Chapter I: Confession Confusion
It was Tuesday, around lunchtime. I had felt sick all day, but I oddly felt better than the night before. Thankfully, I figured I felt good enough to robattle, because we, meaning Zuru and I, along with Ikki, Rokusho, and Metabee, had a challenge from the worst of Kam's three main lackeys, Kintora and Minitora, and their kilobots Unitrix and Exor. The robattle was set for after school, which fried Zuru's idea of staying home with me. But I don't mind. I didn't want him to miss out on school because of me. He's good in school, unlike Ikki. In fact, for that excuse to get out of school, Ikki would probably want Metabee to get sick. But for no other reason than the excuse. He wouldn't want Metabee to be sick, just an excuse to get out of school.
I was sitting on the couch in the living room, or den, I suppose, half asleep with my head on Blakbeetle's shoulder and hands over my stomach. Tyrelbeetle sat on the other side of me, wrapping a few blankets around me. Nothing special had happened today--yet--so I've been here and there throughout the house, half asleep wherever I landed. Once on the chair in the office, once in my bed, once at the kitchen table, and, of course, on the couch with Tyrelbeetle and Blakbeetle, where I currently was. So you get the picture that I'm tired, right? I must admit, though, I like having a few friends taking care of me. The only ones missing were Zuru and Ikki. Yes, I mean Blakbeetle, Tyrelbeetle, Metabee, Rokusho, Arc-Dash, Honey, Peppercat, Totalizer, Krosserdog, Brass, and, of course, myself, were all there. Blakbeetle, Tyrelbeetle, and I were on the couch, Metabee and Rokusho sat shoulder-to-shoulder in front of the couch, Arc-Dash and Peppercat were talking at the kitchen table while they shared a can of oil, Brass and Honey were chatting, sitting on the steps in the kitchen door, and, according to the clanking and firing I heard outback, Totalizer and Krosserdog were having a test-of-strength robattle outside. I suppose having all my friends here could be special in itself, but other than that, nothing.
After school, Zuru and Ikki would contact us over their medawatches. Ikki borrowed a medawatch for Rokusho from Professor Hushi, and he's going to coach Rokusho. Zuru wanted to be Rokusho's medafighter-for-a-day, but after thinking it over with Ikki, they both figured Zuru would have his hands full with me, since I'm not exactly at the top of my game.
The day went on like this, until about 3:45 PM, when I received a call from Zuru over the medawatch, followed almost immediately by calls from Ikki to Rokusho and Metabee the same way. At that, we all headed out to Zuru and Ikki's school, Riverview Junior High.
Once at the school, we all gathered in the playground. I stood in front of Zuru, one hand over my stomach and struggling to stand properly, while Zuru had his medawatch arm poised or battle; medawatch raised to his mouth. Metabee and Rokusho stood in front of Ikki, easily standing properly (lucky them), while Ikki had both medawatch arms poised for battle in the same manner Zuru holds them when Tyrelbeetle and I are tag-teaming; crossed in front of his chest so both medawatches were at his mouth.
Across from us were Unitrix, who was directly across from Rokusho and Metabee, Exor, who was directly across from me, and their medafighters behind them: Minitora, the black-haired boy who seems to lead the two, behind Unitrix, while the out-of-shape runner-up with a purple overcoat, Kintora, was behind Exor.
Everyone who was at the Zora house were sitting or standing on the off-white concrete wall around the playground, while their medafighters leaned against the wall below them.
Everyone seemed at least a little rigid with anticipation and tense. Some were worried about how I would make out in this robattle, being sick and all. When medafighters get sick, they don't coach their medabots in robattles, so it's a little odd that a medabot is sick and is robattling. Most people know that medabots do the hard part and most of the work in robattling at least. Sure, it's hard to come up with strategies sometimes, and being able to think on your feet is a little hard, but having to do what the medafighters say is much harder, especially since it hurts to be hit in robattles. Who said medabots don't hurt? Not only emotionally, either. There are plenty of things the sense of touch is needed for, not to mention if a medabot couldn't feel, they may not know when to stop fighting or when they've had enough. Take Rokusho for instance. He's been medafighter-less for a large chunk of his life, so if he couldn't feel, he would probably be scrap metal by now because he didn't have a medafighter or a medawatch to tell him when to stop. Get the picture?
"Listen, are we gonna' start this fight or what?" asked the leader of our two enemies, Minitora. Ikki glared at him, and then looked to Rokusho and Metabee. Zuru looked to me.
"Are you ready, Rokusho, Metabee?" they asked simultaneously. The only thing that differed from that when Zuru said it was the name. Rokusho and Metabee smirked in their eyes, while I did a full-face smirk with a hidden wince, since I still had my muzzle open in case I vomited again.
Naturally, without asking their kilobots, Kintora and Minitora started the match, ordering Unitrix and Exor to charge. With a call from my medafighter, I focused on his voice and orders, and on my assigned enemy, Exor. In my mind's optic, I saw the 'mode' symbol in the top left corner switch from 'normal mode' to 'battle mode' as I ran side-by-side with Exor into the jungle-jim serving as an obstacle course. The small print on the left side of my mind's optic read that Zuru had activated the medavision.
Roks, how are you doing? I heard Zuru ask, his voice quieted and metallic in my mind over the medawatch.
I'm fine so far. It's just been a race with Exor to the swings, unless he, or rather, his kilofighter, decides to attack, I returned through the circuitry.
Kilofighter? Good name. I'm on standby if anything happens. Hang in there buddy. He beeped out at that, but I could tell by the readouts that he was watching with the medavision, and still in complete connection with me. I sure didn't want him to leave. I wasn't as fine as I said I was. The sudden movement and change of modes threw my synthetic stomach for a loop. I guessed he saw some damage points on my head arrangement and noticed I was moving much slower than usual, so he asked how I was doing. Maybe I should stop lying about it.
I glanced up at Exor, who was mindlessly running along beside me. It was strange to look at someone, or something, and know they were soulless, literally. I felt sorry for him. I was feeling sorry for something that can't acknowledge the world around him, or that can't think on its own, and all it's good for is fighting until the bitter end. It can't be sad or cry, or be happy, or go out and have fun with friends. It will never know joy, laughter, sadness, crying--or loving, or that 'one special person'. Do medabots have a 'one special person'? Or kilobots like--like Blakbeetle? Will I ever find that 'one special person'? Or have I already found her? Wait. If I've already found 'her', then who is she? She can't be Blakbeetle!--can she?
