Chapter 5

Back at Astro's place everyone listened to the new AU Astro's story. On where he came from, why he attacked the real Tenma, and more importantly how he got to the universe he was in now. "I'm so sorry about all that's happened. I don't know exactly how I got here but I'm happy to know that I'm in an alternate universe that's almost like mine. Still; it's not as good as my Metro City." "That's all right; you're among friends." The real Astro said to the new one.

"If I can interrupt for a second; let me get this straight. These two new Astro's are from universes alternate to our own and somehow entered ours?" Dr. Tenma said to which Mr. Mustachio responded: "Yup, it seemed like a coincidence that two Astro's from two different times and universes could somehow enter ours and meet. But now…. there are three of them." "Mustachio's right" Dr. Elefun said: "We know now that there's a multiverse parallel to ours and that somehow or another they can enter each others; but two universes that's containing Astro Boy's entering ours which itself has an Astro Boy as well? It can't be a coincidence."

"I think the REAL question is; why? Why are our universes uniting anyway?" The first AU Astro said. "Technically they're not uniting but bits and pieces of those universes are entering mine and from what you guys told me it was after you both went through some kind of light." The real Astro said to his counterparts. "So what we need to do is to find out what is causing it in the first place." The new AU Astro rounded out.

"But Astro…" Zane said to the real Astro, which due to the vagueness caused all three Astro's to say "Yes?" Cora stood up and said: "Okay, this getting confusing. At first being able to tell which Astro was easy, all we had to do was tell which one had the shorts and which one had the briefs. But now we got two briefs one boxer. So we're gonna need a label system." Cora put her hand on her chin, thought for a few seconds, and said: "So how about this: the new alternate universe Astro will be Astro 3, the old one will be Astro 2, and the Astro we all know and love will be Astro 1?" Everyone shook their heads and agreed.

With this new rule Zane continued with his question: Astro…uh...1, how are we gonna find out what's causing this? Astro 1 being the genius that he was; figured it out in almost a minute. "Everything and everyone in the universe are made by atoms and since these guys are from OTHER universes maybe they have a different atom signature and if it's true then perhaps we can trace the signature back to all possible outcomes. One of those outcomes has to have the source to whatever is causing all this." "What if it doesn't work?" Robotski asked. "Then we'll have to come up with a plan B. But right now I think we got other things to worry about. Astro 3, you said that there was another robot with you when you went through that light." "Yes, his name is Atlas and from I've been told he's not evil like the Atlas from Astro 2's universe."

"If Atlas is anything like us then the Atlas from Astro 2's universe is the alternate reality counterpart of the Atlas from Astro 3's universe." After hearing this from Astro 1 Astro 2 got up and said: "If that's so then it's only a matter of time before my Atlas gets his hands on the other…." Before he could finish a huge blast shook the building and causing Zog who was holding on by the window again to lose his grip.

Zog with only one hand that has fingers held on to the window as much as he could but his weight couldn't hold on very long and fell to the street with a handful of civilians under where he was going to land. Astro 1 ran to the window that was already open so Zog could listen to the others and jumped out. He flew as fast as he could and grabbed Zog's hand before he fell on the civilians. "Thanks Astro 1" Zog said as Astro gently put him on the ground.

The entire city shook again and again as whatever made it came closer and closer. Everyone still in the living room gathered by the window and looked out as rubble shoot up from behind the buildings like a geyser. Each one was like a giant taking a footstep as each of them got closer to where they were. Both Astro 2 and 3 looked at everyone and Astro 3 said: "We'll handle this with Astro 1! You guys try and do whatever it takes to handle this universe situation!" and the both jumped out the window and landed next to Astro 1.

Everyone was running away except for the 3 Astro's as they witness a huge explosion coming out of the building in front of them. When the dust cleared where the wall of the building once was had been replaced by a huge hole with two figures in the middle of it. The 3 Astro's were stunned to see it was Atlas and AU Atlas standing side by side.

"Atlas, I knew you were here in this universe too!" Astro 3 said with great joy. But AU emotionless face was unresponsive. Astro 3 was confused "Huh? Atlas what's wrong?" Astro 2 then told Astro: "It's no use Astro 3 it's just as I feared. My Atlas has gotten his hands on yours." "Brilliant deduction Astro" Atlas said to Astro 2: "and very correct. Atlas was rebellious to me at first but I managed to shut him down and while he was deactivated I reprogrammed him to lose all his emotions and make him do only one thing and one thing only: Obey me!"

