8: SLEEP TIGHT

"WOOOOHOOO!"

Cora yelled out to the world as she stretched her arm out, soaring above the endless junk mounds of the Surface. Astro smiled, slowing down a bit. He loved flying with Cora, being able to share the incredible feeling of floating, almost weightless. Reaching out and pushing off a large junk mound, he decided to start a conversation as Cora's laughter died down and she snuggled into his neck. "Cora," he started, dropping slightly lower.

"Hmm?" she asked sleepily, tuning her head to his. Astro frowned for a second.

"You know the Prom?" he asked.

"How could I forget?" she laughed. He smiled, before his face dropping into seriousness.

"You never answered my question. You know, of how you came to be on the Surface?" Cora's fingers clenched and her eyes shifted nervously. Astro waited a few minutes. He knew this was a hard topic for her to talk about, but he had to know. He felt he needed to. He wanted to be there for her.

Cora cleared her throat, her eyes focused on nothing in particular. "Could we land?" she asked in a slightly wavering voice. Astro glanced to her for a second, before looking ahead. A smile met his lips.

"You're in luck!" he grinned. "I found the perfect landing spot..."


The two lay there, side by side on the RRF Hideout roof. Cora stretched her arms behind her head for a pillow, listening to the snoring of the three quirky robots asleep below them. They stared up at the stars, the swamping clusters of tiny white dots scattered across the black sheet that wrapped the world in darkness. Astro smiled, his eyes sparkling at the sight. He wondered if he could even go up there, to see the stars close up. He knew they were thousands of miles away, but it was still nice to dream about it.

He glanced over to Cora, who wasn't enjoying the beautiful display as much as himself. He softly reached out, pulling a strand of hair out of the way of her face. She glanced to him, a smile on her face but her eyes still willed with pain and worry.

"I ran away from my home..." she whispered, looking to the ground. Astro just stared at her, waiting for the rest of the story. "They...always told me what to do..." she muttered, a flash of anger and rebel coming across her. "You must be this, don't do that, you grow up to be this, or you can't be friends with him..." her sight flickered to Astro for a second. He moved a little closer to her, drinking in every word she had to say. "One day..." she swallowed, "I guess I had enough of it all..."

"How old were you?" Astro cut in softly. Cora exhaled through her nose, looking up to the sky.

"Ten..." she mumbled. Astro felt his eyes widen three times the usual size.

"S-so you were missing for three whole years?" he gaped. She nodded sadly. He pulled back a bit. "Whoa..." he breathed.

"Yeah," she muttered, "Whoa."

"So when did you start wanting to go back?"

"Not that long after," she said, stretching her arm over her head. "It was amazing at Hamegg's, having all that freedom and all those people there for you. But then again...I was still a kid." She snickered. "Still am, really. I needed a family, and I was lucky enough to have one I could go back to. Zane and some of the others weren't that lucky..." Astro eyed her, his mind racing. He noticed now how much he didn't know about his friends.

Where had Widget and Sludge come from? And he doubted Zane was actually raised by wild dogs...

"Where did the others come from?" he asked.

"Well," Cora started, grunting and she lifted herself up a bit, "Widget and Sludge were dumped in a garbage containment unit when they were one-"

"WHAT?" Astro screeched. Cora raised an eyebrow at his reaction. "Who would do that? That's...that's wrong!"

"I know, but it's not the worst story..." Cora mumbled. Astro frowned at her.

"Zane?"

"Zane ran away from his home after his mother died. His step dad apparently wasn't the nicest guy," she answered. Astro was so surprised how casually she said all this, like it was apart of a normal conversation. He took a long breath, glancing up to the stars.

"That's...alot to take in..." Cora smiled, nodding.

"Yes, it is."

"They're all in the Metro City Orphanage now aren't they?" he asked, slightly glancing to her. She nodding.

"Yep."

"Any adopters yet?"

"Nope."
"That sucks..."

"Yeah," she yawned, straining her back. "But it won't be long...hopefully." She looked to her best friend. "The Orphanage is nice. I'm just worried about the change from Hamegg's laid back out of control house to a posh, stuck up city joint."

"Metro City is not stuck-up!" Astro defended. She snickered.

"Yeah right! I was just saying its alot cleaner then what they're used too."

"Yeah, they'll have to deal with not eating pizza fished out of the garbage..."

"Yikes. Tough thing to say good bye to," Cora smirked, resting her head on Astro's shoulder.

