1FLCL 5

Disclaimer: Sorry it took so long, I had a terrible comp virus, so I needed to get a new computer. Also, writer's block. And all that other stuff about how I don't own anyone, except my characters.

Dear God,

If I have ever done anything to make you mad, I am sorry beyond words. But whatever I did, I do not believe that placing me into this whole mess is just. Granted, so far it's nothing compared to what happened in your Golden Days, but still...

I ran as hard as I could away from that warehouse, but as soon as I was less than a mile away from it, the entire side of the building exploded into literally billions of pieces. It was gone in a flash of crimson light as monstrous shockwaves blasted through the street, knocking me off my feet. Even as I started to stand, I heard an engine revving. It had to be Haruko's Vespa. I ran even faster through sheer adrenaline. I did not want to meet up with her so soon... or ever again. My lungs were aching as I ran yet another mile.

"Scott?" I slowed down enough to see April standing by her car. It was an old junker, but hey, at least she had a car. I jumped as I heard the Vespa again. As quick as I could I jumped into her driver seat and slid over to the shotgun seat. Obviously knowing something was wrong, she slid into the car herself. "What is it?"

"April, it's that maniac who ran me over," I said as I tried to regain my breath. "Please, just get us out of here, I'll explain on the way." I glanced at her. She looked more terrified than when she went to see "The Ring." I sighed and added: "Don't worry. It's not like in the action movies where the crazy guy gets the girl into big trouble. Just let's get going," I said urgently as I heard the engine rev even closer. "Hurry," I added unnecessarily, as she was moving as fast as she could. Just as my luck would have it, the car wouldn't start.

"Damn," April hissed. She tried again. And again. "Why can't I get a decent piece of..." she stopped as the car sputtered to a start. "Yes, baby, you've never let me down!" I stared at her. "What?" she snapped. Before I could respond I heard very faintly, "SCOTTY!"

"Drive, now!" I yelled. Even as I did so, my forehead exploded in agony. It was all I could do to keep from hitting April in my spastic movements. I let out a yell. The scream, impossibly, gained a sharper, harder note, until it began to sound like the AOL sign in screen. The pain subsided as the scream did, but then, an incredibly loud voice said: "You've got mail," and the pain came again worse then ever. I must have blacked out, because April was screaming my name when I awoke. The Vespa was right behind us.

"What is that?" April gasped. I blinked at her then, following her gaze, put a finger to my forehead. I should have known this excitement would remove the bandage. Imagine the look of shock I had when I realized that there was no bump there anymore. There was a metal hand. Needless to say, I screamed. I screamed even louder when I felt the thing wiggle free from my head. The hand jerked to a stop, as if held there. I heard a sheering, grating sound as the metal hand was broken off. The hand broke through the front window, showering both of us with glass. I thought that was the end of that, but no. I felt my head "open" again as a bright green, almost yellow, robot stepped through. It started out small, but as each inch left my head it grew a bit until it was sitting in my lap, a seven foot tall, eight hundred pound robot. It was your basic Japanese B-movie robot. The problem with that analogy was that the thing moved fast. It sprung out, following the hand as quickly as my psychology teacher running to see the midnight showing of "Star Wars Episode III." Unfortunately for me, the thing had hooked some hunk of metal through my shirt. Instead of obeying the laws of physics, my shirt held together, which meant Mr. Robot was running around with me as a fanny pack. And wouldn't you know it? It was chasing the hand, which, even more unfortunately for me, was headed for Haruko.

"GAH! STOP!" I yelled as soon as I had figured out what was happening. I had barely enough time to gulp another breath in before the robot leapt atop of the hand, tackling and rolling around. Over me. Yeah, that was fun. I couldn't see anything clearly, there was too much going on. The thing that stood out was the hand growing... tentacles out of its torn end that wrapped around the bot. And me. I had all the luck. Each time we rolled, the cords wrapped tighter and tighter. I couldn't breathe anymore. Just as I thought I was going to die, my savior came, in the form of a tall girl with a bass guitar wielded as an battle-hammer. With blunt skill, she had swiped the hand a few dozen times before I had time to blink. The metal shore after each hit, thus making the thing lose its hold on us. She continued hitting even after it had ceased its movement.

"Ha ha ha! Thank God for misplaced aggression!" She cackled and continued swinging. I stood up, weakly, and stared at her.

"Uh... Haruko?" I began. She whirled on me, swinging the bass as she did. Guess what? It connected. Boom! Right across my face. The force spun me around and sent me flying. "Dammit!" I screamed and fell on my face. I saw stars... no, seriously, the night seemed to have magically sprung upon us. Maybe I was gone for a good time... I tried standing only until I felt the weight of a giant robot laying on top of me. It took me a minute to realize that Haruko had smacked it as well. I was slightly aware of two voices.

"What did you do to him? Oh, Scott..."

"Cool your jets, girlfriend, he's fine."

"What did you say? "Girlfriend?" Who the hell do you think you are? You just hit Scott!"

"I said," Haruko began, then all I heard was the sound of one swift hit of the bass and a slight ruffling as April hit the ground. "I said he was fine." Growling, I shoved the robot's deadweight off me and stood up swiftly and faced the girl.

"What. Is. Wrong. With. You!" I all but screamed, but I might as well have just stayed quiet. She overpowered my volume with her own, incredibly loud;

"SCOTTY!" With that, she charged at me and wrapped me in the largest bear hug, ever. "Oh, Scotty, Scotty, Scotty, you're okay! You're also smelly and tall." I stared. That was too stupid and random to be real. "Oh, oh, oh, oh! Why'd ja run away from me?"

"Why? WHY! Because you are trying to kill me!" I shouted, trying to push away. I might as well have blown a boulder; it had about the same effect. She pulled away so suddenly, I almost fell over.

"I know I have most guys falling head over heels in front of me, Scotty, but honestly, we just met," she practically cackled. I glared at her then turned to see April getting up. I ran to her side and knelt next to her, holding onto her arm.

"April, hey, how many fingers am I holding up?" Frankly, I had no idea what I was doing, but they always seemed to do this in those hospital shows. I held up two fingers and waved them in front of her face.

"Stop it, Scott!" she said, pushing me off of her arm. She stood angrily, glaring at Haruko, who now was talking animatedly with the robot. I had no idea what they were discussing, but I distinctly heard the word Enno Gates. Whatever that meant.

"Hey Scotty! What are we gonna call him?" Haruko called, her eyes gleaming madly as she looked to me.

"Call who?" I said, irritated. I shook my head slightly as she motioned to the green bot.

"I was thinking of calling it 'Canti." It sounds soooooooo..." What it sounded like was drowned out by another voice.

"That's my robot's name!" I turned to see the Naota guy again, his suave FBI-esque suit almost completely clean, with barely a few particles of dust stuck to the threading. However, I was not wondering at the impossibility of him still being alive. I was staring directly behind him to see another robot. He was as tall, if not taller, than mine. It was a darker green color and had a computer monitor for a head. It crouched, facing us. "CANTI! ATTACK!" Naota cried, pointing at my robot. Why did I keep telling myself that it was mine? I had no time to dwell on it. The new bot was running at breakneck speeds. Towards the robot and I realized that I was between this Canti and my bot.

"Oh, damn," I sighed.

Was it worth the wait? If it was, I'm glad. Anyway, sorry about the writer's block, but it will be awhile before I can think of a new chapter. Oh, and one more thing. If you are checking out my "Cowboy Bebop" fic, stop; I'm not posting on that anymore. It ruins the story of the anime, and I would not want to ruin such an awesome show. See you guys in my next email. Or not.