The moment the Hyper Force returned to the robot; Chiro retreated to the privacy of his bedroom. Leaving the remaining Hyper Force members congregated in the control room.
Stepping into the orange pod, Chiro embraced the rush of warm air that shot him to the rooms level.
As soon as he reached his bedroom though he hesitated. Changing his mind as he quickly used his tube to take him to the engine room instead. Quietly the boy reached the centre core. Staring at the heart of the Super Robot intently he gulped at just the sheer enormity of the task in front of him. "There are hundreds of chips and wires. It could be any of them." Chiro stammered, his heart racing, before suddenly he turned away, heading straight back to his tube and returning up to the bedrooms.
Reaching his door, Chiro punched the sensor; ignoring the crack of glass beneath his gloved fist, as the door opened immediately.
Watching the door slide shut, with the world securely locked out, Chiro let his guard shatter. His fist dug into the metal wall in front of him. The pain doing nothing to stop the punch as Chiro then rested his forehead against the cool metal for what seemed like eternity.
"What am I going to do?" The teen questioned repeatedly to himself, as he thought deeply. His mind descending into turmoil.
Turning his back to the wall, Chiro slid to the floor, holding his head in his hands as he stared at the floor below. His bright cyan eyes glassing over.
"What does Maezono want from me? What is the point? Mockery? Humiliation? Some grand plan? The monkey team could end up protecting the city from me!" Chiro sighed, breathing through the wave of nausea that swept his body.
"Hero to zero," Chiro sighed crawling across the floor to his soft puffy bed. "Can't wait to see these headlines when they hit the papers." Chiro sighed as he flopped inelegantly on the bed. The soft duvet providing little comfort to the boy's mental turmoil.
"Or Maezono could blow us all up and evil can run amuck." Sighing, Chiro closed his eyes letting the time race past him as he dwelled on his dilemma. Zoning out, deep in thought he failed to hear the soft knock on his bedroom door.
"Chiro, dinner is ready." Antauri called, as he failed to get much response except for a murmur from the teen.
Noting the broken door sensor, Antauri raised a brow. Placing his metal palm against it the door opened to the boy's room.
"Chiro…"
"I think I'll pass Antauri." Chiro stated quickly, his cyan eyes opening to focus on the silver primate.
Looking at the teenage boy intently he could feel the disturbance radiating through Chiro's power primate.
"Do you not feel well Chiro?" Antauri asked with concern, studying the boy's face for any tell-tale signs or giveaway clues, as he clocked the dented wall to his left.
"I can send Gibson for a check…"
"I'm fine Antauri, just not hungry." Chiro interrupted, flicking his unruly hair off his sweaty brow.
"You need nutrition to keep in peak physical condition, is something on your mind then Chiro?" Antauri inquired in his deep soothing tone. Watching the teenager intently as his brow rose a minuscule amount as he stuttered.
"Chiro think very carefully about what you are about to say." The wise monkey cut in. Knowing the boy was about to try and fabricate some excuse.
Sighing, Chiro held his hands up apologetically, "Sorry Antauri I'm just a bit stressed, I just need some rest." Chiro spoke his eyes landing on the floor, as he decided to go for it.
"Did Gibson and Otto complete the checks on the engine room and neutron generator?"
Raising a brow at the sudden change of topic, Antauri grasped the boy's shoulder. "All daily routine checks have been completed for today Chiro."
"There was nothing wrong then?" Chiro reiterated.
Seeing the worry flash through the leaders crystal like eyes Antauri cocked his head to one side,
"Chiro what is the matter? your aura is troubled. I can sense it. But regarding the status of the engine room and neutron generator everything is running as it should be."
Chiro sighed, defeated. Maezono was right, the monkeys could not detect the problem. He needed to be alone now to think. Looking straight at the cobalt eyes of the silver primate. "I am fine Antauri, just not hungry but tired. I am going to rest, you should go back to the kitchen before your food gets cold." Chiro stated, finally feeling the release of the metal monkey's paw off his shoulder.
