New Fan Fiction: Walkies Some more.

[dannavy85]

Operations HQ
JMSDF Yamamoto Bunker
Yokosuka Naval Base
Evening

Admiral Maraguchi left for the evening, pausing only briefly to look across the way at the radar tower of the USS Earnest King docked at pier 12 before getting into his car. He drove down the winding road from the operations bunker, past the serviceman’s gym and the security gate which controlled the entry to the US Aircraft carrier and turned on Yumuri Street towards the sea wall on the far side of the base.

There he stopped for the moment, remaining in his car against the in climate weather outside and pausing a moment to ensure his privacy before he tapped on the dashboard twice…

From beneath the passenger’s seat a small baseball sized orb with multi-colored lights rose up to hover just below the windows of the car. “You have what we need?” It asked as the admiral took out a zip stick from his briefcase.

“The sailing schedules of the American battle group and all future planning of naval and air forces in Japan for the next 6 months. It was quite a risk to get a hold of these you understand?”

The Admiral pushed the Zip stick into the top of the orb and waited for it to pop it back out. “You will be rewarded as a hero of the nation I assure you.”

“I expect that.” The man replied. He opened the window and allowed the orb to fly off before driving away into the rain filled night.

Route 16, Ayase City aka “Devil’s Speedway”
10pm

Livian arrived just in time, after leaving Atlas to a sound sleep at the bike shop, to find the evening races underway on the long strait highway that separated Ayase from Kamakura. She walked up to Amagatta and Shinji and slapped them on the shoulders. “So where’s Kanada?”

Shinji pointed down the street and coming up to the set of lights that hung over an intersection was Kenada Shotaro on his custom red ground bike. He looked over for only a second and waved to her before he turned his full concentration to the road ahead. He paid no attention to the crappy looking Kawasaki next to him, the guy had no hope of catching his “Fire Demon”.

Red light……………..GREEN!

The Kawasaki jumped ahead off the start leaving the Fire Demon to spin its tires and burn rubber. Kenada was being himself the crazy show off. Suddenly he kicked in his nitros supply and the red bike all but leaped into the air with a vengeful snarl of its powerful engine. It blew by the Kawasaki at 55 yards down the 200 yard strait and slid across the finish line with a loud screech!

Kenada’s gang went walking and taunting their way among the crowd as the Fire Demon came back down the and pulled to the side of the road. “Once again the clowns prove that superior technology trounces inferior brains.” Kenada said as he hopped off his machine and waved to Livian. “Impressed by my God given skills?”

She smirked back at him. “Where’s my ladder, my knees are deep in it. Being abusive to her as always Kenada? If you treat your future wife like you treat your bike you might end up with a slit throat one of these days.”

Kenada shoved his hands in his jacket pockets and walked beside her. “I’ll have you know that I show high respect for my bike. After all…it was created by a master craftsman who has as many if not more wonderful lines and curves than the Fire Demon itself?”

Livian laughed. “You never cease to amaze me.”

Kenada followed her to her own bike. “Hey look, when are you going to stop spurning my offers of dinner?”

“I have a friend I’m very fond of right now and unfortunately he’s a little jealous and possessive. I’d hate to see you…” She snatched Kenada’s hand before he could move it. “I’d hate to see you wrapped up in that bike like a pretzel for making him upset.”

Amagatta snorted as he leaned on his gang boss. “Look Livian, you tell that “kid” to come here with a bike and race Kenada on the level. The winner will get to take you out to dinner fair and square.”

Livian laughed. “He’ll cheat! Besides…he’s not fond of bikes. I think he has Harley-phobia. Besides…” She pulled Kenada close to her…”He is far softer and cuddlier than you.”

Livian walked back to watch the races as Shinji walked up to Kenada. “You got served.”

Amagatta nodded. “Silver platter served. Better luck next time boss.”

New Shinjuku
Engine Company 17
The Dragoons
Midnight

Timber was on the midnight phone watch in the office surfing the internet while the rest of the company was asleep. Except for Bobo who walked in and offered a can of oil. “Slow night.” He said as he took a seat.

“Let’s keep it like that huh?” Timber replied as he scanned over Amazon. “I need some new boots. What do you think? Razerbacks or Tuff Puppies?”

Bobo looked over Timber’s shoulder. “I like the Razerbacks. Looks like some heavy bottom treads.”

