Note: Got a PM asking about when I was going to update this. I just posted it on here yesterday, though I'm further ahead on Ao3. I just find that site easier and better to use. Plus, it allows for fewer limitations and more freedoms. But still, if people on here want more, I can give it!

Light's Final Creation

April 16th, 21XX

Even if some of the crew protested to the expedition being over, in the end, Cain's word was final. Besides, they had made themselves quite the discovery as it was. But it was too soon to celebrate yet, let alone if there was any celebration to be had at all. Moreover, no one still had any idea what to make of this strange, new machine. And even more, he had shown that he could disobey a direct order from a human. One of Light's creations, no less. Not one of Wily's rebellious machines!

It wasn't the most straightforward task in the world, but Cain and Fujiwara managed to smuggle the machine back to the younger man's lab in Arcadia, or as it was often called, the White City. Located off of the coast of Japan, the city was, as the name suggested, had towering, ivory buildings everywhere. It was considered one of the world's great "new cities" given how locations such as Arcadia were possible with the rapidly growing progress of technology, as the city stood where an uninhabited island once did.

The robot knew none of this, currently laying on an examination table with several wires and cords plugged into him. Cain and Fujiwara looked over the information that appeared for them on the screen from behind a large monitor.

Now to discover ALL of your secrets. So Cain thought as the blue android's form came up on the screen.

What came next sent both men in a whirlwind of emotions.

The machine's schematic was presented to both of them, the robot's name was finally seen.

DLN-00X-Mega Man X

"Mega Man?" Cain questioned. "As in, THAT Mega Man?" Fujiwara didn't need to ask who the paleobotanist was talking about. Everyone in the world knew of the Blue Bomber, Dr. Light's most notorious creation. "But," the balding man looked at the blue machine. "He looks like him. And yet…"

"We know nothing yet," Fujiwara said. "We haven't even gone over what this robot's made up of yet."

Mega Man? Who was that? The machine thought, pondering on whether to ask. But seeing as, according to the younger man, "caused enough trouble already," he decided to remain silent.

Cain and Fujiwara looked the machine all over, looking into and observing just what all his creator had put into him.

They knew he was equipped with a buster, yes, but that was all they knew. The blue machine seemed to be put together akin to any other standard robot from what they were seeing. The skeletal structure was humanoid and the machine's shape, despite his armor, and he bore the appearance of a young man in both his proportions and facial features. His eyes were green, but also uncertain and curious. He was completely unaware of what was happening around him, and Cain could see that this was beginning to distress him.

"All you all right?" he suddenly asked, the machine looking over to the older man. "I said, are you all right?"

"What are you doing?" Fujiwara questioned.

The machine was unsure how to respond at first. Hours had gone by without anyone saying a word to him outside of commanding him on what to do. In fact, this might've been the first time anyone's actually expressed concern about his current state. "I'm fine." the robot said. "Well, I think." truthfully, he didn't know how he was supposed to feel. He didn't know much of anything.

Fujiwara paid no attention to this, continuing to look over the machine's components.

Head: Equipped with broad-range eye camera. The red gemstone on the robot's forehead's purpose had been found. Ultra-sensitive voice recognition system. It had been proven that he could speak. Voice generation system made by HAYATOM Inc. HAYATOM? There was a name both Fujiwara, and Cain were familiar with. One of the largest companies producing robotics would surely have some sort of hand in Dr. Light's supposed "last" creation.

Chest: Equipped with accumulative energy generator. Fujiwara made a mental note to take a peek inside to see what this robot looked like from the inside. After all, if things would go as hoped, this could very well be what he needed. What he had been searching for. Mirco-fusion fuel tank. Micro-fusion? Rather advanced procedure. Just when did Dr. Light create this specimen? Central joint-controlling system. He would also need to tend to that as well. That would have to wait, seeing as reflex tests would come when the other "tests" would be conducted.

"Incredible." Cain said in awe, torn between looking at the robot or his diagram displayed on the screen.

"Don't get your hopes up yet." Fujiwara told him. "We're not done looking him over."

Now it seemed they were getting to the more exciting parts of this mystery robot. Arms: Equipped with X-buster (Mega Buster Mark17).

"There it is again!" Cain said. "There's something relating to Mega Man!" he then looked at Fujiwara, eyes wide, a theory coming to mind. "You don't think he's…"

"No, impossible." Fujiwara shot the suggestion down.

