Dr. Rex Lewis | The Doctor (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
nanomitesss) wrote2020-05-28 05:56 pm
nanomitesss) wrote2020-05-28 05:56 pm
Entry tags:
ooc: application [Polychromatic]
[nick / name]: Ros
[personal LJ/DW name]: N/A
[other characters currently played]: N/A
[e-mail]: rosloops at gmail
[AIM / messenger]: pyrocornflakes
[series]: GI Joe: Rise of Cobra
[character]: Dr. Rex Lewis, aka the Doctor, aka Cobra Commander
[character history / background]: WIKI.
[character abilities]: Rex is a mad scientist, and he has all of the skills that entails. He is a scientific super genius, specifically an engineer (neuroengineering is a specialty of his) and programmer. Mainly, he deals with weapons development and nanomite technology, using its extreme versatility to produce a wide range of effects.
And what are nanomites? They're tiny microscopic robots that can be programmed to do all sorts of things, like devour metal/people (particularly useful if you want to erase the "evidence" of a downed operative), alter features/bone structure, heal injuries, CURE DEPRESSION, control minds, eject poison from bloodstreams, shut down certain parts of the brain, encase people's heads in metal. If that makes no sense to you, that's because nanomites are used as a ridiculous plot device within his canon. Rex was able to apply his skills to refine them to what he believes to be perfection, allowing him to create brainwashed soldiers with advanced strength and defenses (such as the aforementioned immunity to poison), along with diminished brain activity. Pain, fear morality, and anything else that would hinder a walking meat shield/soldier have been suppressed through the application of Rex's nanomites.
Given Rex's fondness for human experimentation-- and the fact that he has a combat medical badge on his dress uniform in flashbacks-- Rex has some degree of medical training, so he can administer basic-to-advanced medical care. He knows what it takes to keep his experiments alive through a barrage of physically devastating tests. Also, given the precision and degree of control evident in his nanomites' programming-- how they interact with the brain, the blood stream, etc.-- it's clear that Rex has well beyond the average understanding of the human body.
Despite being a weedy little science nerd, Rex was, at one point, a decorated soldier, so he has seen combat (although wasn't seasoned enough to be comfortable in a combat situation), and he does have experience being out on the field in wartime. As a science officer, he spent most of his time in the lab, but he still received at least basic combat training. He knows his way around a gun, and the one time he holds one in canon, he handles it without hesitation.
From the Joepedia Wiki, here's a (near?) complete listing of Rex's decorations, which give some insight into other skills he may possess (although it's worth noting that the props department might have just stuck all these badges on him to make his uniform look cool, and not to actually point to his real credentials): "When seen in the film wearing his class A blue uniform, Lewis's decorations can be visually identified as the Combat Medical Badge, Parachutist Badge, Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal with bronze star, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, and Army Service Ribbon, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, and Army Superior Unit Award."
[character personality]: Rex changes his identity/persona at the drop of a hat, so who he is, authentically, tends to be buried underneath lies and false demeanors. Even before his accident, Rex's identity had a phony exterior-- a trait that's become more severe as he's lost most of his attachments to humanity and withdrew (unwillingly, to be fair) from the outside world. When he's in one of his personas, Rex is controlled, confident. However, once there are cracks, once somebody tries to reach the real Rex-- whoever that may be-- he can be dramatic, histrionic and completely vicious, lashing out to heap blame on others, so that he can avoid responsibility for his own actions and the pain they might have caused to the people-- well, person-- he cares about. Rex is perfectly willing to change who he is to suit whichever role needs filling at the time, and he will likely be very careful about the image he presents when faced by new people/new situations, until he can come up with a role that will fit in well.
Rex's primary persona in the film, "The Doctor," is gleeful and a bit ridiculous, with elements lifted-- probably unconsciously-- from his colleague and mentor, Dr. Mindbender, along with some beliefs he mimics from McCullen. Basically, once his accident "killed" Rex Lewis, he re-developed his personality to fit his new "Doctor" identity. As the Doctor, he doesn’t speak or act or even move like Rex did-- obviously, the accident had a lot to do with it, but even then, he tends towards the theatrical as the Doctor to such an extent that it appears to be a deliberate act. He's also pretty fabulous and seems to like stroking/fondling/touching things. Later, when he puts on his Cobra Commander mask, his demeanor changes again, and he takes more charge and revels in blatant villainy, where before he was at least somewhat subtle. As the Commander, Rex outright cackles and makes clichéd villain speeches.
