Colors.
That was his first impression. Swirling colors surrounded him. It was serene, like watching dyes mix together. He couldn't feel any of his appendages, but instead of feeling helpless, he was at peace.
He knew that some part of him was left intact, but he couldn't even recall what had happened before this.
He couldn't even remember his own name.
300...500...800...
And then bells sounded.
"Chibi-Robo..."
Chibi lay motionless on the repair table, his outlet plugged into the wall. It was chugging watts into him, but he didn't seem to stir.
Telly looked on in despair, "I've failed you...I'm so sorry, Chibi-Robo...I failed to protect you...I failed...I f-f-failed to be your friend..."
"Awww..." Mr. Sanderson looked at Telly in deep sadness, "It wasn't your fault! If only I had known that Chibi was ours...I would have taken him home before sending him to Citrusoft!"
"N-No..." Telly insisted, "This was my fault..."
Mr. Sanderson sighed, glancing again at the motionless Chibi-Robo, "If...if he doesn't wake up-!"
"He will! He h-has to!" Telly snapped, refusing to accept what might have happened.
"Telly..." Mr. Sanderson took a shaky breath, "Worst-case scenario. Hypothetically, if he does not wake up...we'll give him a proper burial. We won't buy any other models, and we'll never replace you."
Telly watched his own tears cover the tabletop, "Th-thank y-you...b-b-but he will wake up...he has to...he just...he has to..."
Mr. Sanderson watched sadly, already mentally planning how Chibi's official funeral would go. He had nearly given up when something happened.
Chibi's little hand twitched.
Telly was finally filled with hope, "Chibi-Robo...?"
He heard the tell-tale sound of small processors beginning to whir, cameras beginning to focus. Small movement, ever so slight, but it was there.
Mr. Sanderson barely dared to hope, "Chibi-Robo?"
"Ch...Chibi...?" Telly watched intently, waiting for Chibi-Robo to stand up and spin his head around, like he always did when he had a little jump-start.
And then, Chibi's eyes opened, slowly blinking.
Telly couldn't stop staring. Please let him be alive...please...please...
Chibi turned his head to the side, looking around.
"Chibi-Robo!" Telly finally stopped crying, "Are you alright?"
Chibi closed his eyes, then opened them again. Chibi-Robo...
Yes!
Telly's eyes widened, then he squealed with joy, "Chibi-Robo! You're alive!"
Chibi stood up and spun his head around, then he locked his eyes on his best friend and mentor.
He remembered now.
Chibi ran to Telly and embraced him.
"Chibi-Robo!" Telly reached with both his little arms, "I'm so glad that you're ok!"
"Chibi!" Mr. Sanderson beamed, "Good to have ya back, Buddy!"
Chibi stepped back to look at Telly, and blinked in surprise. Telly was looking downcast.
"I'm sorry, Chibi-Robo..." Telly wouldn't look him in the eye, "You almost died because of me...because I lost track of you...I should have been paying attention when you were no longer in range...I should have...I should have..."
Chibi shook him to make him stop and pay attention to him, No!
Telly was blaming himself. That was not gonna fly with Chibi-Robo.
"Wh-what?"
Chibi flipped open his No! sign multiple times to show his point.
"He's right, Telly." Mr. Sanderson replied, "There's no way you could've known he would get lost! Blaming yourself is only gonna hurt!"
Chibi gave a slight nod. Exactly. Telly could not blame himself, because it wasn't Telly's fault.
To show his point further, Chibi pointed to himself, We have no one to blame but me. I should have been more careful when Jenny dropped her backpack. I should have stayed in the classroom. I should have stopped trying to get out of the sewers.
I should have watched my head on the conveyor belt.
"Chibi," Mr. Sanderson, "Blaming yourself won't do good either. What's in the past is in the past. Let's just move on, alright?"
Chibi looked at Telly. Telly looked at Chibi. No one said anything for one long moment.
"Alright..." Telly finally replied.
Chibi flashed his Yes! sign.
"Good." Mr. Sanderson nodded, apparently satisfied, "Now let's go home."
Chibi watched Telly talk to Mrs. Sanderson. He had just finished his sweep of the kitchen and was sitting on a kitchen sponge to rest while Mrs. Sanderson washed dishes. Telly was once again doing what he did best; chatting with anyone and everyone that happened to be nearby.
Chibi was listening for awhile, but he soon found himself beginning to lose focus. He was still tired from his ordeal the previous day and just wanted to take it easy for some time, maybe water some flowers or hitch a ride on Giga-Robo's shoulder. It wasn't long before his metal eyelids began to droop.
"...and it was reeeally scary! But Chibi-Robo managed to pull through! Didn't you Chibi?" Telly turned to his friend, "Chibi?"
Chibi was laying on his side, peaceful "Z"s drifting off his head. He had fallen asleep.
Telly giggled to himself, "I should take him back to the Chibi-House..."
"Alright." Mrs. Sanderson replied, "You take care of yourselves."
The next time Chibi opened his eyes, he found himself staring at the ceiling of the Chibi-House. He stood and stretched his arms, feeling quite refreshed.
"Oh!" Telly exclaimed, "You're awake!"
Chibi turned to his friend, a small smile on his cameras.
"How are you feeling?" Telly asked, "Are you alright?"
Yes!
"Good..." Telly sighed, "Dum de dum de dum..."
Chibi turned and pulled his plug from the wall, setting it down on the ground.
"Don't worry about a thing, Chibi-Robo!" Telly assured as the exited the Chibi-House, "I promise! I'll never let you out of range again! OK?"
Chibi inwardly rolled his eyes. Telly worried a bit too much sometimes. Yes!
"Good!" Telly replied with a nod, "Rest assured, you will be safe from now on! I'll be here even when..."
Chibi stopped listening and crossed his arms, beginning to walk away. Telly's voice followed him everywhere.
Ugh...Chibi would never be alone again, would he?
Well...
Maybe that was a good thing.
Yeah. Chibi thought to himself. After all, he didn't like being alone.
And neither did Telly.
*** THE END ***