Sensing the boy asleep near him the silver monkey meditated silently in the corner of the darkened medical bay. His concentration unrivalled until the blue monkey began to slowly move towards the teen again.

Opening his eyes slowly Antauri watched the scientist peculiarly. Furrowing his brow slightly, as he noted the large restraints, he was attempting to fit to the boy's wrists and arms.

"Gibson is there a reason why Chiro has to be restrained in such a manner?" The silver monkey asked curiously, watching as Gibson stopped his work to face him slowly.

"According to my test results, Chiro is showing signs of waking soon. I just wanted to be prepared in case he awakes badly. There's simply no way of knowing what he might be capable of, so I think it will be best to take precautions. Then we will have the opportunity to subdue him more effectively something bad does occur."

Sighing as he listened to the blue monkey talk he couldn't help the small look of disappointment he gave. "But the restraints are more likely going to provoke such a reaction; will they not? The one you are trying to minimise?" Antauri spoke carefully picking up on the scientist's tiniest signs of subtle irritation.

"Antauri, I respect you don't like seeing this, but the environment he is waking too will be alien to him. The last memories he will recall will be of fighting on the street, whilst being very power happy and highly strung. If he wishes to wake up and act up with the restraints fitted, it won't matter. He can't throw us around like rag dolls then. It's for our safety Antauri."

"I believe we should give him the benefit of the doubt." Antauri intervened abruptly, holding his hand up as the scientist's mouth was left agape.

"Antauri do I really need to repeat myself?" Gibson asked carefully, irritation now clearly showing as he glanced to the silver simian. "It's for our safety."

Catching the blue monkeys glance, Antauri cleared his throat. "You do not have to worry my friend, I have taken stronger precautions. I do not believe Chiro will be a threat to anyone when he awakes."

Stopping his work again, this time it was the blue monkey turn to furrow his brow in confusion. "How do you mean Antauri? You've only helped in the of aid treating some of his wounds." Gibson stated matter of factly.

"Indeed, but on the street after I knocked him down, I used some of my power primate energy to temporarily seal his powers away."

"So you've effectively locked away his Hyper Mode."

With a curt nod, the silver simian remained hovering, shutting his eyes again as he went to return to his meditative state.

"But Antauri that red aura... Has that been locked away too?

"It has."

"Very well." Gibson said releasing the restraints quickly as he soon found himself questioning the silver simian again. "Antauri, that aura... Do you know what that aura is, where has it come from?" Gibson almost rambled, stopping himself quickly from sounding like Otto, as he was quick to apologise for the outburst that had again disturbed Antauri's meditation. "I'm worried about what Chiro has got to deal with and what is yet to come." Gibson added, as he watched his brother reopen his eyes and hover closer to the boy.

"It is natural to worry over such matters." Antauri eased as he rested a palm on Chiro's forehead. "I am familiar with the overall band of techniques similar to this Gibson. Nova herself has shown us first hand, how you can lose control of your powers due to your emotion. But while it can be of natural benefit in a fighting situation, it can also be a natural hindrance when it clouds your better judgement and your ability to fight for preservation. Chiro, I believe, has unconsciously taught himself a dangerous variant of this technique."

"But Nova's two episodes were both highly dangerous, how is Chiro's even worse still?"

"Mainly because Nova was able to calm herself or be reached out to. She still listened to others and her aura never changed consistently. When Chiro got the bit between his teeth he either argued back, ignored us, or did everything in his power to resist us when we tried to reason with him. His earlier demonstration proved the vendetta is aimed mostly against Maezono. As soon as he realised who and what the C-Squad were he planned to annihilate them. He was blinded by his own inner demons."

"So his power is effectively feeding off his strongest emotions, and clouding his judgement?" Gibson asked carefully.

"Correct"

"But what concerns me is if he really loses control of his emotions would he then lose complete control over his powers?"

"I honestly do not want to know the answer to that question Gibson, though I'm going to do everything in my power to prevent any such incident."

"And the police..." Gibson reminded. "They'll at least want to speak to him if not press charges because..."

"Not yet." Antauri interrupted abruptly. "Hold them off for as long as possible, with Chiro not in the right mental state it will do more harm than good. If he decides to play up, they won't stand a chance and they'll send us in instead."

"But it is normal protocol with the police Antauri. If they can't handle the culprit they detain..."

"It will do us no favours if we have to take Chiro down again. It'll destroy any progress we make, and most likely destroy his trust."

"But he's knocked down all those government officials and security officers at the science complex, stolen at least three times, trespassed in areas of national importance twice, and blown up a panda car. That is going to be difficult for the sergeants to both explain and brush under the carpet to their superiors Antauri! And that excludes the Skeleton King theft."

"While I admit it's not a great track record, we need Chiro thinking straight and for himself. All that you mentioned was Maezono's orders. If the police start meddling their way in, they could aggravate Chiro, or panic him... and that could lead to worse things."

"Antauri this is slightly out of your character, but you both might have to face the facts, you do realise that?"

Giving the scientist a small grin Antauri nodded. "I know."


Feeling the soft covers around him was a bizarre sensation. One the teen used to take for granted constantly until now.

Pushing the covers off of himself, Chiro instinctively tried to sit up. Slowly turning on his side, as he pushed himself up forcibly. The sensation of feeling woozy and generally quite comfortable hit him in waves as it soon began to overcome his senses.

Feeling two metal hands, one grasping his shoulder the other on his arm, the boy's eyes shot open. Blinking rapidly as he struggled to adjust to the darkened room. Finally focusing on the silver and simians around him, as he rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand. Before feeling a sharp tug on the back of his hand and wrist.

