"Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently"
-Henry Ford
Work on the segments Rhythm's arm slowly progressed throughout the day. The repairmen often asked each other for opinions during the repair, trying to exactly understand what happened to the Rhythm. At that point, Rhythm had stopped asking the others questions and just watched everyone work. Occasionally, he would stop for a moment to change out his cassette tape. He would look through the collection that he brought into the lab with him, pick out a tape, and replace it with the one that was already in the player. The process was so simple, but Rhythm committed it with an astonishing grace, almost hypnotic.
During one point during the repair, Bass got up from his position to grab a fresh part from the one of the large cases that Mega Man and Roll brought. As he did so, he passed Rhythm and he caught a glance of the fragile robot and noticed that his weak smile had turned into a well-established frown.
Bass turned to the others "Do you mind if I take a break? I think that Rhythm could use a little company for a bit."
"Go right ahead Bass, he's your 'toy'" Mega Man replied with a smirk.
Bass groaned as he put the part on the worktable before making his way over to Rhythm. "Hey Rhythm, would you like to take a tour of the fortress?"
I w-wouldn't mind.
Bass and smiled as he helped Rhythm get up and the two left the workshop.
"Let's see..." Bass pondered "you've already seen the workshop, the living room, my bedroom,…you don't really need to see the bathrooms...where can I take you?"
Bass's eyes eventually directed their attention to Rhythm's Walkman.
"Say Rhythm, did you ever consider where I got the Walkman from?"
No, I haven't. It never was a p-pressing matter, but I am c-curious as to where you got it.
Bass smiled robot took the fragile robot's hand and led him down the hallway.
Where are you taking me?
"The Scrap Room" Bass answered.
The humming of electric components pulsing through the building and the metallic footsteps of the two robots echoed through the halls as the two robots traversed through the corridors.
Bass…?
"Yes Rhythm?"
W-what did R-rock mean when he said that I'm your "toy"?
Bass sighed "He's just being disparaging to me… for example, the car I brought you here in I've referred to as one of my toys. I don't really need a car, because I can fly and go anywhere I need to with out a car, but I got it to 'Play' with rather than use for a practical purpose."
I-I'm not your "toy"… am I?
Bass shook his head "No, you're more like… a little brother" he said with a smile as he rubbed Rhythm's hair, which made the pale bot chuckle.
You're like a giant child y-yourself!
Bass smiled brightly as they stopped at a large door which has a scribbled on sign that read "Scrap Room". As Bass carefully opened the door, a portable radio fell to the floor. He picked it up and placed it onto one of the many piles of electronics that were inside.
W-why do you have so many broken electronics?
"This is where Dr. Wily and I store stuff that we can possibly salvage for robot parts" Bass answered as the two slowly entered the room "We've repurposed wiring, capacitors, plastics, microphones, speakers, servos, circuit boards, and all kinds of assorted parts. However, Dr. Wily has discovered that most of what has been collected in here is of such a low quality that we can't justify using them in robots. Now it just lays in ruin"
Rhythm picked up an old game controller while Bass picked up the reel of a reel-to-reel.
Does this room s-serve any other p-purpose than gathering dust?
"Gathering dust is this rooms only purpose these days" Bass confessed. "Sometimes when I'm bored I just rummage through a random box of parts to see what I can find. Most of the time the boxes haven't been opened at all. Anything that I find particularly interesting, I bring to my bedroom, or my hideout."
You have a h-hideout?
Bass nodded "Yeah, I do. It's my personal escape for when I need to hide from Mega Man or escape from the inane ramblings of Dr. Wily."
So what do you with the s-stuff you find?
"I tinker with them. I'm currently working on trying to build a smaller version of my robot wolf."
You have a r-robot wolf?
Bass nodded "Yes, his name is Treble. Dr. Wily built him along with me to help increase my strength and abilities. He also exists to be the anthesis of Mega Man's robot dog named Rush"
I see... where is T-Treble right now?
"He's at the hideout right now, probably wondering where the hell I am and why I haven't fed him" Bass said with a chuckle. "You see Rhythm, working on little projects here and my hideout help kill time when I have nothing else to do. And these days, I happen to have A LOT of time on my hands"
Well… a well m-maintained robot can have all the time in the world.