"But don't you think-"

"No, I don't." Fujiwara interrupted. He continued to look into what composed the android's arms. Energy amplifier. He would have to look into that later. Hell, that whole buster was worth examining on its own! Even if he was trying not to get himself too excited, the Asian scientist had numerous possibilities and opportunities coming to mind. Variable Weapon System.

"What does that mean?" Cain questioned, gesturing to the section of the buster currently being examined.

"There's much that's going to need to be looked over," Fujiwara said aloud. "But we'll get to everything once we account for what this robot was made of. Legs: Equipped with Gyroscopic Stabilization System. From the way things were looking, there were going to be QUITE several physical tests as well. Emergency acceleration system (optional). "We shall get to what it is when we come to it." Fujiwara said, predicting Cain would be asking him yet another question.

Interior Skeleton: reactive armor skeleton. Reduces damage by ninety-three percent. "You know," Cain observed. "This robot, or rather, this Mega Man X-"

"He is NOT Mega Man." Fujiwara told him.

Cain was about to argue, but he ultimately decided against it. "Regardless, Dr. Light wouldn't give him these things if they weren't to be made use of, right?"

"Of course." the younger scientist answered. "What of it?" even if he asked his companion what he thought of these components being present, he was still looking over the robot. Body: Lightweight "titanium-X" alloy.

What was that? It must've been something developed by Dr. Light himself, Cain thought. Honestly, he was unsure of just how Fujiwara could keep calm. All of this was amazing! But it seemed that Sho was searching for something else that could truly capture his interest. Perhaps it was just due to his unfamiliarity with robotics construction, but he was completely overtaken by it all.

Then, he saw Fujiwara smile. It seemed that the doctor had found just what he was looking for. But first, he began clicking a few keys.

"What are you doing?" Cain questioned, noticing the blue machine begin to grow confused; then, he began to look panicked to his surprise.

"W-Wait!" he shouted, rising off the table. "Wait, stop!" Fujiwara looked startled, beginning to type more feverishly. "You don't have to! I can let you look-" the blue robot got out no more, for when the final key was pressed, the approaching machine stopped in his tracks. His once scared but lively green eyes grew dull, and his body relaxed. Then, he fell to his knees, then to the floor, completely unmoving.

"What did you do?!" the older paleobotanist was both puzzled and appalled at what he had just seen.

"I put him in temporary stasis lock," Fujiwara explained. "And he'll stay that way until I've finished looking over him." he then gave a small device sitting next to the monitor a click, a handful of Mechaniloids coming into the lab. "Put him back on the table. And strap him down this time."

The Mechaniloids obeyed; their bipedal but very unhuman forms picked up the unconscious machine and put him back where he was. This time, the restraints were activated, pining the robot's limbs so that he couldn't escape. Even if they were all just machines, and such behavior was far from out of the ordinary in how they operated, Cain couldn't help but feel sympathy for the blue robot being treated in such a way. Fujiwara paid no mind, continuing with what he was doing.

Speaking of, "Just what ARE you doing?" the older man asked the Japanese robotics expert.

"I'm seeing just what sort of secrets this specimen has to offer us." he then hovered a cursor over the robot's red crystal that was displayed on the screen. With a click of the mouse built into the keyboard, the screen presented an outline of the general functions of the machine's CPU.

But it was then that Cain saw Fujiwara's face change. Since this whole procedure began, he had been his standard aloof self, not seeming to care about anything or anyone around him. Yet not long after the robot's CPU had been brought up, the scientist looked at the screen, and steadily, his eyes began to widen. As if he were startled by what he was seeing.

But while he didn't say anything, Cain could empathize, as he felt the same way. Just then, Fujiwara seized up, the younger scientist's eyes wide at what was on the screen before him. "Sho?" Cain asked. "Sho, what's wrong?" Fujiwara looked at the blue robot, then back to Cain. Then he rose from his seat. "What's going on? What are you doing?"

"I'm putting this robot someplace secure for the time being," Fujiwara said, looking down at the azure android. He then looked back at Cain. "You and I…we need to talk."

Later

While he wasn't thrilled about having to travel back to the man's laboratory in Arcadia, Cain knew that he had few other choices. He had given the reigns to Fujiwara to find out just what he and his team had dug up. Thus, if the man said he needed time to look over the data collected, the less experienced paleobotanist had to comply, especially if he wanted Fujiwara to continue helping him.

Entering the lab, the older man was immediately greeted by a cubically-shaped mechaniloid, who led him right to Fujiwara's lab. Unfortunately, the blue machine wasn't present inside with the Japanese man. "Where is he?" Cain questioned.

