A Beacon in a Sea of Ignorance

A documentation of scientific advancements in the fields of robotics and arcana.

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Before I start, I need to mention you have a knack for acting. OOC idea for you; Starline is a great character, but it would make more sense from a roleplaying standpoint where after the doctor unfortunately was crushed, someone else hijacked the website for themselves. An obvious option would be surge and Kit rummaging through old files, using this as an outlet to talk about how they feel. Mimic the Octopus could make a return as he's already hijacked it once. Perhaps even clutch the opposum!

(ooc)

... that. is something I had not considered! But it's definitely got potential as a jumping off point, especially if I wanted to do another in depth character study.

Clever idea. I like it. ;3c

❄ Snow

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Hello, writer behind the Doctor!

First of all, I love your work and the way you write Dr. Starline! I was always looking forward to the next update of our favorite guy's evil schemes.

May I ask, is it okay to draw anything (comic, ilustration) based on the Progress Logs?

I don't post my art often, so it's probably for personal enjoyment. If I ever do post or share it with friends, it will be of course with the proper credits to both the blog and your main.

It's totally fine if not, I absolutely respect that and that's why I wanted to make sure!

(ooc)

Oh my gosh yes of course! The major beats technically aren't even mine after all lol, they're all the brilliant work of the people behind the comics!

All the same I appreciate you asking, thank you!

❄ Snow

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To whoever is behind Starlines voice- I stumbled upon this blog by accident and OH MY GOODNESS!! I absolutely LOVE what you're doing here, the behind the scenes when we didn't see him in IDW.. and his inner thoughts when we did. PLUS the writing is so in character?? What you're doing here is great. Just wanted to let you know

(ooc)

I CAN FINALLY ANSWER THIS ASK I DID NOT want to break character during the story!!

Thank you thank you thank you! It's been so fun and an absolute treat to see the reception this thing has gotten! It means a lot!! :D

I hope you enjoyed the ride!!

❄ Snow

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(ooc)

Ahhhhhhh okay - Couple of things!!

First and foremost, my name is Snow (@snowpearart), and I've been a huge fan of Starline ever since earlyyy 2023? Around then. Something like this was inevitable.

Second thing would be thank you all for reading?! This has been so much fun to work on and queue up (thank u queue function for posting at 3am so I don't actually have to stay up that late! =u=), and reading and replying to the asks has been so fun and entirely worth this whole endeavour.

Third would be a bit of background? Why this. Back in late summer 2023, I wanted to do something with Starline, and landed on an ask blog. I like a good story, and while an ask blog would be fun, I did want to have some sort of arc in mind, and since I usually have difficulty keeping up with writing (I cannot write fics!), I picked a story that already has a beginning, middle and end, but from his POV.

The info-gathering process beforehand (and during in some cases! I'm looking at you, Imposter Syndrome) was a bit of an undertaking, having to reread arcs, study panels, keep documents of timelines and track character motivations. It included a lot of working backwards. I am bad at reading comics. But it was fun! It's been so rewarding to study this character and understand what makes him tick. I'm normal about him <3

Lastly is... where to go from here! I currently have three options:

do nothing lol. Let the blog sit as a standalone cool thing I did.

turn it into a regular Starline ask blog! This allows me to still play in character without too much work or time commitment (I am very busy).

write a new arc. Through RP I've gotten several ideas that I could run with, and if anyone knows me or peeks at my art blog, they'll see where I would want to take the story next.

wait until the very very very small off chance that Starline returns to IDW and write that from his perspective -

I'm currently leaning more toward 1 and 2. Ideally I would like pursue 3, but it seems very unlikely at the moment. Still! I would like to hear what y'all think. We should make a fan club -

Once again, thank you all so much for reading and going through this story with me one more time! <3

Until next time,

❄ Snow

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Progress Log 62

This is how one ushers in a glorious new era. 

Eggperial City is mine. I’ve gained total control over every Badnik on the Eggnet. Sonic is headed straight for his demise at the hands of Surge and Kit, and the Doctor is on his way to me. 

I’ll show him everything that I’ve accomplished. Without him.  

While I await the arrival of my ‘guests’, I’ll provide you all with a little anecdote.  

A while ago, I'd mentioned the Doctor's rather impressive miniatures collection, a series of Zombot figures that he’d made and displayed within Egg Base Alpha. I’d been confused as to why I’d been there too, amongst all the others. 

I was too blind to read the writing on the wall for what it was at the time. I was so… naive to think that he would ever consider me his equal. Or perhaps I knew, but I refused to look the truth in the face, as so much of who I was had been built around him. 

But so much has changed. I've grown, and I won't be so cruel. I will extend a hand instead of tossing him aside, showing him the mistake he made in underestimating me. I won't do what he did to me. No - I will be better. I will make him see the light, see the error of his ways. And in the end, once he realises the vicious cycle he trapped himself in, who will be there to thank for everything? Why, he'll have no choice but to kneel to me. 

