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Parallel Lines of Shadow and Light
Parallel lines do not intersect. Ask any child who’s taken geometry and you’ll be told the same. This is true in two dimensions, and to some extent, even in three. When you start getting into four and above, however, all bets are off. Time does weird things to geometry, which is why it gives mathematicians headaches.
Lives are an example of this sort of thing. When two people are living on timelines that go in the same direction, the odds are pretty good they’re going to meet up on at least one occasion. Usually they’re far more connected than that.
For example, take Thomas Xavier Light and his old enemy, Albert Wily. Two brilliant roboticists, Light and Wily were first friends and allies, then arch-enemies. Sure, it was usually Mega Man, Light’s finest creation, that brought Wily’s plans crashing down around his ears, but it was Dr. Light that Wily had his rivalry with.
For twenty years, Mega Man fought the forces of Dr. Wily. One after another, Robot Master squads fell to the seemingly invincible Blue Bomber as he defended the people of the planet. Even Bass, Wily’s dark version of Mega Man, was unable to stop the small robot as he cut through the mechanical armies sent against him... although not for lack of trying.
Twenty years is a long time, however, and while robots might not age, humans do. Dr. Light and Dr. Wily had not been young men when the war started, and now both were powerfully aware their time was running out. But it’s never been human nature to simply go quietly into the night...
Break Man was Dr. Light’s first real try at a humanoid robot, and a very successful try at that. Unfortunately, a lab accident and a messed-up teleporter had kept the prototype away from his home and creator for more than a year. Upon his return, he’d discovered that Dr. Wily had gone insane, Dr. Light had built a second robot, and through some type of strange accident, both robots had become bioroids, living machines. This new infusion of emotions and free will had given Break Man a bit of wanderlust, and he spent a lot of time roaming the world. Even so, something always drew him back to Dr. Light’s lab, and to Mega Man, his younger brother.
Today, as he teleported in, he was surprised to see Mega Man sitting in a corner, a gloomy expression on his face. At the sound of teleportation, Mega Man looked up to see his brother, and quickly leapt to his feet.
“Break Man! I’m glad you’re here. I was kind of wondering how to get in touch with you,” the blue robot exclaimed.
Cocking his head, Break Man looked his brother up and down, checking for injuries. “You seem okay,” he mused. “What’s the problem?”
“It’s Dr. Light,” Mega Man replied quietly.
“What’s wrong with him?” Break Man was suddenly seized by cold worry. The scientist was more than a creator to both of them; he was the closest thing either robot had to a father.
A third voice answered him from the door to the lab. “I’m old,” the scientist explained, slowly making his way across the floor to his two creations. He leaned heavily on the cane he’d been forced to use in recent years, and his face was lined and tired. “I’m old and tired, and I don’t think I’m going to be living much longer.”
Break Man wanted to protest that, but he couldn’t, and from the look on his face, neither could Mega Man. That didn’t mean it didn’t hurt to hear, however.
“Don’t worry too much,” Dr. Light smiled, seeing the stricken expressions on his creations. “I’ve had a good life, and I wouldn’t change a part of it. Frankly, I’m a little more worried about what will happen to the two of you when I go, but I think the provisions I’ve made in my will should cover it.”
“Do you... know how long?” the red robot finally forced himself to ask.
Dr. Light shook his head. “Not really, although I doubt it’s more than a month or two. I was hoping you’d come home... I would have hated to miss saying goodbye.”
“Well, you don’t have to worry,” Break Man assured the scientist. “I’ll be staying, for a while.”
That brought another smile from his creator. “Excellent. And since you’re here, I was wondering if you would mind assisting with my current project?”
Break Man had the sudden feeling he’d just been snookered. He grinned. “That would depend on what it is, Dr. Light.”
Moving to the computer, the scientist punched up several schematics. “I call it a ‘reploid.’ A robot with a human capability for emotion and free will, one who can make his own decisions and choose his own path in life.”
Mega Man and Break Man exchanged looks.
“Dr. Light, are you sure that’s such a good idea?” Mega Man ventured. “I mean, a robot like that could be very dangerous.”