Rex once came across as a perfectly nice, if slightly awkward, young man, at least on the surface. In the only flashback removed from a high stress, combat situation, he seems generally friendly and good-natured in the company of others, playful and teasing with his sister (as was his duty as Ana's younger brother), polite and thoughtful with his friends. However, even in these moments where he's smilingly allowing his sister to put him in a headlock and practically baby him in front of Duke, there's something a little off about Rex. He's 'on'-- normal and affable-- when attention is on him, then seems to shut down once the focus is shifted. His sister's own engagement seems to involve Ripcord, who's not even related, more than it does Rex, who stands off to the side awkwardly, making an ambivalent face, like he's trying to smile and keep the performance going, but doesn't feel much of a need to since nobody's watching. What he's actually feeling is a mystery, as his expression is vague. This is the first indication that Rex may not be all that he seems, although it's a subtle one, easy to missand possibly not even deliberate.
Given his age and credentials, it's fair to assume that Rex has probably skipped several grades, graduating from high school and even college without fully developing or maturing emotionally, missing out on many common life experiences that would have helped him become better prepared for the world. He's a case of somebody entrenched in academics, isolated by his projects, his obsessive need to excel and push the boundaries of technology. This likely accounts for part of the reason why he's so undeveloped as a person, why he has to resort to these "characters," rather than act like a genuine person. Rex has never really fit in with his peers, and he wasn't terribly well socialized, hence the awkwardness, the stiffness that's present when he's no longer playing whatever role he thinks he should be playing.
Looking at Rex before his accident and the gleefully sadistic person he became after, it would be easy to think that he's been twisted and embittered by his injuries-- and while that's certainly a factor, it would be a mistake to think that Rex is the way he is solely because of this accident. The truth is, Rex has always had a "dark" side, although he wouldn't classify it as such (after all, science, to him, has no moral qualities). His nice, normal persona cracks pretty quickly when he's out of sight from Duke and the others, confronted with temptation. Rex's passion for science completely overrides what little empathy he might have for others-- and while most people wouldn't know how little he feels for others upon first meeting him, it becomes quite apparent when one throws science into the mix. The reverence Rex gives to science goes beyond what most would consider normal or healthy. When faced with footage of an agonized man being experimented on (along with McCullen's helpful commentary that "science requires sacrifice"), his first response isn't horror, but amazement. He calls it beautiful, rather than awful, and is absolutely excited about what he sees in the potential advancement of nanomite technology. Rex's first and foremost love, even when he was "good," is science, not humanity. This divide between him and humanity only grows after his injury, but it was always present.
Rex has issues with control, which are tied in with his obsession with science/technology. Rather than allow the chips fall where they may, Rex would rather seize control in order to ensure that his own goals are met. This doesn't merely extend to situations or organizations, but also people. Literally. He'll brainwash or "reprogram" people without any remorse or hesitation, with no respect for their own autonomy or sense of self. This willingness to control others extends from his grunts/minions to individuals on more equal footing to him, such as McCullen/Destro and Zartan (although he did fail to inject the latter with his brainwashing nanomites). He has no qualms with betraying others and will do so as soon as it becomes convenient for him. Despite the fact that he and McCullen seem to be on pretty good terms with each other (well, as good as two megalomaniacal supervillains can be) and their goals are pretty similar, he still schemes to stage a coup behind McCullen's back, and he's sadistic enough to devise a particularly poetic method of doing so, although it's worth noting that, in his way, Rex does help McCullen even as he hurts him. The nanomites do heal McCullen's injuries, just not in any way he would have liked. It's a complicated relationship, as Rex likely feels some degree of attachment to him (as McCullen is responsible, in a way, for rescuing him and healing him. Given that he was rescued from certain death by MARS, likely treated and recovered in MARS's custody, isolated from the rest of the world, Rex probably has a small degree of Stockholm Syndrome, which further complicates things), but he's not content to play second fiddle. Even though McCullen's plan was going to allow for Rex to do all of the science and research he wanted, Rex wouldn't be satisfied unless he was the boss. Although Rex pretends to only be concerned with research, it's clear that his ego and his controlling tendencies drive him to desire more.
