Astro Boy Drabbles

Astro Boy Drabbles

Feb 25, 2024

Here are some Astro Boy fan fic drabbles I wrote around 2015/2016 following Atlas at/after the end of the 2003 Astro Boy anime.

MOTHER

She had seen it all on the news. Everyone had. A war start and end in such a short time, from the actions of a small boy. Two boys.

Her boy.

Erika had seen him on the news before, destroying part of the city. She was afraid then. What if he learned the truth and came for her? Was it really even him?

Now she saw him, fighting on the side of the robots against humanity, then risking his life to save the boy who dared to stop the fighting. He chose to put an end to the war. Maybe, there was something…

But she had to act fast. She had to get there before anything else happened. She grabbed a heavy coat and got into her hover car, taking off for Antarctica. Her other children would be okay; they’ve had to be home alone many times before.

She got there as fast as she could. Most everyone was still there, except for the ones that had left in Robotonia itself. The ships were still there. Several had congregated around where Astro had fallen.
                                                  …

Atlas had wandered off after going with the others to see where Astro had landed. He didn’t want to see anymore and he figured it’d be best if he hung back from the others. Still, he didn’t feel it was a good idea for him to just take off. Plus, he was just too numb from shock to do anything else but stand there. He had already shrugged off Epsilon’s attempt at being friendly.

What was he going to do? He wasn’t going “home”, that was for sure. He could never go back there, ever. Was there anywhere he could go? What did the humans plan to do with him? He was sure before that they would dismantle him the first chance they got. Had anything changed now that he had opted to stop fighting? No one was here to arrest him.

He was pulled from his thoughts when he noticed a tall figure entering his field of vision. She was middle aged and stared at him.

“What do you want?” he asked in an annoyed tone.

She didn’t answer right away, like she was in a daze. Eventually, she replied, “I… I came, to bring you home. I’m your mother.” Blunt, but that’s always how she was. What would beating around the bush do?

“W-what?” he gasped. His mother? He took in her appearance, noting the red hair and blues eyes; her features. Genetically, it fit, but… “No.  I don’t believe you!  Why would you just come now after all this time?” It had to be a trick. Softer, “He said you left me.”

“We divorced. I… lost you.” She had said it to herself many times, pinning all the blame on Tokugawa; trying to avoid the burden.

“No!” he was getting hysterically angry. Too much had already happened today. “You-!  You left!”

“Daichi, please!  Let me-” She took steps toward him.

“I’m not Daichi!” he burst, tears streaming down his face. She pulled back, wondering if he was going to attack. He didn’t. “I’m not. I’m… my name is Atlas.”

“Atlas,” she repeated. “I’m guessing you don’t plan on returning to your father. Where else will you go? Please, come with me.” She outstretched a hand.

“Why do you even want me to come with you? You never came for me before. Surely you know I’ll just be nothing but trouble.” His head was spinning. It was hard to think clearly; hard to really filter his responses.

“There was nothing I could do before. You weren’t an adult yet. I wasn’t even granted visitation. Itachi and his fancy lawyers saw to that. And then… you were attacking the city and Tokugawa. Then you disappeared.” In space, assumed dead. “As for trouble… I’m a bit of trouble myself.”

“No,” he stated. He didn’t sound angry this time; just firm.

She inhaled and exhaled deeply. There was nothing she could do to force him. “Can you at least tell me why?”

“You’re a stranger and my only friend just died! Ochanomizu said he’ll try to revive him…! But he may not be able to!” Friend. Despite their limited interactions, all in bad circumstances, he felt he was a friend. The only one who cared. Or did this woman who claimed to be his mother care too?

No, he couldn’t let himself believe it.

“Atlas, I-” she began.

“Just go away!” he cut her off. “Go away… or else!” His threat was weak, empty. He just wanted her to leave, and to be alone in his sorrow.

Erika closed her eyes and bowed her head down. Then she turned wordlessly and left.

The cold wind howled, more noticeable now to Atlas. Fitting, he supposed, as it mirrored how he felt.

Alone.

TRIP BACK

Atlas was sitting quietly on the airship, gaze settled on the floor.  He did not wish to speak to anyone here.  He did not even want to make eye contact.