"True" Bass said with a nod "but its what we do with the time we have is what matters"
Rhythm nodded and then began to look through the scattered collection of electronics himself, hoping to find more cassette tapes to listen to. Bass began to help, using a pair of salt buckets to toss their findings into. Along with the tapes, they started to find large number of CD's amongst the clutter so Bass searched for a working CD player so that Rhythm could listen to them as well. The rummaging took about a hour, culminating in the two robots making their way to Bass's bedroom. Rhythm carried the CD player while Bass rested the heavy buckets on his shoulders.
As the two traveled to Bass's bedroom, Rhythm happened to notice a wall of pictures that happened to have Dr. Wily amongst groups of robots on them. The first photo in the series had Mega Man, Roll, and some unfamiliar scientist on it. The others were without Mega Man and Roll, and one photo had another unknown scientist on it with what appeared to be his daughter. Bass started to appear in the later photos in the series. Next to the wall of pictures was a hallway. In the hallway, there were eight doors that seemed to be recently vacated. A sign hung above the entrance to the hallway.
FIGHT IN THEIR MEMORY
What are these p-photographs?
Bass frowned as he put the buckets down "These are photos for each set of Robot Masters has involved himself with. Dr. Light and Dr. Wily worked together on the first set of masters, and that is when Dr. Wily turned against the world"
Where are these robot m-masters now?
"Nothing more than a memory" Bass sighed as he entered empty the hall, his tone sounding regretful "These robots became or were created to be threats to humanity, so Mega Man defeated them. The Robot Masters, at least from the second generation on, used to live here until they were sent to do Dr. Wily's bidding. After they left these rooms, they never returned" Bass then touched one of the doors, hanging his head "They weren't the best of company. I never liked them and they never liked me and called me a waste of space time and time again"
W-Why did they think that of you?
"I was built with the express purpose of destroying Mega Man" Bass coldly answered as he turned to Rhythm "They had the same goal as I did, but I was specifically made to achieve that goal. When I failed, they mocked me"
Rhythm noticed that Bass's fists were tensing as he hung his head and shook slightly.
W-what's the matter Bass?
"I don't know who to be angry at!" Bass shouted "Should I blame Mega Man for being the obstacle in my prime directive? Should I blame Dr. Wily for using the robot masters in a mission grounded in suicide? Or the Robot Masters for treating me like they did?"
Rhythm shook too, and slowly made his way over to the stressing bot to give him a hug.
"What's wrong with me?" Bass asked as he hugged back "Am I just a victim of circumstance?"
You just h-happen to be a survivor who is on the losing side, scarred by the various defeats and misfortunes you have endured. I u-understand that you want to find a central figure to blame for this m-misfortune, but it is just as easy to be angry at the s-situation. H-however, this anger and s-sadness will continue unless someone tries to change it.
Bass rubbed Rhythm's hair and let out a deep breath.
F-Feeling better?
Bass nodded, and then left the hall to pick up the buckets of music "I'm better. Cmon Rhythm, let's go bring these to my room"
Rhythm nodded and the two soon arrived in Bass's room. As Bass set the buckets of music on the floor, Rhythm caught sight of a pad of paper and a pen.
Hey Bass, could I use that note pad? I would like to try drawing for a bit in the workshop.
Bass smiled as he quietly gave Rhythm the pad and a couple of pens before the two returned to the workshop. Dr. Wily and Mega Man were now working together on the cannon while Roll was on the arm.
"Hello Bass," Mega Man spoke "we're almost done with repairing the cannon. We'll probably be able to install this tomorrow."
Bass just stared at the two, sighing as he reminded himself that it was the situation to upset with.
Rhythm continued to listen to music as he began to draw on the notepad that Bass provided. It was during this series of repairs when Dr. Wily realized that he was working alongside with Mega Man, and that Bass was working alongside Roll. Both pairs bore smiles when they focused on their work, but when one glanced at the other, the smile quickly turned into a frown.
"Do you still not trust me Mega Man?" Dr. Wily asked.
