The voice in the room!!!
"Welcome to the great reaverbot hole, welcome to Atlantis!" Leon shouted stretching out his arms as if to grab the whole room. I looked all around with wonder. The ceiling was almost ten stories above us and made of transparent materials, but well light so you could see all manner of sea creatures, and reaverbots swimming above our heads. The room that we were in seemed to go on for an eternity with a door or two after every half-hectometer or so. The room itself looked as though it was large enough to land the sulpher-bottom inside of, given enough ceiling space of course.
Also just as amazing was the numerous tables that were littered throughout the room, here there was a computer panel of some sort, their there was a large table with strange artifacts inside, and over there I could see a table lined with schematics for something. Teisel didn't seem impressed.
"So it is a big ruin, is there a big refractor too?" Teisel asked, of course.
[Teisel just give up with the whole treasure hunt idea. Their must be something of special importance in this ruin.]
Glyde looked around the room specially. "How did you get down here in the first place?" he asked looking at one of the control panels. Bon, whom I nearly forgot about then started wandering about pointing at one thing or another going
"Babu," in wonder. Leon walked to a central table, on which there was a big glass tank with a strange liquid inside of it.
"It wasn't easy to reach this place, but the Bonnes, the older now deceased Bonnes, managed to create a capable submarine which brought us down here. As we explored we found most of the artifacts you see now in special and heavily guarded displays all around, the one behind me was guarded so toughly that it took their lives." Leon said in a narrative tone. I looked up at the tank, the murderer of my parents.
[What is so special about this that mom and dad died for it?] Leon then changed his posture and gave an order to us all.
"pirobots will be clearing out the arias around your assigned rooms. Bonnes , ki…excuse me Tron and Teisel with Bon will be given their room first, then Glyde and his commanders, then the rest of the Bonne crew and then the rest of the Glyde gang will them receive their rooms. No one is to leave their rooms without first calling for a pirobot escort; these halls are too dangerous for anyone to travel without escort."
****
So it began, Teisel and I were virtual prisoners in the room Leon provided us. Once or twice when we called for an escort we could hear the sounds of a battle outside, and once a reaverbot attacked when we were being taken to a dinner with Leon. Otherwise things were dull and Teisel remained convinced that Leon was putting on a show, but I grew slightly attached to Leon. Leon was polite and seemed kinder than I initially believed he was, and he seemed to care about making amends for all the hardships he has ever caused our family, difficulties from even before Teisel was born. The sight inside the Museum was what held all my attention though. I found the blueprints for some of the most of the simple reaverbots laying about, I also could find many different evidences of advanced biological research being made by the ancients and even saw things that went way beyond my understanding.
As time went on Teisel decided to take a risk, he decided that we should walk the halls without any form of escort.
"but Teisel, do you think it is safe?" I asked him, but he never answered and we went out nether-the-less.
As we walked in the many white walled hallways I felt as though I was being watched, and whenever I turned suddenly I thought I saw a figure in the very far corner of my eye. After some time Teisel learned the tendencies of the local reaverbots and we explored or made our way to the servbots rooms now and then. While walking one night Teisel decided we would test Leon's rules even more and traveled far out into the ruin, I quickly followed him to ensure his safety. As we walked some ruin halls we had never before seen ,dodging reaverbot patrols all the while, one can never tell if Leon is or is not controlling them, the ruin became more and more elderly looking and more and more foreboding. Now it seemed that the figure from the corner of my vision appeared more and more. Teisel found a single lone room after we went even further than he wanted us to go and he decided that we check it out and then leave. I was already uneasy as I could be.
"Teisel, it think we should leave. C'mon big brother!" I whined genuinely scared of what might happen to us, but he insisted and we went inside. Inside the room lay a large refractor sitting inside a strange pod-like attachment to a strange machine.
Teisel reached out to touch the Refractor but a mysterious voice stopped us.
"do not defile this energy device! Your person will be placed in danger if you do not comply." The voice said cold and menacingly. Teisel span around quickly trying to find the source of the voice but I simply froze.
"And whodo –YOU- think you are trying to give –ME- orders? Hmmm?" Teisel demanded, in a unconvinced and defiant voice.
