Not-thing: Difference between revisions

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|image          = Not Things.jpg
|image          = Not Things.jpg
|type            =  
|type            =  
|aka            =  
|aka            = {{il|No-thing|Nobody}}
|origin          = Beyond [[the universe]]
|origin          = [[The Void]]
|first          = Wild Blue Yonder (TV story)
|first          = Wild Blue Yonder (TV story)
|appearances    = [[PROSE]]: {{cs|Wild Blue Yonder (novelisation)}}
|appearances    = [[PROSE]]: {{cs|Wild Blue Yonder (novelisation)}}
}}
}}{{ImageLink}}
The '''not-things''', also called '''nobodies''', were entities from beyond [[the universe]] that imitated the [[Fourteenth Doctor]] and [[Donna Noble]] when [[The Doctor's TARDIS|the TARDIS]] deposited them on [[Spaceship (Wild Blue Yonder)|a spaceship]] at the [[Edge of the universe|edge of creation]].
The '''not-things''', also called '''no-things''' or '''nobodies''', were entities from [[the Void]] beyond [[the universe]] that could imitate others visually.
 
While the ones met by the [[Fourteenth Doctor]] and [[Donna Noble]] when [[The Doctor's TARDIS|the TARDIS]] deposited them on [[Spaceship (Wild Blue Yonder)|a spaceship]] at the [[Edge of the universe|edge of creation]] were seen to speak to each other, ([[TV]]: {{cs|Wild Blue Yonder (TV story)}}) the Doctor was unsure if there were actually two not-things or if it was a single entity taking on two forms. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|Wild Blue Yonder (novelisation)}})


== History ==
== History ==
Whilst drifting in "the lack-of-light", at some point in time, the not-things became aware of the rest of the "noisy, boiling universe", becoming shaped by the "blood, fury, and hate" of the entire universe, becoming malicious as a result.
Whilst drifting in "the lack-of-light" of "[[The Void|the nothing]]", the not-things became aware of the rest of [[Known universe|the "noisy, boiling universe"]], becoming shaped by the "blood, fury, and hate" of the entire universe, and turning malicious as a result.


The not-things boarded [[Spaceship (Wild Blue Yonder)|a spaceship]] that arrived at the edge of the universe. In a desperate attempt to stop them, the [[Captain (Wild Blue Yonder)|captain of the ship]] started an extremely slow [[self-destruct]] process, but committed [[suicide]] before the not-things could assimilate the knowledge of what the captain had done.
When [[Spaceship (Wild Blue Yonder)|a spaceship]] arrived at the [[edge of the universe]] from a [[wormhole]], the not-things boarded, seeking to use the ship to enter the known universe and start their own war campaign. In a desperate attempt to stop them, [[Captain (Wild Blue Yonder)|the captain of the ship]] started an extremely slow [[self-destruct]] process, and [[suicide|took her own life]] before the not-things could assimilate the knowledge of what she had done.


Three years later, [[Donna Noble]] and the [[Fourteenth Doctor]] ended up on the spaceship when the TARDIS malfunctioned. The Doctor attempted to repair the TARDIS by putting it into [[The Doctor's TARDIS#Self-Regeneration|self-regeneration]], which activated the [[Hostile Action Displacement System]] due to the presence of the not-things.
Three years later, [[Donna Noble]] and the [[Fourteenth Doctor]] ended up on the spaceship when the TARDIS malfunctioned, and the Doctor's attempted to repair the TARDIS by putting it into self-regeneration activated the [[Hostile Action Displacement System]], resulting in the TARDIS fleeing due to the presence of the not-things, who revealed themselves to the Doctor and Donnas after they assimilated their forms. The not-things become more aware of the others' knowledge the longer they hunted them, almost managing to deceive the Doctor and Donna several times, but had been unable to keep up the façade for long. Ultimately, the Doctor was able to deduce the captain's scheme of setting the ship to self-destruct, but his conclusion only alerted the not-things to the plan.  


