Epilogue: When in Worry, When in Doubt, You Have Friends to Help You Out
Monday afternoon, the day after the virus was cured by none other than Metabee, Ikki, Zuru, Erika, and their medabots, except for Metabee, had prepared a 'Thank You for Saving the World, Metabee. A Party's the Least We Could Do' party for after school on the playground. Metabee hadn't turned up at the party yet, but no one thought much of it.
Blakbeetle stayed the previous night with Roks, Tyrelbeetle, and Zuru, and she was going to stay with them for as long as she could. Zuru figured that Blakbeetle was a now-homeless kilobot, and since his medabot, Roks, saved her from Kam, it's only right for her to stay with them.
Miss Nae had repaired every medabot involved in the virus, as in Metabee, Brass, and the main three Kuwagata, for free, and had a free repair booth opened at the party in her orange truck for any Kuwagata medabots at school who caught the virus, or any-bot who was damaged due to the virus in themselves or a friend.
Everyone else just tried to return to their normal routines.
Rokusho was at the party, smiling broadly during the entire event so far, and holding his owner's hand tightly, not letting it go once.
"Professor?" Rokusho began, looking up at Hushi, "Has Metabee showed yet?"
"Actually, no. Why?" Hushi returned.
"Ever since Ikki told me about what happened after Metabee told him, I've been worried about him. I think I have an idea of where he is," Rokusho answered.
Several people so far had shown up to ask Zuru what happened, after noticing the tightly wrapped bandages around his neck. This made Roks feel guilty about hitting him and leaving a cut bad enough for stitches.
"Roks, you couldn't help it!" Tyrelbeetle began as Zuru told the story to a group of much younger kids surrounding him, Roks and Tyrelbeetle standing just outside the crowd. "I mean, I attacked Brass, and I feel guilty about it, but I didn't mean to do it."
"I know. On some level, I'm glad I did that. It's definitely made him popular. But it still needed stitches. That was terrible," Roks replied sadly.
"Yeah, we had to drag you to the hospital with us you felt so guilty…" Tyrelbeetle began. This triggered the memory of the day before, right after they left the forest and went their separate ways with Ikki and Erika, returned home, and Zuru's father, Maizu Zora, brought them to the hospital for Zuru's cut…
----------------------------------------------------------*Flashback*-----------------------------------------------------------
"Come on, Roks. He's your medafighter," Blakbeetle implored, grabbing Roks's hand.
"And he got that cut because of me! I can't go!" Roks replied, tugging his hand out of Blakbeetle's and jumping up on the bed behind him.
"Why? Because you feel guilty about something you didn't even mean to do?" Blakbeetle accused.
"C'mon, Roks! She's right! Besides, Mr. Zora and Zuru are waiting for us!" Tyrelbeetle chimed in, holding a hand out to Roks, keeping the other folded across his chest.
"It's all my fault…" Roks admitted sadly, falling back onto the bed and sighing. "If it wasn't for me attacking him, he wouldn't need stitches!"
"I already said it was something you didn't even mean to do," Blakbeetle stated, stepping closer to the bed and laying a hand on Roks's knee. She reached up with both hands and grabbed Roks's hand, pulling him up. Roks didn't try to resist. Once Blakbeetle had him sitting up, he hung his head, eyes closed, and sighed again.
"Please, come with us, Roks," Zuru pleaded as he stepped into the room, gripping the cut on his neck. "I forgive you, though there's really nothing to forgive. I'd appreciate it if you came."
"Zuru?" Roks questioned, looking up at his injured medafighter. "I thought you were waiting with your father downstairs."
"I was, but I wanted to ask you in person, since it doesn't seem like Tyrelbeetle or Blakbeetle were having any luck convincing you," Zuru replied. He released his cut and held his hands out invitingly. "Coming?"
Roks nodded, and jumped down, running over to his medafighter and throwing his arms around his waist, crying. Zuru returned the hug sympathetically, rubbing Roks's metal back.
"Good," Tyrelbeetle and Blakbeetle stated with smiles, and walked up to Zuru and Roks as they pulled out of the hug, turned, and headed out the door.
Later that afternoon, Zuru stepped into the waiting room after having stitches, bandages wrapped around his neck. Maizu followed. When they entered, they saw Roks, Tyrelbeetle, and Blakbeetle sitting in three of the gray, fuzzy chairs, waiting impatiently, pensive with worry. Roks sat with his head hung and legs crossed, his hands folded in his lap and twiddling his thumbs. Tyrelbeetle sat in the chair next to him, his arms folded over his chest, and eyes closed thoughtfully. Blakbeetle sat on Roks's other side, staring into his eyes with concern.
