Fan Fiction: Between Pizza and Perils

[dannavy85]

Between pizzas n perils
A tree-house gang fan fic
By Dan

Astro boy © 1954 Osamu Tezuka all rights respected. Non-profit fan work.

The tree house
Metro City Park
Morning

Astro rolled onto his stomach for a moment, a hand batting at the air to squash the offending what-ever that was disturbing his sleep.

“Hey!” Kennedy snorted as he poked Astro again. “The least you could do is show us you’re alive…”

Astro rolled onto his back and moaned. “I…..don’t wanna go to school!”

“It’s Sunday turbo twit.” Reno said as he knelt down. “You’ve been missing a whole day.”

Astro slowly sat up in the sleeping bag and shook his head. “Huh?”

“There you are!” Zoran’s voice yelled out as she climbed into the tree house with her friend Kioki. “You had me worried sick to death!”

“Uh….we can’t have any more people up here.” Ken warned as he felt the tree-house sway. He slowly moved back with Tamao as Reno shuffled up to look Astro over.

“Check his head while you’re at it. I don’t think it got put on right to start with.” Zoran said smiling.

“Don’t you have anything nice to say these days?” Astro asked his little sister as Reno shined a pen light in his eye. “That really doesn’t tell you much Reno.”

“Well…” Reno said smirking. “It makes me look good. Have to keep up my reputation you know. From what we heard that mechanical snake of Mephesto’s was a pain to beat.”

Astro waved a hand. “Nah!....just took a while and I didn’t bother trying to get home.”

“You could have called us!” Zoran screamed. “We were worried sick!”

“You can’t exactly text message anyone while a snake is throwing you around like a cat toy.” Astro softly pushed Reno’s hands away. “You can stop looking cool, I’m fine.”

“So….you’re coming home now right? I’m not cleaning your room for you.”

Astro stretched. “Yeah I’m coming home ok? I get into a battle for my life with a big snake and you’re worried about my room? Such priorities huh guys?”

Zoran went into a snappy tantrum as the boys around her laughed. “Ooohhhhh….JUST GET HOME BEFORE I KILL YOU!” “Stomp, stomp, stomp….”

Zoran climbed down the tree house ladder snapping complaints as she did, much to Astros embarrassment. “Zoran really does love me you guys, it’s all an act.”

“Could have fooled me.” Tamao said he turned from the trap door.

“Well look, you all can sit here and waste the day debating, I’m going back to my lab and get some work done.”

“Hey Astro. Me, Tamao and Crombie are going to City Park to play soccer later on, you in?”

“Yeah.” Astro said as he scratched his head. “That’s if I finish my room and don’t have another mechanical snake show up.”

Reno stopped short of going down through the trap door and waved. “Astro, can you drop by the lab before that? I got something to ask you but it’s kind of private.”

Crombie snickered. “He needs to get something naughty for Abby.”

“Abercrombie!” Reno shouted. “Your mind’s always in the gutters!”

“Hey she’s your girlfriend, not my worry….at least not yet anyway, I don’t have to deal with all that trouble just yet.”

Astro waved. “No problem. But I’m not going shopping to find…”

“UGH!! YOU KIDS ARE SUCH DUMB JUVINILES!” Reno snorted out as he climbed down the tree.

“Isn’t he 13?” Tamao asked Astro.

“No…he’s 31. You have to treat Reno as if he’s an old man otherwise he’ll throw things at you.” Astro replied. They all had a good laugh as Reno kept snapping back while walking farther from the tree.

Doctor O’Shay’s house

Nora waved her robotic arms excitedly as Astro came through the front door. “Oh I’m so happy you weren’t seriously hurt! Zoran was running around so upset that we didn’t hear from you! The Doctor’s been nervious and….”

“Uh….Nora? I’m not dented ok? One day without having to blab to the world where I am would be nice you know?” Astro said as he walked across the living room and passed Zoran on the couch. “You still mad at me?”

“No.” She replied. “But I was worried sick.”

Astro took a seat next to her. “I thought you’d have the most confidence in me of anyone. I was just so tired from beating that thing up, I wasn’t thinking right. I’m sorry if I got you upset sis.”

“You didn’t even bring me a piece of it to add to my collection.” Zoran frowned.

“Uh….the head wouldn’t fit in here so you’ll have to settle for this shard of glass from one of the eyes.” He put the rounded and polished piece in her hand.

Zoran smiled back. “I cleaned your room.”

