Fabula
S20E14 · Terminus Part 2

Valgard decides to follow the Doctor

Valgard observes from an upper catwalk as the Doctor and Kari move along the station’s upper level. The Doctor remarks on Terminus being at the center of the known universe, a comment that underscores the station’s central and ominous role in their predicament. Seeing the two exposed and vulnerable, Valgard draws sinister conclusions about their intentions and the dangers they pose. Intrigued and unsettled, he resolves to trail them, setting in motion a pursuit that will draw both pursuer and prey deeper into Terminus’s deadly secrets. key_dialogue: [ DOCTOR: The centre of the universe. ]

Plot Beats

The narrative micro-steps within this event

3

Valgard observes the Doctor and Kari as they walk along an upper catwalk, indicating their presence has been noticed.

calm to vigilance ['upper catwalk']

The Doctor comments on their location, referring to it as 'the centre of the universe,' highlighting their interest and curiosity.

Valgard decides to pursue them, indicating a heightened level of threat and engagement.

interest to pursuit

Who Was There

Characters present in this moment

3

Calm observation masking underlying urgency to uncover Terminus's secrets and protect Kari.

The Doctor strides purposefully along the upper catwalk with Kari, his casual observation about Terminus's cosmic position masking a deeper appraisal of their surroundings and the dangers lurking within the station's systems. His usual detachment is tempered by the immediate threat of the Lazar disease and his growing understanding of Terminus's sinister operations.

Goals in this moment
  • Uncover the true nature of Terminus and its dangers
  • Protect Kari from the station's hazards
Active beliefs
  • Human life and safety are paramount even in extreme circumstances
  • Terminus's centrality in the universe likely signifies something profound and potentially dangerous
Character traits
analytical detached purposeful perceptive
Follow The Fifth …'s journey

Intrigued and unsettled, teetering on the edge of decisive action fueled by hostility.

Valgard stands motionless on the upper catwalk, his posture rigid as he observes the Doctor and Kari below. His eyes narrow, interpreting their presence and the Doctor's words as threats. He quietly resolves to follow them, driven by a mix of duty to the station's secrets and suspicion of their intentions.

Goals in this moment
  • Protect Terminus's secrets from perceived outside threats
  • Prepare to intercept or eliminate the intruders if they pose a danger
Active beliefs
  • The station's survival depends on secrecy and control
  • Any unknown individuals on Terminus likely intend harm
Character traits
observant suspicious calculating paranoid
Follow Valgard Olvir's journey
Supporting 1

Heightened vigilance masking a readiness to act decisively if the situation demands.

Kari moves with calculated caution beside the Doctor on the upper catwalk, her eyes scanning the environment for threats and anomalies. She remains keenly aware of their exposure and the station's hostility, her instincts sharpened by their precarious circumstances.

Goals in this moment
  • Survive the immediate dangers of Terminus
  • Navigate the station's hazards to reach safety or answers
Active beliefs
  • Caution and preparation can mitigate unknown threats
  • The station's compromised systems require constant scrutiny
Character traits
alert methodical adaptive resourceful
Follow Kari Olvir's journey

Location Details

Places and their significance in this event

2
Terminus External Stockyard

The expansive Terminus Stockyard provides a stark, industrial backdrop to the scene, its cracked concrete and gridded steel plating amplifying the sense of isolation and danger. The vastness of the space underscores the smallness and vulnerability of the figures on the catwalk, their movements deliberate against the station's chaotic, hazardous environment.

Atmosphere Oppressive industrial decay with a sense of lurking, unseen threats
Function Industrial zone framing the characters' vulnerability
Symbolism Emodies the harsh, unforgiving environment of Terminus, where survival is uncertain and danger is ever-present
Access Heavily restricted zones cordoned off with faded safety markings, with clear dangers in unrestricted areas
Black and yellow safety markings are obscured by grease and neglect Distant generators pulse with a low, ominous thrum
Terminus Station

The upper catwalk serves as a precarious vantage point for observation and pursuit. Its narrow metal grid and flickering lights create an atmosphere of instability, emphasizing the vulnerability of those who traverse it. From this height, the vast, industrial scale of Terminus is laid bare, amplifying the Doctor and Kari's exposure as Valgard hovers above them.

Atmosphere Exposed and tense, with an undercurrent of industrial decay and lurking danger
Function Observation post and path for pursuit
Symbolism Represents the precarious balance of power and knowledge within Terminus, where secrets loom large and …
Access Restricted to authorized personnel only, marked by faded safety warnings and structural decay
Fluorescent strips flicker along railings, casting uneven light Hissing pipes and rusted metal resonate with metallic hums

Narrative Connections

How this event relates to others in the story

What led here 8

"The Doctor and Kari's entry into Terminus directly causes Valgard to observe them from an upper catwalk, marking their presence as known to the station's inhabitants and escalating the immediate threat they face."

Doctor and Kari escape into Terminus darkness
S20E14 · Terminus Part 2

"The Doctor's discovery that Terminus is at the exact center of the known universe directly informs his later observation about being 'at the centre of the universe' when he and Kari enter Terminus. This realization drives the narrative focus toward Terminus's sinister, central role in the story."

Terminus revealed as cosmic center
S20E14 · Terminus Part 2

"The Doctor's discovery that Terminus is at the exact center of the known universe directly informs his later observation about being 'at the centre of the universe' when he and Kari enter Terminus. This realization drives the narrative focus toward Terminus's sinister, central role in the story."

Nyssa wins Olvir's reluctant aid
S20E14 · Terminus Part 2

"The Doctor's discovery that Terminus is at the exact center of the known universe directly informs his later observation about being 'at the centre of the universe' when he and Kari enter Terminus. This realization drives the narrative focus toward Terminus's sinister, central role in the story."

Doctor uncovers Terminus exploitation scheme
S20E14 · Terminus Part 2

"Valgard's instruction to the Garm to retrieve Bor's body, even in death, escalates the story's moral decay. This directly causes Valgard's later decision to pursue the Doctor and Kari, marking a shift from observation to active pursuit and raising the stakes."

Valgard commands Garm to reclaim Bor's corpse
S20E14 · Terminus Part 2

"The Doctor's observation about Terminus being at the center of the known universe symbolically parallels his later comment about being 'at the centre of the universe.' Both moments emphasize the station's central, controlling role in the story and the Doctor's growing awareness of its importance."

Nyssa wins Olvir's reluctant aid
S20E14 · Terminus Part 2

"The Doctor's observation about Terminus being at the center of the known universe symbolically parallels his later comment about being 'at the centre of the universe.' Both moments emphasize the station's central, controlling role in the story and the Doctor's growing awareness of its importance."

Doctor uncovers Terminus exploitation scheme
S20E14 · Terminus Part 2

"The Doctor's observation about Terminus being at the center of the known universe symbolically parallels his later comment about being 'at the centre of the universe.' Both moments emphasize the station's central, controlling role in the story and the Doctor's growing awareness of its importance."

Terminus revealed as cosmic center
S20E14 · Terminus Part 2

Part of Larger Arcs