Summary: After disappointments, arguments and the destruction of the time machine (again), Wilbur is back to find his dad's younger counterpart to fix it again. Only for him to realize that the wrong alternative universe he went in, is not what he expected. The sixteen year old Lewis is never renamed as 'Cornelius Robinson' nor was he adopted by the Robinson couple nor did he graduate school at age fourteen nor was he the rare, smart and one of a kind inventor and person nor was he the one who made the world a better place.
Be warned. I will say this is not a great fic but hey, you can roast me for it. So if something just doesn't makes any damn sense in here, I understand. I saw that too but I really just want to publish this. So I tried my best to make it make sense. Enjoy!
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The raven haired stared at the precise red metallic coat of the time machine.
Carl sighed behind him. Something to appraise on Cornelius' coding on him. The robot is definitely not pleased at his plan. "You can't keep doing this, little buddy. You can alter the future as we know it. Oh ho ho, I would hate to be you if that green paradox cloud appears to take you in again."
Wilbur scoffed, "it would be fine. It's not like Dad would know."
Carl's LED eyes shot at him incredulously. He understood Wilbur is upset with his father but sneaking out to the warps of time under his nose is just down right unacceptable. Everything could be ruined!
The LED eyes frowned. What else could Wilbur thunk to go besides his father's younger counterpart?
Wilbur took the unsaid question. "They're not the same person, ya' know?"
The frown turned into bewilderment. This kid. He sighed. Did he forget that flying car is a time machine, not some virtual reality vehicle that can magically teleport you through past and future scenes of time? He paused his thoughts and glanced at the boy. Wilbur seemed to view Cornelius and Lewis as if they're two different people. Carl doubted that.
When he, himself, met the young blond, all of the similarities are too clear. Even time paradox agrees, one push against Lewis, it reflects to Cornelius. One push against the younger counterpart of the man who made the future, the said future can be altered to the worst. Wilbur didn't seem to see it that way.
"Dad wouldn't even remember."
Carl shudders. When Wilbur will just come running to Lewis, no doubt he would rant about how unfair his dad had been. Isn't that going to make Lewis doubt his future actions? Or maybe hate himself in the near future…
The robot already knew even his master's hardships from birth to present age, words from his own son cut deeper than anything.
"I'm sorry, 'The One and Only Amazing Wilbur A. Robinson who never fails' you may have failed to notice that the 'L' in Cornelius L. Robinson stands for 'Lewis'."
"Oh wow!" Wilbur slapped his forehead in exaggeration. Carl rolled his eyes. "I never noticed that, Carl. Well, thanks for that. Got to get going."
Carl extends to grab the back of his collar and halt him. "No no no, you have to think about what you're about to do. Lewis is Cornelius and Cornelius is Lewis. I know you're upset about him not going to your play offs but give Cornelius a chance. He already told you he'll make it up, right?"
Wilbur pushed away his metallic arms. "This isn't just about the play offs, Carl."
Carl blinked. Huh? He couldn't remember another instance his creator just bluntly ignore his son. The inventor tried his best to convey that he is never too busy for his family because of course Family comes first. Sure, sometimes or maybe most of the times, he's too busy and missed some of the Wilbur's practices but he still makes sure to make it up. And it's not like 'okay, kiddo. I'll shake your hand and whoopee now we're fine!' heck, this is the 'Father of the Future' we're talking about.
Carl, himself, was made because eleven year old Wilbur got to detention because his friend and him fought in school and Cornelius is only present to the second half of the talk to the principal. Comfort for a destroyed friendship and a little talk about physical fighting passed then after 5 weeks Carl is online to be a non-betraying buddy.
"Testing C4RL for the 245th time." A faint slide of the marker is heard. A soft sigh. "What do you say spaghetti arms?"
Carl blinked alive and blinked again. The metallic head tilted in confusion and the man with spiky blond hair widen his eyes at him. "My name is C4RL. Master, do you want to rename me to 'spaghetti arms'?"
Cornelius dropped the marker in his hand, his jaw slacked. "Oh my…goodness gracious."
"I seem to not understand, Master."
"You're working."
Carl simply waved his thin arms at his sides. "Your visuals seemed to be working perfectly fine too." He blurted out with a small smile. 'Bantering' - to speak to or address in a witty and teasing manner.
