Top Ten Villains: 9. The Illusive Man

9.    The Illusive Man

 

Quote: “Where you see a means to destroy, I see a way to control--to dominate and harness the Reapers' power. Imagine how strong humanity would be if we controlled them.”

Series: Mass Effect

The Illusive Man has no past before becoming the head of Cerberus. His intentions are shrouded in mystery, but what really earns him his spot is he is the only one willing to help the hero (and it’s annoying as hell). Though he is a villain, The Illusive Man does think he is doing what is best for humanity. The ends justify the means, is the call of the organization known as Cerberus. "If humanity is to survive, sacrifices must be made for the greater good.”

He is intelligent, charismatic, and well-informed. He’s frightening because it’s easy to see why so many people agree with him, because he is right most of the time. Often times his choices are the better ones even if they aren’t morally right. It would be very easy to fall into his plans, just by your own choice (no coercion needed).

He’s cool and collected, but becomes angry quickly when disagreed with constantly. His belief that humanity should dominate the galaxy and bring other species underfoot is just the end of his plan. Throughout the three games he and his organization can be seen as slavers, mad scientists, and saviors. He can be seen as both the worst and best humanity can offer.

Despite his willingness to provide the hero with support, he can never truly be trusted. He is willing to do anything to make sure the human race survives, including sending Shepard into traps, and luring Reapers (giant living technology whose only purpose is to destroy organic life) to planets inhabited by aliens in order to study the effects.

He also has no qualms about using his own people as experiments. In Mass Effect 3 it is commented on while on mars that the Cerberus corpses looked very similar to husks. He was also the person responsible for sabotaging Eldfell-Ashland Energy starships over human colonies in order to cause children to be born as biotics (to make humanity stronger).

[Spoilers] In the end his plans are thrown to ruin when the Reapers take advantage of his need to control and use him as a puppet. His final confrontation with Shepard can end with him realizing he is being used, and eventual he commits suicide; or with his stubborn determination that he is in the right which will cause him to be shot by Shepard. The crux of this is his choice actual was right in the end.

Top Ten Villains: 10. Megatron

10. Megatron

    

 Quote: “I am alpha and omega, the beginning and the end. I am that which is, which was, and is yet to come... and you will know my name is Megatron when I lay my vengeance upon you!”

Series: Transformers

 

Megatron does seem like a typical villain at first. But in fact he has a deeper character the more I study him (I ignore the Bay movies because their characterization fragging sucks). His philosophy is one that has been tried by many people in history. “Peace through tyranny.” Megatron is incredibly traditional. He believes that Transformers (Cybertronians) have a heritage of war and their destiny is to rule a great empire in order to bring order to a chaotic universe.

Indeed all versions of Megatron’s past involve gruesome bloody battles.  Megatron is a part of Cybertron’s oppressed working class, sometimes he is a miner, sometimes he is a gladiator (sometimes both). As either a miner (known as D-16 originally) or a gladiator Megatron comes to realize that the Golden Age of Cyberton is nothing more than a corrupt government taking control of its overloaded and downtrodden citizens. Megatron takes the name Megatronus (a name given to the greatest of the thirteen primes) and speaks out against the caste system. He draws the attention of Orion Pax who will later become Optimus Prime. (Transformers: Prime).

When the two end up speaking in front of the council Megatron demands that the council step down or he will force them to and take the mantel of Prime. Orion then makes an impassioned plea that softens the hearts of the council.

Furious Megatron gathers his followers, the Transformers of the working class, who become Decepticons and go to war for his cause.  Megatron believes that Optimus’ peaceful solutions cause Cybertron to become weak and begins a war that will last for over a millennia, eventually destroying their home planet of Cybertron. (Transformers: Prime).

Megatron does end up with an unhealthy obsession with destroying Optimus Prime (mentally, emotionally, and physically) to the point of hurting his cause, and his followers. In “Fall of Cybertron” Megatron blasts Starscream before he can terminate Optimus after capture. Instead of killing the Autobot leader he kills autobot warriors one after the other in front of him.

 Megatron though temperamental and harsh is incredibly charismatic. His followers (with a few notable exceptions *cough*Starscream*cough*) are incredibly loyal. He has no problem with destroying those he deems to be in his way, worthless, or incompetent. Though hating to loose, he has no problem with a strategic retreat.

He isn’t just one of the strongest fighters, but an excellent strategist. Megatron represents the epitome of the fallen hero. The more he gains the more he is corrupted. But don’t believe that Megatron thinks he’s doing evil. He firmly believes that his path is the right one, the good one, and the only one.

He and She

Notes: The second of Christmas prompts. This one was: Favorite couple. So it is dedicated to my mom and dad.

Warnings: None

She plays with computers,

He’s her only suitor.

She’s able to act,

He can subtract.

He conquers the world,

She has hair that curled.

He’s an intellect,

She’s able to connect.

He’s sometimes quiet,

She’s sometimes on a diet.

She becomes anti-social,

He becomes coastal.

One is different,

One is the same.

And we all exclaim,

They’re just that special person.

The First

Notes: This is the first of these prompts, from the wonderful Xobit. 

