All right! An update that didn't take five or so months! I am on a roll! WHOO!
Admittedly, this chapter isn't very exciting. I'm not sure how well it turned out, either. This chapter really doesn't do much except kind of prepare for the next chapter. Now that one is the one I'm looking forward to. I can't wait to write that one.
But for now, we all will have to contend with this one. I hope people read this chapter anyway, if only to prepare for the next chapter (which I hope will be awesome!).
Well, enough out of me. Enjoy!
"This will be difficult, but I believe if everything goes well, this should help Chiro. Now listen carefully…" The silver monkey turned towards Gibson. "As soon as possible, I need you to take Chiro's attention away from Kalli. They need to be separated temporarily for everything to progress correctly."
"All right…" the scientist said slowly.
"If you need to," Antauri continued, "then tell Chiro that you made some modifications to the Robot's alarm system…"
---
Chiro couldn't help but laugh as Kalli clung onto him tightly. "It's okay," he said, trying to hide his amused smile, "we're here now."
"It's so weird, though!' she said as they stepped out of the orange-lined tube and into the command center where the Monkey Team was. "How do you travel around that way?"
The teen leader shrugged. "I dunno. I guess I'm just used to it."
"Chiro," Gibson suddenly said. "May I talk to you for a moment?"
Looking over at the blue monkey, the boy then glanced at the sorceress, who urged him on with a smile. Gently squeezing her hand, he turned and headed towards the computer consol. "What's up, Gibson?" he asked.
"Well," the scientist said, typing in a few commands on the consol, "since Antauri is no longer allowed near the Super Robot, I made some adjustments to our systems. The alarms should now alert us if he ever infiltrates the Robot."
Chiro looked at the other in surprise. "Really?"
"Yes. You made it perfectly clear that he was not to return, so I thought this would help fulfill your orders."
The teen ran his fingers through his dark hair. He thought it would be a lot harder for the others to accept his decision to send Antauri away. "Wow…Yeah, that actually really does help. Thanks, Gibson."
Glancing at the boy, Gibson smiled a little. "Well, I do what I can to assist…"
---
Turning towards Otto, the silver monkey then said, "While Gibson is keeping Chiro occupied, I need you to tend to Kalli."
"Okay," the mechanic replied. "Uh…what should I do?"
"Whatever it takes," Antauri said, "you need to give her a reason to return to my room."
"Huh? How come?"
"It is essential for her and Chiro to be apart so the proper consequences will fall into place. Do whatever you can to ensure she returns to my room."
Glancing down at the baby mong bird in his hands, the mechanic nodded. "I'm sure I'll think of something."
Returning the nod, Antauri turned to Sprx. "Chiro must not go with her, at all costs. If he does, he will not leave her side. So when Kalli is going, you must be the one to take her back instead."
"Uh…okay…" the red monkey said. "I think I can do that."
"Just remember that no matter what, Chiro mustn't go with her."
---
As Gibson was showing Chiro the new alterations to the Super Robot's computer, Kalli stood back and watched them, playing with her hands behind her back. Movement off to the side, however, caught her attention, and she turned to see Otto kneeling by the wall and pulling out several wires.
"What are you doing, Otto?" she asked curiously.
"Jus' fixin' the Super Robot," the mechanic replied, looking at her with a grin. "We kinda really messed it up when we were looking for Ring, and we haven't really fixed it all yet."
"Ah…" The sorceress nodded. As she continued to watch the green monkey, though, she frowned and glanced around. "Where did Ring go?"
"She's right…Oh…" Otto's voice trailed off as a quick glance to his side revealed nothing but tools. "Uh…she was right here…"
"Don't tell me you lost her again!" Sprx said suddenly as he and Nova approached from the transport tubes.
"She was just right here!" the green monkey said, looking under a coil of wires and moving around some tools.
A soft chirp drew all their attention, and they looked to see Ring standing in the open panel Otto was working in earlier. Hopping up and down, the chick flapped her wings and tugged at the cord she held in her beak.
Otto sighed loudly, placing a hand to his chest. "Boy, you really scared me!" he said with a grin.
"You really should be more careful with her," Kalli chided. "She's pretty curious and seems to get into everything."
"Yeah, I know," the green monkey replied, picking up another tool. "C'mon, Ring. You gotta get outta there now."
Blinking at him for a moment, the mong bird flapped her wings again and tugged harder at the cord. Hopping down, she continued to pull at the wire.
"Hey, whatcha doin'?" Otto asked as he watched the chick curiously. "C'mon, don't do that…"
Suddenly, the baby bird fell back as the cord snapped in two. The cable still attached to the wall began spraying out oil, showering the sorceress in the cold, black grease and causing her to scream. Otto and Nova both lunged for the cord, pinning it to the floor as more oil spurted out and covered the girl in the thick liquid. The line struggled beneath them for a moment, but when the oil finally trailed off the wire finally gave up.
