Chapter Text
“I will get my revenge! I will show everyone here, no the world, my power! I will-”
“Shut up already OLD MAN!” An inmate across from Wily’s prison cell screamed; even going so far as to throw his metal cup from lunch threw the bars towards Wily's cell with a clang.
Dr. Albert Wily, a grand scientist, foiled not only by his rival Dr. Thomas ‘Right’ Light, but also a small little robot boy that was no better than an assistant/housekeeper. Wily wanted to take over the world, to prove humanity and the planet that he was the greatest mind know to mankind. He’s the best; not Light!
Wily was (surprisingly,) given a single cell with a comfortable cot like bed, extra pillows and blankets when it got too cold, and even showers by himself. The guards were friendly despite Wily background at attempted world domination and even handled the other inmates when they turned their annoyance at the old scientist. Despite the considerate ambiance from the staff, Wily’s anger and rage festered like a wound as he stewed in prison for months.
Before the day of his release, his parole officer along with two other guards escorted Wily to an office. Wily humped as he was placed into a wooden outdated chair. The parole officer sat across from him; settling himself down in a black worn out chair that needed to be replaced. The officer had a square chin, blue police hat with matching uniform, and stumble around his face. He reminded Wily of a humanoid Guts man with his large build.
“Dr. Wily, I know you were suppose to be let out tomorrow but today is actually your last day. Due to good behavior, Dr. Light dropping all charges, and said man paying all your fees due, you are free to go.”
“What?” Wily said; stumped. He didn’t expect this. The doctor expected his former colleague to let him stay in jail as karma, to even mock him like he assumed Light would do behind his back.
The parole officer pressed on, not picking up on Wily’s internal doubts. “Yes. Dr. Light wanted to wish you well and give you a brand new start. He apologized and said he was sorry if anything he has done undermined your work and that you are a great scientist. I have to admit-” The officer raised his hat up along with an eyebrow, “He’s a better man than me. I would had sued the heck out of ya, you know? Stealing on top of world domination? Copyright infringement?”
Dr. Wily sat back against the hard wooden chair in the parole office. Some people would consider such a kind graceful act an insult or a trick. Or be angry that a person would do such a thing; expecting a favor. Wily, better than those lesser minds, is so amazed that his rival would turn the other cheek to forgive him after everything he has said and done for years.
The rest of what the parole office spoke went through his head for further analyst later on. Wily was given his few items back (which was a broken remote to his Wily machine, a screwdriver, and some useless chips,) along with his lab coat. After going through the rest of the paperwork, he departed without a word. Thankfully, the parole officer was nice enough to pay for Wily’s hover taxi home.
Wily entered his home, no his castle, in a daze. The facility ran as a manufacturing plant on the side, which is how Wily received most of his funding to make his creations. The front gate to the housing area opened easily with a retina scan and finger print recognition.
Wily pulled a face at the state of his living room. Scattered machine parts, clothing, and trash from fast food orders littered the area. Thankfully his sofa chair by the artificial fireplace is clean. He sat down with a plop and sighed.
“Look at this. Everything ruined by a small stupid little boy robot.” Wily waved his arm and slumped further in the sofa. If he stolen both Rock and Roll, then his plan would had succeed. A small oversight caused the downfall of his career and the state he’s at now.
Wily heaved a sigh and considered his life up until now. Here he is, past middle aged, with nothing to show for. No robots of his own, his creations ignored by the government, no one to warm his home or bed, and no children to speak of. Even if Wily ruled the world, once he died he will be forgotten; only remembered as a folk legend or someone in passing through history books. His legacy, his actions will not impact the world nor live on; the worse fate a great mind could have.
In another time, Wily would had easily dismissed all ownership of his actions on the fault of Light and his creation; continuing down the path into obsession. Instead Wily did none of that, with a groan he pushed himself out of the sofa chair and worked on cleaning up his home along with a new project.
“Old man.”
Wily pulled the comforter over his head with a groan. It was a blue and yellow trim design, with small W’s all over. The small, robotic like voice spoke again near the head of his bed.
“Wake up old man!”