Then, Zuru snapped me out of my daze with a warning and order, Roks! Exor just received an order! I know you can't go any faster than that now, so don't try. Watch him closely, then dodge his attack by dropping back behind him! Before he tries again -- I watched Exor for his attack, and saw his flexor sword on his right arm extend, and he seemed to move in slow motion as he raised it in the air. At that moment, I slammed on the brakes and dropped back-- get ahead of him and run to the swings. Jump in one --I did as he said, running around Exor as fast as I could with a stomach ache, and ran for the swings. As I neared them, I jumped and landed standing in a swing--?and use your built up momentum to swing as high as you can! Time it right, so Exor, guessing he'll follow you, will run right under the swing! I swung high without having to try, and, just as my smart medafighter predicted, Exor ran right under me. Wait for him to turn around, then jump out of the swing! Then run up the slide, without slipping! It's faster than going up the ladder!
Why wait for him to turn around? I returned as Exor came to a stop and turned to face me. I jumped out of the swing and followed my master's orders, even though I questioned them. I trust him to take care of me, in a robattle or out of a robattle, whether I'm sick or in perfect shape.
I want him to follow you! Don't worry; I've got a plan, just get ahead of him! Trust me, he answered.
"I do." That came out aloud and over the medawatch. I'm proud to say I trust him!
I ran up the slide, hoping Exor would follow me. I paused, standing at the highest point on the jungle-jim at the top of the yellow slide, waiting for Zuru. I heard fuzz in my circuitry coming from his end. My senses were fading.
'Curse the timing!' I shouted at myself in my head angrily. I tried to contact him, as I turned to see Exor gaining on me. I had a few moments to get myself in order, or he'll catch me. Zuru! Come in, Zuru! Zu-Zu! He's gaining on me! If you can hear me, my senses are fading. If you're trying to say something, you're not coming through! I got more fuzz in response, then, though my hearing was almost just as bad as my medawatch communications, I heard Zuru's real voice.
"Roks! Move as fast as you can and get to the other side of the tunnel!" he called. I turned and threw myself feet-first through the tunnel, and stood once I was on the other side. As I stood, clutching my stomach, I buckled back over and had to catch myself using the tunnel beside me. I weakly looked to Zuru, who was standing at the entrance to the playground, fists raised.
"Zu-Zu? Y-you came here?" I called back, hoping he heard me since my voice wasn't doing so well.
"Yes, you came through on my end. And the medavision seemed to shutdown on me, so I had to be here in person so you don't lose!" he returned.
"Thank you. I can't robattle without you." I looked down to the bottom of the slide, and saw Exor scrambling up it. I looked back to Zuru for commands, and I mainly had to lip-read. I think he said, "Hold him down when he comes out of the tunnel, and then use your Cutlass!" Another good plan, which I followed.
Exor crawled out of the tunnel and looked around for me. When he looked up, his eyes widened, betraying his masters surprise, as I, holding onto the tunnel for balance with my other hand over my stomach, stomped down on him and held him there with one foot. I opened my Cutlass and raised it into the air, preparing to attack. With a blue flash, I saw the needed parts for demolition mode transport as Exor transformed to look like his body type; a saber-tooth tiger. He raised his front end.
"Roks! Terminate attack! Jump over-- " My hearing faded, and all I heard was fuzz. "-- attacks! He'll take out your right leg if he hits you! ---- shadows!"
"Jump over what? What about shadow--AHHH!" I looked down abruptly as my leg felt like it was almost torn right of my body. Exor had attacked by shooting his 'paws' as projectiles. I read the readouts transmitted from Zuru's medawatch in my mind. Seventy-five percent damage. A warning flashed through my mind.
"Zu-Zu! What do I do?" I called, sounding scared.
"Jump over the edge of the jungle-jim! Hide in the shadows behind the structure!" he answered, obviously repeating what he had said a moment earlier. I jumped frantically over the edge, pushing myself over by jumping a second time off the railing. I fell down behind the jungle-jim, fearing the landing. When I landed, I could tell my legs and head arrangement took a jolt and some damage, but I stayed there kneeling down with my eyes closed. I could hear Exor sliding down the slide and running around to find me. Good thing he can't think on his own, and since I held him down, his medafighter didn't see me jump off the edge via medavision. I opened one eye and peeked out from my hiding place between the jungle-jim's base and the wall. I saw Zuru standing right inside the opening, acting like I was somewhere else so Exor and his medafighter wouldn't find me, then Exor running a quick circle around him before heading back towards the swings. A moment later, Zuru turned to me, though I'm sure all he saw was the red light from my eyes, and ran towards where he thought I was. His eyes must've adjusted to the darkness, because he saw me, turned so he could keep half an eye on the entrance to our hiding place, and kneeled down next to me, wrapping his arm around my shoulders. "You ok?" he asked quietly. I winced at his voice, gripping my stomach.
"Not completely--AH!" I squeezed my eyes shut and threw my head up as a surge of pain ran up my throat. Zuru gasped. "No! I'm-I'm not ok!" I hung my head, wincing. My eyes shadowed over. "M-my stomach…" Zuru responded by laying a hand over my stomach worriedly as I shook, and then I vomited oil a second time in two days.
"Roks…" Zuru sympathetically wiped oil from my mouth, while I breathed heavily. I leaned over on him, eyes closed.
"I-I can still battle. Just let me rest for-for a moment," I requested, before nodding off in sleep mode, or more like passing out. A few minutes later, I 'woke' with a start when I heard Zuru scream, and I jumped right into 'battle mode'. I looked up, and saw Exor blocking our small amount of light, his Flexor Sword extended and raised. Getting over an increasingly terrible stomachache, I jumped to my feet and stepped in front of Zuru, as Exor brought down his sword. The attack hit my inner shoulder (the part of my shoulder closest to my neck) and left a slice as it slid down and off my chest. I heard beeping coming from Zuru's medawatch as I fell backwards and landed at Zuru's feet. Then an announcement of damage.
Head arrangement: fifty-percent damage. Eighty-percent damaged.
"Roks, can you continue?" Zuru asked as I shakily sat up.
"I'm s-still function-'tion-in', aren't I-I?" I returned, my voice getting stuck on words and repeating itself.
"Yes, but, what do you mean?"
"I mean--y-yes-yes! I can-can con-continue-'tinue!" My voice was getting worse with every word I said.
