The Mandragora Helix, also called the Mandragora Intelligence, is a Helix Intelligence, composed of helix energy(specifically called "Mandragora energy") and residing in its domain in space also called the Mandragora Helix.
- The fact that its domain is called the Mandragora Helix and that the force was an intelligence within the Helix may mean that the force is the domain and that it is all the same helix energy composing the same Helix.
Origins
The Mandragora Helix originated in the Dark Times. (NSA: Beautiful Chaos) It may have been during this time that it gained knowledge of the Time Lords. (DW: The Masque of Mandragora)
Physical Appearance
The Mandragora Helix is a spiral of pure energy in space that radiates outward, able to draw things into it, even a TARDIS. The function of the spiraling energy is a complete mystery. Inside the Helix is a black void where sound echoes and a series of concentric crystal rings stay suspended, but there is a "ground" where beings can walk. Balls of helix energy, which look like sparking, irregularly-shaped red blobs, may bounce around in this void. (DW: The Masque of Mandragora)
Powers
The Mandragora Helix is an intelligent astral force capable of speech. It is a powerful psychic force that can easily infiltrate human minds, yet can be repelled by the mind concentrating on something. The Helix seems to exist as Mandragora energy and portions of this can be separated from the Helix and still act independantly. Mandragora energy is the "subthermal recombination of ionized plasma" that can float through the air and burn anything it touches. With humans, contact results in instant death and a blue crystalline growth on the skin. This energy can be spread out over things like stone(recreating ruined structures) or living beings. In humans, the energy takes over their bodies, giving them a white appearance that bleaches out their faces but also allowing them to fire archs of energy from their fingertips. With this energy spread out over stones or humans, it becomes exhausted quicker and can only receive more energy at the correct time. When it is in this exhausted state, it can be absorbed through wire with a ground like negative energy in magnetism.
The Helix can apparently travel through space(any time traveling capabilities are unknown of yet) but, in the case of Earth, can only reach the planet when the stars are lined up in a certain order, and this opportunity may come in 500 year cycles. (DW: The Masque of Mandragora) Mandragora is an astral force that bases its power on astrology, and while some people may not believe in it, this doesn't stop Mandragora from using things like the Zodiac as power. (NSA: Beautiful Chaos)
History
Pre-history
Mandragora, depending on how it monitors the universe, had at least heard of the Time Lords and also had knowledge of humans. It was worried that Man, if unchecked, would not be contained in his own galaxy, and would enter it's domain and pose as a rival in the universe.(DW: The Masque of Mandragora)
15th century
Having slipped inside the Doctor's TARDIS from its domain, the Helix traveled to late 15th century San Martino in Italy. It manipulated the Brotherhood of Demnos into believing it was the god and eventually possessed the leader Hieronymous, choosen because he was the Duke's astronomer, and promised him he would be the Earth's supreme ruler. It took over the cult's members and planned to destroy several scientists who had been gathered so that Earth would be prevented from having the Renaissance. As the helix energy was exhausted, the Doctor was able to completely destroy it.(DW: The Masque of Mandragora)
19th century
A force strongly believed to be the Helix manifested in 1863 China(somehow free of the aforementioned restraints based on star alignments), where an earlier Doctor confronted it without fully understanding it, as the Helix had encountered him in an earlier point in the timeline yet a later point in the Doctor's personal timeline. (PDA: The Eleventh Tiger)
20th century
As the Doctor had earlier predicted, the Mandragora Helix re-appeared in 1990s London, this time exploiting the use of an illegal drug called Mandrake (another name for Mandragora). The Doctor and Ace, with the help of UNIT and Captain Muriel Frost in particular, put a stop to it. The Doctor and Ace had two other encounters with the Helix as well. (DWM: The Mark of Mandragora, Darkness Falling, Distractions)
21st century
In May 2009, Mandragora reappeared in London, using the MorganTec computer systems company to spread its energy over the Internet, thinking that it was wrong before about humans. Instead of stopping them, it would help them with traveling to the stars, serving as a leech all the while.The Tenth Doctor and Donna Noble, with help from Wilfred Mott, were able to throw it back into space, confused and with missing memory. (NSA: Beautiful Chaos).
Mysteries
Some mysteries arise concerning the Mandragora...
- According to its initial introduction at the beginning of The Masque of Mandragora, this force lives within the Mandragora Helix and should be called the Mandragora Intelligence. (See above)
- At the end of Beautiful Chaos it didn't know where it's home was.
- Mandragora refers to itself as "we". Whether it is simply using the "royal we" or it is in fact a gestalt organism or a species(the Doctor spoke as if Mandragora belonged to the "Helix" species) is unknown.
- Having manifested on Earth in the 15th century, and having to wait 500 years before manifesting again, there is no explanation for its appearance in 1863.
- Mandragora possesses people, yet it is alluded to having a body of some kind, despite it being called "not physical" repeatedly.
- It may simply exist as an astral force, like the Great Intelligence, or it may have a body that transitions from mental to physical-form, like the Mara.
- The Ancient Lights' appearance and modus operandi in Secrets of the Stars is remarkably similar to that of Mandragora, which leads many to believe they are a further manifestation of Mandragora.
Behind the sences
- SJA: Secrets of the Stars was originally going to use the Mandragora Helix. However, it was decided that "Mandragora had to change too much, and was too easily defeated, in order to fit this plot" and the Ancient Lights were created instead. Russell T Davies has said he likes to think both entities are "distant cousins". (DWM: Special Edition - Sarah Jane Smith)