At the hatch, Aurelian and Lysara met the robots face to face for the first time.
They were built in a humanoid shape and painted almost entirely white, clean designs that make them look similar to humans without the obvious signs.
The one at the front inclined its head and spoke in a clear, even voice.
"Welcome, honored guests, to Helion Bastion Twelve of the Vhaloric Directorate. Please state your purpose. Are you here to assume control of this bastion?"
The question was so direct that for a second, Aurelian almost thought he had misheard it, not because of the words, but because of how simply they were given.
Then he answered just as plainly.
"Yes," he said. "We are here to take control of Helion Bastion Twelve."
He stopped there and watched the machine closely, waiting to see whether it would turn hostile or start asking for codes he did not have, ready for either outcome.