"You can barely speak! Roks, why don't you drop out of this robattle? You were in no shape to try in the first place, you're taking heavy damage, and you vomited again! I'm just scared for you. Go home, and let Tyrelbeetle take your place, ok?" I stared at him for a moment, thinking it over, and then nodded.
"But-but I still need to fight him o-of-off-off. I can-can las-as-ast long-ong enough to do that-at."
"You probably can. Fine, but just get him down long enough for us to get past. Be careful, ok?"
"S-sure." I jumped to my feet, and Exor raised his sword again. He brought it down before I could react, and left two trails down the side of my face. I instinctively clutched one hand over it, but of course that made it sting, so I opened my Cutlass, raised it, and swiped it down. Exor ducked, threw a punch to my chest, which knocked me back against the wall, and followed me. Before I slipped off the wall and to the ground, he caught me with punches, which were fast and quick enough to pin me up.
"Roks!" Zuru exclaimed, as he took a step closer. He stopped himself, realizing the situation. I was glad he stopped. If he came closer, he'd be bound to get hurt, and that's the last thing I wanted, if that.
Exor's punches were starting to leave dents. One punch struck my stomach, and I screamed out at the unbearable pain. I raised my hand up over it, trying not to let that spot get hit again. It hurt so much the rest of the punches barely bothered me. I already had a stomachache. Why hurt it more? Why?! I couldn't come up with anything to do, so I looked up at Zuru, who seemed to be calculating something.
"Zu-Zu! What should I--" Zuru cut me off, motioning for me to hang in there for another moment or two, and looked down at the ground, eyes closed and covering his ears.
I screamed in pain again as Exor punched the hand on my stomach, sending a jolt to my stomach through my hand.
"Roks! Watch his punches carefully, ok?" I stared at Zuru for a moment, as the swift and painful punches continued. I looked down at them, trying not to shut my eyes or wince, since Zuru opened the medavision. After a moment, he called, "There's a brief pause between the punches. It should be enough time for you to use your Cutlass! You got your hand up, so you can move, you just have to make the right moves!" He was examining a snapshot he took of my visions of that 'brief moment between punches' displayed on his medavision. I continued staring at the punches. I found that brief moment, threw my Cutlass in the air, and swiped it through the air towards Exor's side. Luckily, I hit before another punch aimed for my stomach hit, and it flung Exor front-first for the side of the jungle-jim. He fell to the ground and rolled over twice, before he stopped, face down, and shakily started sitting up. I slipped down to the ground, unable to stand on my own anymore. Zuru noticed, ran to me, grabbed me up in his arms, turned, and ran for the opening in the wall. He ran through the opening, past the 'Metabee and Rokusho versus Unitrix' robattle, past Ikki, and stopped by the concrete wall. He dropped to his knees and leaned me back on the wall. He then felt the scar on the side of my face sympathetically.
"Are you alright?" he asked. I peeked around him, nodded to answer his question, and watched a rather funny scene with Metabee and Rokusho.
"Hit it, Rokusho!" Metabee shouted as he punched a flying Unitrix in Rokusho's direction. Rokusho raised his Chanbara Sword and sliced it forward, whacking Unitrix to the ground.
"You called him 'it'!" he shouted as he ran to Metabee, making it look like an accident when he stomped on Unitrix's head.
"Yeah, I know!" Metabee raised his hand for a high-five, but Rokusho stared at it, looking confused, and then looked down at Unitrix, who was getting slowly to his feet. Metabee sighed with his typical "Ah, man!", and asked rhetorically, "Does this guy ever stay down?"
"Guess not," Rokusho answered, poising for another round.
I giggled slightly, but winced with a yelp when my stomach burned. Zuru stared for a moment, and then looked over at the medabots lining the top of the wall.
"Tyrelbeetle, Blakbeetle!" he called. Tyrelbeetle and Blakbeetle responded by jumping and slipping off the edge of the wall, landing, and running up to Zuru. Blakbeetle glanced at me, and then back to Zuru. "Tyrelbeetle, I need you to take Roks's place in the robattle. Blakbeetle, you take Roks home." What?! B-Blakbeetle taking me home?! Wha-why couldn't Tyrelbeetle have taken me home?! Oh no!
"Uhh, right," Blakbeetle replied. She kneeled down next to me and put my arm around her shoulders, then her arm around my shoulders, and then she helped me to my feet. I noticed a blush on her metal cheeks, and realized I was probably blushing as well.
A little while later, Blakbeetle and I were limping towards the front door of our house. Well, she was limping, while my feet were dragging every other step. We had walked in silence the entire way, neither of us brave enough to break it. Our blushes had faded, but still, neither of us was…acting normal. Finally, Blakbeetle decided to break the silence.
"What does a stomach ache feel like?" she asked as we entered our house.
"Uhh, it's hard to describe…it burns, for one," I began as Blakbeetle helped me to the kitchen table.
"Burns? Where?" Blakbeetle continued, climbing up into the second chair as I headed for the drawer with the oil. I kneeled down carefully, of my stomach, opened the drawer, took out a can of oil, and, of course, a dark purple straw, closed the drawer with my free hand, and stood. I clutched my hand back over my stomach as I headed to the first chair, and answered Blakbeetle's question before I climbed up.
"Here." I rubbed my stomach to identify where it burned, and she nodded. "It kinda' feels like a fire's started inside me. Mixed with stuffing something large down my throat, and it aches like--like it's severally damaged."
"Sorry you feel that way," Blakbeetle responded. I sat the can of oil and straw on the table. Again, I had to reach up arm's length, but then buckled over, crossing my arms over my stomach and dropping to one knee. "Are you ok?!"
"Yeah, yeah, I'm--I'm fine--" I groaned. Again, I lied about it. I stood, wincing, and climbed into the first barstool chair. I pulled the can and straw closer, opened the can, and stuck the straw in, while Blakbeetle watched intently, her head in one hand and leaning her elbow on the table. As I sipped the oil, I looked sideways at her, and asked nervously, "Wha-why are you watching me?"
"No reason. Sorry," she returned, sitting straight and suddenly finding her twiddling thumbs very interesting. I rolled my optic targets, closed my eyes, and continued sipping, uttering, "Whatever," under my breath. After a moment, I noticed her watching me again, so I asked, "Now what?"
"What does it taste like?"
"Uhh, like a stomach ache, it's hard to describe. Why don't you taste some for yourself?" I returned.
