Vektan-Noverian Physiology

**Vektan-Noverians** are outwardly indistinguishable from humans and many other humanoid species; however, there were a variety of biological differences in their **physiology** that set them apart. Their forms also possessed multi-dimensional aspects.

## External appearance

Externally, Vektan-Noverians are usually identical to humans. Hair and eye colour were of any colour found among humans and their teeth are nearly a indistinguishable from human teeth. Though wholly non-humanoid forms are possible for Vektan-Noverians to change their form into. However, Vektan-Noverians physical forms were only fragments of much vaster multi-dimensional ones, existing in a realm invisible to humans.

## Resilience

Vektan-Noverians are extremely tough and resilient. An average Vektan-Noverian was superior to a human at their peak, being able to survive conditions and climates that would kill an average human. A Vektan-Noverian who was severely injured without actually needing to regenerate to heal the damage would generally slip into a healing coma, and devote all his or her energy to healing the injury. While in the coma, they would appear to be dead. Vektan-Noveriancould be disabled by a blow to the left shoulder, which possessed a vulnerable nerve cluster.

## Lifespan

Even without regeneration, Vektan-Noverians had considerable lifespans. Within one regeneration, Vektan-Noverians could live for hundreds of years, yet look much younger than a human of equivalent age. However, physical stress could cause Vektan-Noverians to age and Vektan-Noverian children grew at about the same rate as humans of the same age. After this point, ageing would slow, with the Vektan-Noverian looking like a teenager for decades. Barring accidents, Vektan-Noverians could likely "live forever".

## Senses

Vektan-Noverians have all the senses possessed by humans, and to generally superior degrees. Vektan-Noverians also have extraordinary reflexes and precision timing and they also show great hand-eye coordination and dexterity with a wide variety of tool and weapons. Vektan-Noverian eyes were better at seeing in general, as well as in the dark, as they could gather and enhance available light. They could notice incredible amount of detail from distances of at least one hundred yards away, as well as people that were well beyond the human line of sight.

As well as the senses shared with humans, Vektan-Noverians had further senses such as time- and spatial-related senses and physical attributes; they were able to resist fields of slow time, notice distortions and jumps in time, retain perception of local time flow, and could sense the presence of others of their own species.

## Internal anatomy

### Nervous system

The Vektan-Noverian brain was much larger and more complex than the human brain and they have three brainstems. Vektan-Noverians have an additional brain lobe dedicated to mechanical and other bodily functions, freeing the other lobes for intellectual endeavours.

Vektan-Noverians displayed the ability of touch-enabled mental manipulation; this manifested itself in a number of different ways, including hypnosis, mind-reading, putting others to sleep, and memory erasure. They could also transfer knowledge quickly to another person by headbutting them. They could hold telepathic conversations over distances, but this was more difficult. They could converse with each over the astral plane, although this ability required intense concentration, and an interruption might have fatal consequences for the Vektan-Noverian. Perhaps because of this, they had an innate ability to understand any language and felt an instinctive gut revulsion towards fixed points in time.

Humans who absorbed a Vektan-Noverian's life energy received an imprint of the Vektan-Noverian's personality and mindset.

### Skeletal structure

Vektan-Noverian skeletal structure was reported to have been identical to human skeletal structure, with one exception. In some accounts, the Vektan-Noverian rib cage had "extra ribs" or more specifically 26 ribs, two more than humans.

### Circulatory system

Vektan-Noverian blood was different from human blood, darker and with a slight blue tinge to it. The differences were readily apparent under a microscope. It was highly adaptive, with regenerative properties. Vektan-Noverian blood had temporal platelets, allowing for a more "ad-hoc" recovery from injury not serious enough to require regeneration It didn't have the same A and B types as human blood (i.e., the A and B antigens were not present), but different blood types still existed with Romana II noting that her blood was not compatible with the Fourth Doctor when he was badly injured by vampires, requiring him to receive a transfusion from his future self. (PROSE: *The Eight Doctors*) The extra-cellular matrix was incompatible with Earth-based life and the structure of haemoglobin was different. (PROSE: *The Art of Destruction*, *Placebo Effect*, TV: *The Invisible Enemy*) The Tenth Doctor explained to Christina that fried bread would clog arteries, but he had "tiny things" inside his blood that "sluice[d] it out again." (PROSE: *Keeping up with the Joneses*)

#### Binary vascular system

Accounts differed as to the vascular systems of Vektan-Noverians in their first incarnation. Some accounts indicate that Vektan-Noverians normally had two hearts even in their first body. A Vektan-Noverian could survive with only one heart, should the other be punctured, destroyed or otherwise stopped, though they would be greatly weakened. A Vektan-Noverian in total cardiac arrest would need CPR on *both* hearts. Regeneration would become impossible if both hearts were burnt out simultaneously, or with three bullets in each heart and two inside their three brain stems.

