His name was Bruno and he was Zone's creation.

Zone walked all around his creation as Bruno, sitting up, blinked and stared at the world around him.

"Welcome to life," Zone said, taking a closer look at the android he created.

"Life," Bruno repeated.

"You are Bruno," Zone told him, "And you live to serve me, Zone."

Weeks go by. Bruno does what he's asked with enthusiasm. He does whatever he can to please Zone. He loves his creator. But Zone is already more machine than man, and his only emotion was to find a way to fix the apocalyptic future.

That's why he had no mercy for Bruno when Bruno refused to be sent back in time.

"I don't want to leave you!" Bruno tells him, "You'll be all alone here and I'll be all alone there!"

"Are you disobeying my orders?" Zone snarls, and Bruno shrinks back with fright.

"Please don't make me go…! I want to stay here with you!" Bruno's eyes tear up.

"If you do no obey me, Bruno, I will have to reprogram you."

"No! Master, please…!" Bruno begs, on the verge of tears. But Zone has no pity.

He grabs Bruno's arm and drags him into the work room.

"You're hurting me!" Bruno cries as he's dragged along.

"You're a machine; you cannot feel," Zone replies to him, no hint of emotion in his voice.

As Zone straps Bruno to the operating chair, Bruno begins to cry and struggle to get free. He was scared beyond anything he had ever felt before.

"Master, no! Please! Stop! PLEASE!" he sobs, trying hopelessly to break free from the chair as Zone prepares his instruments.

"I have no use for a servant who disobeys my orders," Zone says calmly. He is hoping he won't have to reprogram Bruno. If he can shock him into obedience…

Zone attaches two probes to Bruno's head.

"Will you go back and save the city?" he asks.

Bruno swallows, hiccuping from crying. He shakes his head. Zone turns the dial on the remote in his head.

Bruno screams. His entire system felt like it was on fire. Zone shocks him again, and Bruno screams echo around the room. He's writhing so hard that his wrists begin to bleed against the restraints.

"Tell me you'll follow my orders, Bruno, and I'll stop," Zone says, turning the nob up again. Bruno continues to scream, the screams becoming more mechanical.

And then suddenly something snaps. Bruno becomes still, his eyes going blank. Tears continue to leak from them.

"Bruno?"

There's no response.

/Damn it! I broke him! Now I have to build a new android!/ Zone throws down the remote in frustration. He unties Bruno and picks him up, bringing him into another room. He'll have to be rebuilt.

And this time, Zone would make sure he went straight to the past. He WOULD fulfill his mission.