Mega Man sighed "I don't think that I'll be able to completely trust you after all that has happened between us…"
"Same here" Wily admitted "You could as easily have told the authorities about Bass's discovery and your suspicions about what is happening here. You don't trust me because you are smack dab in the middle of the bear's den. There's also the fact that I could ruin your reputation by revealing our little project to the world."
The doc seemed smug about his statement, but then his expression soon became blank.
After another hour or two of repairs, an alert came from Mega Man's internal systems.
"Lemme guess" Bass began, not even bothering to look up from his work "You gotta go now?"
Mega Man nodded "I have another call scheduled with Dr. Light tonight. I want to be there early so he doesn't suspect anything. We'll be back tomorrow, same time as this morning."
Mega Man quickly grabbed his shoulder bag from the living room and rushed out the door with Roll in tow, leaving Rhythm, Bass and Dr. Wily alone with the remains of Rhythm's arm.
A moment of uncertain silence ensued, with the three trading unsure glances at each other.
"Should we put the arm back together and test it?" Bass asked as a way to break the silence "It's pretty much completed anyway."
Wily quietly nodded as he moved his part of Rhythm's arm to a work bench before connecting the two halves of the arm.
How long will the t-testing take?
"Well..." Wily spoke as he scratched his head with a flathead screwdriver "since this particular limb involves weapon components, we have a special room for testing the operation status of said apparatuses. Would you like to see?"
No thanks. I'd think that I'd rarely use the c-cannon anyway.
Dr. Wily shrugged and smirked as he took the arm to the testing room, leaving the robots by themselves in Wily's lab.
"Say Rhythm," Bass began as he walked over to Rhythm "What were you drawing in the first place?"
Rhythm said nothing as he handed the drawing pad over to Bass.
It was a rather rough image, but the details were rather easy to understand. It was a landscape image of Bass who was standing in front of a gravestone with a bouquet of peace lilies in his right hand.
"Huh…" Bass began "That's Dr. Wily's grave, isn't it?"
I don't think you'd be b-bringing peace lilies to the grave of s-someone you obviously have a-aggression towards.
Bass chuckled a bit "No, certainly not... but who's grave is it then?"
It could be a-anyone's grave. It could also be the grave of something that isn't a person, such as an idea or an emotion. I w-wanted to draw Mega Man or even m-myself, but your image was more i-ingrained in my useable memory at the m-moment. The idea is that the inscription on the t-tombstone has a part of us we must remember.
"But you drew the image so that no one could see the inscription"
W-Well I don't know what part of yourself you would be m-mourning if it left. If I d-drew myself, it would be for my creator and my lost m-memories. For Mega Man...it would be his happiness.
"His happiness?"
He doesn't seem h-happy… at all.
Bass nodded in earnest agreement "No, he really doesn't. The repeated trials of Dr. Wily, I and others aggressors are experiences that can create a bitter view in a person"
Bass hung his head and leaned against the wall while Rhythm adjusted the volume of his music.
"I've seen all good people turn their heads each day
So satisfied, I'm on my way"
"Rhythm…?"
Yes Bass?
"I've been thinking about the Clockwork Orange question you asked me…and I think that I have an answer"
You do? W-what's your answer?
"Well…I thought that maybe we could talk about it while we engaged in a secondary activity. Like playing a game."
Do you know how to play chess?
"Chess?" Bass was surprised by the question, for electronic games had been his forte for a few years now and board games in his mind belonged to the realm of nerds wearing coke bottle glasses... and Auto.
"Well…I do know how to play chess, but I've never played against anyone else, not even with a real chessboard. I'm more of a master at Monopoly myself, but I'm not sure that we have a board."
What about the s-scrap room?
Bass smiled for a brief moment and quickly made his way to the scrap room, eventually returning with a large stack of old Monopoly games.
"I had to bring a good number of them for I don't know if one particular set has all the pieces."
The two spent fifteen minutes searching for all the essential pieces in the various boxes. Bass made it a point to check that all the properties, Chance, and Community Chest cards were contained inside. The only card that they couldn't find was the "Go Back 3 Spaces" card, which didn't matter to them. Bass handed a packet of money to Rhythm and presented him with a selection of pieces. Rhythm selected the shoe token, with Bass being the cannon.