"This unit is the master guardian of this artifact and data storage facility, if you do not comply you will be terminated, an action I would like to refrain from doing." The voice replied coldly.
"WHAT? Are you some sort of talking –REAVERBOT- or something?" Teisel asked, now sounding skeptical. The voice seemed not to notice Teisel's tone.
"This unit is far more complex than your current assumption; I am a first class purification unit. I have allowed you to continue your existence due to my interpretation of my program. So if you would please, carbon, do as I say" The voice sounded threatening but subtle.
Now I took to challenging the voice. "What is so important about this piece of junk?" I asked in the most defiant voice I could.
"Such an inquiry is restricted to first class units, the access to such information is denied. This unit is no longer required to continue this communication link, but chooses to continue out of the prerogative of information acquisition, you are allowed to inquire as to any third class information you desire, for I have detrained that you are of equal status as third class design unit." The voice said coldly and in a withdrawn way. Teisel looked unimpressed.
"And is it why can't we -acquire- what –information- we want?" Teisel demanded, "it's not like there is anyone like you left. In fact Mr. Reaverbot if I were to guess you are probably the last of your kind left!" Teisel's attempt to break the mystery person's spirit was a failure.
"This unit understands your logic process, but you are mistaken. This unit contains knowledge of at least three ambrient units who still exist and several other beurocratic models that still are in stasis currently. Information to the identities and locations of all models ambrient and otherwise are restricted." The voice said unwavering.
"What? What the heck are you talking about? ambratal units?" Teisel asked, sounding genuinely confused.
The voice sounded slightly irritated. "Your carbon speech is flawed, the term is ambrient. Now this one wishes to ask an inquiry about your units existence." The voice said flatly.
"Umm, go ahead shoot." I replied.
"If this unit 'shoots' it would be terminating your program which is unacceptable for acquiring the needed information. Instead this unit wishes to understand the time of your activation, your purposes here in my facility, your designation, and the master unit who created your units model line." The voice countered and demanded. I was taken a little aback by what it said. Teisel was even more confused.
"Time of activation? Master unit? Don't you know why we are here I mean you have probably been watching Leon longer than we have even known him so you should –know- the –information- concerning why we are here." Teisel said in a demanding voice. The voice still sounded flat as it spoke.
"Understood, I shall proceed further providing you with the information and restatement necessary to acquire an acceptable answer from you lesser units." The voice said.
Teisel leaned back and stepped towards the machine that took up the back wall of the room. "Great, now I guess we will get some long history story, just like any museum would give." Teisel whined.
Suddenly the voice changed and sounded more rushed. "This unit will have to continue it's inquiry of your units later, you are required to return to your assigned quarters before the unit designated –Leon- discovers of your absence. I shall remove all hostile reaverbots from your path. Exit through the door through which you entered and follow the Zakobon which waits for you outside." The voice ordered and as if to help emphasize it's command the lights in the room went out and light shined through the door. When Teisel and I stepped through the door, indeed an Zakobon was waiting for us. At first Teisel and I didn't know what to do. The little boxish cone-shaped reaverbots known as Zakobon were usually the most common and aggressive reaverbots. This Zakobon looked the same as any other, the basic boxish body shape, the four short legs with rollers attached and the typical head which was a hexagon with a spike on top and the usual eye and etched smile of a reaverbot. The reaverbot lead us silently to our room and we didn't see any sign of a reaverbot on our path.
. ******
Leon seemed almost angry when he reached our room. "Most reaverbots I've seen on a sliding route for years! Blasted tunnel creepers, if they weren't so useful I'd destroy them all." He grumbled aloud. I looked at him in surprise.
"This is the first time you have come to get us personally sense we arrived. Is something special going on?" I asked, hoping that the strange voice hadn't affected how I talk. Leon smiled, and gestured for us all to follow, which we all did. Leon didn't take us directly to the main chamber but instead took us to Glyde's room, then the servbots and finally the birdbots room. Of course when we arrived the birdbots were fighting over some stupid thing or another. After he had collected us all he took us to the main chamber, in which a new very large table with a lot of maps was placed. As everyone got seated Leon pulled me aside.
"What did it ask of you?" he silently hissed at me. I tried to play dumb but I don't know how convincing I was.
"umm, what are you talking about?" I asked.