As Rex is primarily interested in technology, facts and his own ambitions, he doesn't hold much stock in emotions/connections. At least, the emotions of others. Rex, himself, is pretty emotional once he starts to lose control of all that rage he has simmering below the surface, but he's so self centered that he doesn't care about the thoughts, feelings or even autonomy of others. This disconnect from humanity becomes worse after his disfiguring accident, because he deliberately sets himself apart from others. Where once he seemed to care about Duke, he now regards him with loathing (as he's twisted his interpretation of his accident in order to make Duke the "villain") and takes joy in having the opportunity to make him into a monster, rather than kill him. Not only does this reveal some rather happy sadism, as Rex sounds positively gleeful over the prospect of turning Duke into a monster, but it also reveals some of Rex's complications with his own image. Given his paranoia, the way he tends to blame others for his actions, it's likely that he has this idea that others see him as a monster, although he probably doesn't regard himself as one. And so, because he believes that he is regarded as a monster for his appearance, he may as well act like a monster. This further drives Rex to cut himself off from past attachments, and, really, anything and anyone but himself.
Even his sister, whom he claims to love, isn't really given much consideration. Although he could have spared her (and Duke) a great deal of grief by letting Ana know that he survived the explosion, he instead runs off with Dr. Mindbender in pursuit of perfecting nanomite technology. In fact, he regards the funeral service held for him with amusement, indirectly mocking his sister's grief. Still, he does become passionate when he explains his motivations for experimenting on Ana, even though he's ultimately playing a big old victim blaming game and using twisted logic to avoid taking responsibility for his actions. He claims to have brainwashed her for her sake, rather than his. He points out that in light of Duke's abandonment of her and his own 'death,' Ana 'felt truly alone' in a way that Duke could never fathom. In using nanomite technology to rid her of her feelings for Duke, Rex makes Ana empowered: she becomes the Baroness, rather than a passive mess who relies on Duke to do everything (like she pretty much becomes when she overcomes his nanomites. Yaaay). However, by the end of the film, Rex has become so corrupt by his greed for knowledge and power that he does threaten to kill Ana-- but, it's worth noting that although he can kill her with a push of a button, he doesn't push the button.
On a lighter note, Rex isn't all business. He's not an austere, stoic sort of villain. Instead, Rex is a gleeful, enthusiastic fella who takes pleasure in gloating, guffawing, and chortling over his victories. Not just that, but he even takes to explanations and presentations with eagerness and enthusiasm, and he positively eats up compliments from others. He enjoys being respected, having his intelligence recognized. Rex practically preens when McCullen calls him a genius-- again, some indication that he's got a complicated relationship with the other man, simultaneously seeing himself as above him, but also wanting his approval.
He also has a great enthusiasm for snakes and can spout out factoids about them-- in fact, it's implied that not only does he enjoy doing this, but he does it with such regularity that McCullen can't even bring himself to feign interest in whatever Rex is saying when he starts babbling about snakes. Actually, it's probably more of an 'obsession' than an 'enthusiasm,' since, in addition to chatting about snakes, he also keeps dangerous snakes as pets, and he likes to name everything after them, too.
Rex is also, by nature, an inquisitive person, as he's driven to always improve on and push science to the furthest possible levels. On an unrelated note, he holds a grudge forever, and has a particular hatred for anyone who's wronged him ever (it doesn't matter if you actually wronged him or not; if he perceives it that way, he'll keep on trucking with the hate). He's also a huge coward who values self-preservation over everything else.
[point in timeline you're picking your character from]: Towards the end of the film, right before he's about to reveal his identity to Duke.
[journal post]: Have any of you ever truly experienced the act of discovery? The culmination of months, years, decades of work, accumulating data, refining your research, building from theorems, pulling together notes and schematics and blueprints... all in pursuit of that one... perfect moment of payoff.
It's difficult to describe the experience. The anticipation creates a stilled tension that is almost... electric. You push the button, you mix the chemicals, you flip the switch... and you wait. You can hardly speak, hardly remember to breathe. There's never a guarantee, that first time, that anything will happen at all. This is the moment where it could all fall apart.
