The group ran through the streets, sometimes one of the Blondies straying behind. They sneaked past the old crumbled buildings, Bruss mourning his favorite pizza joint- now a pile of rubble and cement. Upon hearing the sudden electrocuting of the battle, they were sure to quicken their pace. Zane was busy being stupid, keeping his body low while humming the 'Pink Panther' theme song. Bruss twisted on his heels to face him. "Would you SHUTUP?" he hissed. Zane scowled.

"You can't tell me what to do!"

"Then perhaps I'll MAKE you!"

"BRING IT ON!"

"Losers!" Ember and Lisa both yelled. They looked to each other, then narrowed their eyes.

"I know I'm perfect, but there's no need to COPY, Ember..." she said, walking off to join her friends. Ember flicked her hair around.

"I know I'm perfect but no need ta copy Ember!" she mimicked in a squeaky voice. Cora snickered with her.

"HEY GUYS!" They heard Conner yell from way up ahead, near where the corner was. They all looked to him.

"Yeah?" called Cora.

"What do YOU want, nerd?" Bruss rudely asked. Conner didn't respond to Luna and Keel laughing, but instead announced,

"I found the building!" the giggles were all ceased. They all just looked blankly to him for a few seconds. He waved his arms. "Com'on!"

They all got knocked back into their senses and quickly scampered over to where Conner was pointing. There was a HUGE building, 100 stories high. But their smiles dropped when they saw that a large pile of debris was blocking the main door. Bruss ran up to the tossed cement and kicked it in anger. "MOVE!" he yelled, as if it was going to make a difference. Zane dropped to his knees, holding his head.

"NO! WE'RE DOOMED!" he cried, as always, being over-dramatic.

"What are we gonna do now?" Zibby asked.

"Dibs not climbing!" declared Luna.

"I don't think climbing is a good idea..." Cora said, scratching the back of her neck. Lisa sighed angrily.

"There you go again!"

"What?"

"Giving orders!" while they fought, Ember walked around the side of the building. She saw the silver metal of the small air vent that ran up the side. Small...but large enough... She grinned.

"Bingo."

The shock was unbearable. The red energy shot down onto the small robot boy, making his eyes wide and his movements completely undesired. Astro screamed like he had never screamed before. He felt as if he was on fire. Actually, more likely in a pit of lava. A fire he would settle for. He was shocked to his feet, leaning back as the stabbing zaps kept coming and coming, vault by vault. Zoran was woken from her small slumber, her body tensing and her eyes enlarging in complete and utter shock. Astro squeezed his fists in agony, looking down to his sister. She curled herself into a small ball, trying to scream, but it was too much for her. "Z-ZORAN!" Astro yelled out in pain again. Black was enjoying every minute of it, punching down on the different buttons with his foot as he shoved his hands behind his back. "Well, Astro, you ruined my life!" his face went dark. "Now its my turn to ruin yours..."

Astro's chest heaved as more red energy clicked on his back. Warning signals appeared in his head, stating the painful obvious.

WARNING!

SYSTEM DESTROYING!

SHUTDOWN IN...

10...

Astro gritted his teeth and looked down to his arm ad tried to activate his cannon, only for Black to notch up the pain. "AHHH!" he scrunched his eyes

closed.

9...

"Just...just don't let this end up like the Peace Keeper..."

Astro tried to resist the shocks, hearing Zoran's stunned groans in his ears.

"I won't, I promise. I have too much to live for..."

8...

That was it. Astro snapped his eyes up and clamped his mouth shut. Slowly, fighting against the sea of rippling power, Astro groaned and raised his head to look straight at Black. The criminal was caught off guard, frowning at Astro. He didn't look like he was in pain anymore...he looked...stronger?

Hamegg walked up to a random car on the street. Those little brats hadn't returned his car from last night, and he wanted to watch the fight to see if Black was going to survive this or not. Pulling a tiny Spybot from his pocket, Hamegg grinned and breathed in the morning air. It was around 7:00am, and the sun was still early in the sky. The Spybot slid in to the steering wheel ad glitches with the mechanics, unlocking the door and starting the engine. Hamegg smiled and hopped in.

"RUFF!" with a frown, the small man looked out his open door...to Trashcan. He jolted.

"What are you doing here, mutt?"

"RUFF!" Trashcan lolled his metal tongue out. "RUFF! RUFF! RUFF!"

"SHH! This isn't my car, you piece of scrap! Now shut it!"

"RUFF! RUFF!"

"FINE! Get in!" with a wiggle of his legs Trashcan leapt up and pounced onto the passenger seat as Hamegg zoomed up to the sky, headed for Metro City.

5...

Astro felt his mind whirr out of control. A certain energy he never felt before flowed through his body. The BlueCore was working to the point of over-load. The red energy glitched back as the robot stood up straight, strong on his legs. He heard Zoran stop moaning and relax as he flexed his arms beside him. Hamegg landed his car on one of the buildings close by, frowning and stepping out. He wasn't witnessing the death of Black. He was witnessing the death of...Astro Boy. He slowly proceeded forward, Trashcan whimpering as he followed. Hamegg took a small glance down to the desperate pup, it's ears arched back and it's eyes wide with horror. Sure, the kid was a pain at the start, but Trashcan loved that boy.

4...

There was no way Astro would survive this, Hamegg thought to himself. He felt that slight touch of sorrow for him but, then again, this was Hamegg. He didn't care that much for robots...