"you know what I am talking of." Leon flatly stated.
"What?" I said back.
"The voice, kitty Cat, the voice! Listen Tron Bonne, I am by far your elder. Now respect me!" Leon said in a demanding voice and grabbed my arm, looking me over in a disrespectful way.
My resolve broke there, "it-it just told us to stay away from a machine and said it would talk to us later." I answered, not to far from the truth.
"Good!" Leon said, letting go of my arm. Then I took my place at the table, and Leon his.
Leon stood before us all with a stern look on his face. "now that I have shown you the museum, I will tell you why I have collected you all. As you sky thieves now should know, I have made the greatest discovery in a long time, but I have an agenda. I need to complete this discovery before others move in and take the last vital piece to this discovery." Leon said, in that speech-like manner people sometimes use.
Glyde was quick to ask the question on everyone's mind. "but sir, I thought you were the only person who knew of this ruins location?" Glyde said. Leon looked the crowd of birdbots and servbots, along with Bon, myself, Teisel, and Glyde over.
"This is the Atlantis museum, I am the only one who knows its location, but it is half the puzzle. The other half is in space currently and every other pirate lord is after it." Leon said in an enraged undertone.
"Wait, you only wanted Tron and me for her cooperation in the space ship building?" Teisel demanded.
Leon smiled wryly. "No, I think I could build a ship on my own, but you can be of service when we reach that phase. Right now, I plan on starting a war!" everyone at the table was taken aback.
"a-a war?!? And how do you plan on starting a war, sir?" Glyde asked with intrigue in his voice.
"Hay, errauck! I don't think this guy is on the right rocker boss! Ky-ky-ky-ky! I think that he might be in for more trouble than even he is bargaining for!" the blue dressed birdbot whined.
Leon glanced absentmindedly at the birdbot and continued on. "as you may know the last pirate war happened thirty years ago…" Leon started but was yet again cut off.
"I guess –YOU- were the cause of that one?" Teisel demanded.
"Silence Teisel, I don't think Mr. Leon appreciates your nagging, and don't you forget we still have a score to settle." Glyde barked in Leon's defense. Teisel glared at Glyde for a moment and opened his mouth to speak but Leon cut him off and continued his speech.
"Well it seems I must give you idibots a history lesson. Thirty years ago there was quite apparently a war of pirates against the blue suits, excuse me the cops and their digger guild allies. What none of the mainstream media knew though was that this conflict was not only pirate against police but northern hemisphere verses southern hemisphere. This conflict was started when myself and a loath family member discovered a network of ruins branching a number of small islands which would allow for advanced exploration and base building. Only the Loath family member and I didn't have the 'rights' to the island. The person who held the island rights, was a pirate in the south and only in the last twenty years have the Loaths had access to southern territory. I was the one who turned the focus of some of the war against the government, that way the war wouldn't be the end of piracy." Leon lectured.
One of the servbots raised his pincer-like hand. "umm, does that mean, ummm, what does that mean?" the servbot asked, cutely.
"it means that I changed the face of piracy. I changed its dance from pitting government against government for profit, to it being us against the government." Leon answered before continuing.
"now I plan on starting a east-west war. On the west we have four pirate lords. Bola and Klamoor are two of them, next is captain jack, and finally there is Johan, all of whom are able to challenge us and can start this war on a whim. In the east we have a family based lordship, the Loath family, the Coldhearts, the bucunni family, and baron von Bismarck, all of who have powerful families and far reaching economic allies and also pose a threat to our little gamble. But of course the real person we are trying to stall is Von Bleucher and his already successful spaceship venture which has turned up huge profits even before launching to space." Leon informed us of his plan.
Teisel seemed unimpressed. "what a minute, I've been almost all around the world! Why haven't I heard of any of these -pirate lords? And what do you think your going to do to start this –Murder- someone?" Teisel demanded to know. Leon smiled,
"no, currently murder is out of the option, but using Glyde's position as a loosely connected part of the Loath family and the knowledge of the Atlantis vacation island is certainly enough to start one with a good enough prompt or battle." Leon replied his voice sounding sly and malevolent. After that Leon had us all depart to our rooms and wanted us to spend the next few days preparing, and said he would bring us supplies from our ships as needed.
