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{{Infobox Object
{{Infobox Object
|name = Vortex manipulator
|image      = Cloaked Figure Vortex Malipunator.jpg
|image = Jacks vortex manipulator.jpg
|type       = [[Time travel]]
|type = [[Time travel]]
|made by     = [[Topher Si-William]], [[Time Agency]]
|made by = [[Time Agency]]
|used by     = [[Jack Harkness]], [[Family of Blood]], [[John Hart]], [[Martha Jones]], [[River Song]], [[Eleventh Doctor]], [[Adam Mitchell]], [[Clara Oswald]], [[Missy]], [[Harrison Crane]], [[Abslom Daak]], [[Jenny]], [[Krasko]], [[Doom]]
|used by = [[Jack Harkness]]<br />[[Family of Blood]]<br />[[John Hart (Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang)|John Hart]]<br />[[Martha Jones]]<br />[[River Song]]<br />[[Eleventh Doctor]]<br />[[Cloaked figure (Prisoners of Time)|Cloaked figure]]<br /> [[Clara Oswald]]
|first       = The Empty Child (TV story)
|first = The Empty Child (TV story)
|appearances = {{appears}}
|appearances =[[Vortex manipulator - list of appearances|'''''see list''''']]
}}{{ImageLink}}
}}
A '''vortex manipulator''' was a form of basic [[time travel]] used by the [[Time Agency]] of the [[51st century]]. The [[Tenth Doctor]] took a dismal view of it, claiming that it was a "space hopper" compared to his "sports car," his [[The Doctor's TARDIS|TARDIS]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Utopia (TV story)|Utopia]]'') Unlike safer time travel options, vortex manipulators took a major toll on organic beings, through direct exposure to the [[Time Vortex]]. Enough successive [[time hop]]s could [[Death|kill]]. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Kings of Infinite Space (audio story)|Kings of Infinite Space]]'') It was invented by [[Harvey Grey]]. ([[AUDIO]]: {{cs|Archipelago (audio story)}})
A '''vortex manipulator''' was a form of basic [[time travel]] used by the [[Time Agency]] of the [[51st century]]. The [[Tenth Doctor]] took a dismal view of it, claiming that it was a "[[space hopper]]" compared to his "[[The Doctor's TARDIS|sports car]]".


== Usage ==
== Usage ==
[[Time Agent]]s were each given a vortex manipulator. Vortex manipulators used and issued by the Time Agency were housed in [[leather]] wrist-straps with a covering flap, enabling the device to be worn conveniently by the Time Agent without drawing attention to the device itself. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Empty Child]]'')
[[Time Agent]]s were each given a vortex manipulator. ([[TV]]: ''[[Human Nature (TV story)|Human Nature]]'', ''[[Utopia (TV story)|Utopia]]'') Vortex manipulators used and issued by the Time Agency were housed in [[leather]] wrist-straps with a covering flap, enabling the device to be worn conveniently by the Time Agent without drawing attention to the device itself. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Empty Child (TV story)|The Empty Child]]'')


=== Jack Harkness ===
Early models of vortex manipulators left an echo, which was traceable by other users. This flaw was rectified in later models. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Shrouded (comic story)|Shrouded]]'')
After [[Rose Tyler]] as the [[Bad Wolf (entity)|Bad Wolf]] resurrected [[Jack Harkness]] following his extermination by the [[Dalek]]s, ([[TV]]: ''[[The Parting of the Ways]]'') Jack used his manipulator to travel from the [[Satellite Five|Game Station]], [[200100|200,100]]. He attempted to reach the [[21st century]] [[Earth]], but missed and ended up in [[1869]] (146 years off-course). The manipulator burned out after this trip. However, Jack was still able to use at least some of the other functions besides time travelling and teleporting. ([[TV]]: ''[[Utopia (TV story)|Utopia]]'')


Years later, as Jack, the [[Tenth Doctor]] and [[Martha Jones]] were being attacked by [[Futurekind]] on [[Malcassairo]] in the year [[100000000000000|100,000,000,000,000]], the Doctor repaired the vortex manipulator with his [[sonic screwdriver]], transporting them to [[Earth]], [[2008]]. The group used it to [[teleport]] to the ''[[Valiant (aircraft carrier)|Valiant]]'', from which Martha subsequently escaped, also by use of the manipulator. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Sound of Drums]]'') Martha considered the vortex manipulator in her Top Five Worst Ways To Travel because it made her sinuses and organs ache and caused her throat to become bloody. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Story of Martha]]'') {{simm|c}} later also used it to teleport from the ''Valiant'' to Earth, where he threatened to destroy the planet. The Doctor was able to use the manipulator to teleport them both back to the ''Valiant''. Once the Master was defeated and Jack made his way back to the [[Torchwood Three|Torchwood Hub]], the Doctor deactivated the manipulator, saying that he couldn't leave Jack with a time-travelling teleport. "You could go anywhere in time, twice; second time to apologise", according to the Doctor. ([[TV]]: ''[[Last of the Time Lords]]'')
According to the [[Eleventh Doctor]], vortex manipulators could cause an [[addiction]]. In particular, he used to be "40-a-day" in his [[First Doctor|youth]]. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Space in Dimension Relative and Time (comic story)|Space in Dimension Relative and Time]]'')


