Captured Super Entity: Difference between revisions

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'''Keller''': Well, you got one now!|''[[Transformers Film Series|Transformers]]'' (2007)}}

This trope covers the idea of (usually) "lesser" beings [[Exactly What It Says On the Tin|capturing an alien, a god, an angel, etc]], for some typically nefarious purpose. Obviously, some form of [[Applied Phlebotinum|powerful magic or advanced technology]] will be needed to pull this off, making it a more common plot in [[Fantasy]] or [[Speculative Fiction]].

This trope covers the idea of (usually) "lesser" beings [[Exactly What It Says on the Tin|capturing an alien, a god, an angel, etc]], for some typically nefarious purpose. Obviously, some form of [[Applied Phlebotinum|powerful magic or advanced technology]] will be needed to pull this off, making it a more common plot in [[Fantasy]] or [[Speculative Fiction]].

It's also a standard "[[The Men in Black]]" plot, in which the government or secret organization has miraculously captured a powerful entity and are extracting its knowledge and power usually through [[They Would Cut You Up|various]] [[Playing ~~With~~ Syringes|unpleasant]] means. If the being comes with technology, they've been "reverse-engineering" its tech for themselves. Extra MIB points if this is occurring in Area 51.

It's also a standard "[[The Men in Black]]" plot, in which the government or secret organization has miraculously captured a powerful entity and are extracting its knowledge and power usually through [[They Would Cut You Up|various]] [[Playing with Syringes|unpleasant]] means. If the being comes with technology, they've been "reverse-engineering" its tech for themselves. Extra MIB points if this is occurring in Area 51.

If you've heard of the technology that came from this somewhat unlikely detainment, then [[ET Gave Us Wi Fi]].

Naturally, should the entity's species find out about this, they're gonna be ''pissed'', leading to the threat of [[The End of the World As We Know It]]. This may be justified, if said race was going to [[Kill All Humans|destroy us anyway]]. Oh, and Heaven help you if the captured entity is [[Enfante Terrible|just a baby]], and [[Mama Bear|Mom]] comes calling. But even without outside help, in most cases the captured being [[Cardboard Prison|probably won't be a prisoner for very long]]. So you are well advised to [[Roaring Rampage of Revenge|stand clear]].

Naturally, should the entity's species find out about this, they're gonna be ''pissed'', leading to the threat of [[The End of the World as We Know It]]. This may be justified, if said race was going to [[Kill All Humans|destroy us anyway]]. Oh, and Heaven help you if the captured entity is [[Enfante Terrible|just a baby]], and [[Mama Bear|Mom]] comes calling. But even without outside help, in most cases the captured being [[Cardboard Prison|probably won't be a prisoner for very long]]. So you are well advised to [[Roaring Rampage of Revenge|stand clear]].

If the entity is forced to obey commands, this becomes [[Olympus Mons]]. If the entity is a [[Power Source]], it may be [[Powered By a Forsaken Child]]. If the focus is on simple containment of the entity or its power, you wind up with [[Sealed Evil in A Can]] or [[Sealed Good in A Can]].

If the entity is forced to obey commands, this becomes [[Olympus Mons]]. If the entity is a [[Power Source]], it may be [[Powered by a Forsaken Child]]. If the focus is on simple containment of the entity or its power, you wind up with [[Sealed Evil in a Can]] or [[Sealed Good in a Can]].

== [[Anime]] and [[Manga]] ==

* ''[[~~Trigun (Manga)|~~Trigun]]'' has these in the form of {{spoiler|Plants, which of course everyone in every major center of habitation uses for everyday things like power for electric lights and any other technology that runs on electricity. These are clearly sentient beings (Vash and Knives are revealed to be Plants in later episodes of the anime, thus explaining their immortality and incredible abilities) kept isolated in what appear to be airtight glass containers in order to provide said power).}}

* ''[[Trigun]]'' has these in the form of {{spoiler|Plants, which of course everyone in every major center of habitation uses for everyday things like power for electric lights and any other technology that runs on electricity. These are clearly sentient beings (Vash and Knives are revealed to be Plants in later episodes of the anime, thus explaining their immortality and incredible abilities) kept isolated in what appear to be airtight glass containers in order to provide said power).}}

* ''[[Neon Genesis Evangelion]]'' had the organization NERV capturing two Angels, resulting in the rest of them attacking; the only defense is [[Humongous Mecha]] <s>created</s> cloned from said captives. That is exactly what various sides wanted.

