A/N: Hey people, sorry for the wait! Again I lost inspiration for srmthfg for a few weeks, but I feel the passion starting to come back on again. So again so sorry.
So let's see, to review, Chiro is now on bored with the monkey team. So far so good, but let's see how he does on the offensive this time.
Chapter 9
Worth More Then You Feel
Three days had gone by within the confines of the super robot. The robot monkeys have been, as always, quiet and tending to their own personal duties. Chiro on the other hand has been having a real hard time adjusting to this situation. Seeing his family interact in such an unsociable manner really concerned him. But the pain was even worse when he would be reminded they didn't even know who he was.
Now Chiro, like every other day since arriving, leaned against the wall, out of sight and out of mind. He rubbed the big red line that sealed his formerly infected wound. He was cleaner and more civilized looking now. Though he could still feel a big kink in his neck from sleeping outside. But this discomfort was the least of his worries.
Right before him stood Otto. The young green monkey had been training since four AM and up to eight in the morning. Since the team's last obstacle run, the poor green monkey had fallen behind. His score was even lower then Gibson's, which was really shocking. Mandarin voiced his disapproval of their sloppy work, but most of it was directed to Otto.
Chiro could see the exhaustion in Otto's charcoal colored eyes. His white pupils melded to slits as he leaned hunched over. His hands clasped to his wobbly knees as he struggled for a breath. Sweat rolled down his green fur.
"Can't keep… going." He croaked between heavy breaths. He almost lost his balance as he drug himself to his big myrtle colored mug. He slurped down the sugary energy drink like a horse to water. He gasped and flopped down on the cold metal floor.
The orange and white faced simian could barely bare the sight of his best friend's disheartened state. He proceeded to head towards him, but recollection of their fragile trust made him step back. Memory of Mandarin's warning for him to keep his distance burned fresh within his mind.
Otto stared at his feet, "I'll never be able to beat level four." He quivered his lip. The image of Mandarin's disappointed face brought his knees to his chest. He hung his head low as he looked away in shame.
That did it. Chiro bit his tongue and looked around the room. Once he was certain no one was around, he advanced towards the down hearted simian. He strolled slowly up to him and placed a gentle hand upon his shoulder. The green monkey jumped in alarm.
"C-chiro?" He blinked, staring deep into those ghostly blue eyes. "How long have you been standing there?"
"Long enough." He answered calmly, removing his hand. "I watched you train all morning, why are you pushing yourself so hard?"
Otto's hesitant look gave Chiro the impression the mechanic also got the 'keep away from the stranger' memo. But he dropped his gaze again and bit his tongue. "I didn't do so good at the training course yesterday… I was too slow and Mandarin ended up having to save me."
The way the poor monkey explained this made Chiro think this little incident was a regular occurrence. "Does this happen a lot?"
Otto shut his eyes even tighter, his shame growing. But he continued to explain despite the embarrassment that veiled him. "Sadly yes. It's not like I don't try my hardest, but I'm just not as good as the others."
Chiro's eyes widen at this soft spoken monkey's words. "What? Why would you say that?"
Otto curled his tail closer to his feet, as if balling up to hide himself. "I mean look at everyone… Antauri is the fastest, Gibson the smartest, Sprx's reflexes, Nova the strongest, and Mandarin the bravest. They all have something that contributes to this team… but I don't have… anything."
The black simian sat there by his huddled up companion, stunned. "Otto, how could you say this? Your abilities are unmatched in the universe." He raised his hand to touch the monkey, but halted. His fingers shook in hesitation.
"That's really nice of you to say Chiro, but… you don't know me. How do you know for sure?"
A big bolt struck Chiro's silent world. His heart was weighed down by the mechanic's concrete look. So much misery was evident in this short conversation that it left him blown away. Disbelief was all he could muster. It was like reaching out to save a drowning person, but the only thing that kept their hands from touching was an inch width. Chiro knew so much, yet he couldn't do anything.
Then he placed his hand on the monkey's trembling back. There he began, "Somethings are not as simple as we like it to be." He smiled when the monkey slowed his quivering. "You're not your teammates, but you are something more… you are you."
