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{{Infobox Story | {{Infobox Story SMW | ||
| | |range = The Sixth Doctor: The Last Adventure | ||
|number in range = 4 | |||
|anthology | |audio anthology = The Sixth Doctor: The Last Adventure | ||
|number = 4 | |number = 4 | ||
|doctor = Sixth Doctor | |doctor = Sixth Doctor | ||
|companions = [[Melanie Bush|Mel]], [[Genesta]] | |companions = [[Melanie Bush|Mel]], [[Genesta]] | ||
|featuring = [[Seventh Doctor]] | |||
|enemy = [[The Valeyard]] | |enemy = [[The Valeyard]] | ||
|setting = [[The Matrix]]; [[Space Station Zenobia|Celestial Intervention Agency Space Station]] | |setting = [[The Matrix]]; [[Space Station Zenobia|Celestial Intervention Agency Space Station]] | ||
|writer = | |writer = Nicholas Briggs | ||
|director = [[ | |director = Nicholas Briggs | ||
|producer = [[David Richardson]] | |||
|music = [[Howard Carter (composer)|Howard Carter]] | |music = [[Howard Carter (composer)|Howard Carter]] | ||
|sound = | |sound = Howard Carter | ||
|publisher = Big Finish Productions | |publisher = Big Finish Productions | ||
|release date = 17 August 2015 | |||
|release date = | |format = 1 CD<br/>Download<br/>4th of 4 stories | ||
|format = 1 | |production code = BFPDW6RD01 | ||
|production code = | |isbn = ISBN 978-1-78178-575-1 | ||
|isbn = | |series = ''[[The Sixth Doctor Adventures]]'' | ||
|prev = Stage Fright (audio story) | |prev = Stage Fright (audio story) | ||
|next = The Headless Ones (audio story) | |||
|epcount = 1 | |||
}} | }} | ||
'''''{{StoryTitle}}''''' was the fourth and final story in the audio anthology ''[[The Sixth Doctor: The Last Adventure]]'', produced by [[Big Finish Productions]]. It was written by [[Nicholas Briggs]] and featured [[Colin Baker]] as the [[Sixth Doctor]] | '''''{{StoryTitle}}''''' was the fourth and final story in the audio anthology ''[[The Sixth Doctor: The Last Adventure]]'', produced by [[Big Finish Productions]]. It was written by [[Nicholas Briggs]] and featured [[Colin Baker]] as the [[Sixth Doctor]], [[Bonnie Langford]] as [[Melanie Bush]], [[Michael Jayston]] as [[The Valeyard]] and [[Sylvester McCoy]] as the [[Seventh Doctor]]. | ||
It serves as the final chronological story for the Sixth Doctor played by Colin Baker, filling in a critical missing piece of the Doctor's existence and leading directly into the [[1987 (releases)|1987]] television story ''[[Time and the Rani (TV story)|Time and the Rani]]''. | It serves as the final chronological story for the Sixth Doctor played by Colin Baker, filling in a critical missing piece of the Doctor's existence and leading directly into the [[1987 (releases)|1987]] television story ''[[Time and the Rani (TV story)|Time and the Rani]]''. | ||
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== Plot == | == Plot == | ||
[[File:The Brink of Death.jpg|thumb|"''At last...''"]] | [[File:The Brink of Death.jpg|thumb|"''At last...''"]] | ||
[[Melanie Bush|Mel]], riding a battery-powered vehicle comparable to a skimmer, is attempting to escape a group of flying lizards. Trying to contact [[Sixth Doctor|the Doctor]] through the vehicle's communication device, Mel is only able to get a couple of garbled messages from him. The lizards are able to get a hit on the vehicle's engines, causing its battery to start dying, which enables to catch even more up to Mel. The Doctor, unable to teleport Mel back to the [[The Doctor's TARDIS|TARDIS]], instead teleports himself | [[Melanie Bush|Mel]], riding a battery-powered vehicle comparable to a skimmer, is attempting to escape a group of flying lizards. Trying to contact [[Sixth Doctor|the Doctor]] through the vehicle's communication device, Mel is only able to get a couple of garbled messages from him. The lizards are able to get a hit on the vehicle's engines, causing its battery to start dying, which enables them to catch even more up to Mel. The Doctor, unable to teleport Mel back to the [[The Doctor's TARDIS|TARDIS]], instead teleports himself into the cockpit of the vehicle and then sets off the ejector seats, which he uses as retrorockets to land him and Mel safely next to the parked TARDIS. Mel asks him if that was also part of the plan, but the Doctor admits that it was more luck than anything else. The two then promptly leave the dangerous world. | ||
Mel says that that planet didn't live up to the picture the Doctor had painted of it, as a place with computer science and sea-side resorts. The Doctor reminds her that at least it was better than the deadly radiation they were able to avoid in the [[Lakertyan System]]. Mel points out that the Doctor still brought them to the wrong planet: They were going to [[Zastros 8]] but ended up on [[Zastros 9]], to which the Doctor replies that the TARDIS has been acting much more strange than usually of lately. As if on cue, sparks and smoke start coming up from under the console, and the Doctor tells Mel he will go below and take a look at it. Just after the Doctor has disappeared from view, a strangle sound comes from beneath the console, and Mel asks the Doctor if he is alright. But instead of the Doctor it is [[the Valeyard]] who comes back up, and he | Mel says that that planet didn't live up to