.../APPLICATIONS/inugami.rtx

[praefulguro]

Player Information

Name/Alias: Lambency
Player Journal: obscuredtempest
Contact: effervescentemperor
Timezone: GMT -6/ US Central
HMD: here
In-Game/Processing: none

Character Information

Name/Alias: Lumine
Fandom: Megaman X
Canonpoint: Immediately prior to death
Gender: addressed in the masculine, doesn't personally identify
Age: appears somewhere between 14-16? robutt; active runtime is probably closer to 3 years

Physical Description: Lumine stands around 5', and is overall humanoid in appearance. He'd be slim and androgynous, much as he is originally, and the biggest difference between original appearance and as a human would be his hair: due to the length, it would lay flatter to just beneath his shoulders, but curl upwards somewhat starting about three or so inches from the ends. And for additional reference: Canon appearance and human. As a human, Lumine is physically male.

History: Capcom is bad at consistency and coherency in the Megaman games and Lumine is a one-shot villain, but an attempt at making sense of it is thus: The government, known as the Federation, has decided to instate a plan to colonise the moon for human habitation. The project is named the Jakob Project and consists of the construction of an (or multiple; they don't specify) orbital elevator. The project is managed by New Generation reploids (androids with the ability to make decisions and think for themselves, truly independent), with one by the name of Lumine serving as project director. New Generation reploids possess a Copy Chip that renders them immune to all viruses, including the one wreaking havoc across the planet: the Maverick Virus. After an accident, intercepted by X, reveals a horde of Sigmas (the villain of the entire series thus far), Lumine steps forward to reveal that Sigma's DNA is encoded into the transformation chip called a Copy Chip (which Axl, one of the other main characters, also possesses) and the other New Gens in the car that fell off the elevator used that body to protect themselves from the crash. He also reveals their immunity to the virus to X. Later, Lumine is kidnapped by a former Maverick Hunter gone rogue (and presumably insane thanks to the Maverick Virus), Vile. The Hunters fight off various New Gens because this is Megamans who are cited as being Maverick (despite their immunity), and they call out the Hunters every step of the way. The "Mavericks" question them and their goals, point out how the Hunters don't understand or aren't fit to see the "new world" their "master" (presumably but not definitively stated to be Sigma) envisions. One by one, X, Zero, and Axl take them down. They encounter Vile a few times along the way, too. Eventually, Sigma reveals himself, and the Hunters race to intercept and stop him. He claims that the New Gens possessing his DNA is his doing, calls them his "children". After Sigma is defeated, Lumine steps out and reveals that he's the one behind this whole uprising. He mocks Sigma, talks about how he used him, crushes Sigma's metal skull under his boot. He talks about how humans and older generation reploids have no place in the world. He preaches change and "evolution" (in what sounds like a social context; he calls reploids "tools of humanity" and how the New Gens won't be that). He talks about how he and the other New Gens can go "Maverick" at will. He talks about how the world and the current way of life is broken, must be changed. The Hunters presume he's Maverick and take him down. He doesn't die immediately. He leaves the Hunters with disbelief at his defeat, talks about how it will take more than this to stop the change (the revolution, presumably) from happening. His last words before he shudders and locks up are almost an acceptance of his death, so long as at least something's changed.

Personality: Lumine is intelligent and analytical with a keen eye for detail; philosophical and radical, unafraid to voice his opinion even if it stands against the accepted norm enforced by law; he is cruelly childish and lost in his own way of thinking. Lumine is every inch a revolutionary that disregards the well-being of others in pursuit of his goal. He's a manipulator, a planner, and an idealist. His skewed idea of social evolution needs a lot of polishing and reorganising, though, but all those traits together make him a perfect foil to the titular character of the series.

Lumine is meticulous in his planning; he has a very clear and precise goal in mind and endeavours to use the best tools available in order to accomplish this. His use of Vile to stir up the Hunters' interests includes faking a "kidnapping". If they (being both the Maverick Hunters and the Federation) think he's trapped somewhere, they can't suspect him being the mastermind. Using Sigma to his own end is remarkable, given that Sigma has theoretically been so broken down by the Virus over the decades that there's no real knowing how much of him is left. Lumine's own Jakob Project is to remove humans from the surface of the Earth (the original purpose of the Project is to begin terraforming and colonising the moon for human habitation), and he later plans to remove older, "obsolete" models too stuck in human laws and human domination in order to bring about the next step of "evolution".

Lumine is a radical idealist where that evolution is concerned. Everything is so set in the order it's been in, and he thinks it's time for the next step to be taken: one where reploids aren't tools of humanity, but rather wholly independent, rising above their station, and-- It's really all very noble, if not for the fact that his thoughts on how to accomplish it are horrible. The destruction of limitation, in his mind, includes the destruction of obsolete persons. He means to rid the world of older model reploids and humans, and incites the chaos of bringing Vile back (whether through repairing or hiring/gaining his help) and using Sigma as his face.

