Note: Hello, people who loved this story. I'm sorry I took it down, but I was wanting to move to a new account and if one story stayed up on another, they'd just raise up questions and accusations of stealing (no one wants that). Also, things have been going on in my life with moving out of state (again), so I was sort of in a funk. Anyhow, I'm back, this is back, enjoy!
Characters (c) of Capcom.
Prologue: Treasures in Ruin
"...The excavation of the abandoned laboratory beneath is going underway. It is rather disappointing that nothing else was found aside from more than old, dusty papers. Yet, this may lead us somewhere. They indicated that the laboratory was at some time, under ownership of Dr. Thomas Light…"
The old man's hand steadied, his other letting his wrinkled fingers guide themselves through his long, white beard, made up of hundreds of coarse fibers.
He turned his bald head to the side, his half-closed; drooping eyes gazing towards the heavens visible thanks to the netted middle of the tent's top. He shifted his gaze back down at the green journal in his hands, wrapping up his entry for today before his body forced him to sleep. " With that fact in mind, however, the chances of finding his final piece of work may be key to the possible future of machines."
Setting the book down in a large, worn-out duffle bag, he lay himself down in his cot, adjusting until comfortable. His old body exhausted from the day's work before, he immediately closed his eyes and drifted off.
' The capsule…notes…find it…'
The Next Day
"Dr. Cain!"
The elderly man shifted his head towards the left, seeing a fellow digger hopping up and down, almost franticly. He immediately became just as excited. Had he found something? Something worth the three days scouring the ruined labyrinth filled with rusted machines infected with vegetation, he hoped.
"We found it."
He barely got out the last word as the doctor rushed towards him, now desperate to know where the "treasure" was found.
" Where? Where is it?"
The digger merely shifted his glasses, amused greatly by Cain's behavior.
"We discovered a secret room in the sub-level area of the lab. It was…"
"Don't keep babbling on, man! Just take me there!"
Cain stepped back, regaining composure over his ecstatic self.
"Goodness. Forgive me Doug. Please, lead me to it."
His fellow digger shifted his glasses once again with a small chuckle thrown in, walking with the still excited (but more controlled) doctor. Both men made their way to the lower level of the laboratory.
"We discovered a secret room in the sub-level area. Apparently Light didn't really care for folks to go in there, because we had to crack the password in order to get through the door."
Cain listened intently.
"Perhaps that place was reserved for his 'special projects', eh?"
Doug ceased his recounting of current events, seeing that the two had arrived at the destination. The room was blanketed with dust and mildew, the paint chipped almost down to nothing, and more notably, a large piece of the ceiling resting on the tile floor. Lying in the center of the room, there it laid. The treasure fabled in the dusty old papers he found when they fist discovered this place. A capsule roughly around eight by fourteen meters stood in the center of the room, caked in dust and fallen plaster, but still intact. Cain and Doug stepped closer, looking downward onto the newly found marvel. There also was a large screen embedded in the wall beside it, a bundle of cables running from the wall it rested in to the side of the capsule.
"It's a miracle that the ceiling didn't crush it. When I first found it, I thought for sure it'd be rendered useless."
Cain's fellow digger remarked. The doctor moved in closer, his curiosity now at it's peak. The strange device was securely shut, keeping its contents hidden from his eyes. They kept scanning it, making note of every detail: the silver metal covered in filth, the faded insignia of it's previous owner, the damaged robot laying beside it…Cain paused, glancing now more towards the right of the container.
He did indeed see right. Beside the capsule laid a small android sprawled out on the floor, in an almost fetal position with arms and legs fairly loose.
He and Doug knelt down, his partner just becoming aware of it as well.
It had a ripped and torn sleeveless red dress, with a tangled mop of red-blonde hair kept together with a simple green ribbon. On it's feet rested two built in red dress shoes, scratched and torn like the rest of her body.
Cain turned the little body over, the hands revealing what they were hiding from view. A large wound had been cast into her chest, the small hands coated with oil and other fluids. On the young robot's face seemed to be a frozen expression detailing fear and deep sorrow. Whatever happened must have been horrid.
"Huh. Looks like she's been through some rough days. What's she doing in here?"
Cain didn't hear Doug's remark on the android's condition, his attention fully consumed by the capsule that lied in front of him. Placing his palm on the dust-covered top, he brushed away some of the caked dirt and debris with his pale, bony fingers. Before he could lift his hand of the cover, he heard a low hum to the left of him. Turning that direction, the large screen turned on, revealing an elderly man that he estimated was around the same age he was now. His beard was long and full, the hair atop his head following in the same fashion.