“I dunno?” Timber wondered as he rubbed his chin. “The Tuff Puppies are made of thick saddle leather…they might stand up to a lot of water.”

Timber moved his mouse point over the screen then suddenly found it wouldn’t move. “Oops…looks like the computer’s locked up.”

But it was more than locked up. Suddenly windows started opening all over the screen in rapid succession. “What the heck?” Timber said as he moved his mouse around.

“Looks like you caught a virus.” Bobo snorted. “Told yah to stay off them manga porn sites.”

“Shut up!” Timber snorted back. “I don’t do that!”

“Well something’s screwing it up.”

[AstroRex]

I borrowed this style of writing from Dale Cole and Tom Clancy where they bolden the location and times of events, makes it easier to keep track of the story flow.

I want to read your novel

You can read about my novel, "Myst, Titan and the Outcasts" here:

http://www.superfantasystories.com/

There are also two short stories of mine on that website.

[dannavy85]

AWESOME! MUST READ!

[AstroRex]

If you read my story here

http://www.superfantasystories.com/OtherStories.html

You'll see that Titan is a lot like Astro, minus the rocket boots. He can fly and he also has super strength. He fires lasers from his fists and from his fingers. But he's a human being, not a robot. He's closer to Superman (or Superboy), so you can say he's superhuman.

Check out the story. You can buy the book on amazon, if you're really interested. It's over 400 pages long and the paperback edition only costs about $15 US.

[dannavy85]

Super cool!

[dannavy85]

New Shinjuku Police HQ
Midnight.

“Hey Sarge!” One of the front desk officers called to his night sergeant. “The computers up here are all going stupid! The file windows are opening like crazy!”

HQ 4TH Armored Division
JSDF Camp Honshu
Midnight.

“This is Major Takashi. We have a situation here at the duty office. I’m getting calls from all over the base of computers rapidly opening their files for no apparent reason. You’re seeing the same thing at Prefectoral Command HQ?”

Ministry of Science
New Shinjuku
Midnight

Reno raced from floor to floor in his shorts and slippers screaming out to anyone still in their offices. “Pull the plug on your computers! Somebody’s scanning our drives! Cut the power! Cut the power!”

Route 16, Ayase City
Ten minutes after midnight

The crowd froze in their tracks in clusters of people who gathered around those who had their laptops along for taking videos or making blog reports about the night’s festivities. Now their laptops were steaming hot from overloading! Some sparked to death while others simply crashed from the over speed of flying data. The traffic lights around them were screwing up, the lamps overhead were blinking off and on then finally it all went quiet…

Engine Company 17
Fighting Dragoons

Timber and Bobo sat looking at the computer for a moment before Timber tried the mouse and found it working again. “Now that…..was stupid.”

“I told you to lay off the manga porn sites.” Bobo said smirking. Suddenly the house alarm went off!

“BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!.....Engine 17, Engine 12, Engine 19, Engine 11, Rescue 9, Rescue 51, Rescue 24…Respond numerous auto accidents…Engine 17 ticket number 29348…”

“And I thought this would be a quiet night!” Timber shouted as he snatched his coat and slipped on the floor trying to get his boots on.

“I told you not to visit those manga porn sites!” Bobo screamed as he jumped on the back of the engine and snatched Tim by his coat.

“Will you lay off that!”

Morning
Doctor O’Shay’s house

Astro and Zoran came into the living room where Doctor O’Shay was watching the news and talking on his cell phone. “That’s what they’ve been saying, did our network security catch any evidence? None? The most up to date cyber security system in the world and we didn’t catch one bit of evidence?”


Astro and Zoran looked at each other then sat on the couch as Doctor O’Shay brooded. “Uh….dumb question time?” Astro asked.

“Sigh….last night we had what looks like a massive hacking attack at the Ministry of Science in fact reports are coming in from all over Honshu that computers, Laptops, blackberries and any computer drive device, even in some robots, might have been hacked into.”

Astro sat back crossing his arms. “Then I shouldn’t go to school today.”

“Nonsense. Especially in light of these incidents! It’s more important than ever that you stand up not only for yourself but for humans and robots who believe we must live together. Don’t worry about this hacking problem just remember what I told you last night.”

Astro sighed. “Ok…do they have any ideas though who may have done it?”

“As of yet not a clue in the cloud but I’m sure it has the Prime Minister ripping his hair out about now.”

