“Don’t worry.” Zero smiled. “We’re easy. All the model-Ms have number names. Except for Carl, who wanted to be different. And Infinity, who had to be special. Having the same name on top of looking alike would be too much.”
“Oh. Yes.” Anna stifled a laugh. “That would be way too much.”
The model-Ms all fixated on her laugh, nudging each other.
“Ohh!” Tilly went right up to each, far too close, before Nora took her arm and pulled her back.
“Your clothing is wet.” Thirteen hid a smile behind his hand.
“Oh yeah.” Tilly pointed to her wet sleeves. “Did you know there is a lake? Do you swim? I went in!”
“Yes, we know.” Thirteen rubbed his chin. “It looks like you all did.”
Right. Anna became acutely aware of her clothing. Dirty and wet. Very imperfect compared to any of the androids.
Zero held his hand out to Simon as they passed. “Come find me after you’re settled, Simon. I’ll help with the outdated hardware.”
Simon nodded. “Will do.”
“What’s outdated?” Nora asked. “Will it change anything?”
“No.” Zero pressed a finger to his mouth. “Unless you want him to be changed?”
“What?” Nora’s mouth hung open.
Another laugh from the model-Ms.
“No, it won’t change anything. Zero is messing with you.” Simon put an arm around her. “Sorry, you’re stuck with me. The upgrades will let me access their communal mind better—that is all.”
“Okay.” Nora worried her lip. “As long as that’s it.”
Anna, though, kept her eyes on her footsteps. Her muddy, wet footsteps. Everything was grand and impressive. And all she wanted was a broom to sweep behind her, making sure they didn’t leave any dirt as they walked.
Chapter twelve
Atlas
“What are you thinking?” Atlas came close. The entire walk, the entire day really, had been full of him watching her reactions. Right now he could sense she was uneasy, with that heart of hers going a mile a minute. Back to fear again.
“Oh.” Anna shrugged her shoulders. “I was just trying to think about the last time I was in a building this big.”
“And?”
“I was thinking it looked like an old church, actually. That’s the only place I’ve seen this big inside.”
A church?There were no religious symbols anywhere here. No pews, no texts, no statues. “Did you go to many churches?”
“No. It’s more the feeling.” She waved around. “They were ruins and, well, sacred.”
“Ah.” Atlas smiled. “Sacred? That’s a sweet way to see your new home.”
A flush spread across Anna’s face, and then a second later her heartbeat started galloping even harder.
The others had already walked ahead, down one of the endless halls, but Atlas briefly put his hand over Anna’s. Fingertips warm and calloused. “Your heart. You’re afraid? It’s alright. I didn’t mean to embarrass you.”
She didn’t pull away. “It’s just all new.”
He gave her fingers a quick squeeze. “Come this way. After you get settled, everything will hopefully become more familiar.”
