The Rotting Deep (audio story)

The Rotting Deep was the first story in the audio anthology Water Worlds produced by Big Finish Productions. It was written by Jacqueline Rayner and featured Colin Baker as the Sixth Doctor, Bonnie Langford as Melanie Bush and introduced Ruth Madeley as new companion Hebe Harrison.

Publisher's summary
A mysterious SOS summons the Doctor and Mel to an oil rig in the North Sea where a dwindling group of survivors awaits rescue from a lethal menace. One of their number is Hebe Harrison, a wheelchair-using marine biologist who is definitely more than she seems. Can our heroes escape the rig? And just what is killing off the rig's beleaguered crew?

Part one
The Doctor finally manages to find the source of an SOS: a mobile phone from the 2000s, connected to the TARDIS. Following it, the Doctor and Mel arrive on a powerless oil rig called in the North Sea called Albatross Alpha and fail to save a man from falling to a height due to aggressive gulls. They meet marine biologist Hebe and are introduced to Jonah, Sky, Carl and A.M., all of whom Mel admonishes for not helping Hebe, a wheelchair user, join them in the canteen. The sixth person, Bill is working in the power room.

Hebe is irritated by Mel being angry on her behalf and tells the Doctor that she is here to recommend whether or not the rig is to remain; she is currently in favour of it staying due to it serving as an artificial reef, but the divers who went to document the diversity of the wildlife disappeared. Whilst Sky goes looking for Bill, Mel returns to the Doctor and they share what they have learnt; four divers have disappeared, as have three engineers and three people from the oil company, and all of the food has disappeared or became covered in slime. The others join them, but the impatient Jonah goes outside and survives a fall when the gulls attack. One gets inside and attacks Hebe, but the Doctor grabs it with a jumper and traps it in a wardrobe.

Power returns to the rig and the Doctor heads down to the infirmary with Carl and the wounded Jonah. Mel stays with Hebe and A.M. and is attacked when the gulls break through a window. They swarm A.M., allowing Mel and Hebe to escape and head downstairs in the lift. When the power goes out again, the Doctor goes into the power room to find Sky and Bill whilst Mel and Hebe are trapped in the lift. They hear something slithering above them, trying to get in.

Part two
to be added

Cast

 * The Doctor - Colin Baker
 * Melanie Bush - Bonnie Langford
 * Hebe Harrison - Ruth Madeley
 * Jonah Strong - Rove McManus
 * Sky Bennett - Mandi Symonds
 * Carl Price / Dean - Charlie Tighe
 * A.M. 'Ancient Mariner' - James Smillie

Continuity

 * Mel worries that there might be a Dalek on the rig. She first met the Daleks in The Juggernauts.
 * Hebe studied at the same university professor Evelyn Smythe used to teach. Hebe talked fondly of Evelyn and the former companion was the reason why Hebe was able to send a S.O.S. to the Doctor. (AUDIO: The Marian Conspiracy et al)