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{{Infobox Story SMW
{{Infobox Other Short Story|
|image         = DWF4b Sycorax.jpg
story name=The Final Darkness|
|series         = ''[[Doctor Who Files]]''
image=[[File:DWF4b Sycorax.jpg|250px]]|
|main character = [[Sycorax scribe]]
series=[[Doctor Who Files]]|
|featuring     = Tenth Doctor
main character=[[Sycorax]]|
|featuring2    = Rose Tyler
featuring=|
|featuring3    = Mickey Smith
year=|
|featuring4    = Harriet Jones
writer=[[Stephen Cole]]|
|setting        = [[Sycorax spaceship]], [[2006]]
publication=[[Doctor Who Files 4: The Sycorax|4: The Sycorax]]|
|writer        = Stephen Cole
previous story=[[No Fun at the Fair]]|
|anthology      = Doctor Who Files 4: The Sycorax
next story=[[Taking Mickey]]|
|prev          = No Fun at the Fair (short story)
|}}
|next           = Taking Mickey (short story)
|reprint        = Heroes and Monsters Collection
|series2        = ''[[Heroes and Monsters Collection]]''
|prev2          = Stamp of Approval (short story)
|next2          = No Fun at the Fair (short story)
|release date  = 8 June 2006
}}
{{prose stub}}
'''''The Final Darkness''''' was a story featured in ''[[Doctor Who Files 4: The Sycorax]]''. It was written by [[Stephen Cole]].


== Summary ==
== Summary ==
A translation is provided by [[UNIT]] Alien-English software of a Journal of the ([[Sycorax]]) Ship’s Scribe (whose duty it is to record a journal of the ships events). The journal recounts how the Sycorax were first made aware of the planet Earth through its probes that it sent out into “the darkness between the stars” (space). The Mars probe sent in 2006 intercepted by the Sycorax confirmed the presence of “soft, primitive, fleshy cattle” that could be sold for slaves and precious minerals within the planet that could be plundered – along with human blood samples which their shamen (who practised the forbidden arts of Astrophia) could use to exercise blood control over one third of the cattle, encouraging them into an easy surrender and submission – before being humiliated with the reveal that it was no more than a trick!
A translation is provided by [[UNIT United Kingdom|UNIT]] Alien-English software of a journal of the [[Sycorax spaceship|Sycorax ship]]'s [[Sycorax scribe|scribe]] (whose duty it is to record a journal of the ship's events).
Bringing aboard the cattle’s leader (a woman (Harriet Jones]]) to the Sycorax ship where, as a tribe, the Sycorax seek to scare the defiant cattle in the Hall of War Pacts into agreeing surrender the Sycorax smile. Until that is they detect foreign machinery on the planet which is quickly teleported on board. It is a wooden box, that also brings with it a yellow girl ([[Rose Tyler]]) who amuses the Sycorax with her “borrowed words”, and a dark boy ([[Tenth Doctor|The Doctor]]). The Sycorax stop laughing when the dark boy whose rank is ‘Doctor’, breaks their leader’s Staff of Helkaac-ak-ac before freeing the cattle of the influence of the blood control. It is a first for the Sycorax when this Doctor invokes the sanctified rules of combat and stands as the Champion of the Earth against their leader. Oh the sport thinks the Sycorax as they watch the fight, their leader forcing the Doctor back wards like a lowly dalskaak, back wards out onto the wing of the ship where with a masterful stroke the Sycorax slices the Doctor’s hand off! And then there is the “stab of purest fear” that the scribe has not felt since he was “first torn as a pup from the belly of (his) father and thrown to the snake baths of Hennteck” as they witness the Doctor grow another hand – true witchcraft. Renewed, the Doctor turns the fight and the Sycorak leader is forced to the edge, forced to promise to leave the Earth and never to return, until the Doctor’s back is turned and the Sycorax tries another strike. Without even looking this Doctor triggered the kojux-flap in the wing of the ship and the leader plummets to the ground miles below….. Bound by the ancient rites of combat, blood charms broken and leaderless, the Sycorax ship leaves the Earth to return to the Sycorax Armada but that is not all. These human cattle are treacherous; more foreign machinery is detected on the planet, Sycorax sensors detect a destructive energy beam heading towards them from which they cannot escape. Defiantly the Sycorax hope the armada will sent their blood as their final words is the Sycorax chant: “SYCORAX STRONG! SYCORAX MIGHTY! SYCORAX ……”
 
The journal recounts how the [[Sycorax]] were first made aware of the [[planet]] [[Earth]] through its probes that it sent out into "the darkness between the stars" (space). Signals intercepted by the Sycorax confirm the presence of "soft and fleshy and primitive" people who call themselves [[human]]s. The [[Sycorax world-seer]] reports to the [[Sycorax leader]] that he senses metals and minerals beneath the planet's surface, while the leader believes that the slave traders could pay well for supplies of "human cattle". After the ship enters the [[solar system]], it swallows a probe near the [[Mars|red planet]]. Studying the probe, the Sycorax find human blood samples which their "shamen" [sic] (who practised the forbidden arts of [[Astrophia]]) could use to exercise [[blood control]] over one third of the cattle, encouraging them into an easy surrender and submission, despite it not being able to kill even "stupid human cattle", only compel them stand at the top of high buildings.
 
