Solarian (Embrace the Darkness)

The Solarians are a sapient species of small humanoids, so named because they travel through space in ships equipped with solar sails.

Biology
They appear like small, child-sized humanoids, similar to their Cimmerian kin, with the exception that the Solarians still have functional eyes, which the Cimmerians lack. Some members of this race display advanced psychic abilities, being able control their molecular structure and to heal injuries of other beings. However, the healing is compulsory, not voluntary. Whenever they see an injured being they will feel compelled to heal them, even at the expense of the Solarian's own life as they may die from the effort.

History
Many ages ago, the Solarians were hit by a devastating plague, which took the lives of many healers as they involuntarily gave their life energies away to attempt to cure those affected. A number of healers fled to the planet Cimmeria IV, but unfortunately, the plague victims followed them, resulting in even more death. In a desperate effort, the healers used their advanced psychic abilities to block out all light emitted by the Cimmerian sun, casting the whole system in eternal darkness. With no light to power their solar ships, the Solarians could no longer travel through the Cimmerian system, and the healers were thus abandoned there. As several generations passed, these healers would forget about their origins and evolve into a subterranean race which Humans would later name the Cimmerians.

Appearances

 * Big Finish Doctor Who audio stories - "Embrace the Darkness" (2002)