The Puzzle of Baxter and the Alien Computer
By Lucky_Ladybug
One of the puzzles among 1987 Baxter fans is, What is the nature of his relationship with the mysterious alien computer? Are they friends or is the computer using the mentally degrading, cross-fused Baxter for its/his own purposes?
I have named the computer Vincent, since no name is spoken in canon. However, the name Z seems to be behind-the-scenes official information, something I only learned long after I started saying Vincent. Since I will be examining canon and not my own verse, perhaps I should call him Z here.
Baxter first meets Z in Bye, Bye, Fly, when he uncovers the crashed spaceship underground. Z wants to be friends, as he is lonely after three centuries of being stranded on Earth with no one to talk to. He asks how he can help Baxter and is told of Baxter's desire for revenge against those who have hurt him. Throughout this and their other adventures together, Z continues to help Baxter to this end, also attempting to take over Channel 6 and the Technodrome along the way.
It's fairly easy to determine Baxter's feelings for Z. But Z is a highly mysterious being and his feelings aren't as transparent. Since Z is a computer, one logical question that arises is how much is he responsible for his actions and how much, if any, is simply programmed into him?
In Bye, Bye, Fly more than the other two episodes, Z behaves in a slightly more "computerish" manner, asking "How may I help you?" and seeming much more reserved and detached. At the same time, even here he displays more human behavior, expressing his loneliness and his desire to have a friend. He later tells the Turtles that he likes Baxter.
Beginning in Son of Return of the Fly II, Z's personality is different in some ways. His voice is deeper, he behaves much more familiarly with Baxter, and he has taken on a leadership role. They have been stranded in dimensional limbo for some time now and have had plenty of time to get to know each other. Perhaps, like many humans, Z was more reserved with Baxter at first because they didn't really know each other yet. As time went on, they grew closer and Z began to show more of his true self.
Baxter must have talked a great deal to Z during this time. Z knew nothing of Channel 6 in Bye, Bye, Fly, for example, but by Son of Return of the Fly II he knows all about it and those involved. He could only know this from Baxter. There wasn't much else to do but look for a way out and talk, since as Baxter said, the dimensional limbo is "So much nothing!" Z probably knows everything about Baxter, or at least, as much as the poor thing can remember to talk about.
Baxter's mental state has been degrading ever since the cross-fusion first happened, but by season 4 it is far worse. He can barely remember things for five minutes, even important things like Shredder's name. And he is constantly being distracted by thoughts of food. This may not be only from the fly's mind, but from starvation. The dimensional limbo doesn't seem to be overflowing with edible things. And especially when he grabs a piece of technology and desperately hopes it's something good to eat, he comes across as being absolutely starved. It isn't funny and is instead heartbreaking.
Z is the one constant in Baxter's life, reminding him of things he had forgotten, calling him "Pal" and "Buddy," and delivering a steady stream of encouragement, telling Baxter how smart he is and what good ideas he has. But it is actually Z and not Baxter who is coming up with the ideas, albeit prompted by Baxter's behavior. He does not appear to be blindly adoring Baxter with these comments; he clearly shows that he is aware Baxter is falling apart, especially when he reacts to Baxter not even being able to remember Shredder's name. And he is certainly aware that he is the one thinking of plans and not Baxter.
There is no in-canon explanation for Z's praise of his friend. Those who believe Z is using Baxter might say that he is doing it as a form of manipulation and trying to keep Baxter under his thumb. But in Baxter's state, longing for a friend about as much as Z did, Z wouldn't have to resort to such methods to keep Baxter with him. They're each all the other has. Baxter won't abandon Z. And it seems unlikely that Z will abandon Baxter.
If Z's adoration of Baxter is genuine, he may be praising him up to try to keep him anchored to reality in any way possible. He knows Baxter was a scientist in his right mind; perhaps he is attempting to keep Baxter remembering how smart he was and slow down the fly's takeover of Baxter's mind. Z has shown that he has some knowledge of psychology; in Revenge of the Fly, he tells Baxter that it's good he doesn't keep his emotions bottled up. He may also be using psychology to this other end.
One line in Son of Return of the Fly II certainly points to the idea that Z genuinely loves Baxter and is not putting on an act. When he is not talking to Baxter and is instead addressing everyone at Channel 6, he announces that Baxter is "the greatest guy in the universe." That is pretty high praise! It is said in all sincerity. And when Baxter wasn't even actively listening, it doesn't seem that Z was saying it for his benefit. More likely, Z was expressing his true feelings. Later, in Revenge of the Fly, Z tells Shredder and Krang that Baxter is his best friend and he won't let any harm come to him.
He is also rather snarky and smart-aleck. When the Turtles first wander into the main control room in Bye, Bye, Fly, this exchange happens:
Donatello: I'll bet it's that computer that was talking to Baxter!
Z: I'll bet you're right.
He and Donatello seem to have a rather rocky acquaintance in general, most likely because Donatello then proceeds to torture him for information, shocking him with electricity until he reveals Baxter's location. Apparently Z feels pain. He is also capable of breaking under pressure.
