It's been a year since The Robotonia Incident. The humans and robots of MetroCity, now regarded as equals, live in peace together. Though there are still those who harbor feelings of mistrust, they are few in number and quite passive. Astro, no longer needing to save the world, enjoys more time with his friends and family...
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"Catch it Astro!" Kennedy called, tossing a rocket ball as far as he could.
Alejo and Abercrombie, who were on the opposing team, dashed after it in attempts to catch it before their robot friend did. The four boys had all come to the park after school to roughhouse and get a little ball practice in before dinner. They had found a big, yet secluded part of the park to play, so that nobody would get in the way and be accidentally hurt.
"Got it!" Astro called, barely seizing the ball before Abercrombie could.
"That tree is the goal!" Kennedy called, pointing to a big oak which stood tall in the center of their playing ground.
"Okay!" Astro replied, heading for the tree in hopes of scoring a point. The three human children followed behind him, each panting hard and laughing even harder. It was very hard to keep up with Astro, even when he was running as a human's pace.
"Go for it!" Kennedy called. Astro aimed, but never threw the ball. Instead, he stopped suddenly and came to a halt. The others noticed this and also slowed up.
"What is it, Astro?" Kennedy asked, though his question was soon answered without Astro having to say a word: There was a sound in the air, rising gently above the singing birds and the clamoring city. It was the sound of a beautiful melody being played on a flute. The song was soft and enchanting. As it increased in volume, it seemed nature itself fell silent to listen. In awe, none of the boys dared move. Where was it coming from? Their eyes scanned their surroundings for it's maker, but with no luck. Then just as suddenly as it had risen, the tune died away, and with it went the spell. The sounds of the wind in the trees, singing birds, and the busy city noises in the distance all returned.
"What was that?" Alejo asked, taking a few steps forward and looking around.
"I don't know. Let's look around and see if we can find where it came from." Kennedy suggested. All in agreement, the four boys separated in search of the music maker, wandering different directions until they were quite a ways away from each other. At first, their search was fruitless. Then the tune was replayed. Astro noticed it was loudest near the oak tree and quickly, he made his way toward it.
Once there, an unexpected sight met his eyes: Amid the intertwined trunk, sat a interesting yellow character whom he'd been quite familiar with in the past.
Ally.
A robot girl, the same size as Astro.
Astro's creator, Dr. Tenma, built Ally's body a long time ago, but he had never completed the robotics inside. It was a mystery to everyone how Ally could function like a real robot when she was nothing more than an empty shell with a artificial brain and half a heart. Sometime in the past, Dr. Tenma had confirmed Ally's claim that she was activated by a powerful bolt of lighting during a terrible thunderstorm... But beyond that, neither of them would say. Astro considered her a friend, but she was as much a mystery to him as to anyone. Even more mysterious than her activation and ability to function, however, was her special ability: Ally could copy another robot's powers and sometimes even human memories, just by touching them.
Once, Ally was kind enough to let Dr. O'Shay scan her while she used this ability, in order to figure out how it worked. His conclusion attributed her ability to microscopic, seemingly radioactive, metal shavings that were floating around inside her empty body. These tiny flakes would replicate whatever function produced the strongest energy in another entity.
Astro reflected on how important that moment had been for Dr. O'Shay, because Ally's attitude toward him was typically one of contempt--- Not for any reason in particular, Ally just spent most her time with Dr. Tenma in his secret base and adopted a lot of the man's opinions. Astro had only occasionally seen her when she wasn't by the doctor's side, but those few moments had been very precious ones for them both. Ally was a great help to Astro a couple of times during tough scrapes, and he remembered with fondness the times they would watch the sunset and talk, just the two of them... Striking upon this thought, Astro's mind turned to the last time he'd seen Ally:
*******
It was a year ago, while he was listening to Dr. O'Shay's speech at the Human and Robot Partnership celebration. Toward the end, Astro decided to slip away. He remembered thinking he was alone as he headed down the darkened hallway, then suddenly he saw Ally. She was smiling, but her eyes seemed sad.
It was a year ago, while he was listening to Dr. O'Shay's speech at the Human and Robot Partnership celebration. Toward the end, Astro decided to slip away. He remembered thinking he was alone as he headed down the darkened hallway, then suddenly he saw Ally. She was smiling, but her eyes seemed sad.
"Where you going, Astro?" She'd asked in playful innocence.
"Outside.. I just need some fresh air." He'd replied.
"Robots don't need air, silly." She said, laughing at him. He chuckled a little bit too.
