Alternate timeline: Difference between revisions
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They may have diverged from points in history when there was [[Fixed points in time|temporal fluctuation]]. The power required to adjust the timeflow and overcome [[temporal inertia]] on such a scale couldn't fit on a single planet, but beings with enough power were capable of doing so, such as [[Sutekh]], the [[Guardians of Time]], [[Rassilon]], and the [[Chronovore]]s. Even [[the Doctor]] or [[the Master]] could have the know-how or inclination to create them. Because the universe only had a finite amount of mass and energy to exist as ''one'' universe, the creation of an alternate timeline adversely affected the real timeline, causing chaos throughout the universe; releasing enough energy could destroy the timeline and set history back on its correct course. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Blood Heat]]'') | They may have diverged from points in history when there was [[Fixed points in time|temporal fluctuation]]. The power required to adjust the timeflow and overcome [[temporal inertia]] on such a scale couldn't fit on a single planet, but beings with enough power were capable of doing so, such as [[Sutekh]], the [[Guardians of Time]], [[Rassilon]], and the [[Chronovore]]s. Even [[the Doctor]] or [[the Master]] could have the know-how or inclination to create them. Because the universe only had a finite amount of mass and energy to exist as ''one'' universe, the creation of an alternate timeline adversely affected the real timeline, causing chaos throughout the universe; releasing enough energy could destroy the timeline and set history back on its correct course. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Blood Heat]]'') | ||
Though a timeline could be negated, memories of it could still be retained. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Big Bang (TV story)|The Big Bang]]'', ''[[The Impossible Astronaut (TV story)|The Impossible Astronaut]]'') Sometimes these memories were subconscious and only surfaced in dreams. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Time of the Daleks]]'', ''[[Jubilee]]'') | Though a timeline could be negated, memories of it could still be retained. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Big Bang (TV story)|The Big Bang]]'', ''[[The Impossible Astronaut (TV story)|The Impossible Astronaut]]'') Sometimes these memories were subconscious and only surfaced in dreams. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Time of the Daleks]]'', ''[[Jubilee]]'') Multiple timelines could co-exist in one continuum: because of this, an individual with multiple futures could come in contact without any [[Blinovitch Limitation Effect]]s. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Peri and the Piscon Paradox]]'') | ||
Occasionally, time was actually changed so that what was originally the future became an alternate timeline. These were not meant to replace the true timeline but were the result of changes to the real timeline including, apparently, [[WOTAN]] conquering [[Earth]] and [[the Doctor]] dying on [[Grace Alone]] and later [[Trenzalore]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Time Travellers]]'', [[AUDIO]]: ''[[The First Wave]]'', [[TV]]: ''[[The Name of the Doctor]]'',''[[The Time of the Doctor]]'') | Occasionally, time was actually changed so that what was originally the future became an alternate timeline. These were not meant to replace the true timeline but were the result of changes to the real timeline including, apparently, [[WOTAN]] conquering [[Earth]] and [[the Doctor]] dying on [[Grace Alone]] and later [[Trenzalore]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Time Travellers]]'', [[AUDIO]]: ''[[The First Wave]]'', [[TV]]: ''[[The Name of the Doctor]]'',''[[The Time of the Doctor]]'') This may have related to [[causality]], with knowledge coming before an event rather than an event becoming knowledge. The Doctor encountered WOTAN after it'd conquered Earth in [[1966]], changing history when he later arrived in 1966; the opposite would be the Doctor arriving in an [[1804]] where the [[French Revolution]] was still happening, as he already knew this was incorrect. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Man in the Velvet Mask]]'') | ||
== Metaphysics == | == Metaphysics == | ||
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{| {{prettytable}} | {| {{prettytable}} | ||
|'''Timeline''' || '''Negated By''' || '''<nowiki>Featured in'</nowiki>''''''' | |'''Timeline''' || '''Negated By''' || '''<nowiki>Featured in'</nowiki>''''''' | ||
|- | |||
|[[Peri Brown]] is not assassinated and lives with King [[Yrcanos]] as a Warrior Queen||Not negated but existing due to a [[Time Lord]] faction||[[AUDIO]]: ''[[Peri and the Piscon Paradox]]'' | |||
|- | |||
|[[Peri Brown]] does not live with [[Yrcanos]] and is returned to [[Earth]] with her memories of [[the Doctor]] erased save for her [[Planet of Fire|first adventure]] with him||Not negated but existing due to a [[Time Lord]] faction||[[AUDIO]]: ''[[Peri and the Piscon Paradox]]'' | |||
|- | |- | ||