And then it happens. Relief washes over you.
When the Trinity Test was conducted-- July 16, 1945-- the gathered scientists and soldiers were rendered speechless. Can you imagine? Witnessing a display of such power, controlled and harnessed by man, for the first time? The rise of the mushroom cloud bringing about the "Atomic Age."
At the time, J. Robert Oppenheimer was said to have exclaimed, "It works." Most were speechless. Some laughed, others wept.
What followed, the attempts at articulating the sheer magnitude of what had just been witnessed, a discovery so profound that it would change the course of history... was poetry.
"It was golden, purple, violet, gray, and blue. It lighted every peak, crevasse and ridge of the nearby mountain range with a clarity and beauty that cannot be described but must be seen to be imagined..."
Do you have any idea how it feels, to witness something so beautiful, and to know that you had a hand in its creation? It's greater than any religious experience. It's real.
I wonder what the "deities" will say when they conclude this experiment. When the payoff occurs and they have their profound moment of discovery.
[third person / log sample]:
In the mornings, he looks frail. Small, thin, hairless, hooked to a ventilator. Slowly, he layers up. He's not as quick as he once was, before the "accident," before fire ravaged his body and made him what he is today. Brown eyes fix on themselves in the mirror, and he exchanges one ventilator-- a heavy-duty, bulky model-- for another, sleeker, smaller, designed for everyday convenience. He catches a brief glimpse of his face, virtually unrecognizable from the man he was four years ago. Once upon a time, those cheeks were smooth, almost boyish. He always looked so much younger than he was.
Now look at him. A monster, disfigured beyond recognition. If he were to touch his cheeks, they would be rough from scar tissue-- made worse from the daily friction of the ventilator. He intakes a breath, ragged and wheezing thanks to his ruined lungs, and places the device over his mouth and nose, strapping it on. Instantly, things fit into place, and the mechanical clicks of his breathing fill the silence. That's better. He likes his face better this way.
It isn't that the scars bother him, not anymore. Not after four years. This is his face now, however monstrous it is, and he has to admire the skill, the craftsmanship that went into its reconstruction. His face, rough and flawed, is a work of art.
It's more that the ventilator adds something to his appearance. He's more... complete with it on. Another trace of Rex Lewis is hidden behind the metal.
He stands and moves over to the closet, his movements stiff, as if he's sore from a workout. Every day, his body aches from old injuries, from stiffness in his joints caused by the scar tissue. He slips on his outfit for the day, followed by his coat. Black, like everything he owns, and crisp, giving him a sharp, professional look. The coat adds some extra bulk, allows him to appear a little larger than he actually is. Or, at least, he feels larger when he wears it. It covers his thin frame well. He seems to stand a little straighter when he has it on.
The boots are next, laced up quickly and efficiently. Returning to the dresser, he pulls his gloves on, then takes another glance in the mirror. There's still some frailty showing, still a piece that's missing. He rubs one gloved hand over his hairless head, over the metal plating on the back of his skull, and looks down at the dresser. The wig is the final touch. He places it on his head, brushing lank hair from his eyes, and takes another look in the mirror as he adjusts it for that whole... natural look. As if there's anything natural about his appearance now.
Now he's the Doctor, head of Research and Development at MARS Industries.
He stares in the mirror a little longer. No. No, he still isn't satisfied. It's still not enough. He walks to his desk, to the briefcase sitting on top of it, and he opens it. There sits a mask, reflective, obscuring all but his eyes. Its built-in ventilator even smaller and more efficient than the model he has on now. He tosses the wig aside, replaces the ventilator on his face with the mask and goes to the mirror once more. (Vanity is something of a curse of his.)
There. Gone are the remaining traces of Rex Lewis, the boy-faced scientist who was blown up and left for dead by his own country. He's no longer frail. He stands tall-- well, as tall as he can-- one hand curled behind his back, his shoulders straight. Feared, respected, just as he deserves. He may not have had much of a choice in becoming who he is-- what he is-- but he embraces it. He's earned this through years of pain, the daily aches and misery and, more than that, his ability to survive it all. To persevere and create something beautiful and deadly: Nanomites.
And soon, the entire world will see what he's capable of. They'll know to fear him, respect him, too. In time, the world will tremble beneath him, and he will be so, so much more than Duke, McCullen, and anybody who stands in his way. And they won't see that frail, skinny little creature that he sees every morning. They'll only see this. The Commander.
