Rain was pelting against the work shop's tin roof, rattling the carriage on its pedestal. Reno was tinkering at his bench cheerfully listening to the raindrops fall and squinting every time the overhanging light gave out for a few seconds. Rain was definitely not the best for circus business but luckily it was Tuesday- the one day they got off to re-stock or set up new acts.

He flinched at an angry rap at his door. He looked up from his work as the heavy door swung open with an unattractive screech to meet the faces of Chloe and Shadow. Shadow wore an un amused expression, her tank top drenched from the weather. "You're robot's broken again." She mumbled. Chloe stood perfectly with hands behind back.

Reno sighed heavily, throwing his head back. "How bad?" His question was answered by an irritated Pepper who soon trudged into view, pulling a colorful robot by its arm. A colorful robot who looked very pleased with herself.

"HI DADDY!" she squeaked in a voice almost too high-pitched to bare.

Sizzi t49z was a very, well…special robot. A few children were scavenging in the dumps one day when they saw a tuff of rainbow streaked hair poking out of the trash. After pulling her out and cleaning her up a little they found they had retrieved the circus's first humanoid robot. 'Sizzi' robots apparently were the first of the humanoid robot manufacture line, according to Reno's infinite supply of robotic facts, but as technology grew they were cast out.

Sizzi was in the best shape she could come, though minus a few skin coverings on the inside of her arms, legs and most of her body. Her hair was her most prized feature, always in two thick ponytails, spilling out rainbows from the sides of her head. Her programmed age was sixteen (though her body was proportioned much taller thanks to old design) but her robotic brain had been damaged over time, resulting in a personality fit for a three year old.

Hence, 'daddy'.

"The rain's so pretty!" she grinned.

"Yes," Reno said. "And dangerous."

"She's soaked all the way through," Pepper grumbled. She almost threw the large robot on the work bench though still trying to look pleasant enough for Reno's liking. She was right- Sizzi's thin, powder blue dress was drenched, the pretty little flowers sewn on it dripping with misery.

Reno groaned, scrunching his hair. "It's gonna take me ages to fix her again!" he mourned. He looked down at the smiling robot and gave her a confronting stare. "Sizzi, you know better." Immediately her face soured into a pout.

"I-I'm sorry Daddy…" she whimpered. Anyone could see the crying about to start. Shadow threw her hands up and walked.

"I'm outta here." Chloe followed quietly.

"I-I just wanted to see the rain…because it's pretty…and-and…" Reno sighed and his composure dropped.

"It's fine, but you know I just care about you and don't want you to get hurt." Pepper rolled her eyes, thinking that she might vomit.

"Need any help?" she asked sweetly. Even though she hated that robot, any time spent with Reno was time well spent.

"PEPPER! WE NEED YOU!" She grimaced at the yell from outside and stomped out with a growl. Reno shook his head, sitting down at his desk and pulling the loose strands of colorful hair from her big blue eyes. He had known Sizzi for about seven years now, and considering he was the first person she saw when she was first re-booted she had called him 'Daddy' and he guessed the role just stuck. Sizzi would always be his little robot girl. Even though she was a foot taller than everyone.

"Can you fix me?" she asked.

"Of course I can fix you," Reno said immediately, insulted for her to think otherwise. "I'll always be there to fix you."

Her face split into a smile. "Yaaaay!" she cheered. He smiled and pressed one of the bright buttons on a black control box that poked out just above her dress line and Sizzi's eyes calmly closed as she shut down. He exhaled and leaned back.

"Well this is gonna be hell."

Four hours later Reno had taken most of Sizzi apart, polished and dried each piece and was now putting her back together. Half of her chest and one shoulder stood on its own along with her neck and head. He had to admit, she looked pretty funny as just a head, sleeping soundly. Attaching her main power source and re-booting her he decided to turn her back on. She was strangely good to have conversations with.

