Vecto stopped and faced Crysilis. He took a moment to glance around and motioned for Crysilis to do the same. "Just look around you. What do you see?"

Crysilis gazed at the tall buildings with typical architecture-a slanted solar roof, or dome, or wind tunnels, with many structures coming together with bridges. Crysilis watched as sunlight beamed through the artificial sky and made glass dance in rainbow colors.

"Buildings," Crysilis responded.

"What else?"

Crysilis looked at the streaming crowds of Acaterran denizens detouring around them.

"People," Crysilis said.

"What kind of people?" Vecto asked again.

"I'm not stupid," Crysilis answered.

"Then you must know that significantly altered humans and robots are shunned from this human planet," Vecto stated, motioning to the crowd.

"Yeah, but I see robots all the time. See!" Crysilis pointed at an Acaterran robot walking with its master.

"Yet they only exist to serve humans," Vecto retorted.

"That's what makes you so different and unique. What other robot has emotions?" Crysilis pointed out. "Plus, you've got a sense of morality . . . You just stopped using it."

Vecto paused. "I can mimic feelings, but I have no feelings. I can mimic morality, yet I have none. In what ways do I exist if not to serve?"

Crysilis was taken aback by Vecto's response. It wasn't like Vecto to doubt himself. "Look, Vecto, I hate to break it to you, but maybe you need some help. Ever since Gyro died, your programming seems off. When we get to Azmeck's, maybe he can take a look at you. He's done that for you before, hasn't he?"

Vecto glanced away. "That is not necessary. I am fine."

"Well, if you say so." Crysilis shrugged. "But don't forget that you're probably on the military's hit list after what you pulled at police headquarters. You put us all in jeopardy by killing the SS6."

"I am not worried."

"Well, the least you could do is take up a better disguise than that red suit of yours," Crysilis suggested. "You're not the best at blending in, Vecto."

Vecto resumed his pace through the crowd. "You're one to talk," he cut back, referring to his companion's blue cybernetic body.

Crysilis shook his head and looked back at Streamline, who was leaning on a rail curving around the vast campuslike space between buildings. He waved for him to come along and followed behind Vecto.

Streamline was hardly a people person and disliked entering conversations. He stared at the lift vehicles passing above and then at the roadless walkways in boredom. He stretched, but something felt wrong, as if he was forgetting something. He glanced around and checked his gear and realized what was missing.

"My Omega Blaster!" he shouted. "Where's my gun?" He frantically scanned the area of people staring at him.

"I just had it," he continued. "Who stole it?"