The Eclipse of the Korven (TV story)

The Eclipse of the Korven is the final episode of K9 Series 1; it saw the revelation of The Department's creation and the true identity of its leader, Lomax. It also revealed that the recurring villain Thorne was working with the Korven. This episode featured the deaths of both aforementioned characters.

Synopsis
A strange phenomenon occurs in the Space-Time Manipulator that heralds the imminent arrival of the Korven pan-dimensional invasion force. Thorne is plotting to help them and has as his back-up a sinister secret weapon that has K9's regeneration circuit implanted in it, making it indestructible. K9 faces his biggest threat ever. Emotions run high and Gryffen and the youngsters face the unknown as their world faces utter destruction.

Plot
K9 watches as the STM activates and brings together a black hole and a white hole. As the two objects get desperately close to fusion, Starkey arrives and alerts Gryffen that it's happening again. Gryffen arrives with Darius and Jorjie as K9 warns that it is dangerous, very dangerous as Gryffen says. Meanwhile, in the Department's base at the Millenium Dome, Thorne walks in, excited. Gryffen decides their plan of action and tells Darius to go straight to June and tell her what's going on. When Darius asks why it's dangerous to use his Vid-com, K9 warns that the phenomenon has the potential to affect the entire planet and Gryffen adds that they cannot risk any chance of the news being intercepted. Darius leaves as K9 advises that they maintain a watch on the STM; if the two holes align, it will mean catastrophe and vigilance must be their priority. K9 receives a transmission and says he has to go, surprising everyone.When Jorjie asks why it's more important than protecting the world, K9 assures them that he should be back by Earth's deadline in 20 minutes. Starkey isn't sure but K9 warns him that what he has to do is a matter of life and death, his life and death, his regeneration unit.

K9 flies off to the Millenium dome and observes a non-functioning device similar to the STM. He is met by Thorne and his army of CCPCs. K9 states that Thorne cannot be surprised that he has come for his Regeneration unit after it has been activate. Thorne reveals that he summoned him here because he wants him to do him a favour. K9 refuses but Thorne informs him that the STM is a gateway and an invasion is about to occur. In Gryffen Manor, Starkey tries to contact K9 on vid-com but has no reply. It's the black and white holes aligning and if they meet, the world will be destroyed.

Thorne confirms to K9 that an invading army is massing on the other side of the galaxy. K9 asks how he knows about it, Thorne merely tells him that the Department has many sources at it's disposal. When K9 asks if the Department has a plan to stop the invasion, Thorne tells him that's where he comes in, that he needs him to stablise the gateway so they can launch a preemptive strike. K9 says it's impossible as such stability can only be achieved by a temporal stabiliser and Gryffen has the only one on the planet securely locked away. Thorne informs K9 that they have created a weapon, a supersoldier created from the DNA of every species they've encountered, from Jixen to Anubian to Meron, "you name it". K9 correctly assumes it has been implanted with the Regeneration unit, he asks for it back but Thorne says his small contribution to the weapon will save the planet. K9 argues that the weapon cannot work but Thorne says his cloak is working as he has been in the room all along, K9 tells him that he already detected him. Thorne introduces him to the gargantuan Project: Trojan, who has decloaked.

At the mansion, Gryffen confirms to Jorjie that the holes have become even closer. Starkey tries to convince him to use the temporal stabiliser though he says he can't as it's alien technology and they have no idea what it's capable of. When Jorjie says that they need K9, Gryffen becomes frustrated at the "mutt". Starkey says that they have to find him and can't wait, Gryffen warns it is too dangerous as K9's last know location was the Millenium dome when communications went down. Starkey tells them they can get him as they've dealed with dangerous situations before, Gryffen warns that this is bigger than all of them by a considerable margin. Jorjie assures him they will be even more careful than normal, by a considerable margin as Starkey adds. They leave as Gryffen tells them to stay safe and that he is fond of them all.

At the dome, K9 confronts Trojan and tells him to give him his regeneration unit, it simply exhales it's foul breath making K9 suggest to Thorne that he incorperates breathmint DNA. K9 fires at Trojan but it's is shield knocks him back, Thorne reminds K9 of the Jixen's ability to reflect and enhance photon beams which has been incorperated into Trojan. At the Department Research Division, Darius finds June who has been demoted to a constable after disobeying Lomax's orders. Starkey and Jorjie observe all the CCPCs heading towards the dome, Starkey determines that something big is going on as Jorjie guesses that K9 is involved. Inside the dome, K9 cannot move as his mobility circuits aren't responding. K9 finds that remote connection is in progress as he is wired up to a cryo pod, K9 asks Thorne to what, he simply tells him that he'll see. He notes the reprogramming should be kicking in and he's taken to the connection very well. The remote connection is complete and space time portal generation in the gateway commences.