The problem with radicals--Mavericks, even, if you'll pardon the wholly intentional wordplay--is that there's this point where it gets to be too radical. Too extreme. Lumine sits very precariously on this point. He is the angel balancing on the head of a pin that comprises sanity. He's very much in control of himself, however, but he might not realise that his way of thinking is wrong. In all likelihood, he presumes that his plans benefit those who are most deserving of them--those being the New Generation reploids who aren't trapped by the mentality defined by older models.

Coupling with that issue, too, is the fact that Lumine can be almost childishly cruel. If he imagines someone to be intellectually inferior to him, he treats them with mockery. Feigning respect, feigning apology... But he gets awfully excited when explaining himself and his logic and his plans--rather arrogant, too. He has the villainous monologue down. He doesn't shy from violence if he deems it necessary or appropriate, to the point of crushing Sigma's lifeless, metal skull beneath his heel. Just to point out how pathetic such a relic is. He views the early generation reploids with disdain, cycling back to the limitation thing.

For all this, his usual pattern of behaviour is rather... normal. He conducts himself generally with great composure and calm, fairly neutral, occasionally sweetening tone and words--sometimes for the purpose of feigning innocence. In spite of this, he's apparently good at rousing others to his cause, if the entire plot of X8 has anything to suggest about that. It's a strange kind of charisma, in the end, and he's fairly capable with it. He nearly made X--the strongest willed reploid and the precursor to all of them--bend to his way of thinking. Even Zero seems to pause, and he's just as sure as X. Though that was also headgames. That sweetness, too, is often saccharine.

Lumine is, however, still very young by reploid standards. In fact, he's likely not even been functioning for more than a few years, if even that long. There's a lot left for him to learn and discover--about the world, about people, and about himself. As such, his mind is still flexible, though he's stubborn on this matter of ideals. Given the likelihood of being sheltered and working from "birth" to his "kidnapping", there is a very high possibility that Lumine doesn't really understand the finer details of the way the world works--doesn't look at the smaller picture. With very little personal interaction with the state of the world outside the politics of an endeavour like the Jakob Project, news reports, and independent research when he can afford to, are what shape his view and render everything at a particular slant for Lumine.

Despite his meticulous planning, despite his patience, he can still prove to be fairly impulsive, making rash decisions in the event that he thinks everything will fail (his Paradise Lost attack, for instance).

Lumine's reploid body is sexless, but he does not personally care with which gender others address him.

Abilities: Lumine is a reploid, meaning he's constructed of varying metals, wires, circuits, plates--a giant, walking, highly advanced artificial intelligence housed in a tank. He's incredibly intelligent thanks to this, with access to varying networks he has permissions for (legitimately or otherwise), like any reploid. Firewalls, scanners--a whole myriad of defensive programming at his disposal, as well, which is a likely standard for all reploids with the prevalence of the Maverick Virus, though Lumine's are for a different purpose. Mostly to prevent other hacks, as New Generation reploids like Lumine have a design quirk that makes them completely immune to infection by the Maverick Virus, a program/AI/alien energy amalgamation (possibly; the true design-nature of the Virus is never revealed) that infects and drives reploids violently mad. In fact, New Gens like Lumine are immune to all known viruses. Lumine insists those of his line can "go Maverick at will", whatever that actually means (personality section). My assumption and headcanon is that the faulty circuit that is attacked by the Virus and that results in reploids going Maverick is emulated in New Gens, allowing them to flush out errors as they please through simply resetting it, granting them a clean slate without permanent damage.

Like other reploids, too, Lumine's senses are on a different level altogether from human. Lumine can "see" across a broader spectrum than humans, can hear across more frequencies. There's not much more than a basic one-up on humans where taste and smell are concerned, though Lumine can perceive them more strongly. Touch is also more sensitive, and even moreso when the gloves come off.

Lumine has a networking system (think highly advanced IRC with optional voice function that spreads across his HUD) with a permissions lock that he can open to others. It is associated with multiple channels with varying security levels and obfuscation.

More with his physical design, Lumine--like all New Gens--possesses an ability tied to transformation. In Lumine's case, he can sift through DNA souls (which orbit at various angles around him when he's ready to access them, appearing as projected gem-like shapes similar to the one on his chest in differing colours) to utilise abilities rather than changing his own form, though he can certainly perform the latter as well. In addition, Lumine possesses an antigrav system, allowing him to levitate easily and at varying heights in a way not offered by a thruster-based system. It also grants him general flight and dashing abilities.

Also housed within Lumine's frame is mimetic material--in fact, it shapes most of his internal structure and some of his external components, such as his armour and hair (surprisingly enough). The reason for the use of this rather than something solid is to facilitate transformations and reduce the amount of energy required (something like mass conversion, on the other hand, would require a significant amount of energy). Whether or not this same material is present in other New Gens is questionable (and also being that it's headcanoned as the logic for this happening, I can't speak for others), but in Lumine's design, it shapes itself according to the requirements of the DNA soul he's using. This is also where the tentacles come from. Goddamnit, Lumine.