[dannavy85]

Shibuya Prison
Morning

Tenma was in the prison garden looking at a pair of Bonsai he caring for when a guard and his brother Takiuma walked up. “You have a visitor Doctor. I’ll leave you two alone, just remember the rules.”

“What made you come back?” Tenma asked as he stood up.

“Your…he is quite persistent.”

Tenma nodded. “You noticed? Yes indeed, I gave him a strong tendency to stay with anything he sets his mind too…a family trait don’t you agree?”

Takiuma nodded. “I…was too hasty.”

“I was too cold.” Tenma sighed.

Takiuma smirked. “You still owe me a new jacket.”

“You owe me a new big wheel.” Tenma replied.

“Yours was old and you didn’t ride it any more. The wheels went to a good experiment.”

“Your go cart was foolish and dangerous.”

“You chose to sneak out and ride it down that hill.”

“You didn’t add brakes.”

“You….deserved to have Mrs. Yamagawa’s rose bushes in your butt.”

“I hate you.”

“Mutual.”

Both men looked each other in the eyes and cracked up laughing. “I’ll never forget the indignity of you bent over mother’s legs getting thorns pulled from your butt. It was priceless!” Takiuma said laughing.

Tenma giggled…”Remember the flame thrower?”

“The super soaker with the lighter?! Father was furious!”

Tenma laughed…”You’d think we could have been smart enough to throw the thing in the trash instead of leaving it by the burning tool shed?”

Both men slapped each others backs. “We allowed our rivalry to get too big. I was so stupid to protest your wedding.” Takiuma said wiping his eyes.

“Sometimes I didn’t blame you for doing so.” Tenma said with seriousness. “You were right on many things…I wasn’t the husband I should have been.”

They went silent for a moment. “I think she would have been proud of you had she lived to see Astro…”

“No she wouldn’t.” Tenma replied. “She would have been appalled. Trying to replace our son…what I’ve done…”

Takiuma took his brother by the shoulders…”It is I who ask forgiveness. I wasn’t there when you needed family the most. I allowed our petty rivalry to hurt you. If our parents were alive…I have shamed them.”

Tenma smiled softly. “No…you have done good and decent things with your life my brother. Things I sometimes wish I’d pursued…it is I who owe our family an apology.”

Tenma hugged Takiuma for minutes before sighing and backing off. “Now…do tell me about my niece? Is she gifted or more like you?”

“God help us.” Takiuma replied. “She’s a teenage girl, how dangerous could that be?”

Ministry of Science
Morning

“Here it is.” Inspector Towashi exclaimed as a Delta bot dumped the remains of the Sakura drone all over the floor.

Reno winced. “You guys blew it up? Oh thanks a lot, so much for finesse.”

“We found it like this.” Towashi snorted. “You’ll just have to examine it and give us your best guess as to the results. Is this what we’re looking for or what?”

Reno gave him a quizzled look. “You know Astro isn’t exactly the best artist in the world.”

“Just look at it and tell me what you think?” Towashi said waving a finger. “I’ll be back at the station working on this new problem with the computer hacker. I’m sure you egg heads here are doing the same thing right?”

Reno smirked. “No…actually I was playing Tetris till you busted my fun.”

“Wise ass.” Towashi said as he walked out.

“ Samurai Jeff’s”
New Shinjuku
Morning

Atlas sat on the floor of the small living room pulling his boots on, watching the television and talking to himself….well…talking to Bugsy with an annoyed tone.

“He told you to leave?”

“Yeah. Said we’d make things worse.”

Atlas huffed. “Figures…he’s such a whimp. Probably tried to say sorry to the anti’s didn’t he?”

“Actually he got em even more angry. You should have seen him smile at em..right in the kisser!”
Atlas brooded. “Well…don’t leave. The anti’s make so much as a wrong finger at him and I want em to pee themselves running, you got that?”

“No problem.” Bugsy replied.

Livian suddenly snatched Atlas by an arm. ‘What are you doing?”

“Just talking to a friend about keeping things honest.” Atlas replied.

“You’re meddling! I’m warning you to cut it out.” She snorted.

Atlas pursed his lips as he tied his yellow loin cloth. “Can’t be too careful. You know what some of these fleshy dolts are saying now? They blame us for all the stuff going on, you know…that fire, the noise thing and now this computer hacking stuff?”