“I know. But I also believe it’s necessary.” Turning, Dr. Light regarded the two robots somberly. “What happened to the two of you was nothing short of miraculous. The odds of it happening again are practically nonexistent. Without the two of you, our planet would have been under Dr. Wily’s heel years ago. Humans need robots. Not to do jobs humans find unpleasant, but to do the jobs that are impossible for humans. If all robots lack free will and self-determination, they will be easy prey for an evil mind.”
“And what if one of those robots has an evil mind?” Break Man asked. “If you give them free will, you will be taking that chance.”
Dr. Light sighed. “I know. But I believe that in this case, need outweighs risk. There’s risk in everything... but more humans are good than bad. I believe it will be the same with reploids.”
For a long moment, Break Man was silent, simply thinking. Then he nodded. “Okay, I’m in. Let’s get to work.”
None of the trio noticed the shadowy shape watching from above.
It was late, and the entire household was in bed when the watcher
leaped soundlessly to the floor and moved quickly to the computer. Dr.
Light had placed security systems all around the lab, but for this particular
intruder, they were of little consequence. The same was true of the encryption
lock on the files. Quickly the ‘reploid’ schematics were called up, read
over, and downloaded to the black robot’s internal computer. Then the computer
was shut down once more.
In the middle of the room, the intruder hesitated. Everyone was sleeping;
it would be child’s play to catch Mega Man off guard. Then he shook his
head. No, getting these plans back to Wily was far more important than
engaging Mega Man in a firefight. Especially since the blue pest’s annoying
brother was also in residence.
With a leap, Bass exited the lab through a window and was gone
into the night.
“Hey, Doc!”
Albert Wily looked up as Bass strolled almost nonchalantly into the lab. The mad scientist coughed.
“What do you want?” he growled.
“I brought you a present,” Bass replied, waving a sheaf of printouts at him. “Dr. Light’s newest creation.”
“I’m not interested,” Wily replied, turning away.
Bass sighed. “Yeah, I know.” And that was the problem. Wily had been sick for a while, and he was beginning to lose interest in everything that had once appealed to him. He hadn’t drawn up any Robot Master plans in almost two years- “Why bother? Mega Man will scrap them anyway. Besides, what am I supposed to call them this time? Spam Man?”- and hadn’t tinkered with any fiendish devices in almost that long. It was as if Wily were just marking time, waiting to die.
“Not on my watch,” Bass announced under his breath. Then, slightly louder, “Come on, Doc, at least take a look. I gave up blasting Mega Man to get these to you. Come on, don’t you at least want to get a sneak peak at Dr. Light’s legacy?”
“Legacy?” A flicker of interest sparked in the scientist’s black eyes. “Let me see that.” Quickly, Wily read over the printouts, a smile growing as he did so. Soon, he was even chuckling.
“Well, Xavier, if you intend to leave behind a robot as your legacy, I suppose I might as well do the same. After all, when have I let any of your creations go unanswered?”
Bass grinned. “I thought you’d see it that way,” the black robot said. “I’ll go get your lab ready.” Halfway out the door, however, he was stopped by Wily’s voice.
“Bass.”
The black robot turned, expectant.
“You’re no longer just an ordinary robot, are you?”
That got a half-smile. “It took you this long to figure that out?”
Wily looked puzzled. “When? When did this happen?”
“I dunno.” Bass shrugged. “One of my fights with Mega Man-- they all kind of blur together now that I don’t have a computer for a memory anymore. He knocked me into some type of generator, there was an explosion, and BOOM! Living machine.”
The scientist studied his creation for a long moment then nodded. “I see.”
Bass turned to leave again, and was once more stopped by Wily’s voice.
“And Bass? Thank you.”
Eyes slightly wide at the man’s unusual behavior, Bass nodded, and finally left.
Time passed, as it always does. Wily and Light’s reploids grew quickly, neck and neck, although Dr. Light, at least, was unaware there was a race. Finally, after more than a month of work, the projects were done.
