Remember when I said things were going to get worse? This is when that happens. The whole 'rated T just in case'? was because of what I planned to write in this chapter here. It's really dark. I can't even recommend that you read it. In fact I suggest you don't. Not until I get the next chapter up next week.

Cora was staring at the dirt. Blurred into a tapestry of browns and yellows. Where her tears fell, new rich hues appeared. What am I doing? Feeling sorry for myself? I'm wasting time. I have to do something.

Do what? Catch Astro? She laughed to herself. I'd have better luck catching a star or a sunbeam.

I can't believe he left. He can't be told what to do at all. He's going to get himself killed. Always gotta to do what's right, don't you, Astro? Can't think of yourself for once, you reckless little snot?

Cora sighed. Unfortunately, that's one of those things I love about you.

All these thoughts took mere seconds. Cora was up and on her feet in less than a minute. She wiped her face and jumped on the quad. It gave her a roar that lifted her spirits, then it sputtered and died.

"No!"

She tried it again, and again, with the same result. She planned to have all day to work on it, she hadn't time to check everything. Damn these fossil fuels. This gas is probably years old. What a stupid idea this was. Cora sagged against the instrument panel. She cried into her sleeve as she uselessly twisted the throttle.

She was startled when she felt a hand on her back. She sat bolt upright to see Hamegg standing next to her.

He recoiled quickly, just in case she tried to strike him. "Ran off did he?" He asked gently.

Cora was angry and a little embarrassed to have him see her in such a weak state. She quickly tried to wipe her tears away. Here was someone she could detonate her frustration on. "What do you care anyway?" she spat, bristling with hatred. "Get away from me."

But Hamegg didn't go away. He stood quietly and looked up at the sky. Patently waiting for her to say more.

The ember quickly died. She couldn't afford to indulge in fighting. She needed an ally, no matter how detestable. "Something went wrong," she sniffled. "Tenma's in trouble. Which means Zane is too. And now Astro." She felt so alone and helpless. "What am I going to do?" It came out as a pitiful whine, and Cora hated herself for it. She hid her face in her hands to attempt to dam her tears, but they just kept coming. "He's gone back to the city to face who-knows-what. He's been in some dangerous situations before, but...nothing..nothing like this." Astro was nearly indestructible. She never had to be so worried about his safety before.

Hamegg was biting his lip. "You step one foot in the city and you're going to be arrested." Was that concern in his voice?

"I know. But I can't just sit here."

Hamegg was doing some serious contemplating. Zane was a good friend. About the only one he had really. But Zane knew the risks of that stupid endeavor of his. Hamegg had already got far more involved in it than he ever wanted to. He was surprised at how bad he felt for Cora though. She didn't even like him. Cora was always a strong one, but now... to see her so distressed and overwhelmed... I must be getting soft, he thought.

"I know we've had our differences in the past," he began. "and I don't really approve of your 'friendship' with Astro..."

Cora looked startled. "Is it that obvious?"

"Oh, you better believe it. These eyes don't miss anything sister." He chuckled a bit. "Plus Zane might have let a few things slip. He's really enamored with the two of you, I'll never understand why. So, perhaps..I'm not certified to pass any judgment. Don't get me wrong, I still think Astro is a pompous ass, but nobody's perfect. No one should have to die for it." He dug in his pocket and held out his car keys.

Cora had a moment of shocked confusion before she tried to take them.

Hamegg pulled them out of her reach. "I suppose I can't talk you out of this?" he asked hopefully.

Cora had jumped off the quad as she tried for the keys again. "No." Her voice was very determined.

Hamegg wasn't finished. He kept them out of her grasp. "And I want you take the cannon with you."

The audacity of this guy. She growled.

"NO."

"You might need it. You know that." The keys disappeared as he crossed his arms. "That's my condition, sweetheart. I think it's very reasonable."

She was thinking it over. Just because she had to take it didn't mean she had to USE it.

"Fine."

He handed her the keys.

She didn't leave right away. She looked from the keys in her hand to Hamegg. "You won't come?" She really didn't want him to, but she was a bit frightened with the idea of going alone.

He shrugged. "This isn't my fight."

She cocked her head. "You really ARE a coward."

"Guilty." He smiled, quite unashamed. "I think your crazy for going."

