Relic from the seas
By
Dr Facer
-3-
Reading energy levels…_
Complete:_
Power core: 100%_
Weapon energy: 100%_
[All systems online]_
Analyzing memory..._
Memory analysis completed_
Database damaged. Initializing database diagnostic…_
99.9999% information retrieved_
Three files not found:_
Searching for missing files…_
Missing files located:_
First law of robotics: [Error: Not found]_
Second law of robotics: [Error: Not found]_
Third law of robotics: [Error: Not found]_
WARNING:_
Activation with no laws of robotics may cause programming to become unstable and damage the Integrated Circuit in the electronic brain of this unit_
Activate all systems? [Y/N]_
Hold activation…_
Search memory for primary objectives at moment of deactivation to determine if reactivation is essential_
Three Primary Objectives identified_
Primary objective at the moment of deactivation: Protect Eve-Y_
Secondary objective at the moment of deactivation: Deliver Eve-Y to Doctor Cossack_
Tertiary objective at the moment of deactivation: If needed, assist Eve-Y in completing her function_
Memory files indicate emergency situation compromised all primary objectives at moment of deactivation_
Activate all systems? [Y/N]_
Yes_
=0=
Light.
Light was the first thing her open optics registered once her failsafe program had finished analyzing her systems, evaluated her situation and finally authorized full activation, rebooting her personality and memory banks. But something happened then. As life bringing energy finally coursed through her now ancient microcircuits, her artificial brain struggled for an instant to bring forth coherent thought. The lack of the Three Laws of robotics should have rendered her immobile until a certified operator introduced them; it was protocol. But after the initial struggle, which in real time lasted only half a second, she was able to bypass the absence of the Three Laws and instead clung to the most basic need she could identify:
Learning where she was and if completing her primary objectives was still possible.
She blinked three times to allow her photoreceptors time to adjust to the luminosity levels of the room she was in, which allowed electric impulses moving through her miraculous artificial brain to evaluate the information obtained by her optics. She was in a lab, of that she was certain. The next step was to activate her RMC field to cover a large area around her, which combined with the sonar function of her audio microprocessors helped her identify several signatures that belonged to robots of models she could not recognize; furthermore, the robots around her didn't 'speak' any programming language she was familiar with, but she reasoned she could be able to control them if she studied them for a few minutes, as this wasn't any different from the times she had worked in countries that used region-specific coding. She also detected a human in the adjacent room; a human and three machines, one machine she identified as something with a structure similar to that of a Robot Master, while the other two were apparent reproductions that she decided to ignore until she acquired visuals that would allow her to further evaluate them. She tried connecting to any servers in order to search and download information about her location and the people there, but discovered none. She could detect a powerful signal that she believed was the equivalent of the internet she was designed to interface with, but it was something she could not connect to as she was.
She had performed this quick evaluation of her surroundings in just two seconds, and decided that given the circumstances she would need to gather information the human way, which meant she had to move. The miniature servomotors powering artificial tendons and muscles whirred nearly inaudibly under her metal armor as she tried her arms and torso. Finding that her limbs were in perfect working order she moved to a sitting position on the table she was resting on. She glanced around the empty room and decided it was unfortunate Concrete Man or Guts Man were not here, otherwise she could have asked them to let her perch on their broad shoulders as they carried her to where she wanted to go.
She lowered her head in disappointment. Not having a friend here to help her move meant she would have to use her land mode, which was still pretty much untested at the time she was deactivated. She feared using it now could render her defenseless and immobile but she did have to leave the room. She clenched her left hand into a fist and decided activating said function was an imperative; she had to find out if Eve-Y was safe! Hoping for the best, she activated the experimental subroutine and her mermaid tail quickly bifurcated and with a flash of light, transformed in a pair of well made, functional legs ending in two armored boots that matched the rest of her blue armor. She smiled, pleased that even after more than a century, Doctor Light's clever transformation system still worked well enough. Her smile turned into a frown almost immediately, however. She had only transformed her tail once before, and she had not walked in that occasion, since walking didn't feel natural to her. Doubting for a microsecond, she slid off the table and simply stood there, afraid of taking her first step.
It was then that she wondered why the human and the three other machines had not yet entered the room to help her. Didn't they have sensors monitoring her condition? Where they not aware she was awake? Impossible. At the very least the one she believed to be a Robot Master should know she was functional.
Then why?
It was then the door opened and he entered the room.
He. Mega Man X.
The last Lightbot.
She had seen him only once in a video, but she could recognize him well enough: Mega Man X.
He was followed by two female… androids? And a human, but she didn't pay any attention to them. Her mind focused entirely on X. Doctor Light's final masterpiece and heir.
"We were worried," he said, "I was worried. We feared your systems and memory banks…"
"You are…" her voice module shut down and she felt it short circuit, stopping her from speaking. Having no other means of immediate communication, she tried to approach him, but with no previous practice walking, she tripped and fell forward.
But she never hit the ground.
Because X caught her before that. The moment he saw her stagger, he activated his leg thrusters and dashed to her so quickly he almost vanished from sight. X had not only stopped her fall, he now carried her close to his chest, feeling a very strong need to protect this robot who was the only living link to his past that he had left. He couldn't let her get hurt.
She blinked, perplexed by his actions. He didn't know her and yet had been kind enough to help her. Just like his predecessor would have done. She tried speaking again, but her voice module was completely gone and all she managed was to let a strand of smoke out from her mouth.
"So, the mermaid gains legs and upon meeting the prince she loses her voice," she thought annoyed by her circumstances. "How conveniently Andersenian. I just hope I don't end up dissolving into foam at some point. That would be stupid as well as unpleasant."
"It seems her voice box burned out," Viktor Cossack said, looking at the information on his data pad. "Or at least that's what the scanner seems to detect. I can fix her, but it will take time for me to make a new box that fits her, I'm afraid none of her parts is produced these days so I'll have to make it here. Might as well ask her for her schematics so I can duplicate her whole body, too, just in case."
"I'll assist you," Nina said, staring at the ancient Robot Master with great curiosity.
"And I appreciate your help," X said with a smile, then he looked at the artificial woman in his arms. "Doctor Viktor Cossack is the best roboticist alive today, I'm sure he'll have your spares ready right away. You'll be speaking again in no time, isn't that great?"
Still feeling uncertain and confused by his actions, all Splash Woman could do was offer him a nod and a polite smile while he carried her into the next room, following the human scientist who was already explaining how he'd replicate her busted voice box.
Alia, however, did not follow X and the others. Not immediately, anyway. She simply stood there in silence, evaluating what she had just seen and how she felt about it.
"Aren't you coming, sister?" Nina called.
"Yes… sorry, I was just… I was thinking," She offered. It was true, she did think it was good for X to finally have a solid connection to his mysterious past but at the same time…
At the same time she realized this could threaten his connection to her.
And Alia didn't like how much that scared her.
Notes:
Thanks to Adam for beta reading.
I'm sure you won't mind the very direct references made to certain tale penned by Andersen. It was too perfect not to do it.
RMC Field: Robot Master Control field. Robot Masters are supposed to be able to control all other robots they come in contact with, so I figured Robot Masters could generate some sort of field that allows them to connect with and control regular robots easily.