My Life as a Teenage Robot and all related characters are the intellectual property of their respective owners.

The following work and its proceeding chapters will contain mature content, read on at your own peril.

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Chapter 7: Medals

"Today we have looked into the face of our foe….and it is us."

I never killed before. Never had to. There were always people around more than willing to do it. So much killing….so much war. I actually wanted a part of it at one point. Wanted to be some badass hero like Doc Savage, a regular Buck Rodgers. Saving the world, saying one-liners, and getting the girl (all without messing up my hair).

Then, when I finally stopped to look around, my world had turned into a burning, bleeding battle zone.

The names Carbunkle. Bradley Carbunkle. Just call me Brad, okay? I'm so sick of all these damn honorary titles, the nicknames. Never thought that a single piece of bronze could feel like the weight of the world.

Sorry, I'm getting ahead of myself. Let me start from the beginning.

I used to be the kind of guy you'd never notice. You know the type: mildly popular, but not enough to make waves. I could hang with most folks and even make an offhand comment or two to the popular dudes without getting the wind knocked out of me. Well, the girls were another story, but hey, aint it always the case? Anyhoo, I would have probably gone through school without too much trouble. I would have dreamed of adventure my entire life, but end up getting stuck at some dead-end job, maybe I would have gotten hitched, have kids…end of story.

But then my brother wrecked my neighbor's window, and my world was never the same.

Looking back on it, I wonder if that incident caused all of this. I mean, Jenny would have probably stayed in that house for years, until she was ready for duty. Then she would have just gone on saving the world without much thought about being a teenager. Maybe that misdirected ball saved the world, or changed it a least.

I'll tell ya one thing though; it sure as hell changed mine.

One day I'm reading adventure stories. The next I'm living one. But it was always fun. Dangerous and life-threatening, sure, but then again so is football, and at least outside of the gridiron, I had protection. Yep, I rolled with a genuine league of heroes. A super cool robot girl. An ex-hero turned scientist. A geeky, (but still all right) sixteen-year old MacGyver. Even my little bro could be ballsy at times.

I counted myself lucky, what other guy can claim to have dated an android, battled the Cluster, and confronted robotic zombies just as starters? Yeah it was fun.

Then, my world turned red.

I should have known something was wrong with Sheldon. I mean I used to joke that he and Tuck were both part of some brotherhood of mentally unstable dudes but I had no idea that he would….that they would…..no.

No. No. No. No. No.

I never liked the Silver Shell, I always thought of him as a robotic version of Don Prima. Believe me, I hate that guy. The way every girl swoons when he treats them like shit, it makes me want to scream. Same story here, except he hit closer to home. Now usually I would have turned the other cheek with this guy (I mean he isn't the only jerk who Jenny has gone with right?) but one night was all it took to change that.

I was going to Jovani's Speedy Mart to grab a Bladder Buster and some chips when I heard the shots. Now hanging out with Jenny gave me all the gunfire and explosions that a guy could ever want to see in his lifetime. You sort of become indifferent to the whole thing. It's textbook: shots fired, evil villain shows up, stuff gets wrecked, Jenny comes, more shots, more wrecking, day is saved. End of story, thank you for coming to today's show, and good night.

But she can't be everywhere at all times. So when a few minutes (okay, seconds really, I need to really control my gut instincts) passed and Jenny didn't show I decided to head on over and investigate. Stupid? Careless? Yep. But hey, its not like I hadn't gotten myself into scraps before. I could handle myself….at least until the giant monsters show up. Then I'm outta there.

What I saw in that store…..Jesus, I wish it was just some oversized lizard with radioactive breath. Old man Jovani was dead. He was a pretty cool old guy, he used to let me read comics in the store without paying. But he was dead. There were one other person dead, a man and there was this woman. The woman…she was on her knees before the Shell. She must have been begging. I could see her back, she was shaking, she was terrified. Then she put the gun to her head…..

So much blood….

So much that it splashed on the Silver Shell's armor. He didn't even blink, didn't even react. The sirens and lights were the only thing that broke me out of my trance. When I looked back at the store the Shell had blasted off.

He left two kids in there. They had just watched three people get killed. They were no older than Tuck. He left them.

I stayed on the scene, told the patrol what I knew, and then an ambulance took the kids away. But before they left, I could hear one of them say something. He was whispering it over and over like some chant.

" Shell…blood…murder"

Catchy little number huh? Needless to say, I was freaked out. But I didn't tell anyone what happened that night. After all, folks read the papers, there was no need for me to bring down Tuck, Jenny, or Sheldon to tell them that I could have been killed by a ten foot tall robotic psycho who Jenny just happened to be hot and bothered over.

Looking back…it was the dumbest move of my life.

I should have talked, I should have told someone. Maybe then we could have stopped the Shell from killing again. Maybe then we could have saved Sheldon. Sheldon was the nicest dude I knew, a total pacifist. Murder was so far from him that it would have been likelier that he would become Mr. Universe. But I've been wrong about people before. The Battle of Tremorton showed me that.

