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{{Infobox Story SMW
{{Infobox K9
|image          = BlackHunger.jpg
|image          = [[File:BlackHunger.jpg|250px]]
|season number = Series 1 (K9)
|story name    = Black Hunger
|series episode number = 15
|series        = [[K9 (TV series)|K9]]
|main character = [[K9 Mark 2]], [[Starkey]], [[Jorjie Turner|Jorjie]], [[Darius Pike|Darius]], [[Alistair Gryffen|Gryffen]]
|number         = [[Series 1 (K9)|1]]
|featuring      = June Turner
|featuring      = <ul><li>[[K9 Mark 2]]</li><li>[[Starkey]]</li><li>[[Jorjie Turner]]</li><li>[[Darius Pike]]</li><li>[[Alistair Gryffen|Professor Alistair Gryffen]]</li></ul>
|featuring2    = Department Technician (Curse of Anubis){{!}}Technician
|enemy          = <ul><li>[[Drake]]</li><li>[[The Hunger]]</li></ul>
|featuring3    = Lomax
|featuring4    = Thorne
|enemy          = [[Inspector]] [[Drake (Liberation)|Drake]]
|setting        = [[London]], [[2050]]
|setting        = [[London]], [[2050]]
|writer        = [[Chris Roache]]
|writer        = Chris Roache
|producer      = <ul><li>[[Penny Wall]]</li><li>[[Richard Stewart]]</li><li>[[Simon Barnes]]</li></ul>
|director      = [[James Bogle]]
|director      = [[James Bogle]]
|broadcast date = [[19 April]] [[2010]]
|producer      = [[Penny Wall]], [[Richard Stewart]], [[Simon Barnes]]
|broadcast date = 19 April 2010
|format        = 1 x 30 minute episode
|format        = 1 x 30 minute episode
|production code= 1.15
|production code = 1.15
|previous story = [[The Last Oak Tree]]
|series          = ''[[K9 (TV series)|K9]]''
|next story    = [[The Cambridge Spy]]
|prev            = The Last Oak Tree (TV story)
}}
|next           = The Cambridge Spy (TV story)
'''''Black Hunger''''' was the fifteenth episode of [[Series 1 (K9)|Series 1]] of [[K9 (TV series)|K9]]. This episode saw the departure of [[Drake]] and his replacement by [[Thorne]], who was introduced in [[Liberation]].
|epcount = 1}}
'''''Black Hunger''''' was the fifteenth episode of ''[[K9 (TV series)|K9]]''. It was written by [[Chris Roache]], directed by [[James Bogle]] and saw [[Drake (Liberation)|Drake]] depart and be replaced by [[Thorne]], who was introduced in ''[[Liberation (TV story)|Liberation]]''.


== Synopsis ==
== Synopsis ==
[[The Department]] is using an [[alien]] device which literally eats rubbish. Darius sees an opportunity to make some money and snatches the device. However the alien [[virus]] in the device escapes and threatens to devour everything it touches.
[[The Department]] is using an [[alien]] device which literally eats rubbish. [[Darius Pike|Darius]] sees an opportunity to make some money and snatches the device. However the alien [[virus]] inside escapes and threatens to devour everything it touches.


== Plot ==
== Plot ==
In the sewers, two men in [[hazmat]] suits are looking through rubbish. One of them uses a [[Imploder|device]] which sprays microbes on the rubbish. Darius walks in and hides as he takes a look. The nanoforms consume all the rubbish, which interests Darius. He makes a noise which alerts the men to his presence, but runs away before they can catch him. As one of the men grabs an empty can of Cola, the nanoforms eat at his hand while the other man sucks the nanoforms back into the device. At the [[Gryffen Manor|mansion]], Gryffen and Starkey fail an experiment due to a hygiene crisis Gryffen tells Starkey he has traced the contamination to the chess room and the source is pepperoni [[pizza]]. Starkey and K9 look through the chess room as Darius wades through the sewer and snatches the device.
In the [[sewers]], two men in [[hazmat]] suits are looking through rubbish. One of them uses a [[Imploder|device]] which sprays microbes on the rubbish. Darius walks in and hides as he takes a look. The microbes consume all the rubbish, which interests Darius. He makes a noise which alerts the men to his presence, but runs away before they can catch him. As one of the men grabs an empty can of [[cola]], the [[nanoform]]s eat at his hand while the other man sucks the nanoforms back into the device. At the [[Gryffen Manor|mansion]], Gryffen and Starkey fail an experiment due to a hygiene crisis. Gryffen tells Starkey he has traced the contamination in the [[chess]] room. The source is pepperoni [[pizza]]. Starkey and K9 look through the chess room as Darius wades through the sewer and snatches the device.