By this time, Chiro and Gibson rushed over to see what the commotion was about. "What happened?" the blue monkey asked, looking at the oil spilled across the floor.
"Uh…nothin'…" Otto said with as much innocence as he could muster.
"Ring got hold of one of the cables," the golden monkey said as she got to her feet. "Do I really need to explain the rest?"
Chiro turned to Kalli, who was trying to wring the oil from her dress. "Are you okay?" he asked softly.
"I think so," she replied, vainly looking for a dry spot on her dress to wipe her hands. "But I'd be better if I wasn't covered in this stuff…I should go get cleaned up."
"Here," the boy said, holding out his hand, "I'll take you back to the room."
"I can take her," Sprx suddenly offered. "I mean, you might be needed down here, Kid. I'll take her back up and help her get cleaned up, okay?"
Frowning curiously, the young leader glanced at Kalli, who simply shrugged. "Well…okay, I guess," he finally replied. Turning to the girl, he added, "But if you need anything, let me know, okay?"
The sorceress nodded. "Sure." Then, turning to the red monkey, she smiled a little as she followed him to the transport tubes. "Thanks, Sprx."
"No problem," he replied. With a quick glance at Nova, he and the girl soon disappeared through the tubes.
---
"Nova," Antauri said, turning to the golden monkey, "this next part is very important." Gently taking her hand, he carefully placed the jade pendant in her palm. "After Sprx takes Kalli back to my room, you must give this to Chiro."
Looking at the crystal, she then looked up at the other. "Is that a good idea?" she wondered. "I thought Kalli shouldn't know about this or Manjit."
The second-in-command nodded. "That is true. And she won't. Give this to Chiro and tell him that you found it, and you believe that it belongs to Kalli's people. That way, he'll be more inclined to keep it with him."
"But what's going to stop Chiro from showing it to Kalli later?"
Antauri placed a hand to his chest. "That…will be my responsibility…"
---
"Ugh, honestly, Otto!" Gibson reprimanded. "As if we didn't have enough to do around here already!"
The green monkey grinned sheepishly, placing Ring on top of his helmet. "Sorry…" he said.
The scientist shook his head and sighed. "Well, we better get all this cleaned up…"
Just as Chiro was kneeling down to help, he stopped when he felt Nova's hand on his arm. "Hey, Chiro?" he heard her say.
"Yeah, Nova?"
"I need to talk to you for a minute…" Glancing at the other two monkeys, she then motioned for the boy to follow her away from them. He trailed behind her curiously, wondering why she seemed so secretive.
"You okay, Nova?" he wondered as they stood by the computer consol.
"Yeah, I'm fine," the golden monkey replied, running a hand over her helmet. "I just thought you might want to see this…" From behind her back, she pulled out a jade crystal and held it out to the young leader.
Chiro's eyes widened as he carefully took the jewel from her. "What…where did you get this?"
"Sprx and I found it when we were looking around earlier. We thought it might have come from Kalli's people."
Chiro held it up to the light, examining the smoothened edges and the cord that hung from the gem. "It's definitely not naturally made," he mused, holding the string and watching the light reflect off the crystal. "I'll show it to Kalli and ask her about it." Looking at the golden monkey, he smiled a little. "Thanks, Nova."
She returned the smile and nodded. "Sure thing, Chiro."
The teen stared at jewel as he held it in his hand once again. He meant to put it in his pocket, but he found he couldn't stop looking at it. There was just something about it that felt…strange. Maybe Kalli would know…
He snapped out of his musings when the alarm suddenly blared around them, bathing the command center in crimson light. Startled, the teen looked up and frowned, confused for a moment as he tried to figure out why the alarm would sound. But with a glance at Gibson, his eyes widened with remembrance.
"Antauri…" he murmured.
Stuffing the crystal into his pocket, he bolted for the transportation tubes. He had a feeling he knew exactly where the silver monkey was trying to go.
---
"While you're giving Chiro the amulet," Antauri explained, "I will confront Kalli. The timer that Gibson set for the alarm should give me enough time for me to speak with her before Chiro's arrival…"
---
Kalli sat on one of the stones that decorated the second-in-command's room, wringing the excess oil out of her hair and letting it drip into the running water around her. With a sigh, she ran a glowing hand through her hair, and the oil seemed to disappear. With a smirk, she cleaned the grease from her clothes in the same manner, but left the black mess all across the floor.
