Pariahs (audio story)

We've all spent the last two years sticking our DNA in jars and sending it off in the post. What happened to it? Two people know the secrets of the Phlobos Scandal, and Torchwood have to keep them alive.

Plot[[edit] | [edit source]]

Phlobos is accused of illegally profiting from the COVID-19 pandemic and Ng and Tyler, working for a temping agency, prepare for the imminent inquiry in Birmingham. Whilst waiting for Mr Colchester and Orr to bring their targets to give evidence, they are joined by their manager, whom Ng was unaware was the recently-liberated Yvonne.

Mr Colchester saves Graham Graves, a politician whose safety he is tasked with ensuring whilst he travels from London, from an assassination attempt in a car park. They wear masks of Charles and Camilla to look like men on a stag do whilst they travel by train, but Graves is recognised after removing his and Mr Colchester has to save him from being strangled by an assassin. After disembarking the train, Mr Colchester punches Graves to make a spectacle and ensure that he cannot be kidnapped or quietly killed and the two of them are driven away by Tyler, who is disguised as a police officer.

Kyle Lansman, the whistleblower, is initially unwilling to take part in the inquiry on account of being a wanted man in the United Kingdom, but Orr reveals that his host government is considering killing him as a favour to the power behind Phlobos and gets him out of the country by seducing his guard and disguising themself and Kyle as the crew of an aeroplane with the help of psychic passports. Ng meets them at the airport and transports them to the inquiry in a limo, but Kyle is feeling ill and has been since boarding the flight and they are chased by police.

Graves arrives at the inquiry and claims ignorance of Phlobos's data mining before the chair. However, Kyle states that he set up the operation at Graves's instruction and Graves admits to building a nanogenetic weapon which can target individuals or ethnic groups. As Yvonne holds back the authorities, who were warned of a terrorist attack, nanites kill Kyle and target the others in the room, causing Graves agony until Mr Colchester shoots him. Torchwood are spared and Yvonne disappears whilst Mr Colchester, Ng, Tyler and Orr are arrested by armed police.

Cast[[edit] | [edit source]]

Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]

Orr's appearance changes to resemble Kyle Lansman's ex.
Mr Colchester was a sergeant in the British Army.
Dimitri is a gay guard who likes men with big feet.
Mr Colchester and Graves wear Charles and Camilla masks.
Mr Colchester thinks that cheap lager is horrible.
Mr Colchester and Graves fought in the Falklands War.
Graves was awarded a service medal for bravery.
Mr Colchester was honourably discharged after being found cradling the body of a soldier with whom he was close.
When Graves assumes that Tyler is Mr Colchester's son, Tyler says that Mr Colchester has big daddy energy.
Referencing his recent disguises, Tyler says that he is working his way through the Village People.
Graves claims to have booted Fiona out of 10 Downing Street.
Snipers remind Yvonne of her gap year.

Notes[[edit] | [edit source]]

Textless cover

to be added

Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]

The last aeroplane that Orr was on blew up. (AUDIO: Propaganda)
Yvonne sent Ng to a cul-de-sac (AUDIO: Aliens Next Door) and Orr to Voloshnik. (AUDIO: Propaganda)
Tyler previously disguised himself as a paramedic. (AUDIO: At Her Majesty’s Pleasure)
Yvonne says that she is getting better at running inquiries. (AUDIO: A Mother's Son)

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

Official Pariahs page at bigfinish.com