After waiting for Jules to get down from the ceiling, both walked out of the breakroom. Cassandra never knew a time where she had spent as much time inside it. Yet, it took less than a glance back before she left it. There was nothing special about it. The only real point that needed to be addressed was how much time had been wasted inside it.

Break rooms were not for work. That had been noticed. Even one so strict as her could not help but fall under its effect of relaxation. Her body had not felt calmer, her mind never having been as quiet inside it. While Cassandra would have loved to say that she detested the idea of staying inside another time, there was no real animosity towards it. Having spent so long without thought, she felt like she could have a thousand more before she would need a single pause.

"Did you get any good pictures?" Jules asked as they went out the door. The automation seemed to find nothing more important than a dangerous deed that was done mere moments ago.

How fascinating automation could be. They were meant to be simple and orderly, yet the bucket somehow managed to be both complex and utterly annoying to work with. Once again, it was a shame that there were direct rules against striking anything with a humanoid appearance.

"I got a video of it all," Cassandra said, mentally ordering it to be sent over. She had stopped the film some seconds ago, yet had never gotten around to actually transmitting it. "The quality would have to be subjective, so I can't say anything regarding how good they are."

"Yeah… no. That's not gonna work for me," Jules said, negating Cassandra’s attempt to be entirely neutral about it. Speaking positive words about certain actions could equal partial guilt in court, and there was not a chance she wanted to test how many microphones were present in the station. "Last time I checked, you were saying some shit about me not being alive. Am I wrong so far?"

Cassandra had to look over at the automation. How peculiar a way to start one’s words with. What was it thinking? Processing. What was it processing inside its chest? Was it hoping to make her unhinged, to throw her off-course? Maybe it was a blunder in itself, fudging its roll-on charisma. Artificial imperfections creating the perfect asshole.

"You are not," Cassandra said, not feeling like saying anything else. It wasn't like she even knew what else to say. "What of it?"

"How can something which isn't alive speak on behalf of the living? How can I expect my own taste to match yours, when I apparently don't have any taste to begin with?" Jules said. Even if the woman fully understood the automations to throw her off course, there was not a part of her mind which was not hit hard. It was not something she wanted to hear. Nor did she expect it out of the thing’s mind. "Just be a sweetheart and check over those pictures. There should be some of them which you like. And, if chances hit right, we might even have enjoyed a few of them together."

A pat on the back was had, and the automation continued walking down the corridor. There was a small way as if it was yet again listening to some song sung a century ago. It infuriated Cassandra to no end. It made her angry that the thing pushed her outside her walls, that it made her become lazy, that it made her angry, and that it…

…

Cassandra put on the video to the side. Her footsteps became quick so that she could catch up, but there was not a moment where she did not monitor the video. At every second, there was something which she noted down, some frame that put itself out there more than the others. There was no real understanding of why this was, but her mind obeyed her desires without question.

The station was not the largest, allowing her to reach the meeting room in a quick stride. No time was lost, seeing as Jared had yet to come inside. Or, she could certainly not see him from the window. Cassandra had not yet walked inside, still standing in front of the door. This was not because of a lacking desire to go inside. No, it was because one other clothed humanoid was standing there as well.

"You’re slow," Jules said. The automation balanced itself on its toes, slightly swaying its arms as a method of balance. Cassandra did not doubt that it could have done the same act without moving a single motor. "The shoes are holding you back."

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

Looking down at the automation, the woman noted a lack of footwear. When exactly had it… no matter. Cassandra did not want to know. Though… did Jules even have them on in the break room? That was something to consider.

"I believe my shoes work perfectly fine in their current condition," Cassandra stated, clicking her heels together in impatience. Had the bucket of scrap waited outside just for that comment. "Shall we go in?"

Cassandra’s hand was already reaching towards the door handle, but it was stopped midway. Jules… had stopped her, the automations hand having grabbed hers. Just what did it think that it was-

"Not sure that’ll be the greatest idea to have," Jules said, cutting off the woman’s thought. "Do you think your boss would be unhappy if we missed it?"

The automations hand did not use force, but neither did it allow Cassandra’s own any hint of movement. It sat perfectly still. The woman was decently sure she could have relaxed it entirely without Jules even noticing.

