Deep within the recesses of a forgotten laboratory lay the dormant body of Ferrum, a Bio-Android created by the late Dr. Gero. It has been hundreds of years since his passing, and the android was left in a shut-down state since then, waiting for something or something to awake him from his slumber. The laboratory was run down, filled with cobwebs and dust. Small critters had even made the place home. The rapid pitter-patter of rats could be heard as they skittered across the metal floor. However, much like all of Gero's creations, the laboratory was built to stand the test of time.

The place was running on its backup fuel supply, and various small light fixtures illuminated the dank metallic room. A plethora of human-sized chambers were laid across the walls. Most were empty, or broken, but some still contained some of Gero's unfinished creations. The android Ferrum was laying on a metallic table top, with a large fabric cover over his body. His specially crafted rapier rested against the table, sheathed.



Word Count:
174

Koku trekked the ancient wasteland. His last mission was an odd one; to kill a traveling merchant who was last seen entering this wasteland. The man had ripped off the wrong people and was now dead. It was raining; a huge thunderstorm covered the entire wasteland. Glancing around for shelter, Haishin spotted a cave in front of him a few meters. He jogged to it and quickly sheltered himself from the rain.

The cave was very deep as Koku trekked through it. After a while, the entire cave was pitch black, but Haishin still proceeded forward. Suddenly, he heard a “Clank!” beneath his feet. He reached down, and grabbed what he believes to be a handle. It was stuck. He pulled harder and the latch opened, revealing a small-lit tunnel. The curious assassin jumped down. The walls were made of steel as Haishin proceeded. The hallway went on for a ways and finally, at the end of the tunnel there was a door. The noblesse opened the door, revealing a pitch-black room. He entered and a soon as he did the power rebooted and the lights all turned on. It was a marvelous laboratory, filled with gadgets and gizmos much too advanced for its time.

Despite all the fancy technology, the thing that caught the noblesse’s attention the mot was a blanketed table in the middle of the room. Haishin walked to it and removed the blanket. Laying on the table was an android. It had no eyes.

The noblesse walked to the computer on his right. He was tech-savvy, and soon booted it up. He was able to hack past the firewalls and even the log in system. There was one program on the computer and seemed to have only one function. Koku activated the program, and soon all the lights in the place short-circuited. They went haywire, and soon all the power entered something on the opposite side of the android. Further inspection lead to being that the object was a sword, a rapier to be exact. The noblesse picked it up, but nothing happened. He walked over to the android and opened op his palm. Koku placed the rapier on his hand, hoping it would do something….

WC: 370
Totes WC: 544

The moment the rapier was placed to Ferrum's hand, there was an instant spark, which was sure to shock the noblesse. The electricity the sword had absorbed traveled up the android's arm and toward his core. The android's body jolted upward, as if he were just struck with a defibrillator. And much like with a defibrillator, his "heart" began to beat. His heart being a fuel cell Dr. Gero commonly used to power his artificial life forms.

As the fuel cell started up, a low humming sound resonated out from the android, and his empty eye sockets lit up with small yellow lights.

The android brought himself upright on the metal tabletop. Everything was pitch black to him. Until a message popped up in front of him.


Beginning Diagnostic Sequence...

First it was five percent, then twenty, until a few moments later...

OPTICS ERROR
Finding Alternate Sensory Options...
Activating Back-up Location Services

And suddenly, his surroundings were no longer pitch black. Ferrum could see everything around him, with zero blindspots.

Diagnostics Complete
All Vital Systems Operational

And then something caught his attention. Well not something, but someone. Ferrum got off the tabletop and onto his feet, facing the Noblesse that had awoken him. Soon he spoke, in a dull lifeless tone,"You are not in my memory banks. State your name and purpose."


WC: 212
TWC: 756

The Noblesse was shocked and sent backwards on his ass. He watched as the android powered up from his power source. Then, then android stood and asked Koku a question. The Noblesse stood and brushed the dirt from his pant. He lowered his hood, revealing his face. “Koku Haishin; Noblesse. Was returning from a mission and found this place. Seems fate has drawn us together. Purpose is simple: to gain power.” The pale blonde noblesse stated. His expression was that of a bored one. He was curious about this android.

“Now for you. State your name, purpose, creator.” He stated more than asked.

WC: 103
Total WC: 859

"Noted," the android muttered.

Ferrum sifted through his data banks to find the answer for the Noblesse. His name and creator was readily available information. But his purpose... That was something more difficult to find. Ferrum's brain was an organic supercomputer, it should have been a simple enough task to find his primary directives. However, they were seemingly not existent. Even after looking through all the knowledge available to him, this was something he couldn't find.

The android answered with the information he did find, "My name is Ferrum, Bio-Android Model 17-B, created by Dr. Gero. Purpose is unavailable."



WC: 97
TWC: 956

Koku was patient as the android searched its files. He had been inactive for such a long time, though he stated his response. “No purpose, eh? Well, lucky for you I’ve been looking to start a crew up. Since I am the one who saved you from an eternity of being a pile of useless, unused metal, its only logical to come join me.” The noblesse said. He had maid most of it up, but If this android was powerful like the supposed ones of ancient times, it’ll be a great addition to his firepower.

WC: 95
TWC: 1051

"That appears to be a logical deduction. I will go with you. But first I require some answers."

The bright yellow lights from Ferrum's eye sockets reverberated as he focused his attention on making a clearer image of the room he was standing it. He compared what he saw to some photos of the lab he had in his memory banks, and found the place now difficult to recognized.

"Judging by the state of this place, I assume a considerable amount of time has passed since my last start up. So tell me, Koku the Noblesse, what do you know of Dr. Gero?"

WC: 101
TWC: 1152

Even though Koku was roughly 180 years old, he had never heard the name of Dr. Gero. “I know nothing of Dr.Gero, nor have I heard the name before you have told me it.” He paused, answering the android. “But, I have heard rumors of androids in the past, way back in the past. They were very powerful and had technology way after its time, much like this room. The technology in this room is amazing, perhaps we could clean it up and make it our base of operations, but we’ll talk more about that later.

WC: 96
TWC: 1248

"Well that is unfortunate. Dr. Gero could still have given me my primary directive. Without him I am still at a loss for what my purpose is," Ferrum paused for a few moments, "But as for using this room as a headquarters... the basic foundation for the lab is still intact, so it is entirely possible for us to bring it back to working order. Simply say the word, and I may have it operational within a few days. I still have the original schematics in my database."

Ferrum sat back down on the metal table where he had been laying dormant for hundreds of years, and continued, "And if you have any other wishes, Noblesse, just ask. Without any programmed objectives, I do not have anything I am required to do."

WC: 131
TWC: 1379