Holomatter: Difference between revisions
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Revision as of 17:50, 26 April 2007
Holomatter makes its appearance in the Transformers: Infiltration comic series. It is used by the Autobots infiltrating Earth to create fake drivers for their alternate forms so as not to arouse suspicion among the human populace.
The Autobot Ratchet mentions "holomatter generators".[1] These are presumably a network of power and / or projection systems scattered across his chassis. These devices are small enough to fit within a standard Transformer and, aside from the image of the fake driver they project, give off no visual or auditory emissions. The generators operate like a highly-advanced holographic projector; they are capable of creating an image a considerable distance away from the Autobot they are installed within. The image is projected not only through the Autobot's skin (holomatter drivers have appeared both within and outside their Autobots, as far distant as several metres[2]) but also through solid walls[3] and even tens, possibly hundreds, of metres of intervening ground.[4]
Two features of holomatter images separate them from "run of the mill" holographic technology, though. The first is that holomatter projections are actually solid. Although the actual strength of a holomatter avatar is yet to be established, Ratchet's handling of the SM-40 in Infiltration Issue 3 indicates that they can carry and manipulate small objects with ease. The holomatter avatar isn't just a friendly image to fool human beings; it's also the Autobot equivalent of a remotely operated vehicle, allwing Autobots to go places and perform actions that would otherwise be prevented by their size (and need to camouflage their true identities).
The second feature is potentially more interesting, though: A holomatter avatar projection somehow houses the consciousness of its generating Autobot, effectively making what would otherwise be a "simple" projection a direct extension of the Autobot's will. In a way, the avatar becomes part of the Autobot.
Overload jolt
In emergencies, a holomatter avatar can be used to deliver a massive electrical surge at very close range. This surge is powerful enough to momentarily disrupt the systems of a single Transformer, enough to cause disorientation and possibly unconsciousness for at least ten seconds. The cost of this surge is the holomatter generators themselves; whether an Autobot's internal systems will repair the damage given time [5] or whether repair facilities are required is unknown; both the general pacing of the Infiltration series and the absence of any "repair" scenes in the comics suggest the former.
Limitations and weaknesses
One apparent problem with holomatter disguises is that they're limited by their programer's understanding of the lifeform they mimic. For most of their early time on Earth the holomatter avatars of the Autobots wore a "creepy-fixed-smile"[6]; although Ratchet's avatar's upper face expressed worry, fear and resignation (and its eyes closed) during the Autobot's initial interactions with Hunter, Jimmy and Verity, its smile never disappeared. This lack of understanding may account for why otherwise male-seeming Autobots (for example, Bumblebee and Sunstreaker) have selected female avatars forthemselves. The question of if the Autobots can alter their voices to suit hasn't been answered yet.
After Optimus Prime arrived on Earth, Hunter was able to give the Autobots a "crash course in Earth culture" prior to his departure (Jazz noted that the Autobots never realised that humans found the smiles of their avatars disturbing). After this, the Autobots' holomatter avatars became much more expressive.
Finally, the unique transferral of consciousness to the avatar has risks; if not shut down in time, damage to the avatar can backlash along its link, causing pain to its Autobot.[7]
Holomatter can be detected by devices called "holomatter readers", which The Machination appears to possess.[8]
Known Avatars
- Ratchet - Blond middle-aged, sightly hefty white male. Wears EMT uniform (without jacket).
- Bumblebee - Blonde and smokin' white female in baby-doll tee.
- Wheeljack - Balding "scientist-type" older white male w/ white hair, glasses, goatee.
- Jazz - Young black male with slight soul patch in a black suit.
- Sunstreaker - Blonde female (strangely ressembling Bumblebee's avatar.
- Ironhide - Older "military brass-type" white male with silver hair and mustache in a gray suit.
- Prowl - "Federal agent"-type: Red hair, receding hairline, middle-aged white male with dark sunglasses and a gray suit.
- Optimus Prime - Bearded trucker, well built, with white or blue shirt and baseball cap.
- Ultra Magnus - Nebulan scientist/security guard.
