Tokyolk, three months ago...

Gyro's tears generously watered the grass beneath him as he kneeled in front of a pair of tombstones.

SERENA GEARLOOSE

ROCK, ANGEL, LOVING WIFE AND MOTHER

June 26, 1973– September 13, 1995

On the second grave, it bore the inscription:

TOBIO GEARLOOSE

BEAUTIFUL, LOVING SON

April 7, 1990 - April 7, 1999

Each was marked with a bouquet of fresh flowers.

"I'm so sorry," Gyro whispered. "It's been far, far too long…"

He could see it clearly in the distance now. Tokyolk Tower. The city's most prominent landmark and a veritable beacon for tourists. It stood tall, proud, and magnificent against the skyline, but for this non-native, it presently did not emit welcoming vibes at all. On the contrary, in the quickly gathering twilight, it somehow appeared distinctly ominous.

Gizmoduck had no idea what this android of Akita's was capable of. He had to be prepared for anything. It was tempting, but not entirely accurate to say that Akita likewise didn't know what the Gizmoduck armor was capable of either, since the twisted scientist had been present that day he'd been forced to battle the corrupted Boyd. On the other hand, Gizmoduck hadn't exactly pulled out all the stops then, out of a great reluctance to harm Boyd (even if it hadn't been obvious to Gyro at the time, Fenton could immediately discern that Boyd was being controlled), and had tried everything in his power to take him offline instead of destroying him.

In any case, while he was fairly confident he could handle this Gyro knockoff, caution was always called for when dealing with an unknown enemy (and sometimes even a familiar enemy), something he had taught Boyd during his superhero training.

Gizmoduck touched down on the final floor of the tower, on the observation deck. Nobody was there. "I'm here. Where are you?" he loudly demanded.

And there he was. Standing inside the building at the glass doors. Easily holding Huey up by a shoulder, he grinned and motioned for Gizmoduck to come inside.

Gizmoduck complied, the android casually stepping back with every move the other made forward.

"That'll do. Stop right there, there's a good intern," the android told him once they were in the center of the room with a respectably wide berth between them.

Forced to obey again, Gizmoduck glowered at him from behind his visor. "Let Huey go."

"In a minute," came the cheerful response, like a lazy cat just playing with its prey before bothering to finish it off. "But first I have to say, I am a little surprised you took so long in coming after me. Obviously you saw fit to free Gearloose first. Tell me, why do you prioritize his worthless self over a child's?"

He sounded slightly more curious than amused.

"For your information," growled Gizmduck, "I care about them both equally. But since you used Huey specifically to lure me to you, I knew you weren't about to hurt him. Hostaging 101. You think this is my first rodeo?" His fists impatiently clenched. "And now that you have me where you want me, you can tell me what you want. But first, there's something I want to know."

The android smirked. "You're pretty bold to make demands when I'm the one with the greater leverage. But shoot."

"Why did Akita create you?"

Not slacking his grip on the duckling, whose terrified eyes never left his hero's as though seeking courage from him, the android replied, "A good question! I was created to help keep Gearloose in line. See, my master never intended to let him go once 2-BO was back under his control. He's far too valuable to him for that." His grin broadened. "With him as my master's technician for 2-BO, my master doesn't have to worry about all the more tedious details such as repairs and upgrades, freeing him to focus on more… front-and-center matters. After all, who else knows just as much about 2-BO's design than Gearloose? And that's where I come in, you see. To make sure he fully complies with every one of my master's orders to the letter, and to make sure he doesn't try to restore 2-BO to its 'real boy' state behind his back. Oh, it's not like my master isn't capable of enforcing obedience, as Gearloose knows all too well," he laughed, "and he will, but do you think he has the time and energy to do so twenty-four/seven? As somebody who needs no sleep, whose purpose is solely meant for this task, I'll never need to leave his side. I'll stick closer to him than his own shadow."

