Cobwebs (audio story)

Cobwebs was the one hundred and thirty-sixth monthly Doctor Who audio story produced by Big Finish Productions. Released in 2010, it began the first season of Fifth Doctor stories for that year. It was the first new story to feature stars Peter Davison, Sarah Sutton, Janet Fielding and Mark Strickson since the television story Terminus in 1983, thus beginning a "series" of 12 audio dramas for that TARDIS team across four years, finally reaching a conclusion with the audio story Prisoners of Fate in 2013.

Publisher's summary
"You know what cobwebs mean. Spiders..."

In search of a cure for a sickness that's so far claimed six billion lives, scientist Nyssa arrives at an abandoned gene-tech facility on the toxic planet Helheim. "Hellhole", more like.

Nyssa's not alone. The TARDIS has also been drawn to the Helheim base — and in its cobweb-coated corridors, she soon runs into the Doctor, Tegan and Turlough, her travelling companions of half a century past. But who, or what, has engineered this strange reunion? The Black Guardian, perhaps?

The answer's here, in the dark. With the Cractids. In the cobwebs.

Part one
Tegan and the Doctor are embroiled in an argument about Turlough. Tegan insists that he shouldn't be trusted whilst the Doctor says that he chose the right side when he was called upon. When Turlough enters Tegan storms off.

Meanwhile the Doctor's previous companion Nyssa is hovering above the planet Helheim with her paranoid android Loki. They are there to source out the abandoned research centre on that planet. They pick up a radio distress signal from 40 years previously warning that the planet has gone into quarantine. Despite his protestations Nyssa send Loki to investigate.

Back in the TARDIS, Turlough apologises to Tegan and tells her that he wants to be returned to his home. Tegan seemingly relents but as they begin to land the TARDIS goes into free fall. As they go to the control room they find the Doctor attempting a forced landing, while the Doctor does this Tegan wonders if this is a Black Guardian trap but the Doctor refutes this.

Loki finds no signs of life or any harmful pathogens. Nyssa joins him in the base. Loki informs Nyssa that there are traces of a series of subterranean ruins underneath the base - Nyssa says they will investigate. Nyssa seems concerned about the amount of cobwebs in the base but her fears are allayed when they discover robot maintenance spiders. Nyssa finds the power generators and manages to switch the lights on. When she does Nyssa sees a number of large scorpion like creatures approaching her. She begins to panic and implores Loki to neutralise them, however Loki cannot see or sense them. Nyssa screams in panic as the animals crawl on to her.

The Doctor, Tegan and Turlough emerge in the middle of a base. The first thing the Doctor notices is the preponderance of cobwebs but with no sign of dust that are dating them. His concern is allayed when he sees one of the robot spiders on Tegan. The trio begin to investigate the base. They note that the quarters see no sign of any personal affects and imply a quick escape. They hear a noise that draws them into the next room. Loki approaches them threatening them to remain still. Even though they do he fires a stunning beam at the Doctor. Nyssa emerges from the darkness and calls Loki off. The Doctor and Tegan seem surprised to see their old friend there. They discover that the events of their parting, a mere two days ago for the Doctor and Tegan, were fifty years previous on Nyssa's timeline. She explains that she is here to try and find a cure for the deadly Richter a Syndrome that is sweeping through the universe and has killed six billion people. The people at this base were supposed to be sourcing the cure but communications dropped. The group split up. The Doctor and Turlough go to explore the ancient ruins whilst Nyssa and Tegan with Loki go to access the computer database. As soon as they access the main deck of the base Loki warns that he feels a presence all around them. The voice of the computer greets the humans stating that he knew they'd return.

Down in the ruins the Doctor hypothesises that this civilisation must have had great technological power if it was their infrastructures that dragged the TARDIS off course. As they explore Turlough sees a figure approaching them - the Doctor cannot see anything. Turlough screams with panic as he is 'fired at'.

The computer system refers to himself as EDGAR and says that the humans have been here before. Nyssa wonders if this may have happened later in their time line but earlier in the timeline on Helheim. The computer begs the humans to "pity him".