"In quarantine for the time being." the younger scientist told his visitor. "And before you ask, I very well could've saved your life earlier today."

"What do you mean?" it was then that Cain remembered how the machine began to protest before he was forcibly put into stasis. But was he in any danger? Was anyone? If anything, the robot appeared to be at their mercy instead of the other way around.

"Look at this." Fujiwara guided Cain over to his computer, a message pulled up on the screen.

A message from Dr. Light himself.

"X" IS THE FIRST OF A NEW GENERATION OF ROBOTS THAT CONTAIN AN INNOVATIVE NEW FEATURE - THE ABILITY TO THINK, FEEL, AND MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS. HOWEVER, THIS ABILITY COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS. IF "X" WERE TO BREAK THE FIRST RULE OF ROBOTICS, "A ROBOT MUST NEVER HARM A HUMAN BEING", THE RESULTS WOULD BE DISASTROUS AND I FEAR THAT NO FORCE ON EARTH COULD STOP HIM.

APPROXIMATELY 30 YEARS WILL BE REQUIRED BEFORE WE CAN SAFELY CONFIRM HIS RELIABILITY. UNFORTUNATELY, I WILL NOT LIVE TO SEE THAT DAY, NOR DO I HAVE ANYONE TO CARRY ON MY WORK. THEREFORE, I HAVE DECIDED TO SEAL HIM IN THIS CAPSULE, WHICH WILL TEST HIS INTERNAL SYSTEMS UNTIL HIS RELIABILITY HAS BEEN CONFIRMED. PLEASE DO NOT DISTURB THE CAPSULE UNTIL THAT TIME.

"X" POSSESSES GREAT RISKS AS WELL AS GREAT POSSIBILITIES. I CAN ONLY HOPE FOR THE BEST.

SEPTEMBER 18, 20XX

LIGHT

He read it. And re-read it. And re-read it again, and again, and again, and again. But no matter how many times he went over it, Cain still couldn't entirely grasp what he was seeing. "A machine that thinks for itself?" he looked at Fujiwara. "Is that even possible?"

"Well, what have you seen so far?" the Japanese robotics expert questioned. "That robot was told to stay in the tent when you had first unearthed him, and he disobeyed that command. And when I tried to examine his CPU, he reacted to that. Had I not been here, he very well could've killed both of us."

The paleobotanist's blood ran cold upon hearing that. Had the two men been in that much danger all this time? And no force on earth could potentially stop this robot? Just what the hell had Dr. Light constructed?!

"But wait, there's more." Fujiwara maneuvered the cursor over to a scan of the android's head, zooming in on the inner workings of the CPU. From where Cain was standing, the shape of the robot's "brain" was very similar to that of a human's. "Look at these areas." There were four sections displayed of the CPU before Cain. "The standard model, at least in comparison to our friend here, is built relatively the same." he then pulled up another example, this displaying the CPU of the standard mechaniloid. "Mechaniloids, as you know, aren't exactly built with ideas such as personality and identity in mind."

"Yes, I'm aware." Mechaniloids had been around ever since Cain was young. Even if he and many others knew of Dr. Light and his work, nothing similar to the man's creations had been seen in nearly a century.

"But even then, they have basic programming," Fujiwara explained. "They each are given the standard set of skills, or traits if you will, on what their task is." he then gestured to the various portions of the mechaniloid's CPU. "But that one machine," he pulled up the mysterious robot's head again. "Look around here." he pointed to the most left part of the processing unit. "If he were human, this would be where the frontal lobe is located," he told Cain. "Not only does the frontal lobe control movement, but it is also where our personality develops and grows." he brought the mechaniloid's CPU up. Its "frontal lobe" had some features and quirks put into it, but it was fundamental. Its programming instilled in it a value of hard work and completing the task given. There was nothing more to add outside of its use as extra labor. Then he brought up the more advanced robot's. His "frontal lobe," in comparison, was a mess. The screen before both men showed far more complex and chaotic shapes and patterns appearing up in the scan. It was far more complex than the mechaniloid's. "I haven't seen AI programming like this in my life," Fujiwara said. "I've only heard. I've never seen it until now."

Cain suspected that no one had seen anything like this. Even with Dr. Light's previous achievements and inventions taken into account, the programming of this machine, this Mega Man X, was something completely foreign and alien to them.

And now with all this on the table, both men were unsure of what to do. "Where is he now?" Cain asked Fujiwara.

"As I told you, in quarantine."

"And where would that be?"