“And just as many call it nonsense.” Livian replied. “Let Astro fight his own battles?”

Atlas started walking for the door. “Where are you going?”

“Bwah! I’m going to see Timber Tim at the fire station, stop being nosey!”

Livian walked up to him and huffed. “I see you at that school Atlas…I’m warning you.”

“Ok!” He replied snorting. “Damn maybe you are my mother after all….sheesh!”

[dannavy85]

Elementary school 12
Mid-Morning

Tamago Hamu stood up from his desk and walked up to the school committee. “Good morning my friends.” He said with a toothy smile. “Let’s cut to the quick shall we? Now.. this whole thing isn’t about Astro’s good deeds, who wouldn’t love this little guy when he’s busting up bad guys, trashing out of control machines or catching airplanes like fly balls? Gotta love em…”

Then Tamago leaned on Astro’s table…”That is of course until you have all that strength running around our schools. Then you have unfortunate events such as happened to my client. Now I’m not excusing my clients actions leading up to this matter but we have the right to question the inherent risks that came with Astro throwing my client about like a rag doll in a china shop!”

Tamago turned to the committee and pointed back at Astro. “It’s a simple matter of safety. Robots as powerful as Astro can be supplied their data by less hazardous means or…perhaps some sort of power restriction is in order to prevent an unfortunate result from adverse contacts between robots and our children. Very simple matter.”

Tamago took his seat. Professor Wazu stood up, removed his wool artist cap and rubbed his hands together in a moment of thought…

“Simple. The opposing attorney calls the matter simple…not so fast. This isn’t about any sort of injury my opposition’s client may have sustained as a result of the incident. Of course the issue itself is the police hold Astro used to take down the young man in question…after that same young man assaulted a boy 5 years his junior!”

“No my friends…what this comes down to is simple enough. The opposition wants Astro gone from this school, limits and controls besides the point are a mute subject. Trust me…You’ll hear my opposition pull all sorts of rabbit tricks to make you believe that Astro is a nuclear time bomb just waiting for the right spark. I ask you to keep your minds and eyes open however and get to know my client…it shouldn’t take rocket science to know where the truth is.”

Wazu took his seat and felt Astro pulling on his jacket. “A beep about now would pep things up.”

“Stop cracking jokes.” Wazu said back softly.

Kenichi entered the room shortly after the opening remarks and took a seat in front of the committee. “Ok Kenichi…go ahead and tell us what happened when Fushio Ugi started to taunt Astro.”

“Well…he was trying to get Astro to fight him and Astro was walking away. Then he threw an egg at Astro’s head. That’s when I got angry.”

“You went after Fushio.” The Superintendent said.

“Yes Sir.”

“And another upper classmen grabbed you and tossed you against the lockers?”

“Yes Sir.”

“And then Fushio beat you up.”

“Yes Sir.”

“What happened then?”

Kenichi rubbed his knees. “Astro came up from behind and threw Fushio to the floor.”

“Can you remember what it looked like?” The Superintendent asked.

Kenichi imitated the throw as he could remember it. “Like that!”

“And what did the other upper classmen do?”

“They pissed their pants.”

Laughter broke out.

“They did! I mean they ran so fast one of em left his shoes behind.” Kenichi said smiling.

When the laughter died down, Tamago walked up. “Kenichi? Can you describe for us the look on Astro’s face when he snatched my client off his feet?”

“He was angry.”

“He was angry? Was he frowning angry, snarling angry, what kind of angry?”

Ken played with his fingers. “He was….snarling.”

“Snarling? So….he was showing his teeth huh? Like….like a dog?”

“Objection!” Wazu snapped.

“Relevance.” Tamago snapped back. “Just gauging the level of anger in response to stimulus. Your witness Professor.”

Wazu walked up. “Snarl…Ken is this the only time you’ve seen Astro snarl?”

“Nope.” Ken replied. “He snarls a lot around creeps.”

“Oh? And why is that?”

“Because Abercrombie taught him. He thought Astro was too dopey looking, said a snarl would make him more scary against creeps.”

“So…he learned to snarl? Abercrombie didn’t teach him when it was appropriate to snarl?”

“Uh uh….” Kenichi replied. “And unlike my dog at least he’ll play fetch.”

Wazu tapped his shoe. “You got beat up pretty good didn’t you?”

Ken nodded.