Wily yelped as the blanket was flipped, causing the older man to spiral out of the bed and onto the hard floor (thankfully that’s covered by carpet.) He groans, glancing up to see the cause of his anguish.
A small boy with red eyes, a black and yellow helmet along with sharp teeth and a black one piece armor along with a yellow stone in the middle glared at him. ‘Of course Bass.’ Wily glared right back at his wayward, ‘son.’
After his defeat and mental brooding, Dr. Wily spent most of his time creating and pushing to make robots of his own, rather than stealing Light’s ideas or others. He managed to succeed by making new robot masters that had uses in the world along with this little brat glaring at him.
Bass was made out of a strange unknown element called Bassnium that Wily discovered on his own (unintentionally, not that he would admit it.) Because the element was experimental and Wily didn’t trust the public nor his former colleges, the scientist gradually crafted Bass’ body and processor.
Wily hoped that Bass could develop to the same mentality and traits of Dr. Light’s Rock but that’s asking too much. Bass, unlike the other robot masters, doesn’t respect him. Since being created he has rebelled, called him names, and treated him much like a bad teenager towards their father.
“What.” Wily hissed out, mentally counting and multiply backwards numbers before breaking those down to prime numbers. His patience was always thin with the small robot.
“I want to go ‘trick or treating.’ I learned this festival from school.” Bass folded his arms and stuck out his chest in a fashion similar to an angry bird.
‘That’s right, the boy is attending classes.’ Wily recalled as he attempt to get up from the floor, using the bed as support. With a new inspired Wily and Light still competing in the industry for robot revolution and change, people from all over decide to put their fingers into the robot arms race. There was so much commotion and since robots now harbored similar emotions and qualities as a human, that a World Robot Alliance was founded, with Wily as the financial benefactor; he can’t have Light one up him there.
The laws and government are shaky at best but sentiment robots like Bass have almost all the same rights as humans with some exceptions. There’s a lot to be done but Wily will be damn if Bass couldn’t go to school like he did or do the same things he wanted like other human child could. So Wily enrolled Bass in online courses with trips to the school occasionally.
“Fine.” Wily groaned and sat back on the bed. Bass did a little fist pump that was shortly lived by the next words. “Just take Zero with you.”
“WHAT?! WHAT?! NO!!!!!” Bass cried. Wily gave him that ‘look’ that meant his word was final. “Curse you!”
“Language! OW!” Wily winced as he got up too fast; wanting to hit the boy robot upside the head for swearing. Wily ignored how the small robot threw a tantrum on the ground; yelling and punching. Wily straighten himself and reigned back his temper this time. “Since you insist on being a brat, I’ll chaperone the both of you."
That only caused Bass to swear and howler more, making Wily wonder where did the boy learn such language.
After calming (more like pulling Bass under his arms until the small robot wore himself out,) Wily managed to find a wizard’s hat in his living room (most likely placed there by Crashman from his job at the repossession yard.) Wily left a quick recorded message to the other DWN006-016 (who were out bringing income to the home and spreading Wily’s recognition unlike BASS.)
“Go get your Halloween outfit and help Zero with his. That’s an order.”
Bass, face set in a pout that Wily thought was impossible for a small robot boy to do, snorted and went towards the back of the castle where his room and Zero’s lab resided. He came back quicker than Wily expected; wearing a box like outfit that said “Gundam” on the front.
“It’s a meta joke old man.” Wily didn’t know what Bass meant and frankly he didn’t care.
Zero on the other hand, prototype and all, only wore a sheet and nothing else. Small metal bare toes poking out from the ‘ghost.’ Wily would normally complain, but it fit the prototype machine.
“I can go on my own you know. It’s not like the island is so far away from civilization.” Bass grumbled as the three of them went outside of the castle door and towards Wily’s flying machine.
“It’s far enough. You are an unfinished model like Zero here. I don’t need the burden of fixing you if you break down due to your foolishness. It's bad enough I have to deal with you as is.” Wily responded as Bass huffed and folded his arms; settling into the cockpit. Zero is silent next to them as Wily tapped a few buttons to set the craft into motion.