When the Daleks relocated Earth to the [[Medusa Cascade]] and [[Dalek Invasion of Earth (2009)|invaded]] it, Jack used information from the [[UNIT]] [[Project Indigo]] (based on [[Sontaran]] [[teleport pod]] technology) to reactivate the teleport function on his vortex manipulator (he still couldn't time travel). He then teleported to find the Doctor, arriving just after the Doctor was shot by a Dalek, which Jack then killed. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Stolen Earth]]'') After the Daleks were defeated, the Doctor deactivated the manipulator again, sternly saying "I told you - no teleport". ([[TV]]: ''[[Journey's End]]'')
Although it was generally used by the Agency, the [[Family of Blood]] stole [[Family of Blood's vortex manipulator|one]] to follow the [[Tenth Doctor]] around the universe. ([[TV]]: ''[[Human Nature (TV story)|Human Nature]]'')


Eventually, Captain Jack's vortex manipulator came into the possession [[UNIT]] and held in their [[Black Archive]] under the tightest secrecy, with UNIT keeping it hidden from not only its allies (particularly the Americans) but the Doctor himself. A [[Zygon]] posing as [[Kate Stewart]] told [[Clara Oswald]] it was bequeathed to the UNIT archive by Jack on the occasion of his death, "one of them" (the exact circumstances have yet to be chronicled). When the Zygon presence was revealed, Clara took the manipulator and using the activation code left by the [[Eleventh Doctor]], used it to reunite with [[the Doctor]]s in [[Elizabethan]] [[England]]. It is not known what became of the device afterwards. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Day of the Doctor (TV story)|The Day of the Doctor]]'')
[[Adam Mitchell]] stole [[Neal Shaw's vortex manipulator]] in order to kidnap several [[companion]]s of the Doctor and plot against his first eleven incarnations. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[The Choice (comic story)|The Choice]]'')


=== River Song ===
[[Harrison Crane]] stole [[Harrison Crane's vortex manipulator|a vortex manipulator]] from a Time Agent during his arrest in the [[Lunar Penal Colony]]. The vortex manipulator was damaged in Crane's escape and took him to [[London]] in the [[19th century]]. He attempted to use [[Strax]]'s [[Sontaran]] technology to repair the device, but the technologies were incompatible and resulted in Crane's death. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Case of the Dissolving Man (short story)|The Case of the Dissolving Man]]'')
After hearing that she was in search of [[time travel]], the [[merchant|salesman]] [[Dorium Maldovar]] met with [[River Song]] in [[the Maldovarium]] bar to offer her a vortex manipulator that was, according to him, "fresh off the wrist of a handsome Time Agent" (which wasn't quite true as, after examining the box, Dorium said "I said '''off''' the wrist," implying it had the hand with it). She used it to teleport to [[Planet One]] at some point in the past and then to [[102]] [[A.D.]] on [[Earth]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Pandorica Opens (TV story)|The Pandorica Opens]]'')


After the destruction of [[The Doctor's TARDIS|the TARDIS]], the [[Eleventh Doctor]] used River's manipulator to teleport to [[Easter]], [[1996]], and then back to 102 A.D. to affect the rescue of both his earlier self and of [[Amy Pond]]. Discovering the TARDIS to be caught in a [[time loop]] at the moment of its destruction, the Doctor was able to use the manipulator to transport himself into the TARDIS to rescue River. The Doctor later time-travelled back 12 minutes to fake his death after being seriously wounded by the [[Stone Dalek]], buying himself time to get to [[the Pandorica]]. The vortex manipulator was then used to transport the Pandorica into the heart of the explosion of the [[TARDIS]], thus 'rebooting' the Universe. After being brought back by Amy, the Doctor gave the vortex manipulator back to [[River Song]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Big Bang]]'')
[[File:Krasko's vortex manipulator.jpg|thumb|[[Krasko's vortex manipulator]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Rosa (TV story)|Rosa]]'')]]
[[Krasko]] used [[Krasko's vortex manipulator|one]] to time travel back to [[1955]] in [[Alabama]] to prevent [[Rosa Parks]] from causing the [[Montgomery Bus Boycott]] but was stopped by the [[Thirteenth Doctor|Doctor]], [[Graham O'Brien|Graham]], [[Ryan Sinclair|Ryan]] and [[Yasmin Khan|Yaz]]. The Doctor also took and destroyed his vortex manipulator by stomping on it. ([[TV]]: ''[[Rosa (TV story)|Rosa]]'')


River later used the device to meet up with the Doctor, Amy and Rory at [[Demons Run]]. The Doctor afterwards charged River with returning Amy and Rory home, which she presumably did using the device. ([[TV]]: ''[[A Good Man Goes to War (TV story)|A Good Man Goes to War]]'') It's uncertain whether she helped [[Vastra]], [[Jenny Flint]] and the revived [[Strax]] also return to their time (''[[The Battle of Demons Run: Two Days Later (webcast)|The Battle of Demons Run: Two Days Later]]'').
== Abilities ==
{{Section cleanup|Bulleted list should be converted to prose text}}
The main function of a vortex manipulator was to [[Time travel|transport]] the user through [[time]] and [[space]] via the [[Time Vortex]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Empty Child (TV story)|The Empty Child]]'', et al) The device was fuelled by [[Chronoplasm]]. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Stuff of Nightmares (JL audio story)|The Stuff of Nightmares]]'')


