PIXC
Personal Intelligent Xenomorphic Computer (PIXC)
First Appearance 4000 BBY
PIXC are small flying creatures resembling a furred lizard with broad manta-like wings and dense gray to white fur with dark gray mottling. As custom chimera with two brains, they are made to serve as technical assistants and knowledge sources. However, they can be trained to use vehicles, artillery, and power suits, so their offensive capabilities should not be judged solely on size.
- Attribute Dice
- 12D Dexterity 1D/4D, Knowledge 2D/5D, Mechanical 1D/4D, Perception 1D/3D, Strength 1D/3D, Technical 2D/5D.
Special Abilities
- Biocomputer
- PIXC are living computers. If a PIXC unit assists someone in a computer programming or engineering task, they sacrifice their turn to add +2D to the result. If the person assisted is their pair bond, they instead add +3D.
- Pair Bond
- PIXC can be paired by growing up with someone or by using a pheromone and vocal code combination. A bonded PIXC is fiercely loyal to its partner. PIXC have a +4D bonus to Willpower against attempts to convince them to act against their bonded partner. This includes trying to remove them from the body of their bonded partner in the case of death. PIXC do not have to be bonded, but they will not gain the benefits or restrictions of a pair bond.
- Command / Proxy Command
- Bonded PIXC will obey their bonded partner. PIXC will accept any command accepted by their bonded partner.
Skill Bonuses At the time the character is created only, the character gets 2D for every 1D placed in the flight, Computer Programming/Repair, Scholar, Sensors, First-Aid, Willpower skills.
Move 6/10 8/15 (flying)
Size 0.5-0.8 meters
- Variants
- PD Original data fashion accessory
- A Large lizard with raptor claws for melee. Assault class
- C Mammal hybrid made for cold weather. Commonly paired with HFH Units
- G Gallant class. Improved lifting and small arms capabilities for personal escort
- X(a) Experimental class. () denotes X series test. Small batch units.
- S Swarm class. Modified for group tactics in combat and technical assault
- Q Aquatic series trades flight for swimming and water breathing
Unit HIstory
The original PIXC has its origins back when Protein Solutions was establishing themselves as bio-engineers. Small enough to slip into a pocket, the first PIXC were flying lizards with color changing skin to allow them to match any outfit. In addition to being exotic, they were highly intelligent and meant to serve as a form of PDA with a more natural interface that droids use. They also paired to a single user to ensure data security. These units were shelved as company directions changed.
With the advent of the R-HFH hexapod, questions about small, durable auxiliary units were raised. The PIXC was dusted off and modified to fit the new modes of operation. The body was increased in size relative to the original, but they remained quite small. The color changing skin was swapped out for dense fur and special modifications for heat retention were added to the wings with the final result looking something of the mammalian version of a pterodactyl. Because the unit was increased in size, they also had more room for enhanced data processing. The final unit had two main processing cores: the brain in the head and the thoracic cluster.
Because of their technical nature, the Wildkin chip controls were not used in the PIXC. Instead the Pair Bond system was engaged. All PIXC can be forcefully pair bonded to the company with their unique access codes. To make this less of an issue for buyers, they are also provided with their own unique code and a single pheromone dose. The pheromone alerts the brains at a low level that bonding should be available and make the codes functional. Once pair bonded to someone, a PIXC is paired for life unless the user explicitly commands and re-bonds the unit to another person. Rebonded PIXC may show lower performance than bonded units but will generally outperform unbonded units.
A similar but less rigid system for pair bonded was included in the hexapods that makes them deeply loyal to their owner or commander. Because PIXC were engineered to pair with hexapods, the proxy command unit was hard coded into them. The proxy command system allows an order given to a pair bonded person to be applied transitively to the PIXC units bonded to it. A single command to a hex and its crew can control all three units rather than needing verification of orders by the PIXC.
It should be noted that the loyalty of a PIXC goes beyond death. PIXC will remain with a dead pair bond until they also perish, and convincing them otherwise is incredibly difficult. However, a bond may provide direct orders of what to do in the event of their death or inability to act. PIXC ordered in this manner can be moved and may be re-bonded although, as before, rebonding is rarely as effective as the initial bond.