Hello! Sorry it's taken so long to update! I really have no excuse. :( My writing hasn't been the best in past chapters so I guess that's why this chapter took so long to up date. OK, so Astro is now 10 and Abby is now12. Also, Tenma is not the villain in this fic. He was mentioned once in the first chapter, but that's it. Well, Over and Out!

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Astro boy characters, nor Advil

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Astro's P.O.V

Bored. Abby was still out visiting a friend, and Zoron- for once- wasn't bothering me but someone else in the M.O.S. I sighed and flopped down onto the large leather couch in the lounge that Abby had found earlier today. I sighed again, bringing my count on sighs up to 16,259,384 today. And still counting.

"Doctor O'shay? Abby should be home by now? It's getting pretty late, and with all those deaths…" I trailed off not knowing how I should finish the sentence. My ears trained for any noise that would alert me to where Abby is. I looked past the large window towards the darkening sky. Doctor O'shay cleared his throat to bet my attention before he said.

"Astro, I understand your concern for Abby's safety, but I'm sure-" He was cut off by a scream.

"Did you hear that?" I asked. Doctor O'shay looked confused; it must have been to quiet but my super sensitive hearing picked it up.

"Someone's in trouble! Let's Rocket!" I said as I blasted through the window. (AN: Hehe, I've been waiting to add that! You notice in the 2003 series that's like his catchphrase whenever he goes off to save someone =3) 'Abby…' my thoughts said. But I couldn't jump to conclusions. I followed the scream to a dark ally. There were three- things surrounding a girl. I zoomed in my focus and…"ABBY" I screamed. I went into a steep dive….

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Abby's P.O.V

I screamed. But, the- thing, at the other end of the ally didn't charge. It had an almost calculating look in its face. Water poured from its mouth in an endless stream. Forming a puddle around itself. Its white eyes were blank and had a vague look about them, as is he couldn't see. But his small pupils were trained right on me…..or behind me. I whirled around and saw two more. 'Crapes, now I'm surrounded.' I thought.

"ABBY" I looked up to see Astro zooming towards me in a steep dive.

"Astro!" I exclaimed. I shot my hand up into the air, as he swooped down and plucked me out of there. Just as those thing were about to reach my. He was about to fly back to the ministry when I thought of something.

"No, wait Astro! I just thought of something." I said breathlessly. Astro looked down at me as if I had just grown a second head right in front of him.

"Oh? What's your idea?" He didn't sound as if he was going to like but was still asking just to be courteous.

"It's hard to explain." I said, I didn't really have an idea, more of a vague thought of an idea. Half spur of the moment, but I was willing to take it. I looked down to see we were hovering at least six feet above a roof that was next to the ally. 'I could make it.' I thought before letting go of Astro's hand. Before I hit the ground I curled myself into a tuck and roll so I wouldn't damage myself.

"Abby!" Astro called from above. I looked up at his face to see it torn between shock, and looking like he was going to yell at me. Which made for a funny site. Holding back my laughter I motioned for him to follow me. He dropped down landing on the concrete roof next to me. Smiling at him I crawled over to where the ally and those things were last seen. Looking over the edge of the roof I spied those three things that had cornered me. 'OK,' I thought to myself, I really need to stop calling them 'those things' I'll call them…'

"Abby? What exactly are we doing?" Astro asked interrupting my train of thought. Looking over at him I said

"Well, we need to know more about them don't we? And by the time you had gotten me back to the ministry, they might have been gone." I explained. Nodding to show that he understood we peeked over the side of the building to see that all three were looking up at us. Suddenly, one of them shot a jet of water out if its outstretched arm. WOOSH! Astro and I dodged out of the way just in time.

"Come on. We need to get back to the ministry. I highly doubt this will be the last time we see- what ever those things are." Astro said. Nodding I jumped back into his arms and we flew off leaving those thing behind us.

Once we got back to the ministry, we met a very upset Doctor O'shay.

"What's wrong?" Astro asked.

"I've just gotten back the test results from the water you took from that lady's mouth. Abby, Astro the sample was compared to regular tap water and some bottled water. The tap water and the sample water match." Astro and I gasped.

"So…" Doctor O'shay said trailing off.

"Any one of the people in the entire city could be infected already." Astro said finishing off Doctor O'shay's sentence for him.

"That's why, tomorrow morning I'm sending you and Abby to the water tower, we NEED to date that infection!" He said. Nodding Astro and I went to our separate sleeping quarters but not before Astro caught me in the hallway outside Doctor O'shay's office. Turning to me he said

"You know, you really scared me tonight." Looking at him I gave him a reassuring smile and said

"Yeah, it's been one real hectic day for us all hasn't it?" and on spur of the moment, I leaned down and gave him a peak on the cheek.

"Night Astro." I said, not turning around so he could see my burning face. But, just before I turned the corner to head down another dark hallway I looked back to see him still standing there. Cheeks flushed, and a hand pressed against the cheek where I had kissed him. Smiling to myself I continued on my way down the hallway wondering what tomorrow would bring for us.

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++Somewhere down town++

Yuko tiredly stumbled into her flat. 'Ugh, I've got such a killer headache.' She thought. Stumbling over to the cabinet she grabbed a bottle of Advil and popped tow into her mouth. Walking over to the sink she leaned over and turned it on tacking a long drink from the sink before slinking off to bed…..

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OK, I hoped you enjoyed it. I REALLY like reviews. Did you know that? Really, Really REALLY!