“Nikodemus, Ellia would like to see you.” Elizabeth informed him, pressing a hand to her helmet that allowed her to hear Ellia’s voice.

Nikodemus pursed his lips. “But I was having fun… Oh well. It was nice to meet you, Hilargi.”

Hilargi shook his hand. “It was nice to meet you, too.”

Nikodemus turned his attention to Yair. He grinned, holding out a hand to the robot. “It was nice to see you again, too, Yair. I hope your mother will brush out those luscious locks of yours.”

Nikodemus looked surprised when the robot shook his hand.

“Hilargi is not my mother, but I would like to think of her as such. Hilargi was just starting to brush out my hair when you interrupted.” Despite the fact that his voice was flat, Hilargi couldn’t help but imagine there was a hint of sarcasm in it, which made her smile.

Nikodemus threw his hands up comedically. “Alright, I’m sorry. I know when I’m not wanted.

Hilargi giggled, watching as Nikodemus left the room, followed by his two guards. She returned to brushing Yair’s hair for a time in silence.

“He's nicer than I thought.” Yair commented. “He might be a good match for you, after all. I think if you got to know him, he may be persuaded to—”

“Yair!” Hilargi interrupted as she began brushing his hair again. “It’s very rude bringing up such a personal matter…”

Yair looked up at her. “I’m sorry. I thought you programmed me with such personal knowledge about you so that I could help you resolve some of your problems.”

Hilargi cleared her throat awkwardly. “I programmed you with that knowledge because I wanted you to know how humans function and think. Now, I must tell you that it’s very rude to mention a deeply personal desire of someone’s out of the blue.”

Yair’s eyes flicked from side-to-side, processing this bit of information. “I see. I apologize, Hilargi.”

“Don’t worry about it.” Hilargi replied.

Silence reigned again. After a time, she remarked with a heavy sigh, “Besides, humans will never see us mutants as anything more than tools to be used. I can’t even blame them. We’re ugly things--we don't have much utility outside of intellect.”

Yair shook his head, clasping one of her hands in his. “I disagree. I think you mutants are a gift from God. You deserve the same privileges that all creatures created by God deserve.”

Hilargi’s eyes were glassy. She wondered if he was telling her that because it was something she told herself on occasion, or if it because it was a personal thought that was uniquely his. Regardless, it touched her deeply. She squeezed his metal hand in hers. “Thank you, Yair.”

The rest of the team of scientists--all mutants--arrived in the lab soon after Hilargi was done brushing Yair’s hair. All of them were mutants.

“Hilargi, I heard you got the day off!” One of her friends, Angelica exclaimed. “I’m so happy for you! I haven’t seen you take a day off since I’ve known you. Ellia is so hard on you…”

Hilargi snorted. “You don’t know the half-of-it. Well, I’ll get out of your hair.”

Hilargi and Yair left the room, leaving Angelica and the rest of the team to continue researching turrets to be installed on top of the fortress.