We quickly set ourselves to work, Leon providing anything we needed. Glyde was building who knows what on his side of the ruin, and Teisel told me that he wanted to build a Bruno mock two. The first Bruno, a giant man shaped walking fortress was destroyed on kattelox island, though the memory of the explosion and robots design was clear, all I could remember of the whole rest of the time was complaining that Teisel was hogging all the pizza, the feeling of someone holding my hands and hearing someone shouting joyously "you're alive! You're alive!", but anyway Teisel wanted it to be much more powerful than before so it took most of my time.
As we worked preparing ourselves for Leon's crazy war idea, Teisel became more and more suspicious of Glyde and we were visited more constantly by the voice from the room. At first the voice was content only telling us of its presence, would make maybe one or two comments every few days and then tell us when it would leave. As time went on Teisel heard less and less from the voice and it seemed to become more secretive concerning itself only with me. Then one night as I was working on the final details of the Bruno robot the voice came to speak with me.
"hello, third class maintenance/ construction/ beurucratic model carbon, Tron Bonne." The voice said it's sound was as flat and emotionless as ever. I worked fine-tuning a cannon on Bruno's foot.
"Hello, just going to watch me I assume?" I replied.
"Negative. The unit has unanswered questions and many observations that require clarification." The voice told me.
"oh, really. Well you can ask me what you want." I told him while fighting to tighten a gun barrel so it wouldn't misfire or be inaccurate.
"What purpose is there for this Leon unit to cerate a conflict of units?" the voice asked. I shrugged my shoulders.
"I don't really understand Leon, but it seems that he wishes to eliminate future competition for his dominance of the space exploration field." I said still working.
"That sounds illogical, why would a carbon unit destroy another just to keep the other from becoming a equal status unit? That sort of intent should be considered ambrient, he should change his objectives and ask a carbon mother unit to secure his claim." The voice said to me and I almost laughed.
"Mother? I don't know how long you people lived, but my guess is that his mother is long dead." I told the voice.
The voice sounded confused. "You allow the destruction of mother units? Computing…error located. Hmm, it seems I had made an incorrect assumption. I had forgotten your language's use for the term mother. Let me restate. Why doesn't he have to highest ranking leader model carbon secure his claim?" the voice asked again. Now I did laugh.
"you must have had very peaceful lives in your time. We don't have a leader who could or even would allow Leon to have control of space exploration." I said, getting down from the robot and grabbed what I needed to work on it's back.
"my time was kept in order due to the sacrifice of purifier units such as myself." The voice said.
"what are purifiers? I remember a weird guy saying that before." I asked the voice.
"hmm, I shall elaborate. Purifiers are one of the three main divisions of the system before the fall. There were ambrients, other models, and purifiers. The other models did simple tasks and the governing tasks needed, the ambrients came out from this class. Ambrients are all units in error; they had taken a stance against the system and fought it. For this reason purifiers were created, purifiers were incapable of such error and were provided with all the resources needed to destroy such erroneous units." The voice said.
I smiled and continued working. "kind'a arrogant of you. Someone is always capable of being a traitor or making a big mistake. As for us –'carbons'- we have no purifiers and we are all somewhat ambrient." I told the voice.
"I have drawn this conclusion from monitoring your units, such a level of cooperation of units who are ambrient to one another is intriguing and for some reason has happened, most likely due to biological programming, is near impossible to understand or to happen outside the system." The voice replied. I rolled my eyes.
"And I guess that is why you chose to talk to me only, because I seem the least, as you put it, ambrient?" I asked.
"rather the opposite, you suffer from fragmentation, though you hold this information from the others, and you are in the position to both lose and gain the most out of all the units here. You are the most ambrient carbon unit I have ever seen." The voice said to me.
"So what? do you want to kill me?" I asked the voice in a skeptic voice.
"negative, I have now concluded you to be a carbon unit type similar to that of mother unit among these carbons here, and it is from you I will be able to create a model program to derive which ones are possibly ambrient and which ones are not." The voice said and then added, "Your machine is a capable unit, the greatest changes needed are upon the shoulder joints and it will be complete. Good-by mistress Tron, may your valued Leon unit's conflict be successful for you." and then voice left me, I would not hear from it again after that.