Medabots: A New Beginning Chp3

Author’s Notes:
+ I do not own Medabots, only my own characters.

Just One Thing After Another

“Kenro, is that…?”

“Yes, Mom. This is Rokusho. We had a rough time, so I’m going to repair him,” he replied upon arriving home.

“I’m just here to show him how to repair Rokusho, and then I’ll be on my way,” Hana added, waving hello before following Kenro into his room.

Rokusho looked around at the face-down picture frames as Kenro carefully put the Medabot on the floor.

Opening the repair kit, Hana said to Rokusho, “I know you like to solo, but we’re going to have to take your medal out in order to fix some of your parts. I think it’s just awkward for humans to take a Medabot apart to repair Medaparts while the medal is still in the Tinpet.”

“That’s fine,” Rokusho responded, shifting around so his back was facing Kenro and Hana.

Hana carefully opened up Rokusho’s back, revealing the medal slot. She carefully pushed the little pedal securing Rokusho’s medal off, allowing the medal to pop out. She took out something that looked like the bust of someone important and inserted the medal into the base. The head and body of the object shifted until it looked like Rokusho’s head part. “This allows Medabots to still be aware of what is happening and allow for easier conversation instead of just putting the medal into your Medawatch,” Hana explained to Kenro’s surprised stare. “The bust is made to look like the Head Medapart of whatever Tinpet the medal was last inside. Rokusho, do you have a problem with watching yourself be taken apart? We can always turn you around.”

“Thank you for your concern, but I don’t mind,” Rokusho replied. “I would like to see what type of repairs I may need.”

Smiling, Hana turned back to Kenro. “Here’s a screwdriver; this is used to remove the Medaparts. Here we have some cleaning solution; if you want to clean up after a rough battle, this solution is made for the sake of cleaning Medaparts, but water and soap work well too. This sealer closes up cracks and such so the Medapart stays strong. This clear one is used if you really want to keep a crack visible as a battle scar or something like the one in your new Right Guard,” Hana grinned, showing Rokusho and Kenro the crack they made into Megaphant’s part. “When you’re done making the necessary repairs, you put the Medaparts back on the Tinpet. Some people put the medal back into the Medabot for immediate company while others, usually Medafighters, keep their medals in their Medawatches to transport Medabots for Robattles. It really depends on preference.”

Kenro took a few minutes to absorb the information. Well, this stuff didn’t sound too hard. “Thanks, Hana. You should probably go back home now.”

“Not happening. I already talked to my parents and called your mom to hang around for dinner,” she smiled. Hana knew how to plan ahead. “Besides, if I left you to do this stuff, you’d spend the entire night working.”

“Kenro, Hana, time to eat!” Kenro’s mother called from the staircase. Sighing, Kenro walked down, Hana smiling behind him while carrying Rokusho down in his mini-Meda state. At the table, Hana was trying to break the awkward silence, but it didn’t seem like anyone was planning to talk. It was strange how she never noticed that Kenro hardly spoke to his mom.

After dinner was over, Kenro silently returned to his room after collecting the dishes, Hana following with Rokusho. Why couldn’t she ask why Kenro didn’t talk to his mom? Heck, why didn’t Kenro ever mention this to her? Unable to press the matter, Hana helped Kenro dismantle Rokusho’s Medaparts and clean them from today’s battles. After clear-sealing Kenro’s new Right Guard, Hana went home, leaving Kenro to put the Medabot back together. He put Rokusho’s medal into the Tinpet an hour later, letting Rokusho test out his Medaparts to make sure nothing was wrong.

Satisfied, Kenro fell asleep in bed while Rokusho sat by the window, watching the stars and the moon until dawn.

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“So, Rokusho, what are you going to do today?”

“I’m not sure. I think I’ll stay and continue to rest before heading out again.”

“Why do you work alone, anyway?” Kenro asked, sitting in bed.

“I’m looking for someone,” Rokusho responded, still staring out the window. “What do you plan to do?”

“I think I’m going out for a walk,” he said, getting ready to leave. “I guess I’ll see you later, Rokusho.”

The Medabot nodded until he heard Kenro’s door close. He got off the windowsill and looked around Kenro’s room a bit. Curious about the many picture frames, Rokusho wandered the shelves and placed of the pictures in a standing position so he could see what Kenro wanted to hide. Each photograph showed a younger Kenro with a man beside him. Rokusho wondered why Kenro didn’t smile like he did in the photos anymore. He seemed so happy and carefree.

“Can’t believe I for-” Kenro muttered to himself as he entered his room to the open pictures. He stiffened at the scene; Rokusho was worried towards Kenro’s reaction. He saw a flash of surprise in Kenro’s eyes, soon replaced by a silent anger. Kenro did not retrieve what he came back for and left the room, slamming the door behind him.