"And they'll have to get used to beds that aren't as stiff as a rock." He continued.

"Oh, the beds weren't that bad!" she laughed.

"Are you kidding me?" Astro smirked. Cora gave him a playful elbow in the stomach. Laughing, the two both gazed up to the night sky, just enjoying each other's company. After a while, Astro spoke.

"Thanks, Cora." The teen raised her chin, a questioning glance clouding her eyes.

"Eh?"

"For telling me your past. I know it must have been hard for you to talk about something like that..." he mumbled. Cora smiled, snuggling into his jacket.

"Well thank you for your thank you."

"Thanks." They both laughed softly. Absentmindedly, Cora's hand slipped around Astro's, wrapping her warm fingers around his. They lay like that for how ever long, staring up at the sky. Cora breathed deeply. It felt good to spill her secrets, her feelings on that certain topic that still pinched at her heart.

After a while, Astro softly nudged her. "We better get back home," he whispered. She nodded sleepily.

"Yeah, my dad will kill me..." she yawned. Straining his back, Astro climbed to his feet, helping Cora up as well.

"Hop on," he smiled. Cora stretched her arms out before almost collapsing on Astro's back. "You comfy?" he asked.

"I'm kinda scared your hair will poke my eye out..." she mumbled with a giggle. Astro shook his head with a mocking smile.

"Nice," he muttered, taking off.


"Zane?"

The young teenager sprung up in his bed, head darting around in fear.

"What?" he gasped. "Who was that?" it wasn't long before his eyes adjusted and his sight fell upon the pale face of Widget. She was wearing her forest green night gown, brushing at her knees, and her hair was pulled down instead of tied in two strange pony tails. Zane heaved a sigh, slumping a bit. "Widget," he breathed, "What are you doing here?" Widget took the moment to look around her for a bit, looking at the pristine white sheeted beds filled with children. Zane's bed was one on the bottom bunk in the corner by the window. In total there were four bunks in the long room, all boys as it was apart of the boy's dorm.

She laced her fingers together with a slight tenseness. "I can't sleep. I don't like it here..." she quivered. Zane let off a look of sympathy, sitting up and pushing his back against the wall. The small girl softly sat down upon the stiff bed, eyes becoming glassy. "I want to go home..." she sobbed. Zane leaned forward, placing a hand on her back.

"Widget, this is our home. We're orphans- wherever we are at the time, is our home."

"No!" she cried. "I wanna go back to Hamegg's!" Zane sighed, head lowering. No doubt that he wanted exactly the same thing. He had grown up at Hamegg's- they all had. Why did he leave them like that? Why did he just abandon them?

"Look," he whispered, trying to keep his tone from wavering. "It's good here. Someone will come one day, and take us to a new home." He gingerly wrapped his arms around the girl, pulling her into a hug as he leaned back. Widget felt the tears drip down her cheeks.

"But what if no-one will love us?" she sobbed quietly. "Not even our parents wanted us! Who would ever want us?" the teenager couldn't think of what to say to that. He remained silent instead, just holding his best friend as she cried.


Astro expertly landed on the side walk in front of Cora's home, Metro City Apartments. With a last laugh Cora slipped off his back and landed on the cement with a light tap of her shoes. "I feel dizzy..." she giggled, walking completely off balance. Astro shook his head with a smile, reaching out and steadying her shoulders.

"Watch out- you're making me dizzy just by looking at you!" he joked. She smirked, turning to the apartment entrance.

"You better be at school tomorrow!" she called, approaching the glass double doors. "We have a test!" she winked. Astro smiled, raising an eyebrow.

"Will you ever learn to actually study?" he scoffed. She grinned.

"As long as you're around, probably not!" with that, she disappeared inside. Astro smiled to himself, standing there for a few seconds before turning down the street. Life defiantly was the best with friends.

Cora was thinking the same thing as she almost pranced through the lobby, a huge grin on her face. Her bubbly mood remained as she slid in the elevator, pressing her floor number. But the more she started thinking about things, the more her mind wondered to her parents. Her farther, to be specific.

