Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

He was looking at her. His gaze followed her like he was a hunter and she was a baby deer.

Her palms started to sweat. She did not like how he was looking at her. She had to get out of here. But getting out of here was looking like it was easier said than done.

The two guys that backed up his sides, one was tall with blonde hair, more golden than skunks’ pale locks. The shorter one, stocky with messy dark brown hair, a toothpick was being held by a smile that was slowly turning more into a smirk. She could not see the tall ones’ eyes as black sunglasses blocked them, but her imagination was ahead of her and told her he was looking at her the same way.

I got to get out of here and find Astro and my dad. Dad would be thrilled of the news of Skunk finally being sighted by someone. Not so thrilled that it was his daughter that sighted him and, to add more fuel to the fire, that exact crime boss, who is one of the most clever criminal’s in modern Japan who always managed to slip through her dad’s hand’s, was now standing only a few feet away from her.

Not good.

Skunks’ eyes slide into slits, “I’m sorry, do you live in this… building?” He said, lookin around the forgotten orphanage like it was nothing but a building. A dump. A wreck. The place that used to be her home a while ago.

She tried not to show how much she knew about this place, how many memories still held dear to her heart, that half of her childhood was raised in this dump. She tried not to show the longing of how much she missed this place. That was actually the reason why she came down to the surface, to see the orphanage. Had it changed much? Was Hamegg still living here?

She had came through the back door, knowing that the front door would not be accessible from the outside. But as soon as she had pushed open the creaky door, she wished she wouldn’t have. Three men had stopped snooping through whatever they were looking at and turned there uninvited attention to her.

“No, I don’t. I’m a scavenger.” She said, hoping they wouldn’t catch her lie. Well, somewhat of a lie. She would always be scavenger at heart.

His face scrunched up in almost disgust and… almost like he was trying not to laugh. “Scavenger? Scum of the earth, huh.” His ‘henchmen’ chuckled along with him, agreeing with him.

Cora rolled her eyes and responded quickly and hotly, “Are you a scavenger? I’m curious, what were you guys scavenging for today? You guys looked pretty invested when I came in.”

The laughter from the men stopped echoing around the orphanage and skunks’ eyebrows drew close together.

“Trust me, girlie, me and my boys are far above scavengers.” Far above scavenges, far above the citizens in Metro City, far above the president himself. No rules, no morals, just him and his boys and of course, following whenever his greed took him.

“We heard the owner of this place left. Rumors hit that he left some valuable machinery. Some of it we found but really a whole lot of nothing. Did you know him?” Skunk asked Cora.

So, Hamegg is not here. At first, she felt relief, thinking that if she saw him again, it would not be a pretty reunion. But that same feeling kept swelling up inside her, as she quickly gazed around the main living/dining room. Right now, she wished Hamegg was still living here and was by her side so as not to be alone with these three strangers. Strangers that were quickly making her feel uneasy. Now she felt like a complete idiot for coming by herself. She should have tagged Zane or Astro by her side, but no. You listen to your emotions, and it gets you no where but trouble.

“No.” Was her only reply and Cora suddenly became nervous again, especially when skunk started giving her that same look from earlier. She saw the irritated façade fade away and was slowly replaced with a look of realization and his eyes gleamed with greediness. Now, what was he thinking?!

Her hands started shaking slightly and she quickly covered it with folding her arms across her chest. She suddenly realized she was moving backwards slowly, her feet having a mind of their own, telling her ‘I think it’s time to go!’

“Well I better be getting back home-“

“You’re leaving? So soon? We just met- and I have to say, you remind me of someone I know. I never forget a face.” He said, with giddiness, almost stumbling over his words. “Wouldn’t you say so boys?”

The short man startled her, “Yeah, I would say so, boss.” Cora was too focus on Skunk, almost too afraid to take her eyes off of him, if she took her eyes off of him for one second, he would snap. The two men were slowly circling around her till all three of them were forming a triangle, making her edgy, and destroying her plan of getting out of there. The squeaky door looked so far away from her now.

Suddenly, almost glowing in the light… was a wrench, laying on the dinner table with forgotten food crumbs laying around it. Her old wrench. She hadn’t realize she had lost it. But there it was. And more importantly right now, it was a weapon, and she needed it now. The tall dumb blonde was blocking her opportunity. Rats!

“I’m told I have one of those faces,” she chuckled nervously. “But right now I think it would best if I head out, it’s getting late.”

She turned, trying her best to head for the door, but both men simply sidestepped in front of her and blocked it again.

“You wouldn’t happen to be related to detective Tawashi, would you now?” Skunk called behind her.

She froze. How does he know that? And how did he recognize her? Not once was she told that she looks anything like her father. She got almost all her physical features from her mother, her deep blue eyes, no doubt. So how does he know? This was her first time meeting the criminal in person. Though she recognized it was him from his mugshot she seen so many times at home when her father was gathering evidence.

She tried breathing out calmly and giving her best ‘bored out of her mind’ look and turned to face him.

“I’m sorry, I don’t know who you’re talking about.”

He grinned, his full set of teeth showing, making her palms sweat even more. He took a step closer to her and her pulse started to beat uneasy.

He exposed his palms, swinging them on either side of him. “I’ll give you a hint, me being me, I like to dig up some dirt on my enemies, seeing their strengths and their weaknesses. And if I remember correctly, as always, I remember reading something about Tawashi having a daughter, and that she ran away a few years ago, but she resurfaced recently a few months ago and was reunited with her parents. Oh, and I can’t forget the most important detail, it said the daughter had the prettiest blue eyes that she gets from her mother… blue eyes like yours.”

Cora still frozen in her place, doesn’t know what to do, everything he said was true. She can’t deny it. She can’t. Rats!! Her eyes are too much of a giveaway! The deep blue eye color is too rare for just anyone to be born with. Why thank you, ancestors!

After staring at each other for almost a full minute, Cora gave up. “What do you want? If I go missing, my dad will find you, I promise.”

Not missing a step, “Oh, you think I’m too easy, where’s the fun of ending it right here and now. I plan on him finding you, just no yet,” Skunk said, his tall black coat moving around his tall form as he took a tiny step closer to her. “I can reveal the next step in my plan; I think you’re coming with us. Now, we can either do this the easy way or we can do this the hard way, your choice.”

Deep blue eyes of steel stared at the crime boss, “If you come any closer to me, I’ll scream.”

Skunks laughter rang through the building, “Um let me remind you, scavenger, you’re out in the middle of the surface, and Daddy’s far away in Metro City. I don’t think anyone is going to hear you scream.”

No, no, no, she can’t let these guy take her. She won’t give up that easy. I should’ve stayed in Metro City! Then a face popped into her head, one that had two spikes, that soft smile, and two red boots anyone could recognize.

“Astro will.” The image of her best friend had just left her mind as fast as the words flew out of her mouth

Skunks countenance darkened upon hearing of the famous robot boy’s name. Blondie twitched nervously and said, “Astro? If he hears us, we’re all going back to prison and we’re all done for.”

Shorty took out his toothpick and hissed at skunk, “Having that robot ruin the gig was not part of the plan!”

At first, Skunk didn’t say anything and instead walked slowly back and forth.

After two minutes he said, too calmly, “Relax boys, things come up and plans change for the better.” He paused and then walked over to the old torn up lounge chair and picked up a worn out simple blanket or curtain, Cora couldn’t exactly tell. She doesn’t exactly remember seeing that here in the orphanage.

“Yes, that robot boy always”- rip –“ruins our gig”- rip –“but we’ll manage this time”- rip. Skunk says this as he rips up the material into thee equal pieces and turns back around. “Now load up what valuables we’ve found in this dump… and I’ll be right behind you.”

His two minions mumbled “You got it boss,” and they grab whatever tools or machinery was left over from Hamegg, Cora guessed.

Skunk doesn’t go after them, he stays right where he is and focuses his hunter-like attention… to Cora.

Pin-like prickles traveled up Cora’s spine. She had to get out of there. She thought they were going to leave, thinking if Astro would hear her and stop them, they would leave her alone. Now she was putting all her faith into that plan. Plan B. Especially now, as Skunk continued to stare at her. Her eyes found his hand still holding the pieces of material. She felt her hands form into fists. She wasn’t going to go without a fight.

She quickly glanced at the wrench then back at him. He hadn’t moved an inch.

“What are you waiting for?’ She spat out.

His sickening smile made her stomach churn as he lean forward a bit towards her and whispered menacingly, “Waiting for you to run.”

She felt her feet turn into heavy ice cubes and fear started to cloud her mind, but then, she was running, running towards the wrench. Skunk had just grabbed her arm as she grab hold of the wrench.

Pulling her towards him, she raked the wrench across his ugly face. He let go of her and fingered a thin cut across his check that was starting to bleed.

“You Bitch!” he yelled as he tried to back hand her.

But she saw it coming and moved back away, his hand barely missing her. She saw an advantage as he came close to her, and threw the wrench again in the same place. Almost the same place.

Now he had two bleeding cuts next to each other.

Suddenly he lunged for her, forgetting he had almost been knocked out by a wrench and a girl.
At the same time, she tried to hit him again. But his hand caught her wrist and was slowly twisting it painfully. She grunted as pain flowed into her arm and the wrench fell from her grip with a clatter.

It was only two seconds later, that she saw his eyes grow wild, his hands grabbing her as if she weighed nothing, then she screamed as she felt herself being thrown across the dinner table. Plates, cups and old food were either destroyed or pushed out of the way. As soon as she landed on the ground on the other side of the table, was she able to catch her breath.

Plan A was failing. Time for plan B, Cora thought, using the table to pull herself up. She hissed as her leg suddenly ached with pain. Skunk pull one of the materials out and was slowly advancing towards her. There was no way she could make it to the door, his long stride would outrun her.

Astro if you can hear me, please help me. She silently prayed in her head.

She didn’t hold back, “ASTRO! AST- murgh!”

Yelling Astro’s name the second time was cut off when Skunks’ leather gloved hand shot out and covered her mouth.

She tried to pull, hit, or bite his hand but he was too strong and the leather was too tough. She didn’t have time to react when she felt his gloved hand let go of her mouth and was tightly replaced by the ripped material. By the time her hands were trying to tare the gag off was when she felt him tie a knot.

How did he tie it so fast?!

Leather encompassed her wrists, quickly pulling her hands away from the gag to behind her back, yanking her into his awful embrace. She tried ripping her arms out of his hold, but again, he was too strong. She kept shouting Astro’s name, her dad, to let her go, anyone, somebody that would help her but her stupid gag kept muffling her. She hoped someone outside the orphanage would at least hear her.

Her wrists were bound just as fast as her gag was tied.

Skunks arm wrapped around her waist and Cora felt herself being lowered to the cold cement till she was laying on her side. As she felt her ankles being tie with the third piece, she tried with all her might to break free, but nothing would work.

Black shoes scraped against the floor and came into her line of sight, quickly bringing her out of her struggling. She had no choice but to look up and when she did she glared with all she could muster. Skunk didn’t say anything and smirked with his two bloody slashes on his cheek, “You have courage, I’ll give you that … only that.” She only tried to respond with a muffled ‘Go to hell.’ He only chuckled looking down at her.

“Would one of you boys want to collect the prized jewel?” Was all that Cora heard before blondie came into her line of sight. She felt sick again. She was going with them. This is not how she thought her day was going to go.

He knelt down beside her and said, “It would be an honor, boss.”

Then he scoop her up and flung her over his shoulder. His shoulder dug into stomach and she grunted in pain as they passed through the front door. Looking at it, it was not so much of a door anymore. With scorched marks and dents covering it. They literally blew the door open, Cora thought.

The surface with Metro City in the horizon was the last view she saw before she heard blondie sneer into her ear, “Your carriage, princess,” then she was put into a car.

Chapter Text

10 hours Later

No Text. Nothing. He thought he could get a hold of her on her phone she had found in the junkyard, but he was only met with more fear and concern when the sound of the ringing came from her room. Her phone was there but she wasn’t.

Normally she returns home by this time at night or earlier. Usually coming home from hanging out with Zane or her other friends. But Zane said the last time he had seen her was the same time Tawashi had seen her. Zane said he didn’t know where she was going. Just said that she would be back by early afternoon. It was 5 o’clock now and well past early afternoon.

Tawashi decided right then and now to go gather some of the other officers and track down his daughter.

Ding dong.

Tawashi’s coat was on halfway when the doorbell suddenly rang. Immediately, he swiftly walked through his house and opened the door.

Anxious brown eyes met his, “Astro?”

Astro gave a nod of his head and said, “Detective Tawashi.”

“What brings you here?”

“I heard Cora’s been missing. I wondered if you had found anything or… found her.” Astro said, he talked so fast hat he almost stumbled over his words.

Tawashi looked down at him in shock, “How did you know she was missing?”

“Zane told me. When I heard, I came here as quick as I could. How long has she been missing for?”

Tawashi stared down at Astro, quietly deciding if he should divulge soon to be police business to the robot. For six months, he has, reluctantly, gotten to know the little bot through the help on police cases and such.

At first instinct, he didn’t think he needed a robot’s help and that he should go to his officers, and that they would find her. But this was about his daughter, and he wanted to find her as soon as possible no matter what.

He sighed, “She’s been missing for about ten hours now.”

“Ten?” Astro repeated, and taking it in. “Where do you think she is?”

Tawashi sighed again and gestured for Astro to come into the house. Astro almost immediately walked through the door.

“I don’t know. I’ve called the neighbors; they haven’t seen her. No one has seen her.” Astro followed him into the dining room when the anxious father took a seat at the table, his hand started rubbing the small stubble on his chin. “I was just about to go down to the station when you came.”

Tawashi paused then exclaimed in exasperation. “What am I thinking? I can’t go down to the station now, I can’t leave my other kids.” As if on cue, a fit of ruckus and children’s laughter came from upstairs. Astro had almost forgotten that Cora’s parents had adopted some of the kids from Hamegg’s orphanage, after Cora was reunited with them. “Even if I did go down to the station, I don’t even know where to start.”

Astro stood at the end of the table. Something suddenly rubbed against his leg and looked down in surprise to find Himari, the family cat. She had short legs with a black and white coat, making it look like she was wearing a tuxedo. The name ‘Himari’ meant ‘ball of light’ which was the perfect way to describe the cat. She was very round and brought everyone happiness wherever she went. Trashcan on the other hand thought the cat was just a ball of laziness and would sometimes growl unhappily whenever she was around.

Astro quickly petted the cat, and she purred in response. “Hi, Himari.”

Where would she be? His thoughts going right back to Cora. There were a couple places he could think of that they could start looking, “maybe…”

Tawashi slid his glasses up and whipped his stare toward the boy, “Yes?”

“… I can help you find her,” Astro said this, his eyes pleading with the detective.

The father tore his eyes away from the robot and looked at nothing in particular. He did not want to work with a robot, especially where that said robot was his daughter’s best friend. Absolutely not.

Astro’s voice startled the stubborn detective out of his ‘thoughts’ and stated. “Look I know we don’t see eye to eye a lot, but I want to help you Tawashi. And… if you don’t let me help you, I’m still going out there to try and find her, with or without your help. I came here thinking if we worked together, we could find her faster. Please, detective.”

Tawashi stared at him, sometimes he forgot how human-like Astro was and that he was not a robot that took human commands. He was almost like a human, and that slightly scared him a bit. And of course, he had read everything about Dr. Temma, and how he had suddenly gone off the deep end and created this robot. That man could have gone to therapy like everyone else, the detective thought.

The boy was still staring at tawashi, almost glaring at him when he finally swallowed his pride, only a little. This was for Cora. “Alright, alright… what place would you start?”

Astro looked at the him with slight shock, a soft smile appearing on his features and took a step closer to him, “Maybe… we could start at the places that she knows. The school. The ministry of science. The park. Even the orphanage.”

“I called the school earlier and no one has been there since Friday. The park I haven’t searched but… do you really think she would have gone down to the orphanage? All the way out in the surface?”

Astro sighed, “I’m not sure. I mean I know that place meant a lot to her.”

Tawashi nodded sadly and thought on his daughter being raised by surface dwellers, not to mention, Hamegg, the runner of the robot games. He had heard of Hamegg before, even when Cora ran away those many years ago, but he did not know she was living with him. He had never heard of Hamegg running an orphanage until Cora was reunited with him and her mother.

“Yeah, she told me about the orphanage…” Tawashi paused, then turned to Astro with determination and a look of steel on his face. “Okay, you to go down to the orphanage. See if you can find Cora or find anything that might give us an idea of where she is. If you find anything, you report back to me asap, we’ll go from there. Got it?”

“I’m on it.”

As Astro was heading for the door, Tawashi said, “Wait, Astro.” Then processed to pull out something from his pocket and set it in his hand.

It was a Micro Transmitter.

“Connect this into your system. When you find something, call me, then connect me onto that Transmitter so I can see what you're seeing. This way I can gather evidence without leaving.”

The robot hero looked at the transmitter, “no problem. I’ll keep you updated.”

As the door swooshed closed behind him, Astro quickly ignited his rockets and headed towards the surface.

<><><><><><>

After flying over the mounds of trash, the city on the surface started to come into view. Passing the rusted red bridge, he landed in the courtyard of the orphanage.

It was quiet. Too quiet compared to what it was before.

Astro’s boots swiftly took him around the building, “CORA!? Cora?”

Silence fell again as Astro felt a cold breeze blow into him. October has just begun, the nights turning extra cooler by every day that passed.

Astro called out again, “CORA!” Again, nothing.

No one was in the courtyard or anywhere near the building. He sighed, knowing that checking inside could end really bad or really good.

The bad being, he would meet Hamegg again, which Astro didn’t want to see him after what happened during there last meeting. The good news could be that Cora could be in there.

He had just got to the front door when- oh no.

The door was blown off. Literally. He paused, looking at the scorch marks and the door almost bent in half. Astro leaped over a pile of scrap metal and came nose to nose with the door as he rifled through his pocket, pulling the transmitter out. He fingered one of the marks on the door when the memory of when he was first brought here came to his mind. He was here only a few months ago and it had already changed so much. The building looked more rusted, cracked and looked like it was about to fall about.

What the heck happened?

He had just connected the transmitter through his blue core hatch when he started dialing tawashi’s number. His robot body already having the necessary functions of able to call someone from only his electronic brain.

Ring- “Did you find her!?”

“Not yet. But I found this.” A flash of blue light cascaded over the ruined door, as Astro turned on his light beams and the transmitter connected to a screen on Tawashi’s end. It was almost like they were FaceTiming each other.

The sound of a pen scribbling on a notepad could be heard.

“I take it, the door wasn’t like that before.”

“No.”

Pushing the door on its blended side was Astro finally able to enter the Orphanage. His light beams lit the dark building and scanned every item they appeared on. It was messy. Messier than he had ever seen it. Messier than when Hamegg was here and the kids, too. Astro scrunched up his nose. The air smelled heavy with metals, mold, and rat droppings.

Random scrap metal, junk or robot parts were strewn across the floor or piled into corners.

“This place has changed.” The robot mumbled to himself.

He spotted the stairs; he could start on the upper floor. “Cora!”

Rats and mice were his only response as they scurried out of his way.

The beds were empty, Hamegg’s workshop was ransacked and empty, too. Astro sighed in frustration, where are you, Cora?

The pen scribbled more, “That sector J28, that place has become jackpot for scavengers, recently. I’m surprised it’s not more mutilated.”

The dinner table was still there but with no plates or take out pizza again. Probably eaten by the rats or somebody had- it was everywhere on the floor. The plates and cups, crumbs from the leftover food were scattered on the other side of the table.

And- Cora’s bag.

The same pouch that hanged on Cora’s hip was laying in the garbage.

Astro’s eyes had just scanned the bag when he ran to it.

“Is that”-

-“Cora’s. She was here!” Astro exclaimed excitingly, as he picked it up. Then he frowned. It was hers, but the strap was broken. She takes this everywhere with her.

Tawashi started rambling with excitement. “Ok. Ok. Ok. We’re on the right track. Can you find any fingerprints or … anything?”

“Umm…” blue light spread through the junk… robot arms or legs shoved to his right… the table- beep beep.

Huh? “My sensors are picking up something.”

The detective’s voice getting anxious, “Fingerprints?”

Astro went around the table, knelt down, and reached for it.

A wrench.

And fingerprints.

In ten seconds, his light beams had scanned the wrench, and his mechanics mentioned a description.

Female. 15. Blood type B negative-

Astro shooed the description away. “Its Cora’s fingerprints! She was here. And”-

He turned the wrench slightly as bits of dried blood was caked over the head of it.

The father’s voice grew desperate, “That’s blood. Astro, tell me now. Whose blood is that?”

His eyes suddenly scanned the dark substance on the edge of the wrench and another description came up.

Male. 28. Blood type AB positive. Etc.

“It’s not hers. Someone else was here.”

Astro heard Tawashi let out a breath of relief.

Astro felt relief too. But it only lasted for 2 seconds, as fear and worry swelled in his chest, instead.

The table and everything on it destroyed, her bag left behind, the wrench with blood. Someone attacked her but she tried to fight back. And, letting the curiosity get the better of him, he scanned the blood again, and let all the diagnostics come across his vision. DNA, blood type, age, proteins in the blood.

The answer he wanted came up with a match and a picture surfaced.

Skunk Kusai…

Wait, who?

Astro froze as the criminal's picture and his information came up. No that can’t be right. He should be in prison right now, Astro thought. I know, I put him in there last time.

But it was him alright, cold stare, pale hair. He could almost see the picture move, skunk’s smirk turning into a malicious grin. Astro felt his hand form into fists.

Tawashi’s voice came into his head, “Astro, you still there? Why are still staring at the wrench? What’s wrong?”

“I think she was taken. I scanned the blood again, and a match came up… it’s Skunk Kusai.”

The other side went quiet then he could hear rustling of papers, Tawashi mumbled something that was followed by, “Dammit!”

Astro stood up with Cora’s bag and wrench still in hand. “What? Isn’t Skunk still in prison?”

Silence.

“Tawashi?”

“… no, he escaped a week ago.”

“What!? Why was I not told this?” Astro said.

“Because its police business, and…” Tawashi cooled his anger. “And your creator might have told me to not discuss any cases with you for a bit.”

Astro blinked in surprise. Why was his dad telling the detective that?

He came out of the orphanage into the freezing night air. “Wha- What? Why did he tell you that?”

“He didn’t really tell me why.”

It didn’t make any sense. Why would his dad be telling him that? That was a question he was going to keep in the back of his mind for later.

“Ok… it doesn’t matter right now. Do you have any ideas on why Skunk would take her?” Astro asked.

There was no pen scratch or rifling through papers. Only a tired, “I don’t know…. I know- and you know that he’s a greedy little bastard. He does anything for money.” Tawashi sighed for the hundred time it felt like. “To be honest, I can’t think of my daughter in the hands of somebody like that… right now.”

Astro frowned and felt heavy, “I’m sorry, Tawashi…. but we’re going to find her.”

“Yeah… just bring me that evidence, and get back to Metro City… okay.”

“Okay.”

Then the transmitter disconnected, and Astro was left by himself.

Metro City and the surface was looming in front of him.

Apparently, Cora was in Skunks hands now. Astro fists tightened, what did he want with her?

Astro turned back to the orphanage, the door still laying awkwardly. The image of Skunk attacking Cora, her trying to defend herself with a wrench, but failing. He guessed Skunk threw her across the table with how the junk was scattered on the floor. And her bag ripped and laying there. Cora was courageous. Astro, without a doubt, knew that. It was one of the things he admired about her. But she must have been so scared, too. Anger started to rise through out his body, making his arms want to transform into cannons.

The sun dipped behind the tall skyscrapers showering everything with an orange haze.

Where do we go from here?

Chapter Text

The sun had turned in for the night and the stars were beginning to twinkle brighter, as Astro landed on the balcony to his home.

He had just got back from Tawashi’s, giving him the wrench and Cora’s broken bag. The somber look on Tawashi’s tired face when he handed them over was still etched into his electronic brain.

“We’re going to find her Tawashi, I promise.”

Tawashi’s hand tightened on the bag and surprisingly, his eyebrows turned up.

“Thank you, Astro,” he removed his glasses and rubbed his eyes. “Try to get some sleep and we’ll start searching again tomorrow.”

A soft, “Okay,” was the last thing Astro said to him.

Astro walked through the living room with a troubled expression. He would be searching all night for Cora if he could, but he knew his limits, and still, a robot like him, got tired too.

He was about to head up the stairs when a voice said, “Astro.”

Astro jumped slightly and turned around to see his father sitting on the couch, with the holographic newspaper in his hand. He had completely missed him and walked right pass.

“Dad. What are you doing? Why have you not gone to bed yet?”

Temma simply gestured to the holographic pad, “I was just reading the news. I’ve been waiting for you to get home. I thought you said you were going to be home by nine?” His voice turned concerned and tense. “It’s ten. Where have you been?”

Astro was about to defend himself when a certain question burned in his brain and the lava was flowing to the surface. He walked over to the couch and halted in front of his father.

“Why did you tell Tawashi to keep me out of the cases?”

Temma stared at his robot son. Wondering how he knew he told Tawashi, then sighed inward. He knew eventually he was going to find out. He didn’t say anything, at first. Then, “Orrin?”

Astro followed his father’s gaze where Orrin was quietly dusty the bookshelves.

The silver robot stopped what he was doing and turned to them, “Yes sir- I mean, yes Bill?”

“Will you give us a minute?”

Orrin looked at the two then gave a nod of his head and quickly left the room.

The last thing Temma did was click off the tablet and set it on the coffee table.

“I told him not to tell you because I didn’t want you focusing on cases all week. For a month, all you been focusing on has been cases.”

Astro pushed forward, “But… but I can do something. I can help them.”

Temma sighed and turned his body more towards his son, “I know you can Astro. To be honest, I’d be surprised if you didn’t want to. But you should be focusing on school more, being with your friends, being a kid. Having a good medium between the two.”

Astro casted his eyes down. Yeah, he hadn’t hanged out with them as much as he wanted too and that made him feel guilty.

“I built your body for battle,” his father continued, “but you still have the mind a boy.”

“I know, I know…” Astro trailed off into his thoughts, going into a rabbit hole that he somehow could not get out of.

Temma noticed this. That same look he had on when he walked right past him appeared again. “What’s wrong, Astro? I suspect you were with Tawashi? What happened?”

As his thoughts jumbled together, Astro finally said, “It’s Cora. She’s missing.”

Temma’s brow furrowed, “Your friend, Cora? Tawashi’s daughter?”

“Yeah,” Astro slumped into the couch and stared at the far wall. “Me and Tawashi followed a hunch that led us to a clue that… Skunk Kusai might have kidnapped her.” His words were laced with sadness that rippled into anger.

Temma took in his son, and could feel his concern for his best friend, “I’m sorry, Astro.”

“I just don’t understand why he would take her,” Astro sputtered. “Before, it was always about robbing banks or stealing valuables. Seems like a road off his path.”

Temma thought for minute. He had heard of the criminal and his reputation of always escaping the police. No doubt, Astro was there to help them put Skunk away, every time.

“Maybe he sees her as a valuable.”

Astro turned his head towards him, “What do you mean?”

“I mean, maybe he’s using her to get back at Tawashi… or even you.”

“Yeah, you could be right.”

Astro faced the wall again, “I just can’t stop thinking if she’s hurt or I’m not there to defend her… If Skunk hurt her in anyway, I-“

“No, you can’t think like that.” Astro felt Temma’s hand on his shoulder and shook him a little. “Astro, look at me.”

Brown eyes met his. “You know, I’m a man of science. Facts tell me mostly everything. Skunk has kidnapped her but… what is your instincts telling you about her.”

His instincts? His first thought was that she was in danger, and he needed to find her. Astro furrowed his brow, is he thinking that because he’s worried? No, its true he needed to find her.

Cora is brave. She’s always been brave. His eyes wandered away from his dad and for a second let them close. The wrench with blood, her fingerprints, no sign of any fingerprints from Skunk, how the table was destroyed with her broken bag laying on the ground. The evidence showing that she fought back. Another feeling came through; that she was alive. That she was okay, for now. Skunk wanted her alive, but for what? Astro sighed and slightly opened his eyes again, “That she is alive.”

The hand shook his shoulder again, making him face his father, “Hold on to that instinct, until you find something else or find her.”

He was right. The worried thoughts and feelings were still lingering in his brain. Worrying didn’t help fix the problem, but the hope that Cora was alive ignited a fire in him. He would look for her again and do whatever it took to bring her safely home.

His father’s hand only lingered for a minute longer, then he let it fall. “Try to get some sleep…okay?”

The young robot didn’t respond as he watched his father walk out of the living room.

His body felt tired, if he could hear his circuits and wires, they would be humming with slow energy.

But his mind was alive. His thoughts calculating through different scenarios, he was already plotting for the next day.

He did not move from the couch for twenty minutes. And, once again, he didn’t notice the silver house robot suddenly sneak up on him.

“Master- I mean Astro?”

Astro jumped again and swiftly turned his head towards Orrin, who was looking at him with an apologetic expression.

Immediately, he wheeled forward, “I’m sorry, Astro. I didn’t mean to startle you.”

“It’s okay, and I’m sorry I didn’t see you there… I’m a little tense right now.”

“I’ve noticed.” Orrin sensed a wave of sadness in the boy. He knew Cora and him had become close. Seeing the boy so distraught made him wish he could comfort him somehow.

Instead, he asked, “I was wondering if you had heard… the rumors?”

Astro lifted his head again, “Rumors? What rumors, Orrin?”

Orrin unfolded his metal fingers and tapped the holographic tablet on the coffee table.

Astro reached for it and clicked it on. The last story his father was reading popped up.

“Can we Trust the Robots? Will They Turn on Mankind?”

What? In a few seconds, Astro had read the entire article. The person that had written it had a clear agenda on which side they did not like. Talking about the aftermath of the peacekeeper. Was Astro Boy a hero or a destroyer of Metro City? Many buildings destroyed, no proper building to send their kids to school. The later in the article posed a question if the people of Metro City and the surface could trust Astro with the amount of power he had? Could his power pose a dangerous outcome? Dr. Temma has told the people that Astro has free will, but doesn’t that make him unpredictable? If Astro turns against the humans, will the other robots turn as well?

As Astro was just finishing the last paragraph, Orrin said, “Your father was rather uptight when he read that. He said, every time there’s an article like this published, the rumors about you grow more heinous… that you would hurt the humans or…worse.”

Astro looked at him incredulous, “That’s not true. I don’t ever want to hurt anybody.”

Orrin eyes widened and he wheeled closer to Astro, “Oh no, Astro, I know you never would. I told your father ‘I can’t imagine Astro doing such a horrific thing, he’s such a sweet boy.’”

The boy’s face melted into a soft smile.

 “Oh dear,” Suddenly, Orrin’s hands started to shake, “It makes my circuits go into a spiral. To think if I was deactivated in the future, who would take care of you and your father.”

Astro chuckled softly, with a smile still on his face, “I would never let that happen. And we could not live without you, Orrin.”

The silver robot with his still nervous hands, smiled sweetly at the boy.

The article was still open. Looking down and seeing it, made Astro’s smile drop a bit.

Before Orrin was about to roll away, “And Astro?”

“Yeah?”

His silver hands folded together, and he dipped his head, almost in reverence, “I’m sorry to hear about your friend Cora missing. I know you’ll find her and bring her home safely.”

Astro gave him a sad smile, “Thanks Orrin.” Then he wheeled away to charge up.

Leaving the tablet on the table, Astro walked up to his own room and tried, hopelessly, to fall asleep.

<><><><><><><><><><>

Cora was startled out of her sleep. Laying on her left side was the only comfy position that she could find without making her arms go numb. No matter what position, she always, painfully, found her neck kinked. She sighed, uneasily. The past three days came flooding through her memory.

Cora was given some food and water here and there, but it would only be given to her if she did not scream. She was given access to the bathroom only in the morning and at night. The first day, even as blondie removed the gag, she did not take the bread from his hand. She didn’t want it, didn’t want anything from them. She even denied the water.

But at the end of the second day, when Skunk held out his hand, she couldn’t hesitate to take the food and water.

The bits of food somehow filled the recent hollowness in her belly. But she was still, reluctantly, grateful for the small portion she was given. Her eyes started to droop against her will again. She was so tired. Due to only being given small amounts of food and being tied up for three days. She was a hostage.

She had no idea where she was, all she knew was that she was in a stranger's house. A rich house.

When they had put her into the car, they had thrown a bag over her head. Blocking out everything from her view. The boys were silent, and when they spoke to each other it was in hush tones, which didn’t help Cora’s anxiety. Cora had tried to slow her breathing down by trying to distract herself. She started to count, which turned into five minutes… ten minutes… twenty minutes, then the car stopped.

They didn’t make any stops, so they must not be in the city and still be on the surface, Cora estimated.

She felt herself being thrown over a shoulder. The sound of the wind disappeared, and she knew she was taken into a building. Three floors she guessed as they exited the elevator. Doors swooshed open, where she suddenly was settled onto a couch.

When they didn’t remove the bag from her head, she tried to explore with her still tied wrists. The thick material felt like velvet mixed with leather under her fingertips. Definitely more expensive than the furniture at her own place. Was this Skunk’s place? Or is so called borrowed lair?

A nasally deep voice came from across the room, “What is this Skunk? And what happened to you? I thought I told you to get”-

-“We got it. Some other treasures walked in, and we decided to collect them. The girl put up a fight.” Skunk butted in.

“You kidnapped a girl? You fool! We don’t need anyone else knowing what we’re doing.”

“Not just any girl.” Skunk said, then Cora felt the bag come off her head. Blondie stood behind her while Shorty and Skunk stood one either side of her.

The room was half dark half light. She sat on a couch that was more fancy than any other couch she sat on; the leather cushions hand stitched with dark thread. The lit chandeliers above her glittered like a thousand diamonds, and she could see her reflection in the marble floor where her tied ankles rested.

The room extended, where the other chandeliers did not gleam at all, masking any object or thing out of sight. There was a window on the far left and the moon was out, its light fell on a desk that was facing her. She couldn’t see anything, then a pair of hands clasped together and rested on the desk. There was a ring on the middle finger on his right hand. His face stayed out of the light. No matter how much she tried to squint her eyes, she could not see who was there.

“Who is she?” The voice said.

Shorty took a step closer and felt his hand grab a fistful of her hair, bringing her face up to the light. It hurt but she didn’t show it.

With his toothpick still between his yellow teeth, he grinned, “Tawashi’s daughter.”

The clasped hands slammed on top of the desk, “You idiots! You kidnappped the detective’s daughter. If the police knew I was associated with you, everything I have worked for in my career would go to pot. My reputation would be ruined.”

Shorty had let go of her hair during the man’s little speech which she was grateful for. Skunk glared at the darkness, “I know Tawashi enough to know he’ll say anything or pay anything to get her back. He already hates robots and has a dislike for Astro. It could work for our plan.”