"Robots don't need air, silly." She said, laughing at him. He chuckled a little bit too.
"I know." He said, rubbing the back of his head. "So what are you doing here?"
"Well, it's not like I have anywhere else to be now that Dr. Tenma is in jail." She said, shrugging. Astro could tell she was unhappy, but he understood why. A silence followed. It had always been awkward between the two of them whenever Tenma was brought up. Ally was so incredibly loyal to him..
"Well, it's not like I have anywhere else to be now that Dr. Tenma is in jail." She said, shrugging. Astro could tell she was unhappy, but he understood why. A silence followed. It had always been awkward between the two of them whenever Tenma was brought up. Ally was so incredibly loyal to him..
Once, Ally told Astro she just wanted to feel that she belonged; she wanted to be accepted by Dr. Tenma, but his focus had always been completely on Astro. She followed up this confession by admitting to Astro's face that she was jealous of him.. Still, they never let that hurt their friendship. What would it mean for them now? Astro and Dr. Tenma had technically remedied their relationship when the man conceded that he wasn't fit to be the robot's father.
How did that make Ally feel?
"You can still visit him, you know." Astro said to Ally.
Ally's eyes went to the floor. "Yeah I know." She said, "I'm going to after I tell you something."
"Tell me what?" He'd asked with a friendly grin.
"Uhm... Something." She repeated awkwardly.
This was a change. Ally was always spunky and confident, but now she seemed shy and embarrassed. "I know we've kinda had our differences: You've always been loyal to your doctor and your human friends, whereas I was loyal to somebody who didn't exactly like either of those. Still, I've always considered you my best friend-- Probably my only friend."
"No, don't say that. You have plenty of friends, same as I do. Reno and Abercrombie and Aleijo and Kennedy, remember?" He'd said quickly, giving her an encouraging smile.
"I guess.. But to be honest with you, Astro, sometimes you've made me mad. I was mad that you kept putting yourself in danger to protect humans that didn't even like you, and I was mad at you for not giving up." She started, fidgeting uncomfortably.
"No, don't say that. You have plenty of friends, same as I do. Reno and Abercrombie and Aleijo and Kennedy, remember?" He'd said quickly, giving her an encouraging smile.
"I guess.. But to be honest with you, Astro, sometimes you've made me mad. I was mad that you kept putting yourself in danger to protect humans that didn't even like you, and I was mad at you for not giving up." She started, fidgeting uncomfortably.
"Oh. I see." He'd said, somewhat taken back by this.
"I don't feel that way anymore though! In fact, I haven't felt that way for a while." She added quickly, "Heh. I know my timing in confessing this really makes me seem like a fair weather friend. I wanted to do it before The Robotonia Incident but-- ... I just can't go away without telling you that I'm sorry for everything. I'm sorry I wasn't a better friend and support to you.."
He frowned. He could tell something was really weighing on her mind. She wouldn't meet his eyes. "It's okay. I forgive you. Everything is going to be fine now."
Ally still didn't look up, but a soft smile appeared on her face. "That's what I admire most about you, Astro; your ability to forgive. You're so nice, and brave, and your determination to stand for what you believed in really inspired me. Truth is, I was only angry at you because I was afraid for you. I'm glad that you never gave up. What you've done and everything, I think it's really great. You've caused me to reconsider my own position on humans and robots... But I'm not sure my loyalties to Tenma will ever change." Finally, she looked at him, her attention becoming intent as she did. "I'm proud of you for what you've done. Also, I--... I... Well, I..." She struggled for a moment in a silent battle with her thoughts, then she stuck out her hand and smiled kindly at him. He didn't fully understand. He thought she was just making sure they were friends, so he smiled and took her hand.
He frowned. He could tell something was really weighing on her mind. She wouldn't meet his eyes. "It's okay. I forgive you. Everything is going to be fine now."
Ally still didn't look up, but a soft smile appeared on her face. "That's what I admire most about you, Astro; your ability to forgive. You're so nice, and brave, and your determination to stand for what you believed in really inspired me. Truth is, I was only angry at you because I was afraid for you. I'm glad that you never gave up. What you've done and everything, I think it's really great. You've caused me to reconsider my own position on humans and robots... But I'm not sure my loyalties to Tenma will ever change." Finally, she looked at him, her attention becoming intent as she did. "I'm proud of you for what you've done. Also, I--... I... Well, I..." She struggled for a moment in a silent battle with her thoughts, then she stuck out her hand and smiled kindly at him. He didn't fully understand. He thought she was just making sure they were friends, so he smiled and took her hand.
