“This is quite the mystery,” the robot controller said to the director of the Magnamite Centre. “I can't find any trace of the missing energy. It's almost as if someone stole it. And things are even more serious: Magnamite is refusing to follow the instructions we give him. Our computers display each time, “System Access Forbidden.”

“Send in the robot mechanics. A circuit in Magnamite must have burned out last night during the experience with Professor O'Shay.”

Immediately, twenty flying robots similar to large beetles emerged from a hatch in the wall above Magnamite. They descended to land on his back and tentacles. Their stomachs opened, and tweezers, welding microlasers, and other instruments folded out. The first robot touched Magnamite with its pincer...and burst into a shower of sparks.

“What is going on?” exclaimed the director.

“Magnamite is destroying the robot mechanics! He's sending them a discharge current that makes them explode! It looks like he's gone mad!”

Indeed, the enormous metal spider seemed to be covered in tremors, as if it were alive. The tentacle cables stretched. One by one, they broke away with a terrifying noise.

Panicked, the robot mechanics tried to flee, but all were held back by the overpowering magnetic field emitted by the shell. The small crafts could not resist long and exploded one after the other.

“It's terrible!” howled the director. “Quick, we must signal the alarm!”

The huge spider drew itself up even more. From the front of its shell, it sent energy rays that melted its fastening points. The monster was free! Joining its two front legs together as a battering ram, the creature smashed the top of its shelter and messily escaped.

“He's coming out!” exclaimed the director, frantic. “Magnamite has become an uncontrollable monster! He's heading to the city! Notify the police and the army, he must be stopped at all costs!”

   ***   ***   ***   ***   ***   ***   ***   ***   ***   ***   ***   ***   ***

Behind the wheel of his mini-vehicle, Professor O'Shay flew over the park. There was a crowd around the crushed shrubs and torn banner, but no trace of Astro.

The professor's dashboard communicator gave a long beep and the screen lit up. The director of the Magnamite centre appeared, panicked.

“Professor! It's a catastrophe! Magnamite has gone mad! He escaped the plant and no longer responds to our orders! He's headed towards Metro City! This is terrible!”

“Strange...it must be sabotage. Someone must have reprogrammed him in secret. This is surely a dirty trick from Dr. Tenma. He knew that I needed the super generator to give life to Astro. He had to try and mangle everything, as usual. It didn't work because Astro was born just as I planned, but it's put Magnamite out of whack.”

“What can we do?”

“I'm going to see your monster...”

   ***   ***   ***   ***   ***   ***   ***   ***   ***   ***   ***   ***   ***

On the dashboard of Inspector Tawashi's patrol spacecraft, the red light was flashing emergency. The speaker announced:

“Alert to all units! Magnamite is approaching the city! It'll cross the river by the Okuna Bridge.”

“What a mess!” growled the inspector. “If that monster gets to cross the bridge, the city centre will be destroyed. Definitely, this is the day of crazy robots! As if we didn't already have enough to do with the kid who's flying around, snatching banners!”

He grabbed his communicator:

“To all officers: all teams immediately dispatch to the bridge! We must keep Magnamite from moving forward!”

The inspector bowed his steering wheel and drove to the bridge. When he reached the area, dozens of flying response vehicles were already positioned and blocking the road.  The police and military had been put in battle formation, sheltered behind special anti-radiation shields. Three proton guns were pointed at the other end of the bridge. Magnamite was expected any moment now. Everywhere, emergency lights were flashing. As he landed, Inspector Tawashi grinned. With such an army, Magnamite could not pass!

When the inspector got out of his vehicle, he felt the ground shake under his feet. Startled, he looked up to the other end of the bridge, and caught sight of the metal dome of the approaching monster. He ran to join the security forces.

“Welcome to the nightmare!” yelled a police officer monitoring the progress of Magnamite through electronic binoculars.

“He's huge,” worried Tawashi.

“And you haven't seen anything yet. It's still far away. When he arrives on the bridge, he'll be three times bigger.”

A shudder of terror ran through the inspector's back.