She blinked wearily until she saw Reno connecting a part of her hand together. Her eyes lit up. "Daddy!" she glanced around. "I'm sorry I went out in the rain again, but I really love the feel of it when it drips on my nose! I didn't think I ruined that much of my- oh look my body's all in pieces…"

"Yes, that's what happens." He smiled warmly. Sizzi watched him work quietly for a few seconds before lurching her neck out and nipping his fringe. He snorted, pushing her head back. "Sizzi," he warned though chuckling despite himself, "stop, I'm trying to work."

Suddenly the door opened and Pepper stuck her head in again with a rosy smile. Sizzi's eyes widened. "WHO'S THERE?" she called. "Wait, I'll go check." With a whirr of mechanics her head fully rotated on her neck until she was facing the rather disturbed girl behind her. "Oh." She said lamely. For a few seconds they stared awkwardly until Sizzi pulled her face into a creepy smile. "HELLO PEPPER."

Pepper physically recoiled and decided it best not to make eye contact. She slid over to Reno. He didn't even look up at her. "I don't understand why you keep fixing her," she said. "Her entire brain's a malfunction."

"No it's no-" Reno began to protest when Sizzi turned her head slowly back around to face them with bubbly giggles and an insane glint in her eyes. His shoulders fell. "Yeah, okay. She's a little insane. But there's no way I'm shutting her off, and that's that." Pepper blew her chocolate fringe out of the way and rolled her eyes.

"She doesn't even do anything though."

"Hey, she has her own act!"

"What, spinning around and making her hair glow?"

This made Sizzi burst out.

"LOOK WHAT I CAN DO WITH MY HAIR!"

A low humming arose and the two ponytails began to glow, each strand igniting in brilliant color. Sizzi was obviously pleased, grinning from ear to ear. Pepper and Reno stared at her for a good two minutes without reacting.

"See?" Reno gestured. "How could you reject that face?" The robot giggled.

"HEHEHEHE."

"Reno, don't you ever get tired of being around robots every day?" Pepper growled.

"No." He answered without a beat.

"Humans are stupid." Sizzi added sweetly.

"And impractical."

She glared and turned on her heels. "FINE. I'm done chasing after you, Reno! I practically handed myself to you, and you still pick the robots! I'M DONE!" She slammed the door on her way out. Reno blinked.

"Sizzi…what just happened?" One half-finished shoulder rose and fell in a shrug.

"I dunno." He smiled and continued working.

Around an hour later Cathy came through the door and smiled, her essence lighting up the room. "Hey Reno." She greeted. He nodded and she closed the door behind her, locking out the harsh wind and walked over to the work bench. Sizzi lit up when she saw her.

"Hi Cathy!"

"Hey, Sizzi!" she patted her head, earning a giggle. "Broken again?"

"Yep!"

"Pretty damn badly, too…" Reno sighed, beginning to assemble her forearm. Cathy winked, leaning against the thick wood.

"Eh, you couldn't live without her." They shared a smile before falling into silence. Sizzi began humming a random tune and Cathy found herself tapping to it absentmindedly. Soon Reno perked up.

"Have you heard anything on-"

"No."

He paused.

"Oh…"

Another pause.

"Don't worry yourself over it, Reno-"

"I think I have the right to worry over my own friends."

"That's not what I meant." Reno didn't look at her and she sighed. "Reno, you haven't left this workshop in almost three days. You need to have some interaction with other people." He didn't answer.

"Is Daddy broken…?" Sizzi whispered and her face turned to one of distress. Cathy smiled sadly, patting her shoulder.

"No, sweet heart. He's going through a human thing." The robot scrunched her face up.

"That's never good." She nodded, walking over to the shed door.

"I'll bring back some lunch if Hamegg bothers firing up the oven," she said quietly before exiting. Sizzi glanced to Reno's cast down face when the door squeaked shut.

"Are you going through human problems Daddy?" Reno smiled and nodded softly.

"Yeah. Nothing for you to worry about. Just some friends that meant a lot to me are missing."

They went quiet.