** And interestingly, Lilith appears to be pretty docile but its "offspring" is a bloodthirsty [[Mama Bear]].

*** Actually, Lilith is implied to be suffering from a case of [[Sealed Evil in A Can]] - her soul was locked into Rei's body. Of course, when Rei - bearing the embryonic Adam in her womb - merges with her in ''End of Evangelion'', Lilith's hands simply flow around the nails pinning her to the cross. Cue [[Apocalypse Wow]].

*** Actually, Lilith is implied to be suffering from a case of [[Sealed Evil in a Can]] - her soul was locked into Rei's body. Of course, when Rei - bearing the embryonic Adam in her womb - merges with her in ''End of Evangelion'', Lilith's hands simply flow around the nails pinning her to the cross. Cue [[Apocalypse Wow]].

** Also, Adam is not really a super entity - at least not any more. 15 years have elapsed since its death and it managed to regenerate back into a palm-sized, vaguely hominid embryo but that's a far cry from it's [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KH5UHDSWoZo&fmt=18#t=35s original form].

** In the second ''[[Rebuild of Evangelion]]'' movie, based off of the really bad Engrish Kaji gave us, it's implied that the Third Angel suffered from this. It awakening is what forced Mari to fight it in EVA-05

* The Emilys in ''[[Soukou no Strain]]'' {{spoiler|are all that is left of a race subjected to this}}.

* In ''[[FLCL]]'', the phoenix-like alien with the power to steal planets, Atomsk, is imprisoned inside of the town's factory by robotic aliens.

* This plot recurs throughout the ''[[Pokémon (~~Anime~~)|Pokémon]]'' franchise. Some villain wants to capture a Legendary Pokémon with godlike powers and the protagonists have to stop them. In the games, though, you're encouraged to capture the Legendary Pokémon (maybe after the villains tried to use their powers), [[Unusually Uninteresting Sight|and no one bats an eye]]. Of course, their power in the games tends to be significantly less godlike, due to [[Gameplay and Story Segregation]] preventing a [[Game Breaker]].

* This plot recurs throughout the ''[[Pokémon (anime)|Pokémon]]'' franchise. Some villain wants to capture a Legendary Pokémon with godlike powers and the protagonists have to stop them. In the games, though, you're encouraged to capture the Legendary Pokémon (maybe after the villains tried to use their powers), [[Unusually Uninteresting Sight|and no one bats an eye]]. Of course, their power in the games tends to be significantly less godlike, due to [[Gameplay and Story Segregation]] preventing a [[Game Breaker]].

** That, and in story, you've proven yourself to be a pure heart who will not use them for evil. The Pokémon themselves are sometimes noted as "seem to trust you".

** It's a well-known fact that godlike entities like being sent to [[Non-Lethal KO|beat]] the crap out of [[Com Mons|rats and caterpillars]].

* In ''[[Fullmetal Alchemist]]'', Father uses a philosopher's stone of over 50 million souls to imprison what he claims to be a god within his body. This gives him alchemical knowledge far beyond that of any individual human, allowing him to do such things as manipulate the weather and create nuclear fusion in the palm of his hand.

* Long, long ago in the ''[[Tenchi Muyo]]'' universe, way before she took on a mortal body, Washu was on our plane of existance, and was somehow imprisoned by a race. They built a planet-sized containment facility to study her, and eventually siphoned off some of her power into three Gems. Eventually, after the death of one of the Bioroids carrying one of her Gems, Tsunami became aware of what was going on. No-one knows exactly what she did then, because there were ''no survivors''.

* Long, long ago in the ''[[Tenchi Muyo!]]'' universe, way before she took on a mortal body, Washu was on our plane of existance, and was somehow imprisoned by a race. They built a planet-sized containment facility to study her, and eventually siphoned off some of her power into three Gems. Eventually, after the death of one of the Bioroids carrying one of her Gems, Tsunami became aware of what was going on. No-one knows exactly what she did then, because there were ''no survivors''.