"Roks?" Zuru uttered to get the medabots' and kilobot's attention. All three looked up, eyes wide expectantly.
"Zuru? Are you ok?" Roks asked after a moment, uncrossing his legs, sitting up straight in his seat, and clutching the edge of the seat.
"I'm fine, don't worry," Zuru answered. He walked up to his medabot and squatted down in front of him to get to his level. "I'm more worried about you."
"Why?" Roks returned. By now, Blakbeetle and Tyrelbeetle were watching curiously from their seats.
"Because you're feeling so guilty about all this. You did nothing wrong. The only thing you could feel guilty about is if you didn't come with us here," Zuru replied, "And you came."
Roks reached forward and cupped his hand over Zuru's bandaged cut. "I did nothing wrong?"
"No, unless you deliberately cut me like this. But I don't think you did. How many times must I tell you? It wasn't your fault! If it makes you feel any better, I'll say I forgive you, though I shouldn't have too."
"Well, it would make me feel a little a better if you said it again. Would you?"
"I forgive you, Roks." Zuru wrapped his arms around Roks again, who returned the hug, leaning forward in his seat, about to fall out. "Now forgive yourself."
Blakbeetle and Tyrelbeetle smiled hopefully, hoping Roks finally forgave himself, like Zuru told him too. Roks almost never disobeyed Zuru's orders, only when the order's uncalled for and over the top, and this wasn't one of those orders. This wasn't even an order, just a good suggestion.
Roks seemed unconscious in his master's arms, deep in thought and memories of what he did while he had the virus, trying to find a way to forgive himself. "Maybe…eventually, it'll be that simple, I hope."
---------------------------------------------------------*End Flashback*------------------------------------------------------
Maybe…eventually, it'll be that simple… Roks repeated in his mind as the memory ended, and he and Tyrelbeetle realized where they were again as Blakbeetle exclaimed, "Ah! Looks like Zuru's free! I think that crowd stayed for a record time."
Roks looked up at his medafighter as he walked up to him. "How many crowds has that been?" Zuru asked.
"Too many," Roks returned.
"That's the fifth, to be exact," Tyrelbeetle chimed in.
"You're right. That is too many. Roks?" Zuru began.
"Yes, master?" Roks replied. Blakbeetle watched, along with Tyrelbeetle.
"If you haven't forgiven yourself yet, maybe you should try talking to Metabee," Zuru finished.
"I would, but I haven't seen him here yet."
"But we're throwing this party for him. Didn't Ikki tell him to be here?"
"I'm sure."
"Then where is he?"
"I don't know. But I'm sure Tyrelbeetle, Blakbeetle, and I will be recruited to look for him when the time comes."
"Do you three know where he is, then?"
"We have an idea," Blakbeetle chimed in with a nod.
Meanwhile…
"Ikki, it's almost time for the big announcement! If you don't want to make yourself out to be a fool, go find him!" Erika shouted at Ikki.
"Ok, ok! If he doesn't show up, I'll go find him!" Ikki returned.
"Miss Erika, Mr. Ikki, I think he wants to be alone. If he doesn't show, let us go find him," Brass requested.
"What do you mean by 'us'?" Erika asked.
"Blakbeetle, Tyrelbeetle, Roks, Rokusho, and I," Brass clarified. She stared up at her medafighter hopefully.
"Ok. Do you know where he is, by chance?" Erika continued.
"I think so."
"Good. Go get them and find Metabee," Ikki stated, "I have to make the announcement soon, and it's nothing without him."
"Ok. We'll be back in time, trust me!" Brass promised, then ran off to find everyone who can help her, with respect to medabots and kilobots.
A few minutes later, Brass lead the group of Blakbeetle, Tyrelbeetle, Roks, and Rokusho to where they all thought Metabee would be.
This would be the first time since he arrived at the party that Rokusho walked somewhere without holding Hushi's hand. The first time Roks, Tyrelbeetle, and Blakbeetle have been more than a small crowd's length away from Zuru. And the first time Brass has left Erika's side for more than a moment to retrieve some punch for her and Ikki.
"Where exactly are we headed?" Tyrelbeetle broke the silence.
"The school ground garden. You know what's there that Metabee would want to be with," Brass answered. They all continued in silence.
Eventually, the group weaved their way through the maze-like paths that made the beautiful, bright and sunny garden, and found Metabee, sitting on his knees, head bowed. He was sitting in front of KiloRoks's grave, where the few pieces of KiloRoks that they recovered and the medabot medal core were buried. Metabee heard the hydraulics of his group of friends coming, and looked up at KiloRoks's nameplate, which seemed to be short of info, other than his name, "KiloRoks" engraved on the top middle.
