Vinyl and Albert worked carefully together, following the pattern presented by Prometheus' transformation as the Robot Formerly Known as Secret was rebuilt from the ground up. In addition to a primary Bassnium power core which would send energy to all systems for normal functionality, the normal design called for three other power cores in the body, two on the outside of the torso and one in the forehead. The two in the chest would store the self-regenerating reserves of Justice and Evil energy, crafted from the last few samples of each left behind after Duo's departure, which Vinyl had categorically decided not to investigate for reasons of her own. The crystalline core in the forehead was where the two energies would be combined into Ether, before being distributed throughout the entire body.
"So," Albert spoke up as they installed each of the four cores, "do you have a plan for how to keep the two energies from fighting each other when the Ether conversion is initiated? I mean, Prometheus was only able to do it because he had a split personality, and each one was naturally suited to one energy or the other."
"I know," Vinyl replied firmly. "That's why each of these cores is going to have a control program embedded into the Energy itself, designed to be subservient to the primary personality core of the overall entity, but still having its own self-preservation protocols so that the energy will recognize them as separate - if subordinate - entities."
"And you...aren't at all worried about that going horribly wrong?" Albert asked worriedly. "I mean, look at what happened with Duo and that other guy. What if the programs go awry? Or become unduly influenced by the energies they're supposed to control? Or if something happens that causes the cores to vent?"
Vinyl rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "As far as venting, the control programs will be embedded in the energies themselves, self propagating like a virus along with the energy, with one sample acting as the primary guiding force, with the primary purpose being restoring the original body to functionality that can use the energy properly. As long as a catastrophic system failure doesn't necessitate the use of alternate hosts for the energy, it should be fine."
"And if it does?" Albert asked coolly.
Vinyl shrugged her shoulders. "Then we'd better hope it's not the Evil Energy that finds the alternate host, as even with the control program it'll twist them around the dark emotions of Evil Energy. However, with the use of the right control program, I think we can make it tap into pride rather than rage. So that should make it more controllable and less randomly destructive. It'll also keep the full power of it from being tapped."
"I suppose that works as an effective final fail-safe," Albert admitted. "Not exactly a perfect solution, but I suppose it's the best we can do, since there's no way of knowing what might cause these situations. It would have to be a well designed control program, though. After all, we're entrusting the safety of the world to it, since it risks releasing Evil Energy on the world again."
"I'm sure I can trust you to handle it, Dad," Vinyl replied easily.
"You mean you want me to design the control program?" Albert asked, surprised. "I suppose I could-"
"No, I want you to be the control program," Vinyl clarified, shifting to work with a different device. "It's a good thing you're bald on top. It's good for the connectors."
"Wait, what?" Albert demanded, stunned.
"I'm going to take a neural imprint of you, and use it as the basis for the control program for the Evil Energy," Vinyl explained simply. "We want a program that will run on pride, after all, right?"
"Well, I suppose," Albert admitted. "But what about the Justice Energy? What's going to be that control program?"
"Well, I can download that one through my horn, given the number of nerve clusters running through it," Vinyl explained. "Figure it fits we can use ourselves for those programs, and save the same programs to act as guides for this guy when and if he's activated, if needed. Need a database to work from, though..."
"If?" Albert asked, surprised. "We aren't going to activate him as soon as he's completed?"
Vinyl turned and looked her father in the eye. "You saw how much power Prometheus gave off in that brief time he wielded Ether before he burned his new circuits out...and 'burn out' isn't going to happen with this bot. He'll be able to wield Ether for as long as he has the resources to do so, without damaging his internal systems. Do you even want to imagine what the world would be like to require that kind of power in a single robotic entity?"
Wily began to imagine the kinds of threats that would imply, only to shudder violently. "You're right. And having that level of power active would just draw the attention of whatever forces out there that could match it."
"Exactly," Vinyl confirmed. "We're going to build him...but he's not going to be activated unless the world needs him. And when that time comes...it'll be up to him to decide what to do with that power."
"Up to him?" Albert asked, shocked. "Aren't you going to program him with a primary mission? Protocols?"
"Nope," Vinyl countered. "I'll give him everything he needs to control his body and use all his abilities...and then leave it to him to choose his own path...and even his own name." She sighed as she finished the neural scanner. "Honestly...part of me hopes the conditions to activate him are never met..."
Albert gently stroked her mane. "Well, you have plenty of time to determine what those conditions will be. For now...let's finish building him." He turned to the name at the top of the data files they were working from, wondering when - or if - the world would ever be ready for it.
Project Revelation.