Oh boy, here comes the big question: "What happened during the Battle of Tremorton?"

A lot of shit happened there okay?! I killed. I almost got killed. I nearly lost everyone I loved….

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Ruins of Tremorton Highschool, Three days ago

"SHELDON!!"

The light burned the very heavens. It was a new sun, scorching the earth. Then a sound of thunder as the great vessel split and fell down to the earth. The 'Righteous Indignation' was no more, and only the flames illuminated its once proud bow.

He was the first to awaken, his armor absorbing the damage from the explosion. Tuck stood and shook free of his chassis.

Any other time the young Carbunkle would bemoan the loss of his precious armor. The Tin Can Mk II was his pride and joy, his secret identity. Despite outwardly giving up his heroic persona, Tuck had secretly begun planning on building his own power suit, and with a few visits to Dr. Wakeman's lab (and of course stealing one of her old exo suits in the process) he was ready to start his own 'super secret project'. It had taken him months to construct a working suit modified for his own needs (namely a removable helmet/mask in order to eat while wearing his costume, and a small hatch to make going to the bathroom easier) and finally he had the perfect chance to test it out. But this day was not at all what he had expected. His brother was hurt, he had gotten Jenny severely damaged, and his partner was…..

"No. Sheldon's alive, I know it!"

Searching through the rubble, Tuck happened upon a large crater. The flames surrounded the hole giving it the appearance of a gateway into hell itself. A shimmering light caught Tuck's eye.

"Shedon!"

Tuck leapt forward towards the broken, bleeding silver sarcophagus that once was the mighty Silver Shell. His small hands pulled with all possible force to try and pry open the damaged suit. But human hands (no matter how spirited the user) were useless against the formidable hide of the shining sentry.

Diamond edged saw blades wielded by a being with the proportionate strength of one million and seventy men on the other hand were another story.

Jenny, though still severely damaged (and with movement made possible by both her mother and Brad dragging her) had still managed to activate and use her cutting saws to open the suit. The wounded trio made their way down to the crater's center and together the strange family of heroes gazed in astonishment at the contents of the shell.

"Sheldon….."

"The poor boy, he's so…the wounds are…."

"He was trying to tell me…they attacked before I could…."

Then a broken mechanical voice caught their attention. A voice barely above a whisper, yet in its weak tone the strength of a fighting champion remained.

"Shell ZZZ……Sheldon ZZZ……DO…..NT…..DIE ZZZ"

With that Jenny fell silent. As the lights of approaching vehicles, and the patter of boots filled the scene, the shrinking group held on to each other, seemingly afraid to lose anyone else to the cruel night.

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Tremorton, Two days ago

The chants were overwhelming. The press swarmed the three heroes. Fans of all ages, sizes and genders clamored to even get a glimpse of the saviors of Tremorton.

It was a usual event for the Wakeman women. Medals, honors, titles, it was more of the same.They stood and saluted with the respectful indifference that comes from saving humanity from extinction on a daily basis.

But for one Bradley Carbunkle, it was a rush beyond words. The honor suit he wore fit perfectly, even the strangely phallic helmet atop his head seemed to augment his athletic form, granting him a certain noble visage which was offset by his wild waving and flexing.

"Yeah! Hail to the King, baby!"

One of his lamest one liners, and even that particular verbal nugget made several highly attractive girls faint. Girls, that he had been clobbered by previously. Ah, how popularity changes things. Grinning ear to ear he answered every last question posed by reporters.

"Folks are calling you 'Courageous' Carbunkle! How do you respond to that?"

"Hey the people of Tremorton can call me anything, I'm still the Bradster!"

"Brad over here! Is it true that you accepted Spitney Platinum's marriage proposal?"

"Look, if Spitney wants to have a date with me she had better get in line!"

"Captain Carbunkle! Speaking of dates what's the story between you and Jenny?"

Okay, now there was a question that he could not answer. Brad blushed so red that his faced matched the crimson tip of his Skypatrol helmet. He babbled, he stuttered, and generally tried to formulate a response that didn't make him sound like a complete jackass. Fortunately, Dr. Wakeman was more experienced in these matters.

"Buzz off you gadflies! No further questions!"

Reporters from Tremorton had a longstanding rule in their trade: When Nora Wakeman says 'no', you listen. Mark Johann, editor of the Tremorton Globe learned this the hard way during his younger years. It is said that even thirty years later his thumbs still haven't fully healed.

The Skypatrol cruiser returned them to the Wakeman residence. The crowds had become so thick and so emotionally intense that this was the only safe method to transport the three. Furthermore, the armored bunker that was the Wakeman house was the only safe haven they had from their ravenous fans.

