Making Freud Look Sane Since 2005

Now, most power-hungry government workers go about this in one of two traditional ways: politics or the army. Sometimes they combine the two, but usually they begin on one side or the other, read: the corrupt politician or the general staging a coup. This is where Serph differs from your average megalomaniac villain. As a man of science, Dr. Sheffield has a slightly different way of looking at the whole "acquiring power" idea. His route to omnipotence will be science, and his vehicle the God Project.

It is his extreme detachment with humanity that allows Serph to remorselessly twist and manipulate those around him, both physically and mentally. He views science as a search for cold, hard realities; it is never a place for sentiment, compassion, or sympathy. To defy its nature is to corrupt it, and corrupt data will never yield profits. And because Serph is gambling for the ultimate prize, there is no room for error in his experiments.

This outlook is a grave affront to Dr. Heat O'Brien, who was appalled by Serph's inhumane treatment of Sera, particularly when Sera blindly believed Serph to be her gallant knight. Their varying outlooks lead to revealing and slightly homoerotic confrontations like the following:

Heat: How long are you going to keep this up? For crying out loud, Serph, she can't even live without that fluid!

Serph: That's why you'll never surpass me. Since when did people start expecting science to be humane? To study the body, you cut it open. To study the mind, you isolate it by crushing the heart. Historically, that's how science has advanced.

The mind is of more importance than the heart; crush it. Knowledge of the body is greater than the body itself; cut it open. Humanity and science are incompatible, and above all, don't come crying to him when you can't get that awesome promotion, Heat.

Serph values cold indifference. He understands, or so he thinks, the inhumanity needed to uncover the truth about God. Thus, we can draw the conclusion that Serph views God himself as just another science experiment -- one that is every bit as rational, unsympathetic, and indifferent as the soulless trade he practices.

Serph is also a master manipulator. He possesses a gentle, sweet facade that might remind one of a big brother or boy-next-door beau. He knows just how to strike Sera's face, just the kind tone to use to keep her dangling after his every word. It is this appearance that fools Sera and so many others into believing Serph is looking out for their best interests.

Meanwhile, he secretly began a relationship with Argilla, the nurse assigned to assist Heat with Sera. He didn't do this just to bug Heat, or even because he liked a good night with a hot chick occasionally; no, he used her devotion to position her as a mole, one completely loyal to him and willing to destroy Heat in his name if the opportunity arose.

It did. That, however, is better left for another section of this shrine.

When Serph triumphs over Heat, he becomes downright smug. As Heat lies dying at his feet, Serph takes his gun and holds it almost mockingly, like he has nothing to fear from Heat or the weapon. He taunts:

Serph: Simple, huh? The human heart is a machine. We can predict the outcome of any action. Considering my goal is God's power... People are just tools.

Regardless, we never did find out what was on Serph's "When I Am God" checklist. No, his happiness at finally acquiring the power of God wasn't to last long...

DUM DUM DUM.

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