At Department HQ, June asks the survivor about the accident, who tells her he suspects it's alien. A mishap like this hasn't occurred any other time. June suggests it could have been a malfunction but he says that the microbes, as harmless as yeast, have turned into "bloodthirsty flesh-eaters". Darius brings the device to the house and uses it on the rubbish, amazed at its efficiency. The worker shows June the scene of the accident. They find the device is gone. She scans the empty Hazmat suit and detects a possible alien trace. Drake arrives and asks what June is doing here, but June asks him the same question; this is only a city sanitation issue. He tells her disappearance of state property is a very serious problem. He is "eternally vigilant".
At Department HQ, June asks the survivor about the accident. He says he suspects it's alien. A mishap like this hasn't occurred before. June suggests it could have been a malfunction but he says the microbes, as harmless as yeast, have turned into "bloodthirsty flesh-eaters". Darius brings the device to the house and uses it on the rubbish, amazed at its efficiency. The worker shows June the scene of the accident. They find the device gone. She scans the empty hazmat suit and detects a possible alien trace. Drake arrives and asks what June is doing. She asks him the same question as this is only a city sanitation issue. He tells her disappearance of state property is a very serious problem. He is "eternally vigilant".


In the chess room, Darius wakes from his nap as the microbes clean his mess. He does not know he is being followed by microbes but uses the device to recapture them. Jorjie arrives, angry she has been sent to help clean up. K9 and Starkey thank her for her assistance. When they arrive in the chess room, they find it spotless. Darius says he cleaned it up and shows Starkey his cleaned clothes. Starkey and Jorjie ask what the thing under the red sheet is and Darius reveals the device. K9 detects an unstable cross species, ordinary yeast cells spliced with something "more sinister". Darius compares it to a simple vacuum. K9 strongly advises that he remove the object from the house, but Darius tells the others this could make him a fortune and dismisses K9 as a "panic artist". K9 scans the room and discovers there is not one living thing left in it, not even an ant, a spider, or a moth. When Starkey asks him where he bought it, Darius smiles.
In the [[chess]] room, Darius wakes from his nap as the microbes clean his mess. He does not know he is being followed by microbes, but uses the device to recapture them. Jorjie arrives, angry she has been sent to help clean up. K9 and Starkey thank her for her assistance. When they arrive in the chess room, they find it spotless. Darius says he cleaned it and shows Starkey his cleaned clothes. Starkey and Jorjie ask what the thing under the red sheet is and Darius reveals the device. K9 detects an unstable cross species, ordinary yeast cells spliced with something "more sinister". Darius compares it to a vacuum. K9 strongly advises he remove the object from the house, but Darius tells the others this could make him a fortune and dismisses K9 as a "panic artist". K9 scans the room and discovers there is not one living thing left in it, not even an ant, a spider, or a moth. When Starkey asks him where he bought it, Darius smiles.


At Department HQ, Drake tells the worker not to talk to anybody, especially June. Meanwhile, Jorjie demands Darius take the device back where he found it, but he says he has a window of opportunity. The device could become a household appliance and he would be rich. K9 complains that he isn't listening and whatever is inside the device is an unstoppable life-form that could get out of control. Darius insists "finders keepers" and says he is simply a "businessman trying to make some creds". Drake tells K9 he found it in the tunnels of [[Sector NE12]]. Gryffen walks in, shocked at the "miracle" of the chess room. K9 asks Gryffen to use his [[atomic spectrometer]] to analyse what's been at work here. Gryffen confirms that whatever it is, it's too good to be true.
At Department HQ, Drake tells the worker not to talk to anybody, especially June. Meanwhile, Jorjie demands Darius take the device back where he found it, but he says he has a window of opportunity. The device could become a household appliance and he would be rich. K9 complains he isn't listening and whatever is inside the device is an unstoppable life-form that could get out of control. Darius insists, "Finders keepers", and says he is simply a "[[businessman]] trying to make some creds". Darius tells K9 he found it in the tunnels of [[Sector NE12]]. Gryffen walks in, shocked at the "miracle" of the chess room. K9 asks Gryffen to use his [[atomic spectrometer]] to analyse what's been at work here. Gryffen confirms that whatever it is, it's too good to be true.


Gryffen has never seen anything like it. On Starkey's shirt, the smaller microbes have been consumed. When Darius thinks of the million creds he could have earned, Gryffen warns him that in the wrong hands this could be lethal; someone has been tampering with the microbe's gene coding. It has been crossed with microbes from another planet, possibly the vicious omnivores from [[Pluto]], the most voracious bacteria in the known universe. These microbes' dormancy gene has been turned off; they are always hungry and could literally eat the world.
Gryffen has never seen anything like it. On Starkey's shirt, the smaller microbes have been consumed. When Darius thinks of the million creds he could earn, Gryffen warns him that in the wrong hands this could be lethal. Someone has been tampering with the microbe's gene coding. It has been crossed with microbes from another [[planet]], possibly the [[Plutonian microbe|vicious omnivores]] from [[Pluto]], the most voracious bacteria in the known universe. These microbes' dormancy [[gene]] has been turned off; they are always hungry and could literally eat the world.