Upon entering the safe confines of the home Brad and Dr. Wakeman removed their helmets. Jenny however stood at attention and stared straight ahead. The human members of the team followed her eyes to a figure sitting in the house's main rocking chair. The man's suit suggested wealth and prominence, as did the body guards surrounding him. He stood and approached the trio.

"Dr. Wakeman, XJ9, Mr. Carbunkle. I am Judge Dominic Daniel, and I am pleased to make your acquaintances. Forgive my intrusion but I have information that I would like to share with you. It concerns your…classmate, Sheldon Lee."

Jenny suddenly grabbed the man's hands in a pleading gesture.

"Sheldon?! How is he?! Is he okay?!"

The bodyguards stepped forward, but Daniels held them at bay with but a single flash of his eyes. He took Jenny and sat her in the couch in front of him, while simultaneously motioning for her compatriots to sit down as well.

"Mr. Lee is healing as well as can be expected. He will be fully conscious soon and I have donated an exo-frame to aid his walking ability."

Dr. Wakeman smiled, "That was very kind of you Mr. Dan—"

"JUDGE Daniels if you please." The man snorted with no loss of arrogance. "The exo-suit should serve its purpose well in helping him walk to his rendezvous with justice. Make no mistake, Mr. Lee will be walking into court in a few days."

At this, all smiles left the room.

"C-c-court? What do you mean?"

"Sheldon's going to court?!"

"Hey Sheldon saved us all!"

The judge snarled his cold facade temporarily fading away to reveal the angry man within.

"Sheldon Lee is a mass-murderer the likes of which this city…no, this NATION has not seen before! He used his armored costume to commit countless murders and the rape of Brittney Krust! Not only that but his reckless attack on the Cluster battle cruiser caused irregular explosions and falling debris which took untold lives!"

Silence. Even thought became impossible as the words tore into their hearts. The Judge looked at them and his face softened, and tears threatened to fall.

"He…he….HE MURDERED MY BOY! HE TORTURED AND KILLED MY SON!"

The judge began to sob but restrained himself. He needed to remain in control. Yet, upon looking at the trio he saw no reaction, simply stunned silence.

"I see this is a lot to take in. You trusted him, gave him all the love and friendship a man could ask for reasonably. Yet, this product of a broken home, this twisted soul, this man…this monster utilized his gifts for evil and perverse ends. I feel your pain."

Judge Daniels stood and walked to the door flanked by his guards, "Tomorrow I will be starting my vigil, waiting for Mr. Lee to awaken. Having you there will allow you to see this monster for what he is, as well as speed up the judicial process."

As the door opened the judge spoke but a final time, "Remember, he is not the man you thought he was. You don't know who this so-called "Silver Shell" really is."

The door closed behind him. He entered his waiting limo, and as the vehicle pulled away Judge Daniels allowed a smile to spread across his face.

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Did I believe a word he said? Of course not. Sheldon may have had a few screws loose, but he was no killer, and raping Brit was so out there that it doesn't even deserve mention.

Sheldon may have fooled us all for a year and half by pretending to be the Silver Jerk-off but hey, secret identities are the main thing that makes comic heroes exciting right? So what if he was obsessive? He would never hurt Jenny or any other woman, right?

Then I saw the reports, the pictures.

Sheldon was worse off than we thought. 'Broken home?' The guy was alone since fifth grade! We've been his only friends since then. It made me feel kind of good that we became kinda like the guy's family. I mean Sheldon deserves a family right?

The pictures though….those fucked me up. They were shots done by the Tremorton Coroner's office, he tore these guys apart. He even ripped off some dude's family jewels! Man I hope Tuck…..

Was Tuck involved? Did Sheldon make my brother kill these people as well?

…..I'll kill him. I will break him if he bloodied Tuck's hands!

Well, not really. I mean he couldn't have done this right? But then those words kept haunting me. The Judge told us that we didn't really know him.

I started to believe him. Slowly but surely, I did.

So then two days later I went to hospital, saw my brother about to be stomped into the ground and I did the only rational thing I could do at the time: I told the truth.

I didn't know that man in the window. That man with the sad, dead eyes. That broken man with tomato sauce on his face.

I don't know the Silver Shell.

I don't know the man my brother was protecting.

I just don't fucking know this man who cries for us while people are calling for his death.

Maybe I should have done things differently. I don't know. All I know is that underneath this medal I'm still just a teenager trying to play hero.

But I'm trying real hard to change. For myself, for my brother and most of all….for Jenny.

Jenny….can you love a man who wasn't brave enough to stand up for his best friend?

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The explosion ripped through the mostly empty west wing of the hospital at 7:50 P.M. The official report suggested a tactical explosive was planted in room 314, housing the infamous Sheldon Lee (aka, the Silver Shell). In the morning, rescue crews found no survivors.

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Next Chapter: Cold

Flames? Reviews? Good ideas? Bad ideas? Homicidal ideas? I appreciate them all the same.