: *WARNING - LONG POST*
: I'd like to make sure you all know that this theory is more of a 'what if'
: theory than a 'this is proven' theory. My whole theory really depends on
: the meaning of one little phrase, but the theory is just too interesting
: to be held back. So, here it goes.
: On Requiem For a Cyborg we read: SMUG INTELLECTUAL. Formerly-rampant
: human-
: coded AI with a sense of humor seeks
: bipedal oxygen-breathing cyborg for serious
: relationship in the galactic core. I've
: got cool guns if you like to break stuff.
: No yuppies. MRa2572 (5/23).
: SLEEPING BEAUTY. Long-deactivated
: extraterrestrial personality construct in
: search of gullible carbon-based cyborg ( GOD'S GIFT TO NEURAL NETS.
: Traitorous
: extremely-rampant reprogrammed human AI
: with no sense of humor seeks elusive,
: heroic cyborg of uncertain manufacture (you
: know who you are) for mindgames and long
: walks in hard vacuum. MRa2261 (5/16)
: DAMSEL IN DISTRESS. Captured and
: partially-disassembled human-coded AI
: trapped on alien homeworld seeks succor
: from a tall, dark and handsome cyborg with
: big guns. Let my rescue be the basis of a
: lasting relationship. MRa4451 (5/23).
: We can easily identify the AIs being referred to: the "SMUG
: INTELLECTUAL" seems to be Durandal, while the "SLEEPING
: BEAUTY" is obviously Thoth. "GOD'S GIFT TO NEURAL NETS"
: is, you guessed it, Tycho, and "DAMSEL IN DISTRESS" is Leela.
: The main question is, who is this speaking to us? The answer is Durandal.
: How do I know this? First off, the color of the text is green. Not very
: useful, but at least it narrows down our options a little. Second, and
: more importantly, the image on the login screen:
: Now, this logo could belong to Robert Blake, but this terminal just doesn't
: seem to be in his character. On the other hand, this terminal really
: would be in Durandal's character. So, now that we're assuming it's
: Durandal speaking, it's time to make the 'what if' step.
: Let's look over that last bit of text again, shall we?
: DAMSEL IN DISTRESS. Captured and
: partially-disassembled human-coded AI
: trapped on alien homeworld seeks succor
: from a tall, dark and handsome cyborg with
: big guns. Let my rescue be the basis of a
: lasting relationship. MRa4451 (5/23).
: Notice that I put the phrase "alien homeworld" in italics, because
: that's where the 'what if' comes in. What if the phrase "alien
: homeworld" meant the Vylae planet? Not saying it does, but what if?
: Since this is Durandal speaking, why did he fail to mention the Vylae in
: What About Bob? If you'll recall, Durandal said that Leela was shipped
: off to the Pfhor homeward, but he didn't mention her being grabbed by the
: Vylae. Why? Was there something he was trying to hide from us? I don't
: think so. In fact, I think if he had known about the Vylae capture of
: Leela, he would have been openly gloating about how incompetent the Pfhor
: were.
: My guess is that he didn't know. But, assuming the phrase "alien
: homeworld" means the Vylae planet, he clearly knows about it later
: on. How? The Pfhor network. I believe that while he was 'conveniently
: absent', he secretly accessed the Pfhor network and rummaged through their
: data, learning about the Vylae and, more importantly, the truth about
: Leela in the process. If he was messing with the Pfhor network, that would
: also explain this particular terminal on Requiem For a Cyborg (in other
: words, it helps explain why it's on the Pfhor ship and not down on
: Lh'owon).
: Assuming that he found out about Leela and the Vylae from the Pfhor network
: later on, Tycho must have been lying to Durandal earlier on about
: Leela, or at least leaving out the part about her being captured by the
: Vylae (thus explaining the contradictory statement in What About Bob? ).
: But why? What was he hiding from Durandal? Maybe he was hiding Leela? Or
: maybe he was hiding the Vylae themselves? So many questions, such little
: time. ;)
: I'd like to hear what you all would like to add to this theory, or what
: constructive criticisms you have.
Some of the issues you raise have been raised before on the Leela section. See Chadd Nervig's contribution in particular. Of course we have few answers to these questions. What we do know is that Durandal wasn't interested in rescuing Leela no matter where she ended up.
Cheers
Hamish