the picture the Doctor had painted of it, as a place with computer science and sea-side resorts. The Doctor reminds her that at least it was better than the deadly radiation they were able to avoid in the [[Lakertyan System]]. Mel points out that the Doctor still brought them to the wrong planet: They were going to [[Zastros 8]] but ended up on [[Zastros 9]], to which the Doctor replies that the TARDIS has been acting much more strange than usually of lately. As if on cue, sparks and smoke start coming up from under the console, and the Doctor tells Mel he will go below and take a look at it. Just after the Doctor has disappeared from view, a strangle sound comes from beneath the console, and Mel asks the Doctor if he is alright. But instead of the Doctor it is [[the Valeyard]] who comes back up, and he assures Mel that he is "just fine". Mel stares stunned at him, prompting him to ask if anything is wrong with her. Mel, slightly confused, says that she felt like she was having a headache for a moment, but she is alright now. Mel then addresses the Valeyard as "Doctor" and asks him where they are going now as if he had always been there. "Where indeed," asks the Valeyard, "when all of space and time is our oyster?" He then laughs in triumph. | ||
Meanwhile, the Doctor finds himself somewhere dark, empty, and cold. He calls out, first for Mel then anyone at all, but finds out that, wherever he is, he is utterly alone. | Meanwhile, the Doctor finds himself somewhere dark, empty, and cold. He calls out, first for Mel then anyone at all, but finds out that, wherever he is, he is utterly alone. | ||
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Meanwhile, the Valeyard has repaired the TARDIS, and is preparing to land. Mel, still addressing him as "Doctor", asks if they are going to [[Zastros 8]], but he replies that there has been a change of plans and cryptically states that he has "a little errand to run" and they are landing on the planet [[Plestinious]]. | Meanwhile, the Valeyard has repaired the TARDIS, and is preparing to land. Mel, still addressing him as "Doctor", asks if they are going to [[Zastros 8]], but he replies that there has been a change of plans and cryptically states that he has "a little errand to run" and they are landing on the planet [[Plestinious]]. | ||
The Doctor desperately tries to convince Genesta that he is not dead, telling her he was standing in his TARDIS a mere few moments ago. Genesta suggest that he could also be a glitch in the Matrix, and that either way he is going to be erased by the diagnostic tools soon. The Doctor asks if she can stop them, and she replies she can but she is not sure if she should. The Doctor tries appealing to her sense for mystery, pointing out she is going to night school, so she must obviously want more challenges in life, and tells her that he is such a challenge; a puzzle to solve. Genesta falls silent for a moment, and decides to help him, starting with looking him up in the database. But after checking, she says he cannot be the Doctor, as he is currently in his TARDIS with an Earthling, and the Matrix is still receiving the usual updates from the TARDIS' [[symbiotic nucleus|symbiotic nuclei]]. The Doctor begs her to keep investigating and stop the diagnostics, before asking her how long he has left, to which she replies "six minutes." | The Doctor desperately tries to convince Genesta that he is not dead, telling her he was standing in his TARDIS a mere few moments ago. Genesta suggest that he could also be a glitch in the Matrix, and that either way he is going to be erased by the diagnostic tools soon. The Doctor asks if she can stop them, and she replies she can but she is not sure if she should. The Doctor tries appealing to her sense for mystery, pointing out she is going to night school, so she must obviously want more challenges in life, and tells her that he is such a challenge; a puzzle to solve. Genesta falls silent for a moment, and decides to help him, starting with looking him up in the database. But after checking, she says he cannot be the Doctor, as he is currently in his TARDIS with an Earthling, and the Matrix is still receiving the usual updates from the TARDIS's [[symbiotic nucleus|symbiotic nuclei]]. The Doctor begs her to keep investigating and stop the diagnostics, before asking her how long he has left, to which she replies "six minutes." The Doctor then tries to appeal her sense of sympathy, stating that she is all that stands between him and oblivion. | ||
Suddenly, the Doctor is pulled out of the Matrix and manifests physically in the space station and stands face to face with Genesta, who informs him that she has managed to temporarily stop the erasure with four minutes left to go. Genesta tells him that he certainly looks nothing like the guy the database told her was the sixth incarnation of the Doctor. The Doctor asks if he can have a look, and immediately recognises the person on the screen as the Valeyard. | Suddenly, the Doctor is pulled out of the Matrix and manifests physically in the space station and stands face to face with Genesta, who informs him that she has managed to temporarily stop the erasure with four minutes left to go. Genesta tells him that he certainly looks nothing like the guy the database told her was the sixth incarnation of the Doctor. The Doctor asks if he can have a look, and immediately recognises the person on the screen as the Valeyard. | ||
