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Chapter 2: Revolutionary attitude
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The area around X was filled with the low hums and chirps from the surrounding computers, checking and processing data, as the blue robot lay quietly on a metal table. A long metal plug reached from a small plug nestled in a usually seamless panel, into the computer matrix as a group of technicians scanned his CPU matrix.
Doctor Tryne, a young man with slightly tanned skin, pushed back some spare locks of long black hair that escaped his ponytail. After giving the data-streams one last stare, he gave a long sigh before striding out of the scanning room, moving along the corridors until he finally saw Cain and Miss Maquin moving his way.
"Doctor Tryne?" Miss Maquin prompted.
"I came to see if you had both finished your contract meeting. We're finishing up X's neural scanning now, and, um…" he momentarily flailed, "Having slight problems."
"Brief us on the way there, if you please." Miss Maquin ordered.
"Alright," Tryne walked slightly in front of them as to not block the hallway, "We've almost scanned all of X's programming and data, and it's extremely complex. Its taking two super-computers to process it all, and it'll take us weeks, maybe months to fully analyze it all. I've never seen anything like it."
"He's got that much in his noggin?" Cain mused.
"Maybe, but it's also very complex coding – this is an invention of Doctor Light. From what you've told us, Doctor Cain, the type of programming necessary to achieve his behavior must be legendary."
"Fair enough."
"However, we're having problems scanning his final core programming. They're so obscenely complex and multifaceted that we or not even the computers can much any sense out of it. We think that maybe there might be some security coding woven in there, but his very core programming…" he flapped his arms in a despairing shrug, "Who knows?"
"So you can't figure out how he works?" Miss Maquin asked.
"Well, yes, for the most part. I mean, Light has created things we've never seen before, but we're starting to figure it out. Without X's final programming we won't be able to understand him completely, but I think we'll understand most of it."
"Good." Miss Maquin approved.

As they moved into the scanning room, the area still alive with rapid streams of data scrolling through the screens, Cain cast a glance at X, "So Tryne, am I right on the idea he only has a few files of knowledge?"
"Oh, yes," Tryne nodded, "You're quite right there – he's only got basic data on how to speak, move, and level 1 on basic knowledge. Things like tree, ball, person. He's not dumb by any means – he's got a super-computer for a brain. As smart as these we've got running here, if not smarter. He's just…"
"Naïve?" Cain finished.
Tryne stuck a confirming finger in his direction, "Right. For him, with a mind that changes with his experiences, having too much programming in there would just conflict and confuse him. It'd be easier for him to start from scratch. Thus, we've gotta teach him ourselves."
"Doubt we'll can send him to high-school," Cain sighed, "Maybe…we could make some sorta of system where we'd teach him everything he'd need to know. Or enough so he could wander around without killing himself with curiosity."
Tryne gave a cock-eyed look, "So purchase some learning programs? What'll we start with?"
"He needs more levels of basic knowledge first, I would think," Miss Maquin suggested, "He at least needs to know up to level 12 until we can teach him anything else."
"Right. Then maybe world geology and history, social sciences, economics, sciences, so forth…" Tryne listed, "But with just level knowledge, I don't know if any existing programs will help."
"Why not just whip up some?" Cain suggested, "We could just program up a little basic learning program with the basics, and then get something like an encyclopedia of history. Basic children's stuff."
"Right. I'll contact some programming staff and get them on that immediately. If you'll excuse me." Miss Maquin quickly strode out.

"So…" Tryne ventured after a small silence, "What was that contract about, if you don't mind me asking. Planning on mass-producing this guy?"
"Oh no, no, no, I'm curious. I want to know how he works and such. But on the other hand, I don't want him to be dissected. So the contract means that I'll oversee this project and all procedures have to be a-okayed by yours truly." Cain chuckled.
Tryne's face was surprisingly neutral, "Good idea," he dead-panned, before turning away to stare at X, "Never know, these days."

-

"Alright, sit on down, X," Cain began, and the robot compliantly did so, "We've quickly whipped up a program here that'll help you learn a little, so I'll show you how you work it."
"Okay."
Cain blinked, "What?"
"I said okay," X restated, "That is a word for affirmative, correct?"
"Yeah…but why are you using it now?"
"I heard you say it."
"…Fair enough. Righto. Now, this is a screen – a graphical representation of data. You only have level 1 on basic knowledge; this'll teach you about the second level and beyond that. With me so far?"
"Yeah."
Cain gave a cough, but continued onwards, "Now you activate the data by touching these prompts, see the labels? Like that one."
"Page 1."
"Yup. Now press it."
X reached up and pressed the button upon the holographic screen, watching as the screen changed from a menu to a page of words and pictures. The robots eyes eagerly scanned all the letters in mere seconds, and followed the prompts to see larger pictures and animation videos.

