"Is it complete yet?" questioned a man in the shadows with a chilling voice.

"Not yet," another replied, looking up at him from his work, "and if you keep bothering me, it will never be finished."

The man stepped forward out of the shadows, revealing his face, a mask containing only one eye, grabbing the older one by the collar, pulling his face to his.

"I am on a strict schedule, Professor Chang," the one eyed man informed, anger about his voice, "this must be completed soon, or else."

"I am working as fast as I possible can, Slade," Professor Chang informed, Slade setting him down, "you must understand, this is a delicate proce-"

"Don't make excuses, Professor," Slade warned, "the last person that continued to make excuses to me has ceased to be, so I suggest that you work a little more diligently."

Professor Chang continued with his work, turning back to the table. On the table appeared to be a man, but completely composed of circuitry, wires, and motors. Professor Chang connected what appeared to be an artificial eye in the head of the unit. They eye moved back and forth, scanning its environment. Slade walked away from Chang, heading to his private quarters.

"When I return, Professor," Slade cautioned, "this prototype better be successfully running, I will not accept anything less, and then you will have it in production, I need the numbers I have requested soon."

Professor Chang continued working, ignoring Slade, he knew what was at hand and he knew that he must have this prototype finished if he wanted to see the light of another day.

"That man is very impatient," Professor Chang commented to himself, attaching wires in the chest cavity of the unit, "but if he delivers the amount of money he has promised me, it will be worth it, then I can fund my own research."

Professor Chang continued to work, having installed all the major components, he has nearly finished connecting all the wires and power conduits.

"Voice command test," Professor Chang said, flicking a switch inside of the machine.

The eye opened, acting as if it were natural in composure.

"Who am I?" Professor Chang questioned the machine.

"You are Professor Chang," the machine replied in Slade's eerie voice, "creator of the Slade Bot version 2.0."

"Correct," Professor Chang added, "now, let's see if you can do what I have designed and programmed you to do."

The robot looked at its exposed body, then at the tools and parts on the tray next to the table.

"I am capable of quite more than you anticipated, Professor," the robot said, sitting up, and picking up a tool in one hand, a component in the other.

The robot worked on itself, repairing and installing what was missing at blinding speed.

"Marvelous," Professor Chang said with confidence about his voice.

The robot had just attached the access plate on its chest with ease. It slid off the table, every movement fluid as if it were organic.

"What are my orders now?" the robot questioned, using its A.I. to have an actual conversation with another person.

"You will have to see your master, Slade, for that information," Chang stated, cleaning up and taking his tools with him, "I have to get started on making you "brothers."

The robot nodded, walking in the same direction Slade had gone. The robot was a near exact replica of Slade, same height, same build, right down to the same mask. The robot had a few minor differences though, the artificial eye was a bright, inferno red, unlike Slade's dark blue, nearly black. The lines where plates on the robot came together were also visible, especially on the mask, having one going down the middle of the side that contained the eye. Last, but not least, a serial number was engraved on its forehead, shoulders, and the right side of its chest. Being the prototype and the first, its number read "001", and more that likely, Slade would make this one his second in command to control the others. The robot walked up to the door Slade had gone through, stopping. It knocked just loud enough for someone to hear, exerting superb control over the amount of strength to use for certain tasks. Slade opened the door, seeing the robot at exact eye level with him, as if he were looking into a mirror.

"Professor Chang told me to come to you for orders, Master," the robot explained, obeying.

"You seem to be in perfect working condition," Slade commented, beginning to circle the machine, "I do have an assignment for you, 001," he added, stopping.

"Yes, Master?" he questioned, wanting to hear what his assignment was going to be.

"To hold your own in combat against me!" Slade exclaimed, lunging at the robot.

Slade attacked, driving his fist across the robot's face, forcing it to the ground with tremendous force. The robot stood up as if nothing happened, dusting itself off.

"Yes, Master," it replied, lunging for Slade.

The robot swung, only to miss Slade by a hair, allowing Slade to counterattack with his right foot. He attempted to deliver a devastating kick to the robot's midsection, only to be blocked with ease by the robot's extremely fast reflexes.

"Not bad," Slade commented, following up with a left punch that leveled the robot again, "but not good enough."

"I aim to please, Master," the robot replied in the same voice, picking itself up again.

The robot attacked again, this time with extreme perseverance, delivering lightning fast strikes that Slade was forced to block, all coming at him at extreme speed and repetition. The robot finally found a hole, hitting Slade right between the eyes with a solid strike, forcing him backwards. Slade, dazed, attempted to regain his normalcy, only to have his blurred vision return to see the robot in the air, its foot aimed right at Slade's head. It connected, causing Slade to hit the ground. The robot stood over him, raising its fist in an attempt to finish the fight.

"001, disengage combat," Slade said, attempting to keep his cool, the fist stopping inches from Slade's face, "you passed, you and your brothers will serve me well."

The robot helped Slade up as if nothing had happened.

"My legion and I will be of the utmost loyalty to you, Master," the robot answered, "and I am sorry for the damage I have inflicted upon you, Master."

"I gave you an order and you fulfilled it," Slade replied, feeling blood trickle down his face inside of the mask, "you have no need to apologize."

"Yes, Master," the robot obeyed, "do you have any other orders in need of fulfillment?"

Slade's eye only squinted, as if he were smiling an evil, devilish smile underneath his black and bronze mask.