"Greetings. My name is Thomas Light. I am the creator of Megaman X, the robot encased in this capsule."
The sound quality of the message was not of the greatest quality, the voice of Light being riddled with static. Cain stepped away from the capsule, he shifting his focus to the message being played on the screen. Doug walked over to him, somewhat amused by how intently Cain was listening in, despite the sound now being barely audible.
"Seems he provided us an instruction video with our new product."
Cain quickly shushed him, but soon then spoke himself.
"Get everybody down here. Now!"
Doug instantly obeyed the ecstatic professor, exiting the room and leaving a still attentive Cain listening to Light's recording.
"Unlike the other robots, including ones I myself have produced, X is the first of a 'new generation' containing a innovative, if not impossible new feature: the ability to think, feel, and decide their actions on their own accord."
Cain was now at a loss for words. It was almost unbelievable. He had believed they found an advanced piece of machinery, yes, but nothing so revolutionary and unfathomable. He kept listening.
"However, I fear that because of this, he may be one of the most dangerous creations I've ever made. This feature may allow him to defy the rules of robotics, such as 'a robot must never harm a human being.' Due to this, I fear for the safety of those around him if he were unleashed onto the world too early. I have decided to seal him away in this capsule, where his internal systems will be monitored and tested to confirm his reliability. Proximately thirty years or so is required before that, and I…"
Light paused in his message, a deep sigh heard before returning to his speech.
"…I, unfortunately, will not be here to see him awaken, nor do I have anyone that can carry out my work. If anyone is hearing this message, congratulations, you have found possibly my last masterpiece before I am gone. I only ask that for the patience and caution of the one who has found him. I have no choice but to trust him in your care. I can only pray that the path that awaits him is a peaceful one. He may be the worlds…and my new hope. Goodbye."
The message ended, the screen automatically shutting off. He turned his attention back to the newly found discovery, resting his palm on the capsule's top. He took notice to two small lights from the top right section of the capsule, both emitting a bright, green light.
'The indicators are green. That means it should be safe to open…'
Cain looked to the capsule's activation control located on the left side. It would be a simple thing to do. Push the button and open it. What then? From Light's message, what rested in this device was possibly his last masterpiece, a machine to rival the most advanced of technology developed, possibly even now. Yet the doctor's warning still rang in his mind. If what Light said about this thing was indeed true, what's to say what his behavior would be? Would he extend a hand in friendship, or retaliate in hostility? If the latter was the case, then like the doctor said, nothing in the world could stop him. The optimist in Cain soon brought up the fact that if the latter would be the case, then why would the indicators be signaling its contents to be safe for release? Just releasing him wouldn't be any reason to cause him or his crew any harm. The question resting on his mind now was whether or not he had the courage to chance it. Could he, would he possibly risk the safety of both him and his fellow diggers? Then again, the green lights encouraged the possibility of danger to be slim, and also the temptation to open the capsule.
Echoing sounds of thumps brought Cain back to reality, soon realizing that his crew was entering the secluded room. Most of them were confused, curious as to what was going on.
"Everyone," he started "I called you down here because…well, I wanted you to witness this moment with me."
The crew grew even more confused, Cain placing his fingers on the activation control.
"Today, we make history. We open this capsule and discover what it truly holds."
"Doctor?" Doug rose up, going to the side of the obviously anxious elderly man.
"Are you sure it's okay?"
Cain looked to Doug, his face plagued with concern and worry.
"I mean…is it safe? We don't know what's in there."
Footsteps from behind the three people in the room became heard, more of their fellow diggers following behind the other. It wasn't long before the fifteen or so of them were all in the room together.
"All the capsule's indicators are green. It should be ready to open."
Doug sighed, leaving the Doctor's side to join his co-workers. Cain then reached for the activation control for a second time, this time successfully pressing the button.
"Let us see what your life's work contains."
The capsule top split in two, the metal covering now two panes separating from each other and sinking into the lower part of the device. A second layer rested underneath the metal cover, yet this one was of a clear material and soon followed in the same fashion as the metal. Everyone leaned in closer, getting a full view of what was inside the capsule. Cain stepped away with what little room he had now, his breathing stiff and caught in his throat.
A robot lay inside the capsule on a padded surface, many wires and cables connected from or to the side rings on his helmet, it was difficult to pinpoint where they came from at the moment. His helmet, along with the rest of his body consisted of shades of blue, certain parts of his body corresponding with the other in color. His face was akin to that of a teenaged boy, not quite mature yet lacking in childish features. His eyes were closed and stiff; as if he was forcefully kept in a deep, long slumber. Cain gathered up the courage to step forward, placing himself above the capsule. Staring downward at the robot, he eyed and studied every constructive detail of what was before him.
