Mental Fusion: Difference between revisions

[[File:SA_0493_smallSA 0493 small.jpg|link=Sequential Art (Webcomicwebcomic)|rightframe|Don't bother translating. It's Squirrel Squeak.]]

There's something [[Your Mileage May Vary|inherently]] sinister and threatening about a [[Hive Mind]], especially when it forcibly kidnaps people and forces them to join. What happens to those [[Soul|soulssoul]]s trapped inside? Are they still individuals, or have they suffered so much [[Loss of Identity]] that nothing remains? It doesn't help matters that there's usually a [[Hive Queen]] or [[The Virus]] behind such things.

This isn't always the case though. If the characters ''willingly'' create a [[Psychic Link]] in order to do amazing things, then a lot of the [[Squick]] factor goes away (though those involved may blush afterward if they swapped embarrassing memories). This trope can be pulled off many different ways. A common one has mystics and magicians not just cast a cooperative spell, but use [[Super Empowering]] to give one among them their combined powers. [[Telepathy|Telepaths]] may subsume themselves into a group entity for greater psychic power and reach. [[Technopath|Technopaths]]s can simply [[Unusual User Interface|"plug in"]] directly to a greater AI or a group of other technopaths.

This comes in a few flavors: Usually, a single person is "elevated" and made first among equals. The other magicians, telepaths or what not give the first the full benefit of their individual powers, as well as [[Spirit Advisor|telepathic advice]], etc. while they meditate and stay immobile. While in this weakened state, enemies can attack these powerful Mental Fusions by going after the supporters. An equally common variant has the "mob", where the group has no one mouthpiece, but moves with perfect synchronicity and jointly use their powers and combat skills in beyond perfect teamwork to devastating effect. The downside to these is that they usually severely drain everyone once the spell is over.

* In both the manga and the first movie of ''[[Ghost in Thethe Shell]]'' {{spoiler|this is the entire point of the plot! The entire time Project 2501 was trying to lure the Major to it so it could offer her to fuse their minds. Her interpersonal behavior remains pretty much the same (which wasn't much to begin with), but her abilities as a hacker and dive directly into computers increased greatly.}}

{{quote| ''"I want a guarantee that I can still be myself."<br />

* In [[DragonballDragon Ball|Dragon Ball Z]] fusions created by the fusion dance and Potara earrings combine the personalities of the fusees. The Namekian fusion method also combines the two fusee's personalities somewhat, and Buu's absorption also gives him personality traits of the people he absorbs.

* In [[EEE. E. "Doc" Smith]]'s ''[[Lensman]]'' series, the Arisian Mentor was actually 4four Arisian minds joined together.

** SpiderIn Robinson story ''"The Mick of Time''.", The regulars at [[Callahans Bar]]Callahan's join together telepathically to defeat a deadly alien threat.

** They do so again in [[Callahans Crosstime Saloon (Literature)|''Callahan's Legacy'']] to stop the last servant of that threat, making him do a [[Heel Face Turn]]. Ironically, they broach the idea of doing this AGAIN in ''Callahan's Key'', but decide not to.

* ''[[Inheritance Cycle|]]'': Eragon and Saphira]]

* In the ''[[EarthsEarth's Children]]'' series, Neanderthal shamans (known as Mog-ur) are able to control and direct the minds of the men during religious ceremonies. A particular preparation of datura is used.

* In [[The Book of the Named|Clan Ground]] Thistle-chaser has the ability to "hear the song" - that is, to join in the hive mind that unites True-of-Voice's clan. Unlike them, she also has the ability to tune the song out. In a later book, her brother is shown to have the same ability.

* In ''[[The Wheel of Time]]'' series, channellers (magic users) often do this to multiply their power.

== [[Live -Action TV]] ==

* Seamus Harper in ''[[Andromeda]]''

* That blind/albino/whatever chick in the new ''[[Doctor Who (TV)|Doctor Who]]'' episode "Bad Wolf"

* ''[[Farscape (TV)|Farscape]]'s'{{'}}s Delvians can "Share Unity", where two people join minds and [[Soul]]. It's described as better than all the best sex and drugs you've ever taken. ... and it can drive you insane if you kill someone while sharing unity, Zhan did to her former lover for betraying their people to the Peace Keepers. Despite the madness being considered incurable and being incarcerated, she got better after years of soul searching and meditation.

