That's What Bein' A Friend Is About

When You Are Ready For My Company

Mt. Itoi was famous in Thanksgiving, a towering formation in the distance. When Lloyd hid on the roof, sometimes he'd imagine the mountain was actually a volcano, and about to blow its top. It would make life exciting--ash in the sky, cities evacuated... maybe he'd even get to stay home from school, and he wouldn't have to face those bullies who chased him to the rooftop in the first place.

Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined he'd be climbing that mountain. And now that he was actually there, everything was so much different. Bullies were the last thing on his mind.

"It was over here!" Ninten announced, guiding Lloyd by the hand.

...Yeah, it was hard to remember how lonely he used to be. Ninten hadn't let go of his hand since they left the healer's house, giving Lloyd a constant reminder that someone else was right there with him--someone else he loved, at that.

"So, you said it was a boat?" Lloyd asked.

"A motorboat," Ana confirmed. "The engine wouldn't start, so we sort of just left it, but now that you're here--"

"Yeah, smarty pants," Ninten giggled. "I thought you might wanna take a look, 'cause you could probably fix it real easy."

Lloyd's face heated up. "U-um, maybe?"

"C'mon! You're practically a real life genius," Ninten said.

The flattery forced Lloyd to back off, knowing that if he protested any more, Ninten would just keep pushing compliments at him.

"Well... okay," he mumbled.

"That's the spirit!"

Lloyd stumbled a little when Ninten latched onto him in a hug. When he let go, his right hand found Lloyd's left again like it was nothing.

"I know you won't have any trouble at all," Ninten said, managing to sneak in another bit of praise anyways.

Before Lloyd could let out the embarrassed "Ninten" building up in his throat, the three of them bumped into a large, metallic... something that had appeared out of nowhere. After a few steps backward, Lloyd took in what looked like a... robot?

"TARGET LOCATED."

"You again?" Ninten groaned. "Fine. Lloyd, the control panel on the chest is where you gotta get 'em."

"What is this thing?" Lloyd asked, reaching for his boomerang.

"I AM A STARMAN UNIT, SENT TO ERADICATE NINTEN HOLLANDER."

So the robots knew him too? Maybe this would be a good way to bring up the notebook... and the strange PSI user from before...

"Yeah, right!" Ninten scoffed. "You're not gonna knock me down! No way!"

"THE STARMAN FLEET WAS ASSEMBLED FOR THE PURPOSE OF UNIVERSAL DOMINATION."

"Then how come I've already beat up so many of you guys?" Ninten retorted. "PSI Shield!"

The glimmering shield rose up in front of them just as the Starman fired a beam. It hit the shield and fizzled out... mostly--Lloyd still had to duck and roll away from the weak light that managed to cut through.

"Lloyd!"

"I'm fine!" Lloyd reassured, tossing the boomerang in an arc around their shield.

Clearly anticipating an attack from Ninten or Ana, the Starman made no moves to block the boomerang. With a loud clang, it put a dent in the control panel on the Starman's front side--and one of the buttons let out a couple of sparks. In response, the Starman's form briefly fizzled like TV static in front of them before it completely rematerialized with its arms crossed in front of its torso.