Leo hesitated. That was exactly what he wanted. But he knew kids like Adam would just tease him even more if he left. Leo Fender—afraid of the freaking alarm. He shook his head. There was only an hour left of school. He could stick it out. He could make it to the end of the day at least.

Then and only then would he go home.

Leo screamed Nine’s name, but it was too late. The robot’s spindly legs started to kick uncontrollably, his torso spinning. The sparks shooting from the gaping hole in his head were soon chased by tendrils of white smoke.

A second blast from the now twice-stolen rifle tore a sizable hunk out of the robot’s midsection, causing half of his jointed legs to fold underneath him. A high-pitched whine filled the room, and Leo watched as Number Nine listed sideways and then collapsed into a vibrating metallic heap by the door. He didn’t even get a chance to draw his weapons.

Leo stared at the assassin, Number One, blocking the exit, the rifle no longer aimed at the spasming mechanical mess but now pointed across the room at her very own master. The one she was programmed to serve.

“Number One, what have you done?” Crayt demanded.

“Security override. Foundational protocols initiated,” the robot droned. “Zirkus Crayt, you are in violation of your exile. You have been found to be engaged in activity deemed threatening to the empire of Aykar. You will hand over that device immediately and submit yourself to my authority as a designated representative of Aykarian High Command or I will be forced to disable you.”

Leo’s eyes darted around the room, looking for anything he could use as a weapon, but all he saw were the hand tools on the bench, and even those were out of reach. Crayt was unarmed as well. Besides, he was a scientist, not a soldier. Number Nine was supposed to be his protection.

Number Nine was currently a smoking lump of metal.

The Aykari kept his cool, though, just as he had when Baz shoved a gun under his chin the day before. “Have you been spying on me all this time, Number One? Just waiting for me to do something worthy of the council’s attention?”

“You are in violation of the terms of your exile,” the robot repeated. “You are engaged in potentially treasonous activity. I insist that you give up control of that device and turn yourself in.”

“Of course,” Crayt said. “The device. That is what this is about. You told them what I was up to.”

“You have been found to be engaged in activity deemed threatening to the empire of Aykar and its resources,” the robot repeated. “Turn over the device or I will use force.”

Zirkus Crayt clutched his invention even tighter to his chest. “Number One—I order you to drop that weapon and initiate a temporary shutdown of all systems,” he said, his voice increasing in volume, if not ferocity. “You must do as I command.”