I'm sure that our questions will be answered come ME3, but a friend of mine and I have a theory:
In Science-fiction, there is this idea on the different stages that life goes through; that we start off organic, then, over the course of thousands of years and technological advancement, we 'transcend' to cybernetics, and finally, after a time, we 'transcend' to become beings of pure energy.
Our theory is that the Reapers were once another organic race like anyone else, but that they were the first to achieve the greatest of technological advancement in the galaxy. That they achieved the cybernetic stage of life, in which they became part organic, and part machine. But they didn't stop there. They wanted to achieve the ultimate transcendence and become beings of pure energy, without form or restraint. Being the most advanced race in the galaxy, they were determined to become gods.
My friend and I's theory goes on to explain that now that the race (which would be known as Reapers) had achieved cybernetics, they continued to build and add on to themselves. And in an attempt to achieve the ultimate unity and 'become one,' they began melding themselves together. And after countless years of building and combining themselves, they became vast living ships. "We are each a nation," (described by Sovereign) and "One will, but many minds," (as described by Legion). This was probably their way of laying down the first foundation stone for the next stage of transcendence--energy. Trying to go beyond the bounds of physical limitations.
This concept (organic to cybernetic, to energy) and also the concept of living ships have been in science-fiction for quite some time.
But the Reapers ran into a dilemma--they could no longer reproduce. But they weren't going to allow such an obstacle get in the way of their 'transcendence." They wouldn't allow their vastness, power, and their entire race die out because of this one obstacle. And I doubt it was an overlooked mistake, they probably felt such sacrifices had to be made for the sake of science and transcendence to the status of "god."
Thus they began their galaxy-wide harvesting of other organic beings in order to build more Reapers and become one step closer to that final stage. They didn't believe what they were doing was wrong; this was for the good science and organic life.
As is stated by Harbinger, "We are the Harbinger of their perfection."
Thus the cycle of extinction began. All for the benefit of the Reapers. But, of course, if they wanted to continue and advance, they had to make sure life could begin anew so that they may continue to harvest. Thus they built the Citadel and the Mass Relays so that life would "...evolve along the paths that [they desired]..." giving the races of the galaxy the tools needed to advance to the appropriate point that they'd be acceptable for harvest and cultivation.
Heck the name "Reaper" itself suggests this. The definition of the word "Reaper" is this:
"One that reaps; esp.: any of various machine for reaping grain."
Using their ability of "indoctrination," (and who knows how they came by this) they brain-washed organic beings into aiding them in the harvesting and building process.
And in doing this "more times then [anyone] can fathom," they have probably forgotten who they are, or were. They probably genuinely believe they are gods and that this is their right. All that is left of them is their large ego.
But though they have been doing this for supposedly billions or trillions of years, they don't seem to be any closer to achieving that final stage of life, but that certainly hasn't stopped them from pressing on anyway.
Anyway, that's my friend and I's theory on the origins of the Reapers.
Modifié par ure7, 12 mars 2010 - 12:54 .
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I like the idea better where they do not originate from our galaxy at all. But they evolved into machines themselves someplace else in the earlier universe. Why do we really need to understand everything about their origins anyway? Sometimes its better when things like this stay a bit of a mystery. And you can't always get the answer to everything in real life anyway.
