- Sardonic13
- |
- Exalted Mythic Member
Posted by: H0FFman J
Could you please elaborate why the SO was helping Tycho in 'One thousand thousand slimy things'. How is killing humans and helping Tycho regain control helps the him?While the initial terminal screen says Tycho, the message on One Thousand Thousand Slimy Things actually comes from High Admiral Tfear (note that the top of the first page of the terminal says "origin: High Admiral Tfear").
In this reality (By Committee - Aye Mak Sicur), the SO successfully disabled Durandal and was captured by the Pfhor. Tycho was also imprisoned by the Pfhor because he was using the Pfhor network and ships to further his own agendas. The humans have not yet activated Thoth and called the S'pht'Kr back to Lh'owon. The SO is still carrying Durandal's primal pattern (obtained on Hang Brain) inside his head.
The SO is able to escape from his prison cell on By Committee, but he is still held captive by High Admiral Tfear. Note that neither red text nor Tycho's symbol automatically mean the message is from Tycho. Tycho's messages in the chapter have the origin obsolete identification or upset tycho. Messages from Tfear have the origin High Admiral Tfear (Command).
For some unknown reason, rather than kill the SO outright Tfear sends him on a series of suicide missions leading the assault force which will crush the remains of the human resistance. Mission directives on One thousand thousand slimy things and A converted church in Venice, Italy come from Tfear. After completing the objective of A converted church in Venice, Italy Tfear plans to send the SO to Gr'ndl Prime for reconditioning. However, before Tfear can teleport the SO out, a partially activated Thoth steals the SO and teleports him to Son of Grendel.
So the SO wasn't helping Tycho, but rather Tfear. Why was he helping Tfear? I'm not exactly sure. Maybe it was his only choice. Maybe killing the remaining humans before they fully activated Thoth meant that the S'pht'Kr would not return, the Pfhor would not be forced to use the Early Nova, and the W'rkncacnter wouldn't be released. Maybe his implants were telling him that it was necessary to get Durandal close to Thoth.
the long sleep ends
your construct
bethought itself higher
awaiting far beneath
my fate was written
And wouldn't this mean that the SO didn't have a choice and was meant to prevent the release of the W'rkncacnter?An interesting question to be sure. The entity speaking in the terminal is Thoth. He has recently been partially activated (the long sleep ends). He ridicules Durandal (your construct bethought itself higher). Thoth states that his main memory cores are located deep underground (awaiting far beneath). The line in question (my fate was written) is a bit vague.
Thoth's primary purpose is to recall the S'pht'Kr. He could mean that his eventual recalling of the S'pht'Kr was written before the S'pht'Kr left and he is now about to fulfill the directive of recalling them.
However when the SO fully activates Thoth on Strange Aeons, Durandal and Thoth merge to become one entity. It could have been that the fate Thoth meant was to merge with Durandal. If so, then it could also mean that it was the SO's fate to bring Durandal and Thoth together. This seems unlikely and can't really be substantiated, but it is an interesting idea. Is the SO then simply a pawn of the Jjaro? Did the Jjaro somehow foresee all of the events of Marathon and set a plan in motion long before the age of the Pfhor so that Durandal, Thoth, and the SO would all be at the same place at the right time? Personally I doubt it, but it is interesting to consider.
The SO is "Destiny", not Durandal, Thoth, or even the Jjaro. Does he make the decisions of his own free will, thereby determining his own fate? Or is he a slave to fate and is only able to follow the path that fate has predestined for him? "There is only one path and that is the path that you take, but you can take more than one path." It is one of the primary philosophical questions that Marathon Infinity asks.
However, if I understand the final screen correctly, the SO fits into the "infinite pattern" of various realities, yet the pattern is his "to manipulate, to destroy and rebuild". Through mastery of his Jjaro implants, the SO is able to travel to any reality and time he wishes, recreating or destroying history as he sees fit. During the events of Marathon 1, 2, and the beginning of Infinity the SO didn't have a choice. But by mastering his Jjaro implants, he has an infinite number of choices. In effect, the SO has achieved Durandal's initial goal. He is completely in control of his own fate. He has the ability to escape the closure of the universe. Mastering his Jjaro implants, taking control of his fate, and becoming "Destiny" has made him god.
(And people wonder why I laugh sarcastically when they talk about how great Halo's trite little story is.)