Free Astro Boy: The Movie by Tracey West

the three robots disguised as cardboard boxes had witnessed the whole scene.
    “Poor little comrade,” Robotsky said sadly.
    “Never fear, the Robot Revolutionary Front is here!” Sparx said bravely. He clutched the briefcase in his hand.
    The RRF’s secret weapon was about to be unleashed ...

    Astro opened his eyes, finding himself in complete darkness. He realized he was in some kind of box. He used the light from his eyes to light up the darkness. Astro saw he was dressed in a pair of black pants and a white and red shirt with a giant letter “A” on the front.
    Through the box, he could hear Hamegg talking to the crowd.
    “Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, all you riffraff who snuck in without buying a ticket, have we got a treat for you!” he cried. “Allow me to present ... ASTRO BOY!”
    The door to the box opened, and Astro walked out into the arena, confused. Hamegg sat on a platform above him with Cora and the others. Astro looked up at Cora, but she turned away.
    “I know, you’re wondering what a nice-looking kid like that is doing in a place like this,” Hamegg said. “That ain’t no kid, folks. That’s a robot from Metro City.”
    The crowd booed loudly.
    “Astro personally told me he doesn’t think much of our fighting robots. Thinks they’re a bunch of sissies. Thinks you’re all trailer park trash!” Hamegg said, egging them on.
    “He didn’t say that!” Cora protested, but nobody heard her over the boos of the crowd. They were on their feet now, shaking their fists at Astro.
    “This is what we’ve all been waiting for!” Hamegg cried. “A fight between the Surface and Metro City. Let’s get it on!”
    A big Kill-Bot stomped into the ring. It had a giant spiked head and long arms with spinning saws on the end.
    “Sorry, I’m not doing this,” Astro said. He powered his jets and shot straight up into the open-air arena.
    Zap! Some invisible force field jolted him, sending him slamming into the ground. The crowd laughed and cheered.
    Groggy, Astro started to get to his feet. But the Kill-Bot loomed over him.
    Pow! The bot aimed a punch at Astro. He rolled out of the way just in time.
    Pow! Pow! Pow! The Kill-Bot was relentless, trying to hit Astro again and again. But Astro was too fast. Back on his feet, he powered his jets again, zipping in between the bot’s deadly arms.
    Astro didn’t fight back. He didn’t believe in hurting anybody for no good reason, not even robots. But the crowd thought he was afraid.
    “Fight! Fight! Fight!” they chanted.
    The Kill-Bot got angrier and angrier. He could not touch Astro. He angrily flailed his giant arms. Members of the crowd screamed and ducked.
    Astro knew he had to do something. The crowd was in danger! With his superstrength, he picked up the Kill-Bot, then quickly flew up, up, into the sky.
    Zap! The Kill-Bot hit the force field.
    Boom! His head exploded. Metal pieces rained down on the ring.
    The crowd went wild.
    “Bring out the next robot!” Hamegg shouted.
    A robot no bigger than Astro entered the arena. Then it quickly split up, turning into two robots. One of the robots grew until it was as tall as a tree, with spiked clubs for arms. The other robot transformed into a mass of cannons.
    Bam! Bam! Astro flew out of the way. He still didn’t want to fight.
    He flew behind one of the robots and tapped on its shoulder.
    “Hey, fella,” Astro said, trying to make friends.
    The startled robot fired shot after shot at Astro, trying to destroy him. Astro dodged the blasts. One of them hit the second robot, and the second robot fired back. Now the two robots were destroying each other!
    Astro used his superstrength and picked one up in each hand and smacked them together. The fight was over. Hamegg’s face turned purple with rage.
    “Get him!” he bellowed.
    Astro barely had time to regain his strength before Hamegg sent out a small army of robots. The crowd started to cheer for Astro as he took them down one by one.