Primeval (audio story)

 was the twenty-sixth monthly Doctor Who audio story produced by Big Finish Productions. It was notable for exploring the history of Nyssa's home planet of Traken and the wider Traken Union, and for being novelist Lance Parkin's first audio story.

Publisher's summary
Nyssa will die at dawn, and the Doctor doesn't even know why.

To save her life, he must make a desperate journey to the only place in the universe where a cure might exist to heal her.

When even that fails, the Doctor has a choice —­ let Nyssa die, or make a deal with the devil.

After all, the road to hell is paved with good intentions...

Plot
to be added

Cast

 * The Doctor - Peter Davison
 * Nyssa - Sarah Sutton
 * Shayla - Susan Penhaligon
 * Kwundaar - Stephen Greif
 * Sabian - Ian Hallard
 * Anona - Romy Tennant
 * Janneus - Rita Davies
 * Hyrca - Mark Woolgar
 * Narthex/Captain Kabe - Billy Miller
 * Etrayk - Alistair Lock

History

 * In this era, the Source exists, but there is no Keeper. In the distant past the people of Traken worshiped and were ruled by the entity known as Kwundaar, but rebelled against him and built the Source to drive him away.
 * As was the case with all of her people, Nyssa did not learn about Traken's history in her youth.

Individuals

 * What Kwundaar is is never explained, but he can see and manipulate events across time and space – he knows of Traken's eventual destruction. The Source's attack has left him burnt and deformed. He now dwells on a spaceship on the edge of its influence, waiting for a chance to retake control. Kwundaar tries to seize control of the Source by installing the source manipulator, leading to the installation of Shayla (and briefly the Doctor) as the first Keeper.
 * Nyssa does not know how to swim as she never had reason to swim before.

Continuity

 * This story portrays the planet Traken three thousand years before TV: The Keeper of Traken.
 * This story reveals that Nyssa's collapse in TV: Four to Doomsday and the telepathic powers which she demonstrates in TV: Time-Flight are the results of Kwundaar's manipulations. Seeking to regain control of the Source, Kwundaar needed to use a native of Traken who had left the union. He chose Nyssa. Ultimately, it is the Doctor that Kwundaar wants to use to destroy Traken.
 * Nyssa refers to Adric's death. (TV: Earthshock)
 * Nyssa had previously considered asking the Doctor to take her to Traken before its destruction on numerous occasions before she actually did so. (PROSE: Empire of Death)
 * Nyssa teaches Sabian the Charleston. She had herself been taught the dance by Tegan Jovanka while attending a party at Cranleigh Hall in Oxfordshire on 11 June 1925. (TV: Black Orchid)