Atlas pulled out his sword and said: "Now then, I think we all know what's going to happen here." He then turned his head to the AU Atlas and said: "Atlas ATTACK!" AU Atlas did just that and rocketed toward the three Astro's. But Astro 3 blocked AU Atlas's attack and held him off. "You guys take on the Atlas that's actually evil. I'm going to try and get MY Atlas back to normal." Both Astro 1 and 2 agreed and did just that.

Atlas fought off the both of them with his sword for a few seconds until he flew away from them. While Astro 1 and 2 chased after him Astro 3 struggled with his friend and tried to talk some sense into him. "Atlas it's me your friend Astro! Come on, I know you can fight the evil Atlas's programming!" But Atlas's programming was too strong and AU Atlas didn't listen to a word Astro 3 said. He then used his electric power to stun Astro 3, grabbed his leg, flew up into the air, and then spun him around and around and threw him with enough velocity to have him crash into the Metro City Mountain.

Astro 1 and 2 chased Atlas all through Metro City. Atlas fired his finger lasers at Astro 1 but Astro 1dodged the laser and used his arms blasters at Atlas. Atlas dodged all the blasts but doing so caused him to be too distracted to see the billboard in front of him and all three robots crashed through. All three of them spun around in the air before getting back to their feet. Atlas then activated his sword and fired at both robots. Atlas realized that he couldn't fight two of them at the same time so he decided to even out the odds.

He flew toward and landed on the monorail track. He then used his sword to cut the track on both sides of him and then stomped on the cut track causing it to fall to the ground causing a small gap in the tracks. To make matters worse a train was already on its way to the spot. Both Astros saw this and Astro 1 said to Astro 2: "Oh no, I'll handle the train Astro 2. You fight Atlas; after all you both are from the same universe." Astr o 1 then flew between the tracks and used his body as a bridge. The train went over Astro easily but he had to stay there just in case another train went by.

Atlas and Astro 2 then stood off face to face. "Excellent, a perfect match up; now Astro it's time to finish you off once and for all!" Astro 2 then said to Atlas: "Atlas why are you doing this? You know this isn't your universe so why conquer it?" "Because it doesn't matter where I begin my empire; as far as I'm concerned I'm willing to take over the next universe if have to and any of the ones after it! As long as you stand in my way Astro I'll never give up!" Atlas then rocketed towards Astro 2 and punched him straight in the face.

Atlas then grabbed Astro and strangled him as hard as he could. "None of this has to happen Astro. If you would just join me we could force the humans into surrendering to us. No one would have to die pointlessly; why won't you give up this foolish ideal about humans being our friends and just join me?" "You'll never understand Atlas." "You're right I won't!" Atlas then rocketed back into the city while still holding Astro 2 and then threw him into the street.

Atlas landed on the street but Astro 2 was too weak to fight. Atlas walked towards Astro 2 but then stopped when he heard: "FREEZE!" It was the Metro City military, hundreds of soldiers aimed at Atlas. One soldier then said to Atlas: "You're under arrest you Oompa Loompa wannabe! Now put your hands in the air!" Atlas did just that and a soldier walked up to arrest him. But when he got close to him Atlas grabbed his hand and held him close. "Now that I have your comrade I recommend you drop your guns and get down your knees." "Oh yeah, why should we?" Atlas then grabbed his hostage's hand and pulled his pinky finger all the way back and broke it.

The hostage screamed and on his visor said: "Amount of Pain Measured: Ungodly!" Atlas then said: "Because the longer you stand there the more of these soldiers' fingers I break!" He then grabbed his next finger with the soldier begging him to stop. Astro 1 saw all of this and with Astro 2 down and Astro 3 fighting AU Atlas he had to stop him himself. But first he had to prevent any more trains from crashing. He calculated the time the next train would come and how long it would take to repair it then got out of the gap and grabbed as many pieces of loose metal he could get. He had to go as fast as to even take a mailbox and a streetlamp for as he was collecting junk Atlas was breaking the poor soldiers' fingers one by one.