“You didn’t have too.” Astro fussed. “Now I feel depressed. We could go to the ice cream shop though, since I have the time now.”

Zoran hugged Astro just as Doctor O’Shay came through the door. “Well…it’s good you finally told someone where you’ve been, not that I’m important at all.”

Astro moaned. “I fight this big humungus mechanical snake, I clearly tied it in knots, I go to sleep and the whole world has kittens. Doctor, has anyone ever heard of GPS? Satellite monitoring? Come to think of it…am I Low-Jacked?”

O’Shay smirked. “Alright, point taken. By the way you have a meeting tomorrow with Yuko, she wants to have an updated check of your learning curve values.”

Astro smiled. “She might find it a little flat for this quarter. I’m still in shock from seeing my first hentai manga.”

“ASTRO!” O’Shay yelled.

“I was kidding!” Astro replied defensively. “I definably need work on making jokes! Sheesh!”

“How can you even consider cracking jokes?” Doctor O’Shay said concerned. “We did look for you, we called you, scanned everywhere for you…”

Astro stood up. “And even sent the police dogs looking for me? Like I told Zoran Doctor, I wish everyone had an ounce of trust in me! I bet I couldn’t tinkle without a SWAT team trying to bash in the door or swing through the bathroom window.”

“It’s a well founded concern for your safety Astro, we care about you very much.”

“You care that I don’t end up getting stolen you mean? Sometimes I feel like an owned object instead of my own person. You know it’s kind-a hard trying to do school work when Yuko’s buzzing in my brain every five minutes to check on me.”

O’Shay sighed. “I’ll ask her to be less intrusive. Let’s just put this to bed for now, I have a date with the massage table.”

Astro reached for his ball cap and waved to Zoran. “You gonna come for some ice cream?”

“You were a little hard on the Doctor.” Zoran said frowning.

“I was being honest. Besides it’ll give him something extra to do, keeps him on his wits.”

[dannavy85]

Zoran pursed her lips. “Sometimes Astro? Your idea of logic escapes me.”




“Hey, it’s not my fault I learn things the human way.” Astro said as he shrugged. He and Zoran stopped walking when the sounds of falling footsteps came up behind them. It was a group of girls from Astro’s school and a few of their little sisters…an obvious “oogle fest” of adoring fan girls.

“You were awesome!” One of the girls said as she gave Astro a newspaper. “Can you sign this for me?”

“We’re you scared?”

“Of course he wasn’t silly!” snapped another. She batted her eyes and smiled at Astro so much, he nearly fell over.

“Now wait a minute!” Zoran butted in. “I never get any credit. I came up with half of my big brothers fighting moves! I’m…sort of his manager you see.”

“That’s right!” Astro played to her ego. “The super spin tornado twister-kick? She invented it. Got the idea from a blender.”

All the girls started laughing. “Really! She was in the kitchen mixing this cake batter and she dragged me out side and made me spin around! I uh….dented Doctor O’Shay’s car.”

“Awesome!” Another girl squealed. “He’s so cute!”

That was Zoran’s cue to push Astro down the street. “Alright, Astro has a very important meeting I’m sure I can schedule some time later on for more autographs and stuff later!”

“That was rude.” Astro snapped.

“Ice cream awaits!” Zoran reminded him.

“But the one in the blue dress was really….”

“No time! Ice cream awaits!” Zoran continued to push till Astro was walking again.

Jimmy’s ice cream shop

Zoran shook and poured chocolate syrup till it was flowing over the glass bowl and dripping onto the table. “Hey! Don’t make a mess you pig!” Astro snorted. He then proceeded to shower nuts and sprinkles all over the place.

“Wow! You got everything but the ice cream!” Zoran laughed.




“It’s my creative side kicking in. When one makes a hot fudge Sunday, one must make sure to make a good mess.” Astro said with a raised finger.

Mister Ogata (AKA “Jimmy”) came up from behind the counter with a cell phone in his hand. “Astro? A Sergeant Deutadi is on the phone.”

Astro took the cell phone and smiled. “Astro’s 911…I’m not in my office right now, please take a number and sit on the bench….”

“That’s enough jokes Astro.” Deutadi groaned. “I got a problem…two dumb pranksters, one high power electric tower and you get the picture.”

Astro sagged. “I thought they taught not to climb such things in schools?”

“Uh…these are adults from U-Tokyo. We think it’s a fraternity prank gone stupid.”

Astro looked at Zoran and moaned. “Can you keep my Sunday cool? Never mind, go ahead and eat it.”

