Corruption

"We have changed the face of Skaro."

Writer: Lance Parkin
Format: Audio
Released: November 2006
Series: I, Davros 03

Featuring: Davros

Synopsis

"Logically, the war ends with one form of life in utter control of the world. All other life forms gone. That is the goal that is the only true victory!"

Now established within the Science Elite, Davros and his team are pushing the boundaries of Kaled experimentation further and further forward.

Access to Thal DNA spearheads an entirely new field of research for Davros, and as he becomes more and more intrigued by genetic mutations, others around him begin to fear him, his drive and his obsessive need for power.

Meanwhile he must learn to cope with betrayal and political manoeuvrings that will leave him changed forever.

Verdict

Corruption was another terrific story to continue my listening of I, Davros. I really liked that we joined his youth where he was a member of the Scientific Elite and he was working towards ending the war. However, his methods didn't seem to be purely based on developing weaponry and his research was much more concerned with genetic mutations of the Kaled DNA. How he utilised Thal DNA to enhance his research was fantastic and I absolutely adore his fascination with all of his research. Calcula perished in this story in quite horrific fashion but instead of feeling grief or shock, he was just interested in how her body reacted to the genetic code he had placed into the radiation that she released to prevent Fenn from destroying all of his work. It was a horrendous sacrifice but she truly did just want what was best for her son and would go to any means necessary to achieve it. The Supremo being the one to orchestrate her killing was quite a surprise to me but I loved the calmness in which Davros confronted his superior over his mother's death. He had provided him with a decent specimen so I guess it wasn't such an inconvenience to him. Davros sharing a relationship with Shan was delightful and the very concept of him having a love interest just seems absurd. But at this stage in his life, why wouldn't he? Calcula was quite excited by the prospect but for Davros, she was just someone who he shared research and his findings with. Her desire for peace, a now forbidden word, was excellent and I liked how Davros exposed her as a traitor despite having a fondness for her. Peace was not the answer as it would only be temporary. Davros had other means. Seeing his mother become the first of a new species, the very first mutated Kaled that would of course eventually become a Dalek, was mightily intriguing. The highlight of this adventure for me though was that we got to hear just how Davros become confined to his infamous chair and became somewhere close to what we more commonly know him as. The Thals directed an assault on his base of research and despite being twelve stories underground, he was badly affected. His mother, from beyond the grave and in his head, urged him to survive and he was placed in Kaled life support. He would live, even though he was given the option to die. He realised that this was necessary for him to continue his research and to know what was needed to defeat the Thals once and for all. I really liked the idea that the Thals were responsible for creating the Davros we know and it was such an intriguing insight into the past on Skaro. I look forward to the series finale! Overall, another very good story.

Rating: 8/10