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Entering his TARDIS, the Doctor finds the Valeyard fiddling with the controls. The Doctor demands that stops, but the Valeyard answers that he is too late; he just finished with the task he needed to do. The Valeyard then calls the Doctor out on breaking the laws of time by crossing his own timeline like this to interfere with the past, telling him he is far more like him than he'd care to admit. The Doctor answers that he is nothing like him and he has only done what he did in order to stop him. "So you'll do anything to stop me, is that it?" says the Valeyard smugly, "That sounds like an argument in favour of total war. How does that sit with your precious moral scruples?" Indignant, the Doctor demands that the Valeyard explains himself, which he agrees to, telling the Doctor that he will probably find his plan quite ingenious. The Valeyard explains that he has inserted something into the symbiotic nuclei of the Doctor's TARDIS; a cluster of microscopic telepathic creatures that can only survive in volcanic gasses. The Doctor realises that it explains what the Valeyard was doing on the volcano, something which happens in the Valeyard's personal future. The Valeyard reveals the name of the creatures as "the [[Nathemus]]", explaining that they come from Plestinious's moon, where he saved them from going extinct when the local authorities destroyed their natural habitat by converting the satellite into a power plant. By rescuing the creatures, the Valeyard ensured that they become eternally loyal to him, and so he promised them a fascinating and colourful mind to feed off; the Doctor's. He explains that over time, the Nathemus will build up their strength as they feed, so they can finally repay their debt of gratitude to him. | Entering his TARDIS, the Doctor finds the Valeyard fiddling with the controls. The Doctor demands that stops, but the Valeyard answers that he is too late; he just finished with the task he needed to do. The Valeyard then calls the Doctor out on breaking the laws of time by crossing his own timeline like this to interfere with the past, telling him he is far more like him than he'd care to admit. The Doctor answers that he is nothing like him and he has only done what he did in order to stop him. "So you'll do anything to stop me, is that it?" says the Valeyard smugly, "That sounds like an argument in favour of total war. How does that sit with your precious moral scruples?" Indignant, the Doctor demands that the Valeyard explains himself, which he agrees to, telling the Doctor that he will probably find his plan quite ingenious. The Valeyard explains that he has inserted something into the symbiotic nuclei of the Doctor's TARDIS; a cluster of microscopic telepathic creatures that can only survive in volcanic gasses. The Doctor realises that it explains what the Valeyard was doing on the volcano, something which happens in the Valeyard's personal future. The Valeyard reveals the name of the creatures as "the [[Nathemus]]", explaining that they come from Plestinious's moon, where he saved them from going extinct when the local authorities destroyed their natural habitat by converting the satellite into a power plant. By rescuing the creatures, the Valeyard ensured that they become eternally loyal to him, and so he promised them a fascinating and colourful mind to feed off; the Doctor's. He explains that over time, the Nathemus will build up their strength as they feed, so they can finally repay their debt of gratitude to him. | ||
In response, the Doctor declares he will try to personally contact the Nathemus and convince them to back down from the plan. But the Valeyard just laughs in amusement at this. Suddenly, and much to his confusion, the Doctor finds himself instantly transported to a strange place and somehow Genesta is there too. The Doctor | In response, the Doctor declares he will try to personally contact the Nathemus and convince them to back down from the plan. But the Valeyard just laughs in amusement at this. Suddenly, and much to his confusion, the Doctor finds himself instantly transported to a strange place and somehow Genesta is there too. The Doctor barely has time to expresses his puzzlement over how they both ended up in this place, before they realise that the strange place is growing smaller around them and threatens to crush them both. Genesta spots an escape in the form of a tunnel, and her and the Doctor make a run for it. The Doctor soon notices that they are surrounded by other beings, who are running towards the same exit as them, but he can't make out what they are. The creatures explain that they are the Nathemus and that someone is saving them. The Doctor then discovers that the tunnel is looking like a metal tube, and realises that he is seeing a vision, showing how the Valeyard saved the Nathemus in the first place. The vision dissolves and the Doctor finds himself and Genesta surrounded by the Nathemus. Once again he wonders why she is there, since it was just him who contacted the Nathemus. He then speaks to some of the creatures, trying to explain to them that the Valeyard has tricked and used them, but they rebuff him, telling him that the Valeyard has saved them and given them both food and volcanic gas to live in. They explain that in exchange they think about the Valeyard and thereby plant the thoughts of him in many minds. The Doctor realises that the "many minds" is actually the Matrix and they are using the connection through his TARDIS's symbiotic nuclei to influence it, enabling the Valeyard to take it completely over. | ||