[personal LJ/DW name]: N/A
[other characters currently played]: N/A
[e-mail]: rosloops at gmail
[AIM / messenger]: pyrocornflakes
[series]: GI Joe: Rise of Cobra
[character]: Dr. Rex Lewis, aka the Doctor, aka Cobra Commander
[character history / background]: WIKI.
[character abilities]: Rex is a mad scientist, and he has all of the skills that entails. He is a scientific super genius, specifically an engineer (neuroengineering is a specialty of his) and programmer. Mainly, he deals with weapons development and nanomite technology, using its extreme versatility to produce a wide range of effects.
And what are nanomites? They're tiny microscopic robots that can be programmed to do all sorts of things, like devour metal/people (particularly useful if you want to erase the "evidence" of a downed operative), alter features/bone structure, heal injuries, CURE DEPRESSION, control minds, eject poison from bloodstreams, shut down certain parts of the brain, encase people's heads in metal. If that makes no sense to you, that's because nanomites are used as a ridiculous plot device within his canon. Rex was able to apply his skills to refine them to what he believes to be perfection, allowing him to create brainwashed soldiers with advanced strength and defenses (such as the aforementioned immunity to poison), along with diminished brain activity. Pain, fear morality, and anything else that would hinder a walking meat shield/soldier have been suppressed through the application of Rex's nanomites.
Given Rex's fondness for human experimentation-- and the fact that he has a combat medical badge on his dress uniform in flashbacks-- Rex has some degree of medical training, so he can administer basic-to-advanced medical care. He knows what it takes to keep his experiments alive through a barrage of physically devastating tests. Also, given the precision and degree of control evident in his nanomites' programming-- how they interact with the brain, the blood stream, etc.-- it's clear that Rex has well beyond the average understanding of the human body.
Despite being a weedy little science nerd, Rex was, at one point, a decorated soldier, so he has seen combat (although wasn't seasoned enough to be comfortable in a combat situation), and he does have experience being out on the field in wartime. As a science officer, he spent most of his time in the lab, but he still received at least basic combat training. He knows his way around a gun, and the one time he holds one in canon, he handles it without hesitation.
From the Joepedia Wiki, here's a (near?) complete listing of Rex's decorations, which give some insight into other skills he may possess (although it's worth noting that the props department might have just stuck all these badges on him to make his uniform look cool, and not to actually point to his real credentials): "When seen in the film wearing his class A blue uniform, Lewis's decorations can be visually identified as the Combat Medical Badge, Parachutist Badge, Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal with bronze star, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, and Army Service Ribbon, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, and Army Superior Unit Award."
[character personality]: Rex changes his identity/persona at the drop of a hat, so who he is, authentically, tends to be buried underneath lies and false demeanors. Even before his accident, Rex's identity had a phony exterior-- a trait that's become more severe as he's lost most of his attachments to humanity and withdrew (unwillingly, to be fair) from the outside world. When he's in one of his personas, Rex is controlled, confident. However, once there are cracks, once somebody tries to reach the real Rex-- whoever that may be-- he can be dramatic, histrionic and completely vicious, lashing out to heap blame on others, so that he can avoid responsibility for his own actions and the pain they might have caused to the people-- well, person-- he cares about. Rex is perfectly willing to change who he is to suit whichever role needs filling at the time, and he will likely be very careful about the image he presents when faced by new people/new situations, until he can come up with a role that will fit in well.
Rex's primary persona in the film, "The Doctor," is gleeful and a bit ridiculous, with elements lifted-- probably unconsciously-- from his colleague and mentor, Dr. Mindbender, along with some beliefs he mimics from McCullen. Basically, once his accident "killed" Rex Lewis, he re-developed his personality to fit his new "Doctor" identity. As the Doctor, he doesn’t speak or act or even move like Rex did-- obviously, the accident had a lot to do with it, but even then, he tends towards the theatrical as the Doctor to such an extent that it appears to be a deliberate act. He's also pretty fabulous and seems to like stroking/fondling/touching things. Later, when he puts on his Cobra Commander mask, his demeanor changes again, and he takes more charge and revels in blatant villainy, where before he was at least somewhat subtle. As the Commander, Rex outright cackles and makes clichéd villain speeches.
