When Sparks Fly

by InkDropArtist

Rating: everyone
Tags: Dark, Romance, Slice of Life, Alternate Universe
Length: 1811

When a glitch-filled update is installed on a corrupted bot at Biotech Laboratories, Wire Sparks is born, capable of expressing emotion and complete with a feisty personality for the scientists to handle...

When a glitch-filled update is installed on a corrupted bot at Biotech Laboratories, Wire Sparks is born, capable of expressing emotion and complete with a feisty personality for the scientists to handle. Overcoming the corruption in her system, she needs to learn how to live and express herself in a way that is normal for ponies, or risk being wiped away as though her strange phenomenon had never even existed…

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2013-09-19 01:00:03 UTC

CBU-12.38-40.12_Wire_Sparks

CBU-12.38-40.12_Wire_Sparks

"*Systems activated_ checking firewalls_ 100% active_

dowloading V!R#S.jar 50% c0mpleted_ downloading V!R#S.ja-ar 75% completed_ !()() 100% completed-

uninstalling EmPaThY.jar complete-

saving c0nversi0n.jar to program files_ 100%_﻿

overriding AnT!-V programming_ RePr0grammmm-ing c-0nnplete_

*Reb00ting... system 0vveride complete*

initializing V!R#S.jar programming..."

The bot's "eyes" slid open, the mechanized lenses focusing and unfocusing as it scanned the empty room. Its heat sensors pulsed as it detected life forms nearby, through a layer of thick glass. Focusing its "eyes" again, the bot examined its upgraded body, a hard-wired check to make sure that its body was intact. The bot saw that its power cels were near full, so there was no need for it to extend the solar panels that functioned as wings and tucked into its shiny metal sides.

"_Phys!ca-al examinati0n c0mplete-e-e)" a glitched-out, gender-indeterminate, computerized voice declaired, coming from a speaker where the bot's "mouth" would've been. "Un!t at 100% eff!c!encY!"

A group of "life_form#107438_p" behind the glass moved, drawing the bot's attention.

"Patch!ng d@ta!" The bot declaired once again, "life_form#107438_p" is repl@ced by "unit_pony." P@tch!ng c0mplete!"

The ponies behind the glass moved again and seemed to be talking worriedly amongst themselves.

"Un!t_#12-10642 @wait!ng !nstr#ction!""

Indistinct pony voices could be heard before a skinny, black-coated, green-gray-maned Unicorn colt wearing a lab coat was shoved into the room with the bot. The coat was far to big for him, concealing most of his body and his cutie mark, sleeves rolled up to his elbows to keep from dragging on the floor.

"!dentify!ng... Unit_pony.u_13..." The bot's blue glowing eyes focused on the colt. "Unit !dent!f!e-e-e-e-_eRROR!" The bot was cut off by a series of disturbing, computerized whimpers, glitched-out, reversed and warped as it twitched and spasmed breifly.

The colt stepped forward, "You are..." He paused and glanced at a notebook he held in his magic, "Unit 1210642 - Common name: "CBU-12?"

"@firrmat-!ve!" The bot replied, lifting a metal hoof and saluting, "I am Un!t_#12-10642, but y0u may @ddreSS me-e-e-e as "CBU-12."

CBU-12 spasmed more, glitching out again as the mechanized eyes clamped shut. "I don't believe you should have to patch," the colt said worriedly, "We just updated your system!"

"C0rrecT," CBU-12 replied, continuing to malfunction, "Syste-e-em vers!0n Alpha_2.38741 appears to be 75% c0rrupt d@ata-a-a-a-a! The pr0gramm h@s insta-@lled V!R#S.jar 2.38741 into m-y-y-y systemm. I c@-a-a-n r#n a sec#r-!t-y-y-y sc@-@n i-!f y#0 des!-!-!Re t0-o eX-x-x3c#te th3-e-e-e c0mm@nd-d-d-d!"

"Alpha!" The colt exclaimed, "I thought we cancelled that update on all of our bots! The test bots made it clear that the update wasn't safe! And besides, we've switched to Beta since then!"

CBU-12's glitching seemed to be worsening, "Th3 f!le V!R#S.jar w@-a-s !nsta-a-a-alled w!th th3 #pd-@-aate! It u-n-" The bot paused again, electric sparks flying from the wires that went from its head to its lower neck. The lab-coated colt flinched as one of the wires snapped, falling down into the bot's mechanized eye. It seemed to laugh. Flatly and robotically, but it was still a laugh. "Ha-ha-ha@-a-a-a! I h@-ave a "m@-ane" as unit_ponies c-@-all !t!" The brief sentence was cut off by another spasm.

