Disclaimer:
Unfortunately I do not own Shining Force or have any
rights to it whatsoever! I wrote this only because I
really enjoyed the game Shining Force: Legacy of Great
Intentions. With that out of the way, on with the
tale!
An Shining Force Alternate Tale
Distant Realities
Chapter 2
The loud hum of a generator starting up sounded
through the main chest plate. A series of beeps,
whirs, and clicks followed next. Then finally, a
louder double beep started and the �eyes� of the
project lightened up. A bland, slightly stilted
sounding voice emitted from the �mouth�, which moved
opened and closed accordingly to the words it formed.
�Unit Model No. AD1M-BA34 online. Commencing
self-diagnostics. Hardware and system check
commencing�� A low whirring hum, much like a flying
spinning disc makes in the air, sounded for a few
minutes. Then more multiple beeps came next, and
finally the voice spoke again.
�Self diagnostic completed. Summary of
self-diagnostics: Hardware systems diagnosed at
approximated system functionality of 80 percent.
Overall software protocols diagnosed at approximated
system functionality of 70 percent. Saving results in
file cabinet. Initiating AuroraAware AI�.. Greetings
sirs, how may I be of service?�
Unit AD1M got off the lab table and stood before the
two human beings. Standing at its full height of five
feet eight inches, the robot was composed of an
unknown metal that Kokichi was still yet unable to
identify.
The robot didn�t look new; in fact it looked like it
had been through a lot in many years passing. The
metal was dull, and numerous little and not a few
mid-sized dents, scratches, and stains covered the
entire surface. Although more than half of the metal
surface was discolored, what little that was visible
hinted a yellow and red pattern, though.
The main body was divided into two parts. The upper
part was crafted in imitation of a human chest and
shoulders, where the arms were attached. Where the
stomach would be was a set of rods, pipes, and larger
cylinders that ran parallel to each other. They
exited out of the upper body and entered into the
lower body area, where the hips would be. The �hips�
was composed of a triangular sized component, to which
the legs were connected with.
A large cylinder, beset by two thinner ones running
parallel beside it, made up the neck. On top of the
neck was a rather unremarkable looking bullet shaped
head with two eyelights, and a hinged �jaw�, completed
the body.
When the robot had first activated before him, Kokichi
had begun to smile. When the diagnostics ran, the
smile transformed into a wide grin that stretched from
end to end. And when it stood up smoothly (not
jerkily and cumbersome as Kokichi had half expected)
had greeted them, Kokichi simply couldn�t resist the
urge to express what he felt at the moment.
�It�s alive! It�s aliiiiivve!! Hahahahaha!! I HAVE
CREATED LIFE!!!! BOW DOWN BEFORE ME!!!!!!� A loud
smack was heard as a certain grandson slapped his
forehead in utter disbelief and a bit of disgust.
Then the old inventor suddenly started dancing around
the table, waving his arms around his head. He then
started to cackle madly at nothing in particular and
scream at the top of his lungs �I did it!! I did it!!�
Max�s jaw almost dropped to the floor as he witnessed
a sight he had never believed imaginable. His
serious, disciplined, and ornery Gramps was behaving
like some wild kid on a high sugar intake.
�I believe that the older Sir requires immediate
professional, psychological aid or intensive
telepathic reconstruction of the psyche.� The robot
supplied helpfully.
While witnessing the antics of his grandfather, Max
was shaking his head in mild disgust. Then the full
impact of what his grandfather had actually done
finally struck him. Max had always held his
grandfather�s skills and knowledge in the highest of
regards. But now, an overwhelming wave of pride and
awe washed over him like a tidal wave.
His Gramps �Kichi was the best! All those so-called
�Royal Science Advisors� to the King were second-rate
theorists compared to him. Of this Max had no doubt,
and this latest success just confirmed it. So
involved in thought was Max that he didn�t react to
the robot trying to get his attention.
�Sir? Sir? Oh, what a tragedy this is! To have
encountered by not one, but two Sirs who both have
disabled functions. One appears to be suffering from
a temporary lapse of sanity; the other is rendered
both mute and impaired of hearing. What is a Unit
AD1M-BA34 to do?�
�Hey!! I�m neither deaf nor dumb! I was just lost in
thought!!� Max was a bit irritated at having
this�thing prejudge him without sufficient evidence.