Rex once came across as a perfectly nice, if slightly awkward, young man, at least on the surface. In the only flashback removed from a high stress, combat situation, he seems generally friendly and good-natured in the company of others, playful and teasing with his sister (as was his duty as Ana's younger brother), polite and thoughtful with his friends. However, even in these moments where he's smilingly allowing his sister to put him in a headlock and practically baby him in front of Duke, there's something a little off about Rex. He's 'on'-- normal and affable-- when attention is on him, then seems to shut down once the focus is shifted. His sister's own engagement seems to involve Ripcord, who's not even related, more than it does Rex, who stands off to the side awkwardly, making an ambivalent face, like he's trying to smile and keep the performance going, but doesn't feel much of a need to since nobody's watching. What he's actually feeling is a mystery, as his expression is vague. This is the first indication that Rex may not be all that he seems, although it's a subtle one, easy to miss
Given his age and credentials, it's fair to assume that Rex has probably skipped several grades, graduating from high school and even college without fully developing or maturing emotionally, missing out on many common life experiences that would have helped him become better prepared for the world. He's a case of somebody entrenched in academics, isolated by his projects, his obsessive need to excel and push the boundaries of technology. This likely accounts for part of the reason why he's so undeveloped as a person, why he has to resort to these "characters," rather than act like a genuine person. Rex has never really fit in with his peers, and he wasn't terribly well socialized, hence the awkwardness, the stiffness that's present when he's no longer playing whatever role he thinks he should be playing.
Looking at Rex before his accident and the gleefully sadistic person he became after, it would be easy to think that he's been twisted and embittered by his injuries-- and while that's certainly a factor, it would be a mistake to think that Rex is the way he is solely because of this accident. The truth is, Rex has always had a "dark" side, although he wouldn't classify it as such (after all, science, to him, has no moral qualities). His nice, normal persona cracks pretty quickly when he's out of sight from Duke and the others, confronted with temptation. Rex's passion for science completely overrides what little empathy he might have for others-- and while most people wouldn't know how little he feels for others upon first meeting him, it becomes quite apparent when one throws science into the mix. The reverence Rex gives to science goes beyond what most would consider normal or healthy. When faced with footage of an agonized man being experimented on (along with McCullen's helpful commentary that "science requires sacrifice"), his first response isn't horror, but amazement. He calls it beautiful, rather than awful, and is absolutely excited about what he sees in the potential advancement of nanomite technology. Rex's first and foremost love, even when he was "good," is science, not humanity. This divide between him and humanity only grows after his injury, but it was always present.
Rex has issues with control, which are tied in with his obsession with science/technology. Rather than allow the chips fall where they may, Rex would rather seize control in order to ensure that his own goals are met. This doesn't merely extend to situations or organizations, but also people. Literally. He'll brainwash or "reprogram" people without any remorse or hesitation, with no respect for their own autonomy or sense of self. This willingness to control others extends from his grunts/minions to individuals on more equal footing to him, such as McCullen/Destro and Zartan (although he did fail to inject the latter with his brainwashing nanomites). He has no qualms with betraying others and will do so as soon as it becomes convenient for him. Despite the fact that he and McCullen seem to be on pretty good terms with each other (well, as good as two megalomaniacal supervillains can be) and their goals are pretty similar, he still schemes to stage a coup behind McCullen's back, and he's sadistic enough to devise a particularly poetic method of doing so, although it's worth noting that, in his way, Rex does help McCullen even as he hurts him. The nanomites do heal McCullen's injuries, just not in any way he would have liked. It's a complicated relationship, as Rex likely feels some degree of attachment to him (as McCullen is responsible, in a way, for rescuing him and healing him. Given that he was rescued from certain death by MARS, likely treated and recovered in MARS's custody, isolated from the rest of the world, Rex probably has a small degree of Stockholm Syndrome, which further complicates things), but he's not content to play second fiddle. Even though McCullen's plan was going to allow for Rex to do all of the science and research he wanted, Rex wouldn't be satisfied unless he was the boss. Although Rex pretends to only be concerned with research, it's clear that his ego and his controlling tendencies drive him to desire more.