At Department HQ, June tells Drake she has received an analysis of the microbes in the imploder. She knows of his project with the microbes, [[The Hunger|Black Hunger]], closed down because it was too unstable. Drake tells her he's solved it with the imploder, an electromagnetic containment device which stores and transports the Hunger. June's analysis tells her he removed its self-limiting and dormancy characteristics. Drake tells her it's to make it more efficient and he refuses to believe it could get out of control.
At Department HQ, June tells Drake she has received an analysis of the microbes in the imploder. She knows his project with the microbes, [[The Hunger|Black Hunger]], closed down because it was too unstable. Drake tells her he's solved it with the imploder, an electromagnetic containment device which stores and transports the Hunger. June's analysis tells her he removed its self-limiting and dormancy characteristics. Drake tells her it's to make it more efficient and he refuses to believe it could get out of control.


As K9, Jorjie and Starkey move the imploder through the tunnels, a CCPC spots them. K9 decides to bluff their way out, saying he's taking them for a walk, describing them like dogs, and when Starkey and Jorjie start making dog noises, the CCPC leaves. At Department HQ, Drake says that the planet is constantly threatened from within by dissidents, anti-social undesirables and juveniles. June argues that the people aren't the problem and that the planet is surrounded by alien menaces which need to be defeated. Drake agrees but says that they need to find the alien technology to take control of the human problem first, revealing the true purpose of Black Hunger. He intends to use the hijacked [[fallen angel]] technology to control society, stating that future generations will thank him, but June argues that they'll curse him for taking away their freedom to be themselves. Drake tells her that people need rules, what to do, when to do it, who to be, otherwise it all becomes chaos. She tells Drake that the reason she has stayed in the Department is to make sure he doesn't succeed and that she doesn't want her daughter growing up in his world. Drake is determined to see her leave before he does, and she tells him to bring it on.
As K9, Jorjie and Starkey move the imploder through the tunnels, a CCPC spots them. K9 says he's taking them for a walk. When Starkey and Jorjie start barking and growling, the CCPC leaves. At Department HQ, Drake says the planet is constantly threatened from within by dissidents, anti-social undesirables and juveniles. June believes people aren't the problem. The planet is surrounded by alien menaces which need to be defeated. Drake believes they need to use alien technology to deal with the human problem first. He plans to use Black Hunger to take the hijacked [[fallen angel]] technology to control society; future generations will thank him. June tells him the reason she has stayed in the Department is to make sure he doesn't succeed. She doesn't want her daughter growing up in his world. Drake is determined to see her leave before he does and she tells him to bring it on.


As the team go through the tunnels they spot a CCPC. Jorjie suggests the just drop the imploder but K9 says they should put it where Darius found it. K9 distracts one CCPC, who chases after him. As Starkey and Jorjie move on, another CCPC comes and chases them, but they hide behind some rubbish. They move on, and when their path is blocked by a pile of rubbish, Jorjie suggests going back but Starkey points out that CCPCs are guarding the pile. He decides to use the imploder to do some "spring-cleaning". The CCPCs report to Drake at Department HQ that intruders have been sighted: two juveniles and a robotic dog in [[Sector NW12]]. Drake orders a Department officer to set the imploder to self-destruct, and when he asks about the CCPCs and the two juveniles, Drake angrily orders him to proceed. The imploder is set to self-destruct in five minutes. As the team move the imploder, K9 suggests containing the swarm (which is moving across the walls) but a CCPC arrives and they move on. With two minutes to go, June arrives and when she asks who gave the order to secure the tunnels, Drake tells her that he has found the imploder and needs to make sure it is neutralised. The explosion will sterilise the area and take the people who stole the imploder with it. With one minute left, K9 detects that the imploder will detonate. Jorjie and Starkey put it on the floor and decide to run. K9 tells them they won't have time to escape and they have to defuse it. With thirty seconds to go, Starkey presses the buttons hoping it will deactivate. With fifteen seconds left, Jorjie deactivates it by bashing it with a piece of rubbish.
As the team go through the tunnels they spot a CCPC. Jorjie suggests they just drop the imploder, but K9 says they should put it where Darius found it. K9 distracts one CCPC, who chases after him. As Starkey and Jorjie move on, another CCPC comes and chases them, but they hide behind some rubbish. As they continue on, their way is blocked by debris. Starkey decides to use the imploder to do some "spring-cleaning" and remove the debris. The CCPCs report to Drake at Department HQ that intruders have been sighted: two juveniles and a robotic dog in [[Sector NW12]]. Drake orders a Department officer to set the imploder to self-destruct. When he asks about the CCPCs and the two juveniles, Drake angrily orders him to proceed. As the team move the imploder, K9 suggests containing the swarm but a CCPC arrives and they move on. With two minutes to go, June arrives. When she asks who gave the order to secure the tunnels, Drake tells her he has found the imploder and needs to make sure it is neutralised. The explosion will sterilise the area and take the people who stole the imploder with it. With one minute left, K9 detects the imploder will detonate. Jorjie and Starkey put it on the floor and run. K9 tells them they have to defuse it. With thirty seconds to go, Starkey presses the buttons hoping it will deactivate. With fifteen seconds left, Jorjie deactivates it by bashing it with a piece of rubbish.


