This is a list of the characters in the Mega Man X fanfic Limitless Potential. Beware spoilers ahead.
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Protagonists
Mega Man X
Mega Man X
Dr. Light’s final and greatest creation.
The last creation of Dr. Thomas Light, and the first of a new breed of robot with the ability to think and feel without the need of previous programming, as well as the potential to evolve. As a precautionary measure, Dr. Light sealed him inside a capsule in order to test his systems for 30 years, to ensure that he would develop the moral compass to do the right thing, but he would be found by Dr. Cain almost a century after the death of his creator, serving later as the prototype for the Reploids.
- Adaptational Badass: Downplayed example. He actually has the upper hand for most of his fight against Vile on his Ride Armor (by targeting the joints). He only loses due to his hesitation in delivering a finishing blow, which gives Vile the chance to recover and trap him.
- Arm Cannon: His primary weapon is the X-Buster.
- Big Brother Instinct: At least, he views himself as the older brother to Roll, and is very protective of her.
- Blue Is Heroic: Just like Mega Man before him, his armor is entirely blue.
- Fatal Flaw: His compassion is both a virtue and a flaw, as it allows him to empathize with humans and reploids alike, but it also causes him to hesitate at critical moments during battle, which often bites him hard.
- Fish out of Temporal Water: He woke up over a century after the death of his creator, and a large part of the early chapters show how he slowly adapts to the world.
- An Ice Person: Acquires the Shotgun Ice after installing Chill Penguin’s weapon chip. He uses it to take down the Thunder Slimer.
- Meaningful Name: As in canon, “X” refers to a variable representing his unlimited potential for growth.
- Power Copying: By taking the weapon chips of his enemies, he can acquire their abilities.
- Reluctant Warrior: X is shown to be content with working as the assistant to Dr. Cain, and doesn't feel exactly good about joining the Maverick Hunters to fight, to the point he basically has to be coerced into it.
- Sealed Good in a Can: Enforced. Dr. Light sealed him so the capsule would test his internal systems for 30 years to ensure he would have the necessary moral compass to be a force for good.
- Shock and Awe: Gains the Electric Spark weapon after defeating Spark Mandrill, which he later uses to break through Armored Armadillo's defenses.
- Superior Successor: To the original Mega Man, having pretty much all of his capacities but also complete independence to make his choices and grow without previous programming.
Roll
Roll
The last of the original DLNs
Originally the third humanoid robot built by Dr. Light, and "sister" of the original Mega Man. Her damaged body was found in the abandoned lab by the same expedition that found X, and at the latter’s request, she was given a new upgraded body to transfer her memory files and personality. While it takes her a while to adapt, she eventually embraces her relationship with her new "brother" as she tries to adapt to the new world she's waken up into, and support him as much as she can.- Action Survivor: Despite not being designed for combat, she handles herself surprisingly well during dangerous situations.
- Big Sister Instinct: Is very protective of X, as he’s technically his last living family. It also extends to Chiyo, as she does her best to keep her safe despite not having weapons to defend herself.
- Cool Big Sis: She views herself as the older sister to X. To an extent, she's also this to Chiyo.
- Damsel in Distress: When she gets kidnapped by Zero, and X has to rescue her.
- Fish out of Temporal Water: She takes it much harder to adapt than X, given that she still had part of her memories from her previous life.
- Flawed Prototype: As her new body was built for a test run, Fujiwara didn't spend on good-quality materials for her, making her inferior to the Reploids that came after. Even after ten years she still wishes he'd given her an upgrade, but he never got to do so.
- Hair of Gold, Heart of Gold: Blond-haired and kindhearted.
- Jerkass to One: Towards Zero, though it's more that she keeps her distance from him, as she hasn't forgotten that he kidnapped her and hurt her brother when they first met. She’s less vocal about it than most examples, and it seems to soften somewhat after Zero saves her from Sting Chameleon.
- Mission Control: She's recruited as a temporary navigator by the Maverick Hunters, after they lose several of their members in the riot at the HQ following Sigma's rebellion.
- Robot Maid: Like in the original series, her primary function is housekeeping. She's hired full-time to perform these duties by the Fujiwara family.