As Rex is primarily interested in technology, facts and his own ambitions, he doesn't hold much stock in emotions/connections. At least, the emotions of others. Rex, himself, is pretty emotional once he starts to lose control of all that rage he has simmering below the surface, but he's so self centered that he doesn't care about the thoughts, feelings or even autonomy of others. This disconnect from humanity becomes worse after his disfiguring accident, because he deliberately sets himself apart from others. Where once he seemed to care about Duke, he now regards him with loathing (as he's twisted his interpretation of his accident in order to make Duke the "villain") and takes joy in having the opportunity to make him into a monster, rather than kill him. Not only does this reveal some rather happy sadism, as Rex sounds positively gleeful over the prospect of turning Duke into a monster, but it also reveals some of Rex's complications with his own image. Given his paranoia, the way he tends to blame others for his actions, it's likely that he has this idea that others see him as a monster, although he probably doesn't regard himself as one. And so, because he believes that he is regarded as a monster for his appearance, he may as well act like a monster. This further drives Rex to cut himself off from past attachments, and, really, anything and anyone but himself.
Even his sister, whom he claims to love, isn't really given much consideration. Although he could have spared her (and Duke) a great deal of grief by letting Ana know that he survived the explosion, he instead runs off with Dr. Mindbender in pursuit of perfecting nanomite technology. In fact, he regards the funeral service held for him with amusement, indirectly mocking his sister's grief. Still, he does become passionate when he explains his motivations for experimenting on Ana, even though he's ultimately playing a big old victim blaming game and using twisted logic to avoid taking responsibility for his actions. He claims to have brainwashed her for her sake, rather than his. He points out that in light of Duke's abandonment of her and his own 'death,' Ana 'felt truly alone' in a way that Duke could never fathom. In using nanomite technology to rid her of her feelings for Duke, Rex makes Ana empowered: she becomes the Baroness, rather than a passive mess who relies on Duke to do everything (like she pretty much becomes when she overcomes his nanomites. Yaaay). However, by the end of the film, Rex has become so corrupt by his greed for knowledge and power that he does threaten to kill Ana-- but, it's worth noting that although he can kill her with a push of a button, he doesn't push the button.
On a lighter note, Rex isn't all business. He's not an austere, stoic sort of villain. Instead, Rex is a gleeful, enthusiastic fella who takes pleasure in gloating, guffawing, and chortling over his victories. Not just that, but he even takes to explanations and presentations with eagerness and enthusiasm, and he positively eats up compliments from others. He enjoys being respected, having his intelligence recognized. Rex practically preens when McCullen calls him a genius-- again, some indication that he's got a complicated relationship with the other man, simultaneously seeing himself as above him, but also wanting his approval.
He also has a great enthusiasm for snakes and can spout out factoids about them-- in fact, it's implied that not only does he enjoy doing this, but he does it with such regularity that McCullen can't even bring himself to feign interest in whatever Rex is saying when he starts babbling about snakes. Actually, it's probably more of an 'obsession' than an 'enthusiasm,' since, in addition to chatting about snakes, he also keeps dangerous snakes as pets, and he likes to name everything after them, too.
Rex is also, by nature, an inquisitive person, as he's driven to always improve on and push science to the furthest possible levels. On an unrelated note, he holds a grudge forever, and has a particular hatred for anyone who's wronged him ever (it doesn't matter if you actually wronged him or not; if he perceives it that way, he'll keep on trucking with the hate). He's also a huge coward who values self-preservation over everything else.
[point in timeline you're picking your character from]: Towards the end of the film, right before he's about to reveal his identity to Duke.
[journal post]: Have any of you ever truly experienced the act of discovery? The culmination of months, years, decades of work, accumulating data, refining your research, building from theorems, pulling together notes and schematics and blueprints... all in pursuit of that one... perfect moment of payoff.
It's difficult to describe the experience. The anticipation creates a stilled tension that is almost... electric. You push the button, you mix the chemicals, you flip the switch... and you wait. You can hardly speak, hardly remember to breathe. There's never a guarantee, that first time, that anything will happen at all. This is the moment where it could all fall apart.
And then it happens. Relief washes over you.