"Very well Chiro, if you need anything at all Chiro, just call."
Antauri said knowing this was getting no where. He decided to give Chiro some time alone to think, hoping the boy would return with what was really bothering him sooner rather than later as he left the boy's room.
Chiro rocked back on his bed the moment Antauri left, staring at the ceiling in silent distress.
Eventually sitting up Chiro eyed his bedroom window, a lone tear running down his face. "I don't have a choice; I cannot risk it all. The stakes are too high."
Chiro made his move at midnight. Slipping out of the robot with what he could carry in a small satchel and slinking into the inky coloured shadows. Dodging past everyone and everything he made his way back to the bridge and water's edge; stumbling along the sandy beach as tears blurred his vision. Reaching the entrance to the underground lab, Chiro's shoulders deflated. Turning around one final time he took in the sight of the Super Robot glistening in the moonlight. A magnificent sight. "I'm sorry monkey team, you will have to defend the city from me now too." The boy said sadly as he slowly trudged down the secret entrance.
————-
Scurrying through the halls of the giant bone castle that lay in the pit of doom, two monkeys fought as they raced for the main throne room. The smaller pink furred primate adorned in a green skirt and cropped shirt, tackled the larger and stronger orange monkey that was covered in skull armour and a bone claw hand.
"Got it," Sakko screeched with excitement as he sped off into the distance blasting through the bone doors of the throne room as he slid to his knees in a bowing stance, Mandarin following suit soon after.
"My Lord. The great Skeleton King. I have news of extreme interest." Sakko announced as he handed the prize to his skeleton master.
Ripping the piece of paper from the mini pink monkey's hand, the Skeleton King's demonic eyes scanned the crinkled sheet intently. A smile creasing on to his skull face, "How very interesting indeed, good work Mandarin."
Accepting his praise graciously Mandarin bowed his head. "Thank you, my lord."
"But my Lord it was me…" Sakko began…
"Silence. I am reading!" Skeleton King snapped.
As both monkeys jumped to either side of the throne chair the evil lord sat on. Perching in silence.
The Skeleton King's evil eyes stared intently at the article.
"Do you think it could be a hoax my lord?" Sakko questioned quickly leaning over the dark lord to read the poster for himself.
Flicking the small pink primate off him within a second, the Skeleton King's face scrunched up.
"No, you fool, why would the Hyper Force broadcast their king pin is missing? They are desperate, not hiding the boy in a closet."
"I have always had my suspicions." Mandarin remarked quickly with a smirk.
"Maybe it's a trap my lord?" Sakko defended quickly, as he picked himself up off the floor and scurried back.
"A trap? But who would this trap be set for exactly Sakko? Do you doubt our master would fall for something so obvious?" Mandarin inquired raising a brow at Sakko, as he jumped on the opportunity all guns blazing with a smirk.
Glaring daggers at the orange clone, the pink monkey turned to their master. "No, no, no, I have never doubted you in my life, my Lord, Skeleton King, it is just we could launch a huge attack on the city and then the hairless monkey could appear from nowhere and then they defeat us, a bit like how Mandarin's plans usually pans out..."
"Or we could launch a huge attack and annihilate the city and the remaining members of the Hyper Force." Mandarin cut the smaller primate off, before receiving the same treatment.
"Or end up in another ditch, AGAIN. Just like how MANDARIN'S plan panned out last week when he suggested to attack from the left wing. And then we came face to face with pretty much every member of the Hyper Force and their allies." Sakko retorted emphasising his killer words. "If you ask me that was a huge coc.."
"Shut up Sakko before I remove your head." Mandarin growled, before the pair was silenced instantly with one word.
"Enough!" Skeleton King ordered. "I will not accept my left and right hand monkeys arguing."
Glaring, as the two submissive monkeys stood in silence. The bone Lord rose from his throne chair and announced, "We shall test the Hyper Force. Tomorrow we launch an attack."
