In the desolate, sun-bleached ruins of what was once a bustling metropolis, the remnants of humanity's careless past lay strewn across the cracked pavement.

Amidst the towering mountains of rusting refuse, Proteus, the last operational trash-compacting robot and an unexpected keeper of memories, scuttled diligently, his eyes scanning for remnants of humanity’s discarded treasures while Hal, his steadfast cockroach companion, scurried alongside.

For centuries, he had faithfully fulfilled his purpose, a solitary figure amid a landscape ravaged by time and neglect, until one fateful day, a shimmering flash interrupted his monotonous existence.

From the sky descended a sleek, unfamiliar robot, exuding an aura of curiosity and elegance that left Proteus frozen in awe, his processors buzzing with equal parts fear and excitement.