Break Man gave the fully completed reploid a measuring glance. “He kind of looks like you,” he told his brother. “Only taller.”
Mega Man slugged him in the shoulder.
“He looks like both of you,” Dr. Light corrected, from the chair he was occupying. “Or he would if I hadn’t given him blue armor. What can I say, it’s always been one of my favorite colors.”
“So now that he’s finished,” Mega Man asked, “what do we do with him?”
“This capsule will hold him in stasis for thirty years, testing for instabilities in his programming. When he’s been pronounced clean, it will be ready to open and release him into the world.”
Mega Man looked up into the face that was so much like and yet unlike his own. “Will he be a fighter?”
Dr. Light sighed. “Not by design, no. But I fear it will no doubt be his destiny, much as it was for the two of you. So I’ve designed him to be upgradable into a fighting robot. Which reminds me, I’ll need your help placing the upgrade pads in strategic locations.”
“Not a problem, Dr. Light,” Break Man assured him. “So... what’s this guy’s name?”
“Well, he’s a bit of a mystery, so... I’ll call him X.”
“Whew! It took a lot of work, but it looks like that’s that,” Bass announced. “Your reploid is finished.”
Wily smiled. “Excellent. Thirty years from now, he will awaken, and begin an unparalleled wave of destruction upon the land. And if I know Dr. Light, his robot will be such a goody-good that they’ll have to cross paths.” Wily rubbed his hands. “Won’t that be glorious? Thirty years down the line, it all starts up again!” He coughed sharply, sinking into a nearby chair.
With a grin, Bass nodded. “Yep. With the programming you’ve given this guy, he ought to be a killing machine. Do you think he’ll be able to stand up to Light’s version?”
“Who knows?” Wily shrugged. “They were made from similar plans, although I did make a few... adjustments. They should be equally matched for the most part... I suppose it will all depend on the circumstances.”
“Okay, next question. Why red and white? Neat color scheme, Doc, but it doesn’t really scream evil.”
Another shrug. “Call it... a little nostalgia. I had Protoman under my control once, before he became a living machine. Besides, as much as you and Mega Man have in common, this robot is to Dr. Light’s new one what Mega Man’s annoying brother is to him. I suppose I was feeling... symbolic.”
“And the hair?”
“Just for laughs. Makes him look angelic, doesn’t it?”
“While in reality, he’s more of a demon.” Bass scrutinized the motionless reploid. “I dunno, Wily, are you sure about this?”
The scientist’s smile was joyful, for once free of any hint of malice.
“That’s the beauty of it, Bass. I’m not sure of anything. That’s why his name is Zero... the Cipher.”
Stubbornness can keep you alive, but it only takes you so far. Their final projects done, Light and Wily both began a downhill slide, the last month or so catching up to them. Of course, neither one knew the details of the other’s condition. It’s unlikely that either would have cared.
Dr. Light’s lab was filled with people, friends made over almost eighty years of trying to make the world a better place. Most were huddled in small groups, talking desultorily. They’d come to say their last good-byes, and now were waiting for the end.
The bedroom, however, had only four occupants. One was Dr. Light himself, lying quite peacefully on the bed he’d slept in for most of his life. A second was Dr. Isaacs, the Light family physician for years. He was monitoring Dr. Light’s condition, which was slowly deteriorating.
The last two, of course, were Mega Man and Break Man. As the only family the scientist really had, the two robots were determined to stay with their creator as long as necessary. They sat on either side of the bed, each grasping one of the scientist’s hands.
“Don’t be too sad,” Dr. Light said quietly. “I’ll be with you in spirit.”
“It’s not the same,” replied Mega Man.
The older man smiled. “I know. Both of you- I want you to know how much you’ve meant to me... always.”
“We’ve always known,” Break Man replied. He was not wearing his visor, for once, and his blue eyes were filled with sorrow.
“I’m glad. I’ve left the lab to the two of you-- equal ownership. I don’t expect you to stay, Break Man, but you’ll need a place to come home to. This will always be your home... I hope.”
“Forever,” the red robot replied.