The vision then ends, and the Doctor is back in the TARDIS, once again standing face to face with the Valeyard. The Doctor, utterly horrified by what he just has learned, asks him if his plan is to replace every Time Lord with himself. The Valeyard gloats that his plan goes beyond even that; he will take over every Time Lord that has ever lived, so that one day he will even become [[Rassilon]] himself and be able to shape Time Lord society in his own image. The Doctor asks him why Genesta was in his telepathic vision, since she just a mere technician, but the Valeyard claims to not know anything about her since the Doctor is from his future, he has only just started his plan and needs to be at height of his power before he can take advantage of it. The Doctor realises that this is also the time he stole the psychic extractor from the [[Red House]], so he could use it to steal energy from the Doctor at the [[New Regency Theatre]]. The Valeyard is happy to hear his scheme will work, but the Doctor states that he is still determined to stop him. The Valeyard gloatingly tells him that he is actually rather powerless to do anything about it and laughs in triumph as he sees that that the Doctor is being dragged back into the Matrix. | The vision then ends, and the Doctor is back in the TARDIS, once again standing face to face with the Valeyard. The Doctor, utterly horrified by what he just has learned, asks him if his plan is to replace every Time Lord with himself. The Valeyard gloats that his plan goes beyond even that; he will take over every Time Lord that has ever lived, so that one day he will even become [[Rassilon]] himself and be able to shape Time Lord society in his own image. The Doctor asks him why Genesta was in his telepathic vision, since she just a mere technician, but the Valeyard claims to not know anything about her since the Doctor is from his future, he has only just started his plan and needs to be at height of his power before he can take advantage of it. The Doctor realises that this is also the time he stole the psychic extractor from the [[Red House]], so he could use it to steal energy from the Doctor at the [[New Regency Theatre]]. The Valeyard is happy to hear his scheme will work, but the Doctor states that he is still determined to stop him. The Valeyard gloatingly tells him that he is actually rather powerless to do anything about it and laughs in triumph as he sees that that the Doctor is being dragged back into the Matrix. | ||
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Basking in his triumph, the Valeyard gloats that the Doctor's time is up and he will be going back to the Matrix to face his final erasure. The Doctor replies that he is indeed going that way, but not like the Valeyard thinks and starts to laugh. Confused, the Valeyard asks the Doctor what he means. The Doctor answers that the Valeyard's certainty is amusing; he knows that the future is always uncertain. For instance, he doesn't know the source or form of the deadly radiation in the Lakertyan System or who is responsible for it, but he knows that if he goes there, it will almost certainly kill him. Worried, the Valeyard asks what that would achieve, and the Doctor replies that he has realised that the Nathemus cannot exist without his unique mind; once he is gone they will wither and die from starvation, thereby ending the Valeyard's power over the Matrix. "But what if you regenerate?" asks the Valeyard. The Doctor says that he indeed hopes he regenerates, pointing out that when he does, the cells of his body and mind will be brand new, so the Nathemus will not have any connection with him. Either way the Nathemus will die and the Valeyard will be stuck in the Matrix with nowhere to go. | Basking in his triumph, the Valeyard gloats that the Doctor's time is up and he will be going back to the Matrix to face his final erasure. The Doctor replies that he is indeed going that way, but not like the Valeyard thinks and starts to laugh. Confused, the Valeyard asks the Doctor what he means. The Doctor answers that the Valeyard's certainty is amusing; he knows that the future is always uncertain. For instance, he doesn't know the source or form of the deadly radiation in the Lakertyan System or who is responsible for it, but he knows that if he goes there, it will almost certainly kill him. Worried, the Valeyard asks what that would achieve, and the Doctor replies that he has realised that the Nathemus cannot exist without his unique mind; once he is gone they will wither and die from starvation, thereby ending the Valeyard's power over the Matrix. "But what if you regenerate?" asks the Valeyard. The Doctor says that he indeed hopes he regenerates, pointing out that when he does, the cells of his body and mind will be brand new, so the Nathemus will not have any connection with him. Either way the Nathemus will die and the Valeyard will be stuck in the Matrix with nowhere to go. | ||