Crossing her legs as she continued fixing her hair, she said in a soft voice, "I thought Chiro told you to never come back…"
Though the violet energy around his body returned to silver, Antauri's violet claws remained. "I couldn't leave yet," he answered coldly as he approached her. "Not knowing the danger you've put Chiro in."
With a chuckle, the sorceress stood and faced him, holding her hands behind her back. "Why, Antauri," she said, no longer concealing her feigned innocence, "I have no idea what you're talking about. You know I'd never do anything to hurt dear, sweet Chiro."
Floating up to her eye level, the robotic simian held up his sharp claws towards her. "I know you're up to something," he said. "And you can't hide it forever."
The sorceress smirked, meeting his cobalt glare with golden mischief. "And what are you going to do, Antauri?" she taunted, flipping back her ebony hair. "You think you can save him? He doesn't even want your help. Not when he has me around."
"That will change when he discovers the true you," Antauri replied.
The silver monkey started when Kalli suddenly grabbed both his wrists, holding up his violet claws. "Please," she retorted, her amusement fading into a hardened glower. "You think I haven't realized that you somehow managed to free the other monkeys from my control? You think I don't know what you're up to?" She laughed. "Do you honestly believe that Chiro will finally believe you if you come here and get me to reveal all my plans just as he coincidentally enters the room? I don't think so…"
Suddenly the sound of the alarm screamed above them, and the warning light flashed overhead. Glancing up at the light, Kalli then sneered at the silver monkey. "Time's up, Antauri," she whispered. "You lose…"
---
"My friend," Manjit suddenly spoke up, "if you mean to expose Kalli's true objectives so that Chiro might overhear, then I believe your plan is critically flawed. Kalli is extremely clever, and considerably perceptive. She will not fall for such a deception, no matter how convincing you appear."
"I had a feeling that was the case," Antauri replied, glancing at the sorcerer. "That is why I do not expect Kalli to tell me anything."
"Oh? Then what are your intentions?"
"As long as Kalli believes that my aim is to uncover her goals to Chiro, then this plan should work. Because it is important for Chiro to become exceptionally angry with me…"
---
The door behind Kalli buzzed open, and the girl smirked at the silver monkey. Pulling his violet claws down, she shrieked, "Let me go! You're hurting me!"
"Kalli!" Chiro exclaimed.
She turned towards him as tears filled her golden eyes. "Chiro, help me!"
With a growl, the teen lunged at the robotic simian. "Let her go!"
Wrenching himself free from the sorceress's hold, Antauri barely dodged the teen leader's attack. The violet energy spread over his silver body, and he disappeared through the walls of the Robot.
"Oh no…" Chiro seethed, clenching his fists. "You're not getting away this time, Antauri." He dashed for the door, Kalli following closely behind him.
---
"Why would you want Chiro mad at ya?" Otto wondered as he scratched the back of his head.
"At this point, Chiro is too distracted by Kalli's power," Antauri said. "He will not listen to anything I say. However, if he is angry with me, I can perhaps get him to focus enough on me to show him exactly what's happening to him."
"I don't understand," Gibson said. "How can you show him what's happening if he's angry with you?"
With a sigh, the silver monkey shook his head. "It's difficult to explain. But it is my responsibility, so leave it to me. Now, this next part will be a little challenging. Since Chiro believes you all are still siding with him, we will have to fight in order to keep him convinced."
"Fight?" Nova repeated. "You want us to fight you?"
Antauri nodded. "We will have to do our best to appear realistic if Chiro is to believe us. I suppose it could be similar to a session of training, but Chiro must not know what is happening. If everything goes well, then we might get Chiro angry enough…"
---
Passing through the Robot's walls, Antauri dove out of the machinder and landed on the hill, rolling down until he hit the grassy base. Getting to his feet, he reverted back to his silver body though his claws remained violet. He glanced around and was about to leave when a familiar cry froze him in his tracks.
"MAGNO-BALL BLAZER!"
Antauri jumped into the air and barely avoided the sphere of magnetic energy. Then he was forced to twist back to dodge the green energy saws aimed for his head. Pushing down the saws with his violet claws, he kicked Otto back and landed a short distance away from the rest of the Monkey Team.
The five monkeys stood silently, waiting for someone else to make the first move. Glancing up at the Super Robot, the silver simian took a small step back, which triggered Nova to charge towards him, golden fists raised and prepared to attack. Pushing away one of her fists with his claw, Antauri used his free claw to knock her back and send her crashing into Sprx.
Aiming his blue tipped drills, Gibson fired a laser at the silver monkey. Antauri quickly dodged and threw two crescent blades at them, but Otto blocked them with his energy saws. Then, as the saws began to spin, the green monkey touched the saws together and shot out a destructive beam.