"Sure." I sat up and turned, ready to slide out of my chair and get her a can of her own, when she pressed the button on the tip of her nose and her muzzle opened like mine, revealing lips…rather lovely lips…ki--wait! She-she then snatched my can and took a few long sips, eyes closed and obviously enjoying it. I stared at her, dumbfounded, and she, after a moment or two, broke from the straw and slid it back in front of me. "I like it."
"B-but--th-that was mine…I drank out of it," I said quietly, blinking. 'And now she won't understand if I don't drink anymore and let her have the rest. Good thing medabots don't have germs, but--my lips touched that straw!'
"So?" Blakbeetle replied, obviously not understanding. 'What do I do? What do I tell her? What do I find wrong with it exactly?'
"So that was mine!" I tried, turning to her and resituating in my seat. Not the best thing to say…
"Oh, well, there's plenty left!" Great. The last thing I needed. She's cheerful about it! She just doesn't understand! It's cute on some level…
"Ohhh! Never mind." I turned back to the table and uncomfortably sipped my oil through the straw out of which we both previously drank. 'Awkward moment here…' She stared at me again, looking confused instead of interested this time. Suddenly, her expression changed to interested, making me uncomfortable.
"Are you ok? Are you heating up?" she asked, surprising me.
"N-no. Why?" I returned, trying to sound calm, and failing miserably.
"Your face is turning red on your cheeks. If you're not overheating, then why are they red?" she continued. She must have seen a blush. That's just what I needed--first she doesn't understand, and now that's leading her to questions I don't want to answer.
"It's a--it's a--a--blush," I answered squeakily.
"What is a blush?" She's going on about it.
"A blush? I don't know for sure, actually. It's just something humans-and obviously medabots-do when they feel certain emotions," I said. I wasn't completely sure of myself. What is a blush? Why--
"Why are you blushing? What emotions?" Exactly what I was wondering. Why was I blushing? Was I overheating and didn't know it? There's no way. I would know. Did I flip a switch in my systems to cause my coloring to change, and it happened to turn red and start on my cheeks? No, there's not a switch like that. Besides, that's too much of a coincidence. Was I embarrassed about the 'drinking oil' incident with--with her? No, I think I liked it--what? What was I starting to think when she opened her muzzle? ''Lips. Lovely lips, in my opinion. Kissable… SHE'S lovely, actually, very lovely. Beautiful, even. LOVABLE'' that was my answer right there. Lovable. I liked her. How? I don't know. I was a medabot, she was a kilobot…doesn't seem…normal…for two medabots to love each other. It couldn't be normal for a medabot and a kilobot to love each other. But of course, I--maybe. Maybe we felt the same for each other. I had to take my chances, whether she liked me or not, I had to tell her. Are those really my feelings? Do I really like her? These feelings were strange. I knew love. I loved my bro-uh-partner, and especially my medafighter, but not in the same way. Am I--scared? Of what? Scared of the feelings? No, maybe the reason for the feelings? No, not that either, maybe the outcome if I tell her? Yes, I-I think that's it! 'Just tell her and get it over with!'
By the time I finished thinking it over, Blakbeetle had escorted me to the couch, and we were now sitting, wrapped in two comfy, dark red blankets. She was even leaning on me, her head on my shoulder, much to my surprise and likeness. Her eyes were closed, her muzzle was still opened, and she was almost asleep. I had unconsciously put my arm around her, and by the time I snapped out of my daze, a side of me said to pull away, but that wasn't the side of me my arm was on. I would tell her. Right here and right now…I hope Zuru comes home within the next minute!
"Blakbeetle?" I began nervously, looking down at her half-asleep face. She opened her eyes slightly and looked up at me without lifting her head off my shoulder.
"Yes? You're blushing again." She was right. My cheeks felt warm. I resisted the temptation to go off subject--a hard thing to resist in this case--and continued.
"I--uh--think--I--like you," I finally got out, stuttering. She smiled and closed her eyes, getting back into position and pulling the covers tighter around her. She responded, "Well, thanks, I like you, too."
"I mean--uh--not as a friend." This seemed to hurt her. She looked up at me again, with a, of course, hurt expression on her face. She looked as though she was about to cry.
"Y-you're not my friend?!" Her voice was high-pitched and shaky with impending tears.
"N-no! Not that! I like-like you, as in more than a friend!" I could suddenly say it, surprising myself. She relaxed at this, thought for a moment, her head bowed, and eventually a blush formed on her cheeks.
"Y-you mean like 'love'?"
"I guess," I returned. She continued blushing with her head bowed, her eyes shadowed over and fist clenched on the edge of her covers. 'How will she take it? Does she think I'm a total jerk?! No, wait, she doesn't know what 'jerk' means. But still…What if she hates me?!' At the last thought, I bit my lip nervously, getting a new sensation in my stomach. Fluttery with nervousness and hope…'butterflies'. I clenched my hand over my already aching stomach at the flutters, and impatiently awaited her response. She was taking as long as I had to figure out my feelings…maybe she was doing the same, and maybe she'd come to the same conclusion! Maybe…
"I-I think I love you, too," was her response, as she looked up at me with sparkly, happy eyes.
"The-then it definitely means 'love'!" I lowered my voice and uttered to myself, "And to think, I was nervous! Puh-lease!"
"What?" She must have heard me utter that 'something', and I shook my head in response, a huge blush illuminating the usually all-white bottom half of my face, I could feel it. I looked down into her eyes, past the blush on her face, which matched my blush.
"Y-you look tired. Go to sleep until Zuru and Tyrelbeetle get home, at least," I told her quietly and lovingly. Lovingly…I like the sound of that. When could I tell--WHO could I tell? Then when? I could definitely tell Zuru and Tyrelbeetle. Speaking of which, I was starting to get worried that they weren't home yet. That's one long robattle. Hopefully nothing else happened to them.
I winced at the idea of something happening to them and pulled Blakbeetle closer for comfort, and she smiled, before loosing the smile and falling into a deep slumber with a peaceful expression.
Then, thankfully without any noise, my stomach gave a nasty lurch, and I held my breath, thinking, 'Maybe I shouldn't've had that oil.' I got that burning sensation suddenly, followed by that pain up my throat. 'No! Not here! Not NOW!' But I couldn't control it. It probably was my fault, since I added extra oil to my systems KNOWING I probably couldn't keep it down. I jumped out of my seat, Blakbeetle sitting up suddenly and looking worriedly up at me, "Roks?"
"Keep an eye out for Zu-Zu, ok? I'll be right back--" I turned and ran for the kitchen, hearing Blakbeetle question behind me, "Who's Zu-Zu? ZuRU?"