When three [[River Song|Rivers]] ended up in the Doctor's TARDIS, the second one was travelling using her vortex manipulator and the Doctor sent her away before she or any of the other Rivers could see each other by activating her vortex manipulator and causing her to teleport away. ([[TV]]: ''[[Last Night]]'')
Vortex manipulators were [[temporal anomaly|temporal anomalies]] and, hence, were not affected by local [[time distortion]]s. In particular, when the [[Time Vortex leech]] caused the time inside [[the Doctor's TARDIS]] to jump backwards at regular intervals, the only object that the [[Eleventh Doctor]] could retain from jump to jump was [[Eleventh Doctor's vortex manipulator|a vortex manipulator]]. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Space in Dimension Relative and Time (comic story)|Space in Dimension Relative and Time]]'')


River travelled back to [[New York]] in [[1948]] with her vortex manipulator. Despite the TARDIS being unable to travel to that time due to [[time distortion]]s, the manipulator was able to make the trip. River later used it to send a signal to the Doctor to act as "landing lights." ([[TV]]: ''[[The Angels Take Manhattan (TV story)|The Angels Take Manhattan]]'')
The exact range of a vortex manipulator was uncertain. One model did allow [[Jack Harkness]] to travel nearly 200,000 years (although in this instance, said manipulator burned out after doing so). ([[TV]]: ''[[Utopia (TV story)|Utopia]]'') Following the Doctor's repairs and adjustments using [[the Doctor's sonic screwdriver|his sonic screwdriver]], the manipulator was able to travel 100 trillion years. It could transport multiple people if necessary, so long as they had some sort of physical contact with it (or the person wearing it). ([[TV]]: ''[[The Sound of Drums (TV story)|The Sound of Drums]]'') [[Missy]] used vortex manipulators to transport herself and Clara through time. She stated that Clara's was slaved to her own and indeed Clara's didn't seem to have a control panel. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Magician's Apprentice (TV story)|The Magician's Apprentice]]'')


=== Other instances ===
Manipulators could be seen as an extremely precise form of time travel when properly used. [[River Song]] was able to reach her intended destinations quite regularly using vortex manipulators.{{facts}} When the universe was a fraction of its former size, a vortex manipulator was able to facilitate multiple precise jumps with no apparent difficulty and extreme precision. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Big Bang (TV story)|The Big Bang]]'')
Captain [[John Hart (Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang)|John Hart]] used a manipulator to reunite with Jack and then take him to [[27]] [[A.D.]]. [[Gray]] used his manipulator to take control of the [[Weevil]]s in [[Cardiff]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Exit Wounds]]'')


Although it was generally used by the Agency, the [[Family of Blood]] stole one to follow the [[Tenth Doctor]] around the universe. ([[TV]]: ''[[Human Nature (TV story)|Human Nature]]''/''[[The Family of Blood]]'') [[Adam Mitchell]] stole another one in order to kidnap several companions of the Doctor and plot against his first eleven incarnations. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Prisoners of Time]]'')
The vortex manipulator protected its user from the journey through the [[Time Vortex|Vortex]] and was able to transport two people without difficulty or discomfort for those travelling. However, transporting three people appeared to result in discomfort for the users, possibly slightly overloading the manipulator's capabilities. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Sound of Drums (TV story)|The Sound of Drums]]'')
 
== Abilities ==
The main function of a vortex manipulator was to [[Time travel|transport]] the user through [[time]] and [[space]] via the [[Time Vortex]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Empty Child]]'', et al)
 
The exact range of a vortex manipulator was uncertain. One model did allow Jack Harkness to travel nearly 200,000 years (although in this instance, said manipulator burned out after doing so). ([[TV]]: ''[[Utopia (TV story)|Utopia]]'') Following the Doctor's repairs and adjustments using his [[sonic screwdriver]], the manipulator was able to travel 100 trillion years. It could transport multiple people if necessary, so long as they had some sort of physical contact with it (or the person wearing it). ([[TV]]: ''[[The Sound of Drums (TV story)|The Sound of Drums]]'')
 
Manipulators could be seen as an extremely precise form of time travel when properly used. Both [[River Song]] and former [[Time Agent]] [[John Hart (Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang)|John Hart]] were able to reach their intended destinations quite regularly using vortex manipulators. When the universe was a fraction of its former size, a vortex manipulator was able to facilitate multiple precise jumps with no apparent difficulty and extreme precision - although, admittedly, the distances and time differences involved were a great deal smaller. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Big Bang (TV story)|The Big Bang]]'')
 
The vortex manipulator protected its user from the journey through the [[Time Vortex|Vortex]], and was able to transport two people {{fact}} without difficulty or discomfort for those travelling. However, transporting three people appeared to result in discomfort for the users, possibly slightly overloading the manipulator's capabilities. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Sound of Drums (TV story)|The Sound of Drums]]'')


In addition to transportation, vortex manipulators had several other functions. These included:
In addition to transportation, vortex manipulators had several other functions. These included:


