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{{Infobox Object
{{Infobox Object
|object name = Regeneration unit
|image      = RegenerationUnit Screenshot.jpg
|image      = [[File:K9'sTrade.PNG|250px|]]
|type        = Robotic repair device
|type        = Robotic repair device
|origin      = [[Time Lord]]?
|origin      =  
|appearances = <ul><li>[[K9TV]]: ''[[Regeneration (TV story)|Regeneration]]''</li><li>[[K9TV]] ''[[Mind Snap]]'' (flashback; archive footage only)</li><li>[[K9TV]]: ''[[Hound of the Korven]]''</li><li>[[K9TV]]: ''[[Eclipse of the Korven]]''</li></ul>
|first = Regeneration (TV story)
|mentions    = [[K9TV]]: ''[[Robot Gladiators]]''
|appearances = {{il|[[TV]] ''[[Mind Snap (TV story)|Mind Snap]]''|[[TV]]: ''[[Hound of the Korven (TV story)|Hound of the Korven]]''|[[TV]]: ''[[The Eclipse of the Korven (TV story)|The Eclipse of the Korven]]''}}
}}
}}
The '''regeneration unit''' (also referred to as the '''regeneration tank''' and '''regen disc''' by [[Thorne]] and [[Starkey]] respectively) was a maintenance device implanted in robots such as [[K9 Mark I]].


The '''Regeneration unit''' (also referred to as the '''Regeneration tank''' and '''Regen Disc''' by [[Thorne]] and [[Starkey]] respectively) was a maintenance device implanted in robots. Although designed merely to repair minimal damage such as a faulty wire or a clogged gear the device had the power to build a brand new robot from the wreckage of the original if such a cataclysm occurred. Critical energy levels were the unit's specialty with backup power being stored in the device so that it could recharge the robot's powercore whenever needed and in certain circumstances even reconstitute a lost accessory with the excess. If a robot was only an inch from death and the regeneration unit did it's work just in time, the robot would be resuscitated of sorts, instilled with a frisky sensation, a lively, energetic feeling as the spark of life brought it's circuits whirring to life. The reconstitution of lost accessories was a result of the default setting, the powercore was replenished and the excess energy rippled through the entire robot, rejuvenating every circuit and switch and reconstituting anything lost. The robot was returned to it's default state and was henceforth as good as new. This renewal process was closely related to the full bodily regeneration but did not work on the same principles, only reviving the robot, not changing it's every nut and bolt for the better. It was built into [[K9 Mark I]] with the full bodily regeneration being a dodgy process that scrambled his memdrive. Seeing as at least [[K9 Mark III|Mark III]] was not fitted with a regeneration unit, it is possible he was fitted with one on [[Gallifrey]].
==History==
When K9 was infected by [[the Swarm (The Invisible Enemy)|the Swarm]], he went into "self-regeneration" to recover. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Invisible Enemy (TV story)|The Invisible Enemy]]'') The [[Fourth Doctor]] and [[Romana I]] also concurred that K9's only chance of survival after he'd been badly hurt by the [[Ogri]] was a "complete circuit regeneration". ([[TV]]: ''[[The Stones of Blood (TV story)|The Stones of Blood]]'') It is not known whether this ability was related to the regeneration circuit.


After self-destructing to defeat four [[Jixen]] warriors, [[Starkey]] retrieved the unit and K9 regenerated into a [[K9 Mark 2|new body]]. Following regeneration, K9 remembered his name but couldn't recall additional details of his past; memories of his adventures with [[the Doctor]] and [[Leela]], his two former masters, appeared to have been at least temporarily forgotten.  
After K9 self-destructed to defeat four [[Jixen]] warriors, [[Starkey]] retrieved the unit and K9 regenerated; lightning and flashes of bright light erupted around the hovering regeneration unit, and ghostly schematics of K9's new casing flew around it before solidifying into a [[K9 Mark 2|new body]]. Following regeneration, K9 remembered his name but couldn't recall additional details of his past; memories of his adventures with [[the Doctor]] and [[Leela]], his two former masters, appeared to be at least temporarily lost. He did, however, appear to remember the circumstances immediately leading up to his regeneration, including the identity of Starkey. ([[TV]]: ''[[Regeneration (TV story)|Regeneration]]'')
([[K9TV]]: ''[[Regeneration (TV story)|Regeneration]]'')


[[Thorne]] and [[Lomax (K9)|Lomax]] knew of the Regeneration unit and decided to acquire it starting with Thorne's failed plot to cause K9 to regenerate with the use of a [[Pain-Maker|suicide bomber]]. ([[K9TV]]: ''[[Robot Gladiators]]'') Though they eventually succeeded, Thorne coming to [[Darius Pike]] with a proposal, not giving the requested component's name and simply calling it "the cybernetic equivalent of an appendix". He had him try to convince K9 to agree into surrendering the device in return for his missing memory chip, promising Darius in turn that his father [[Harry Pike]] of [[The Last Precinct (organization)|The Last Precinct]] would be released from his imprisonment if he complied. K9 feared it was a trick, although he couldn't resist the opportunity to discover his lost memories and accepted although it turned out to be a trick. Thorne later gave the unit to an unknown force. ([[K9TV]]: ''[[Hound of the Korven]]'')
[[Thorne]] and [[Lomax]] knew of the regeneration unit and decided to acquire it starting with Thorne's failed plot to cause K9 to regenerate with the use of a [[Pain-Maker|suicide bomber]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Robot Gladiators (TV story)|Robot Gladiators]]'') They eventually succeeded, Thorne coming to [[Darius Pike]] with a proposal, not giving the requested component's name and calling it "the cybernetic equivalent of an appendix". He had him try to convince K9 to agree into surrendering the device in return for his missing memory chip, promising Darius his [[Harry Pike|father]] would be released from his imprisonment if he complied. K9 thought it a trick, although he couldn't resist the opportunity to discover his lost memories and accepted; it turned out to be a trick. Thorne gave the unit to an unknown force. ([[TV]]: ''[[Hound of the Korven (TV story)|Hound of the Korven]]'')