“In fact!” Wazu exclaimed. “According to the school nurse you got a black eye, a shoulder bruise and according to witnesses you were punched several times in the stomach by Fushio while being held by another upper classman, hardly a fair fight!”

“You can go sit down ken.” Wazu said as he walked around the room. “A 16 year old soccer player, quite athletic mind you, beating up an 11 year old boy. From all indications of the witnesses it didn’t look as if Fushio intended to stop. I’ll ask Nurse Hina to come up please?”

The school nurse took the seat.

“Miss Hina? Kenichi’s injuries were quite serious for a child involved in a school fight were they not?”

Hina nodded. “Yes they were.”

“Could they have been worse? If fushio had continued to punch Kenichi further could the injuries have been more life threatening?”

“Objection!” Tamago shouted. “It was not the intention of my client to cause life threatening injury!”

“Reason…the intent of cause usually goes out the window when an adrenal pumped and angry teenager starts swinging, I site the case of Bushi vrs. Hitakawa 2004, a 17 year old football player got into a fight with a 15 year old and continued to pummel the other, even escaping the hold of other players. He caused a blood clot in the brain of the other player which ended his life. Children rarely take the time out of beating each others snots to realize the dangers of pugal rage.”

Astro shook his head as if a baseball zinged past his nose.

“Your witness.” Wazu said to Tamago.

“My dear nurse…would you please describe the injuries suffered to my client by Astro’s use of a police hold?”

“Scratches to his chin from scrapping the floor, complaints of a soreness in the upper arm and stiffness in the neck which is usually the result of being whipped about unrestrained.”

Tamago looked back at Astro. “Was there another way these injuries could have been avoided?”

“Any attempt to stop a fight can result in some risk of injury.” She said.

“I was asking about injury to my client not injury to Astro.”

“Any attempt to stop a fight can result in some risk of injury to your client.”

“But this was by far the worst attempt right?”

The nurse pursed her lips. “Yes.”

“No further questions.” Tamago said as he walked away.

The Superintendent stood up. “We’ll take a ten minute break.”

[dannavy85]

Engine 17
The Dragoons
Late morning

Atlas flew up to the window of the second floor and slowly moved next to Timber’s bed while he slept….or was sleeping…

“You try anything and I’ll beat you senseless.” Timber said as he pulled his blankets tighter around him.

“Long night?” Atlas asked as he took a seat.

“It sucked. Car accidents all over the place. Did you hear about the computer problems?”

“Uh uh…” Atlas replied.

“All over the country.” Timber said sluggishly. “Computers getting hacked…caused a mess.”

Atlas rounded the bed and bent down to tap Timber’s head. “That bad?”

“could have used the extra help. Oh I’m sorry….you’re not Astro.”

Atlas frowned. “Something stupid is going on.”

“Yeah…I’m sleeping and you’re bothering me.”

Atlas tapped his head. “Maybe I should look into this?”

“Maybe you should…no wait….you’re not Astro.”

“Shut up.” Atlas snorted. “How about tonight?”

“Tonight what?” Timber groaned.

“A truck ride? You promised remember?”

“I’ll see…now go do something worthy….then again…”

“You’re/I’m not Astro I know I know don’t rub it in.”

Emergency cabinet meeting
Diet building in Tokyo
Noon

In attendance:

The Prime Minister Tadashiro Naha
His legal aide Satoshi Yaru
General Red, JSDF CINC
Opposition representative, Mariko Koga
National Constabulary Chief, Captain Yahagi
Chief of National Intelligence, Yoko Mitsuda

“The question before us is the final draft resolution specifying the procedures to monitor robot activity in Japan as part of the overall security response in the wake of the events that have occurred within the last few days.” The Prime Minister said as he passed copies of the 10 page document around the table.

Mariko raised her hand. “You realize Prime Minister the delicacy of our situation with regards to the Robot Rights Law. We of the opposition demand the utmost strict accountability regarding the behavior of the constabulary, we can’t afford to risk false charges or worse a wrongful detention without concrete facts and evidence.”

Captain Yahagi leaned forwards. “Might I remind the honorable representative that there may come events which sadly warrant detention until proper evidence states otherwise? We may not have the luxury of time should these events indeed be part of a larger scheme.”

“There is no evidence that any robots are involved in subversive acts against the nation or our government despite the cries and mythical concerns of a few conspiracy bloggers on the internet.”

