Rev-9
The Rev-9 is a highly advanced Terminator and Infiltrator model developed by Legion in the Dark Fate timeline. It features a carbon-based endoskeleton encased in an advanced mimetic polyalloy sheath, granting it formidable resilience and adaptability. One of its defining traits is the ability to separate into two independent units—its solid endoskeleton and liquid outer shell—enabling it to engage multiple opponents simultaneously.
| Names | Rev-9 |
| Gender | Genderless |
| Race | Terminator |
| Occupation | Assassin, Infiltrator |
| Origin | Terminator: Dark Fate (October 23, 2019) |
| Alignment | Neutral (Is a Programmed Machine) Evil |
| Age | Varies |
| Created By | David Goyer, Justin Rhodes, Billy Ray, James Cameron, Charles Eglee, Josh Friedman |
| Height | 181 cm (5ft 11in) |
| Personality Type | ESTP, 8w7 (Enneagram) |
| Portrayed By | Gabriel Luna |
Appearance
The Rev-9’s endoskeleton is distinct from previous Terminator models. While humanoid, it features a skeletal structure with numerous gaps and cavities, including a mostly hollow chest and an incomplete skull. This design likely allows for additional storage of its liquid polyalloy, which, unlike the T-X, is not just a coating but an independent entity capable of full humanoid form. The endoskeleton’s structure more closely resembles human bones, with synthetic muscle fibers replacing traditional hydraulic systems, giving it a more organic appearance compared to the overtly mechanical design of a T-800.
Compared to Skynet Terminators, the Rev-9 is significantly more agile, capable of leaping several stories, parkouring off walls, dodging projectiles, and recovering instantly from falls. It moves with a fluid, acrobatic grace not seen in previous models, allowing it to evade and counter opponents with exceptional speed.
The Rev-9’s liquid metal sheath is black in color and functions independently when detached from the endoskeleton. It can shapeshift into humanoid forms, create bladed weapons, and extend whip-like tendrils for combat. Unlike the T-1000, its liquid metal often takes the form of multiple strands rather than a single cohesive mass, making it more dynamic but seemingly less durable. When separated from its endoskeleton, the polyalloy shell is vulnerable to slashing attacks and explosives, which can completely disintegrate it—a notable weakness compared to the T-1000, which could reform from similar damage. Exposure to extreme heat and friction, as seen when caught in an industrial turbine, causes the liquid metal to solidify and crumble, rendering it nonfunctional.
The ability to divide into two autonomous units is one of the Rev-9’s most unique traits. However, when split, both halves suffer a reduction in overall mass and structural integrity, particularly the liquid sheath, which lacks the rigid support of the endoskeleton.
Personality
The Rev-9 exhibits remarkably human-like behavior, including a sense of humor, deception, and emotional expression. It can convincingly lie, such as when it tricks a U.S. Border Patrol agent into believing it has a metal hip from military service. Unlike previous Terminators, it can display casual and even friendly mannerisms while interacting with humans, making it a highly effective infiltrator. However, its robotic nature remains evident in certain movements and speech patterns.
It demonstrates high intelligence and problem-solving skills, often favoring efficiency over brute force. Instead of resorting to immediate violence, it can mimic clothing by touch and negotiate for targets when beneficial. Theories suggest that its liquid polyalloy sheath houses a distributed molecular CPU, similar to the T-1000, potentially allowing it to develop self-awareness. This might explain why its personality disappears after the destruction of the liquid shell, leaving the endoskeleton as a mindless drone executing its last command: to eliminate Dani Ramos.
Biography
The Rev-9 was dispatched by Legion from 2042 and arrived in 2020, materializing midair inside a Mexican condominium where Dani Ramos lived. Upon landing, the machine, initially unclothed, touched a woman's laundry to replicate her clothing and immediately began searching for Dani. Tracking her to her home, the Rev-9 encountered her father, Vicente Ramos, who informed it that Dani had already left for work with her brother, Diego. The machine then killed Vicente and assumed his appearance to lure Dani into a trap at her workplace. However, its plan was thwarted by Grace Harper, forcing the Rev-9 into a high-speed pursuit. The chase culminated in Diego's death and Grace and Dani being cornered when the Rev-9 split into its two distinct halves. Before it could finish its mission, Sarah Connor intervened with heavy weaponry, temporarily halting the machine.
Determined to reacquire its target, the Rev-9 infiltrated the Rathium Data Center, using its mimetic polyalloy to hack surveillance systems. Through these, it discovered Dani and her allies attempting to cross the U.S. border into Texas. Assuming the identity of Maggie, a Border Patrol agent, the Rev-9 infiltrated a detention facility and hijacked a control center, nearly killing the group by crashing a drone into their escape route. It then slaughtered numerous guards and detainees inside the Texas Detention and Processing Center in an effort to reach Dani. However, she managed to escape with Grace and Sarah in a stolen helicopter.
The Rev-9 soon reacquired the group, now joined by Carl, and engaged them again after Sarah received a case containing two EMP devices from her contact, Major Dean. It pursued them to Bingham Air Force Base, where Dean alerted the military of the imminent threat. The group took off in a C-5 cargo plane, but the Rev-9, piloting a hijacked refueling aircraft, rammed into their plane and boarded. Inside, it battled Carl while the others parachuted to safety. As the fight continued, both the Rev-9 and Carl were ejected from the aircraft, landing in a river, where the assassin quickly gained the upper hand.