"We'll discuss my psychological problems later," she said distractedly. She took a step away, but hesitated. She jingled the keys in her hand. Hamegg was taking quite a risk on her behalf. A strange compulsion overcame her. She turned and enveloped him in the most unexpected hug she'd ever thought to give.

"Thanks."

Hamegg's voice took on an emotional timbre. "Don't tell anybody."

When Zane finally came around he let out a large groan. He was certain his head had never hurt so bad. When he tried to clasp it he found that his hands were restrained behind his back. He felt metal biting into his wrists. For a moment Zane couldn't understand why. Oh yeah. That's right. I'm in some kind of trouble again.
He opened his eyes carefully in case any encroaching light would cause his head more pain. Which it did anyway. Tenma was in a chair next to him. Zane could see that his hands were handcuffed together also. They were otherwise unbound. Should have tied us to the chairs. Amateurs. His captures were not in sight, but he could hear voices in the next room.

"What happened?," he whispered to Tenma.

Bill Tenma looked terrible. He seemed a little disheveled, physically unhurt, but his spirit was obviously broken. His watery eyes barely looked at Zane when he responded.

"Rubeon came for the code." His voice was thin and wispy. "He destroyed my copy and yours." His voice trailed off. He was having trouble continuing.

The copies weren't the problem. Tenma knew there were others. There was something else. Judging by his inability to speak, Zane had a pretty good idea what he was worried about. Or rather, who.

Zane rotated his head on his neck, about the only expressive movement he had available. He regretted it and winced. "Oh, don't tell me he's coming?" He said, exasperated. What a disaster.

Tenma knew Astro would come. He knew he was damned no matter what he did or said. He could only hope that Cora could talk some sense into him. A small hope that was too. He knew his son better than that.

"They want him to come."

Zane clenched his eyes shut. That's even worse. Who knows what they have planned for him. "How many people we talking about here?"

"Just two. Rubeon, and one other. He seems familiar. I can't place his name."

"Is he the one that hit me?"

"Yes."

"Then he's mine," Zane snarled. "What do they want with Astro? I thought they got what they wanted out of him?"

Tenma's voice was forlorn. "Apparently not."

Zane stood up then. He quietly sneaked his way to the doorway where he flattened himself against the wall so he could do some much needed eavesdropping.

"Your going to try using THAT? Have you even tested it yet?" Rubeon's wheedlely voice said.

A grunt. "No time like the present." The voice was rich in bass.

"I don't think your tiny mind can comprehend what a dangerous idea this is. I think it would be wise to leave."

"I'm aware of the risk."

"I think not. Otherwise you would be using a less fallible method," Rubeon snapped.

Zane had to smile to himself. If he's ready to leave then he knows nothing about the other copies. He must think them stupid. Which was totally him. Rubeon thought everyone was stupid. At least that's what he's heard. Lucky for them it was very true. What a dope.

Zane heard them approaching and quickly started back to the chair. Not fast enough. A strong hand grabbed the back of his jacket and lifted him easily. Zane turned his head to better see his aggressor.

Darryl Striker. There's the manufacturer he was looking for. No more speculation necessary. Of course they were working together. He felt foolish that it had to come to this before he made the connection. Zane had a whole file on this guy in his home above the repair shop. The photographs didn't do him justice. Darryl Striker was a big man. All muscle. He had to outweigh Zane by two hundred pounds. This is going to take more finesse than I thought. He now understood why they had been so poorly restrained. They didn't pose a threat. There was no way they would get past this man. Zane used his best poker face to keep his recognition to a minimum. Striker had no idea Zane had been making investigations and he didn't want to give him reason to suspect such. Striker allowed Zane to stand on his own but kept a restraining hand on him.

Rubeon came into Zane's view. "Ah, the whelp is awake."

Zane had to fight to keep from grinning. Rubeon's face was a mess. He was sporting a shiner and a split lip. At one point Tenma must have managed to give him a couple licks. He risked a quick glance at Tenma to convey his approval. Zane had to speak to him several times late last night to talk him out of seeking Rubeon out to do just that. They couldn't look like the aggressors here. But you should never invoke a fathers wrath. Rubeon made the mistake of coming here and saving him the trouble. Some of Zane's mirth must have been evident on his face.

Rubeon stuck his nose in the air. "You find something amusing?"

Zane didn't acknowledge his question. Instead he hung his head and feigned defeat. "How did you know I was coming?" There were very few of his contacts that knew he was going to be here today, all of them he trusted.

