Clang!
Chibi's eyes flew open.
Immediately, he shook off his confusion and disorientation. Telly! Telly where are you!?
"Chibi-Robo!"
Chibi's head swiveled around frantically.
"I'm over here, Chibi-Robo!"
Chibi's eyes finally found his friend, but just at that moment, he was jerked forward, his battery acid once again flipping inside him. He was on a conveyor belt, slowly trekking towards a fire. He and Telly were separated by a large sheet of glass.
The fire melted down old metals to make them into something new.
"D-D-Don't worry!" sweat marks flew from Telly's head, "I'll f-f-fix this!"
Chibi realized that if he didn't do something, he was going to die. He tried to get up, but he was stuck! He focused on wiggling free.
He also knew that Telly didn't stammer unless he was very nervous.
Something was going to go wrong.
"Chibi-Robo!" Telly cried, getting more and more panicky, "I'm sorry! I'm sorry I can't do it! I can't save you! I can't stop the machine!"
Chibi's eyes narrowed into determined half-circles. He waved away from himself.
"What!? I can't leave you here!"
Get help! If you can't stop the machine, someone else will!
"Chibi-Robo! I can't go!"
Chibi pointed to his panicked companion, then at himself. He signaled to the controls.
Telly finally nodded in understanding, "OK. I'll find someone who can help! I p-p-promise!"
Chibi turned back to the fire and blanched. It was right there!
Thinking fast, Chibi pulled out his blaster and fired near his feet. This pulled the loose trash free and allowed him to stand and get away from his impending doom. The conveyor belt jerked again, sending him splat on his face.
He felt the heat on his foot.
He scrambled to a standing position and sprinted, stopping to grab his plug so it wouldn't drag or get caught on things. He didn't rest until he was at the beginning of the machine, where scrap metal from around the building was dumped. Of course, he couldn't climb the chute, so he just sat around and waited for Telly to come back.
He was taking a long time...
Clang!
Chibi shook off the shock and looked around. He was lying on his stomach, his arms pinned beneath him.
No no no!
The machine was advancing forward. He was soon merely feet away from the fire.
"Chibi-Robo!" Telly cried, "Quick! Shut off the machine! That Chibi-Robo is still alive!"
Chibi couldn't take his eyes off the fire that was inching closer and closer. Shock and terror mixed with the heat of the machine...it was all too much for him.
He didn't even get to run his battery out before the flames consumed him.
He was just 10 inches away...
"Chibi-Robo!"
9...
"Turn that machine off now!"
8...
"I'm trying! The lever's stuck!"
7...
Chibi-Robo flipped open his green Yes! sign.
6...
"Chibi-Robo! Don't say that!"
5...
"You can't die! I can't lose you again!"
4...
"I didn't even get to tell you how much I care!"
3...
"I will not let you die! I would never-!"
2...
Chibi-Robo closed his eyes.
1...
"CHIBI-ROBOOO!"
FWOOSH!