Ch.4: XR's Ghost Story

Later into the night, at the Red Dorm, XR was wheeling down the hall to turn in for the night when he spotted Chazz and Jaden at a table in the cafeteria. A candle on the table was lit, and next to it was a deck of cards face down. Curious, the little robot wheeled over to the boys.

"You guys doing a séance or something?" he asked them. The boys yelped in reply.

"Jeez, don't scare us like that," Chazz sighed when the boys saw that it was only XR. "You almost gave us heart attacks."

"Sorry," XR replied with a shrug. "I was just curious about what you two are doing."

"Oh, we're telling scary stories based on what Monster we draw," Jaden answered, holding his hand out to the deck. "Why don't ya give it a try, XR?"

"Okay," he replied with a shrug. "I guess one before turning in won't hurt." He then picked up the top card and saw that he drew Vampire Lord.

"Vampire Lord, huh?" Chazz said when he saw the card. "I guess you have a story involving a vampire, don't you?"

"Yeah, I do," answered XR . "It's a terrible memory of my first encounter with him."

"Who?" asked Jaden with interest.

"An Energy Vampire named NOS-4-A2," XR answered with a shudder. "He was every robot's nightmare."

"How did you encounter him?" Chazz asked.

"Well, it was when we retrieved a bit of cargo from a freighter that our enemy Warp destroyed. My dad Commander Nebula asked me to check on the cargo, so I did. When I got there, it was still there and still mysterious. There was also something about it that gave me the creeps, so I decided to leave. But when I turned my back, a red glow appeared behind me. I turned and freaked when I found the box opened and the Energy Vampire coming out of it. As he came towards me, I tried to escape, but the chute and door weren't working. Before I knew it, he got me in his grasp. When he did, he bit into my neck to drink my energy and to put me under his control."

"So you became an Energy Vampire like him?" Jaden asked him with shock.

"Actually, it's more like his servant dressed in a black cape like his own," XR answered. "He then had me help him take control of Star Command, but I would've stayed his servant if my buddy Booster hadn't snapped me out of it. When he did and I remembered who I really am, I pulled the plug on NOS-4-A2 by draining his energy."

"What a way to take him down," Chazz replied. "So, is he really that scary?"

"Here's a photo of him," the little robot answered, handing Jaden a photo. "See for yourself." The two boys then looked at the photo, which showed NOS-4-A2 showing off his power.

"Wow," Jaden said in awe, "he's pretty cool."

"Yeah, if you're into scary dudes biting your neck," XR replied. "Anyway, I'm gonna head for bed. Night, guys."

"Night, XR," the guys said before he left. "Thanks for the story."