"…When humans are broken…they can't be put back together, can they?"

Reno looked up at her, frozen on the spot. He stuttered for his words, wondering what to say. "Uh, no…no, they can't be put back together, Sizzi…" She nodded thoughtfully.

"Even though they come with manuals when they're born?" she asked with a frown. Reno laughed, his mood lightening. The things he'd told that robot about how humans worked.

"Of course Sizzi," he smiled. "Of course."

Marvel grinded his teeth at the smirking teenagers in front of him, gripping the carpet bag in his hand until his knuckles turned white. "I still don't know how you did it," he murmured, sighing in defeat and passing the bag over. Cora snatched it up, smiling at the heaviness. "But if you're in town again, I'd really, really like to see your robot beat up more of my contestants."

"Hm," Cora hummed in thought. "No." Marvel shrugged sheepishly.

"Eh, worth a shot." Zane clawed at the bag.

"Let me see, let me SEE!"

"Lay off, Zane!"

"Ten grand," Marvel breathed. "As promised. If you mind me asking, just because I've noticed some subtle traits like begging and clawing at money bags, were you guys broke before?" They glanced to each other and Cora bit her lip.

"…Yeah…" she mumbled. He nodded.

"But your robot is…extremely special. Why don't you sell him? It would be the most logical and financially satisfying option- and I know my money deals, trust me."

"Our situation is…unique." Cora explained mildly. "Let's leave it at that." Marvel nodded in respect, dusting his hands off.

"Well, it's been sort of a pleasure. Now I have to dig my ten tone robot out of the ground." With that he turned into the robot arena, yelling at hired workers who were standing by Zog with dazed faces.

Zane and Cora smiled, walking slowly back to the cabin. She thought for a bit before driving him down the main street. He frowned. "Where are we going?"

"We can't fix Atom with just a spanner. Let's just look in the tool shops for a bit, kay?" he nodded and they walked in silence for a bit, pushing past the excited people and shading their eyes from the patchy sun. The weather wasn't as hot and sticky as the day before but it still was warm, but a few clouds in the sky shaded them for the harsh rays. They soon pulled up to a mechanics store and the owner gave them a nod when they wondered in.

"…We're still with the plan, right?" he whispered into Cora's ear whilst she scanned the different electronic tools.

"Of course." She mumbled. Zane snorted.

"Yeah, bull shit we are." He earned a patronizing look from his best friend. "Like hell you could sell Atom when we get Widget and Sludge. You look at him as if he was your own kid."

"I look at every kid as if they were my own kid!"

"You don't look at me like that."

"You're not a kid, Zane."

"But I'm younger than you…." He gave a puppy dog face. She sent him a look.

"By barely a year!" She shooed him off and went back to shopping, dropping a few tools into a basket.

"But you hear what I'm saying, right? Atom is sticking with us."

"I'm sure when we get to the circus and remember how shit our life is, Zane, we'll sell him back to his owner in a heartbeat." Zane still looked doubtful, but didn't comment on the topic any further.

They ventured to a clothes store next and grabbed Atom a new pair of jeans and a standard t-shirt, Cora hoping that he'd like what she picked but at the same time if he didn't she couldn't really care less. Anyway it felt good to pass over a fifty dollar note without feeling the strain of financial crisis on their shoulders. For most of the afternoon Cora was in the cabin fixing Atom. Atom had passed out due to fatigue for most of it so she conversed with Flair about her work and who she was. At first Cora would admit to thinking that Flair was a pain in the neck, but once she knew about her background and spent the time talking to her she found she was actually quite relatable.

"So what's your line of work?" she asked, tinkering with the scar across Atom's cheek. Flair stretched out on the old couch and rested a cheek on her palm, watching Cora work with interest.

"I want to be a journalist, but I work as a police reporter. I just deliver news on criminals and gather knowledge to send it up to Metro City."

"Are you from Metro City?

"Kind of. I was found in Metro City. I was adopted by a police man." Cora paused for a second, switching tools and giving her a look of indifference.