It was Tuesday, around lunchtime. I had felt sick all day, but I oddly felt better than the night before. Thankfully, I figured I felt good enough to robattle, because we, meaning Zuru and I, along with Ikki, Rokusho, and Metabee, had a challenge from the worst of Kam's three main lackeys, Kintora and Minitora, and their kilobots Unitrix and Exor. The robattle was set for after school, which fried Zuru's idea of staying home with me. But I don't mind. I didn't want him to miss out on school because of me. He's good in school, unlike Ikki. In fact, for that excuse to get out of school, Ikki would probably want Metabee to get sick. But for no other reason than the excuse. He wouldn't want Metabee to be sick, just an excuse to get out of school.
I was sitting on the couch in the living room, or den, I suppose, half asleep with my head on Blakbeetle's shoulder and hands over my stomach. Tyrelbeetle sat on the other side of me, wrapping a few blankets around me. Nothing special had happened today--yet--so I've been here and there throughout the house, half asleep wherever I landed. Once on the chair in the office, once in my bed, once at the kitchen table, and, of course, on the couch with Tyrelbeetle and Blakbeetle, where I currently was. So you get the picture that I'm tired, right? I must admit, though, I like having a few friends taking care of me. The only ones missing were Zuru and Ikki. Yes, I mean Blakbeetle, Tyrelbeetle, Metabee, Rokusho, Arc-Dash, Honey, Peppercat, Totalizer, Krosserdog, Brass, and, of course, myself, were all there. Blakbeetle, Tyrelbeetle, and I were on the couch, Metabee and Rokusho sat shoulder-to-shoulder in front of the couch, Arc-Dash and Peppercat were talking at the kitchen table while they shared a can of oil, Brass and Honey were chatting, sitting on the steps in the kitchen door, and, according to the clanking and firing I heard outback, Totalizer and Krosserdog were having a test-of-strength robattle outside. I suppose having all my friends here could be special in itself, but other than that, nothing.
After school, Zuru and Ikki would contact us over their medawatches. Ikki borrowed a medawatch for Rokusho from Professor Hushi, and he's going to coach Rokusho. Zuru wanted to be Rokusho's medafighter-for-a-day, but after thinking it over with Ikki, they both figured Zuru would have his hands full with me, since I'm not exactly at the top of my game.
The day went on like this, until about 3:45 PM, when I received a call from Zuru over the medawatch, followed almost immediately by calls from Ikki to Rokusho and Metabee the same way. At that, we all headed out to Zuru and Ikki's school, Riverview Junior High.
Once at the school, we all gathered in the playground. I stood in front of Zuru, one hand over my stomach and struggling to stand properly, while Zuru had his medawatch arm poised or battle; medawatch raised to his mouth. Metabee and Rokusho stood in front of Ikki, easily standing properly (lucky them), while Ikki had both medawatch arms poised for battle in the same manner Zuru holds them when Tyrelbeetle and I are tag-teaming; crossed in front of his chest so both medawatches were at his mouth.
Across from us were Unitrix, who was directly across from Rokusho and Metabee, Exor, who was directly across from me, and their medafighters behind them: Minitora, the black-haired boy who seems to lead the two, behind Unitrix, while the out-of-shape runner-up with a purple overcoat, Kintora, was behind Exor.
Everyone who was at the Zora house were sitting or standing on the off-white concrete wall around the playground, while their medafighters leaned against the wall below them.
Everyone seemed at least a little rigid with anticipation and tense. Some were worried about how I would make out in this robattle, being sick and all. When medafighters get sick, they don't coach their medabots in robattles, so it's a little odd that a medabot is sick and is robattling. Most people know that medabots do the hard part and most of the work in robattling at least. Sure, it's hard to come up with strategies sometimes, and being able to think on your feet is a little hard, but having to do what the medafighters say is much harder, especially since it hurts to be hit in robattles. Who said medabots don't hurt? Not only emotionally, either. There are plenty of things the sense of touch is needed for, not to mention if a medabot couldn't feel, they may not know when to stop fighting or when they've had enough. Take Rokusho for instance. He's been medafighter-less for a large chunk of his life, so if he couldn't feel, he would probably be scrap metal by now because he didn't have a medafighter or a medawatch to tell him when to stop. Get the picture?
"Listen, are we gonna' start this fight or what?" asked the leader of our two enemies, Minitora. Ikki glared at him, and then looked to Rokusho and Metabee. Zuru looked to me.
"Are you ready, Rokusho, Metabee?" they asked simultaneously. The only thing that differed from that when Zuru said it was the name. Rokusho and Metabee smirked in their eyes, while I did a full-face smirk with a hidden wince, since I still had my muzzle open in case I vomited again.
Naturally, without asking their kilobots, Kintora and Minitora started the match, ordering Unitrix and Exor to charge. With a call from my medafighter, I focused on his voice and orders, and on my assigned enemy, Exor. In my mind's optic, I saw the 'mode' symbol in the top left corner switch from 'normal mode' to 'battle mode' as I ran side-by-side with Exor into the jungle-jim serving as an obstacle course. The small print on the left side of my mind's optic read that Zuru had activated the medavision.
Roks, how are you doing? I heard Zuru ask, his voice quieted and metallic in my mind over the medawatch.
I'm fine so far. It's just been a race with Exor to the swings, unless he, or rather, his kilofighter, decides to attack, I returned through the circuitry.
Kilofighter? Good name. I'm on standby if anything happens. Hang in there buddy. He beeped out at that, but I could tell by the readouts that he was watching with the medavision, and still in complete connection with me. I sure didn't want him to leave. I wasn't as fine as I said I was. The sudden movement and change of modes threw my synthetic stomach for a loop. I guessed he saw some damage points on my head arrangement and noticed I was moving much slower than usual, so he asked how I was doing. Maybe I should stop lying about it.
I glanced up at Exor, who was mindlessly running along beside me. It was strange to look at someone, or something, and know they were soulless, literally. I felt sorry for him. I was feeling sorry for something that can't acknowledge the world around him, or that can't think on its own, and all it's good for is fighting until the bitter end. It can't be sad or cry, or be happy, or go out and have fun with friends. It will never know joy, laughter, sadness, crying--or loving, or that 'one special person'. Do medabots have a 'one special person'? Or kilobots like--like Blakbeetle? Will I ever find that 'one special person'? Or have I already found her? Wait. If I've already found 'her', then who is she? She can't be Blakbeetle!--can she?