"So, Gyro was meant to be Akita's prisoner and you his guard?" Gizmoduck said harshly. Oh, poor Gyro! Forced for the rest of his life to suffer Boyd being under that sick bastard's control!

"Yes, and don't congratulate yourself on freeing him too soon because I promise that it's only a temporary setback. My master will see to that- I know that's where Gearloose is headed." The android shrugged carelessly. "But anyway, don't worry. I'm under orders not to kill him if he steps out of line, merely inflict whatever pain or damage necessary."

Fenton's blood boiled. Even knowing that the android was merely following its programming of Akita's, including its cockiness and disdainful attitude toward Gyro, he still itched to reduce it to a smoldering pile of useless nuts and bolts. And the sooner he did, the sooner he could take down the true threat- Akita. But to act too hastily meant putting Huey in danger.

Fenton would be lying to himself if he said it wasn't unnerving that this machine looked and sounded exactly like Gyro, even if it acted nothing like the man he counted his friend.

The android clapped his hands together in a brisk, business-like fashion. "Anyway! You're wondering why I lured you here. Well, my orders had been to kill you." His features lit up in a grin. "But call it a little experiment of my own- I was curious to learn who you would choose to save first. And now that I've had the chance to meet you, I can really see what you're made of and try my skills against yours! I may not have a fancy weapons system like my 'little big brother', but my speed and strength are still second-to-none."

I don't have time to entertain this thing! Gyro needs me! What if he's in trouble? I've wasted too much time already!

…Wait a minute. What did the android say? He was able to disobey a direct order? Can he really do that?

"Fine," snarled Gizmoduck. "Let's do this. And believe me, I won't lose. First, let Huey go."

The android dropped Huey, and the Junior Woodchuck immediately scarpered away.

"Get out of here, Huey. Find somewhere safe. Whatever you do, do not go off in search of Boyd; and if you come across him, under no circumstances are you to approach him or try getting his attention." Gizmoduck's tone permitted no room for discussion.

Huey nodded gravely, blinking away tears. "You've got this, Giz," he whispered, clenching a fist. "Just make sure Akita pays… af- after we get Boyd back." A glint of the Duke peered out from behind eyes that burned with a determination they all shared.

"It's gonna be ok," Gizmoduck murmured, placing a reassuring hand on his young friend's shoulder.

Nodding once more, Huey made a beeline for the elevator.

Gizmoduck turned to Gyro's robotic doppelganger. He inhaled, nostrils flaring.

"Let Part 2 of the experiment commence," said the latter. "Which one of us is superior- an android created by the world's greatest mind or the flesh-and-blood intern in a tricked-out suit created by another lowly intern?"

Gyro raced through downtown, the variety of lighting and signage made to draw in Tokyolk's nightly patrons to its countless establishments swishing by in a frenzied blur. He hadn't stopped once to catch his breath ever since they made it out of Akita's lair, the adrenaline that flooded him compensating for his lousy shape.

He easily followed the long trail of turmoil- screams, scattering crowds, and police cruisers. Oddly enough, there hadn't been any sign of destruction so far. Finally, he came upon Shibuya Crossing. He shoved, dodged, and weaved his way through everyone else, until he saw the form of his hated former mentor.

Several feet above everyone, the older dog stood atop that same circular hoverpad, just like the last time Gyro encountered him. "Heed me, denizens," he thundered, his image duplicated on the giant video screen behind him and on every other screen in the area, courtesy of the live recording of the local TV station whose presence he likely demanded for this very purpose. "Behold the return of the greatest scientific mind that ever was or will be- I, Dr. Akita! First I was driven underground, then imprisoned! But no longer will I endure such indignities! At last, I will finish what I started twenty years ago- total control of the entire world, starting with Tokyolk the capital of my new empire!"

What? That's what his motivation's been all along? Gyro mentally exclaimed. He was partially obscured by the fearful audience, only a few people away from the front. I knew he was insane, and he always was an ego-maniac, but seriously? Talk about cliche! Talk about delusions of grandeur! And they call me a mad scientist?