�Young Sir has miraculously regained full function of
his vocal cords and ears but now displays symptoms of
severe absentmindedness. Searching medical archives
for matching ailments �.. Subject Brain, Human.�
Torn between anger, amusement, confusion and
wonderment, Max could only say one thing. �Oh Gods of
Light save me. A robot, an artificial lifeform, with
a sense of humor?! We�re all dead now.�
Unit AD1M eyelights winked on and off. �Did he just
blink his eyes?� thought Max.
�Young Sir, I will let you know that I am a fully
functional, one hundred percent guaranteed, centuries
lasting general purpose EMAM! To think that I am just
a, a simple programmed, single tasking robot is, well,
an insult!�
�Robot, moving machine, EMAM, what�s the difference?
Wait, what is an EMAM anyways?�
If the synthesized voice could be any colder, Max
would be an icicle right now. Speaking tersely, Unit
AD1M answered, �EMAM stands for Enhanced Multitasking
Artificial Machine. I am far more superior than any
mere �robot�.�
Max scratched his chin thoughtfully. �Wait, since the
last �M� in EMAM means Machine, then I was right in
calling you a �moving machine�, right?�
Unit AD1M seemed to be insulted again by that. �A
�moving machine�? Young Sir, I am the finest
prototype ever created by my makers, Tarv and Marv
Wynstain. I theorize that you have not seen anything
remotely like me, so forgiveness on my part is
required. Doubtlessly, the longer I am in your
service, the more you will appreciate my uniqueness.�
Max groaned, �Oh gosh, not just a twisted sense of
humor, but a ego as well!� �Those are just a few
parts of my charming personality that you will
encounter. In a few days, I guarantee that you will
feel like a million Crowns!� Unit AD1M returned.
�Gods of Light save me!�
�Do not forget the Older Sir in your prayers, Young
Sir.�
*****************************************
While waiting for his grandfather to stop his, well,
celebration, Max decided to learn more about Unit
AD1M. At least he wanted to stop being called �Young
Sir�, as it was irritating him. When he told the EMAM
so, the robot�s only reply, which was a bit sarcastic,
was, �Very well, I shall address you as just �Sir�,
until when you actually inform me of your name.�
Max snorted in near exasperation. �Fine, fine. It�s
Max, Max Wellian.� Then a thought struck him. �Unit
AD1M, is that your name? Add to that, why do you act
the way you do� Thinking that last question was a bit
unclear, Max hurried to clarify it. �I mean, how and
why do you act so human? Other than the words you use
(which are the ones a university science professor
would speak), if I couldn�t see what you looked like,
I would�ve thought you were human.�
The EMAM nodded his head, taking in the sudden barrage
of questions, then formulating the correct answers.
�I shall answer your queries in the order which they
were presented. My full current designation is Unit
AD1M-BA34, prototype general purpose EMAM series B.
Created by the Wynstain Brothers who I mentioned
earlier and manufactured by E-Droids Bayver
Industries. My CPU was activated for the first time
on the First Month Benarel, on the Year 455. I �.�
Unit AD1M�s self-description was interrupted by Max,
who practically spat out, �Whoa, whoa, hold on a
second. The Year 455? That�s, that�s impossible!!
How could your structure survive all these centuries?�
He asked skeptically.