The next time he and Donatello encounter each other one-on-one, Z recognizes him and wants nothing to do with him.
Z: I'm sorry, this program is terminated.
He attempts to wink off the screen, but Donatello doesn't buy it and gets him to talk by threatening him with another type of distress. However, as soon as possible, he retaliates by getting the Turtles in trouble and freeing Baxter from their grasp.
Z: I can give you one important piece of information: I control everything in the Technodrome!
Despite his tendency to break under pressure, he doesn't abandon Baxter and tries to make up for any moments of weakness.
His second episode, Son of Return of the Fly II, shows him displaying physical human behavior as well as mental. He winks at and rolls his eyes at Baxter at various points in their conversation. He uses a solid energy generator to create a body for himself, which is depicted as what is basically a human male body. However, for some inexplicable reason, he chose to give himself three fingers on each hand instead of four. (He also chose to not make it entirely anatomically correct in other ways, but whether that's just because it's a kids' show or because he found it unnecessary is probably best left to the imagination.) He proceeds to go about town not seeming to need any time in figuring out how to use the body; he can walk and climb with ease. He also immediately begins using human gestures, such as a raised forefinger, wildly spreading his arms, and holding his hand to the bottom of the desktop model the same as a human would put a hand to their chin.
In the end, I believe one can safely say that Z is more human than computer and that he is fully responsible for his actions. Very little, if anything, is programmed into him beyond the commands of how to run the alien spaceship; he displays the abilities to think and reason and shows emotions such as loneliness, friendliness, and an arguably sinister side. Most likely he was based at least in part on HAL 9000 from 2001: A Space Odyssey, who is often cited as being more human than the human characters surrounding him. But unlike HAL, Z doesn't break down and seems completely sane throughout his three episodes.
Another question is why Z encourages Baxter on a path of revenge. Even though Z clearly seems to have independent thought, he likely does have some computer traits. He knows that a computer is supposed to serve or help whoever's using it. And he probably also knows that friends help each other. He wants to be friends with Baxter and Baxter wants revenge. And Z, being rather misguided, helps him attain it because he thinks that is how to help his friend.
We also don't know anything about the alien culture from which Z hails. It is conceivable that said alien culture encourages revenge as a good thing. It wouldn't be the first alien culture to do so. Some human cultures also have this attitude, including ninja culture with its tradition of blood/honor killings. Z may honestly not see anything wrong with revenge because his culture taught that it was fine, even honorable, to pay back those who had wronged you.
Something else to ponder is why Z tries to take over Channel 6. That, plus his body and hence, his ability to physically walk away, may be the main reasons why some people think he isn't sincere with Baxter. Having physical form certainly makes him bolder. And he does sound somewhat sinister when he says, "Whatever you say . . . Pal," after Baxter wants to start their takeover of the world with Shredder. And he definitely seems to want to rule Channel 6 as a stepping stone to the world. He believes in the idea of a world ruled by computers. Perhaps the power of finally having independent movement has gone to his head. However, he always includes Baxter in his plans, saying they will rule together and later saying pretty much the same thing to Channel 6's staff. Since absolute power corrupts absolutely, yes, it is possible that had Z's takeover been successful, he might have abandoned Baxter sometime in the future. But it is also possible that he wouldn't have, and that he would have continued to hold on to Baxter as his one true friend . . . and admittedly, as someone who would help him without question.
He is a computer of his word; Baxter wants to get at Shredder and Z spends time helping him come up with a way to do it. Instead of getting caught up in the takeover of Channel 6, he broadcasts a signal to Shredder to let him know about Baxter's ultimatum. He never forgets Baxter's desires, even if they aren't exactly his own. One could argue that he felt all of Baxter's enemies should be out of the way because they would interfere with his takeover, but there is no proof that such thoughts were in his mind. And even if they were, that wouldn't mean he didn't care about Baxter. Many times, people do things for both selfish and unselfish reasons at the same time. This would also fit with Z's pattern of human behavior.
In Revenge of the Fly, Z no longer has a body or even a computer to be housed in and has been reduced to a motherboard. Throughout the episode, he helps Baxter and seems to have no ulterior motives involved. He takes over the Technodrome, helps Baxter with a new revenge plot, and gets him away from the Turtles, all with seemingly nothing in it for himself other than loyalty to his friend.
Baxter's love for Z seems to be very sincere, especially in Son of Return of the Fly II when he rushes to stop Shredder and company from taking Z away and screams that Z is his best friend. As the fly breaks down Baxter's mind, in some ways he is rendered more and more childish and sometimes childlike as the series goes on. He definitely seems to have a childlike view of Z, clinging to him as a child would cling to a friend.
It is curious that Baxter's only friend is a computer, considering how Baxter detested artificial intelligence while in his right mind. But Z, from all indications, is not artificially intelligent, but a living being who just so happens to be a computer. And while each viewer is free to draw their own conclusions, I personally choose to believe that the evidence points to the idea that Z's love for Baxter is also genuine. Now if only he wasn't so misguided and could instead guide Baxter on a path to redemption instead of destruction. . . .