"He's just resting. Waiting for a new life to come"
-Henry Frankenstein Frankenstein 1931
On the outskirts of a glistening metropolis there laid an abandoned mansion. The building's purpose died long ago and has disappeared from the contemporary memories of the people in the city. Those who did care to remember the building have visited the ruin, and then the chill of a spirit that haunted the place. No one knew who that ghost was, but on a clichéd dark and stormy night, the ghost would return to the land of the living as lightning struck the highest steeple of the building.
*CRASH!*
Ahh!
-SYSTEM CHARGING [***0000000] 27%-
Wha...what's happening to me? -
I f-feel as if I have been in a deep sleep…or even a c-coma…
-SYSTEM CHARGING [******0000] 64%-
W-Where am I? I-I feel… cold
-SYSTEM CHARGING [********00] 84%-
H-How did I get here?
-SYSTEM CHARGING [**********] 96%-
/PREPARING DIAGNOSTICS—{ASSESSMENT NO. 3}
INTERNAL_CIRCUITRY=NORMAL
MOTOR_FUNCTIONS=NORMAL
WEAPON_CAPABILITIES=NORMAL
MEMORY=ERROR:CORRUPTION_DELETE_MEMORY_Y/N?
W-what? No! Don't delete my m-memories!
MEMORY_RETAINED
GENERAL_STATUS:_OPERABLE
WELCOME_BACK_RHYTHM
R-Rhythm? Is that my name? A-Am I Rhythm?
In a strange and cramped alcove, a ruined robot opened his eyes for the first time in years. He noticed that he was lying on a pile of stone rubble, and that water was pooling on the ground. To the left of him, the robot noticed that his left arm had detached from his body and fallen onto the floor. His arm socket had loose wires sticking out and were lying on top of a copper pipe.
-SYSTEM CHARGED-DISCONNECT_FROM_POWER-
Rhythm delicately removed the wires from the pipe and then grabbed his detached arm with his good one. He began rearranging the wires and jury rigged the arm back to his torso.
I-I got power… I've my arm reattached… w-what do I do now? H-how do I get out of this p-place?
ENGAGING_WEAPON_MODE_TEST
W-weapon Mode?
He looked down at his right arm and noticed that his hand had transformed into cannon-like apparatus.
H-How do I operate this?
With the weapon engaged, Rhythm noticed that it felt like his right hand was still there, so he started making gestures with his hand in an effort to activate the weapon. He did HAND_GUN, ROCK_FAN, and VULGAR_GESTURE (at least that's what the programing told him) without any results.
He then quickly made a fist and a burst of energy shot out of the cannon, cracking the brick wall that laid in front of him.
QUICK_SHOT
M-maybe if I closed my fist for longer...
Rhythm did so, and a sound of charging power began to increase in volume. The robot let go, and a huge burst of energy launched from the weapon. A shockwave reverberated from the chamber, causing the brick wall to explode into dust.
Rhythm crawled out of the hole he made and found himself in the ruins of a basement. It was incredibly damp, with water leaking from the ceiling. The smell of rotting wood dominated his senses. Huge wine barrels (and their remains) were scattered across the floor. There were also pieces of broken glass and torn metal strewn about the floor. A selection of papers with blotted text were hanging from the intact barrels and the walls. One of the papers was a poster, which read "M-dern -ansion Sc-ence C-nvention" with the rest of the words being torn or damaged beyond recognition.
Unable to keep his balance, he leaned against the wall and sat on the debris covered floor. As he grasped his chest, he noticed a large gem that was implanted into the center of an X that was part of his ruined armor. He also felt the jagged edges that were a result of the device being shattered.
He then tried to call out for help, but as he tried to speak, all that came out of his mouth was a garbled mess of static.
N-no…I can't speak.
"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?!"
Rhythm turned to the sound of the voice and discovered that there was another person was inside the ruined basement. It looked like a man to Rhythm, but the figure had large shoulder pads and fins on the side of his head, making him look like a mixture between a cobra and a football player. As the figure got closer, the details became more clear. Eyes red as a ruby, an emblem on his chest the color of an amethyst, and a gem shaped like a cross the color of a sapphire. The body was mainly black, but there were accents of yellow and white.
