"The heart is the chief feature of a functioning mind"
-Frank Lloyd Wright
Back in the lab, Rhythm was still lying on the table and Dr. Wily was still lying on the floor. Roll was analyzing him and making sure the Met on his head worked properly.
"How are you feeling Rhythm?" Roll asked "Are there any problems or complications that you can detect?"
I feel…h-hyper. I feel like I'm e-experiencing the rush one feels after riding a r-roller coaster.
"A roller coaster?" Roll chuckled as she was attaching more of the wires of the Met to Rhythm. "Have you ever been on a roller coaster?"
It's s-strange…I don't think I ever did...d-dad told me about them and wanted to take me on one...
Roll smiled a smile that contained a hint of sadness "Aww… that's sweet…You know, you're quite the peculiar robot. You remind me of a robot I used to know years ago."
I do? W-well thank you kindly.
A sensor indicated that Rhythm wanted to blush, but the Met couldn't allow for it.
"Aww… there's no need to thank me Rhythm"
I feel like I m-must, for I am one of a kind. I-individuality is one of the most i-important aspects of being human. I understand that there are robots of i-identical identities made en masse, but I'm glad that I am m-myself and no one else.
"And I'm glad that you are you and I am I…" Roll said with a bright smile "You know, Proto Man would love to meet you."
P-Proto Man? Who is he?
"He's a robot that is a good friend of my brother. Rock has been looking for him recently, but I don't know why though... he's been a bit tight lipped"
Well when your brother does find P-Proto Man, could you maybe see if I could meet him?
"Of course Rhythm" Roll answered as she finished connecting the wires to the optical sensors. Rhythm's eyes opened and started glancing around.
Once the eyes of Rhythm's temporary head opened, he saw Roll's face clear than ever did with his original head. He also noticed that Roll was holding up her phone, using it as a mirror for Rhythm.
AHH!
"Rhythm! What's the matter?" Roll worriedly asked.
He covered his mouth in shock, tilting his head.
I'm sorry…I just feel s-strange w-without my own head on my s-shoulders.
Roll chuckled and patted his construction helmet dome "I understand, it's a feeling that no robot ever gets used to."
Suddenly, Roll leaned towards Rhythm's head and planted a small kiss on the cheek.
H-huh? W-what was that for?
"Just a little kissy for a lovely little bot!"
In reaction to Roll's remark, Rhythm covered his eyes in embarrassment.
As the two robots conversed, Dr. Wily slowly overcame his exhaustion and crawled into his office chair. When he saw the operational Met on Rhythm's head, he was taken by surprise by Rhythm's silly appearance.
"Wow…" Wily dryly began "you look… incredibly goofy."
"It's a choice by limitation, not design" Roll retorted as Rhythm was still embarrassed "Now wasn't there something less vital that needed to be fixed?"
"Ah yes, Rhythm's other arm" Wily remembered "I'll get to work on removing it and replacing it with a spare"
T-thank you doctor, but before you do that c-could you get me my W-Walkman?
Dr. Wily nodded as he grabbed Rhythm's Walkman along with a random tape and handed to Rhythm, who pressed play to start the music.
"I see the bad moon arising
I see trouble on the way
I see earthquakes and lightnin'
I see those bad times today"
Time passed slowly as Dr. Wily installed a temporary arm to replace the current one. When the doctor finished attaching the limb, Mega Man and Bass reentered the workshop.
"Well, well, well" Dr. Wily snidely began "Where were you two all this time? You bots weren't planning to do anything behind my back, we're you?"
"Considering that you passed out after the head transplant," Rock began "We decided to take break as well, especially considering how everyone's emotions fluctuated during the operation. Right Bass?"
Bass turned to Mega Man in confusion, but found himself doing the "liar's nod".
Dr. Wily just shrugged as he directed the two robots to the parts to be repaired. "We have a non-weaponized arm and Rhythm's head to work on for now" The doc explained.
"If the head transplant was anything of an indication," Roll began "repairing that part will be a more complex task."
"It is an incredibly complex task, especially when you consider that we have to dismantle the whole damn thing" Dr. Wily explained "I want one of you to work on the head with me, so that means the other is going to have to work on repairing the arm."
"I'll work on the head with you" Mega Man quickly interjected, pushing Bass out of the way.
Dr. Wily glared at Mega Man "Rock…do you still not trust me?"
"YES!" Rock shouted "I still have to be a little cautious...but I'm also curious about the components inside Rhythm's head."
"You want to see what makes his head tick, eh?" Wily remarked.
Bass rolled his eyes as he knew that even after the numerous talks and discussions that he had with Mega Man, he was still going to be suspicious. He couldn't be blamed for his behavior. Besides, Mega Man had more experience in repairing robots when compared to Bass.
"I'll get to work on Rhythm's arm then" Bass spoke.
As Roll finished making the connections to Rhythm's temporary head, Mega Man and Dr. Wily began repairs on Rhythm's original head, whilst Bass worked on the arm and Roll swept up around the lab. Meanwhile, Rhythm just sat in the corner of the lab on Wily's desk chair, observing the processes of the others. During the repairs, Bass would often glance at Rhythm's tablet to see what was on Rhythm's mind. One of Rhythm's thoughts caught Bass's attention.
The M-modern Mansion, just as forgotten and worn down as I b-became…
"Dr. Wily?" Bass began "What do you know about The Modern Mansion? I only know it as an abandoned ruin but it had to have a purpose at some point. What was the building originally meant for?"