"…You're adopted?" She shrugged.

"Yeah, I guess." She lifted her chin up. "What about you and Zane?"

"Um…" Cora worried her lip between her teeth and felt a tighten in her chest. "I…became an orphan through a…fire."

"Oh geeze, I'm sorry." Flair furrowed her eyebrows and her face became one of empathy.

"Don't be, it's in the past." Cora tried a strained smile. "Zane had always been an orphan. He was found in the garbage." Flair breathed through her nose and adjusted on the cushions.

"Messed up world, huh?" Cora nodded in agreement. Flair looked to Atom. "What's his story?" she asked.

"You're the one who's the reporter."

"All I know is that he's a dangerous robot that needs to be destroyed." Cora blinked. She had almost forgot about the whole 'wanted' thing. She looked up to Atom's face and tried to come up with an explanation on his attitude and what kind of person he was.

"Well…I don't know his story and neither does he, but I do know that he's extremely brave. And persistent. And he has a way to pick at your brain in a good way and a bad way." Flair smiled.

"I get that vibe."

Zane had gone out to get other supplies for their long trip ahead and came back with a patch-work bag filled with snacks, spare clothes and some other gadgets. Soon after Atom was as repaired as he could've been (the back of his knees were still exposed but no longer hurt and his cheek was fully mended) they woke him up and headed off to the ticket booth with Flair for the second time.

"Four tickets to Sparks." Cora demanded, not even bothering with the pleases. The sour man looked over his desk at the lot of them.

"Ahhh, the new champions, eh?" Cora slapped a hundred dollar note down.

"Tickets. Now." She was met with the first grin she had ever seen on him. He passed over the sickly green piece of paper.

"Yes ma'am." She gave a bemused smile and took them, leading the others to the station gates. She heard Flair say her thanks to him but was met with a sneer. She chuckled and walked along the concrete platform, sitting down at one of the long benches to be quickly met by Zane.

"So," he said, sliding next to her. "When does the train arrive?" She read the tickets with squinted eyes.

"Eleven." Zane groaned. Flair soon sat at the end of the bench with irritation buzzing around her.

"Take a load of that old grump, god…" Atom leaned against one of the pillars and glanced across the barren plain with the train tracks slicing through the grass.

"You gonna sit down, Atom?" Cora asked. He glanced to her but shook his head.

"It think it would be better to stand; try and get my legs back in order." She nodded.

For about an hour they waited there, sometimes bringing up a conversation but nothing varied too much from Zane's constant whining that the time was moving too slow. Cora still couldn't get a reaction form the Robot Games through Atom quite yet. She didn't really know what she was expecting, but for him to go straight back to his normal self seemed…off. He did appear a little more quiet this morning, but maybe Cora was overthinking things a little. He looked calm, and that was good.

In reality, under that calm composure, Atom was a complete mess. He barely had time to think that morning before they were rushed out the door and now on to their next destination. True, the Robot Games wasn't his first run in with death, but he still felt betrayed somehow. Felt truly a robot, something he thought he had accepted but obviously still bored a hole into his brain. His friends had used him to get money. Was he supposed to…let things go back to normal? Was he supposed to expect them to do it again? He saw the thoughts of selling him go through their minds more than once- it was rather obvious and he would've thought them idiots to not consider it. He swallowed heavily and his tongue felt heavy but he still would remain silent on the matter. It wasn't really up to him anyway.

After another half an hour the station began to pack up with people. Some would come up to Atom and murmur something about the Robot Games and Atom would be awkward from the admiration yet thank them, but most of the people waiting under the shelter were business folk in suits, obviously waiting to go to Sparks for their work.

It wasn't long before the sleek train slid into view and came to a stop at the waiting bay. Then it was a muddle of footsteps and movement as people pushed past each other to get the best carriages, a symphony of 'beep's filling the train halls as they scanned their tickets. Luckily there was no restriction when it came to robots, which Cora mentioned could be a problem when dealing with smaller forms of transportation. Soon they came to an empty double-seated carriage down near the end of the train next to the loading dock which was one transfer over.