Otto now turned around, enticed by the monkey's sudden words of wisdom. "What do you mean?"
Then his eyes softened. "Otto, when I look at you… I see something worth far more then you feel."
"But how am I worth more if I don't even know it? Mandarin always says the greatest strength is through realization. But I…"
A cobalt finger shushed his stammering lips. Then he whispered. "You just need to believe."
Hearing the words gave a hard slap to the monkeys' face. He stared at the taller simian with an oddly colored face. He glanced behind him to the training course. Then looking back, he gifted Chiro with a small smile.
Then Chiro took his hand. "Allow me to help you." Taking the green monkey to the course, he turned and stopped them. Once Otto was positioned directly in the center, he stood in front of him.
Chiro scanned Otto for a second. This was not the same green simian he came to know and love as a little brother. The mechanic he remembered always found a way to rebuild his confidence. But now he stood as a single seed that failed to receive his teacher's rain. So the process to bring out Otto's true self began now. For his futures' sake.
The former human scratched his chin. The clock of Morrow ticked anxiously beneath his scarf. The green monkey seemed to notice this, but he didn't want to disrupt Chiro's thought process.
"The present is a very tricky thing Otto, but everything you learn to do now is what will mold you into something more in the future."
"But where do I begin?" He asked, eyes big with hope. "How do I discover what my skill is?"
Then Chiro grinned as a thought crossed his mind. "Well only you truly know. True you lack the qualities of the others', but you have something they don't. Creativity."
A big question mark hovered above his head. "Creativity? How can I live up to Mandarin and the team's expectations with creativity? I can't use that in the battle field." He dropped his head, hopelessness starting to creep back into his mind.
Then a hand stopped him. "Think about it Otto, it's not as black and white as you think." Reaching forward, he grasped his friend's hands. Poking around his wrist, he coaxed Otto's energy saws out. Once his weapons were drawn, Chiro moved to stand behind him. His arms firmly gripping the mechanic's elbows as he straightened them out.
"You do what everyone else does Otto. You look at your weapons and know what they do. But with a little creativity… you can look at them and then redirect them. Think about it, your saws are made for what?"
"Slicing and dicing." He answered with a bubbly grin on his face.
"Yes, now try to think outside the box. What's something else they can do besides slicing and dicing?"
Otto stared at his saws before shooting the midnight simian a strange look. "Uh, I am not sure… am I supposed to know this one?"
Chuckling, Chiro decided to show him. Getting his wrist, he repositioned Otto. His right saw was placed in front while his left moved to rest behind him. Chiro re-angled his saws till they were firmly planted on the ground. He stepped back when the spring green simian was placed in a motorcycle like position.
Raising his eyebrow, he still failed to comprehend the meaning of this gesture. "Uh Chiro, I still don't get it. How am I supposed to fight like this? This is not any combat stance Mandarin taught me."
Smirking, Chiro waved his hand. "Forget Mandarin's teachings for just a few seconds, think on my words and trust me." He walked around Otto and had him look straight ahead. "Now concentrate, muster all the grace your maker blessed you with… and spin!"
Jumping at the sudden volume increase, Otto's saws went spinning. He curled his legs up as he balanced on both his arms. Sparks scattered like dust to squealing tires as the mechanic shot forward. His eyes grew three times their original size as he sped around the room like a race car.
Chiro smiled huge as he quickly leaped out of the way when he went flying past him. He peaked out from behind one of the dome shaped chairs. Watching with joy at the mechanic's newly found astonished look.
Otto's shock soon shifted to laughter as he propelled himself all around the room. Popping wheelies, climbing up walls, and ending in a few skillfully maneuvered donuts. Once he stopped, he hopped back to his feet and stared at his hand transformers.
"Wow…! I had… no idea I could…" He stared at the hiding black simian. Transforming his hands back, he ran to Chiro and glomped him in a hug. "Thank you! I understand what you mean now!"
The hug threw the former boy off guard. He swore he could hear his metal limbs crunching under the powerful bear hug. He exhaled a struggled breath, "Y-your welcome..!"