"Who are you?" The figure asked, glaring at Rhythm with an unimpressed frown.
Rhythm tried to speak again, and he could only emit the broken cacophony he made before.
"Huh, can't talk eh?"
Rhythm shook his head.
"Hmm, I see…where the hell did you come from?"
Rhythm pointed at the hole in the wall that he made, and the figure in black looked inside the hole.
The black robot just stared at Rhythm, unimpressed.
Rhythm hung his head, and then suddenly lost his balance which caused him to collapse on the figure.
"EASY! EASY!" The black figure complained as he caught Rhythm. He looked over the robot and examined his condition "You're a mess… you look like broken mannequin…a hopeless case…I should just put you out of your misery…"
The black figure engaged an arm cannon, revealing to Rhythm that this figure was a robot too. Rhythm shook and rattled in the black robot's arms. He wanted to scream, but it was like he had no mouth. With a cold stare, the black robot charged his weapon and pointed it at Rhythm's face…but he hesitated, noticing that one of his pale blue eyes was shedding a single tear.
The black robot relented and disengaged his canon with a sigh.
"I had to be won over by freakin puppy dog eyes…" The robot complained "I can't kill you…but I just can't leave you here… you're too weak to fend for yourself"
Rhythm hung his head and frowned.
"Dr. Dumbass is probably going to hate me for this…" The robot remarked "Come with me, I'm gonna take you to my lab and see if we can fix you up? Alright?"
Rhythm smiled weakly, and the two began walking through the ruined basement. As they exited, the black robot picked up a broken plank of wood and handed it to Rhythm.
"Here, use this as a cane"
Rhythm took the warped stick, and carefully made his way to the stairs with the other robot. As the two robots entered the first floor, Rhythm immediately noticed the remains of a grand staircase. Lightning strikes shone through the cavities of the windows, revealing the rubble and ruin that was all over the floor.
"I come here to be a lone sometimes and get away from my creator" The black robot spoke "Dr. Dumbass easily gets on my nerves and I just leave"
The two robots exited through the ruined front door, and Rhythm noticed a black muscle parked outside. He pointed to it as if he was asking if it was the other robot's.
"Yeah, that's my car" The robot spoke as he opened the back seat door "I hope you like it. I've modified it for current travel situations. I suggest lying down on your back due to how fragile you are"
Rhythm nodded and got into car and gently laid down on the leather seats. The black robot started the engine, and an electric hum resonated through the vehicle as the tires turned outwards and the car quickly lifted into the air. The two remained silent as they traveled, the rain pelting hard on the windshield and roofs. Rhythm closed his eyes, trying to make himself comfortable in the backseat. His sensors were all freaking out as just about every part of his system was damaged in some way.
About 20 minutes passed until the car began to descend. Rhythm looked out the window and saw a large fortress like building. Front and center was a giant symbol that was hard to make out in the rain.
"My creator is not known for his subtleties"
The storm had grown more intense as the car parked in front of the structure. The black robot told Rhythm to stay in the car as he exited the vehicle and approached the large metal door to press a button that activated an intercom.
"Look who's finally back" The voice of an old man angrily replied.
"Yes doctor, I'm back"
"Where the hell have you been?!"
"…Out"
"Out he says. Well I understand that you have been out, but you haven't been out for as long as you used to have been. Usually you disappear for a month or two before crawling to my doorstep and demanding a repair from me. Did you get your ass kicked sooner than usual?"
The black robot rolled his eyes as he began to reply "No, it's not that…I found a strange robot in the basement of an abandoned mansion"
A moment of silence dominated the intercom " What? A strange robot? What's this robot's name? Why the hell did you bring it here?"
"I DON'T KNOW THE ROBOTS'S NAME. He was badly damaged when I found him and he can't speak due to his condition. I brought him here because…"
Another moment of silence dominated the intercom.
"Well Bass?"
"…I brought him here because I thought he could be useful to us"
"Bring the robot in in then, neither you nor I have anything better to do…"
The black robot hung up the intercom and opened the front door go grab an umbrella before returning to the car to retrieve Rhythm. The frail robot made his way up the heavy steps and inside the entry hall. The interior of the fortress was cramped with many pipes, wires, and other electrical equipment strewn all over the floor.
