1:50 P.M.

“Sorry about the mess,” said the Master. He was strapping an android shell into a chair. “This one had a little bit of an…”

“Accident?” Alys finished.

“Yes, yes! An accident. Let’s leave it at that.”

The room was a mess, as if a small tornado had just blown through. Papers and parts were scattered everywhere, with no rhyme or reason to the chaos that had just transpired.

Alys signed. “Each and everyday I enter this laboratory, it is always in such a state of disarray. And each and everyday, I clean up after you.” Alys looked around the room, trying to discern what exactly had happened. “I am going to assume that the android had a slight glitch?” she asked.

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“Eh, more like a bit of buggy code. Nothing to be worried about though,” the master replied confidently. “I’ve already figured out the problem. You have absolutely nothing to worry about.”

“I am very worried,” Alys said with sharp eyes. “Your words do not instill much confidence.”

Alys walked over to one of the laboratory chairs and sat herself down. She relaxed herself for what was to come.

“Let us get this over with,” said Alys, closing her eyes.

“Yes, yes. Trust me, everything will be fine. We do this everyday. Not once have we had an issue with your routine maintenance.”

“Must I remind you of last week’s incident?” she replied, annoyed.

“Ha…” the master sighed, “let’s not talk about that. Anyways, let’s get started!” The Master placed a device on Alys’s head. “Alright, I’m going to initiate the shutdown in 5 seconds. Five…”

“Just get it over wi-”

“…fourthreetwoone.”

Before Alys could even finish her sentence, the master blitzed through the countdown, and Alys went to sleep.