Guess who's back from her trip!

Otto: Did you have fun on vacation?

Nova: She didn't go on vacation, Otto!

Me: Um, Nova, actually I did. I went up north to Petoskey, then to Houghton. (Road trip, w00t!)

Anyway, that's why I haven't updated in over a week, but now I have the story finished in two chapters, so I don't have to worry about it. In the next chapter I'll describe what my next story's going to be, so read and review please! I hope everybody enjoys this, now to thank the reviewers!

Crystal Sapphire: Yeah, pity is an understandable emotion. I should know. What does that mean? Well, actually I'm not sure either, but I hope you enjoy this next chapter. Oh, and give Sparks some smelling salts I need him for this next chapter, thanks!

Lmann: I read it! And you already sent me a response, so we're all cleared away there. Please R&R the new chapter, hope you like it!

Princess Moon Shadow: I am to please:0D

4EverMonkeyFan: Actually, my stories practically are books. I've compiled them into one document. No More Nova is 30 pages and Lost in the Dark, or Alone in the Dark is 40 pages. I wish I could send them to Ciro so they could be published (kind of like those WITCH small books) but I cannot. Sigh I also have that problem where I know exactly what I want to say, but I don't have time to write it all down. Anyway, hope you like the new chapter!

AnimeFanGirl11: Please, please, you're comments too much. Umm, actually KEEP THEM' COMING I LOVE COMPLIMENTS. Um… yeah, sorry. Anyway, I'm glad to be keeping you on edge. Enjoy the new chapter!

The Corpse Bride: What's a blooper? I'm confused -. But I do appreciate your review! Please review again! And hope you like chapter 3!

Blossom268703: Really? You think so? I'm glad you think so. Yay! I love great chapters! R&R, please.

Monkey Team LuvR: Wow, everybody is really complimentary today. Anyway, I guess now is as soon as possible. So hope you enjoy this new chapter.

Ari: Wow, monkeys sure can be violent in reviews. (ponders) Oh well, must be some weird review syndrome. Anyway, as I feel I've said before in my last story, loss can change people, as I know for a fact, and can make them act ruder. But don't worry, Sparks should be back to normal soon!

DayDreamer9: yeah, sometimes I find myself crying at my own work. Well, actually no because I ponder it for days before hand and I know what's going to happen. BUT I can pretend that I cry while I write it! Well, I must cry deep down inside. Maybe. Anyway, hope you like the new chapter enough to review again, thanks!

Beastfire: gasp Ivy? A mother? To triplets? OMGosh! But, yeah I was wondering why you hadn't reviewed yet, I mean, heck, you review everything! Ha ha, so I knew I couldn't submit the next chapter until you reviewed, otherwise what good would it be? Hope you like this new chapter.

Kiozona.pop: I'm a fan of the drama ones, too. But I still love the good old comedies. That's what my next fic is going to be. Glad you like mine though, please continue reviewing and thanks for doing so in the first place!

Now, onto the chapter!

Chapter 3

SPRX-77 thought quietly to himself in the main room of the Super Robot. 'How dare he endanger Nova like that? I know he's more into the 'look before you leap' ideology, but you don't have to look so long that you never leap! He should've listened to me. He should have.' He began to pace back and forth in the room. He then managed to look over to where Antauri's helmet stood suspended.

'He wouldn't want us to fight,' he thought, 'but what was I supposed to do?'

"Sparks," Otto stuck his head out into the room, "she's awake."

Nova stood in the room outside of the liquid-filled tube, walking around and testing her fixed legs and tail.

The door whoosed open and SPRX-77 and Otto filed back into the room. "Nova!" SPRX-77 yelled, excitedly.

"Sparks, hey," she sounded less than excited.

"Nova? You okay?" he asked.

Nova sighed, then took a deep breath, "Physically, I'm perfect. Otto did a great job."

Otto beamed.

"But I can't shake the way you and Gibson fought the way you did. Don't you realize those people could have died?"

"I-I'm sorry."

"You should be!" Nova said, her tone growing, "I can't believe you'd risk their lives like that!"

"But Gibson, he-"

"It's not all Gibson's fault. You think I didn't hear what you were saying? You could have just as easily let him execute his plan."

Otto watched the two fight and finally got his word in, "Umm… shouldn't we-"

"Yeah, let's get back out there and help more people out. You never know when another building will topple," Nova interrupted.