Fujiwara was confused, yet then realized just what Cain was suggesting. And at first, he was going to object, but then pondered over just what they both knew now, as well as what they had seen before. Here on their hands was a new brand, a new…"species" of robot, in a sense. This machine was nothing like any he had seen before. And yes, while everyone was still wary, nothing had happened yet. Nothing that resulted in anyone's death. Yet. Nevertheless, if they could perhaps approach this robot carefully, then maybe, just maybe, something might come of it?

Neither man could say what the outcome would be, but if things fell into place, this could be huge. This machine could've been the most significant discovery of the century. And even more, it would change the world forever.

Whether for the better or worse, that had yet to be seen.

Quarantine

He found himself confined once again.

The blue robot paced around the small room, anxious to get out. But he had been given orders to stay. And his creator's words continued to echo in his mind. Be patient. He reminded himself. They're just as confused and unsure as you are. If you make one wrong move, then you could ruin everything. That was the last thing he wanted. He had just gotten out of that confining capsule! He didn't want to be put back in! Or maybe worse!

But he didn't know how long he could stand being in here! He wanted out! He needed out! He…

It was then that the machine's train of thought was derailed, the sound of the door opening alerting him that he was no longer alone. And to his surprise, instead of another one of those robots, the man who had dug him was here.

"Hello there?" Cain asked, unsure of what to exactly say. Better yet, he had no idea why he was even in here, let alone why he thought any of this was a good idea. Fujiwara's warnings of being torn into pieces repeated themselves in the old man's mind. And given this machine's unknown strength, perhaps he could do just that! The machine approached Cain, but the robot did the same as the human stepped back.

"I'm sorry." the robot apologized. "I don't mean to."

The old human was confused. "What?"

The machine sighed and turned away. "You're afraid of me."

"N-No. No!" Cain protested. "I'm not-"

"Don't lie to me!" the robot shouted. "Of course you're afraid of me! You're all afraid of me! I even know that some of your people want me dead!" Cain backed away further. This blue robot had changed entirely. One moment he was shrinking into a corner to get away from everyone, the next, he was displaying quite the temper! Was this what Dr. Light meant by the ability to think and feel?

Yet despite Cain's fear, he saw the robot's expression changed, and his terror died down. The blue robot was immediately full of regret for his outburst, turning away from the paleobotanist in shame. "I'm sorry." the machine apologized. "I…I just don't want to be sealed up again."

"Sealed up again?" Cain was puzzled. "What do you mean?"

"I don't want to go back in the dark." the robot said. "The last time I went back in the dark," he paused. The truth was, he didn't know what happened then. When he was forced into the dark before…it was because something terrible happened. What that was, he was unsure, but he was sealed away because it was too dangerous for him to be out. If he had stayed out in the open, then he would've been killed for sure!

And not by the hands of a robot. But by several hands made of flesh.

Cain was completely taken aback. Such a range of emotions, and from a machine no less! But, as he thought about it, the older human had an epiphany of sorts. "Well, of course you don't." he said.

Now it was the blue robot's turn to be confused. "What?"

"Of course you don't want to be sealed up again." Cain continued. "Stuck in a dark place, unable to move, to speak, it certainly isn't something I would want to go through."

The machine shifted. True, it was suffocating, but it was peaceful. But his mind felt as if it were being restricted. As if he were being "analyzed," and he wouldn't be released until it was done.

"How long ago were you put in that capsule?" Cain asked. "Oh, but before that, I'm Dr. Phillip Cain." he said, extending a hand. The man hoped he wasn't making a mistake. "And, well, I've been rather rude, not calling you by your name." he then paused, thinking of something. "You DO know your own name, right?" he hoped he hadn't insulted the robot. Perhaps he was indeed afraid of him. But still, all the same, if this machine could do as Dr. Light claimed, then, ultimately, this robot deserved the same courtesy Cain would give any other human.

"My name." the robot said. His name, he thought for a moment. Yes, his name. He knew it. "Yes. The Doctor, he called me X." he said.

"Just X?" Cain asked. "But your serial number listed you as Mega Man X."

"Mega Man?" he knew that name as well. But also another. "As in, Rock Light?"

Cain was bewildered. "Y-Yes. That's right. That was his initial title." he could almost hear a subtle voice in the back of his head correcting him. Name, not a title. "Did Dr. Light, well, name you as well?"

"That's my name. X." the blue robot explained. "At least, that's what the Doctor said." he then looked like he was about to say something else but stopped himself.

"Yes?" the older human asked, curious.

