Binary was the ninth story in the sixth series of The Companion Chronicles. It was produced by Big Finish Productions. It was written by Eddie Robson and featured Liz Shaw.
Publisher's summary[]
A damaged alien computer is being guarded by UNIT troops, but the soldiers simply vanish...
Usually the Brigadier would call in the Doctor — but on this occasion the Time Lord is being kept out of the loop. Instead, it's up to Elizabeth Shaw to oversee the project to repair this alien technology, and recover the missing men.
And then Liz vanishes too.
Trapped inside the machine, Liz faces a battle for survival against a lethal defence system. And this time, she must save the day without the Doctor at her side....
Plot[]
Part 1
After UNIT members Johnson and Atkins mysteriously vanished, Corporal Foster arrives to assist Dr. Elizabeth Shaw. During a lab test, Foster disappears while reaching for a pair of clippers. Minutes later, Sergeant Andrew Childs—a computer expert assigned to the task—arrives. Dr. Shaw briefs him on the recent disappearances of UNIT personnel inside the laboratory.
When Dr. Shaw establishes communication with the alien computer, both she and Childs are pulled into its digital realm (represented in binary). From the outside, the Doctor attempts to contact Dr. Shaw, explaining that a force field is preventing him from entering. Meanwhile, inside the computer, Childs and Shaw suspect the missing UNIT members are still alive but may have been driven mad. The Doctor later confirms that the UNIT personnel are indeed trapped within the system and advises them to reach the upper maintenance ducts.
On their way, they discover what appears to be Johnson’s brutally beaten corpse. Dr. Shaw recognizes him from a conference a few months prior. Sergeant Childs suggests Atkins, driven to madness, may be responsible—but Shaw dismisses this, pointing out that only 48 hours have passed. As they press forward, distant noises escalate into monstrous roars, forcing Shaw and Childs to flee.
Part 2
While escaping, Dr. Shaw and Sergeant Childs debate whether they might encounter more creatures. Childs repeatedly insists they must repair the computer. The Doctor transmits another message, confirming he can pinpoint their location but warning that there may be no other survivors.
After persistent urging, Childs convinces Shaw to telepathically request the computer’s release—but the system responds with "Errors." They realize the machine requires its maintenance system to be restored before recovery is possible. Though Shaw empathizes with Childs’ insistence, she distrusts the Kenbaki computer’s capabilities, even if repairing it means sacrificing their lives.
Upon reaching the top level, they hear more roars, signaling nearby creatures. Forced to descend, Liz reminds Childs they must stick to the plan and return to the upper level. He suggests instructing the computer to generate a maintenance tunnel and seal it behind them to block the creatures.
The tunnel leads them to a foul-smelling room—a stench Childs initially denies but then pretends to notice. Inside, they discover the creatures are actually organic antibodies (or antivirus programs) generated in the computer’s diagnostics section. A glitch causes them to spawn and decay instantly, explaining the rot. Again, Childs pushes for repairs, but Shaw refuses, fearing worse consequences. She challenges him to fix it himself, but he claims his injured hands prevent him.
Suspicious, Shaw tests Childs by tossing a pencil—which passes straight through him, revealing he is merely a projection. The alien computer has been manipulating Shaw into performing repairs it cannot execute itself.
The computer threatens Shaw, summoning more creatures when she refuses to comply. She defiantly asserts that the Doctor—or UNIT with their gadgets—will rescue her. The projection vanishes, warning that it will now target the "real" computer expert UNIT was supposed to send. Suddenly, Corporal Foster appears.
Shaw explains to Foster that they’ve been miniaturized and deceived into repairing the computer. They find Atkins’ body, confirming no other survivors remain inside. Shaw relays another message from the Doctor, who admits he still cannot access the system. Their options: locate and destroy the force field generator, or sabotage the entire computer from within—risking electrical surges or fire. Either way, if the computer restores itself, the consequences could be catastrophic.
Guided by Foster, they reach the processing core and retrieve cooling pipes. When Shaw urges Foster to take one, he refuses, opting instead to watch for creatures. Suspicious, Shaw wonders why Childs isn’t present to stop her from destroying the system. She throws a pipe at Foster—only for it to phase through him, exposing another projection.
This time, "Foster" reveals itself as the fail-safe mechanism, originally designed to destroy the computer before its technology could be seized by enemies (like UNIT). Earlier, Shaw had disabled it under Childs’ influence. The fail-safe threatens Shaw, having herded creatures behind a door to force her hand.
Risking everything, Shaw communicates with the drones (creatures), offering to repair the maintenance system in exchange for ending their suffering. The Foster projection attempts to dissuade her with warnings of Earth’s destruction, but Shaw commands the drones to deactivate the fail-safe.
Finally free to choose, Shaw spares the computer. Childs’ projection reappears, and they reflect on how the Kenbaki never gave the computer a choice—until now. The system agrees to leave Earth and seek a physical form. Shaw declines its offer to accompany it, affirming her loyalty to UNIT. She muses whether the Doctor will still work with her after letting the computer escape, arguing they’ve freed a slave.
Restored to her original size, Dr. Shaw bids the computer farewell—but a lingering worry remains: What if it returns to subjugate humanity?
Cast[]
Crew[]
- Cover Art - Iain Robertson
- Director - Lisa Bowerman
- Executive Producers - Nicholas Briggs and Jason Haigh-Ellery
- Music and Sound Design - Thea Cochrane
- Producer - David Richardson
- Script Editor - Jacqueline Rayner
- Writer - Eddie Robson
Worldbuilding[]
to be added
Notes[]
- This audio drama was recorded on 10 November 2010 at the Moat Studios.
- This story was told from Liz's perspective.
- This story is set between Inferno and Terror of the Autons.
- This was the last story featuring Caroline John to be released in her lifetime with her final story, The Last Post, being released posthumously.
Continuity[]
- Liz is fed up working for UNIT and has decided to leave and continue her work in Cambridge as soon as she can. (TV: Terror of the Autons, PROSE: The Scales of Injustice)
External links[]
- Official Binary page at bigfinish.com
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