Just then, both the Valeyard and the Doctor are dragged back into the Matrix. Frightened and cold, the Valeyard calls out for the Doctor, telling him that he has killed them both and robbed himself of a future. "A future as ''you''?" says the Doctor, "That's no future at all." The Doctor then starts to reminiscence about the life he led, and the Valeyard asks him bitterly to spare him that. The Doctor answers that he won't spare him, as he would have ended both the Doctor and Time Lord society without a second thought if he had not been stopped: "Frankly, I will die happy if the last words you ever hear are mine. Words in praise of the best of times: [[Peri Brown|Peri]], [[Melanie Bush|Mel]], [[Evelyn Smythe|Evelyn]], [[Flip Jackson|Flip]], [[Charlotte Pollard|Mila]], [[Constance Clarke|Constance]], and all the others!" "And yet, you'll leave Mel to die in your TARDIS?" the Valeyards ask accusingly. The Doctor replies that he knows that the radiation is lethal to Time | Just then, both the Valeyard and the Doctor are dragged back into the Matrix. Frightened and cold, the Valeyard calls out for the Doctor, telling him that he has killed them both and robbed himself of a future. "A future as ''you''?" says the Doctor, "That's no future at all." The Doctor then starts to reminiscence about the life he led, and the Valeyard asks him bitterly to spare him that. The Doctor answers that he won't spare him, as he would have ended both the Doctor and Time Lord society without a second thought if he had not been stopped: "Frankly, I will die happy if the last words you ever hear are mine. Words in praise of the best of times: [[Peri Brown|Peri]], [[Melanie Bush|Mel]], [[Evelyn Smythe|Evelyn]], [[Flip Jackson|Flip]], [[Charlotte Pollard|Mila]], [[Constance Clarke|Constance]], and all the others!" "And yet, you'll leave Mel to die in your TARDIS?" the Valeyards ask accusingly. The Doctor replies that he knows that the radiation is lethal to Time Lords but not to humans; in the end, Mel and Time Lord civilisation will survive even if he himself will not, and he considers this comfort enough. The Valeyard then desperately shouts that the Doctor can't just let him die as he is a part of him, but the Doctor replies that the Valeyard is nothing to him. "What about your precious moral scruples?!" the Valeyard asks. "They died with me," says the Doctor. | ||
Inside the TARDIS, the Doctor shouts for Mel to hold on to | Inside the TARDIS, the Doctor shouts for Mel to hold on to something—they are being attacked by radiation beams from the planet of [[Lakertya]]. He wonders how he missed the readings and doesn't understand why this is happening; the [[Lakertyan]]s are known to be a peaceful people. As the TARDIS takes damage, a worried Mel asks how deadly the radiation is. He assures her she will be alright before she collapses onto the floor. He laments he couldn't say the radiation is only deadly to Time Lords. | ||
The Doctor, realising what is going to happen, accepts his fate with a sigh and a melancholy "Oh, well..." Collapsing to the floor while groaning in pain, he manages to gain enough composure enough to say some last words: "I've had good innings. All those lives I have lived... I hope the footprint I leave will be... ''light'', but ''apposite''..." But suddenly, he hears a soft voice, touched by a slight Scottish blur, telling him: "It's far from being all over." Asking who said that, the Doctor faintly spots a [[Seventh Doctor|strange figure]], before losing consciousness as he begins to regenerate. | The Doctor, realising what is going to happen, accepts his fate with a sigh and a melancholy "Oh, well..." Collapsing to the floor while groaning in pain, he manages to gain enough composure enough to say some last words: "I've had good innings. All those lives I have lived... I hope the footprint I leave will be... ''light'', but ''apposite''..." But suddenly, he hears a soft voice, touched by a slight Scottish blur, telling him: "It's far from being all over." Asking who said that, the Doctor faintly spots a [[Seventh Doctor|strange figure]], before losing consciousness as he begins to regenerate. | ||
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* The [[Seventh Doctor]] - [[Sylvester McCoy]] | * The [[Seventh Doctor]] - [[Sylvester McCoy]] | ||
== | == Worldbuilding == | ||
=== Planets === | === Planets === | ||
* [[Zastros 9]] is a hostile totalitarian state planet policed by flying lizards. | * [[Zastros 9]] is a hostile totalitarian state planet policed by flying lizards. | ||
* [[Zastros 8]] is a peaceful world and free-thinking paradise, with sunshine, seas, beaches protected from [[ultraviolet]] light and computer sciences. | * [[Zastros 8]] is a peaceful world and free-thinking paradise, with sunshine, seas, beaches protected from [[ultraviolet]] light and computer sciences. | ||