You first B-Bass.
Bass rolled the dice and got a seven, landing on Chance.
"When I considered the options, the answer became clearer as one of them had a backdoor option."
Bass then looked at his card, and frowned as moved his piece into Jail as Rhythm began to roll.
Oh really? W-what is it?
"Well, after some thinking, I realized that the reprogramming option guaranteed freedom. I noticed that the other option still had the possibility of freedom."
Rhythm landed on Community Chest and drew the 'Pay Hospital Fees' card.
Oh? H-how come?
"I could escape from the prison" Bass answered as he rolled the dice, getting a five, and remained in jail.
You would take the risk of d-destruction? You would live as a f-fugitive for the rest of your life?
Rhythm rolled snake eyes, landed on Income Tax, paid $140, and frowned at his current misfortune.
"It wouldn't be any different to how I currently live. I have been living life on the lam for many years. A life on the run would be an endurance test, but it wouldn't cease to be an interesting experience."
Bass rolled again, a seven, and handed the dice to Rhythm.
Do you fear d-death?
"Death?" Bass shook his head "I don't really fear death, but I often fear of how I might die"
Rhythm rolled a six, landing on the 'Just Visiting' portion of Jail.
Really? What m-method of death do you fear the most?
"Betrayal" Bass spoke as he rolled a nine, remaining in jail. "The method of how I'm betrayed is a moot point, but it's the people involved that matter. What method do you fear?"
Rhythm rolled a two, landing on Electric Company, and bought it before rolling again.
For me, it would be any situation in which I am i-isolated.
Rhythm drew a heavy sigh and Bass petted the frail bot's shoulder in response.
"I understand Rhythm… I can tell that the fears that you have are deeply rooted in your situation"
He watched as Rhythm rolled a 5 as a result of him rolling doubles and landed on Community Chest. He picked up one of the yellow cards and placed his shoe into the jail with Bass.
I guess we're both in the s-same boat…
Bass chuckled slightly as he rolled a twelve and made his way to Chance, he picked up a "Get Out of Jail Free" card. He considered putting on the table as a bargaining chip if he reentered jail, but instead handed it to Rhythm.
W-why?
"I helped you escape from the mansion, I feel like it's my duty to help you out."
Why do you feel it's your d-duty?
Bass rolled an 8, landing on "Go To Jail" and promptly moved his piece to the square.
"Some people can't escape from their situation on their own, some people need help."
I e-escaped on my own, didn't I?
Rhythm rolled the dice and landed on free parking.
"You needed help. You needed me, Rock, Roll, and even Dr. Dumbass" Bass said with a smirk as he rolled doubles and landed on free parking with Rhythm "Can I say something?"
Of c-course Bass.
Bass rolled again, landing on Marvin Gardens before he drew a heavy sigh "I've been reading the dialogue you've been having, and I'm a bit jealous"
J-Jealous?
"From what I have read, you had a wonderful relationship with your father. He saw you as a son of his own flesh and blood rather than a machine made with metal and plastics. I've always felt that I've been Dr. Dumbass's tool rather than an extension of his being"
I can tell by the ways you r-refer to Dr. Wily.
"Yeah," Bass said with a nod "I know that I'm not subtle about it. Wily has made more than 80 robots and I'm one of the few that has been able to stick around. I'm almost like a monument that represents his failures, and Dr. Dumbass sees me as a failure in of myself."
You're not a f-failure.
"I am a failure" Bass bitterly confessed "I am a failure in both regards to Dr. Wily and the purpose I was programmed with"
P-purpose? You don't need to follow the purpose you were p-programmed with. Your rebellious b-behavior can help you make your own purpose. You don't need Dr. Wily to tell you what to do, and you don't do what he tells you to do a-anyway.
Bass smiled and rubbed Rhythm's hair "Thanks Rhythm"
You're welcome…are you gonna buy that property?
Bass shook his head "I never buy the yellow properties, especially not Olive Gardens"
That's Marvin Gardens Bass…
Bass chuckled and handed Rhythm the dice, the two continuing the game into the evening.