“You’re coming back right?” Zoran asked as Astro slipped off his stool.

“Nah…Reno asked me to see him at the Ministry of Science then I got to meet the others for Soccer.”

“The one day I “thought” we’d do stuff together and you ditch me.” Zoran said frowning.

“Now that’s not fair.” Astro snorted back. “I spend a lot of time with you every day and every other day you’re butting into every place I go! I’ll be home later on and we can go see a movie or something.”

“Until the next stupid emergency butts in.” Zoran snapped. “I’ll walk home alone. Just you hope I don’t get kidnapped!”

Astro threw his hands up as he walked out of the shop and roared into the air. “Sometimes I feel like taking her over a knee a few times and making her act her age.. ugh! “You better hope.” Who does she think she is? Right…my little sister, if I can survive her I can take anything.”

It didn’t take long for Astro to reach the large electrical tower near the City dockyards where the two college pranksters were hanging on for dear life at the top. “That wasn’t smart.” Astro moaned to himself as he came up to a hover. “You two picked a nice day to be stupid didn’t you!”

“We didn’t think we’d end up being caught!” One of the shivering college kids said as he pointed to the ground.

“An anti-tamper fence? And you guys still climbed this thing?”

“It’s part of our Freshman initiation!” The other student said as he clung tightly to the rails between two large glass resistors.

Astro flew around and over the two clowns. “You see these?” He said as he pointed to the two glass fixtures atop the tower. “These are resistors…they are charged to 50,000 volts a piece…touch em and you’ll be a flying piece of instant fried chicken….not very smart to follow a dumb initiation when the sign below says WARNING HIGH VOLTAGE!” You know what it should say?....WARNING! DUMB IDIOT RIDE!”

“How about you stop the insults and get us down!” The college kid who was clinging precariously on the side of the tower screamed.

Astro grabbed him around the waist and pulled him off the tower. “I was hoping they wouldn’t take their sweet time showing up.” He said as he looked down at the ground.

Officer Deutadi was there at the base waiting to slap a set of cuffs on the young miscreant. “We knew you’d show so the chief thought it would be better if you spent some time explaining the stupidity act to these two.”

Astro jumped back into the air, snatched the other student off the tower and gently dropped her onto the ground. “ I hope we’re not going to see more of this stuff officer. I wanted a quiet Sunday.”

“Well so much for hopes dashed Astro. It’s that time you know, colleges get Freshman and Freshman get tasked to do stupid things by the overclass-men. Happens every year.”

Astro waved a hand. “I’m….not home. I’m in…..I’m in Fiji! Yeah that’s right…Fiji! I’m….doing some important survey work for the Doctor’s new bungalow.”

Deutadi snorted. “Get out of here wise guy before I lock you in my car.”

Astro smiled, saluted and flew off towards downtown.

Ministry of Science

Reno was moving things around his office when Astro came walking in. “You’re number 14 on my service list Reno, what’s….”

Astro stopped short as he saw the large model of a horse carrousel sitting on the floor at his feet. “Wow….talk about detail!” Astro danced around the model. “Is this a music box?”



Reno nodded. “It’s an excellent example of fine mechanical craftsmanship. Guess who sent it?”

“Abby.” Astro replied. “She sends you all the cool toys.”

“I didn’t ask you to come over and drool over my gift.” Reno said as he handed Astro a letter. “I…can trust you to keep a secret right?”

Astro read through the letter and his eyes bugged as he reached the end. “Uh! She….she.”

Reno took the letter. “And when we reach the legal age of 18 my darling Reno, I hope you’ll consider spending the rest of your life with me. Will you be my consort till then and then my husband?”

Love Abby

Astro fluttered his lips.

“Tell me about it. I’m only 13, I don’t need all this pressure!” Reno said as he sat in a chair. “Oh man! What will I do?! If I write her back and say not right now…I’ll break her heart! If I say yes…I’m doomed to wear one of those funny royal costumes and live till I die of boredom!”

Astro smirked. “You’re not asking me to get involved.”

Reno begged. “Yes! Astro you’re the only one who won’t go laughing and spreading this all over the city, I need you help.”

“I thought you were the one bragging all over the place remember? “You kids.” “I’m older than these guys.” You know…those wise cracks?”

“That was before I had a girlfriend asking me to marry her!”

“I don’t know about all that stuff.” Astro said as he sat on the floor. “You said I was just like those “kids” so….I guess you need to find someone else.”

