Meeting Astro: Years Later

Chapter 2: Toby, Meet Astro

Meanwhile, Astro was flying around the city. After about 30 minutes of flying, he flew back to the Ministry of Science.

"Hey, Dad!" Astro called.

"In here!" Dr. Tenma called from the kitchen.

Astro ran into the kitchen. He greeted his dad with a smile
.
Dr. Tenma looked at him. "Has Peyton returned yet?" he asked him.

The smile on Astro's face faded and a sad look replaced it. "No. It's been years. I don't think she's ever coming back," Astro said sadly.

"I'm sorry," said Dr. Tenma.

Astro sighed. "It's okay," he replied, with a sorrowful tone in his voice.

Suddenly, he could hear screaming coming from outside. "I gotta go!" Astro said. He ran outside and shot up high into the air, looking for where the screaming was coming from. Moments later Astro spotted a young boy hanging from a tree. It was Peyton's son.

Toby screamed. "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!"

Astro sighed and shook his head in disbelief. He grabbed Toby and put him back on the ground.

Toby smiled at him. "Thanks, man!" he said.

"No problem. I'm Astro. Who are you?" said Astro.

Toby whipped the dust off his messy shirt. "Toby. Toby Henrie. Nice to meet you," he replied.

Astro raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Toby, huh? Haha! Cool! That's my real name!" said Astro.

That made Toby laugh. "Wow! That is cool! You know, Jack told me the time my mother went to Metro City," Toby told him.

Astro climbed on a tree and then hung upside down and swinged. "Who's Jack?" Astro asked him.

Toby sighed. "My guardian," said Toby, "he's looked after me ever since I was a baby."

Astro smiled. "So, he's your father, then?" said Astro.

The young boy shook his head. "N-No. Not exactly. I say he's my father, but . . ." Toby's voice trailed off.

"What about your mother?" Astro asked him, "if she's been to Metro City, then I might know her!"

Toby climbed up on the tree and sat on a branch. "You've met her before. At least, that's what Jack told me," said Toby.

Astro smiled at him. "Wow! I know your mom, huh? That's bizarre! Does she live next to me or something?" Astro asked.

"No. She was only here for a short time. I believe she was 15," Toby said.

Astro raised an eyebrow at Toby. "What's her name?" Astro asked.

"Peyton," said Toby.

Astro gasped. The tree branch broke and the robot boy fell on the ground. Astro stood up, staring at Toby. "PEYTON'S YOUR MOTHER?!" Astro shouted.

Toby smiled at him. "So you did know her!" said Toby.

Astro nodded. "Y-Yeah! How long has it been since she left?" Astro asked.

"A long time, I'm sure. Too many years to count," said Toby.

The robot boy gave Toby a long stare. "Yeah! Yeah! I can see the resemblance!" Astro said.

Toby chuckled a little.

Astro smiled. "How is she doing? Is she okay? Does she talk about me much?" he asked him.

Toby didn't know how to respond. He couldn't tell him about the night Peyton died. "Um . . . she's good. Yeah. She's doing good. In fact, Jack had told me she wouldn't shut up about you!" Toby said. The last part wasn't a lie. Peyton did tell Jack about Astro a lot of times.

Astro burst out laughing. "Aw! She's so sweet!" Astro said.

"I better find a place to sleep," Toby said, "otherwise I'll have to sleep with the wolves."