It looked like a red and blue blur. It was going so fast that it was dragging a jagged trail of stirred up sand behind.

C-150 planted its feet as firmly as it could in the sand while the blur approached.

The blur, which had been a distant silhouette, soon came into full focus as it began launching laser beams out of its arm canon at C-150.

Nikodemus backed far away from the ensuing fight. Can't let the goods get damaged.

The red and blue blur was half the size of C-150, and yet it seemed to pack twice the speed and punch as it finally collided and grappled with C-150. The small robot drilled its fist and arm canon into C-150's metal stomach so quickly that that its arms became a smear of indiscernible motion. When the red and blue robot withdrew, clenching its trembling fist, C-150 took the opportunity to retaliate with one, strong punch, causing the smaller robot to stumble backward, its metal face dented.

C-150 shuddered visibly.

Nikodemus saw that the smaller robot had punched several holes into the other's sleek, white torso. The small robot held its arm canon steady with its free, five-fingered hand.

Nikodemus took several steps back and away when he saw a pulse of red energy building up within the small robot’s arm canon.

C-150 charged the small robot on its heavy, leaden legs, attempting to stop the other from launching its blast of energy.

The red energy, which had started as a small ball—barely visible--inside of the canon’s cylindrical opening, slowly built up until it peered out of it. The tiny robot’s arms shook like a leaf, trying to steady the gun, until it could contain the power no longer.

Just as C-150 was about to grip the humanesque robot’s face in its clawed fingers, it was enveloped in a blast of energy.

The ball of power sawed through the white robot's torso and traveled several more yard before fizzling out.

All that was left of C-150 was its head, arms, and legs.

Its red eyes flickered on and off--sparks flying off the scraps of its body--until finally, its eyes went black.

Nikodemus, who had never seen a robot who looked anything like this tiny robot, looked befuddled by its surprising power. “What tribe are you from?”

“I am from the Tribe of Nymphs. It is good to meet you, Nikodemus.” The robot held out its human-shaped hand robotically. It affected a smile that looked uncanny. Nikodemus had never seen a robot smile, or shake hands.

Blinking rapidly in confusion, Nikodemus shook the robot’s hand. “It’s good to meet you.”

Nikodemus thought that shaking hands with a robot and saying it was nice to meet it was one of the strangest things he had ever done. He couldn’t help but chuckle about it.

The small robot cocked its head to the side. “Have I said something funny?”

Nikodemus shook his head. “No. What’s your name? I haven’t heard of your tribe.”

“My name is Yair. My tribe is small, that would be why you haven’t heard of it. The Nymphs are located to the east. I would prefer it if you would come with me willingly.” Yair said, staring at Nikodemus unblinkingly.

Even though such the sentence was sufficiently threatening, Nikodemus couldn’t help but bite back a laugh because it had come out of such a pipsqueak-of-a-robot.

Nikodemus turned his palms up with a sheepish grin. “I wasn’t planning to run. I can’t survive out here on my own.”

Yair turned eastward and said, “Stay in front of me while we walk so I can see you.”

Nikodemus knitted his brows, crossing his arms indignantly. “I told you that I wasn’t going to run, but fine.”

Nikodemus stayed ahead of the small robot as it commanded. He kept glancing over his shoulder at Yair, wondering who in the world had designed it. “So… You have a name and quite a different design from the other robots.”

“That is correct. My creator thought giving me a face that was cuter and more human like would put her tribe at ease. She also had personal reasons for it.” Yair replied.

A sudden wind lifted particles of sand up into Nikodemus’ nose, making him sneeze. “Personal reasons, huh…? She sounds interesting.”

“I will not permit you near her.” Yair said.

Nikodemus’ mouth was agape. “Why not? It’s not as if I could possibly harm her.”

Nikodemus continued looking over his shoulder, wondering if this creature who could affect a smile could affect other expressions as well.

Yair hung its head, mimicking a frown. “It would break her heart.”

Nikodemus turned his head, focusing on what was in front of him again. He had inadvertently broken many hearts in his time, but it was not his intention to do so. What most women tended to want from him was a bond, and it was impossible for him to bond with any of them when they expected him to sleep with their entire tribe. All it did was cause the women to be fatally jealous of each other.

“She must be a mutant, right?” Nikodemus said. “She wouldn’t be allowed to sleep with me, anyway. There should be no fear of heart breaking.”

Nikodemus nearly blanched at his own words. Not that I’d want to sleep with a mutant.

“Even so, I will never allow you to harm her in any way.” The robot said.

Nikodemus pulled his top lip and bottom lip in opposite directions, making a face of condescension.

I have been harmed more than anyone from my numerous encounters with women. He thought to himself bitterly. It was as if these women thought he formed no attachments of his own. They seemed to just view him as a tool.