"You didn't tell anyone, did you?" Metabee asked as his friends sat down around him.
"If you mean tell anyone about the medabot medal core, no. You told us not too," Roks replied.
"Good," Metabee stated. Brass, sitting on his right, laid a hand on his back comfortingly. Rokusho sat on his knees behind Metabee, laying his hands on his shoulders. Roks sat next to Brass, pulling his knees to his chest and wrapping his arms around his shins lightly. Blakbeetle kneeled across from Roks, and Tyrelbeetle stood across from Brass.
"You know," Rokusho began, "you need to get back to that party. They're about to make the announcement, and you need to be there," he finished, trying to word it so he didn't give anything away about the party.
"What's so important about this party, anyway? Everyone seems so insistent about me being there," Metabee returned.
"You'll see if you come," Blakbeetle promised. "I think it'll make you feel better."
"Yeah, it probably will now that I think about it," Tyrelbeetle chimed in, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
"You mean, you're just realizing that? When Ikki and Zuru told us about this party, they said themselves that¾ " Roks stopped himself from giving something away, found a way to cover himself, and continued, "¾ that it probably would."
"Good save," Brass whispered to him. She turned back to Metabee, "You can stay here for a little while longer, but you need to get to the party. Everyone's waiting for you! I mean, you did save the world, so they're all curious about it."
Ikki's words flashed through Metabee's mind again, at "…you did save the world…". "…you saved the world, and all of our friends. Thank you. You did the right thing."
A few moments later, Blakbeetle, Tyrelbeetle, and Brass left for the party, but Roks and Rokusho stayed longer.
"Why did you stay behind?" Metabee asked once everyone else was out of earshot.
"I don't know for sure," said Rokusho. "I think we just want to stay with you for a little longer, if that's ok."
"That's fine. I'll go with you two when you go to the party," Metabee stated, eyes closed. Rokusho squeezed Metabee's shoulders.
"Metabee?" Roks began. He looked to Rokusho, who nodded. "I want to tell you something, and I'm sure everyone will agree…"
"Go on," Metabee prompted, opening his eyes and staring at Roks, eyes wide with curiosity.
"We, your friends, will always be here when you need us, ok? You can tell us anything," Roks finished. Metabee gaped at him, surprised. He pulled out of his daze and glanced at Rokusho, who nodded in agreement.
"Thank you so much," Metabee said wholeheartedly. Roks and Rokusho nodded a 'you're welcome', blushing.
"Let's go to the party. I think you'll like what you'll see," Rokusho pressured, standing. Roks stood as well, and the Kuwagata both held their hands out to Metabee to help him up. Metabee took their hands and stood. They all turned and left the garden, holding hands, leaving KiloRoks's grave behind. Metabee still felt guilty, but his guilt was gradually dwindling. It would soon take a plummet when he arrived at the party and heard the announcement…
The three friends met up with the rest of their friends at the party, and all went their separate ways: Roks, Blakbeetle, and Tyrelbeetle to Zuru, Brass to Erika, Rokusho to Hushi, and Metabee to Ikki.
"Metabee, 'bout time! I have to make the announcement now, and you're supposed to be on stage with me when I make it!" Ikki scolded in a hoarse whisper as Metabee strutted through the red curtains for the 'door' to backstage.
"Sorry, Ikster. Just talking with the 'bots," Metabee apologized, then realized something, "Wait, you're making the announcement?! And I have to be on stage with you, in front of that crowd, after saving the world?! Everyone's gonna' be starin'! That'll be just slightly disturbing!"
"Metabee, relax! Just wait 'til ya' here the announcement!" Ikki guaranteed. Metabee sighed and nodded, as an announcer voice beckoned them on stage. "C'mon!" Ikki grabbed Metabee's arm and trudged out on stage, picked up the microphone off the ledge on the back of the stage as he passed it, and turned to the crowd with a smile and rubbing the back of his head nervously. He began the announcement shakily. "H-hello, everyone!" The microphone got feedback, and everyone in the crowd winced, most covering their ears. "Sorry 'bout that. Anyway, thank you all for coming! You all know what, or whom, this party is for, right? Well, I think it's time we gave our 'guest of honor' a big shout out!"
"Ikki, whatcha gettin' at?" Metabee whispered to Ikki.
