Sirens of Ceres (TV story)

Sirens of Ceres was the fifth episode of Series 1 of K9. K9 had a less major role as this episode focused on other characters, in particular Jorjie.

Synopsis
Drake uses a strange alien substance on group of schoolchildren in an experiment to gain control of the population. Jorjie stumbles across the plan after she is seen assaulting a Police Robot, Drake suggests to June that Jorjie is sent to a private academy to deal with her lack of disipline. Jorjie herself falls victim to the alien device's control and K9 and Starkey have to find and destroy the devices.

Plot
Vibeka, an activist, protests CCPC violence when she is apprehended by two of them. K9, Starkey and Jorjie witness it and Starkey records the arrest to "publicise the violence". Jorjie grows impatient and tells Starkey to take action, but he says he has to get the footage on the screens to show people the truth. Jorjie decides to take action and despite Starkey's warning she throws a stone at one of the CCPCs. The three spot Drake and run, while Inspector Drake arrives and takes Vibeka away. The three are cornered by the two CCPCs, and when K9 questions Jorjie's actions she just says she was "having fun". A third CCPC brings Starkey and confiscates his recording. Drake orders the CCPCs to use an unknown device known as the Inhibitor, into which the CCPC puts an alien substance. K9 gets in front of Starkey and Jorjie. Despite their protests it fires at them, however the device fails, accidentally destroying the CCPC and sending K9 flying. Drake is angered about this and rips the head off his cane.

At Jorjie's house, June is shocked to find that Jorjie threw a stone at a CCPC. She is even angrier that she complains of a headache after nearly getting killed. Jorjie says the CCPC was using a strange weapon, June has no idea why Jorjie did it, why someone who had all the freedom they could possibly do such a thing. Jorjie says she wasn't rebelling against anything, she was rebelling for the right to rebel. When June suspects Starkey, Jorjie says she can think for herself and the CCPCs don't arrest for that, yet. She says she was just bored as it was a Sunday, June warns that she should have a better explanation once Drake drags her to juvenile court. Back at the mansion, Gryffen is repairing K9, who suffered minor damage from the explosion, Starkey suspects that the Drake is up to something as they sent four CCPCs to just one protester. Gryffen doesn't approve of Starkey's "tomfoolery." At Department HQ June questions Drake about the Inhibitor, he says it is a submission device. Drake suggests that June sends Jorjie to Magdalene Academy. Two weeks later Jorjie comes to the academy and introduces herself. She finds out that Vibeka is also in this school, and she warns Jorjie not to put on the bracelets worn by several of the students, saying there has been a strange change in behaviour with some of them. Jorjie takes her advice and doesn't join Melaina's study group. When she goes to the mansion and complains about the school, Starkey and Gryffen don't agree with her.

While fixing K9, Gryffen analyses video playback of the explosion and finds the strange substance vaporises when it's put under pressure. K9 says that the CCPCs used it to try to take control of him, and it is an alien substance. When Jorjie goes to the academy again she finds Vibeka now wears the bracelet, and she informs Starkey of the bracelet. Starkey comes to Magdalene to see what is going on, but Vibeka flirts with him and he completely ignores Jorjie. Gryffen discovers the identity of the alien substance, it is called cerulium. K9 describes the planet Ceres and how lack of free will destroyed its civilization. At the Academy the girls give Jorjie a bracelet and she thanks them. Melaina asks her to put it on, and Vibeka says Starkey adored her bracelet, saying he said it made her skin shine. Jorjie puts on the bracelet and falls under its influence almost immediately. She comes back to the mansion and meets Darius on the way in. She flirts with him while K9 identifies the bracelet on her as a cerulium and Starkey runs up to her and tells her to take off the bracelet, but she pulls her arm behind her and playfully asks what bracelet. Darius defends her from Starkey, but K9 destroys the bracelet with his laser cannon. The next day she returns to school with a fake bracelet, saying she loves her new bracelet. All the girls flaunt their bracelets. Jorjie asks the girls where she can buy another one for her mother June Turner. Drake realises that she knows and the girls attack her, but K9 arrives and destroys all the bracelets. Melaina is the only one remaining, and when Drake deactivates her, Jorjie reveals to the other students that she was a robot similar to the CCPC.

