Robin
Character created by: Alryssa Kelly (art by Alryssa & DkPhoenix; click for larger image)Name: Robin
Format: Guardian - no official designation.
Apparent chronological age: Same age as Bob physically, but chronologically, at this point, only about 2 cycles old. Confused? You will be...
Gender: Female
Relatives: 'Twin' brother, Bob; Daughter, Adena - deleted.
Physical appearance: 6' tall, blue skin, chrome hair, brown eyes. Average build.
Origins/Background: Robin's had a bit of an unorthodox start in life - created by Megabyte from Bob's code in an elaborate (if flawed) revenge scheme to essentially serve as 'bait' in a fake Game cube. The only difference, of course, is that she's female: Her code has a two per cent variation that accounts for a sprite's gender.
Powered by energy drained from the Principal Office and designed to be a replica of Mainframe, Megabyte intended the fake game to be a distraction for Bob and Dot while he focussed on taking over the real Mainframe. In this simulated Mainframe, Robin had a daughter named Adena, but she was not based on her code and she lost her when the simulated Game was eventually destroyed. The loss had a profound effect on her.
The virus attempted to kill her as the final part of his revenge plan on Bob, but, in her words, 'he couldn't even get that right.' Bob was able to save his lookalike despite her request to let her die. She was... none too pleased.
Robin lacks not only a past thanks to the cloning, but also a keytool and, after discovering her origins, a sense of self-identity. She still has something of a deletion wish; and even tried on one occasion to convince Hexadecimal to do the deed, since the Guardian protocols won't allow her to delete herself. Hexadecimal, as unpredictable as always, refused, finding live bait far more... interesting.
A frustrated Bob finally struck a deal with her that she accepts - he allows her to work on his car - his pride and joy - if she'll stop her suicidal actions. This seems to work out; she displays a natural flair for mechanics. Dot eventually offers her a position in the Principal Office's CPU maintenance bays, which she accepts.
She leaves Mainframe just before 'Nullzilla,' in an attempt to cut all ties and try to 'find herself'. She ends up in Turing System, and remains there until late in season 3.
When?: Early Season 2 onwards.
Personality: At first appearance, Robin seems to share a lot in common with her twin brother, Bob. She has his quick wit, albeit with a little more sarcasm laced in, and can be frustratingly arrogant. Poke a little deeper, and that similarity doesn't hold up for long. She may share her brother's base code, but while that means she has his inherent natural skills, she doesn't have the life experience that a Guardian needs to be able to use them effectively. She's socially awkward to the point of ineptitude, simply because she's just not used to being around people. She's also developed a dislike of children, after the loss of a daughter she never really had. As a result she usually puts up her own personal firewall and can be highly abrasive. She won't tolerate physical contact, and will go out of her way to avoid it. She's more comfortable around machinery than people, and will hole herself up in Bob's garage and crank up the music to shut out the world. Her attitude tests even his seemingly endless patience!
She's also inherited his skill for internalising everything. She'd much rather angst over things alone than talk about them with anyone else; but her double's just as stubborn, and it leads to friction between them. She doesn't share Bob's philosophies on viruses, either; bearing her history in mind, one can't really blame her for that. She does, however, share his penchant for running headlong into things without any kind of plan in mind.
Beneath it all, however, Robin's essentially incredibly insecure. She's not sure of herself or of her abilities. She's not sure what traits are truly hers, and in an attempt to try and emphasise her apparent differences, she's managing to alienate herself even further. She will deliberately needle someone to make them uncomfortable, in a subconscious effort to make herself feel better and take away from her own failings. To her, admitting to caring about anyone or that something hurts is a weakness, and she would rather die than admit feeling anything for anyone. There are chinks in that armour, though - but they don't show for long. She harbours an intense self-dislike and cannot believe anyone can actually care about what happens to her.
Skills: Strangely, Robin's displaying an aptitude for car mechanics - unlike Bob. She's also fiercely competitive. This can be a good thing in the Games, but sometimes it's also to her detriment. She's also good at improvisation, which is a handy thing in a Game crisis, and she's a fast learner, especially under pressure. Can handle a gun (although she doesn't carry one) and is unlikely to have second thoughts about blasting something - or someone - if she feels she has to.
Weaknesses/Bad Habits: As stated before, she's antisocial, and has a volatile nature; coupled with an uncanny ability to withdraw into herself and a knack of sidestepping awkward questions; aggressive at times, especially after drinking. Her inability to express herself socially comes across to most as selfishness or arrogance. She's easy to provoke, and will sometimes, as a result, act in the heat of the moment without thinking. Finds it hard to trust anyone; tends to wallow in self-pity.