That's when it happened; She pulled him closer, leaned forward, and kissed him on the cheek. "I love you, Astro. I've loved you forever and I'll love you until the day I die." She'd whispered. Then she let go, and turned to leave.
He was stunned, but called after her. All she did was return one of her usual 'over-the-shoulder-wink's, then she was gone.
*******
And that was the last he'd seen or heard of her until now.
"Hey Ally!" Astro cheered, climbing over one of the big oak's trunks. She ceased her playing instantly and looked up at him. At first her expression was alert, then it changed to a big smile.
"Hey Ash! What's up?" She replied happily, hiding her flute from view. Astro's heart felt tickled with joy hearing that name again. It was an affectionate nickname she'd given him, probably because 'Ash' sounded similar to the beginning of 'Astro'. Ally patted the root at her side, inviting him to come sit next to her,
"I haven't seen you in forever! Where have you been?" He asked, accepting up the invitation.
"Around." She answered with a casual shrug, "I decided to do a little exploring of the world."
"Why?" Astro asked.
"You never miss a trick, do you?" She chuckled, resting her cheek on her shoulder as she looked at him. There was a pause, then her attention went to the clear blue sky. "After everything was said and done, I felt I didn't have a place I truly belonged anymore, so I went exploring to see if I could find one."
Astro frowned. "And did you?"
Ally smiled and looked back at him. "I sure did! It's right here in Metrocity." She said cheerfully. Astro forced a brief smile, but it fell all too quickly and his gaze dropped to the ground.
"I'm sorry. I didn't realize you'd been affected like that." He admitted.
"Pfft! Nothing ever affects me. You know that." She said, waving her hand dismissively. "So, you here with anyone?"
"Yeah. Alejo, Abercrombie and Kennedy." He replied, pointing over his shoulder.
"Oh? And what were you boys up to?" She asked with a smirk.
"We were playing rocket ball until we heard your song." Astro replied. For a moment, he thought he detected worry on Ally's face.
"Song?" She asked.
"Yeah, that song you were just playing. It was amazing! I didn't know you played the flute!" Astro said, rising to his feet and extending arms to show his enthusiasm. Ally only smiled nervously.
"Th- Thanks." She stuttered, looking at the hidden flute next to her. Quickly, she grabbed it and stood up too. "Try and forget you heard it, okay?"
Astro was surprised by this request and about to question why, when he suddenly heard Kennedy's voice calling for him. "Over here!" He shouted. Quickly, the three human boys appeared from the other side of the tree. Ally quickly hid her flute behind her back and smiled broadly.
"Did you find out where the song was coming from?" Kennedy asked.
Astro flashed a look at Ally. "Yeah, Ally was doing it!" He said, pointing at her.
"Ally?" Abercrombie asked, looking at the yellow robot girl in confusion.
"Yeah! You remember her, don't you?" Astro insisted, "She used to hang out with me?"
"Hi boys." Ally said with a finger wiggle wave. Astro smirked lightly as he remembered Ally had always been a tad flirtatious. She mostly did it to annoy or stun, but sometimes it was in true spirit.
"Oh yeah!" Abercrombie cheered, "I remember now! Hi Ally."
"We haven't seen you for over a year! How've you been?" Kennedy began, trying to be friendly.
"Oh just fabulous, Darlings! You know me." Ally said, lifting one hand and depending her voice in a playfully pompous manner, then she laughed and jumped down from the tree root. Casually, she flicked the bridge of Alejo's glasses as she walked passed him.
"So does this mean we'll be seeing more of you now?" Astro asked, watching her go.
"Yeah actually, you'll be seeing a lot of me." She replied, looking over her shoulder and winking at him. She then turned fully and blasted off into the air. Tenma had installed rocket boosters in her legs sometime after she and Astro first met. Astro would always remember that day: When a curious yellow robot caught him watching the sunset atop the Ministry Of Science and decided to join him at it. That was when they started the tradition of watching sunsets together... It was also the day Ally first met Dr. O'Shay, when she curiously pinched the bridge of his nose and refused to believe it was real. This thought caused Astro to shake his head. "Poor doctor." He thought, "That's always happening to him."
"Aww... It's too bad she was in such a hurry to leave." Alejo moaned, "I wanted to hear that song again."
"Yeah, so did I.." Astro began, "But I actually get the feeling she doesn't want anyone to hear that song."
"Hmmmm I wonder why." Kennedy stated.
The four boys stared off in the direction Ally had flown away.
"Me too." Astro thought.
TO BE CONTINUED...
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