the door and warning them to keep their voices down or they will be discovered. Jago is surprised to learn that Rogers can see the robots as well. But if they can see them, why can’t Litefoot? Rogers explains that the red pill that Ellie and Litefoot had confiscated allowed them to see the world for what it was…overrun with mechanical men. Only problem is that the pills only have a temporary effect. Rogers explains that he procured the pills from a resistance group and offers to introduce them.
Rogers leads the Infernal Investigators through the dingy backstreets of East London. Jago and Litefoot notice another red handprint on the wall with the words ‘Don’t Believe Your Eyes’ emblazoned beneath it. Jago asks Litefoot if he can see what he is seeing to make sure they do not have differing views. Rogers explains that the red handprint is the resistance group’s mark to warn those around them of their presence. Rogers leads them to a row of derelict houses on the River Thames and ushers them inside a particularly downtrodden house. Jago assumes that they are in the Resistance’s base of operations, but Rogers corrects him. He only brought them here because the police do not patrol the squalid areas of London. They can discuss their plans without fear of reprisal. He explains that the resistance is a lot smaller than expected, but the members who are active are working to wake up others to join their cause. Litefoot asks why the Resistance tried to kidnap the Mayor of London, to which Rogers explains that their plan was to save him because their mysterious enemy is trying to manipulate those in power. Rogers further explains that politicians, police, and several others in positions of power had been going missing only to return a few days later, except now they are under their enemy’s thrall and have greyish skin – in summary, they are not human anymore. The only problem is that no one can see that as the invaders have a way of deceiving people’s perception of the world. Litefoot deduces that their enemy’s plan is to subjugate London by replacing those in power so those without power will fall in line and bend to their whims but realises that their plans will fall apart if everyone saw through the illusion the invaders have cast upon London. Jago suddenly begins to recall the events of when they arrived back from the parallel world, such as the sight of the golden sky at 11am and the strange machine in the sky, thanks to the red pill fed to him by Rogers. He deduces that the city is under a mesmeric influence. Litefoot however is unable to recall these events, so Jago decides that there is only one woman who can help him see the world for what it truly is…
Jago leads Litefoot and Rogers back to the New Regency Theatre and into the only occupied dressing room, inside was Madame Sosostris – the hypnotist who had helped Jago and Litefoot battle The Master. Litefoot frankly tells her of their belief that a malevolent influence has taken hold of the minds of London. Sosostris warns him of the dangers of talking about such things, but Litefoot reassures her that they are free of the influence. Sosostris is relieved and reveals that she too has been aware of a danger lurking in London. Sosostris recalls how she saw through the veil during a performance of hers. The audience was filled with robots and corpse-like people. Despite her fear, she had finished her show. Jago asks Sosostris if she could work her hypnotic magic on Litefoot so that he can see the truth for himself. Sosostris agrees and commands Litefoot to look into her eyes. After a few moments, Sosostris frees Litefoot from her control. Litefoot immediately looks out the window and confirms that he can see the strange machine hovering in the sky. Sosostris’ hypnotism had worked. With her work done, Sosostris leaves to start her show. Litefoot turns to Rogers and asks him to properly introduce them to the Resistance. But Rogers tells them that it is easier said than done as no one knows who the leader is. Rogers recalls being called to the Red Tavern to meet with the leader, except no one showed up. But he does recall Inspector Quick being at the scene, so he deduced that the leader was scared to show himself. Therefore, Rogers routinely showed up at the Red Tavern to find the leader. Jago suggests that they return to the Red Tavern to see if the leader will appear. Litefoot advises him that they should bring Madame Sosostris with them as they may need her skills to help a friend…
At the Red Tavern, Ellie is less than pleased to see the Infernal Investigators again, but is less pleased by Rogers returning after she threw him out on the street. Jago introduces Ellie to Madame Sosostris and offers to let Sosostris perform a hypnotism act for her privately. At first, Ellie is less receptive of the idea, despite Jago’s insistence. But eventually, she relents and leads the group to the back room.