"Pardon my creator's mess. He suffered a massive loss a couple of weeks ago, but to be honest it's not that different than usual"
The black robot tossed the piece of broke wood away and gave Rhythm the umbrella to use as the cane. The two walked through the halls of the fortress before approaching an open door. Inside was a balding man, wearing a white lab coat and a red tie and was sitting on a cheap leather office chair. In the center of the room was operating table, and scattered about room were a number of rolling tool chests with parts protruding from the unclosed shelves. In the man's hand was a strange box with wires protruding from it. Rhythm recognized that it was a replacement voice box.
"So you're the robot…" The man spoke to Rhythm before turning to the other robot "Lay him down on the table so I can install the voice box"
Bass grumbled as he did so, and the balding man opened up the robot's chest while the black robot hovered over the scientist's shoulder.
"…Could you make your self useful for once and get me the soldering iron?"
The black robot groaned as he walked off for a moment and returned with the requested device. The scientist then opened Rhythm's chest and began to work.
"Eh?" The scientist asked "What in the world?"
Inside Rhythm's body was a collection of tangled wires, mangled parts, and dangling components hanging from inside the endoskeleton.
"Fan-freaking-tastic…" The scientist complained "There's no way to install the voice box without a complete overhaul of the system…"
The black robot thought for a moment and then suddenly ran off in a hurry to somewhere else within the fortress.
"HEY! WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU GOING?!"
"I'm improvising, alright?!"
The robot returned with a laptop and a USB cable that was male on both ways.
"So what's ya brilliant idea you righteous bot?"
"I'm gonna attach your laptop to the robot to see if he can talk that way"
"My laptop?!"
The robot groaned as he plugged one end of the USB cable into the robot and the other into the computer. With the press of a few buttons, he turned on a software program.
-DEAF_ROBOT_SPEAKER-
Version1.2
CONNECTING...
"This will allow us to 'hear' you and look up your identification" The black robot explained to Rhythm "Your thoughts will appear on the computer screen. Think 'Yes' if you understand what I'm saying"
Yes
"-YES" appeared on the laptop screen.
"Alright then" The black robot asked "what is your name?"
Rhythm, I think.
The robot smiled "Nice to know you Rhythm, Who is your creator?"
I-I….don't remember.
"Where did he find you?" the scientist asked.
Your creation f-found me walled up in an alcove. I was able to get out by using my arm cannon.
"Why were you not able to get out before?" the scientist also asked.
I-I don't know, but I think that the l-lightning storm hit the building intensely enough for p-power to run through the pipes and come in contact with wires that were p-protruding from my left arm socket.
The black robot rubbed his chin "Interesting How did you end up in the alcove?"
I-I don't know… my memory is…f-fuzzy.
Suddenly, the computer made a noise and information about Rhythm appeared on the laptop screen.
INFORMATION
-GIVEN NAME:RHYTHM
-PROJECT NAME:-4-2-nat0-
-CREATOR: [CORRUPTED]
-ACTIVATION_DATE: [CORRUPTED]
-ABILITIES:
*EMOTION
*REASON
*LOGIC
*INDEPENDENT_THOUGHT
*PREPROGRAMED_INTELLIGENCE
*ARM_CANNON
*COPY_ABILITIES
*INCREASED_STRENGTH
*CREATIVITY-[BETA]
*IMAGINATION-[BETA]
*LOVE-[BETA]
*SYMPATHY-[BETA]
ERRORS:
-MEMORY_CORRUPTED-[UN-DELETABLE]
-POWER_CAPACITY_WEAKENED
"Well doc," The black robot began "What is your disgraced professional opinion?"
"On Rhythm or your remarks?" The scientist retorted "Well in regards to Rhythm, I don't think that I'll be able to solve this conundrum on my own, think that I'll need the help of…"
Silence filled the room as the scientist paused, which caused Rhythm to shake a little.
I-It's q-quiet... t-too quiet.
INDEPENDENT_ERROR
-MENTAL_STATE_DROPPING
H-hurry. H-help me! S-someone speak to me! I-I need to hear s-something! PLEASE! A-ANYONE! I'VE BEEN IN S-SILENCE FOR SO LONG! DON'T LET ME DIE IN THE S-SILENCE!
As Rhythm cried out in fear through the laptop, a loud alert noise came from the laptop.