Cornelius let out a huff of laugh. "Wow, buddy. First few minutes with me and you're already sassing me out. Well, gotta fix that. Wouldn't want to teach Wil that."
The blond reached to the side of the robot's head and Carl instantly jumped back and stutters, "Master, Master. I'm working perfectly fine! I seemed to just try one of 'H.P.A.' functions you placed in one of my codes."
Carl smiled nervously and apologetically as the inventor stepped back with a knowing smirk on his face.
"It's good to know that's working but lay it off on the sass. You're going to be friend to a ten year old."
Despite the slight hardness on his creators voice, Carl mulled over what he said. I'm going to be a friend to a young human? Already? Right after I'm alive… Carl grinned and saluted. "Yes, Master. Reporting for duty."
Cornelius nods, placing his hands to his pockets. "Yeah…no, don't call me that. My name is Cornelius or… Lewis?" He paused with a click of his teeth. My goodness, surely I have a lot of titles; Cornelius, Lewis, Robinson, Doctor, 'Father of the Future', Mr. Robinson, Tom Selleck ("For goodness sake, Wilbur. I do not sound like him."), Mr. Fix-it, Dad (Only for the one and only Wilbur Robinson), and Neil. He mentally shook his head. Yeah, let's lay off on those titles. "You can call me, Neil."
Carl nods. "Okie-dokie, Mast- I mean, Neil."
The blond exchanged the nod. He had a feeling that would change. But stuttering and slight mistakes is one 'H.P.A.'s—Good to know it's working perfectly.
"But… I don't think that fits…" Cornelius stared at the robot. Ah, speaking of which. Carl taps his chin and stared at something on the human's chest. Neil followed his gaze and to the name tag on his lab coat. "Doctor!"
Neil thought about it. "Um, they only call me that back at R.I. but we're all family here. Sooo…"
Carl just stared at him. This is his creator, even how much he probably would imply that he's part of the family or he's made for a eleven year old. He's sure to view this man somewhat higher. His creator. It's well deserved to call him something formal.
The blond shrugs. Human characterization, emotions and self made opinions and decisions. All because of 'H.P.A.'. Something missing DOR-15 didn't have. "Okay." He sure hoped Carl would make nicknames of his own for Wilbur. "Whatever you say."
"Cornelius?"
Neil turned to the sound and Carl yelped and ran to hide behind his creator. "Fran, good timing."
The raven haired's eyes narrowed as she neared them. Carl remains hidden behind Cornelius.
"I want you to meet-" He paused when he didn't see the robot beside him. "Carl!" The inventor tried to spin around but Franny only got to see the robot for a second before her husband faces her again, Carl staying glued to his back. She held her giggles as the scene progresses. "Com'n bud, show yourself."
A robotic 'nuh-uh' was heard and Neil's face got scrunched in displeasure but Franny could see the amusement in those blue eyes. Neil stayed facing his wife and reached his arm behind to grab the robot's arm. "Come on…"
Neil pulled Carl to reveal him. "Franny, meet Carl. Carl, I want you to meet my wife."
Franny freezes and stares with wide eyes and raised eyebrows. Cornelius stepped back and placed his palm on the robot's back who stared at Neil, nervously. The blond nods, "Go on."
Carl's head lowered and slightly lifts his hand to wave. "Hi…um…greetings."
Franny slacked her jaw for a second before snapping out. "Hi…" She narrowed her eyes at Cornelius. "Neil…"
He simply gave a half shrug, acknowledging the invisible question. "Wilbur. I just thought Carl would be a great friend for him. What do you think?"
She blinked and gazes at the robot. She could feel her face twitch. This man… always spoiling their son. She didn't think that Carl is a bad idea but she didn't expect it either. Wilbur lost a friend and now there's a literal living robot before her. Searching through actual working robots in articles, she's sure nothing would come near to the one in front of her.
She examined the bot. Nothing seemed sharp or something that could hurt Wilbur. Well, Her husband isn't called 'Inventor Extraordinaire' for nothing—of course, he thought about baby proofing before hand. "Well, I don't see a problem here."
Neil and Carl beamed.
"But what else can he do?"
The inventor tapped his chin and head craning forward to the robot. "Plenty of things. He can reach high places with those extendable arms and legs-"
Carl blinked. What? He stared down at his limbs. He do can do that…
"-His chest can be some secret safe-"
He shot his eyes at the said place which had a 'R' sign intact.
