Astro and Tobio

Chapter 6: Crab Droid Trouble

Astro and Tobio threw each other a look, Astro's was one of surprise, Tobio's, however, was one of slight annoyance. "I'll handle this," he reiterated firmly, taking out his tablet from his jacket pocket as he said this. He tapped a few buttons before swiping to a new page.

"You?" said an amused Astro raising his eyebrows. "You are going to takedown that thing all by yourself?" he continued, pointing at the rampaging Crab droid.

"I designed it. You think I wouldn't know how to stop it?" Tobio replied, still tapping rapidly on the tablet screen. "Although I must admit I never realised the professor ever had that design built."

Astro looked over at the droid. "So does that mean you gave it a small weakness like the Death Star?"

Tobio gave Astro a 'oh please' look. "No. It just means I have the shutdown codes and can transmit them."

Zoran spoke up, "Could one of you just do something before it smashes up the entire street with us in it?" She marvelled as the droid used its metal claws to crack the ground and pummel the buildings.

"No problem. Watch this," Tobio smirked as he finished typing on his tablet, pressing one last button to send out the shutdown code. To his astonishment, the droid seemed unaffected, continuing to reap havoc and, disturbingly, getting closer to them in the process.

"Watch what?" asked Astro, sounding somewhat smug. He couldn't help feeling half glad that what he was sure was Tobio's attempt to show off in front of Zoran had backfired.

Tobio tapped the button several more times in a rapid fashion but to no avail. "Ah, alright. Sebastian may have changed the codes without telling me." he said sheepishly. "But I can still handle this."

"It's my turn now," smiled Astro, taking a few steps forward. "Watch me turn that thing into scrap metal."

"I caution against that Astro," said Tobio, resisting the urge to try ordering Astro to stop. He decided to show his brother more respect than that even if it would have been for his own good. "That droid is much stronger and faster than the other droids Sebastian had built and he made me design and program it specifically so it could defeat you."

"That won't be a problem for me. This will be over in one shot," smirked Astro, his rocket boots activating and he flew into the air.

"If you say so," sighed Tobio, rolling his eyes as he watched Astro firing a laser at the droid. Astro's actions were the exact sort of thing he had personally programmed into the robot's mind. The Crab droid detected the movement and simply jumped out of the way. Astro and Zoran gaped at the creature's agility and were even more astonished as it turned in midair and fired a blaster shot right at Astro. Even though Astro was still moving through the air, the droid's aim was precise and struck Astro right in his chest. He felt himself be sent spinning backwards before crashing into the ground.

When the Crab droid landed it quickly scuttled over to Astro before he could even sit up and brought one of its legs down on him. Astro recovered moments before the droid made contact and was able to catch the attack. The two robots then become locked in a test of strength. They seemed to be evenly matched, with the Crab droid not able to crush Astro but Astro not able to throw off the droid.

"I told you to let me handle this Astro. That thing is programmed with all your fighting styles," Tobio yelled from where he and Zoran stood.

"You could have mentioned that sooner," Astro yelled back.

"You thought I only used that data for those metal rings and none of my other inventions?" Tobio shot back. "And I said it was designed specifically so it could defeat you. I may be weaker than you but I can create things stronger than you."

"Now what do we do?" asked Zoran, looking on in horror.

"You stay here and out of trouble. I will deal with this as soon as…" His hover skateboard touched down next to him. "…my skateboard gets here," Tobio smirked.

Zoran blinked in surprise. "Where did that thing come from?"

Tobio crouched down next to the board and clicked two buttons on his tablet. This caused two small hatches to open on his board. From one he pulled a small device and slipped it into his pocket. From the other he pulled a device which he kept clutched in his hand. He stood up, closing the hatches by clicking a button on his tablet, before returning it to his jacket pocket. "After I didn't have my board when we encountered those droids at the beach, Astro and I gave it an upgrade so it could fly to me if I needed it. I just need to press a few buttons on my tablet," Tobio explained, getting onto the board and slipping his feet into the foot slots. Given how high the device could fly, these were needed to stop the user from falling off.

He took off and flew onto the Crab Droid's head. "I'll teach you to ruin my baguette. Oh, and hurting Astro I guess," sniggered Tobio as he touched down on the machine.

"I'm amazed that board can lift you with that big head of yours," Astro yelled as he continued to struggle. The opportunity to show their skills in front of Zoran seemed to be bringing back their rivalry which in turn seemed to be bringing out the worst in them.

Tobio crouched down next to a set of numbered buttons and began typing. 'Please may Sebastian not have changed the codes here too. Astro has had enough pain, and I've had enough humiliation, for one day,' thought Tobio. To his relief the small hatch the buttons were on clicked open when he tapped the last number.

Sebastian silently watched all these events unfold from the corner at the other end of the street. It, of course, occurred to him to change the combination for the hatch but he did not want to make this too challenging for the boys. After all, this was only a test.

Tobio yanked out a small piece from the system under the hatch, before proceeding to replace it with the device he still held in his hand. He then closed the hatch and flew back a safe distance. Tobio put the object he had retrieved into his pocket and took out his tablet again. "And pop goes the weasel," he laughed as he clicked a button.