|The [[Seventh Doctor]] defeated the [[Vardan]] invasion of [[Earth]] by leaving clues for his past self||[[The Monk]]||[[PROSE]]: ''[[No Future]]'' | |The [[Seventh Doctor]] defeated the [[Vardan]] invasion of [[Earth]] by leaving clues for his past self||[[The Monk]]||[[PROSE]]: ''[[No Future]]'' | ||
Revision as of 22:57, 24 January 2014
An alternate timeline was a reality that diverged from the "true" timeline due to the actions of time travellers or other temporal phenomena. They were different from parallel universes in that they did not separate cleanly at the point of creation resulting in the new timeline destroying the old one. (PROSE: Imperial Moon) The phenomenon may also have been described as an "interstitial spillage of time." (AUDIO: Project: Lazarus) Alternate timelines constantly winked in and out of existence with every decision made. (AUDIO: The Wrong Doctors)
Physics
Alternate timelines could be visited accidentally by jumping a time track (TV: The Space Museum, AUDIO: The Mutant Phase) or contacting other anomalies (AUDIO: Colditz) in the Time Vortex. Deliberate travel to these timelines was possible if the traveller possessed something, such as the sigil ring, that allowed them to change time streams. (PROSE: Goth Opera)
They may have diverged from points in history when there was temporal fluctuation. The power required to adjust the timeflow and overcome temporal inertia on such a scale couldn't fit on a single planet, but beings with enough power were capable of doing so, such as Sutekh, the Guardians of Time, Rassilon, and the Chronovores. Even the Doctor or the Master could have the know-how or inclination to create them. Because the universe only had a finite amount of mass and energy to exist as one universe, the creation of an alternate timeline adversely affected the real timeline, causing chaos throughout the universe; releasing enough energy could destroy the timeline and set history back on its correct course. (PROSE: Blood Heat)
Though a timeline could be negated, memories of it could still be retained. (TV: The Big Bang, The Impossible Astronaut) Sometimes these memories were subconscious and only surfaced in dreams. (AUDIO: The Time of the Daleks, Jubilee) Multiple timelines could co-exist in one continuum: because of this, an individual with multiple futures could come in contact without any Blinovitch Limitation Effects. (AUDIO: Peri and the Piscon Paradox)
Occasionally, time was actually changed so that what was originally the future became an alternate timeline. These were not meant to replace the true timeline but were the result of changes to the real timeline including, apparently, WOTAN conquering Earth and the Doctor dying on Grace Alone and later Trenzalore. (PROSE: The Time Travellers, AUDIO: The First Wave, TV: The Name of the Doctor,The Time of the Doctor) This may have related to causality, with knowledge coming before an event rather than an event becoming knowledge. The Doctor encountered WOTAN after it'd conquered Earth in 1966, changing history when he later arrived in 1966; the opposite would be the Doctor arriving in an 1804 where the French Revolution was still happening, as he already knew this was incorrect. (PROSE: The Man in the Velvet Mask)
Metaphysics
From a metaphysical viewpoint, alternate timelines were always being extinguished as fewer and fewer choices became open. This was particularly affected by time travellers who changed the future whenever they arrived in a new time. This was the cosmic pain of the universe and in this manner Gabriel and Tanith were personifications of the timelines that never existed. (PROSE: Falls the Shadow)
The existence/creation of alternate timelines and parallel universes were held in check by the existence of the Time Vortex, which was sustained by the existence of the Time Lords. (PROSE: The Domino Effect)
Terminology
The phrase "alternate/alternative timeline/universe" was sometimes used interchangably with "parallel universe"; however, alternate timelines usually changed after a single moment in time, whereas parallel universes usually had more than one difference from the "normal" universe.
Timelines encountered by the Doctor
Timelines encountered by others
| Timeline | Negated By | Featured in''' |
| Peri Brown is not assassinated and lives with King Yrcanos as a Warrior Queen | Not negated but existing due to a Time Lord faction | AUDIO: Peri and the Piscon Paradox |
| Peri Brown does not live with Yrcanos and is returned to Earth with her memories of the Doctor erased save for her first adventure with him | Not negated but existing due to a Time Lord faction | AUDIO: Peri and the Piscon Paradox |
| The Seventh Doctor defeated the Vardan invasion of Earth by leaving clues for his past self | The Monk | PROSE: No Future |
| Insects of the Mind evolved as the dominant life on Earth | The existence of time travel | PROSE: Falls the Shadow |
| Britain was a conformist republic | The existence of time travel | PROSE: Falls the Shadow |
| Andrea Yates' World | alternate Andrea Yates | TV: Whatever Happened to Sarah Jane? |
| The Trickster's World | Eddie and Barbara Smith | TV: The Temptation of Sarah Jane Smith |
| Ship erased Sarah Jane Smith, Luke Smith and Clyde Langer | Adam Lloyd and Rani Chandra | TV: The Mad Woman in the Attic |
| Deindum from the future conquered the galaxy | Bernice Summerfield | PROSE: Present Danger, AUDIO: Escaping the Future |