Bass continued to debate with his creator along the way; both of them going back and forth. Wily told the small robot in a box that he’s still a child and Bass countering his ‘father’ by raising the fact that he’s being built as a combat robot against Rock and can handle his own.
Once they reached Mega city and Wily landed the craft in a (thankfully) empty parking spot near the park, the debate continued. Children and adults in costumes alike stared as Bass started to actually smoke and a vein bulged on Wily’s head. The two’s argument grew louder and louder.
Zero, who has been quiet all of this time, finally said something. “Bass, you are a prototype machine like myself. If your leg parts overheat mid transit towards Mega city, you would have to call Dr. Wily back for a ride. It is better for him to accommodate us in case of faulty.”
Bass paused at the garbled voice box that came from the sheet. Despite being a prototype, Zero was clear and to the point. Bass hated it because in his eyes, Zero is the one that is going to replace him. Zero shouldn’t be right. He’s the older one!
“Dr. Wily, Bass needs to develop on his own more. Independent tasks would lead him to become a self sufficient machine like the other DWN.”
Wily thought on what Zero said. ‘He has a point.’ The doctor stared at the prototype creation of his, who stared back with green eyes behind his ghost sheet before continuing on; Bass grumbling in conceit next to him.
Zero, far from a finished project, is only up and about to further process his mental circuits and interactions with humans and robots alike, least he ends up turning into another copy of Bass. The prototype is showing more maturity and personality that Wily thought was possible. ‘How did I make such a creation? I even scare myself sometimes with my genius.’
The proto bot and the small robot went door to door, having Dr. Wily ring the door bell before saying, “Trick or Treat!” Most of the people who came out were ladies; cooing and awwing at Wily’s ‘children.’
“Oh my what precious ones!” An older lady with not fully gray hair and thick glasses wearing a witch’s hat gushed. “Did you make them their costumes or…?”
Wily puffed out his chest in pride. “No, these two did them on their own. I taught them well.” There’s a sense of accomplishment and recognition hearing a civilian praise his mastery work. That feeling in Wily’s chest he couldn’t make sense of, but if he had to link it to something it’s akin to a proud father boasting their children.
Bass rolled his eyes as the adults continued to converse, not realizing that the ghost in their party became distracted and started to sneak off towards the opposite end. It’s not until Wily was finished (with a communication number to boot,) and walking down the street that Bass informed him dryly.
“Old man, the prototype is gone.”
“WHAT!?” Wily shouted; glancing around. Zero isn’t a fully working model with only his basic programming and Integrated circuit finished. The ‘body’ he has isn’t really a body at all. Zero’s main body is still in the process back at his castle.
“Don’t just stand there! Find him!” Wily said in a panic. He weighted the odds of trying to force the rebelling robot to actual obey his commands but thankfully luck is on his side and Bass only rolled his eyes before complying.
They went around the block, checking near houses and other areas until they ran into Gutsman, who was working as a crossing guard helping escort children across the street wearing a safety hat.
“Hey it’s the mini twerp and Doc!” Gutsman bellowed out.
“Don’t call me that you stupid fat bucket of bolts.” Bass hissed.
Any other day Wily would had watched the two machines create a spectacle but he’s on a mission. “We don’t have time for that! I’m looking for a small child with green eyes and a ghost costume. No shoes.”
Wily hoped that Gutsman would use his processors and rewind back to the children that he assisted recently; not much time has passed. Thankfully once again (which makes Wily want to do a dogeza, bowing low as he can on the floor once he gets home,) luck favored him and the former robot master nodded in recollection. “Yeah I seen a twerp like that. Over there sitting with Eksu since I’m suppose to interact with him today!”
‘Eksu?’ Wily thought confused. Wily and Bass walked over to see Zero sitting on a stoop with another small child. The child, despite wearing a vampire cloak, is clearly a robot. Etched lines against his cheeks, glowing green mechanical eyes and brown straight hair covering his vision.
The two were talking animatedly; more like Zero was nodding and ‘Eksu’ conversing a mile a minute. Wily stood there stupefied at this display of human like interaction before snapping out of it and sharply calling over his creation. “Zero!”