The Crab droid suddenly jerked, the hatch bulged out, nearly flying of the droid's back. The device Tobio used was obviously explosive.

Astro easily pushed the robot's leg away as it fell to the ground motionless. He looked over at Tobio as he landed his board near Zoran, who was clapping. "That was expertly done," she giggled. Tobio gave a bow.

"Why didn't you warn me that thing was programmed with my fighting styles?" Astro yelled as he walked over to them.

Tobio turned to him and calmly replied, "Well I seem to recall saying you shouldn't try fighting it."

"Since when do I take orders from you, puffball?" Astro hissed.

Tobio's calm demeanour vanished upon being called a name. "Well, metalhead, you take orders from me since I'm human!" he hissed back. Tobio regretted the statement as soon as it left his mouth but he didn't back down. He was not scared of Astro. The deactivator he had retrieved from his board earlier was still in his pocket.

Despite the two boys having exceptional skill and intelligence they were still, well… kids. And to demonstrate this, their argument became the two of them calling each other names.

"Airhead!" Astro yelled.

"Fish-face!" Tobio yelled back.

"Dimwit!"

"Moron!"

"Muppet!"

"Jackass!"

"Goofball!"

"Idiot!"

"Numbskull!"

Tobio finally lost it and shoved Astro. "Rust pile!"

Astro stumbled. He was far stronger than Tobio but was still pushed back because he hadn't been expecting the move. He stepped forward and shoved Tobio back. "Flesh heap!"

Tobio was forced a few steps back but then moved forwards again and the two boys stood glaring daggers at each other, their noses only inches apart, mirror expressions of resentment on their faces. They were never normally like this. The cause of their behaviour was standing a few feet from them.

Despite the amusement he was getting from this, Sebastian decided it was time to leave. He turned and walked away. He didn't even bother wearing a disguise this time. He had plenty of other droids hidden, ready to help him if needs be. He could never understand why love would cause people to do things normally outside their usual principles. 'It is amazing they would do so much for an emotion that only exists in their imagination,' he thought to himself as he smirked.

"Now, now," began a nervous Zoran, hoping to calm the situation. "You two should be happy. You both just stopped a rampaging robot. Why are you both turning on each…"

She was interrupted as both boys yelled "jerk" at each other, before turning and marching away in opposite directions, leaving a bewildered Zoran standing by herself.

Hours later, the three, along with Dr O'Shay, ate dinner together. Astro and Tobio sat next to each other but they kept their sight on their food, refusing to look at the other. Zoran and Dr O'Shay watched them from the other side of the table.

"What happened to cause this rift between them?" Dr O'Shay asked Zoran. This made her wince.

'Your mouth is as big as your nose,' she thought. And sure enough, hearing the question set the two off again.

"It's not my fault he's the one being a total jerk," the two said in unison. In contrast to their usual amusement at saying the same thing, they both glared daggers at each other. "Stop copying me! I'm not, you are!" They both looked like they were going to say something else but then realised that they would say the same thing again so changed their minds.

Tobio had a better idea to get at Astro. He hopped off his chair and walked around the table to Zoran. Astro was surprised to see he suddenly looked nervous. "Zoran," Tobio began, his voice a little shaky. "I know this great ice-cream place not too far from here. I was wondering if you would like to go there with me tomorrow and I'll treat you to something." Astro and Dr O'Shay watch in surprise as Zoran blinked.

"You mean like a date?" She asked.

"Y… Yeah. If you would like that," he replied, trying his best not to blush.

"This is stupid," said Astro. "Zoran he is obviously just asking you out to get to me."

Zoran looked at Astro blankly for a few moments but then she looked annoyed. "Oh, so you think that is the only reason someone would want to go out with me?" She clearly sounded hurt.

Astro blushed. "Wait, no. That is not what I meant."

But Zoran turned back to Tobio and got to her feet. "Tobio I would love to go on a date with you." Her words made Tobio's face light up with happiness.

"Great," he smiled. "I promise you will have a wonderful time."

Zoran giggled. "Now if you will excuse me. I am going to my room." She then darted up the stairs. She did not want to be present for what would happen next.

Astro scowled at Tobio. "You shouldn't take her out after what happened today. What if there is another droid attack? She could be hurt."

"I'll be there to protect her. She'll be quite safe," said Tobio calmly. For the second time that day he regretted his words. He had been genuinely trying to reassure Astro but now he realised he just sounded smug.

"I would not trust you to protect her from a spider."

"I dealt with the droid."

"You really want to take credit for my victory."

"You mean my victory."

The two were standing in front of each other again. "Now, now you two," interjected O'Shay. "Is that the way you treat your brother?"

"We are not brothers!" They shouted in each other's faces. They both turned away, Astro leaving the house and Tobio running to his room. Astro flew off and Tobio slammed the door to his room.

Zoran watched Tobio from the doorway to her room. She then ran to her window and watched Astro flying away. 'I didn't want to come between them like this,' she thought sadly.

But Zoran, along with O'Shay, did not realise why the two had left. Astro few high up so no one could see the tears streaming down his face. Meanwhile, Tobio threw himself onto his bed and sobbed into his pillow. Both hating all the horrible things they had said to each other that day, especially the final thing they had both just said.

To Be Continued…