June asks the officer the status of the swarm, and he tells her it's still at large. She asks where the tunnel leads, and he tells her it leads into the [[River Thames]]. As Drake looks on, June gives him a furious look. At Gryffen's house, Gryffen tells Darius that after the swarm reaches the Thames, the Earth will be devoid of all life in lwss than a week. K9, Starkey and Jorjie make their way out of the tunnels cautiously as the swarm spreads. They find an exit protected by bars with the Thames just on the other side. Starkey tells K9 to blast through but he cannot let the swarm escape. K9 has an idea; he lets the swarm attack him, and then fires a beam which swallows the swarm. The Department officer reports that swarm activity has ceased and they have been completely neutralised. June tells Drake he almost killed everyone. He says calculated risks must be taken to protect society, but June tells that he almost destroyed society and will point this out in her report. Drake has gone too far this time, and June is going to take him down.
June asks the officer the status of the swarm. He tells her it's still at large. She asks where the tunnel leads, and he tells her it leads into the [[River Thames]]. At Gryffen's house, Gryffen tells Darius that after the swarm reaches the Thames, the Earth will be devoid of all life in a week. K9, Starkey and Jorjie make their way out of the tunnels as the swarm spreads. They find an exit protected by bars with the Thames on the other side. Starkey tells K9 to blast through but he cannot let the swarm escape. K9 lets the swarm attack him, and then fires a beam, which swallows the swarm. The Department officer reports swarm activity has ceased and they have been completely neutralised. June tells Drake he almost killed everyone. He says calculated risks must be taken to protect society, but June tells that he almost destroyed society and will point this out in her report. Drake has gone too far this time, and June is going to take him down.


Later, June reports to [[Lomax (K9)|Lomax]] that Operation: Black Hunger had been closed down because it was too dangerous, and Drake started it without clearance. June confirms that the situation has been resolved and they must be thankful for the intervention of K9. Otherwise it would have ended disastrously. Although Drake has been with the Department for many years, this is not Drake's first breach of orders and his most serious to date. Lomax decides Drake will be moved to other duties. June thanks Lomax for hearing her out and asks if she is taking over from Drake. Lomax tells her that Drake will be replaced by Inspector [[Thorne]], who appears on the monitor and tells June he looks forward to working with her. June is shocked that Thorne is taking over.
Later, June reports to [[Lomax]] that Operation Black Hunger had been closed down because it was too dangerous, and Drake restarted it without clearance. June confirms the situation has been resolved and they must be thankful for K9's help. Otherwise it would have ended disastrously. Although Drake has been with the Department for many years, this is not Drake's first breach of orders and is his most serious to date. Lomax decides Drake will be moved to other duties. June thanks him for hearing her out and asks if she is taking over from Drake. Lomax tells her Drake will be replaced by Inspector [[Thorne]], who appears on the monitor and tells June he looks forward to working with her.


Back at the house, Gryffen congratulates K9 on his "stroke of genius" of reversing his fuel cells to stop the swarm. He explains to the team that the imploder is basically an electromagnetic compressor, and that by overheating his fuel cells and reversing the polarity, he was able to perform the same task. K9 has the entire swarm in his stomach, sucking them all up like "slurping a milkshake" as Jorjie puts it. Gryffen expects Darius to apologise, but Darius suggests he and K9 could go into business together. K9 tells him not to push his luck, and Darius tries to convince him as the others cheerfully sigh at him. Gryffen asks K9 what he's going to do to the swarm; K9 intends to evacuate his fuel cells the next time he is on Atrios. Darius jokingly hopes there's no accidents on the carpet as the others laugh at him.
Back at the house, Gryffen congratulates K9 on his "stroke of genius" in reversing his fuel cells to stop the swarm. He explains the imploder is basically an electromagnetic compressor. By overheating his fuel cells and reversing the polarity, he did the same. K9 has the entire swarm in his stomach, sucking them all up like "slurping a milkshake", as Jorjie puts it. Gryffen expects Darius to apologise, but Darius thinks that he K9 can go into business together. K9 tells him not to push his luck. Gryffen asks K9 what he's going to do to the swarm. K9 will evacuate his fuel cells the next time he is on [[Atrios]].