== [[Comic Books]] ==

* In the new ''[[Star Trek ~~the~~ Original Series|Star Trek]]''/''[[Legion of Super-Heroes (Comic Book)|Legion of Super-Heroes]]'' crossover from [[IDW Comics|IDW]] and [[DC Comics]], [[The Constant|Vandal Savage]] is [[The Emperor]] of a ''very'' powerful version of [[The Empire|The Terran Empire]]. How did he do it? ''He captured Q''!

* In the new ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series|Star Trek]]''/''[[Legion of Super-Heroes (Comic Book)|Legion of Super-Heroes]]'' crossover from [[IDW Comics|IDW]] and [[DC Comics]], [[The Constant|Vandal Savage]] is [[The Emperor]] of a ''very'' powerful version of [[The Empire|The Terran Empire]]. How did he do it? ''He captured Q''!

* IDW's ''[[Transformers]]'' comic has the Machination creating Headmaster technology from {{spoiler|the captured Sunstreaker. Scorponok's severed head is working with them voluntarily to rebuild his body}}.

** In the original G1 [[Marvel Comics]] version, Megatron once got stuck in gun mode and picked up by a small time hood, who went around using him as a BFG. When he woke up, Megatron was not pleased.

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* In ''[[Ultimate Marvel]]'', the Russian supersoldier program is based around reverse engineering a captured alien robot (the Vision).

* In ''[[Lucifer (Comic Book)|Lucifer]]'', Sandalphon keeps the Archangel Michael Demiurgos prisoner, using him to create a race of superbeings. Our beloved protagonist isn't too happy about this.

* It's been [[Retcon|"revealed"]] that not only was the alien AI that operated the Danger Room sentient, but that Professor X ''knew'' it was sentient but chose to essentially keep it prisoner to train the [[X Men]]. When it finally escaped (and made itself a robot body, calling itself "Danger"), it went on a rampage seeking revenge. (This was later eased off a little, to suggest that he didn't know Danger resented being used for training, but did realize she might go berserk if freed. They've since made up and Danger is an ally of the X-Men)

* It's been [[Retcon|"revealed"]] that not only was the alien AI that operated the Danger Room sentient, but that Professor X ''knew'' it was sentient but chose to essentially keep it prisoner to train the [[X-Men]]. When it finally escaped (and made itself a robot body, calling itself "Danger"), it went on a rampage seeking revenge. (This was later eased off a little, to suggest that he didn't know Danger resented being used for training, but did realize she might go berserk if freed. They've since made up and Danger is an ally of the X-Men)

* In ''[[Empowered (Comic Book)|Empowered]]'', there is the immortal, cosmically powerful being called The Caged Demonwolf, whom Empowered prevented from destroying the Earth by imprisoning it within "cosmic bondage gear." When her superhero team wouldn't store the now talking, enraged belt, Empowered was forced to hold on to it. Now, due to a sort of Stockholm Syndrome, The Caged Demonwolf has become both an advisor and friend, despite having an overly prurient interest in their sex lives.

* Happened in [[Paperinik New Adventures]]: while Xadhoom is a [[Physical Goddess]], the Evronians have the ability to capture her, and did so FOUR TIMES. Every single time, [[Hilarity Ensues|Hilarity Ensued]]: the first time they used a forcefield that could keep her sealed that was fueled by Duckburg's electrical grid, so Xadhoom was free the very moment Uno hacked the computers; the second time Xadhoom entered in their capturing device in a deal to save Angus, and disintegrated it the very moment the Evronians broke the deal; the third time they immediately transmitted her where they had a way to force her to comply, but Paperinik's sabotage brought her back (cue [[Oh Crap]] for the Evronians); the fourth time they had her people in hostage, so she let herself being captured until her people rebelled and provoked enough chaos for her to escape and wipe out the HEART of the Evronian Empire. The Evronians tried it three other times, but it failed even more embarassingly: the first failed attempt consisted in a group of Evronians masquerading as Xerbians to get her to wear a controlling device, but she caught them on a slip and made a fool out of them before wiping them out; the second consisted in a weapon capable to absorb her enormous power, a weapon that wasn't fast enough in the absorption to finish her before she destroyed it; the third time in the middle of a battle they tried again the forcefield that captured her the first time, but Xadhoom dodged and they captured one of their own ships.