�Centuries? Unless my audio receptors are suddenly
damaged, I would state that clarification is required
in regards to your inquiry. Your exact question was
�How could your structure have had survived all these
centuries�, was it not?�
�Um, yeah�.�
�Regarding that inquiry, I would ask you, Sir Max, a
question as well. What is the current date?�
Shrugging and a little bit confused, Max answered,
�Let�s see, oh yes, it�s the Fourth Month Abren, Third
day, of the Year 900.�
Unit AD1M was silent for a while, then said,
�Interesting. I now comprehend your statement
regarding that possibility. According to my internal
time control unit, I was shut down on the Eighth Month
Zarryis of the Year 410. It seems that approximately
five hundred years have passed.�
Max�s eyes widened and he let out a low whistle of
amazement. He eyed the EMAM�s battered and dented
form with new understanding. �F-f-five hundred
years!!� he exclaimed loudly, �What are you made of
anyways? It must be something beyond durable.�
The EMAM considered this, then responded. �Since I
was a prototype, my creators decided to have me
composed entirely of a newly forged material. The
name was Cytanillanium; and was constructed to be a
lighter and stronger alloy then the existing metals in
existence then. The person, who conceived of the idea
of Cytanillanium, or Cylanium, was a scientist by the
name of Dr. Wistel. He did so in regards to the
fastest time and lowest expense it would take to be
forged. It is a splendid testament to the fruits of
his labor that I am not deformed nor partially
dismembered today.�
Max nodded in agreement. Whoever the Dr. Wistel was,
he had Max�s full respect. Then another question
popped up and he asked, �You said a while ago that you
were shut down. How did that happen? I mean, if this
Cylanium is as durable as it seems to be, then what
could damage you bad enough for you to shut down?�
Uncharacteristically, Unit AD1M seemed to pause, as if
trying to fill in a blank spot. Max waited patiently
for almost a minute until the EMAM finally answered.
�I do not understand it. From what my scans of my
memory banks can produce, it seems that all the
information I personally observed and stored is
deleted. I have no information of what might have
transpired. I theorize that whatever caused it, the
physical impact was severe enough to cause my AIOS
(Artificial Intelligence Operation System) to auto
shutdown in order to minimize damage sustained.�
Max was about to reply when Kokichi, who had finally
composed himself, came up from behind and coughed.
Max glanced at him, then said to the EMAM, �We�ll
finish this conversation later.� The robot nodded in
reply, then faced the old inventor as well. When
Kokichi saw that he had their full attention, he began
speaking.
�Well, well, well, here we are. I still have trouble
believing that I actually did it, but the truth is
right in front of me. Ahem, well, I guess
introductions are in order, if a bit belated.
Anyways, my name is Kokichi Wellian and this is my
grandson, Max. You are in my workshop, in the village
of Homesphere, in the province Rushalad, ruled by the
Kingdom of Alterone.�
The EMAM nodded his head and spoke. �Master Kokichi
Wellian and Master Max Wellian entered into Owner
Registry. Greetings, Masters, I am Unit AD1M-BA34.�
He repeated his origins for Kokichi�s sake, since Max
had already heard it. Then he explained, �My
programming directs me to serve a benefactor of mine.
Since I theorize that you, Master Kokichi,
single-handedly repaired me, and since Master Max is
your relation, you have now become my new Masters.�
Kokichi just grinned modestly. Then he replied,
�Well, I can�t really take all the credit for
repairing you. Max here helped me out quite a lot.
He must have done around, oh, about sixty percent of
your hydraulic and movement oriented systems. They
were busted up pretty bad.�
Unit AD1M responded, �Impressive. I would have
assumed that most of the technical knowledge that
existed five hundred years ago would have been long
since lost. Would you mind informing me on
specifically how you accomplished this?�
Snapping his fingers, Kokichi quickly realized
something. "I'm getting off track aren�t I? Sorry
�bout that. Well, I�ve been an inventor for mostly
all my life, trying to figure out how to push current
technology past its limits and beyond into the next
horizon. But somehow, everything I�ve done or
encountered, I�ve dealt with hardly any problems.
Until I came to learn of your, uh, inanimate remains,
I�ve never really had a challenge before. But that�s
a story for another time.�
His grandson had waited patiently until his elder had
finished talking, then dryly commented, �Gramps, you
should really write that self biography I�ve been
bugging about for the past couple of years. I tell
you, it�ll be an instant bestseller!�
Kokichi glared mockingly at him then shook his head.
�I�ll wait until I�m ready to finally retire; then
I�ll write it. There�s still much more to learn, to
invent!� A familiar enthusiastic gleam began to shine
in his eyes.