== Cast ==
== Cast ==
* [[K9 Mark 2]] - [[John Leeson]]
* Professor [[Alistair Gryffen]] - [[Robert Moloney]]
* [[Starkey]] - [[Keegan Joyce]]
* [[Starkey]] - [[Keegan Joyce]]
* [[Jorjie Turner]] - [[Philippa Coulthard]]
* [[Jorjie Turner]] - [[Philippa Coulthard]]
* [[Darius Pike]] - [[Daniel Webber]]
* [[Darius Pike]] - [[Daniel Webber]]
* [[Professor]] [[Alistair Gryffen]] - [[Robert Moloney]]
* Voice of [[K9 Mark 2|K9]] - [[John Leeson]]
* [[June Turner]] - [[Robyn Moore]]
* [[June Turner]] - [[Robyn Moore]]
* [[Drake]] - [[Connor Van Vuuren]]
* [[Drake (Liberation)|Drake]] - [[Connor Van Vuuren]]
* [[Thorne]] - [[Jared Robinsen]]
* [[Thorne]] - [[Jared Robinsen]]
* [[Worker 1]] - [[Scott Tilly]]
* [[Worker 1 (Black Hunger)|Worker 1]] - [[Scott Tilly]]
* [[Worker 2]] - [[Anthony Kidd]]
* [[Worker 2 (Black Hunger)|Worker 2]] - [[Anthony Kidd]]
* [[Deptartment Technician (Curse of Anubis)|Department Technician]] - [[Stephen Sourkis]]
* [[Department Technician (Curse of Anubis)|Department Technician]] - [[Stephen Sourkis]]
* [[CCPC]] - [[Josh Norbido]]
* [[CCPC]]s - [[Josh Norbido]], [[Jason McNamara]], [[Dane Paltman]]
* [[CCPC]] - [[Jason McNamara]]
* [[Lomax]] - [[Peter Kent]]
* [[CCPC]] - [[Dane Paltman]]
* [[Lomax (K9)|Lomax]] - [[Peter Kent]]


== Production crew ==
''Robert Moloney, Keegan Joyce, Philippa Coulthard, Daniel Webber and John Leeson are all credited in the opening of the episode and not the closing credits. With the exception of Leeson's credit, they are credited only by their name and not with their respective character's name attached.''
 
== Crew ==
* [[Writer]] - [[Chris Roache]]
* [[Writer]] - [[Chris Roache]]
* [[Director]] - [[James Bogle]]
* [[Director (crew)|Director]] - [[James Bogle]]
* [[Producer]]s - [[Penny Wall]], [[Richard Stewart]], [[Simon Barnes]]
* [[Producer]]s - [[Penny Wall]], [[Richard Stewart]], [[Simon Barnes]]
* [[Executive producer]]s - [[Jim Howell]], [[Grant Bradley]], [[Steve Robbins]]
* [[Executive producer]]s - [[Jim Howell]], [[Grant Bradley]], [[Steve Robbins]]
Line 82: Line 86:
* Music by - [[Christopher Elves]]
* Music by - [[Christopher Elves]]
* K9 theme music by - [[Michael Lira]]
* K9 theme music by - [[Michael Lira]]
* [[Editor]] - [[Patrick Stewart]]
* [[Editor]] - [[Patrick Stewart (editor)|Patrick Stewart]]
* Casting - [[Faith Martin]] and associates
* Casting - [[Faith Martin]] and associates
* Episodic casting - [[Lisa Maloney]]
* Episodic casting - [[Lisa Maloney]]
Line 93: Line 97:
* [[Costume Designer]] - [[Joanne Thompson]]
* [[Costume Designer]] - [[Joanne Thompson]]
* Makeup Designer - [[Sharon Robbins]]
* Makeup Designer - [[Sharon Robbins]]
* Puppeteer - [[David Pawsey]]
* [[Puppeteer (crew)|Puppeteer]] - [[David Pawsey]]
* [[Location Manager]] - [[Charles Boyle]]
* [[Location Manager]] - [[Charles Boyle]]
* Sound Recordist - [[Ian Grant]]
* Sound Recordist - [[Ian Grant]]
Line 104: Line 108:
* Unit Manager - [[Graeme Suhr]]
* Unit Manager - [[Graeme Suhr]]
* Post Production Facility - [[Cutting Edge Australia]]
* Post Production Facility - [[Cutting Edge Australia]]
* Head of Post Production - [[John Lee]]
* Head of Post Production - [[John Lee (post-production)|John Lee]]
* Sound Design - [[Warren Pearson]]
* Sound Design - [[Warren Pearson]]


