"Show yourself!" cried Astro, whose anger was stronger than his fear.

 

In the darkness, a ghostly figure appeared. The figure was tall, thin, with dishevelled dark hair, and very pale skin. Immediately Astro activated his sensors and realized he was just a hologram.

 

"It's you who's holding Professor O'Shay and my sister?"

 

"I mean them no harm. They will soon be free, which all depends on you... "

 

"I've heard of you," said Astro, "And never anything good. For years, you've been looking to steal the inventions of Professor O'Shay to make weapons..."

 

The hologram raised his arm with a menacing attitude.

 

"That's wrong, you speak without knowing! You know nothing about me. If you knew the truth, you wouldn't judge me so...”

 

"If you're so honest, why did you kidnap the professor and Zoran?"

 

"To bring you here, Astro Boy, and to ask you one question..."

 

"I'm listening."

 

The hologram of Dr. Tenma rubbed his hands together and, with a scheming smile, asked:

 

"What do you know about your birth, Astro Boy?"

 

"Professor O'Shay made me. I've also learned that bandits like you must be stopped... "

 

"You seem very misinformed about your origins..." quipped the ghostly creature. "Let me tell you what it is. First, did anyone explain why, in the depths of your circuits, you wear the same logo as the one that adorns my signet ring?”

 

The hologram reached out, putting into focus his imposing ring, struck with a strange cross.

 

Astro felt a cold chill upon recognizing the symbol present on his electronic circuits. While he was in shock, he tried not to let it show in his reaction.

 

"You see, Astro, you hate me, but that is not my case. And I do not want you not to love me. You react like this because people you trust told you horrible things about me...me, I've cared about you a lot since you were born.”

 

"How can you say such a thing, you don't even know when I was born!"

 

"Of course I do, because it is I who created you!"

 

In the spirit of Astro, the revelation had the effect of an explosion.

 

“Professor O'Shay did not create you, Astro. Of the two of us, he is the thief. He took you from me reprogrammed you. He erased all your memories of me...”

 

Astro didn't know what to say. He did not hear Dr. Tenma, he would not believe what he said, and yet, deep down, he knew there had always been a gap between his robotic life and memories...

 

He had never understood why there was this void in his memory of the early days. The horrible idea that Tenma told the truth crossed his mind; he grimaced and focused on the memory of the professor and Zoran. He saw their smiling faces, their mannerisms, the fantastic time they had spent together...

 

"It must be strange to hear," insisted the doctor, "But you know I'm telling the truth."

 

Enraged, Astro threw himself onto the hologram, fists forward. He fell down and passed through the other side, rolling on the ground. The hologram Tenma broke into a cold laugh.

 

"That is not how you'll free yourself!" He exclaimed. "And it will not change the reality: you are my son."

 

No matter how sophisticated his construction was, Astro was still a child, and this news upset him.

 

“Why are you only telling me today?” Astro demanded.

 

"I've wanted to do this for a long time. Every day, I watch your exploits, and I about how these people are lying to you and betraying you. You're a champion, Astro, you're the offspring of one who can lead this world! Beside me, you'd finally have what you need to be a master of strength and power. Instead, they make you play, protect humans, and be the watchdog of Metro City. This is not worthy of you. When I created you, I had intended you for greater purposes. Now is the time for you to take the place that is yours! "

 

Astro felt anger rising in him more and more. The image of this man who claimed to be his father held out his hands.

 

"You kidnapped the professor and Zoran just to lure me here!" he shouted.

 

"Otherwise you would never have come."

 

"You could talk to me directly, without going after them!"

 

"Those who lied about the secret of your birth would never have let me near you. They have too much to lose. You are gifted, a masterpiece. They would never let you have free choice. They are only too happy to serve you... "

 

“They have never tried to lie to me!”

 

“Let's say you never realized.”

 

"Show me you're for real! If you created me, you must not be afraid of me. "

"I'm not afraid, Astro. I created you and I can destroy you. I must admit that Professor O'Shay made some pretty smart changes to you, but he has not yet penetrated all the secrets of your operation. There is only the one who designed that understands you fully.”

 

Once again shaken, Astro had a lot of trouble thinking.

 

"I want to see the professor and Zoran. I want to be sure you have done them no harm. Once they are free and safe, I accept to listen to you..."

 

The hologram of Dr. Tenma had a devilish grin.

 

"I recognize your boldness, Astro. But that's not how things will happen. Here, I am the master, and it is I who makes the rules."

 

Although Astro knew that attacking the hologram wouldn't fix anything, he furiously wanted to do so. He managed to calm down, and said:

 

"All right, doctor. What should I do to make you release them?"

 

“I prefer to take you with me. You'll see that if you cooperate, you won't regret anything... "