POP!
The wires inserted in the robot's head retreated inside the metal rings on the helmet sides, the rings closing with circular red gems.
"What happened? What was that?"
Doug asked; the doctor still captivated with the figure inside the capsule.
The Doctor was no leaning over the robot, their faces now meeting. He peered in closer.
Without warning, the eyelids lifted, green irises now meeting the Doctor's chocolate brown. Cain stepped backward, accidentally tripping over a few of the diggers behind him, and the same who stopped his fall.
The robot's body soon began to gain movement, slight twitching at first to it physically lifting itself off the padded bottom of the capsule.
Siting upward, his vision soon adjusted to clearly see the crowd of awed and rather frightened humans, an older man being given support to get back on his feet.
Cain slowly made his way to the foot of the capsule, both he and the now awakened robot looking each other in the eye.
"Who…" Cain's eyes lit up. He was capable of speech!
"Who…are you?" The robot continued to stare at the old man, who now seemed to be convulsing with excitement.
"Ah! Right. Well…" Cain drew closer to him, making his way to the right of the capsule.
"My name is Philip Cain. My team found you here in this sealed room." he stated, his arm extending in the digger's direction to identify them.
"You…you are not the Doctor…" the robot told his new company, in a tone almost as if talking of something casual.
"Doctor…would you perhaps mean Thomas Light?" Cain suggested.
The robot quickly turned to him, his expression evident of his growing confusion.
"I…I don't know. My…my head hurts…"
The elderly man beside him instantly felt regrettable for his question, putting his hand on his blue shoulder.
"You're probably suffering from hibernation sickness. I…I apologize. I didn't intend to…"
"No. It…it's all right. No harm done, right?"
Cain looked to his co-workers, his and their interest now at their peaks. He turned back to the robot, the two staring eye to eye once again.
"I do apologize for asking so many questions…"
"But…you've only asked one."
"Yes, well. I am sorry, but…I am curious. Do you know your name?" the scientist asked, as it was possible that he never learned it.
The blue robot looked downward at itself, pondering his discoverers question. Did he even have a name? Or better yet, know who built him? The latter of the two he could not answer, yet the first may be possible. He closed his eyes, unconsciously searching through the small amount of memory stored in his CPU. After a few agonizing minutes, the elderly man beside him soon got a response.
"X. I believe…that I was called Megaman X."
Cain extended his hand outward to the robot, X reluctantly taking it, and slowly working his way to standing. He stepped out of the capsule, taking in the unfamiliar environment around him. As his right foot exited his previous resting place, it hit a smaller object below him. Looking downward, he noticed a small, damaged robot lying beside the capsule.
"What…what is that?" he asked, promptly kneeling down to examine the battered machine.
"Oh…" Doug spoke up, finally gaining the courage to go up towards the newly awakened discovery.
"Just a piece of junk. It's not important."
Another digger stepped forward, her dirty-blonde hair kept in a messy bun atop her head.
"Would…would you like to go outside?" she calmly asked.
X nodded in response, her soon ushering him slowly out the door, some other fascinated diggers soon following. Cain went back to the small robot lying beside the now empty capsule, taking the small robotic girl in his arm (which in itself was difficult to do, considering her weight). Doug and those who stayed behind witnessed the elderly man struggling to keep the badly damaged machine in arms.
"Take the capsule and this."
If it wasn't for the seriousness in his voice, or the fact he was exhausted from the effort it took to uncover the laboratory and the capsule, Doug would have burst out laughing at Cain's command. Yet it was evident that no laughter would be had.
" Are you serious? Doctor…the capsule's what we came down here for, that's the reason we hacked our way through the security code, this is just dead weight…"
"AND one of the only existing creations of Light. Every piece of work and robot ever constructed by him has been destroyed or missing for the past century. Every piece found counts. For years, we have been trying again and again to construct better machines and better technology for others and ourselves. No man was ever closer to that than he…"
Cain took in a deep breath, handing his cargo over to Doug.
"So even 'dead weight' such as she can hold the future for robotics. She is going WITH the capsule."
His fellow digger nodded reluctantly, struggling to hold the small, heavy figure. Cain knelt down by the capsule, staring at the faded insignia of the long lost owner of this decaying complex.
"I promise you professor…I won't let your work fade away again…"