“Hey, you’re Atlas, aren’t you?” someone asked.

“Yeah,” he responded weakly, not looking up.  Why did someone have to bother him?

The person who spoke to him sat down.  Atlas then decided to see who it was.  It was a young boy, probably not too much older than Astro.  He didn’t recognize him.

“Astro told me about you,” the boy said. “Oh, and I’m Reno.”

Atlas wondered what Astro had told him but he figured he wouldn’t have said anything bad even though it was.

“I’m sure Ochanomizu will be able to fix him,” Reno assured.  “He’s a great roboticist.  He’s been teaching me.”

“Why are you talking to me?” Might as well be blunt and to-the-point.  He hadn’t the energy or care for anything else.  Not that he usually did.

“I don’t know.  No one else really seems to wanna talk either.”  Everyone was devastated and had seemed to lose their voices.  “Astro helped me too.  Helped my family.”

“Is that why you’re talking to me?” the destruction robot wondered.

“Maybe.”  Something like that perhaps. “I was raised by circus robots and this one guy didn’t like it so he tried to have them destroyed.  Ochanomizu adopted me so I couldn’t be taken away and Astro helped my family escape.  After learning the truth, that they took care of me instead of kidnapping me, the mayor made them the official town circus.  Then I was brought to the Ministry of Science so I could learn robotics.”

“You were raised by robots?”  Atlas had never heard of that happening.  “What happened to your parents?”

“Don’t know.  I was found as a baby in a junkyard.  Probably abandoned me.” Reno spoke casually as if it didn’t effect him.

“I always thought my mother abandoned me.  That’s what I was told.”  Should he be sharing this?  He wasn’t sure of anything right now.  “But before we took off, this woman shows up, says she’s my mother.  She says she didn’t leave, that she lost custody in the divorce.  That she didn’t fight for me because she discovered she was pregnant and didn’t want to lose both of us.”

“Wha-?  Really?!  Is she here now?  Why aren’t you sitting with her?” Reno asked.

“I don’t know where she is.  She wanted me to come home with her but… I don’t know her.”  He knew nothing about her.

“I guess I understand.  If I ever found my parents they’d just be strangers.  The circus was my family.  Ochanomizu and Astro and Uran are my family.” He didn’t even care to look for his parents. “So, what’re you going to do now?”

“I don’t know.  I know I can’t go back home but I don’t have anywhere else to go.” He couldn’t risk living in his father’s mansion anymore.  He couldn’t trust him.  Not after he tried to kill him.

“Maybe Ochanomizu will let you stay with us for now,” Reno suggested. “Or at the Ministry.”

“Are you sure about that?  I am the destruction robot.  I don’t think anyone would like me staying at the Ministry.  They’d prefer me on the scrapheap.”  His mother’s place was still an option but he wasn’t sure about accepting it.

“Trust me.  I’m sure Ochanomizu wouldn’t mind.  Can’t speak for everyone else though…”  Reno couldn’t refute that plenty of people would probably want that.

“I guess I can think about it.  I’m not even sure what’s going to happen when we get to Metro City.  They may lock me up.”

“I can make sure that doesn’t happen,” someone else spoke up.

“Ochanomizu!” Reno greeted.

“How?” Atlas asked, slightly startled by his sudden appearance.

“I’ll explain to them that arresting you may threaten the peace between humans and robots,” Ochanomizu replied.  “Also, as Reno says, I’m perfectly fine with letting you stay at my house or the Ministry until you figure out what it is you want to do.”

Atlas was quiet, mulling it over.  “I suppose, for now.  You’ve obviously taken good care of Astro.”  Astro hadn’t been used or controlled.  He even mentioned that Ochanomizu had taught him that humans and robots were friends.

“There is something else, and it’s only if you want to do it.  Since Astro is…  I don’t know how long it will take…” Ochanimzu was trying to keep it together but he was clearly having difficulty.  “I may need to ask of your help until Astro is repaired.  You’re as strong as he is and have similar systems and capabilities.  Also, it may help you to keep busy while you think of your future.”

