The Moons of Vulpana (audio story)

 was the two hundred and fifty first story in Big Finish's monthly range. It was written by Emma Reeves and featured Sylvester McCoy as the Seventh Doctor and Jessica Martin as Mags.

Publisher's summary
The Doctor has returned Mags, formerly of the Psychic Circus, to her native world: Vulpana.

Not the savage Vulpana that Mags was taken from, but Vulpana in an earlier era. The Golden Millennium – when the Four Great Wolf Packs, each devoted to one of the planet's four moons, oversaw the height of Vulpanan civilisation. A time when the noblest families of the Vulpanan aristocracy found themselves in need of new blood...

A golden age that's about to come to a violent end!

Plot
Inside the TARDIS, Mags tells the Doctor to leave her alone as she struggles to stop her transformation in one of the TARDIS' hallways. The Doctor, meanwhile, uses a neutrino-powered sonic modulator to calm Mags down and stop her transformation.

Her and the Doctor argue about how to deal with her steadily uncontrollable transformations. After some back and forth, the Doctor reveals to Mags that they’re going to find a way to do it and they’ll start by returning to her home.

Mags reveals that her people were forced off Vulpana years ago. They took up all kinds of jobs in all kinds of places, often shady, like for a certain circus. Mags insists that there’s nothing left on Vulpana but the Doctor insists that she shouldn’t be so sure. He even recounts some Vulpanan history for her, and reveals that it was he who helped to settle the Coyote wars and was there at the coronation of the Golden-eyed Prince and Duchess Ironfang much to Mags’ shock.

The Doctor reveals that he has taken her back in time in Vulpanan history so Mags can find out. The TARDIS lands and they step out. Mags notes how beautiful the moon is and recalls she transforms under the second moon and how she was taken from Vulpana as a cub to that moon. The Doctor explains that they ought to find some other “second-mooners”, which he dubs Vulpanans born under the second moon, saying that they will accept Mags as they are likely to see her as family. He also notes that the ancient Vulpnanas were quite intelligent creatures.

Suddenly Mags notices someone approaching. They make a run for it but are chased by this strange creature. As they run, the Doctor points out that the creature chasing them doesn’t have a pack with them... until they realize that the rest of the pack are waiting straight ahead. The Doctor then uses the sonic modulator to put the Vulpanan wolves to sleep. However one of them seems to evade the sonic modulator and bites the Doctor’s leg. Mags then transforms into a werewolf and chases it away.

A young man and his mother and father hear Mags’ cry in the distance, noting that it must be a female based on the sound. They believe it is one of their own and race to go help Mags. Mags and the Vulpnan face off with each other. Mags warns the Doctor to run but he cannot as his leg is now injured. More arrive and swarm Mags, but she holds them off. Just then the other three Vulpnans arrive on horseback and the ones that had chased Mags and Doctor earlier all flee. They commend Mags and notes she is a pure-blooded Vulpanan, and ask her to return to her normal form, which she obliges. They reveal that their family name is called Benjer and that they are the leaders of the Second Moon pack and ask her to come back with them. She consents, introduces herself and turns around to introduce the Doctor, only to discover that he has become delirious from the bite. They also reveal that the ones who attacked them earlier are called “poachers”, described as vicious half-breed brutes by the family. They apparently have no regard for the moon and its cycles, and simply attack whenever they feel like it. They insist she bring her servant (the Doctor) so that their Doctor may treat him and although she insists the Doctor is not her subordinate, they pay no heed and argue over whom Mags will ride with. Instead, Mags demands she ride alone.

On the trip back, the woman reveals that the young men are her sons, that they are thorough-bred and unmarried. She reveals the importance of pure-blood heritage among the four Vulpanan tribes to a confused Mags. She introduces herself as Ulla, and her sons are Issak and Tob. She tells Mags that they are both alphas and as such would be very suitable husbands for her although she reccomends Issak since he is much stronger and dependable, while Tob is more handsome. When asked about her other son, Jaks, she merely replies that he is “smart”, but as an old-fashioned type, she says that thinking is better left to females while the males fight.

They arrive at castle Benjio. The sons continue to fight for Mags affection, but she is uninterested. Ulla has the servants come and fetch the Doctor but Mags insists at remaining with him, revealing that he is not from Vulpana, but a Timelord from Gallifrey. They insist that the Doctor will be well cared for by their Doctor and Ulla takes Mags to see her chambers.

The Doctor awakens to meet Dr. Barton. The Doctor explains what happened and accidentally insults Dr. Barton by using the term “werewolf”. The term is considered extremely offensive on Vulpana. The Doctor then asks if he is going to turn into a lycanthrope, to which Dr. Barton confirms that this is simply a fairy tale, and the bites do nothing other than hurt. In fact she has been performing tests on herself over the years only to find that they do nothing but give her a slight cold. When the Doctor asks why she would ever test this on herself, she explains it is so that she can become a pure-breed like her superiors. The Doctor is baffled, explaining that as doctors they must see everyone as equal, but Barton simply chides his fuddled assumptions.