Then, Zuru snapped me out of my daze with a warning and order, Roks! Exor just received an order! I know you can't go any faster than that now, so don't try. Watch him closely, then dodge his attack by dropping back behind him! Before he tries again -- I watched Exor for his attack, and saw his flexor sword on his right arm extend, and he seemed to move in slow motion as he raised it in the air. At that moment, I slammed on the brakes and dropped back-- get ahead of him and run to the swings. Jump in one --I did as he said, running around Exor as fast as I could with a stomach ache, and ran for the swings. As I neared them, I jumped and landed standing in a swing--?and use your built up momentum to swing as high as you can! Time it right, so Exor, guessing he'll follow you, will run right under the swing! I swung high without having to try, and, just as my smart medafighter predicted, Exor ran right under me. Wait for him to turn around, then jump out of the swing! Then run up the slide, without slipping! It's faster than going up the ladder!
Why wait for him to turn around? I returned as Exor came to a stop and turned to face me. I jumped out of the swing and followed my master's orders, even though I questioned them. I trust him to take care of me, in a robattle or out of a robattle, whether I'm sick or in perfect shape.
I want him to follow you! Don't worry; I've got a plan, just get ahead of him! Trust me, he answered.
"I do." That came out aloud and over the medawatch. I'm proud to say I trust him!
I ran up the slide, hoping Exor would follow me. I paused, standing at the highest point on the jungle-jim at the top of the yellow slide, waiting for Zuru. I heard fuzz in my circuitry coming from his end. My senses were fading.
'Curse the timing!' I shouted at myself in my head angrily. I tried to contact him, as I turned to see Exor gaining on me. I had a few moments to get myself in order, or he'll catch me. Zuru! Come in, Zuru! Zu-Zu! He's gaining on me! If you can hear me, my senses are fading. If you're trying to say something, you're not coming through! I got more fuzz in response, then, though my hearing was almost just as bad as my medawatch communications, I heard Zuru's real voice.
"Roks! Move as fast as you can and get to the other side of the tunnel!" he called. I turned and threw myself feet-first through the tunnel, and stood once I was on the other side. As I stood, clutching my stomach, I buckled back over and had to catch myself using the tunnel beside me. I weakly looked to Zuru, who was standing at the entrance to the playground, fists raised.
"Zu-Zu? Y-you came here?" I called back, hoping he heard me since my voice wasn't doing so well.
"Yes, you came through on my end. And the medavision seemed to shutdown on me, so I had to be here in person so you don't lose!" he returned.
"Thank you. I can't robattle without you." I looked down to the bottom of the slide, and saw Exor scrambling up it. I looked back to Zuru for commands, and I mainly had to lip-read. I think he said, "Hold him down when he comes out of the tunnel, and then use your Cutlass!" Another good plan, which I followed.
Exor crawled out of the tunnel and looked around for me. When he looked up, his eyes widened, betraying his masters surprise, as I, holding onto the tunnel for balance with my other hand over my stomach, stomped down on him and held him there with one foot. I opened my Cutlass and raised it into the air, preparing to attack. With a blue flash, I saw the needed parts for demolition mode transport as Exor transformed to look like his body type; a saber-tooth tiger. He raised his front end.
"Roks! Terminate attack! Jump over-- " My hearing faded, and all I heard was fuzz. "-- attacks! He'll take out your right leg if he hits you! ---- shadows!"
"Jump over what? What about shadow--AHHH!" I looked down abruptly as my leg felt like it was almost torn right of my body. Exor had attacked by shooting his 'paws' as projectiles. I read the readouts transmitted from Zuru's medawatch in my mind. Seventy-five percent damage. A warning flashed through my mind.
"Zu-Zu! What do I do?" I called, sounding scared.
"Jump over the edge of the jungle-jim! Hide in the shadows behind the structure!" he answered, obviously repeating what he had said a moment earlier. I jumped frantically over the edge, pushing myself over by jumping a second time off the railing. I fell down behind the jungle-jim, fearing the landing. When I landed, I could tell my legs and head arrangement took a jolt and some damage, but I stayed there kneeling down with my eyes closed. I could hear Exor sliding down the slide and running around to find me. Good thing he can't think on his own, and since I held him down, his medafighter didn't see me jump off the edge via medavision. I opened one eye and peeked out from my hiding place between the jungle-jim's base and the wall. I saw Zuru standing right inside the opening, acting like I was somewhere else so Exor and his medafighter wouldn't find me, then Exor running a quick circle around him before heading back towards the swings. A moment later, Zuru turned to me, though I'm sure all he saw was the red light from my eyes, and ran towards where he thought I was. His eyes must've adjusted to the darkness, because he saw me, turned so he could keep half an eye on the entrance to our hiding place, and kneeled down next to me, wrapping his arm around my shoulders. "You ok?" he asked quietly. I winced at his voice, gripping my stomach.
"Not completely--AH!" I squeezed my eyes shut and threw my head up as a surge of pain ran up my throat. Zuru gasped. "No! I'm-I'm not ok!" I hung my head, wincing. My eyes shadowed over. "M-my stomach…" Zuru responded by laying a hand over my stomach worriedly as I shook, and then I vomited oil a second time in two days.
"Roks…" Zuru sympathetically wiped oil from my mouth, while I breathed heavily. I leaned over on him, eyes closed.
"I-I can still battle. Just let me rest for-for a moment," I requested, before nodding off in sleep mode, or more like passing out. A few minutes later, I 'woke' with a start when I heard Zuru scream, and I jumped right into 'battle mode'. I looked up, and saw Exor blocking our small amount of light, his Flexor Sword extended and raised. Getting over an increasingly terrible stomachache, I jumped to my feet and stepped in front of Zuru, as Exor brought down his sword. The attack hit my inner shoulder (the part of my shoulder closest to my neck) and left a slice as it slid down and off my chest. I heard beeping coming from Zuru's medawatch as I fell backwards and landed at Zuru's feet. Then an announcement of damage.
Head arrangement: fifty-percent damage. Eighty-percent damaged.
"Roks, can you continue?" Zuru asked as I shakily sat up.
"I'm s-still function-'tion-in', aren't I-I?" I returned, my voice getting stuck on words and repeating itself.
"Yes, but, what do you mean?"
"I mean--y-yes-yes! I can-can con-continue-'tinue!" My voice was getting worse with every word I said.