Warnings: Implied violence

The First

Jamie hummed softly as she cut up the vegetables for the stir fry. She hadn't had time to cook lately, work had been overly busy considering it wasn't the Holiday season yet. Unfortunately, she sighed, Christmas decorations were already up in the stores an dit wasn't even Halloween yet. She had gotten a call from her friend, Tiffany asking if she wanted to have dinner. Jamie had agreed, but only if she was cooking. She still remembered the first time that Tiffany had tried to cook.

She didn't think it was possible to start a fire with water. But somehow her good friend had done it. She was banned from the kitchen for life.

Tiffany had been just as busy as her. Running an amusement park took a lot of work after all. But Tiff thrived under the pressure, she loved the chaotic happiness of tourists coming to their city for the first time or for the fiftieth time. Jamie was just glad that she had an office job dealing with numbers instead of people. Numbers were easy and predictable, people were... not. But this just meant that she and Tiffany were unable to see each other for the last month. Tiffany worried that Jamie was becoming too anti-social... Jamie worried that Tiffany was going to drive a go-cart off a cliff.

Jamie flicked her golden brown hair behind her ear and flipped the stir fry in the pan. Emerald green eyes glanced at the clock. Tiffany was supposed to be here in an hour, but there was no doubt in her mind that the red head would be rudely early as she always was.

She turned down the burner and undid her apron, and the bell rang. Jamie stifled a grin as she opened it. Tiffany at least was predictable... in an unpredictable way.

"Jamie!" leaf green eyes flashed by as Jamie was engulfed in a giant hug. "I'm so glad to see you! I was worried that you'd become a shut it with no one around. I had nightmares that you were just staring at numbers all day long and you slowly decayed and became a gray blob-"

Jamie rolled her eyes. "It's good to see you again too Tiff." She pulled the red head into the house and shut the door.

"-But Odette said I was just being silly, not that she ever really pays attention to what I'm saying. She's too busy looking at Logan. I was being serious too, it was really weird too!"

Jamie placed a plate down in front of Tiffany and frowned. “What’s weird?” she asked. The red head huffed and frowned.

“Weren’t you listening? It’s my phone- it… I called the company, but-“ Jamie frowned as she listened. Tiffany hardly ever stuttered. “I found this strange screen. It keeps popping up every few minutes. It has my name, all my likes, my birthday- you know basic information – but it also has my work, and it’s recording my heartbeat…”

“What?” Jamie leaned closer as Tiffany got out her phone. The brunette’s heart had started beating quickly. On Tiffany’s screen was her heartbeat and her location. Jamie’s house. “Tiff you called the company?” she asked panicking. “Why?”

Tiffany looked at her innocently. “Was that the wrong thing to do?”

Jamie opened her lips to yell, ‘yes it was!’, but she was never able to. Suddenly everything around them went deathly silent. Jamie lay on her side never noticing how she had gotten there. She groaned and rolled onto her back. Her ears began ringing and she heard screaming. Tiffany’s screaming.

“Please remain calm,” murmured an emotionless voice. “You will be re-assimilated momentarily.” Jamie blinked her emerald eyes trying to clear them. “The First wish you a good day.”

 She watched blurrily as Tiffany was carted out of the room, before everything went black.

The Adventures of Miriam and David: Three Silly Puppies

It began, as it always does, with a girl and a boy. The girl had long dark brown hair, it was thick and reached her waist. She took very good care of it, and made sure to wash and brush it every day. Her name was Miriam. The boy had short curly brown hair, bright blue eyes that are always kind peer out from around a beautiful roman nose. His name was David.

They did everything together. From reading on the couch.

 To pulling wires.

To battling cults and dragons.

 And saving puppies.

One day Miriam and David were trekking through the mountains; when they heard a whimpering sound.

“We should go find it,” Miriam, the adventurous one, said.

“Make sure to bring a snake kit just in case,” said David, the prepared one.

When they walked around the curve of the mountain they discovered a small wooden box. Inside the box, were three wet puppies.

“We need to take them home,” David said softly. “We have enough money.”

“They’ll be able to have adventures with us,” agreed Miriam. So they took the puppies home. They quickly realized that they were three very silly puppies.

The first puppy they named Adara. She had bright red fur and was very good at talking with other puppies. But she was very silly…

Sometimes she expected herself to do too much.

“Silly Adara,” Miriam admonished. “You don’t have to do everything. Just take everything one step at a time.”

 So, Adara did. She found it much easier.

The second puppy they named Isaac. He was very pretty with his black fur, and his dark eyes. He could remember everything, even after a few seconds. But he was very silly…

Sometimes he couldn’t stop sleeping.

“Silly Isaac,” David admonished. “If you want to rest, lay on the beach. Then you can get tan while you catch some ‘Z’s”

 So, Isaac did. Hang loose dude.

 The youngest puppy they named Eli. He was extremely smart and could make up worlds in his head. But he was very silly…

Sometimes he forget to do things until the last minute.

“Silly Eli,” Miriam and David grinned. “The best thing to do is write down what you need to do and when.”

So, Eli did. He got everything done, and still had time to run around magical worlds.

And they had many adventures together.

The End