Chapter Text
Hyperlaser’s statement, “Don’t think that there’s a lot of traditions or celebrations,” speaks to the idea that Blackrock is more machine-like than a true culture. Blackrock is likely driven by pragmatism, cold efficiency, and militaristic discipline, leaving little room for the camaraderie, rituals, or traditions that would typically define a culture.
This response paints a picture of an organization that doesn’t celebrate its people, their milestones, or even victories. Instead, it reduces individuals to mere tools in pursuit of its objectives, valuing them only as long as they are useful.
This lack of tradition could suggest that Blackrock is fundamentally devoid of humanity in how it operates, and by extension, how it treats its soldiers and workers. Hyperlaser’s description implies that the organization doesn’t see its members as people with lives worth celebrating but rather as expendable resources.
To Hyperlaser, this absence of tradition likely reinforces the sense of alienation and dehumanization he feels, something that contributes to his trauma and emotional detachment.
When Katana asks “How come?” Hyperlaser’s reply, “I mean, what is there to celebrate?” reveals the deep cynicism and emotional weight he carries. This statement isn’t just a reflection of Blackrock’s culture; it’s also an insight into Hyperlaser’s personal mindset.
The question implies that, in Hyperlaser’s experience, Blackrock has not provided anything worth celebrating,no victories that felt meaningful, no relationships that endured, and no real sense of belonging.
His words suggest that Blackrock's environment is one of loss rather than celebration, a place where the consequences of their actions far outweigh any sense of achievement. Hyperlaser’s traumatic experiences, including the loss of friends and comrades, likely color his perception of Blackrock. Even if the organization does have occasional successes, those victories are overshadowed by the personal losses he has endured. In his eyes, any triumph Blackrock might claim is built on the backs of the people it destroys—people like his friends, colleagues, and perhaps even himself.
Hyperlaser’s dismissive comment about the lack of traditions and celebrations hints at a deeper nihilism that has developed within him over time. He no longer believes in the idea of celebration because he sees no point in it.
For Hyperlaser, Blackrock represents a system that consumes its people without giving anything back. The notion of celebrating within such a system is absurd to him because, from his perspective, there’s nothing worth commemorating.
The victories are hollow, and the losses are all too real. His disillusionment with Blackrock runs so deep that he cannot imagine any aspect of the organization being worthy of pride or joy.
This nihilistic outlook may also explain why Hyperlaser continues to work for Blackrock despite all he has lost. He could feel trapped in a cycle of futility, where leaving would mean giving up on whatever small purpose he has left, but staying means continuing to endure the organization’s destructive nature.
His detachment from the idea of celebration reflects his overall emotional detachment, both from Blackrock and possibly from life itself. He may feel that he has become just another cog in Blackrock’s machine, a soldier without a cause, a man without hope for something better.
The phrase “What is there to celebrate?” can also be read as an expression of deep resentment. Hyperlaser’s tone suggests that any potential for celebration has been stolen from him, both by Blackrock’s actions and by the losses he has suffered. He could be harboring anger toward the organization for stripping away the human aspects of life, such as joy, community, and tradition—that might have made his service more bearable.
At the same time, this statement also speaks to Hyperlaser’s growing apathy. After years of trauma and disillusionment, he may have simply stopped caring about the things that once mattered to him. Even if there were traditions or victories to celebrate, he may no longer feel connected enough to engage with them emotionally.
This apathy is likely a defense mechanism, a way for him to cope with the constant loss and betrayal he has experienced. By dismissing the idea of celebration altogether, Hyperlaser protects himself from the disappointment of expecting anything good from Blackrock.
Hyperlaser’s portrayal of Blackrock as an organization without traditions or celebrations is also a reflection of how the faction's culture is inextricably linked to his own trauma. Blackrock’s cold, utilitarian nature mirrors Hyperlaser’s own emotional state—burned, damaged, and emotionally numb. His inability to find anything worth celebrating in Blackrock could indicate that he sees the organization as the root cause of his suffering, a place where joy is systematically erased.
In a way, Hyperlaser’s words suggest that Blackrock’s culture has shaped him, leaving him emotionally desolate and detached. The absence of tradition within Blackrock could symbolize the absence of meaning in his life, a life that has been consumed by war, loss, and service to a faction that doesn’t value him as a person.
The lack of celebration is emblematic of a larger void within both Blackrock and Hyperlaser himself, one that may never be filled as long as he remains tied to the organization.
Katana, having defected from the Church of the True Eye, may find Hyperlaser’s answer unsurprising but still concerning. He knows firsthand what it means to be part of an organization that strips away humanity in the name of higher goals or power, and Hyperlaser’s description of Blackrock likely reminds him of his own experiences.
However, Katana’s defection suggests that he eventually found something worth celebrating outside of the corrupted system, something Hyperlaser has yet to discover or embrace.
Katana may interpret Hyperlaser’s statement as a sign that his friend is still trapped- both physically and emotionally—by Blackrock. Katana, having once freed himself from the grip of a corrupt institution, might believe that Hyperlaser could find meaning and even joy again if he were able to break away from Blackrock. But until Hyperlaser reaches that point, his view of the world, and of Blackrock, will remain devoid of the things that give life color: tradition, celebration, and human connection.
In conclusion
I think Hyperlaser’s response shows his emotional desolation and his view of Blackrock as an organization devoid of humanity. His dismissal of traditions and celebrations speaks to a deeper nihilism, where loss outweighs any sense of victory, and apathy serves as a shield against further disappointment. In Hyperlaser’s eyes, Blackrock offers nothing to celebrate because it has taken too much from him—his friends, his purpose, and perhaps even his sense of self.
Katana’s questions push Hyperlaser to confront this reality, but the conversation ultimately reveals how deeply ingrained his trauma is and how much it continues to shape his worldview.
Blackrock’s culture, or lack thereof, is a reflection of the emotional void within Hyperlaser, and until he can find a way to break free from that, his perception of the world will remain as bleak as the organization that still holds him in its grip.