[Abacus; An oblong frame with rows of wires or grooves…]

After absorbing the information, X went to the next page and consumed the information just as easily. Cain perked his eyebrows as he observed X analyze the information with complete concentration and curiosity. Page after page flicked past, the only delay was the few scant minutes for reading the information or simply watching any animations.

[Level 5 complete. Loading Level 6…]

Watching from another room, Miss Maquin gaped, "How is it he can absorb information so quickly?"
"Well, this is only a theory at this point, but if he's got to learn, he's gotta learn fast, right?" Tryne suggested, "For a robot, he needs to get up to speed, and since he constantly learns through his life, he needs to understand things quickly."
"So it's a part of his design," Miss Maquin drawled thoughtfully, "We were experimenting with this before, using downloads, but this way seems so efficient."
"We're gonna have to be careful, ma'am, seeing how many regulations there are on –"
"I know that," she snapped harshly, "Creating so many limitations because they're still so petrified from the Wily Wars. Can't make them too smart, strong, or human-like. How disgusting."
Tryne shifted uneasily, "Uh, well, we've been scanning through X's data, and we noted something very interesting."
"What?"
"…He's not programmed with the Three Laws of Robotics."
Miss Maquin stared at him in alarm, "What!?"
"It's just like Light's hologram said; X can freely make his own decisions. The Three Laws would only hinder that. So if he felt like it…"
"He could break the First Law." Miss Maquin gasped.
"Well, if he ever did, I think it'd be because he didn't know better. Right now, he doesn't have enough experience to know what the emotion 'hate' is. He's got no valid reason to hurt anyone."
"That will change, you know that."
"True, but, well…humans aren't programmed. All of us could hurt another if we wanted. But not all of us do – why? Because we've taught it's wrong to do that. So along with teaching X about stuff like history and social sciences, we must teach him ethics and morals. And the laws of society. To do the right thing, really."
Miss Maquin irritably tapped her fingers on her arm as she crossed them, "He's still rather dangerous. He can't be controlled."
"That's a good thing, isn't it?" Tryne said.
She frowned, "How so?"
"Well, the regulations are in place because they're scared that like in the Wily Wars, you can just program a smart robot and order it to take over the world. With X, you can't do that. You can't say 'X, go shoot that tree', because X has free will. He won't unless he wants to. X is too complex for a war-robot, seeing as you have to teach him and all."
"Seems like my distant uncle didn't want a repeat of the wars either. So…X is far too independent to be a major threat."
Tryne lifted his eyebrows; "It may be too early to say this, but a threat? Him?"

They both looked into the next room where X was already breaching level 11, watching in childish amusement as a video of Asian dancers wafted across the screen. He was mimicking Cain and gently moving in tune to the music.

"We'll have to see, I think," Miss Maquin mused quietly, "Let him study for the rest of the afternoon. We'll begin physical analyzing tomorrow."

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At the precise time of 8:30 the next morning, Cain awoke X from his stasis inside his own small personal room in the labs, and walked with him down the many corridors of the Light Industries building. The walls were a gentle white with a deep downy blue carpet or tiles, tinted further blue from the sunlight through the tinted windows. The air was very clean, yet held a sharp edge of metal and industrial cleaner.

Cain led X into one of the Scanning and Examination Labs, merrily heading to the large scanning capsule. It was more of a bubble five meters in diameter made of tinted blue glass, a ring of chirping computer consoles around the sides save for a small space reserved for some steps. Tryne, who was waiting for them, pressed a few buttons and the bubble split down the middle and retracted, revealing the padded interior.
"If you don't mind, X, what I'd like you to do first is step inside and lay down." Tryne asked.
X looked intimidated by the capsule and didn't move. He looked to Doctor Cain who smiled and nodded. Taking the hint of encouragement, X clumsily crawled up the steps and lay down. The dome restored itself over him, tinting his vision blue.
Tryne pressed a few more buttons and activated the communication link, "X, you hear me?"
X looked around for the source of the unknown voice. It sounded familiar to Tryne's, but was scratchy and tinny, and came from numerous sources. He finally spotted Tryne grinning at him and blinked in confusion.
"Sorry, X. Y'know what electronic communication is?"
X nodded, "The transmission and reception of sound messages by converting acoustic vibrations to electrical signals."
"Yeah. We've just got a lot of sound output devices in there, so that's why you hear from a lot of sources."
"Oh. I see."
Cain smiled at him through the glass, "Now, I want you to stay nice and still, okay? There's gonna be some scanners and lights and whatnot, but just shut your eyes and relax and don't worry about a thing. Nothing bad is gonna happen."
"Understood."
"Excellent! Tryne, take it away!"

