“It is the support structures,” Muthr’s voice echoed through the hall. “They have been damaged.”

“Move!” Rovender yelled.

A loud rending sound erupted as the ceiling over the trio gave way. Rovender and Eva scrambled forward, toppling over Muthr. Behind them a deluge of rock and rubble poured into the hallway, blocking the path.

“Are you all right?” Muthr asked.

Clearing her throat, Eva pulled herself up to sitting position. “I’m fine, thanks,” she answered. Eva tried brushing the dirt and dust off her clothing, but all she managed to do was smudge it around. “How are you?” She could see that one of Muthr’s extended arms was bent at an odd angle.

“I tried to brace my fall with arm three,” Muthr said, holding up the bent metal rods that had been her forearm. “Though the arm sustained permanent damage, I believe all else is intact.” She retracted the remaining wires from the damaged arm into her torso.

There was a coughing behind them. “Rovee!” Eva cried, kneeling down next to her companion. “Are you okay?”

Rovender dragged himself out of the rubble with a groan. “I will be okay, Eva Nine. Many gratitudes,” he said, slumping against the wall. “That cursed boomrod rifle of his does more damage than an angry male grall in a bayrie’s crystal nest.” He sneered as he lit his lantern and pulled out a bottle. “Where are we?”

Eva looked over at Muthr. “Good question. Tell us, Muthr, where are we?”

“Apparently you already know, Eva. So why don’t you tell Mr. Kitt,” the robot answered, still examining her damaged limb.

Eva pulled out her Omnipod and brought up the hologram of the Sanctuary’s entire floor plan. “We are in a connecting corridor that will take us to a neighboring Sanctuary,” she said. “A Sanctuary, for some reason, I was never allowed to go to.”

Muthr looked over at her. “That is correct, Eva. Of course, this was based on a decision made by our Sanctuary and myself. A decision made as a safety precaution, which you obviously disobeyed.”

Eva fumed. “Oh, really! I don’t think—”

“Eva Nine, Mother Robot”—Rovender stood up between the two—“let us put this decision aside and proceed to this adjoining Sanctuary. Hopefully, there we shall find shelter for the night and refuge from Besteel.” He set off, his many belongings tinkling together on his rucksack as he went. Muthr looked at Eva for a beat, her eyelids clicking loudly. She wheeled behind Rovender, dropping her severed forearm. Eva followed, trudging slowly as the three journeyed down the dark corridor.

“Heart rate BPM acceleration detected, Eva Nine,” her tunic announced. “Please—”