"I-It's nothing." the blue robot, X, told him. "Anyway, back to your question, if memory serves me right," he searched through his databank, scouring for whatever he could find. Ultimately, he found so little, but he could at least answer the man's question. "I think…sometime around December. December seventeenth, 200X."

"200X?!" Cain exclaimed. If he was sealed around that date, and Dr. Light's notes said that the "testing" of this machine's "reliability" would take thirty years, then that meant, "You've been in that capsule for over a century."

"A century?!" X didn't believe what he had heard at first, yet as he thought about it, it steadily began to make sense. While brief, he had seen the outside world before he was put in the capsule. He didn't remember it well, but he had seen it. And from what he had also seen of the present world, it was clear he had been sealed up for a long, long time. But if a century had passed, then did that mean what he feared? "Then, then the Doctor. Is he…"

Cain froze. Never did he believe that he would be asked such a question. X questioned him as if he were a lost child looking for their parent. And, ironically enough, it seemed to be going that way, although he was far from human. X continued looking at him, waiting for an answer. But from his expression, it was clear that he knew what Cain was going to say.

"Yes." the human told the robot. "Dr. Light…he passed away some time ago."

X's green eyes looked at the ground, processing what he had just heard. Truthfully, he was just being foolish. Sealed away for a century, of course the Doctor would be dead. What other conclusion could there be?! But it also hit him that the Doctor was dead. Long before he could be released. And even when he was being constructed, the man's visage was constantly coughing and weary. It was logical. Of course he'd be dead. He was human, and his creation was a machine. Humans naturally stopped functioning after a specific span of years.

But he was dead. The Doctor was dead.

The Doctor was dead.

The Doctor was…

X turned away to face the wall, but Cain caught sight of it before he did. "Wait," he said. "No, don't turn away," The human told the machine. He was wondering whether or not he had indeed seen it, but he had to make sure. "It's all right." he reassured X. "I won't judge."

X was silent for a moment. "I might scare you again."

"You haven't so far." Cain told him.

"You're lying."

The human sighed. "Listen, I know you're confused. And you have little understanding as to what's going on, let alone what the world around you is like." he placed a hand on the robot's blue shoulder. "You must be so confused."

X finally faced Cain, confirming that Cain hadn't been hallucinating. He had indeed seen what he thought he had. It was just a single drop, but moisture had begun to leak from one of the android's optics, trailing down his cheek and falling to the floor with a small "plop!"

Tears. He was crying. This machine, this robot, was crying.

The Next Day

Suffice to say, Fujiwara's reaction to what Cain had seen was…unexpected.

And it was even more unexpected that the blue machine would be with the old man the next time they met. "What is the specimen doing here?" Fujiwara questioned.

"He wanted to come." Cain told him, looking at X. "And he has a name, don't you?" he then looked at the robot, silently encouraging him to speak.

"Yes, that's right." the robot said, still unsure.

Fujiwara crossed his arms, contemplating this new development. "Very well." he finally said. "Tell me then, what DO you want to call yourself?"

"X." the robot told him. "But you can drop the Mega Man part. It's just X."

"Just X?" Fujiwara questioned. "Why just that? Why not add Mega Man to it?"

X shook his head. "Because I'm not Mega Man," he told them. "I'm not Rock Light."

Fujiwara looked at Cain, eyes wide. "Cain." the scientist then said. "We need to talk. Again."

Cain looked at X. "I'm sorry, but do you mind?" he noticed X looking rather hesitant. "You won't be put back in quarantine, don't worry."

X was still unsure. "Promise?"

Cain nodded. "Promise."

With that, even if it took him a few moments, X obeyed and exited the lab, leaving the old man and robotics expert alone.

"Cain," Fujiwara began. "Just what the hell was that?"

The paleobotanist was puzzled. "What do you mean?"

"He took the initiative." the Japanese man told Cain. "He told us what he wanted, and he made it clear. He already is displaying signs of independence." he then drew closer. "Do you have any idea what that means?" Cain didn't even get a chance to respond, Fujiwara continuing. "You have just stumbled onto what could be the next generation of advanced machines since the days of Dr. Light."

Cain had no idea how to respond at first. True, when he unearthed X, he sensed that this would lead to something far more significant, but he couldn't have imagined this! And from the look Fujiwara was giving him, it was clear that he intended to go through with just that. "So…what do you plan to do?"

Note: Again, I can update here as well if people want to read it on this site, yet leaving a review telling me is the best way to let me know. Also, please alert me of any errors I might've missed.

That said, thank you for reading!