Cora looked up, upon hearing the name of her best friend. She knew her father didn’t like Astro no matter how many times that non robot came to the rescue. Many times, many arguments she had tried to convince her father that Astro was one of the gentlest, most kind, and the most selfless guy she had come to know. But her father was stubborn. Stubbornness that was swirling with pride.

Cora sighed, her gag masking it. She wished Astro was with her. That somebody was with her and not these guys.

The voice called out from the dark, “More money? I already promised you money if you brought me what I wanted. Speaking of which, were you able to find it?”

Skunk paused, continuing to glare at the other side of the room, then reached inside his coat pocket and pulled out a weapon. A weapon Cora thought she would never see again.

 Skunk stalked across the room and… set Hamegg’s old Laser device on the desk.

Blondie, later, stepped away from the group with a bag in hand. He reached inside and pulled out Hamegg’s old robot games attire and laid it on the desk, as well.

A hand grabbed the device, the moonlight dancing across its metal surface.

Cora’s breathing started to speed up. That was Hamegg’s laser device, well, Temma’s before Hamegg stole it.

That’s why they went to the orphanage. Hamegg was gone. The orphanage looked like he hadn’t been there since the day of the peacekeeper attack. She didn’t know where he had gone. But she thought it was interesting that he left the laser device. Why would he not take that with him?

Cora quickly began to be annoyed with the man’s voice, with its nasally accent, “Nicely done, Skunk. Now… get rid of Tawashi’s daughter. We don’t need her.”

Her heart rate increased unsteadily, she hoped that’s not what they meant. That they would let her go and not… kill her.

Skunk went on, “She knows Astro.”

The laser device paused in the hands.

“If we have her, Astro will say anything.”

Cora did not like this.

“If Astro admits in public that he tried to kill Hamegg, the people won’t hesitate.”

Cora’s eyes go wide. What? And her eyes find the device and his coat, and their plan starts to form in her head.

Cora pulled against the material that was still tightly bound around her wrists, as she tried to defend her friend. She tried to say, “That’s not true!” but once again, her gag muffled her.

The men abruptly stopped speaking to one another and turned to her. Instead of telling her to be quiet, the hand on the desk ushered to skunk, “Take her gag off.”

The pale blond hair whipped towards him as if he was crazy.

“I’m the one that’s paying you, Skunk. Do it.”

That one sentence seemed to get to Skunk as the dark long coat stalked towards Cora. His gloved hand paused on the knot then yanked her head back till she was looking up at his cold stare. She could perfectly see the two bloody scratches on his cheek and smiled inward. “I’ll remove it if you don’t scream, Scavenger.” Spiting out the last word.

She glared at him. She hated this man. She wished she had her wrench so she could stab or scratch his eyes out with it. His grip tightened on her hair, and she felt her eyes water.

He almost sang the words out, “I don’t hear an answer.”

When she gave a nod of her head, he started untying the knot.

She sighed; she was so glad to have that stupid thing off.

“What’s your name, girl?” The voice called out.

She cleared her throat, “Cora.” Man, she sounded awful. She felt awful, too.

“Cora… what is it that were you trying to say before?”

One second, she couldn’t remember, then she found her voice, “Astro didn’t try to kill Hamegg. He saved him from almost being crushed by Zog’s foot.’

“Did he now? Well, that’s fine and dandy but I don’t care if he did.”

“But it’s the truth.”

“Is it?”

Cora glared into the dark, “Yes, I was there when it happened. Hamegg tried to kill him by trying to zap him to death. Astro is innocent.”

Silence.

The hands sinked back in, and out of the light.

They knew the truth, but they didn’t want that outcome to be the truth. Why would they try to frame him? If Astro admitted that he tried to killed Hamegg then- oh.

Cora breathed out, “Astro would be deactivated if he admitted that.”

The voice chuckled softly, “Smart girl. And not just him… if everybody heard what the mighty Astro Boy did, fear would grow among the people. People would start to get rid of their robots afraid that they might turn on them like their robot hero did.”

“Astro would never admit that lie.”

“I doubt that. Because when he sees you, it shouldn’t be so hard to decide. If he admits he tried to kill Hamegg our plan succeeds, but if he doesn’t, you die.”

Cora’s breath leaves her, and she knows they’re not kidding. Sudden movement catches her attention on her left, and see’s Skunk push his coat aside to reveal a gun on his hip that he had kept hidden. The same cold stare was on his face; he did not care. He would be the one to do it. He would not hesitate to kill her. She forcefully moved her eyes back to the dark not wanting to show her fear.

“I don’t see why you’re getting so worked up about a mindless robot, he’s just like all the others. One day he will become a menace.” The voice argued.

Her hands clenched as anger started to boil under her skin, “Astro’s different.”

The voice spat out, “He’s a robot. He’s unpredictable. He’s a danger to society.”

“You don’t know him.” Cora fought back.

“I don’t need to.”

Skunk was slowly advancing towards her. She saw his movement and tried to push herself into the couch, away from him.

“What about Hamegg? He’s still alive. Hamegg is”-

-“Hamegg is what?” The hands came back onto the desk but were now clenched in fists. “Where is Hamegg, Cora? He’s gone. He hasn’t been sighted since the day of the peacekeeper. And I doubt he’s coming back. If I were him, I wouldn’t come back to defend that robot. It’s a servant made for mankind.”

The anger was starting to bubble over, and Cora didn’t halt it, and she didn’t hold back, “You’re a coward.” She hissed.

Suddenly, the hands disappeared, and the sound of a chair scooted back. Her hands started to sweat again as footsteps echoed across the room.

The light cascaded over him. He was tall and was wearing a dark suit. He had an ugly face that was scrunched up with irritation. He had black Curly sideburns while the rest was combed neatly back. Lastly, a pair of Black glasses rested on his nose.

She didn’t know who he was but could have sworn she had seen him before. But where?

He stopped in front of her then rested his hands on his knees, his dark eyes landing the same level as hers.

His breath blew in her face, and she coughed slightly. The sudden smell of cigarette smoke flooding her nose.

“I see Tawashi in you.” He simply said. “You have a sharp tongue like him, something that helps him create dominance in his area… but it’s something that I won’t tolerate in my house!”

He was too fast, and this time she couldn’t step away as he suddenly backhanded her.

The back of her head hit the cushions as she felt blood trickle down her nose and onto her lips. She whimpered and her eyes started to tear up again.

Don’t black out. Don’t black out. Don’t black out.

And she didn’t. Trying to breathe out and in, the pain stretching to her jaw. She kept her head on the cushion until-

“Make our guest more comfortable… before she bleeds all over my couch.”

She peeled her eyes open to find Skunk smirking at her, “Shouldn’t kept your mouth shut, scavenger.”

Instead of looking away in fear, she smirked back like, ‘your gonna have to try harder than that to break me.’

He lost his smile. His hand roughly pulled her in an upright position as he tied the gag once again, tying it tighter than before.

Blondie picked her up and they left the glittering room behind.

She blinked. Three days. Three days she had been there, but it felt like she had been there for a hundred days. The room they had chosen for her was okay, not as nice as the room she had been in before. Simple blankets covered the bed along with a sprinkle of dust. As they laid her on the bed, the dust kicked up around her making her sneeze. In fact, everything in the room was covered in a layer of dust. Nobody had been in that room for a while.

She groaned, as she was startled out of her short dreams. Knowing that she got only an hour of sleep. She was too worried last night. For three days she could not stop thinking about what would happen if Astro admitted that lie. He can’t admit that lie. He can’t. He won’t.

But she knows Astro. He was her best friend. If there were no robot lives at stake, he would admit the lie and save her life. But there was robot lives at stake, he cared about the robots. But he cared about her too. Whatever happened she would try to get the message ‘don’t worry about me’ across to him. She must. She couldn’t watch him die again.

The door to her room swooshed open as the sound of footsteps grew closer, then she felt a presence near her.

Reluctantly, she gazed up to find Skunk smirking down at her, “Time to go, scavenger. The time is ticking on the robot’s end.”

Chapter Text

The number of sighs sighed in the last three days by the worried robot boy had added up to an astronomical amount. The impatient detective that had not left his side in searching Metro City and the surface for the last three days for his daughter, was adding to that number, as well.

            All hunches and leads of finding Cora came up empty.

            They had found nothing, Astro thought as he sat on the couch in his living room. At the end of each day, he somehow found himself in that same spot. Sitting on the far side and looking out the window. Sometimes he would go outside on the balcony and gaze down below at the streets of Metro City, hoping or wishing that Cora would magically appear and she would be walking up to the penthouse, running up and hugging him, telling him that she was okay.

He blinks, and reality comes crashing down on him again. Then he would be thinking over everything him and the detective had found at the crime scene on the first day; the blood of Skunk Kusai and Cora’s fingerprints found on the wrench. Proving she had used it against him and had tried to stop him.

            The lead on finding Skunk had led to a dead end, as well.

            The other cases that had involved him were from months ago.

            Twenty-four hours after Cora was kidnapped, Tawashi had opened an official investigation on his missing daughter. Putting Skunk at the top of his and everybody’s wanted list for the kidnapping of his daughter. Every police station within a hundred miles responded and told them they would search and update the detective. So far, they had found nothing.

With the robot not leaving his side, the detective brought him up to speed with Skunk escaping prison, as well.

            Astro listened intently, taking in every detail and clue. When he finished, Astro furrowed his brow.

Two months was the longest Skunk had been in prison compared to the other times he had been captured. Skunk acted normal for the two months, not much of a talker with the other inmates. The grey blue jumpsuit and handcuffs only seemed to make his cocky smirk deepen. Like it didn’t bother him or… he knew, he wasn’t going to be there for long. That was normal.

            The details of the day that skunk had escaped were odd, and they didn’t add up, and it was not the first time that it had happened. For two months, his cell had been locked. No sign or camera footage of someone tampering with the holographic lock that was on the outside of his cell. He mostly just laid on his cot like a harmless kitten. Almost like he was waiting for something to happen.

            Then, suddenly, on the day he escaped, the lock screen was turning green and the door to his cell swooshed open. Instead of going down the main hallway where the other prisoners were, he went the other direction where there weren’t many cells.

Going through the kitchen, the door was shockingly already unlocked, where his henchmen, Blues and Jazz, were already waiting for him. His boys had placed a bomb on the barred window that had blown it to bits, that was when the prison alarms sounded. Skunk was already gone before the guards got there.

            “Where were the guards on that floor?” Astro quickly cut in.

            “Most of the human guards are not posted at night. A lot of robot guards take over the night post. There were only two human guards posted in his section. But… the suspicious aspect of this is that, before Skunk escaped, the security camera on his cell went dark for thirty seconds, then when it came back online, he was gone.” Tawashi explained. “Three months before this recent escape, when he had escaped before, the camera had gone dark for thirty seconds, as well. The guards from that night confessed they had not messed with the lock, the cameras, or had been involved in him escaping. Skunk always seemed… to wait for escape to come during those two times.”

            That was one of the few odd instances in Skunk’s case that tawashi had discovered.

            Cora’s bag and wrench were still the only evidence of her. Nothing else had come up on finding her during those three days of investigating with the detective, and Astro’s hope was starting to dim. His instincts of her still being alive was still strong but he started to get another inkling that something bad was going to happen to her, and soon.

             Astro, once again, was in the living room staring at the window, the sun just peaking through the clouds, waking the world up for another day.

            His father, Dr. Temma, was sitting at the table. For three days, it was hard to see his son hurting. The boy cared very deeply for his friend. And seeing him not knowing if she was okay made dr. Temma’s sympathy for him grow. He was quietly eating his breakfast while taking glances at his anxious son. Astro had finished eating long before his dad had been wakened up by his alarm, wanting to get it out of his way.

            The robot boy patiently looked at the window, sitting by the house phone, waiting for Tawashi to call him up and tell him he was ready to start searching again.

            He should be running to get to school on time, but in this situation, school will have to wait, Astro thought. Cora’s life was at stake.

            Beeep Beeep

            Astro quickly took his gaze off the clouds and and waved his hand over the phone device, accepting the call.

            “I’ll be down in the parking lot, Tawashi- Oh, you’re not tawashi.”

            “Hello… I hope I’m not interrupting something important… It’s Astro, isn’t it?”

            Instead, of seeing thin glasses and a strict expression, a man with black circled glasses and curly sideburns pixilated in front of Astro’s vision.

            Astro took a second to collect himself, and temporarily pushed his thoughts of meeting the detective to the back of his electronic brain.

            “Umm, no… and yes, it is… who are you?”

            “My name is”-

            “Mr. Drake?”

            The black glasses turned up, looking behind Astro. His eyes turned hard for a second, then it was gone.

            “Ah, Dr. Temma. How is the father of modern destruction”-

            “-Why are you calling my house?” Astro turned to find his father standing behind him, a scowl quickly clouding over his face.

            Mr. Drake’s voice sounded like he was speaking from his nose, “I know we’ve had our differences and some of our opinions on some matters don’t line up. But, despite all that, I was thinking we could take a break from it.”

            “Meaning?” Temma pushed.

            “Wait,” Astro suddenly inquired. The man somehow looked familiar to him; he could never remember meeting him before. But the slicked black hair, round glasses, nasally voice…

            “I’ve seen you before, you're on the news sometimes, and”-

            “-He is.” Temma cut in, his anger tittering over the edge. Astro slightly frowned at him, wondering why he was suddenly so mad. “He’s also the main head of the anti-robot activist’s group. So, once again, why are you calling my house?”

            Astro’s confused look turned into one of realization. No wonder his dad is furious.

No matter who they were, the people in charge of the anti-robot's group were always on the side that robots were always seen as servants of mankind, tools to use to their advantage. Since Astro’s creation, the groups numbers had exploded, and their rallies were getting bigger and bigger by the month. The members that were part of the organization mostly lived in the city, but Astro had been told that the members were extending to the surface and growing. His dad always talked about the organization with cold loathsome.

            Mr. Drake unfolded his hands and raised them slightly, like he was mimicking a surrender.

            “I’m calling your house to invite Astro and you, if you want to Dr. Temma, to a rally, me and my people have put together. Specifically, a peace rally.”

            Astro’s eye widened. What?

            His dad didn’t say anything, telling Astro that he was just as shocked as him.

            Mr. Drake continued, “I know, it’s a bit of shock, coming from a person who represents what I represent.” A pixelated hand drifted towards Astro. “And you being you.”

            Astro frowned a bit, a knot of unease started to form in his stomach. A feeling. A thought. A hunch. It was telling him that this man was not a good man. Then, the feeling jumped and was suddenly telling him that he needed to go to the rally. Then it was gone.

            Astro had never officially met the man. Now, he remembers him, only seeing him from the news. His demeanor behind the screen was always abrasive, bold, and straight forward.

Him being in front of Astro now; hesitant, somewhat civil, and kind. Maybe he’s reconsidering? Or having a change of heart? Maybe…?

            Mr. Drake smiled, “A rally of celebration. To look on the good side of both humans and… robots. I think it will make a good impact on the people especially with those crazy rumors going around about you. Even I think some of that… gossip is ridiculous. I think it’s time to put some of those rumors to sleep,” He chuckled. “We can help each other… Will you come?”

            Though his dad would be happy to say no and deny the invite. Astro knew his dad already didn’t like Mr. Drake because of his dislike on robots, and not to mention, his political statement of trying to push a ban on robots similar to Astro.

A small part of Astro told him not to trust him and he believed it, but he also had never met the man before. So, he couldn’t truly judge the man until he met him face to face. Right?

            The knot tightened in his stomach, and a sudden memory from a few months ago surfaced.

            “It worked, I don’t believe it.” Hamegg said, coming into his line of sight as the taser’s electricity started to sink into Astro’s body, pulling him under, and his eyes were beginning to droop against his will.

            “What are you doing?” Cora looked disturbed and shocked as she kept looking between Astro and Hamegg, not knowing what to do.

            He raised the laser device, “I swiped this from Dr. Temma, after he fired me from the ministry of science.”

            “Who cares! Why did you do that to Astro?”

            “I thought I raised you better. Are you blind? He’s a robot!”

            He should have listened to his instincts when he had met Hamegg those many months ago. The same knot in the pit of his stomach had appeared. It had kept bugging him and bugging him until it was too late. He trusted Hamegg. He never should have. He should have seen the fake façade behind the fatherly mask, but he didn’t, and Hamegg betrayed him. He wouldn’t let that happen again. This time he would go along and go to the rally, but he would keep his guard up.

            Astro could sense his dad’s answer and- “We- “

            “We’ll be there.” Astro said, firmly. Quickly getting the words out before he could take them back.

             Again, he could sense his father’s shock as he spoke behind him, “Astro.”

            The politician smiled fully, “Excellent! The rally will start around 9:00. See you two later then.”

            The call pixelated away.

            Astro watched the man fade away and realized with a guilty sigh that his search for Cora would have to begin after the rally. Tawashi could probably go ahead without him and then call him after.

            The robot boy silently turned around to find his dad scowling down at him, “What are you thinking, Astro? To go to a rally that his set up by a man like Drake. He’s devious and only cares about seeing robots like you shut down for good. Something bad could happen to you. Do you understand?”

            He did understand. But- “Look, dad, I don’t trust Mr. Drake either but…I have this feeling that I need to go. I don’t know why, I just do.”

            Temma was already shaking his head, “Absolutely not, you do not go near that rally.”

            “Dad, please.” Astro wasn’t one to push, especially with his father. This feeling that something bad was going to happen, would not let up. I don’t know what but when I see it, I’ll jump into action.

            “Please, this one time, trust me?” Astro begged.

            The scowl began to fade at his son's words. He did trust Astro; he just didn’t trust the many people who hated his robot son. Who loathed him to the end, for no reason at all. They just did, because he was a robot. Temma was angry at the rumors, they angered him whenever Astro would cringe away, or his eyes would go wide with shock and sadness upon hearing the many assumptions about him.

            Astro was so humanlike. That’s why they hated him. He was unpredictable. He was like them. With thoughts and emotions. A robot with a mind of its own. It amazed Temma whenever Astro made a questionable decision and was in even more in awe of what he would choose.

Temma knew Astro was capable of mass destruction and the horrific things they had come up with on the news, but also knew that Astro was kind, and selfless. He was silly, he can smile and laugh. He could be stubborn. He can cry and tears would trickle down his cheeks.

            Temma had created a robot so close to a human, he felt proud in what he had created. Proud and happy. It would frighten him, sometimes. Oh my- I just created this robot, a robot that was capable of murder and love, what do I do now? A robot that was like a human.

            He could never get Toby back. This robot that was also his son was not Toby. Before, he could not see or understand that yet. Now, he does. Astro is his son. When he saved him from his endless sleep, he had silently made a promise to himself and to Astro, that he would do better as a father.

            Temma stared, and then sighed, “Okay, we’ll go.”

            Bright as a lightbulb, Astro’s face burst with appreciation and happiness. He walked around the couch and wrapped his arms around his father and squeezed slightly.

            “Thank you, dad.”

            His long arms quickly circled around his son's shoulders and hugged him back.

            Ding Dong

            Astro and his father broke apart and looked towards the door. Orrin zoomed over and pushed a button. A dark coat was trying to squeeze thru the door.

            Orrin cupped his hands together, “Good morning”-

            Tawashi brushed past Orrin with something in his hand and a briefcase in the other, “What’s got your phone rusted? I’m on a tight schedule kid, lets go!”

            Temma glared at tawashi at his sudden rude entrance and said, exasperated, “Detective Tawashi.”

            “Sorry, Dr. Temma, but I’m gonna need to borrow Astro again. You already know of the situation and how that this is urgent.”

            “I know about the situation, but you don’t need to come barging into my house like that!” Temma counteracted.

            Astro looked at the the detective in surprise, he usually just waits down in the parking lot and picks him up. He must have been trying to call him, but Mr. Drake had called. Must have been anxious to get going today.

            Astro spoke, breaking the argument up, “Sorry, someone else was calling us and I don’t think I can go with you”-

            He suddenly trailed off when a picture in tawashi’s hand caught his attention, at that moment, Astro could see how bloodshot the detective’s eyes were. “What is that? Did you or the other officers find something?”

            Light beamed over his glasses as he looked down at the boy, “What? Oh, yes, I think I might have a lead on someone.” Then handed the picture over.

            The picture was slightly blurry and was taken at nighttime. The person was wearing a long black trench coat and had their back turned towards the camera, the person almost blended in the night, with the black hat concealing their face. Pale blonde hair was peaking under the hat slightly.

            “Skunk?” Astro guessed.

            Tawashi nodded, “I believe so. I got a tip from one of my undercover people this morning. Last night, Skunks car got picked up from one of their cameras and they followed it. Followed it right up towards mount Sophia. The house looked pretty big from far away. The picture is not the best. But they couldn’t get more than three hundred feet from the house. Lots of trip wires and cameras everywhere. They got that picture before… Skunk went into the house.”

            Astro handed the picture back, a fire igniting in him, “Okay, who lives there?”

            “It wasn’t easy. I had to do some digging this morning. Now that I think about it, I kind of wasn’t surprised to find who it was. His name is Lamp Drake,” A frustrated sigh escaped him, “It’s taking all my strength and willpower not to go tare that house apart”-

            As soon as the words, his name is Lamp Drake, left the detectives mouth. Astro stared at him in shock and froze like a statue. That can’t be right. He just spoke to Mr. Drake a few minutes ago. He invited him to a peace rally for robots and humans. Though a bit strange to invite him to one of those. And- it hits him. If the man in the picture is Skunk and he was seen going into Mr. Drake’s house; then Mr. Drake has Cora.

            Tawashi paused his rambling and took in Astro’s expression, his face darkening, “what?”

            He couldn’t believe it even though he just saw Mr. Drake a few minutes ago, Astro sucked in a deep breath, “Mr. Drake called and invited me and my dad to a peace rally for robots and humans. We both thought it was a little suspicious.”

            Tawashi stared at Astro as if he had just spoke gibberish, “Wait, what, when?”

            Temma stepped in, “Just about a few minutes ago.”

            The detective didn’t say anything then took a couple steps away to gather his thoughts, then said, “Why would he host a peace rally? It’s not his forte. He’s always been against the robots. Did he say anything else to you?”

            Astro shook his head, “No. We both just found it odd.”

            “Yeah, that is odd.” Tawashi muttered and paused again. Tuning away from the father and son, he headed for the dining table. Setting the briefcase on it, he opened it and pulled out a laptop. “I found something that is also odd as well.”

            Both Astro and Temma walked over and stood behind him as he brought up the MCPD database.

            His username and password flew out from his fingertips, he turned his head to Astro, “You didn’t see anything.” Then, turned back to what he was doing.

            A small smile crept onto the boy’s face, and said, “Okay.”

But his brain already memorized what keys he hit. He didn’t need to tell Tawashi that, though.

            Lamp Drake filled the search bar. And a file for him popped up.

            Tawashi pushed the laptop towards the two and sat back, “I’ve been staring at this since five this morning. Take a look.”

            At first, Astro didn’t see anything wrong with it. There was his full name, birthday, the school he went to when he was young, his parent’s names, some notes from close people of his reporting that he can be aggressive, bold, and determined to get what he wants in his career, he was in the government. No criminal activity, whatsoever. That’s it. Nothing else.

            Astro frowned, “It’s clean.”

            “Too clean,” tawashi scoffed.

            “That doesn’t make any sense.”

“That’s what I thought too. I kept thinking if someone’s profile is cleaner than most, especially when they’re in the government, why do they need trip wires and cameras around their house?”

            Astro’s eyes drifted towards the picture of Skunk, “Because he’s hiding something.”

            “Bingo.” Tawashi took the laptop back, “Specifically, he’s hiding Skunk.”

            “So… why does his file come up ‘clean,’ but he’s hanging out with a criminal like Skunk.”

            The detective itches his unshaven stubble, “That’s what I can’t grasp… If I brought this photo, got a search warrant, and got more evidence that he was working with Skunk; he would be put away for good. His stand in politics would be no more. His reputation would be ruined. The evidence I have now, and his profile are telling different narratives… it’s like a different person or someone is covering for him.”

            Astro paused and thought for a second, wait a minute, “covering him…” he glances down at the picture. “Someone is covering him…”

            Tawashi raised his eyebrows and gestured with his hand, “…And…. What?”

            A soft snicker escapes from Astro, and he holds the picture up, “Skunk is covering him. He’s been taking the fall for who knows how many times for Drake. It’s not on Drake’s record because he doesn’t want it to be.”

            The detective stared at Astro, absorbing the information, then, “But why would Skunk take the fall for him?”

            What is the one thing that Skunk cares about in this world? He didn’t need to think of the answer too long. Astro knew what it was, “For money.”

            “That makes sense,” Tawashi said as his head bowed, and his bloodshot eyes took in the screen. Then, he asked again, “But what do they have in common? Skunk steals valuables. And Drake’s in the government.”

            Astro furrowed his brow, “Have something in common? They are criminals.”

Tawashi rolled his eyes and sighed, “What’s their motive?”

Oh.

“They hate robots,” Temma said without missing a beat.

            Astro looked up at his father and he could see the anxiety in his eyes as he realized where this was going. They do hate robots and specifically, him.

It all made sense. The ‘peace’ rally. Cora being kidnapped. Skunk working with Drake.

            Astro’s core sped up and he started to breathe fast, “Tawashi, Skunk and Drake have Cora. Conveniently, we’re invited to a rally for robots and humans…. They’re planning something.”

             Tawashi’s tired eyes bore into Astro, and he nodded, “We need to get to that rally.”

<><><><><><><><><><> 

            The limo pulled into a parking space near the city building. Temma and Tawashi had decided to drive separate so as not to let them be seen together and to not let Drake or Skunk know that they were on to them.

Astro sucked in an uneasy breath.

People with signs were walking down the street, and more and more walked into Astro’s view. There were hundreds of them. Then, robots started walking along side the humans.

Waitress robots, small robots, big robots, they were all walking along in peaceful harmony. The dark inkling in his stomach returned; something is going to happen.

 He could see one side trying to get in his face and yell ‘you don’t belong here’ or ‘you’re a danger to the human race’ or ‘you should be deactivated along with the other robots.’

He didn’t want that. He didn’t want people and robots to be fighting. Everyday he was in the public eye; he tried his best to make humans trust him. That there was no reason to be afraid of him. That he would never abuse his power, and he would use it for good.

Some of the robots wanted Astro to fight for them completely. Explaining ‘what do the humans ever do for us?’ Or ‘why are you not fighting with your own kind?’ Or ‘the humans will never see you as there equal, they will only see you as a tool for their own good.’

Astro wasn’t just a robot. Yes, he was made up of wires and circuits. They were apart of him. But he also had the memories of a boy who he believed he thought he was. Astro believes and knows that Toby is what makes him human. Without him, he doesn’t believe he would have become who he is today. He wouldn’t be Astro.

He has thoughts, feelings, and dreams like a human. He is the space between the two worlds and… he was tired. Tired of trying to keep the two sides at peace but he would never back down or give up. That was his destiny.

“You ready to go?” His dad spoke up as he turned the car off.

Astro softly tore his gaze away from the crowd and looked down at his hands. They were clean. No cuts or marks or anything. He can do this. Tawashi was counting on him. Cora was counting on him.

Slowly, he met his dad’s anxious look. Astro smiled softly, “Onwards and upwards?”

Temma furrowed his brows at first at the sudden quote, a quote he always used to tell Toby. The last time he had heard Astro say that was the battle of the peacekeeper.

He frowned, “Why are you telling me that?”

Astro paused, the car door opened slightly and said, confused, “Huh? What do you mean?”

“The last time you said that to me you flew into the peacekeeper and… I didn’t see you again.”

Astro stared at him, not sure what to say. He glanced back down at his hands and admitted, “I don’t know… I guess it comforts me… nothings gonna happen to me, dad, I promise?” He sneaked a peak through his eyelashes.

His dad’s expression was unreadable, and he was nervous that his dad would drive the car back to the house. Then his dad sighed and opened his car door as well, “Okay… upwards and onwards, then.” A small smile matching his son’s.

<><><><><><><><> 

            People surrounded the city building. People and robots mingled with one another while others stood on either side of each other. Like they had drawn an invisible barrier. Don’t cross over the line. This is my place and that is your place.

            Astro and his dad stayed close as they started to come up towards the heart of the rally. It wasn’t long before people started to recognize him and one by one, they started to walk up to him.

            It started with little kids and kids his age running up to him, shaking his hand or hugging him around the waist, yelling, ‘Hi, Mr. Astro Boy!’or ‘you’re my hero!’ or ‘I escaped from mom to come see you today.’ Astro would giggle and hug them back. Then they would run back to their parents or disappear into the crowd.

            Some adults came up to him, to his surprise and complemented him, saying, ‘thank you for all you’ve done’ or ‘thank you for protecting us when you know you don’t have to’ or ‘thank you for being our friend.’

            Astro smiled and then grew nervous as a stage with a stand and a microphone came into view. A big red skirt covered the stage. Astro squinted at the color and slightly frowned at it; those weren’t Metro City’s colors. The color seemed to look like blood spilling from the stage and it made Astro shiver with discomfort. There was a lot of people here. Families and kids running everywhere. At that moment, Astro did not want the people or robots here.

            Suddenly, Tawashi’s voice came into Astro’s head, “Keep your eyes alert, Astro.” He almost jumped, totally forgetting that the detective had given him his micro transmitter again.

            “Right.” He started looking around and through the crowds, but Cora was no where to be found.

            Astro spoke quietly, “What’s the plan Tawashi?”

            Suddenly, the detective came into his line of sight, slightly slouching against the wall of the city building, trying to blend into the crowd.

            The detective skimmed past the boy and gazed through the people, “If you see Cora, don’t go after her. I imagine she’s a hostage so either Skunk or Drake will most likely have her, they might hurt her if they see me, or you try to go after her.”

            Astro hesitated, not really wanting to stay put but he had no choice, “Got it.”

            There was ten minutes before the rally started and there was still no sign of Skunk, Drake, or Cora.

            The citizens started filling the chairs till there only a couple left.

            Suddenly, a dark aura was coming from his left, and before he could turn around, a large hand landed on Astro and gripped his shoulder.

            Startled, he looked up and found a man with thick black round glasses, dark eyes, and curly sideburns. The man that had called his house. The man that had hired Skunk to kidnap Cora.

Astro felt his hands curl into fists, and he glared up at Mr. Drake.

Mr. Drake stared down at Astro and smiled sinisterly, “Hello, Astro. Hello dr. Temma.”

Temma immediately hugged Astro’s shoulder and brought his son closer to his side, breaking Drake’s hold on him.

“Mr. Drake,” Temma sneered.

Drake clasped his hands behind his back and puffed his chest out, “I’m thrilled you two are here.”

For a second, Astro’s glare traveled to the people closest to him. So, Cora is not with Drake, she must be with Skunk. But where?

“There’s a few minutes before the rally starts and I wanted to talk to Astro alone for a minute or two.”

Astro snapped his focus back to Mr. Drake realizing he was talking about him.

Temma’s grip tightened on his son’s shoulder. But Astro ignored it, as Drake met his glare, and the same sinister smile returned.

“It’s okay, I’ll be fine, dad.” Astro said, then brushed his dad’s hand off and started walking along side Mr. Drake.

They didn’t stop walking till they were away from the crowd and out of ear shot.

Drake halted, the sun beaming over the city and over his silhouette, and said, “beautiful morning, would you say? … You look a little tense, Astro. Nervous?”

No, he was quite the opposite right now. His fists yet to uncurl. He know’s Tawashi told him not to bring any attention to what they knew Drake and Skunk were up to. Especially, Cora. But how does he know if they haven’t already hurt her. He needed to see her.

“Where is she?” Astro abruptly asked.

Drake’s hands were still behind his back as he looked at Astro as if he didn’t catch what he just said.

“I’m sorry?” The sun reflecting off the politician’s glasses.

“Where’s Cora?”

He didn’t move.

Then, his stance changed. His stood straighter, and his chest puffed out again. He smiled a rather smug smile down at the robot boy, “Well well, you are cleverer than I thought. Looks like Metro City’s hero has been doing some sleuthing. I’m a little curious how did you find out?”

“It doesn’t matter. Where is she?” Astro gritted out.

Some of people from the rally stared looking in their direction. Not sure what to think of them. Some looked as if wondering if they were having a pleasant conversation or Astro would walk away and fly off.

Drake noticed this and smiled at them for a second then turned him and the robot back around. His hand almost pushing him around as it returned to Astro’s shoulder and his grip did not loosen.

Drake gazed up and said, nonchalantly, “Look at that building as the sun shines on it. Amazing, isn’t it?”

Astro was fuming.

“I don’t care. Quit dodging my question. Tell me where she is!”

His smile seemed to stretch as Astro’s anger seemed to rise more and more. Drake’s eyes met his for a second then they moved upwards towards the city building then met his again.

Astro didn’t know what he as doing but begrudgingly, he looked up and- there she was.

He gasped softly, “Cora.”

The city building was tall, though not tall enough to compete with the taller skyscrapers of Metro City. There were only two floors who had balconies and on the lowest, a shadow stepped away from the wall and into the sun.

Skunks pale locks almost glowed in the light as he came into view first, two wicked slashes covered his one cheek, then his greedy smile as he looked down towards them. The criminal's arm was around Cora’s waist holding her against him along with a gun pressed tightly under her chin. A piece of dark material covered her mouth.

Astro stopped moving. His core took off flying with speed with sick anxiety. And he didn’t know what to do. He wanted to rocket up to that balcony and get Cora far away from that man. But the gun against her neck and Tawashi’s words of not going after her until she’s out of harms way came into his head.

She was here. For three days, he had been trying to find her, to bring her home and here she was. Her blue eyes met his and her eyes widened. She tried to shout his name, to tell him to get out of there, and not to worry about her but, once again, her gag was in the way. She made an attempted struggle to break free from Skunks arm, but he held fast.

Skunk’s voice came into Astro’s ears. It was not like he was right next to him, though he could clearly see he was talking. His super hearing kicked in, and at first his voice was coming from on his left. He looked at Mr. Drake in confusion then quickly realized he had an earpiece in.

Skunk spoke again, his voice echoing from the earpiece, “Mr. Drake, can the little brat hear me?”

Astro jerked his head up to Skunk and narrowed his eyes.

“Oh, looks like he can… Good,” He smirked, and sang. “Hey Astro bot, I hope this gives you motivation!” Spitting out the last word, his arm let go of Cora and instead, grabbed her hair and yanked her head back, pushing the gun harder into her skin. A muffled agonizing scream came from Cora.

Astro made a move but the firm hand on his shoulder halted him. He glared at it then slapped it away as he turned his attention to Drake, “What’s he talking about? Let her go!”

Drake clasped his hands together, “I invited you to this rally because I want you to do something for me.”

“And what’s that?” Astro growled, stealing quick glances between the gun on Cora’s neck and Drake’s calm, cold stare.

“Admit you tried to kill Hamegg… or go further and say that you did kill him. I don’t care.”