Reno dropped to his knees. “Please! I’ll buy you Sundaes for a whole year! I’ll shine your boots! I’ll baby sit your sister!”

Astro turned his head and smirk. “You know the right words to say Reno, I’m shocked.”

“You’re an extortionist.” Reno snorted.

“That’s “Professional extortionist.” To you.” Astro replied smirking.

[jeffbert]

Good stuff!

[dannavy85]

1 Hour later….

“Dear Abby…I want you to know how I feel and not take what I’m writing as a sign that I don’t like you…” Reno looked at Astro, who looked back at him with a face of failure.

“Just call her on a vid-phone and tell her the truth. A letter is a nice thing but I don’t think she’ll take it well.”

Reno sighed. “I might screw up a call even worse. I’m not the best at romantic stuff.”

Astro smiled. “If you’re not that good then she would have dropped your nerdy butt ages ago. Stop with the put downs, besides I promised Ken, Crombie and Tamao I’d show for soccer like ten minutes ago.”

Reno wringed his hands nervously. “Will you stay here so you can dig me out of the flames if I screw it up?”

Astro nodded. “You’re not going to screw this up.”

Reno reached for his desk phone and plugged it into his computer. “Normally I’d be the one telling dolphin-bots not be scared, talk about hypocrisy.”

“Bring, bring, bring”….”Royal operator, how may I direct your call.”

Reno looked at Astro and pursed his lips. “Could you please give a message to her royal highness that “snooky cookies” needs to talk to her?”

Astro’s face brightened. “Snooky…..cookies?”

“Don’t you even giggle!” Reno snorted. “And if you tell anyone I’ll!”

“Reno?” Came a young girl’s voice from the computer.

“Oops! Hey Abby! It’s Reno…how’s….how’s everything going over there?”

Abby waved a hand. “Except for the sudden increase in activity below Mount Toron I’d say things are still normally quiet.”

Reno hesitated. “I was going to call you about that letter you sent me but seeing as how you have Mount Toron to worry about I’d…”

Astro gave Reno a slight slap off the back. “Don’t try to change the subject you clod!”

“You read the letter?! Oh I hope I wasn’t being to forceful on you Reno.”


Reno jerked his head around. “Duh……huh?”

“Yes. I suddenly realized I was asking more than I should have. It’s not easy when your father is so set in his own ways and my so called advisor is being father’s snitch all the time. I wrote that not thinking of how much pressure it would put you under. I’m so sorry.”

Reno scratched his head. “I was gonna call you and talk about it. The last thing I want to do is tick off your Dad and start a whole mess of bad blood. Besides….I got scared, I didn’t know what to say. I’ve had Astro bent over a typewriter trying to make a letter that would upset you.”

Abby smiled. “Since when have you ever angered me “Snooky”.”

Astro started making faces and teasing Reno. He stood behind him kissing the air and acting foolish till Reno smacked him in the cheek.

“Cut it out! You’re embarrassing me!”

“Snooky!....snookums….wuvy-dovey-kins….LOL!” Astro rubbed a hand through Reno’s hair and Abby laughed herself silly till she fell back on her bed.

“LOL! He makes this so much easier to deal with!” Abby was in gut busting tears till she sat up and breathed herself out of laughing. “Ugh…..So I guess the idea of consort is out?”

Reno frowned. “I’d like to finish my college studies in Robotics before I even think about that. But….I do love you Abby….a lot.”

“Besides…he never cleans up after himself. I mean look at his lab, it’s a pizza box nerd-sty.”

“That did it.” Reno flew out of his chair, grabbed Astro and they were wrestling on the floor trashing anything not nailed down. Abby took the moment to blow a kiss and hang up as Reno got Astro into a pretzel lock…not that the boy bot was trying to break loose.

“Well that worked out fine huh?” Astro said as he smiled at Reno.

“Oh yeah…thanks a lot. Oh and Astro? About the word “snookums”?”

Reno quickly snatched a can of whip cream off a nearby table and let fly…let fly a stream of it into one of Astro’s ears. “There’s your “snookums!”

“Ugh! Reno!” Astro snapped as he stood wiping the whip cream out of his ear and off his face. “I should have known you’d do that again!!”

“Well I finally found one thing you never learn from.” Reno said giggling. “No hard feelings Astro, you did get me out of a real jam.”

“See if I invite you for pizza again.” Astro said frowning. “By the way we are having pizza after soccer. You are going to be there right?”

“If I can finish my studies, I might join you kids.” Reno replied teasingly as Astro left still shaking his head free of whip cream.