== References ==
== Worldbuilding ==
K9 says he will take the swarm to [[Atrios]].
''to be added''


== Story notes ==
== Story notes ==
Line 123: Line 127:


=== Production errors ===
=== Production errors ===
{{K9 discontinuity}}
''to be added''
''to be added''


== Continuity ==
== Continuity ==
{{K9 discontinuity}}
* K9 plans to release the Black Hunger on [[Atrios]], a planet first featured in ''[[Doctor Who]]'' episode [[TV]]: {{cs|The Armageddon Factor (TV story)}}.
* Atrios appeared in [[DW]]: ''[[The Armageddon Factor]]''.
* [[Thorne]] previously appeared in [[K9TV]]: ''[[Liberation]]''.
* The Department officer in this episode previously appeared in [[K9TV]]: ''[[Curse of Anubis]]''.
* Part of K9's solution to the swarm was "[[Reverse the Polarity|reversing the polarity]]." This phrase, commonly referenced by the [[Third Doctor]], was previously mentioned by Gryffen in [[K9TV]]: ''[[Jaws of Orthrus]]''.
* The brand of cola in the chess room is "Best". A box of biscuits from Best was previously seen in [[K9TV]]: ''[[Liberation]]'')


== Home video releases ==
== Home video releases ==
[[File:Dvd-k9complete.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Official Boxset Cover.]]
This episode is featured in the following DVD sets:
* This episode is featured in the Series One complete box set, released in Australia on [[29 September]] [[2010]]. [http://tardis-base.blogspot.com/2010/08/k9-complete-first-series.html]
* Series One complete box set, released in Australia on [[29 September (releases)|29 September]] [[2010 (releases)|2010]]. [http://tardis-base.blogspot.com/2010/08/k9-complete-first-series.html]
* ''K9: Series 1: Volume 2'', containing episodes 13–26, released in the UK and US on [[18 April (releases)|18 April]] [[2011 (releases)|2011]]. [http://merchandise.thedoctorwhosite.co.uk/k9-complete-series-1-13-episodes/], [http://www.amazon.com/K9-Series-1-Vol/dp/B004EJ006M/ref=pd_bxgy_mov_img_b]
* ''K9: Ultimate Collectors Edition'', containing the full first series, was released in the UK on [[11 June (releases)|11 June]] [[2012 (releases)|2012]]. [http://www.amazon.co.uk/K9-Complete-Box-Set-DVD/dp/B0076WI3C2/ref=sr_1_4?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1339049905&sr=1-4]


<gallery position=center captionalign=center hideaddbutton="true" widths="170">
File:Dvd-k9complete.jpg|Complete Boxset<br />(Region 4, Australia)
File:K9 Series 1 Vol 2 DVD.jpg|Series 1, Volume 2<br />(Region 0, sold in UK and US)
File:K9 Ultimate Collectors Edition DVD.jpg|"Ultimate Collectors Edition"<br />(Region 2, UK)
</gallery>


* This episode was released along with episodes 1-12 as "K-9: Series 1; Volume 2" on [[18 April]] [[2011]]. [http://merchandise.thedoctorwhosite.co.uk/k9-series-one-dvd-volume-two-uk/][[File:Dvd-k9vol2uk.jpg|thumb|left|K-9: Series 1; Volume 2]]
== External links ==
* [http://www.thedoctorwhosite.co.uk/k9/episodes/ TheDoctorWhoSite.co.uk]
{{elx|page url=http://www.k9official.com/episodes.html|page name=Episode Guide|website name=K9 website}}
{{K9TV}}
{{TitleSort}}


== External links ==
[[Category:K9 television stories]]
[http://www.k9official.com/episodes.html]
{{K9 series 1}}{{Korven stories}}
[[category:K9 television stories]]
[[Category:Stories set in the 2050s]]
[[Category:2010 television stories]]
[[Category:2010 television stories]]
[[Category:Series 1 (K9) stories]]
[[Category:Series 1 (K9) stories]]
[[Category:Korven stories]]
[[Category:Korven stories]]
[[Category:Stories set in London]]

Latest revision as of 19:32, 13 October 2024

RealWorld.png

Black Hunger was the fifteenth episode of K9. It was written by Chris Roache, directed by James Bogle and saw Drake depart and be replaced by Thorne, who was introduced in Liberation.