The final confrontation took place at a hydroelectric dam, where Grace, Sarah, Dani, and Carl made their last stand. The Rev-9 attempted to reason with them, even appealing to Carl by claiming they shared a common purpose. When diplomacy failed, it engaged in brutal combat, sustaining heavy damage from Carl and Grace while Sarah provided covering fire. Carl and Grace ultimately forced the machine into a turbine, superheating its liquid metal shell and triggering an explosion that mortally wounded Grace and temporarily disabled Carl. Now reduced to only its endoskeleton, the Rev-9 continued its pursuit of Dani. In a final act of defiance, Grace pleaded with Dani to use her thorium reactor as a weapon. Dani, devastated but determined, removed the reactor and stabbed the Rev-9 through the eye, electrocuting it. As the assassin struggled, Carl, reactivated, dragged the incapacitated Rev-9 into a pit within the power plant. The reactor overloaded, melting both machines into the floor, finally neutralizing the Rev-9.
Powers and Statistics
Tier: 9-B
Powers and Abilities: Superhuman Physical Characteristics, Vehicular Mastery, Expert Marksman, Self-Sustenance (Type 3), Inorganic Physiology (Type 2), Shapeshifting, Regeneration (Low-High for outer sheath), Martial Arts, Acrobatics, Psychometry, Fusionism and Fissionism (With its Exoskeleton) and some degree of Social Influencing and Stealth Mastery
Attack Potency: Wall level (Can fight against an aged T-800 and Grace)
Speed: At least Superhuman with possibly Supersonic reactions (Scaling from the T-800)
Lifting Strength: Class K (Comparable to the T-800)
Striking Strength: Wall level
Durability: Wall level (Regeneration of its outer sheath makes it very hard to kill)
Stamina: Superhuman (The Rev-9 can operate continuously on a single power cell for many years)
Range: Standard Melee Range, Several Meters with various weapons
Standard Equipment: None notable.
Intelligence: Genius (The Rev-9 is capable of acting like a human, such as having a sense of humor. A Rev-9 unit even bragged to a United States Border Patrol agent by stating its whole body is a weapon, as well as apologizing after falling into someone's shed, destroying it. It also has a casual demeanor when acting with others, though some robotic-like behavior can be seen. It also fools people very easily, as shown when it walks through a metal detector and said it has gone through two tours in Afghanistan and has a metal hip replacement. They are also able to quickly adapt to and use technology/weapons/vehicles)
Weaknesses: When split into two separate forms, the Rev-9 becomes significantly weaker. Sarah Connor was able to damage its mimetic polyalloy sheath with a shotgun and an incendiary grenade, while its endoskeleton sustained damage from a missile launcher.
An EMP blast can critically disable the Rev-9, shutting it down if exposed to a sustained overcurrent.
Compared to other models like the T-X, the Rev-9 appears more vulnerable to heavy kinetic force. This is evident in how it can be knocked back by powerful blows from a T-800, Grace Harper, or even Dani Ramos.
When operating independently from its endoskeleton, the Rev-9's liquid sheath is highly fragile, capable of being completely torn apart or disintegrated by slashing attacks and explosives—damage that would merely deform a T-1000. Extreme heat, friction, and intense forces—such as being caught in an industrial turbine followed by its explosion—can "cook" the liquid metal into a brittle solid state, rendering it nonfunctional and causing it to break away from the endoskeleton.
The Rev-9 can be temporarily disabled by sustained point-blank shotgun blasts and is susceptible to being crushed or sabotaged by a sufficiently heavy mass, much like Skynet’s solid T-800 models.
It can also be impaled with metallic rebar, which slows it down.
Trivia
- Unlike most Hunter-Killers from previous Skynet timelines—except for the T-900—the Rev-9 features a full-color HUD at all times.
- The Rev-9’s mimetic polyalloy sheath can generate multiple stabbing weapons across its body, a trait it shares with the T-1002 and T-Meg. However, its reach appears shorter than that of a Rev-7.
- The sheath also grants the Rev-9 the ability to propel itself rapidly through water, similar to the liquid metal T-1001.
- Its combination of an endoskeleton encased in mimetic polyalloy is a design element shared with the T-X.
- Both the Rev-9 and T-X possess the ability to hack machinery, though the T-X is limited to corruption and remote control. It is never shown whether the Rev-9 can similarly corrupt other Terminators.
- Although the Rev-9 features a male endoskeleton, it is capable of mimicking a relatively petite female form. In contrast, the T-X, which has a slender female endoskeleton, can take on a male form using its mimetic polyalloy.
- The Rev-9’s mimetic polyalloy is carbon-based, giving it a darker, black coloration rather than the traditional silvery chrome seen in Skynet's liquid metal models.
- A 3D model of the Rev-9 was displayed on a column at Shinjuku Station to promote Terminator: Dark Fate (marketed as Terminator: New Fate) in Japan.
- The Rev-9’s endoskeleton appears as part of the Gears 5 Terminator: Dark Fate Skin Pack 2 DLC, alongside Grace Harper.
- Interestingly, despite being designed as a superior model to the T-800, the Rev-9 is vulnerable to EMP attacks, whereas the T-800 is completely immune. This inconsistency is never explained.
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