In the back room, Sosostris is having trouble trying to hypnotise Ellie, who is less impressed by Sosostris’ abilities with each attempt. Sosostris complains that Ellie has a stubbornly powerful mind that she is unable to infiltrate. Ellie angrily misconstrues the hypnotism act as a way for the Infernal Investigators to get Ellie to see the world through their perceptive eyes, but she gives them a damning revelation…she is aware of the strangeness in London and does not need hypnotising to see the corpse-people and robots. Ellie explains that she was aware of the horrors around her ever since it started and was scared that she was the only one who could see them. She is glad to not be the only one aware anymore. She assumes that it is because of her vampiric genetics that she was able to perceive things differently to everyone. Ellie explains that she was feigning ignorance before because she was not sure if the Infernal Investigators were aware of the danger around them. But she has one more bombshell to drop…she was the one who painted the red hands around London. It dawns on Rogers that the identity of the Resistance leader is Ellie! Ellie confirms his suspicion, much to Jago and Litefoot’s surprise. With Jago and Litefoot missing, she was the one fighting the invasion. Rogers asks why Ellie never revealed herself to him when she asked to meet him, to which she simply states that she never trusted him. Ellie explains to the group that someone is commanding the robot police and converting people to their thrall, but she has no intel on who it could be. Litefoot ponders the invaders technology and deduces that the things such as the strange ship and the robots are not as out-of-the-ordinary as they appear. They are made with technology and materials readily available in their time, but the concepts are obviously ahead of their time. This theory shuts down the possibility of alien involvement, so it could only be perpetrated by someone on Earth. Jago assumes that whoever is behind these machines must have a sizeable factory that is difficult to hide, to which Litefoot deduces the possibility that it could be possible for the populace to simply be conditioned to overlook it like the ship. Rogers recalls a strange factory not far from where he led Jago and Litefoot earlier. He mentions strange lights in the evenings, loud noises during the day and more perplexing is that he has never seen anyone go in or out. With this new lead, Litefoot decides that it is worth investigating. Sosostris leaves to return to the Theatre but bids the Investigators good luck.
That evening, Jago, Litefoot, Ellie and Rogers approach the derelict looking factory, but find it lacking the quality for mass producing robots from the outside. Litefoot notices the lights inside the factory are on, so someone must be inside. Rogers shatters a window on the side of the building and ushers the group inside.
Inside the factory, Litefoot and Rogers come across a huge army of robotic policemen being mass produced and fully dressed in police regalia. Question is what is this mass production in aid of? Elsewhere, Jago and Ellie come across a door with the words ‘KEEP OUT’ printed on it. They notice a patrolling robot policeman coming their way. With no other choice, the duo venture through the door into a large room. Unfortunately, the sound of robotic footsteps came ever closer to the door, followed by the handle being turned…
Upon their discovery, Litefoot decides that they must come together to formulate a plan. Before they can think of a way to find Jago and Ellie. They hear a bloodcurdling scream from within the factory. With a look of determination, Litefoot ventures further into the factory to find the screaming man with a nervous Rogers in tow…
Inside the forbidden room, the robot that had heard Jago and Ellie looked around and saw a pile of wooden crates haphazardly piled on top of one another. After exchanging a glare at the boxes for a moment, the robot turned and left the room. Once the robot was out of the room, Jago and Ellie emerge from behind the crates relieved that they had not been discovered. Ellie notices that the crates have all been addressed to cities across the country. Using a metal sign, Jago prized open a crate and discover another robot, except it was slightly larger and more rudimentary than the ones they have seen. The robot’s eyes suddenly flicker to life and it’s body sprang upright inside the crate. The robot suddenly began to shout out in alarm “UNDER ATTACK! UNDER ATTACK!”