Zane eagerly hauled the bags off his shoulders and stuffed them into the luggage compartment above the cherry velvet seat and collapsed in a boneless heap. Cora joined, sitting next to him and Flair took the seat opposite, stretching her legs out. Atom, seeing as no-one was bothered to move over for him, stood by the wall where a small window stretched thinly across the top, rimmed in golden metal.

"It certainly is a nice train," Cora complemented, looking around the pleasant design.

"Better be- we'll be in it for a whole day and night." Atom smiled. After a few minutes everything wobbled gently and the train began its journey to the next stop. Cora pulled the old map out of her shorts pocket and unfolded it with care- it was ripping at the corners.

"Okay, so we got off at…Green Fields. Then we walk straight on to Sparks."

"Can't wait to get to Sparks," Zane said with a toothy grin. "Did you hear what Scooter said? It's a casino heaven!"

"Well, we won't be there to bet, Zane. We're just passing by." The teenager's face dropped.

"Aw, comm'on," he whined. Flair's eyes twinkled at the mention of the city and she sat a little straighter on her seat.

"Sparks…I've been there before." She gestured widely. "There's lights everywhere on every street and building and almost every shop is a casino or bar. You can set off fireworks in the middle of the road, there's thumping music everywhere and some places let you eat for free." Cora was definitely becoming more intrigued now.

"…Couldn't hurt to stay a few hours," she mumbled into the crook of her neck. Zane gave a small cheer.

For about two hours they talked and chatted and Atom let Cora tinker a bit with his legs but he assured her that his rocket boots still worked fine. Flair told them more stories about her reports and missions in the police force and Cora and Zane listened with eager ears. Soon enough they fell into a comfortable silence, bodies swaying to the movement of the train's journey. Zane unsurprisingly fell asleep after a while and Flair had just excused herself to the bathroom.

"How much longer?" Cora mumbled, adjusting her head upon Zane's shoulder. Atom half smiled, still standing by the wall even though Flair's absence left an empty seat.

"It looks like late afternoon."

"You gonna need a spot to sleep?" she asked. Atom was slightly touched at her concern for his comfort but shook his head.

"I'll sleep on the floor." She nodded, resting her eyes for a few seconds.

But they quickly snapped open when an intruder slid into the carriage, her face red and flustered as if she'd been in a hurry. Her hair was golden and she wore a heavy black over coat but the snippets of a police uniform made Cora's eyes widen in concern. Atom flinched violently and Zane stirred. The new comer took one look at Atom and her whole face light up. She quickly slammed the door shut.

"Tobi!" she cried. Now Cora and Atom were really concerned. The women raced over to him, pulling him into a hug. The robot stuttered.

"Um…?"

"I've looked everywhere for you! God, where have you been?" she broke a part and quickly examined him. "Are you hurt? Are you-"

"Hey, hey, hey, HEY!" Cora yelled, standing up, making Zane choke on a snore and blink his eyes open with a dopey 'huh..?'. "Who they hell are you?" she snapped. The woman straightened up as if she hadn't even noticed there were others in the room.

"Alicia. And that's all that concerns you. Now, I'm sure that you have no idea about this robot but he's actually my little cousin. So-"

"Wait, what?" Atom and Cora were dumb found and Zane was just registering that this woman was a stranger.

"But…" Little calculations went off in Atom's head. "Y-you're Dr Tenma's…niece?"

"Wait, what's going on?" Zane asked.

"Yes, I'm Tenma's niece," she said with a small chuckle, as if Atom had asked if the earth did in fact rotate around the sun. "But you belong with me now."

"No, wait," Atom squeezed his eyes shut and placed a finger on his temple. "You're Dr Tenma's niece…but…I-I thought he didn't want me, or…" Alicia frowned, squatting down to meet Atom at eye level.

