Some daring visitors slipped family members close to Jorax and snapped images of the giant black robot that they later showed to their friends, while boasting of the “danger” they had encountered in getting so close to a Klikiss robot. All the while, as Jorax navigated public places, Hansa security forces recorded his every movement, gathering intelligence until someone could decide what to do.

After the strange alien attacks on Oncier and Golgen, King Frederick had mobilized the resources of the Hanseatic League and the Earth Defense Forces. He had challenged scientists and industries to strive for their best innovations, at all costs; thus, the Klikiss robot became an object of more intense curiosity.

Jorax stood in the Moon Statue Garden, a beautiful outdoor museum surrounded by hedges of scarlet hibiscus. Sculptures of bronze, marble, and polymerized aluminum stood on pedestals, artfully placed and enhanced with trickling water, colored spotlights, and blooming flowers. The Klikiss robot had remained as motionless as a statue for two full days, though his glowing optical sensors were not focused on any particular work.

At noon, with the sun high overhead, a well-dressed man walked up to Jorax in the statue garden, exhibiting a great deal of repressed anxiety. He stood in front of Jorax, waiting for some response. Receiving none, he said aloud, raising his voice far more than was necessary, “My name is William Andeker—uh, Dr. William Andeker. I belong to an important industrial research group with ties to the EDF.” He paused again, fidgeting and uncertain.

Jorax finally swiveled his geometrical head and directed the two largest red optical sensors at the scientist.

Andeker continued, “I was … wondering if you might be interested in seeing my laboratory facility?” He swallowed hard, then pushed ahead. “I’m very curious about Klikiss robots. I know the details of your past have been wiped from your memories—correct?—but I could do some analysis. I might be able to find answers for both of us.”

Finally Jorax spoke. “That is a possibility.”

Startled, William Andeker took one step backward and then beamed. “It’s very important now that this new alien threat has arrived. You’re aware of the attacks? We don’t understand the enemy, and therefore it’s vital that we increase our knowledge in all areas. Don’t you agree?”

“A reasonable assumption,” Jorax said.

“I, uh, already know how the Klikiss robots were rediscovered, of course, but there are still so many blank spots, so many question marks.”

Evidently interpreting this as a simple statement, Jorax did not offer a reply.

While human prospectors on abandoned worlds had found other groups of dormant Klikiss robots, the ancient machines had first been rediscovered by the Ildirans—three centuries before the Solar Navy made contact with human generation ships.