Serix nodded in agreement. It was good to be able to talk again, but this would be the second time the pilot lost track of him. He would definitely be suspicious when Serix returned to report in two days. At least he could honestly say the intercom was destroyed on accident. If he had tried to break it manually, the pilot would instantly know he was sneaking around behind his back. At least this way he might get one more chance…

…But eventually, he would run out of chances.

Serix’s smile faltered a bit and he turned away from Cassie, pretending to admire a nearby robot so she wouldn’t see his expression. He knew he couldn’t keep fooling the pilot forever. In fact, this would likely be the last time he got away with it – [i]if[/i] he got away with it. He would just have to enjoy his remaining two days of freedom while they lasted.

He looked back at Cassie, who was proudly describing her father’s robots to him, pointing at each one in turn as she explained its functions. [b]“This one was remote controlled with camera to show you what’s going on around it. Oh, and the other one was made for getting visuals and flying over areas undetected. This one on the end though was my favorite.”[/b] She crossed to one of the larger robots at the back of the storage room. [b]“It was run from the inside, meaning people could get in it and drive it.”[/b]

“You could actually pilot robots from the [i]inside[/i]?” Serix said in astonishment. He looked up at the metal giant’s sleek build. It was a dark green-and-black color and it appeared to have a slightly humanoid body. A cockpit rested in the position where the robot’s head would be.

[b]“We could go inside of it if you want,”[/b] Cassie gave him a sideways look. A mischievous grin had spread across her lips. Serix couldn’t help but think that the lively expression suited her.

“Do you even have to ask?” he replied with a laugh.

Cassie brought him to an open staircase that spiraled up to a higher platform where the cockpit could be reached. She turned back to tell him not to touch anything – at which he let out an exaggerated groan of disappointment – and then reached to take his good arm and lead him up the stairs.

From the high vantage point of the platform, the robots looked even more incredible. Serix leaned over the railing, his violet eyes sweeping over the mechanical creations spread out below. There were so many of them. He looked back at Cassie with newfound admiration. Her father was the one who invented these metal masterpieces. She was the child of a genius.

“So when do I get to drive a robot?” Serix asked, mirroring Cassie’s mischievous grin.