Darmo went into a corner with Professor Zum. ( pronounced "zoom." )
The Professor spoke too softly for Carol and Ray to hear.
Ray was bitching to Carol.
" Oh, come on, look at me! I look like a failed Smurf!"
" You're still my brother, and I love you no matter what, Ray." She tried to reassure her brother, who was now wondering about his law career. Who would want to have a Smurf represent them in court?
Darmo took a small disc out of his head and handed it carefully to the Professor, who put it gingerly into a case and then put it safely into one of his jacket pockets.
" I am going to head off the enemy robot. This is to protect you all."
" Darmo, no! You can't! Please, stay here and ... " Carol started.
" And endanger the three of you? No. I cannot. You saw what happened at your mother's house. I cannot allow a repeat of that. Goodbye, Carol.. Goodbye, father.. goodbye, Ray. You look just fine. Blue is very becoming on you."
" Goodbye, my son.." The Professor said to his robot "son", wiping away a tear.
" Darmo...be careful...and thank you for saving me..twice."
" Good luck, Darmo" Ray told the brave robot.
Darmo went to the door. He opened it, and turned to Professor Zum.
" Father.. thank you for my life."
The old man choked back the tears.
Darmo walked quickly to the back yard of the singed house that had once been part of a beautiful, crazy city.
The three humans walked outside and watched sadly as he took off via his jet boots.
Darmo had had a charge from the generator in Ray's home, and was at full power. He soared rapidly away from the home towards the robot that was sent to destroy him.
On his way up into the ionosphere, Darmo saw something rather disturbing.
He was aware of a strange looking winged creature, flying off with a young man. The potential for pure power emanating from the young man was off the scale.
But Darmo did not have time for a complete analysis. His mission was to encounter and defeat the enemy on his radar screen that was rapidly accelerating towards him.
The winged warrior known as Bellatrix was vaguely aware of Darmo, but he was not part of her mission. She watched him fly off for a moment, and returned her full attention to Emmanuel.
Back on the ground, Professor Zum had taken out the case which held the disc given to him by Darmo and just stared rather intently at it.
" Professor.. what is that disc that Darmo gave to you?" Carol asked, with an idea of what it was.
" This.... is a copy of Darmo's program.. it is him.. his memories... thoughts... feelings.. it is a copy of his soul."
Ray looked at the case, too. He was still considering what
those memories might mean for him.
" Professor....if.. I were to allow you to transfer those memories to my brain.. would I still be me? Still be a lawyer? Still love beer and sports? And girls?"
The Professor looked at Ray with a sad look.
" You would be all that you are now. You would also remember the past life you led with me on Zi - Alor. But .. there could be a side effect."
"What side effect? " Carol asked before Ray could.
" You.. would still be a biological organism...completely. But, something of Darmo's abilities and powers might also transfer from the disc to you.. along with the ability to know how to use them."
" Holy..." Ray started.
" It is something to seriously consider. Your world is in dire need of it's heroes. It is too late for my home of Zi -Alor. It has been for sometime. But it is not too late for Earth."
Ray turned and looked at Carol.
" It's your decision, Ray. You said you became a lawyer to defend the poor because you wanted to make a difference in the world." ,She said to her younger brother.
It was now daylight out.
Ray looked out the window and saw the destruction for the first time.
Carol noticed the look on his face and explained what had happened to him.
He wept for the millions who had died.
