​The sun rose over Metro City as the two children did not sleep all night. In the huge playroom, Zoran never ceased to hop about everywhere. Astro, very happy to escape his loneliness, continued making monster roars. His little sister screamed with joy and ran harder.

Near the door, standing in a corner, away from the ruckus, Professor O'Shay and Yuko watched the two children have fun.

"I'm really happy," said the professor. "I've never seen Astro so content. It looks like they've know each other for years.”

"You were right, he was lacking something. Astro is a great big brother."

"Two more days like this and they'll even manage to exhaust their nuclear batteries!"

"These two make quite a pair," Yuko approved. "They haven't finished informing us, but, honestly, I am delighted!"

"Most important," confided O'Shay, "Is that they are never alone, neither one nor the other, whatever happens to me..."

Both children looked like hyper sophisticated robots, but were two unleashed rascals. They made more noise than a whole class at recess. Toys were flying in all directions, Zoran bounded increasingly higher, while her brother was flying above her in the attempt to catch her.

After being tickled by his sister yet again, Astro escaped by fleeing in response. He rolled to the feet of the teacher.

“Hello, Astro,” O'Shay said as he lifted the little boy. "I don't need to ask if you slept well..."

"Tonight, professor, I promise we'll be more sensible!"

"Enjoy it, you have the right," said the professor, rubbing the head of the robot child.

"I feel like I've known Zoran forever!" exclaimed Astro. "Please, Professor, can you let me to take her to Metro City this morning?"

"I don't know if it's a good idea..."

“Please...”

The professor didn't resist the sparkling eyes of Astro for long.

"Okay. But you have to promise me to be very careful. Zoran is still inexperienced, and she must especially not be wild in front of strangers."

“Promise!”

Astro rushed to his little sister and whispered something in his ear. She nodded, grinned, and hurried to the professor and Yuko.

"Thank you very much! I'm so happy to go to town! Especially with Astro! I will be very good. "

"You must return for lunch. I'm counting on you!" insisted O'Shay, waving his index finger like a schoolmaster.

“Yes, professor!” answered the two children in chorus.

Yuko laughed at this ideal picture.

***

If there was one thing that Zoran was capable of, it was running fast.

Astro began by showing him the park. She opened her eyes wide, looking everywhere, and sometimes rushed to catch all kinds of curiosities, which she reported to her brother. She had captured a flower and a large butterfly, but also a rat rummaging in the garbage bins and another strange beast...

"And this, what is it?" she asked, clutching the struggling squealing animal.

"It's a dog," Astro explained. "And you should give it back to the angry lady coming up behind you before she hits you with her cane."

“Oops!” said Zoran, and she set down the animal.

The little dog took refuge in the legs of his mistress. Zoran gave it such a pretty smile that the lady calmed down. She picked up the animal and turned away.

"Phew, that was close! If ever we go to the zoo, promise not to bring me back a tiger!"

"Okay. But I have to say, there's not a lot of people here, apart from the ladies and their dogs.”

"That's true," replied Astro looking around him, "But it's not usually like this. It's weird, there isn't even any children... "

"You told me about streets, shops, lights flashing," said Zoran as she pouted, “But I see nothing.”

"We're at the park. All that is in the city," said Astro.

"And if we go there?"

"We don't much time left before lunch. And you can't fly."

"You just have to carry me on your back..."

"If the professor found out, he'd be furious.”

"Come on, be nice, I've never been there. You told me it was giant. I want to see it! With your hyper-reactors, we can be there right away...please, Astro for your little sister..."

"Well, okay, but when I say that we must go, we'll leave. No chance of hanging out, understand? "

"Everything you say!"

Astro beckoned for Zoran to hang onto his back.

"Hold on: take-off can be shaky!"

“I'm ready! Come on, go!”

Astro unleashed his jet engines and took off in a cloud of dust. Zoran yelled with joy as she squeezed with all her might.

The robot child liked the idea of delighting his little sister, but he also wanted to impress. So he executed almost all the flight moves he knew. Zoran was mad with happiness. She laughed, closing her eyes when Astro grazed by the ground, laughing harder when he accelerated.

"Wow!" she exclaimed. "This is too great!"

Before them stood the downtown towers. Zoran was fascinated by these glass and steel monsters with elegant forms.

“Is this Metro City?” she asked.

"Exactly, and you've seen nothing yet!"

Astro slipped between two buildings. In the glass facades, Zoran saw her reflection move at full speed. She loved the feeling of speed.

They landed in an alley near the centre of the major street.

“Don't run too far off,” ordered Astro. "And don't touch anything!"

Zoran nodded with an angelic look, but her eyes shone with impatience.

The two robot children came out to the Peace Avenue, the largest of Metro City.  There were crowds everywhere. Zoran had never imagined that there could be so many people in one street. She looked up. In the sky, between buildings, air carriers hovered silently, passing each other in a smooth curve. Mechanical sidewalks were filled with people, some strolling, others crowding.