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== [[Live Action TV]] ==

* One of the many plots in ''[[The X Files]]''.

* One of the many plots in ''[[The X-Files]]''.

* This was the essential plot of the [[Pilot]] of ''[[Star Trek ~~the~~ Next Generation]]'', "Encounter at Farpoint." Here, the Enterprise is sent to investigate a mysterious base offered by a population who obviously do not have the engineering skill to build it, and where anything you want seems to mysteriously appear. It turns out that the base is actually a giant creature enslaved by the population, and its mate arrives to retaliate. Fortunately, the Enterprise figures out the situation and frees the creature to resolve the crisis.

* This was the essential plot of the [[Pilot]] of ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'', "Encounter at Farpoint." Here, the Enterprise is sent to investigate a mysterious base offered by a population who obviously do not have the engineering skill to build it, and where anything you want seems to mysteriously appear. It turns out that the base is actually a giant creature enslaved by the population, and its mate arrives to retaliate. Fortunately, the Enterprise figures out the situation and frees the creature to resolve the crisis.

* Billionaire Henry van Statten keeps a captured Dalek in his underground bunker in the ''[[Doctor Who]]'' episode "Dalek".

** The contents of the Pandorica. The most deadly and terrifying creature in the entire universe is supposedly trapped inside it. Guess who.

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== [[Mythology]] and [[Folk Lore]] ==

* This happens with the [[Genie in A Bottle|genies]] of [[Our Genies Are Different|Arabic mythology]]. Djinn were essentially free ethereal spirits with magical talents summoned and bounded to an object, such as a bottle or oil lamp, and had to serve (if they are in a good mood) whoever is currently in possession of the object or summons them via object.

* This happens with the [[Genie in a Bottle|genies]] of [[Our Genies Are Different|Arabic mythology]]. Djinn were essentially free ethereal spirits with magical talents summoned and bounded to an object, such as a bottle or oil lamp, and had to serve (if they are in a good mood) whoever is currently in possession of the object or summons them via object.

** The part you're supposed to be impressed about, however, lies less in the fact that the hero (for certain loose definitions of hero) comes into the possession of such an object, but rather that there was a human sorcerer powerful enough to force and bind one of these proto-Angels into servitude.

** Actually based on an ancient grimiore The Keys of Solomon! He used his knowledge of Kabbalah to bind 72 demons in a chalice! It eventually morphed into this. Damien-Daemon-Djinn Also, they did not mean evil spirit until centuries later!

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== [[Tabletop Games]] ==

* Considering that they're part of the ''[[Warhammer 40000]]'' universe, it shouldn't be too difficult to believe that the ''[[Eisenhorn]]'' novels feature this; when a number of captured Alpha-level [[Psychic Powers|Chaos Psykers]] are paraded through a large hive on a victory march, they manage to escape and wreak considerable havoc, including {{spoiler|crippling recently-promoted Inquisitor [[Ravenor]] for life}}. Several of Eisenhorn's opponents ({{spoiler|and later, Eisenhorn himself}}) also make use of daemonhosts: [[Sealed Evil in A Can|immensely powerful daemons bound into human bodies]], which are both immensely dangerous and intensely displeased with their enforced servitude.

* Considering that they're part of the ''[[Warhammer 40000]]'' universe, it shouldn't be too difficult to believe that the ''[[Eisenhorn]]'' novels feature this; when a number of captured Alpha-level [[Psychic Powers|Chaos Psykers]] are paraded through a large hive on a victory march, they manage to escape and wreak considerable havoc, including {{spoiler|crippling recently-promoted Inquisitor [[Ravenor]] for life}}. Several of Eisenhorn's opponents ({{spoiler|and later, Eisenhorn himself}}) also make use of daemonhosts: [[Sealed Evil in a Can|immensely powerful daemons bound into human bodies]], which are both immensely dangerous and intensely displeased with their enforced servitude.