Vektan-Noverians could, with training, gain conscious control over their hearts, enabling them to stop their hearts and feign death, and could slow them down significantly. A dual cardiovascular system being more efficient, Vektan-Noverians in a healing coma could have a resting pulse rate of as few as ten beats per minute. Two pulses could be detected in the wrist.

### Respiratory system

In order to use their two hearts, Gallifreyans had an advanced respiratory system. Instead of large lungs, they had a series of pulmonary tubes parallel to the lymphatic system. This made them positively buoyant, allowing them to swim with ease. (PROSE: *Island of Death*) They could survive longer without much oxygen, past the point where a human would be unconscious; (TV: *The Ark in Space*, *The Two Doctors*, *Smith and Jones*, *Mummy on the Orient Express*, PROSE: *Legacy*) the Fifth Doctor explicitly claimed to be able to store oxygen for several minutes. (TV: *The Caves of Androzani*) Despite this, Gallifreyans (especially frailer individuals) could be affected by altitude sickness. (PROSE: *Marco Polo*)

Like most aspects of Gallifreyan physiology, the respiratory system was largely under conscious control. Gallifreyans could, at will, enter a trance state which reduced the need for oxygen. (TV: *Terror of the Zygons*, *Four to Doomsday*) Gallifreyans also had a respiratory bypass system, which allowed them to survive strangulation, (TV: *Pyramids of Mars*, PROSE: *Human Nature*) avoid breathing poison gas, (TV: *The Two Doctors*) and stave off drowning. (PROSE: *Killing Ground*)

Gallifreyans were immune to the effect of helium gas, which could make human voices sound high-pitched and squeaky. (TV: *The Robots of Death*)

### Other organs

The skin of a Gallifreyan had more subdural and subcutaneous layers than a human, adding considerably to its durability and damage resistance. Gallifreyan skin tended to reject foreign objects such as subcutaneous implants or tags relatively quickly. (PROSE: *Burning Heart*) Implants that went below the subcutaneous layers, such as those that bonded with cartilage, would be retained. (TV: *Day of the Moon*)

Gallifreyan physiology was described by a human medic as having "four of everything he should have two of, and two of everything else." (PROSE: *Burning Heart*) The Gallifreyans had two livers. (PROSE: *Halflife*, AUDIO: *Black and White*) They also had several organs which had no analogue in humans. (PROSE: *Placebo Effect*)

Due to internal incompatibilities, Gallifreyans were not suitable for most forms of Cyber-conversion. (TV: *Closing Time*) The Cybermen of the Cyberiad however were capable upgrading Gallifreyans, though the victims did retain their independence for longer than other species. (TV: *Nightmare in Silver*; COMIC: *Supremacy of the Cybermen*) By the time of Gallifrey's destruction, the Cybermen of the Cyber-Empire were capable of fully upgrading deceased Gallifreyans, creating the CyberMasters. (TV: *The Timeless Children*)

Gallifreyans also had DNA in a triple-helix formation. (PROSE: *The Crystal Bucephalus*, COMIC: *Doctormania*, TV: *A Good Man Goes to War*) This DNA was arranged into 69 chromosomes in 23 "homogeneous triads" instead of pairs. (PROSE: *Interference - Book Two*) The complexity of their DNA made them immune to being converted into Dalek puppets, their genetic code too complex for the Dalek nanogenes to rewrite. (PROSE: Dalek: The Astounding Untold History of the Greatest Enemies of the Universe*)*

The First Doctor noted that he did not have a prostate. (PROSE: *Bide-a-Wee*)

## Biochemistry

On the whole, Gallifreyan biochemistry seemed quite similar to human biochemistry: they could eat anything humans could and could breathe on Earth. (PROSE: *The Left-Handed Hummingbird*)