"That's what I've been wondering too" Roll added "It's not like it's from some bygone period. The building had the trappings of the technology we currently live with, why was it made?"
Dr. Wily took a deep breath as he rubbed his head, trying to remember all the details.
"When I was attending the Robot Institute of Technology with Dr. Light, he introduced me to a friend of his who was visiting the college to examine fledgling technologies that were being developed. The man was named Vanderbilt Catskill and he was a forerunner in the re-emerging of futuristic city planning. It was there when I first heard about the location and planning for the project. According to Mr. Catskill, the Modern Mansion was supposed to be a building that could either be a standalone residence, or part of a concept that he called a Manorplex. A Manorplex would be a large building that contained multiple prefabricated mansion layouts within it and was meant for bustling metropolises. After the completion of the test building that was constructed, many ceremonies and events transpired during the Modern Mansion's lifetime. Festivals, debates, and conventions of all kinds were all held at the facility."
S-so why did the c-concept not take off?
"While the mighty elite loved the idea, the introduction of new industrial robots and the increase of lower class citizens caused the city planners to request Mr. Catskill to design inexpensive, safe, and comfortable apartment buildings for the lower classes. Because of this new demand, the original potential of the Modern Mansion was never implemented as the original plots for the Manorplexes became the location of the new inexpensive apartments that Mr. Catskill developed. The Modern Mansion was eventually abandoned and left to decay when these new apartments started to be constructed."
"I see…" Bass remarked "When it came to these conferences, did you ever go to any of them?"
Dr. Wily nodded "I went to a few political events once, but I never went to any invention showcases or other technology based event, but Dr. Light might have…"
Bass? Why are you curious about the M-modern Mansion?
"I'm just curious in possibly finding out who might have sealed Rhythm away in the first place" Bass answered.
Mega Man groaned "Are you teasing Rhythm? He can't remember parts of his past!"
"I'm not teasing him! Rhythm's dreams are possibly the answer. Last night he had a dream about his immurement, right Rhythm?"
"Bass, don't put Rhythm on the spot…" Roll pleaded.
It's okay, because I r-remember.
"YOU DO?" Mega Man shouted "What did the one who sealed you away look like?"
Rhythm frowned as he shook his head.
It's not like that M-Mega Man. I only remember the d-dialogue. I couldn't recall the appearances of what I saw nor the sounds of the voices I heard. I only remember what was spoken… like a stenographer…
"At least it's something" Bass responded with a feeling of small assurance "I also recall something else from your dreams"
R-really? What is it?
"After the memory of your immurement," Bass explained "your thoughts were followed up with a memory of your creator taking you a convention at the Modern Mansion."
"Let me get this straight" Roll began "you're saying that if Rhythm was with his creator at the Modern Mansion at one of the conventions, there must have been someone who saw the two together"
"Yes" Bass replied with a nod "which leads to one other thing…"
"And that is?" Dr. Wily inquired as he raised one of his bushy eyebrows.
"We'll have to tell Dr. Light about what we have been doing" Bass spoke with a heavy sigh "Let's be honest for a moment. We've used his parts, we've repaired a mysterious robot that he'll inevitably find out about, and he may be the only one we know who we can ask about Rhythm…"
"If he knows anything" Mega Man added.
Dr. Wily groaned "Are we sure that we must do this?"
Mega Man just hung his head and sighed. "It's just that...I don't know how well it will go down...when Dr. Light called last night...things got a little tense."
"Well…" Roll began "does Rhythm wish to know?"
Everyone turned to Rhythm. The silent robot rattled under pressure, but answered quickly.
I….I w-want to know.
Mega Man sighed again "Alright then. When I get home, I'll break the news to Dr. Light."
Roll gave Mega Man a firm hug as Dr. Wily and Bass looked at each other nervously.
"If this goes wrong, this is your fault!" Wily spoke as he glared Bass.
The group soon got back together to continue to repair Rhythm's components. As the operations progressed, everyone felt uneasy. Sensing the tension, Rhythm tried to keep the other's mind off of things by engaging in conversation.
B-Bass, can I ask you something?
"Is it some deeply philosophical question that I need to carefully consider before I answer the question?" Bass replied in a joking manner.
Well... that d- depends if you consider name pronunciation a matter of deep p-philosophical importance.
Bass chuckled "You want know about how my name is pronounced?"
Yes…and it's o-origins if you care to share that with me.
Bass leaned away from the work table "To start, my name comes from an energy source called Bassnium that I'm powered with. Dr. Wily discovered the element and shortened the name of the energy to give me the name I currently have"
I see…is your name p-pronounced like the fish or the i-instrument?
"The instrument, calling me like the fish is a way to insult me. You see…Dr. Wily created me to be a robot much like that of Mega Man. The doctor also created Treble, who I have mentioned before."
Rhythm then smiled, and then a soft pumping hic came from Rhythm's torso that sound like a rough laughter.
Heheh…It's funny.
"Huh? What's funny?"
I've heard M-Mega Man called Rock and his sister is Roll. Your name is Bass and you have a companion named Treble. Rock & Roll, Bass & Treble. T-there's a music theme going on here, even with me. I'm Rhythm… but I h-have no other to compare myself with.
"Well...maybe you don't have a pairing because Rhythm is the necessary support to all music" Bass suggested.
Rhythm smiled as Bass returned to work.
"Life is about rhythm" Bass spoke "We vibrate, our hearts are pumping blood, we are a rhythm machine, that's what we are."