And chapter 2 is much quicker than I expected. I seem to have really been inspired. The story I'm creating here is based on several sources as well as my own imagination. I like where it's going and I hope you will as well, Faithful Readers.
The early morning tranquility of the small yet comfortable room was broken by the ring of an alarm clock. The robot in the pine wood bed shifted and covered his ears with his pillow. However, his powerful ears continued to pick up the annoying sound and his arm quickly shot out to silence the clock. Forgetting the strength of his mechanical arm, he was a little surprised to feel the clock disintegrate at his touch.
"I've got to work on that" Rock muttered as he sat up and blinked. It had been several days since his activation and he was still a bit surprised that he and Roll slept. "Well, we've got to recharge somehow I suppose."
He hopped out of bed and threw back the curtains. His room looked down upon the spacious back lawns of Light Labs. Roll had already made her imprint on said lawns as they now looked halfway cared for. He turned and looked around his own bedroom. The bedspread and wallpaper were blue as were many of the decorations. He smiled as he looked in the mirror and saw his own blue pajamas. Rock simply seemed to have an affinity for the color blue.
Not long later he was approaching the breakfast table in blue jeans, a white T shirt, and a denim jacket. He didn't eat but he still liked to sit with the family for meals. Also he and Roll were learning how to cook for Dr. Light but this morning it was Roll's turn. Rock could hear his sister now in the kitchen humming merrily as bacon sizzled.
"Good morning Dr. Light."
"Good morning Rock. Did you sleep well?"
"Yes I did. Is it possible for a robot to sleep badly?"
"I…I don't know" Dr. Light chuckled "I seem to be discovering a host of new things because of you and your sister."
"Talking about me?" Roll approached the table and set a plate of eggs, bacon, and toast in front of Dr. Light. In her other hand was a pot of coffee which she now poured into her father's near empty mug.
"This looks delicious, Roll. You certainly are a gifted cook."
"Unlike some" she looked at Rock as she said this and he looked indignant
"I'm getting better. And in my defense, Dr. Light said that kitchen rug probably needed to be burnt anyway."
Dr. Light chuckled as his new children bickered across the table. He knew there was no malice in their words and that they were coming to care for each other very much. The very fact that robots could care for others was still a fascinating mystery to him despite having built the ones doing it. He had expected them to be human like but in the short time he'd known them, they had both surprised him beyond words.
"Well at least I'm not the one who put a DVD in the toaster" Rock was now snapping.
Roll started to reply but Dr. Light held his hands up for calm "I think that's enough of that. Why don't we talk about something else?"
"Okay" Roll said as she gave Rock a look that clearly said 'I still win' "Why don't you tell us more about the meeting you're going to later today?"
"Yeah" Rock added enthusiastically "Maybe we could even go along and help. After all, you initially intended us to be servant robots."
"I wouldn't say servant and I'm much happier how you turned out instead. Anyway, this afternoon I will be meeting with the heads of several companies to discuss the development of a new class of worker robots."
"More advanced than the Sniper Joes and Mets?" Rock asked
Dr. Light sighed deeply at the mention of the military robots known as Sniper Joes; he never did like making weapons and was troubled that he was somewhat good at it. "Yes, robots with advanced Artificial Intelligence based off of the success of you two with specific roles in society. It's an idea that I have been tinkering with for some time, an idea that old friend and I once played with together, but now I think the time is right to actually go ahead with it."
"That's great!" Roll exclaimed "Just keep in mind that I'm the ultimate cleaning robot!"
"How could I not? This place hasn't looked so clean in years. You two really are quite remarkable. And before you speak Roll, Rock has been a godsend in the lab. I've never had a better assistant."
"Thanks" Rock smiled "So can we go with you? It's just that I've seen so little of the world so far."
"Well" Dr. Light hesitated as he glanced down at an article declaring Rock and Roll's existence controversial in the newspaper beside his breakfast plate "Actually, that might be good. Yes I'd be honored to have your company."
"You're thinking the world has made a remarkably quick judgment about us and actually meeting us could help put them to ease about human like robots" Roll said. When Dr. Light looks astonished she smiled and said "We do have computers for brains you know."
"You two…on minute you act like advanced machines and the next you're typical children."
"What's to say we're not the best of both?" Rock wanted to know
"I suppose you are"
Roll asked "Will your old friend be there? The one that originally helped think up this idea."
"No. Albert Wily was my dear friend in college and we developed many concepts together but we haven't seen each other in years."
"I've heard of him" she went on "People don't like his inventions, do they?"
"Albert has made some real mistakes in his life and released some rather controversial ideas. Somehow that has colored the viewpoint of the general public and now they seem to think everything he makes is poison. For example, his recent advances in nanotechnology could have many applications in medicine but people just see evil little robots invading their bodies. And that's just one area in which the science could be used."
"I can see that concern but they should try to see the good sides as well" Rock responded
"I agree but Albert did also have a few personality quirks that are less than endearing. I wonder how he's doing these days." His eyes took on a faraway look and the corners of his mouth dropped slightly.
Rock gazed at his father with some concern "You miss him, don't you Dr. Light?"
"My boy, there are a lot of people I miss. In years I may not be as old as I look but I certainly am in spirit."
"Enough sad talk" Roll said "I'm going to get started on cleaning all this up and Rock, you start getting Dr. Light ready. I know it's early but this is a big deal and we want to make the best impression."
The guys simply smiled at each other and inwardly admitted who the real master of the household was. They got up and went to follow her instructions.
