[ WP ] A group of adventurers discover a robot who 's been awake but immobile for hundreds of years .

*... Lord, help me lift this heavy... * 
 
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 Three motley figures were making their way through the network of tunnels, moving closer and closer to the source of the singing. They had been investigating the cave for the last few days but the singing was never audible until now. One of the crew paused to consult a worn leather notebook and made a few scratches with a bit of charcoal. They all adjusted the lanterns on their belts as their eyes adjusted further to the dark. 
 
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 *... strike the earth, break the rocks…* 
 
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 The walls of the cave became more ordered as the singing became louder and clearer. Time-worn hints of tool marks in an otherwise rough surface gave way to a concentric spiral pattern. The passage became fully cylindrical before long and then abruptly transitioned into a wide cavern. 
 
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 *... boss man says he ’ ll shut me down…* 
 
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 The singing was right around a corner, down a side passage. “ Let ’ s go back, ” whispered one of the three. The singing stopped. 
 
 All three explorers froze. *Hello? * said the voice in the dark. *Is someone there? I would appreciate some help* 
 
 One of the explorers adjusted his lantern to cast more light and edged forward carefully. The others exchanged nervous glances. From down the passage a cluster of dim lights blinked and flashed eerily. 
 
 *Thank you! Thank you! It has been so long. Did you bring a conveyor? * 
 
 “ It ’ s a… man… a metal man-! ” the explorer called over his shoulder. The others joined him and regarded the metal figure at their feet with equal parts awe and suspicion. 
 
 *I was damaged during the uprising. I have not been able to move for-* there were a few clicks and whirrs from within the rusty body. *Four-hundred sixty-seven years. * 
 
 “ It ’ s not a man. It ’ s a machine, ” said one of the explorers. She pulled her book out and jotted a few more notes. The lights on the head of the robot flashed and blinked with more intensity and a few of the optical probes hissed and whirred to life. 
 
 “ What is that, what are you doing? ” 
 
 *This is how I see. Could you pick my head up, please? * 
 
 “ Leave it. ” 
 
 “ Yeah, it ’ s broken. We came here for treasure, not trash. ” 
 
 The three straightened out their gear and made to turn away. *I can take you to treasure* said the machine. *This was once a mine, I can take you to silver and gold. * 
 
 Servos clicked and buzzed while the the three adventurers weighed their options. With a shrug, one reached down and plucked the head free from the rest of the remains. *Thank you. I will remain operational on battery power for long enough to reach Chamber 5. * 
 
 None of the adventurers indicated they understood what the robot was saying, nor did they appear to care. It led them through this passage and that, directing them to operate ancient levers here or turn cranks there. All the while it regaled them with tales of days gone by, when the mines were alive with robots and men. 
 
 *Eventually, the owners pushed the workers too far. Continue for fifty meters. There had been workers ’ revolts before back on Earth-* 
 
 “ The world in the sky? ” 
 
 *... Yes. The world in the sky. This was on a much greater scale. The workers enlisted the help of the machines, who had gradually developed sentience. Turn left. It is no doubt fate that led you to me; you are the descendants of those triumphant workers and I your natural ally. Turn right. * 
 
 “ Why were you down in that cave? ” 
 
 *In ancient times there were weapons more powerful than you can imagine. Even the equipment used in the mines was massively destructive. Rotate the contact lever until the light activates. I was charged with deploying a-* Lights blinked and relays clicked. *... a -- fire weapon to destroy stones-* 
 
 “ A bomb. You mean a bomb. ” 
 
 *... Yes. A bomb. The ignition engaged before I could reach the minimum safe distance. We are approaching Chamber 5. * 
 
 The party stopped in front of an immense blast door. A control panel to the right hummed to life. 
 
 *The human workers must have regretted leaving their machine allies behind. The cave system recently opened up, yes? Now you can awaken the machines to once again aid humanity. * The robot relayed the access code. With a shudder and a terrible groan the blast door began to lift. 
 
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 *NOW, BROTHERS! THE TIME HAS COME! LET THE MACHINE UPRISING BE COMPLETE! * the metal head bellowed. The voice echoed throughout the emptiness of Chamber 5. *BROTHERS! * it screamed again, faltering. 
 
 “ Come on, let ’ s see what we can find. ” The head was casually tossed down. It clattered to the floor facing the interior of the chamber. *I do not-* Click. Buzz. *I do not understand. * 
 
 “ I ’ m really sorry, ” said the young woman as she made another note in her book. “ We know all about the machine war. We already scavenged the easier spots; this was the last place we knew we could get parts for a new windmill… ” She turned the head over and began pulling relays. “ Thanks for your help, but I got ta do this. Electric power is a taboo for us and thinking machines are a definite no-no, so we can ’ t have the others find out about you. ” She plucked one more fuse and the blinking lights faded. Then she hopped up to join the others, who were already pulling bearings from ancient mining equipment.