"Oh no..." she whispered to herself, scrunching up her hair. What time is it? she thought franticly. Defiantly past her curfew. What do I tell them? She bit her lip as the doors slid open. Running excuses through her head as she walked, she came to a stop in front of her door. Hands becoming clammy, she slowly wrapped them around the handle as a scan went off, claiming she was a resident of the room. Maybe I could just sneak past? Taking a deep breath, she opened the door and entered the apartment. Inside was an empty lounge suite, with a connected kitchen. Everything was very sleek and shiny, and mostly in colours of white, grey or red. "Still not as flashy as Astro's house..." she muttered under her breath. She couldn't help think that each time she entered her own home. She usually went over Astro's house to sleep over or study with him (or really just copy answers off his own sheet), and she loved how modern it all was. It made you feel so rich, walking through the rooms.

Shaking the unimportant thoughts off, she slinked into the small hallway that led to her room. Only a voice stopped her from proceeding.

"Cora?" her heart thumped against her ribs as her hands tensed. Slowly, she turned around to come face to face with her dad.

"H-h-h-hi d-dad!" she managed, giving him a weak smile. Her father's face remained stern, crossing his arms across his chest.

"Are you aware of the time?" he snapped, skipping the 'how you been?'. Cora bit her lip, glancing to the digital clock upon the wall.

10: 59

"Yeeeeesss..." she slurred. Mr Jade took a few steps forward.

"I thought we agreed that your curfew was 9pm!" he growled. "Where were you? Your mother and I were worried sick!"

"I was just out with some friends!" she lied. No way was she going to tell him about Zog, even though her shoulder still stung from bruising. He would become paranoid, and probably lock her up in the apartment for good.

"Where?" he asked, coming closer. Cora darted her eyes around, mind racing.

"T-the Pizza Hub..." she almost whispered. Mr Jade raised an eyebrow.

"The Pizza Hub?" he repeated slowly. She nodded.

"Yep!"

"Cora," he moaned, rubbing his temple, "the Pizza Hub closes at 9:30." Cora froze up. Great, she mentally slapped herself. Nice one, Cora...

"WHERE WERE YOU?" he raised his voice.

"With some friends, dad!" she persisted.

"Which friends?" he growled, reaching out and placing a hand on her bad shoulder.

"OW!" she winced, pushing his hand off and clenching the sore patch. Mr Jade's eyes widened.

"You're hurt!" he gasped. She had to smile a tad as her farther morphed the words Astro had said when he was in the same position.

"It's fine, dad!" she convinced, but Jade didn't hear a word of it. He turned her head away softly as he pulled up her sleeve to reveal a deep bruise, as big as a base ball.

"Oh my god..." he gawked. Cora pushed him off, rubbing it tenderly.

"Dad, I-"

"What caused it?" he asked, looking in her eyes.

"Nothing, dad! Just-"

"Was it Astro?" he growled, face becoming dark. "Did you go on one of his little 'hero' acts?"

"Dad, no!" she yelled. "Astro didn't do anything! He saved me! Zog was acting funny and-"

"Zog?" Mr Jade repeated. "But Zog is at..." Cora winced, shrugging down as realization hit the man's face. He looked at her with new found anger.

"What were you doing at HAMEGG'S?"


Landing on the balcony, Astro strolled into his living room, dusting off his jacket as he went. He looked around his surroundings for a quick moment, sighing as no voices could be heard. He looked at the clock.

11:00

"Yikes..." he hunched, pace quickening. Gotta watch the time more, he scowled himself. Dad will kill me!

But as he turned to the hallway, someone was blocking his path. "Where were you?"

Zoran.

And not just Zoran. A very miserable Zoran, at that. Gasping in shock, he quickly regained himself. "Zoran?" he asked. "Shouldn't you be in bed?"

"Shouldn't YOU?" she snapped. It was then Astro noticed another strange thing. She was holding an icepack to her skull, crunching it in her hand. He raised an eyebrow.

"Err, why do you have an icepack?" he said, trying not to smile. Zoran's eyes grew dark.

"That's why I want to know where you've been! I suddenly felt this huge headache! What happened?" Astro face palmed as realization hit.

"Zoran, I'm so sorry! I forgot we felt the same thing!" he groaned. Wiping his hand over his face, he shrunk down as Zoran began to sob.

"It hurts!" she whined. Smiling with sympathy, he gingerly took the icepack off her head.

"Ice won't work, silly." He snickered, escorting her to her room. "Try and sleep it off. I promise it'll feel better in the morning." Zoran wiped her nose and eyes, slumping over to the bed.

"Promise?"

"Promise."

With a sigh she slipped into the covers, Jump leaping up and curling by her feet. Just as Astro was about to leave, Zoran spoke again.

"Astro?"

"Yeah?" he answered.