X shut his eyes and slipped into stasis as a number of machines danced above him, first dipping close and scanning his armour, face, and other outer membranes of his body. After ensuring X was in deep stasis and wouldn't awaken, the machines searched for the right spot to activate the chest plates of the armour, breaking the seamless panels to reveal his inner workings. Scanning lasers and sensors all around inside, picking up readings and mapping out his internal structures. More armour was eventually unclasped, scanned and slightly prodded.

After all the long hours of scanning, X was eventually sealed all the way back up. X was brought out of stasis, who sat up and yawned to boost his systems. He seemed rather unruffled by the experience, and wiggled his way out of the pod.
"There, now that wasn't so bad, was it?" Cain asked kindly.
"Negative. I was hesitant, however." X agreed.
"Fair enough. Tryne?"
"We're done here, at least for a while." Tryne said, as the computers gathered the collected data.
"Okay. You did very well, X," Cain said, and noticed that X's face had lightened at that.
"Thank you, Cain." X replied, a small edge of happiness moving into his voice.
"No problem. Well, come along X, we got work to do. Coming Tryne?"
"Right, coming." Tryne responded, following them out the room and down the corridor.
"What are we doing today?" X asked.
"Well, yesterday we helped teach you a lot of things about the world. Today, we're going to help you learn how to move around easier. Smashing tables isn't good, now is it?" Cain asked, perking an eyebrow at him.
X looked somewhat glum, "I did not intend to do that…"
Cain patted his shoulder, "Naw, it's alright, it was an accident. It was in a stupid place anyway."
"Cain?"
"Yes?"
"Why are you testing my systems? Is something wrong?" X asked, a slight edge of concern moving into his voice.
"No, nothing's wrong! Heck, you're only a few days old, brand new. But see, I want to help you learn about the world so you'll be happy in it, but to do that, I gotta learn about you. Understand?"
X nodded, "Yeah."

The group walked through the door into a small observation room with a large window leading into what seemed to be a small exercise room. A single treadmill was installed inside it for now, surrounded by sensors and a large data cable flowing out of it into the observation room, which was filled with computers.
Tryne turned to the blue robot, "Feel ready, X?"
"Ready for what?" X blinked.
"Touché. Well see that room in there – that's a treadmill, something you can practice running on."
"So I am provided with training that will help me learn motory skills for future use?"
"Yup," Tryne nodded, "If you'll come with me, we'll get you prepped."

X dutifully followed into the adjoining room, where Cain watched through a viewing window as Tryne and some other scientists attached small sensors to X's body as he explained the procedure. X curiously blinked and moved onto the treadmill, data moving across the screens as the sensors transmitted information.
"Interesting, isn't he?" Miss Maquin observed, as she moved into the room.
Cain turned and gave a smile, "Ah, top of the morning to you, ma'am!"
"Thank you," she replied dryly, watching X for a few moments, "He moves so much like a human, so fluidly and yet he seems quite unsure at times."
"Well to nitpick, he didn't move so human-like when he first woke up – he moved somewhat mechanically. But I think he's been picking up on the way I walk and move and such…I don't know if that's a conscious thing or not."
"Hm?"
"I mean, humans can involuntary pick-up things from their surroundings, like accents and gestures, so forth. You don't even realize it most of the time. X has already consciously begun mimicking some speech-patterns, but there's a lot more he's picking up. Notice his voice isn't so flat?"
"Yes, indeed…he seems to put more meaning into greetings now, doesn't he?" Miss Maquin noted.
"And it's only been a day or so!" Cain cackled, before watching data fly past, "Hm, isn't this interesting? Look at how he moves!"
"He must have revolutionary magnetic ball-and-socket joints; that must be how he's running so smoothly."
"Look at him go…whup, spoke too soon."
"Ow!"
Miss Maquin stared, "Did he just say 'ow'!?"
"Well, seems like. You okay, X?" Cain asked through a microphone.
X looked around owlishly in search for Cain's voice, unaware of the speakers throughout the room, and finally blinked at him when Tryne directed where to look, "…Yeah, I am okay. I tripped and fell off the treadmill. Injury minimal." X replied.
Miss Maquin started to frown incredulously, "…Is he pouting?"
Cain grinned at that, but didn't reply, "Do you want to keep trying, X?"
"Yeah," X replied, getting back onto the treadmill, "May I run at a slower speed?"
"Uh, sure, no problem…" Tryne replied, adjusting the settings.