"You can barely speak! Roks, why don't you drop out of this robattle? You were in no shape to try in the first place, you're taking heavy damage, and you vomited again! I'm just scared for you. Go home, and let Tyrelbeetle take your place, ok?" I stared at him for a moment, thinking it over, and then nodded.
"But-but I still need to fight him o-of-off-off. I can-can las-as-ast long-ong enough to do that-at."
"You probably can. Fine, but just get him down long enough for us to get past. Be careful, ok?"
"S-sure." I jumped to my feet, and Exor raised his sword again. He brought it down before I could react, and left two trails down the side of my face. I instinctively clutched one hand over it, but of course that made it sting, so I opened my Cutlass, raised it, and swiped it down. Exor ducked, threw a punch to my chest, which knocked me back against the wall, and followed me. Before I slipped off the wall and to the ground, he caught me with punches, which were fast and quick enough to pin me up.
"Roks!" Zuru exclaimed, as he took a step closer. He stopped himself, realizing the situation. I was glad he stopped. If he came closer, he'd be bound to get hurt, and that's the last thing I wanted, if that.
Exor's punches were starting to leave dents. One punch struck my stomach, and I screamed out at the unbearable pain. I raised my hand up over it, trying not to let that spot get hit again. It hurt so much the rest of the punches barely bothered me. I already had a stomachache. Why hurt it more? Why?! I couldn't come up with anything to do, so I looked up at Zuru, who seemed to be calculating something.
"Zu-Zu! What should I--" Zuru cut me off, motioning for me to hang in there for another moment or two, and looked down at the ground, eyes closed and covering his ears.
I screamed in pain again as Exor punched the hand on my stomach, sending a jolt to my stomach through my hand.
"Roks! Watch his punches carefully, ok?" I stared at Zuru for a moment, as the swift and painful punches continued. I looked down at them, trying not to shut my eyes or wince, since Zuru opened the medavision. After a moment, he called, "There's a brief pause between the punches. It should be enough time for you to use your Cutlass! You got your hand up, so you can move, you just have to make the right moves!" He was examining a snapshot he took of my visions of that 'brief moment between punches' displayed on his medavision. I continued staring at the punches. I found that brief moment, threw my Cutlass in the air, and swiped it through the air towards Exor's side. Luckily, I hit before another punch aimed for my stomach hit, and it flung Exor front-first for the side of the jungle-jim. He fell to the ground and rolled over twice, before he stopped, face down, and shakily started sitting up. I slipped down to the ground, unable to stand on my own anymore. Zuru noticed, ran to me, grabbed me up in his arms, turned, and ran for the opening in the wall. He ran through the opening, past the 'Metabee and Rokusho versus Unitrix' robattle, past Ikki, and stopped by the concrete wall. He dropped to his knees and leaned me back on the wall. He then felt the scar on the side of my face sympathetically.
"Are you alright?" he asked. I peeked around him, nodded to answer his question, and watched a rather funny scene with Metabee and Rokusho.
"Hit it, Rokusho!" Metabee shouted as he punched a flying Unitrix in Rokusho's direction. Rokusho raised his Chanbara Sword and sliced it forward, whacking Unitrix to the ground.
"You called him 'it'!" he shouted as he ran to Metabee, making it look like an accident when he stomped on Unitrix's head.
"Yeah, I know!" Metabee raised his hand for a high-five, but Rokusho stared at it, looking confused, and then looked down at Unitrix, who was getting slowly to his feet. Metabee sighed with his typical "Ah, man!", and asked rhetorically, "Does this guy ever stay down?"
"Guess not," Rokusho answered, poising for another round.
I giggled slightly, but winced with a yelp when my stomach burned. Zuru stared for a moment, and then looked over at the medabots lining the top of the wall.
"Tyrelbeetle, Blakbeetle!" he called. Tyrelbeetle and Blakbeetle responded by jumping and slipping off the edge of the wall, landing, and running up to Zuru. Blakbeetle glanced at me, and then back to Zuru. "Tyrelbeetle, I need you to take Roks's place in the robattle. Blakbeetle, you take Roks home." What?! B-Blakbeetle taking me home?! Wha-why couldn't Tyrelbeetle have taken me home?! Oh no!
"Uhh, right," Blakbeetle replied. She kneeled down next to me and put my arm around her shoulders, then her arm around my shoulders, and then she helped me to my feet. I noticed a blush on her metal cheeks, and realized I was probably blushing as well.
A little while later, Blakbeetle and I were limping towards the front door of our house. Well, she was limping, while my feet were dragging every other step. We had walked in silence the entire way, neither of us brave enough to break it. Our blushes had faded, but still, neither of us was…acting normal. Finally, Blakbeetle decided to break the silence.
"What does a stomach ache feel like?" she asked as we entered our house.
"Uhh, it's hard to describe…it burns, for one," I began as Blakbeetle helped me to the kitchen table.
"Burns? Where?" Blakbeetle continued, climbing up into the second chair as I headed for the drawer with the oil. I kneeled down carefully, of my stomach, opened the drawer, took out a can of oil, and, of course, a dark purple straw, closed the drawer with my free hand, and stood. I clutched my hand back over my stomach as I headed to the first chair, and answered Blakbeetle's question before I climbed up.
"Here." I rubbed my stomach to identify where it burned, and she nodded. "It kinda' feels like a fire's started inside me. Mixed with stuffing something large down my throat, and it aches like--like it's severally damaged."
"Sorry you feel that way," Blakbeetle responded. I sat the can of oil and straw on the table. Again, I had to reach up arm's length, but then buckled over, crossing my arms over my stomach and dropping to one knee. "Are you ok?!"
"Yeah, yeah, I'm--I'm fine--" I groaned. Again, I lied about it. I stood, wincing, and climbed into the first barstool chair. I pulled the can and straw closer, opened the can, and stuck the straw in, while Blakbeetle watched intently, her head in one hand and leaning her elbow on the table. As I sipped the oil, I looked sideways at her, and asked nervously, "Wha-why are you watching me?"
"No reason. Sorry," she returned, sitting straight and suddenly finding her twiddling thumbs very interesting. I rolled my optic targets, closed my eyes, and continued sipping, uttering, "Whatever," under my breath. After a moment, I noticed her watching me again, so I asked, "Now what?"
"What does it taste like?"
"Uhh, like a stomach ache, it's hard to describe. Why don't you taste some for yourself?" I returned.