** It's used earlier by Talia and a group of rogue telepaths (none higher than P12) to overwhelm Bester (a strong P12) and give him [[Fake Memories]] of killing them.

* In ''[[Star Trek: TOSThe Original Series]]'' episode "Is There In Truth No Beauty," Spock Mind Melds with a [[Sufficiently Advanced Alien|Medusan]] to save the Enterprise.

** In ''[[Star Trek: Voyager]],'' a group of ex-Borg could temporarily become a mini-collective to pool their mental power for various purposes.

== [[Tabletop RPGGames]] ==

* In the 1st Edition of ''[[Dungeons and& Dragons]]'', psionic characters could join their minds together to boost their total power.

* ''[[In Nomine (Tabletop Game)|In Nomine]]'' has the Ethereal and Celestial Songs of Unity, the first just allows skill sharing among a group, the second creates a full-fledged [[Mental Fusion]] of the "mob" type, each body can act separately and the mass mind can use all their skills and abilities (although it can only take one *supernatural* action at a time) and can see, hear and so on from the point of view of all bodies simultaneously. The problem with the Song is that if the participants don't get along, the massed entity created from them may dither and delay due to the conflict. Also, the participants memories of the actions taken by the mass mind will be sketchy.

* In ''Ar Tonelico 2'', the various modes of the [[Kill Sat|Infel Phira]] amounts to this. Replakia combines dozens of spellcasters to boost the damage of attack spells to an impressive levels, while Metafalica is a more through [[Mental Fusion]] that is used to get enough power to create a [[Flying Continent]] . A few other modes are used for mind control instead.

* On a similar note, this is what apparently happens in the [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeboqg4t9vs Helios ending] of the endings of ''[[Deus Ex: Invisible War (Video Game)|Deus Ex Invisible War]]''. All humans are united by/in a global network where they can share their minds whith each other. How much of their identity do they retained is uncertain.

* In ''[[Psychonauts (Video Game)|Psychonauts]]'', an accidental version of this is {{spoiler|the final level of the game. The "Meat Circus" is caused by Raz and Coach Oleander's minds fusing together in the brain tank, combining Raz's childhood memories of the circus with Oleander's memories of his father's butcher shop. The result is as [[Nightmare Fuel]] as you'd expect.}}

* In [[StarcraftStarCraft]], this is the basis of the Protoss religion, called the Khala. Protoss are universally psychic, and evolved a super-powerful collective conciousness that manifests as magic-like abilities. Communion with this "Khala" is actually touching all the minds, thoughts, and emotions of the Protoss race at large. However, there is a small group of heretic protoss who fear that this will, one day, completely subsume their personalities, and take steps to sever themselves from it permanently (they evolved their own culture).

* Played straight in [[Golden Sun: Dark Dawn]] at the finale when [[Heroic Mime|Matthew]], after being beaten down [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/[Determinator |three times]] by the [[Light Is Not Good|excessive light]] on the [[Wave Motion Gun|Apollo Lens]] firing platform, gives the last of his power to [[Cute Monster Girl|Sveta]] so she can make her [[Heroic Sacrifice]].

* ''[[A Miracle of Science]]'' has a single massive [[Mental Fusion]] forming the gestalt mind of Mars.

* The above picture is from ''[[Sequential Art (Webcomicwebcomic)|Sequential Art]]'' and the squirrels are forming Think Tank, a biological processor with super...squirrial inventive and strategical abilities.

* ''[[Avatar: The Last Airbender (Animation)|Avatar: The Last Airbender]]'' caps season 1 by having Aang and La, the spirit of water and the oceans, fuse (or Aang allowing himself to be possesed) into a [[Kaiju]] sized water elemental that obliterates the attacking Fire Nation fleet. And it was good.

* ''[[Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers (Animation)|Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers]]'' had a wicked tactic where all of the Series 5 team could pool their strength through Niko's psychic abilities, either to create a ''very'' strong shield or an equally strong power blast. It usually did the trick, though it would often drain the charge and/or knock Niko unconscious afterward.