Project: Nirvana

Companion Chronicles #7.3

Released: 19 September 2012

Listened: 1/8/21

This companion chronicle was recorded and released later than the other stories around it, but it works really well at filling in the gaps around the dangerous game the Doctor is playing here. Sally and Lysandra are acting as official companions, traveling in the Black TARDIS with the Doctor, and presumably carrying out missions that require their military background. It’s clear they’ve been doing this for a while, long enough for Sally to build trust with Lysandra, although Sally is clearly still the junior partner, and not as military-disciplined as Lysandra would like. They’re going after an Old God in this story, and this clearly isn’t the first one, but this one is complicated because the god in question is being held by the Forge (Lysandra’s former employer). The mission goes sideways almost immediately, with the old god escaping, and Sally falling under its influence. It gets even worse when Lysandra discovers that her younger self is present, and obviously wants to hold onto the god for the Forge. Worst of all, the Doctor knew all that would happen, and had a pretty good idea of the outcome too. He’s in full-blown chessmaster mode here, and he’s pretty much only getting away with it because he’s working with two soldiers, and taking the same risks that they are. This is an odd Companion Chronicle, because it’s told in present tense, because Sally and Lysandra take turns narrating, and because Sylvester McCoy voices the Doctor. The only thing that makes it fit as a Companion Chronicle is the fact that the listener gets access to Lysandra’s internal thoughts, which wouldn’t happen in any other story. As a standalone, it’s fine, even a bit forgettable, but as a part of the larger story, it’s pretty key.