-WARNING! ENERGY DEPLETING RAPIDLY! UNKNOWN ERROR!
"What the hell?!" The black robot shouted as he rushed to the laptop.
Rhythm slowly calmed down upon hearing a voice.
Don't leave me in silence…
The scientist then looked over the computer and saw a connection to the decibels that Rhythm detected and the power strain that Rhythm made.
"What is it doc?" The black robot asked
"It seems that when this robot hears silence, it uses up his power supply in desperation for a voice or a sign of life" The scientist hypothesized "Forgive me Rhythm, for I have never encountered a robot with a condition such as yours"
The black robot suddenly rushed out of the room again"
"WHERE ARE YOU GOING NOW?"
"I have an idea!"
"WELL DON'T STEAL ANY MORE OF MY STUFF YOU PUNK!"
Rhythm could hear the rustling of parts from a room in the distance until the robot returned with a milk crate with objects inside.
"A Walkman?" The scientist asked "What in the world did you get a Walkman for?"
"It's a way of helping Rhythm!" The robot snapped "If he keeps hearing some sort of noise, he won't lose his power"
The black robot attached a pair of cheap headphones to the player and then placed them over the ears of Rhythm and pressed play.
"Hello darkness, my old friend
I've come to talk with you again"
The black robot stopped the song as heard the lyrics "Uh…let me get a different tape"
The black robot looked through the milk crate to find a different tape. In the mean time, Rhythm struck up a conversation with the scientist.
Sir?"What it is it Rhythm?" The scientist replied with disinterest.
I would like to say that your c-creation is one of the most b-benevolent robots I have ever met...at least when it comes to my s-shattered memory.
The scientist turned to Rhythm in confusion"…Thank you, but I must say that no one else sees him like you apparently do"
H-Huh? How come?
"To be perfectly honest, my creations and I are known for being… less than helpful"
If you do not wish to t-talk about that, we don't need to.
The scientist smiled "You are very wise"
A-am I? If I was truly, wise I w-wouldn't have ended up in that alcove in that m-mansion. Who knows how many years that l-lightning had struck the pipes of that lonely prison and taunted me with t-temporary life. I'm glad that tonight I had the chance be reborn, like a p-phoenix from the ashes.
"Taunted you with temporary life?"
This is not the first time I have been r-reactivated with lightning, but this time I was able to escape from my c-containment
"A-HA!" the black robot exclaimed "This should work, it's an audiobook"
The robot put the tape into the Walkman and pressed play.
"The Cask of Amontillado By Edgar Allan Poe Read by Eric Allan THE thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge"
The black robot pressed stop on the tape upon seeing Rhythm smile. "Alright then, I think that Rhythm here should rest and recharge. I'll bring him to my room and leave the window open so he can hear the rain"
That will be f-fine.
"Alright then Rhythm" the scientist spoke "You will be staying here for a while so we can repair you. Tomorrow I'll contact some people to see if I can get some assistance. Take the laptop with you until we can find something else for you to speak with"
Rhythm nodded and took the laptop in his hands as the black robot led Rhythm to his dark bedchamber.
"Considering your delicacy, you shouldn't sleep on anything hard. Sleep on my bed tonight"
You don't mind?
"I don't mind" The black robot replied as he opened his bedroom window "I've slept in worse conditions anyway"
The black robot then took a power cable that was attached to the backboard of the bed and connected it to Rhythm.
"Sleep well Rhythm" the robot spoke as he sat in an office chair.
Thank you, and s-sweet dreams.
"Dreams?" The robot asked "Since when do robots have dreams?"
I had d-dreams a long time ago, but I do not r-remember when or what they c-contained.
Rhythm then closed his eyes and began a sleep mode. The black robot just stared at the strange robot, and like a raven he watched ever so diligently.
Excuse me sir, but I didn't catch your name nor that of your creator's… what is your name?The robot drew a heavy sigh "My name is Bass, and my creator is Dr. Wily"
Rhythm smiled as he wrapped himself up in the soft black blanket that was on the bed.
I'm glad to have met you two… a son and his father, a good scientist and his benevolent creation.
As Rhythm fell asleep, Bass sighed as he left the bedchamber and back to the dark truth that had hidden away from this innocent robot.