The robot boy’s eyes widened in shock as he gave the politician his full attention, “…What?”

Is he thinking what I think he’s thinking. Drake was crazy. He would never admit that. It wasn’t true! He never tried to kill him. Hamegg tried to kill him by trying to zap him to death.

“You heard me,” Drake said, as he redid a button on the cuff of his suit. “Admit it in front of the people of Metro City, admit that you are a machine capable of murder.”

Astro couldn’t believe it. Why would Mr. Drake do this? “But I didn’t try to hurt him! I saved him from Zog!”

He didn’t move. Didn’t blink. Not one muscle moved. Drake just stared down at him unfazed.

He took a step closer to Astro, “If you don’t admit it,” and glanced up and nodded. “The girl dies. You and I know Skunk won’t hesitate to do it… It’s your choice.”

Astro thought for a second, looking at Cora, who shook her head side to side. Don’t do it, Astro. … looking at Drake, his smile curling at the edges.

“I didn’t hurt him, and I never wanted to. Hamegg is alive,” Astro breathed. “Nothing can change that.”

“Really?” Drake said and paused. “A little birdie told me you tried to go after him when he was electrocuting this…Zog? Even at that moment, not once did you want to lash out at him? He was hurting your friend, Astro. He was going to kill him… and eventually you.”

Astro’s hands clenched again, and his core started to spin fast, making him breathe unsteady. Wait. He paused, suddenly, and a memory brushed past his mind.

“Some big finale. I said, fight!” Hamegg yelled.

As soon as the laser device shot towards Zog, the big golden robot started to smoke and overheat. Astro didn’t hesitate to jump off his hand and head towards Hamegg.

 But he didn’t get very far. The laser’s electricity hit full blast, and he fell to the ground. He felt himself getting weaker and weaker from just that one surge.

Still, he pushed himself off the ground, “I won’t fight.”

Hamegg was enraged, “FIGHT!” And another bolt of electricity hit him.

Astro screamed in pain, now it was becoming excruciating, and he wondered how his body was enduring so much of it. He could feel his core growing hot under his chest, not liking the entity trying to invade him. It was overheating. Now he was on his hands and knees, trying not to black out.

Astro blinked. Hamegg was hurting him. He was hurting Zog.

But he didn’t hurt him. He only went after Hamegg to disarm him. To stop him from hurting everybody.

What do I do?!

Astro gazed at the people surrounding the stage. The rally will be beginning at any minute. Wait. The people on the surface knew the truth. They saw what happened. They knew he didn’t let Hamegg get crushed under Zog’s foot.

Nervously, his eyes jumped through the crowd, and he realizes… the bright clothes of the surface were nowhere to be found. Only the dull blue, dark, and white clothing of the Metro City blended. Not one bright shirt or pants jumped out of his vision. There was no one from the surface there to defend him except Cora and himself. He gritted his teeth. Drake and Skunk planned this.

“Hamegg knows the truth. Hamegg is alive.” Astro finally said.

His smirk turned into a scoff “And… Where is Hamegg, Astro?” Drake waited for an answer, looking at him with pouty lips.

Astro didn't say anything. Truthfully, he didn’t know.

”Oh, that’s right,” Drake made a tsk sound. “He’s not here. He’s not here… to defend you. And, honestly, I don’t think he would if he were here.”

A cloud of melancholy passed over Astro and, again, he didn’t know what to say.

“Anyway, hopefully, you can make a decision and fast, I wouldn’t want another death on my hands. I know you’ll make the right choice.” Drake started to walk away.

Astro blurted out, “Why are you doing this?!”

The politician stopped, his eyes narrowing at the boy, and whispered menacingly, “Because you’re a robot. And all that robots are are nothing more than tools, rust, and bolts. Like you. But you’re a robot that has been given too much power, and that makes you dangerous. Now, go up on that stage or she dies!” Then he was walking briskly towards the red skirt, smiling generously towards the people as if nothing happened.

Chapter Text

It felt like forever as Astro stood there, his red boots rooted by an invisible puddle of concrete. The blood-red stage was still shining in front of him. Unexplainable dread sinked into the robot’s wires and circuits, making him feel heavy, pulling him under quicker and quicker into the ground.

            His eyes traveled up the wall of the tall city building. Cora’s face came into his focus for only a few moments before Skunk slipped back into the darkness, away from the balcony, pulling her with him.

            Tawashi’s voice called from his earpiece, “Astro!”

He would have jumped from the sudden outburst, but he just continued to look at the stage with a stunned and fearful expression.

            Astro’s voice shook, “Tawashi, did you hear”-

            - “I heard… you didn’t try to hurt Hamegg… did you?”

            “No.”

            There was pause, “I believe you, Astro.”

            Astro’s fearful expression drifted away from the stage and found Tawashi, his form now pushed away from the wall and was cautiously looking towards the first balcony of the city building. Tawashi had called in a team from the station before the rally, and they were scattered around the area, keeping an eye out. Unlike Tawashi, with his under the radar regular trench coat look, the others wore police uniforms and badges. Astro’s eyes widened as he looked at the detective, “you do?”

            “Yes, I do…. And Cora told me about the robot games and that day Hamegg put you in there. She told me what happened. And I believe my daughter…. What are you going to do?”

            “I don’t… I don’t know…” He was at a loss of words. He didn’t want to, but he needed to.

For Cora.

But, what about the robots. As soon as people get word of his outrageous lie, the robots would become the next target. He couldn’t let that happen either.

            Tawashi knew that look, all to well, with his somber expression and sad eyes whenever he had to do something that he didn’t want to do, he cast his look towards the stage. He knew he was going to it… He was going to admit it.

            He blurted out, “Astro, I can’t… I won’t let my daughter die but… you can’t admit that lie either. Because of the laws of robotics, I would have to arrest you. Not only would you be dismantled but a lot more robots would too.”

            Astro’s eyes turned hard, and his hands clenched. He would be dismantled. Mutilated and torn apart. All because he told a lie. A lie that he did not commit. And the robots would pay for it. Cora would be spared, yes. But no matter what choice he makes, robots or humans, someone is going to get hurt. Astro tore a determined look away from Tawashi.

“I have an idea. Wait for my signal.” Then Astro was forcing his boots forward and making his way towards the stage.

Tawashi watched him uncertain, and for the first time, he was scared for the little robot. Scared for the robot that had annoyed him for the last seven months. He couldn’t believe it. But there he was almost feeling… sympathy for him. He shouldn’t feel bad for him. He shouldn’t even be surprised by his ‘dive in now and worry about the consequences later’ hero mantra. But now… He didn’t know when he started to trust the robot. The last three days had been a whirlwind of misleads, late nights of gathering evidence, and following his daughter’s best friend, who is the most powerful robot in the world, around. This case has definitely put his trust in him more than usual.

He didn’t look away from Astro, not until the robot took a seat next to his creator.

Tawashi froze.

Icy daggers traveled up his neck as Drake’s dark gaze found his.

Feeing his heart rate escalate, the detective let out a puff of air. His criminal was spotted, and he wanted to run up those stairs and clobber the man.

Drake didn’t do anything. Didn’t mouth anything to him. Didn’t pull any weapons out. A sneer grew at the corners of his mouth, and he clasped his hands together and covered the lower half of his face, like he was trying to contain his, almost, victory.

Tawashi should have put him away long ago. Instincts are very rare for lying. And Tawashi had always trusted his gut, he just has tendency for ignoring them. He should have followed through with them.

Now his daughter was in danger. His glare quickly located the balcony he was eyeing before, during Astro and Drake’s conversation, he could barely make her out, with Cora and Skunk peeping through the dark curtains. The icy daggers spread to his hands as the sight of the gun under her chin came into view.

She wasn’t struggling against the gun, which was kind of shocking to him. Most victims when they see a gun they scream or they struggle to get away which is normal, but at the same time, particularly in this situation, she didn’t, and he thought it was smart.

No, Cora didn’t really pay any attention to the danger in front of her. She was looking down below where Astro stood now. The fear was glued on her face. Her eyes would not leave her best friend. It was almost like she knew what Astro was about to. She knew he was going to confess.

Tawashi turned back to Drake to find him looking to the balcony as well. The sneer returned more menacingly, and then he causally tucked a curl behind his ear and, almost too slowly, tapped his middle finger where his earpiece was.

Tawashi quickly got the memo. If he moved, his daughter would be dead.

He didn’t dare move a limb after that.

But eventually, Drake dragged his black eyes away from the detective and over the crowd, and Tawashi let out a breath of relief. But still, he didn’t move.

Drake’s sneer followed the crowd, looking pleased with the number of people that had come to the rally, seeing humans and robots had come to take part of it. His plan was working. His gaze finally landed on the annoying little spiky haired kid. The rally would begin any second…

<><><><>><><><><><> 

After drake had opened the rally with thanking the citizens of Metro City for coming to support. His words flooding with a giddiness.

“Right now, our hero of Metro City would like to announce something, something important… for your own good.” The crowd erupted with applause. Robots and humans. Children chanted, “Astro Astro Astro.” And they went on and on, chanting him on.

Drake and Astro locked eyes. He couldn’t avoid it any longer and softly he rose from his seat and shyly smiled and waved at the crowd. His boots halted in front of the podium. Drake didn’t move away.

Instead, his hand came out to cover the microphone and his other came down on Astro’s shoulder once again. He instinctively moved away but his grip was strong.

Astro grimaced slightly; he was gripping his bad shoulder. Ever since he got hit by the Spirit of Freedom, it’s never been the same and it ached when he squeezed it.

“Just tell them what I told you and your girlfriend won’t have to meet a tragic end.”

“She’s not”-

-“I don’t care what she is. I only care about seeing your corpse deactivated or you dragged out of here to be dismantled.”

It was meant to scare him, but Astro stood his ground and shook his hand off his shoulder.

The clapping died down soon after that and the children huddled around the podium, looking at him with awe and excitement, wondering what he was going to say.

Astro didn’t need to turn around to know that Drake’s stare was on him. He knew. As soon as he confidently walked on the stage, Drake had followed his every move like a snake.

Slowly, he turned his head behind him. Drake raised an eyebrow, gave a somehow sincere smile and gestured with his hand to the people.

Instead, Astro looked away from him towards his dad who gave a proud expression mixed with worry and bits of anger whenever he stole a glance towards the politician. Dr. Elefun had surprised him by coming along as well and was sitting next to his dad, his expression matching though he didn’t look worried, but more confused as he looked between Astro, Drake and Temma.

Not wasting any time, he turned towards the citizens of Metro City.

Astro voice slightly shook, “Hello citizens of Metro City, I would like to announce something. I…”

He lifted his head… blue eyes full of fear came into view… then eager faces and patient robot expressions… the gun against her neck and Skunk’s awful smirk.

“I need to tell you that it’s been an honor to serve and protect the people of this city and the surface.”

He paused, and the people enthusiastically clapped.

“I would like to say… that you have inspired me everyday to be better and I’m grateful…” Astro sucked in a breath.

“Right now, I want you to never give up and to keep doing good in the world, to always stand up for what’s right… and that it will be okay. Someday, when I’m no longer here…”

People gasped and started looking at the robot hero with confusion, whispering what is he talking about? What does he mean by that? What’s going on? It’s almost like he’s saying goodbye… is he?

For five minutes, Astro just kept saying nonsense, nonsense that he hoped wouldn’t come true.

- “when I won’t be here to help you fight you hardest battles. So, keep going. Keep fighting…” His brown eyes met Cora, and he whispered, “… I’ve been so worried.”

People started whispering behind their hands, till it almost sounded like a huge bundle of snakes was laying there.

On top of the balcony, Cora and Skunk looked at Astro with confused expressions as he kept speaking. For a second, Cora felt the cold metal move away from her neck as Skunk touched his earpiece “Drake, the farewell speech was good for the moment… Is he gonna say it or not?”

Down below, Drake touching his own earpiece, looked at the robot boy in front of him. His eyes turned into slits, “I’m not sure.”

Cora stared at Astro what is he doing?

Suddenly, he eyed the balcony and her.

He was looking at her again, and he didn’t look away.

“I need you to fight back.” Astro said into the microphone.

Cora stilled, realizing he wasn’t talking to the people.

“I. Need. You. To. Fight. Back,” he repeated, saying each word carefully. It hit her like a lightning bolt. He was talking to her.

A message passed. She stared at him, then quickly eyed the gun. If I move, he’ll shoot me, Astro.

Astro softly nodded, “It’s okay. Trust me.”

Cora felt fear mixed with determination swell up inside her. Before Skunk and his goonies had entered the building, they had untied her ankles. They couldn’t take the elevator, so they took the stairs. The moment she realized her feet were no longer tied, sent a rush of adrenaline through her.

Astro’s message was clear to her now.

Newscasters, and interviews kept asking him what he meant by this comment or that comment. The whispering and chatter of the crowd started mingling together becoming very loud. The children that were in front at first were now by their families. The mothers started hugging the little ones close as nervousness swept through the rally.

Astro didn’t pay any attention to the crowd still. His hand started to itch, almost twitching, almost in anticipation. He was waiting. Waiting for the right moment. He had one shot.

Then, the everything stilled.

Cora felt the gun leave her skin again.

Skunk’s cold harsh voice rushed into her ear, “Drake, tell Astro if he”-

Then, Astro yelled catching Cora’s attention, “Do something! Distract him!”

The last thing she heard was Skunk’s confused response, “… What?”

Without warning, Cora sucked in a breath and popped her head up against Skunk’s face. She groaned as her head already started to ache from the impact, but he loosened his grip. Skunk yelped as he was holding the bottom half of his face, blood streaming down from his nose onto his hand. Then, to get him completely away from her, Cora rammed her knee into his groin.

He didn’t go completely down as she hoped, but he was far away that she felt like she could finally breathe. Her heart started to pound as she realized the gun was still in his hand and he was slowly straightening his form. He was staggering and his bloody face locked on hers.

She started breathing hard against the gag. Another futile attempt against her bindings around her wrists. Dread sunk into her stomach as she realized he was blocking the door that led into the room they had came from.

It felt like she was at the orphanage again. The hunter and the baby deer.

The hunter raised his gun, “Adios, scavenger!”

<><><><><><><><> 

Skunk raised the gun towards her.

There’s my cue, Astro thought.

He felt his twitching hand transform as his finger revealed a laser beam.

He raised his arm and fired.

Suddenly, a few things happened at once. As Astro’s laser shot Skunk’s gun out of his hand while nicking his finger in process. The robot boy failed to notice Drake coming up behind, shoving him forward. Before he could deactivate his laser, the bright light traveled from Skunk’s gun and cut briefly through the city building. Pieces of concrete and glass rained down on the balcony. The weight and impact of the concrete hitting the balcony was too much.

Cracks in the balcony floor burst around Cora’s feet and with horror, she suddenly felt the ground underneath her slip away.

<><><><><><><><> 

Slamming into the podium, Astro fell off the stage with Drake hitting the ground next to him.

As soon as his laser had destroyed Skunk’s gun, the screaming began. Pieces of concrete broke off and crashed onto the floor with a thunderous thud; that’s when people started running. Trying to get away from the rally- from him.

Astro caught a glimpse of Cora; she was still standing on the balcony that was starting to crumble. She was frozen and her face was clouded with fear.

“Cora!” Astro blurted out.

He jumped up and was about to go after her when- a hand grabbed his wrist.

He whipped around to find Drake holding on to his arm, his glasses slightly askew, “now they see you for what you truly are. They’re afraid of you!”

Astro glared and felt his hands fisted. He didn’t have time to deal with him now.

Drake thought he was gonna sucker punch him right then and now, but he just ripped his arm from out of his grasp and took off.

Then, Astro froze, as the balcony suddenly broke off, falling to the ground below in huge chunks. Dust and smoke erupted around the building and through the rally.

It felt like his blue core had suddenly screeched to a halt and all his metal limbs had a thick layer of rust, “Cora!”

But before he could as much take a step, a couple of Tawashi’s team had already surrounded him, and instead of guns, they held laser devices. They weren’t exactly like Hamegg’s. The weapons were in the shape of a gun, and they were more powerful. All of them were pointing at him.

Holding his hands out in front of him, Astro tried to reason with them, and urged, “Please, guys you don’t understand. I’m trying to save someone!” He kept taking glances at the rubble in front of him.

The officer in front of him took a step forward, “Shut up, robot, and put your hands on your head!”

Astro furrowed his brow in frustration. Didn’t they just see Drake push him to the ground and made his laser go off kilter. Behind him, Astro didn’t pay much attention, but he could hear Drake’s annoying voice. Saying things to the frightened citizen’s like ‘he is a danger to society’ ‘behind that kind exterior is a monster’ and ‘look at what he’s done already.’

Great.

Astro looked to his left and saw Tawashi’s trench coat disappear into the smoke. He could barely make out his form going inside the front doors of the building. Astro felt a bit of betrayal swell inside of him. He was just going leave him here?

Why was he not checking the rubble? Maybe Tawashi saw Cora get to safety before the balcony collapsed? The thought gave him hope.

But wait, what about Skunk? What if Tawashi runs into him? And he needs his help. What if he runs into his goonies that follow him everywhere? What if they planted smoke bombs? Or regular bombs? Or try to ambush him? What if the building collapses? Doubtful, but still, something could happen. Most importantly, he needed to know if Cora was okay. He hoped somehow, she got off that balcony, safely.

Astro didn’t move.

The officer yelled again, “I’m warning you!”-

<><><><><><><><><> 

At first, she didn’t move.

Cora’s fear over bubbling like a too hot pot on the stove. Hundreds of cracks appeared around her. The balcony was going to collapse and just before her feet went out from under her, she ran and took a mighty leap. A last-minute adrenaline decision overtaking her. The floor to ceiling window shattered with impact and she landed on the floor.

She must have blacked out because she woke up coughing into her gag on the glass covered floor. Dust and dirt particles were frying around her, making it hard for her to breathe. Even laying down, she felt the room still spin and colors faded out and in around her vision.

Slowly, she sat up.

Sharp glass daggers twinkled off her clothes and hair. Her eyes widened as smoke was piling outside and the balcony was gone.

She almost died. Twice.

Skunk almost shot her. And she almost fell to her death. The last few days have been a whirlwind of near-death experiences.

But Astro saved her. Though he almost killed her with his laser, almost getting her head. No, Drake almost killed her. Drake had shoved Astro, making him lose focus.

Cora was going to kill him. Skunk Drake Jazz Blues, all of them. Okay maybe not kill them but she definitely wanted to get her hands on them. Wait- Skunk was on the balcony, too.

Now, she was sitting up more fully, looking for the pale blonde hair and- there he was.

She squinted through the dust. Yep, it was him. Pale hair and dark coat.

Dang it! Of Course, the balcony didn’t take him.

He was laying on his stomach, his hat no where in sight, and he was knocked out.

Now. Now. This was her time to get away from him. Forever.

Quickly skimming for a piece of glass that wasn’t too big or too small. Next, she grabbed the nearby curtain that had broken off when she crashed through the window, as she hastily wrapped the small material around her makeshift knife and carefully tried to saw through her binds.

Between cutting, she kept a sharp eye on Skunk for any sudden movement. Though he didn’t move an inch, she continued to cut as fast as she could, without trying to cut herself in the process.

Cora couldn’t see his gun anyway near him. But then mentally hitting her head, Astro destroyed it, dummy.

That thought brought a little bit of peace of mind, but it didn’t last long as she also remembered this was Skunk, and something told her that he didn’t need his gun to…

She sawed quicker, now not caring if she nicked herself.

More than halfway through her bindings, was when she heard something move softly. Pausing her work, her heart skipped a beat as Skunk was slowly waking up. He groaned softly; his eyes still closed.

A rush of adrenaline coursed through her as her ‘knife’ finally cut the last thread. Not missing a beat, she reached up and ripped off her gag.

Dizziness clouded her head as she tried to stand. Her legs were stiff, and her joints popped unpleasantly like she hadn’t moved them in a while. Being tied up she hadn’t been able to. Her leg still ached from Skunk throwing her across the table at the orphanage. Gripping the furniture in front of her, Cora carefully and swiftly limped. Putting one foot in front of the other, she slid behind a wall that concealed her.

She could hear him moving more freely now. Daring, she peaked an eye around the corner, and saw he was pulling himself up from the dirty ground. His unfocused eyes not knowing where to look and groaned as his hand came and rested on his still bloody face.

Cora grinned to herself, Success.

Skunk paused, his eyes locating the destroyed balcony. Then, he was moving closer till he came close to the edge and looked at the rubble below. He paused before smiling to himself.

“Once a scavenger always a scavenger.” He muttered.

He thinks I’m dead, Cora thought.

Then he was walking towards the door to the apartment. Quickly moving backwards, her heart beating in her ears, she came upon a bedroom and entered it before he saw her.

Her heart was beating so fast, and she tried to calm her breathing down, hoping he somehow didn’t see her or think to look in the other rooms to make sure she wasn’t in them and that, she was really dead.

After a few moments, no one came to the door. She felt her nerves go down a notch and breathed in what felt like her first breath in days.

Chapter Text

The prized jewel/ Chapter 6/ The Coat Stained Red

            The officer was starting to advance towards him but Astro didn’t give him another second as he suddenly burst into the sky, igniting his rockets and flying out of the police’s reach.

            A shot of energy rushed past him like a bullet, as the police opened fired on him, trying to shoot him down.

            Astro dodged this and that way, one electric shot almost caressing his cheek. The heat of the electricity warmed his face as the electric bullet zoomed in front of him then went on into the distance of the clouds.

            “Hold your fire!” Yelled the officer that had talked to Astro.

He was gone.

One second he was there, flying away. And the next, vanished.

The smoke from the building was almost blocking out the sun. The clouds flying high but empty, no spikes or fire jetted feet disturbing them.

The officer grumbled, “Keep your guard up. And keep your position’s ready!”

Astro was not in the clouds.

No, he was grinning as he leaned into the wall of the city building, trying to blend into it. Slowly, he slid against the wall and rounded the corner. Keeping a sharp eye on the police as they directed their attention to the sky, and he slipped through the building door.

<><><><><><><> 

Cora cursed under her breath. You got to be kidding me.

The bedroom she had managed to slip into without being seen was not in her favor today. The only window, occupying on the far right, was not opening, not even a smidge.

Cora pressed her hands against the glass and tried with all her might to push up but the window would not budge.

She discovered there was no lock to unlock it. A window that does not open.

Fantastic.

Well, she can’t stay here. They would come into the room and eventually find her, no doubt, she thought.

Dread started to curl in her belly. She needs to find another window or another door. But in order to find that, she needed to get out of this room.

No, not when she just got away from Skunk and his henchmen. What if she ran into one of them.

Her heartbeat skittered up in her chest till she swore it was in her throat.

I don’t want to but I need to.

Trying to breathe in what air she could breathe, she softly walked towards the door, and gently rested her ear against it.

Her heart calmed a little bit but not by much. She couldn’t hear anything or anyone that was a good sign.

With a shaky hand, she reached up where the holographic ‘doorknob’ was drilled into the wall and pressed the unlock button.

The lock clicked and the door jumped away from the wall, gently creating a space between them. The motion made Cora jump back.

The hallway came into view but no one was there.

Thank goodness.

Slowly pushing the door to the side, Cora peaked her head out and she gazed down the hall.

She gasped. On the other side of the apartment, down another hallway, a window was opened, a curtain was hanging around the glass and was softly billowing in the breeze. It was almost like it was beckoning towards her. Freedom.

This was her chance. She just had to get across the apartment to that window.

Then, she was pushing off the wall, not caring that she limped across the apartment. Her goal; get to the window.

“Geez, Astro can do a lot of damage with that laser, Jazz”-

Blonde was standing in the middle of the apartment’s main room where the window and balcony were destroyed. He was taking in the damage when he suddenly turned around to find the scavenger.

His sentence was cut off when his dark glasses landed on her.

Cora freezes, and a shiver courses through her, feeling like her blood was just frozen over till she sure she couldn’t move.

They both stared at each other that felt like minutes.

Blues smile curved and he yelled out, “Hey, Jazz!”

Cora jerks her head towards the sound of a door opening behind her on her left. The sound of a toilet flushing behind him as Jazz walks out of the bathroom, “What did you say”-

Jazz words cut off as well as his eyes fall on Cora and he stops in his tracks.

His shock doesn’t last and he gains his own grin, “Well, well.”

This was such a huge mistake. She should never have left that room. Not really thinking it through, she breaks out into a run back to the bedroom she had come from. But as soon as she turns, she hadn’t realized a small chair was behind her. The chair catches her leg and she trips.

Scrabbling off the floor didn’t work out for her and the henchmen reacted quick.

Cora feels one of their hands wrap around her ankle, “Where do you think your going, girlie!”

A yelp escapes her as her bad leg aches in response.

Both men grab one of her arms and haul her up. She tries to fight and kick but there too strong.

She finds herself thrown against a wall. Pain explodes in her head and back as it makes impact. She struggles against them and tries to rip her arms out of the hold but they hold fast. Cora’s breath leaves her as Blues forearm pushes against her throat, slightly blocking out her airway.

Her struggles tame under the henchmen’s grip, then stops. Blues villainous grin deepens as Cora’s eyes go wide with fear, and he increases the pressure of his arm on her throat.

But he quickly realizes she’s not looking at him. No, her eyes still open and not daring to blink once as he follows her line of vision.

The door closes behind him as Skunk walks into the apartment.

His nose and mouth now caked with dried blood as his eyes land on his henchmen…

and her.

<><><><><><><> 

“Tawashi!” Astro calls out as he flys up the main building’s flight of stairs. Thankfully, the police had not followed into the building yet, and had not executed a search for Astro.

            Footsteps banged against tile floor as Astro increased his hearing and Tawashi’s urgent footsteps came to light.

            He followed them, flying up another fight of stairs and found the detective pressed against a wall, his brow scrunched together in concentration as he loaded his gun with bullets.

            “What are you doing? And why did you leave me out there?” Astro finally said as he came up on his side.

            Tawashi just deadpanned stared at him and said, “What’s its look like I’m doing?… And you handled it it looks like.” Then he took position with his gun hot and ready in his hands.

            Astro sighed ‘yeah I guess’ and didn’t push the conversation after that.

Astro wasn’t one for killing anybody, even criminals like Skunk, blues, or Jazz. Though he stayed true to that belief at all times, they’re had been a few moments during this three day investigation that he’s wanted to tackle Skunk for taking Cora or for even laying a hand on her. Hurt him yes, but not kill him. The thoughts surprised him and he wasn’t sure how to react to them.

            After surveying his surroundings, Tawashi held his gun up in front of him with two firm hands, and walked into the long hallway.

            Astro was right by his side, his hands out in front of him ready for anything.

            “If that bastard has his hands on my daughter, you bet I’m taking the shot.” Tawashi said, as he checked each room they came upon.

            Astro doesn’t say anything, and gives him a firm nod.

            <><><><><><><>

            “The prized jewel lives again. You’re a hard one to kill.” Skunk says, as he watches Cora struggle again in the boys’ grip.

            Cora tries to remain calm but for some reason she can’t. A few minutes ago he just had a gun to her neck and now she was back in his clutches. She should of stayed in the room.

Astro… Dad… where are you?

Trying her best, she sputters out, “Don’t you dare come near me.” But her voice sounds… weak.

The blood on his face makes him more menacing and… horror like. Like a monster.

And he smiles. The bastard actually smiles at her. Challenge accepted.

Skunk takes a dramatic step towards her. His eyes and smile are wild with craziness that makes Cora shudder away as much as she could into the wall. He acts like he’s a ten year old kid trying to scare his sibling out of their wits.

One step. Another step. And another.

“I’m getting closer.” Skunk whispers, and his henchmen chuckle, their voices echoing in her ears.

He stalk towards her and her breathing grows heavy, her heart skipping a notch in her chest.

His last steps he made extra. His movements quick and sharp making Cora jump slightly as he came for her.

She whimpered softly and on instinct she closed her eyes and inhaled through her nose.

It suddenly grew quiet and the sound of her breathing was all she could hear for a second.

She opens her eyes slowly to find Skunk standing right in front of her. Only a couple inches away. Oh no no no no no.

She barely reaches his collar bone as the front of his coat was all she could see.

Still, she tried to breathe again, tried to be brave. But her eyes… betrayed her.

They grow hot. And she can’t help as tears escape, trickling down her cheeks.

Damn emotional tears. But she can’t blame them, she’s damn scared.

Skunk cocked his head, trying to get her attention, noticing the tear, “Are you scared scavenger?” He said, fake shock coating his words.

Cora glared up at him with red rimmed eyes. She mastered up what little courage she has left in her, shakes her head side to side, and manages a croaky, “no.”

His brow furrows and his smile turns upside down, an over the top frown replacing it, like he was the saddest he’s ever been, “oh, Tsk tsk tsk… that’s too bad.”

He reaches up with a leather covered hand and wipes her tear away. Cora shuts her eyes and cringes away from his touch. Don’t touch me!

He leaves his hand on her cheek for a second then his hands drop and he walks away from her.

What?

She breathes in a deep breath that almost makes her pass out but she gets a hold of herself.

Her brow furrows in confusion as Skunk walks a ways away and kneels down in front of the shattered window. “Before we say our official goodbyes… I have a gift for you.” He says without facing the group.

            Cora looks down to where he’s looking and finds shards of glass in front of him, the shards looking more like knifes.

            “Since you gave me some cool scars,” he picks up the longest shard in his leather hand and stands. “I thought I could give you some lovely scars of your own.”

            Fear plummets in her stomach, and she immediately starts to struggle against the men’s grip. They chuckle and their hands tighten like vises. They’re careless laughter telling her they did not cared what was about to happen.

            More tears fall that make her feel so small. So fragile and meek.

            Suddenly he stands in front of her again, and, she can’t help it, as a soft sob comes out of her.

            “I thought you weren’t scared?” Skunk mocks.

            Cora sneers, the tears not stopping, “go to hell.”

            The pale hair scoffs, and then she feels her adrenaline swell like a puffer fish as his huge hand grips her jaw.

            “You got to hold still now so I don’t mess up those pretty eyes of yours, Cora.”

            He said her name. Not Scavenger. Not prized Jewel. Cora.

            The way he says it makes another tear and breath of terror build up inside her. Only her friends and family called her that, and him saying it makes her want to throw up.

            The way he holds her makes her mouth unable to open and a beginning a scream sounds in her throat.

            The sharp edge makes the tiniest contact and…

            “Hey Stank!”

            It feels like time pauses and Skunk frowns as the name rolls around in his brain. What did he just say? Wait…

            The shard drops from her cheek and Skunk turns around with a scowl to find…

            “What did you just call”-

            Astro and her dad with his gun in hand, the barrel pointing directly at Skunk.

            The leather hand goes slightly limp on her face, and before he could react Tawashi pulls the trigger.

            Bang!

            Suddenly, Skunk’s shoulder is thrown back and his body follows it. The leather hand leaves Cora’s face with a whoosh. He crashes into Blues on his side he yelps as the bullet lodges into leather, skin then tissue.

            Blues and Skunk fall to the ground in a heap as his boss begins to bleed out and before blonde can make a run for it…

            Bang!

            Another bullet sounds hitting blues in the right shoulder and he goes down in a withering mess.

            Jazz, with his hand still holding Cora to the wall looks at Tawashi with shock and fear…

            Bang!

            A scream sounds in Cora’s left ear that makes her jump out of her wits as Jazz slithers down the wall with a grunt of pain, holding his injured shoulder with a bloody hand.

            Her adrenaline is so high that she.. doesn’t move. She’s frozen as if she was a statue. She just stares at the groaning men in pain around her. Another tear falls silently…

            Someone appears in front of her, and she jumps slightly.

            Big brown eyes fills her blurred vision, “It’s okay. It’s okay.”

            Warm hands cup her wet cheeks and she doesn’t know why… she starts to breathe uneasy again.

            The boy’s worry expression takes in her features, her limbs, like he’s searching for any visually injuries.

            Cora just stares at him, the same terror still imprisoning her emotions and muscles.

            “Cora, it’s me. It’s Astro. You’re safe.” He says, softly.

            Immediately, their eyes make contact, brown and blue, and it feels like an invisible weight lifts off her chest. Her adrenaline? She doesn’t know.

            Softly but firmly, he pulls her away from the three men and closer to the other side of the apartment.

            He’s…  here. Him and her dad saved her. After three days she’s safe. Skunk isn’t going to cut into her and slowly torture her. She’s safe. She’s safe.

            A peace washes over her that turns into an overwhelming relief. Astro’s hands gently wipe her sticky tears from face and without waiting another second, she jumps into his embrace, wrapping her arms around his neck.

            His arms wrap around her as she softly cries into his shoulder.

            He’s not sure what comes over him but the need to comfort her takes over. She doesn’t let go of him. Like she won’t be able to hug him again. His huge hand rests on the back of her head as he begins to stroke her hair.

            “Shhh, I got you. You’re safe.”

            She somehow manages to hug him tighter. Thank you.

            “Cora?”

            Astro releases his grip on Cora and she lifts her gaze to her… Tawashi. Her father.

            “Dad?”

            “Freeze! Put your hands in the air!” A police officer yelled, standing in the doorway, catching their attention.

            Tawashi quickly concealed his gun on the inside of his trench coat, and instructed his team to handcuff and arrest the three withering men on the ground, and that they were going to need medical attention.

            The officers quickly got to work and threw cuffs on the men. When they dragged Skunk out of the room, Tawashi finally could feel his anger start to dim. He was certain he would have taken another shot if they stayed there any longer.

            Tawashi turns, and his daughters gaze quickly finds his.

            “Cora,” he finally breathes out and makes his way towards her, quickly pulling her into his embrace, his emotions going into a scattered mess.

            They hug for the length of a few minutes. Soft sobs are carried from inside the father’s coat, and he hugs her tighter.

            “I’m so glad you’re okay.” He says, his voice cracks and waters, trying not to cry by the overwhelming joy of finding her alive. She’s safe. She’s safe. It almost feels like the last time he found her after the peacekeeper attack though this time feels much more… terrifying and so much more grateful. I almost lost you, again.

            He kisses her forehead.

            “Thank you, Astro.” His attention going to the robot without releasing his hold on Cora, and his eyes are full of… appreciation.

            Astro, watching all of this, smiles at them, “don’t mention it.”

            <><><><><><><><>

            The smoke has died down, thanks to the fire department. And construction robots are eagerly grabbing the pieces of the concrete from the mutilated balcony and cleaning it up.

            Astro, Cora, and Tawashi finally step out into the early afternoon sun. Three police cars had just lifted a few inches from the road and had taken off towards the police station and later on, to the prison.

            Cora takes in a healthy amount of air since well… well since three days ago, when he last saw her, Astro notices. She follows the police cars until they’re out of sight and turns to find him looking at her with concern. Her eyes widen for a second being caught off guard, then she gives him a small smile and grabs his hand for reassurance.

