Chapter Three: Walking and Talking
Of course Antauri was right. Mandarin didn't return later that day and we were able to sleep through the night for the first time. I have a hunch that Chiro did wake up during the battle but didn't want Mandarin to know he was awake. Probably too scared to scream.
"Sprx-77!" Antauri shouted. Sprx-77 is my real name but everyone calls me Sprx.
"What?" I asked.
"Where's Chiro?" He asked. "We can't find him anywhere."
"I don't know." I said. "Did he get in the vents again?"
"Otto!" Antauri shouted.
"What!" Otto shouted back.
"Did you check the vents?" Antauri asked.
"Not yet." Otto said.
"Please check them." Antauri said.
"Okay." Otto said. I went to the living room and tried to seem as worried as I could. The kid was always disappearing now and days. But I had to pretend to be worried. If Nova saw me relaxed she would accuse me of not caring about the kid. I do but this disappearing act was getting old.
"Did you find him Otto?" Nova asked. She had her tail wrapped around herself.
"He's not in the vents." Otto said. "But I did find him."
"Where is he then?" I asked. "I don't see him here."
"That's because he got out." Otto said. "He's wondering the streets of Shuggazoom!"
"We have to get him back!" Gibson shouted. "There is a fifty percent chance he's already gotten hurt or killed!"
"Than let's find him!" Nova shouted and ran out of the robot. Otto followed close behind with Gibson literally on his tail. Only Antauri and I were left.
"Where would Chiro go?" Antauri asked.
"Maybe went to the park." I said.
"Good idea." Antauri said. "Let's check it out." We walked out the robot together and went to the new park. The park had a little swing set, a metal slide, a merry-go-round, and a sand box. Little kids were everywhere.
"There are so many!" I shouted. "How are we going to pick Chiro out of all of these kids?"
"We won't have to." Antauri said, smiling. "The other children have already found him." I looked at him completely confused and heard a giggle I recognized as Chiro's.
To my left sat Chiro, at least three kids with him, holding a little ball in his hands. Antauri walked towards them and I followed. The other kids saw us approaching and quietly stepped back.
"Chiro." Antauri said. Chiro looked at him and crawled over to where he stood. Antauri picked him up and walked away with him and I followed.
"Would you please tell the others we found him?" Antauri asked.
"Sure." I said. I got my transmitter and said, "We found him. Return to the robot as fast as you can."
"On our way." Nova said as Antauri, Chiro, and I walked into the robot. The moment we walked into the living room Chiro wanted down. Antauri let him and he crawled to a plastic robot in the corner.
We had watched Chiro play with the toy for ten minutes before Otto, Nova, and Gibson returned. Nova emitted a sigh of relief and Otto wiped his forehead. "He's perfectly fine." Gibson said. "Against all odds and he's perfectly fine."
"How did he get out?" I asked.
"He crawled out the door." Otto said. The conversation ended as we watched Chiro grab the side of the table and stand. He had been doing this for weeks and each time he fell.
"Let go of the table." Nova said. Chiro did as he was told and stood on wobbly legs.
"Walk over here." Antauri said. Chiro took a wobbly step and fell. But instead of giving up like the other times he stood up again. He took a wobbly step and didn't fall. He put his other foot in front of the first one and repeated the process till he reach Antauri and fell into his arms.
"He walked!" Otto shouted. I was too shocked to say anything. Chiro's face had an exhausted and surprised expression.
"He can train now." Nova said.
"Yes he can." Antauri said. "But let him get use to his legs. Walking is extremely new to him." Antauri helped him stand again and he walked over to Nova and then walked to Otto.
"Curious." Gibson said. "So curious."
"What's so curious?" Nova asked.
"Why did he walk to you three but avoided Sprx and me?" Gibson asked. "It's so confusing."
I knew why he avoided me. He saw me doing something I'm not proud of and has avoided me ever since. But why was he avoiding Gibson? He hasn't done anything harmful.
"I don't know." Otto said. "Maybe he was just tired."
"I know one thing." Antauri said. "Walking is definitely not a problem for Chiro." Chiro walked straight into the kitchen and we all smiled. Chiro was officially going to cause more trouble.
There was a clash of pans and Chiro screamed. I jumped up and heard evil chuckles that belong to only one monkey. We ran into the kitchen to see Mandarin putting Chiro into a head lock.
"Let him go Mandarin." Antauri said.
"Why should I?" Mandarin sneered. "He makes the perfect hostage."
"Nova!" a voice shouted. We had never heard it before, but it was small and squeaky.
"Did you just talk?" Mandarin asked Chiro.
"Nova!" Chiro screamed. "Nova! Nova!"
"That's it!" Nova shouted. "You're gonna pay for that!" Her hands turned into gigantic fists and she shouted, "Boom boom wake up!"
"Wait one moment Nova." Mandarin said calmly. "You can't hurt me without hurting the boy."
Nova turned her fists into normal hands again and bowed her head. Antauri prepared to crawl on to the roof for a sneak attack when Mandarin howled in pain. Chiro had bit his arm and Mandarin was now cradling it. Chiro ran towards Nova, with some difficulty, and hugged her while she wrapped her tail protectively around him.
` "Get out Mandarin." I growled.
"Never!" Mandarin shouted. He began to fight but he was out numbered. He was once again thrown out a window.
"That was a coward's move!" Nova said loudly.
"Attacking little kids?" Otto said. "Now that's dirty, low down trick."
"Well he's gone now." I said. "The kid's safe, we're safe, and Shuggazoom is safe. For the moment any way."
"You are correct Sprx." Antauri said. "But training for Chiro will start immediately. Would you please show Chiro some self-defense moves Sprx?" "My pleasure." I said, grinning. "Hold your arms like this over your face Chiro." I held my arms in an x and Chiro did the same. My smile widened. This was too easy.