Standard Disclaimer: I do not own Medabots or any related names and brand(Who belong to Kodansha, Natsume, Hasbro, Nelvana and a bunch of other people I'm not sure I know),I am writting this fic out of fun and I am not making any profit from it and I'm poor,please don't sue me!
AN: Heya everybody! Hope you're still enjoying the story! I'm gonna try to make the story move at a faster pace than my usual stories and not linger on too much in needless dialogue. You'll see what I mean. Mad man, I understand what you mean, and I don't feel like laughing at all. You'd make a great Kaito :p. And Tobias... why are you worried if Brass finds out???
Chapter 6: Ikki's House
On our way back to Ikki's house Oracle, Kaito and I explained to Rokusho that we came from another world where Medabots was just an animated show. It took a little convincing but he finally accepted the concept and went silent, probably wonering what it all meant. I must admit I was wondering what he was thinking but decided to let him to his own tought.I still felt bad from keeping it from him, but I didn't want to sound deffective or just plain crazy. Ikki took the chance to inquire just how much we could see back home and Kaito explained that this was a rated G show and that we never ever saw a butt during the whole serie.
"I've seen Ikki's behind once and you didn't miss anything." Said Metabee, teasing his MEdafighter and making us laugh at this classical moment.
"METABEE!" Complained the boy.
"Don't worry Ikki, I think your behind is just fine." Reassured his mother.
"MOM!" Added Ikki, covering his red face with his hand.
"Are they really always like that?" Asked Nae, looking down at me.
"Yep." I simply answered, realising she had only heard about Ikki and Metabee.
I still felt a bit ridiculous, being carried like a broken toy... then again Medabots weren't far from simply sentient toys and I was broken. Ikki had assured us he had everything we could need to repair my knee at his house, altough Metabee didn't seam that happy to share his supply, but Nae promised to repay them for the materials. Now I felt I owed Nae and Dr. Aki for repairing me and paying for the material, I'd have to find a way to repay them both. We finally reached the Tenryo's house and Henry was there! I was formelly introduced to the clerk/thief/champion Medafighter. Apparantly he had helped Mrs. Tenryo choose Kaito's body and put it together and was invited to dinner as well.
They set me down on the couch, making sure my leg was straight. Oracle sat down at the other end of the couch and Rokusho simply leaned against the wall with Baton on his shoulder. While Ikki's mom was making dinner he introduced us to his PS11. It looked no bigger than my old original game boy but with a drive miniature CD and ports for the controllers and the rest of the wiring. Even in the future they used wires for the controllers. Ikki and Rintaro went into an heated competition in some first person shooter, their Medabots cheering them on while Kaito marveled at the game. A few minutes later Dr. Aki and Nae arrived with screwdrivers and a small soldering tool, I couldn't help but feel queasy at the sight. They set up an old cloth on the ground and moved me there from the couch, leaning me against a wall. They first untied my leg and then with a few knowledgeable manipulation I lost feeling of my leg's Medapart as they were pulled away from my body! The sight of the blue and white tinpet beneath it and the burned and smashed knee was enugh to make me feel like I still had a stomach to upset. Sure it was all just metal but it was part of my body! I could see them work on my knee, taking out screws and bolts like they were just fixing a toaster. When I lost my Medapart I lost all feeling in that leg and I didn't receive any pain when they pulled my lower leg away, the shattered remains of my knee failing down on the cloth. I felt terrible, only having one half of my leg. It would take a long time to get used to what being a Medabot implied. I recalled for the first time that Medabots could swap body part easily with teleporting technology. If I wanted I could look totally diferent in a few instants... off course I would need a Medawatch and other Medaparts for that. For a moment my mind drifted to what had happened to Squidguts... loosing must have surely gotten him into trouble ,especially since I had a Rare Medal. I wasn't sure if I should feel sorry or happy about this. I was brought back to reality when Oracle asked me something.
"Are you okay?"
"Huh?! Yes...yes it's okay... I don't feel a thing... but thanks for caring." I answered softly, looking back at my damaged leg.
"Good." She said, her face showing she was smiling "You didn't seam so well."
"How can you tell? I don't even have eyes, I only got a stupid visor." I inquired, not feeling that happy thatm y face couldn't convey emotions like I was some kind of Vehicon drone!
"I don't know... but you just looked deep in tought. Maybe it's a Medabot sixth sense." She answered, shrugging.
Another sixth sense... add that to the knowledge of time. I bet we can even recognize Medals in diferent body just from the voice! IT wouldn't surprise me at all.
"You'll be up in a few minutes Cruise-Gunner!" Told me Nae "The M-Alloy of your tinpet's main commponents made it so only your knee cap was actually damaged, it's just a matter of cleaning up the remains and replacing it, and we're already done withthe cleaning." It took then only a few minutes and my leg was whole again! The Doc asked me to try it out, and even tough I didn't have any feeling in it, I still managed to moved my leg, twisting my feet and raising it without effort or pain. It didn't took them long to put my Medaparts back and amzingly I could stand up afterward. It felt good to be able to use both my legs. Now THAT was defenitly a perk: no recovery time. No pain was left in my entire body. I still had a few scratches and bump but nothing serious at all! Oracle seamed relieve. It was very timely for the two humans because Mrs. Tenryo called them all for dinner. Kaito, Oracle and I went to the dining to see the table covered with a wide variety of food, some I didn't even know what to call. I'm not japanese after all.