Likes: Heavy metal music (Metallica, Grateful Dead... anything mindlessly loud, really), cars, playing the Games, jury-rigging, driving.
Dislikes: People, including herself, children, viruses; crowds, physical contact.
Catchphrases: "This is not good. This is not good." "Leave me the frag alone." "Get bent."
Cast relationships:
- Bob: A complex relationship. Bob saved Robin from deletion, only to have her push him away in response. She wanted to delete, and she's angry that he wouldn't allow it. His concern for her welfare aggravates her; Bob's been the one pushing at her constantly, trying to draw her out of herself and get her to be a productive part of Mainframe, despite her repeated attempts to shut herself away or get herself deleted. He feels responsible for her, and like the 'dork' she keeps calling him, won't take 'Frag off!' for an answer. She won't admit even to herself that Bob is probably the best friend any sprite could want - and she'll come to regret it.
- Dot: The best way to describe this relationship is 'verbal sparring partner.' Robin loves to push Dot's buttons and knows exactly how to do it; and Dot is not unknown to occasionally reciprocate the (sometimes spiteful) jibes. Think the Spock/McCoy relationship. They're two very strong personalities that have to be around each other frequently, and their competitive natures are very much in opposition. If push comes to shove, however, the two will co-operate. They don't actively hate each other, but they're not likely to be bosom buddies, either - it's not like Dot hasn't tried, but Robin's cagey attitude is a constant frustration to her.
- Enzo: Enzo certainly didn't get off on the right foot with Robin by bringing her 'daughter' into a Game - and she won't let him off lightly. She put the fear of the User into him as a result, and he tends to try and avoid being around her if he can help it.
- Frisket: Frisket doesn't like her, and she doesn't care. He won't attack her outright, but he likes to offer a growl every now and then.
- Phong: Phong is uncertain about this new, yet apparently highly volatile sprite. He's not entirely convinced that she's not viral, but while she is disagreeable, that's not really definitive evidence. He treats her almost fatal injuries at Megabyte's hands at Bob's insistence, but trust is something that will take some time - for both of them.
- Young AndrAIa: AndrAIa's tendency to want to help others naturally means that her and Robin's paths cross - and surprisingly, Robin finds herself liking the little game sprite - when she's not trying to avoid her, that is. They share some common ground in having an unusual beginning, which makes Robin feel a little less like a freak. But AndrAIa's just a kid, and acts like a kid, and there's only so much of her presence Robin can tolerate.
- Mouse: These two have a tenuous relationship - Mouse can't help but try and verbally slap Robin out of her melancholy attitude, and Robin gets increasingly frustrated with her for it. They share a mutual, unspoken respect for each other's fighting spirit, if nothing else - but Robin just can't fathom Mouse's penchant for dipsmooching her dork of a brother. Probably the only sprite around who Mouse won't call 'sugah'. (And can you blame her?)
- Hexadecimal: Robin's first encounter with the virus is to request deletion. Of course, Hex, being Hex, doesn't 'do' requests. Upon finding out about Robin's origins and experiencing her decidely bitter attitude, she decides that this sprite is far too interesting to delete just yet. Her refusal enrages Robin, much to Hex's amusement.
- Perl: Robin arrives in Turing System late in season 2, and immediately has a run-in with Perl, the system's security administrator. Perl's leery to begin with - Robin's arrogant nature and resemblance to Bob sees to that - but Turing is desperately short-staffed, and Robin ends up becoming their chief mechanic, working on the defunct CPU's and helping rebuild its shattered defenses. The two argue incessantly over the most minor of topics; but strangely they start to realise they share a lot in common, and the arguments start to be their (albeit bizarre) way of showing their tentative friendship for each other. They're infamous in the system for their late-night drinking binges - but they usually spend most of the time slouched at the bar trying to outdo each other on the angst front.
- Dennis: Robin's just a little envious of the relationship Dennis and Perl have; this manifests in her attitude towards him. She secretly admires his organisational and his people skills, but his workaholism reminds her too much of Dot. Unlike Dot, though, he refuses to take her verbal baiting. She knows that in a system crisis, however, he can be trusted to be in control and will take direction from him (usually) without argument.
Fics featuring this character: 'Gemini', Turning Point; 'The Mourning After'. In Turing System: 'End Transmission'; 'Inner Demons, Pt 1: Breakdown'; 'Inner Demons, Pt 2: Critical Mass' (co-written with Timesprite)
Is the author willing to 'loan out' this character to other writers?: No permission required to just use a casual passing mention in a fic. For actual appearances, I'm easily persuaded - I have a long-term (if a little haphazard) plan of fics, so just let me know. Feedback is always welcome. alryssa@panatropic.net
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