Max hid a smirk while pretending to cough. �Well, be
sure to keep the �dancing in glee� part out of the
chapters, okay Gramps? Just exactly what was that all
about anyways. Weren�t you the one who constantly
lectures me about �self control�?�
His grandfather playfully swatted Max on the arm.
�Jeez, kiddo. Just grant an old man some entitlement
for some rejoicing over a hard task finally finished!
Besides, I�m an old man so a few eccentricities are
allowed.� His grandson nearly bowled over in full
laughter, but remembering his grandfather�s formidable
walking stick, he managed to contain it.
Kokichi then turned his attention to the EMAM.
Becoming more serious, the old inventor said, �Back to
the subject at hand. I�ll admit that repairing you
took a lot of time, money, and energy. I almost had
to scrape dry all of my knowledge and do tons of
research at libraries and universities at Alterone and
Guardiana. But the one single thing that helped me
the most was this.�
The old inventor walked to a stack of books lying in
the corner and picked one up. With a bit of a
flourish, he went back and held it out before the
robot. �Behold!!� he proclaimed reverently.
The EMAM examined the book. It was old and battered,
with the back cover missing and the front one hanging
by a thread. By the sheer volume of the manuscript,
he calculated that it contained at least twenty five
thousand pages. Through some good fortune, it seemed
that all pages were intact, though like him, it seemed
to have survived countless years. Then, sound a bit
incredulous, he read the title, which was a bit faded,
but still legible.
�The Idiot�s Guide to Ancient Machinery and Robotics
Self Repair?�
Grinning proudly, Max�s grandfather said, �I found it
in the possession of a certain type of merchant who
dealt in old items from the distant past. It was
already about a year after I found you and since I
wasn�t really making any progress, I snatched it up
right away. Amazingly, the merchant sold it to me for
only ten Crowns. He said that book had been in his
family for several generations, and that he was glad
to be rid of it.�
Clearing his throat, Kokichi abruptly changed the
subject.
�You know, �Unit AD1M-BA34� is kind of awkward and,
well, is a bit on the long side to say. How about if
we give you a nickname?�
The EMAM sounded confused, �A nickname, Master
Kokichi? What precisely is that?�
Kokichi seemed to expect such a question. �A nickname
is sort of, well, an alternate name for yourself to be
called by other people familiar with you. In most
cases, it�s shorter and easier to pronounce than your
original name.�
�I agree with your explanation. �Unit AD1M-BA34� is
simply a designation for my creator to identify me
with. I would readily accept a �nickname� for myself,
as it would clearly make simplify matters of you
addressing me.� the EMAM reasoned.
�Hmmm,� mused Kokichi as he rubbed his chin, �what
would be a good nickname for one such as yourself?�
�As this is a new concept for myself, I regret that I
cannot lend aid in this matter.�
Grandson and grandfather were silent as they
considered ideas and possibilities until�
�I got it!� Max exclaimed, slamming a fist into an
opened palm. He turned to the robot and said, �How
about,� he paused dramatically for a second, �Mr.
Robot?� Max tried valiantly to hide a smirk.
Kokichi thought it over, then nodded, barely resisting
the urge to laugh. �Sounds good. Simple, and it
exactly tells what he is. I like it.� Effecting a
kingly accent, the older man gestured to the EMAM,
�Model AD1M, henceforth you shall now be dubbed as Mr.
-�
�Halt it precisely this moment! I must sincerely and
assertively object! That is a unmerited and
inadequate pseudo self designation! I demand a more
desirable alternative!� The robot snapped peevishly.
No longer hiding his smirk, Max crossed his arms over
his chest in thought, and then said, �Okay, how about
Robot Man?�
�Absolutely negatory!�
�Metalhead?�
�Rejected.�
�Chrome Dome.� This was from Kokichi, who was playing
the game for all he was worth.
�Master Kokichi, have you taken leave of your mental
facilities?� was the tart reply.