At the mansion, Gryffen finds that the portal is exporting energy. K9 finds that the portal's gravitational forces are dangerous, Thorne tells him that being sucked in is not what the planet should be worrying about, rather what's going to be coming through it. Starkey and Jorjie follow the CCPCs to K9 inside the dome, when Jorjie says K9 could be anywhere due to the massive size of the dome, they confirm that something big is happening. Starkey decides to move on but is stopped by Jorjie, who reminds him of what Gryffen said about being fond. Jorjie and Starkey prepare to kiss but run away as they are pursued by CCPCs. K9 tells Thorne that he fails to understand why opening a larger portal will prevent an invasion noting that it makes the arrival of an invading army even easier, determining that Thorne is working with the invaders. Thorne confirms this, K9 tells him that he has warned that the portal is too unstable transfer such a force, Thorne however argues that that's where Gryffen comes in. K9 argues that Gryffen would never do that, Thorne asks not even to save his planet.

At the mansion, Gryffen tries to contact everyone but doesn't recieve a reply, he refuses to let his planet be destroyed and takes the temporal stabiliser out of a safe, he prepares to use it. At the Research Division, June finds it hard to believe what Darius is saying as her intelligence division would know about it, though Darius tells her that Department and Intelligence aren't two words that go together usually. Their conversation is interrupted by two CCPCs saying that Department personnel no longer have any authority, June asks on whose orders, the CCPC tells her it's classified stating that they are to subjugate all humans. June goes and grabs something she guesses the CCPCs probably want, a large gun, which she uses to destroy them. June and Darius peek out of her office and escape as the CCPCs are occupied restraining all humans.

At the dome, Starkey and Jorjie find K9 with Thorne waiting for them. When Jorjie is disgusted at the "demonbreath", Starkey is shocked to find it's source, the decloaking Trojan. As K9 apologises to Starkey, Starkey asks Thorne what he has done to him. Thorne tells him he's been put to good use and that they're about to recieve company. Not unless Gryffen uses the stabiliser as K9 argues, Thorne says that if he doesn't the entire planet will dissapear in 30 seconds and Gryffen is predictable. Gryffen uses the temporal stabiliser, believing it's safe now, but gets a nasty surprise when the STM fluctuates. K9 warns maximum danger as the invaders are revealed as they arrive, they are the Korven. As the vanguard of four arrive, they announce that the claim the planet in the name of the supreme leader of the pan-dimensional army, Lomax. Thorne informs Lomax that the prototype for the supersoldier is ready. Jorjie asks Thorne how he could do this, as he's betraying his entire planet. As he changes his hand into a that of a Meron, he reveals that he isn't strictly from this planet. He explains that the Korven implanted Meron DNA in him. Lomax says that the Korven were the Meron's allies in the war against the Jixen, just as Jixey told Starkey. He goes on to say that they needed an ally on Earth to prepare the way for them. Starkey says it must have took a lot of convincing, Thorne tells him that he's always made it a policy to be on the winning side, and the Korven are the winning side.

At the mansion, Gryffen asks himself what has he done, but then asks the correct question of what he's going to do now. As June and Darius run, June decides to go to the mansion thinking Jorjie is there. Gryffen records a message in the event he doesn't succeed, stating that his friends are in terrible danger and he hasn't been able to contact them. He says that he believes that he is their only hope of survival, along with that of the entire human race, him, the agoraphobic, reclusive shut-in. He says that this video means that he didn't just sit here in the house as he has done for so long, that Alistair Gryffen finally stood up and did something. Not just sitting where he is, Gryffen is at the bottom and there's no way to go than up, and out, as he finally leaves his house with determination.

Back at the dome, Lomax evaluates that K9 is not fit for battle. Starkey says he could be if he is let free from the pod, Thorne tells him that K9 wouldn't hurt a human. He says the Korven weren't able to reprogram him to eliminate Jixey and Gryffen. Starkey asks why they'd want to kill Gryffen, Lomax explains that he was the only one that could prevent the invasion, surprising Jorjie. Thorne explains that he knows the code to terminate the portal permenantly but as it's a voice activated code he'd have to be here to say it in person, noting how low the chances are of that happening just as Gryffen races to the dome. Lomax announces the army's arrival is imminent and orders his guards to prepare. Jorjie and Starkey go to K9, Starkey asks him if he can terminate the program, K9 tells him that the Korven override program is too strong. He says the only possibility is to get a message to Gryffen to use the portal termination code. Although all communications are down, K9 is connected to the STM, a signal connected to the mansion and by using his communication unit a message can be sent back.