Other than the cut on her lip, how she leans on her left leg instead of her right, the slightly dark circles under her eyes. She still… Cora. His right hand fists on instinct. Guilt starts to nibble on his insides for not finding and rescuing her sooner. I could have saved her from a lot of pain.

Her signature smile doesn’t reach her eyes but it makes Astro feel a tiny bit better that his best friend is not gone.

I’m okay, Astro.

            He tries to smile back but it turns more into a grimace.

            Tawashi does not leave her side, as they walk out of the building. There was still a huge group people in the square. Odd.

            Astro thought they ran off when he fired his laser, shooting at Skunk’s gun to prevent him from killing Cora. In fact, there seemed to be a hundred plus more people than before and there huddling around the red stage. He can’t even see the stage or who’s talking because there’s so many people here.

            A slender officer runs out of the crowd catching the groups attention.

            He halts, and tries to catch his breathe, “Detective…you should see this.”

            Tawashi and Astro immediately exchange glances. What’s happening now?

            The crowd’s cheers are starting to get louder, especially walking through it.

            When there halfway to the stage, the people start to turn and- as soon as they see him, they part like the water of the Red Sea.

            Cora crosses her arms as many eyes land on them but mostly on… Astro.

Oh no. That’s not unnerving at all. Why are they staring?

There’s more people here, Cora picks up on, There not the same people I saw from the balcony. Some of the families are still here. But there’s more people she has not seen. Much more. Where did these people come from?

            The crowd parts even more to reveal… Drake still at the pulpit and… his dad. Dr. Elefun was no where in sight. Where had he gone? Drake’s eyes narrow and they slit more as he smiles down at the group.

            “So glad you could join us again… robot.” He chuckles, and most of the crowd follows suit. The families that are still there don’t laugh or smile but look at Astro with worrisome.

            I don’t want these families here, at all. Astro thinks, as he scans the crowd.

            Not good. Not good.

            Astro eyes widen at the sight of his dad standing up there, and a ugly curl of betrayal and abandonment brews inside him.

            Temma catches his son’s look and shake’s his head side to side. It’s not what you think, and he blinks. Wait, what? The curl starts to unravel and die. Temma shakes his head again, and the message is clear, he’s trying to stop drake from whatever he’s trying to do, not help him.

            “And you brought the detective and…” Drake stops as he stares at Cora for a second almost like he can’t believe it, then he clears his throat as a scowl covers his features, and almost whispers, “I thought the balcony took you, Scavenger.” The nickname she has hated for the last three days leaves his lips and Cora… staring back with a look of, you’re going to have to do better than that.

            Drake’s eyes flare with hatred and it almost looks like he’s going to leap off the stage and strangle her. But-

            Astro steps in front of her, his hands ready for action.

            “Whatever your trying to do, it’s over, Drake. Skunk and his goons are arrested and gone. Your plan has failed.” Astro says loud and clear for everyone to hear.

            No one moves. Then, Drake is laughing, laughing as if he just heard the best joke in the world. “That is rich. And Skunk?” He snorts. “The only Skunks I know of are the ones that have burrowed under my house.”

            Everyone laughs.

            “It’s true. Skunk works for him and he’s been taking the fall for him for who knows how many times.”

            And to Astro’s surprise, “Astro is telling the truth. Skunk kidnapped me! And he”- Cora pointed a finger at Drake, “helped him keep me hostage in his house.”

            But no one listens to her, in fact they laugh more.

            Drake wipes a ‘tear’ from his eye and directs his attention to Tawashi, “Detective… Tawashi, is it.” He asks, as if he’s never met him before. The absolute nerve of this liar.

            “Are you sure the girl is not a robot too. She’s as clueless and stupid as the one that stands right there!”

            Everyone goes into a uproar.

            Tawashi starts forward towards the stairs, “How dare you speak about-“ But is stopped by a group of men and women who block it. They laugh at him and shove him back.

            He almost topples into Astro but the spikey haired kid catches him at the last second.

            “Oh, that is rich.” Drake expression suddenly turns serious and out towards the crowd. “But, I do want to show you something that I believe and know you have been waiting to see. The evidence that proves that this robot is-“

            Suddenly Temma steps forward, “Whatever evidence you have it’s a lie. My son is innocent!”

            Drake pauses and then looks at him with an expression with oh really.

            “Are you sure, Dr. Temma? Your creation is innocent? You think your son is not capable of murder? That is where you are wrong!”

            Then, before Temma, Astro, Tawashi, or anyone could stop him. He reaches inside the podium and brings out a plastic bag. There’s something lumpy inside that Astro can’t detect what what it is.

            “Oh no.” Cora says from his side. And Astro looks at her with uncertainty and fear, then turns back to-

            No no no no no. That’s not possible. That can’t be possible.

            Astro thinks this over and over as his eyes go wide with shock.

            In Drake’s hand, is Hamegg’s old Robot Games coat. It was the same except there was a deep red color staining over it. The red seeping into the gold swirls, and going out towards the cuffs. It looked like it had just came from a crime scene. Blood. That can’t be his blood. Can it.

            His eyes dial and zoom on the coat, scanning the blood. It only takes a few sec-

            Please don’t be his blood. Please don’t be his blood. Please-

            35. Male. Brunard Hamegg Cacciatore. Blood type-

            No. It’s his.

            People gasp in shock and horror, as many eyes go between the coat and Astro. But that’s not possible. A robot cannot kill or hurt a human, it’s been like that for fifty years. Astro is sure everyone is thinking that as they gawk at him.

A robot killed a human?

            Astro doesn’t move… for circuit’s sake, he can’t speak. Hamegg… no… Hamegg can’t be dead, he knows it. He knows for a surety in his wires that the ringleader is alive. Even though he just scanned the coat that is very much covered in his blood.

            The coat hangs limp his Drake’s hand, “Is this the coat that Hamegg wore when he put you in the Robot Games that day?” His question aimed at the boy below him.

            “…yes. But I didn’t kill him”-

            -“After he electrocuted Zog for misbehaving, did you go after him?’

            Astro grits his teeth, “yes but only to disarm him because he was hurting Zog.”

            Cora speaks up again, and Astro has never felt more honored to have a friend like her than at that moment, “I was there at the Robot Games. He saved”-

            “Hugh?” Drake suddenly says, nodding to a man that stands close to Cora’s side.

            Astro immediately steps into action and pulls her behind him as the man heads towards them. The man stops as slight fear clouds his eyes. Not wanting to be the next kill on the robot’s list, he backs off.

            “I am curious.” Drake says, bringing Astro’s attention back to him. “Since you have the emotions of a human.” The word ‘emotions’ come out as if it was a silly concept. A robot having emotions, what a preposterous thought. “When Hamegg put you in there and told everyone how you thought the surface fighting robot’s were anything but nothing. Told them how you thought the surface people were anything but garbage… What emotions were there? Anger? Shock? Fear? Betrayal?” He breathed out the last word, and Astro flinches.

            Astro doesn’t know how he knows all of this. He wasn’t there. Well, he didn’t know him. He was a properly another face in the crowd screaming at him to destroy the robot then the next and the next. He doesn’t know and right now he can’t think about it.

             Drake slyly grins, knowing he’s found his mark, “ooh, have I hit… a wire? Let’s see… betrayal… rumors say you were there for a few days with Hamegg because daddy dearest here”- waving a nonchalant hand at Temma- “kicked you out like yesterday’s dinner had gone bad.”

            “That’s enough,” Dr. Temma says, his eyes narrowing into slits and his hands clenching into fists. But his voice wavered as the certain memory from that night hits him like a train. His eyes full of regret finds Astro and he wants to tell him that he wishes he could take back those words he said to his son that night.

            “That must have hurt like hell,” Drake continues as if he never heard Temma speak. “So, you cling on to the next possible father figure you could find. Hamegg.”

            <><><><><><><>

Something is wrong, Cora notes. The more she continues to look at Astro the more her concern for him grows.

Drake keeps egging him on with that annoying voice of his and the more he keeps talking the more Astro’s face starts to fall. And he’s starting to breathe heavy, his chest rising and falling quicker and quicker like he can’t contain the blue sphere in his chest.

Cora looks down and hears the crack of Astro’s knuckles. They almost shake like he’s enraged-

 The dots connect in her brain and she looks back up at his brows almost touching, his eyes loud and glaring. Oh crap. No no no, Astro you can’t!

“Who would have thought that the most powerful robot in the world just wants a father? A robot?!” Drake goes into an uproar and it’s immediately swallowed up by the crowd.

A single tear streams down Astro’s cheek.

“Well, guess what? A robot doesn’t have a father. Or a mother. Or a family. You will never be loved! Because you will never be human no matter how many human emotions are programmed into you. You. Are. An. Abomination!”

            NO! Astro makes a sudden movement to-

            A warm hand suddenly covers his fist.

            Astro blinks in surprise. Huh? He glances down to find Cora’s hand gripping his. Her eyes wide with fear and worry. He blinks again and he realizes he’s breathing fast, so fast that if he opened his hatch his core would go spinning out and catch fire.

            Cora moves her fingers till they thread through his and she holds firm. Stop, Astro. He’s not worth it.

            Astro sucks in an uneasy breath, and so does Cora.

            His fingers grip hers

Oh gods, I was just about to- No. No, I wouldn’t of. I…I

A wave of guilt and shame suffocates Astro as he tries pull his thoughts together and focus on the warmth of Cora’s hand. A tether that grounded him in that spot and the red haze begins to fade away from his eyes.

Astro finds Drake staring at him with an… irritated expression.

“How do you know that’s his blood?” Temma counteracts, cutting through his ‘speech,’ narrowing his eyes on the politician he has loathed for years.

            Drake’s eyes turn dark, and turns his full person to him, “Dr. Temma, I think you would enjoy the view from… down there.”

            Temma isn’t given much thought as a group of Drake’s men grab hold of his white coat and toss him off the stage.

            He falls with a grunt of pain and Astro, “Dad!”

He’s to his side in a second, helping him up and then pushed him behind his arms, adding him to his collection of protect-at-once-circle.

“Murderer!”

            Someone yells from inside the crowd, and they all start to go in on the group.

            “Astro, I think it’s time to go.” Cora calls out from behind him.

            “Just thinking the same thing,” Astro says.

            Drake waves the coat in front of him and his voice is carried over the people surrounding Astro, “We have the evidence Astro, you can’t hide, you will pay for what you did!”

            “Get him!”

            “Tare him apart!”

            “Scrap him!”

            “I get the head!”

            “His energy circuits are mine!”

            “I want the arm cannon’s!”

            As Astro feels his father’s hand keep him firmly behind him, he stares at the people through the peephole between his father’s hip and arm with horror. They call out dibs on his limbs, circuits, wires, or his weapons.

            “You vultures,” Temma whispers.

            They’re running out of time as the people slowly back the group into a corner.

            The young boy takes in the people he cares for most deeply and yells out, “Grab on!”

            Astro reaches out with both arms and his dad grabs on his one arm while Cora and Tawashi grab his other one.

            In a split second, there up in the air, his rockets firing behind him. He didn’t want to fly to fast so as to make the wind around them too strong and they can’t hang on.

            Tawashi and Cora hang on for dear life as the ground below them leaves and is replace by the sight of the tallest skyscrapers. Tawashi and Temma could almost caress the roofs with the soles of their shoes.

            Temma is rather fine, surprisingly. He doesn’t look down but rather out, towards the city and he marvels at the sight for a second before he’s grinning at his son.

            <><><><><><>

            They’ve only been there for a few minutes but it feels longer. Flying from one end of the city to the other is not doing them much good. The alley that’s hiding them is doing it’s job but it won’t last.The one end of the city they are in is closer to Temma’s penthouse and it’s a good thing they didn’t go there. Swarms of police men and hover cars with red and blue lights are seen storming through the building.

            “Oh, great,” Temma grumbles.

            Astro joins him by his side, “Orrin!”

            He starts after- a hand holds him back.

            Astro stares at his father’s hand on his shoulder but, “I don’t think they’ll hurt him.” Temma says.

            Astro was about to protest when-

            “You two can stay at my house, you’ll be safe there for about a week before this whole things barrels over into chaos.” Tawashi says, gesturing towards the father and the son.

            Astro looked at him confused, “Wouldn’t the police search your house too?”

            “The only thing the station knows is that I was there gathering evidence, that’s it.” He says, stuffing his phone into his coat pocket.

            “What about your team?” Temma asks.

            Tawashi sighs, “I know the men, they said they’ll cover for me until we get this sorted out but we don’t have a lot of time. We need to figure this out fast. When we get to my house I can start investigating where he is.”

            “Who?” Astro asks.

            Tawashi stares at him as if he’s grow another head but says finally, “Hamegg.”

            “But Tawashi, you saw the coat too, he’s… he’s dead.”

            “Well, I really hope he’s not because right now he’s the only one that can clear your name.”

            Is he?

Chapter Text

“Cora!”

            As soon as the group had walked into the front door of Tawashi’s house, Cora’s mother, Quinn, who looks almost identical to her daughter. Blue eyes, her black hair giving off a slight blue tint when the sun shines on it, almost immediately has her teenager in a tight embrace. Cora hugs her back, hugging her with as much strength as she could without squeezing the life out of her.

            She inhales her mothers perfume that wafts around her and another cascade of tears threatens to fall but she refuses to cry.

            “I’m okay, mom. I’m okay.” Cora says, bushing it off as if she was just wandering around the city for three days and half and not being kidnapped and held hostage.

She has missed her mom. Her mother, her father, Astro, her siblings, everyone. It was only three days and half now but it felt like a lifetime to her.

            Quinn pulls back wiping her tears away with the back of her hand.

            “Are you hungry?”

            “yeah actually.” Cora says, smiling. 

            “Good.”

The detective hugs his wife and she turns to Astro and Temma. Her sapphire eyes focus on the robot boy, her voice turning watery, “thank you for helping to bring our daughter back.”

            Astro blushes, “Of course, don’t mention it.”

            “Actually, I am going to mention it in the future. We owe you.”

            Tawashi turns to his wife, and says, “About that… they need a place to stay, until we can figure out this mess.”

            Quinn’s eyes go wide with worry, “What’s going on now?”

            As soon as he finishes explaining the situation, she without hesitating, agrees, “Yes, of course you can… though we don’t have anymore rooms because of all the kids, I feel bad offering you the couches but”-

            Temma raises his hand and smiles genuinely, “That would be more than enough, Mrs. Tawashi, thank you.”

            Astro nods his head and Quinn smiles at both of them, “Well, please make yourself’s at home, and I’ll get some food going.”

            She walks into the kitchen on the right of the dining room where Astro and Tawashi had discussed their plans on where to find Cora before, and starts seasoning some chicken and asparagus.

            Astro and Temma take a seat at the dining table. Cora is about to join them when something softly pats down the stairs and purrs.

            The teenager turns and sees Himari making a beeline towards her.

            She kneels down as the cat meows at her, “Hey, you big bundle of joy.” Himari bumps her head under her chin and purrs with content. Cora continues to pet her furry head when all of a sudden, something barks loudly at the top of the stairs.

Trashcan tries to run down the steps but his front wheels slip and he tumbles down. A couple of bolts break apart from him as he lands at the bottom, but he jumps up as if not caring or noticing his missing parts and races towards the scavenger girl.

            The cat quickly and gracefully slips out of her grasp before being hit full on by the robot dog and softly hisses at him.

            Cora catches him and laughs. He wiggles and jumps, trying to lick her face and he succeeds, “alright, I missed you too, you bucket of bolts.”

            He only gives her a break when he turns his squeaky head and notices a smiling Astro. He barks happily and quickly runs towards him, giving many licks, as well. Astro pats his head trying to calm the pup down, “It’s good to see you too, buddy.”

            It’s not long after that, another shout is heard, and everybody turns towards the stairs again.

            “Guys, Cora’s back!” Grace shouts, and all the kids that Tawashi and Quinn had adopted come barreling into the room.

            “Cora, we missed you so much!”

            “Where have you been, you miss my crossbow rematch.”

            “Have you gone scavenging again, even though you don’t need to do that anymore.”

            “Why do you have a cut on your lip?”

            Cora freezes as she stares at the kids, not exactly knowing what to say or what not to say. She didn’t want to tell them that she was kidnapped by a psychotic thief. Or how her joints still ache from being tied up and if she concentrated hard enough, she could still feel the pressure of the material around her wrists and mouth-

            She slips her hands into the back pockets of her jeans, but the position immediately makes her arms burn and ache. She folds her arms over her chest, “I just… got lost and I couldn’t find my way. It’s been a while since I’ve lived in Metro City, but I’m okay.” She chuckled.

            It was a lame excuse but again, they were just kids. They don’t need to be told the dark stuff, yet.

            The kids look at her with suspicion but they wave it off, and they jubilantly give her one big hug again.

            “Kids?”

            All of them turn to Mrs. Tawashi, as she slices a piece of bread, “We’re going to have an early dinner, so in thirty minutes I want you to go wash up and be ready to eat, Okay?”

            They responded with excitement saying ‘yes, I can’t wait! I love food!’ No matter what time of the day, they will eat anything. It was like each one of them had a bottomless pit for a stomach. Then, they ran back up the stairs taking their rambunctiousness with them.

            The ones to stay behind was… Zane, Widget, and Sludge. Cora lets out a deep breath and thinks how much she’s missed them.

            They don’t move and Zane crosses his arms and says, “you’re a terrible liar.”

            Cora sighs, and stares at the three of them. Yes, yes she is.

She looks to Astro for a second, wondering if telling the younger ones is okay. She doesn’t need his approval, but it makes her feel better, for some reason. He softly nods.

            She sighs again, and kind of lets her walls down, “I was stupid and”-

            “You aren’t stupid.” Astro says, capturing her gaze and she pauses.

            “Well… in the moment, I was. I went down to the orphanage for stupid reasons and long story short, I was kidnapped by a man named Skunk and the guy that he works with is after Astro now.”

            “Oh no,” Widget and Sludge gasp.

            Zane takes worried glances between his sister and his best buddy, Astro.

            “But it’s okay,” Cora quickly continues. “We’re going to figure it out and everything’s going to be okay. Okay?” Man, I need to stop saying okay.

            Her words don’t calm their worries but one by one they encircle their arms around her till it’s all one big bear hug.

            She loves it and she doesn’t want it to end. But it eventually does, and she gives them one big squeeze before she releases their embrace.

            After catching up for a short bit, Zane and the twins go upstairs to join the others, and Tawashi follows up right behind them to check on the rest of the kids.

Quinn had just a put many loafs of bread with butter and garlic in the oven and exits the kitchen, “Cora, I’m gonna get the first aid kit and take a look at your cuts.” She says, gesturing to the cut on the lip and on her cheek.

            She tries to brush it off, and says nonchalantly, “I’m fine, mom. It’s just cuts.”

            Her mom gives her a look, “That wasn’t a question.”

            Cora with her hand on her hip, lets out a bit dramatic sigh.

To her dismay, her mother returns and indicates to her to sit down on the couch in the living room. The layout of the house is very open. The kitchen is only blocked out half way with a wall dividing the dining room from it. A window takes up half of the wall so you can see on the other side when you’re washing dishes.

            She had just finished putting on a thin coat of alcohol while gently smoothing out antibacterial ointment on Cora’s bottom lip when her timer goes off for the bread.

            “Oh, I forgot about that bread.” Her mother says, and looks at her hands for a second as if she doesn’t know what to. “Umm, give me a second”-

            She goes to move and-

            “Here, I can do it.” Astro says, moving himself from his seat at the dining table.

            “Are you sure?” Quinn asks.

            “Of course.”

            “Thank you, umm… just remember to put the rubbing alcohol on first then the ointment- oh, and don’t forget to wash your hands before.”

            “Yes, Mrs. Tawashi.”

            When the water shuts off, Cora looks up just in time to see Astro walking towards her. Actaully, she can only see his spike poking up through the window due to his height as the pointy end travels. Her brain can’t help but tune in to the jaws theme. Dunn Dunn dun dun dun dun.

            She giggles. Then, he’s sliding in between the two couches, mirroring her.

            “Ready to patch me up, Dr. Jaws?”

            Astro stares at her confused wondering what the heck she was talking about, and that he was no doctor or a shark, but he just rolls his eyes.

            The alcohol stung where he applied it on her cheek, and every time he would dab it on the wound a mumbled ‘sorry’ would follow.

            The wound finally calms when he’s finished smoothing out the ointment.

            “Thank you,” Cora says.

            “You’re welcome.”

            Astro is just slipping the alcohol and ointment back into the first aid kit when he notices Cora’s hand absentmindedly rub the cuff of her sleeve. He takes a double take. The colorful sleeve lifts slightly and angry red marks peak under.

            He’s already reaching forward, “What’s this? What happened?”

            As he begins to pull her sleeve up she immediately pulls back. Her face begins to panic at first but rethinks her thoughts no dummy, it’s all alright. She slowly puts her wrist back out in the open. He looks at her as if asking if it’s okay, and she nods. His hand fully encompasses hers and he pulls her sleeve up again.

            The red marks glare at him. They wrap around like rings or outlines of bracelets that have been burned into her skin. Patches of skin has been raw causing it become irritated and ooze.

            “They were worried I would try to loosen the bonds, so they would tighten them everyday.”

            Astro’s brows come together, not in confusion, but more with dejection, “I’m sorry.” Then, with her hand still in his hand, he pulls out the alcohol again.

            Cora shakes her head, and whispers, “It’s not your fault, Astro.”

            “If I had found you sooner you wouldn’t be”-

            She’s shaking her head again and pushes forward, “Hey no, none of that,” She hooks her free hand under his chin, making him look up into her fierce eyes. “Okay? You hear me? None of that, whatsoever. I would be dead or… worse if you and my dad had not busted into that room when you did. I wouldn’t rate the last three days a 10/10, no, but right now, I’m alive and you’re alive and that’s all that matters… And I am forever grateful for that.”

            His expression doesn’t change when she finally releases her hold on him. He doesn’t say anything but continues to apply the alcohol and ointment routinely.

            How can he think that? He saved me from being… a high probability, of being cut up and left for dead.  

            After wrapping a piece of gauze around her one treated wrist, he lets go of it and holds out his hand for her other wrist.

            She tries to lift his spirits up by carelessly and jolt-fully putting her hand in his.

            He scoffs softly, a soft smile turning up the corners of his mouth, and his mood begins to melt away.

            All treated and wrapped properly, he gives back her wrists, and Cora begins to rub at the gauze. It’s already starting to feel better and they don’t ache as much.

            Astro holds the two bottles and he is about to put them away when he thinks twice of it and asks, “Is there anymore… cuts or wounds?”

            Her hand on the gauze stops moving, and the ache in her ankles seem to grow more in response to that and slowly she slurs, “Yeesss.”

            His eyebrows raise and his hand is out again. Show me.

            Fine! She sighs, knowing she can’t get out of it and bends forward to undo her shoes. It makes her notice the small blob of blood staining the pink material for the first time, but she ignores it and puts them aside.

            There’s a pillow on his knee when he gingerly brings her ankle up to rest on it. She crosses her arms and sinks back into a cushion on her couch.

            “The ankles are not as bad,” she says.

            Astro doesn’t look at her and instead, says, “My eyes are seeing otherwise.”

            Cora narrows her eyes, realizing that he’s using his robot vision, “Are you saying my 20/20 vision… is poor?”

            A corner of his mouth turns up, “mmm, no…well, maybe.”

            “I’m gonna hurt you.”

            “I would like to see you try.”

            She sighs dramatically. Lets see if he catches this?

 Her leg moves like a caterpillar slowly moving inch by inch across a branch but she doesn’t get far because, of course, he notices.

            Her ankle is playfully pulled back onto the pillow, “Hey, Dr. Jaws is trying to fix you”-

            He pauses with one of the bottles in hand as he turns his head, a scowl forming, “Jaws?”

            At first she stares at him blankly, then she snorts. He finally got the joke, “Wow, I was wondering when you going to figure that one out,” and she chuckles.

            He shakes his head with bewilderment, “What am I going to do with you?”

            Leaning her head back on the cushion, she examines her nails, “That’s for me to know and you to find out.”

            Astro hums, and sets the bottle down of alcohol down on the couch. His hand suddenly grips the top of her ankle sock, being careful to not touch the raw skin. It’s so sudden that it snaps Cora’s focus away from her nails, his other hand starts to slowly make it’s way to the bottom of her foot.

            Her eyebrows go up and points a finger at him, “No. I see where that hand is going and the bolts turning in your brain, non-robot. Absolutely not!” Her voice starts to go into a panic and she sits up. He only gives a devilish grin.

            The nerves in her foot go haywire when his fingers flutter against her sock.

            She yelps, and tries to reach her arm over to try and stop him.

            The torture only lasts a second, and he laughs, “I would never have thought you were so ticklish.”

            She smacks his shoulder and leans back down on the pillow, “Focus on the wound, Dr. Jaws.” She instructs, trying to hide a smile.

            He gives her mercy, and says, “I’m on it.”

<><><><><><> 

“The itsy bitsy Skunk went up to Metro City. Down came the rain and washed the Scavenger out...”

            Whoever is singing that annoying song, stop it! I want to sleep! It was the first night she was able to get some sleep without worrying about herself or Astro, and she wanted to get as much as she could. Cora cracks open an eye but suddenly lifts her head up with a start.

            Astro is laying across from her on her bed, his eyes closed shut, his hands resting inches away from his mouth. He looks so peacefully when he sleeps.

            “Astro, what are you doing here?” She whispers, but he doesn’t wake. He doesn’t flinch.

            She reaches to nudge his shoulder but nothing, “Astro? Astro, my dad’s gonna make you scrap metal if he finds you in here. Wake up!” She tries to shake him harder but no matter what she does, he doesn’t move. Almost like he’s… dead.

            Cora frowns, confusion weaving into her mind, and her heart rate speeds up.

            What is going on?

            A rustle sound comes from behind her and turns-

            She gasps. Pale hair peaking out from his hat. Sunken eyes. And a horrible grin coating his face. Skunk. He found her!

“Surprise scavenger!”

Before a word or a scream could leave her, his leather hand clamps down on her mouth. She feels her head hit her pillow, and he’s laughing. She hated that laugh. If they’re was an animal to describe his laugh, it would be similar to a hyena. He grabs her arm and tries to keep it pinned to the bed as she struggles in his hold.

And she’s trying to scream, screaming to anyone to help her. But no one comes. She turns her head to find Astro still deeply in REM, and he doesn’t flinch. What is wrong with him? Why is he not waking up?

Finally, she gets her hand out of his grip and goes to shake Astro’s shoulder again. More like scratching feebly.

“Ast-Murghh… he-murghhh…”

“I’m afraid the robot can’t hear you,” Skunk says. Suddenly, there’s a knife in his hand and he raises it-

“Cora. Cora, wake up!”

Cora jolts awake. Everything comes back to reality as she suddenly realizes where she is. Her bedroom. Her familiar purple blanket with the gold swirls she had took from the orphanage covers her. No one has suspected the blanket is actually a curtain taken from one of the bunk beds yet, so that’s is a win. After cutting off the rod holes and hemming, it looks like a normal blanket.

 And, Astro staring down at her with his worried brown eyes. Oh gosh, she was just having a nightmare and he must have heard her and ran up the stairs to see what the matter was. Thank goodness… she was just having a nightmare. Whew!

She sucks in a few deep breaths, like she’s been underwater for too long.

“Sorry, Astro, I didn’t mean to wake you.”

“No, it’s okay, I was awake when I heard you.”

“Yeah, I thought I… it doesn’t matter, it was just a stupid nightmare, go back to sleep, okay.” Cora says, turning away from him on her side. She bunches her blanket up till its under her chin.

There was a pause, then-

“Are you okay?”

His voice was soft and earnest and it makes her want to turn back around and tell him, ‘no everything is not okay.’ But-

“Mmm hmm.” Was her only response.

Astro turns from her slowly, feeling kind of hurt that she wouldn’t confide in him. But, the important thing here was that she was okay. And that she wasn’t being hurt by some psycho.

Those few seconds, Cora tries to wave off the dream but-

Skunk’s voice comes into her head and replays, she now realizes it was him that was singing in her dreams,“The isty bisty Skunk went up to Metro City, down came the rain and washed the”-

“Astro?” She calls out.

He was just shutting the door behind him, but he stops and peaks his head back in, “yeah, what’s up?”

She slightly twitched, feeling like a little kid all over again, weak and small, “Will you… will you stay with me tonight?”

His face softens into a tender expression, and a soft smile takes it’s place, “Sure.”

He closes the door behind him and walks over to the other side of her bed. She pats the space next to her.

He lays down on his side, facing her.

She doesn’t know if he gets cold or not, but she feels better as she unwraps the blanket from around her and, instead, drapes the huge fabric on both of them. Then, she buries her head into her pillow, her eyes unwilling to shut close. A dark thought in the back of her mind whispers that if she closes her eyes and falls asleep, the monster would be waiting right where he left her. Waiting just to attack her again. She can’t close her eyes, she mustn’t.

Astro tries to get her attention but her eyes don’t meet his. They’re far away and unfocused. She still thinking about the nightmare. About-

“What’s your favorite color?”

It takes a couple seconds for Cora’s eyes to focus then brings her attention to Astro.

“What?’

“What’s your favorite color?”

She glances to the side of her, “umm, purple and green.”

“Did you grow up in Metro City?”

            She was staring at him with confusion, “Yes… well…half in metro City and half of it at the orphanage.”

            “What’s her favorite childhood pet?”

            Cora thinks for a minute trying to think back when and why Astro is asking these random questions, “I had a goldfish once. Her name was Goldie.”

            Astro raises an eyebrow as he tries to suppress a laugh.

            “Look, I was seven, she was a very gold fish and so I named her Goldie.” Cora continues but she can’t help a small laugh trailing after her, the late night causing her be energized but at the same time, so drowsy.

            He chuckles, “What happened to Goldie?”

            “Himari ate her.”

            Astro’s eyes go wide, and Cora covers her mouth to muffle her laugh, “I came home and a piece of her tail was sticking out of the cat’s mouth. I was so heartbroken.”

            Quiet fits of laughter do their best to escape the two teenagers and after a while they calms down.

            She swipes a few locks of her black hair away from her face and faces Astro again, and chuckles, “thanks… for ‘the pop quiz.’” Knowing full well, it was not a pop quiz, she knew after the second question that he was trying to distract her.

            Astro smiles at her but it drops and he looks away from her. For a second he looks like he doesn’t know what to say-

            “He won’t come near you again, I promise.”

            Cora stares at him, “mmm?”

            “Skunk.”

            Oh.

            She stares into space and makes the blanket touch her chin, “I know he won’t… but… you were there… in my dream I mean…you were laying right where you are and… Skunk kept singing this annoying nursery rhyme but he twisted it and… I kept trying to wake you up… tried to ask you what you were doing here and… then he came out of nowhere and… and you were there and… but he covered my mouth… I tried to scream but I couldn’t wake you up and”-

            “Hey,” and a large hand rests over her own in front of her. She blinks, and she realizes tears are building up as she finds Astro’s gaze.

            He holds her hand steady, “No mater what happens, in reality or in your dreams, I will always hear you and I will always come for you.”

            His expression was serious and solemn as he promises and a tear cascades down onto her pillow. Cora nods and says, “Thank you… for rescuing me… and… you know, non-robot.”

            His soft smile chases the last dark tendrils of her nightmare, and gives her hand a squeeze.

 She holds fast, not wanting to let go of it, and finally, drifts off into a dreamless sleep.

            <><><><><><><>

Trying to find a lead or… really anything on where Hamegg could be is turning out harder than the detective thought. It’s like he vanished off of the face of the earth, literally, Tawashi thinks as he grumbles.

Tawashi tries to keep Astro’s words of Hamegg being possibly dead out of his mind. No, he can’t think that, because if he can’t find him than Astro would be arrested with ‘evidence’ from Drake he would love to dissect. Seeing the coat covered in Hamegg’s ‘blood,’ it didn’t sit right with him. Something was off, and he doesn’t believe it’s his. He’s going with his gut feeling and he’s going with it with confidence. If Astro is deactivated, his daughter would be devastated. Maybe more than that.

The kids were all over Astro. Never really forgetting their adopted robot brother. It almost felt like he was at the orphanage again just under different circumstances and a different roof. The kids either seem to be afraid of Dr. Temma due to his extreme height or were not bothered all. For example, Grace, having no filter whatsoever, was staring up to him during the second day.

Dr. Temma, not ever being around this many children, didn’t know how to react or what to say to their funny comments, or random burst of energy. He would grow nervous sometimes when the kids would talk about crossbow matches with fruit or when grace would rev her chainsaw, though the chain was quickly taken off many months before, the noise make him jump every time. In some moments, it would take some effort to not say anything or parent some of the kids on safety.

“Hello.” The doctor said, as the young girl continues to look up at him. Her eyes narrow and she starts to ramble, not a second thought behind her words, “In school, we learning about the spider species and there’s this one spider that has really long legs, I think it’s called the daddy-long-leg spider. I think you guys are related.”

“Grace Tawashi!” Quinn calls out.

All at once, the lunch table erupts into fits of laughter or shock. Some kids have wide eyes, probably thinking Did she just say that to the big scary man?, and the other don’t care and laugh their heads off as if it’s the most hilarious thing she’s said. Astro’s head snaps to her and his eyes go wide with disbelief, then moves to his fathers unreadable face. Never has he once joked with his father.

Dr. Temma blinks as he looks at Grace, the kids, then on Astro. He doesn’t want to react but he can’t it. The spikey haired kid’s mouth curls up and a small laugh escapes. Next to him, Cora and Zane try not to spit out their water. 

“I’ll have to look into it.” Is all Temma says, not really knowing what to say to a kid that says you look like your related to a spider.

“I think that would be wise,” Grace continues.

Mrs. Tawashi, stops what she’s doing and goes to redirect Grace to her chair, “All right, that’s enough from you. I’m so sorry, Dr. Temma.”

“It’s totally fine, Mrs. Tawashi.” His mouth forming a straight line, like he’s trying to suppress a laugh.

<><><><><><> 

Two days, Astro and Dr. Temma sleep on the two couches in the living room. And for two days, Cora’s monster come’s for her and every night Astro, either awake or not, hears her.

The first night, she dreamed Skunk was in her bedroom and had come to finish her off.

But then Astro was there. He stayed with her and calmed her down till she fell asleep.

The second night, she dreamed she was in an alley. It was dark. So dark, she could barely see in front of her. But she keeps walking forward, feeling the wall with her fingers. Suddenly, the alley brightens and at the end, the busy streets of Metro City, cars zooming past by and… Astro… and he’s talking to someone. She doesn’t recognize them. A laugh echos from behind her. A laugh that sounds all too familiar like a hyena. Oh no. She turns to find Skunk, blues, and jazz leaning nonchalantly against both sides of the alley. Cora stumbles back. How does he keep finding her?

She would be running but this time, she stands her ground.

“You can’t hurt me!” She calls out bravely, but she finds herself taking cautious looks at where Astro still stands talking.