Rubeon gave him egotistical sneer. "Please. Give me some credit. Who would benefit most from exposing the truth? You simpering sympathetic robot-lovers. I knew all I had to do was tail Tenma and eventually one of you would come out of the woodwork,"

He doesn't know who I am! He thinks I'm just a messenger-boy. Hah!

Rubeon wasn't done with his boasting. "I'm a master programmer. I was tapping into the phone system before breakfast!"

Yeah to bad you didn't think of that sooner smarty-pants. Then you'd know about all the extra copies I made. Zane was relieved the leak didn't come from within the RRF.

Zane's gaze narrowed, his eyes boring into Rubeon's. "So what do you need with Astro? You'll be lucky if he even gets here, the whole city wants him destroyed." Forgive my harsh words Bill.

Striker made a queer chuckle behind him and Rubeon smiled. "Oh, that's fine with us. Well, actually, that's my friend's business here. Or should I say good FOR his business?" Rubeon seemed to be making a jab at Striker's expense. Zane got the feeling the two didn't really get along. "Astro will be destroyed sooner or later anyway, but for some reason he's obsessed with making sure it gets done." Rubeon raised one brow as he looked past Zane at Striker. "It's completely out of my hands I'm afraid. The man's on a warpath." The revolting little man leaned in close to Zane's face. "What we need from you is to be respectable hostages and insure Astro's good behavior."

It was taking Astro much longer to get home than he would have liked. He had a growing sense of urgency that he had to subdue. It started as soon as he reached Metro City, like they were just waiting for him. He had to dodge and weave and fly out of the range of EMPulse rifles and plasma blasts alike. The pulse rifles were the worst because you couldn't see them coming, and they scared him far more than a plasma blast, at least he could take quite a few of them. He was fast enough to outrun them all, but he still found himself constantly hiding from the flying patrols. He finally took a bit refuge between some large utility boxes on a rooftop, waiting for the patrols to move on. He sat down and leaned back against a humming exhaust vent and folded his arms around his knees. Everybody HATES me, he thought sadly. Astro wanted to cry. His face scrunched up as he rested his forehead on his wrists. What am I going to do? Even when it was proved to Metro City that it wasn't his fault, would they ever trust him again? Would things go back to normal? Or would he always see the same fear in their eyes that he had seen in Cora's? Astro wished his friends could be here with him now. They would have something encouraging to say to make him feel better. I wish none of this had ever happened. Well, almost none of it. His spirits lifted as he thought of his night with Cora. Snuggled into her shoulder, with her all around him, hearing her heartbeat, feeling her warmth. He relaxed just thinking about it. He couldn't ever remember being so at peace.

I want to do that every night, for as long as I live.

He felt terrible about upsetting her so much. He never wanted to make her cry. You know I had to leave. I'll make it up to you somehow Cora. Why did it seem that every time one thing seemed to go his way, ten other things went wrong? Astro stood up. He didn't have time for anymore brooding. The patrols were gone. He had to save Zane and his father. He knew his dad would be upset about his coming, and Astro would get an earful later, but what did he expect him to do? Nothing? Yeah right.

Astro finally managed to get home without incident. He sat on a nearby rooftop, looking across the street, trying to figure out how he was going to sneak in unnoticed. This was going to be tricky. We have way too many windows. And the outside terrace is the only decent place to land. Perhaps he just had to make an appearance. Draw them out. No, that was still to risky. He needed to know who he's up against before showing himself. In the end he flew up to his bedroom window. Seeing no one, he opened it and crawled in. When no danger seemed evident he continued though the rest of the house. I don't like this, it's too quiet and too easy. The door to living room was open. Through it he could see his father and Zane. His lip curled a bit on seeing Rubeon, and then there was a man he didn't recognize. They both had their backs to him, quietly murmuring to each other. They kept glancing out at the terrace and the expanse of windows above and around it. They expected him to come in that way. They both held guns. Though the large stranger wore a harness that held several more. There was a duffel bag at his feet that no doubt held weapons too. Oh, my. Are those all for me? Astro thought.

Zane saw him first. He glanced at the men and then back at Astro. His eye's expressed his distress.

Get out of here Astro!

Astro crossed his arms and shook his head.

Zane grit his teeth. Don't be difficult! This is serious!

Tenma had seen Astro too. His expression matched Zane's own.

Astro needed to free their hands. First he needed a distraction.