He looked around wildly for Boyd. Where was his son?

"I have on my side the robot 2-BO!" the several captured images of Akita continued in unison in his low, rumbling voice. "A marvelous weapon of mass devastation that needs no introduction, this is the third time I have unleashed 2-BO on you. My demands are simple. Surrender the city and yourselves in no more than 12 hours, or 2-BO will destroy either a building or a citizen- by purely random choice- every hour on the hour. Many of you know from history what it is capable of. But for the ignorant number, here is a crash course!" Akita gave a whistle.

A small figure appeared atop the building directly above Akita, accented by the illumination of the screen. It effortlessly held up a car. The robotic boy swooped down, guided by his rocket feet, and flung the lemon-yellow vehicle into a neighboring structure. There was a chorus of shrieks from below. The force was so great, it was like a hot knife slicing through butter. Glass and steel debris rained down, sending those closest fleeing.

"I trust I have made myself clear. And what is more, any show of resistance or retaliation is not only futile, but will result in the deaths of innocent people. I hope you are listening, Inspector Tezuka!" Akita grinned broadly, as though enjoying a private joke.

Speaking of which, Gyro was just about to charge out to confront him when he felt a powerful vice-grip on both arms yank him further into the crowd. "Gearloose!" none other than Tezuka hissed in his face.

She was beyond suspicious. She was beyond upset. She was enraged, like nothing Gyro had ever seen from her before, and that was saying something. There was an almost feral quality about her; her eyes bulged, her teeth were bared, and she was shaking. Nothing like her usual intimidating-yet-disciplined manner that made her such an effective person of the law. "You... What. Have. You. DONE?" the inspector demanded, in one swift, seamless movement pinning him to his knees while pinning his wrists behind him.

For a moment, Gyro felt like he was back in the interrogation room all those years ago, a broken mess. It wasn't that difficult, given his current emotional state. But then he composed himself and snapped, "I didn't do a damn thing! You never would've seen me or Boyd again if it hadn't been for Akita! Why do you think he broke out of jail? He kidnapped me to lure Boyd back to him!"

"Which never would have happened if we had actually destroyed it last time! I don't care how much of a real boy you made it to be like, it's still dangerous! In the wrong hands, it's a weapon!"

There was certainly no denying that last sentence. Still, he had to make her understand it wasn't nearly as black and white as that. "How could I have punished him for something that was never his fault?" he exclaimed. "Boyd may be a robot, but he's a sentient being with the heart of a child! He's capable of so much love, you have no idea! He deserves the same rights and privileges as you or I! I owed it to him to give him the best chance at life, to give him the best life!"

But Tezuka refused to back down. "That is irrelevant! It can still be corrupted, hacked for evil!"

"Yes," Gyro conceded, "but I know now that no matter how many times he may be reprogrammed, it's impossible to completely override his very core, no matter how deep it gets buried. Because that's the true him! And I promise you that Boyd is still in there, fighting Akita's control with everything he has! How do you think he managed to break free last time?"

Tezuka didn't say anything for a few seconds. Finally, Gyro heard her sigh and she slightly loosened her grip. "Listen, Gearloose." Her tone was softer, but still carried a firm edge. "I get why this is so important to you. And I do sympathize with you. But just as I told you a long time ago, that android isn't the son you lost."

Every part of Gyro painfully tensed.

Come, come, intern. What you are doing is not healthy. You know this machine can never really be your son.

"Do you really think your son would want you risking the lives of others? Do you think he would want you to honor his memory like that?"

Dad? You know that cool robot you're making? I want you to make it into a kid. Make it look like me… give it my name. Love it the way you always loved me. Please, Dad, promise me.

"You're the one who doesn't know anything. You're the one who doesn't understand," Gyro quietly growled, trembling. "No, you listen to me. I am going to Boyd. He needs my help. And make no mistake, the only way you're going to stop me is by shooting me."