"There's some strange news on..." she mumbled. Astro frowned, stepping closer to her.

"Huh?"

"Well," she started, sitting up, "there was this attack by a robot, and then all the humans were acting really scared..." Astro's brow creased more.

"Robot? What robot?"

"Just a normal waiter bot," she said. Out of no-where, she started to cry again. "The were really mean to it!" she wailed. "And then Dad told me to turn the TV off! I don't wanna go to bed!" the boy robot was stunned at her depression for such little things.

"Zoran, are you feeling okay?" crying was NOT a Zoran thing. Where was her normal bubbly behavior?

"I want my puppy!" she cried, reaching out for Jump. The dog was startled, and in a flash disappeared with arched ears. Zoran stared where he was for a second before bursting into tears. "HE DOESN'T LIKE ME!"

"Whoa, Zoran!" Astro calmed, stepping over to her and kneeling down to the bed. Zoran pouted, crossing her arms. He placed a hand on her shoulder. "Sis, there's nothing to be sad about! He's just a dog!" But something threw him off his thoughts. As he came in contact with her, a chilling cold swept through his body, the same he felt with Zog when he was possessed. Teeth chattering, he pulled away quickly. Zoran slid back down to her pillow, resting her head. Astro stood there for a few seconds, staring at her with a strange look. She raised an eye brow.

"What?" she asked, rubbing her nose. He shook his head for a bit, before clicking the light off.

"Good night, Zoran," he choked out. He heard a mumble in response. Breathing becoming quicker, he traveled past his bedroom door and into the lounge room, sitting on the brown leather.

I get these strange aggression out bursts, Zog gets the same thing, yet Zoran is more on the depressed side, but the same cold feeling sweeps over!

He held his head. "What is going ON?" he yelled out. For a while he remained idle, listening to a small buzzing of energy generating through the flat. Slowly, his eyes flinched to the TV remote beside him. "Robots...attacking..." with a quick breath he quickly snatched up the remote and switched the TV on.

"-quite a shocking attack this late evening, when a waiter robot aggressively lost control and attempted to attack several pedestrians at a Metro City Cafe."

Astro's neck gawked out as the screen changed from the blonde reporter to the clip of the attack.

Black.

That's all that gripped his attention. A waiter bot was throwing chairs at people, ripping off table cloths and smashing plates, a black eerie glow surrounding him. The withered ropes of pitch black wrapped around him and his eyes were like pits of nothingness. Astro leaned back on the couch, shaking his head.

"What is going on?" he whispered, letting the remote drop from his grip.

"There has been an outrage of people who insist on a whole city debate on if robots can be trusted with the very human tasks they have. Already having crossed the human-robot boundary with the latest robot hero Astro, things are really firing up."

He just stared at the screen, slumping even more.

"What is going on...?"


Dr Tenma awoke with a snap of his eyes and a flinch of his ears. Someone was up. Glancing to the bedside clock, his eyebrows raised at the time.

1:00am

Who would be up this late?

Yawning, he slid his legs from the covers and stood, arching his back. With a smile he glanced down to Z, asleep on the opposite side of the bed. Her hair tangled across her face in every direction as small sighs expressed from her lips. He smiled fondly at her for a few moments before walking over to the bedroom door and striding down the hall. A flashing light was flickering across the living room floor, a small sound of adds filling the air. "Zoran?" he called quietly, remembering the many times he had caught her getting up for a midnight snack, though her programming had no sign that she would have cravings. That girl will always be a mystery to him...

Frowning as no-one answered, he stepped into the room to see the TV on. And sitting on the couch? A passed out Astro, sleeping with his head nudged to the side. Smiling, the doctor proceeded forward. "Astro?" he whispered, leaning over him.

"Hmm..." Astro stirred, but nothing else. Tenma raised an eyebrow. He reached out, softly shaking his shoulder.

"Astro?" he called again, a little louder. All that was responded was his head falling to the side. Sighing in defeat, Tenma clicked the TV off. he wrapped his arm under Astro's legs and picked him up in a bridal style, carrying him across the room. The robot son snuggled his head into his shoulder, groaning a bit. Tenma couldn't help but chuckle slightly as he entered Astro's room. Grunting a bit, he laid him down in his bed, pulling the covers up to his chin. Astro stretched, flinging his arm over his head tiredly. The man pulled back with wonder etched into his eyes. "Good night, son," he smiled, leaving him to sleep. "Sleep tight."