Synopsis[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Department is using an alien device which literally eats rubbish. Darius sees an opportunity to make some money and snatches the device. However the alien virus inside escapes and threatens to devour everything it touches.

Plot[[edit] | [edit source]]

In the sewers, two men in hazmat suits are looking through rubbish. One of them uses a device which sprays microbes on the rubbish. Darius walks in and hides as he takes a look. The microbes consume all the rubbish, which interests Darius. He makes a noise which alerts the men to his presence, but runs away before they can catch him. As one of the men grabs an empty can of cola, the nanoforms eat at his hand while the other man sucks the nanoforms back into the device. At the mansion, Gryffen and Starkey fail an experiment due to a hygiene crisis. Gryffen tells Starkey he has traced the contamination in the chess room. The source is pepperoni pizza. Starkey and K9 look through the chess room as Darius wades through the sewer and snatches the device.

At Department HQ, June asks the survivor about the accident. He says he suspects it's alien. A mishap like this hasn't occurred before. June suggests it could have been a malfunction but he says the microbes, as harmless as yeast, have turned into "bloodthirsty flesh-eaters". Darius brings the device to the house and uses it on the rubbish, amazed at its efficiency. The worker shows June the scene of the accident. They find the device gone. She scans the empty hazmat suit and detects a possible alien trace. Drake arrives and asks what June is doing. She asks him the same question as this is only a city sanitation issue. He tells her disappearance of state property is a very serious problem. He is "eternally vigilant".

In the chess room, Darius wakes from his nap as the microbes clean his mess. He does not know he is being followed by microbes, but uses the device to recapture them. Jorjie arrives, angry she has been sent to help clean up. K9 and Starkey thank her for her assistance. When they arrive in the chess room, they find it spotless. Darius says he cleaned it and shows Starkey his cleaned clothes. Starkey and Jorjie ask what the thing under the red sheet is and Darius reveals the device. K9 detects an unstable cross species, ordinary yeast cells spliced with something "more sinister". Darius compares it to a vacuum. K9 strongly advises he remove the object from the house, but Darius tells the others this could make him a fortune and dismisses K9 as a "panic artist". K9 scans the room and discovers there is not one living thing left in it, not even an ant, a spider, or a moth. When Starkey asks him where he bought it, Darius smiles.

At Department HQ, Drake tells the worker not to talk to anybody, especially June. Meanwhile, Jorjie demands Darius take the device back where he found it, but he says he has a window of opportunity. The device could become a household appliance and he would be rich. K9 complains he isn't listening and whatever is inside the device is an unstoppable life-form that could get out of control. Darius insists, "Finders keepers", and says he is simply a "businessman trying to make some creds". Darius tells K9 he found it in the tunnels of Sector NE12. Gryffen walks in, shocked at the "miracle" of the chess room. K9 asks Gryffen to use his atomic spectrometer to analyse what's been at work here. Gryffen confirms that whatever it is, it's too good to be true.

Gryffen has never seen anything like it. On Starkey's shirt, the smaller microbes have been consumed. When Darius thinks of the million creds he could earn, Gryffen warns him that in the wrong hands this could be lethal. Someone has been tampering with the microbe's gene coding. It has been crossed with microbes from another planet, possibly the vicious omnivores from Pluto, the most voracious bacteria in the known universe. These microbes' dormancy gene has been turned off; they are always hungry and could literally eat the world.

At Department HQ, June tells Drake she has received an analysis of the microbes in the imploder. She knows his project with the microbes, Black Hunger, closed down because it was too unstable. Drake tells her he's solved it with the imploder, an electromagnetic containment device which stores and transports the Hunger. June's analysis tells her he removed its self-limiting and dormancy characteristics. Drake tells her it's to make it more efficient and he refuses to believe it could get out of control.

As K9, Jorjie and Starkey move the imploder through the tunnels, a CCPC spots them. K9 says he's taking them for a walk. When Starkey and Jorjie start barking and growling, the CCPC leaves. At Department HQ, Drake says the planet is constantly threatened from within by dissidents, anti-social undesirables and juveniles. June believes people aren't the problem. The planet is surrounded by alien menaces which need to be defeated. Drake believes they need to use alien technology to deal with the human problem first. He plans to use Black Hunger to take the hijacked fallen angel technology to control society; future generations will thank him. June tells him the reason she has stayed in the Department is to make sure he doesn't succeed. She doesn't want her daughter growing up in his world. Drake is determined to see her leave before he does and she tells him to bring it on.