The Doctor rushes over to Turlough who seemingly just collapsed. Turlough informs him of what happened. When the Doctor tries to put it down to hallucinations, Turlough says that he actually felt the rays of the gun enter his body. The Doctor points out there is not a mark on him. The Doctor and Turlough go and join their friends on deck. When turlough recounts his story Nyssa states that she had a similar experience. The Doctor states this to be a telepathic memory projection coming from the previous crew. Tegan points out these must be the last memory's of the crew. When the computer speaks to the Doctor he decodes that EDGAR must stand for Ersphile Data Gatherer and Research. The Doctor asks EDGAR to show him the crew. EDGAR projects the three original member of the crew. Tegan asks of there have been any other humans on the base. EDGAR shows footage of Tegan and the Doctor - the Doctor immediately stops this saying that they cannot know of their own future. Tegan worried and panicked asks EDGAR where the crew are currently. EDGAR answers that they are in the medical bay.

Despite the protestations of the Doctor Tegan marches to the medical bay where she orders Loki to open the doors which have been locked from the inside. When they enter they see four decomposed bodies cocooned on the beds. The bodies are wearing exactly the same clothes of the Doctor and his companions are at this moment.

Cast

 * The Doctor - Peter Davison
 * Tegan - Janet Fielding
 * Nyssa - Sarah Sutton
 * Turlough - Mark Strickson
 * Director Cardell/Ship's Computer - Helen Griffin
 * Loki/EDGAR/Hawks - Raymond Coulthard
 * Enforcement Officer Bragg - Adrian Lukis
 * Bio Technician Valis/Echelon - Charlotte Lucas

Species

 * Cractids are the only organism in the galaxy with a natural immunity to Richter's Syndrome.

Planets

 * The planet Helheim has a toxic atmosphere made mostly of sulphur and carbon oxides. It also has electrical storms and acid precipitation. The Cractids are its indigenous species.

Culture

 * Tegan refers to Loki as, a fictional droid from the Star Wars film series.
 * Tegan also refers to Loki as Metal Mickey, another fictional droid and a one-armed bandit.

Individuals

 * In reference to Turlough, Tegan notes that her aunt Vanessa always said, "once a wrong 'un, always a wrong 'un."

Technology

 * The Genetech station is equipped with an artificially intelligent interface named EDGAR (Encephalic Data Gathering and Research).
 * The Genetech station has maintenance spiders which use cobwebs as a protective sealant.

Continuity

 * Chronologically, this story takes place two days after the events of TV: Enlightenment for the Doctor, Tegan and Turlough, while it is fifty years after the events of TV: Terminus for Nyssa.
 * When the TARDIS goes wrong, Tegan asks if it a Black Guardian trap. (TV: Enlightenment)
 * Nyssa has cured Lazar's disease. (TV: Terminus)
 * The Doctor claims to have met Christopher Columbus. (PROSE: Eye of Heaven, TV: The Two Doctors)
 * Nyssa refers to her experience with alternative timelines in Stockbridge in 2009. (AUDIO: The Eternal Summer)
 * Nyssa mentions encountering the Daleks in Stockbridge in the 45th century. (AUDIO: Plague of the Daleks)
 * The Doctor and Tegan argue over Turlough's loyalty, during which Tegan makes numerous references to his alliance with the Black Guardian. (TV: Enlightenment)
 * Tegan mentions spending time in ventilation shafts with Turlough (TV: Terminus)
 * Nyssa is aware of the circumstances of the Doctor's next regeneration. (AUDIO: Winter)
 * Tegan mentions her aunt Vanessa (TV: Logopolis) and Terminus (TV: Terminus), while Nyssa refers to Brendon Public School (TV: Mawdryn Undead).
 * Nyssa asks the Doctor to take her home. However, it takes him many journeys until he can return her home, similar to his attempts to return Tegan to Heathrow Airport in 1981. (TV: Four to Doomsday, TV: The Visitation, TV: Time-Flight), (AUDIO: Prisoners of Fate)