"Alright, ready? Set…" everyone took a deep breath as Ikki shouted, "…shout!" Everyone, including Ikki, shouted, "Thank you, Metabee!" and a rolled-up banner on the back of the stage unrolled. The banner was Metabee's golden color, with 'Thank you, Metabee! A party's the least we could do!' printed in bold, green lettering; green as in Metabee's eye color. Metabee stared at it in shock, then looked back at the crowd, and then back at the banner.
"Wha-what?" Metabee gasped. Ikki walked over to him and kneeled in front of him, holding the microphone in one hand and taking Metabee's hand in the other, saying, "I think the shout out and banner says it all, but I wanted to say it again, to your face. Thanks, Metabee!" Ikki lowered his microphone to talk to Metabee without the crowd hearing every word he said, and continued, "I know I already told you, but I know you're still feeling guilty about it, so I'll say it again: You did the right thing. There wasn't anything else you could do!"
"Ikki, I--" Metabee began, staring at Ikki in shock.
"Feeling any better?" Ikki continued.
"I--y-yes," Metabee stuttered in return. "You're a good guy to have around! Thanks, Ik."
"Uh, you're welcome, but I just thanked you," Ikki pointed out.
"That's what I'm thankin' ya' for!" Metabee threw his arms around his medafighter's neck, who dropped the microphone and returned the hug immediately.
The crowd awed at them, watching them hug.
In the crowd, Blakbeetle turned to Roks and wrapped her arms around him, wondering what all the fuss was about with hugs. Roks, surprised, slowly wrapped his arms around her.
"What are you doing?" Roks asked eventually.
"At first I wanted to know the deal with hugs, but--" she left off, realizing her feelings; feelings that kilobots aren't supposed to have. She pulled out of the hug suddenly, blushing rosy red, and held Roks's shoulders at arms length. Roks let his arms drop by his sides, also blushing.
"What's wrong?" Roks asked, in an oddly quiet, slightly higher-pitched voice than usual. Blakbeetle stared into Roks's eyes, wondering herself what was wrong.
As Ikki and Metabee filed off the stage, Brass and Erika ran up to them. Brass ran up to Metabee and jumped at him, throwing her arms tightly around the Kabuto. Erika did the same to Ikki.
"I loved the announcement! I wrote it all down, so I can record it in the next report! Think you guys could," Erika began, pulling out of the hug after a moment, "tell me what you said when you put the microphone down?"
Ikki was too stunned to answer; he just blushed and wobbled on spaghetti legs as Erika pulled back.
"Metabee, thank you so much! Way to go!" Brass thanked and congratulated. She pulled back and held Metabee's silver upper arms. Metabee just stuttered, staring at Brass with wide eyes. Brass realized what she did, and looked down at the ground, staring at the space between it and her optics, blushing. "Sorry. I guess I let the excitement get to me. I think," Brass apologized.
Metabee gripped her chin, raising her head. "That's ok." He blushed slightly, hearing her utter, "I think" quietly.
Throughout the rest of the party, which lasted another hour or two, Metabee received several 'thank you's from anyone and everyone. Blakbeetle and Roks eventually got back to acting rather normal, though a little jumpy, and Zuru and Tyrelbeetle giggled at them every now and then when they jumped every time someone came up to them, tapped them on the shoulder, and asked about the K.V. or something related to it. Miss Nae got good business at her in-van repair shop; she fixed Kuwagata medabots and kilobots, and several varieties of other medabots and kilobots who were obviously attacked by one or more infected Kuwagata. Rokusho went back to clutching Hushi's hand, and never let it go again until the party ended, feeling a bit timid, and sorry for attacking (of course).
After the party, Zuru, Ikki, Erika, Tyrelbeetle, Rokusho, Hushi, Blakbeetle, Roks, Metabee, and Brass rode home with Miss Nae. Metabee, being the guest of honor, got the privilege to sit in the front seat with Miss Nae, while everyone else rode in the back. Everyone in the back chatted, while Metabee remained silent, along with Miss Nae.
Suddenly, Miss Nae broke the silence, asking only Metabee.
"Metabee, what happened to Kam?" she asked.
"I don' know. He ran off after Roks grabbed Blakbeetle. Why?" Metabee returned, staring sadly out the window at the passing buildings, which had a beautiful reflection of the sunset on the glass windows. "After how badly I beat KiloRoks," at this, the back seat quieted suddenly, listening intently, as Metabee finished, "I don't think he'll be bothering us for a while!"
"But now that we've got his strongest kilobot, Blakbeetle," Miss Nae began. Metabee turned to her as she finished, shutting everyone in the van up for the rest of the trip…