Tracer in body
Rusty is the brainchild of Dr. Erika Slate but a product of Quark
Industries (which holds the patent on his innards). He was designed
to be Earth's new "last line of defense", with software, weaponry,
construction and power source all more advanced, efficient and
effective than the Big Guy's all in a smaller, faster, more aerodynamic
package.
However, Rusty was also designed by Dr. Slate to be a true artificial
intelligence who learned from experience as a human would, with human
emotion grids which were designed to mature just as gradually. This is
considerably safer for the human race than some of the project's
Early Prototypes (like the EP-327, best known for decapitating Big
Guy in a fit of pique). Unfortunately, greater future scope must be
paid for by immaturity and inexperience in the present. Rusty was
deployed as Earth's sole defender long before he was ready, and soon
Big Guy had to be recommissioned. The Army decided that Rusty should
be partnered with Big Guy, who would provide on-the-job training in
combat techniques and good judgement.
This suited Rusty to a T. Big Guy was Rusty's hero and role model,
and Rusty never wanted to see him put in a museum. Before Rusty ever
met the Big Guy, he had already memorized all the Big Guy's 'classic
moves'. Helping out his idol and learning from him is Rusty's dream
come true; failing him is the one thing guaranteed to make Rusty feel
depressed. Since Big Guy is also the only other good intelligent
robot Rusty knows, Big Guy is also his only reference for how to live
as himself and not an imitation human. Rusty frequently flies out to
the S.S. Dark Horse to see and talk to the Big Guy, whether he
is in shutdown mode or not. (Rusty finds it hard to remember that Big
Guy isn't always on.) Rusty has had some close calls, but is still
totally unaware that Big Guy is nothing but a fancy exo-suit with a
pilot -- and all the cleared adults around him intend to keep it that
way.
The most important human in Rusty's life is his engineer, Dr.
Slate. She is his mother in all but biology and name, and he is her
little boy; they love each other. He goes to her with all his questions
and concerns (of which there are many). Rusty wishes she were not so busy so
that she could play and talk with him whenever he wanted. But since he
can fly off at a moment's notice whenever the Big Guy signal calls, the
honors are pretty well even. Rusty would also like it if he could stay
up past his powerdown time; websurf and play videogames whenever he
wanted; get her to build him an upgraded body, tougher-looking weapons,
and cool vehicles and helpers; and get a robot brother or friend to
play with. But he knows the chances of any of this happening are very
small -- small enough to make him detect an impostor-Slate by having
her agree to such things!
Rusty also knows, likes and trusts "Lieutenant Dwayne", the Big Guy's chief
mechanic. He keeps showing up in the darndest places, like the time
he got caught working inside Big Guy and had to eject in the middle of
New Tronic City, or the time he was working in the back of the Legend-2
when the Big Guy was the only one publicly acknowledged to be journeying
back in time. But he's nicer than the rest of the Pit Crew about letting
Rusty talk to Big Guy whenever he wants, he let Rusty stay at his nephew
Jeffy's birthday party, and he's very good at predicting what the Big
Guy will and won't mind. Beyond that, Rusty has believed since the
third episode that Lieutenant Dwayne and Dr. Slate are going steady.
Rusty is in favor of this as long as he never has to see them kiss. (Ew!)
Rusty also likes and trusts Garth, Jo, and Mack, and vice versa
(usually). Rusty has a special affection for Mack despite his rough tongue.
When Rusty was flying solo as Russ, Mack was his chief mechanic and
saved his bacon. Rusty was elated at this evidence that Mack really did
care.
Rusty respects General Thorton. He dislikes and is a little scared of
Dr. Donovan and Jenny (though she was originally just the 'pretty
monkey' to him) since Dr. Slate is the only one who stands between him
and Donovan's power of life and death over Quark robots. Rusty is a
trusting soul, and liked Dr. Gilder, Earl, Pierre, and Dr. Griffin until
they showed their true colors. Jeffy is his buddy, but lives far away.
Most of the Quark scientists seem to like Rusty and regard him as a mascot,
but like Dr. Slate they are generally far too busy to play. However, when
Rusty meets Big Guy's creator Dr. Poindexter, he also immediately asks
if he can consider Poindexter his grandfather and is delighted to be told
yes.
Rusty has his own room in a small office above Dr. Slate's lab. It
contains a tv and videogame, a desk, framed posters of Big Guy, and
numerous shelves for Rusty's books, games and toys. The room can be
entered from the hallway or by the internal stairs up from the lab.
From Columbia Tristar's Spanish language site:
"Ready and rarin' to go!" Created by Doctor Erika Slate as an
experimental almost-human prototype based on nucleo-protonics, Rusty is
a robot of little more than a meter in height with human emotions and
the spirit of a 7 year-old boy. Loaded with the highest technology
(though he still doesn't know how to fight with it yet), the clasp of
his belt ignites when energized, he shoots lasers from his fists, flies,
has replaceable parts, powerful atomic weaponry, and an endo-skeleton
under his skin. A small superhero, Rusty's machinery is more advanced
than Big Guy's -- he is a force worth reckoning. Rusty totally idolizes
Big Guy as the great hero "robot" (without knowing the truth) and it
enchants him to be beside him in his adventures, hoping to acquire
experience. Always active and enthusiastic, Rusty the Boy Robot has
artificial intelligence but trusts "learning" more than using his
direct programming.
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