Cast

 * K9 Mark 2 - John Leeson
 * Starkey - Keegan Joyce
 * Jorjie Turner - Philippa Coulthard
 * Darius Pike - Daniel Webber
 * Professor Alistair Gryffen - Robert Moloney
 * June Turner - Robyn Moore
 * Drake - Connor Van Vuuren
 * Vibeka - Sophia Emerson-Bains
 * Melaina - Cathy Tucker
 * Hilena - Natalie Stephenson
 * Kalena - Britt Henderson
 * CCPC/School CCPC - Micheal Coglan
 * CCPC - Josh Norsend
 * CCPC - Manuel Saubie
 * CCPC - David Pawsey
 * Teacher - Catarina Hibbard

Production crew

 * Writer - Deborah Parsons
 * Director - Daniel Nettheim
 * Producers - Penny Wall, Richard Stewart, Simon Barnes
 * Executive producers - Jim Howell, Grant Bradley, Steve Robbins
 * Associate producers - Bob Baker, Paul Tams
 * Supervising producer - Dale Bradley
 * Co-Executive producers - Mark Blythe, Sam Tromans
 * Line producer - Pam Collis
 * VFX Director - David Napier
 * Series Production Designer - Jon Dowding
 * Episodic Designer - Adam Head
 * New K9 Design by - Paul Tams, Alex Kubalsky
 * Series Director of Photography - Ben Nott
 * Episodic Director of Photography - Tony O'Loughlan
 * Music by - Christopher Elves
 * K9 theme music by - Michael Lira
 * Editor - Patrick Stewart
 * Casting - Faith Martin and associates
 * Episodic casting - Lisa Maloney
 * Drama/Dialogue coach - Peter Kent
 * Story Producer - Greg Walters
 * Script Editor - Anthony Morris
 * Script Adaption - Michaeley O'Brien
 * Production Accountant - Pru Donovan
 * 1st Assistant Director - Peter McLennan
 * Script Supervisor - Sue Ketchington
 * Costume Designer - Joanne Thompson
 * Makeup Designer - Sharon Robbins
 * Puppeteer - David Pawsey
 * Location Manager - Charles Boyle
 * Sound Recordist - Ian Grant
 * B Camera Operator - Dan Maxwell
 * Gaffer - Steve Monk
 * Key Grip - Billy Harmer
 * Special thanks to - Space Furniture, Shredox, J. Barbour & Sons Ltd, Heath Williams at Firefly Lighting, Videopro
 * Safety Supervisor/Stunt Coordinator - Danny Baldwin
 * Transport Manager - Alister Ward
 * Unit Manager - Graeme Suhr
 * Post Production Facility - Cutting Edge Australia
 * Head of Post Production - John Lee
 * Sound Design - Warren Pearson
 * Sound Mix - Ben Vlad
 * K9 Theme Music Recorded - Supersonic
 * The Postworks - Bob Blasdall
 * Marshalls and Dent Lawyers - Shaun Miller, Bryce Menzies
 * Completion Guarantor - First Australian Completion Bond Company Pty Ltd
 * Executive producer Network Ten Australia - Cherrie Bottger

Story notes

 * Gryffen repairing K9 for most of the episodes makes this episode similar to his appearances in Doctor Who or The Sarah Jane Adventures. As in several of their stories K9's role is relegated and gives more focus on other characters.
 * This episode aired on the same day as the Doctor Who episode, The Beast Below.

Ratings
to be added

Myths
to be added

Filming locations
to be added

Production errors
to be added

Continuity
to be added

Home video releases

 * This episode is featured in the Series One complete boxset which is due to be released in Australia in 29th September 2010, UK release is unknown.
 * This episode is featured in "vanilla" DVD called The Bounty Hunter along with Regeneration, Liberation, The Korven. The Bounty Hunter and Fear Itself, which is due to be released in Australia in 29th September 2010, UK release is unknown.