Ceeron spoke up. “I believe it is a human expression.”

“Typical,” I said.

“What is that supposed to mean?” Ceeron asked.

“It means that humans are full of expressions that make zero sense. By definition, nowhere has no boundaries. It is a void. Therefore, you cannot be in the middle of—”

“Hey! Metal heads!” Emma clapped. “Focus!”

Ceeron/SkD/I turned to look at her.

“Could someone just tell me why I need to hide all of a sudden?” she said.

SkD pointed straight ahead. Its screen provided a response.

Emma stared at the small robot’s screen. I analyzed her features. Confusion/Frustration.

I explained: “There is a train depot two kilometers from here.”

“The closer we get to it,” Ceeron continued, “the higher the likelihood that you will be spotted by another robot.”

“You should remain hidden until we locate your train,” I said.

“What train?” Emma asked.

“We analyzed your route,” I explained, “and saw that an automated freight train makes a stop very close to your destination.”

SkD elaborated.

Translation: The train will get you there by three o’clock.

Excitement splashed across Emma’s features. “That’s great! I didn’t know we were so close.”

I replayed what she had just said. One word stood out. We.

“We are not coming with you on the train,” I clarified.

The smile faded from Emma’s face. “You’re not?”

Ceeron shook its large metal head. “We must return to the solar farm. To our jobs.”

Symbols appeared on SkD’s screen.

I did not understand. “Are you saying they will be serving cake on the train?”

Ceeron shook its head. “SkD is saying that once Emma boards the train, the rest of her journey will be a piece of cake.”

SkD nodded.

This did nothing to cheer Emma up. The human chewed her lip. She did not say anything.

So I spoke. “We have run all the probabilities. This is the best course of action. For all of us.”

“Okay.” Her brown/green eyes searched the ground. “I get it.”

Emma’s words signaled approval. But the rest of her did not. I performed an analysis.

Her tone: hushed.

Her facial expression: downcast.

Her shoulders: sagging.

“What is wrong?” I asked.

Her sagging shoulders lifted. Just barely. “It’s fine. Really.”

Her words said one thing. Everything else about her said something else.

This must have been another human flaw.

I considered thousands of possible reasons why she might be upset. I picked the most likely. “Are you afraid of trains?”

A laugh escaped Emma’s throat. But not a happy laugh. It was the kind of laugh that is like a blanket, that covers other emotions.

“How would I know if I’m afraid of trains?” she muttered. “I’ve never seen one before.”

I exchanged a look with my coworkers. Ceeron shrugged.

I turned my attention back to Emma. “But something is bothering you?”

She rolled her eyes. “Well, duh.”