Thread:Shrev64/@comment-3244796-20131217080609/@comment-3244796-20131218021031

This theory ties in with another theory I have, so if it seems like I'm digressing, I'm really not.

Anyway, here is what we know:

1. Bryner Noggin's name appears on the blueprints to Le Paradox's blimp.

2. Bryner apparently wrote that Clockwerk may have had something to do with Le Paradox's scheme, but, as we know, they had nothing to do with each other.

3. A Bryner is mentioned by one of the Cyborg Wolves in the mission Shopping Spree as Sly gets clues regarding the Shoemaker's Shop. This Bryner is implied to be one of the Cyborg Wolves.

What I theorize:

Bryner was most likely conducting an investigation on Le Paradox, using the sewers as a base of operations, hence why there was a computer down there. Chances are, he managed to hack his way into Le Paradox's database and security systems, which is why Bentley hacked into the computer easily, as someone clearly beat him to it, but didn't turn off the security systems. However, Bryner may have also stumbled upon plans regarding Clockwerk. However, as we know, Le Paradox had nothing to do with Clockwerk in any way, so the plans that he may have stumbled upon may have been Penelope's, but more on that later.

Anyway, in spite of Bryner's secrecy, he was most likely caught sometime before Sly and the gang intervened, most likely far away from his HQ, as the Rat Troopers seem to have just found his computer, the same one Bentley hacks in the tutorial mission. In nearly every mission they appear in, the Rat Troopers almost never slack off. The two Rat Troopers near the computer are an exception to this, as they are looking away from where Bentley is coming from rather then guarding the entrance to Bryner's hideout. If the rats knew there was something important, security would've been tighter in that area, with more rat troopers guarding the computer. Instead, there are only two rats, and they are both looking toward the computer. If they were supposed to protect the computer, then why were they looking toward it instead of away from it, where an intruder could attempt to use it? It's because they just found it, and they didn't quite know what to make of it themselves. And because the computer was linked to Le Paradox's, and by extension, the Museum's, database, Bentley was able to use it to hack the database. We know he ignored the blueprints because of how surprised he was when he saw Le Paradox's blimp for the first time. He wouldn't have reacted that way if he did.

Anyway, Bryner was most likely dealt with by Penelope. As a result, he was sent to Medieval England to be used as one of the Cyborg Wolves, and he may have been conditioned to behave more compliantly. We, the players, don't know the full process of how the wolves are manufactured. We only see so much of the assembly line. However, the fact that each of the wolves seem to have normal names means that they are most likely cyborgs, having had their brains removed and placed inside of mechanical bodies. But where is Penelope getting these kinds of resources? From people, of course. But not just anyone. It would seems that the initial wave of soldiers Sir Galleth battled before his capture may have been made from Le Paradox's Rat Troopers. However, after her takeover, some of the Rooftop Guards may have either been forced against their will or simply volunteered to become cyborgs, which explains why some of them had kids, as they were alive during that era to have them in the first place.

But what was it that Bryner Noggin was onto? Well, in spite of being wrong about Le Paradox, Penelope's role involving Clockwerk has just become more obvious. What Bryner found was Penelope's plans, not Le Paradox's. You see, Clockwerk had a lot of technology. However, Clockwerk was seemingly alive at a time that wouldn't have allowed his technology to exist when he got his body. He would've had to have been a genius to come up with all of those inventions. And given all of the advanced technology found in Bentley and Penelope's lab, it's fairly obvious that they were the only two people smart enough to build him, as Sir Raleigh was in jail and was never smart enough to create robots, Arpeggio is dead, and Dr. M mostly specialized in genetics and bio-mechanical engineering, and he is also dead if I recall correctly. And considering that Bentley and Penelope are the only two people smart enough to build all of this advanced technology, it's pretty obvious where this is going. The following paragraph also explains Penelope's actions in the fourth game, so we're dealing with serious speculation.

Penelope and Bentley both watched over the Thevius Raccoonus. It would seem logical that they both would research its contents. Considering the facts that Clockwerk was mentioned in the Thevius Raccoonus AND that Bentley knew about Clockwerk personally, we now have a motive for Penelope's "betrayal". You see, my guess is that Penelope knew that she and Bentley were the only two people smart enough to make something like the Clockwerk Frame. Considering all of the technology he had, it must've become obvious to Penelope that Clockwerk couldn't have gotten it naturally, and this, coupled with Bentley's time machine plans, made her realize that Bentley held the key to Clockwerk's origins. And so, she devised a plan to make sure Bentley didn't have to make the decision of building Clockwerk. She would make that choice for him, and build Clockwerk as we gamers know him herself. Thus, she hijacked Bentley's time machine plans and used Le Paradox to feign her betrayal. Bryner Noggin had discovered her plans believing that they were Le Paradox's, so if he talked about the plan, Penelope's agenda would be revealed, hence why he was removed from the picture.

Penelope's world conquest scheme seemed way out of character, and it ticked off plenty of people. But what if I told you that Penelope's face-heel-turn may not have been the result of bad writing? It's clear from the ending of Thieves in Time that Penelope's role in the games is about to get expanded upon, and there's no doubt that it will be in a major way. The postcards, her breaking out of prison and her role in making the Time Machines are proof enough. We must also consider the fact that Penelope knows the Cooper Gang well, having been a member once. As a result, she would know their strengths and weaknesses, and if she truly wanted to get rid of Sly, all of his flaws would have been greatly exploited, and the same applies to everyone else, too. Penelope would be smart enough to take down the whole gang on her own through her knowledge of them alone. Instead, she seemingly made her plans easier to sabotage instead, such as randomly walking about with Sir Galleth's cane, as if she wanted Sly to take it. To make her "betrayal" more convincing, she pretended to act like a sadist and even placed Galleth in a circus to make her seem more evil than she actually was. It seemed like her every action was purposefully contradictory and nonsensical. That way, no one would have a problem with what she was about to do, and she used Le Paradox's plan as a cover for her own goals. In short, Penelope WANTED Sly and co. to defeat her in England. After all, only an idiot would create holes in a forcefield, and Penelope is no fool. This is why she quickly got out of prison, thereby allowing her to carry on with the plan without any love interest or friends to hold her back.

Would Penelope try to become Clockwerk? Perhaps. However, she most likely heard about what happened to Clockwerk, so she most likely knew that Clockwerk would be defeated by the Cooper Gang. Given her mindset in the fourth game, being defeated by Sly would be the last thing Penelope would ever want. That is, unless she knew that someone had to take the plunge. Clockwerk obviously encountered the other ancestors, as they, according to him, always managed to defeat him. This leads to one of two conclusions:

1. Penelope becomes Clockwerk and uses the Hate Chip to keep herself hating Sly and his ancestors.

2. Penelope finds Clockwerk while he is organic and creates his metal body for him.

I'd like to think it is number two, as it would make more sense given what we've seen in the previous games.

Also, take a look at the cyborg wolves and Clockwerk. Do you see any similarities? You should. Facially, they have similar aesthetics, such as yellow eyes that glimmer with a strange light quite different from normal lights, and both are mechanical as opposed to cybernetic. They also have large eyebrows, making them look even more similar, and all of this shows that their aesthetics are too similar to ignore any longer. Clockwerk is who instantly comes to mind when I think of and see the cyborg wolves. It's almost as if the same person built them, or had a hand in building them.

Oh, and one last thing. Seeing as Penelope helped make the blimp, do you really think she didn't know what would become of the ancestors' canes? She practically wanted Sly and the others to get them back.

Please discuss the theory, if you wish. If there are any holes in this theory, point them out. Thanks for reading it, and I hope it got you thinking.