TARDIS Technical Index

Passenger Adoption Scanning Terminal (PAST)

The Passenger Adoption Scanning Terminal (PAST) plays a vital part in the TARDIS' control circuitry. No substance can survive the time winds of the Vortex without a Molecular Stabilization System. For this reason, a Symbiotic Nuclei is needed to 'prime' a Time Travel Capsules by serving as a genetic key to access the Vortex. The nuclei also contains the programming code for the Molecular Stabilizers that prevent the Capsule from molecularly destabilizing in the Vortex. While Symbiotic Relationship Circuits allows the TARDIS to share in the Time Lord's protection they do not provide protection for any crew members or passengers who do not have their own symbiotic nuclei.

A victim of Zygma energyMost attempts to use a TARDIS without a symbiotic nucleus result in severe wounds. Zygma energy will split open the victim's DNA Helix, causing their protenoids to fall out of balance. There is no cure. The only treatment is using a distillation chamber to drain the untapped artron energy of sapient beings. But the more cells of energy the victim absorbs the more the catalytic extraction will destroy his metabolism and mutate his body, eventually leading to death.

It is for this reason that the Passenger Adoption Scanning Terminal was created for the Type 26 and all future TT Capsules. It uses rho waves to alter the mental and physiological processes of the crew. This even allows lesser species to survive Vortex travel. This molecular stabilization system will even provide time travellers with temporary protection from having their own biodata altered by a change in history. While this grace period is not indefinite it can often provide the crew with stable memories and physiology until the damage to history has been rectified.

If there is a symbiotically bonded Time Lord on board, the PAST will automatically screen and adopt any sapient life-form which is present at the moment of dematerialization into the Vortex. If there is no symbiotically bonded Time Lord (a Symbiotic Bypass) at the moment of dematerialization the PAST will not adopt any other life-forms.

Though the TARDIS provides almost total protection from the energies of the Vortex, most crew members experience a subconscious sense of disconnection during vortex travel. This is the result of a cellular level awareness of being outside the first four dimensions. Some (if not all) of a Time Lord's 22 temporal senses grow more acute the more times a Time Lord crosses the Time-Fields in a TARDIS. Because of this Time Lords are vulnerable to Temporal Shift Lag. Such effects can only be overcome if the Time Lord develops special mental disciplines. Temporal Shift Lag only effects beings with a symbiotic nuclei.

As of the release of the Type 32 TT Capsule the PAST also became responsible for ensuring that every crew member has access to the Voice Integrator. In theory only the crew of the TARDIS will be able to experience the Voice Integrator, however, some TARDISes have been known to selectively adopt certain acquaintances of the crew.

Because some time zones have lack sufficient light in the visual spectrum the Linear Calculator will adjust their eyes to see in the dominate EM spectrum of that particular time zone. The modification is accomplished with the telepathic circuits in such a way the that crew are unlikely to notice any changes to how they see the world. Operators should be aware that if the Linear Calculator is not serviced every 500 years it can cause miss-jumps.

Using the Telepathic circuits, The TARDIS automatically compensates for any traditional jet-lag its crew might experience. However certain malfunctions in the TARDIS systems can cause crew members to experience extreme jet lag.

The Auto-Gravity System automatically adjusts the gravity, within reason, while in the Vortex to acclimatize the crew to the local gravity of the destination. Again the telepathic circuits prevent the crew from noticing these changes.

While this version of the PAST has been used for some time, it does allow unknown stowaways to also share in this Time Lord gifts. For this reason some more modern capsules (Type 65 and later) are equipped with a scanning booth which must be used by any newcomer to be added to the Approved Entrance File. This is necessary if they wish to safely enter the Vortex.

Color Key

The following color code is used:

  • Black: For information from the TV Series, including Dimensions in Time, and 1996 TV Movie.
  • Blue: For information from the Novels and Audios including Target, Virgin, BCC, and Big Finish.
  • Green: For information from 'licensed' reference sources such as the Technical Manual, Doctor Who Magazine, and the Role Playing Games.
  • Red: For information from unofficial sources -The Faction Paradox series, behind the scenes interviews, author's speculation, and popular fan belief.
  • The TARDIS Technical Index is copyright Will B Swift.

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