Zane felt relief for a moment. Astro had backed up and disappeared from view. Then he felt apprehension. It was too much to hope that he would simply leave. Zane nudged Tenma and gave him a nod. Get ready for anything. Tenma nodded back his acknowledgment.

When Astro reappeared he had one arm cannon out. He swung into the living room, walked right behind both men and sent a bolt right over their heads and out the immense terrace window. It made a sudden and tremendous noise. Both men crouched, covering their heads and ears. Most everything blew outward. A hail of small glass fragments was accompanied by a sudden blast of wind.

Astro didn't break his stride, the concussion was still echoing when he got to Zane and his father. As soon as Astro broke their bonds, they both immediately launched themselves at Rubeon and Striker with a ferocity that startled Astro.

Striker had recovered first. He met Zane swinging, which Zane had to immediately dodge. As soon as there was space between them Striker raised his gun to fire. Astro flew up and snatched it right out of his hand. Astro grabbed the back of his harness and lifted him up before he could grab another. Striker deftly slipped out of it before Astro could even lift him off the floor. Astro flipped head over heels. This guy is no joke, Astro thought. Striker didn't look back, Zane had advanced to confront him. Striker stuck him with a blow that knocked him flat. Astro dropped the harness and flew in to intervene as Striker bent to hit him again. But Striker didn't hit Zane. In a fluid movement that defied logic, Striker had rolled to the floor and reached into the duffel bag. What he pulled out of it was unlike any weapon Astro had ever seen. The barrel was far too wide, the stock was way too big. Striker gave him an exultant and thoroughly hideous smile. Astro had only enough time to turn his body sideways in an attempt to keep the blow from impacting him right in the chest before he was blown right out of the apartment, over the terrace and into the sky.

Tenma had tackled Rubeon and now had his struggling form pinned to the floor. He looked up at the sound and saw Astro was gone. "Toby!" He screamed. He snarled at Striker. "What have you done! What was that?!"

Striker continued looking down the weapons sight. His eyes sparkled.

"Something new."

He put the weapon down as the sound of sirens became apparent. He grunted. Then he leisurely packed all his weapons in the duffel, and walked out.

Zane, dazed, and with much difficulty, got to his feet. He had enough recollection to know that Striker was getting away. "I'm going after him," he slurred. "You'll be ok with him?" Zane said as he nodded at Rubeon's prone form. He was looking particularly submissive now that his muscle had walked out on him.

"We'll be fine." Tenma didn't say this to Zane. His intense glare focused on Rubeon. Tenma wasn't done with him yet. Zane hoped he managed to get his fill before the police arrived.

Astro was in an immense amount of pain. He barely pulled up in time to prevent himself from crashing to the street below. He was confused. He stopped and wavered in the air. He was still taking damage. He was afraid to look. When he did, he screamed. His entire right side from his shoulder down was covered in a wriggling silver blue sheen. It was impossible. Unthinkable. He was covered in thousands of nanobots. Nanobots that he himself had helped to create. This was Cora's project, in a more horrible and destructive form. HE was the scrap metal. As he looked down he could see a thick cloud of fine dust drifting off of him like smoke. They were breaking him apart one microscopic piece at a time. He scraped at them with his left hand out of panic. He knocked off a few dozen, the rest were thoroughly burrowed into his skin and eating their way deeper, only now they had spread to his left hand too. He forced himself to calm down and think. They only had enough charge for a twenty minute run-time. That doesn't help much, he thought. At this rate I'll be gone in fifteen. Astro heard sirens. Patrols were coming. Great. Just what I need. Astro took off. Several spotted him and gave chase.

Cora was pushing Hamegg's car to it's limits. The city had just come into view. She pulled the car up short just outside the city. Something was going on. She got out of the car for a better look. She could see Astro. He was being pursued by several armed police cruisers. Something was off about him. He was flying erratically. The suns light caught his form. Cora gasped. She had conducted enough test runs to know what she had seen. But that was impossible. They only had the capacity to break down the simplest metals. Steel, iron, nickle, aluminum. Astro was a composite of the so-called smart metals. Smart metals weren't cast, they were precisely assembled molecule by molecule, it gave them incredible strength and flexibility and allowed for the integration of sensory receptors. Her bots couldn't cut though that. They weren't supposed to. Her anger was immense. Someone is going to pay for this!

But it was her design. Her design was killing Astro.

This is all my fault. Oh, Astro, I'm so sorry.

