Chapter 4
The Crystal Castle floated in mid-air as inside Atlas was finally putting the finishing touches on the upgrade to the Castle's computer. He put wires from a huge computer that was part of the Castle's central core; to be more precise the computer was the Castle's guiding system. "Atlas what are you doing?" Livian asked Atlas to which Atlas responded: "Like I said Livian, if this universe has it's alternate version of Astro then it's likely that it might have it's alternate version of Atlas as well. In an alternate universe things are different but with similarities to the universe you came from." Atlas then started putting the wires on his body. "If I'm correct then this upgrade will scan my design, then the guidance system will detect robots with similar designs such as mine. There could be hundreds of them in this universe but fortunately the computer will find the most likely candidates and will follow towards their signal once chosen."
After putting the last wire on, Atlas asked Livian to turn on the computer. Livian was of course hesitant at first but she knew she had no choice and pushed the button that Atlas told her to push. Atlas then began to flinch like he was in pain as the computer searched through his entire body and copied the design of his robot body into its system. After 5 minutes the computer finished and Atlas fell to his knees exhausted. Livian ran to Atlas' side to see if he was all right and he was. A monitor then appeared out of thin air and on its screen was the words "FOUR MATCHES FOUND!" "Four matches eh? That'll certainly save up a lot of time." Atlas said before he got up and ripped the wires off his body. "Computer, guide the Castle towards the nearest candidate!" The Computer obeyed Atlas's orders and went towards the nearest robot with his design.
Meanwhile the two Astros, Dr. Elefun, Sparx, and Mr. Mustachio followed Tenma's signal to where the third Astro was attacking. The others stayed behind at Astro's home if Dr. Elefun theory was true and that this is another Alternate Reality Astro then there is a chance he could be from a universe where he was evil. But, in the off chance that he wasn't they brought Sparx along to see if the attacking Astro was the same one that saved Sparx.
They flew over a forest where a bunch of trees had looked like they had been punched down. "Looks like this is the place." Mr. Mustachio said. The two Astros and Dr. Elefun's car then landed on a patch of grass. The real Astro began calling out Dr. Tenma and everyone else followed after they got out of the car. "Astro?" said the voice of Dr. Tenma as he heard the yelling and followed. The young robot and the scientist saw each other and embraced each other. "Thank goodness, I was afraid something to happened to…" Dr. Tenma said to Astro before he caught a glimpse of the AU Astro.
The shock caused him to drop Astro as he saw an almost exact copy of his robot son. The AU Astro felt the same way about the man who looked like the scientist who created him Dr. Boyton. The two starred at each other for a while until Dr. Elefun came up and told Tenma: "Ehm, Tenma meet Astro's alternate universe counterpart." "Alternate Universe?" "It's a long story. But, right now where's that other Astro?" The real Astro said to his father right before a tree behind them fell over.
It was the third Astro, of course he looked like the other two Astros except that he looked older than the AU Astro but not as old as the real one. He was also MUCH shinier than the both of them combined. His voice sounded older too. "I don't know how you escaped from prison Tenma but it's time for me to send you back for good."
Sparx came up to the two Astros and told them: "Guys, I recognize him. He IS the one who saved me and my comrades." "Then he isn't evil. We'll have to calm him down and explain everything to him," The real Astro said. The two Astros walked up to the third one.
"I thought you gave up on using me to have robots rebel against mankind Tenma. Now you create TWO copies of me to do your dirty work?" The third Astro said as he prepared for battle. "Wait, you don't understand! Give us a chance to speak!" The AU Astro said to the second AU Astro. The second AU Astro decided to grant them that chance. They explained that he was in another universe and that the Dr. Tenma he's been chasing was not who he think he is. Of course, the third Astro was a tiny bit skeptical but he decided to give them the benefit of the doubt. "I don't know if I should trust you. But, I'm going to anyway." The third Astro then shook the hands of both Astros.
While everyone returned to Astro's and Tenma's apartment, the Crystal Castle hovered over the junkyard. The computer found one of the matches to Atlas's design. The Castle then opened up on the bottom and Atlas and Livian jumped down to the ground. "This is it. The robot with my similar design should be around here somewhere." Atlas said before he told Livian to split up and search. As both robots searched they were either disgusted or horrified (depending on which robot) at the miles and miles of robot body parts. It made Atlas want to conquer this universe even more as it in his mind; contained humans even crueler than the ones back home. Just then Atlas heard Livian scream and ran to save her. A robot, one of the many zombie looking ones; grabbed Livian and held her down like he was about to rape her. When in reality he wanted her energy, which….was just as bad.
"Come on cutie, don't bogart me. I need batteries and I need it BAD!!" The jonesing robot said to Livian as she was screaming her lungs out; if she had lungs that is. Thankfully, Atlas came by and cut off the robots arms with his sword. The robot then fell to his backside armless. "Be grateful you're a robot. Had you been human I would've sliced you in half. In fact, if you don't leave right now I might pretend you were one." The robot screamed and ran as fast as he could. Atlas helped Livian up and asked if she was all right. She nodded her head yes and thanked Atlas. Then, something caught Livian's eye and walked around Atlas to see it. "What is it Livian?" Atlas asked, then Livian pointed to what she was looking at; smoke rising from behind a nearby hill.
