Town was AMAZING! It was absolutely filthy, but filled to the brim with people. There weren't even half as many people in all of Metro City, then there were just casually walking the street. They were all eagerly discussing this month's 'Robot Games' which apparently had just gotten out.

"We'll have to see what all the fuss is about next month," The Doctor insisted as Astro licked his ice cream cone. It wasn't nearly as good as the ice cream the Doctor had on his ship, that was made with REAL milk from a COW, but it was still a treat.

"I can't believe how epicly we lost," a familiar voice caught the boy's ears. "That freaking droid was worthless. Less then worthless. It cost us our entire grocery allowance AGAIN. Looks like is more pizza-ala-dumpster this month."

"Cora?" Astro perked making his way through the crowd with the Doctor casually following. "Cora!" Astro waved seeing the group of kids he traded with

"Astro?" she blinked as he came over. All the kids stopped and the crowd simply walked around them. "Please tell me you didn't see that horrible display."

"Sorry we just got here," Astro shrugged. "Missed the whole show."

"Good, I don't think my pride could handle you seeing what remarkable use we made out of those parts you gave us." Cora groaned.

The Doctor smiled, "These the kids you told me about?"

"Yeah," Astro smiled back. "This is Cora, Zane, Sludge, and Widget" he introduced. "Guys this is The Doctor, he's been letting me stay with him."

"And no doubt spoiling you," Core nodded at the ice cream. "Nice shirt," she smirked.

Astro could only blush, but in his defense, he glared at the Doctor.

Zane hopped up, "We need to start looking for parts to make a new robot, care to help? We could use your luck."

"Well I-" Astro tried to think of an excuse, but The Doctor cut him off.

"Go along Astro," The Doctor insisted. "Have some fun, I'll see you later tonight." the Doctor sneakily disappeared into the crowd, before the boy could protest.

The kids grinned at the abandoned robot boy, and dragged him off.

"So what exactly are the 'Robot Games'?" Astro asked as they made their way down a green hill. He'd finished his ice cream about a mile back.

"Just a little tradition down here," Cora grinned wanting to keep the fun a surprise. "It's kind of a... Roman thing," she gave a hint. "Everyone goes, and Hamegg makes a fortune on tickets. He uses some of the money to run the unofficial orphanage we live at."

"Astro?" Zane grabbed his attention once he was sure the little ones were far enough away. "This Doctor doesn't... make you PLAY 'Doctor' does he?"

"WHAT!?" Astro's voice cracked as it hit far too high a pitch.

"It's just... some random guy taking in a boy, who has nowhere to go... plus the way he makes you dress."

"He's not a pedophile!" Astro glared then seeing Cora's face he repeated. "He's not! He's just some old guy that lets me stay with him."

Zane smirked, "Not really all that old. Anyway I had to ask. If things ever get uncomfortable around him you can come stay with us, Hamegg won't mind."

"It's not going to get uncomfortable," Astro glared. "And how do I know this Hamegg doesn't 'play' with you."

Zane rolled his eyes, "We live at an orphanage, and besides it's not like it's free. We have to work at his body shop: find parts, clean the droids, do some of the simpler maintenance stuff.

"We also help build our own droid for the game each month. We represent Hamegg Industries. If the robot we work on does well in the games we get rewarded with good food and toys, but if it's a flop we might as well eat out of a dumpster. He doesn't take back the toys though, which is good, and he does still feed us."

"Hamegg is a genius," Cora changed the subject. "He can make cool robots from pretty much any old scrap."

"Well you're not going to find anything here," Astro temporarily stopped glaring at Zane. "It's a graveyard."

"I see how it is," Cora joked. "Mister Metro City luckily stumbles on a few decent parts and now he thinks that makes him an expert."

"You'd be surprised," Astro grinned slyly. "I know a thing or two about robots."

"Guys!" Widget hollered from far up ahead. "I think we found something."

"See," Cora smiled smugly before running off.

Astro was left alone to continue his glaring at Zane.

The older boy sighed, "Look I'm sorry, but you need to know stuff like that not only happens down here, but people get away with it. This isn't Metro City. There is no stable government or laws. People do whatever the hell they want. I'm honestly just trying to look out for you."

Astro sighed, wanting to stay mad, but couldn't do it with the boy's reasons. "You don't have to worry he isn't... doing anything like that. I think he's just lonely "

Zane nodded, "My offer still stands."

"Thanks but-" Astro gasped seeing something down hill, and hollered to the group ahead. "Hey guys I think I found something." before dashing off to it. The thing was massive! Its right arm was a cement mixer, where its left was a large hand. How come nobody else noticed this thing?

Cora laughed from up the hill, "That's just an old construction Robot. It fell to the surface hundreds of years ago."

Guess they did notice it. They just couldn't do anything with it. "Think Hamegg could use it?" Astro hollered back.

Cora acknowledged, "Yeah if he had a robot like that he'd make a fortune in the games, but it's just junk. We used to have picnics in its head."

"Just give me a minute," Astro called walking around it.

"It weighs hundreds of tons! What are you going to do, put it in your backpack?" Cora teased well the other children laughed.

Astro just smiled and thought to himself 'She'd flip if she knew I could carry it'.

Once he was out of sight he bent one of the plates and let himself in. Looking around inside the large droid. He put his hand on what he thought was a rail but felt words indented in the metal. Dusting off the bar he read. "Z.O.G." Smiling to himself he spoke to the sleeping robot, "I know you're not dead. You're just pretending."

He walked deeper inside and found a control panel. Activating his X-ray vision, he saw into the wires and circuits. He followed them with his eyes, to the robot's depleted power source.

"Come on big guy," he smiled opening the panel. "Time to wake up." He lifted his shirt and opened his own panel. The Doctor had opened it a few times to examine his power source and Astro quickly got the hang of utilizing it.

The Doctor had been running lots of test so Astro would know his limitations but so far he didn't have any. His circuits were designed to adapt and evolve. The more stress applied, the stronger he got and that new strength was permanently embedded into his system.

The Doctor said Astro reflected the absolute limit of robotic engineering. Something not even the Doctor's super advanced alien race could achieve. Astro still blushed at such high praise.

Blocking the embarrassment from his mind Astro focused his energy and poured it into the other robot. It faded pitifully with no effect. "ZOG, let me help you." Astro begged before pouring more of his energy inside. "Come on." the motor began to turn and the systems sprung to life.