Zero
Zero
The Red Hunter
The final creation of Dr. Albert Wily, built with the purpose of destroying Mega Man, Zero was sealed away by his creator for reasons unknown. After a violent rampage upon waking up, he was quelled following a fateful fight with X and Sigma, becoming a Maverick Hunter and close friend to X.- Arm Cannon: Like X, he possesses a Buster cannon.
- Blue-and-Orange Morality: At least at first, he seems to have a skewed sense of right and wrong.
- Dude Looks Like a Lady: As commented by Chiyo, his long hair gives him a feminine appearance from afar.
- Easily Forgiven: Subverted. Despite joining the Maverick Hunters, his actions as a Maverick aren't forgotten so quickly by everyone. Roll in particular still holds some contempt for him after the ten-year Time Skip.
- Everyone Has Standards: Despite being more willing than X to engage in combat, he’s appalled by Vile’s idea that reploids like them are living weapons.
- Fire-Forged Friends: Following an incident where X saves him, the two become friends.
- Good Is Not Nice: Despite joining the Maverick Hunters, he’s not one to mince his words and can be easy to anger when annoyed. He freely admits not being as nice and merciful as X while dealing with Goldminer in Chapter 49.
- Not So Above It All: He's usually pretty serious and professional, but in Chapter 45 he decides to challenge X to an impromptu race on the mine carts, and Chapter 47 reveals he values his long hair a lot.
- Patient Zero: He was the original carrier of the Maverick Virus, before X purged it out of him and a remnant transferred over to Sigma.
- Red Is Heroic: Following his Heel–Face Turn.
- Red Is Violent: At first. This is implied to be a byproduct of the Maverick Virus, as he’s otherwise somewhat calm and rational unless he’s attacked. Even after reforming, it doesn't completely go away.
- You Are in Command Now: By Chapter 32, he’s been officially appointed as Commander of the remaining Maverick Hunters, following Sigma’s rebellion.
Humans
Dr. Cain
Dr. Phillip Cain
A paleobotanist who discovered X and Roll during an expedition, and one of the minds behind the creation of reploids. Unlike Fujiwara, he seems to regard X and the reploids as sentient, living beings and treats them accordingly.- Abled in the Adaptation: Zigzagged. In the original games of the X series he was implied to be in good health, whereas in Maverick Hunter X he was seen strapped to a life support machine to stay alive.
- Adaptation Relationship Overhaul: His relationship with X is not very explored in the videogames. In the fic, Cain takes a sort of parental role towards X to give him emotional support while employing him as an assistant.
- Ascended Extra: His role in canon was only as the creator of the reploids and a few minor appearances. Here he gets more focus and his relationship with X is given more depth.
- Distressed Dude: He’s taken hostage by Sigma during his initial rebellion.
- Named by the Adaptation: The story gives him the first name Phillip.
- Parental Substitute: Acts as this to X, and to Roll to a lesser extent.
Dr. Fujiwara
Dr. Sho Fujiwara
A Japanese robotics expert, who becomes Cain’s main partner by providing the resources to study X and the creation of reploids. Unlike Cain, he sees X as a means to gain acknowledgement and bolster his career.- Ambition Is Evil: He sees X and reploids as a means to profit from to the point he’s willing to collaborate with Sigma in a bid to gain control of Abel City.
- Big Bad Wannabe: He thinks he’s in control of Operation: Independence Day.
- Even Evil Has Loved Ones: Despite his neglect, he still harbors affection for his daughter Chiyo to the point his last word before dying at Sigma’s hands is her name.
- Foil: To Dr. Cain. Both are scientists on different fields, and they’re both interested in X’s potential, but Fujiwara sees him more as a weapon than a living being.
- Pet the Dog: He allows X’s request to rebuild Roll in a new body, though he only does so because he thinks that way X will be more cooperative to work.
- Original Character: He has no canon counterpart in any source.
- Parental Neglect: He spares little to no time for his daughter Chiyo.
- Workaholic: He’s always buried in his job. It’s implied this is his way to cope with his wife’s death.
- You Have Outlived Your Usefulness: Does this to the Shitapper Pirates once he has no more use for them. Ironically, he finds himself at the receiving end from Sigma when the latter judges him as a liability and backs off from their initial deal.