They ran to where that smoke was coming from and found that it was coming from a doused campfire. Atlas looked at the campfire and figured that it was put out only a minute or two ago. That meant the person who lit it was not too far. In fact it was pure silence and when something is pure silence it means something or someone is incredibly close. Atlas pulled out his sword, as he knew someone was watching him. Sure enough someone was watching him in fact that person was right under Atlas. I mean, literally underneath his feet and that person put hand right out of the ground and grabbed Atlas's leg. Then the person flew out of the ground and into the air while holding Atlas.
Livian cried out Atlas's name as he was carried off into the sky. But, Atlas gained the upper hand and flew toward the bottom with his capturer still holding on. But the capturer flew up preventing Atlas to go down. Atlas then threw his sword at the capturer causing him to let go of Atlas. Atlas flew up to his feet and grabbed his falling sword with ease. "Not bad" Atlas's attacker said to him as Atlas finally got a good look at his mysterious assailant. He had a face that looked like his but his body was completely different; he wore red armor all over his body and a black helmet with spikes coming out.
Atlas asked who his attacker was and he responded: "The name's Atlas big guy, what's yours?" Atlas didn't respond, instead he made an evil smirk for he knew that he was his alternate universe counterpart. Atlas then charged at the armored Atlas with his sword but the AU Atlas used his electric shield just before the sword made contact. "An electric shield; pretty useful. However what's a shield without a SWORD?!" Atlas then turned on the electricity in his sword and cancelled out the AU Atlas's shield. The AU Atlas flinched back and fired an electric bolt at Atlas. But, Atlas easily dodged it. But, with Atlas distracted the AU Atlas fired from his elbow lasers and hit Atlas.
Livian cried Atlas's name but the AU Atlas thought she was talking about him and turned his attention to her. With the AU Atlas distracted Atlas gathered his strength quickly and flew right into the AU Atlas. He rocketed so fast that they both crashed right into the ground. Livian ran to the newly made crater and looked for the both of them through the smoke. The smoke let up and saw that the two of them were both all right. The two robots then began fighting each other again but with Atlas's sword gone and the AU Atlas at only half the energy they went at it with pure knuckles.
While fighting the AU Atlas told the real one: "I don't know who you are but it's bad enough I don't know where I am much less having to deal with you." "You mean you don't know where you are? In that case I'll tell you; you are in an alternate universe and I'm an alternate you." This answer said by the real Atlas surprised the AU one briefly and with his defenses lowered was easily punched in the face. The AU Atlas fell to his butt and said: "What do you mean alternate me?" "I mean I thought you were from this universe but since you said you don't know where you are it's most likely to assume that you're not from this universe." This thought secretly angered Atlas in his mind because if this Atlas is from another universe then perhaps there is another Astro here. But, he decided to deal with that later and went back to the AU Atlas.
"My name is Atlas and I'm you from another universe. One reason or another we've both been sent here; a universe with its very own Astro." "Astro? What do you know about him?"
"Then there IS an Astro in your universe as well. Well, there is one in my universe and there is another one that lives in the universe that all three of us have been taken to. You, me, and Livian here."
"I see; I guess that's what that strange light was."
"Strange light?"
"The light my pal Astro and I got sucked into after we sent that robot-hating jerk Drake back to jail."
A surprised look then appeared on Atlas's face. "What do you mean your pal?!" "Astro is my friend. Isn't the Astro from your universe your friend?" A look of anger and hatred then appeared on Atlas's face as he yelled to the AU Atlas: "OF COURSE HE ISN'T. HE IS MY MORTAL ENEMY!! SURELY YOU DON'T AGREE WITH HIS IDEALS ABOUT HUMANS?" "I used to; in fact during that time he was my enemy too. But after a while I realized that he was right. That humans and robots can get along." Livian then walked up to the real Atlas and said: "You see Atlas even your alternate universe counterpart agrees that humans shouldn't be destroyed. You have a chance to give this all up."
But Atlas was too stubborn to listen to Livian and kept on yelling at AU Atlas. "Listen here you, I searched for you to help me destroy Astro and that's what you're going to do!" Atlas said as the AU Atlas got up and turned his back to him. "I don't know about the Astro in your universe or the one that lives in this one. But my days of destroying the innocent are over. I don't care what you do with the two that's bothering you but I'm going to find mine and find a way to get back to our home." AU Atlas said goodbye and walked away.
Atlas then the AU Atlas to wait and AU Atlas did just that; then Atlas walked up to AU Atlas and said: "I've learned a lot from you but I think what interested me is that your power supply is just below your neck." AU Atlas then froze with fear for he knew what was about to happen to him. Atlas used two fingers to poke a hole in the AU Atlas's armor; then used those fingers to cut the wires that were keeping AU Atlas activated. AU Atlas then fell over deactivated. Livian then ran up to Atlas and said: "Atlas; what did you do?" Atlas looked at Livian with an evil smile and said: "I told you Livian; he'll team up with me whether he wants to or not." Atlas then laughed evilly as he picked up AU Atlas's body, grabbed Livian, and flew off.
End of Chapter 4