=== The Doctor === | |||
* The [[Sixth Doctor]] regenerates into the [[Seventh Doctor]]. | |||
== Notes == | == Notes == | ||
* This story was recorded at [[The Moat Studios]]. | * This story was recorded at [[The Moat Studios]]. | ||
* The unofficial [[Charity | * The unofficial [[Charity publication|charity novel]] ''Time's Champion'' bears some similarity to this story, as it also featured the Sixth Doctor's final battle with the Valeyard leading to his regeneration. Additionally, a story of the Valeyard taking the Doctor's place besides [[Melanie Bush|Mel]] was explored in the alternative universe story ''[[He Jests at Scars... (audio story)|He Jests at Scars...]]'' | ||
* Another account of the Sixth Doctor's regeneration posits that his death was a result of being weakened by absorbing chronon energy in the [[Spiral Chamber]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Spiral Scratch (novel)|Spiral Scratch]]'') | * Another account of the Sixth Doctor's regeneration posits that his death was a result of being weakened by absorbing chronon energy in the [[Spiral Chamber]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Spiral Scratch (novel)|Spiral Scratch]]'') | ||
* The Sixth Doctor is the second Doctor to have the circumstances of his regeneration explained in spin-off media rather than a television story, the previous being the [[Second Doctor]], whose regeneration was seen in the comic story ''[[The Night Walkers (comic story)|The Night Walkers]]''. | * The Sixth Doctor is the second Doctor to have the circumstances of his regeneration explained in spin-off media rather than a television story, the previous being the [[Second Doctor]], whose regeneration was seen in the comic story ''[[The Night Walkers (comic story)|The Night Walkers]]''. | ||
* Like with the Eighth Doctor's regeneration, this was explored years after the actor ([[Colin Baker]]) was replaced in the role on television. | * Like with the Eighth Doctor's regeneration, this was explored years after the actor ([[Colin Baker]]) was replaced in the role on television. | ||
* While regenerating, the Doctor briefly interacts with his successor. A similar notion had been depicted in the fan film ''[[Devious]]'', with [[Jon Pertwee]]'s [[Third Doctor]] appearing as an apparition to Tony Garner's regenerating "Second-and-a-Halfth Doctor". | * While regenerating, the Doctor briefly interacts with his successor. A similar notion had been depicted in the fan film ''[[Devious]]'', with [[Jon Pertwee]]'s [[Third Doctor]] appearing as an apparition to Tony Garner's regenerating "Second-and-a-Halfth Doctor". | ||
* This story bears strong similarities to former [[script editor]] [[Eric Saward]]'s original vision for the ending of the [[1986 (releases)|1986]] serial ''[[The Ultimate Foe (TV story)|The Ultimate Foe]]'', as originally envisaged by [[Robert Holmes]] before his passing, which was never produced due to his quitting work on the series after a fallout with the show's [[executive producer]] at the time, [[John Nathan-Turner]]. Had it been | * This story bears strong similarities to former [[script editor]] [[Eric Saward]]'s original vision for the ending of the [[1986 (releases)|1986]] serial ''[[The Ultimate Foe (TV story)|The Ultimate Foe]]'', as originally envisaged by [[Robert Holmes]] before his passing, which was never produced due to his quitting work on the series after a fallout with the show's [[executive producer]] at the time, [[John Nathan-Turner]]. Had it been produced, the ending would have seen the Sixth Doctor and the Valeyard locked in combat within the Matrix in a climactic struggle for their lives and ending on a cliffhanger; however, at the time, the series was in danger of cancellation, and Nathan-Turner argued against its use because it was presented in a way that suggested this could become the Doctor's ultimate fate, and therefore could be used as an excuse for cancellation. Here, similar events take place, but the Sixth Doctor is confirmed to escape confinement in the Matrix when he regenerates, while the Valeyard is left in a state of limbo inside the Matrix, unable to get out, with his ultimate fate unknown. | ||
* The climax of this story provides a startling explanation for the Doctor's transformation into a much more dangerous man once he regenerated into his seventh incarnation, and by extension, the escalating aggressiveness of who he is at heart as he ages. When the Valeyard questions the Sixth Doctor's "precious moral scruples" as a reason to stay alive, he replies, "They died with me". Essentially, after being backed into a corner by the Valeyard, he has decided to let go of his moral restraints and realise a darker side of himself to properly combat more dangerous enemies so he could avoid a situation like this from happening again, because the Valeyard took advantage of both them and his good nature. This heavily foreshadows the Doctor's drastic, possibly even severe, shift in personality upon becoming the Seventh Doctor and growing out of his initially lighthearted and comedic demeanour, whose actions are far less restrained or made to hesitate by morality (such as