Copy, (An Astro Boy Story)

Chapter 14: Astro

Cora felt her blood run cold.

Oh no. Nononononononono.

"No," she whispered in horror, eyes wide. "He has him!"

This was so not good!

"This is bad," Zane said worriedly, voicing Cora's thoughts and looking disturbed. "If Hamegg has him, he is now officially doomed."

"He has most of him," Toby interjected, coming up to the group from his hiding spot and revealing himself, eyeing Astro's missing pieces. "Whoever 'Hamegg' is. Who's he?"

Cora couldn't muster the energy to explain. All she could do was stare straight ahead in terror. Zane opened his mouth to explain the dreadfulness of the situation to the clueless boy, but was cut off.

"COMRADE ASTRO!" Sparx exclaimed, exploding with excitement at the sight of Toby. "You have returned from your mission! It has been a success! Robotsky, we must initiate our victory ritual!"

"Right!" Robotsky said, grinning for a moment before his face fell into confusion. "Ummm, Sparx?"

"What?"

"What is our victory ritual?"

Sparx frowned, putting a finger to his metal lips. "I don't know," he said finally. "We will make up a ritual then!" he decided, throwing his hands in the air, and the other robots cheered.

Toby backed up a step, looking horrified. Cora quickly intervened.

"He's not Astro," she said loudly, interrupting the RRF's cheer.

"Huh?" Sparx said, confused by Cora's comment, looking back at Toby. "What do you mean, of course he is our comrade Astr—"

He broke off as he looked at Toby more closely, realization dawning on his metal face.

"AH!" he exclaimed, jumping back and pointing at Toby with a shaky, horrified finger. "He is a HUMAN!"

Both Robotsky and Mike stared at Toby, (well, Mike mostly just face him,) before screaming and jumping back as well, Mike's door swinging open in unison with his scream before shutting.

Toby blinked and turned to Zane.

"Don't ask," Zane said with a sigh.

Cora hardly noticed. She was livid.

Hamegg had Astro. He had found him before they had—at least, the majority of him. Who knew what the evil robot master was doing to him, right now?

It was enough to make fear grip her heart. They had to get to him. And fast.

"We need to find Hamegg," she told Zane, looking straight ahead unblinkingly. "Right. Now."

"Right," Zane agreed, breaking into a jog to block the now-fleeing RRF's path. "Where did Hamegg take Astro?" he asked them sharply, crossing his arms and looking menacing so they stopped in their tracks.

"B-back to his lair, of course," Sparx spluttered, looking a bit frantic before putting on a brave face and moving into what he must have thought was a Karate stance. "Now step aside! I do not wish to hurt you, but if I must I must, foul human!" he threatened.

Zane rolled his eyes and stepped aside.

Sparx looked surprised that Zane had listened for a moment, before composing himself and standing tall. "That's right," he said grandly, marching passed the teenager with dignity. "You know when the odds aren't in your favor, human! Robots are on our way up in society! RRF! Move out!" He raised his hand and pointed forward regally before marching in the direction of their 'secret' hideout, Robotsky and Mike at his heels.