The World Shapers (comic story): Difference between revisions

It was a [[Cyberman (Mondas)|Mondasian Cybermen]] [[Genesis of the Cybermen|origin story]] which showed that the Cybermen evolved from the [[Voord]]. These origins conflicted with most of the other origin stories given for the Cybermen, including ''[[Spare Parts (audio story)|Spare Parts]]'' and DWM's own ''[[The Cybermen (comic story)|The Cybermen]]''. However, ''The World Shapers'' was specifically referenced in ''[[The Doctor Falls (TV story)|The Doctor Falls]]'' as one of many origins of the Cybermen which all coexist in the [[Doctor Who universe]], though it also establishes [[Planet 14]], [[Marinus]], and [[Mondas]] as separate planets, contradicting ''The World Shapers''.

The [[Sixth Doctor]], [[Peri Brown]] and [[Frobisher]] follow a distress signal to a watery [[planet]] that the Doctor recognises as [[Marinus]], although it is now apparently deserted. The signal is coming from [[TARDIS (The World Shapers)|another TARDIS]]. They find an elderly, dying [[Time Lord (The World Shapers)|Time Lord]] who mutters "[[Planet 14]]" before expiring. As he was on his last [[regeneration]], his [[body]] breaks down into its constituent [[Molecule|molecules]], though the Doctor notes that it happened unusually quickly. The late Time Lord's TARDIS informs them they were sent to Marinus to investigate violent disturbances in the [[space-time continuum]]. As Frobisher moults rapidly and Peri's hair and fingernails grow, the Doctor notes that time has been accelerated. The mention of Planet 14 jogs the Doctor's memory. He dimly recalls an adventure from his [[Second Doctor|second incarnation]] and decides to visit [[Jamie McCrimmon]] to see if he would know.

As they depart in [[the TARDIS]], observed by a group of [[Voord]], a worldshaping [[spaceship]] piloted by [[Deedrun]] and [[Maxilla]] prepares to land. They note that the previous world they shaped on their route was [[Planet Thirteen|Planet 13]]...

The TARDIS has arrived in [[Scotland]] in the [[18th century]], and the travellers are escorted by [[Dugald]] to visit "Mad Jamie", who has been labelled as [[insanity|crazy]] after the [[Battle of Culloden]], claiming to have visited the [[moon]] and [[Star|stars]]. Having miscalculated by about 40 years, they've arrived to find Jamie, now an isolated old man living alone in a run-down shack. Jamie, who had been trained by the Doctor to resist the Time Lords' erasure of his memory, recalls the mention of Planet 14 by the [[Cyber Controller]] in their dealings with the [[Cybermen]]'s attempted [[The Invasion|invasion]] of [[Earth]] via the [[London]] sewers. He begs the Doctor to take him with them and they depart in the TARDIS before the bewildered eyes of the villagers.

They arrive on Marinus only a week since their departure, but in that time the vast oceans have been drained. They encounter Maxilla, now rapidly aged, gasping for help and claiming that: "It's all gone wrong." They turn to find themselves surrounded by a party of Voord, who bear some uncanny resemblances to the Cybermen...

They retreat with Maxilla into the safety of the TARDIS. Maxilla tells how the Voord had captured the [[Worldshaper]] and used it to rapidly evolve. His partner, Deedrun, was killed in the process, but Maxilla partially shielded himself with a time shield. The Voord are evolving into Cybermen. The Doctor realises the peril the Cybermen would pose with the Worldshaper.

 

As the Doctor departs angrily, the Time Lords reflect that in five million years' time, the Cybermen will evolve beyond corporeal form into a disembodied benevolent race, becoming the most peaceful and advanced people in the Universe. They agree that the millions of years of bloodshed in the interim will be worth the ultimate salvation of sentient life.

 

"''Well worth it.''"

* The [[Time Lord|Time Lords]] discuss how that the Cybermen will eventually evolve beyond their capacity for assimilation and ascend to a state of pure [[consciousness]], becoming a benevolent race in the process.

* A Time Lord is shown dying, having used up his [[Regeneration|regenerations]]. According to the Doctor, Time Lords degenerate into "random [[Molecule|molecules]]" and the dead Time Lord is shown disintegrating into a slurry.

* Peri references the events of [[TV]]: ''[[The Two Doctors (TV story)|The Two Doctors]]''. According to her, "a couple of years" have passed for her and the Doctor since those events. Jamie can still recall her, but hasn't met Frobisher.

* The references to [[Planet 14]] derive from a remark by the [[Cyber-Director]] in [[TV]]: ''[[The Invasion (TV story)|The Invasion]]''. In that story, the Cyber-Director recognises the [[Second Doctor]] and [[Jamie McCrimmon|Jamie]] from Planet 14.

* Part of the story takes place on [[Marinus]], with the Doctor recalling the events of [[TV]]: ''[[The Keys of Marinus (TV story)|The Keys of Marinus]]''. Interestingly, he, Peri and Frobisher wander around in the rain without any ill effects, implying that the acidic sea protecting [[Conscience of Marinus|the Conscience]] was an exception rather than a rule on the planet.