User blog comment:Cackling Shadow/How long have they REALLY been here?/@comment-5656020-20130114063428/@comment-34954086-20130114082136

No prob CS, I disagreed with the idea at first, but the more I think about it, the more it makes sense (in parts). I mean, it's not even speculation that they've been on Earth from ancient times because of the ruins under bialya (and although the scarab is rather iconic imagery in several middle eastern civilsations, it's way too contrived to just be a coincidence.).

Going along with your idea that they were behind the light (which I'm far less sold on), I think we can actually get some motivations from the members of the Light to follow/work with the Reach.


 * Vandal: The Scarab is related to the rolling of the sun across the sky. Vandal has always had his sights to the stars, it sort of fits. You can also take it's afterlife-immmortality meanings I guess.
 * Ra's: Scarab's are associated with Resurrection. Ra's is a wisened middle eastern seer turned bioterrorist with a knack for resurrection. It may be of interest to him considering the perplexities of the Lazarus Pits, in particular the death of his wife.
 * Lex: The release of one's true potential, iconic from how they grow wings upon "resurrection". Considering the way he talked to Arsenal about his true greatest weapon, I think it's a fair guess that self actualisation is a decent goal for him.
 * Klarion: I also recall something about plagues of scarabs (distinct from Locusts) but am unable to find confirmation on this. Plagues are pretty chaotic, Klarion isn't a genius, Pretty much any of the others would pretty easily be able to convince him that the Scarabs are a omen of great disasters (hmm...)
 * Water Guys: Well, Black Manta was all about the protection of his African heritage in comics, Protection (armor) is one of the iconic natures of the scarab. Ocean Master, I suppose wants the same thing, protection of Atlantean Pure Bloodlines.
 * Brain: The scarab is a protector of information and secrets of the dead. A guardian of knowledge. Considering how Brain transferred his body from a frail body (dying in comics, probably the same here) to preserve his brain in mecha jar, his knowledge, it's a decent parallel.
 * Queen Bee: See, this is an interesting one BUT it has Precedent. Star Gate, a work Greg has built upon, often had races of aliens controlling humans, particularly early cultures, were controlled badly by these Aliens by claiming to be Gods and Goddesses, having the tech to support the claims. Queen Bee appears to be very interested in her nation, particularly utilising it's supposed history to influence policy. Now, if she discovered evidence of the Reach being worshipped (ie. in a Temple) by their ancestors, it seems like something she'd use to further control her people, whose civilians' aren't exactly in total support of her rule.