Otto smiled as he released his friend before his suffocated him. Chiro rubbed his side as he looked back to the green monkey. They fell into a comfortable silence as Chiro gave him a nod of approval.
~Following Afternoon
Nova flew past Gibson, slamming his battle fist into a laser gun. She shattered its metal casing to splinters. She sighed and shot a look at the slow scientist. "Come on Gibson be careful, you almost got us blasted!"
Gibson, with his back against the wall, shot multiple blue lasers at oncoming drills. "It is difficult to use defense while you're trying to theorize a good offense strategy Nova!" He croaked under the pressure. He shrieked in alarm when one flail maneuvered through his blind spot and nailed him in the face.
Nova shot out and caught the blue monkey before he collapsed. The scientist saw stars as his pupils spun. A big purple bruise painted his inflated cheek. "Oh dear that was…" He spit out a tooth. "Mighty painful."
Sighing, the bigger female flung his limp arm around her shoulder. Looking up, her eyes widen when battle axes suddenly came dancing towards them. Tightening her grip on the blue dead weight, she flung them both out of harm's way. Barely avoiding the blades slicing them into itsy bitsy pieces.
Otto came leaping from a hidden corner. "Whirling Destructo Saws!" He disengaged his saws as they flew out from their chain whips. They sliced through the rival knives like warm butter. He smiled in relief before reeling them back in. "That was close!"
Mandarin, Antauri, and Sprx watched their allies from behind a big glass window. Sprx kept his eyes mostly on Nova as Antauri scratched his chin. "I must say they're getting better." He complimented with a gentle smile. But the chivalrous feeling was swatted away by Mandarin's disapproving stare.
"Gibson," he spoke through a built in microphone. His voice coming over the loud speaker for the trio to hear him. "You need to be more alert and shift your focus to defense while Nova goes on the offensive." Then his red eyes landed on the youngest simian. "Otto don't stand there gawking, it's not break time! Keep it going!"
Gibson and Nova exchanged silent looks before resituating themselves. Gibson danced to the back as Nova took the lead. She crushed each combat device to rubble as Gibson took out the ones she missed. They tag teamed each other and eventually made it to the finish line. They stood and looked back, waiting for Otto.
The mechanic was running for the finish line. The clock was ticking, giving away he had merely seconds left. With adrenalin pumping through his system, he bolted through the big hammers that threw down on him. He weaved skillfully in and out, moving around them unscathed. Just as he was about inches from the finish line, a laser shocked him. He was blown back a good ten feet. Hitting the wall before he slid back down. He groaned and massaged his head.
Seeing the mistake made, Mandarin sighed in frustration. "I knew he was not ready for this level."
Upon hearing that over the loud speaker, a nerve snapped. Narrowing his eyes, Otto forced himself to his feet. Rubbing the bloody dent in his back, he summoned his saws. Closing his eyes, he thought about their blue eyed visitor.
"Must believe…"
Jumping up, he slammed his saws down and when driving forward in a high velocity. He hydroplaned along the side walls like a race car on asphalt. He ducked his head and leaped over a few electric drills. Skidding forward, he popped a final wheelie and launched himself forward. Then he slid to a stop, safely finding his mark behind the finish line.
Transforming his hands back, he turned and noticed all eyes were on him. Their faces had shock written all over them. Mandarin had to be the most stunned of them all. Upon seeing the new move left him speechless. The skill expressed was so flawless it almost seemed like Otto had been holding back on them.
"Otto." Antauri spoke, breaking the silence. "Where did you learn such a move?"
"And how long have you known it?" Mandarin quickly added.
Looking at his hands, he smiled nonchalantly. "Just me being creative." He answered with his newly found self-esteem.
As the team gathered around to praise the mechanic in his crazy mad dash, a small shadow hid in the corner. Chiro stood by one of the ceiling vents as he spied the heartwarming spectacle. A feeling he had missed so much had finally found him again as he watched Otto's joyful expression.
Hope.
A/N: Well seems like Chiro had managed to earn someone's trust! Apparently teaching Otto one of his own future moves was clever and gave him a tally on the score board.
Let's see who is next! Stay tuned for chapter 10!
Read and review and sleep tight!