Satshi Yaru interrupted. “We have been most careful in crafting this document with respect to the concerns of the opposition party. We must ensure the safety of our nation while at the same time jealously guarding our democratic process. We urge the opposition not only to adopt the measure but to be its most critical enforcer.”

Shibuya Prison
mid-day

The officer waited another five minutes before leaving the cafeteria and walking to Tenma’s cell. “Late again? He knows better than to be late.”

Opening the door, the officer looked around then down towards the floor. “What?” He dropped to the floor and key’d his shoulder mic. “Assistance! Assistance! Cell 15, Doctor Tenma! Hurry up!”

[dannavy85]

Elementary school 12
Mid-Afternoon

Tamago paced back and forth as Fushio Ugi took his seat. “So Fushio? Do you deny bumping into Astro?”

“No.”

“Do you….deny throwing the egg at his head?”

“No.”

“The younger boy attacked you after you threw the egg right?”

“Yes.”

“And you don’t deny punching him for that attack?”

“No.”

“How hard did Astro throw you to the floor?”

“Hard enough for my chin to bounce off it.”

“Did he crank your arm behind you? Did it hurt?”

“Yes…”

“How hard? 1 to 10, 10 being the worst pain.”

“A….five I guess.”

“He had his boot on your neck? The back of your neck?”

“Yes.”

“Did that hurt?”

“There was pressure.”

“Did it hurt you?”

“Yes. My neck was sore.”

Tamago turned about. “Sore…hurt….pain. Obviously goes counter to the Robot Laws doesn’t it? A robot will not HURT a human…A robot will obey the orders of humans so long as it doesn’t break law one. A robot will protect itself unless that conflicts with laws one and two…obviously Astro doesn’t know the law very well does he?”

Tamago went back to his desk and grabbed a piece of paper. “Case in point. A few days ago Astro was involved in a potential disaster on one of our highways. He stopped an out of control gas tanker…well he didn’t actually stop it because he allowed it to fly off an unfinished sky bridge and explode among some construction workers below. Another little…miscalculation that caused injury to several of those workers.”

Tamago looked at Astro. “A behavior pattern problem? Some programming issues? Perhaps a glitch? Ok when you have a lot of open space to play with but not so good in a hallway when you’re tossing a human child around like a rag doll!”

Wazu stood up and walked up to Fushio. “Am I to understand young man that you have a sort of hate streak against Robots?”

Fushio was quiet.

“I’ll ask you again. You have a recorded history of hate against robots? You have a blog site for anti-robot rantings, your father just happens to be a member of the Keel movement, do you deny these?”

“No.”

Wazu rubbed his hands together. “You wanted to push Astro into a fight. You got angry that you couldn’t get your way. You tossed an egg off his head then you got jumped by one of his friends…correct?”

“Yes.”

“So….one of your pals grabbed Kenichi, tossed him against a locker and you started punching him. You kept punching him. You weren’t going to stop were you? You wouldn’t have stopped until Kenichi was bleeding!”

Wazu turned about to face the committee. “My opponent seems to have forgotten that a 4th law of robotics was introduced during the Yokohama Convention of Robot Ethics of 2004, that same law was drafted into the Robot Rights Law of 2008 and I quote….

“A robot SHALL NOT allow a human to suffer injury as a result of their inaction.” “What does this law mean?”



“2005 a burglary at the First Tokyo Exchange Bank turned into a hostage crisis. There were 17 people and three robots present in the bank. These three robots were constructor class chassis fully capable of taking out the two criminals. Even after two hostages were brutally murdered, all three robots remained fixed to where they stood because they had been programmed not to do anything for fear of causing harm to any of the humans. That included the two gun man.”

Wazu walked back to Astro. “Witnesses placed the gun men within easy arms reach of these robots and still they were not allowed to do anything…”

“Can you possibly imagine how things would have been if Astro had to sit back and allow Kenichi to be so brutally beaten all because his programming told him that causing the slightest injury to Fushio was wrong?”

Wazu turned to Astro. “Give me one of your boots.”

He walked up to the committee. “Here….feel this boot. Is the sole hard?”

The committee members passed it along. “Soft isn’t it? Of course between the outer layers is a flame retardant inner core. What Fushio doesn’t want you to know is how he was seen struggling against Astro’s foot. Hey doesn’t want you to know how he swore and said he would beat Astro blind.”