Cora looked at the great hunk of gleaming metal on her back seat. Well Hamegg, I guess you were right. You'll be happy to know you get your wish after all.

It took everything she had to heft it to her shoulder height. She had to lean against the car to help stabilize it. Cora had never held anything like this in her whole life. She'd never fired a weapon of any kind. Her hand shook as she set the amperage, so thankful she had the wisdom to know what she was doing. She powered it on. It hummed loudly. A holoscreen came to life right before her eye displaying a telescopic image and cross-hairs. The rotary generator began at an incredible speed. She smelled Hot wire and ozone as it charged the capacitor. The generator then gave a sad hissy whine as it slowed to a stop. The holoscreen said CHARGED. What did Hamegg say about the range on this thing? Damn. Why wasn't I paying attention?

Because I never thought it would ever come to this.

Cora waited until Astro came back into view. He had dived back into the city. When he reappeared his pursuit had gone. He must have given them the slip. As he passed the city's edge Cora took aim.

Please. Please don't let me miss. Astro, be still!

She pulled the trigger. The cannon discharged. It had little to no recoil. No boom, no flash. Nothing to see. It did just dispense a giant radio wave after all. She just had been expecting SOMETHING. What she got made her happy enough. It was a direct hit. Astro's rockets died. His forward speed and momentum sending him crashing far outside the city. The sunlight sparkled off the nanobots as they fell away, giving Astro all the appearance of a comet falling to earth.

Astro's system rebooted. His eyes slowly opened. He was sprawled on his stomach in the scrap yard wastelands outside the city. He had no memory how he got there. The sun was setting. How long had he been here? He didn't get up immediately. He was in a great amount of pain. Astro brought a shaking hand to his face. It was totally exposed. Parts that had never seen the sun since his creation were right in front of him. He clenched and unclenched his hand, it whurred and clicked as he did so. It sounded so loud to his ears. Do I always make this much noise underneath? He wasn't sure he wanted to see what the rest of him looked like, but he tried to sit up anyway. There were many protesting sounds that accompanied this action, including several snapping noises. A whole host of wire bundles hung out of his torso as he got to his knees. That's not good. As he tried to get his feet under him he realized his right foot wouldn't engage. He'd have to try to walk on his rocket exhaust nozzle. From the waist down the leg was unresponsive. When he finally managed to sit upright he saw why. The nanobots had eaten away at his skin and into the wires beneath. Its bad, but I can fix this. As he examined himself further he grew more and more downhearted. His whole right side was exposed all the way up to the base of his neck. As was his left hand. His harder skeletal framework was heavily pitted. That's as far as he got. He couldn't look at it anymore. He didn't even want to see how far they got into his torso. Astro put his head in his hands.

I belong here. I belong here with the rest of this junk.

Astro heard a great clatter and footsteps as someone approached. In his pain and fear he engaged and primed his cannons. His eyes banished the growing darkness. Cora brought her hand up to shield her face.

"Whoa, Astro, don't shoot me."

Astro sobbed with relief. He closed his eyes. His left cannon disengaged, the right one could not.

"Oh Astro," Cora said sadly as she got closer. "You're a mess... I'm so sorry." She got to her knees and embraced him.

Astro's voice shook. "I don't want you to see me like this." He was horrified to hear his voice had taken on a tinny quality.

"Oh shush." She rubbed his back and kissed his cheek. "We'll get you fixed up." She tried to lean back but he didn't let her go. "Come on Astro, let me get a better look at you."

He reluctantly released her.

Cora's brows furrowed as she took it all in. "Does it hurt?" She asked gently.

Astro just nodded.

"Yeah, It was a stupid question." Astro didn't register pain in exactly the same way humans did, but for the same reason humans do. To indicate damage. As far as Cora could tell, Astro still remembers what that pain is supposed to feel like, and it's just as real to him as it is to her. "Turn those lights back on for me." As he did Cora went straight for his torso. Astro winced. "Come on, I have to see what's going on in here," she said as she started following the errant wires to their origins, carefully as she could. She didn't want to hurt him further. "You gonna tell me what happened? How did you almost get gobbled up by our bots?"

Astro knew she was genuinely curious, but she also used this technique to keep him talking to keep his mind off what she was doing. "There was Rubeon-"

Cora gave a scoff that was an obvious I-told-you-so.

