“I’ve got to get out of here!” Eva said through quick breaths as she shut the tunic off. She heard a familiar muffled chirp coming from her tunic pocket. She fumbled in her tunic and pulled out her Omnipod with shaking hands.

“I can’t stop thinking about that poor water bear,” she said to herself.

I’m going to be on display with my skin removed too if I don’t hurry.

Eva brought the Omnipod to her lips and whispered into it, “This is Eva Nine.”

The device whispered back, “Greetings, Eva Nine. You have several unplayed messages, all from Multi-Utility Task Help Robot zero-six. I am instructed to play messages only if you are unaccompanied. May I proceed?”

“Yes, please,” Eva responded.

“First message sent approximately eight hours and twenty-three minutes ago,” the Omnipod continued.

Eva felt the slightest bit of warm reassurance in her chilly cell as the face of Muthr projected over the device.

“Eva, if you get this message, contact me as soon as possible. Let me know that you are all right,” Muthr said with static in her voice. Eva wasn’t sure if the static was because the Omnipod had been wet from her dive in the lake, or if it was because the signal was having trouble penetrating where she was being detained.

“Next message, please,” she said. Her eyes darted around the room, fearful of the taxidermist’s return—but all was still.

“Eva,” Muthr’s hologram said, “I am trying to understand the language here, but without your vocal transcoder, it has been a bit challenging. Fiscian showed us a map of the lake, and based on the trajectory of Besteel’s route, I believe he may have taken you to Solas. I do recall Mr. Kitt saying to Mrs. Haveport that Besteel claimed to be working for the queen, so Besteel may have you contained somewhere on the royal grounds. Try to stay calm and alert, and do not forget your survival skills. We shall be there soon. Contact me immediately so that I may locate your signal.”

“Next message,” Eva whispered, cradling the Omnipod in both hands.

“Hi, Eva. Please contact me,” Muthr said. “I am so worried about you. Please, please. I just need to hear from you.”

“End of messages,” the Omnipod finished.

The last message didn’t sound at all like the robot’s usual calm tone. “Can we please contact Muthr?” she asked.

“Attempting voice connection to Multi-Utility Task Help Robot zero-six . . .” The tiny lights began their dance around the Omnipod’s central eye.

Eva checked the room as she picked at her fingernail. “Come on. . . . Come on.”

“Eva!” Muthr’s head floated up over the device. “Eva, is that you?”