* Communication between users, including storage of messages, and listening to radio broadcasts. ([[TV]]: ''[[Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang (TV story)|Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang]]'', [[TV]]: ''[[The Sound of Drums (TV story)|The Sound of Drums]]'')
* Communication between users, including storage of messages, and listening to radio broadcasts. ([[TV]]: ''[[Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang (TV story)|Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang]]'', ''[[The Sound of Drums (TV story)|The Sound of Drums]]'', [[GAME]]: ''[[Lost in Time (video game)|Lost in Time]]'')
* Projection of [[hologram]]s. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Empty Child (TV story)|The Empty Child]]'', [[TV]]: ''[[Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang (TV story)|Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang]]'', ''[[Fragments (TV story)|Fragments]]'')
* Projection of [[hologram]]s. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Empty Child (TV story)|The Empty Child]]'', ''[[Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang (TV story)|Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang]]'', ''[[Fragments (TV story)|Fragments]]'')
* Tracking of life signs. This feature was specific enough to recognise [[Binary vascular system|a two-hearted]] [[Ninth Doctor|person]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Bad Wolf (TV story)|Bad Wolf]]'', ''[[Journey's End]]'')
* Tracking of life signs. This feature was specific enough to recognise [[Binary vascular system|a two-hearted]] [[Ninth Doctor|person]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Bad Wolf (TV story)|Bad Wolf]]'', ''[[Journey's End (TV story)|Journey's End]]'')
* Remote control of electronic devices. ([[TV]]: ''[[Everything Changes (TV story)|Everything Changes]]'', ''[[Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang (TV story)|Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang]]'', ''[[Exit Wounds]]'')
* Remote control of electronic devices. ([[TV]]: ''[[Everything Changes (TV story)|Everything Changes]]'', ''[[Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang (TV story)|Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang]]'', ''[[Exit Wounds (TV story)|Exit Wounds]]'')
* Muting [[Torchwood Three]]'s comm system. ([[TV]]: ''[[Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang (TV story)|Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang]]'')
* Muting [[Torchwood Three]]'s comm system. ([[TV]]: ''[[Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang (TV story)|Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang]]'')
* As a "front door key" to the [[Torchwood Hub|Torchwood Three Hub]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang (TV story)|Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang]]'')
* As a "front door key" to the [[The Hub|Torchwood Three Hub]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang (TV story)|Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang]]'')
::''This seems to only apply to [[Jack Harkness|Jack]]'s vortex manipulator.''
* Playing music. ([[TV]]: ''[[Exit Wounds (TV story)|Exit Wounds]]'')
* Playing music. ([[TV]]: ''[[Exit Wounds (TV story)|Exit Wounds]]'')
* Sending a signal to enrage [[Weevil]]s and to bring them back to the [[Cardiff]] sewers. ([[TV]]: ''[[Exit Wounds (TV story)|Exit Wounds]]'')
* Sending a signal to enrage [[Weevil]]s and to bring them back to the [[Cardiff]] sewers. ([[TV]]: ''[[Exit Wounds (TV story)|Exit Wounds]]'')
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* Scanning and alteration of printed texts. ([[TV]]: ''[[Immortal Sins (TV story)|Immortal Sins]]'')
* Scanning and alteration of printed texts. ([[TV]]: ''[[Immortal Sins (TV story)|Immortal Sins]]'')
* Unlocking combination-locked vaults. ([[TV]]: ''[[Immortal Sins (TV story)|Immortal Sins]]'')
* Unlocking combination-locked vaults. ([[TV]]: ''[[Immortal Sins (TV story)|Immortal Sins]]'')
* Scanning a body for life, specificaly Angelo Calasanto. ([[TV]]: ''[[End of the Road]]'')
* Scanning a body for life, specifically Angelo Calasanto. ([[TV]]: ''[[End of the Road (TV story)|End of the Road]]'')
* Acting as a beacon. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Angels Take Manhattan (TV story)|The Angels Take Manhattan]]'')
* Acting as a beacon. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Angels Take Manhattan (TV story)|The Angels Take Manhattan]]'')
* Remote teleportation ([[TV]]: ''[[The Witch's Familiar (TV story)|The Witch's Familiar]]'')
* Cancelling the [[Blinovitch Limitation Effect]], allowing Jack to interact with his past self. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Month 25 (audio story)|Month 25]]'')
Vortex manipulators were constructed from an extremely durable [[metal]]. One was easily able to survive the detonation of a [[bomb]] which obliterated the [[human]] wearing it, albeit at the cost of the [[leather]] wrist-strap housing the vortex manipulator itself. That vortex manipulator was later recovered and installed in a new, identical wrist strap. ([[TV]]: ''[[Children of Earth: Day Five (TV story)|Children of Earth: Day Five]]'') Another vortex manipulator also survived the explosion caused by [[Big Bang Two]] by being "re-booted" from its original form. However, its wearer (the [[Eleventh Doctor]]) was being erased temporarily from time, which would leave the device unharmed when he returned. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Big Bang (TV story)|The Big Bang]]'') The only time one has been destroyed was when the [[Thirteenth Doctor]] ripped [[Krasko's vortex manipulator]] off his wrist and stomped on it. Although most of his other gear was "knackered" it's possible so was his vortex manipulator, this could explain how it was so easily destroyed.


Despite Jack's claim to [[Gwen Cooper]] that the wrist-strap was [[DNA]] coded to him, but could be reset, the fact that the Doctor, the Master and Martha were all able to use the teleporter function, as well as its detection of low sodium levels in [[Rex Matheson]], who was simply holding the device, shows that Jack was lying in an attempt to escape. Text transmitted directly to Gwen at this time also confirmed 'Jack lies...'  
The [[Tenth Doctor]] considered the vortex manipulator as very primitive compared to a [[TARDIS]], describing [[The Doctor's TARDIS|his TARDIS]] as a "sports car" to [[Jack Harkness]]' "space hopper". ([[TV]]: ''[[Utopia (TV story)|Utopia]]'') His eleventh incarnation described it as "cheap and nasty time travel, very bad for you", and stated that he was "trying to give it up". ([[TV]]: ''[[The Big Bang (TV story)|The Big Bang]]'') The Thirteenth Doctor later echoed these sentiments. ([[TV]]: ''[[Rosa (TV story)|Rosa]]'') [[River Song]] described it as "less bulky" and considered it like a "[[motorbike]] through [[road traffic|traffic]]." ([[TV]]: ''[[The Angels Take Manhattan (TV story)|The Angels Take Manhattan]]'') [[Missy]] similarly displayed a dislike for vortex manipulators, though she relied on them for time travel. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Magician's Apprentice (TV story)|The Magician's Apprentice]]'')