However, it wasn't too long that X took a few more crashes, until one final time where X lost his footing – and after a desperate bout of flailing around to get upright again – went flying off the treadmill at a merry speed and landed harshly on his rear end with a yelp. After a moment of waiting for his systems to get back in functional order, he sat himself up, and refused to move.
A scientist next to the treadmill gave a sigh, "Come on, let's do it again."
"No."
Everyone stared at X with surprise, as the scientist flabbergasted, "What?"
"This exercise has proven stressful and laborious. I do not wish to continue."
"Get back on the treadmill." The scientist growled.
"No."
"I order you. Do it!"
"No!"
"Dern, calm down!" Tryne admonished.
"Listen, robot, you – "
The scientist was cut off as a cane smacked him quite hard over the head. Cain, who had flown into the room, gave him a nasty scowl, "Now that's enough, you smarmy jerk. If X says no, he bloody well means no!" he turned to X, who was looking quite upset, "Want to take a break for now?"
X sullenly nodded.

-

X was being quite well entertained by a hologram rubik cube as Miss Maquin gathered up a small group of scientists, including Tryne and Cain in a nearby meeting room. She let out a frustrated sigh, "Due to an earlier incident today, I have gathered all of you here to be the team that will work on studying X. Doctor Dern is no longer going to be in contact with X due to his outburst. I chose all of you because you're more open to X's revolutionary attitude, but I must ask you be as tolerant as possible. Remember, X has the perfect ability to file a complaint and it will be acted on," she calmed down before continuing, "You've all been briefed on how X's mind works, but the fact is, we need X's co-operation if we're going to learn about him and thusly help him. This is a brain-storming session – any suggestions are welcome."
A female scientist hesitantly spoke, "Um, well, I may be speaking the obvious in that we've somehow got to get X to want to do the exercises. Of course, finding out how is the hard part."
"Well, any human voluntarily does things for various reasons…" another said, "Like it's your job, that you enjoy doing it…"
"Is that it, though? Did he just find it too painful? What exactly didn't he like? If we knew his exact complaint and changed the exercises a bit, then maybe he'd want to."
"I could follow up on that and ask X now, if you like." Cain suggested.
"Please." Miss Maquin nodded.

Cain excused himself from the room and made his way to the small room where X was still playing with his rubik cube, almost completing it. Musing on what he was going to do with the blue robot, Cain sat down at the table near to X, who gave a somewhat blank greeting smile.
Cain raised his eyebrows, "Are you enjoying that, X?"
"I find it very interesting and intriguing." X replied, twisting another section.
"X, may I ask why exactly you don't like the treadmill?" Cain asked. He was quite surprised when he noticed X's expression become more sullen.
"It was stressful and laborious work. The speed was difficult to keep pace with, and it hurt. It is an unpleasant experience." X informed quietly.
"Well, if we let you go at your own pace, would that be better?"
X shook his head, "I still find it unpleasant. I do not see much reason why it is necessary."
"Well, remember like in the elevator? The world is full of unexpected bumps and so you won't get hurt, you've got to be prepared for them. That's what the treadmill is for; so you can practice, so you can master your motory systems. At least when you fell off, you landed onto a cushioned floor – if you fell over outside onto hard ground, that'd hurt a lot more."
"Oh, okay." X noted, but still seemed rather hesitant.
"Still not warm to the idea of going back in?"
"No. I can understand the importance, but I do not enjoy the experience," X was silent for a moment, "What do humans do when they must complete a task they dislike?"
"Hm? Why humans do it?"
"Yes."
"Well, if there's something we don't like doing – like taxes, or washing the car – we do it not only because we realize the necessity, but we get a reward."
"Reward?"
"Sure. You do something you don't like as long as you get something as you like for a reward. That way it's fair," Cain gave a cunning smile, "I'll tell you what. If you like, we'll buy some more puzzles and games for you to play. If you try again with the treadmill, then we'll let you play games as a reward. That sound good?"
X's face had brightened, "Different games? How many are there?"
"Plenty, hundreds in fact!"
X smiled, "Okay. I can attempt the treadmill again."
"Sure. This time you can go at your own pace, okay?"
"Okay!"

