Professor Bernice Summerfield and the Bone of Contention (audio story)

, or simply The Bone of Contention, was the second story of the fifth season of the Big Finish Bernice Summerfield series. Written by Simon Forward, it was set on the Clutch, a location that first appeared in Forward's Doctor Who audio story The Sandman.

Publisher's summary
It's good to get away from the joys of motherhood once in a while. So when the Perloran government call upon Bernice Summerfield to recover a state treasure, she readily obliges.

Trouble is, the previous Perloran government traded the artefact away to the Galyari, and to the Galyari, a deal is a deal. So when Benny arrives on the Clutch to ask if the Perlorans can have their Bone back, she soon realises she has her work cut out for her.

Work that's complicated significantly by a frightened young Galyari who latches onto her, as if to prove that when it comes to the joys of motherhood, there is no escape.

And the growing pains of this particular youngster are set to prove very painful indeed.

Plot
Doing a favour for the new Perloran government, Benny travels to the Clutch to transport a collection of weapons purchased from Mordecan to the Galyari with a request that the Wishing Bone of Perlor be returned to them in exchange. Commander Korshal claims that there is no record of the initial transaction and she goes to investigate, putting out an advert for Mordecan's attention asking for him to meet her at the Liquid Plasma Bar. When he does so, he is surprised to learn that the previous Perloran government was overthrown and tells her that he sold the Wishing Bone to Research Director Tseshra of the Galyari.

Benny and Mordecan visit Tseshra and are attacked by her young patient, Greeko, until Benny soothes him and a trooper takes him to his father. Tseshra explains that the Galyari are descended from avians and that she hoped to use the Wishing Bone, belonging to an extinct avian species, to find an ancestral link, but she was unable to and gave it away to a merchant. Whilst Benny goes to check with the Perlorans that compensation in lieu of the Wishing Bone would be acceptable, she and Mordecan are followed by Greeko, who has escaped his escort and seems to have bonded with Benny. They go to the former space liner which is now home to Mordecan's fellow space gypsies and Greeko shows Benny visions from his life, being forced by Korshal to fight.

Benny tells Mordecan about the Wishing Bone and how an ancient species supposedly moulded the storms of their world into Shadows Swans, living beings which fed on biospheric energies and released them to terraform other planets. Greeko sheds his skin and, when Korshal and his troopers arrive, Benny escapes with him into the fuel pipes thanks to Mordecan, whom Tseshra interrogates in front of his people at his request. Greeko starts giving off electrical charges and Benny decides to call Tseshra for help, but news of the electricity makes Tseshra decide to put an end to the experiment due to the danger he now represents without his Galyari imprinting. Korshal volunteers to go and kill Greeko, believing him to no longer be his son, and Mordecan warns Benny to flee.

Despite knowing that Greeko is one of the Shadow Swans and will destroy the Clutch if he reaches maturity, Benny does not feel able to leave him to his death until he starts attacking her to drive her off. Tseshra tells her that she was trying to build a warrior to defeat the Sandman, which Benny, as a mother who would do almost anything to save her child, can understand to an extent. Tseshra goes to explain what has happened to the Council of Directors and, before returning to Perlor, Benny visits Mordecan and they have a drink before last orders.

Cast

 * Bernice Summerfield / Romola - Lisa Bowerman
 * Mordecan - Robin Bowerman
 * Director Tseshra - Tracey Childs
 * Commander Korshal - Steffan Rhodri

Worldbuilding

 * Bernice is at the Clutch on behalf of the Perloran government. She is investigating the possibility of returning the Wishing Bone of Perlor, a priceless artefact sold to the Galyari.
 * Bernice travelled to the Clutch aboard a Perloran Mule-class freighter, which they had equipped with a mini-bar.
 * Perlor is in the Mancoran Sector.
 * Joseph is teaching Peter different accents.

Continuity

 * The Galyari and the Clutch appeared in The Sandman.
 * Commander Korshal would later encounter the Seventh Doctor, Ace and Hex in Uluru City. (AUDIO: Dreamtime)