Inside the Big Gete Star, Kaelo stood in the dim control room.
His arm cannon hummed. Blue light flared — SQUEAK! A tiny maintenance robot swept his foot. The cannon fired wildly. The ceiling light shattered into tinkling glass.
Kaelo pressed the lever. It wouldn't move. He pressed harder. Clank. Clank. His metal fingers tapped his head.
'Fire, Kaelo!' Dr. Gero's voice boomed. Slowly, Kaelo raised his arm cannon toward the big red button.
A soft pink glow appeared near his feet. A tiny rose grew from a floor vent.
He lowered his arm. The rose petals felt warm. Kaelo thought: not today.
Kaelo stepped forward and pressed the big red button.
Every weapon powered down. The Big Gete Star fell silent.
Kaelo gathered scrap metal — gears, plates, wires — and began to build. Click. Click. Wings. Legs.
The robot bird hopped across the floor. Kaelo smiled.