"Wow... I look at all this food and I don't even feel bad about not being able to eat." Commented Kaito. "We don't have a sense of smell either... altough I'm sure it smells delicious Mrs. Tenryo... huh I mean Chidori."
"Here you go guys!" Declared Metabee, handing me an open can with a straw in it.
He handed one to Kaito while Kantaroth did the same for Rokusho and Oracle, the both of them had one of their own. I looked at the can and to my surprise... it was oil.
"What's that for?!?" I asked, confused.
"We'll let the humans eat their food, let's go back to some fine electronical entertainement while we enjoy these drinks!" He explain, plugging the straw into his mouthplate as if there was a hole.
It was an odd site but I remembered seeing such images before in the Medarot manga. Medabots could drink oil... maybe it was good for the articulation, mine felt very hot after was running and there must be a limit to air cooling system. I supposed off the shelf Medabots didn't have oil already in them. I guess we just don't see it in the show (AN: Actually it is shown in the costumed party episode of 'season 2', Metabee is drinking oil.). All three of us former humans looked at each other, not sure what to do as we followed the two yellow Medabots back to the living room.
"Well... when in Rome..." I simply said, bringing the straw up to where I tought my mouth would be.
I felt it plug into something... probably a hole. All I knew is that I started sucking like I was still a human and soon I felt oil pour in me. The first thing I noticed was how odd, but yet good it felt, then I noticed it had... a taste. I could taste it.
"Hm... taste's like raspberry!" I said happily, smiling inwardly.
"It's says here on the can it's a soy based product that's supposed to taste like... coca cola." Stated Kaito, reading the label of his can as Oracle tried her own.
I sweatdropped, or atleast I think I did "Guess nobody could tell the diference since Medabots can't drink coke and humans probably can't stand Medabots oil." I proposed.
Back in the living room Kantaroth and Kaito started playing aganst each other at that first person shooter game and as soon as the Gardener got used to the control he smashed his way to victory! Oracle decided to try it out and took the defeated KBT's place and yet again he won, Kaito had video games in the blood... or oil now. Rokusho was in the corner, looking out the window, somehow enjoying the evening. I hoped he wasn'T mad at me. He drank some oil then shared it with Baton. I tried my luck but FPS were never really my forte and while it was amusing I lost quite easily, more so than Oracle. Metabee replaced me, saying his real life experience would make him win. I realised he might be right and that reminded me of my canons I didn't know how to use. That game also reminded me of my father who used to play a lot of Unreal and Unreal Tournament... When I stopped thinking of my family Metabee had managed to defeat Kaito.
Soon the dinner was over and Ikki and Rintaro were enlisted in helping with the dishes. For the first time I noticed Ikki's dad wasn't there... maybe he was on a mission for the Select Corps. In the dining room it seamed Dr. Aki, Henry and Nae were talking, probably about us. As Metabee challenged Kaito in some fighting game, ( Hyper Street Fighter 2 Neo-Alpha Blitz: Golden Edition if I recall) I couldn't help but wonder what they were talking about, but I had a pretty good hunch it was about us.
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"So Doc... are you sure we can trust them?" Started Henry.
"Henry! Off course we can!" Replied Nae, sounding almost insulted.
Doctor Aki looked grimly serious "Well... the three of them have already prooved they know a great deal about us, more than the Rubberobos or any other group could know. Including your secrets Henry."he said, looking at the Clerk who nodded " Rokusho confirmed that Cruise-Gunner has a Rare Medal. I don't know anyone who would willingly let a Rare Medal go around without any protection."
"I think we should study their Medal and see if we can find any anomalies to back their claim, we can't let three, maybe even four if Oracle is correct, innocent young people loose their life and be stuck as Medabots. If we can, we have to help them." The young woman proposed.
"Wisely said Nae. There is one thing that really intrigues me ..." Agreed the Doc, rubbing his chin.
"What?" The two young adults asked almost at the same time.
"Oracle's Medal had a red gem at it's center, a deep blood red stone, while Medals, even Rare Medals always have aquamarine colored gems. It was the first time I had seen one of another color."
"Hey! Kaito's Medal had a red gem as well!" Pointed out Henry, recalling when he had assambled the green Medabot.
The doc blinked "Hm... then we could ask to see Cruise-Gunner's Medal, if it's red then it's safe to assume all three have a common origin." he said before getting up.
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I saw Doctor Aki, Nae and Henry get up and walk toward the living room. I instinctively jumped off the couch to meet them. I mused for a second on how I would be taller than all three of them if I was still human.
"Something wrong?" I asked, concerned as all the optics in the room turned toward the trio.