"-and this other guy. He wanted me dead. I don't know why. I've never even seen him before. I think he's like a ninja or something. He had a weapon. He turned our robots into a weapon." Astro's voice was full of disbelief and anger.

Cora didn't respond right away.

"Cora?"

As Cora sat up straight she shaded his eyes with one hand so she didn't blind herself. Astro turned them off. "I'm...I'm not sure how your still operating..." She said in amazement. "There's so much missing..."

"Thanks. That makes me feel SO much better."

"Sorry." She placed her hand on the back of his neck and stroked it thoughtfully as she continued her inspection. Astro's pain subsided a bit.

"Your not breathing," Cora said in dismay.

Astro hadn't noticed. It wasn't something he necessary had to do. Well, not for the same reason everyone else did. What it DID do was indicate that his cooling system was functioning properly. Astro's computer and hydraulic systems would overheat without it.

Cora was poking around again. "They ate though the pump, and your thermostat. We have to go. We have to fix that now before you burn out. Don't exert yourself. I don't want to have to pull your plug again."

"You say the sweetest things Cora." It was good-natured sarcasm.

Cora laughed. "I try." She pulled him up by his skeletal elbow and wrapped an arm around his cannon to help support his weight. "The car isn't far. Hamegg let me borrow his car! Can you believe it?"

Astro didn't have time for a response. A car was baring down on them right now. Headlights glaring, momentarily blinding them. It wasn't slowing. It was going to run right into them. Astro braced his one foot as he pushed Cora to the ground. He hoped if she could lie flat enough it would sail right over her if he didn't manage to stop it. Astro brought up both his arms. His cannon was still primed to fire, but he couldn't shoot, he wouldn't kill, and he couldn't risk shrapnel hitting Cora, not with it this close. His left hand sunk deep into the front bumper, his right snapped off at the shoulder and spun off out of his sight. Cora screamed and wrapped her hands behind her head beside him. Astro sunk into the ground as absorbed the impact. He was pushed backward about a foot. With a yell he slung the car off to his left where it skipped like a stone before coming to rest against a pile of scrap. Striker was out of the car before it even stopped moving. Astro managed to stand his ground for only a moment before he swayed and fell to his hands and knees. He was already starting to overheat. Striker strode up to him quickly, his plasma pistol in his hand.

"NO!" Cora launched herself at him.

Without missing a beat, Striker grabbed her by the neck and stopped her in mid-flight. She ineffectually tore at his hands.

Astro looked up at Striker, trying to get his body to respond. All his joints did was give a sickly clicking protest.

Striker stepped down on his neck and pushed him down to the ground. Cora was choking out sobs.

Striker shook his head in disbelief as he looked down at Astro. "Why are you so hard to kill?"

Cora watched in horror as Striker fired of two plasma bolts right into Astro. She saw pieces of him break off into the air. Sparks flew. She couldn't even scream.

"THAT"S ENOUGH!"

Zane had a hell of a time catching up with Striker. Zane didn't carry any weapons of his own. Luckily he happened to find one laying around.

Astro's arm cannon.

It only had one shot. Zane had the two detonation wires ready to touch together in one hand. His temper was boiling. His anger surprised and frightened him.

Striker pulled Cora in front of him, shielding himself from Zane. Cora felt his plasma pistol pushed into her neck. Cora finally managed to pull a breath. She was hysterical. "Kill him Zane!"

Zane and Striker looked at one another. He couldn't risk it. Zane took a step backwards. His mouth a grim line.

Striker smiled as he walked Cora backwards to his car. "No." Cora breathed. "NO!"

He opened the driver's side and threw her in the passenger side. Somehow his gun never left her skin.

He started the car and turned back toward the city.

Cora turned in her seat to watch Astro and Zane recede from view. No tears came. Her anger had burned them away. Her heart, however, was full of regret. She felt dead inside. This couldn't be real. This couldn't really be happening.

I never told him.

Zane was still staring in their direction long after they were gone, wondering if he'd done the right thing, and cursing himself for being too late. He failed his friends. Sadly, he looked down at Astro. There was no sign of life there.

It wasn't ready, but Zane wasn't going to let that stop him.

I'm going to make it up to you both.

Time for plan B.

What? You read it anyway? Don't hate me, I told you not to. Killing off the main character? Joss Whedon would be so proud of me. You guys know it's going to get a super happy ending right? You all have a good idea what's going to go down. He had to die!