"Tobi…don't you remember me?" Atom shook his head.

"No, I don't. I'm sorry, but I'm not Tobi, I don't belong with Dr Tenma and I don't belong with you," he tried to be as polite as he could.

"Damn right," Cora spat. "We're his owners. And this is Atom." Alicia seemed to have trouble processing this information.

"You're memory's broken…" she breathed, looking troubled. Atom was feeling quite awkward by how upset the woman was just because he didn't know her. "But…" she held Atom's shoulders. "That doesn't matter. You have to come with me, to my father. He'll fix you're AI and everything will make sense. Don't worry, everything will turn out fine."

"What? Atom's leaving?" Zane was still catching on.

"Nah-uh!" Cora argued, standing broadly. "I'm sorry lady, but WE are Atom's official owners and you aren't taking him anywhere!"

"You don't understand the situation though!" The two women bared their teeth at each other. "Tobi is wanted by Metro City- they've been given strict orders to hunt him down and destroy him for safety reasons."

"We know."

"Then you're stupid to think that you can shield him from that," she snapped. "Tobi has always been in the possession of Tenma and considering I share that name I have the right to take him into my custody so-"

She was cut off by Flair bursting through the sliding door, panic written all over her face. "Guys, we have to- who the hell are you?" she frowned at Alicia.

"Tenma's niece Alicia, here to take Tobi to my father with m-"

"This lady won't get the message that Atom isn't going anywhere." Cora cut her off, crossing her arms.

"Wait, Tenma has a brother?" Flair's eyes bulged. Before Alicia could answer Atom spoke up.

"What were you so wound up about, Flair?"

"Oh, yeah," she bopped her palm against her head. "The wanted posters of Atom have gone viral- there're some on this train. A police officer is making his patrol."

"Shit."

"I told you that you couldn't protect him on your own!" Alicia growled. "If you would actually listen to someone with common sense then maybe-"

SLAM!

Atom gasped and Zane lurched forward when Cora swiftly whipped out a spanner and slammed it against Alicia's skull. With a roll up of her eyes she dropped to the floor like a sack of flour. Flair didn't seemed fazed at the act of violence, just annoyed. "Oh, great. Now even if we hide the police will be everywhere when they see the body."

"Whatever. Where can we hide?" Flair opened the door.

"Follow me." Cora nodded and stepped over Alicia's body with Zane on her tail but turned when a third set of feet didn't follow. Atom was standing there, mouth open, still staring at Alicia.

"Um, Atom?"

"Y-you just…knocked her out…"

"Eh, she'll be fine," Zane smiled, grabbing his arm and pulling him around her. "I think." Atom looked like he was going to be sick. The four ducked their heads out of the carriage, looking down the narrow halls adorned with red carpet and long windows, spilling in light. Zane squeaked when a police officer looked up from checking in a few carriages over. He narrowed his eyes at them before looking to a flimsy sheet of paper.

"Ohhhh crap…" When his face scrunched in urgency Atom found himself being shoved out and down the hall.

"Run, RUN, RUN!"

Bolting on command, Atom fled down the corridor with Cora, Zane and Flair on his tail. He heard the police officer yell after them and even more steps bounded against the carpet. "WHAT NOW?" Zane screeched, quickening his pace.

"JUST KEEP RUNNING!" Flair answered. Atom gritted his teeth when an obstacle in the form of a frosted glass door appeared up ahead. With a grunt he burst through it, eyes growing in regret when the sound of classical music hit his ears.

About fifty people all placed at pleasantly set tables all looked up at him. Great. The buffet carriage. Getting pushed forward by Cora he sprinted forward, jumping up onto one of the tables in his way. The people screamed in fury as the four snapped plates and spilt wine and the havoc only increased when three officers bounded in, shooting at the four a few times before deciding against it in case they hit innocents. "Sorry!" Atom said meaninglessly, almost hitting someone in the head as he leapt onto more tables. Flair reached the second door first, throwing it open and grabbing Zane's collar and chucking him through. Atom felt someone grab his shoulder from behind him and his eyes widened when he noticed it was an officer.