Vortex manipulators were constructed from an unidentified, but extremely durable [[metal]]. One was easily able to survive the detonation of a bomb which obliterated the [[human]] wearing it, albeit at the cost of the leather wrist-strap housing the vortex manipulator itself. The vortex manipulator was later recovered and installed in a new, identical wrist strap for £50 ([[TV]]: ''[[Children of Earth: Day Five]]'') Another vortex manipulator also survived the explosion caused by [[Big Bang Two]] by being 're-booted' from its original form. However, its wearer (the [[Eleventh Doctor]]) was being erased temporarily from time, which would leave the device unharmed when he returned. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Big Bang (TV story)|The Big Bang]]'')
Travel through time with a vortex manipulator was not as safe as in a capsule, for instance in a TARDIS, even taking into account the manipulator's protection systems. ([[TV]]: ''[[Blink (TV story)|Blink]]'')


The [[Tenth Doctor]] considered the vortex manipulator as very primitive compared to a [[TARDIS]], describing [[the Doctor's TARDIS|his TARDIS]] as a "sports car" to [[Jack Harkness]]' "space hopper". ([[TV]]: ''[[Utopia (TV story)|Utopia]]'') His [[Eleventh Doctor|eleventh incarnation]] described it as "cheap and nasty time travel, very bad for you", and stated that he was "trying to give it up". ([[TV]]: ''[[The Big Bang (TV story)|The Big Bang]]'') [[River Song]] described it as "less bulky" and considered it like a "motorbike through traffic." ([[TV]]: ''[[The Angels Take Manhattan (TV story)|The Angels Take Manhattan]]'')
Vortex manipulators were able to travel to places with time distortions where a TARDIS could not easily do so. For example, River Song travelled to [[1938]] [[New York City]] when the TARDIS couldn't until it had "landing lights". Unlike a TARDIS, going to such an area with a vortex manipulator would not risk the total destruction of the area. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Angels Take Manhattan (TV story)|The Angels Take Manhattan]]'')


Vortex manipulators were able to travel to places with [[time distortion]]s where a [[TARDIS]] could not easily do so. For example, River Song travelled to [[1938]] [[New York]] when the TARDIS couldn't until it had "landing lights". Unlike a TARDIS, going to such an area with a vortex manipulator would not risk the total destruction of the area. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Angels Take Manhattan (TV story)|The Angels Take Manhattan]]'')
Missy was able to modify [[Missy's vortex manipulator|her vortex manipulator]] to be recharged by absorbing [[energy blast]]s fired at her. She modified this off a trick the Doctor once used and was able to use this trick ([[TV]]: ''[[The Witch's Familiar (TV story)|The Witch's Familiar]]'') to escape [[the Brigadier]] ([[TV]]: ''[[Death in Heaven (TV story)|Death in Heaven]]'') and the [[Dalek]]s. When Clara was fired upon as well, her vortex manipulator, which was slaved to Missy's, similarly teleported her to safety. However, both vortex manipulators were destroyed in the process. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Witch's Familiar (TV story)|The Witch's Familiar]]'')


Evidently, the interface for activating the device (or, at least, Jack Harkness' version of it) was very simple and easy to understand, as [[Clara Oswald]] was able to successfully enter coordinates into it without any training only moments after seeing it for the first time. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Day of the Doctor (TV story)|The Day of the Doctor]]'')
Vortex manipulators could also be used as a way to allow regular spaceships to travel in time. The [[Family of Blood]] fitted a stolen manipulator to their [[Family of Blood's ship|ship]] and used it to follow the Doctor through time and space. ([[TV]]: ''[[Human Nature]]'')


== Known owners ==
== Known owners ==
[[File:Cloaked_Figure_Vortex_Malipunator.jpg|thumb|[[Adam Mitchell]]'s vortex manipulator. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Prisoners of Time]]'')]]
[[File:Vortex manipulator.jpg|thumb|[[Jack Harkness' vortex manipulator]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Sound of Drums (TV story)|The Sound of Drums]]'')]]
* [[Jack Harkness|Captain Jack Harkness]] ([[TV]]: ''[[The Empty Child]]'')
[[Jack Harkness|Captain Jack Harkness]] ([[TV]]: ''[[The Empty Child (TV story)|The Empty Child]]'') owned [[Jack Harkness' vortex manipulator|one]]. The [[Eleventh Doctor]] and [[Clara Oswald]] took it from the [[Black Archive]] after Jack bequeathed it to [[UNIT]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Day of the Doctor (TV story)|The Day of the Doctor]]'') Jack later reacquired it somehow or got his hands on another one. ([[TV]]: ''[[Revolution of the Daleks (TV story)|Revolution of the Daleks]]'')
** The [[Eleventh Doctor]] and [[Clara Oswald]] (taken from the [[Black Archive]] after Jack Harkness bequeathed it to [[UNIT]]) ([[TV]]: ''[[The Day of the Doctor]]'')
 