Astro scowled and griped his fists. He couldn't give up. Not now. He had to do it for Cora, for Tenma, or Zoran and for all his friends. And for Z. He groaned in effort as he tensed his body.

3...

His body was getting weaker...

2..

His functions were almost shut down now. He would fall to the ground, unable to move, and he'd be gone for good. A clear target for Black. But just as Astro saw the last number start to fade in, something happened. Blue energy started to lash out from his chest.

He took a step forward.

Black's eyes widened as he saw his red lightning die down a fraction, and the small robot advance. The blue started out small, but then grew larger and larger, until it was reaching out to the BlackBott's claws, battling with the huge robot. Hamegg's brows creased. He took another step forward. Trashcan started to gain hope, his ears perking up.

"Impossible..."

Astro took one last breath in, then surged all he had out to the robot. Black screamed as the BlackBott got thrown off it's feet, falling around five buildings away. Astro breathed heavily and slumped a little. He had NO idea what had just happened to him. But he couldn't be bothered with that right now.

Hamegg watched the hero kneel down to his robot sister. His scratched his head, eyes still wide. "Holy scrap metal! I didn't know the brat was THAT powerful!"

Astro softly nudged Zoran's shoulder. She groaned and opened her eyes, looking to him. She gasped. "I'm dead!" Astro laughed, helping her up. She frowned. "This is NOT a laughing matter, brother! We're DEAD!"

"No we're not, Zoran!"

"But! BUT!" he placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Shhh, everything's fine." She looked up to him, fear in her eyes. In a gasp she gripped her arms around his neck in a hug. He hugged her back.

"But how? I saw (and FELT, thanks alot) the BlackBott killing us!"

"I'm not very sure, but I we have better things to worry about. Let's go!"

They all gathered around the air vent, Zane taking a look up it.

"So...now what?" he asked. Ember sighed.

"Dufus! We can get in by traveling up this!" she said, tapping on the thin metal. Everyone's eyes widened.

"Err, HOW?" Bruss asked.

"I already said not climbing!" Luna stuck her hand up.

BEEP!

They all spun around to a car, speeding up and squealing to a stop in front of them. A lady huskily walked out, looking very anxious. She looked to the group, and her eyes narrowed. "LUNA! KEEL! In the car NOW!" Keel and Luna's shoulder's dropped and they groaned. Bruss snickered.

"Go on guys! Go to your mummy!" with a death glare from each of them, they both walked over to the car. The woman pushed their heads inside. Amanda shuffled on the stop as the woman went to get back in the front seat. Soon, she couldn't hold it. "WAIT!" everyone watched as the Blondie pranced over to the car. "Take me with you!"

"Orr, what?" Lisa groaned.

"Such a loser, Amanda!" Zibby sneered. She only got given a wave out the window in response as the car sped back up the road. Stacy gave a careless gesture.

"Leave her. She's just a wuss," she grumbled. Cora nodded, studying the vent. It traveled all the way up the building, and then cut off near the top floor.

"So, anyone got any ideas how to get up this thing?"

"How am I supposed to know!" Bruss yelled, kicking the air vent.

"I wasn't asking just you, Bruss!"

"And do you really think KICKING everything is gonna help?" Zane smugged. Bruss looked around to him.

"Well, it works when I kick you, huh, scavenger?" Zane stepped forward.

"You are SO asking for it!"

"What are you gonna do? Whimp!"

"HEY HEY HEY!" Cora pulled Zane back while Zibby pulled back Bruss.

"Fighting over this isn't going to help anyone!" Cora yelled.

"But this might..." they all looked over to Conner, tapping on his touch-screen pad. He held the small device up. "I've gotten a route up on how we can navigate our way through the air vent."

"Yeah, but what about getting up there?" Cora asked.

"Simple," Conner replied, stepping up to the entrance of the vent. He looked to Ember and motioned her to step up. With a frown she walked up the stand next to him. "Okay, now push your back against mine." Ember did as she as told, along with a few snickers from Bruss and the Blondies.

"You guys are so cute together!" Lisa teased. Cora and Zane couldn't help but giggle a little at the thought.

"Shut up..." Ember mumbled, causing them to break out into a laugh.

"Okay, so then you just link your arms,"

More laughter.

"And then press against each other."

Cracking up.

"And then you both step your way up the vent!" Conner finished proudly. After a while of more laughing, Cora wiped her eyes and nodded.

"V-very good C-Conner!" she gasped out. Soon everyone was hushed, and the nerd clapped his hands together.

"So, you'll need a partner!" he declared.

Ember touched Conner lightly on the shoulder, showing him that he was her choice. He smiled and looked to the other pairs.

Lisa quickly grabbed Stacy's shoulder, leaving Bruss, Zane, Zibby and Cora left. They all let out groans. "Well, isn't this ironic!" Zane said. He looked to the sky, shaking his fist at it while he complained, "WHY DO YOU HATE ME?"

"That is, like, SO not fair!" she twisted to her friends. "How could you do this to me?" she squeaked. But they were too busy chatting. She rolled her eyes and huffed. Bruss made his way over to her, but she took a step back. "Ew! No way!" she walked over to Cora. "At least you could pass as a girl..." she mumbled.

"Thanks, Zibby..." Zane and Bruss glared at each other. They took half an inch towards each other, and that was it. The pairings were done.

"Great!" Conner said, turning to the air vent. "Now lets get climbing!"