"LAY OFF!" Cora screamed, arching her back and striking the man chin-up with her spanner. Atom basked in awe before Cora grabbed his arm and shoved him forward. "GO!" They both jumped through into another corridor, catching up with Flair and Zane. The robot's eyes narrowed at two figures at the very end of the hall- he couldn't exactly make them out yet but…one had a long sweeping black fringe and the other had choppy brown hair with a duck printed on her shirt…

The two from the Scarlet Lakes…at the Bets stall…what are they doing here?

He knew he wouldn't have time to think of an answer when the officers barraged after them, ignoring the yells and complaints from the diners. "Is that the end of the train?!" Zane screeched to a stop at the foot of the door, looking through the musky glass with a squint of his eyes.

"There should be a storage carriage at the end!" Flair more of hoped then pointed out. The two characters huddled in the corner didn't seem startled by the situation unraveling in front of them, almost freakishly still.

"We'll take the chance," Cora said quickly, charging forward and flung the door open, revealing the icy cold air ripping in the wind. Without thinking the teenager stepped onto the greasy gauge, almost slipping. But flair gripped her shoulder and she breathed a 'thank you', her heart pounding. After cracking the steel door open she climbed into the last carriage- indeed it was a supply one, filled with boxes. Flair practically threw Zane over and pushed Atom forward, weary of the officers catching up.

"Hurry!" she hissed, shoving Atom into the carriage. Cora steadied him and when he found his footing he turned and reached out a hand for Flair. But one of the police officers leaned out and grabbed her arm. Flair tried hitting back but she wobbled dangerously on the slippery iron.

"FLAIR!" Cora yelled, making a move to jump for her but Atom held her back.

"No, don't!"

They both jolted up to the sound of bones snapping. Flair let out a shriek when the girl from the hall with the black fringe (and now that Atom got a better look she had white tipped spikes as well) took the officer in a head lock and snapped his neck. "WHAT THE HELL?" Flair gasped. Atom grabbed her arm and hauled her onto the carriage. The other girl, who didn't seemed fazed, picked up the officer's weapon and shot the gauge connecting the train. She dropped the gun immediately when the other officers caught up and Atom could hear her complaining about the services and safety on the train while the black haired one sent then a look of acknowledgment. Like she had just done a job she was sent out to do. That made Atom all the more weary.

But he couldn't be concerned about that now because the carriage was moving away from the train. They all stumbled violently as the train shot ahead like a bullet and disappeared around the curve. "GREAT!" Zane growled, gripping the wall for stability. "Now what?!"

"How am I supposed to know?!" Flair snapped.

"We have to jump." Atom said suddenly. They all looked to him as if he'd gone insane.

"WHAT?!"

"If we let the carriage move back down the track for too long then we'll lose precious time we could be travelling on foot," he explained over the roar of the wheels and wind. They looked to each other nervously.

"We'll die," Flair scoffed, obviously rejecting the idea.

"We have no choice," Cora said surprisingly easily, stepping over to Atom and flicking him out of the way, pulling open a side roller door, careful not to stumble and fall out. Forest scenery blurred past at a hundred miles per hour, the air whipping the sides of the carriage, making it shiver. Cora looked to Atom, who held out his hand.

"I can maybe try and make the fall softer." She grimaced.

"But your legs…and your feet-"

"I can do it." She was met with fiercely determined eyes. After a swallow she nodded and grabbed his hand, turning to the others.

"Come on. We can do this." Zane and Cora had an argument through facial expressions before he sighed in defeat, taking hold of Atom's other hand.

"We're going to die." Cora rolled her eyes, extending her hand to a distrusting Flair.

"Come one Flair. We have to hurry." She shook her head.

"NO. Y-you're all insane. I didn't sign up for this. Y-you've led me into this death trap."