"If you think I'm about to let you get yourself killed-"

"You heard Akita! You know what will happen if you do anything! You have to let me talk to Boyd!" His voice heavily cracked. "Please… I beg of you. He's everything to me. He handed himself over to Akita to save me. I am more than prepared to risk myself to free him, and if I die trying, then so be it!"

Another pause, longer than the last, and finally Tezuka helped him up. Looking extremely reluctant, she nodded as if wishing him luck.

Gyro bowled through the curtain of bodies and looked up. There was Boyd, hovering right at Akita's side as the mad scientist droned on. His glowing red eyes were like empty, sinister tunnels, his face an eerily emotionless slate. "BOYD!" he called.

It was Akita who immediately reacted. "What?" he cried, nearly falling off the hoverpad in his shock. "Intern? How did you escape? My android was supposed to take care of your friend!"

Gyro ignored him. "Boyd, it's Dad! Son, I know you can hear me! I know you can break out of Akita's control!"

Akita laughed. "Give it up, intern! You may have gotten lucky before, but the chip I installed is specially designed to ensure total compliance. My hold on him is far stronger now, I assure you. The chip is fused to its neural net, and cannot be overridden or removed!"

That did not exactly inspire confidence in Gyro; indeed, his heart momentarily gave a sickening lurch like an elevator in free-fall. But then he shook his head and forced his composure to return. Don't rise to his bait. Focus on Boyd.

"Boyd, I want you to concentrate only on the sound of my voice, whatever Akita says to you," he continued. "You are not 2-BO- you are a Be Only Yourself Dude! No matter what, you are a definitely real boy and nobody can ever take that away from you! Your will is your own, you're too strong to be controlled! Think about all the people who care about you- me, Fenton, Huey, and so many others. We all believe in you! Boyd, think about all the times we've shared together. How much we love each other. Remember-" Gyro swallowed thickly, hating to pull this card even in his desperation- "Remember Tobio."

"You are a fool! Your words don't even register to him!" Akita looked to his slave, whose features conveyed no change. "2-BO, bring Gearloose to me," he ordered.

Hesitation. There was clear hesitation for maybe a sliver of a minute, before Boyd proceeded to obey. If Akita noticed, he showed no indication. But Gyro saw it. He knew it wasn't wishful thinking… it just couldn't have been.

"Fight him, Boyd! Push through! You can do it!" he cried, hope surging in him like a geyser as he was carried up towards the top of the building where Akita headed.

Seven feet from landing, Boyd flung Gyro onto the roof. A harsh grunt whooshed out of him. But he quickly brushed off the throbbing he experienced nearly everywhere, and immediately started to stand-

-And was dealt a sharp kick to the stomach by Akita. He fell over in a crumpled heap, and barely had time to even look up before getting kicked in the face next. His hat had already been lost, and his glasses now went flying who-knows-where.

Still, Gyro did not let up on calling out for Boyd, encouraging him.

"Speaking of obedience, intern," Akita began, pulling him up by the neck. Gyro choked, furiously struggling, but to no avail; Akita may have been a lot older, but he still overpowered him by a lot. "While your robotic double isn't here, it is a virtue I'll have to begin enforcing myself. We must squash this defiance in you until you learn your place again…" He drew a fist.

Over the next several minutes, the blows to Gyro's body came swift and brutal. The evil doctor seemed quite relaxed, as if it were simply a normal full-body workout for him.

But all that time, in between his uncontrollable cries of agony, Gyro repeatedly called out Boyd's name.

A final punch, and Gyro was sent sprawling. His face was sticky with blood, his right eye swollen shut, his usually-pristine bangs disheveled. He could well imagine what the rest of him looked like. At least one of his ribs had to be broken, and his left arm lay limp and useless. His pink bow-tie dangled by a thread.

