Everyone has been theorizing about how my son- I-I mean, Echo Zane is Mr. E, and honestly, it's one of my favourite theories! This is a three chapter story of how our pure bean turned into the coldhearted biker gang member he is. I will be uploading a chapter per weekend. I hope you enjoy!
Chapter One - Innocence
It wasn't always lonely at the lighthouse. At least Zane didn't think so.
Of course, ever since Dr. Julien left, things had been different. For example, Zane didn't get to hear his father's voice anymore or taste his cooking or help him out on his inventions. And that Leviathan had suddenly disappeared too.
Regardless, Zane didn't dare to step out of the lighthouse. His father had warned him not to and unless he stated otherwise, Zane wouldn't be leaving any time soon. He prefered to stare at the ocean from the top floor's window anyway. He would sit there for hours by himself, simply waiting for something to happen.
But it wasn't always lonely.
He wasn't alone, after all. He had Gizmo.
Things were way more enjoyable when Tai-D was around. Although Tai-D lacked the ability to talk, the two robots were always in touch. Tai-D would make tea for Zane, although he couldn't really drink it, and Zane would talk to him about his dreams and thoughts.
They'd even play chess together! Zane had memorised all the possible moves but for some reason, he always lost. He didn't mind though. It was fun.
Deep inside, Zane wished his father was there with them.
At first, Zane was counting the days. As time went by, he mixed the numbers up and got confused. The last number he remembered was 345 but Zane knew that the number would have increased a lot if he had continued counting. He could tell by the rust on his and Tai-D's gears.
He remembered his father mentioning something like a calendar to keep track of the days but Zane never really understood it and now it was too late to ask. He would have to talk to him about it once they met again.
His father promised they'd meet again.
Until then, Zane would stay true to his lifestyle. Play chess, look outside the window, make tea, play chess again…
"It looks like we are out of tea, friend." Zane said to Gizmo. The shorter roboted jumped in agreement. There weren't many things Gizmo could do to express his emotions. "Shall we get some from the basement?"
Zane made his way to the stairs and Tai-D followed him. Usually, Tai-D would be excited to roll down the stairs. However, it was nightime now and if there was one thing the small robot was scared of, that was the dark.
Zane couldn't understand why. It wasn't like the lighthouse magically changed once it got dark. It was still the place they were familiar with.
The two robots reached the bottom floor and Tai-D disappeared from Zane's side. "Have fun while playing with the gears!" Zane commented, familar with Gizmo's interests.
Zane walked down the narrow hallway to the back of the basement. Although they had been carefully not to waste it, it wasn't the first time they had ran out of tea. He stood on his toes to reach the top shelf. "Almost… There…"
He flinched at the sound of some metal dropping on the ground. Surprisingly, it didn't come from inside the basement. He could have sworn Tai-D had been there with him. If so, why didn't the sound come from there?
Zane gave up on the tea and walked out of the room. He glanced up the stairs, trying to spot his robot friend.
Tap, tap, tap.
"Gizmo?" Zane could hear the faded sound of someone's footsteps, but couldn't see his friend.
Tap, tap, tap.
"Gizmo, is that you?" Zane asked again, although he knew it was impossible for the source of the sound to be him, considering he didn't have feet.
Tap, tap, tap.
"... Father?"
For the second time, Zane flinched at another sound. The sound of tiny wheels rolling against the ground made him turn around and see that Tai-D was approaching him from inside the basement.
The small robot tilted its head in confusion. Zane sighed in relief when he faced him. He was glad to see his friend was okay.
The feeling of relief didn't stay for long though.
Tap, tap, tap.
"If you're here… Then who is there?" Zane said and turned towards the stares again, only to come face to face with another figure.
It was a girl, presumably at her late teens. She was dressed in black and her long blond hair was tied up in a perfect bun. Her eyes were pale green and her gaze was sharp as a knife's edge.
Zane didn't recognise the girl. He would have noticed if a third person lived with them, after all.
"You aren't my father."
"No." the girl spoke, not backing away.
"Who are you?" Zane asked.
"They call me the Quiet One." the girl said and backed away but Zane's gaze never left hers.
Zane looked down at Gizmo for a split second. It was clear that the smaller robot wasn't only confused, but also scared. "I am Zane."
"Oh, I know who you are." the 'Quiet One' was quick to respond. "But you don't."
Zane blinked in confusion. "But… I am Zane. Did you not hear me? I am built to protect those who cannot protect themselves."
The girl broke into giggles. "Is that what he told you?"
"You mean father?" Zane's eyes widened. "You know him?"
"No."
"Then how…?" Zane looked down at Gizmo again, who was now hiding behind his leg. "Have you been watching me?"
"They don't call me the Quiet One for nothing." The girl crossed her hands behind her back and started walking in circles around the android. "Hm… For a cheap copy, you do share a lot of the same aspects."
Zane tried not to break the eye contact and started spinning, eventually causing him to fall. "A… Copy?"
The girl looked down at him. "Yes."
If Zane recalled correctly, and he knew he did, that was the first statement she had agreed on.
"How'd you come here?" he asked as he stood up.
"Traveler's tea." the girl explained.
Zane's eyes lit up. "Gizmo and I also have tea! Would you like some?"
The girl shook her head. Zane could see a faint smile form on her face. "So naive and innocent… No wonder you never questioned anything you've been told."
"Is that what you want me to do?" Zane raised an eyebrow. "Wouldn't that mean that I must question your words as well?"
His comment only made her smile more visible. "Maybe you aren't as stupid as I thought you'd be. Unaware, yes, but not stupid."
"Father used to call his inventions that, when they didn't work." Zane recalled. "St… upid, was it?"
"Aren't you one of his invention as well?" the girl asked. "Have you ever wondered if he called you that while making you?"
Zane immediately shook his head. "Father would never say that."
"Or, perhaps, your little friend?" she pointed towards Tai-D, something that made the small robot furious.
"Gizmo is family." Zane said. "Family is here for one another."
"I don't see your father anywhere though." the girl hummed. "He prefered him over you."
"Who is 'he'?"
The girl smiled widely. "Zane."
The android couldn't understand. Had she not heard him again? Or did she forget who he was?
"But I am Zane."
Did she forget who he was?
"No. No, you aren't." the girl's tone changed. Any sign of calmness had left. "You're just a copy of him."
"Who?" Zane's tone changed as well. There was a slight hint of fear in his voice. "Who is he?"
"I already answered that question though, didn't I?" she responded. "But I suppose it's only fair that you don't believe me. He did lock you in the basement before he 'mysteriously' disappeared, no? Tell me, 'Zane', what is it that you remember of that day?"
"There were voices." Zane closed his eyes to think. "After he told me to hide and promised to return, there were voices."
Tai-D made some noises of agreement. It was as if he was trying to get their attention.
"Even your friend remembers the one that looked like you." the girl said. "Or should I say, the one that you looked like?"
Tai-D backed away and hid behind Zane again.
"You are not Zane." the girl repeated. "You're just a copy of him. An echo."
"I do not know what you are saying." Zane looked up at her. "But you are making Gizmo uncomfortable. So please… Stop."
"If that's what you want." the girl said and started walking up the stairs. "But remember that all echos come to an end."
"Wait!" Zane called out for her and chased her to the top floor.
The girl emptied a bit of tea from her teapot on the floor. "I'll be seeing you again soon, 'Zane'."