The unit was contained inside the [[Trojan]], a behemoth created by mixing together DNA from aliens encountered by K9. After K9 depleted his energy banks to defeat the Trojan, the absence of his regeneration unit signaled his demise. However it returned to him just in time, recharging his powercore and giving him a new lease on life, reconstituting his original dog collar and all ([[K9TV]]: ''[[Eclipse of the Korven]]'')
The unit was contained inside the [[Trojan (The Eclipse of the Korven)|Trojan]], a behemoth created by mixing together DNA from aliens encountered by K9. After K9 depleted his energy banks to defeat the Trojan, the absence of his regeneration unit signalled his demise. However it returned to him just in time, recharging his powercore and giving him a new lease on life, reconstituting him completely. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Eclipse of the Korven (TV story)|The Eclipse of the Korven]]'')
[[Category:K9]]
 
== Behind the scenes==
[[File:Regeneration unit signature.jpg|thumb|In the wreckage of K9, writing on his regeneration unit resembles [[Old High Gallifreyan]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Regeneration (TV story)|Regeneration]]'')|left]]
The regeneration unit prop had writing on it which resembled the Greek-and-mathematics text used to represent [[Old High Gallifreyan]] in the classic series of ''Doctor Who''. Specifically, it contained the phrase "[[∂³Σx²]]", which was used to represent [[the Doctor]]'s [[Aliases of the Doctor#The Doctor's real name|name]] in the first edition of the 1972 behind-the-scenes book ''[[The Making of Doctor Who]]'' by [[Terrance Dicks]] and [[Malcolm Hulke]]. This would seem to suggest that K9's regeneration unit was installed by the Doctor, or otherwise connected to him.
 
[[Bob Baker]], K-9's co-creator and executive producer of the ''K9'' TV series, said that the regeneration unit was "put there presumably by the [[Time Lord]]s, but of course we're not allowed to mention that."<ref>[http://www.natfor.com/bbforum/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=404 Bob Baker's Forum]</ref>
 
==Footnotes==
{{reflist}}
 
[[Category:K9 components]]

Latest revision as of 05:51, 19 April 2024

The regeneration unit (also referred to as the regeneration tank and regen disc by Thorne and Starkey respectively) was a maintenance device implanted in robots such as K9 Mark I.

History[[edit] | [edit source]]

When K9 was infected by the Swarm, he went into "self-regeneration" to recover. (TV: The Invisible Enemy) The Fourth Doctor and Romana I also concurred that K9's only chance of survival after he'd been badly hurt by the Ogri was a "complete circuit regeneration". (TV: The Stones of Blood) It is not known whether this ability was related to the regeneration circuit.

After K9 self-destructed to defeat four Jixen warriors, Starkey retrieved the unit and K9 regenerated; lightning and flashes of bright light erupted around the hovering regeneration unit, and ghostly schematics of K9's new casing flew around it before solidifying into a new body. Following regeneration, K9 remembered his name but couldn't recall additional details of his past; memories of his adventures with the Doctor and Leela, his two former masters, appeared to be at least temporarily lost. He did, however, appear to remember the circumstances immediately leading up to his regeneration, including the identity of Starkey. (TV: Regeneration)

Thorne and Lomax knew of the regeneration unit and decided to acquire it starting with Thorne's failed plot to cause K9 to regenerate with the use of a suicide bomber. (TV: Robot Gladiators) They eventually succeeded, Thorne coming to Darius Pike with a proposal, not giving the requested component's name and calling it "the cybernetic equivalent of an appendix". He had him try to convince K9 to agree into surrendering the device in return for his missing memory chip, promising Darius his father would be released from his imprisonment if he complied. K9 thought it a trick, although he couldn't resist the opportunity to discover his lost memories and accepted; it turned out to be a trick. Thorne gave the unit to an unknown force. (TV: Hound of the Korven)

The unit was contained inside the Trojan, a behemoth created by mixing together DNA from aliens encountered by K9. After K9 depleted his energy banks to defeat the Trojan, the absence of his regeneration unit signalled his demise. However it returned to him just in time, recharging his powercore and giving him a new lease on life, reconstituting him completely. (TV: The Eclipse of the Korven)

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

In the wreckage of K9, writing on his regeneration unit resembles Old High Gallifreyan. (TV: Regeneration)

The regeneration unit prop had writing on it which resembled the Greek-and-mathematics text used to represent Old High Gallifreyan in the classic series of Doctor Who. Specifically, it contained the phrase "∂³Σx²", which was used to represent the Doctor's name in the first edition of the 1972 behind-the-scenes book The Making of Doctor Who by Terrance Dicks and Malcolm Hulke. This would seem to suggest that K9's regeneration unit was installed by the Doctor, or otherwise connected to him.

Bob Baker, K-9's co-creator and executive producer of the K9 TV series, said that the regeneration unit was "put there presumably by the Time Lords, but of course we're not allowed to mention that."[1]

Footnotes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  1. ↑ Bob Baker's Forum
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