Skunk doesn’t say anything but give his usual smirk. He slithers against the wall then pushes away from it till he’s only a couple steps away from her.

She fists her hands. She won’t run away. She won’t be intimidated by this stupid thief or criminal or… whatever he is. She will stand her ground and she won’t run. She’s not scared. She’s not scared. She’s not scared.

Her fists shake slightly as she tries to keep her fear at bay. And it doesn’t subside when he leans forward, his hands resting on his thighs. His eyes level with hers.

For a minute, she doesn’t think he’s going to say anything but stare at her-

His sharp laugh makes her jump and her defense starts to crumble against her will.

“Oops, did I scare you, Scavenger?” He mocks.

            She runs.

And runs. And runs. But the alley isn’t ending and Astro is getting farther away. No, this can’t be happening! Not again! She’s so close! Just a few more feet and-

            The alley lengthens dramatically and Astro is so far away she can barely see him.

            Though it feels like her blood has stopped moving in her body she keeps going-

She trips over something. It’s pitch black again and her footing is giving out on her. Gosh, why is she so clumsy in her dreams? She tries to get back up but she hears that laugh again. Her heart thrums a sickening beat.

A strong hand grips her ankle and pulls her back, deeper into the shadows, almost as if they want to blend into her.

“No!” Cora yells through the alley as Skunk and his henchmen pulls her back.

Hot tears run down her cheeks and she sobs, “Astro! Astro please if you can hear me! Please, help me! I need you!”

That awful laugh is next to her ear then a massive hand is over her mouth and no can hear her. No one can hear her! No one can hear her!!

“Cora, wake up! It’s okay! It’s just a dream!”

She gasps, and her eyes flash open to find Astro by her bed again with his hands gripping her shoulders. His brows begin to unknit along with his worry.

She feels a wetness on her face and it’s not til both of Astro’s thumbs wipe her cheeks she realizes her tears had become real. And she’s grateful those are the only things that were materialized into reality. She whimpers into her pillow as the dream starts to dissolve.

She feels her breathing calm and go steady. Astro was there and the nightmare slowly lets go of her.

<><><><><><> 

The third day comes and goes with no new leads and Tawashi starts to become frustrated. Temma tries to help him investigate, searching up anything on the police database, security cameras, persons of interest, etc. But nothing come’s up. Of course, they can’t find the weasel when his son needs him now more than ever.

Suddenly, Grace wanders in and hands him a picture. Dr. Temma pauses from the laptop and turns to view the portrait. The drawing is not bad actually but the coloring could use some work. She had a drawn a spider with eight very long legs and it was a wearing a white coat that resembles Dr. Temma’s coat that he wears now. Brown pencil is scribbled on top of the spider’s head as well as under it’s chin like it’s replicating tuffs of hair.

Dr. Temma words don’t surface at first. He’s not exactly sure what to say… Thank you?

“Is… is that me?” He asks, hesitantly.

“Yeah, I hope I got your coat and hair right.” Grace says, excitingly.

“Yes, yes you did… you did a very good job.” He doesn’t know if he should smile or be offended.

“Thanks… you’re welcome!” The girl skips out of the room, leaving a bewilderment Dr. Temma. Astro, who had been sitting next to him the entire time, covers his mouth with his hand as he tries to not to burst out laughing. This is definitely a new experience for his dad.

<><><><><><> 

Night seems to push the sunlight out of the day and come for her. Cora’s positive that’s the only reason the day seems to die, is that it knows what’s coming, and it can’t wait.

She tries with all her might to not fall asleep. No, nightmares, you will not get me! But her body was so tired and she can’t fight it but- she falls asleep.

            This time, she’s at the orphanage, and while Blues has pulled her arms behind her back, Jazz has grabbed a fistful of her hair and her head is yanked back. Their grip was as solid as concrete. This is just a dream. This is just a dream. This is just a dream. Come on, wake up, Cora! But the dream feels as if it’s actually happening. She doesn’t wake up. She’s trapped.

No. No.

There’s a single lightbulb hovering above her, it was the only light on in the orphanage, the rest was pitch black. The ceiling and the lightbulb was her only view until a sound of footsteps came to her ears. Moving only her eyelids, she see’s the last person she ever wants to see. Skunk.

He slithers out of the dark like a snake, and he’s holding-

A long piece of glass. The sharp edges on the one side make it look like a kitchen knife. White hot fear travels from her head and down her spine. Her struggles are futile against the men. Skunk feels along the edge of the knife between two fingers and makes a show by pulling back and blowing on his leather covered hand.

“Ooh, careful, it’s sharp.” He says, grinning, taking a step towards her.

She struggles, but it’s not use, and she yells out of frustration and fear. The men laugh as usual.

Jazz still has his grip on her hair and she can’t stop when- the knife suddenly rests on her cheek and she can feel how sharp it is. A soft sting aches where the skin meets it.

Skunk’s eyes are cold and blank. Her heart begins to pound.

Slice!

Cora yelps, as the blade makes contact, the wound pools as blood runs rivers down her chin and neck, and Skunk pulls away.

“Definitely sharp.” He notes, but he’s not done yet.

She grunts in pain as another slice swiftly digs into her other cheek. Tears blur her vision and as they fall they mix with her blood  And-

There gone.

Poof. Like a magic trick and the smoke finally rises. They’re gone.

What the heck? She’s still standing in her spot with the single lightbulb cascading over her silhouette. She reaches up to cup her face but there’s no blood or cuts. What is going on? Where did Skunk go?

She doesn’t dare move from her spot, as the darkness looks at her with hungry eyes.

Cora takes a step back thinking she saw something move. Crack.

She turns around, giving herself whiplash.

Lifting her pink sneaker up, there appears to be a grey broken sphere on the ground. She kneels down to inspect it, and gingerly picks up a broken piece.

Giving the darkness a once over and no pale hair peaks it’s ugly head out, she takes in the swirls that are carved on the outside. It looks similar. It almost looks like- she gasps.

She has seen that before. When Dr. Elefun, Dr. Temma’s colleague, opened Astro’s hatch after he had sacrificed himself to the peacekeeper. Instead of glowing a bright blue it was dead, no energy pulsing, and it was crushed in pieces.

No no no no no.

If the blue core is dead, where’s Astro?

Putting the piece down, she searches through the dark desperately. It’s pitch black and- something white barely catches her eye, but she sees it. Inhaling a shaky breath, she reaches a hand forward and tugs on the white material and-

She gasps, and tears prickle at the corner of her eyes. No air comes into her lungs. She just stares down in horror.

It’s Astro. His shirt dirty, torn, and singed. Specks of dirt coat his cheek and arms, like he been battling the peacekeeper. But that’s not what makes her blood turn cold. His eyes are open but there’s no spark of life in them. They look glassy, almost like a doll.

She looks away, not able to stand the sight of her best friend dead and… still look at her. She takes a double take. There’s a dark mark peeping out the neck of his white shirt that disappears underneath.

Letting curiosity overtake her, she lifts the hem of the material and-

Her heartbeat jumps in her throat and it feels like she can’t breathe.

Starting at his neck and ending at the bottom of his torso. The letters are gnarly and are cut deep as wires and metal take up as the background.

ABOMINATION.

The word stares back at her like she just met her worst fear and she can’t help as tears start flowing like a river.

No, he’s not an abomination. He’s is wonderful, kind, honest, and selfless. He is anything but that word carved into his skin.

Without wasting another second, she picks him and hugs him close.

She sobs into his shoulder, “Please, please, Astro, don’t leave me. You’re my best friend, I can’t lose you!”

He’s limp in her arms and she squeezes him tighter as she continues to cry. Please come back and let this ugly and lonely feeling go away. Please! Come back!

But he doesn’t. 

No no no no no.

Then, she’s not alone anymore. She’s not hugging his lifeless corpse and, instead, strong arms are holding her tight.

Her world blurs, literally and figuratively, going to a dark orphanage then to a dark bedroom. Her bedroom.

And a voice comes from above her, “Shh, it’s okay. You’re safe. You’re my best friend too, and I’m not leaving you.”

Her blanket is still around her and Astro is hugging her close, his lips almost touching her temple. She sniffs, and moves her head back just enough to peer up at him. He wears the same soft and worried expression from the night before as he stares at her, but it disappears when he sees her awake.

He’s alive. His eyes are bright and warm and… he’s very much alive. She smiles sadly, feeling like she might burst with happiness. He’s alive. He’s alive!

“Astro.” She says with great relief, before another sob comes into her throat and she pulls him in for another hug.

His arms tighten around her more, and the awful dream leaves her behind for good.

Chapter Text

“In the last three days, it has been reported that hundreds of citizens have deactivated, or tossed out their robots, due to the fear of them acting out against them. Ever since the politician Drake brought shocking evidence forward that suggests our young robot hero could be a danger to society more than we want to believe. During the peaceful rally, Astro suddenly went berserk using one of his weapons to sabotage city property.”

            The camera cuts from the news anchor lady to a video showing scenes from the rally. Astro feels his anger start to rise when he sees his laser beam go off and Drake, not wasting a second, is seen pushing him off the stage, causing the laser to go off course from Skunk’s gun to the building. The angle of the camera only shows the stage and the crowd cutting out most of the city building and Astro’s use of his laser beam for good reason. There’s no video footage of Cora or Skunk. How ironic.

The footage makes it seem like Astro is just going off the rails and going after the city. This is not good. The last clips show Drake lifting the coat to the audience, the blood leaping off the gold and… Astro looking pretty pissed off. Wait a minute, these are two different clips put together. His video self has his fists clenched tight, his body stiff and almost appearing to be shaking from rage, his eyebrows pulled together as he’s glaring up at Drake. He looks… well… murderous. Then, before he was about to make a move, Cora’s hand is seen reaching out and covering his own, stopping him. The change was instantaneous. His facial expression. His posture. The murderous look quickly changing to shock and fear.  He still remembers how he wanted to transform his hands into cannons or hurl himself at Drake and- No! I’m not like that! I don’t want to hurt anybody!

            His hands, he didn’t realize were mimicking his own on the TV, and Astro slowly releases his fingers, letting them rest on his knees. He lets out a sigh he also didn’t realize he was holding in, too. What is happening to me? This is not like me. Never mind, what’s important is the robots, now, I’ve got to do something!

            Cora is sitting next to him on the bottom on the stairs, watching this all unfold with a glare, “That’s rotten.”

            He turns his head, “What?”

            “What they’re saying about you. It’s rotten, and they’re wrong.”

            Are they? Astro thinks to himself. They’re wrong about him killing Hamegg, yes, but…

            “Are they completely wrong?” He mutters.

            That catches Cora’s attention, and she looks at her best friend as if he’s crazy, but it starts to dawn on her on what exactly he’s talking about. She looks back at the TV and sees her hand grab his own. The imaginary light bulb above her goes ding ding ding. That’s what he’s talking about. She tries to read his face, but he just stares down at his hands with an almost down expression… and shame. The words barely make it out of her mouth when- the news ladies says something.

            - “Drake has called up a search for the robot Astro and will give a reward for anyone who brings him to justice, he says quote ‘The least I can do for an old friend.’”

            Old friend?

            Tawashi moves from his seat at the dinning table to grab a tiny remote and he pushes a button. The TV screen evaporates with a bloop into the small protector on the wall.

            “Well, this just keeps getting better and better.” Tawashi mutters.

            “We gotta find Hamegg.” Astro says.

            “In case you failed to notice that is what we have been doing for the past three days.”

            The robot boy looks back down at his hands in defeat.

            Cora signals a glare at her dad. Tawashi sighs and says, “Look, Astro, me and Dr. Temma have searched everything that we know about Hamegg, but there’s nothing. I’ve searched ‘Hamegg that’ ‘Hamegg this’ anything really that can help you but nothing come’s up.” He gestures to his daughter, “I asked Cora to give me all the details on the Robot Games and also what happened that day you were put in there… and it got me thinking you might have another witness that can clear your name.”

            Astro’s eyebrows raise in surprise, and he asks, “who?”

            “The previous president.”

            His eyebrows go higher, “Stone? You got to be kidding me.”

            “Absolutely not.” Temma says, who is sitting in a chair at the dining table, glaring at Tawashi with astonishment.

            Tawashi gestures with his hands, “Excuse me, but we don’t have a lot of options here people, Stone was one of the last people to see Hamegg alive. Everybody in Metro City knows him. He can clear your name.”

            “Stone, the guy who took control of the peacekeeper and tried to kill me would want my name cleared… right.” Astro says, dragging his words.

            Tawashi lets out a frustrated sigh, “It’s him or by some miracle, we can find Hamegg.”

            Silence takes its place, and no one says anything-

            “Or I can turn myself in.”

            Cora, Dr. Temma, and Tawashi whip their gaze to the robot boy.

            “No!” They all say.

            “Astro, you’re innocent.” Cora says flabbergasted from his side.

            “I Know! But…. Look, you’re no longer a hostage… but the robots are getting torn apart. I got to do something!” Astro says.

            Tawashi couldn’t believe it, after going through all this trouble, Astro was giving up? And for what? A stupid lie, “Astro, if you do that you know you will be”-

            - “I know the consequences, detective.”

             “Son, you’re not leaving this house until we figure this out.” Temma says, firmly, catching his son’s attention.

            Astro looks at him in disbelief, “Dad, I can’t just sit here and”-

            “Yes, you will.”

            The air suddenly became very thick with tension as father and son glared at each other on either side of the dining room. Tawashi glanced at Cora with curiousness, obviously never seeing the two argue so hotly before. But Cora wasn’t looking at her father, she was looking at Dr. Temma. She could already see his point and… she agreed with him.

            Astro keeps going, his anger obvious, “You can’t keep me here.”

            Temma pushed forward, “I don’t want to, Astro, but I… I”-

            “What?!”

            “I can replace the other robots, but I can’t replace you!”

            The steam billows over and all that Astro can do is stare dumbfounded then his gaze travels to his hands, now not knowing what to do or say.

            “I agree with him Astro.” Cora finally says.

            The boy robot whips his head to her, not believing what she just said, “What… but..”

            “Look, we can’t stop you literally and physically….” She trails off and looks down at her pink sneakers. When she finally does meet his gaze again, her eyes are glassy. “I rather be selfish… than see you die again.” The image from her recent nightmare surfaces, the word Abomination cut across his chest and his eyes… lifeless and dull.

            Astro stares at her being caught off guard again and he doesn’t know what to say. “Oh…I…Cora.”

            But before he could get a reply out, she folds her arms and turns from him, not wanting to hear his answer and to get the disturbing image out of her head. A single tear slides down her cheek.

            His hands turn into fists again, not knowing how to make this better or what to decide. But the more he thinks about it, the more he starts to lean into his father’s and Cora’s choice. He doesn’t want to die but he can put a stop to this and hand himself over. Give himself to Drake in exchange for the safety of the robots. But Cora’s words come into his head. I rather be selfish… then see you die again. He’d hadn’t realized how much his sacrifice and death scarred her. She did see him dead. His core and body lifeless, and the hope of her best friend coming back crumbling away. That is until Zog had appeared and saved his life. It must have been a lot for her. He suddenly thinks if he was in her place and her in his, he would have been scarred too. He shakes his head slightly, wanting to get the image out of his electronic brain.

            He looks at the three of them, “Okay… I’ll stay put until we can figure this out or we find Hamegg.”

            Tawashi’s irritated face turns into one of relief and Temma sighs like he’s been holding his breath since the beginning of their conversation. Cora doesn’t do anything only wiping both her stained cheeks with the palm of her hand, but she keeps her eyes on her shoes.

            Astro frowns slightly at this when he begins to think. He keeps getting caught on what Tawashi said about Hamegg. When he scanned the bloody coat the name Brunard Hamegg Cacciatore came up. That was Hamegg, wasn’t it? He never knew his full name, only that he went by Hamegg. Hamegg, the ringleader of the Robot Games.

            “Nothing comes up when you put in his name. Addresses, anything?” Astro says, indicating towards the detective, hope clearly lacing through his words. He really did not want to bring Stone into this or go to his… other alternative.

            But Tawashi shakes his head with defeat, “there’s not a lot of people named Hamegg. The only thing that comes up is his Robot Games, the Ministry of Science, and”-

            Astro cuts him off, “What about his full name?”

            Tawashi looks away from his computer and stares at Astro as if he’s a little coo coo.

            Temma sighs, still frustrated and not cooled down from their talk, “That is his full name, Astro. Hamegg.”

            Now, Astro was looking at them confused, his eyes narrowing, “What… wait, that doesn’t make any sense.”

            Tawashi’s glasses slide to his forehead as he rubs the bridge of his nose, looking like he’s about to throw Astro out the window, “Astro, my patience is running thin, what the hell are talking about?”

            Astro and Cora give him twin scowls, but the robot continues and says, “His name is Brunard Hamegg Cacciatore.”

            It was as if a chill ran through the room and everybody goes still.

            “Brunard?” Temma mutters, then he raises his voice, “He’s never gone by that name. Even before when he worked at the ministry.”

            “No? Never?” Astro asks, but his dad shakes his head.

            The boy turns his head to Cora.

            “I only knew him as Hamegg.” Is all she says.

            Tawashi has already typed in the name a few times into his MCPD base and- “I got some hits.”

            Astro leaves his spot on the bottom of the stairs and goes behind the detective’s chair.

            Apparently, thirty results pop up and thirty possible people that could be Brunard. He must have changed his name it’s the only ting that makes sense. Astro groans.

            Tawashi scowls at his computer, “The dots cover the entire country.”

            “What’s the closest one?” Astro says.

            The map with the little dots moves til it hovers over Metro City, two pop up inside the city, one on the surface city, and one in the town further down.

            “Most of the details on the name is little to nothing… but the one on the surface looks promising… it’s a business called, Cacciatore’s.”

            <><><><><><><><>

            By the time ten o’clock struck, they had figured out most of a plan. Get some rest tonight and head out the next day to the surface city. The night will make them more concealed and hidden. Cacciatore’s was a business though it was being run in a small apartment in a rundown building. Through the whole conversation, when they decided to start on the surface, Astro noticed Tawashi suddenly become nervous.

With no Robot Games to bring in money, the people have had to turn to other alternatives, and some of them not so good. He explained they would have to be careful, his men from the station have reported back from previous calls that when the city falls into night it becomes filled with poker, drinking, and thievery. Astro curled his fists, determined to keep an eye out for anybody with criminal intentions. If anybody tried anything they would soon realize who they would be dealing with. The most powerful and advanced robot ever created.

It was twelve o’clock now as Astro laid on the couch, thinking what the next day will bring. He felt his hands clench.

He would have to talk to Hamegg again.

He sighed, he didn’t really want to talk to Hamegg, but he would rather talk to him than Stone. By far.

What if he won’t help us? What if he takes one look at me and tries to electrocute me again? What if he laughs in my face and says, ‘sucks to be you!’

He really hopes Hamegg has turned a new leaf somehow, being who he is.

His father is passed out like a light on the couch mirroring him. One of his leg’s is draped over the arm rest while the other one is hanging off the cushion. His dad’s height obviously overshadowing the furniture. Astro chuckles softly to himself, He is definitely missing his bed.

Quietly slipping off the couch, Astro leaves his borrowed blanket, and heads for the stairs.

After gently knocking on the door, he peaks his head into Cora’s room.

Cora lifts her head off her pillow, and sends him a confused look, “Hey… I’m not having a nightmare.”

He closes the door behind him, “Hey… I know- but you been having them every night- and I thought- you might want the company- in case you do have one.” He says, shyly, running a hand over his spike until it falls down by his side.

She gives him a warm smile, “I’m not going to have a nightmare, Astro… I think.” She says, her confidence sagging on the last word. But still, she pats the empty spot next to her. He’s about to- something grabs his attention on her wall.

“You framed your wrench?”

Cora follows where he’s looking, the glass case holding her beloved wrench that had given Skunk two wicked slashes and grins, “Oh, yeah I did.”

He looks between her and the wrench, “The one I found at the crime scene?”

“Mm hm, it still has the blood on it.”

He takes a step closer to it, “why?”

“Read what it says.”

The tiny piece of paper sits below the hunk of metal that has speckles of blood still coating the top of it. The words pop out and it reads, “Proof I got a piece of the bastard.”

Astro chuckles and smiles at her, “How original of you.”

Cora giggles, “I know right… thought it would go perfect right there.”

He quietly shakes his head, still smiling, walks around her bed and lays down in the spot he has taken up for the last three nights, now being four. The pillow he has used has a carved imprint of his head. When he turns on his side, facing her, her purple blanket with gold swirls is already thrown over him.

Astro sighs deeply, already feeling his body start to wind down. But the numb darkness doesn’t come. He opens his eyes to find Cora still wide awake, staring at the ceiling with a blank stare. He can’t tell if she’s thinking about one of her dreams, her past memories with Skunk and his boys, the plan for tomorrow, or nothing at all. When she’s not talking about something or talking to him, she’s thinking deeply, good or bad.

“What are you thinking about?” he mutters, remembering to keep his voice down and that the walls are not thick with concrete. They’re best friends, but if they make too much noise and her parents find out he’s been sleeping in her bedroom every night since they got there, it might raise some awkward questions they do not want to answer. Of course, Astro would be honest and say she was having nightmare’s and was only there to comfort her. And Cora would say the same thing. No doubt, Tawashi would be staring down the robot, silently glaring, and try to sniff out any dishonesty.

“Thinking… how much I don’t want to see Hamegg again,” She answers, finally looking over at the boy.

“That makes two of us.”

“Are you worried?”

“Not really, I mean, he either helps us or not. And if he doesn’t help, I’ll have no choice but”-

“You’re not dying again, all right,” Cora says, suddenly sitting up and glaring down at him.

When they had first met, every time she would look at him, it felt like her piercing blue eyes would cut him in half. For a second it felt like that just now, but Astro soon matches her.

“Cora, I’m a robot. My body is built for battle… and in some situations, a lot of the time it ends up in that result. If they’re something I could do, I’ll do it.” He says, his father’s words coming through.

“I know that. I’ve seen it.”

For a couple second’s, he doesn’t know what to say.

Then, Cora is reaching forward with her hand till she gently rests it on his chest, right over where his blue core spins constantly without fail.

“I’ve also seen this… your soul.” A silence takes place, and he can feel how warm her hand is through his shirt. “Okay? That part of you is important too. Just… don’t go… just try to find another way out.”

She doesn’t remove her hand at first, but when she does, Astro’s cheeks are red as his boots and for a second, he can briefly see color on hers as well through the dark, then it’s gone.

“Okay,” Is all he says.

They don’t fall asleep; they talk and talk till the clock on her nightstand reads one o’clock. A question leaves Astro that makes Cora freeze.

“How did you end up on the surface?”                

Her wide eyes look at him like he just asked her deepest darkest secret. It’s not really, she knows. Though it’s part of it. She surprised herself when she told him that she was from Metro City, on the four day after cleaning Zog for many days.

She sits up on her elbows as a thoughtful expression takes over.

Astro looks at her, waiting patiently, but instead, she says, “I’ll tell you if… you tell me what happened at the rally.”

 He furrows his brow, “you know what happened.”

Her eyes don’t leave his and he immediately knows. His gaze wonders from hers. It’s not like he doesn’t want to tell her that he was thinking of wanting to hurt Drake… no… to kill him. He’s Astro Boy. The robot boy who would help anyone in need. Who was told he was kind and selfless. People literally on the street came up to him to thank him and told him how much they appreciated him and for what he’s done. Then, here comes a guy who pushes his buttons and makes his anger rise so much that he wants to transform his arms into cannons. No, he doesn’t want his best friend thinking that of him when she already thinks so highly of him. A part of him says that she’ll understand, but another part of him says that she will look at him disturbed and with fear. But another part of him genuinely wants to know her past, and with that, he gives in.

He sighs, “Fine… but you first.”

Cora’s face melts into relief and she gives him a small smile. The weight in his chest starts to lift.

“Do you remember when Metro City cut ties with the surface?”

Oh yes, he does as he thinks back in Toby’s memories. Before, in school, they basically hammered in the idea that Metro City wanted nothing to do with the surface or the city below. All trade, transportation, and communication was cut off. It was President Stone who had enforced the law to go into place when he had become elected.

            “Yeah, it was five years ago.”

            “Every day I would take the bus and… I was so angry. Angry at the world, everybody, and at my myself. I didn’t realize the bus had stopped on the surface city. I remember my parents were always nervous about that city, but I was clouded with emotions, and I thought ‘what the heck.’ I got off and explored and it wasn’t too bad, the people were nice and… the atmosphere wasn’t bad it was just… different… different than what I grew up in. I liked it. It was becoming dark and so I thought to head back but… the bus never came back down. When it didn’t come back the next day, I started to panic. Word quickly got around that the surface was on its own and communication was dead. I didn’t know what to do. I was scared and hungry.” She sighed and admitted, “A man found me and said he was looking for help, somebody that could find spare parts for his robots and in exchange, he would give me clothes, food, and shelter. I would not have survived if Hamegg had not taken me in.”

            Astro listened to every word she said. She would have been ten or eleven, just a kid.

            “I’m sorry. That must have been…You must have been so scared.”

            Cora nodded, “I was for a bit, but after a month, it started to feel like home.”

            “What made you so angry?”

            She froze again, and struggled to find words and instead says, “You’ll laugh.”

            He raised his eyebrows, “doubtful.”

            She doesn’t say anything, and he thinks she’s not going to. He was going to remind her that she can trust him when she moves and slips off the bed, heading towards a dresser. He sits fully up, watching as she rummages through the drawer. In the dark, he spots ruffles of tulle, and fabric cover with sparkles.

            Leaving the drawer open, she makes her way back to him with something pink in her hands. She holds them out and he takes them.

It’s a pair of ballet shoes. At least, he thinks they are. He’s never been familiar with the dance world, but anyone could recognize what they were.

The realization hits him so hard. He blinks in utter shock when he finally looks at her then back down at the shoes, then…back at her. It was like trying to put two different worlds together. Cora, who was one of the best scavengers and spoke sarcasm as if it was a second language. The pink shoes were… girly. That was the best way he could put it, very opposite of what his friend was. A brief image of Cora wearing the shoes in a sparkly dress popped into his head… it didn’t make any sense, “You’re messing with me.”

Her arms are folded and her hip slightly popped out when she glares at him. Her signature stance.

He raises an eyebrow, “You’re serious?”

“Oh no, I just happen to have ballet shoes in my drawer for no reason.”

He looks at her for a second then down at the shoes. He chuckles softly.

That seems to set Cora off, “hey, you said weren’t going to laugh.”

“I’m not, it’s just not… what I was expecting.”

He looks back down at the shoes and takes a closer look. The soles and where the toes should go were worn. The material had some rough spots and the ribbons that hanged loose had dents in them where she had previously tied it before.

“How do you walk in these?” He asks.

She smiles softy, “You don’t really walk, you dance in them.”

He kept looking at the shoe, not really understanding what she meant, “But… how?”

“you’re… on your toes.”

“Huh?”

Cora took a step back as her feet covered with striped socks came into view. When her feet got into position, she started to rise. Rising and rising till she was on the tip of her big toe.

His eyebrows raised till they almost touched his hairline. She only stayed like that for two more seconds till she dropped back down and shook her legs out, obviously not used to being on her toes in awhile.

“Ouch.” Was all that he said, and she lets out a giggle.

“What happened?” Astro asked.

She recrosses her arms again, and thought for a minute, “Before becoming a scavenger, I was going to be a ballerina. I know, shocker! But… I loved it so much. So much I was going to make a career out of it,” She sighs. “In Metro City, kids usually pick doctor, scientist, teacher, anything that would have a high salary, but… I didn’t want to be any of those. I started when I was four then kept going till, I got my pointe shoes. When I was ten, my ballet school was holding auditions for Swan Lake. I was so excited, and I went to audition… but my teacher surprised me and… tried to be polite and nice as he told me that… I wasn’t going to make it. Yes, you’re talented but the dance world is brutal the further you go. You should try something else.” Her eyes became watery. “I got the message. You’re not good enough, so I left.”

Astro’s brow furrows, and his mind wanders to the night his father said he didn’t want him.

“But he isn’t my son.”

Astro couldn’t believe the words that were coming out his father’s mouth as he shook his head in disbelief, “Dad.”

“I’m- I’m not your dad. You’re not Toby. You’re a copy of Toby. You’re not my son. A robot. And I… don’t want you… anymore.”

He felt so worthless. Felt like he wasn’t good enough, would never be good enough because he was a robot. He looks back up at Cora. Her arms still folded and her moist eyes staring at the ground.

His voice is a whisper, “Have you ever thought of trying it again.”

“Ballet?”

“Mm hm.”

She scoffs and wipes her tears, then holds out her hand and he gives her back the shoes, “No.”

He doesn’t believe her, “Ever?”

“Come on, non-robot, me before and me now are like oil and water, we don’t mix.” Then, she shoves the shoes back into the drawer with a thunk.

He still doesn’t feel like dropping this, “I think you should try it again.”

Blue eyes find his and an emotion he can’t decipher crosses them, but it’s gone in a second. She flops back onto the bed, then props herself onto her elbow, and waits.

It takes him a minute to realize what she’s waiting for, and it hits him like a brick. She gives him a look of, ‘I told you mine, now you tell me yours.’

He tries to get out of it, and he fails. Slowly, trying to slide off her bed, but her hands grab a fistful of his shirt and pulls him back. “Oh, no you don’t, Astro.”

Her hands don’t let go till he brings his hands up in surrender. He lays his head back down on the pillow.

A couple of glances from him find her, thinking he’s going to talk, but he looks away each time. Cora doesn’t push in this moment, she patiently waits. She has a pretty sure idea of what he’s going to say but when they were on the stairs, it looked like his thoughts were eating him alive or drowning him. He needs to get it off his chest, she thinks.

His eyes shut for a second as he breathes in, then softly, he admits, “I was going to hurt him… I would have…. if you hadn’t stop me, I would have…”

He can’t say it.

Cora stares at his ashamed expression, but she doesn’t back off. She doesn’t recoil from him. “If I was in your position, I would want to, too.”

The sorrowful expression quickly turns into shock and turns his head towards her. Her whole being is unwavering.

“What?”

She continues, “I mean, it’s not Drake I would want to kill… be more like Skunk.”

Astro takes in this comment, and he thinks about the skin rubbed raw on her wrists and ankles. The cuts on her lip and cheek. Her gag silencing her as Skunk’s gun was under her chin, ready to blow her brains out. His core spins fast in fury for a second. Yes, she would.

“Those things he said are not true.” She whispers.

He pauses, her words taking him away from his thoughts, “What things?”

She cast her eyes down then looks back him with a fire in her eyes, “that you’re not loved. You are. Everyone in this house appreciates and loves you.”

The corner of Astro’s mouth quirks up, and his eyes turn soft when he turns to her, “thanks. Love you, too.”

A genuine smile takes over Cora’s face.

They stare at each other for a few seconds until Astro soon looses his smile, “When you noticed what was happening, were you… scared of me?”

Her eyes are not unsure, they stay right on him and unwavering, she says, “no. I wasn’t scared of you. I was scared for you.”

The weight in his chest releases almost completely, and he lets out a sigh. He blinks, and he suddenly realizes she has glow in the dark stars and planets on her ceiling. Huh, he’s never noticed that before.

“Thank you,” Astro says.

Cora hums, sleep almost taking over her, “For what?”

“For always having my back.”

“Yeah, I got you, non-robot.”

He smiles and his eyes start to close. He’s about to transfer to his side for a comfier position when, suddenly, something scratches against the door.

Both teenagers open their eyes and sit up as they stare at the door. The thing on the other side scratches again. Astro watches as Cora crawls out of bed. He starts to panic, thinking it could be an intruder.

There’s no one there, but then the ‘thing’ appears as Himari purrs contently as she wanders in.

“Good thing it’s just you, Himari.” Cora sighs with relief as she closes the door.

It takes Himari a few tries to get up on the bed, with also the help of a human. Cora groans as she heaves the big cat onto her blanket, “Geez, dad needs to stop feeding you treats.”

The cat doesn’t pay any attention to her comment but instead, licks her paw, then finds a spot between the robot boy and the girl. She lays on her side and curls inward till she resembles a donut and purrs like a motor.

Cora shakes her with fondness. Spoiled cat.

After getting under the covers, she sneaks a peak at the two spikes poking out. He’s snug as a bug. Laying on his side with her blanket covering him. She smiles to herself and gives the cat a few pets on the head, her thoughts start to go into a sleepy spiral.

How is Hamegg going to react? He might be a little shocked and might not help us. He better! But what if he is angry with us and he goes out of his mind like at the Robot Games and keeps electrocuting Astro- wait. He doesn’t have his laser device anymore, because Drake had Skunk steal it.

Cora sits up with a gasp. She had totally forgotten that Drake not only stole his games attire but his laser devise as well. He didn’t do anything with it… yet. He didn’t use it at the rally. Why did he take that to? What was he planning?

Astro sits up with a start, looking around the room, but nobody was in the room but them. His hand reaches out and comes down on her shoulder, “Cora? What’s wrong?” His voice urgent.

She’s still staring at the gold swirls when she says, “Drake has Hamegg’s laser device. The one that was used on you in the Robot Games. He has it.”

His eyes go wide.

“I think he’s planning something.” Her eyes find his, her fear obvious.

Laser devices are kind of rare to come by. Ever since the laws of robotics were programmed into the robots, they’ve never had a problem. For fifty years, a robot being unpredictable was unheard of and the laser weapon quickly disappeared from society. Only the police, scientists, and governments had possession of them. But that era is slowly disappearing. Astro was created with none of that programming into him. Zog is similar to him, but not quite as human as the robot boy.

The memory of pain from the device sends a shiver down Astro’s body. He’s never felt that drained in his life, even his adventures that came after the peacekeeper attack. He could literally feel his strength get weaker and weaker, but if he concentrated hard enough through the pain, he could get through it, but it will take his strength a minute to return to full power. The power of the laser device would keep a normal robot out for days or fry its circuits completely then thrown to the junkyard. But Astro’s blue core kills the entity twice as fast, leaving him to recover quicker. The first time he had been knocked out, the core had to shut down his body, his core going into flight and fight mode.

His hand is still on her shoulder, “we’ll keep an eye out.”

<><><><><><><> 

That same day

A puff of smoke leaves the young woman’s pale lips, as she watches Mr. Drake put the laser device on his desk in front of her.

A dark coat is wrapped around her shoulders concealing everything but her neck, while a hood covers her head. Her pale red eyes look between the tiny round glasses and the device.

Her voice light, almost airy or dry, “what will that do?”

            Drake quickly looks away from her eyes. They always made him on edge and kind of reminded him of a vampire. He clears his throat, “this will weaken him. I’m not sure it will kill him- but it will slow him down.”

            She puts the long holder to her lips again before she breathes out deeply, “We can experiment with that when we find him.”

