The Cyberization process.
Cyberization, formerly known as Legionization, is the process of removing part(s) of a Mobian's organic body and replacing them with cybernetic implants, and it serves as an aspect of the Sonic the Hedgehog universe. It was derived from Dr. Ivo "Eggman" Robotnik's early experiments with creating cyborg warriors, which led to the creation of the hero Monkey Khan. The process, in the case of unwilling recipients, is accompanied by brainwashing, rendering victims emotionless and obedient. Mobians who undergo cyberization becomes members of one of the Dark Egg Legion chapters or Egg Army factions around Mobius.
History
The process was first utilized by the Eggman Empire some point after the Xorda's attack on Mobius as an alternative means of enslavement, since the Bem made it impossible for Dr. Eggman to have Mobians undergo Roboticization. However, cyberization differs from roboticization in that it is often willingly undergone by various individuals who have pledged loyalty to Eggman. Even in these cases, however, a certain amount of loyalty has been ensured by the installation of explosives in the cybernetic implants of the Legionnaires that Eggman can activate at any time by remote or voice command.
According to the Iron Queen, these explosives are implanted in such a way as to make them incredibly difficult-if not impossible-to remove. The term "legionization" was adopted after the remnants of the Dark Legion joined the Eggman Empire, as did the use of robes and the term "Grandmasters" for Sub-Bosses.
The Legionization process.
While its intention is overall sinister, cyberization may have some benefits, as evidenced by members of the Great Desert Dark Egg Legion. In particular, Beauregard Rabbot claimed that the process had repaired his "bum knee", and Matilda the Armadillo was equipped with arms that gave her vastly increased strength. The Iron Dominion under the command of both the Iron Queen and the Iron King started using the process of cyberization upon their arrival in New Megaopolis in 3237.
Microchips were also provided to the local Dark Egg Legion designed to de-activate the bombs placed in their cybernetics, but also render them completely susceptible to the Iron Queen's Magitek. After they successfully occupied New Mobotropolis the Iron Dominion began rounding up citizens and forced them to undergo the process of cyberization. Legionized Mobians were subsequently dispatched to regional Dark Egg Legion chapters abroad.
Though roboticization was later made possible once again as a result of Operation: Clean Sweep, only half the planet's population was left vulnerable to the process, and thus cyberization continued to be employed as a process of enslavement.
Gallery
Trivia
- The cyberization process is reminiscent of the assimilation process used by the Borg in Star Trek, particularly the forcible implanting of cybernetics into a living person. This similarity is possibly intentional, given the comics' penchant for making references to other science-fiction franchises. However, it is notable that the cyberized individuals retain their individual will, with the exceptions of Lien-Da's brief domination of her chapter using the altered microchip and the various brainwashed Legionnaires.
- The term legionization gets its name from the Dark Legion, but Robotnik had employed the process prior to them joining the Eggman Empire. A notable example of this appears to have been Kage Von Stryker of the Dingo Regime.
- The replacement of the term "Legionization" with "Cyberization" most likely occured due to the former term's association with the Dark Legion concept created by writer Ken Penders, who was in a legal rights dispute against SEGA and Archie Comics.
- Cyberization has also played a role as an aspect of the Ghost in the Shell universe.
- Cyberization, along with Roboticization, shares similarities with the Cyber Initiative program from the Mortal Kombat universe.