[dannavy85]

1PM
Metro Park

Astro landed and almost tripped himself up as he ran a short way to where the others were kicking around a soccer ball. “He’s here!” Tamao yelled as Astro slid on the grass and started pulling his boots off.

“You’re a little late.” Abercrombie huffed as he stood throwing the soccer ball in the air.

“I had to run home and get my kleets. Besides my attention ticker’s been a little busy?”

Ken chuckled. “Didn’t you figure out that Astro’s the Dear Abby of Metro City?”

Astro stood up and ran in place. “I haven’t broken these in yet.”

“Are you sure he can play this summer? I thought robots could cheat too easily?”

Astro pursed his lips. “It’s not hard to set my programming so I can be just as clumsy, feet stuck and foot dumb as you Crombie. You still have it out for us robots and you’ve known me for 2 years now.”

“Well don’t expect me not to wipe the sod with your puss Astro. I’m looking to be on another team just so I can show you up.”

“The only showing you ever do Crombie is the solar eclipse of your stomach.” Ken snorted.

Abercrombie threw the ball into Astro’s chest. “Ok….show me you won’t cheat.”

Tamao giggled as Crombie walked a few feet away. “Psst…he asked for it.”

“I promised I wouldn’t cheat…but if he didn’t tell me what the rules are…”

Crombie suddenly turned around. “Oh…I forgot. I think Astro should set his programming to that of a forth grader.”

Kennedy frowned. “That’s not fair! You can walk all over a forth grader!”

Astro smiled. “Ok…a forth grader. If you really want that.”

The change was soundless but the visual difference was apparent. The first time Astro took off after Abercrombie his moves were clumsy, his running was exaggerated and his balance wasn’t all that perfect. A few times, Astro ended up tripping over thanks to his extra gripping cleats. Soon however, it was Abercrombie’s turn to take a few trips.

Astro jumped in front of the big kid and used his momentum to send him tumbling over the robot boy’s back and into a puddle of mud. Astro took off with the ball bouncing between his feet only to have it cut and stolen away by Kennedy’s fast working feet.

“I think I’d rather have you back up to sixth grade! At least things wouldn’t be so boring!” Kennedy screamed as he ran for the goal and kicked a powerful sweep shot that bounced off the top net-bar and sent the ball flying towards the street behind it.

Tamao was completely obliviant to the obvious hazard as he took off trying to catch up to the flying ball. He soon found himself staring down the ever growing grill of a car as he tripped off the edge of the sidewalk!

There was a loud scream, the screech of tires and the unmistakable sound of metal crashing into an obstacle. Tamao sat shivering until a finger tapped him on the shoulder.

“If you ever do something that dumb again Tamao? I’m not waiting till your Dad gets a hold of you with his belt.”

Astro was almost crouching with his arms outstretched to his sides, his hands wrapped tightly around the warped front bumper of the car. The two occupants came running up to the front and shuddered at how they were stopped from creaming the skinny Japanese kid who’s hat was two sizes too big.

“What did I tell you about trying to speak when you are driving?!” The red haired girl said as she pointed a shivering finger at her companion.

“Aw man! Dude I am like way, way sorry! Gomen! Uh…uh….” The boy whipped a book from his pocket. “Hey…how do I say sorry in Japanese?”

The girl sighed. “You must forgive my companion. It is his first real experience driving and he is as you would say….a novice.”

Astro let go of the bumper and gave the two teens a once over. “You were going a little fast.”

“We are exchange students from America and we are trying to find the Kagomuni Hotel. I am so excited to be welcomed here and we hope that our lack of experience will not leave an unfavored impression.”

“What she means is that we hope you don’t see us as screw-ups, right?”

“Ugh! Your attempts at diplomacy are shoddy, irresponsible and very troublesome!”

Astro threw a hand up. “The hotel you want is two blocks down this way. What school are you exchange students of?”

The boy smiled. “Yamaguchi Metro United 7. We have to be there tomorrow morning.”

Ken walked up and extended a hand. ”YMU-7? That’s our school! I’m Kennedy, this is Tamao, Abercrombie and Astro. Uh…If you wondered how he stopped your car? He’s a robot.”

“Remarkable! We heard Japan was the home of advanced robotics but we didn’t know we would meet such an amazing one!”

Astro stood helpless as the boy poked and prodded his way around him. “Dude! This is so serious! So what are you made of? Can you like shoot laser guns? What’s your power source?...”

