Razon's camera
| Razon's camera | |
|---|---|
| World of Origin | Earth (Legion) |
Razon's camera is a device which takes photographs of the past, developed by Balubal Razon in conjunction with Azari Laboratories. A second version, capable of using instant film but incapable of looking very far back in time, was re-created based on the first by Stephen Leeds.
Appearance and Function
Razon's original camera appeared to be an ordinary medium format camera.[1] Stephen's recreation was a big, old-school camera, the kind used by news photographers decades ago, so presumably similar.[2][clarification needed] It was more user-friendly than one of those, however.[3] Both versions could be attached to a tripod.[4][3]
The camera uses a special kind of flash bulb which allows it to do take images of scenes as they were in the past. This bulb burns out after a very limited number of uses.[5] The light from the flash is referred to by Arnaud as penetrating time,[2] but little else is known of how exactly it functions. It will take a picture into the past as if the camera was in the place it is in now,[6] and it will always illuminate the area with its flash, sometimes resulting in poorly composed photos.[7] It produces photos on film in medium format, which must then be developed.[4] The version that Stephen re-creates has been modified to use instant film.[2]
History
To prove that the camera works, Razon took pictures of famous places and people during the past, such as George Washington and the Lone Cypress. These results were further validated in the lab of Azari Labratories.[7] Razon then stole the camera and took it to Jerusalem to take a picture of Jesus.[6][4] Shortly afterwards, the Abu Sayyaf captured the camera, along with Razon himself. Razon refused to repair the camera and was subsequently killed by the Abu Sayyaf. The escape of Monica, also captured by the Abu Sayyaf, provoked a shooting match during which all of the terrorists are shot. One didn't die, however, and pulls the pin on a grenade, thus destroying the camera.[1] However, Stephen, who had also been captured, was able to save the flash bulb.[5]
In order to re-create the camera, Stephen worked with a new aspect he manifested just for this purpose, Arnaud.[5] Stephen spent many nights working on it, with Arnaud guiding his hands. By the time he went chasing after Sandra, Stephen had a working model, although it can't go back very far before the photos begin to deteriorate in quality. Arnaud was unsure how Razon got around this limitation.[2] Later that day, Stephen gave it to Barb to take photos of the fairgrounds going back half-hours earlier that day, revealing the presence of Kyle and Sandra.[3] The camera was left in Stephen's limo while Stephen infiltrates Walters and Ostman Detention Enterprises, and afterwards, Stephen used it to take a picture in which he (but nobody else) can see his aspects.[8]