“Are you serious?” Eva jumped out of the empty tub. “You’re asking me to wash my hands after what I’ve just been through?” She stomped over to a small basin. Water trickled down over her grime-covered fingers.

Muthr held the transcoder up while the Sanctuary computer scanned it with a red laser. “Do not be dramatic, Eva. I know you have had some setbacks with your surface exercises, but otherwise you have handled yourself quite well. Besides, I trained you for worst-case scenarios. It’s not like there are species of venomous snakes waiting for you in every clearing.” Muthr examined the transcoder, bringing it close to her many eyes. “I was just preparing you to be ready for any dangers that you may encounter.”

“Dangers?” Eva shook her hands dry. “Muthr, do you have any idea how scary it is out there?”

“Of course I do. With the aid of the Sanctuary I am the one preparing your exercises,” Muthr replied in a matter-of-fact tone. She turned to the door. “Well, hello, Mr. Kitt.”

Rovender stood in the doorway, holding a half-empty bottle. “The area is clear, as far as I can tell,” he reported. “Besteel is still gone for the time being. But he will likely circle back here within one or two days. You do not want to be here when he does.”

Muthr faced him. “What is he saying?”

Rovender disregarded Muthr. “You should leave now, Eva Nine. You need to put as much distance as you can between yourselves and Besteel.”

“I don’t understand.” Eva’s brow furrowed. “Why do you think he’ll come back after me?”

“As I told you, I do not know.” Rovender swallowed his drink. “But, obviously, he is collecting as much quarry as he can capture.”

“Will you please tell me what is going on, Eva?” Muthr’s voice was higher in pitch. “What is he saying?”

Eva took the transcoder back from her and put it into her satchel along with her food and drink. “He’s says it’s time to go. Are you ready?”

“Why is it that we need to leave in such a rush?” Muthr addressed Eva, yet still faced Rovender.

“Because Besteel, the intruder, the monster who demolished the Sanctuary, will be back,” Eva answered. She unrolled her socks. “And for some insane reason, he is hunting after me.”

“Besteel?” Muthr repeated while yet more holo-charts and graphs fluttered around her head. “Tell me this, then, why is it that there is no record of a ‘Besteel’ in the main computer? Or, for that matter, an animal such as Mr. Kitt?”

“Exactly—welcome to my world.” Eva snorted under her breath.