When the Trinity Test was conducted-- July 16, 1945-- the gathered scientists and soldiers were rendered speechless. Can you imagine? Witnessing a display of such power, controlled and harnessed by man, for the first time? The rise of the mushroom cloud bringing about the "Atomic Age."
At the time, J. Robert Oppenheimer was said to have exclaimed, "It works." Most were speechless. Some laughed, others wept.
What followed, the attempts at articulating the sheer magnitude of what had just been witnessed, a discovery so profound that it would change the course of history... was poetry.
"It was golden, purple, violet, gray, and blue. It lighted every peak, crevasse and ridge of the nearby mountain range with a clarity and beauty that cannot be described but must be seen to be imagined..."
Do you have any idea how it feels, to witness something so beautiful, and to know that you had a hand in its creation? It's greater than any religious experience. It's real.
I wonder what the "deities" will say when they conclude this experiment. When the payoff occurs and they have their profound moment of discovery.
[third person / log sample]:
In the mornings, he looks frail. Small, thin, hairless, hooked to a ventilator. Slowly, he layers up. He's not as quick as he once was, before the "accident," before fire ravaged his body and made him what he is today. Brown eyes fix on themselves in the mirror, and he exchanges one ventilator-- a heavy-duty, bulky model-- for another, sleeker, smaller, designed for everyday convenience. He catches a brief glimpse of his face, virtually unrecognizable from the man he was four years ago. Once upon a time, those cheeks were smooth, almost boyish. He always looked so much younger than he was.
Now look at him. A monster, disfigured beyond recognition. If he were to touch his cheeks, they would be rough from scar tissue-- made worse from the daily friction of the ventilator. He intakes a breath, ragged and wheezing thanks to his ruined lungs, and places the device over his mouth and nose, strapping it on. Instantly, things fit into place, and the mechanical clicks of his breathing fill the silence. That's better. He likes his face better this way.
It isn't that the scars bother him, not anymore. Not after four years. This is his face now, however monstrous it is, and he has to admire the skill, the craftsmanship that went into its reconstruction. His face, rough and flawed, is a work of art.
It's more that the ventilator adds something to his appearance. He's more... complete with it on. Another trace of Rex Lewis is hidden behind the metal.
He stands and moves over to the closet, his movements stiff, as if he's sore from a workout. Every day, his body aches from old injuries, from stiffness in his joints caused by the scar tissue. He slips on his outfit for the day, followed by his coat. Black, like everything he owns, and crisp, giving him a sharp, professional look. The coat adds some extra bulk, allows him to appear a little larger than he actually is. Or, at least, he feels larger when he wears it. It covers his thin frame well. He seems to stand a little straighter when he has it on.
The boots are next, laced up quickly and efficiently. Returning to the dresser, he pulls his gloves on, then takes another glance in the mirror. There's still some frailty showing, still a piece that's missing. He rubs one gloved hand over his hairless head, over the metal plating on the back of his skull, and looks down at the dresser. The wig is the final touch. He places it on his head, brushing lank hair from his eyes, and takes another look in the mirror as he adjusts it for that whole... natural look. As if there's anything natural about his appearance now.
Now he's the Doctor, head of Research and Development at MARS Industries.
He stares in the mirror a little longer. No. No, he still isn't satisfied. It's still not enough. He walks to his desk, to the briefcase sitting on top of it, and he opens it. There sits a mask, reflective, obscuring all but his eyes. Its built-in ventilator even smaller and more efficient than the model he has on now. He tosses the wig aside, replaces the ventilator on his face with the mask and goes to the mirror once more. (Vanity is something of a curse of his.)
There. Gone are the remaining traces of Rex Lewis, the boy-faced scientist who was blown up and left for dead by his own country. He's no longer frail. He stands tall-- well, as tall as he can-- one hand curled behind his back, his shoulders straight. Feared, respected, just as he deserves. He may not have had much of a choice in becoming who he is-- what he is-- but he embraces it. He's earned this through years of pain, the daily aches and misery and, more than that, his ability to survive it all. To persevere and create something beautiful and deadly: Nanomites.
And soon, the entire world will see what he's capable of. They'll know to fear him, respect him, too. In time, the world will tremble beneath him, and he will be so, so much more than Duke, McCullen, and anybody who stands in his way. And they won't see that frail, skinny little creature that he sees every morning. They'll only see this. The Commander.