“SLAP!” You are being most annoying to our hosts!”

Astro giggled. “It’s nothing! I get it all the time. I think you two should get settled in and sleep, the jet lag must be killer.”

“Nah!” The boy said with a hand wave. “I came in the stowage compartment with the rest of the pets. Man dogs can talk their brains out but it was better than sitting in 3rd class with a runt pulling your hair!”

Tamao laughed. “That was funny! Flying with the dogs…lol!”

“I wasn’t joking!” The boy snorted back. His girl companion snatched him by the shirt and pushed him into the car.

“Less talking and better driving.” The girl said as she turned to Astro. “Hopefully we will meet again under better situations?”

“At school for sure.” Astro said with a wave as the car pulled away.

“Man that boy with her is a whacko.” Tamao said as he crossed his arms.


“Well….the girl’s kinda cute. Wonder if he’s a boyfriend or something?”

Astro shrugged. “I guess we’ll find out tomorrow huh? Anyway, plenty of day left to kick a few more balls around.”

“Hey.” Abercrombie blurted out. “Why don’t we check those two out after practice?”

“And interrupt our ritual pizza fest?” Astro snorted. “Fine! You go check out the new girl in class and dump tradition! See if we ever have you with us ever again Crombie!”

Abercrombie snatched Astro by the shirt and noogie’d him. “Like you won’t try a little later to sneak over there yourself!”

[dannavy85]

As the boys returned to continue their playing, the sounds of screaming fire engines filled the air and a line of big red engines came roaring by the park.

“Wonder where they’re going?” Kennedy asked as Astro ran for his red boots.

“Hey! You’re not going to just run off on us!” Abercrombie snapped as Astro came running back and threw his clothes into Crombie’s arms.

“Duty calls like usual! I’ll see you guys at the Pizza shop!” Astro was off and flying down the street chasing the engines as they closed in on their target. It was a high rise apartment building with a full blown inferno raging over the top twenty floors.

Astro saw his friend Timber Tim leaping off the back of an engine and slip his large fire ax into a back strap. “What started this one?” Astro asked.

“Glad you showed up. We’re not going to get a ladder up that high and wouldn’t you know it that our sky rider’s in maintenance?”

“What a wonderful example of good timing!” Astro smirked as he followed Tim around the engines to the base of the building.

“You feel like building up a little sweat?” Timber asked as he stretched out his arms.

“Let me guess? You want me to carry you up there?”

“Duh! It would be nice you know? Before the building burns up and crashes down on the street?”

Astro threw Timber’s arms around his shoulders and flew him up to where the fire was screaming through the windows. “Are you sure about this? It looked like the whole building’s full!”


Timber pointed to one of the windows. “There’s a fire hose and reel right there! Throw me through the window and I’ll worry about getting cooked when I get there.”

Astro dropped Timber off his back, caught him and flung him hard through the window opening where he landed with a crash! “I smashed through the wall thank you very much!”

“You didn’t tell me how hard you wanted to fly!” Astro screamed back. A burst of jetted water drenched him.

“That’s for being a smart butt! Give me some help in here!” Timber screamed as he stood swishing the powerful hose side to side. Astro soon joined up behind him and steadied him against the blast pressure of the water jet as it turned the fire into steam.

“Is it pizza night again?!” Timber asked as he kicked a door open and swept the room with his hose.

“Yeah! Same place as always. You are going to shower before you come this time?” Astro asked as Timber led him into another room.

“If I get all this mess wrapped up by then.”

Astro pulled Timber quickly to the side as he blew exhaust from an arm jet to ward off a fast moving tongue of flame. “You’re not going to put this all out by yourself?”

Timber smirked. “Yeah I am. The rest of the company’s probably sitting around down below drinking Asahi and taking bets on my survival.” The fire bot stopped short, threw his ax from its pouch and obliterated part of a wall with its built up static charge. “Go ahead Astro…hero time.”

Astro ran into the flaming room and came out wrapping a screaming cat in a towel. “You did that just to embarrass me!”

“Hey! You’re the glorious hero of Metro City. I mean I can’t go around saving all the cats can I?”

Astro flew out a window and came back in to find Timber clearing out a stairwell. “Tell the guys below I’m clearing the stairs and they can start coming up from the safety floor.”

“At least the sprinklers still work on some of the floors huh?” Astro said as he grabbed another hose off a nearby reel and worked his way around another floor.




Two hours later

Timber sat on the bumper of an engine slurping a water jug and chuckling as Astro showered himself with a fire hose and stood wringing the water from his moon boots. “You’re not going home?”