Two not-things appeared before Donna and the Doctor while they were separated, each disguising as the other. The Doctor and Donna quickly realised what was happening as the not-things' arms were too long.
They quickly raced to stop the self-destruct, but were not quick enough and the ship began to destroy itself when the Doctor sped up the process. With the danger having essentially passed, the TARDIS returned, but the Doctor was tricked into taking a not-thing with him instead of Donna, just as the self-destruct activated and killed the not-thing impersonating the Doctor. However, before the blast could reach Donna, the Doctor, having discovered he'd been tricked, returned and rescued Donna, throwing the not-thing from the TARDIS doors and leaving it to die in the blast. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Wild Blue Yonder (TV story)}})
 
After the Doctor and Donna were separated again, the shapeshifters started to become more aware of the others' knowledge, almost managing to completely deceive the real Doctor and the real Donna, but had been unable to keep up the façade. After regrouping yet again, the Not-thing Doctor revealed their intentions; to travel to the universe and participate in the chaos and war of the universe, and win.
 
However, the Doctor also realised that the not-things relied on the active thoughts of their targets, encouraging Donna to not think, which was advice that not even he could follow for long. In the end, he succumbed to curiosity, before ultimately deducing that the ship was set on a very slow self-destruct sequence by the captain in such a way that the not-things weren't able to find out.
 
The Doctor was able to hold them off for a short while, but they raced to stop the self-destruct. The TARDIS knew that they wouldn't be able to stop it, resulting in the shutdown of the [[Hostile Action Displacement System|HADS]] and the TARDIS materialising. Donna and her Not-thing both attempted to convince the Doctor that they were the real Donna, wherein the Doctor had chosen incorrectly, only noticing after being warned by the TARDIS. The false Donna was ejected from the TARDIS doors, killing her in the blast. ([[TV]]: ''[[Wild Blue Yonder (TV story)|Wild Blue Yonder]]'')


== Powers and abilities==
== Powers and abilities==
Being capable of replicating individuals almost completely, including their memories, the not-things were capable of copying Donna up to a 99.9% accuracy level. The Doctor claimed they accomplished this by converting the surrounding heat into mass, making the surrounding air cold when within their presence. However, as they acclimatised, they could do so without noticeable heat change. They copied best when the minds of their targets were at their most active, working off of [[fear]] and the [[adrenaline]] response for this effect, or even simple curiosity. They had trouble with shaping human [[arm]]s and [[jaw]]s specifically, as well as the number of certain body parts, like the number of total [[knee]]s on a human's leg.
The not-things were capable of replicating individuals almost completely, including their memories. The [[Fourteenth Doctor]] claimed they accomplished this by converting the surrounding heat into mass, making the surrounding air cold when within their presence. However, as they acclimatised, they could do so without noticeable heat change. They copied best when the minds of their targets were at their most active, working off of [[fear]] and the [[adrenaline]] response for this effect, or even simple curiosity. As the not-thing copying the Doctor stated, when the Doctor had an idea, it meant he did too and became as clever as he was.  
 
Being entities from outside the universe, they initially did not understand [[size]], [[shape]], object permanence, or the intricacies of the human [[Psyche|psyche]]. This made them easier to identify, however this became more difficult as they learnt more about their target as they continued to replicate them. By the end of their encounter with the Doctor and Donna, one was able to copy Donna to 99.9 percent, but her wrist was 0.06 millimetres off which the TARDIS could detect.


They could take full advantage of their unique physiology, such as moving far faster than normal when running in a quadrupedal form. However, their shapeshifting abilities have been shown to be chaotic to such an extent that two not-things suddenly grew to gigantic proportions, getting themselves wedged in a large corridor.  
The not-things were capable of assimilating thoughts and memories and even had access to memories and concepts that their targets weren't actively aware of. The not-thing copying [[Donna Noble]] had knowledge of the events of [[the Flux]] that Donna also had, but Donna wasn't able to see the memories clearly, likening it to "looking into a furnace".  


Not-things were capable of assimilating thoughts and memories and even had access to memories and concepts that their targets weren't actively aware of. The Not-thing of [[Donna Noble]] had knowledge of the events of [[The Flux]] which the regular Donna also had, but Donna wasn't able to see those memories clearly, likening it to "looking into a furnace". ([[TV]]: {{cs|Wild Blue Yonder (TV story)}})
However, the not-things had trouble with shaping humanoid [[arm]]s and [[jaw]]s specifically, as well as the number of certain body parts, like the number of total [[knee]]s on a human's leg. Additionally, being entities from outside the universe, they initially did not understand [[size]], [[shape]], object permanence, or the intricacies of the human [[psyche]], which made them easier to identify, but this became more difficult as they learnt more about their target. By the end of their encounter with the Doctor and Donna, one was able to copy Donna to 99.9 percent, but her wrist was 0.06 millimetres off which the TARDIS could detect. They could take full advantage of their unique physiology, such as moving far faster than normal when running in a quadrupedal form. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Wild Blue Yonder (TV story)}})


[[Category:Shapeshifters]]
[[Category:Shapeshifters]]

Latest revision as of 13:15, 10 March 2024

The not-things, also called no-things or nobodies, were entities from the Void beyond the universe that could imitate others visually.