Elsewhere inside the factory, Litefoot and Rogers follow the screaming sound to a strange room inside the factory. Peering through the window into the room, Litefoot discovers the room is a laboratory. Rogers points out the source of the screaming, a grey coloured corpse being escorted around the lab on a gurney by two robotic surgeons. The duo look on sickened as the robot surgeons began to graft robotic prosthetics to the corpse. With nothing they could do to help the man, Litefoot and Rogers turn to leave only to hear the robotic policemen heading their way. With no options available, Litefoot and Rogers turn to the laboratory and head inside to hide. The duo hide behind the gurney carrying the grey corpse as two police robots entered the lab followed by the most unlikeliest of individuals…Inspector Quick! Quick calls for the intruders to come out of hiding and is aware of their intrusion as he saw them enter the factory beforehand. Litefoot emerges from hiding followed by Rogers and asks how he knew they were here to begin with. Quick reveals that he had them under close surveillance since their second visit to the Red Tavern but is most surprised that the Infernal Investigators had led him to the base of the terrorist organisation. Quick identifies the grey corpse as Sir Gerald Kingsley and deduces that he is one of Litefoot’s kidnapped victims and that he and Jago planned to do the same horrific operation on the Mayor. Litefoot implores Quick to look at his robotic constables, but Quick is ignorant once more. Litefoot walks up to one of the robots and taps it on the head with a clanging sound ringing out. Litefoot asks Quick to tell him if it sounded like he was touching flesh and blood, to which Quick continues to feign ignorance. Litefoot implores him to see what he has made himself complicit to. But Quick refuses to listen but before he can arrest him and Rogers, they all hear loud, metallic footsteps coming towards them from outside the lab. They look outside and see Jago and Ellie running frantically from a huge robot as it screamed “INTRUDER! INTRUDER” repeatedly. Litefoot calls for Jago and Ellie to head for the laboratory door, to which they do so. They manage to bolt the door shut behind them to keep the huge robot from entering. Quick looked outside in astonishment at the sight before him, now somewhat believing of Litefoot’s claim about robots roaming amongst them. Suddenly, the giant robot began to kick away at the door trying to gain entry to the lab. Litefoot orders Quick to order his constables to stop the huge robot, but Quick hesitates to do so fearing he will endanger the lives of his constables. Before they could argue with Quick, the huge robot kicks the door in and enters the lab…
The giant robot looms over them. Quick nervously gives the order for his constables to stop the marauding machine. The constables cheerfully oblige and approach the huge machine. The machine asks what the constables are doing but is swiftly punched by one constable followed by another punch from the second. The huge robot raises its arms in defence as the constables repeatedly assault it against the wall. Quick watches on in amazement and questions how his men can stand up to the huge machine. Jago suggests that they all escape while the robots duke it out as their one-sided battle begins to tear down the factory. Rogers urgently alerts the group to a leaking gas pipe that had ruptured during the fight, which hastens the groups need to run before the factory explodes. Quick is still confused by the situation before him, but Litefoot promises to explain everything when they are safe.
The group manage to escape through the broken window that they had entered through. Litefoot tells the group to run away before the factory explodes. Mere seconds later, the factory explodes into a huge fireball. The group look back at the sight of the factory to find a startling discovery, there are no remains whatsoever. No bricks, iron, or any of the robots. Just a large crater where the factory stood. Litefoot simply deduces that the gas was not a standard explosive gas…
At the Red Tavern in the backroom, Jago has Madame Sosostris break Quick’s hypnotic reverie and return him to his usual self. Quick is disgusted by the acts he committed whilst under hypnosis, and gloomily believes that fighting back against the invaders is hopeless. Litefoot refuses to believe so, as they still have a chance whilst they can see through their veil of deception. Right now, the group in the room are the only chance London has of salvation. Rogers promises to keep his ear to the ground on the streets. Quick promises to keep the group informed through the police. Litefoot instructs Quick to particularly keep an eye on Chief Inspector Frant as he still does have a small squad of robots under his command. Litefoot ponders the identity of the invaders and believes that the mysterious ship in the sky cannot be space-worthy, therefore their enemy must be closer to home. But for now, they all decide to keep up the ignorant pretence until they are ready to strike.
