“Enough, Eva!” Muthr snapped. With her crablike body the robot closed in on Rovender. “It is not that I am accusing Mr. Kitt of being in company with the intruder who attacked us. However, when my omniscient computer system cannot identify this stranger, or his devices, well, then—I grow concerned for the safety and well-being of my child.”

“I am not a child!” Eva snapped. “I—”

Rovender interrupted. “What is it that has your mother robot so aggravated?”

“She can’t identify you on the Sanctuary’s omniscient computer,” Eva replied. “Therefore, she doesn’t know if she can trust you.”

Rovender snorted. “Your answer is obvious, Eva Nine.” He took another swig from his bottle. “Your ‘omniscient computer’ is wrong.” He stepped out of the room and went back up the stairs.

“What did he say?” Muthr kept her gaze on the empty doorway where Rovender had stood.

Eva sat down on the edge of the tub and pulled her clean socks on. “He says the computer is wrong. And I would say that he’s right.”

“Nonsense,” Muthr said in a haughty tone. “The expansive library in this system is state of the art. It has every organism known to—”

“Muthr! We need to leave,” Eva said. “You’ve seen what Besteel can do, so get yourself back together and let’s go!” She pulled her sneakboots on.

“Distance traveled: zero kilometers,” the shoes announced. Eva bent over and activated the odometer in the sneakboot’s heel. She looked back up at Muthr. “Come on,” Eva said. “We have to hurry!”

“Muthr zero-six cannot leave the premises,” said the Sanctuary.

Eva paused for a moment, looking up at the intercom speakers.

“I am sorry, Eva, but I cannot go up there. I was not designed for such things,” Muthr added. She reached a hand out to the girl. “My place is here, in this Sanctuary.”

“What?” Eva said, grabbing her jackvest. “I came back for you! You’re coming with me.”

“I cannot. . . . I wish I could.” Muthr moved closer. “Now, what I need—”

“No!” Eva backed away, pointing to the robot’s suspended body. “You have to come! What I need is you.”

“Again, I apologize, dear, but my programming prohibits me from doing so. I would if I could . . . but I cannot.” Muthr looked down.

Eva reached for her satchel while her jackvest tightened itself snugly around her body. “I can’t believe you’re saying this,” she said. “I can’t believe this is happening.”

“Sanctuary,” Muthr said aloud, “this is Muthr zero-six. Have you assessed domicile damage yet?”

“Sanctuary five-seven-three has received 84.53 percent damage, 76.8 percent of which is irreparable. Emergency transmission for immediate retrieval has been sent,” the report came over the intercom. Even with the static, Eva hated how calm the Sanctuary sounded while spouting off how ruined her home was.