            Not her and Drake. Her and her band of crazy people right outside his door that he insisted they stay out. It consisted of a twenty something year old boy who was crazy in the head and loved to look around Drake’s place with a giddiness. Probably high on whatever drug he was on. The second was her bodyguard, a seven-foot-tall robot programmed to protect her and only her. He never spoke and Drake wasn’t sure if he could or not, but every time he was in the room, he would stare at him like he wanted to pulverize him. He did not want a robot and a crazy kid in his office. The last was her. She’s never taken off the coat. Her elbows to her fingers are the only things he can see and they’re metal. She’s not a robot. The only thing ‘robot’ about her is her two metal arms. He can see a tiny part peaking out from her coat where skin and bone meet metal. Her body having to do it’s best to mold with her appendages. The metal on the crevices has a brown coating from rusting over and over. The skin is disfigured, scarred, and red from inflammation. It looks like she has had to clean it over and over.

            Like the laser device, cyborgs are very rare. It can be done but the success behind surgeries being performed on putting metal limbs to human bodies are very very low. Many of the surgeries had failed, patients complain of not being able to control their limbs, some didn’t work at all. The delicate part is the brain. Not only did you have to a metal limb attached to you, but parts of your brain had to be robotic, as well. A lot of them went crazy and ended up in insane asylums.  

            Drake thought the idea was abominable. He never wanted to have any part of him robotic. Ever.

            He would have hired Skunk and his boys again for this job but there a little busy in jail right now. This gang of misfits is all he has right now.

            He quickly looks away and down at the laser, “I suspect they will go after Hamegg. If Hamegg somehow decides to help them, kill him and whosever there.’

            Another puff of smoke blows out of her lips, “And the money?”

            He pauses, then smiles politely and reaches in his side drawer. Two racks of money come into her view. Twenty thousand dollars. She stares at the money with jittery eyes like she wants to snatch it away from him. Her head and shoulders ache with dull pain that has always been there since she had these arms put on her. The only thing that can dull her pain is expensive and she needs that money. But another thought jumps in… she wants something else, too.

            Her eyes snatch up to his face, “There’s something else I want.”

            “What is that?”

            “I want his power source.”

            He smiles, “Deal. Do what you want with it. Just bring me his body.”

            That’s all she needs to hear, and a wicked smile curves her lips. She brings her hand forward.

            But instead of shaking it, he turns it over and kisses her fingers, “Lovely doing business with you, again.”

Chapter Text

Chapter 9/ Asuna’s Oasis

                  Sun rays wake the pink striped haired girl out of her sleep, and she sighs, basking in the warmth. She stays like that until she realizes something… that’s the sun… it’s morning. No nightmares.

She sits up on her elbows with a start and looks over. Astro is still asleep, his face relaxed. Each one of his breaths deep and even. Her purple blanket still covers him like hug. Himari lifts her head and produces a yawn.

A giddy feeling spreads throughout Cora. Maybe the nightmares are gone for good. But another feeling rises up as well. It’s only the first night that she’s actually had a good night's rest. Only… the first night. What if it breaks the cycle the next time she puts her head on her pillow? She shakes her head, come on Cora, get a grip, everything is going to be fine. It’s just nightmares. They come and go. We got bigger things to worry about.

Drake has the laser device. As soon as she realized that last night and told Astro, worry and dread was she all she can feel and think about. Worried about what’s going to happen when they go back to the surface to drag Hamegg out of whatever hole he’s crawled into.

I’m not going to lose you again, non-robot.

<><><><><><><><> 

Tawashi’s brows hides behide his glasses as he takes in the information Astro and his daughter just told him.

It’s late morning in the kitchen, the sun bursting through the windows. A new day. Another start. Another day to try to end this chaos that just won’t end.

Drake has a laser device, that used to be Hamegg’s, that originally belonged to Dr. Temma… interesting, Tawashi thinks.

“A laser device, huh, those are rare for the local to own… do you think Drake’s gonna try something?” Tawashi asks, his eyes probing the two teens.

“I just have a feeling he has a plan, and we need to keep our heads screwed on,” Cora says.

Ours… right, Tawashi thinks. “I’m still worried about taking you with us, especially with the rumors on the surface.”

Cora evens her eyes at her dad, “I’ll be fine dad; besides you and Astro will be there… and Hamegg might be more persuaded if he sees a familiar face.”

She looks at Astro, and she can tell that he wants to agree with Tawashi more than anything. He wants to tell her to stay here where she will be protected and out of harms way, but she might be right too. They don’t know what state they’re going to find Hamegg in, good or bad.

The rest of the day is them preparing and getting their stress out. By doing that, the many kids gather around the dining table and play many rounds of UNO. Astro even manages to drag his dad and Cora, her parents. The kids had played many times before together. Astro was first introduced to the game months ago with Cora and Zane. He never thought he would get competitive, but the first time Cora pulled a draw two, he used all his wits and luck to win that game.

Grace dramatically flips a card out during her turn, and it goes flying. Astro catches it before it goes off the edge of the table, “Woah there,” he says, smiling at her.

His father lays down a draw two card… again.

Astro scowls at him, “Is that the only card you have?”

“Yes…” He says, innocently then the corner of his mouth curves up.

His son shakes his head and gathers two more cards.

The game ends with Widget winning, as she sets her last card down and Zane right beside her, groans as his last card hopelessly falls out of his hand, “Nice one, sis.” Then holds his hand out for a high-five. She gleefully smacks his hand. Sludge slowly claps on her other side, disappointed with the outcome, “Yaaayyy.”

<><><><><><><> 

Astro pulls a dark hood over his head that Zane had lend him. The hood covers his spikes… kind of, he would have to keep pulling it forward to make it stay. After thanking Zane, he goes and finds Cora.

She’s in her room, zipping up a black jacket with a hood. Natural light disappears as the sun travels out of sight, going to the other side of the world.

Astro lightly knocks on her open door, “Hey, you ready?”

Her reflection in the mirror jumps, “oh geez, yeah… and now my nerves, thank you.”

He chuckles, “Sorry.”

She grabs her old satchel from her scavenging days and stuffs a wrench into it. Her old one is still framed above on the wall. A new wrench for her to wreak havoc with.

Cora looks up to find Astro giving her a curious look, “What? This is just in case Hamegg, or anyone surprisingly tries to pull anything on you.”

“I don’t think Hamegg is going to be threatening to me with not having the laser.”

“Still, I’m not going to let him hurt you, again.”

His cheeks go slightly pink, and a warm smile goes across his face, “Thanks… I’ll remember to duck out of the way.”

                  The kids are upstairs, already have said their goodbyes. The goodbye was regular like when you tell someone goodbye and they leave for work, they leave and go for a walk in the park. Casual. He doesn’t want to make a fuss and go all dramatic about it, because he knows they will return with Hamegg, and his name will be cleared. But anything can happen, and this might be the last time he sees them and everyone.

                  His dad goes into the garage with Cora trailing behind him to the car. Tawashi suggested many times and argued with his father to stay behind, thinking Hamegg will be more cooperative if the past robot ringleader did not see him at this stage. It didn’t work out. Temma could go if he stayed in the car and wait while they retrieved Hamegg. He agreed, reluctantly. They’re was nothing stopping his stubbornness. If his son was going, he was going as well, no matter what.

                  Astro’s hand is on the frame of the door when he looks behind him to see Tawashi and Quinn in the kitchen. His hand on her hip while her hand rested on his shoulder. They’re voices were hushed but Astro could hear crystal clear.

                  “You know I’ve always worried about you with this job… I know you will do your best to protect our daughter and help that sweet boy… just come back to me, okay? Come back to me and the kids…” Quiet tears trickle down her cheeks as Tawashi pulls his wife into a warm embrace and plants a kiss on her forehead.

                  “I promise.” Tawashi murmurs.

                  Astro looks down, and pulls the door closed behind him. He doesn’t like putting people in danger and letting them lay down their life for him. It always ends up with someone hurt and he doesn’t want to be the cause of that. The words Cora said last night keep coming back to him. Just… don’t go… just try to find another way out.

                  Not long after that, they’re on the road. After many days of taking refuge in Cora’s house, though staying there never felt like a cage, it feels good to be out. After driving for a few minutes, Astro notices Tawashi checking his back mirror more than usual.

                  “What is it?” Astro asks.

                  The detective slats his mirror, “I think we’re being followed.”

                  “What.” And Astro and Cora look behind them in their seats. The car is too far behind to tell what model it is- suddenly, it turns down south and goes a different road.

                  Tawashi breathes a sigh of relief, “Maybe not.” But still, he keeps checking his mirrors and waits for the car to come back and barrel down on them. It doesn’t.

                  The glowing, bright lights of Metro City dim behind them as they enter the moonlit surface. Ten minutes go by in peaceful silence and they start to come up on the surface city.

                  The teens look between the front seats surprised to see cars pass them by as they merge into the main highway between the surface and Metro City. During the last few months, the surface dwellers and Metro City citizens had nicknamed the city Mecca, becoming a fast growing ‘Las Vegas’ of its own.

Before there was no cars or transportation to the surface. Now, the traffic was almost frequent and was starting to become busier the closer they got.

                  Astro pulls his hood closer as they enter the small metropolis. He still had to get used to the idea that he had a bounty on his head. People flooded the sidewalks and some hurried to get out of the way of the cars. Robots of different models pass Astro’s vision. Butlers, chefs, any kind of model he has ever seen and one’s he has never seen before is right there in front of him. It’s a good thing the windows are tinted. It still looked like the city Zog walked down with him on his shoulder. Power lines running up and down the street and through other buildings. Old-fashioned water tanks on the roofs. Japanese neon signs hanging on the side of each building. Yep, still the same… but something’s changed.  

                  They turn down an alley and he can suddenly see the crumbling walls of the robot games arena. It was dark and looked empty, like nobody had paid any attention to it for many years, then the alley blocks his vision.

                  Astro lets out an unsteady breath as the car comes to a stop behind an apartment building.

                  Tawashi turns in his seat, “Ready? Let's go!” Then he addresses Dr. Temma, “I’ll contact you on the micro transmitter I gave you if anything goes wrong.”

                  The doctor gives him a firm nod.

                  Astro barely makes it out of the door when his father snags his elbow, and he turns.

                  His brows come together in a worried expression, “Be careful out there, okay?” Then he secures the hood around his son more.

                  Astro gives him a determined gleam in his eye, “Don’t worry, I’ll be back.”

                  Temma doesn’t say anything and gives him a warm smile.

                  His son opens the door and throws out, “Love you, dad.”

                  The father looks up in surprise, “Love you too”- The door closes. – “Astro.”

                  The dark hood catches up to the other two, who is leaning against a wall that opens up into the street.

                  Tawashi has thrown on a hat making him more like a person of mystery, truly like a detective. He turns his head, “He lives in this apartment building, stay here for a sec.” And goes inside the front door.

                  A couple people walked by. Cora on instinct puts her arm out pushing Astro against the wall. He dosen’t have time to react as her arm digs into his neck and he lets out grunt.

                  He doesn’t have a windpipe to crush but it still takes him by surprise. Exasperated, he says, “Cora?!”

                  “I didn’t want them to see you… sorry.” She grimaces and smiles apologetically as she releases her grip.

                  After fixing his hood, the streets are still full of traffic and people. The samouts that sell food and other merchandise on the sidewalks are closed up for the day. The only place that seemed to be bustling with activity was a green building across the street. A bright neon sign sticks out with red letters that says, Asuna’s Oasis, casino with bar.

                  The sound of a door closes then Tawashi comes into their vision, “The front desk says there is a Brunard, but he’s not in the building at the moment.”

                  Astro frowned, “Where is he?”

                  The hat indicates towards the green building.

                  Looking in both directions, the three swiftly walk. Astro keeps his head down and avoids eye contact with anyone that come close. People in bright mismatch clothing or dark blue and grey cross his vision, something that was not seen common a few months ago when he fell to the surface for the first time. The unity between the two cities has become stronger no doubt, but the simple differences are still brought to people’s judgement and opinions. Like are robots our friends and are they here to help or just machines for whatever use. Are the surface dwellers civil citizens? Can they be trusted? Can the two cities work together in harmony despite their differences.  

                  A carved archway hovers in front of them with depictions of Sensu’s or fans in different colors.

Tawashi pauses in front of the door, unsure if he should bring two teens into a casino. Astro was a robot and didn’t think anything could faze him but… he was still a kid. Cora was mature enough to know what goes on in a casino and was there to sway Hamegg, but she was still a fifteen-year-old teenager. And some adults are going to be still… adults. He shouldn’t be bringing them into a bar still, no less. The thought of coming back tomorrow when Hamegg is not drunk and out cold might be a better option crossed his mind. But Astro was running out of time.

He turns to the two, “Just cover your eyes if you see something you shouldn’t.”

“And what’s that?” Astro asks, innocently.

Tawashi freezes, caught off guard by the question, “Umm…”

                  Cora laughs softly as she heads to the door, “he’s kidding dad.”

He stares at the boy who starts to smile, and he narrows his eyes and ushers to him, “go go-get in the bar.”

                  The smile is still on Astro’s face when he makes his way in. Making sure to say close to Cora, he suddenly becomes surrounded by different shades of green that coats the walls with gold trimming. Massive gold vases filled with various peacock feathers sit in the corners and on the walls that make separate booths for customers. Sets of samurai swords make an X for decorations. Landscapes of Japan are painted throughout on the walls in traditional japanese watercolors; Mount Fuji takes up one wall with several blossom trees surrounding it.

The building opens up into a spacious room filled with more tables and a stage that takes up the back. It appears more tables sit behind the stage that they can’t see all the way. And in the center of the room is a giant koi pond swimming with colorful fish. Astro takes in, what is most probably, the richest building in town. Wow.

                  The smile that was on his face a second ago disappears when a bartender robot makes eye contact with him. His eye’s go wide when he spots Astro, and he looks around nervously at the humans. The boy’s go wide as well and he turns his head away and tries to take account of the floor. The core in his chest starts to spin unpleasantly. There’s a lot of people in here… and robots. Almost every table is filled with people while robot waiters and bartenders serve.

                  A purple silhouette is singing on the stage, the plum ruffles of her dress flow with her movements. He catches lyrics, her voice rich, breathy, and dreamlike. ‘I’m in love. With you, love, I’m in love. With my love. I’m in love. I’m in love.’  She steps away from the microphone and takes a bow as people clap. Then she takes her place again and begins singing. ‘Cinnamon… in my teeth. From your kiss, you’re touchin’ me. All the pills that you take.’

                  Astro watches as Tawashi takes off his hat, and says, “Do you see him anywhere?”

                  They try to look from where they stand, without looking suspicious or out of place. No one seems to pay any attention to them and that’s a relief. Though, Astro can see out of the corner of his eye, the bartender robot still looking his way, and that slightly annoys him.

                  For five minutes, Hamegg is no where and its sparks Astro’s wires with irritation more than anxiety. Where is he?

                  Astro pushes, “He’s got to be here.”

                  Without so much as a word or a decision, the group starts exploring, while keeping their heads down. Tawashi relaxes a bit, thankful that he’s seen nothing explicit that would scar the kids for life.

                  They were about to pass the stage when the lady singing before stops them. She was taking a break and was now sitting down on top of the stage with a small coffee table nestled beside her.

                  Her vibrant green eyes narrow on Tawashi, “What are children doing in here?”

                  The group whip their heads to her. Her plum ruffle dress cascades over her form like waves. The color seems to make her pearl skin glow, and her raven hair stand out. Plum circle earrings hug her ears, and a hint of red colors her cheeks. The cup of tea in her delicate hand is hovering to her lips as her sharp eyes scrutinize them. Astro feels a soft blush bloom under his cheeks.

                  Tawashi gazes at the singer in utter loss, not knowing how to tell her of their situation or how to make one up. But Cora saves him, saying the first thing that comes to her mind.

                  “We’re looking for our stepdad,” she says bluntly, indicating to Astro, clueing him in.

                  He stares at her for a second and raises his eyebrows, “Yeah… that’s right, we used to scavenge parts for him. We heard he was here…” He hesitates, not sure if he should say the name or if she would even recognize it. “Hamegg?”

                  The lady’s eyes go hard then she blinks, and brings the cup to her lips, “No, Hamegg does not sound familiar.” She looks over the rim of her cup at him and there’s a twinkle in them.

                  She knows.

                  Astro stands there for a second and thinks, then says, “How about a Brunard?”

                  If eyes could smile, hers did. Almost as if she was satisfied with his answer, she sets the cup on her table, “Who’s asking?”

                  Cora and Tawashi both lean forward and begin to say something way off from the truth, but the lady cuts them off.

                  “I didn’t ask you dear or you… detective.”

                  How does she know that? Astro wonders. Then he sees her eye something in the enfolds of Tawashi’s jacket. When she does catches Tawashi’s attention, he looks down to see his badge and chain slightly poking out of his shirt. The silver edge catching the light. He quickly hides it again and looks at her suspiciously, like if he could trust her or not.

                  Cora wears the same look as her father and looks the woman up and down as if she’s going to pull a secret weapon out and jeopardize her best friend's life.

                  But the lady turns her attention back to Astro, “I asked him.”

                  Though the dark clothing and hood conceal him, she looks at him as if she can see every wire and metal part that he is.

                  He scowls at her, “Why do I get the impression that you already know.”

                  She sips her tea and brushes it off, confirming her curiosity, “Just wanted to make sure.”

                  “Who’s asking him?” Cora suddenly perks up, forcing the lady’s sharp eyes off of Astro.

                  “The name is Asuna. And before you ask, the answer is yes, the same Asuna as Asuna’s Oasis.”

                  That was unexpected. They look at her with shock.

“You’re the owner… of this place?” Tawashi says, narrowing his eyes.

An affiliative smile gives way, and she lifts a plum ruffle shoulder, “Of course, in the flesh, dear.”

Oh gosh. Cora rolls her eyes and says, “Okay, Holly Golightly, where’s Hamegg?”

Asuna glares at her, “I’m going to take that as a compliment and not an insult. Brunard,” she says his name like she’s making a point. “Is in the corner table behind there, you can try to get him to talk but he just finished a game not too long ago.”

“Thank you,” Astro says, softly. Cora and Tawashi beeline it to the table and Astro is following right behind them when the lady calls out.

“Boy?”

He looks her way again.

“Keep that hood on. Word gets around here quick.” She winks, the cup touching her lips again.

His spikes are hidden but he pulls the material around his face more. He walks around the stage to see Cora and her father standing by the only table that is occupied by someone, someone who is passed out with his head on the table.

It’s him. He doesn’t need to see his face to know that it’s him. The decorative vest that covers his back. The brown curly hair that looks like it needs a wash. It’s him alright. Hamegg.

Poker cards and coins are strewn around him while a glass half full sits by his limp hand. Astro’s not sure what type of drink the old ringleaders had or how strong it was, but he can smell it. In fact, he reeks of it.

They don’t make any sudden movement. They just stare at the man that is passed out drunk. Astro and Cora give each other a look, both not knowing how this is going to end up. Cora sighs and occupies the chair on Hamegg’s right, her hand touches his shoulder and tries to shake him, “Hamegg? Hamegg?”

He doesn’t wake. She shakes him a little more, “Hamegg? Hamegg!”

He mumbles something incoherent and groggily turns his head. Suddenly, Cora sees his eyes focus on her and she goes to shake him again but as soon as she does, his hand grips her wrist, and his face is inches from hers. A couple of loose hairs fall into his face as he whispers menacingly, “It was you. You came back for more, didn’t you?”

 Cora’s eyes go wide with fear and confusion as she stares at the man she used to look at as a father figure, but she gets a grip on herself and uses her caught arm to push him back into his chair, and he lets go. He almost tilts to the side and face plants the floor but doesn’t.

“I don’t know who you're talking about… It’s me, Cora.”

His face goes sideways at her; taking him a second to focus then recognition starts to dawn on his face. She gives him a ‘duh’ expression.

                  His eyebrows go up, “Ahh, yes, my best scavenger,” he scoffs. “Metro City get too cozy for you?”

                  “No… I’m better than I ever been.”

                  Surprisingly, Hamegg slightly frowns when he hears this and for a second, Cora wishes she could take back those words.

                  Wish she could take back those words because… it was true, but her life on the surface was not dreadful or anything like that. It was a different paradise that she never thought would impact her life so much. Hamegg became like a father to her and took her in when she didn’t have a home. He adopted more kids that had become her family for years. Deep down she cherished that piece of her life. During those many years she had grown and matured so much, and a part of that was because of Hamegg. He was not perfect, by far, she knew. He was just tragic. Made some bad choices that lead him down a path to where he is now.

                  Cora tries to get his attention again, “Hamegg? We need… your… help”-

                  She trails off as Hamegg starts muttering nonsense, slurring his words as he tries to get them out, but fails. He tries to go for the glass in front of him- his head falls to the table with a thunk.

                  “Well, it’s not too late to make a trip down to the prison, though I believe visiting hours are over,” Tawashi pipes up. He looks at the drunk Hamegg and thinks, this was the guy that was famous for the Robot Games?

                  Astro glares at the detective, really? He wishes he would drop that solution.

                  A silver bucket with ice in it that rests on another table across from them catches Cora’s eye, “We need to dump his head into that.” And they both follow to where she’s looking.

                  It’s not a bad idea. Astro hands go into fists and he’s suddenly moving, grabbing the bucket and dumping out the ice.

                  He’s already pissed off by everything; Drake, Skunk kidnapping Cora, the framing, the bloody coat, the laser device, being in the robot games, being forced to kill other robots when he didn’t want to, Hamegg being fatherly to him then turning around and stabbing him in the back.

                  He makes his way around the stage, passing Asuna; she gives him a raised eyebrow as he heads straight for the pond. He fills the bucket, making sure no fish get sucked in. Both Cora and Tawashi scoot away when Astro makes his way back to them. He doesn’t give him a second, a minute, no remorse.

                  “Wake up, Hamegg!” And dumps the water on him.

                   Hamegg jumps up in a panic and yells out in anger as the water goes everywhere around him, “what the he”-

                  Through wet messy hair he locks eyes on Astro who is staring at him with the empty bucket in hand.

                  No one moves. They look at each other like one of them is about to make a move, anticipating something.

                  “Hamegg?” Cora says, making the drowned rat jump a little. He looks at her… Really looks at her, then the man by her side and wonders who he is… then back to her and he realizes that he wasn’t just imagining. But that also means… he looks at Astro again. He’s real, too. Great, He sighs, and shakes the water from off his hands, “Did you have to drown me?” He mutters.

                  “I could’ve thrown you in the koi pond.” Astro throws back.

                  Hamegg frowns and doesn’t say anything, and he slumps back down in his seat. He starts gathering the poker cards and begins shuffling. The robot boy glowers down at him when he does this, thinking he’s tricking him. But he doesn’t do anything. Doesn’t pull any secret weapon out and threaten to electrocute him. Hamegg just looks tired and… drenched. More annoyed with them than anything really.

                  Slowly, Astro sets the bucket on the table and takes a seat.

                  “I love to stay and ‘catch up’ but I have another game to play,” Hamegg says.

                  Tawashi leans forward, “there’s not going to be another game until we’re finished here.”

                  He continues to shuffle, “Sorry, you are….?”

                  “Detective Tawashi of MYPD and… Cora’s father.”

                  The cards pause in his hands, and he turns to her with shock, “Mm, well well, someone after all did have a secret. You told me you didn’t have any parents.”

                  Cora shifts awkwardly in her seat, “It was better to say I didn’t than did. I thought I would never get back home.”

                  “Looks like you did, and… you still have the robot tied to your hip,” he says without a blink to the boy. “No surprise there.”

                  Astro glares at him.

                  Hamegg tries to keep his gaze on the cards and anything else but Astro. Cora and Tawashi stare at him and it feels like forever. He narrows his eyes and slams the rest of the cards on the table, spreading and fanning out in every direction, “Wha- what is this? Why are you hassling me? I bet you’re not here to hold hands and say Kumbaya.”

                  Cora and Tawashi look Astro’s way, and he sighs, “I’m being framed for your murder.”

                  The glass in Hamegg’s hand pauses then he turns and finally looks at him. His eyes are wide with suspicion, “What? By who?”

                  “Drake. Lamp Drake.”

                  His lips thin and his head leans back a bit like he knows who he’s talking about, “Really?” His eyes narrow, “How did he prove this?”

                  Astro pauses, “The coat you wore in the robot games, he found it. It had your blood all over it.”

                  His body freezes then he sighs and looks down. His drink lands on the table with a thunk, the liquor swishing inside, “That son of a bitch.”

                  For a second, he looks indecisive and torn on what to do. He lets go of the glass and roughly rolls the cuff of his sleeve up until it reaches his bicep. His forearm is bruised with purple, yellow, and green patches.

                  “What happened to you?” Astro says.

                  “I got poked, that’s what,” Hamegg scoffs. “Big ol’ poke. Last week, I was drunker than heck. I felt something tug on my arm and the next thing I knew, I’m waking up with my arm bleeding everywhere.”

                  The robot’s eyes go wide, “Drake stole your blood.”

                  “Yeah… I think. It all makes sense now. But it wasn’t Drake who did it. People around here said there was a woman near me.”

                  “A woman?”

                  “That’s why you grabbed me.” Cora speaks up. “You thought I was her.”

                  Hamegg’s face goes regretful, “Yeah. Sorry about that sweetheart.”

                  Her arms are folded, and she looks like she wants to ask him something else, but she holds her tongue and instead says, “It’s fine.”

                  “How do you know, Drake?” Tawashi asks.

                  The curly head twirls his glass nonchalantly and sighs again, “I used to work for him, when I was at the ministry of science. His business was competing against the ministry at the time and his employees weren’t the brightest or most creative… or, so he told me. The head honchos weren’t letting me create my own robots, so I took the job.”

                  Astro looked at him confused, “And that’s when my dad fired you?”

                  “No, he fired me when he found out I was using their materials to build robots for someone else.”

                  “Oh…” Astro can’t help but bring up the comment from one of their past conversations. It felt like a lie, now. “…They didn’t throw you away like an old battery… you did that yourself.”

                  Hamegg glares at him, the same look he had the day of the robot games. He swirls the liquor in the glass, slowly, his eyes cutting into him.

                  “Do you know why I’m here? Why I get drunker than a sailor? To try to win what I can to survive? Because of you. Because of you I lost the robot games and my only real source of income.”

                  Astro looked at him incredulous, “What was I supposed to do?! I was fighting for my life. I didn’t want to fight and kill those robots. I didn’t want to hurt Zog.” His eyes narrow. “You knew that!”

                  A feeling he doesn’t want to feel… guilt… and it seeps into Hamegg. Yeah, he knew the boy didn’t want to fight. The memory of him saving his life before almost being crushed under Zog’s foot comes to his mind but he smothers it down. Hamegg takes a sip of his drink and sulks, “Yeah… you were supposed to die in that arena.”

                  “Well, I didn’t.” His hands curl and keeps going. “You’re here because of the choices you made. Because you only think about your own glory and yourself”-

                  The whiskey goes flying across Astro’s face, he yelps, and he stumbles out of his seat as tries to rub the liquor out his eyes.

                  “Hamegg!” Cora comes around and smacks the empty glass out of his hand. “Knock it off!”

                  He’s still slightly drunk but he still threw it. He wanted to do it; that’s not a question. Regret settles in when he sees Astro look at him with watery eyes. He’s not sure if it’s the whiskey or his mechanics, but it still doesn’t make the feeling go away.

                  Cora looks at Astro, and her face goes soft. The boy catches her look… then at Hamegg, he quickly looks away and rubs at his eyes again.

                  The girl quickly turns back, and looks at the man hotly, as if she could cut him in two “Come on, Astro, he hasn’t changed. Dad, lets go.”

                  The guilt eats at him. Not just throwing the liquor in the boy’s face but… for everything else. Putting him in the robot games and making him fight for his life. Tricking him. Not really wanting to leave the kids to fend for themselves. He didn’t want to leave them. Deep down he cared. He didn’t want to admit it; he definitely didn’t want to say it. But he cared and wished he haven’t put Astro in the games. He got greedy and followed it. He knows that now. Yes, Astro was right, he was selfish and only cared about himself.

                  Astro begins to slowly trail after Cora, wet drops falling off the tops of his spikes, when Hamegg snatches his arm, “Wait!”

                  The boy goes stiff and stares at him, cautiously. Cora digs into her pack and grips her wrench in hand and takes a few steps forward.

                  “I’ll help you.” Hamegg mutters, looking up at Astro, and let's go of him. “I’ll help clear your name.”

                  He doesn’t believe him, “Why?”

                  “In case you forgot… I owe you.”

                  Owe him? For what? Oh- The robot games. Saving him from almost being smushed by Zog’s huge foot.

                  Hamegg stands from the table, more like wobbles slightly, but he catches himself and looks directly at Astro, and sighs, he can’t hold it in anymore, “Though I’m still in this dump… I’m… grateful not to be squashed under metal right now.”

                  In other words, thank you. Astro can’t help but gain a small smile. From one or two perspectives, Hamegg deserved it and Zog should have crushed him. But Astro couldn’t let it happen. It wasn’t going to make things better. And… it wasn’t right. Hamegg had good and bad in him. He was human.

“Astro.” Tawashi’s hushed voice makes him look up. His wires buzz when he sees his hand hovering over his gun inside his coat. The detective nods to something over his head and he whips around.

                  Three figures stand, rooted in place, their eyes trained on them.

The hair on Tawashi’s neck stands on end. He’s only heard stories and cases from other detectives from the other cities and towns nearby about… Mallory and her brother, Reed, and he couldn’t ignore the very tall robot that lurked above the two like a menacing guard. He’s been grateful they’ve never come to Metro City or Mecca. He’s got enough criminals to deal with. What were they doing here? It couldn’t be good. He knew it was her when she walked over like a phantom with her inhaling something through a long stick, her pale red eyes roaming over them, they soon focus on Astro with a crazed look in them.

Her name was Mallory, a twenty-year-old girl, recorded that she broke out of an insane asylum with the help of her crazy brother, due to going insane after a, thought to be successful surgery that consisted of putting two metal arms on her. Two weeks was all she had of peace, then her body started to reject her metal arms making her mental and physical state go downhill. It was soon recorded that she killed her doctor and nurse. Reed is a few years younger than her, that liked to get high but could be violent to the point of killing someone at the right moment.

Her eyes. If she’s smoking what he’s pretty sure is, that’s not her real eye color. He tries to remember the name then- Morsustorrius. Yep, that’s the name. He doesn’t know much but the rumors are that the drug is very expensive and very hard to come by. The drug numbs excruciating pain almost in an instant. Can numb it as if it’s not there. Taking the drug for long periods of time changes the color of your eyes to red, no matter what.

                  She was one of the first cyborg experiments… that went tragically wrong. And she’s still alive. Tawashi doesn’t know how or why, he just knows they are dangerous and will do anything to get what they want.

                   Astro’s hands quickly turn into fists when he sees them. Who are these guys?

                  The girl lifts her hood and, instead of hair, tiny like coils are hooked into her head traveling behind her back and disappearing into her black coat. Her voice was dry, like sandpaper, “Hello.”

                  After a couple seconds, Astro manages to say with wide but curious eyes. “Hello.” A cyborg. He’s never met a cyborg before or seen one for that matter.

                  Cora meets the gaze of the boy, his brown hair oily and slicked back, he gives her a grin as sharp as a knife as his tongue glides over his top teeth. She immediately looks away, disturbed. A familiar fear creeps inside her, the same fear when Skunk was ever in the room. No, she won’t be afraid. She crosses her arms and glares at him, like she’s not impressed. That only seems to make him more trigger happy, and he softly giggles like a little kid.

                  “A public place? Shouldn’t you be hiding?” The girl says, with an almost knowing smile at Astro.

                  Hamegg asks first, “Who’s asking?”

                  Her silver hand comes into view as she blows out a puff of smoke, “Mallory. This is Reed my brother… and this is Zen, my bodyguard.” The seven-foot-tall robot doesn’t make a move but stands there. His eyes are human without the skin, if a skeleton had just eyeballs, eyeballs looking from one person to the next. It was unnerving.

                  “Did my work leave a mark?” She says, gesturing to Hamegg’s arm. He gazes down then looks back up at her with anger.

                  He sneers, “It was you.” He starts forward but Astro stops him with his arm. He looks at him, ‘this is not the time for that.’

                  Hamegg sighs unhappily and gives her daggers instead.

                  Astro’s brows knit, “If you knew I should be hiding, how did you find me?”

                  Mallory raises a dark brow, “Let’s just say, we got a head start from someone… who means well.”

                  Astro and Tawashi share a look, “You mean Drake.”

                  “Maybe.”

                  He sighs, “Let me guess, he wants you to bring me back so I can turn myself in to be dismantled.”

                  The idea swirls around in her head for a moment, “I could do that… but” she smiles like the Cheshire’s cat, “We like the idea of slicing you into parts more… sounds messy… and fun.”

                  Astro’s wires chill like ice cold water just washed over them giving him the effect of goosebumps. This girl was creepy. Her red eyes adding to that effect. They made her look like a vampire. In fact, vampire was a good way to describe her. Creepy.

                  “Fat chance you’re touching him,” Cora scoffs.

                  The oil slicked boy turns to her, “Don’t worry, we’ll take you all out one by one. We’ll start with you first…. I hope I get to play a little.”

                  Her eyes go wide and the wrench in her hand feels heavier than normal. The fear in her rib cage wants to bust out of its dam.

                  Her father immediately steps in front of her, blocking her halfway from the boy’s sight.

                  And surprisingly, Hamegg steps in front of the detective, too. How he’s standing up and still slightly drunk, she doesn’t know. After everything’s that’s happened, her feelings towards the man are all muddled but right now, a tiny bit of gratitude goes towards him.

                  It was like instinct, and all three of them moved. Astro being the last, and he takes a fighting stance. “You’ll have to get through me to get to her.”

                  “What’s going on here?” Out of the blue, Asuna’s voice comes into everyone’s ears and Mallory turns sharply to the flowing plum waves.

                  Asuna stares at them and doesn’t bask away from the red daggers that are cutting into her. Astro realizes now how tall she is, she had to be almost six foot. She was almost as tall as his dad.

                  “Asuna, go.” Hamegg pushes. As soon as he saw her, he did not want her in this mess with them. But she ignores him.

                  “Please, get out of my building.”

                  “Your building?” Mallory inquires.

                  “Yes, you’re disturbing my customers, please take you and your… heathens out.”

                  She doesn’t make a move as a soft laugh leaves her pale lips.

                  Then, before Astro could react, something flashes passed his vision from her dark coat.

                  It takes everyone a second to understand or realize what just happened then-

                  All three of them turn in horror to see a knife protruding from Asuna’s chest, a stream of blood leaking down her chin along with a gasping noise.

                  Hamegg shouts, “NO!” And she crumbles to the floor.

                  He’s to her side in an instant, his hand covering hers, “Asuna. Asuna?”