"These are all robots?" asked Zoran.

"No. They're humans."

"You mean we're the only ones who are robots?"

"No, of course, there are other machines. Most work only on doing what humans don't want to do. But none of them are as advanced as we are."

“And we, what do we work on?”

“To protect the city and its inhabitants.”

Zoran was dazzled by what she saw. Everywhere she looked, it was an explosion of colours and scents. Everyone had a different face, clothes in various forms. What she discovered of the world really pleased her.

Going up the avenue, the two children came to a gathering. A crowd gathered at the foot of a magnificent building all decorated with lights and coloured garlands.

"What's happening?" asked Zoran.

"I don't know, it looks like a party."

It was the new toy store that had just opened its doors. Hundreds, maybe thousands, of children were engulfed between large doors framed with fairy lights. Above the entrance, on a podium, a presenter in a yellow suit spoke a microphone in front of a giant clown.

“And this is the moment you've all been waiting for!" he proclaimed. "The temple of gifts is finally open. Thousands of toys that you've never seen! All your dreams are here! Welcome to the largest toy store in the world! May I remind you that this morning, and for one hour, every child who attends will receive a beautiful souvenir teddy. Rush in, tell your pals, and come celebrate this great day with us. Your visit here will change your life forever!"

Driven by the movement of the crowd, Astro and Zoran followed the flood. All around them, the children were jumping and shouting with joy. Everyone wanted to be the first to cross the doors of the new store that the entire city was talking about.

"We're really lucky to be here," Zoran said. "If we'd been staying at the park, we'd never get a gift plush. Come on!"

"So this is why there wasn't a single child there," mused Astro.

Zoran closed her hand on her brother's and pulled him inward. Passing the gates, Astro could not help being impressed. In a gigantic scene, thousands of children were spreading to all floors of the store. Fun party music resounded and the lights were the colour of sour candy. Facing the mountains of building blocks, all kinds of costumes twinkled. There were also remote-controlled mini-rockets, laser image projectors, flying surfboards, everything a child could want...already, a miniature train drew up to the top of a small hilltop covered with fairy tale trees.

"I love this place!" shouted Zoran, arms reaching towards the illuminated ceilings.

Astro could not believe it. All the children of Metro City had to be there! They were everywhere, excited, sneaking between the beautiful displays in bright colours.

Within minutes, the store was filled. Some children were already waving the plush dolls that the employees had given them. All the employees were wearing clown masks. It gave a strange atmosphere.

Zoran led her brother to the upper floor.

"It's up here where the dolls are!" she told him enthusiastically.

When getting on the escalator, Astro noticed that the little kids who were trying to leave the store with their plushes were held back by the employees in clown masks.

“There's something weird happening,” he said. “This is worth seeing.”

Before they had time to turn around, huge gates were lowered at all entrances. In seconds, all accesses were condemned. Due to their delight, most children are unaware of it. Only those who were near the entrances looked stunned by the gigantic metal panels coming down, cutting them off from the outside.

As Astro had barely seen the doors close, already, the windows of the upper floors were blocked too. Astro pulled Zoran to him.

"They're locking us in!"

When the last shutters were sealed, the joyful music suddenly stopped.  Surprised, the children finally looked around. Suddenly, the coloured light that bathed the store went out, plunging the idyllic setting into the dark. Smaller kids began to moan. The party atmosphere was completely gone. The few parents who had managed to enter were trying to reassure children around them.

"But what is this, a trap?" murmured Astro.

Even Zoran had lost her smile.

When the light came back, it was red, and a thin smoke spread throughout the store. The employees in clown masks had vanished. A serious and frightening voice rang out:

"Hello, children! And thank you for responding to my invitation. Don't worry, we will not hurt you unless you disobey me..."

Despite the presence of hundreds of children, one could not hear any noise. Everyone listened as this disturbing voice emerged from nowhere.

"You do not know me," said the voice. "I am the Lord of Darkness. You will have the chance to be the first witnesses of my victory because, thanks to you, dear children, I will become the master of Metro City!"

Without missing a word of the speech, Astro Boy crept quietly up to a costume display. He slipped on a fireman suit.

"This isn't the time to dress up," said Zoran with a tone of disbelief.

"I know but I need to make sure that the cameras watching us won't spot me."

Zoran immediately understood and gave a wink at her brother.

The voice of the Lord of Darkness continued:

"It's needless to try to run away, it is impossible. The entire building is double-locked and even a microbe could not escape...my men are watching you and are not afraid of you as Metro City authorities will realize soon that they have no choice...”

The man let out an evil laugh and silence returned. Some children began to cry. Near Astro, a blonde girl had big tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Don't cry, little kid! Everything will be fine, I promise! "Astro said, smiling sweetly. “O.K., I'll go. During this time, I'll try to get in touch with the Ministry and the army. I'll also examine the armoured panels. Watch out, little sister, be careful..."

"Don't worry, I realized that all this isn't a game."