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Copy Chip Functions
Dec. 15th, 2018 01:29 amI had this sitting on Axl's account, so I'll revise it a bit and drop it here...
The Copy Chip's a bit of a mystery when it comes to its functionality and anti-virus feature, but in essence, what it does is use images of a Reploid's system to tell Axl's systems what form to take. The Copy Chip stores Axl's DNA, which is the blueprint of his body, as well as his 'soul'. (This is why you cannot remove a Copy Chip from a New Gen Reploid without killing them.) In cases of corruption, errors or unknown modifications the Copy Chip will instantly restore from Axl's DNA, overwriting every change made after the stored instance. This is what makes it impossible for the Maverick Virus to get a foothold on New Generation systems. The Copy Chip works extremely quickly and does not require shutdowns or restarts while restoring so at most the Reploid will suffer a short case of 'nausea' or blanking out.
When Axl takes a DNA core from a Reploid or Mechaniloid, he doesn't take the DNA in its pure, original form. He takes the DNA as it is; that is, for most Mavericks, while their code is infected by the Maverick Virus. This is the main reason for the limitation on his transformation time, energy shortages aside. When he transforms into an infected Reploid, the Maverick Virus is introduced into his system and corrodes at his programming. The Copy Chip instantly reverts his transformation when the corruption reaches a certain point, before it can get close enough to corrupting the Chip itself. Thus, transformation times are severely limited for infected Mechaniloids and Mavericks. For non-infected Mavericks, such as the CM Mavericks, he is capable of staying in their form for a longer time.
When it comes to modifying the base image stored of Axl's form, the Copy Chip is extremely stubborn. This means it can take some struggle on Axl's part to get upgrades functioning, as he needs to continuously tell the Chip that the upgrade is safe and won't harm him. It also means he cannot transform during this period, as the Copy Chip will wipe the upgrade when he reverts back to his original form. The struggle can take from anywhere between a few hours to a few weeks to be accepted. It depends on how much of an impact the upgrade has on Axl's system. Usually, small chip upgrades like the one dispensed in X8 take a few hours. Replacing hardware takes much longer. But at the same time, it is a boon, as all the Copy Chip needs is material to repair Axl's body. This means his recovery time tends to be shorter than other Reploids.
The Copy Shot is a unique function of Axl's, as New Generation Reploids come with a pre-uploaded set of Reploid DNA and thus typically have no reason to take DNA cores on the spot. Axl's Copy Chip is capable of storing DNA cores pre-CM, but that storage space is likely limited to one or two DNA cores at a time, as he did have to bring back the data to Red Alert to be used as power-ups. During/Post-CM, it's shown that he can at least store 10 DNA cores, but is likely capable of more. The Copy Shot can only be used from his Axl Bullets as that is what actually allows Axl to capture a Reploid's DNA from their body, but if he happens upon pure DNA cores he can use those as is.
Axl's transformations pre-CM have a limitation: the target of his transformation must be approximately the same size as him. This is likely because the Copy Chip manipulates Axl's matter to transform and is incapable of making up for extra mass, a feature that is added to the proper Copy Chips for New Gens. The New Gens' bodies were outfitted with an ultra-dense material that can adapt its volume and density as required by the transformations to make up for the extra mass (the tentacle/purple mass within Lumine). By CM, Axl is capable of transforming into much larger Reploids, so his Copy Chip was likely upgraded and his body outfitted with this ultra-dense material.
This applies in general to proper Copy Chips... DNA Cores are essentially the entire soul of a Reploid, so Copy Chips must be several times more spacious than the regular storage size of a Reploid. In addition, Copy Chips are extremely efficient at compressing data and decompressing them when they're needed. They are also excellent at separating episodic memory from semantic memory. As episodic and semantic memory are coded differently in a human's brain, this coding is replicated in a Reploid's memory banks, allowing the Copy Chip to quickly sort them. This is what allows New Gens to take on the form of a Reploid and understand how to use their functions without being slammed by a lifetime's worth of memories all at once. A New Gen can go through the DNA Core's episodic memory if they so choose (this is how Lumine came to understand and agree with Sigma's ideals.)