Antauri flipped back to avoid the beam, but wasn't able to escape the barrage of magnetic bullets that immediately followed. Trying to protect himself from the shots, he wasn't prepared as the golden fists sailed at him and knocked him out of the air. With a grunt he hit the ground, sliding across the grass and leaving a trail of dirt behind him.
Pushing himself up, the silver monkey saw from the corner of his eye as the other four were all charging towards him for an attack. Closing his eyes briefly, he then turned towards them.
"MONKEY MIND SCREAM!"
Sliding down the hill, Chiro's eyes widened as he watched the violet waves throw his friends back. Clenching his fists, he jumped towards the silver monkey.
"THUNDER PUNCH!"
Antauri rolled out of the way, jumping up and landing on the other side of the river. Turning slightly, he met the teen's glare with a concerned gaze.
"So, you wanna fight, Antauri?" Chiro asked, holding up a hand. "Okay then. Let's go."
Staring at the teen, the silver monkey gritted his teeth before turning away, lowering his violet claws as they transformed back into silver hands.
"So that's it?" Chiro wondered, his sapphire eyes darkening as he watched his mentor. "You're just gonna give up? Just like that? You're not even gonna try to fight me?"
Cobalt eyes glanced at him, but the robotic primate remained silent. For some reason, that just made Chiro's blood boil. Jumping up, he landed hard right in front of the simian and delivered a powerful axe kick. The unexpected force of the blow caused the sterling body to hit the ground and bounce back up, giving the teen a perfect opportunity for a roundhouse kick that sent Antauri flying back towards the hill.
"C'mon, Antauri," the teen said, slowly walking to where the other landed. "I know you can do better than this. When we were training, you never had a problem fighting me. You were always forcing me to do more…pushing me because I was never good enough…So why won't you fight me now? Is it because you think I'm still not good enough? You think I'm not worth your time?"
Just as the silver monkey began to rise, Chiro fired a black-green beam from his hand and sent Antauri to the ground once again. Reaching the silver monkey, the teen rested one foot on the other's head and pushed him harder into the ground.
"Y'know, I'm really sick of you, Antauri," Chiro spat, grinding his heal into the simian's head. "Kalli was right about you all along. And to think I risked so much to bring you back into that body…"
Glancing up, the young leader watched as Kalli was helping the rest of the Monkey Team. It was then that the idea crossed his mind, and he smirked a little as he looked back down at his mentor.
"Since I'm the one who brought you back," he said thoughtfully, "then maybe I can get rid of you the same way…"
Taking a step back, Chiro reached down and grabbed Antauri by the neck. Holding up the silver monkey, he closed his eyes and concentrated on the Power Primate, feeling the energy around him pull and gather toward his heart. His body began to glow with the dark green light, spreading over him and encasing Antauri as well.
Suddenly the green glow faded into black electricity that snapped and cackled around them. A dark bolt struck both of them in the forehead; both of their eyes snapped open as a shared cry passed through their lips. Then a beam of white light shot out from cobalt eyes into sapphire, causing Chiro to scream louder.
The black electricity struck at the white beam, and the two energies mingled and exploded into a sphere of blinding light that engulfed them both.
---
"Antauri," Manjit said, "if you are planning what I believe you are, then you must realize how dangerous this truly is."
"There is no other way," the silver monkey replied with a small shake of his head. "This is all I can do to get Chiro to listen to me. This is the only way to help him."
"But you realize the risk you are taking?"
Antauri nodded. "I'm aware of it. But as we said, we must do everything we can to help Chiro."
The four other monkeys glanced at each other, exchanging the anxious expressions that crossed their features. Antauri's tone just sounded so definite, so…final…that they couldn't help but worry.
"Antauri?" Nova said softly. "Just what are you planning to do?"
Looking at them, the silver monkey offered a small smile. "Nothing that you all need to worry about," he replied. "This is solely my responsibility, and so I am the only one who needs to be concerned with it."
"Is it really safe?" Gibson wondered.
"The only risk is on my part. What I plan to do is dangerous, but I will be the only one in any real jeopardy."
"Are you…gonna be okay then?" Otto asked, barely able to get the question out.
Looking at the green monkey, Antauri smiled and placed a gentle hand on the other's shoulder. "Everything will turn out fine," he stated. "I can promise you that."
"Do not be so quick to make promises you cannot keep," Manjit advised.
Antauri shook his head. "No. I know everything will be all right."
"Maybe you should tell us what you're doing anyway," Sprx said. "Just so we know what's going on."
Looking at him, the silver monkey nodded. "Very well," he said, trying to find the right words to explain. "Chiro needs to see everything that is happening to him. So I must take him to the only place where I can show him that…"
TBC