As the team go through the tunnels they spot a CCPC. Jorjie suggests they just drop the imploder, but K9 says they should put it where Darius found it. K9 distracts one CCPC, who chases after him. As Starkey and Jorjie move on, another CCPC comes and chases them, but they hide behind some rubbish. As they continue on, their way is blocked by debris. Starkey decides to use the imploder to do some "spring-cleaning" and remove the debris. The CCPCs report to Drake at Department HQ that intruders have been sighted: two juveniles and a robotic dog in Sector NW12. Drake orders a Department officer to set the imploder to self-destruct. When he asks about the CCPCs and the two juveniles, Drake angrily orders him to proceed. As the team move the imploder, K9 suggests containing the swarm but a CCPC arrives and they move on. With two minutes to go, June arrives. When she asks who gave the order to secure the tunnels, Drake tells her he has found the imploder and needs to make sure it is neutralised. The explosion will sterilise the area and take the people who stole the imploder with it. With one minute left, K9 detects the imploder will detonate. Jorjie and Starkey put it on the floor and run. K9 tells them they have to defuse it. With thirty seconds to go, Starkey presses the buttons hoping it will deactivate. With fifteen seconds left, Jorjie deactivates it by bashing it with a piece of rubbish.

June asks the officer the status of the swarm. He tells her it's still at large. She asks where the tunnel leads, and he tells her it leads into the River Thames. At Gryffen's house, Gryffen tells Darius that after the swarm reaches the Thames, the Earth will be devoid of all life in a week. K9, Starkey and Jorjie make their way out of the tunnels as the swarm spreads. They find an exit protected by bars with the Thames on the other side. Starkey tells K9 to blast through but he cannot let the swarm escape. K9 lets the swarm attack him, and then fires a beam, which swallows the swarm. The Department officer reports swarm activity has ceased and they have been completely neutralised. June tells Drake he almost killed everyone. He says calculated risks must be taken to protect society, but June tells that he almost destroyed society and will point this out in her report. Drake has gone too far this time, and June is going to take him down.

Later, June reports to Lomax that Operation Black Hunger had been closed down because it was too dangerous, and Drake restarted it without clearance. June confirms the situation has been resolved and they must be thankful for K9's help. Otherwise it would have ended disastrously. Although Drake has been with the Department for many years, this is not Drake's first breach of orders and is his most serious to date. Lomax decides Drake will be moved to other duties. June thanks him for hearing her out and asks if she is taking over from Drake. Lomax tells her Drake will be replaced by Inspector Thorne, who appears on the monitor and tells June he looks forward to working with her.

Back at the house, Gryffen congratulates K9 on his "stroke of genius" in reversing his fuel cells to stop the swarm. He explains the imploder is basically an electromagnetic compressor. By overheating his fuel cells and reversing the polarity, he did the same. K9 has the entire swarm in his stomach, sucking them all up like "slurping a milkshake", as Jorjie puts it. Gryffen expects Darius to apologise, but Darius thinks that he K9 can go into business together. K9 tells him not to push his luck. Gryffen asks K9 what he's going to do to the swarm. K9 will evacuate his fuel cells the next time he is on Atrios.

Cast[[edit] | [edit source]]

Robert Moloney, Keegan Joyce, Philippa Coulthard, Daniel Webber and John Leeson are all credited in the opening of the episode and not the closing credits. With the exception of Leeson's credit, they are credited only by their name and not with their respective character's name attached.

Crew[[edit] | [edit source]]

Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]

to be added

Story notes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • This is the first K9 episode to feature the death of a human.

Ratings[[edit] | [edit source]]

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Myths[[edit] | [edit source]]

to be added

Filming locations[[edit] | [edit source]]

to be added

Production errors[[edit] | [edit source]]

If you'd like to talk about narrative problems with this story — like plot holes and things that seem to contradict other stories — please go to this episode's discontinuity discussion.

to be added

Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • K9 plans to release the Black Hunger on Atrios, a planet first featured in Doctor Who episode TV: The Armageddon Factor [+]Loading...["The Armageddon Factor (TV story)"].

Home video releases[[edit] | [edit source]]

This episode is featured in the following DVD sets:

  • Series One complete box set, released in Australia on 29 September 2010. [1]
  • K9: Series 1: Volume 2, containing episodes 13–26, released in the UK and US on 18 April 2011. [2], [3]
  • K9: Ultimate Collectors Edition, containing the full first series, was released in the UK on 11 June 2012. [4]
  • Complete Boxset (Region 4, Australia)

    Complete Boxset
    (Region 4, Australia)

  • Series 1, Volume 2 (Region 0, sold in UK and US)

    Series 1, Volume 2
    (Region 0, sold in UK and US)

  • "Ultimate Collectors Edition" (Region 2, UK)

    "Ultimate Collectors Edition"
    (Region 2, UK)

External links[[edit] | [edit source]]

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K9 television stories
Series 1
Stories listed here are only those that have been officially licensed by Metal Mutt Productions.
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