* [[John Hart (Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang)|Captain John Hart]] ([[TV]]: ''[[Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang]]'')
The [[Family of Blood]] stole [[Family of Blood's vortex manipulator|one vortex manipulator]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Human Nature (TV story)|Human Nature]]'')
* [[Gray]] ([[TV]]: ''[[Exit Wounds]]'')
 
* The [[Family of Blood]] (stolen) ([[TV]]: ''[[The Family of Blood]]'')
[[Dorium Maldovar]] had acquired [[River Song's vortex manipulator|one]] "off the wrist of a handsome [[Time Agent]]." ([[TV]]: ''[[The Pandorica Opens (TV story)|The Pandorica Opens]]'') [[River Song]] purchased it from him. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Pandorica Opens (TV story)|The Pandorica Opens]]'', ''[[The Angels Take Manhattan (TV story)|The Angels Take Manhattan]]'', [[GAME]]: ''[[The Eternity Clock (video game)|The Eternity Clock]]'')
* [[Mairwyn]] ([[Mexico]], [[Time rift]] flotsam) ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Shrouded]]'')
 
* [[Dorium Maldovar]] (acquired on the wrist of a handsome [[Time Agent]]) ([[TV]]: ''[[The Pandorica Opens (TV story)|The Pandorica Opens]]'')
[[Neal Shaw]] [[Neal Shaw's vortex manipulator|had one]], which was stolen by [[Adam Mitchell]]. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[The Choice (comic story)|The Choice]]'')
** [[River Song]] (purchased from Dorium Maldovar) ([[TV]]: ''[[The Pandorica Opens (TV story)|The Pandorica Opens]]'', ''[[The Angels Take Manhattan (TV story)|The Angels Take Manhattan]]'', [[GAME]]: ''[[The Eternity Clock]]'')
 
* River Song (pre-Pandorica) ([[TV]]: ''[[The Big Bang (TV story)|The Big Bang]]'', ''[[A Good Man Goes to War (TV story)|A Good Man Goes to War]]'', ''[[Last Night]]'')
[[Abslom Daak]] also [[Abslom Daak's vortex manipulator|acquired one]] off the wrist of a Time Agent. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[The Then and the Now (comic story)|The Then and the Now]]'')
* [[Neal Shaw]] ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Prisoners of Time (comic story)|Prisoners of Time]]'')
 
* [[Adam Mitchell]] (stolen) ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Prisoners of Time (comic story)|Prisoners of Time]]'')
[[Harrison Crane]] stole [[Harrison Crane's vortex manipulator|one]] from a Time Agent. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Case of the Dissolving Man (short story)|The Case of the Dissolving Man]]'')
* The Eleventh Doctor ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Space in Dimension Relative and Time (comic story)|Space in Dimension Relative and Time]]'')
 
[[Krasko]] obtained [[Krasko's vortex manipulator|one]] along with some other "knackered" Time Agent gear after his release from [[Stormcage Containment Facility]]. He used it to travel to [[1955]], [[Montgomery]], [[Alabama]] and attempted to stop the [[Montgomery Bus Boycott]]. His vortex manipulator was destroyed by the [[Thirteenth Doctor]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Rosa (TV story)|Rosa]]'')
 
Other owners included [[Missy]], ([[TV]]: ''[[The Magician's Apprentice (TV story)|The Magician's Apprentice]]'', [[PROSE]]: ''[[Dr. Twelfth (novel)|Dr. Twelfth]]'') [[Clara Oswald]], ([[TV]]: ''[[The Magician's Apprentice (TV story)|The Magician's Apprentice]]'') [[Cara (The Stuff of Nightmares)|Cara]], ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Stuff of Nightmares (JL audio story)|The Stuff of Nightmares]]'') the Eleventh Doctor, ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Space in Dimension Relative and Time (comic story)|Space in Dimension Relative and Time]]'', [[PROSE]]: ''[[A Gamble with Time (short story)|A Gamble with Time]]'') [[Mairwyn]], ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Shrouded (comic story)|Shrouded]]'') [[John Hart|Captain John Hart]], ([[TV]]: ''[[Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang (TV story)|Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang]]'') [[Gray (Fragments)|Gray]], ([[TV]]: ''[[Exit Wounds (TV story)|Exit Wounds]]'') and [[Jenny]]. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Prisoner of the Ood (audio story)|Prisoner of the Ood]]'')
 
At some point, [[K9 Mark IV]] was fitted with an internal [[vortex manipulator circuit]]. ([[GAME]]: ''[[Lost in Time (video game)|Lost in Time]]'')
 
[[Doom]], an [[assassin]] who worked for the [[Lesser Order of Oberon]], owned [[Doom's vortex manipulator|a vortex manipulator]] to which her employers transmitted a large number of coordinates per day. Every hour, she could select one of those sets of coordinates at her discretion and travel there. ([[WC]]: ''[[Meet Doom - the Universe's Greatest Assassin! (webcast)|Meet Doom - the Universe's Greatest Assassin!]]'')