"Hello, pardon me…" Cain smiled as he walked back into the conference room.
"So? How'd it go?" Tryne asked.,br "X and I have worked out a little agreement. He thinks he's ready to try the treadmill again."
"What?! How?" one scientist demanded.
"Well, he didn't particularly like the treadmill, but then I told him if he tried again – at his own pace, mind you – then I'd give some more games. He quite likes the rubik cube."
Everyone gave each a long, fixed stare of confusion, but Miss Maquin nonetheless complied, "Alright, then, I shall send someone to purchase some more games for him. Is he ready?"
"Raring to go."
"…Let's give this another try, then."

-

Sensors re-attached, X stepped back onto the treadmill, beginning at an easier level. The team watched rather curiously this time to see how far the robot would go this time around.
"So explain your reasoning, Doctor Cain. How did you know this would work?" Miss Maquin asked.
"I didn't really," Cain admitted, "But he asked me what humans did when they didn't want to do something. Really, it isn't so weird rewarding him for this – it is rather stressful for a young robot. Besides, most humans are trained by using a reward system, so why not?"
Tryne scratched his head, "Um, I got someone to run down and get some games, but do you think he'll be satisfied with that?"
"Well, for now. We can find other fun things for him to do – all work and no play makes a dull robot, right?" Cain proclaimed merrily.
Tryne gave a frown, "I don't know…are we overestimating him? He is the final creation of Doctor Light, and I never doubt his work, but …X is over a century old."
"Much of robot technology was lost at the end of the 20XX era…along with Doctor Light and his creations," Miss Maquin informed quietly and almost wistfully, "So we have been set back a bit."
"I know, and he is advanced physically…but X was an experiment. Who knows if it worked?"
"It's a bit early to judge that, Doctor Tryne."
"I know…but he Mega Man X, and maybe we're expecting too much from him. That's not exactly…" Tryne grasped for a word, "Well, fair…"
"…Um, sir?" a nearby scientist said hesitantly.
"Hang on for a sec, Mary."
Cain boggled at the data readings, "I think you both want to see this, Tryne. Look at him."
Tryne frowned slightly in annoyance before his swivelled his head towards the blue robot, before slowly his eyebrows began to rise up his forehead.
"S-sir!" Mary squeaked, "His performance has almost instantly doubled!"
X, as if given some form of determination, every time he fell over he simply stood up and remounted the treadmill. The group of humans watched as X steadily progressed faster and faster through the levels of treadmill training, his error ratio plummeting down as X learned his steps on the machine. In only half an hour, thus shattering the completion records of any robot before him, X finished the final level and dismounted the treadmill.
"I have completed the necessary requirements." X stated the obvious.
He was met with a small silence as the humans present stared in nothing short than complete surprise, and he blinked once or twice as his mind innocently pondered what was delaying their reaction time. He wandered over to the nearby Mary and peered at her, "Is there a problem with your hearing sensors?" he asked curiously.
Mary gave a small squeak in surprise and backed off a little, a little uneasy, "Th-that's…"
"Impossible…" Tryne gaped, stooping like an old man, "Our best robots don't learn that quickly! Never!"
Miss Maquin smiled at Doctor Cain thankfully, "It looks like you were right, Doctor Cain."
"In all honesty, I never knew it would work that well." Cain blinked.
"Can I play now?" X asked.
"Well, certainly."

Setting up and programming the games, X was sat down and allowed to explore on his merry way through the various games. Cain had noted that X seemed a little surer in his steps now, and his systems were probably well calibrated by now. He might need a bit more training on more complex exercises to help general nimbleness, but for now, the scientists had nothing to fear about smashed tables.
"Cain?"
"Yes?"
X was curiously looking at a holographic chess set sitting in front of him, looking at the controls, "What does '2-player' mean?"
Cain blinked, and then gave a grin, "Means I can play as well. Want to have a match?"
X's face brightened, "Okay…!"

-

Miss Maquin gave a disdainful snort at she watched the two of them through the glass viewer in the door, before moving off down the hall, Tryne obediently following her.
"He's become so maternally attached to it. How trite." She mused to herself darkly.
Tryne knew better than to comment.
"In any case, how is the analysis of the readings so far?"
"Going well ma'am. We need to do some more sessions of further scanning, but we've amassed quite a lot of information already, and…"
"Do you have some files for me?"
"Y-yes ma'am." Tryne nodded, passing to her a data-pad. She flipped through it as she walked towards her office, eyebrows steadily rising, along with a rather disconcerting grin.
"Amazing. Not surprisingly…" she said to herself, laughing softly, "Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. This will change everything."
Tryne said nothing, as he simply stared at her back as they walked down the hallway.