the [[Fifth Doctor]], who predated the Sixth, being tethered down and at times left indecisive by morality | * The climax of this story provides a startling explanation for the Doctor's transformation into a much more dangerous man once he regenerated into his seventh incarnation, and by extension, the escalating aggressiveness of who he is at heart as he ages. When the Valeyard questions the Sixth Doctor's "precious moral scruples" as a reason to stay alive, he replies, "They died with me". Essentially, after being backed into a corner by the Valeyard, he has decided to let go of his moral restraints and realise a darker side of himself to properly combat more dangerous enemies so he could avoid a situation like this from happening again, because the Valeyard took advantage of both them and his good nature. This heavily foreshadows the Doctor's drastic, possibly even severe, shift in personality upon becoming the Seventh Doctor and growing out of his initially lighthearted and comedic demeanour, whose actions are far less restrained or made to hesitate by morality (such as the [[Fifth Doctor]], who predated the Sixth, being tethered down and at times left indecisive by morality; the [[Tenth Doctor]], a much later incarnation, refusing to offer second chances to those who crossed him once; and the intensely pragmatic and drastic [[Twelfth Doctor]]), making him much more dangerous and manipulative, as well as taking the initiative against prospective enemies by actively seeking them out before they can expand their reaches. This also foreshadows a marked increase in his ruthlessness and the moral ubiquity of his methods. Ironically, later incarnations would continue growing darker and bear close similarities to the Valeyard, showing that through this sacrifice, the Doctor has risked becoming the very thing he has tried to avoid changing into. | ||
* This story technically marks the first chronological appearance of the Seventh Doctor. His first words spoken are, "It's far from being all over." | * This story technically marks the first chronological appearance of the Seventh Doctor. His first words spoken are, "It's far from being all over." | ||
* In the accompanying commentary disc for ''The Sixth Doctor: The Last Adventure'', [[Nicholas Briggs]] notes that in writing this story, he found it strange that the Doctor would travel to Lakertya if there was a danger implied to be present nearby, and thus wrote an explanation behind his arrival at the planet. | * In the accompanying commentary disc for ''The Sixth Doctor: The Last Adventure'', [[Nicholas Briggs]] notes that in writing this story, he found it strange that the Doctor would travel to Lakertya if there was a danger implied to be present nearby, and thus wrote an explanation behind his arrival at the planet. | ||
* [[Colin Baker]] was initially against the idea of recording a regeneration story, but was persuaded by producer [[David Richardson]] that fans wished for a gap between ''[[The Ultimate Foe (TV story)|The Ultimate Foe]]'' and ''[[Time and the Rani (TV story)|Time and the Rani]]'' to be filled<ref>[https://www.bigfinish.com/podcasts/v/2022-08-14-ninth-ufo Big Finish Podcast 2022-08-14 Ninth UFO]</ref>. | |||
== Continuity == | == Continuity == | ||
* The TARDIS travels to the [[Lakertya]]n system. ([[TV]]: | * The TARDIS travels to the [[Lakertya]]n system. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Time and the Rani (TV story)|Time and the Rani}}) | ||
* The Sixth Doctor says "I've had a good innings". This is one of the lines spoken by him in his alternate regeneration account, | * The Sixth Doctor says "I've had a good innings". This is one of the lines spoken by him in his alternate regeneration account, {{cs|Spiral Scratch (novel)|Spiral Scratch}}. The [[Twelfth Doctor]] would also mirror this statement when faced with the prospect of his own death. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Before the Flood (TV story)|Before the Flood}}) | ||
* The Sixth Doctor's final words are "Our future is in safe hands", spoken in unison with [[Seventh Doctor|his successor]]. The Doctor previously said a similar phrase in his [[First Doctor|first incarnation]], and would later say it again in his [[Tenth Doctor|tenth incarnation]]. ([[TV]]: | * The Sixth Doctor's final words are "Our future is in safe hands", spoken in unison with [[Seventh Doctor|his successor]]. The Doctor previously said a similar phrase in his [[First Doctor|first incarnation]], and would later say it again in his [[Tenth Doctor|tenth incarnation]]. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Five Doctors (TV story)|The Five Doctors}}, {{cs|The Day of the Doctor (TV story)|The Day of the Doctor}}) | ||
* The Doctor toasts the companions of his incarnation: [[Peri Brown|Peri]], [[Mel Bush|Mel]], [[Evelyn Smythe|Evelyn]], [[Flip Jackson|Flip]], [[Charley Pollard|Mila]], [[Constance Clarke|Constance]] and "all the others". The [[Eighth Doctor]] would do the same thing prior to his regeneration. ([[TV]]: | * The Doctor toasts the companions of his incarnation: [[Peri Brown|Peri]], [[Mel Bush|Mel]], [[Evelyn Smythe|Evelyn]], [[Flip Jackson|Flip]], [[Charley Pollard|Mila]], [[Constance Clarke|Constance]] and "all the others". The [[Eighth Doctor]] would do the same thing prior to his regeneration. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Night of the Doctor (TV story)|The Night of the Doctor}}) | ||