Dr. Light sighed. “The two of you are safe, and I hope someday you’ll be happy... X’s chamber has been placed-- my work is done. I love you...”
“We love you too, Dr. Light,” Mega Man said quietly. Break Man echoed him.
Eyes slipping closed, Dr. Light smiled slightly. Then he was gone.
Halfway across the city, in a cold and lonely fortress on a hill, Dr. Wily lay on a bed as well. No mourners filled the castle, whose corridors stood silent and empty. Only two forms sat by Wily’s bedside-- Bass, and his robotic wolf, Treble.
“After... all these years,” Wily murmured. “A bit of an anticlimax, eh? No battle robots, no explosions... I guess Mega Man has won at last.”
Bass’s fists clenched. At this moment, he’d have given anything to simply be an ordinary robot. A robot wouldn’t be sitting here, railing at his own helplessness. A robot wouldn’t feel like acid was eating him from the inside out.
“He hasn’t won yet,” Bass answered his creator quietly.
Wily’s hand caught his wrist in a surprisingly strong grip. “No. Promise me, Bass, no more fighting. There will be no one to repair you, whether you lose or win. I won’t be there to see my creation awaken... You must. When thirty years has passed... then we’ll see. But until then, let it go. There’s no more point to fighting now.”
Bass realized he’d somehow developed a lump in his throat. “I promise, Wily,” he said quietly. “For thirty years, no more fighting.”
“Good.” He looked up at Bass for a long moment. “All those years... all those defeats... and I accomplished something after all.”
With a little sigh, Dr. Albert Wily, for twenty years the greatest evil the world had known, slipped silently away. As the scientist’s breathing stopped, Treble threw back his head and howled piercingly. Bass hung his head, wishing he could cry. But there are some things that even living machines can’t do.
Dr. Light’s funeral was a huge affair, with speeches and eulogies delivered by the powerful and lowly alike. All shared one characteristic-- they had called Dr. Thomas Xavier Light their friend.
Dr. Wily had been buried not far from his castle, a small boulder as a makeshift tombstone. No one attended save Bass and Treble, and perhaps a couple of soaring sea birds.
It would be hard to say who was better mourned.
A few days later, Bass was perched atop a skyscraper, Treble beside him. The two of them stared out at the rising sun, trying to find some path through the sudden chaos around them. The sudden blip of a teleporter caused Bass to whirl around, arm cannon ready. He lowered it again as he saw Mega Man, both arms raised in the “surrender position.”
“What do you want?” Bass asked wearily, turning back to the rising sun.
“Wily’s fortress blew up,” Mega Man replied, coming to stand at the edge of the building as well. “Is he...”
Bass sighed. “Yeah, but not... like you mean. He went before... I didn’t want to leave the place empty.”
“I’m sorry.”
The black robot gave his rival a measuring glance. “Yeah. I bet you are,” he replied, his tone devoid of sarcasm.
Mega Man leaned against the building wall, staring out at the horizon. “So, now what?”
“I don’t know,” Bass admitted. “Wily made me promise no more fighting... so I guess you’re safe. I don’t have any idea what I’m going to do, though.”
“You’ll figure something out,” Mega Man replied. “Break Man always does.” He moved a little away from the other robot. “Good luck, Bass. See you in... thirty years?” Then he disappeared in a rush of blue light, leaving Bass to stare after him.
“What the-- he KNEW! The little creep KNEW!” Bass told Treble, incredulous. Then he threw back his head and laughed. “Yeah, Mega Man. See you in thirty years.” Two more teleports, purple and black, and Bass and Treble were gone as well.
Time waits for no man-- and no bioroid, for that matter. Thirty years passed, one day after another, and eventually an archaeologist named Dr. Cain found the capsule that contained X. Reading the note that Dr. Light had left, Cain immediately began copying X’s design, making his own reploids. Soon, there were reploids all over the world.
And in a dark cavern on the edge of the city, where no one had
set foot for thirty years, a capsule opened, and a shadowy form stepped
out.
Some things never change.
The Beginning...