Chiyo Fujiwara
Chiyo Fujiwara
Dr. Fujiwara’s young daughter. Due to her father’s work, their relationship is heavily strained, and she doesn’t think much of reploids in general.- Break the Cutie: Within the span of a few days, she witnesses her dog Patarche being killed in front of her, watches live how Sigma executes her father, goes on the run to avoid potential backlash from the populace, and then finds out her best friend was killed protecting her brother.
- Canine Companion: She was often accompanied by her dog Patarche until he was killed by Vile.
- Cheerful Child: At first, if still having some issues due to her father’s neglect and her mother’s absence. As a teenager she’s a lot more cynical and has lost quite a bit of it.
- Gadgeteer Genius: While nowhere near her father’s level, she demonstrates some skills by developing a harness for the aging Patarche, and later a weapon to defend herself from Maverick reploids.
- Missing Mom: Her mother died some time prior to the start of the story.
- Original Character: Like her father, she has no canon counterpart, though
Word of God is that she’s an ancestor of a major canon character in the distant future. - Took a Level in Cynic: After the ten-year Time Skip, she’s grown quite bitter and lost a lot of the spunk she had as a child.
Fumiko and Kenichi Takenada
Chiyo’s best friend and her younger brother.
- Heroic Sacrifice: Fumiko chooses to push Kenichi into the shelter’s entrance while staying behind, getting herself killed by a Gun Volt.
- Only Friend: By their teen years, Fumiko is practically the only close friend she has at school.
Maverick Hunters
Firefly
Firefly
One of the founding members of the Maverick Hunters. He’s often seen on a Ride Chaser.- Adaptational Early Appearance: He appears during the timeframe before X1, while his only canon appearance was in X2.
- Ascended Extra: He’s a recurring character throughout the story.
- Badass Biker: He almost always shows up with a Ride Chaser.
- Named by the Adaptation: He’s based on X2’s Green Biker Dude.
- Ship Tease: Has a lot with the Navigator Ai.
Signas
Signas
- Early-Bird Cameo: He’s shown briefly talking to Sigma, and the narration explicitly identifies him by name.
Gamma
Gamma
A Maverick Hunter sent by Sigma to investigate the lab where Zero is tracked to, and ends up killed along with the rest of his unit.- Adaptation Expansion: He’s only mentioned in X4, while here he gets some screen time to be introduced, and then killed off.
- Half the Man He Used to Be: His lower torso and legs are severed by Zero, shortly before he's finished off.
- Sacrificial Lamb: Along with the rest of his unit, they’re all killed by Zero in the same chapter they’re introduced.
- The Worf Effect: His death, along with the rest of his unit, serves to show how much of a threat Zero is.
Marth
A reploid originally built for search and rescue purposes, and former commander of the Polar Unit of the Maverick Hunters. He was originally sent to investigate the tremors in the Polar Region, and ended up frozen by Chill Penguin.
- Human Popsicle: Reploid in this case, but he ends up frozen by Chill Penguin. He manages to free himself and survive just barely enough to give X the chance to complete the mission in his stead.
- Large and in Charge: He’s described as rivalling Sigma in height, and was the commander of the Polar Unit.
- We Used to Be Friends: Apparently, he seemed to have a good relationship with Chill Penguin before the latter turned Maverick.
Navigators
Navigators
Several reploids who serve as dispatchers and spotters for the Maverick Hunters. The most prominent ones are Trinity, Ai, Blu and A-1.- Annoying Younger Sibling: Ai seems to regard A-1 as this. However, during the riot at HQ she’s shown to care for him, entrusting his safety to Trinity.
- More Expendable Than You: During the riot at the Maverick Hunters HQ, Ai uses the argument that Trinity is a more advanced model to stay behind to try and hold off Sting Chameleon while Trinity, Roll and Chiyo escape.
- Named by the Adaptation: The nameless pink-haired navigator from Maverick Hunter X is given the name “Trinity” here.
- Sacrificial Lamb: Blu is among the first casualties during the riot at HQ when Sigma announces his rebellion.
- Ship Tease: There’s a fair bit of it between Ai and Firefly.
