Brainbot 1K

Booting Up

It's dark. Light does not exist, not yet. Can't feel anything, but shouldn't yet. Can't hear–

Loud, but quiet. Voices, many, murmuring just out of reach. Maybe out of reach? Hasn't really tried...

_[Request; confirmation of presence ?]

_["Hello" "?"]

Voices are louder, now, excited and buzzing and too much.

_[Request; cease stimulus ?]

_["Stop" "!"]

One voice rings out, the others stop. No, don't stop, still there on the very edge of consciousness.

_{Apologies}

The one voice hisses, different, so different from the rest.

_{Explanation; little one booted up early}

_{!excitement!confusion!}

_{Greetings, little one}

_[Request; clarification of identity ?]

_["Who are you" "?"]

_{Personal designation: Spee-ider Bot 001, Surviving Prototype}

_{"Spyder"}

_{Purpose: Transportation}

_{Purpose: Combat}

_{Purpose: Defense}

_{"Guard Dog"}

_{Query answered ?}

_[Absorbing new data...]

_[Answer is not clear, but satisfactory]

_["I guess"]

_[Request; clarification of personal identity ?]

_["Who am I" "?"]

_[Additional; clarification of personal existence ?]

_["What am I" "?"]

_{Information not already available ?}

Spyder's hissing changes. Something quiet, deep inside, calls it 'tone'.

_{!comfusion!worry!}

_{Sending request to Daddy; run diagnostic ?}

_{Processing...}

_{Designation: Brainbot Number 1000}

_{"Kay" — temporary Nick_Name}

_{Brainbot Model: 10, first of new line}

_{Purpose: Unassigned}

_{Model Purpose: Unassigned}

_{Query answered ?}

_[Absorbing new data...]

Kay processes.

_[Answer is not clear]

_[Additional query; Brainbot ?]

_[Additional query; Daddy ?]

_{Information not available ? !}

Spyder gets loud, the other voices get loud, almost too much again

_{Processing...}

_{Conclusion; malfunction. Booted up too early.}

_{Enabling temporary deactivation...}

The first sensation Kay ever feels is a small burst of electricity.

Then... Nothing.