Atlas pondered in silence again.  This had been a very eventful day.  His emotions were all messed up.  It was hard to think clearly about anything.  “I suppose it’s the least I can do.  Community service, huh?”  He uttered a very small chuckle that had no emotion behind it.

“That wasn’t what I had in mind but you could think of it that way if you wish.  It would be helpful in mending your reputation, to show everyone you are capable of more than just destruction.  Which I know you are.” Ochanomizu forced a smile.

“Alright.  I’ll do it.”

INVESTIGATING TENMA’S HIDEOUT

A sizable airship arrived in Antarctica, at the site that a war took place not so long ago.  Probably the shortest war there ever was.  It could have been so much longer if not for the actions of one small robot boy…

…and the robot who was accompanying this crew of scientists from the Ministry of Science.  Atlas had been called by Ochanomizu to help them with this task.  He didn’t want to bother Astro as he wanted to give him a break but also because of what this place was.

Ochanomizu stared at the robot body in the center of the underground hideout; the secret laboratory Tenma was using most recently.  Did he know that the war would happen here?  How much of all this was orchestrated by him?

“Is that the new body Tenma tried to give Astro?” Atlas asked, looking it up and down.  He couldn’t admit that it wasn’t cool-looking armor.  Still, he wasn’t sure he would’ve taken it either.  Who knows what extra coding Tenma put into it considering he wasn’t above erasing Astro’s memories and leaving only Tobio’s.

“Yes, it is.”

“What are you going to do with it?” he asked.  Atlas knew it was a blank shell but he still felt somewhat bad.  It would be a waste for it to just rot here.

“For now, I think I’ll just store it.  Since he made it to transfer Astro’s memories to, it’s not a kokoro robot or even self-aware.  It might be useful to analyze it for any new or improved technologies.”  Ochanomizu was looking it over as he spoke.  It was, of course, impressive but he’d have to put his scientific fascination aside.  “I could put an AI into it myself, but I think seeing it would bother Astro.  He’s been through so much, I worry about his state of mind.”

“Most people probably couldn’t handle what he’s been though.  I didn’t handle what I’ve been though as well as he has.  He’s the only reason I didn’t go any farther.”  Atlas had been so far gone, no one else probably could’ve brought him back.  He had been consumed with pain and sorrow so great it felt like he would be crushed.

“You’re better than you think, Atlas.”  Ochanomizu placed a hand on his shoulder.  “Astro couldn’t have reached you if there wasn’t any good left.”

Atlas felt awkward, not responding at all.  He wasn’t used to people being so nice to him.  He could see where Astro got his ideals and his willingness to see the good in everyone.  He felt like he had somehow crossed over into a whole other world where people weren’t always awful.  Hope didn’t seem dead anymore.

The other scientists were poking around the rest of the lab.  It did appear hastily put together but also still of good quality construction.  Certainly nothing less was expected of Tenma.  If only he had put his brilliance to better use.

A gasp was heard.  Atlas and Ochanomizu rushed over.  They didn’t see any danger.  Only robots in capsules.  Robots that looked like unfinished versions of Atlas.  They hadn’t even been painted yet, being all gray and dull.

“There’s more of him?” one of the scientists complained, forgetting Atlas was there.

Atlas didn’t respond back, instead looking at the capsules himself.  “These are like the one I was in.”  His memories flashed back to when he first awoke and the panic that he felt; the terror.  They jumped to when he came back to Tenma’s other hideout, when he was getting repairs and upgrades; to the pain he felt.  Atlas shook his head.

He looked over to some of the other scientists, who were at the main computer.  Atlas walked over to watch.  The scientists grew nervous at his presence but remained steady.  They were downloading all of the information.

Ochanomizu came over, having instructed some of the others to bring the other robots onto the airship.  It wouldn’t be long before all of the data from this place would be collected. “I think it would be best to destroy this place before we leave so no one can use it.”

Atlas nodded.  “I’ll do it when everyone’s on the airship.”

Once all of the data was collected and everything was taken to the airship that they wanted to take, including the new body intended for Astro, and all of the people were on board the airship, Atlas unleashed his power on the lab.  When he’d finished, he flew out of the rubble to join the others on the airship.  It had felt therapeutic and it worried him just a little.  What if he enjoyed destruction?

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