Zero didn’t jump, more like Eksu did. Zero on the other hand turned towards Wily and if he had eyebrows, the doctor was certain he would had raised one under that ghost sheet. Wily ignored that unsettling feeling of his prototype being too advance and grumbled, “Come on it’s time to go home.”
Zero turned towards Eksu and said something low, which made the other robot’s eyes light up. The brown haired robot nodded with a big smile; Zero getting up and parting. Wily and Bass watched how the one called “Eksu” waved animatedly towards Zero, as the prototype walked without saying a word back to his creator and ‘brother.’
The trip back to the Wily flying machine was met with silence. Even the normally sassy Bass didn’t say a word as they settled in the back of the cockpit, with Wily in the front. It wasn’t until they were in the sky that the scientist finally addressed the elephant in the room.
“What did you talk about with that robot?”
Zero didn’t say a word before his voice box issued out a sound, echoing in the craft. “Nothing.”
Bass didn’t think it was “nothing,” especially with that brown haired robot smiling at the end. Wily wasn’t a fool either and decided to watch Zero’s interactions in the future just in case.
But why is it that the one called “Ekus” seemed so familiar?
“I need to go through the candy first.” Wily spoke; taking both of their bags. He went into the kitchen, hearing small mechanical feet rat-a-tat after him.
Robots don’t normally need anything besides oil and energy tanks for their processors. Bass and Zero were both different than the other DWN; new advancements towards fully sentiment machines. Despite their processors being similar to the earlier machines, they could consume small amounts of human food if mixed with oil and other substances.
Dr. Wily decided in the future, as he went to take out pieces of chocolate bars, that if he wanted Bass and Zero to integrate with society he should figure out a means for robots to consume solid fuel. Such an advancement would not only make him one up Light, but also give him even more praise. He chuckled to himself in glee.
The small robot and prototype watched as Wily took out a pot from the overhead cupboard and put in pieces of chocolate candy into it along with an energy tank and oil. The smells were very discording towards a normal human but smelt like spicy, sweet brew to the average machine. Wily grew used to it, having to interact with machines daily.
Bass, already out of his box outfit, stood there in purple and black bored. “Can I give some to Treble?”
“No. Chocolate is bad for dogs.” Even though Treble is a machine like Bass, he’s still a dog. Wily didn’t want to risk it.
Zero, still with the sheet on him, stood there quietly and patiently compared to his sibling. Wily wondered why their personalities were so different and decided to look into his logs before the night is over.
It took no time for the ‘brew’ to be finished. Wily turned off the stove and reached up to grab two small mugs with the ‘W’ insignia.
“Do you want to wait for the candies to mold or drink hot chocolate?”
“Hot chocolate! Hot Chocolate!” Bass said impatiently, reaching out with small grubby hands. Zero nodded and reached out as well with his ghost sheet hands.
Wily shook his head and chuckled again; giving both machines a drink. They parted with a scuttle of robot feet into the living room; where a small puppy resided near the fake fire place. Treble is suppose to be based on Dr. Light’s robot dog Rush yet Wily hasn’t figured out the right schematics so right now the machine looked like a small, purple brown husky wolf dog.
Bass sat down next to Treble (who only opened one eye before closing it,) and turned to talk towards Zero, who settled next to him. Bass seemed to actually hold a conversation with the prototype, which surprised Wily. He knew that his ‘son’ hated his ‘sibling’ and harbored misguided hate in a similar fashion like Proto. Wily told Bass time and time again he wouldn’t be scrapped and replaced.
Zero didn’t seem to be holding his own end of the conversation at first but Wily could hear his voice box crack from time to time putting in input.
Wily sighed and sat down on his chair, relaxing. He closed his eyes for a moment; drifting off as he listened to his two creations talk well into the night. His wearily bones settled and a sense of calm went through his body for the first time in years; rolling off stress.
When Doctor Wily realized that he fell into a deep sleep, he woke to only see himself already tuck in bed with the lights off. A part of him wondered how did two robot like children manage to get him into his bed but he shrugged it away.