Nova led the way out of the Robot as Otto and SPRX-77 followed. SPRX-77 could feel the tension that now existed between the team. He couldn't help but feel that the team was slowly falling apart at the seams.

Gibson stood tapping his foot at the base of the Super Robot. He too was nervous about poor Nova, and felt responsible. But more than that, he knew that there was a matter to be settled.

The door whooshed open as Nova walked out. Behind her, Gibson could see the green and red monkeys following.

First, Gibson talked to Nova. "Nova, are you alright?"

"Fine, Gibson."

"I'm sorry. I realize now that I could have helped save those people and you. But if Sparks-"

"Don't blame it on me, Brain Strain." SPRX-77 walked up to Gibson.

"Aw, both of you stuff it before you end up arguing again," Nova said, cutting them off and stepping between them.

Gibson took a breath and recited his speech, "Yes, I've concluded that before we conduct our search for Chiro, we must decide who will be our leader in the mean time. Therefore, the only good, Democratic way to do it is by voting. I just happen to have four cards here. We'll simply each write who we want our new leader to be, and then we'll tally the votes. We'll just say majority rules."

SPRX-77 crossed his arms in a confident manner, "You're on!"

Gibson handed out the cards.

"I don't know about this," Nova started, "I hate to choose between friends."

No one commented on this, so Nova just wrote down a name, and the rest did as well. After writing them they looked up.

"Now," Gibson said when he noticed that everyone had finished voting, "I'll simply collect the cards and read them and tally the votes."

Everyone handed their cards to Gibson. Ottos' and Novas' eyes sank to the ground. Gibson read the cards and then looked up at them. They were still looking down. "It appears, we have," he paused, and swallowed, "three votes for Sparks, and one vote for me."

"I-I'm sorry Gibson," Nova said, finally looking up, "but I had to choose someone."

"And Sparks just seemed like he knew what he was doing before," Otto added, also rising his head.

Gibson took a step backwards, "No, no that's fine. Just excuse me for a second. Go on and help. I'll rejoin you in a second." Gibson turned around and entered the robot.

Nova turned to face SPRX-77, "I really didn't want to do that."

SPRX-77 suddenly had the same feeling. At first, he was happy to hear that he had one, but now that victory seemed bittersweet. Was it worth it to tear the team apart? No, Gibson would accept it in time. The team needed a leader, and the members had spoken. Gibson would be fine after he worked things out. "Come on guys, there are still people that need help. Then we can come back and fix the Super Robot."

SPRX-77 turned and walked towards the city. Nova and Otto returned their eyes to the ground and followed.

Gibson had once more found himself in his room in the torso tank of the Super Robot. Once again the emotions overflowed his monkey mind. But these emotions were quite different from the last time. Last time his mind dwelt on loss. Now, all he could think about was anger and betrayal.

He couldn't believe that both Nova and Otto had turned on him the way they had. How dare they trust that juvenile delinquent more than an established scientist? A wave of anger swept over him. He wasn't angry just with the rest of the team but also with himself. If he had been down there the first time they left perhaps he could have taken charge and this whole situation never would have happened.

He was also angry with another. "Antauri! How could you leave us in the time when we needed you most? How could you?" He fell onto his hands and knees, but this time he could not stop the tears from flowing. The image of his friend falling down into that egg returned to him. It was all he could see: that image that would cloud his memory for years and years to come.

He knew now that he would never allow himself to take orders from SPRX-77. He simply would not allow himself to do so. And so, there was only one option left that he could see. And that was to leave. He was going on his own search for Chiro. And if he shouldn't return, it would be better to die in the wilderness searching for a leader, than to live forever with his best friend dead, and taking orders from SPRX-77.

He began packing odds and ends around his room, but didn't know that there was much else to bring. He took his tube down from his room all the way to the Super Robot's foot. He had left a note on the outside of his tube in the main room which stated simply: OFF TO FIND CHIRO. Now, he opened the door, ready to embark on a journey which may end his life.

Mua ha ha ha! I am so evil with the cliffhanger! But, those of you who are true blue fans know that I have made a solumn promise never to kill a character, so you don't have to worry about that, but you don't know how it's going to come about. So, please review. Oh yeah! I posted a picture to aid my pic (along with some other random pictures)at the link I'm putting in my profile, so check it out! But don't forget to review if you go check out my pictures!

RobotMonkeys4Ever