                  Astro comes up on her other side as she stares up at the ringleader with desperation, as she continues to struggle for air. A three-sided knife is lodged into her chest slightly to the left. Astro doesn’t need to scan her well-being to know it’s most likely penetrated her lung and heart. All he and Hamegg can do is watch hopelessly. Then, her chest stills, and the vibrant green eyes go dull. Her hand goes limp and slips out of his grasp.

                  People who were sitting near their table scream at the sight of the dead singer and take off for the door.

Astro stands there in shock along with Hamegg. She’s dead. She’s dead. She’s dead.

The robot boy turns, “you killed her.”

Reed giggles as Mallory produces another knife in her hand, “Yes… who’s next.”

Hamegg is a raging bull ready to charge, he stands ready, “You bitch! She had nothing to do with this!”

A cocking noise sounds and- “Put your hands in the air! You're under arrest!” Tawashi yells, pointing his gun at the cyborg who’s grinning ear to ear. But- Astro steps in front of him, facing her with his hands out.

“Enough! … You can have me…. You can have me but let them go…. Please, let them go. You can have me.”

Cora’s voice comes from behind her father's sleeve, “No!” But he doesn’t turn around.

Mallory raises an eyebrow like that wasn’t part of the deal but… she agrees, “mmm… okay.” Reed turns to her with fury.

Astro’s voice echos through the half empty building, “Tawashi, go. Make sure Cora goes with you.”

There’s a pause, then, “I’m not leaving you here Astro.” Tawashi says.

The detective is still pointing his gun at the girl when Astro turns his head, his face solemn, “I’m not asking Tawashi. Go! GO!”

The silence is tense between them, but something passes… an agreement; a single nod is all he gives him, and he reluctantly lowers his gun.

Hamegg is still standing by Asuna’s limp form, his eyes glassy, when Astro looks at him. The question is on the tip of his tongue, but he can’t form the words. The man has already said he would help him, but he wants to make sure again. Sensing what he wants to say, Hamegg beats him to it, “I’ll clear your name, kid.”

An overwhelming relief comes from his chest, as the blue core spins. It feels like a weight off his chest. For seven months, Astro never thought he would see Hamegg ever again. And here he is, helping him. They nod to each other.

Cora stares at the two spikes as anger surges through her. Her fists clench as her dad grips her arm, making her move.

“No!” But his grip only tightens. “No! You said you would find another way out!” Angry tears spill down her cheeks.

Astro shuts his eyes for a second, remembering that he did say that. He turns halfway to see her now struggling against Tawashi as his arm is wrapped around her.

“I did and I will. I promise.”

Cora stops struggling as she looks at him, his words calming her fears, then Tawashi is dragging her out the door. She continues to thrash against his strength, but he doesn’t budge. Hamegg silently follows behind him.

The last thing he hears is Cora’s voice, “Astro!”

Astro is still looking at the door, when movement captures his eye. His head whips towards Zen who moves in front of Mallory, and he takes a fighting stance. His fists coming out in front of him.

At first, the robot doesn’t move as he stares at Astro long and hard. Then-

“Sword.”

Astro narrows his eyes up at him, “Huh.” He didn’t have a mouth that actually opens but a holographic one, like Orrin. Huh, the robot does speak.

The eyeballs move to the samurai swords hanging on the wall, “Sword.”

Astro looks at the wall not sure what he’s meaning, “Thanks… but I’ll stick with these,” putting his fists up.

The huge robot moves, ignoring his comment, as its metal arm reaches and rips a sword free.

The sword is thrown into Astro’s arms as Zen yells, “Sword!”

An unsheathing sound comes from Zen’s arm as a longer sword is produced then he charges.

Astro reacts just enough to move out of the way, “I don’t want to fight you!”

Zen skids to a stop and points the end of his sword at him, “It’s a little late for that.”

Mallory and Reed have stepped out of the way and were watching with grasping expressions by the bar.

Have it your way then, Astro thinks, and grips the handle with more purpose. The sword was beautiful. The blade had an engraving, at first, he thought it was a snake with a curling tail, but he looked again, and realized it was a dragon breathing fire. The hilt had multiple dragons carved, swirling around each other then a red handle.

Zen leaps into the air with his sword above his head. Astro welds his sword up and it clangs.

The robot is strong, stronger than Astro thought, and he grunts under the force. Zen pushes his sword into him. The red boots make a squeaking sound against the wood floor.

Astro’s back meets the wall of a booth. Using enough momentum, he gets the sword off of him and flees to the side.

But the wind whistles and Astro bends back. The sword misses him by an inch.

He dodges again and again. But each movement is slower than the last until both swords caress each other.

Zen whisks his sword up and connects his foot to Astro’s chest.

The boy breaks through the wall, breaking a table as well. Poker cards fly everywhere, and coins scatter around Astro. He grimaces as his body starts to ache with pain, but he does his best to ignore it and brings himself to his feet. He grips the sword with both hands. He breathes deep already heavy with exhaustion. The hood falls off and his spikes come into view. No hiding anymore!

More people flee to the door till nobody is in sight. Mallory watches and walks around the building, circling around the fight, like she’s critiquing them. Like a cat that watches its prey.

Wait. Where’s Reed?

Astro sneaks a glance at Mallory but she’s all by herself. A wicked smile meets him.

Astro grinds his teeth. She lied! I should have known she would never keep her promise. He makes a run for the door when something sizzles in front of him. The sizzling makes a scorch mark on the hardwood floor, and he halts. His wires spark with nervousness, like they already know what’s coming before he does. He looks up and- she has it. She has it. The laser device. No. No. No. But she does and he knows that she knows what it can do.

 Astro sees Reed go out the doors with a determined gleam in his eye when Zen attacks again.

He moves swiftly to the side as the sword meets the koi pond.

It gets stuck, but Zen thinks quick and with Astro within reaching distance, pulls a chunk of it, while water empties out of it, and thwacks him on the side of the head. Concrete and bricks go into pieces while Astro goes into a wall, shattering a vase in the process. He makes an impact but doesn’t go through the green color.

Ouch. His head spins and his vision fuzzes for a second. But focuses just in time to see Zen lunge for him with a yell.

The swords scratch and lock in a struggle battle. The emotionless eyes seem to dig into Astro like his sword.

Don’t let the sword get close to your neck. Don’t let the sword get close to your neck. Don’t let the sword-

The sword comes closer.

Not good. Not good. Astro pushes with all his might, but he might as well be pushing against the weight of the peacekeeper. The wall doesn’t break from the force and Astro’s eyes widen as he realizes he’s not going anywhere. He continues to breathe heavy, and he wants to give up. But he can’t, he can’t die on this floor. His head sliced off first, then the rest of his body. No. But he’s so drained already. Zen puts more pressure, and the swords make a move, then stay put.

“Just…don’t go… just try to find another way out.”

“Okay… Onward and upward, then.”

“Thank you, Astro.”

                  Cora, his dad, Tawashi. Their voices come not his head. He can’t give up on them. He can’t. He won’t. He has to live for them. He has to fight for them. Suddenly, the memory of the people he cares about or their voices, he’s not sure, seems to spur something inside him. A spark. A fire.

                  He grinds his teeth and pushes away from the wall. The motion makes Zen pause. With a newfound strength, Astro knocks his sword away and instead, surges his fist into the metal face.

                  The robot goes weightless through the air, crashing through the wall of the stage.

                  Astro runs and jumps through the made hole skidding to a stop in front of Zen who is already jumping to his feet. His eyelids slat, the most emotion he’s shown through the whole night. He’s pissed off. His sword sings again and again as he hacks at the boy. But Astro meets his strike every time, stronger and swifter than before.

Zen goes for Astro’s neck, but he bends his back then is upright again. He catches the moment when Zen swings his sword back towards him and he meets it.

Neither one lets up, so Astro flips in the air sideways, keeping his sword close that it grazes the other. He lands and pushes his weapon down.

Zen tries to pull his sword out of his grasp, but Astro’s strength keeps him there.

Using this to his advantage, Astro pushes off and his boot smashes into his face.

The huge robot stumbles back, and Astro gets in another punch.

But the moment Astro is in the air, an iron arm smacks him, sending him over the stage wall and onto the floor.

Astro wobbles as he tries to get up, but he shakes his head and lifts his sword.

Zen runs at him instead of leaps, and he realizes he’s running low on energy.  

Strike. Strike. Strike.

Then, Zen’s sword is barring down on him, trying to cut into him.

But this time, Astro hits his sword back- then twirls.

The sound of slicing through metal and wire is heard around the building.

Astro is breathing hard when he looks behind him to see Zen’s upper body slide off his lower half, falling heavy to the ground.

He did it.

He wants to feel bad, and he does for killing the robot, but he left him no choice. Right now, he’s grateful to be alive.

A stabbing pain hits him in the back that travels throughout his body. He lands on the ground groaning in pain, his eyes squeezed shut, then he remembers- he swivels around to find Mallory. The device is pointing at him, and it doesn’t lower. Her eyes turn wild with greed when she looks away from Zen’s now destroyed form to him.

His eyes go wide with realization. She’s going to kill him. She surges forward, and he scrambles off the floor and takes off. The laser misses him by a centimeter. The surge that went through his body makes him so tired, but he can’t black out. Not right now. He has to keep running and push through the pain and numbness that seeks him. Astro tries to get himself out of this situation by igniting his rockets, but they sputter then die on him. Well, that’s not good. Not good at all.  

He leaves the sword behind, knowing it’s not going to help him right now.

Mallory keeps firing, firing, and firing at him, and he keeps dodging. Insanity has claimed her now, not letting anything in her path block her from getting what she wants. She wants it. She wants it now. The thing that keeps him alive. The thing that can heal her from this nightmare. She could be normal… again.

She wants and needs his blue heart.

<><><><><><><> 

How could her her dad leave Astro in that building with that witch?

The street is full of the people coming out of Asuna’s. Some still drunk and others are carrying coins and money from recent wins.

Hamegg keeps up and weaves in between people.

Cora tries to yank her arm out of Tawashi’s grip, “We have to go back. We can’t just leave him in there!”

They suddenly stop on the other side of the street, the alley with the car at the end looms ahead of them. Tawashi leans down, his face close to hers, “I trust Astro. You trust him, too. That robot didn’t look too overwhelming for him, he took on the peacekeeper, remember?” Gracing Hamegg with a glance, making sure he was following.

Cora scowled, “I know that. But you heard her, she works for Drake. I didn’t like how she was looking at him, you saw it, it was like she wanted to have him for breakfast. What if she has the laser device?”

That stops him and he pauses, remembering that piece of information from earlier. What if she did?

Hamegg stares at her when she says this, “Laser device? You mean my laser device?”

“You mean Dr. Temma’s?” Cora says, with a raised eyebrow.

He rolls his eyes, “yeah, that one.” His face goes serious, “If he gets hit by that, he won’t last long… it will overheat his circuits and fry his wires… it will shut him down.”

Her face fills with fear and her stomach turns with worry.

They gaze back to the neon building wondering if they should head back.

Tawashi inhales sharply.

Reed’s form breaks through the crowd, his eyes scanning people then they land on them. The corners of his mouth turn up into a malicious grin.

Cora’s heart speeds when he starts moving forward. Tawashi immediately pulls out his gun then he pushes the girl behind him, “Go with Hamegg, get to the car!”

Now she was holding on to his arm, “No! I’m not leaving you!”

The boy was closing the distance dangerously fast between them.

Tawashi whips his head to Hamegg, “Go! Get to the car! We’ll follow you. Go!”

The man looks at the two like he wants to argue but he lets out a frustrated sigh and goes down the alley.

One less person’s life I have to worry about. Tawashi breathes a sigh of relief but remembers who is right beside him. He pushes her further behind him, his gun now raising at the crazy boy.

                  He was now ten feet away from them.

                  “Come any closer and I’ll shoot!” Tawashi yells.

                  But Reed just grins his usual smile. He makes a sharp movement to his left then breaks to his right.

                  Unfortunately, the detective takes the shot to the left and misses him. Something shiny flashes towards him and then- he grunts in pain. A sharp object lodges in his right shoulder, he sinks down the wall and drops his gun.

                  Cora is right beside him, “Dad! Dad? Dad!” Her hand hovers over the star like knife and almost pulls it out, but thinks again, and instead tries to put her hand around it to stop any blood from coming out.

He’s still conscious and looks at her with obvious pain in his face, “It’s okay. I’m okay. I don’t think it hit anything vit- Cora look out!!”

His eyes go from hers to something charging behind her but before she can turn- iron arms lock around her like a bear hug.

“Ugh! No! Dad! Let go of me!”

“Cora!” Tawashi goes into a panic as the boy grabs her and pulls her away from him. He goes to raise his gun but- his hands empty. He looks to his left and sees it a couple feet away. He makes a move.

“Ha ha ha,” Reed’s voice calls out just as another knife is pulled out and grows close to the girl’s neck.

Tawashi freezes and puts his hand in the air, “Easy.”

The boy giggles in Cora’s ear, and she grimaces away, “Reach for that gun; I reach for her neck.”

She tries to struggle, “Dad, don’t worry about me!”

Reed’s eyes go wide, “Dad?” He chuckles, “You have a beautiful daughter.”

Tawashi glares at him, looking like he wants to rip him apart.

A blue light shines through one of the windows of Asuna’s that catches their attention for a second. It comes from the upper floor of the main room. Cora can’t see the figure that runs past but she can see a blue lightning coming from the other one that’s chasing them.

Cora breathes, “Astro.”

Reed giggles, “Looks like my sister is close to killing the robot.”

She gives him daggers, but he drinks her in then- he licks her!

His tongue dragging across her chin to her cheek. Ugh! She lets out a disgusted scream.

That’s it! She’s had enough. Her rage bubbling to the point of exploding. Her dad has a knife in his shoulder and her best friend is getting chased by a psycho that definitely wants to kill him.

The knife in Reed's hand comes into view as she feels the beginning of his teeth on her neck. Her upper arms are locked by her side, but her hands are free, and she grabs his hand and bites down. He lets out a painful yelp and the knife drops from his hand. Before he could react again, she’s already moving and pulls his arm over her shoulder.

She flips him over and he lands on the ground by her feet. He blinks his eyes open with surprise to find her looming over him as she pulls out her wrench.

His eyes go wide, and she brings her weapon down. She keeps hitting him and hitting. Smack. Whack. He tries to get away, but she keeps at it. Strike. Whack. Then he becomes unconscious. She raises it again-

“Cora!”

Her dad’s voice breaks her out of her red haze, and she looks at him, breathing hard.

His gun that was a couple feet away is now being held firm in his hands. She looks back up at his expression; he was planning to shoot him when he got the chance. “You got him.”

She looks back down to see his face already bruising and cuts that are bleeding.

After collecting herself, she remembers who she is and walks back over to her dad’s side. He grunts and hisses as she helps him up.

They turn around and- Dr. Temma stands right there.

Their walking stills to a stop, “Temma?” Tawashi hesitates.

Temma looks between Cora and the beat-up boy, “I know you told me to stay in the car, but I heard a commotion.” His gaze finally lands on the girl. “… Are you alright?”

Cora blows a piece of hair out of her face, “Fantastic. I’m going to boil my face when we get home.”

The doctor frowns but is grateful that she’s okay.

“Where’s Hamegg?”

Temma turns his attention to the detective and blinks, his expression blank. “Hamegg?”

“Yes, Hamegg. Where is he?”

“I haven’t seen him yet.”

Cora and Tawashi stare at him like he just blew up Metro City, “What!”

A faint sizzling sounds above them and they all look up to the rooftop of Asuna’s Oasis to see the outline of Astro’s spikes in the moonlight and the blue energy of the laser device in Mallory’s hand shooting out and hitting Astro square in the chest.

“Astro!” Temma yells then he’s running. Booking it to the car like never before.

<><><><><><><> 

He can’t hold on for much longer. He had run up the stairs and tried to fly up them to get away from the pain, but each time, his rockets gave out on him, he continued with running after that. His powers were going out with low energy. He can feel his wires and circuits grow tired and grow hot to the point of almost exploding. His body wants to shut down. It needs to shut down. But he can’t, she’s hot on his tail.

He tries to breathe in as much air as he can, to try to cool his system down. He’s made it to the roof and had locked the door the best he could by putting a piece of junkyard scrape in front of it. It won’t last, he knows, but the spare seconds he has, he will take.

His hands are on his knees, leaning against the wall, when he hears the door jingle, but it doesn’t budge.

His core speeds more than ever before. I’ve got to get out of here.

Several hard slams against the door echo then he hears a muddled, “You can’t run forever, little robot.” Then another slam is heard, and the junk is pushed aggressively from the door, and she steps through.

Astro makes a run for it, but he only gets two steps in then he falls to one knee as blackness overtakes his vision for a second. He groans as his body starts too ache from the pain of the laser device.

He screams as the pain intensifies and all he could do is lay there convulsing. Over and over, she hits him again and again. This was worse than when Hamegg was going at him at the robot games. He doesn’t know how many times the laser hits him, and he doesn’t know how he’s still conscious. He’s stubborn.

He makes one last attempt and shouts out. He raises his arm; his eyes find her hand and fires. His finger turning into a laser of his own, giving one last boost of his power.

The device goes flying behind her, landing by the door.

Finally, the pain goes to a numbing sensation but he doesn’t black out. He groans again, his wires screaming at him.

Footsteps sound till there in front of his lowered head. He tries to lift his head to her, but it quickly falls back down.

He feels her metal hand grip his shirt, bringing him up ungracefully to his feet. Her pale red eyes come into view, and she grins like she just won the lottery, “I guess I don’t really need the laser device anymore.”

He was about to ask her what she meant when her foot suddenly knocks him back, and he hits the concrete wall.

“Should I tell you the deal me and Drake made?” Mallory says.

Astro levels his eyes at her the best he can, “Please spare me the details.”

He doesn’t see her reaction as his gaze finds the floor.

“It’s quite simple, I take out your friends and you, bring your body back to Drake and… I get your blue heart.”

Astro should be surprised and scared but he’s not really. So many people have wanted his core in the past. What makes him curious is… why?

“What do you want with it?”

She stares at him and begins to unzip her jacket. It falls to the ground in a heap and in the moonlight, its glow reflects off her silver arms and head. Instead of a shirt, a black tube top and pants covers her.

He had only seen her hands but now he was seeing everything. The metal ends at her shoulders but he he can see it continues behind her back. It appears the arms are attached behind with two metal rods so as not to have her be carried down by the weight of them. She’s bald, the slick surface covering her head with coiled wires and plugs coming out of it. The strands travel down inside the two metal rods, most likely giving her brain control of the arms.

Astro’s brows furrow when he sees metal and skin meet on her shoulders. It looks like the skin tried it’s best to form around the metal, tried to be one with it. Browns and reds coat at the edges, and he realizes it’s rust. It looks very very painful.

Her eyes go watery, “I was normal once. I had two arms and a head full of hair. But after the accident, that all changed, they put these things on me, and now I’m… this!” Gesturing to all of her. “But I can change that… you can change that…specially your blue core.”

“What are you taking about?”

Mallory takes a few steps towards him, “I’ve heard the rumors and things about it. How it’s pure positive energy. To help bring nature back to life. That was one of its purposes. It’s effect on biology is miraculous… so why not humans.”

Astro freezes, immediately knowing where she’s going with this, “It doesn’t work like that.”

She scoffs, “You don’t understand”-

“No. I do. Mallory it won’t give you back your arms.” Hearing him say her name makes her pause, a chill goes through her.

Her eyes go wild, “You don’t know that.”

The numbness is spreading throughout his body, and he knows he’s only got minutes before he blacks out.

He hesitates, “I… don’t know. I’ve never used my power on humans before I don’t know what it’s going to do to you”-

Sh grabs hold of his hand then moves her forearm under his chin making his head immovable and his hand trapped, a last spark of energy goes through him as fear courses in him. He struggles under her grip but he’s too weak. She’s hit him mores times with the laser device than Hamegg, and he’s surprised he’s lasted this long.

Her grip is strong, keeping him there. Using her other hand, she lifts his shirt up, exposing his chest. Her fingers are cold as they search for his hatch.

He reacts immediately, “Get off of me! Get off!”

He uses his free hand to grab the one that’s searching, and he stops her but then he hears the hissing sound of his chest opening. His eyes go wide with shock. The blue light of his heart showers over the cyborg girl. She leans forward as her eyes grow hungry with need then she’s pushing and fighting as she tries to rip the glowing sphere out of his chest.

Astro panics and yells, “No!”

Her fingers had just grazed the outer edge when-

A sizzling blue stream hits her. Her eyes shut with agony and she’s screaming. Screaming so loud that it makes Astro want to cover his ears. Aftershocks take over her body and she falls to the ground.  Her entire body is smoking, and he can’t tell if she’s dead or not.

He forces his eyes to stay open and looks towards the door where the energy came from-

Astro’s eyes go wide with disbelief.

Hamegg stands in the doorway with the stolen laser device. His hand is still raised when he looks at the boy. His eyes narrow for a second, and Astro thinks he’s going to use it on him.

The man sighs like he just inhaled his first breath of air, and his hand drops down to his side.

They stare at each other until Astro realizes his hatch is still open and he closes it.

Hamegg is first to break the ice, “You alright there?”

“Yeah… thank you.”

Then his body gives out on him, and he blacks out.

Chapter Text

Chapter 10/ The Aftermath

            Everything was dark. It felt like a second that blended into an eternity.

            But then, a soft light hits his eyelids, and he moves.

            Slowly, he blinks his eyes open and his vision pixels. He groans softly and shuts them again for a second before gazing up. A ceiling comes into view and realizes he’s laying on a couch. The same couch he had been sleeping on for the past few days.

            Wait. What happened?

            The last thing he could remember was Mallory trying to rip out his core and… Hamegg saving him.

            He sits up with a start.

His body makes mechanical noises with every move he makes, and he hisses. His chest and pretty much everywhere else aches with pain. As soon as he does this, there’s a rustling noise beside him.

            “Astro?”

            He turns and finds Cora sitting right next to the couch on the ground with her knees tucked against her and she blinks the sleep out of her eyes.

            “Cora? Why are you sitting on the ground?”

            She looks up with a slight glare then they soften, then she’s moving. Her arms wrapping around him in a big hug. “Duh, I was waiting for you to wake up and… I was worried about you.”

            He smiles and hugs her back.

            But… it’s more than that. He’s alive. He’s alive! And with that thought, Cora gives him a tighter squeeze.

            They let go of each other. A scabbed scratch on Cora’s neck catches Astro’s attention and he moves her hair slightly to the side, and frowns.

She realizes what he’s looking at and slaps his hand away, “It’s nothing.”

“That wasn’t there before.”

She sighs, “It was the stupid kid… Reed, I think that was his name, but I got him back. His face was all bloody.” A satisfied smile crosses her lips.

Astro’s brow goes up, and he thinks for a second, remembering Reed did go after them, “Are you okay? And… everyone else?

“Yeah, I’m okay, no biggie.” She pauses and casts her eyes down for a second. “Umm, my dad got hit with one of Reed’s knifes-But he’s okay for the most part, it was only his shoulder that took most of it. He won’t be able to go back to work for a few weeks.”

A panic goes through him for a second, hearing the detective almost getting killed. The memory of Asuna’s empty eyes haunts back to him. He looks down and sees the giant cat, Himari, curled up against his leg purring away as she sleeps and he can hear a soft tune playing from a radio somewhere he guesses.

 One of the parts of being a superhero that he loathes is watching other people suffer for who he is. Everyone goes through hell around him, and he wishes he could make it stop. He learned very quick that people closest to him get hurt.

Astro gazes back at Cora and before he realizes it, his arms are locking around her, bringing her close again. She pauses for a millisecond then hugs him back with the same fierceness as before.

If he could have stayed in that hug forever, he would have. He could feel all his worries and fears melt away as the hug tightens and they stay like that for a minute.

A squeaky noise startles them. They break apart and turn to see trashcan come into the room. As soon as the robot pup sees Astro, awake and smiling, he barks happily and moves quickly to his side.

He halts suddenly, his eyes landing on the cat. The metal ears go back, and he growls.

Himari had woken up and was in the middle of giving herself a bath, she pauses mid lick on her paw and takes in the angry dog. Then she continues as if not caring.

Trashcan makes his way over and jumps up on the couch.

“Trashcan leave Himari alone,” Cora says, tiredly.

But he ignores her. Using his head, he roughly nudges at the cat's thick fur, attempting to push her off the couch. Himari paws at him, meowing unhappily. But she quickly gives up, hopping off the couch. She finds a new spot by Cora and continues cleaning herself.

Trashcan snuggles up by Astro’s leg and hums happily.

Cora sighs and shakes her head at the two pets.

Astro only chuckles and pets the metal head, “You’re still my best bud, trashcan.”

In the other room, footsteps move quickly.

The teenagers turn just in time to see Dr. Temma come into sight. His usual hairstyle that is combed neatly had gone through a transformation. The hair was sticking out in unusual places. His eyes appearing more sunken in like he hadn’t gotten any sleep. His eyebrows go up slightly in a look of relief.

“You woke up.” Then he walks swiftly and takes his robot son into his arms.

Astro frowns at his words as he hugs him back, “Yeah? I did. What do you mean?”

His dad pulls back, “You took quite a hit, many hits I heard. The girl was not holding back with my laser device. I was worried your body would not recover from the shock and shut down your systems.”

“Oh.” Relief goes through him, grateful that outcome did not happen.

Another figure slowly makes his way over.

Astro breathes out, “Tawashi?”

The detective gives a small smile. Astro is grateful that he’s still standing but the thing that catches his attention is his left arm in a sling, keeping his arm positioned right so no stitches come loose or out.

The boy is about to open his mouth and apologize for all he’s put him through but- Tawashi’s hand hovers in mid air and stops him.

“Don’t waste your words on me. I’ll be fine.” A soft smile appears, for the first time he’s genuinely smiling at him. He looks down at him with an almost proud expression.

The detective quickly got out his soft side and coughed slightly, “Glad to see you up but… I also wanted to tell you… your name’s cleared.”

Astro’s brows go up again, and he blinks in surprise, “What? Really?”

“Yes… It’s been an eventful morning. When you were still out, me and Hamegg went down to the station. There was a few surprise looks our way,” he chuckles. “He confessed you were innocent, and the bounty on your head was dropped immediately. During that time some of the other officers went down to the surface to collect the two misfits. Reed was still unconscious, and we threw cuffs on him. Mallory… surprisingly… wasn’t dead. Her body was burned pretty badly. No doubt the effects of the laser.”

“She is persistent.” Astro notes.

“We thought the siblings would be difficult but… they confessed, too. Confessed to working with Drake…. Everything. Soon after that, Drake was arrested in his own house,” Tawashi says this with delightful grin. “I wish I could have been there to see them shove his sorry ass behind bars. He’s going to there for a very long time. The officers said he kept yelling, ‘The robot’s! They all must be destroyed!’”

Astro snorts and shakes his head slightly, “Thank you.” Then he grows serious and turns to the detective again, almost hesitatingly, “Is Hamegg here… or…”

As soon as the name leaves his mouth, Dr. Temma clenches his fist. Cora is silent as she stares at her father.

Tawashi absentmindedly hugs his sling and sighs softly, “No… no, he’s still here, he’s out on the porch.”

Astro eyes a door that sits between the kitchen and the living room, and he can see a faint glimpse of the man through the window.

His dad’s knuckles are still white and there’s a guarding expression on his face. He can tell he wants to tell him to not go see Hamegg or talk to him or whatever it is. But Astro wants to… he needs to.

A message passes between Dr. Temma and his son. Instead of getting defensive like he would normally do, his dad sighs unhappily but gives a soft nod towards the door. Go.

<><><><><><><> 

The door slides open with a thuck, grabbing Hamegg’s attention, his eyes tearing away from the city that sits in front of him. The place he used to call home.

A simple cup of coffee is held in his hand.

The door closes behind Astro, and the two stare at each other for a second before Hamegg coughs, “Would you look at that, the hotshot woke up.” Not all sounding impressed.

“You don’t sound surprised.”

The man scoffed, “I knew you would wake up. From how much you took, and you were still standing. Yeah, I knew. But still… are you alright?” His eyes going soft.

A piece of the man before the robot games and the betrayal peaked out from under the surface. And he was sober. Not halfway or a quarter of the way drunk. Astro was immensely grateful for that.

“Yeah, I’m okay.” A half smile tugs at Astro as he walks around the table and takes a seat.

Hamegg gives him a look, “You’re blocking my view.”

The boy raises his eyebrows and gazes behind him then turns back, “Now your view just got better.” Then gives a big toothy grin.

The man rolls his eyes and sighs, “What do you want?”

The smile loosens up and Astro leans forward on the table, crossing his arms, “I want to talk.”

“Talk? Didn’t we do that last night?”

“Actually, you talked with slurred words and threw liquor in my face.”

The coffee cup pauses, and he looks down at it, the memories surfacing back to him, “yeah… yeah, I did…” His eyes find Astro again, “Sorry, about that.”

There it is again. That same look. It was there last night too after Astro tried to get the liquor out of his eyes. For a second, Hamegg looked regretful like he wished he could take it back. That’s how he looked right now.

Astro rubs the sleeve of his shirt, “I been wanting to ask you… why did you leave the laser device and the coat behind?”

            A slight breeze blows through the older man’s curly hair. At first, he stares at him like he just spoke gibberish, then he shifts awkwardly and looks out into the city. The life of the city sounding in the background.

            “Well, to simply to put it, I didn’t want that life anymore. And sooner than later, the robot games were a goner after you left that day. I realized after you saved me, that you were not like other robots. I was wrong about you. I started to feel guilty mixed with anger, and… for the past few months… I’ve been trying to figure those feelings out… I guess the guilty won me over. I left the orphanage and tried to fix up robots here and there and… tried to forget all that happened in the past.” He takes a sip of his coffee and pauses, “Why did you do it? Why save my neck? If another robot was in your place, they would have let it happen? Something turned the bolts in your brain. Was it because of your power source? Heck, if you had let Zog kill me, the RRF would have promoted you right there and then and named you King of Robots.”

            Astro scoffed and shook his head, What a ridiculous idea. King of Robots? No way!

            Astro’s voice took on a firm tone, “My blue core had nothing to do with. I saved you because it was the right thing to do. There was other factors; Cora and the others were there and… I couldn’t let them watch you get killed. I… I guess I kept seeing the man who took me in when I didn’t have a home.”

            Hamegg took this in then back at his coffee, twirling the words in his head. His words are not programmed. They’re real. With the last sip of his drink, he stares at Astro, long and hard. The boy stares back with determination. He doesn’t laugh or quirk a smile. He’s telling the truth. Hamegg can’t believe it, even though he saw it months ago, and now he’s seeing it right now. This robot has human emotions. Astro has human emotions. And he’s more than grateful that he does.

            Astro speaks up again, “I’m sorry about Asuna. Did you know her well?”

            Cars honks fill the silence.

            It takes him a minute to take his dull eyes from his empty cup.

            Hamegg whispers, “Yeah, I did. She… she was the first person I got to know when I came to the surface. I was basically living at the ministry when I was working there. So, after they fired me, I had no where to go. I didn’t want anything to do with Metro City but go against it, I left. Asuna owned many of the buildings down on the surface the orphanage being one of them. She was told it used to be an automobile repair shop many many years ago when cars still had wheels. Ha. If I earned some money, she was going to let me stay there for free, and I did.”

            He pauses.

            “She was very… generous to me.” I didn’t deserve any of it. Hamegg wants to say and it’s true, he didn’t. Then he goes silent again, not looking at anything in particular.

            Astro listened to every word and a heavy cloud hovers the moment. His brow furrows and his eyes turn bright and hopeful.

            “I don’t think you were ever bad, Hamegg… just human. I know that now. I did have a feeling before not to trust you. I don’t feel it now. You’ve changed.”

            Hamegg scoffs, “Ha, don’t get your hopes up.” Though a soft smile forms on his face.

            It feels like minutes pass, the two taking in the scenery they had both grown up to admire, when Hamegg’s voice chimes in again.

“I’ve seen all of Temma’s work, the robots he’s created, the ones that were dumped on the surface everyday, all of it…. I have to say you’re his greatest work.”

Astro doesn’t know what to say and a feeling of old betrayal creeps in, but he quickly shoves it down as the genuine smile returns. Astro returns a smile of his own, “Is that a compliment?”

“Don’t push it.”

The boy lets out a chuckle and extends his hand out across the table, “Friends? Or non-enemies if you like that more.”

Hamegg scoffs and looks at Astro hand with hesitation, but he simple moves his empty coffee cup to the side and grips his hand, “Friends.”

Astro beams as they shake hands.

<><><><><><><> 

            Flying. Sigh. If I could fly all day I would. Astro thought this as he lands in front of Metro City’s Grand Theater. Flying cleared his head for a while but his thoughts from earlier quickly zoomed back. Drifting back to a conversation with him and his dad. Astro had asked suddenly what had happened to the laser device. Did the police confiscate it? Did the police give it back to his father? It was legally his. He must have destroyed it, Astro thought as he stared at his dad from across the table, his breakfast looming in front of him, waiting for an answer.

            His dad took a break from his coffee and simply said, “No, Tawashi gave it back to me and I gave it back to the ministry.”

            The fork in his hand went limp and Astro stared at him longer than a second. What?

            His brows furrow and a sudden tightness in his belly grew. It gave him the same sensation of whenever Toby felt sick.

            “You… you didn’t destroy it?”

             Any notice of hesitation in his voice was not there from the man in front of him.

            Dr. Temma stared at him, “No, I couldn’t. It’s property of the ministry.”

            But you’re the head of the Ministry of Science.

            “Oh.” Is all Astro says, and he sees his hands fist. The eggs bacon and toast are not looking appealing as they did when he first saw them.

            Not really pieces of thoughts but the whole scene that had enfolded from the morning replayed through his brain. He couldn’t get the oblivious face of his dad out of his head when he said he didn’t destroy the laser device. Like how could he not destroy that thing. It’s property of the ministry. The thing that literally almost killed him.

            Astro shook his head and rethinks again, Maybe I’m overreacting…. Or am I not.

It was a gigantic building. It wasn’t a movie theater house but one that put on famous shows or musicals. The only time he had ever been there was never. Him, no. But Toby did when he was younger, seven, probably. And shockingly before, his father had gone too. The show they had gone to was called Hamlet. He just remembers it being interesting but depressing.

            Cora had asked him to come to the theater saying she wanted to show him something before going to meet up with Zane and the twins to get a bite. But, why here? She never goes here. She instructed he go up the stairs till he reached the third floor, and he would come upon a room.

            He opens the big glass doors.

            The hallway was modern much like Metro City’s design; lots of windows, the effect making it feel you were outside without being… outside. As he was walking, he spotted the main theater through a set of doors.

            He took a step closer. Rows and rows of red velvet chairs filled the room, leading to a huge red curtain that is pulled together, concealing the stage. Gold delicacies are trimmed everywhere in the room. Around the stage, hugging the small balconies that are on either side of the room. Even the floor was red. It was much different than outside. Not a blue, grey or white color was seen.