Meanwhile, Issak and Tob continue fight over Mags attention. While they go to fetch Mags food, Jaks and Mags talk and he is amused, stating that he never imagined she would be so hunted, but she corrects him and says she does not consider herself a hunter, despite being, as they insist her to be, a pureblood. Mags asserts that she is neither a hunter nor hunted. Meanwhile the other brothers return and offer her food. Their offers are stifled as they continue to fight with each other for Mags attention. Mags herself is not impressed. Ulla orders Jaks to bring her some food but he declines. Mags offers to eat both dishes before things evolve out of hand, but the brothers then begin to argue whose she should eat first.

The Doctor attempts to go talk to Mags but Dr. Barton holds him to back, saying that he cannot go upstairs or he will ruin Mags’ chances of selecting a mate. She explains the esteem in which pure-bloods are held and that the reason the boys upstairs are so keen to marry Mags is because the pure-bloods are dying out. The Doctor questions Dr. Barton’s beliefs, demanding to know if she really thinks her life would have been better had she been born with the right hair or teeth. Dr. Barton confirms this and says she would have given anything to be born one. The Doctor counters her by saying that she shouldn’t be concerned with the constant fighting of inbred aristocrats. He then asks her to take him outside so he can better observe the moons.

Mags has some fun with the brothers and shows the brothers some card tricks. However, their mother comes and warns them to save some tricks for tomorrow when it will be a full moon. As it transpires, they will be holding the celebration and esteemed Vulpananas from near and far of the four great tribes will be in attendance. They tell Mags that they intend to have her as the guest of honour.

The Doctor observes the four moons of Vulpana and quotes some Vulpanan poetry. Barton thanks him for reminding her of how beautiful their planet is sometimes and that they forget how lucky they are. The Doctor then explains that although he can’t quite figure it out, something is wrong on Vulpana. Dr. Barton insists that he is delirious but he remains steadfast, reiterating that there is something wrong with the moons. Dr. Barton decides to return to the castle to look at the Doctor’s blood samples.

The boys passively argue who will dance first with Mags. She reveals that all the bending and twisting moves she learnt were from with her time with the Psychic Circus and that she has no idea how to dance. Mags is surprised to learn of the family’s supportive attitude about a young female Vulpanan travelling, only for Ulla to reiterate that it makes for a better wife and that travelling helps to broaden the mind before settling down. Jaks laughs at this and the two accuse him of disrespecting Mags. He assures them he meant none but the brothers prepare to fight him. Jaks simply says that he knows the two could beat him in a fight but questions them about what that would achieve. The brothers, united in disapproval, say that at least they would win. Mags calms the situation down before it escalates. She asks Jaks why he has such a problem with his family’s traditions, to which he retorts that since she has been off-world and toured the galaxy, she should clearly know. He continues by explaining that he is disgusted with their traditions of hunting and senselessly killing and says that they should kill only to eat, not for the sport that they hold in such high regard. Ulla says that it is fine if people from other worlds judge them as long as they leave the alone to live their way of life. They ask Mags for her opinion and she says that both arguments have their merits and abruptly excuses herself to go check on the Doctor.

The Doctor and Mags meet outside. He asks if she’s ready to move on since they’ve seen what they came to see. Mags, however, wants to stay for the festival tomorrow though. The Doctor claims he doesn’t like the look of the sky but reluctantly agrees to stay one more day. Mags sniffs out a dangerous scent which she believes is located at the clock tower but it disappears almost immediately. Although a little startled, the Doctor assures her it’s fine and she goes back inside. The Doctor comments to himself about the almost perfect alignment of the moons. Just then, Dr. Barton steps out and starts walking towards him. The Doctor cordially greets her, but realizes in a panic that she is snarling and brandishing a knife which she flashes at the Doctor....

Cast

 * The Doctor - Sylvester McCoy
 * Mags - Jessica Martin
 * Ulla - Nimmy March
 * Issak - Peter Bankole
 * Jaks - Irfan Shamji
 * Tob - Sean Knopp
 * Barton - Beth Goddard

Food

 * The family eat Boar's head and entrails

Continuity

 * The Doctor previously visited Vulpana. (COMIC: Hill of Beans)
 * When the Doctor meets Dr. Barton, she tells him that she was told he is also a doctor. The Doctor corrects her by saying that no, he is THE Doctor and comments to himself that they never seem to get that right. The Fourth Doctor made a similar comment to Harry Sullivan upon awakening from his regeneration. (TV: Robot)