I might add more as ideas come up.... it's way too late in the night for headcanon brainstorming...
The Copy Chip's a bit of a mystery when it comes to its functionality and anti-virus feature, but in essence, what it does is use images of a Reploid's system to tell Axl's systems what form to take. The Copy Chip stores Axl's DNA, which is the blueprint of his body, as well as his 'soul'. (This is why you cannot remove a Copy Chip from a New Gen Reploid without killing them.) In cases of corruption, errors or unknown modifications the Copy Chip will instantly restore from Axl's DNA, overwriting every change made after the stored instance. This is what makes it impossible for the Maverick Virus to get a foothold on New Generation systems. The Copy Chip works extremely quickly and does not require shutdowns or restarts while restoring so at most the Reploid will suffer a short case of 'nausea' or blanking out.
When Axl takes a DNA core from a Reploid or Mechaniloid, he doesn't take the DNA in its pure, original form. He takes the DNA as it is; that is, for most Mavericks, while their code is infected by the Maverick Virus. This is the main reason for the limitation on his transformation time, energy shortages aside. When he transforms into an infected Reploid, the Maverick Virus is introduced into his system and corrodes at his programming. The Copy Chip instantly reverts his transformation when the corruption reaches a certain point, before it can get close enough to corrupting the Chip itself. Thus, transformation times are severely limited for infected Mechaniloids and Mavericks. For non-infected Mavericks, such as the CM Mavericks, he is capable of staying in their form for a longer time.
When it comes to modifying the base image stored of Axl's form, the Copy Chip is extremely stubborn. This means it can take some struggle on Axl's part to get upgrades functioning, as he needs to continuously tell the Chip that the upgrade is safe and won't harm him. It also means he cannot transform during this period, as the Copy Chip will wipe the upgrade when he reverts back to his original form. The struggle can take from anywhere between a few hours to a few weeks to be accepted. It depends on how much of an impact the upgrade has on Axl's system. Usually, small chip upgrades like the one dispensed in X8 take a few hours. Replacing hardware takes much longer. But at the same time, it is a boon, as all the Copy Chip needs is material to repair Axl's body. This means his recovery time tends to be shorter than other Reploids.
The Copy Shot is a unique function of Axl's, as New Generation Reploids come with a pre-uploaded set of Reploid DNA and thus typically have no reason to take DNA cores on the spot. Axl's Copy Chip is capable of storing DNA cores pre-CM, but that storage space is likely limited to one or two DNA cores at a time, as he did have to bring back the data to Red Alert to be used as power-ups. During/Post-CM, it's shown that he can at least store 10 DNA cores, but is likely capable of more. The Copy Shot can only be used from his Axl Bullets as that is what actually allows Axl to capture a Reploid's DNA from their body, but if he happens upon pure DNA cores he can use those as is.
Axl's transformations pre-CM have a limitation: the target of his transformation must be approximately the same size as him. This is likely because the Copy Chip manipulates Axl's matter to transform and is incapable of making up for extra mass, a feature that is added to the proper Copy Chips for New Gens. The New Gens' bodies were outfitted with an ultra-dense material that can adapt its volume and density as required by the transformations to make up for the extra mass (the tentacle/purple mass within Lumine). By CM, Axl is capable of transforming into much larger Reploids, so his Copy Chip was likely upgraded and his body outfitted with this ultra-dense material.
This applies in general to proper Copy Chips... DNA Cores are essentially the entire soul of a Reploid, so Copy Chips must be several times more spacious than the regular storage size of a Reploid. In addition, Copy Chips are extremely efficient at compressing data and decompressing them when they're needed. They are also excellent at separating episodic memory from semantic memory. As episodic and semantic memory are coded differently in a human's brain, this coding is replicated in a Reploid's memory banks, allowing the Copy Chip to quickly sort them. This is what allows New Gens to take on the form of a Reploid and understand how to use their functions without being slammed by a lifetime's worth of memories all at once. A New Gen can go through the DNA Core's episodic memory if they so choose (this is how Lumine came to understand and agree with Sigma's ideals.)
I might add more as ideas come up.... it's way too late in the night for headcanon brainstorming...