Starkey tries to contact Gryffen, but he doesn't reply as he isn't in the mansion. Darius and June arrive in the mansion and hear Starkey transmitting. Thorne says that even if he got through, Gryffen would never terminate the STM as without it he'd never see his family. When Thorne asks what were they names, Gryffen reveals himself above the stairs when he answers their names, he then recites the greek letters "Omega, Sigma, Theta, Ohm". Thorne doesn't recall the last four names and asks if they were pets, Gryffen reveals to Thorne that that's the voice activated termination code. As the portal activates in the mansion, Darius pulls June back as K9's remote link is severed. Gryffen tells Starkey and Jorjie to get down as Lomax and the Korven are sucked into the portal and destroyed as it explodes.

When Gryffen notes the STM is gone, Thorne warns him that he's meddled for the last time and tells Trojan to kill them all. Trojan decloaks and throws K9 away, Starkey tells K9 to fire but his visual sensors are incapacitated. When Jorjie reminds Starkey of Trojan's breath, Starkey tells K9 to follow his nose. K9 switches to olfactory sensors and fires at Trojan. Thorne orders Trojan to finish K9 as his power levels lower to 5%, he tries to fire but fails. Jorjie tells K9 to fire but he cannot comply, he then lets out a wailing sound. Thorne is amused thinking he is crying but as Gryffen reveals to him, he isn't crying, he's shrieking the Jixen battle shriek. Gryffen and Starkey explaining he's calling the Jixen to do battle against the Meron. Trojan becomes a creature at war with itself as it's Jixen and Meron DNA fight each other. Starkey and Jorjie tend to K9 when he doesn't reply. Thorne tells them to not think they've seen the last of him but Jorjie alerts him to Trojan, Thorne looks on in horror in his final moments before Trojan collapses on him, Gryffen averts his eyes as Thorne is crushed to death.

Back at the mansion, June and Darius, who is ontop of June, regain conciousness. Darius helps her up, after they check if that they are alright, June thanks Darius for saving her life. Darius insists it's just what he does but June says there is something more to him than that and if the Department survives, she can use someone like him in her ranks. Jorjie arrives and June is grateful that she is alright, she then sees that she is tearful. The team stand in the STM room looking on at K9, Gryffen regretfully tells them there's nothing he can do, Starkey and Darius doubt it but Gryffen explains that K9 exhausted his core energy. When Jorjie notes how he protected them, Starkey compares it to when he first came here. Gryffen sadly states the difference this time is that he doesn't have his regeneration unit. Gryffen tells them he has but a few moments of power left, Darius argues that he can self-repair and has done it before but Gryffen tells him not this time. Gryffen and June leave the kids in peace with K9. Darius tells K9 that he's the coolest thing that has ever happened to him. Jorjie kneels down to K9 and reminds him about all those times she tried to teach him to have fun and how she's had a lot of fun since she met him.

Finally, Starkey goes to him and tells him that he's right in that he's not a dog, he's Starkey's best friend. He says how he used to think he was brave and he made him feel fearless, Starkey pulls K9's head up and tells him he's going to miss him. K9 remembers Starkey's first words to him and utters his final words, "yes, young master". Starkey takes off his coat and puts it over K9, as he stands up he finds the regeneration unit materialising in his hand, which immediately dissapears. After a short look for it, they notice a flicker of movement in K9. Starkey calls for K9, K9 pops out of the coat and affirms, wearing his original dog collar. Gryffen and June walk in, overjoyed along with the kids. He explains that his regeneration unit has homed back to him due to its programming. He tells them he feels frisky and flies up as the team observe him, delighted. Starkey asks him if he's back in business, K9 cheerfully replies "affirmative".

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
 * Thorne - Jared Robinsen
 * Lomax (voice) - Peter Kent
 * Lomax (body) - Matthew Reimer
 * CCPC - Josh Norbido
 * CCPC - Jason McNamara
 * CCPC - Eugen Bekafigo
 * CCPC - Michael Donnet
 * CCPC - Tyler Rostedt
 * CCPC - Jarod Grodecki

Production crew

 * Writer - Shayne Armstrong, S.P. Krause
 * Director - David Napier
 * 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 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

Story notes

 * Lomax is a Korven and Thorne is a Meron
 * The second and third Greek letters of Gryffen’s verbal deactivation code are sigma theta, a reversal of The Doctor’s Gallifreyan nickname, Theta Sigma. The fourth is "Ohm", which is "Who" (as in "Doctor Who") spelled backwards.
 * At the very end of the episode, K9 breaks the fourth wall by looking directly at the camera and saying "affirmative".

Ratings
to be added

Rumours

 * It was rumoured Lomax's identity would be revealed in this episode. This was true as he was revealed to be a Korven

Filming locations
to be added

Production errors
to be added

Continuity

 * The Merons first appeared in K9TV: Liberation.

Home video releases
This episode is featured in the Series One complete boxset.