"And now we're trying to get you out of it." She reached further. "Take my hand." She pursed her lips, shuffling on her feet.

"N-no."

"FLAIR."

"We're going to die!"

Cora ripped her hand out of Atom's and charged to Flair, grabbing her shoulders securely. "Flair, if we die, then we die. We don't have to worry about shit anymore. But if we stay on this carriage then it'll take infinitely more time to get to where we want and I need to get home." She straightened up, releasing her and instead holding out her hand. "So, will you trust us?" Flair stared at her for a long while, just breathing heavily and Cora could see the millions of thought go through her head. After a while a trusty palm met hers. She gripped it tight. "Don't let go."

Atom nodded to the two who joined the line of lost Surface Dwellers. They all faced the racing world. Atom took a breath. "On three?"

"Why not?"

"One…."

"We're gonna die, we're gonna die…"

"Two…"

"We're gonna die, oh god we're gonna die…"

"THREE!"

They all leapt forward and Atom tried with all his might to get his rocket boots to activate, and after a few terrifying seconds of nothing they suddenly ignited in a brilliant burst of fire and the string of people seemed to hop off of the whisks of air. For a glorious moment they hovered, though quite awkwardly, safely in the air, before the rockets glitched and gave out entirely. With a scream from Flair and many curses from Cora the four went tumbling to the ground, hitting the hill and rolling several times before hitting the stumps of forest trees.

For a minute they all laid there, out of breath and hearts racing, watching the runaway carriage continue down its endless path. Atom groaned and climbed to his feet, legs shaky. "S-sorry…" he gasped out. Flair was shaking all over, eyes as wide as saucers.

"W…w-we're alive…" she quivered. Atom raised an eyebrow and flinched when someone punched him.

"Nice piloting, Captain Crash," Cora growled, rubbing her neck with a wince.

"Sorry," Atom said sheepishly.

"We're alive…"

"That was the most James Bond thing I've ever done in my life," Zane said with a grin, getting to his feet and straining his back. Flair just about jumped ten feet in the air.

"WE'RE ALIVE!" she hugged a rather startled Atom. "I CAN'T BELIVE WE'RE ALIVE! Oh my god, I thought I was a goner! But…but…THANK YOU!" Atom squeaked when she squeezed him.

"I told you to trust us," Cora smirked. Zane scratched his head, looking to where the train had left off. After a while he let out a cry.

"NOOOOO!" he wined, falling to his knees. Flair and Cora frowned at him.

"What?"

"OUR MONEY!" he mourned. "IT'S STILL ON THE TRAIN!"

"Oh fuck!" Flair let go of the poor robot and joined in their misery.

"You mean we have no money? Again?" Cora buried her head in her hands, feeling like she should just give up on life.

"And our books and tools and…oh crap balls…"

"How are we supposed to get to Sparks now?" Zane asked, rightfully pissed off at the situation.

"We walk." They all looked to Atom.

"What?"

"It'll take a long time, sure, but it's the only way. Maybe we can oddly hitch hike on the way."

"Walk? From here to Sparks? How long will that even take us?" Zane asked.

"Around two-three days," Atom answered without missing a beat. They all shared glances of varied worn out nature. Atom merely shrugged. "Better get going?" Cora growled under her breath, leading the long walk onward. Zane's eyes bulged out.

"You're kidding…" Cora didn't intend on stopping, walking at a pleasant pace along the base of the hill. Atom smiled, joining her and Flair awkwardly jogged to catch up. "Are you guys SERIOUS?"

"What choice do we have, Zane?" Cora called over her shoulder.

"Go back to Scarlet Lakes and make Atom kick robot butt for money again?"

"NO."

"Aww, come on!" They didn't answer, still walking ahead. Zane groaned, lamely following. "We'll just make him fight the tiger!" No answer. "The dude with the chain saw? Scavengers?! HELLOOOOOO?!"

Cora smirked, shaking her head and looking up to the slowly darkening sky, continuing down the slowly growing path ahead of her.