== Behind the scenes ==
== Behind the scenes ==
[[Jack Harkness|Jack]]'s vortex manipulator is used much in the same way as [[the Doctor]]'s [[sonic screwdriver]] in the context of ''[[Torchwood (TV series)|Torchwood]]'', being capable of doing just about whatever the [[writer]]s want it to. Its only known limitation, within the context of ''Torchwood'' episodes, is being unable to time travel or teleport, both functions having been deactivated by the Tenth Doctor. It has since been reactivated by [[Clara]], upon being given the reactivation code by the [[Eleventh Doctor]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Day of the Doctor]]'')
Although a vortex manipulator first appeared in the TV story ''[[The Empty Child (TV story)|The Empty Child]]'', "vortex manipulator" was not identified as the name of the time agents' time travel device until the TV story ''[[Human Nature (TV story)|Human Nature]]'' (where it was described, but not shown), and [[Jack Harkness' vortex manipulator|Jack's portable wrist strap]] was not directly described as one until the TV story ''[[Utopia (TV story)|Utopia]]''. Indeed, throughout the whole of the first three series of ''[[Torchwood (series)|Torchwood]]'', the device is not named at all outside of John Hart referring to [[John Hart's vortex manipulator|his own device]] twice as a wrist strap.
 
=== Information from invalid sources ===
Vortex manipulators could imbue the user(s) with [[artron energy]].
 
A group of humans led by [[British Army|the army]] used a [[vortex manipulator (The Crash of the Elysium)|vortex manipulator]] left by the [[Eleventh Doctor]] to return to the [[21st century]] after having been sent back to [[fairground (The Crash of the Elysium)|a fairground]] in [[1888]] by [[Weeping Angel]]s. ([[STAGE]]: ''[[The Crash of the Elysium (stage play)|The Crash of the Elysium]]'')


[[Category:Time travel devices]]
[[Category:Vortex manipulators| *]]
[[Category:Torchwood Three's items]]
[[Category:Teleportation devices]]

Latest revision as of 01:08, 22 October 2024

A vortex manipulator was a form of basic time travel used by the Time Agency of the 51st century. The Tenth Doctor took a dismal view of it, claiming that it was a "space hopper" compared to his "sports car," his TARDIS. (TV: Utopia) Unlike safer time travel options, vortex manipulators took a major toll on organic beings, through direct exposure to the Time Vortex. Enough successive time hops could kill. (AUDIO: Kings of Infinite Space) It was invented by Harvey Grey. (AUDIO: Archipelago [+]Loading...["Archipelago (audio story)"])

Usage[[edit] | [edit source]]

Time Agents were each given a vortex manipulator. (TV: Human Nature, Utopia) Vortex manipulators used and issued by the Time Agency were housed in leather wrist-straps with a covering flap, enabling the device to be worn conveniently by the Time Agent without drawing attention to the device itself. (TV: The Empty Child)

Early models of vortex manipulators left an echo, which was traceable by other users. This flaw was rectified in later models. (COMIC: Shrouded)

According to the Eleventh Doctor, vortex manipulators could cause an addiction. In particular, he used to be "40-a-day" in his youth. (COMIC: Space in Dimension Relative and Time)

Although it was generally used by the Agency, the Family of Blood stole one to follow the Tenth Doctor around the universe. (TV: Human Nature)

Adam Mitchell stole Neal Shaw's vortex manipulator in order to kidnap several companions of the Doctor and plot against his first eleven incarnations. (COMIC: The Choice)

Harrison Crane stole a vortex manipulator from a Time Agent during his arrest in the Lunar Penal Colony. The vortex manipulator was damaged in Crane's escape and took him to London in the 19th century. He attempted to use Strax's Sontaran technology to repair the device, but the technologies were incompatible and resulted in Crane's death. (PROSE: The Case of the Dissolving Man)

Krasko's vortex manipulator. (TV: Rosa)

Krasko used one to time travel back to 1955 in Alabama to prevent Rosa Parks from causing the Montgomery Bus Boycott but was stopped by the Doctor, Graham, Ryan and Yaz. The Doctor also took and destroyed his vortex manipulator by stomping on it. (TV: Rosa)

Abilities[[edit] | [edit source]]

This section needs a cleanup.

Bulleted list should be converted to prose text

The main function of a vortex manipulator was to transport the user through time and space via the Time Vortex. (TV: The Empty Child, et al) The device was fuelled by Chronoplasm. (AUDIO: The Stuff of Nightmares)

Vortex manipulators were temporal anomalies and, hence, were not affected by local time distortions. In particular, when the Time Vortex leech caused the time inside the Doctor's TARDIS to jump backwards at regular intervals, the only object that the Eleventh Doctor could retain from jump to jump was a vortex manipulator. (COMIC: Space in Dimension Relative and Time)

The exact range of a vortex manipulator was uncertain. One model did allow Jack Harkness to travel nearly 200,000 years (although in this instance, said manipulator burned out after doing so). (TV: Utopia) Following the Doctor's repairs and adjustments using his sonic screwdriver, the manipulator was able to travel 100 trillion years. It could transport multiple people if necessary, so long as they had some sort of physical contact with it (or the person wearing it). (TV: The Sound of Drums) Missy used vortex manipulators to transport herself and Clara through time. She stated that Clara's was slaved to her own and indeed Clara's didn't seem to have a control panel. (TV: The Magician's Apprentice)

Manipulators could be seen as an extremely precise form of time travel when properly used. River Song was able to reach her intended destinations quite regularly using vortex manipulators.[additional sources needed] When the universe was a fraction of its former size, a vortex manipulator was able to facilitate multiple precise jumps with no apparent difficulty and extreme precision. (TV: The Big Bang)

The vortex manipulator protected its user from the journey through the Vortex and was able to transport two people without difficulty or discomfort for those travelling. However, transporting three people appeared to result in discomfort for the users, possibly slightly overloading the manipulator's capabilities. (TV: The Sound of Drums)

In addition to transportation, vortex manipulators had several other functions. These included:

Vortex manipulators were constructed from an extremely durable metal. One was easily able to survive the detonation of a bomb which obliterated the human wearing it, albeit at the cost of the leather wrist-strap housing the vortex manipulator itself. That vortex manipulator was later recovered and installed in a new, identical wrist strap. (TV: Children of Earth: Day Five) Another vortex manipulator also survived the explosion caused by Big Bang Two by being "re-booted" from its original form. However, its wearer (the Eleventh Doctor) was being erased temporarily from time, which would leave the device unharmed when he returned. (TV: The Big Bang) The only time one has been destroyed was when the Thirteenth Doctor ripped Krasko's vortex manipulator off his wrist and stomped on it. Although most of his other gear was "knackered" it's possible so was his vortex manipulator, this could explain how it was so easily destroyed.