            Wanting to stay and look around but thinking better of it, he walked back out and began climbing the stairs.

            When he got to the third floor, he spotted a door. It was wide open, and the lights were on.

            He peaked his spiky head in, “Cora?”

            She was sitting on the glossy wood floor striping off navy leg warmers.

            “Hey,” Looking up at him with a big smile.

            He smiled and walked over, “Hey. What are you doing here and… why are you dressed like that?”

            After taking in the mirrors that surrounded him, his reflection looking back at him, he noticed something was different about her apparel. Her spiked ends were smoothed back away from her face with bobby pins while her bangs hang down. A blank leotard and tights covered her while a navy cardigan hugged her shoulders. A simple black skirt fanned around her.

            As soon as the words left him and he saw the pale pink shoes on her feet. He knew. But he thought she didn’t want to go back to this.

A smile starts to appear on Astro’s face, “You’re messing with me.”

A knowing smile forms, and she sighs. Cora stands from her sitting position and the skirt sways around her thighs. She goes into one of her signature stances; arms folded, and her hip slightly popped out. A raised eyebrow of ‘really?’ or a glare would have taken its place but instead, her eyes are soft and unsure and they’re staring at him like she’s waiting for him to say ‘you’re crazy for going back to this’ or ‘this is not you Cora.’

He did kind of say that before. And now, he could tell she wanted him to say something else. Something different. But she’s never needed his approval for anything. And it hits him; this is important to her.

No way does she look like a scavenger now. Of course, it’s the most girly outfit he’s ever seen her in, but for some reason, the shoes, the skirt… they suit her.

She was tall. She had more of an athletic form, most properly due to her previous years of dancing. It was like he was seeing another version of Cora. One she had buried deep.

It’s been so many years since she had ruffled the feathers of the girl she used to be. To Cora’s surprise, the little girl who loved to dance was still inside her.

Astro’s gaze traveled up to her face. Her neck and cheeks visibly turned the color of his boots.

Realizing what he just did, his eyes go wide and heat travels to his own cheeks. His ears turn so hot he thought steam was going to come out.

            She lets out a cough, “No, I’m not. So, how ridiculous do I look?”

            “You don’t. It suits you.” His face is still pink, but his voice is solemn.

            Her eyes slowly close then open, “Be honest with me, Astro.”

            He swiftly takes in the shoes skirt and smooth hair again and he sighs, “Honestly, I was expecting more… pink.” The corner of his mouth goes up.

            Her eyes narrow, “Sorry, but I’m not that kind of ballerina. I’m more of a black swan type.”

            He chuckles, “Black swan?”

            “In the show Swan Lake, Odette is the white swan representing water while Odile is the black swan representing fire.”

            “Mmm, I can see it now.”

            Cora laughs.

            Astro walks a couple steps forward, his boots make a thuck sound against the wood, “What made you decide to come back?”

            She looks down at her crossed arms, the red in her cheek's blooms brighter, “You. I thought about what you said that night when I showed you my old pointe shoes. I kept thinking about over and over. It’s true, me and my old self do not mix, like oil and water, but…”

            Hearing the reason for her return was partly due to him encouraging her made a warm feeling ignite in his chest. A smirk appears on the boy’s face, “Actually, oil and water do mix sometimes… if you add an emulsifier.”

            Cora stares for a second, not knowing what to say, then she rolls her eyes and shakes her head, “And… why am I not surprised you know that.” Her usual smile makes its appearance.

            Astro shrugs his shoulders, not saying anything. It’s just a random fact. Then he takes another step towards her till there’s only a few inches between them.

            “That’s awesome you came back. Has it been a good experience?” His brow furrows, “Do you have the same coach?”

            Cora shook her head, and blew a pink bang out of the way, “No, it’s a different one. She’s strict but she’s nice. I’ve loved it so far, plus it helps to deal with…” She pauses, looks up, then back down to her pink foot slightly scraping the floor. “… the nightmares.”

            “You still have them?”

            She nods.

            “Is there anything I can do?”

            Her face warms, softly smiling at him, “No, I’m okay. I don’t have them every night and there not as intense as that first week… but they’re there.”

            Four weeks since his name was cleared and Cora was rescued from Skunk and his henchmen. His hands clench, he still remembers waking her up each night from her awful nightmares. Seeing the fear that Skunk had inflicted in her over and over. He’s never seen her so scared before. He wished he could rip those nightmares away from her.

            “I’m okay, Astro,” her voice breaking him out of his thoughts, “In fact, I am starving. I forgot how hungry I get after a dance class. You’re still up with meeting Zane and the others for lunch?”

            She quickly took off her ballet shoes and switch to her pink sneakers. Slipping on a jacket and heading for the door, her eyes meet his.

            He nods, “Of course.” He catches up to her and they both leave the mirror room behind.

THE END

Chapter Text

Epilogue/ Firebird

            13 Months Later

            Pine garlands were strewn across the expansive glass walls of the theater. Bits of holly poked out within the branches. The smell of pine and cinnamon wafted through the wide hallway, which was filling up with guests quickly.

            The one thing that never changed about the theater was the attire. Satin and velvet dresses hung onto sleeves of tuxes with ties that went this and that way, mingling in the middle of the red carpet.

            Astro’s boots melted perfectly into the floor. He was wearing a black tux with a bow tie matching his spiked up hairstyle. Standing next to him was his father also wearing a black tux with a bow tie.

            Cora and her parents had invited them to a show called Legend of the Firebird. After months of classes, rehearsals, and auditions, her teacher saw talent in her and told her she would make a great career as a ballerina.

Astro smiled remembering how Cora’s face lit up telling him she got the audition to play in the show. It was a small role, but it was something and that was enough for her. He immediately agreed to show up to support her.

The big doors open to the public finally and everyone slowly shuffles in and finds their seats.

Astro and his dad move to the second row closest to the front.

They’re so close to the front that they can see the live band warm up before the show actually starts. Music from the first act of The Nutcracker begins to play.

Tawashi and Quinn’s family shuffle in the same row. All the children were old enough to attend, which had its pros and cons; a lot of kids to get ready, driving to the ballet, and the ballet itself. The last one isn’t really a con but two hours with kids can quickly turn into one.

Grace pulls at the itchy collar of her fancy dress and makes a slight gagging noise, “I’m dying.”

“It’s only for two hours.” Tawashi says as he adjusts his glasses, wearing a grey suit with a tie.

Grace’s eyes bulge, “Why don’t I just start digging my grave right now.”

“Grace!” He chided, his voice low and firm. “You’re here for Cora. Can you do it for her?”

Her shoulders slump and grabs at the collar again, and mutters, “I guess… I can manage… two hours.” Then plops down in the velvet seat.

Tawashi sighs and shakes his head.

Zane takes a spot next to Astro while Sludge and Widget occupy the other two seats next to each other.

Astro bumps fists with the boy, “What’s up?”

“What’s up, dude?” Zane says. His black tux matching his.

“Have you seen Cora yet?” Widget asked, looking at Astro. She was wearing a green skirt that had embroidered pink flowers and a shirt to match. Sludge was wearing shorts with a green button up vest and a white shirt underneath.

Astro shook his head, “I haven’t seen her since the morning, but the show should be starting soon.”

He saw her the morning before, before she had to go in for rehearsals and then was texting her during the day.

She was ready but the last couple of hours, he could tell the nerves were starting to get to her. Stuff like what if she messes up or slips but he tried to hush her worries and nerves texting back saying she was going to do great, and that she’s been practicing for months. It’s been a while since he’s been at the theater, and he was excited to see Cora perform. He knew without a doubt she was going to blow the audience away. He had literally told her that and she replied ‘Astro, I am one dancer among many others and there’s thousands of people in the audience.’ He replied with ‘Still.’ And she smiled and shook her head.

More people filled the seats. Astro looked and noticed the mini booths and balconies on both sides were starting to fill up. People he guessed were famous or had lots of money were up there. His dad would have bought a mini booth for the privacy and space but decided the other for his son.

Being close to the stage, a door to the right opened as janitors and makeup artists came out.

Suddenly, two ballerinas came into view and appeared to be arguing. One girl was holding a pointe shoe, Astro now recognizes. The other one was also holding a set of shoes, and a bag of… something pointy and white? Astro wasn’t sure what it was.

They were Russian. Their accents deep and laid back

“You deprived swan! You steal my pins again; I break your kneecaps!”

“I did not take your pins! You need powder. You look like oil slick.”

Then they started speaking Russian, their words going back and forth fast.

During the exchange, Astro’s eyes had gone wide and were still staring at the doors in horror as they close.

It’s probably nothing but… he can’t help it.

He dials Cora’s number in his head. She picks up on the fourth ring.

“Hello, Astro?”

“Please tell me no one has dislocated your kneecaps or has threaten to?”

There’s a pause, “… excuse me? No, they’re fine-what is going on?”

Relief goes through him, “Nothing…” He explains what happened and she suddenly exclaims.

“Ohhh.” She giggles, “You’re talking about the Russian sisters. Eva and Anastasia. They fight all the time. They can be a little odd but… most of the time they’re cool.”

Astro frowns, then makes a face towards Zane, who is trying to follow along, “She says they do it all the time.”

Zane tries to hide a grin.

Astro furrows his brow, “What?”

“I’m sure it’s nothing. It sounded like when Widget and Sludge fight. They fight like that all the time.”

Sludge shuffles in his seat, “Yeah, only when Widget starts it, though.”

Widget turns in her seat and sends daggers at her brother and he just smirks.

“And I finish it.” Widget mutters under her breath.

Zane laughs as the twin gives his sister the side eye.

Cora on the other end hears this and chuckles, but “They fight all the time. They’re not a threat. I’m safe.”

Astro sighs, and lets it go, “Okay… You’re going to do great.”

“Thanks… I’ll see you guys out there.” He could tell she was smiling, then she hangs up and his head goes silent.

Twenty minutes later, the lights dim to dark. A big light falls on the closed curtain and an older man walks to the center. He’s a bit plump in the middle and has a curly mustache. He quickly adjusts his black jacket. His deep voice echoes through the room, “The story we are going to show tonight is one we have not done before in this theater. Our land now is covered in technology and new advancements but before… our land was covered with myths and vibrant creatures. The story of the firebird is an ancient one and one I believe you will love. Enjoy!”

Claps rang throughout the room and the curtain is pulled apart to reveal the stage.

A man-made set looked to be the inside of a palace sat in place, and then the music begins playing.

Astro knew the story. Thinking back to one of his history classes, going over a section of myths and legends.

Long ago, the crowning of the next Emperor was nearing. Some villagers were anxious, and some were excited for a new era to begin. The great bird would only come out during a season and only at night. To hear the eerie sound of its wings and its great cry, it was a sign of peace and good luck for the emperor’s reign. When the villagers heard this, relief would come to them, knowing many years of prosperity and good fortune from their new emperor were coming their way.

One time, when another emperor came into place, the familiar cry or flap of its wings was not heard at all. The villagers were full of panic. The bird did not come. There was no celebration in the streets. The emperor was angry and confused at their behavior until he heard of the tale of legendary bird. Laughing at such a tale, to prove he was going to be the greatest emperor, he gathered a team of the best hunters and himself and went up into the mountains to search and kill the bird.

Weeks went by and no sign of the bird or its home was found. All the men died due to dehydration, sweltering to death, and no food. The only one left was the new emperor.

After a month of searching, the man finally found its nest sitting in the thick bamboos. The man was shocked to find there was not one but multiple offspring. The birds had white bellies with red feathers stretching to the rest of its body with hints of green under its wings. Their tails were long and had hints of reds, blues, greens and purples. They were magnificent birds! The biggest one sat on top of a rock overlooking its playful siblings. In anger, the emperor raised his sword to cut the beautiful birds down. But the biggest one, screeched in his direction, stopping him. The siblings flew into the bamboo forest and hid. Suddenly, the bird opened its beak and blew blue fire at his face. Panicking, thinking he was going to be burned alive… but he was still alive.

Instead, a deep female voice came into his head, and he knew it was the firebird. She was furious by his actions, and she wanted to kill him right then and now. But instead, something else happened. A greater knowledge came into his mind, and he saw everything. Future memories of himself being emperor flashed before him. He saw a year pass, and the crops stopped producing fruit, the wells and rivers dried up, the land died, because during the time he was emperor he did not think of the people. The people. The kingdom all perished because of his choices. He crumbled to his knees as dumbfounded shock overtook him.

The man cried and asked for forgiveness. He promised her he would never do those things to his subjects and would do his best to take care of its people and land. He begged over and over.

The firebird did not kill him but instead, she told him she would appear again when a great leader would come into the land.

Her and her siblings flew away and were never seen again.

The emperor returned to the palace empty handed. But he strived to be a great leader. Surprisingly, the kingdom flourished and grew in numbers. But after season after season and many years, the firebird and its great battle cry was not heard ever again.

Astro loved hearing the stories of myths and legends, but he also didn’t know if it was real. If it actually happened. Logically, it wasn’t possible. But he still loved hearing them and imagining the stories in his head.

Watching the performance as the dancers twirled gracefully across the stage telling the story. The music bold and airy. It was beautiful.

 A group of ballerinas representing the siblings of the firebird, took a stance to the front of the stage and froze in position. Their heads lowering low to the ground. The costumes sparkled. Every time, the material would shimmer with every move they made. White bodysuits covered them while red, green, blue, purple sequins flowed around them. They had long sleeves that made it look like big wings, and it looked cool when they threw them into the air. Masks decorated with feathers and diamonds covered their faces.

One of the girls made a slight move and bright blue eyes made contact with him.

Astro blinked, surprised. It was Cora.

A soft smile spread underneath her mask.

Her eyes were lined with dark makeup making them pop and her cheeks had a coat of blush. Her eyes sparkled like sapphire jewels.

Astro stared at her, not knowing what to do. He couldn’t really do anything but… stare. A warm sensation flooded from his core and grew till it reached his face, and he was sure it was as red as the floor below him. Cora’s eyes crinkle in the corners like she was trying to hold in a laugh.

“I can’t believe that’s my sister.” Zane whispers, making Astro blink back into reality.

Astro chuckles softly.

Zane makes a small gesture around his face and mouths to her, what happened to you?

Cora smirks and her head goes slightly side to side like she wants to shake her head at him. Her eyes turn fierce. I can still kick your ass if that’s what you're asking.

Widget’s eyes sparkle and a big smile overtakes her as she looks up at her older sister.

Sludge smiles in brotherly appreciation and gives her a small thumbs up.

Cora has never felt so grateful for the people in her life than at that moment. She takes in the floor below, trying not to lose her focus or balance.

But her gaze drifts back to Astro.

His cheeks are still red, but this time, a boyish smile breaks through.

Then one by one, the dancers fling there arms up into the air, the vibrant colors circling around them. They twisted and twirled around the emperor then ‘flew’ off behind the set, following the firebird.

Cora danced at the end but this time, none of the dancers had their masks on. The villagers and emperor were dancing together full of hope and joy. The firebird’s made their way out and joined in with the people. It was a time they were waiting for, when the mighty firebird would return. The land would be in celebration. Cora’s pointe shoes guided her around the stage, her long sleeves and dress falling and flowing along with her.

Being with Cora and seeing her in her everyday outwear, he would never have thought she’d want to be a dancer.

But she was good… like really good.

She moved with gentleness though whenever her feet kicked in the air her muscles were taut. When she went on her toes, Astro would cringe a little inside. That’s impressive, but that’s got to hurt. But a smile was on her face in every part of the show. She was loving it.

The music crescendos and everyone stands out of their seat to clap. One by one, each person and group takes to the front of the stage and goes into a bow. When Cora’s group comes up, the whole Tawashi family hollers and yells out her name so loud that the people in the front row look behind to see.

Astro hollers with them as Cora’s face goes red, but no way is she embarrassed by them. She can’t help it as she gives a small whoo into the crowd.

The cast gives one final bow together and the curtain closes.

After a couple minutes, the door where the Russian sisters were seen fighting opened up and ballerinas start coming into the audience. Hugs, bouquet of flowers being exchanged all around the room to each of them.

Astro and his father stay with the Tawashi family and wait. Suddenly, glittering blue eyes breaks apart from the girls and comes towards them. The firebird costume no longer in sight but a dark jacket, a black leotard and sweats.

An arrangement of roses is in Tawashi’s hand as him and his wife both hug their daughter.

They break apart and he hands her the flowers, “You did great, Cora.” Smiling proudly down at her with fatherly love.

Quinn placed her hand on Cora’s cheek, smiling as well, “You looked so beautiful up there.”

Cora beamed, “thanks. I love you guys.” And pulled them into a quick hug again.

All the kids surrounded her in an instant.

“That was the coolest show ever!”

“You were one fiery bird!’

Cora laughed and tried to wrap her arms around the rambunctious children. Her eyes land on Grace, and she smirks, “Was that so bad Grace?”

The cream dress and the way her face says how much she wants to say how boring it was is such a contrast that Cora kind of feels bad for the pre-teen girl. It is definitely not her style.

Grace sways, “It wasn’t… terrible. They could have added some action or… some gore. But… it was good I suppose.”

Cora wrapped her into a hug and smiled, “Thank you for coming anyway. When you get home you can put on your regular clothes.”

“Hallelujah.”

Cora chuckles again and pulls back. Then she digs into her bag and pulls out a pocketknife. The blade was short and wide and looked a little dull. The handle was red and had lettering from the Russian language Cora guessed.

Grace’s gaze immediately lands on the knife.

Cora grins, “I saw the twins throw this in the garbage, I’m pretty sure they used it to roughen up the end of their pointe shoes and it got too dull for them… And I got the brilliant idea… this one would be cool added to Grace’s collection… Yeah?”

Grace tries to hide the gleam and excitement in her face but she’s quickly failing. She had always loved collecting things, properly gaining it from her junkyard days, and for the past year she had a thing for collecting pocketknife’s. Yes, that would be a cool one to add to her collection. A grinch like smile takes over her.

“Yes, it would… okay the show was amazing!” Then, Grace is throwing her arms around her again as Cora laughs and hugs her back.

Dr. Temma who is standing by Astro still and is watching all this unfold. He shakes his head, “That girl is funny.”

Astro would have laughed but a small smile that doesn’t quite reach his eyes is all he musters to his dad. Dr. Temma, for the past year started to notice a shift in Astro’s behavior towards him. He couldn’t figure out what was different or had changed.

Ever since their conversation a year ago with the laser was brought up, there was tension between them like Astro didn’t know what to say or he wouldn’t speak to him at all. Silence would take up the atmosphere.

It was moments like this that Dr. Temma didn’t know what was going on with his son or why he would act cold to him sometimes. He thought about bringing it up many times before, but something would come up or he would forget to ask. It was slowly driving him nuts.

Cora walks towards them, flowers in hand.

“Hey, non-robot.” She says as she brings Astro in for a hug.

His smile reaches his eyes, “Hey.” His arms wrap around her as the scent of roses and hairspray breathes into his nose. “You were amazing.”

Cora lets go, “Thank you.” Then directs her gaze to the tall man. “Thank you, guys, for coming. It means a lot.”

Dr. Temma moves his hand forward and shakes her hand, “Of course. You did great up there, Cora.”

There’s a slight tightness in her eyes as she looks at his dad, knowing that he didn’t destroy the laser device from a talk with Astro during lunch at school. She was pretty upset when he told her and she threatened to go to the ministry herself and destroy it. The look is gone in a second. 

Something catches Cora’s eye. To the side, under Astro’s seat is a bouquet of pink lilies. Her eyes turn curious, and she quirks a sly grin to the robot’s way, “Are those for me?”

His eyebrows go up then move to the flowers under his seat, “Oh! Yes!” he exclaims, suddenly forgetting them and goes to quickly grab the many stems tied together. “I didn’t know which flowers would be appropriate or if you would even like flowers-The roses seemed picked over and I saw these and I thought of you-and I thought maybe you would like these ones more…”

Cora makes a face at him.

“…never mind.” He hands her the flowers.

“I love them. Thank you.”

Relief coursed through him along with the feeling from before. His core and chest became suddenly became warm as she took in one of the bloomed flowers and inhaled its sweet scent and beamed.

After making sure the flowers were secured in her hands, she gestured to behind her shoulder to her parents.

“We’re having dinner back at the house, if you guys want to come over.”

“Of course.” Dr. Temma said, politely.

When he was saying this, Cora’s eyes flickered up to one of the booths, distracting her for a split second then brought her attention back.

It all happened slowly.

She freezes.

The live band was playing Let it Snow fades away in the background. The chatter of other people around them goes numb.

No no no no no no

The twinkle in her eyes and the soft smile slowly fade away to a look of fear. She stands like a statue and stares at Astro as her eyes turn frightened and glass over.

It can’t be. All her fears and nightmares were all reaching to the surface and were waving at her. We see you. For a year, she shut the feelings and nightmares a side as if they were nothing and right now, it didn’t bother as much and she felt like she was getting stronger, in a sense, mentally. Like she was finally getting past all this. It came down on her like a huge wave and she couldn’t stop it. Her heart started to gallop thunderously. She was certain Astro could hear it.

Astro’s eyes turn serious, “Cora? What’s wrong?”

The flowers in her hands go limp and she doesn’t realize that she’s slightly shaking. Nothing comes out.

He knows that look all too well. Whenever she woke up from one of her nightmares a year go. It was the same.

Red boots walk closer to her, and firm hands grip her shoulders, his voice growing urgent, “Cora, you’re safe. What’s wrong?”

She tares her eyes away and goes straight for the balcony.

He follows and his eyes go wide, “No… you got to be kidding me.”

On the highest balcony sits two men, one was wearing a dark maroon suit, his dark hair combed back neatly. He had a sharp face and dark eyes.

The other one…

Pale blonde hair peaked out around his hat. A gloved hand lifted as he talked with the man. He was wearing a black suit than a long black trench coat. But it was him.

Skunk.

Skunk appeared to be laughing with the man. He turned his head and did a once over of the crowd. He took a double take, his eyes landing on the ground below.

On the girl holding pink lilies.

Astro heard Cora inhale sharply.

The man to Skunk’s side paused what he was saying and followed his line of sight. Skunk’s eyes went wide with curiousness, not really knowing what to do or make of the moment.

A slow smirk crawled across Skunk’s face seeing the fear in her face. He reached for his hat and dipped it slightly, Hello Scavenger.

The memories, the nightmares, his hunter-like stare, his leather gloves against her mouth as she tried to scream for help but failing, her restraints tightened everyday, taking every chance he got to scare her.

His eyes move to her side and as soon as he sees Astro, his expression goes dark and then he’s saying a few words to the man and stands up.

Oh no you don’t, Astro thinks.

Astro’s hand reaches for Cora’s arm. She’s taken back to reality and slightly jumps at his touch. “Stay here.”

A soft and shaking, “Don’t leave me,” escapes her.

For a second, he pauses, but he can’t let Skunk get away.

“I won’t let him come near you.” His hands going to her shoulders. “I’m not going anywhere. You’re not going anywhere.” He turns, his gaze finding the detective two rows down.

“Tawashi!”

The man whips his attention to the robot, and at once he knows something wrong. He narrows his eyes and makes his way towards them, “Astro, what’s going on.”

“Stay with her.” Is all he says before he’s igniting his rockets and bursting towards the booth. People gasp below and take off towards the exit while some watch with curiousness.

Astro lands with a skid, his hand pushing into the carpet, stopping him.

But Skunk gives him a look before swiftly shutting the booth’s back door behind him.

Astro glares and takes off after him, completely ignoring the other man still seating in his chair.

Opening the door, sparkly tutu’s and glittering faces meet him with surprise. He roamed his eyes over the crowd and caught the fish out of water. A black figure moved swiftly through the ballerinas, the girls parted like the Red Sea, confusion, and fear on why a man was here.

Astro mutter out ‘sorry’ ‘excuse me’ ‘coming through’ as he tried to keep up with the criminal.

Skunk was running now and took a sharp turn down another hall.

Astro turned and suddenly coughed as black smoke burst around him, but he quickly powered through it. The smoke disappeared and… Skunk. He was gone. Rats!

He forced his eye beams to flash on, and they went over the surrounded area. No heat signatures or image came up. Looking up, he spots a door that’s open and without a thought, ignites his rockets again.

He lands on the roof and finds nothing. He glares at this and looks around confused. Jogging to the edge, he takes in the busy road below but once again finds nothing. Bits of clouds were pulled apart like a something had barreled through them.

His eye beams flash on again but… there’s nothing. He lets out a big sigh and he blinks as his scanner disappears. That guy is as slippery and dangerous as an eel. And of course, he got away. Tawashi was not going to be happy with this.

Suddenly, another idea came to him, and he turns back. He’ll get back to dealing with Skunk later. Right now... he needed to know who the guy in the booth was.

<><><><><><><> 

Making his way back through the halls, the glittering ballerinas’ now gone. He finds the door and opens it.

He frowns; the chairs were empty. Huh?

“That was quite a show you put on there.”

Astro whirls around to find the man from before standing against the wall. His hands were behind his back. He had a calm demeanor, but his eyes looked like they held secrets and plans, dark and unpredictable.

The boy eyed him warily, “Who are you?”

A curtain tied to the side covered his face with a shadow and his expression tighten in irritation, his Russian accent flowing with his words, “Now, where are your manners, no hello?”

“You were talking to Skunk; I think that puts us pass formalities.”

“Skunk? Ah, yes, I suppose. He seems to know… your friend?” Casting a glance down below to Cora, who was looking up anxiously at Astro.

“Her name’s Cora, and she was kidnapped by Skunk a year ago? He’s supposed to be in prison.” Astro turned back to the man with a glare. “What were you doing with him?”

The man stared at him, “I had no idea I was dealing with a criminal.”

A feeling popped into Astro’s head that went off like a siren. It was stronger than before with Hamegg. The feeling told him do not trust do not trust do not trust do not trust. “You’re lying.”

The man put a hand on his chest, “I am a man of my word. He just became a new client of mine; we were about to strike a deal. But… that may not proceed now with this new information I have now collected.”

The feeling was taunt as a tightrope, and it did not loosen. Astro didn’t trust him but… at the same time this man had a good poker face. And, he sounded truthful. But the feeling did not let up.

The man continued, “I was not really here for him I was here to see my daughters.”

“Daughters?”

On cue, two ballerinas came through the door. Both of them were wearing firebird costumes and they twinkled with sparkles and diamonds as they ran to their father. They hugged.

“Hello father.” The girls both say. Astro couldn’t tell who said what as their voices sounded identical.

The group breaks away and the man looks down at them very proudly, “You two did great. You outshined everyone else as usual.”

Astro freezes and realizes they were the same girls from before who were fighting backstage over pins.

The girls grinned gleefully then suddenly turned in surprise to see Astro, who is standing by the railing of the booth, looking a little awkward.

They looked like twins except for a tiny feature that set them apart; their eyes. The one with green eyes looked him up and down curiously, “You're that robot that saved this city… right? We’ve heard about you all the way from Moscow.”

Astro smiled shyly, “That’s me-”

-“Eva. Anastasia. Is that any way to introduce yourself’s?” The man’s voice came from above the two, and a sudden fear went through the girls faces but they quickly masked it and put a huge smile one and held their hands out.

“I’m Anastasia.” Green eyes.

“I’m Eva.” Pale blue eyes.

He shook both hands, “I’m Astro.”

Eva looked him up and down and gave him a puzzling look, “What are you doing in our booth?”

Astro made eye contact with the man and even though he didn’t make a move or give a look or… do anything really, he decided not to bring Skunk up.

“Nothing… I’m just-I’m here to support a friend.”

Anastasia lit up like a disco ball, “A ballerina? Which one? We know everyone.”

Astro hesitated, but his gaze wandered to the many rows and briefly found the pink lilies, standing out from the many roses below. He looked away but-

Anastasia caught on quickly, “Cora?” Rolling the r in her name.

Fear ran through Astro, from hearing their conversation of breaking kneecaps, he didn’t like that she knew her. His fists clenched.

“She a wonderful dancer. So strong. So passionate… Are you a friend to her?”

“Yeah, she’s my best friend.”

Anastasia gives him a Cheshire Cat’s smile and says, “Oh…”

He narrows his eyes at her and instantly thought, creepy.

“Well…” the man spoke up, circling his arms around his daughters. “I think you should be getting back to… your friend… right?”

At that moment, Astro felt small, literally and figuratively. They were literally taller than him and looked down at him like he was… a nobody. An ant. A bug. A robot. Like they were royalty, and he was a peasant.

Astro gripped the railing and began to turn, “Of course… It was nice to meet you both.” Then he jumped over and landed on the ground. He startled a few people around him and he mumbled out, “Sorry.”

Cora, Dad, Tawashi, and the rest of the family all looked at him with worried stricken faces.

Tawashi was the first to reach him, “What happened? Where’s Skunk?”

“He… umm… he got away,” Astro said, looking shameful. His shoulders rise even more when Tawashi lets out a frustrated sigh, and explodes, “How could you let him escape!”

Astro lifts his head, “I tried- Tawashi but he went up a trap door and”-

“You let him slip right out of your hands? You’re suppose to be the most advanced robot, obviously you're not trying hard enough!”

“Dad!”

“Tawashi!”

Both Cora and Dr. Temma shout at the man. Tawashi whips his glare around, but it slightly drops when he sees Dr. Temma sending daggers at him, his hands fisted by his side.

“Don’t ever talk to my son like that.” His dad’s voice is firm and deep, sounding like a threat.

Astro looks at his dad in surprise, his brows furrowed in confusion. First, he didn’t destroy the laser device and it’s been bugging him ever since last year. Then, there were moments like this where dad defended him so boldly. It felt like a coin being flipped.

His gaze goes to the ground not really wanting to look at his dad, he didn’t know what to think.

Cora moves forward, handing the flowers off to her mom, and storms in front of her dad.

“Leave him alone. He’s doing the best he can.” Is all she says before grabbing Astro’s hand, pulling him towards the open door that leads out into the big hallway.

They pass people full of quizzical glances, but both don’t pay them any attention.

Suddenly, tiny snow flurries surround them. Cora crosses her arms trying to keep the biting air from taking her warmth.

Astro takes in the dark skies imagining Skunk barreling down at them, “Maybe we shouldn’t be out here.”

“I don’t care.”

“But Skunk could be out there”-

“Astro.”

She gives him a look. He sighs, deciding not to push it though he keeps a steady eye on the dark clouds above. There’s supposed to be a big white out and it looks to be already starting.

“I’m sorry I- I shouldn’t have let him get away”-

She scoffs and her fierce blue eyes land on him, “I didn’t take you out here for an apology.”

“Then what are we doing out here”-

She doesn’t say anything at first, but her eyes are talking, flickering between the many snowflakes around his spikes and his face. “I was just sick of my dad putting you down like that… he can get carried away. I’m sorry for the way he was talking to you. You did everything you could. Don’t let my dad get to you.”

“It’s okay.”

So much has happened in the pass few minutes as he tries to take it all in. Skunk. Skunk getting away because of him. Failing to capture him; failing to protect Cora. Succeeding in pissing off Tawashi. How the heck did Skunk get out of prison this time? That was a conversation he can see with Tawashi in the future. It wouldn’t be a pleasant one. And what was Skunk doing with that man? Astro chided to himself for not getting his name, but he had a feeling he would know it sooner than later. He didn’t trust him. Period. He was up to no good. But what was he up too?

“Cora.” His voice turns serious, “When Skunk gets a chance to get back at someone, he will. When he looked at you, I saw it. I can’t let him hurt you again. I won’t.” It was a promise he had to keep. Ever since he got her back, he promised he would not let her be taken again no matter what. A thought went through his head that made himself pause. He thought about it for a minute and… no, he didn’t want to to it. No. No. No way. He can’t do that. He won’t. But-

“Maybe…”

She looks at him, waiting for him to say whatever it is.

“Maybe… we shouldn’t… be friends.”

She blinks and stares at him like he just said something outrageous. He kind of did. She looks at him when Hamegg told her he was a robot.

She sputtered out, “What? What do you mean? What are you talking about?”

Astro furrows his brow and his eyes turn melancholy, “Maybe we shouldn’t be friends. He’ll try to hurt you. This way you can be safer.”

She staggers; her legs moving back like they have a mind of their own. Her eyes are wide and are full of betrayal, “Wha- Safe. Safe?!” Scoffing at the last word, she turns around and starts walking down the frozen sidewalk. She tries not to let her heart jump out of her chest. She’s not sure if it’s the PTSD or anxiety that she’s pretty sure she has developed from last year’s encounter. But still, her heart races so fast she swears she can feel it in her throat. No. No.

His voice sounds broken when he calls out as he goes after her, “Cora!”

She whirls around, “You're chickening out?!”

He glares, his anger starting to rise, “I’m not chickening out! I’m trying to keep you safe!”

There’s that word again. She stares at him incredulous not noticing as the tears build up. Her snow covered sneakers halt to a stop.

“Safe.” She whispers over the snow. She shakes her head, angry that he would think of this stupid idea. “You don’t get it, Astro. You’re the only one who knows about the nightmares! You’re the only one who truly knows… how terrified I was.” Her voice goes weak, and a hot tear slides down her cheek.

Something breaks inside him at the sight of her. He did know. He knew everything. He didn’t see everything, but he saw the effect of it. Her parents had no idea. He wasn’t sure about Zane and the twins. It was only him. He knows she still deals with the nightmares every now and then. When he would see her at school the next day, he could just tell with the dark circles under her eyes. Noticed how jumpy she was when someone walked close by. During a break, he would ask her what happened, and she would proceed to tell him the details of her nightmares. If the next day was better, she would try to jump back into her usual sarcastic and teasing self. She would always try.

 “I know you want to protect me but… the safest I ever felt was when you woke me out of them. When you were by my side.” Her anger starts to dissipate, leaving her with her fear and sorrow building up. She squeezes her eyes shut, not wanting to look at her best friend as more tears flow down. She wipes at them with furry, but they don’t stop.

Astro looks at her with glassy eyes. Why did he say that to her?! That was so stupid of him! Why?! He can’t. He can’t do it. She was right. She was safer with him than without him. But Skunk is unpredictable. He didn’t know what he was planning or if he even was planning anything. Astro would need to keep his guard up.

He sighs and quickly walks through the snow and pulls her into a tight hug, saying, “I’m sorry. I’m sorry. Forget I said any of that. I’m sorry.”

A new cascade of tears falls as she wraps her arms around him gratefully and pulls him close.

The snow blows harder, but it feels like nothing can pull them apart or push them over.

It felt like it was never ending. Going into danger and coming out alive. Peace and happiness for a while. Then something happens and their situation goes right into danger again. This was his life and the life of the people around him. Gah, it was a mad world. A mad world indeed. But he would answer the call for help in a heartbeat, it was who he was.

Cora manages to hug him tighter, reminding him that she would be right there next to him to fight the next battle. Don’t you dare try to save the world without me or I will hurt you.

Astro smiles into her shoulder, of course, I wouldn’t imagine it.