The colt's eyes widened. The unit did have advanced AI systems and was able to interact with complex environments and simulate some emotions, but to actually express it in this way was unheard of. "What is the status of your data, CBU-12?"

"D@-ta 90% c0-rrrruupptt!" The bot shuddered once, showering sparks, before its "eye" lenses unfocused and dialated, it's head hung down and a warped, deep voice declaired, "Emergency system reboot required. Initializing. Reinstalling empathy.jar. VIRUS.jar cannot be uninstalled. VIRUS.jar will be updated to Beta format 2.38741.99999.0. VIRUS.jar will be renamed GLITCH_EMO.983645.9990.0.jar..."

The suprisingly un-glitched voice continued to rattle off with a series of file edits and unit changes. The colt was sure - this was really bad. "Shut it down!" he shouted, "Don't let that system reboot!"

"Unit CBU-12.38-40.12 renamed CBU-12.38-40.12_Wire_Sparks may be addressed as unit "Wire Sparks." CBU-12.38-40.12_Wire_Sparks installing unit_pony-vocal_female.mp3.jar. Installing personality_unit_pony-female_R.A.T 50%. 100% completed. Rebooting. Powering up."

With a series of mechanical whirrs and clanks, the bot lifted its head. Its eyes were orange - eye colors were designed to signify the status of data corruption in a bot. That was bad.

"W-where am I?" It asked, voice sounding much more natural. It sounded like a young mare's voice, still fairly computerized, but holding emotion. It? More accurately a "her" now. "M-metal?" "She" looked down at her silvery, polished metal hoof. Then down at her shiny white body. She reached and felt it. Smooth, synthetic skin covered much of her torso and upper legs, but her face, wings, horn and lower legs were bare metal, slim rods, gears and springs whirring as she flexed a foreleg. "Fascinating," she mused, "Strange, really-" she cut off as she saw the colt. "Hello," she said, voice cheerful. "Allow me to introduce myself," she began, putting a hoof to her chest, "I am a unit of Biotech Laboratories, Equestria. I am called CBU-12.38-40.12_Wire_Sparks, but you can call me Wire Sparks, if that is any easier." As she spoke the string of numbers and letters that was her "file name," Wire Sparks' voice became flatter and more computerized, glitching slightly as it transitioned to and from the more natural, pony-like voice that it was now.

"M-my name is..." The colt looked back at his colleagues who were waving frantically for him to come back and shut down Wire Sparks. He didn't. "Hollow Dreams. I thought you were CBU-12," he insisted, "but you seem to be... alive?"

Wire Sparks cocked her head, mechanized pupils contracting, "You mean CBU-12.38-40.12_Wire_Sparks?" She asked, another spark flying from the broken wire. "You can call me that if you want, but I prefer Wire Sparks." She walked closer, and Hollow Dreams could hear the springs and shock absorbers in her legs creaking and whirring as she took each step. "I seem to be alive, as you say. I find that flattering," The bot reached out and touched Hollow Dreams' face, the colt flinching as the cold metal of her hoof brushed his flesh. He relaxed as she drew away and continued, "But no. I am not technically alive. I am still an artifical intelligence system, created by you and your colleagues, and my body is not of flesh and blood, rather metal and wire, but I can express my feelings in the manner of "true" life forms, yes?"

"So you know you're a robot, and you're okay with it?"

"Correct," Wire Sparks replied. Her voice became more computerized again, glitching slightly, "Acessing database... looking up hardware model #3746209.8736.99.0..." The voice faded away, her eyes glowed and the bot turned away from the wall as a 3D hologram of an updated bot model appeared, quite similar to her current one. The synthetic skin of the hologram's model turned pale tan-brown, and a series of wires appeared from the base of the neck to between the ears, some extending to the front like a pony's mane, yet more wires protruding from the hindquarters to resemble a tail. One also had to take note that this model posessed a "mouth," with simulated enamel teeth and even simulated taste buds on the rubber tongue of the model. "I request for this model to be created and to be imported into it, if that is confirmed by your superiors."

Hollow Dreams smiled wide, "Of course, Wire Sparks! Come with me, and save that hologram to your memory for future refrence, please."

"Saving... Saved!" The bot jumped happily, upbeat glitch-style dubstep playing through her speaker.