** Alpha Level Plus Pshykers are far more dangerous than you might think. ''ONE'' AL+ Pshyker managed to enslave over ''fifty thousand'' innocents, and force them into combat against his enemies, he could even influence and control Space Marines to a lesser degree, allowing him so slip away unharmed when fifteen marin es were right next to him... one even picked him up thinking him an ''ordinary six year old''...

* In the Kamigawa block of ''[[~~Magic the Gathering|~~Magic: ~~the~~ Gathering]]'', a feudal lord captures [http://ww2.wizards.com/gatherer/CardDetails.aspx?&id=74644 a newborn spirit from the Spirit World], which makes him immortal. This act also incites the entire spirit world to declare a long and bloody war on the mortal world.

* In the Kamigawa block of ''[[Magic: The Gathering]]'', a feudal lord captures [http://ww2.wizards.com/gatherer/CardDetails.aspx?&id=74644 a newborn spirit from the Spirit World], which makes him immortal. This act also incites the entire spirit world to declare a long and bloody war on the mortal world.

** The worst part is, the long and bloody war with the gods of his world doesn't cause him to take the hint; he's still convinced that his immortal reign is the best for Kamigawa. Which trope is that again?

* [[The Men in Black]] in ''[[Deadlands]]'' actually ''don't'' traffic much in [[Captured Super Entity|Captured Super Entities]]. [[Mega Corp|Hellstromme Industries]], on the other hand, uses one to power {{spoiler|the titular starship in an adventure titled ''The Unity.'' The [[The Legions of Hell|demon]] named Apostolos requires a specific act to fuel the ship's [[Subspace or Hyperspace|faster-than-light]] engine, the aptly named "Faustian Drive."}} For more information, refer to the example listed in [[Sadistic Choice]]. You were warned.

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** But only after said race of beings cripple the Empire.

* [[Final Fantasy VII]] also has JENOVA being exploited by the Shinra Corporation for super-soldier experiments (although technically she was captured by the Cetra centuries before).

* In ''[[World of Warcraft]]'', the Blood Elves are holding a [[Energy Beings|Naaru]] captive within Silvermoon City; this is how they have harnessed the power of the Holy Light and made their own Paladins. (They also had Paladins in ''[[~~War Craft~~]] 3'', but that's different.) This source of power is abandoned in Patch 2.4 {{spoiler|and replaced with the resurrected Sunwell}}.

* In ''[[World of Warcraft]]'', the Blood Elves are holding a [[Energy Beings|Naaru]] captive within Silvermoon City; this is how they have harnessed the power of the Holy Light and made their own Paladins. (They also had Paladins in ''[[Warcraft]] 3'', but that's different.) This source of power is abandoned in Patch 2.4 {{spoiler|and replaced with the resurrected Sunwell}}.

** Intriguingly, the [[Energy Beings|Naaru]] never seemed to care much, leading to [[Epileptic Trees|theories]] that it was all a [[Xanatos Gambit]] to "[[Good Feels Good|corrupt]]" the Blood Elves with Holy Light. {{spoiler|With patch 2.4, it turned out that it was after all. An example of [[I Knew It!]].}}

** Another example is draining the blood of the demon Magtheridon to create fel orcs, and the two backfiring attempts to use the human avatar of the Sunwell in this way. Demon Hunters have a miniature version of this happening, in that they seal a demon inside themselves to empower them. The warlocks in the Shadow Labyrinth seem to be trying this trope, though they also seem to be pretty bad at actually controlling their major summons.

* In ''[[City of Heroes|City of Villains]]'', {{spoiler|the Power Transference System in Cap au Diable is not a geothermal energy plant, as claimed, but a magical machine that drains the energy of a demon [[Sealed Evil in A Can|sealed in the mountain]].}}

* In ''[[City of Heroes|City of Villains]]'', {{spoiler|the Power Transference System in Cap au Diable is not a geothermal energy plant, as claimed, but a magical machine that drains the energy of a demon [[Sealed Evil in a Can|sealed in the mountain]].}}

** Anyone who finds it suspicious that the giant cables and pipes throughout Cap au Diable are covered in demons made of red lightning need not worry about the above spoiler.

