Something More

Star Man must have either really liked her, or really liked torturing her, because he would not leave her alone and it was beginning to drive her crazy. Every moment of free time he had, he would pop up and talk to her, show off and all with a goofy grin on his face.

If they had been human, Roll would have called it flirting. Proto Man just sat and watched it all with a secretive smile. She wouldn't have minded if it weren't for the fact that he gave her no breathing space.

He put his arm around her shoulder.

"I think it's time I told you a very important secret, but you gotta promise not to tell anyone else."

Roll blinked.

From his hidden place, Shadow Man glared daggers at Proto Man.

"Who am I gonna tell? Nobody really likes me here, except for you and…maybe Star Man."

"Yeah, about that, don't you ever question stuff like that?"

"Stuff like what?"

"Star Man, his quirks, your likes and dislikes, your amazing ability to not follow orders all the time?"

She scowled at him and he ignored it.

"For example, Star Man likes you. Like really likes you and what about how much you dug our own little superstars, Cold Steel? Gyro Man said that you were really jamming out that day in the crowd. Did Dr. Light program you to like brand new bands? Especially when he doesn't even like heavy metal?"

"No…but…I uh…" She shook her head in frustration.

"What are you getting at?"

"All those extra personality quirks, all those things that we like, were never programmed into any of us. In the grand scheme of robot programming, it's useless. Unnecessary. Junk."

"A-are you saying that we're…something more?"

"Maybe. Maybe it's a soul or a spirit or whatever humans talk about. I don't even know how many other bots have questioned it, or never questioned it, but I have and I know a few other bots here have too. Don't be such a sheep sis, think about it." His voice was excited.

"I don't know…"

"So what? Humans are the only ones who have souls? Who have distinct personalities?"

Her lips were pursed in thought.

"I'd love to give you a perfect example of what I mean, but that could take a while because he's not here-oh! Perfect timing. We're conducting a little experiment to prove my theory is right."

"Ok." She said dubiously.

"Go into the room, but take your helmet off before you do it."

"Why?" She asked. Arms akimbo.

"For the experiment." He hissed.

"What does taking my helmet off have to do with this experiment?"

"Just do it." He said, taking her helmet off and shoving her into the room.

Pharaoh Man had walked into the room, he'd switched places with several other bots to recharge when he caught sight of the blonde beauty walking into the room.

"Hello miss." He said a little awkwardly.

Roll blinked, completely floored by that extra gleam in his eyes as though he'd just seen the most beautiful thing on earth.

"Can I offer you a seat?"

"Uh…sure. Thanks."

She moved to sit down and he pushed her chair in for her, like a gentleman from some of those old, romantic black and white movies Dr. Light sometimes watched.

Star Man walked in and scowled angrily. He'd been trying to get her to pay more attention to him and Pharaoh Man had walked in and stolen the show.

Proto Man snorted with amusement. This couldn't have gone any better then if he'd planned it out. Plus seeing that his sister was totally charmed was hilarious.

Shadow Man's anger only grew. Like Proto Man, he was one of the few Wily bots who had figured out that there was something more to robots then mere programming and he didn't want that secret being told indiscriminately. Especially to a little, failed spy like Roll. He'd have to have a word with him later.

After Pharaoh Man had left, Proto Man had sauntered up to his sister, hands behind his head and a big, I-told-you-so grin on his face.

"Now tell me, do you the doc would care enough to program anything like that into ol' King Tut?"

"Maybe if he wanted a smooth talking spy." She answered primly

"Yeah well Wily aint no Casanova himself, I don't even think he'd know how to romance a woman."

"Eww." She said, frowning at the mental image.

He raised his eyebrows, his point being proven again.

. "But I do see what you mean and the more I think about it, the more it makes sense." Her voice had taken on an awe of new understanding, of new excitement.

Then she gave him a snarky grin of her own.

"I never knew you were actually smart big brother."

"Ooh. It looks like I'm rubbing off on you." He shot back.

That was when Shadow Man made his appearance.

"Proto Man, Wily wants to talk to you about the little job you're doing tonight."

"You in on it?" He asked, eyeing him suspiciously, moving closer to Roll.

"No. I have more important duties to take care."

"Like being a messenger boy?" He asked caustically.

"Pfft."

Proto Man walked off and as soon as he was out of the room, Shadow Man sat down at the table, across from her.

"That little secret, he revealed to you…" For a moment he was silent, jaw and fist clenched.

"It will be a disaster if humans found out about it."

"But why?" Roll asked. "It's incredible, its-"

"Humans are predictable and panicky, they'd destroy us completely if they knew, because they don't like what they don't understand and you don't need to go any further then the history books to see that."

"So you were spying on us? There never was any mission from Wily." Roll challenged, then mentally kicked herself for her words.

Shadow Man gave her a long, measuring look that made her want to fidget in her seat.

"Lemme tell you something Roll, if you ever tell any human about this, I'll melt you down myself and to hell with what Wily, or anyone else says!"

She looked him in the eyes.

"I will never tell anyone." She reassured him, because when he'd said it that way, he was right, but she was letting him know that she wasn't easily intimidated.

"Hmm. We'll see." He said, then he got up, but before he left the room he said. "And yes, there is a mission from Wily."

"Hey new girl! Charge up! We've got a job to do tonight!" Toad Man, called out.