“Abercrombie has my clothes. Besides, they’re all probably shooting fire from their noses because I haven’t shown up yet.” Astro said as he caught a towel. “You’ll be late again as usual huh?”

Timber smiled. “Let me come as I am?”

“Sorry Tim. Pizza and Vomit don’t mix together. You really stink.”

“Well at least save me half a box if you can!” Timber snorted as Astro flew off.

[dannavy85]

Evening
Shakey’s Pizza
Near Metro City Station

“There he is.” Reno said as he nibbled a piece of pizza and tried to catch the dripping chesse in his mouth. “Out saving humanity again huh?”

Astro wasted no time as he snatched up a slice and chomped it. “Nope…saving cats from high rise fires.”

Kennedy waved a plastic bag around. “I got your clothes Astro, shouldn’t you try to get dressed.”

Astro smirked. “With any luck I’ll be running out the door in another five minutes! It’s the weekend Ken, I never get a free weekend.”

Kazuko was sitting next to Tamao. “Why don’t you ask Miss Myoki for a week off? I think the City should give you a week for all you’ve done.”

Astro sat licking the spices off his fingers. “I’d grow rust from boredom just trying to find something to do.”

“You know what the problem is guys? Astro needs more publicity…and the fact that a cool costume wouldn’t be a bad idea. People get kinda averted to a flying robot wearing underwear and red boots.”

“Shorts Reno!” Astro growled. “They’re shorts!”



“Not the way I see em.” Reno said with pursed lips.

“Weeeeeeeeeee don’t wanna know!” Ken huffed. “But what’s wrong with a cool costume Astro? I mean you could add a great name to the whole deal, call yourself Avenger Astro or Ricochet Rocket or….”

Naomei, who was sitting between Ken and Crombie and looked as if she had a giggle crush on the bigger boy, waved her hand. “I see what the problem is with a costume. Have they ever made anything that doesn’t burn?”

Astro smiled. “See….someone’s thinking. And no, I’m not going to movie star my name, wear some flashy dumb suit that’s more dangerous to me than the bad guys or… hire an add agency to represent me. Besides…” Astro said as he patted himself..”I look fat in leotards.”

They all laughed, till Tamao stood waving to someone from across the pizza place. “HEY! COME ON OVER!”

Astro turned to see the American exchange students walking over to the table. “I hope we are not intruding on your evening fare?” The red-haired girl asked.

“Yeah…what she said.” The boy next to her said smirking.

Ken gestured to the pile of pizza boxes. “They keep dumping more on us and we can’t keep up. Just drop a few Yen on the table and join in.”

“I witnessed what you were doing with the Fire Department today. You are very brave!” The red-haired girl said to Astro.

“It’s typical. I mean I haven’t done anything to brag about.” Astro replied as he eyed a box. “What did you throw on here Reno?”

“Anchovies. Why?”

Astro curled his lips. “Uh, uh….you totally ruined a good pizza.”

The American boy smiled. “You don’t like anchovies?”

“They stink.”

“A robot who doesn’t like anchovies, now THAT’s cool! I think I’d like em if I morphed into a Rhino or even a Dinosaur or something but ugh….no way dude, no one could get me to eat those stupid things in a thousand…”



One snap of her fingers and the red-haired girl somehow got her companion’s mouth to open up where she shoved a full cover anchovy pizza into it. “Now you can stop being an embarrassment before our hosts and eat your boasting.”

The poor boy took off like a rocket to the bathroom.

“Am I crazy or did he just….” Abercrombie looked at his pizza slice. “I gotta be getting sick, I thought I just saw that kid turn into a dog or something.”

Tamao’s jaw dropped. “Wait a minute! These aren’t ordinary exchange students!”

“Shhhhhhh!!” The red-haired girl pleaded. “Please don’t shout! It is difficult enough I have to travel with one who’s lips are as flappable as a Curstonian Worthblap.”

Tamao made a seal sign across his lips. “No problem.”

Abercrombie snorted. “Look squeak, how about you start telling us who these two are before I hang you from that wall hook by a very painful wedgie?”

Tamao pulled a magazine from his back pocket and flipped to a small article. “That’s them.”

Abercrombie looked at the girl. “No way.”

Astro looked at her and figured it out. “Oh yeah….yes way….I should have known.”

The boy returned and tapped Astro on the shoulder. “Known what?”