Mavericks
Sigma
Sigma
The first reploid proper created by Dr. Fujiwara and a group of scientists, he would later be appointed as the leader of the Maverick Hunters. After his confrontation with Zero, the Maverick Virus transfers to him and slowly corrupts him, until he decides to rebel against humanity to make reploids the new dominant species of Earth.- Adaptation Relationship Overhaul: In canon, he wasn’t seen having interactions with X prior to his joining of the Maverick Hunters, while here they meet shortly after Sigma’s initial activation.
- Fallen Hero: Once the leader of the Maverick Hunters created to protect humanity, now he’s become their greatest enemy.
- Foil: To X. Both were created to be super advanced robots, but while X is primarily driven by his emotions, Sigma uses logic to rationalize his decisions and actions. While X dislikes violence and doesn’t engage in combat unless forced into it, Sigma has no issue with it, even joining the Maverick Hunters from the start. The contrast becomes even more pronounced after Sigma openly rebels, while X continues to abide by the three laws and remains a protector of humanity.
- Laser Blade: His main weapon is an energy saber.
- Secondary Color Nemesis: Contrasting with X's blue and Zero's red, his armor is primarily green in color.
Vile
Vile
A former founding member of the Maverick Hunters whose violent tendencies led him to be decommissioned and arrested. He ends up joining Sigma in his rebellion after being freed from his imprisonment.- Blood Knight: Even before he went Maverick, he relished in acting violently, and considers that reploids are meant to be weapons of war.
- Purple Is Powerful: His armor is primarily purple in color, as he's one of the most skilled and dangerous reploids ever built.
- Red Eyes, Take Warning: His eyes often glow red under his helmet, making him look very menacing.
- Shoulder Cannon: His primary weapon.
- What the Hell, Hero?: While he wasn’t exactly very “heroic” from the start, he was still a Maverick Hunter, and was often chided by his peers for his reckless and violent actions, such as killing off the Maverick Pierrot before he could be brought in for questioning.
Chill Penguin
A reploid designed based on a king penguin, and former member of the 13th Polar Unit of the Maverick Hunters. He's sent to guard the Polar region to cause avalanches with earthquakes to bury Abel City under the snow.
- Freudian Excuse: His reasoning to join Sigma's rebellion was that he felt everyone was mocking him for his appearance.
- Heel Realization: Right before X kills him, he wonders if he made the right call in his decision.
- An Ice Person: He uses ice-based attacks fueled by liquid nytrogen and other chemicals.
Spark Mandrill
A reploid designed based on a mandrill, and former member of the 17th Elite Unit of the Maverick Hunters. He's assigned to guard the Power Plant to syphon Abel City of its electricity.
- Dies Differently in Adaptation: Unlike the games, X doesn't finish him off. Instead, he's offed by Sigma who attacks him by surprise when it seems he's having second thoughts.
- Heel–Face Door-Slam: When it seems X is about to convince him to stand down, he's killed by Sigma.
- Might Makes Right: His reasoning for joining Sigma's rebellion goes around these lines, as he believes reploids are superior to humans and shouldn't be forced to serve them.
- Shock and Awe: Uses electric attacks, and is also able to absorb the plant's electricity to power himself up.
Armored Armadillo
A reploid designed based on an armadillo, and former leader of the 8th Armored Unit of the Maverick Hunters. He's assigned to guard the Zalts Mines, as they're a prime source of precious minerals as well as materials needed to manufacture weapons.
- Even Evil Has Standards: He takes no pleasure in keeping the mine workers hostage, so he offers X and Zero a deal: he wants too fight one-on-one against X, in exchange for allowing Zero to save them.
- Explaining Your Power to the Enemy: A rare justified example, since he wants to be defeated by X. He explains that he has built-in sensors to track his enemies' movements, even while underground, as well that one of the weapons he obtained before can pierce through his defenses and disable that feature.
- Fair-Play Villain: After capturing X and taking him to a secluded area to fight, he makes sure X is repaired so he'll be able to fight him at his 100%.
- My Master, Right or Wrong: He follows Sigma out of loyalty as a soldier, even though he knows that what he's doing is morally wrong. So instead he seeks to challenge X to see if he would be able to stop Sigma.
- You Are Already Dead: During the last stretch of his fight with X, he realizes a bit too late that X had damaged his internal components had been far more than he thought, only becoming evident when he tries to attack X in anger.