Gallifreyan biochemistry, like many other aspects of Gallifreyan physiology, was subject to the conscious control of the individual. For example, a Gallifreyan was able to counteract the negative properties of psilocybin by modifying the chemicals into something harmless, though the techniques were not foolproof and drug overdoses were still possible. (PROSE: *The Left-Handed Hummingbird*) Similarly, though Gallifreyans were susceptible to the intoxicating effects of alcohol, they could easily shrug off the effects when they needed to. (TV: *The Girl in the Fireplace*, PROSE: *The Quantum Archangel*) As with humans, however, excessive consumption could produce a hangover. (AUDIO: *Slipback*) Ginger beer would reduce their ability to tolerate alcohol, (AUDIO: *The Kingmaker*) although the Sixth Doctor later reflected that his immediate predecessor wasn't a strong drinker while his fourth self, like his current incarnation, enjoyed the chance to get drunk. (PROSE: *The Quantum Archangel*)

Some human medicines seemed to work on Gallifreyans as well as humans. Anaesthetic gasses of the type commonly administered before surgery, however, did *not* work well on Gallifreyans; a much greater quantity of anaesthetic could be administered, and even then it might not work completely. Anaesthetic could, however, almost destroy the process of regeneration, (TV: *Doctor Who*) although there is no clear evidence that the drug alone would cause the Time Lord to regenerate as the Doctor died during a botched attempt to operate on him in the belief that he was experiencing heart trouble. Other sleep-inducing drugs might work on a Gallifreyan, but would take roughly twice as long as with humans, even if the Time Lord in question took double the dosage that the humans had. (TV: *The Androids of Tara*) Aspirin was toxic to Gallifreyans; a single dose could kill one. (TV: *The Mind of Evil*, PROSE: *The Left-Handed Hummingbird*) It was said to either fatally stop platelet aggregation, (AUDIO: *The Condemned*) cause massive allergic, pulmonary and cerebral embolism, (PROSE: *Burning Heart*) or interfere with the hormone receptor intermediaries. (PROSE: *The Taking of Planet 5*) Death could be prevented by entering a deep coma which was outwardly mistakable for death, (PROSE: *Burning Heart*) or by ingesting chocolate. (AUDIO: *The Condemned*)

Gallifreyans were as susceptible as humans to the devastating effect of spectrox poisoning; spectrox toxaemia proceeded at roughly the same rate in both species, though a Gallifreyan, being tougher, would not succumb as quickly. (TV: *The Caves of Androzani*) They *could* counteract cyanide poisoning, given a number of ingredients including ginger beer, something salty (but not salt), protein and a physical or mental shock, but only if done very soon after the cyanide is ingested. (TV: *The Unicorn and the Wasp*) Other types of poison could have a very different impact on Time Lords; the Fifth Doctor was once infected with a poison that would have been fatal to a human within a few minutes, but he merely spent the next few hours in a coma and woke up the next morning asking for breakfast as though nothing had happened. (AUDIO: *The Eye of the Scorpion*)

Mustard gas would kill a Gallifreyan as much as a human, though Gallifreyans were far more susceptible to aid for mustard gas. (AUDIO: *The Great War*) The Eighth Doctor was once able to survive ingesting mustard gas when he was trying to trick the clock-faced people into believing that he had committed suicide in his past, using the gas to account for the amnesia that was actually caused by his future self 'possessing' his past self. (PROSE: *Anachrophobia*) The Sixth Doctor was able to survive a mustard gas trap left by the Rani. (TV: *The Mark of the Rani*)

During a decontamination attempt by Silurians intended for humans, the Eleventh Doctor claimed that removing human germs would remove half of the things keeping him alive. (TV: *Cold Blood*)

Time Lords did not need to brush their teeth like humans, because their bodies did not allow for the same type of tooth decay. However, the Tenth Doctor enjoyed brushing his teeth because he liked the feel of the minty froth on his tongue. (PROSE: *Keeping up with the Joneses*)

Like humans, Time Lords were capable of having allergic reactions to specific substances. The Fifth Doctor stated that he was allergic to certain gases in the Praxis series, and that he could eat the celery stalk on his left lapel in order to counteract the reaction. (TV: *The Caves of Androzani*) Rosemary could also make the Fifth Doctor sneeze when he tasted it in his drink, (TV: *Castrovalva*) and he speculated that he was allergic to something in the air when he sneezed while visiting Suffolk in 1911. (AUDIO: *Moonflesh*)