* While in the thralls of regeneration, the [[Seventh Doctor]] tells his predecessor that it is "far from being all over". ([[TV]]: | * While in the thralls of regeneration, the [[Seventh Doctor]] tells his predecessor that it is "far from being all over". ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Tenth Planet (TV story)|The Tenth Planet}}) | ||
* The Sixth Doctor is the second of three incarnations of the Doctor to perish from severe radiation exposure, and also the second to die in an act of self-sacrifice. The [[Third Doctor]] let himself be exposed to radiation from a large concentration of [[Metebelis crystal]]s to seek audience with the [[The Great One (Planet of the Spiders)|Great One]] and eventually succumbed to it after ten years of being stuck in the [[Time Vortex]] while unable to pilot the TARDIS in his deteriorating condition ([[TV]]: | * The Sixth Doctor is the second of three incarnations of the Doctor to perish from severe radiation exposure, and also the second to die in an act of self-sacrifice. The [[Third Doctor]] let himself be exposed to radiation from a large concentration of [[Metebelis crystal]]s to seek audience with the [[The Great One (Planet of the Spiders)|Great One]] and eventually succumbed to it after ten years of being stuck in the [[Time Vortex]] while unable to pilot the TARDIS in his deteriorating condition, ([[TV]]: {{cs|Planet of the Spiders (TV story)|Planet of the Spiders}}) and the [[Tenth Doctor]] would later put himself in the path of 500,000 rads when [[Wilfred Mott]] could not escape a booth about to be filled with radiation unless the Doctor switched places with him to unlock the booth from inside the machine when touching any of the controls would set off the radiation. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The End of Time (TV story)|The End of Time}}) | ||
* The Sixth Doctor's choice to avoid going to [[Lakertya]] but ending up going anyway, resulting in his death and regeneration, parallels how the [[Eleventh Doctor]] wished to avoid [[Trenzalore]] when he learned of a prophecy about his downfall occurring once he went there, but eventually chose to, remaining on the planet for so long he began ageing to death before being granted a new regeneration cycle by the Time Lords. ([[TV]]: | * The Sixth Doctor's choice to avoid going to [[Lakertya]] but ending up going anyway, resulting in his death and regeneration, parallels how the [[Eleventh Doctor]] wished to avoid [[Trenzalore]] when he learned of a prophecy about his downfall occurring once he went there, but eventually chose to, remaining on the planet for so long he began ageing to death before being granted a new regeneration cycle by the Time Lords. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Name of the Doctor (TV story)|The Name of the Doctor}}, {{cs|The Time of the Doctor (TV story)|The Time of the Doctor}}) | ||
* The Doctor remembers his companion [[Charlotte Pollard]] as [[Mila]]. ([[AUDIO]]: | * The Doctor remembers his companion [[Charlotte Pollard]] as [[Mila]]. ([[AUDIO]]: {{cs|Blue Forgotten Planet (audio story)|Blue Forgotten Planet}}) | ||
* The Doctor gives up the values of his current life in order to make a sacrifice for the greater good of the universe and regenerate into a more capable and dangerous individual. This would later happen in a considerably worse degree when the Eighth Doctor sacrificed the name of "the Doctor"- not just sacrificing his own values, but the ones he carried across all his previous lives- so he could regenerate as a warrior, becoming the [[War Doctor]]. ([[TV]]: | * The Doctor gives up the values of his current life in order to make a sacrifice for the greater good of the universe and regenerate into a more capable and dangerous individual. This would later happen in a considerably worse degree when the Eighth Doctor sacrificed the name of "the Doctor"- not just sacrificing his own values, but the ones he carried across all his previous lives- so he could regenerate as a warrior, becoming the [[War Doctor]]. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Night of the Doctor (TV story)|The Night of the Doctor}}) | ||
== External links == | == External links == | ||
{{bigfinish|releases/v/the-sixth-doctor---the-last-adventure-1212}} | |||
{{BF 6DA}} | |||
{{Valeyard stories}} | {{Valeyard stories}} | ||
{{Regeneration stories}} | {{Regeneration stories}} | ||
{{TitleSort}} | {{TitleSort}} | ||
[[Category:The Sixth Doctor: The Last Adventure audio stories]] | [[Category:The Sixth Doctor: The Last Adventure audio stories]] | ||
[[Category:Regeneration audio stories]] | [[Category:Regeneration audio stories]] | ||
[[Category:Seventh Doctor audio stories]] | [[Category:Seventh Doctor audio stories]] | ||
[[Category:Multi-Doctor audio stories]] | [[Category:Multi-Doctor audio stories]] | ||
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[[ | [[es:The Brink of Death]] | ||
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