Rokusho didn’t move for a while. It was strange for him to see such fury in Kenro’s eyes in the one day that they’ve known each other. He put the frames back facedown before leaving Kenro’s room.

When he got to the living room, he was greeted by Kenro’s mother. “Hello, Rokusho. I take it that you saw the pictures?” she asked, smiling sadly. To the Medabot’s surprised expression, she added, “Kenro doesn’t anger easily, so I guessed at what happened.” Sighing, she looked at the photograph in her hands. “His father used to be at home a lot and took Kenro out to play, but his job soon required him to travel farther away, keeping him away from home. Soon, he was gone for months on end, and Kenro lost faith in his father returning home. Three years ago, his father came by for Kenro’s birthday, but his job called him away before Kenro could even say hello. His father has disappeared for the last three years without any form of contact. Since then, Kenro has always been bitter on the subject, and every conversation we try to have always loops back to his father, so we’ve kept silent to avoid arguments.” Smiling at Rokusho, she said, “I’m glad Kenro has met you, Rokusho. Please try and take care of him.”

Rokusho nodded, and the Medabot went off. After visiting Hana’s house and finding that she left for the park, he decided to make that his first destination. It was the only lead he had to find Kenro.

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“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“Do you think I’m stupid? Something must have happened.”

“I said it’s nothing,” Kenro stubbornly replied, skipping stones across the pond.

Hana sighed. Her best friend was grumpy, and she wanted to help him out. Was it so bad that Kenro wouldn’t tell her? “Boys,” she muttered before walking off. So much for a fun weekend. Kenro didn’t even look back. Extremely hurt, Hana went to visit Jeremy and sat by the cash-register, her head in her arms.

“Lemme guess, something happened with you and Kenro?” Jeremy asked, dusting off the Medabot kits.

“Something happened to make him mad, and he won’t say anything to me,” Hana complained quietly.

“I had a couple of friends like that. When it comes to the touchy, more secretive topics, they’d keep mum and refuse to answer any questions concerning the reason behind their strange behaviors,” Jeremy mentioned, occupied in his cleaning of the store. “If you can find out who else was around to notice the situation, it would help you figure out why Kenro’s angry. Try not to take it too personally though; once he calms down, Kenro will probably notice how much he hurt you and apologize.”

Before Hana could say anything, Rokusho entered the shop. “Men with suits just got out of a car. They seemed to be heading here.”

Jeremy groaned and put a hand through his hair. “Darn it,” he whispered. “Some guys came by to try and buy the shop last week, but I drove ‘em off. Looks like they’re back for more. Did any of them have a Medawatch on?” Jeremy asked Rokusho.

“Two of them.”

“Crap,” Jeremy frowned. “Looks like they plan on using their Medabots to wreck my shop. Not good at all.” Sighing he told Hana, “I’m going to stay in front of the shop and try to keep them from doing too much damage. You and your Medabot friend go and get Kenro; I might need his help.”

Nodding, Rokusho and Hana ran back to the park. Jeremy hoped that they could convince Kenro to help. This was going to be a rough day.

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“Why do you look so sad?”

Kenro turned to the speaker. It was the chick salesman again. “Old memories coming back. That, and I drove away my friends because of them,” he replied. After Hana left, he sat by the edge of the pond looking depressed. “I wonder if they can forgive me for being such a jerk.”

The old man smiled. “You may have hurt them with your actions, but if they are your friends, they will wait for you. They understand that you are hurting and won’t hold that against you. Friends will always come back together because that is what friends do.”

Kenro then saw Hana and Rokusho run towards him. From their urgent looks, something was wrong. He thanked the salesman for his advice and ran to find out what was wrong. Apologies would have to wait.

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“Rokusho, sorry about this morning. I’ll make it up to you after the battle,” Kenro muttered as he faced the businessmen waiting to battle.

“Deal,” the Medabot responded, looking at the opponents.

The first was a Digmole. This one gleamed with some fair armor and its fists were ready to tear through the Meda-shop behind Kenro. Jeremy was bruised from stopping the Digmole from breaking through to the foundation of the shop in the ten minutes it took for Hana and Rokusho to get Kenro and was sitting against the door of the store.

The second opponent was a Kintaro. The blades on its arms seemed to have been sharpened just for this battle. Both Medabots were ready to beat Rokusho and proceed to wreck the shop.

Hana went next to Kenro. “Two against one against fair, so I’ll use this Robattle to try out my new Medaparts,” she explained, grinning. “Transport: Lea!” With that command, her Medawatch emitted a beam, bringing forth Hana’s Medabot. The Medabot seemed slightly hunched forward, its knees bent, ready to pounce. The yellow metal gleamed with sharp claws on its hands and feet, a tail swishing back and forth in anticipation for the battle. Lea’s face was feminine, her head similar to Peppercat’s except that her ears were rounder. “Submission Robattle, Kenro?” Hana asked.

