Funny thing about this chapter-I was so proud of it that I asked my English teacher if I could submit it to my school portfolio. Which was all good with her. But then I inquired as to what I should do about all the swearing. She suggested that I edit it out somehow. So I asked my buddy about it and she offered up the word 'porridge'. So the radio edit version (as I like to call the censored version) had all of the bad words replaced with porridge. Lots o' fun, I assure you.

"Honey, I'm hooooooome!" Mizuri shouted playfully up the stairs, waving his katana madly above his head. Terukaima dodged out of the flying blade's path, glaring at the minute-by-comparison human.

"Watch where you're swinging that and go get the converter hooked up."

Thor came downstairs to meet the raiding party. Spectre was the first to notice him. "How's the kid doing? Tried to kill you yet?"

"Nope. We chatted for a bit, then he fell asleep. Popped in a Tank without him knowing."

There was the ear-wrenching squeal of unoiled wheels as Rast brought in the stolen converter on a dolly. He was a bit of an oddball robot, being only three feet tall and equipped with huge, spadelike digging hands way out of proportion with his furry brown body and thick Mexican accent. "Ey, Thor! Gimme a hand takin' dees upstairs, will yah?"

Thor easily grabbed the six-hundred pound converter with one hand, thumping up the first two stairs. "What the hell is this thing, anyway?"

Mizuri snickered. "Master converter for the Boomstick. Load the moon-rock and the uranium into that sucker-it'll have an allergic reaction and produce the ion charge, which will get ferried up into the Boomstick proper. Then the-"

"All right!" Thor yelled, stomping up the rest of the staircase. "I can smell my brain smoking. Enough with the technobabble!"

Raiden, who had been listening with his ear pressed against the door of the storage room, sighed and grinned. He was mad at Thor for ending his energy strike by recharging him while he was asleep, of course, but he understood the American robot meant well. He heard shuffling footsteps as Thor lugged the ion converter-whatever the hell that was supposed to mean-down the hall, the hiss and click as the door to the Room opened. After a minute or so it closed again and Thor passed once more, en route for the stairs.

"Terry, can I talk to you for a minute?"

Metal feet clunked up the concrete steps, the swish of a tail following. "I would really appreciate it if you got off the nickname habit."

"Right, Boss."

"That's better. What's the matter, Thor?"

"Well, uh...c'mon, let's go sit down in the common room."

They moved away from the door but Raiden's robotic audio systems could still pick up their voices.

"I was talking to Raiden while you guys were out."

"That's nice. I don't care."

"I got some info out of him. He actually ran away from Wily's lab."

What the hell are you doing?! Raiden thought furiously. I trusted you with my life story and then you pass it off to Terukaima like a nursery rhyme? Stupid American bastard!

"Why?"

"His brothers used to pick on him and beat him up."

"And he crashed through our skylight because...?"

"Apparently Bladewing stole a wallet off him a few days ago. He followed Spectre all the way here to try and get it back."

"So he wants the money? That's it?"

"Basically."

"And what did you tell him in return?"

"Nothing important-just what you said about how you found me. What're we going to do with him, Terr-er, Boss?"

"The city's got a few parts we'll need. Hostage situation'll do the trick nicely."

It was an extra second before Thor responded. "...no."

"I beg your pardon?" Terukaima's voice was deep and menacing.

"You heard me! Hostage? I don't think so!"

"Who are you to be giving me orders?" Terukaima's words escalated to a roar. "Remember your place! Remember who you owe your life to!"

"Look, I'm tired of all this bullshit about how I owe you, man! I'm gonna make a choice for myself-the first one in my life-and I choose not to let you use Raiden!"

"Dammit!"

"Terry, wha-"

"Shut up!"

"AAAAAUGH!"

Thor's scream pierced Raiden straight through the heart. No! he thought frantically as his central processor settled on one horrible scenario. No-Terukaima killed him! He killed him because he was sticking up for me! Thor, no! Thor!!

There was total silence for a long moment. Terukaima then stomped over to the door of the storeroom, slamming the button to open it. Raiden hadn't been able to get his weight off it in time and fell to the floor ear-first.

Thor was lying next to the couch, his back to Raiden, the carpet around his head beginning to stain black.

"That's what happens if someone attempts to give me an order!" Terukaima growled, motioning in the direction of the fallen robot. "Make sure you know where you are on the ladder."

He turned to Spectre, Rast and Bladewing, who were knotted together at the top of the stairs. "None of you touch Thor until he apologizes to me, unless you feel up to being gutted like a fish. Make sure Mizuri knows I want Thor to suffer for his subordination."

They nodded as one, turned and left. Terukaima wheeled to face Raiden. "Same goes for you. I don't care what he says-you are our brand new hostage. You're poisoning Thor's mind, so I have to get rid of you somehow. Keep away from him until then."

There was a sudden crash from the lab at the end of the corridor, followed by a long string of curses. "Boss, we got a problem!" Mizuri yelled.

With a huff of impatience, Terukaima dropped onto all fours and loped down the hall.

Raiden waited until he was gone, then dashed over to his friend and dropped to his knees beside him.

"Thor..."

The American robot let out a tiny whimper of agony, raising one hand to shelter his face.

"Thanks for sticking up for me."

"He told you to stay away. He'll kill you."

"Do you think I care? You stood up for me and got hurt. The least I can do is make sure you're still alive."

Raiden thought he saw him smile.

"What did that bitch do to you? Lemme see."

"No!" Thor cried abruptly. "Raiden, just...don't. Go back to your room-I'll lock the door behind you. My face looks like shit, I know it does. Don't get yourself killed for no reason."

"Thor! Please!"

He groaned, realizing arguing wasn't going to get him anywhere. "All right..."

With an excruciating amount of care, Thor turned his head around as he sat up. Raiden stifled a dismayed squeak. Terukaima's claws had found purchase in Thor's face, leaving a trio of diagonal rents in his skin. Thankfully his eyes had been spared, but upon closer inspection one would discover with a great jerk of the stomach that the metal structure of his head could be seen through the gashes. Blood had covered his face, soaked into his shirt and had made a permanent stain in the carpet.

"I'm...gonna go apologize," Thor sighed, painfully getting to his feet. Raiden nailed him with a disapproving stare.

"You're sure?"

Thor looked flustered, bright blue eyes glinting angrily through the blood. "Well, excuuuuuse me, Princess. Your face isn't quite hacked up enough for you to be saying anything!"

Raiden's head drooped. "You're right-I'm sorry. Thanks again."

Thor looked down at the smaller robot, a small grin sneaking across his face. "No problem whatsoever, little buddy."