So DNA souls. Lumine possesses, at his CP, eight. To access them, the DNA souls floating around him pause, and the one at the top descends to be re-absorbed and utilised. There's a short charge time before any attack is executed.
> Wave Wall: Lumine drops to a knee and places his hand on the ground, summoning pillars of crystal at varying heights that rush towards an enemy combatant to crush them
> Cube Falls: Lumine generates portals through which large cubes fall from above, arms raised and palms up, to, well, crush people
> Snow Eisen/: Span of air is chilled to freezing temperatures above combatants and snowflakes from Hell happen.
> Earth Crusher: Tracking beams from above and lasers, called down with a gesture.
> Youdantotsu/Leaf-Severing Thrust: Lumine rushes, mid-air, towards an enemy with green energy.
> Death Energy: Lumine hovers and slashes downwards with massive energy "blades".
> Thunder Dancer: Lumine hovers again, electrical energy gathering around him before it strikes the ground in massive bolts in various placements.
> Flame Tornado: Lumine directs flames to a point where a swirling column of flames rises up.

Lumine specialises in engineering and architecture, given his role with the project connected to designing and constructing multiple orbital elevators, and as such is presumably an expert in these fields to be able to make judgement calls as he's required to do. Personally, I'm of the opinion that, given what he does, he possesses more than rudimentary knowledge also in reploid engineering as well when it comes to repairs and modifications to base framework (this is especially true if operating under the idea that he's the reason Vile is still alive--that he repaired the presumed dead reploid and made noticeable modifications to his armour and armaments).

Regarding that transformation of his: it opens up an entirely different set of abilities. Because that's the game's final boss and he hates you. And me. Because I'm writing this. He trails holographic feathers everywhere. Lumine now has additional shielding and a weapons array that's more uniquely "his" than the "borrowed" abilities he uses in his normal form.
> Refrain: Laser beams from shield-like/laser panel wingtips that focus on a far point.
> Legato: After charging energy, feather-like wingtips shoot thin beams that come back down in sets of two that target the enemy
> Bel Canto: Charging a brightly glowing sphere of light between his hands at chest level, likely from the crystal spike in his chest, yellow crystals of energy form in a vertical circle that spread out little by little as they expand. They are still dangerous as they return.
> Gravé: Yellow crystals are sent up and rain down in clustered groups from the sky. Once they hit the ground, they rise back up and return.
> Unison: Charging within an expanding violet sphere that disappears shortly, a burst of yellow crystals are sent out in a single row, forming multiple rows of said crystals, moving in different directions at differing heights. After a while, they all return in a single straight line.
> Oratorio: A diving move.

And then, there's his last ditch move while looking like the techno-seraph from Hell: "Paradise Lost". This move is never explained in game, but my nearest guess is that Lumine manages a vicious computer hack--one that infiltrates his target's own "brains" and begins the process of forcing a reformat (explaining the slow darkening of the stage). Lumine brings all six wings to shield himself, simply teleporting around and seemingly waiting for the end, but in reality it's due to the amount of concentration the hack requires. In-game, it disperses upon his defeat, which would be the sudden termination of the hacking. As this is the ragequit move in the game, I'm preeeeetty sure I'm never going to actually be using it (considering I don't anticipate Lumine ever using this boss form), and because there's obviously no effect on organic life.

His second form, going by my headcanon, requires more energy than Lumine is used to expending, thus carrying on too long in it will tire him.

Lumine also has the ability to locally/short-range (think maybe the span of a decent sized room) teleport unassisted by satellite link and housed system (such as the ones the Hunters use).

Samples

Dialogue: chatty Haven thread
Exposition/Introspection: First sample (general cw because Loom is not nice) (both done with a prior username)
And something more recent:

They were coming.

One by one, his comrades had fallen at the feet of ignorant models of obsolescence, denied any opportunity to be heard for the meaning of their words rather than the words themselves (not all were necessarily well-spoken, but there lay the suspicion as well that his mask of choice might have proven too effective, making it inherently flawed).

But ever did history repeat, just as the Earth orbited the sun, the moon the Earth, and the sun expanded until it would one day consume all.

He would end that useless repetition. This revolution was not a cosmic force—the status quo could change, and those who held the world in stagnation could be removed. The Hunters could topple at the last stage. They were old. They were worn. And they would face Sigma once again, and Lumine would watch them assume their victory if they attained it.

And tear it away from them, watching them fall.

Until that time came, however, there was much to be done. In the wake of lives lost at hands belonging to deaf ears, there came data. Data he could feed the virus that couldn't infiltrate his systems without his permission and that terrorised the world. And so he would create the shape of the front he borrowed, constructing it more elaborately, more symbolically—it would be the evil they sought, and that would satisfy them.

Let them take down what appeared to be the greatest evil, had always been the greatest evil, and swoop in to turn reality on its head.