Wheezing, every breath costing him pain, he blearily peered through his blurred, swimming vision at the form coming toward him. There was a lazy, yet methodical sound to Akita's footfalls that sent an instinctive chill down his spine.

"Had enough, my boy?"

Gyro tried in vain to push himself up on his good arm. "I'll… I'll never give up fighting for him," he gasped, shooting him a venomous glare.

Shrugging, Akita gave a hum of mild disappointment. "If nothing else, your spirit is admirable," he admitted. "But we'll get there soon enough."

He looked to Boyd. "2-BO, it is time we showed him the true price to pay for his interference. He heard my warning."

Gyro gasped. "No… NO!"

"Do away with the first person you see below."

There was more hesitation, slightly longer than the first. This time, Gyro was absolutely certain it wasn't his imagination.

At the same time he yelled out "BOYD, NO!", Akita snapped, "Attack! Now!"

And Boyd swooped down.

"STOP THIS! PLEASE!"

Akita summoned Boyd back, and Gyro heard his rockets not far above him again. "Well, well, so you remember how to grovel after all." The dog sounded smugly pleased. "So, here's the deal. I will make 2-BO spare somebody's life- maybe a child's- if you beg me for the freedom of yours. Say, 'Please, master. Spare my worthless son.'"

Never in his life had Gyro felt such hatred pounding through his veins than in that instant.

But he knew that Akita was not bluffing, just like he understood there was no chance he would let Boyd go. And as much as he hated even himself for playing his sick game, he also knew he couldn't risk it.

He looked up at Boyd from where he lay, thick, hot tears rolling off his bruised face and falling beside him. I'm so sorry.

"P-please, master… sp-spare my w-worthless son," he sobbed. The last three words stumbling out of his own mouth were like a blade in his heart.

"Very good. And I'm sure I needn't tell you some poor innocent's blood will be on your hands if you insist on pursuing this foolishness."

Why? Are you afraid I'll succeed? Gyro wanted to snarl. But all he could do was weep fervently.

Even when Fenton would come, there would be nothing he could do.

It was over. Gyro had failed. A parent was supposed to put their own child above all, weren't they? But he couldn't this time, not when the stakes were so high.

Was it because, deep down, Gyro really saw him as less important- as expendable- because he was only a machine?

No! Never! How could he even wonder such a thing? Boyd was a definitely real boy! Hadn't he told him his love had nothing to do with what he was made of? It was because Boyd could never live with himself if he were to kill anybody; he had Tobio's fundamental respect for all life. Nor could Tobio bear knowing that his twin had committed such an atrocity.

He thought of what Inspector Tezuka said…

Tobio. Boyd. Forgive me, children. I tried…

Boyd, it's all up to you now. That faith was his only consolation.

"Did you think you'd changed in all this time, intern?" Akita was saying, delivering another punting kick like Gyro was a rag doll. "Did you think yourself better than me, special, perhaps because you had a family? It's like I said- they held you back, made you weak. When your wife died, I'd thought some of that pathetic sentimentality would die with her. But I was mistaken; as long as you still had the boy, you would in fact devote twice as much of your thoughts and energy to him rather than what was truly important! Science! Innovation!"

He circled the half-conscious Gyro like a shark on a feeding frenzy. "I realized if you were to be of any use to me, I would have to take matters into my own hands and lead you down the right path to a life worth living, to a far better reason to wake up in the morning- the only reason."

…Wait. What?

"But again, my expectations went unfulfilled. I never anticipated your next move, to recreate your boy as the robot I had such great plans for! Of course we couldn't have that either, now could we? And perhaps you would learn some gratitude once 2-BO brought my vision to fruition, which you would also reap the benefits of and gain a new appreciation for the perfect truth and beauty of science."

It can't be. PLEASE, IT CAN'T BE.

Akita leaned down so that their faces were practically touching. "Oh, yes. And it's not too late for you. For this is the fourth time I've taken your son away. How do you think the car Tobio was riding in, the car you perfectly designed, crashed in the first place?"