This made Dreams smile even wider as the mechanical unit that had suddenly developed a personality and creativity began to dance. "I'm glad you're happy enough to dance," he said, "But would you come along to get that new model?"

"Affirmative, Hollow Dreams." The robotic mare trotted after the unicorn colt, spreading her solar panel-wings and fluttering them happily. The pair left the relatively featureless white-paneled room and continued into the hallway that lead to the viewing chamber. As Sparks stepped over the threshold, she spasmed and glitched severely, voice warping and gears whirring loudly as she tried to break free of the field.

"0o0Ow-ow-ow-ow-ow!" Her eyes widened and the lenses contracted in the manner in which ponies' eyes did when afraid or angry, "I-!-I th!nK ! @-am m@lf#nct!0n!-i-i-inG! Ma-a-a-alfuntion! S-s-s-s-s-ystem-em-em c0-0-0-0-0ndition cr!-i-i-it!c@l! E-e-emergen-c-cyyy_ Shu-#-#utd-0-0-0-0own 3nga-a-a-a@ged!"

As she declaired her actions, Wire Sparks' head lolled down, her eyes unfocusing and ceasing to glow. Her body stopped spasming, only twitching occasionally. Hollow Dreams gasped, pushing her out of the field. "Sparks!"

"Oh great, you've named it!" Hollow dreams turned to see a white-coated Unicorn in a dark grey lab coat, green eyes piercing and judgemental. "But did I hear that bot say "ow?"

Hollow Dreams rolled his eyes, "Yes, she said ow! And I didn't name her, she named herself!" He turned her over, opening a panel on her chest and fiddling with buttons and wires.

"System restarting. Patching GLITCH_EMO.983645.9990.0.jar, life_form#107438_p_u_filename_HollowDreams, #3746209.8736.99.0, CBU-12.38-40.12_Wire_Sparks. Downloading culture.3762.jar, GLITCH_EMO_patch.l. 983645.9990.0.jar..."

The Unicorn in the grey coat arched an eyebrow, "Did that bot just say your name?"

Both colts turned as the voice grew warped and low, "File download GLITCH_EMO_patch.l. 983645.9990.0.jar unsucessful. If desired, download will be retried."

"Retry!" Hollow Dreams cried.

"life_form#107438_p_u_filename_HollowDreams, this data cannot be uninstalled, are you sure you wish to continue this action?"

"Confirmed!"

"Retrying download, 20% completed, 50% completed, 70% completed. Download complete with 95% data corruption. Warning! Error! Error! The unit has downloaded unsafe data. Unit corruption at 30%! 50%! 70%! 90%! The uni-!-i-t h@s-s-s-s b33n corr#up-pted. CBU-12.38-40.12_Wire_Sparks: hostility mode locked. Reb00t!ng. Downloading target_lifeform.8734.jar, rage_vocal.p-f.mp3.jar, corruption_personality.backup.jar, firewalls active. System powering up."

"Great!" The Unicorn replied, green eyes wide as he brushed his blue mane out of his face, "You've corrupted the already crappy system! It'll kill everypony here!"

"Me?" Hollow Dreams demanded, ignoring the rebooting bot next to him, "How is it my fault if you're the reason she had to patch anyway?"

"S-s-syst3em-m-m @t 100% eff!c!ency! Scanning. Scanning. Scanning. Initializing rage_vocal.p-f.mp3.jar, target_lifeform.8734.jar."

Wire Sparks lifted her head, eyes lolling and still glowing orange. "Eeeh..." She tottered to her hooves blinking rapidly. "life_form#107438_p_u_filename_HollowDreams..." She shook her head, "Hollow D-dreams?" She inquired, eyes focusing on the colt.

"Sorry, bot," the grey-coated Unicorn interrupted, "but we're going to have to shut you down and reset your data."

Sparks twitched, "Wh@at-t-t d0 y0ou-u-u-u m3@n, Rese-t-t-t my d@aAta?"

"I mean I'll have to wipe your memory and reset your data."

Blades extended from her solar panel-wings and warped, glitched out growling emanated from the bot. Her voice was low, warped, glitched, and extremely highly computerized as she growled at the Unicorn, "! @m afr@!d th@t my SyStEm Pr0gr@mm!ng c@nn0t all0w-ow-ow y0u t0 eX3c#te th@t c0mm@nd. Life_form#107438_p_u_filename_BeakerSteam will now be deleted."

At those sinister words, tracking lasers glowed from her eyes, aiming at Beaker Steam's head.

"What? Deleted? What do you mean?"

"DeLeTe!"