"No not at all!" Reassured the Doc "But I'd like to see your Medal if you don't mind." He explained.
I didn't know why he wanted to see it but there was no harm in just look no? Albeit the idea of someone touching my Medal somehow made me uncomfortable .I nodded and presented him my back.
"You can look but... please don't touch." I said.
The Doc reached to my back and pressed a switch there, making my medal port's hatch open. I felt the air get in as the panel open upward. I suddenly felt really vulnerable, almost naked, I didn't like to have my Medal, who was basically my true self, exposed like that. It was as if I was just al ittle bug in a big robot suit and that Medal was my cockpit. That Medal was me after all.
"A Kabuto medal, not surprising...The gem... it's blood red like the others." Declared Nae, revealing to me my MEdal was the same type as Metabee, Kantaroth, Brass and even Warbandit!
"Blood red?" I inquired before I remembered I was baring my soul, litteraly, to the world "Can you close the hatch now Doctor Aki?" I pleaded.
"Oh sure, sorry."
"Thank you." I sighed happily. "So what do you mean by blood red?"
"Well you, Kaito and Oracle all have a Medal with a red gem stone at the center."Explained Nae.
"So?" Asked Kaito, scratching his head.
This time it was Henry who answerec "Medals, even the most ancients ones, always have aqua colored gem stones. This means you three share a common origin."
"In a way you could say you three are family." Proposed Rokusho. "This was all very interesting and I wish you all luck, especially you Cruise-Gunner, but it is getting late and if you do not mind, Baton and I will depart."
"Hey why don't you stay for the night?" Asked Ikki who suddenly appeared in the room.
"Yeah dude!" Added Rintaro.
That reminded me I didn't have a place to stay either "May I... may I stay here too? For the night I mean? " I asked shyly.
"No problem! I bet you my mom's gonna agree!"
It's not everyday you can stay at an anime hero's house that's for sure. The rest of the little gathering went well. We all played some more video games and I even managed to beat Kaito at the Hyper Street Fighter 2 Neo-Alpha Blitz: Golden Edition ! Soon tough it was time for these people I barely knew but already called friends to go their separate way. Rintaro went back home with Kantaroth, soon followed by Henry who had to work early the next day, and finally Doctor Aki, Nae and Oracle left. So there was only Ikki, Metabee, Kaito, Rokusho, Baton and I in the living room.
"Ah! Beat you again Ikki!" Cheered Metabee as Ikki collapsed on his back, defeated.
He layed there for a few seconds before talking again.
"How is it?" He simply asked, confusing us "I mean, to be a Medabots." he added, making me and Kaito realise he was talking to us.
"It's... hard to describe... your whole body feels diferent. Medaparts aren't as sensitive as skin... you don't have to breath so you don't feel your chest moving. Instead of an heartbeat you always hear your little servos slightly. " Started Kaito.
"You don't feel exactly the same psychologically, you don't have any hormones in you that make you angry for exemple and... stuff. When I was attacked by the Noctobats I found out I could much more easily ignore pain. Also being able to go underwater withoutthe need of any equipement or holding my breath was neat. " I continued, then I reached to my front plate and pushed it up. "I also got a built-in radar system that allow me to detect EVERYTHING around me in acertain radius... it's... weird... by the way, what does it look like on the outside?"
"You got a little red light going left and right... like KITT in Knight Rider." Answered the gardener, chuckling a little.
Batoon looked confused "Knight Rider?You guys come from Antiquity!" He said playfully.
"Haha. Very funny, but it's that antiquity that made the TV show that got us here... I'm still not sure how that worked." Replied Kaito, he seamed easy to irritate.
"Good question." I mused, puting down my front plate and shutting my radar. " The Medaforce tough... now that was one heck of a rush."
Metabee took the chance to enter in the conversation "I know what you mean dude. When that energy's coursing through you, you feel like you can defeat anybody! You also feel so good and rejuvenated when it happens... and then you're so depleted of energy and tire... don't worry tough, you get used to the strain and you don't pass out after a while."
Off course I already knew that, but it was pointless to mention it so I just nodded in agrement. I got to meet Salty, Ikki's dog a bit later. A very nice dog, smart too. I never was much of a fan of dogs compared to cat but I wouldn't mind hanging around with Salty for a while. I wonder what he thinks of Medabots, we probably don't have a scent... altough I probably smell like the river and dirt after all that happened to me. Kaito, Rokusho and I got to share the living room for the night. It wasn't uncomfortable since human size couch are relatively big compared to a Medabot, and sleeping as a robot is easy as pie. Really! You just lay down, close your eyes and will yourself to sleep. It's like pressing a 'sleep mode' button inside of you. I went out like a rock and only re-opened my optic in the morning, being playfully poked by Salty. It was about 7 in the morning and I felt rejuvenated! I had slept very wel and had recharged for the day.
Bring it on Medabots World! Cruise-Gunner is ready to unravel your secret!
To Be Continued...
AN: I wans't sure how to finish this chapter ^^;;. Next one will probably be a tad longer.