The Tenth Doctor considered the vortex manipulator as very primitive compared to a TARDIS, describing his TARDIS as a "sports car" to Jack Harkness' "space hopper". (TV: Utopia) His eleventh incarnation described it as "cheap and nasty time travel, very bad for you", and stated that he was "trying to give it up". (TV: The Big Bang) The Thirteenth Doctor later echoed these sentiments. (TV: Rosa) River Song described it as "less bulky" and considered it like a "motorbike through traffic." (TV: The Angels Take Manhattan) Missy similarly displayed a dislike for vortex manipulators, though she relied on them for time travel. (TV: The Magician's Apprentice)

Travel through time with a vortex manipulator was not as safe as in a capsule, for instance in a TARDIS, even taking into account the manipulator's protection systems. (TV: Blink)

Vortex manipulators were able to travel to places with time distortions where a TARDIS could not easily do so. For example, River Song travelled to 1938 New York City when the TARDIS couldn't until it had "landing lights". Unlike a TARDIS, going to such an area with a vortex manipulator would not risk the total destruction of the area. (TV: The Angels Take Manhattan)

Missy was able to modify her vortex manipulator to be recharged by absorbing energy blasts fired at her. She modified this off a trick the Doctor once used and was able to use this trick (TV: The Witch's Familiar) to escape the Brigadier (TV: Death in Heaven) and the Daleks. When Clara was fired upon as well, her vortex manipulator, which was slaved to Missy's, similarly teleported her to safety. However, both vortex manipulators were destroyed in the process. (TV: The Witch's Familiar)

Vortex manipulators could also be used as a way to allow regular spaceships to travel in time. The Family of Blood fitted a stolen manipulator to their ship and used it to follow the Doctor through time and space. (TV: Human Nature)

Known owners[[edit] | [edit source]]

Jack Harkness' vortex manipulator. (TV: The Sound of Drums)

Captain Jack Harkness (TV: The Empty Child) owned one. The Eleventh Doctor and Clara Oswald took it from the Black Archive after Jack bequeathed it to UNIT. (TV: The Day of the Doctor) Jack later reacquired it somehow or got his hands on another one. (TV: Revolution of the Daleks)

The Family of Blood stole one vortex manipulator. (TV: Human Nature)

Dorium Maldovar had acquired one "off the wrist of a handsome Time Agent." (TV: The Pandorica Opens) River Song purchased it from him. (TV: The Pandorica Opens, The Angels Take Manhattan, GAME: The Eternity Clock)

Neal Shaw had one, which was stolen by Adam Mitchell. (COMIC: The Choice)

Abslom Daak also acquired one off the wrist of a Time Agent. (COMIC: The Then and the Now)

Harrison Crane stole one from a Time Agent. (PROSE: The Case of the Dissolving Man)

Krasko obtained one along with some other "knackered" Time Agent gear after his release from Stormcage Containment Facility. He used it to travel to 1955, Montgomery, Alabama and attempted to stop the Montgomery Bus Boycott. His vortex manipulator was destroyed by the Thirteenth Doctor. (TV: Rosa)

Other owners included Missy, (TV: The Magician's Apprentice, PROSE: Dr. Twelfth) Clara Oswald, (TV: The Magician's Apprentice) Cara, (AUDIO: The Stuff of Nightmares) the Eleventh Doctor, (COMIC: Space in Dimension Relative and Time, PROSE: A Gamble with Time) Mairwyn, (COMIC: Shrouded) Captain John Hart, (TV: Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang) Gray, (TV: Exit Wounds) and Jenny. (AUDIO: Prisoner of the Ood)

At some point, K9 Mark IV was fitted with an internal vortex manipulator circuit. (GAME: Lost in Time)

Doom, an assassin who worked for the Lesser Order of Oberon, owned a vortex manipulator to which her employers transmitted a large number of coordinates per day. Every hour, she could select one of those sets of coordinates at her discretion and travel there. (WC: Meet Doom - the Universe's Greatest Assassin!)

Behind the scenes[[edit] | [edit source]]

Although a vortex manipulator first appeared in the TV story The Empty Child, "vortex manipulator" was not identified as the name of the time agents' time travel device until the TV story Human Nature (where it was described, but not shown), and Jack's portable wrist strap was not directly described as one until the TV story Utopia. Indeed, throughout the whole of the first three series of Torchwood, the device is not named at all outside of John Hart referring to his own device twice as a wrist strap.

Information from invalid sources[[edit] | [edit source]]

Vortex manipulators could imbue the user(s) with artron energy.

A group of humans led by the army used a vortex manipulator left by the Eleventh Doctor to return to the 21st century after having been sent back to a fairground in 1888 by Weeping Angels. (STAGE: The Crash of the Elysium)

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