�Walking-Talking-EMAM-With-An-Attitude?�
�Pass, Walking-Talking-Human-With-A-25-IQ.�
This bantering continued for some time, until all
three became tired of it and became silent for a
while. After nearly two minutes, Max suddenly perked
up. �I have a name, seriously this time!�
Kokichi looked at him quizzically and Unit AD1M,
although totally unable to express anything on his
face, seemed dubious. This was reinforced by him
saying, �Hmmph.�
Ignoring the robot�s reaction, Max pushed on. �Well,
since Unite AD1M is, or rather was, the prototype for
a new line of ro- , err, I mean EMAMs,� he hastily
corrected, �this one will fit him just fine.� He
trailed off into silence and looked for the reactions
of the other two. �Adam.�
After musing over it for a second, Kokichi shrugged
his shoulders in agreement, then said, �Well, it kind
of fits, somehow. Not to mention it almost sounds the
same as first part of his designation, AD1M. Nice
one, kiddo!� He slapped his grandson�s back in
congratulations.
�Adam.� The EMAM ran it through his dictionary
software then continued, �Newly made; First of a kind.
It is quite fitting; Very well, I shall register it.
>From now on, my nickname is Adam.�
Kokichi and Max both smiled. �Welcome to the family,�
they said at the same time, reaching out to pat Adam�s
shoulders.
Adam tilted his head slightly to the left, then spoke
in a tone that sounded as if he wanted to cry. �Oh
Master Kokichi! Master Max! Embrace me and be
embraced! This is a truly positive day for me to have
experienced!� He spread his arms out in invitation.
�Errr, no thanks,� said the two inventors as they
cautiously shuffled a step backward. One squeeze from
that robot and they would possibly be crippled for
life.
�I was attempting a joke. Do not be alarmed. Wait, why
are you retreating towards the door so abruptly?
Please do not panic! I just want to express my
gratitude for your efforts on my behalf. Masters?
Masters, please come back! Do not run away from me!
COME BACK!!! I NEED AN EMBRACE!!!�
End Chapter 2
Rough Draft Completed: September 19, 2004
First editing: September 21, 2004
Final editing: September 25, 2004
Whew, thank heaven I am done with this chapter! I had
been struggling for a couple of days trying to figure
out exactly how to bring Adam into the story, not to
mention his personality, and at least part of his
history� dang what a headache!
I�m not too sure of how this chapter turned out and
I�ve got more than a handful of doubts about it, but
oh well. Please review!!
Oh yeah, speaking of reviewing, I would like this
moment to thank the people who reviewed the first
chapter. A heartfelt �Thanks a lot!� from me to them.
I never imagine that I would get any positive
reaction for my first fic. (Author jumps up and
clicks his heels together, singing �Oh Happy Day!�)
Sorry that this chapter didn�t contain any action
scenes. It almost took my entire muse at the time to
finish this chapter. I know it�s merely a long
dialogue scene, but I will probably add more on to
this chapter in the first draft or so. It�s a
possibility.
I hope you readers didn�t fall asleep at the keyboard
while halfway into this chapter! I promise I will
make it up to you guys in the next one as Max, along
with Adam, prepares to leave for Guardiana!
Oops, bad Darksoar. I almost forgot. You guys
probably noticed the weird names of the months while
reading this chapter, huh? Well, since the world of
Shining Force isn�t Earth, I�ve made new names for
months and also a new monetary system. Check it out,
here they are along with Earth equivalents:
Earth Months Distant Realities Equivalent
January the First Month, Benarel
February the Second Month, Vyntaran
March the Third Month, Nordel
April the Fourth Month, Abren
May the Fifth Month, Sarden
June the Sixth Month, Hakken
July the Seventh Month, Orkyss
August the Eighth Month, Zaryyis
September the Ninth Month, Lorrel
October the Tenth Month, Kendle
November the Eleventh Month, Marhd
December the Twelfth Month, Aasyon
Monetary Equivalents
Penny Medal
Quarter Ring
Dollar Scepter
20 Scepters = 1 Crown
10 Crowns = 1 Circlet
(Sorry, no dimes, nickels, or half dollars!)
Till the next Chapter, see ya then! Of course,
Reviews and comments and criticism are always welcome,
needed, and appreciated!!
Whoops, my apologies. It seems that the Author�s
Notes are even longer than those of Chapter 1! Hehe,
my bad.
DarkSoar
Email: darksoar@yahoo.com
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