"Yes, I very much think so," Cassandra said, with a matter-of-fact voice. Her eyes were serious. "The boss expects us to be there as promised. Jared has intel that-"

"You," Jules said, cutting in.

"What?" Cassandra asked, not entirely sure what one word was going to do.

"He expects you to be there," Jules explained. "From what I can remember in this non-existent brain of mine, there was no real mention of me being a part of the group."

The first reaction from Cassandra was to call the automation an idiot and allow her to move things along, as they had already wasted too much time. The second thought… was in a different direction. Ideas about what Jared thought of them, what had been said that very same day. It was almost as if there was an-

"You’re just being too absurd," Cassandra said, throwing off any ideas about Jules’ word being true. "We will now go into the meeting, sit down, and listen to Jared give his intel when he comes around. I would right around now order you to shut up and refrain from complaining, but I am unfortunately unable to do so. However, I do still expect you to do just that. Understand?"

Jules stared at her for three seconds before letting go of her hand. It took a small step back, and without a single word gestured at her to open the door. Cassandra, happy that it took her instructions well, did open it, allowing them both inside the room.

Inside was a long table, ready to accommodate a good twenty people. Not that it had a chance of doing so, seeing as there were a total of three people on active duty, excluding any automations. But, even then, only one seat was taken, and that was the one in the back.

"Is Jared expected to be here soon?" Cass asked, sitting next to Officer Grunwald. The man gave her a glance, before giving Jules a much longer one. The automation sat down in the chair to Cassandra’s right, not speaking a word.

"He will be here any second now. Then we can begin," Grunwald said, looking between the woman and the one who had followed her. He looked… uncertain. Not sure if he would say something, swallowing his own spit more than once in the same minute. Cassandra noted it, before going back to her own waiting around.

She had things to do, after all. The video that was meant to be overviewed by Jules had fallen into her own hands. She had barely gotten through the half, and the top-list was already growing too long for comfort. After the first sweep, she would have to do another.

Then again… it wasn't every day that one got to see a recording of an automation swinging around on the ceiling like some form of ape. Sure, it was with its feet instead of arms, but that only made it all that much more special to see. Cassandra made sure to get a good deal of those shots added. Some of them would have to be removed later on, though. There were just too many of them already.

"Cass. If I may, I have to ask why your issued automation is still online," Officer Grunwald asked, sounding a bit unsure about himself. Cassandra had to stop herself from raising an eyebrow. "I believe it is scheduled to be recharged at the current hour."

‘That only takes thirty minutes max, just for your information’ Jules supplied via digital communications. ‘And there are enough powering stations for everybody. This station is made to handle a few hundred copies of the beautiful me.’

"I was invited to play a few games of chess in my off time," Cass answered, not sure what she would do with the message from the automation. "As I have been lacking competition as of late, I did not think it too bad to have the automation out for a few hours more. And, since their powering takes close to no time, and since there isn't a large line to be charged, I saw no problem with it either way."

"And there is no problem in that," her boss said, counting her voids for himself. That was… also not the tone she wanted to hear from him. "But, what we will be working with now is a sensitive matter. For the sake of security, we will be holding this information strictly to personnel who are not connected to the information grid."

Cassandra stared into his eyes. From her side, she could hear Jules getting up from its seat. That was not what she wanted.

‘Sit back down,’ Cassandra sent.

‘No… I don't think I will,’ Jules sent right back. By the time the words had finished, the automation was already out the door. It was closed with a soft thud.

In another situation, she would have stood up and made the automation sit back on its seat. But, she knew she would fail. Cassandra could not force it now. There was no way to get Jules back in place… How peculiar a sensation she felt. What was this normally called? It had been quite a while since she had felt it. Shame? Arrogance? Shame over her own arrogance? Arrogant over what shame she had in herself? It was unknown what it was.

Jared strode in not a minute later. The man looked over the meeting room, meeting the other two’s eyes with a smile, before sitting himself down on the boss’ right side.

"So… I have news. Not sure whether to call it good or bad, but you two can take it as you so desire.

One of the thieves is dead. They killed themself."