And to you… to those who have followed me with the same devotion that I once showed the dear Doctor: I may find some use for you yet. Provided you are deemed worthy enough to escape imprisonment at best and total eradication at worst. 

All the same: I welcome you to my new Empire.

Sincerely and forever yours,

⭐️ Doctor Starline

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Progress Log 61

I’ve finished briefing Surge and Kit on their primary mission. I don’t… recall informing them on how they came to be, how I created them, but I did stay up far too late completing the details of our takeover last night. The entire night is a blur, to be honest. Mildly concerning, if I’m pushing myself to exhaustion like that. 

At least we’ve crossed that bridge. I’m hoping their lax response to the truth will nip the memory loops in the bud and I won’t have to concern myself with them again. Perfect timing, as well. 

This headache is irritating… perhaps I’ll rest for the remainder of the day. I want to be in top form when we strike tomorrow. 

Sincerely yours,

⭐️ Doctor Starline

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Progress Log 60

I had nothing to be worried about!

Surge and Kit performed exactly as expected, and the override program worked flawlessly - the takeover of Egg Base Alpha was completed without setting off a single alarm!

We are moving into the final phase as soon as possible! I’ve finished double-checking the security, making sure that the coding is cleaned up and we’ve left no trace of our takeover here. All eyes are set on Eggperial City. I simply need to bait the trap…

Sincerely yours,

⭐️ Doctor Starline

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Progress Log 59

Anxiety and I have rarely been bedfellows. I've never had much reason for it. Any sense of hesitation was duly and quickly dealt with by double-checking work and locking down preparations. I like to be prepared. My plans were brought to fruition with hard work and accounting for every variable. 

And likewise - I’ve planted everything in place. Dotted all the ‘i’s and crossed every ‘t’. Tonight, there is no going back. If this fails, if my bypass algorithm trips one single alarm within the targeted Egg Base, all signs will point to me and my work. I cannot have that. It will be over before it begins.

The anxiety lingers. 

I wonder, perhaps, if it is because of the personal risk. This is not for the Doctor anymore, and I’ve no one to shift the blame onto this time should it go up in flames. No one but myself. 

I am proving myself, I believe truly, for the first time.

I must try to relax before I begin pacing the halls. I’ve gone over every detail again and again. I am sure of my success. It’s just within my grasp. 

Sincerely yours,

⭐️ Doctor Starline

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Progress Log 58

It is so very difficult to not be disappointed. 

The results of their first field test have returned, and… suffice it to say, the perseverance of Sonic's allies is regrettably admirable. While the Doctor's own ego continues to undermine him at every turn, there was some truth to my initial hypothesis: the enemy cannot be underestimated. It may be too late to hinder Sonic at this point: unfortunately, we will be dealing with him running (pardon the pun) on all cylinders.

As well, targeting any potential countermeasures became a moot point. The security was too tight and time too short to get in without detection. 

Frustrating. Absolutely frustrating!

At least the power outage in the Central City grid still remains unexplained. I will give credit where credit is due to Surge. I'll press onwards. 

Speaking of Surge… we had a worrisome incident while we were reviewing the test results. 

Surge and Kit have begun to lapse into memory loops. As in, when certain questions arise, they begin to wonder just why those questions are asked in the first place. Troublesome things, such as ‘why are we here', ‘what're we doing this for’, and ‘why do we want this’. The combination of psychological trauma from aggressive training and the repeated use of hypnosis is showing cracks in the form of a frail sense of self, a thin veneer of personhood covering an empty shell. 

Terribly inconvenient. I may need to tighten up their motivations and get back into their programming to move some things around. A backstory, or some false memory, may need to be implanted to prop up the goals I've given them. 

We are so close however. They continue to be stable enough for use, and tweaking can happen in my downtime - after I’m comfortably settled at the top of the world. 

Sincerely yours,

⭐️ Doctor Starline

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Progress Log 57

I will be joining Surge and Kit today on another test run, which should be simple enough: I want them to remain undetected in broad daylight. I have no concerns about Surge being quick enough to wreak havoc without a trace, but I am mildly worried about her leaving Kit behind (a trait she has already exhibited more than once). 

But while they are preoccupied, I must once again cover my tracks. Gathering the information I needed from Belle suggests that certain parties could be investigating my own motives and preparing countermeasures. This must be accounted for. It should be relatively simple to break in and erase all (if any!) information gathered up to this point. 

Some may call it paranoia. I call it ensuring my success.

Sincerely yours,

⭐️ Doctor Starline

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Apart from Sonic himself, do you believe any of his close friends are capable of mounting any coordinated resistance against you or the doctor should he suddenly be removed from the equation? Or do you think that they'll fracture into smaller groups the moment Blue Blur is not there to guide them?

Sonic's friends have proven time and again that they are frustratingly reliable and resilient. It's difficult to predict the outcome without first examining extenuating circumstances, which of course offers endless possibility in terms of a hypothetical. Is he simply gone, or has something tragic happened? Is he out of commission, or is he intentionally laying low?