He crushed the items into one slab of metal then flew up to the gap and used his arm cannons to weld the slab onto the tracks. He was able to get it on just before another train got over. He then rocketed towards Atlas and again used his cannons on him just before he broke the soldiers' thumb. Atlas was hit by the blasts causing him to let go of his hostage. Astro then kicked with all his might on Atlas's head and the force blew Atlas into a building.

The soldiers' came up to Astro and thanked him but when a few of them went to capture Atlas, a comet came down and landed in front of them causing them to be blown away. When the dust settled it was revealed that the comet was actually AU Atlas who still had the upper hand against Astro 3. AU Atlas was holding Astro 3 onto the ground and continuously punched him. Astro 1 got Astro 2 up and told the soldiers' to run. Astro 1 walked to the fight carrying Astro 2. Astro 1 then asked Astro 3: "Astro 3 are you okay?" "Yeah, I've been through worse; although being punched like this isn't so comfortable." Astro 2 then asked how his progress was in getting AU Atlas back to normal to which Astro 3 responded: "Well, I think I'm a bit of a breakthrough."

Astro 1 used his x-ray vision on AU Atlas then said: "It's no use Astro 3. Atlas has hacked into his artificial intelligence way too good. Just talking him back to normal won't work." "Then what do we do?" Astro 2 asked Astro 1. Astro 1 thought for a bit then realized something: "I have an idea. It's a long shot but it just may work. Astro 2 and 3 grab Atlas's arms and try to keep him steady." Hearing this Astro 2 then walked to grab Atlas's left arm and Astro 3 stopped AU Atlas's punches just before it made contact with his face again then managed to grab right arm. With both Astro 2 and 3 grabbing a struggling AU Atlas Astro 1 walked up to them then opened his chest.

Astro 1 knew only one thing could save AU Atlas. The only thing that made him unique from Astro 2 and 3, the only thing that could reverse the pollution on Earth, and the very thing that gave Astro 1 his power and made him who he was: The Blue Core. If he could fix Zog with it then maybe he could fix AU Atlas. Astro 2 and 3 were surprised at looking the Core and both asked what it was. Astro 1's response was: "Our only hope." A blast of blue energy then continuously went into AU Atlas's head.

AU Atlas screamed very loud as the energy rearranged the circuits in his head. Blue light came out of his eyes and mouth which worried Astro 2 and 3 but if Astro 1 said it would work they trusted him. AU Atlas struggled but Astro 2 and 3 grabbed as hard as they could as the Blue Core kept firing its energy into him. After a minute the energy stopped and the light from AU Atlas faded as he stopped screaming and struggling and eventually fainted. The two Astros let go of AU Atlas and Astro 3 laid him down. Astro 3 then asked AU Atlas to wake up and after a couple seconds he did.

"Astro?" AU Atlas said. All three Astros smiled when he said that. "Atlas are you okay?" Astro 3 asked AU Atlas. "Yeah, I feel alright but something must be wrong. For some reason I'm seeing three of you." "It's a long story." Astro 3 said as he hugged a very confused AU Atlas. But their joy suddenly turned to surprise as Atlas got out of the rubble from the wall he created. "It's that guy I fought at the junkyard." AU Atlas said to which Atlas responded: "Yes and from what I can tell all four of you have become incredibly tired; now's my chance." Atlas then pulled out his sword and prepared to kill them.

All four robots closed their eyes and accepted their fate. But they opened their eyes when they heard a big clunk. They witnessed as they saw a black and white person hit Atlas on the head with his head as if the person fell from the sky. The person then fell in front of Atlas then said in a high pitched voice: "Owwie, hey where am I?" Atlas saw the persons face and for some reason paralyzed him with fear. "No no it can't be." Atlas said before he seethed his sword and growled. "I have no choice I must retreat." Atlas then flew away from them as fast as he could. The person then turned his head towards the four robots and suddenly they understood why Atlas was afraid. "YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!" Astro 1 said as he saw a FOURTH Astro Boy looking at them with confusion.

Meanwhile in another alternate universe; a universe where everything is an endless infinite desert; where there is nothing but sand and air there; laid something that didn't belong: a throne made up of human bones, robot parts, and dried tar and a figure that sat in it who witnessed the events of Astro 1's universe through a transdimentional viewing portal. "Hmmm interesting; it appears the effects are getting faster. Perhaps I can use this to my advantage. I will take what's MINE!"

End of Chapter 5