"Sure." I sat up and turned, ready to slide out of my chair and get her a can of her own, when she pressed the button on the tip of her nose and her muzzle opened like mine, revealing lips…rather lovely lips…ki--wait! She-she then snatched my can and took a few long sips, eyes closed and obviously enjoying it. I stared at her, dumbfounded, and she, after a moment or two, broke from the straw and slid it back in front of me. "I like it."
"B-but--th-that was mine…I drank out of it," I said quietly, blinking. 'And now she won't understand if I don't drink anymore and let her have the rest. Good thing medabots don't have germs, but--my lips touched that straw!'
"So?" Blakbeetle replied, obviously not understanding. 'What do I do? What do I tell her? What do I find wrong with it exactly?'
"So that was mine!" I tried, turning to her and resituating in my seat. Not the best thing to say…
"Oh, well, there's plenty left!" Great. The last thing I needed. She's cheerful about it! She just doesn't understand! It's cute on some level…
"Ohhh! Never mind." I turned back to the table and uncomfortably sipped my oil through the straw out of which we both previously drank. 'Awkward moment here…' She stared at me again, looking confused instead of interested this time. Suddenly, her expression changed to interested, making me uncomfortable.
"Are you ok? Are you heating up?" she asked, surprising me.
"N-no. Why?" I returned, trying to sound calm, and failing miserably.
"Your face is turning red on your cheeks. If you're not overheating, then why are they red?" she continued. She must have seen a blush. That's just what I needed--first she doesn't understand, and now that's leading her to questions I don't want to answer.
"It's a--it's a--a--blush," I answered squeakily.
"What is a blush?" She's going on about it.
"A blush? I don't know for sure, actually. It's just something humans-and obviously medabots-do when they feel certain emotions," I said. I wasn't completely sure of myself. What is a blush? Why--
"Why are you blushing? What emotions?" Exactly what I was wondering. Why was I blushing? Was I overheating and didn't know it? There's no way. I would know. Did I flip a switch in my systems to cause my coloring to change, and it happened to turn red and start on my cheeks? No, there's not a switch like that. Besides, that's too much of a coincidence. Was I embarrassed about the 'drinking oil' incident with--with her? No, I think I liked it--what? What was I starting to think when she opened her muzzle? ''Lips. Lovely lips, in my opinion. Kissable… SHE'S lovely, actually, very lovely. Beautiful, even. LOVABLE'' that was my answer right there. Lovable. I liked her. How? I don't know. I was a medabot, she was a kilobot…doesn't seem…normal…for two medabots to love each other. It couldn't be normal for a medabot and a kilobot to love each other. But of course, I--maybe. Maybe we felt the same for each other. I had to take my chances, whether she liked me or not, I had to tell her. Are those really my feelings? Do I really like her? These feelings were strange. I knew love. I loved my bro-uh-partner, and especially my medafighter, but not in the same way. Am I--scared? Of what? Scared of the feelings? No, maybe the reason for the feelings? No, not that either, maybe the outcome if I tell her? Yes, I-I think that's it! 'Just tell her and get it over with!'
By the time I finished thinking it over, Blakbeetle had escorted me to the couch, and we were now sitting, wrapped in two comfy, dark red blankets. She was even leaning on me, her head on my shoulder, much to my surprise and likeness. Her eyes were closed, her muzzle was still opened, and she was almost asleep. I had unconsciously put my arm around her, and by the time I snapped out of my daze, a side of me said to pull away, but that wasn't the side of me my arm was on. I would tell her. Right here and right now…I hope Zuru comes home within the next minute!
"Blakbeetle?" I began nervously, looking down at her half-asleep face. She opened her eyes slightly and looked up at me without lifting her head off my shoulder.
"Yes? You're blushing again." She was right. My cheeks felt warm. I resisted the temptation to go off subject--a hard thing to resist in this case--and continued.
"I--uh--think--I--like you," I finally got out, stuttering. She smiled and closed her eyes, getting back into position and pulling the covers tighter around her. She responded, "Well, thanks, I like you, too."
"I mean--uh--not as a friend." This seemed to hurt her. She looked up at me again, with a, of course, hurt expression on her face. She looked as though she was about to cry.
"Y-you're not my friend?!" Her voice was high-pitched and shaky with impending tears.
"N-no! Not that! I like-like you, as in more than a friend!" I could suddenly say it, surprising myself. She relaxed at this, thought for a moment, her head bowed, and eventually a blush formed on her cheeks.
"Y-you mean like 'love'?"
"I guess," I returned. She continued blushing with her head bowed, her eyes shadowed over and fist clenched on the edge of her covers. 'How will she take it? Does she think I'm a total jerk?! No, wait, she doesn't know what 'jerk' means. But still…What if she hates me?!' At the last thought, I bit my lip nervously, getting a new sensation in my stomach. Fluttery with nervousness and hope…'butterflies'. I clenched my hand over my already aching stomach at the flutters, and impatiently awaited her response. She was taking as long as I had to figure out my feelings…maybe she was doing the same, and maybe she'd come to the same conclusion! Maybe…
"I-I think I love you, too," was her response, as she looked up at me with sparkly, happy eyes.
"The-then it definitely means 'love'!" I lowered my voice and uttered to myself, "And to think, I was nervous! Puh-lease!"
"What?" She must have heard me utter that 'something', and I shook my head in response, a huge blush illuminating the usually all-white bottom half of my face, I could feel it. I looked down into her eyes, past the blush on her face, which matched my blush.
"Y-you look tired. Go to sleep until Zuru and Tyrelbeetle get home, at least," I told her quietly and lovingly. Lovingly…I like the sound of that. When could I tell--WHO could I tell? Then when? I could definitely tell Zuru and Tyrelbeetle. Speaking of which, I was starting to get worried that they weren't home yet. That's one long robattle. Hopefully nothing else happened to them.
I winced at the idea of something happening to them and pulled Blakbeetle closer for comfort, and she smiled, before loosing the smile and falling into a deep slumber with a peaceful expression.
Then, thankfully without any noise, my stomach gave a nasty lurch, and I held my breath, thinking, 'Maybe I shouldn't've had that oil.' I got that burning sensation suddenly, followed by that pain up my throat. 'No! Not here! Not NOW!' But I couldn't control it. It probably was my fault, since I added extra oil to my systems KNOWING I probably couldn't keep it down. I jumped out of my seat, Blakbeetle sitting up suddenly and looking worriedly up at me, "Roks?"
"Keep an eye out for Zu-Zu, ok? I'll be right back--" I turned and ran for the kitchen, hearing Blakbeetle question behind me, "Who's Zu-Zu? ZuRU?"