The Sycorax bring aboard the cattle's skinny woman leader ([[Harriet Jones]]), and her wise men ([[Daniel Llewellyn]] and [[Alex (The Christmas Invasion)|Alex]]) and chief warrior (Major [[Blake (The Christmas Invasion)|Blake]]), to the ship's [[Hall of War Pacts]], where all of the Sycorax have gathered to scare the cattle. The leader kills one of the wise men for wanting compassion, along with the dark warrior. The leader tells the skinny woman to surrender half of her people to be slaves, or watch as a third of the blood controlled humans die. Foreign machinery on the planet Earth is detected which is quickly teleported on board. It is a "clever" blue wooden box, ([[The Doctor's TARDIS|the TARDIS]]) that also brings with it a yellow girl ([[Rose Tyler]]), who amuses the Sycorax with her "stolen words", and a dark boy ([[Mickey Smith]]). The Sycorax stop laughing when a stranger, whose rank is "Doctor" (the [[Tenth Doctor]]), emerges from the doors of the box, and breaks their leader's Staff of Helkaac-ak-ac before freeing the cattle of the influence of the blood control.
 
It is a first for the Sycorax when this Doctor invokes the sanctified rules of combat and stands as the Champion of the Earth against their leader. "Oh the sport," thinks the scribe while watching the fight, their leader forcing the Doctor backwards like a lowly [[dalskaak]], backwards out onto the wing of the ship where with a masterful stroke the leader slices the Doctor's hand off! And then there is the "stab of purest fear" that the scribe has not felt since he was "first torn as a pup from the belly of [his] father and thrown to the snake baths of Hennteck" as they witness the Doctor grow another hand – true witchcraft.
 
Renewed, the Doctor turns the fight and the Sycorax leader is forced to the edge, forced to promise to leave the Earth and never to return, until the Doctor's back is turned and the Sycorax tries another strike. Without even looking this Doctor triggered the kojux-flap in the wing of the ship and the leader plummets to the ground miles below.
 
Bound by the ancient rites of combat, blood charms broken and leaderless, the Sycorax ship leaves the Earth to return to the Sycorax Armada but that is not all. These human cattle are treacherous; more foreign machinery is detected on the planet. Sycorax sensors detect a destructive energy beam heading towards them from which they cannot escape. Defiantly the scribe bellows that Sycorax shall "fill the darkness with our blood, with our curse, with our hate, with our vengeance", and that the armada shall scent their blood and be drawn to Earth as the Sycorax all chant: "Sycorax strong! Sycorax mighty! Sycorax ..."


== Characters ==
== Characters ==
* [[Sycorax]]
* [[Sycorax scribe]]
* [[Sycorax world-seer]]
* [[Sycorax leader]]
* [[Tenth Doctor]]
* [[Tenth Doctor]]
* [[Rose Tyler]]
* [[Rose Tyler]]
* [[Mickey Smith]]
* [[Mickey Smith]]
* [[Harriet Jones]]
* [[Harriet Jones]]
* [[Daniel Llewellyn]]
* [[Alex (The Christmas Invasion)|Alex]]
* Major [[Blake (The Christmas Invasion)|Blake]]


== References ==
== Worldbuilding ==
* This story depicts the events of ''[[The Christmas Invasion]]'' from the [[Sycorax|Sycorax's]] viewpoint
* Sycorax terminology;
* Sycorax terminology;
: ''Kiskfaa'' – unit of distance (e.g. five kiskfaa above the red planet)
: ''[[Kiskfaa]]'' – unit of distance (one kiskfaa seems to be equal to a 1000 miles)
: ''Slinkjaak'' – one of the Sycorax trade rewards along with goods and money.
: ''[[Slinkjaak]]'' – one of the Sycorax trade rewards along with goods and money
: ''Kojux-flap'' – name of the small panel on the ships exterior that the Doctor threw a Satsuma at which resulted to the Sycorax Leader plummeting to the ground.
: ''[[Kojux-flap]]'' – name of the small panel on the ship's exterior
 
* According to the ship’s scribe, Sycorax birthing ritual involving the young Sycorax pup being torn from their Father’s belly before being thrown to the snake baths of Hennteck.


== Notes ==
== Notes ==
* The original short prose fiction featured in the [[Doctor Who Files]] series of hardbacks from [[BBC Children's Books]] was officially sanctioned by the Doctor Who production office.
* The original short prose fiction featured in the ''[[Doctor Who Files]]'' series of hardbacks from [[BBC Children's Books]] was officially sanctioned by the ''Doctor Who'' production office.
* This story depicts the events of ''[[The Christmas Invasion (TV story)|The Christmas Invasion]]'' from the [[Sycorax]]'s point of view.


