Chronotis' Disguised Time Machine

Professor Chronotis withdraws a slimmish paperback of The Time Machine from a plastic carrier, its cover scuffed from decades of handling. The copper-colored binding wire peeks through cracked glue at the spine, while beige pages have yellowed at the edges. Every casual flip of a page makes the room’s unnatural chill lift for an instant, revealing the book’s disguised temporal function despite its ordinary appearance.

6 appearances

Appearances in the Narrative

When this object appears and how it's used

6 moments

S17E13 · Nightmare of Eden Part 1

Doctor and Rigg confront unstable interface

The Doctor’s unspecified personal equipment is referenced as a viable alternative to the cutting lasers requested from Azure. Though not physically present in the corridor, the Doctor’s assertion that he possesses the means to act immediately underscores his improvisational approach and challenges the institutional reliance on external repair infrastructure.

Before: Unseen but assumed to be in the Doctor’s possession aboard the TARDIS or his personal kit

After: Claimed as adequate and suitable for the repair mission, though not yet deployed

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S17E21 · Shada Part 1

Parsons borrows books from an eccentric don

The paperback copy of The Time Machine, withdrawn from its plastic bag, serves as Chronotis’ current casual reading material, its ordinary appearance now tainted by the alien text’s hidden significance.

Before: Contained in a plastic bag.

After: In Chronotis’ hands, casually flipped.

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S17E6 · City of Death Part 2

Duggan smashes through the cellar wall

The Doctor’s time experiment equipment remains untouched but underscores the contrast between his intellectual approach and Duggan’s brute force. Though functionally irrelevant to the wall breach, its presence frames the entire cellar as a site of temporal experimentation, reinforcing the high stakes and the Doctor’s disengagement from immediate threats.

Before: A jury-rigged array of chronometric devices and temporal calibration tools arranged around a central workstation, flickering and functional

After: Unaltered but indirectly affected as Duggan’s actions scatter the environment, suggesting potential disruption to the fragile setup without direct impact

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S17E8 · City of Death Part 4

Doctor refuses blackmail in laboratory standoff

The jury-rigged time machine stabilizer equipment is actively used by Romana within the laboratory as part of Scarlioni's temporal tampering scheme. The Doctor explicitly orders Romana to stop using it during their confrontation, highlighting its critical role in enabling Scarlioni's plans and marking it as a key target for obstruction.

Before: Active and in use by Romana under Scarlioni's command; copper wiring connected; temporal energy fluctuating.

After: Ceased operation after Romana complies with the Doctor's order; remains in the laboratory under Scarlioni's control but with resisted usage.

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S17E21 · Shada Part 1

Parsons questions Chronotis about the alien book

Chronotis casually retrieves The Time Machine paperback from a plastic bag, signaling his simultaneous engagement with earthly literature and temporal artifacts. The book’s ordinary appearance masks its latent chronometric purpose, while its casual handling momentarily disrupts the room’s unnatural chill.

Before: Contained in a plastic bag, newly acquired but not yet revealed.

After: In hand, open and being read; its pages turning as the professor settles into the narrative.

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S17E22 · Shada Part 2

Doctor and Romana search Chronotis rooms

The disguised time machine masquerading as H.G. Wells' The Time Machine sits inert, its temporal functions dormant during this chase, yet serving as a silent reminder of the extraordinary within the ordinary clutter.

Before: Hidden among books inside Chronotis' rooms.

After: Still hidden, its camouflage intact despite the surrounding chaos.

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