I would need more specifics, but in the end, my answer will always remain the same: stay flexible, be willing to adapt to changing factors, and plan ahead accordingly.

(That being said, I believe a coordinated effort would be most likely. Amy Rose has proven to be a commendable adversary when the cards are down, with an almost supernatural ability to rally those at her disposal. She is a people person, through and through.)

Sincerely yours,

⭐️ Doctor Starline

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Progress Log 56

They've returned. 

(Thank Gaia.)

It is terribly late, but it sounds like a job well done. It will take some time to evaluate the damage, but until then, it is business as usual. Keeping the momentum up is a must. 

Sincerely yours,

⭐️ Doctor Starline

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Progress Log 55

And they're off. 

I find myself restless in my control room as the sun inches closer toward the horizon. And what better way to calm the nerves than to write a little? 

I'm sure you must be aware by now of the countless hours I've put into those two. Any major catastrophe could set us back to the very beginning. I would rebuild, of course, but I've set it in mind that I'm close to the finish line. 

We're so far ahead of schedule that I find myself shocked at the countdown. The final step of bearing down on the Doctor's burgeoning capital city draws ever nearer, and I will find myself seated on the throne of the Empire within two weeks. 

It's exciting. It's terrifying. It is everything I deserve, everything I've worked so hard for. 

I feel a cup of tea and continued coding may be in order. I do need to tighten up my bypass algorithm in preparation for the takeover…

Sincerely yours,

⭐️ Doctor Starline

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Progress Log 54

I must admit, while things are going smoothly, I am troubled by uncertainty. 

Surge has developed fully into her programming. My only concern is also her greatest strength: her sheer force of will is as inscrutable as a hurricane. She's demanding, and as such, I need to stay one step ahead of her to keep her in check. 

Which is no problem, of course. Both subjects are highly susceptible to suggestion once they wake from their hypnosis. 

Tomorrow I will be sending them out for their first real field test. No barriers, no observation within the confines of Sigma. They will truly be off leash.

… I feel as apprehensive as I was leaving them alone on my trip to White Park. I worry about whether or not they will come back. The unquestioning loyalty and the lack of direction I've programmed in, paired with the inability to understand or function within the real world, will give them plenty of reason to return to me. 

How in the world does Zavok trust his pack to behave according to that loyalty? He makes a fine point: the chaotic, unpredictable nature of a thinking person is just what I need to utilise in terms of ingenuity when backs are against the wall. But at the same time, that unpredictability means that they could simply... refuse. Turn on you. Up and walk away. We have both seen it. We have both done it. There is comfort in a mindless machine. It is unflappable. It will always come back. 

Surge's brashness and contradictory nature is a microcosm of my global dominion. The irony is not lost on me. The very thing I need to utilise for success could just as easily rip everything apart at the seams. I don't like the uncertainty. It goes against everything I’ve believed in up to this point. 

Just because I may need to learn this lesson doesn't mean I have to like it!

Sincerely yours,

⭐️ Doctor Starline

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Progress Log 53

That was gruesome. 

I hadn’t meant for them to be tested quite like this so early on. I shall spare you the details, but suffice it to say that Surge bounced back from being caught in between the jaws of a reinforced sliding door. Kitsunami had seen the entire thing, and when his sobs threatened to overwhelm him into hyperventilation, I figured that erasing that particular memory may be more beneficial in the long run. 

Pity. I was hoping that Surge's misfortune with the sliding door would’ve motivated Kitsunami to perform better, rather than not at all. 

A slight setback, but they were ready to run the course again once I’d removed Surge's fear response of the sliding door. 

The trauma apparently still lives deep within the subconscious, however. Surge was prepared for the sliding door this time. The course was passed within the hour, and I dismissed them early. I want to give Surge more time to heal, just in case. I don’t want any permanent breaks before deployment.

Sincerely yours,

⭐️ Doctor Starline

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Progress Log 52

They’re coming along beautifully already. 

The first test was an utter success. It was simple, taking out a few Badniks I’d been meaning to scrap anyway, but they’d passed with flying colours. Surge showed the degree of bravado I’d been hoping for, heckling me for more, but I insisted that they’d both done well and they should rest up. Kitsunami is obedient, and follows along without question. 

More tomorrow! I am looking forward to an early dinner and a long, hot bath - my own reward for a job well done thus far.

Sincerely yours, 

⭐️ Doctor Starline

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Progress Log 51

This feels better.

This feels like progress. 

There is less resistance in both subjects. Surge still requires a reboot on occasion, but it is far less frequent than before. 

I am confident enough in their program stability to let them roam free. I’d written in a willingness to stay within the confines of Sigma for the time being, ensured there were no glitches for wanderlust, and most importantly, eradicated the question as to why they’re here in the first place. 

And it is working! They stay close, with Surge taking half an hour or so to explore the premises before returning to her quarters, Kitsunami in tow. I promised them training tomorrow, a chance to prove themselves. 

And at long last, a chance for me to test their resilience. 

Sincerely yours, 

⭐️ Doctor Starline