While the ones met by the Fourteenth Doctor and Donna Noble when the TARDIS deposited them on a spaceship at the edge of creation were seen to speak to each other, (TV: Wild Blue Yonder [+]Loading...["Wild Blue Yonder (TV story)"]) the Doctor was unsure if there were actually two not-things or if it was a single entity taking on two forms. (PROSE: Wild Blue Yonder [+]Loading...["Wild Blue Yonder (novelisation)"])

History[[edit] | [edit source]]

Whilst drifting in "the lack-of-light" of "the nothing", the not-things became aware of the rest of the "noisy, boiling universe", becoming shaped by the "blood, fury, and hate" of the entire universe, and turning malicious as a result.

When a spaceship arrived at the edge of the universe from a wormhole, the not-things boarded, seeking to use the ship to enter the known universe and start their own war campaign. In a desperate attempt to stop them, the captain of the ship started an extremely slow self-destruct process, and took her own life before the not-things could assimilate the knowledge of what she had done.

Three years later, Donna Noble and the Fourteenth Doctor ended up on the spaceship when the TARDIS malfunctioned, and the Doctor's attempted to repair the TARDIS by putting it into self-regeneration activated the Hostile Action Displacement System, resulting in the TARDIS fleeing due to the presence of the not-things, who revealed themselves to the Doctor and Donnas after they assimilated their forms. The not-things become more aware of the others' knowledge the longer they hunted them, almost managing to deceive the Doctor and Donna several times, but had been unable to keep up the façade for long. Ultimately, the Doctor was able to deduce the captain's scheme of setting the ship to self-destruct, but his conclusion only alerted the not-things to the plan.

They quickly raced to stop the self-destruct, but were not quick enough and the ship began to destroy itself when the Doctor sped up the process. With the danger having essentially passed, the TARDIS returned, but the Doctor was tricked into taking a not-thing with him instead of Donna, just as the self-destruct activated and killed the not-thing impersonating the Doctor. However, before the blast could reach Donna, the Doctor, having discovered he'd been tricked, returned and rescued Donna, throwing the not-thing from the TARDIS doors and leaving it to die in the blast. (TV: Wild Blue Yonder [+]Loading...["Wild Blue Yonder (TV story)"])

Powers and abilities[[edit] | [edit source]]

The not-things were capable of replicating individuals almost completely, including their memories. The Fourteenth Doctor claimed they accomplished this by converting the surrounding heat into mass, making the surrounding air cold when within their presence. However, as they acclimatised, they could do so without noticeable heat change. They copied best when the minds of their targets were at their most active, working off of fear and the adrenaline response for this effect, or even simple curiosity. As the not-thing copying the Doctor stated, when the Doctor had an idea, it meant he did too and became as clever as he was.

The not-things were capable of assimilating thoughts and memories and even had access to memories and concepts that their targets weren't actively aware of. The not-thing copying Donna Noble had knowledge of the events of the Flux that Donna also had, but Donna wasn't able to see the memories clearly, likening it to "looking into a furnace".

However, the not-things had trouble with shaping humanoid arms and jaws specifically, as well as the number of certain body parts, like the number of total knees on a human's leg. Additionally, being entities from outside the universe, they initially did not understand size, shape, object permanence, or the intricacies of the human psyche, which made them easier to identify, but this became more difficult as they learnt more about their target. By the end of their encounter with the Doctor and Donna, one was able to copy Donna to 99.9 percent, but her wrist was 0.06 millimetres off which the TARDIS could detect. They could take full advantage of their unique physiology, such as moving far faster than normal when running in a quadrupedal form. (TV: Wild Blue Yonder [+]Loading...["Wild Blue Yonder (TV story)"])