Zero

Prototype-0, now known as Zer0, is a musical automaton built by Peter Walter I in 1896, cobbled together out of three of Walter's unfinished warbots.

He is portrayed by Bryan Barbarin.

Design
Like the other members of Steam Powered Giraffe, Zer0 is a steampunk era robot. He is immensely strong and resilient.



Beautiful were the systems Peter A. Walter I developed for robotic movement, and diabolical was the arsenal of devices he outfitted his mechano-men with. To fight in the great robot war of 1896, they all were equipped with a multitude of claws, chains, blades, heat rays, death rays, gatling guns, machine saws, cannons, and Tesla coil electrical dischargers.

Miles underneath his manor in San Diego, California, Peter had developed and tested these dangerous weapons, and when work was nearly complete on fashioning his robot army, he did not leave any of his resources untapped.

Prototype-0 was the hastily fused together remains of all the prototype systems Peter had developed. From three incomplete robots Peter forged the mighty automaton of immense strength and resilience. “Zero,” as he became known, was even able to fell one of Becile’s mechanical elephants all by himself using his grappling hook chain mechanism.

Zero was an indisputable asset in battle, but when Peter’s creations were refashioned for their original purpose of entertainment after the war, he was abandoned in the facility of his inception far beneath Walter Manor.

For nearly a hundred years the automaton’s core powered the very sub-levels of the Walter family’s workshop, and he was all but forgotten down in the depths until Beebop noticed the robot’s existence in 1992 while searching the archives in maintenance. He happily powered Zero on and the two of them became good friends, enjoying old records and films that had been stashed in the abandoned facility.

Over the years Zero became infatuated with the various Motown records stored down with him, and he absorbed the material with much gusto.

In 2008, while testing out his new rocket elevator, Peter Walter V was enchanted by a gorgeous voice emanating from one of the lowest decks of the Walter workshops. When he stumbled upon Zero, he knew he had to reconstruct the robot for entertainment, and thus the musical legacy of Zero’s career was born.

It wasn’t long after joining the band that Zero became “the face” of Steam Powered Giraffe. He skyrocketed into popularity until in 2012, he left the band for a solo career under a competing label. The Walter family lost the rights to Zero’s likeness and voice and he had to be edited out of all previous material.

Zero’s fame and wealth soared as a solo musician. He even had his own reality TV show, “Zero’s House” and a sugary breakfast cereal, “Zer-e-Os.” But his success was short lived when a bad investment left the robot millionaire penniless. Zero wanted to invest his earnings into love, but was unaware that love only existed as a feeling and was not something that you could buy stock in.

In 2015, Zero released his biography, “How I Lost All My Money By Investing in an Abstract Concept.” It only sold one copy.

Bankrupt and broken, Zero returned home to Walter Manor with the only possession left in his name: A yacht named “Floaty Time.” After repaving the roads and driveway Zero tore up while dragging a boat through the streets, Peter Walter VI was approached by Hatchworth, who saw this as the perfect opportunity to go and pursue his main passion of ‘gold-fishing.’

While unsure what that even was, Peter and the robots waved goodbye to Hatchworth and welcomed Zero back into the act for the year 2017.

Zero’s popularity may soon be on the rise, as over two people liked his photo already on Facebook. Today the washed up super-star enjoys hanging with his favorite disembodied robot head Beebop and watching soft serve ice cream melt on a hot day. (from the main steam powered giraffe page)

Songs
Zero provides the primary vocals for
 * Shattered Stars (1896, 2020)
 * Lyin Awake (1896, 2020)