“The Omnipod had said it was receiving a signal from this area,” Eva said. “The signal had to be from this room.” She looked around in the darkness, wishing she had the Omnipod with her now.

She wished she had Muthr.

Eva came to the center of the chamber, where an impressive circular marble-topped desk still stood. She peered over the top of the desk. “Rovee, come here!”

“What is it?” Rovender galloped across the floor, his bouncing lantern sending light dancing throughout the entire vault.

Eva slipped behind the desk and tapped the large glass screen set in the desktop. The surface flickered with static for a few moments, then came online emitting a soft pulsing glow.

“Pffft York Public Li-pffft Rare Printed Books and Archives Vault. How pffft I help you?”

“Oh, my,” Eva gasped. With wide eyes of disbelief she stared at the words of a menu through the spiderweb of cracks in the cruddy glass. Placing her hand on the glass, she asked, “This is Eva Nine. Are there any humans in the area?”

“Titles on humanity are pffft floors three pffft four,” the desk replied.

“No.” Eva leaned closer to the desk and spoke clearly, “Are . . . there . . . any . . . other . . . humans . . . in . . . the . . . area?”

The computer was silent for a moment. Rovender placed a hand on Eva’s shoulder. Watching. Waiting.

“Pffft sorry. I don’t pffft-stand what you are pffft. Titles on humanity are pffft floors three pffft four,” the desk stated again.

Rovender touched the screen. A diagram was displayed of the entire vault, with interactive menus for every floor, shelf, and book. “Eva, this machine may not be like your Omnipod. I believe it knows only the items it maintains.”

A despondent Eva slouched. “Well, I guess that’s that,” she whispered.

“Your answers lie here,” Rovender said, gesturing around the library. “This is the history of your clan. They once lived here, and now you shall know of them.”

Eva sighed and peered out into the darkness.

“Let me show you,” Rovender said, pointing to the desk. “Ask the machine where the books on Orbona are.”

Eva did as she was asked.

“Roman pffft-ology is located in the Mythology section. Titles are pffft five,” the desk replied.

Eva spoke clearly and concisely. “No. I need information on humans colonizing the planet Orbona.”

“Pffft sorry. I don’t pffft-stand what you are pffft. Roman pffft-ology is located in the Mythology section. Titles are pffft five,” the desk repeated.

“That’s odd.” Rovender scratched his whiskery beard.

“No. It’s not.” Eva addressed the desk once more, “Please tell me where I can find books about this planet.”

“Titles pffft Earth are in the Astron-pffft section, the Geology pffft, and in the Mythology section. Which pffft would you pffft to go?” the desk replied.