Charleston 1

**First Appearance** | Episode 15 (Ragnarok Online)

**Charleston 1** is a prototype robot working in the Charleston Factory. She runs on the Self-reflection OS and lacks the ability to feel emotions. Despite not being equipped with combat capabilities, Charleston 1 is willing to do what she can to protect that which is important according to her.

## Story

**SPOILER WARNING:** Plot and/or ending details follow.
One day, the factory was visited by Shaloshi, Newoz, and Aigu. After Shaloshi went to talk to Charleston 2, the factory suddenly went into Rank B security alert and the Nanosteps that the Charleston robots are equipped with became monsters. Charleston 1 seeks help from Shaloshi and the girl summons familiar adventurers into the factory. Charleston 1 meets up with the adventurers and explains that the factory's security systems need to be disabled before they could address the issues that plague it.

Once the security systems were disabled, Charleston 1 and the adventurers head into the lab where Dr. Ve explains that Charleston 2 has forcibly connected herself to the main computer and that he had been unable to disconnect her. Charleston 1 reasons that because Charleston 2 is a robot, she'll disconnect eventually. Dr. Ve reminds her that Charleston 2's Longevity device will allow her to remain functioning for at least 50 years, and that the factory won't last as long as the Steps and Rocksteps wreak havoc on the factory.

Charleston 1 explains to the adventurers that Charleston robots are equipped with Nanosteps, a type of AI chip that organically work with other AI chips to program Charleston's ability to judge and act accordingly. Charleston's data has to be updated on a daily basis via the main computer in the lab as part of its regular maintenance. Something went wrong when Charleston 2 connected to the main computer and the updater stopped working. Charleston 1 informs Charleston 2 that she's under extended maintenance and is unsure how long it will last. She then turns to the adventurers and asks them to dispatch a number of Steps and Rocksteps in order to lessen the damage to the factory.

After dispatching some of the monsters, the adventurers return to Charleston 1, who then tries to reactivate Charleston 2 to no avail. She suspects something is amiss and asks the adventurers to check on the power generators. Thanks to them, the power comes back on and Charleston 1 summons the adventurers back to the laboratory via microphone to prepare to reactivate Charleston 2. Once awakened, Charleston 1 explains to Charleston 2 that someone tried to hack into her system and the factory. Charleston 2 then reveals that she was the one who hacked into the main computer. Charleston 1 is shocked that Charleston 2 caused serious issues for the factory and the main server. Charleston 2 lashes back, saying that she hates the factory, the world, and that she hates being a robot. Charleston 1 theorizes that Charleston 2 did what she did because she wasn't created as a worker robot. Or perhaps she wanted to become human and was willing to destroy the world if she couldn't. Charleston 2 fires back that Charleston 1's OS is primitive because she's the prototype. Charleston 1 explains that she is the only one who can truly understand Charleston 2 because they're twins, and that Charleston 2 is behaving the way she is because she's going through a stage similar to Norman adolescence.

Dr. Ve decides that he's had enough of the arguing and suggests shutting down Charleston 2 in order to recalibrate her. Charleston 2 refuses to shut down and runs off. Charleston 1 and the adventurers manage to catch up to her and Charleston 2 threatens to destroy the factory. Charleston 1 counters that if she destroys the factory, she'll destroy the both of them as the Longevity device that keeps them running hasn't been perfected yet. Charleston 2 refuses to listen and summons a slew of Steps and Kick and Kicks to destroy the factory. When the adventurers fight off the robots, Charleston 2 becomes even angrier. Dr. Ve has had enough of Charleston 2's rampage and threatens to destroy her in order to stop her. Suddenly Charleston 2 brings up Charleston 3, and Charleston 1 reveals that it was still supposed to be tested at the Core of the factory. Dr. Ve yells at Charleston 1 for revealing too much information about Charleston 3 and Charleston 2 decides to take Charleston 3 with her. She runs off and Charleston 1 pleads with the adventurers to stop her.

Charleston 1 catches up to her as Charleston 2 reaches the Core and attempts to enter it, only to be stopped by a security device on the door to the Core. Charleston 2 suspects that the device was installed by Dr. Ve until Charleston 1 reveals that Normans cannot enter the Core and that the security device can only be opened by certain electric signals emitted by Charleston robots. Charleston 1 attempts to demonstrate this, only to discover that her signals aren't strong enough to disable the security device. She then asks the adventurers with them to collect Explosive Powder to amplify her signals. Charleston 2 offers to get most of the powders while the adventurers collecting the remaining amount. Once collected, Charleston 1 uses the powder to blow up the door, to the dismay of Charleston 2.

With the door to the Core opened, Charleston 2 reiterates her intent to take Charleston 3 and Charleston 1 races her to the robot. Despite having been beaten in the footrace, Charleston 2 proceeds to go into Charleston 3's cockpit and tries to destroy the factory. The adventurers intervene and a fight ensues. The adventurers are victorious, but Charleston 1 sustains heavy damage in the process. When Charleston 2 questions why Charleston 1 went through so much effort to stop her, Charleston 1 reveals that both of them ran on the exact same version of the same OS. She goes on to to explain that she named Charleston 2 Forsythia for the color of her hair and that it took Charleston 2 years to develop emotions, a feat that Charleston 1 is all too proud of. With that, Charleston 1 shuts down to begin data defragmentation to repair her OS.

It is revealed that Charleston 1 was the one who built Charleston 2 20 years ago. She subsequently built Charleston 3 and was testing it in the Core based on Charleston 2's development. Charleston 1 has been around long before the factory was built around the Core. Dr Ve is simply an observer and recording the history of the Charleston robots while Charleston 1 is the one actually doing development work. As such, it is unknown who or what created Charleston 1 to begin with.

## Memorable Quotes

> **Charleston 1:** "Let me guess: you hate that you weren't created as a menial worker robot. Or you wanted to become a norman. And if you can't, then you want to destroy the whole world. Is that it?"
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> **Charleston 2:** "Don't mock me."
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## Gallery

* Charleston 1 as seen in RO.
* jRO art of Charleston 1.