Chapter 3: A Live Event

Rock and Roll were awed by all the hustle and bustle going on backstage at the network studio. Dr. Light had indeed accepted the invitation but it wasn't quite what he had expected. He was to be the one being interviewed by Sen. Camp and Mr. Keiji while a host/moderator was to be there in order to guide the event. Dr. Light had been slightly put out by the revelation but he was trying to be a good sport about it. His robotic children had been a subject of controversy but they were finally allowed to watch from backstage with security keeping an eye on them.

"Honestly, what do they expect us to do?" Roll asked her brother "Take everyone hostage or something?"

"Don't say things like that" Rock whispered urgently "The cops take certain things very seriously."

"Yes I know. For example, you can never shout theatre in a crowded fire."

"That's ri…you're weird Roll."

"But I'm funny" she smiled and her brother smiled back.

"I do hope I look alright" Roll said as a change of subject

"You really didn't have to get dressed up for backstage"

"Look who's talking, Mr. Bow Tie."

"Okay, you win"

At that moment, Dr. Light came rushing to them looking rather frazzled "I don't know why I agreed to this. I was only just now released by hair and makeup."

"You look great" Roll said while both twins giggled at the thought of their father being made up for the cameras

"I hope so. We're going to start very soon but I wanted to check on you."

"We're fine, go out there and knock up dead" Rock responded

"Now who's not watching his mouth" Roll asked

"Now you two…oh my I'm being paged. Wish me luck."

"Oh no" Rock said "You don't say that around stages, camera, or anything. The term is break a leg."

Dr. Light rolled his eyes with a smile and walked out to his seat. He was seated right between the two political rivals as a sort of buffer as well as the guest of honor. On his right sat Mr. Keiji, a business man in charge of a game company turned politician. He bowed respectfully as Dr. Light took his seat and the scientist bowed back.

"I'm pleased you could join us, Doctor."

"I just hope things go well for us, Keiji-san. Then again, I don't think I'm supposed to take sides."

"That seems impossible seeing as you brought your family. I hope I get to talk to them later."

The chat ended as Sen. Camp took his seat on the left and the host, talk show sensation Alex Letto, started things off. "Here we are live with three very special men" the host announced as he spread his arm toward his guests "Senator Camp, Mr. Keiji, and famous robot designer Dr. Light. Today's purpose is to have a nice discussion between these gentlemen as we try to get to the bottom of the current controversy around robots. I believe it's appropriate to first offer the floor to Dr. Light and allow him to get us started today."

"Thank you, Alex. I'm happy to be here today and I hope it can be a very productive time. For those who are not aware my name is Dr. Thomas Light and I am the primary creator of the Robot Master series that is causing such controversy. I would like to say that I am very sorry that this is an issue at all. I had dreamed of a world where robots and humans were living and working together in harmony to build a better world. My dream is that we can learn from them just as they learn from us. The Robot Masters were meant to be our guides into this new world. Even now they continue to go about their jobs and are harming nobody."

"They did cause harm a year ago in this very city" Camp cut in "As I have mentioned many times, there was almost untold damage to both life and property because of these wonderful workers of yours."

"That was not Dr. Light's fault" Mr. Keiji responded "That was because of the meddling of Dr. Wily. I have observed the Robot Masters in the field and am very impressed by what I see."

"And what is to stop Dr. Wily or anyone else for that matter from taking control of them again?"

Dr. Light answered "All eight of the Robot Masters have had extensive firewalls and anti-virus programs added to their primary programming in the intervening time. My children, Rock and Roll, have the same protection as will any future creations of Light Labs."

"You have just touched upon an interesting issue" Camp said "You referred to a pair of robots as your children? Is that not at all disturbing to you Dr?"

"I concede that ours is not a typical family. However, I will say this. I constructed and coded Rock and Roll with my own hands and they are in many ways exactly like a pair of children and I have grown much attached to them. They assist me in the lab and around the house but they also ask me questions, watch TV with me, play games, go for walks, and many other activities of a family. If I have come to regard them as children, then I don't see what the problem is."

"The problem is that they are not children, they are machines. Any personality they have is what you have programmed them with. They don't love you; they are only parroting the dictates of ones and zeros in their processing units."

"I'm afraid you're out of line with that statement, Senator" Alex interrupted "You also are not giving Mr. Keiji much chance to speak."

"Thank you, Alex" Mr. Keiji said "I am not an expert in advanced robotics but I believe that these Robot Masters, within parameters of course, are able to grow, learn, and expand their programming in astounding ways. They are even able to develop certain emotional responses, is that not true Doctor?"

"It is indeed. The AI in the Robot Masters is simply amazing. I myself am constantly surprised by the ways they are able to think and reason. I never expected their personalities to be this lifelike and I am very happy at my accidental success."

"You mentioned parameters" Camp responded "What if a scientist were to create a robot with those programming parameters set at evil? What if a dark Robot Master were to be created? How might they act, evolve and respond?"

Before anybody could answer this startling question, the entire studio shook. Security began rushing about trying to figure out what was going on but it soon became apparent as large hole was ripped into the studio roof. Nobody was hurt by the falling debris but everyone was very rattled. They were shaken even more as they gazed up through the hole and stared at a hovering mechanical dragon whose wings were beginning to disturb everyone, guest and audience alike, with very strong winds.

The dragon settled on the roof and the gale winds stopped. Its eyes projected a hologram of a very familiar face into empty space beneath the hole in the roof. The image of Dr. Wily grinned and asked "Is the camera's still running? Is everyone still here? Good! I want as wide an audience as possible as I register my opinion on the good Senator Oscar Clive Camp!"

"I am not ashamed of what I'm saying, Wily!" The Senator called out although he seemed unable to stand up.

Dr. Light was on his feet and he had been joined by his children "Albert, what is the meaning of this?"

"I just thought I'd drop in and have a chat with the very outspoken senator. I also thought I'd answer his most recent question although I don't know about the word evil. I'd like to introduce my new friends." A flash of bright light filled the room as eight teleport beams hit the floor. The light soon cleared to reveal eight cloaked figures of various sizes and shapes. "These are my own special Robot Masters. They are masters of combat!"