Replica

A blank replica in a black coat, left behind after Dark Riku is forced out of his vessel.

Replicas (レプリカ, Repurika^?) are artificial copies of people. They were created by Organization XIII and first appear in Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories.

Story

Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories

Manipulated by Axel, the Riku Replica eliminates Zexion to obtain new powers.

The Replica Program was one of the experiments being carried out in Castle Oblivion. Vexen created twenty replicas as part of his research. While two of these replicas—Riku Replica and No. i—went on to become successful in their own right, the initial twelve were deemed as failures, barely considered to be human at all.^[1]

The public purpose of the Program was to find a way to replicate a Keyblade wielder's power by inserting a piece of their memory into a blank replica.^[2] A vessel deemed unworthy of the program was instead given Riku's data to create the Riku Replica. Said replicas show the capacity to grow in strength by absorbing other lifeforms.[?]

The Replica Program ceased with the demise of Vexen.[?]

Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days

With Vexen's demise, the Replica Program is rendered inoperable. The only success to come from it was Xion, the only replica from the program to develop into its own person. Even if a replica gains free will, they are still susceptible to reprogramming; they can be made to follow a specific order or have their appearance modified, even changing their original gender.[citation needed]

As previously stated, replicas can naturally grow stronger, drain the vitality of others or be given an external power up. Xion unknowingly takes Roxas's energy and uses the Organization XIII Devices to obtain new forms.[?] However, the method in which the replica is fashioned can have unforeseen side-effects. Although Xion's true form is meant to resemble Sora's appearance, Xion's appearance is somewhat unstable as result of her being crafted imperfectly from Sora's memories. Thus, Xion's appearance differs depending on who sees her.[?]

Kingdom Hearts III

The replicas of the real Organization XIII.

Saïx approaches Even and convinces him to become a Nobody once again. With Vexen's research, the real Organization XIII are able to use replica bodies for the hearts of their time-traveling members, allowing them to stay anchored in the present time. Wishing to atone, Vexen has Demyx deliver a blank replica to Ienzo in order to provide Roxas with a body separate from Sora. Likewise, once Dark Riku's heart is forced out of his vessel, the now blank replica is used to give Naminé a body.

Vexen also repurposed the original twelve replicas, which had previously been deemed failures, into the Replica Xehanorts, which each wielded a weapon of the real Organization XIII. In Scala ad Caelum, the Replica Xehanorts fought Sora, Donald, and Goofy before Xehanort himself confronted the trio.^[3]

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow. (Skip section)

Kingdom Hearts III Re Mind

While Sora, Donald, and Goofy battle Master Xehanort, the Replica Xehanorts attack the Guardians of Light at the Keyblade Graveyard who are trying to keep Kingdom Hearts sealed. The Replicas manage to trap Lea, Roxas, Xion, Aqua, Terra, Ventus, and Riku in a dark void, leaving a weakened Mickey to fight them. With an incorporeal Sora who time traveled from the future lending aid, Mickey temporarily disperses the replicas and pulls everyone out of the darkness.

Following Master Xehanort's desire to keep the pure light away from the Guardians, the replicas return once more, this time merging into a copy of Armored Xehanort. The Armored Xehanort faces off with Sora, who restored Kairi with the power of waking. Sora and Kairi fight the combined replicas, and they are finished off by a combined attack from all of the Guardians of Light.

Spoilers end here

Nature

"Twenty replicas were created by Vexen. The first twelve were nothing more than puppets, barely human. The prototype model was the Riku Replica, and then No. i was made."

—Saïx, explaining the replicas to Xigbar

Replicas are blank figures akin to mannequins that take the form of whatever heart or data of a heart is placed inside of it. They have the same skills as the individuals used to create them. They also have the unique ability to absorb other individuals. The Riku Replica was created using data Vexen collected from fighting Riku, while Xemnas used Sora's memories to make Xion, an imperfect replica of Roxas. In the manga, Vexen fashioned 44 replicas of himself.

Over time, replicas like the Riku Replica and Xion formed identities, and therefore "hearts", of their own, becoming their own people.

In Kingdom Hearts III, the real Organization XIII re-recruits Vexen to continue the Replica Program. As Vexen explains, these newer replicas become real people once given hearts, unlike previous models, which were more akin to Nobodies.

List of Replicas

Innate Replicas

Vessel Replicas

Notes and references

^ Secret Report 7, Vexen: "In my work on the Replica Program for the Organization, I produced some twenty vessels. Most of the early results were failures, not one of them granted a number. The first success to emerge from that early lot was the Riku replica. Subsequently, Xion (No. i) was essentially indistinguishable from a natural human, though she became unstable due to the influence of others. Using those two as my foundation, I worked to construct a number of nigh-perfect replicas, but just as they neared completion, my efforts were cut short. I suspect Xehanort aims to use both the initial lot as well as the unused replicas from my later work."
^ Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, Xemnas: "The goal was to duplicate the Keyblade wielder's memories, and through them, his powers—thus making them our own. Vexen oversaw the project at Castle Oblivion. However, our efforts were severely derailed by his unexpected demise. And this particular Replica—the one we called Xion—came to form an identity of her own."
^ Kingdom Hearts III Interview with Tetsuya Nomura (Dengeki PS); Interviewer: "What is Scala ad Caelum, the place which also appeared in the final trailer? It looks similar to Daybreak Town from Kingdom Hearts Union χ - is there some kind of connection? Also, who were the black-clothed figures that appeared there?" / Tetsuya Nomura: "I've made it so that you should be able to understand the connection between Scala ad Caelum and Daybreak Town, if you look carefully. The black-clothed figures are replicas." Translation via Goldpanner

Navigation

[1] Secret Report 7, Vexen: "In my work on the Replica Program for the Organization, I produced some twenty vessels. Most of the early results were failures, not one of them granted a number. The first success to emerge from that early lot was the Riku replica. Subsequently, Xion (No. i) was essentially indistinguishable from a natural human, though she became unstable due to the influence of others. Using those two as my foundation, I worked to construct a number of nigh-perfect replicas, but just as they neared completion, my efforts were cut short. I suspect Xehanort aims to use both the initial lot as well as the unused replicas from my later work."

[2] Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, Xemnas: "The goal was to duplicate the Keyblade wielder's memories, and through them, his powers—thus making them our own. Vexen oversaw the project at Castle Oblivion. However, our efforts were severely derailed by his unexpected demise. And this particular Replica—the one we called Xion—came to form an identity of her own."

[3] Kingdom Hearts III Interview with Tetsuya Nomura (Dengeki PS); Interviewer: "What is Scala ad Caelum, the place which also appeared in the final trailer? It looks similar to Daybreak Town from Kingdom Hearts Union χ - is there some kind of connection? Also, who were the black-clothed figures that appeared there?" / Tetsuya Nomura: "I've made it so that you should be able to understand the connection between Scala ad Caelum and Daybreak Town, if you look carefully. The black-clothed figures are replicas." Translation via Goldpanner

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