"-Exabytes to learn and more. He can scan if Wilbur had a fever or an injury and long lasting rechargeable organic batteries that could last for days. Or perhaps five days."
Franny bobbed her head and turned to Carl. "Wow."
Neil grinned, "So?..."
"Go ahead. I'm sure Wilbur would love him."
XxX
Eleven year old Wilbur cradled himself on Carl's lap and wraps his arms around him. "I'm sorry, Carl."
Carl stared at the boy's brown eyes. Goodness, it's hard to not adore him. "It's okay, little buddy. Your dad here can fix me in no time."
They both turned to the inventor who smiled at them before going back to Carl's decapitated arm. While it's hard to not adore Wilbur, it's also hard to not be so thankful for his creator for giving the best life any A.I. could imagine. He still can't believe this man exists.
XxX
Well…
He didn't mean when he can't believe his creator exists, that doesn't mean there have to be two of him.
"Wow a real robot! Hi, I'm Lewis."
He stared at the kid. His question remains unanswered but he already knew the answer. Same spiky blond hair, blue eyes, round glasses, same blue and red color scheme on his clothes, and his name is Lewis… There's no denying it alright; this kid Wilbur brought along from the past is Cornelius Robinson's younger counterpart.
He instantly freaked out and ran to the first travel tube he saw.
XxX
He just didn't get what Wilbur meant.
"He's not even there when my whole existence almost got altered."
He scoffed. This boy… He really need to take a break from him. "Because you chose to not call him and let him know about it."
If any age has a better telecommunications technology, it's this time.
Wilbur blinked. "No no, my point is that he didn't even remember it."
The robot's metallic eyebrows drops. "That's it?" His eyes widens at the teen. "That's decades ago! It's probably a month ago for you but that's a long time for him."
"Yeah? And where is he that time?" The teenager lifts his head at the robot with a straightened spine and raised eyebrow.
"Right beside you, saving your butt."
"Dad," Wilbur made sure to harden the word, "is at a business trip."
Carl clasped his mouth. Wilbur's point is very confusing but if he wants to know where the young Robinson came from, he have to listen.
"Where is he at most of my practices? Answer: work. Where would he rather be at home? Answer: lab a.k.a. still work-"
Carl shot his eyes somewhere else before turning back. Pieces coming together.
"-Lewis still didn't have that, yet. Sure hope it would stay that way."
Wilbur didn't hate his father like Carl expected he would blurt out. Despite Cornelius making it up, Wilbur despise the idea of his father missing out. He's overwhelmed by the attention, the freedom of decision, and treatment Lewis offers. He saw a new side of his dad and he wants to cherish it. He hates the thing that roped his dad from doing that; Robinson Industries and Today Land. He views the title, the expectations the society seems to throw at Cornelius like it's the antagonist of his happy story.
The happy story he remembered having when he's eleven until the expectations came tumbling down on his father. Wilbur watched it go down clear with his chest burning in anger.
"Wilbur."
The duo turned to the calling and Wilbur frowned.
"Doctor," says Carl as Cornelius went down the stairs and glanced at him.
Wilbur stared at his father for a span before turning to the robot. "Carl, the code."
Cornelius caught Carl staring at him and he nods. The robot sighed and printed out the requested.
The inventor sighed. "I'm sorry, Wilbur."
With the frown he carried still intact, Wilbur threw his backpack on the back seat with a hint of furor.
Cornelius sighed deeply, deciding not to hit a nerve that could start an argument even he didn't like the anger he sensed, "I know I know I've been very busy… My grave mistake. But…"
Wilbur simply ignored him and went for waiting the code from Carl. Hands around the code, the robot warily glanced at the inventor.
The blond nods with a gentle sigh. "Stay safe, Wil."
"Yeah, right." Wilbur held his hand out.
Carl relented and gave the code. "Good luck, little buddy."
The teen walks to the time machine. "Like I'm going to a war, Carl. Chill…"
Carl rolled his eyes and Cornelius snorts.
"Number 1 in the code comes first."
A nod reply then brown eyes laid on the blond's back which was turned to him when the man went to a table. Carl watched the gaze and when Wilbur's face scrunched in displeasure.