“Maybe. Rokusho?”

“That’s fine. Perhaps risking me will help you make good decisions more quickly, Kenro,” Rokusho replied, sounding a bit amused.

“You ready to go or what?” asked one of the businessmen, his shiny black hair slicked back. His sunglasses only made his confident grin stand out more.

“Submission Robattle? You kids are going down,” said the other, wearing sunglasses like his partner, his hair slicked to the side.

“Then it is agreed!”

The chauffeur exited the limousine the businessmen came from. “This will be a Submission Robattle. The first Medabot to cease functioning loses, and the loser must submit one Medapart to the winner, for keeps. I, Mr. Referee, shall act as referee so no one gets hurt.”

This guy again, Kenro thought, recognizing the voice as well as the catchphrase.

Taking off his disguise, Mr. Referee brought his hand up, about to start the Robattle. “Medafighters ready? Medabots, Robattle!” he announced, swinging his hand down.

Kintaro and Digmole dashed forward immediately, ready to pulverize their opponents.

“I’ll take the blades. You go after the ‘mole,” Hana said, Lea dashing forward to intercept Kintaro.

Rokusho didn’t wait for a command as he dashed towards Digmole.

Okay, what did I learn from Megaphant? Kenro wondered quickly as Digmole brought its arm back for a punch. Some of the newer models of older Medabots have stronger armor and better offensive capabilities, so I have to be careful of that. “Meet that punch, Rokusho!” Kenro yelled.

Rokusho’s Hammer Fist slammed into Digmole’s arm. Neither part yielded to the attack of the other, and both Medabots moved backwards for another round. Meanwhile, Lea was trading slashes with Kintaro, neither Medabot budging.

“Slash down!” Kenro commanded.

Rokusho’s Chanbara Sword swung at Digmole’s treads. It didn’t sever them, but enough damage was done that Digmole would not be moving very quickly.

“Get behind him,” Kenro said next, using Rokusho’s speed to bring him out of range of Digmole’s attacks. The Stag Beetle Medabot wasted no time, getting behind his opponent and performing a back-handed Hammer Fist, following through to increase the impact force. Digmole tried turning away from the attack, but its damaged treads did not allow for great mobility, the Medabot taking the full hit, disabling its Right Arm and knocking it over to its side.

“Lea, pounce!”

With Hana’s help, her Lioness Medabot ducked under Kintaro’s swing, diving up into her opponent’s chest with both claws outstretched. Kintaro fell on its back and tried to get up, but Lea jumped and crouched behind Kintaro, one arm pulled back for a finishing strike if necessary.

Digmole got back on its treads with a good push from his left arm, but Rokusho held the Chanbara Sword at its neck, awaiting the surrender.

It never came.

“Kintaro, swing around!” “Digmole, swing your arm back!”

The axe-armed Medabot swung from its waist, its left axe catching Lea’s before she could react. The construction Medabot swung its left arm back and around, its enhanced attack catching Rokusho’s shoulder and effectively put his Chanbara Sword out of the Robattle. Kintaro proceeded to swing around again with its right arm while Digmole’s arm reversed direction. Rokusho was caught in the head while Lea’s other arm took a slash.

Kenro and Hana stood slack-jawed at the change of events, the businessmen snickering at their momentary triumph.

“Rokusho!” “Lea!”

“Never mind me, Kenro. The battle’s not over yet.”

“Mrow! I can still fight, Hana.”

Both Medabots went solo, Rokusho’s Hammer Fist and Lea’s Right Claw meeting Kintaro’s Head part. Kintaro raised both arms to protect himself only to have them both cease function from the combined assault. Rokusho and Lea switched places to attack Digmole, who was helpless against the next combined attack, its medal exiting the Tinpet. Lea topped things off with a not-so-gentle hop on Kintaro’s head, Kintaro’s medal exiting as well.

“Function ceased! The winners are Kenro and Hana!”

The two teenagers collapsed to their knees from the suspense. Lea hopped in joy while Rokusho simply walked up to Kenro. “Nice job, partner,” Rokusho said, holding out his damaged right arm.

“Thanks… partner,” Kenro replied with a weak smile, taking Rokusho’s hand.

“Looks like there’re more repairs to do tonight.”

The businessmen stormed back to the limo, the real chauffeur (wherever he came from) driving them back. Left behind were Kintaro’s Kinta Legs and Digmole’s Barrier Buster [left arm].

Lea retrieved the Medaparts and dumped them in front of Kenro. “You have them both. I don’t need them.”

“She’s right about that, and besides, I think you earned them both,” Hana agreed, smiling at Kenro.

It was a happy ending for the two Medafighters, their Medabots, and Jeremy, who all entered the shop and had a mini-celebration for the survival of the Medabots shop. Kenro still had his explaining to do, but no one wanted to worry about that right now. And how long did Jeremy have that cake?