* In ''[[~~Xenogears (Video Game)|~~Xenogears]]'', the entity known as the Wave Existence is trapped within the Zohar Modifier and used as a power source for the [[Deus Est Machina|Deus Superweapon]].

* In ''[[Xenogears]]'', the entity known as the Wave Existence is trapped within the Zohar Modifier and used as a power source for the [[Deus Est Machina|Deus Superweapon]].

* Happens in ''[[Persona 3]]'' with the Shadows.

* ''[[Jade Empire]]'' has The Water Dragon, the goddess of reincarnation and water, severely wounded by the Emperor, and her body turned into a trophy so that he can maintain his [[A God Am I|phenomenal cosmic power]]. {{spoiler|The player is given a chance of killing the Water Dragon and allowing her to reenter the cycle of reincarnation so she can claim her old post, or keeping the body where it is and binding her to your service in agony.}}

* In [[Neverwinter Nights]] Hordes of the Underdark, the bad guys have somehow caged an angel and are using her to create an army of bone golems. If you free her, she'll help you out at the end of chapter 2.

** There is also a caged arch devil, who manages to escape after you kill it's 'jailer', a drow matron.

* ''[[~~Tales of Phantasia (Video Game)|~~Tales of Phantasia]]'' has the high-tech ancient city of Thor, powered by Asuka, an imprisoned light spirit.

* ''[[Tales of Phantasia]]'' has the high-tech ancient city of Thor, powered by Asuka, an imprisoned light spirit.

* In ''[[~~Pokémon Diamond and Pearl (Video Game)|~~Pokémon Diamond and Pearl]]'', you can fight [[God|Arceus]]...and [[Olympus Mons|capture him to do your bidding]]. Also a case of [[Did You Just Punch Out Cthulhu?]].

* In ''[[Pokémon Diamond and Pearl]]'', you can fight [[God|Arceus]]...and [[Olympus Mons|capture him to do your bidding]]. Also a case of [[Did You Just Punch Out Cthulhu?]].

** XD001 in ''[[Pokémon Colosseum ~~(Video Game)~~|Pokémon XD]]'', AKA Shadow Lugia. He is also a [[Anticlimax Boss]] if you remember the major advantage you got shortly (storyline-wise) before the fight: The Master Ball.

** XD001 in ''[[Pokémon Colosseum|Pokémon XD]]'', AKA Shadow Lugia. He is also a [[Anticlimax Boss]] if you remember the major advantage you got shortly (storyline-wise) before the fight: The Master Ball.

** Cyrus also pulls this on Dialga and Palkia (who are essentially deities of time and space). While you can capture them with [[Power Limiter|Poke Balls]], Cyrus just flat out attempts to [[Omnicidal Maniac|destroy the universe]] [[A God Am I|and recreate it]] [[The Stoic|so there are no troubling emotions.]]

* ''[[Resistance]] 2'' starts with the heroes knowingly releasing the super entity Daedalus, the being apparently in control of the Chimera, and being unable to stop it from escaping.

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== Web Original ==

* In ''[[~~The Gamers Alliance (Roleplay)|~~The Gamers Alliance]]'', Awar manages to trap the god Shakkan into a shard of Krystallopyr during the Vanna arc, prompting the heroes to find a way to set the god free before the god's lizardfolk followers obliterate all humans in the desert in revenge.

* In ''[[The Gamers Alliance]]'', Awar manages to trap the god Shakkan into a shard of Krystallopyr during the Vanna arc, prompting the heroes to find a way to set the god free before the god's lizardfolk followers obliterate all humans in the desert in revenge.

* The [[~~SCP Foundation (Wiki)|~~SCP Foundation]] has several of these, up to a man who claims to be ''God''. Although their method of "capturing" him essentially consists of them knowing that he'll be back and not worrying too much that he can get out of his cell whenever it takes his fancy.

* The [[SCP Foundation]] has several of these, up to a man who claims to be ''God''. Although their method of "capturing" him essentially consists of them knowing that he'll be back and not worrying too much that he can get out of his cell whenever it takes his fancy.