"Hey, dad!" The robot's eyes widens and his metallic eyebrows creased.
The inventor perked up and turned to the teen. "Yeah, kiddo."
A heavy hesitating pause as the pair of blue and brown eyes stayed glued to each other. "Sometimes, I wish things were different."
A soft sigh. "It will be…"
Wilbur laid back into the hover car with a heavy sigh. No, I'm going to fix it…
XxX
The thirteen year old gazed at the beautiful scenery of Todayland as the time machine was lifted into the air. Yes, it's beautiful but he found it repulsive when it had a hard grip on his father in times he needed him the most.
He typed the code from the paper and sped up the hover car. He gripped the wheel as the hover car painted itself with the cloaking feature and a translucent bubble surrounded it.
He glanced at the code by the keypad when he arrived in the alternative universe.
It read, '0960101'
Wait-
CRASH! Wilbur almost flew to the wind shield after face of the hover car strongly crashed into a hard surface followed by a hard smash against on the ground.
XxX
He pushed the time machine deeper through the alleyway before gazing at it in panic. The time machine is totally totaled. Again!
Oh, he is so dead and he'll be grounded for life!
Wilbur turned to the other side of the alleyway, the glimpse of this wrong alternative universe. "Oh great! Now, I'm also trapped in here forever!"
Wait. Wilbur turned to the busted car with an idea in his head. He just have to find Lewis. He grabbed his backpack and tried the cloaking feature of the time machine. He cursed when the invisibility function failed so instead he used an invisibility disk from his bag for the car.
He looked around the place to see if the the place is desolate enough for the time machine to be safe. He checked his phone and found out the tracker still works. Good, he then pocketed his phone and gripped on the straps of his backpack.
Here it goes…
XXXXX
"Sir, what is the exact date today?" Wilbur asked. "I forgot."
The hotdog vendor answered as he handled a bill to a customer. "It's June 13, 2010."
Wilbur grinned. "Okay, thanks."
So, in this timeline, his dad is sixteen years old which means he finished school and had a job in InventCo. To add, he could fix the time machine faster.
He turned back to the vendor again. "Another question. Where's InventCo?"
The man pointed to the right distractedly. "Go to that beside that pharmacy and five blocks you'll find it."
"Thank you."
Wilbur walked to the direction but unknown to him, a blond with round glasses neared the vendor. "One with mayo, please."
XXXXX
He strolled while inspecting his surroundings. This time wasn't so bad. It didn't look like it's the timeline where the Bowler Hat Guy won at his evil plans.
When he found InventCo, he can't keep his mouth from dropping. All of the contrast between this building and Robinson Industries are very canny.
Once he found the information desk, he cleared his throat to catch the woman's attention with a smile. Normality is a way people won't think he's crazy.
"Yes, sir?" The woman glanced at him, fingers still magically typing on the keyboard.
"Hi, can I meet Cornelius Robinson?"
Finally, she paused on her typing. "I'm sorry?"
"Mr. Robinson. Can I meet him?"
She frowned and glanced at her computer. "What's the name of person you want to meet again?
"Cornelius Robinson."
She typed on the keyboard before turning to him again "I'm sorry but there's no one who work here with that name."
His heart dropped to the floor. "What about Lewis? Lewis Antonio Robinson." He inwardly cringed at his dad's old surname.
After typing, she shook her head. "Still none."
He paused to take a few seconds of inhale and exhale session. His dad not existing in this timeline (or any timeline) was hard to imagine. "No no no. He had blond hair, round Harry Potter glasses and blue eyes. Do you know anyone who work here with those?"
She shook her head again which sent a painful dagger to his heart.
No, it's impossible. Wilbur didn't know if he's being in denial or what but it's just impossible. His father never existing in a world would mean the future would never exist too. He can't imagine anyone else building it.
"Sir?"
InventCo would remain boring. Todayland would never exist.
"Sir?"
His grandparents would be left without a son or probably adopted a different kid. His mom would've never meet his father and probably going to be married to someone else. Wilbur himself wouldn't exist. All of it is hard to imagine.
"Sir?" Finally, Wilbur snapped out his trance thanks to the woman's voice.
"T- Thank you." He quickly beelined out the building trying to control the welling of his eyes by bitting the inside of his bottom lip.
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Roast me plssss. I dare youu