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Phage is a virtual being and computer virus who inhabits the Digital World.
History[]
Origin[]
Phage was created by Dr. Eggman to infiltrate and attack various computer networks. She quickly began infiltrating computer networks and gaining knowledge and power by absorbing information. Much to Eggman's displeasure, however, the first system she attacked was his own, erasing sixty terabytes of his data. She thus set out to find some means of making amends. (SU: #73, #74)
Ghost in the Machine[]
Phage observed Sally Acorn and Nicole on Isolated Island after Nicole helped Dr. Ellidy escape the Digital World, where she apparently held him captive using her Digital Monsters. She noted with particular fascination the fact that a living being could manifest in the Digital World, and that NICOLE-a digital being-could manifest a physical form. When Nicole and Tails began checking the system for intrusions, Phage stayed just out of sight, while at the same time hijacking a Badnik to attack Sally Acorn and Big the Cat at the Lake of Rings on the island. Her attack was thwarted, and the two managed to claim a Red Star Ring. (SU: #71, #72)
Nicole attacks Phage's core.
She later took control of a Needlenose to observe a confrontation between Sally and Ellidy regarding the latter's late daughter Nikki the Lynx, whom Nicole had been intended to save. Eventually she revealed herself to Nicole, remarking on how fascinating she found the holographic Lynx. After cryptically revealing her own nature as a digital being, she admitted that she had been behind the attacks on Nicole's creator and friends. Nicole then enclosed Phage within a firewall, only for Phage to break through. She then stated that she found talking was too slow a means of satisfying her curiosity about Nicole, and attacked. Phage briefly captured her, and revealed herself and her loyalties to Ellidy and Sally. She also took control of Ellidy's other Badniks and sent them to attack Dr. Ellidy's House alongside Dark Gaia's Minions, part of her plan to claim Ellidy's research, the Red Star Rings, and a Chaos Emerald located on the island. She briefly toyed with the idea of impersonating Nicole, only for the Lynx to escape confinement and flee into the system. Phage pursued her and finally cornered her, intent on absorbing Nicole into herself, only to be surprised by Sally's arrival via the Digitizer. (SU: #73)
An enraged Phage pursues Sally.
After noting that Sally's actions seemed illogical given her reputation as a strategist, Phage eagerly anticipated absorbing both Freedom Fighters into her being. She then attacked Sally, only for Nicole to respond with an attack that struck her internal core. Enraged and in pain, Phage continued her attack on the two girls even as her Badnik forces attempted to recover the yellow Chaos Emerald. Setting the Digital Monsters loose on her foes, she eventually found Sally attempting to escape to an outside system. Phage followed her, determined to destroy her, only for Sally to reveal that Nicole had linked them with a pair of digital Sling Rings, allowing Nicole to pull her back into Ellidy's system. Nicole then attempted to seal Phage outside, but even injured Phage proved too strong until Ellidy inserted a Red Star Ring into Nicole's handheld. Outraged at the power displayed by Overclocked Nicole--power she felt should have been hers--Phage was then forcibly barred from Ellidy's systems, though Nicole feared she was still a threat. (SU: #74)
Some time later, after the Freedom Fighters had obtained all the Chaos Emeralds and Gaia Keys, Phage was tracked down and confronted by Eggman himself. After he chastised her for her failure on Isolated Island (and for the aforementioned data-destruction incident), they watched Sonic and Sally's broadcast (transmitted by Tails Doll), detailing their plan to fix the world. In response, Eggman formulated a plan of his own and commanded Phage to link up with Tails Doll for the upcoming assault. (StH: #283)
Via Tails Doll, Phage sneaked aboard the Sky Patrol and disabled its systems, allowing the Battle Bird Armada to sneak up on the Freedom Fighters. When Nicole came to check the system, Phage revealed herself and attacked her. Tails put a Red Star Ring into Nicole's handheld, turning her into Overclocked Nicole, but Phage then led her on a wild goose chase. After the Armada captured Chip and crippled the Sky Patrol, Phage revealed that she had only been stalling for time and vanished. (StH: #284)
Personality[]
Phage is a cruel, sadistic being who thinks nothing of attacking others from surprise or if they are helpless to fight against her. She is intrigued by Nicole's unique nature, but her curiosity is a dark one that seeks satisfaction through violence. Her loyalty apparently lies with Dr. Eggman, but her primary motivation seems to be to add to her own being. Phage also seems to fear her master to some degree, given her desperate efforts to appease him after erring.
Abilities[]
Phage assuming the form of Nicole.
Phage appears to have great power in the Digital World, such as generating firewalls and taking control of computerized devices. Her abilities appear to surpass Nicole's normal capabilities, since she was able to break free of a quarantine program erected by the other A.I. Phage also has stated she exists everywhere in the Digital World, and grows more powerful as she absorbs information. She can also mold her form in various ways, including taking on a a more humanoid form and possibly creating the Digital Monsters. However, her body also contains a spherical core that appears to be her main weakness-any damage done to it causes her significant pain. Even damaged, she is still surprisingly powerful, outmatched only by Overclocked Nicole.
Appearance[]
Phage's reveal
Phage's appears to wear a white feline mask with triangular ears that have red interiors, glowing yellow eyes, and a pink triangular nose. This mask is also marked by three red rings-one on each cheek and one on her forehead-that are connected to her eyes and the back of her head by three red lines. The rest of her body is an amorphous mass of black, capable of manifesting a mouth with incredibly sharp teeth. She can shape this mass to take on different forms, and briefly approximated Nicole's form. Phage's mask appears to lose structural integrity when she becomes enraged: the more intense her rage, the more her mask crumbles until nothing remains of it.
Background Information[]
- Phage's name is the informal form of bacteriophage, which refers to a bacterial virus; it is derived from the Greek term phagein, which translates into English as "to devour." (Wikipedia)
- Phage's trait of taking over computer networks and adding to her own intelligence and power is reminiscent of the Master Control Program from the original Tron film.
- Phage's possession of a core is very similar to the Angels that appear in "Neon Genesis Evangelion" even to the point that it appears to be the only way to destroy her.