Astro laughed. “Wonder Woman and the Green Hornet! Your secrets are safe with us! So Wonder Woman? Where’s the invisible jet and how does that golden lasso thing work again?”

“You are a tease.” The girl said smirking.

Reno snorted. “Well it took a while for the rest of these kids to figure it out. I on the other hand had it all the time through matha….”

Astro jumped over to Reno’s chair, swooped him up and dropped him into a fountain decoration. “Chill out Buzby Birdwell.”

“No appreciation for my analytical mind.” Reno snickered as he stood soaking wet.

“I assume that was meant as a jest?”


“Of course Starfire.” Astro said as he snatched another pizza slice. “We do crazy stuff like this all the time. Wanna quit the Titans and see how bashing bad guys is really done around here?”

[CommanderEVE]

you realy like making storys... i didn't read all of it but it's very good i like it

[dannavy85]

I'm not that good in gramatics, ask Jeffbert. I just crank it out as it comes and hope it didn't become jibberish.

[dannavy85]

“Dude…you were so cool till you started putting us down.” Beastboy snorted. “I bet your bad guys aren’t the tenth as much trouble as ours. Where we come from, fights are measured in totaled cars, busted hydrants, broken windows…”

“And your excession for talking too much.” Starfire chided Beastboy. “Our home is not a disaster.”

“She’s always optimistic.” Beastboy said smiling.

Kennedy polished off another cheese slice and snapped his fingers. “We should take these two around the Metro Mall and Ginza tonight. We got another hour to kill right?”

Crombie moaned. “My Dad wants me home in like 30 minutes.”

Tamao gazed at his cell phone. “We got school tomorrow.”

Astro played a finger over his lips. “It’s only an hour lost, it’s not like we’re going to stay out till 2am or something.”

“You can stay out all night.” Naomei said as she pulled on Crombie. “You could walk me home Crombie.”

“Uh?....Maybe being a little late isn’t that bad? Besides when do you get a chance to hang with real super heroes?”

Astro was sticking his tongue out and pointing to his head. “ I’m not a superhero?”

“You’re a dufus.” Reno snorted.

“So are we going to sit here and invent insults or go to the mall?” Ken asked Astro and Reno as they fought over the last slice in a box. They were still pawing over it as the group left the Shakey’s for downtown.

METRO CITY MALL

Beast Boy “oogled” over his bag of J-Pop CD’s and laughed at the towering bag full of small trinkets Starfire had picked up at every girl’s store she passed.

“Think you got enough for the “love me” wall?” Beast Boy asked her.



“They are gifts for our comrades.” Starfire said as she pulled a few from the bag. “Especially Raven. These will help to brighten her dull living quarters.”

“They’ll also make good targets when she needs to take out the ditz.” Beastboy said as he leaned towards Reno. Raven isn’t the kind of girl who enjoys shinny objects.”

Astro sighed. “I can’t get mine to stop buying big stuffed objects. Last week my little sister brought home this humungus teddy bear all decked out in a big pink ribbon, a lace white dress and smelling of girl stuff! She had no place to put it so she propped it on my bed just in time for Tamao and Bozo here (pointing at Reno) to see it! I heard all about it all over school, talk about wanting to jump under my bed.”

“He’s mad because it was so Keeeoooot! It fit his room nicely.” Reno said smirking.

“Yuuuuuuuu….want me to torture you huh?” Astro replied snickering.

“Dude! So much for your boasting man. Not one alarm, not one gunshot, nothing! Oh…a J-walker! Sheesh a dastardly law breaker! Stop you creep before I cream you with my Dino-stomping crook cruncher move!”

Ken turned and waved a finger. “Hey…don’t start asking for what you might not wish for Beast Boy. We do get some real nasty criminals from time to time around here and…”

KABOOOM!!

An explosion down the street blew out a big picture window in the front of the Sumitomo Prefectural Bank and two figures came running out and took off down the street, looking backwards to see what they had done…

“Jessie you dumb fool!” A girl in jeans, a plad shirt and a brimmed hat yelled as she cocked a rifle. “You used way too much of that powder! Maw’s gonna tan your hide!”

“Shaw! You tell me it didn’t take that much you dumb Tom boy!” Her younger tag-a-long snorted as he drew a pistol from his belt.

Abercrombie’s eyes bugged. “What were you saying about our boring city again?”

“Never a dull moment!” Astro yelled as he threw his clothes off and shoved them into Beast Boy’s arms. “Don’t wrinkle em, this won’t take long!”

The end….well for now anyway.