== Continuity ==
== Continuity ==
''to be added''
''to be added''


 
{{DWF}}
 
{{Heroes and Monsters Collection}}
{{prose stub}}
{{Sycorax stories}}
{{TitleSort}}
{{TitleSort}}


[[Category:DWF short stories|Final Darkness]]
[[Category:DWF short stories]]
[[Category:Sycorax stories]]
[[Category:Sycorax short stories]]
[[Category:Tenth Doctor short stories]]
[[Category:Tenth Doctor short stories]]
[[Category:2006 short stories]]
[[Category:Stories set in 2006]]
[[Category:Heroes and Monsters Collection short stories]]

Latest revision as of 20:01, 9 November 2023

RealWorld.png

prose stub

The Final Darkness was a story featured in Doctor Who Files 4: The Sycorax. It was written by Stephen Cole.

Summary[[edit] | [edit source]]

A translation is provided by UNIT Alien-English software of a journal of the Sycorax ship's scribe (whose duty it is to record a journal of the ship's events).

The journal recounts how the Sycorax were first made aware of the planet Earth through its probes that it sent out into "the darkness between the stars" (space). Signals intercepted by the Sycorax confirm the presence of "soft and fleshy and primitive" people who call themselves humans. The Sycorax world-seer reports to the Sycorax leader that he senses metals and minerals beneath the planet's surface, while the leader believes that the slave traders could pay well for supplies of "human cattle". After the ship enters the solar system, it swallows a probe near the red planet. Studying the probe, the Sycorax find human blood samples which their "shamen" [sic] (who practised the forbidden arts of Astrophia) could use to exercise blood control over one third of the cattle, encouraging them into an easy surrender and submission, despite it not being able to kill even "stupid human cattle", only compel them stand at the top of high buildings.

The Sycorax bring aboard the cattle's skinny woman leader (Harriet Jones), and her wise men (Daniel Llewellyn and Alex) and chief warrior (Major Blake), to the ship's Hall of War Pacts, where all of the Sycorax have gathered to scare the cattle. The leader kills one of the wise men for wanting compassion, along with the dark warrior. The leader tells the skinny woman to surrender half of her people to be slaves, or watch as a third of the blood controlled humans die. Foreign machinery on the planet Earth is detected which is quickly teleported on board. It is a "clever" blue wooden box, (the TARDIS) that also brings with it a yellow girl (Rose Tyler), who amuses the Sycorax with her "stolen words", and a dark boy (Mickey Smith). The Sycorax stop laughing when a stranger, whose rank is "Doctor" (the Tenth Doctor), emerges from the doors of the box, and breaks their leader's Staff of Helkaac-ak-ac before freeing the cattle of the influence of the blood control.

It is a first for the Sycorax when this Doctor invokes the sanctified rules of combat and stands as the Champion of the Earth against their leader. "Oh the sport," thinks the scribe while watching the fight, their leader forcing the Doctor backwards like a lowly dalskaak, backwards out onto the wing of the ship where with a masterful stroke the leader slices the Doctor's hand off! And then there is the "stab of purest fear" that the scribe has not felt since he was "first torn as a pup from the belly of [his] father and thrown to the snake baths of Hennteck" as they witness the Doctor grow another hand – true witchcraft.

Renewed, the Doctor turns the fight and the Sycorax leader is forced to the edge, forced to promise to leave the Earth and never to return, until the Doctor's back is turned and the Sycorax tries another strike. Without even looking this Doctor triggered the kojux-flap in the wing of the ship and the leader plummets to the ground miles below.

Bound by the ancient rites of combat, blood charms broken and leaderless, the Sycorax ship leaves the Earth to return to the Sycorax Armada but that is not all. These human cattle are treacherous; more foreign machinery is detected on the planet. Sycorax sensors detect a destructive energy beam heading towards them from which they cannot escape. Defiantly the scribe bellows that Sycorax shall "fill the darkness with our blood, with our curse, with our hate, with our vengeance", and that the armada shall scent their blood and be drawn to Earth as the Sycorax all chant: "Sycorax strong! Sycorax mighty! Sycorax ..."

Characters[[edit] | [edit source]]

Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Sycorax terminology;
Kiskfaa – unit of distance (one kiskfaa seems to be equal to a 1000 miles)
Slinkjaak – one of the Sycorax trade rewards along with goods and money
Kojux-flap – name of the small panel on the ship's exterior

Notes[[edit] | [edit source]]

Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]

to be added

v • e
Doctor Who Files short stories
v • e
Heroes and Monsters Collection
v • e
Sycorax stories
For the purposes of this list, a "Sycorax story" is one in which one living, authentic Sycorax plays a part within the confines of the story, outside of flashbacks to previous stories and cliffhangers that lead into the following story. Stories like The Pandorica Opens and Revolution of the Daleks are also not included due to the Sycoraxs' cameos being of no consequence to the plot of the story.
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