"Easy Chiro, you don't want to pull your I.V line out." A British sounding voice instructed, keeping a hold on the boy, as he seemed to stop once more.

"You should rest." Antauri stated softly, slowly pushing the boy's shoulder to lay back down with one hand, as he barely exerted any pressure to get the desired result.

"I can't." Chiro replied quickly, fighting to stay sitting up. Presuming he was winning this battle with his mentor, when in reality he really wasn't! Sitting up he glanced around before suddenly something in his mind clicked. "Wait, where am I?" Chiro asked quickly trying to make sense of things again.

"Sick bay Chiro where else did you expect to..."

"How long was I out for?" Chiro interrupted the scientist.

"Nearly a day." Antauri replied quickly.

"And Nova?"

"She is in the other room." Gibson stated struggling to keep up with the quick questions the boy was coming up with.

"And the Super Robot is still in one piece?" Chiro asked suddenly dumbfounded.

Raising a brow at the quick fire questions, Antauri nodded. "Yes it's still in one piece."

Suddenly going silent the boy stared at the blankets in almost a trance like state ignoring both the simian's calls to him, as his mind busily worked with the answers to his questions. Only halting when Antauri gently shook his shoulder.

"Chiro?" Antauri asked gently, finally getting some acknowledgement from the teen who was deep in thought. "Care to explain to us or open up?"

"About...?"

"What is eating you up now?" Antauri encouraged as he waited patiently.

Turning his head away from the monkeys Chiro sighed sadly. "I'm scared Antauri. Really scared. I don't know what he's planning on doing next, or what he's going to do about the neutron generator. He's also got two of the three crystals he was collecting for some master plan as well. I can't sit here idly, the stress is killing me inside."

Holding his hand up, Antauri silenced the raven haired teen instantly. "Try not to worry Chi. Sitting and stressing over the unknown is not going to help anybody, including you. You're already ill, and we do not wish for you to make yourself any sicker. As hard as it may seem, the best thing you can do Chiro is to let it go. Sort yourself out before you worry anymore about anything or anyone else. This could turn out to be a waiting game so there is no point in delaying your recovery."

Growling softly as he looked down, his hand balled into a tight fist. The bandages preventing him from damaging his hand any further. "But just one visit is all it will take Antauri."

"Oh really? You're not going after him Chiro." Antauri stated instantly. "If he is playing any sort of mind game with you Chiro, he's either lying or trying to lead you back to a trap. They're the only reasons he would not have blown up the Super Robot already."

"But I have to go at some point Antauri. I'm not sitting here whilst he's running around Shugazoom!"

"Eventually yes, but not now!" Antauri stated looking the boy straight in the eyes. "I mean it Chi that is an order."

"And if I don't comply."

"You don't even want to know." Antauri stated sternly, just as quickly and darkly.

Eyes widening, the boy crossed his arms stubbornly in defeat. "Fine, but what if he starts running amok? Will you do anything then?"

"We'll deal with it, if he starts." Antauri reassured.

"Then that's all I want to know." Chiro said defensively raising his hands. Inspecting the many bandages running up his hand and arms more curiously as he seemed more awake. "You've wrapped me up like a mummy."

"I had too. Most of your cuts were either deep, infected or both." A British sounding voice stated. "And as for what you've done to the top of your right arm, your bruised torso and the electrical burn marks..."

"We had a few... disagreements." Chiro figured, as the scientist gave the boy a sympathetic glance.

"So it would appear. The gunshot wound on the top of your right arm?"

"Breaking into the science complex." Chiro answered.

"Your hands being half shredded by what looks like glass?"

"A few of Maezono's glass experiment tanks somehow shattered when he wound me up enough."

"The bruising over your ribs and abdomen?"

"I got blasted into an old lab bench."

"The electrical burns?"

"Shock collars, and goggles. Though I've lost count of how many times I've been shocked back into submission."

"The cuts all up your arms."

Hesitating instantly, the boy seemed to pause. Trying to think of a feeble excuse before sighing, as he felt the two set of eyes watching him intently. Not bringing himself to lie to them, he did the only thing he could think of. "I'd rather not say." Chiro excused, as the scientist was quick to jump in.

"I thought as much."

Cocking his head on one side thoughtfully, Chiro tried to hide his panic, looking to the blue monkey intently as he thought. 'Did they realise these cuts were no accident? Was he really that easy to see through?'

"Chiro do you know how many major arteries and veins run up your arms. The last thing I want to be doing is clearing up the mess from where you've sliced into one. If you cut into one deeply and don't get help, you will bleed out and die." Gibson warned, watching as the boy gazed down silently. "Chiro?" He questioned again, waiting for his answer.

"I know." Chiro eventually replied rather meekly, shaking his head. "Was I really that transparent?"

"Yes." Gibson answered honestly watching the boy intently.

With a shy grin, and a nervous laugh, Chiro brushed some of his hair out of his face, though he still looked down. "You're not going to like this but I it was a coping mechanism... a punishment."

Exchanging glances between the two, Antauri hovered closer now. Moving in front of the boy as he carefully lifted the boy's chin.

"Promise me Chiro, you will never ever do this again." Antauri suddenly spoke out to the boy, calmly but sternly, as he looked him in the eye. "I want this type of self-mutilation nipped in the bud, now."

"I promise. Nova made me make the same promise already." Chiro replied holding his hands up again.

"Good for her, and thank you." Antauri said, before suddenly being tackled into a hug by the teen. One he quickly returned.

"I missed you Antauri."

"I missed you too."