Indigo led Pierce up to the third floor. For some reason, Dr. Spencer had requested today’s lesson to be taken place in room 305; it was a room Pierce had never been to, hence why it was Indigo leading the way for a change.
“What’s it like in there?” Pierce asked.
“It’s not very big. As far as I know, the droid-animals are kept in there.”
Pierce knitted her eyebrows together. “Why do we need droid-animals?”
Indigo shrugged. “Your guess is as good as mine. I don’t work in that department.”
By now, Pierce could walk at ease in the bustling hallways without being overwhelmed by the sounds. The people at the Complex no longer stopped in their tracks to stare at Dr. Spencer’s favorite anymore, which was a relief to Pierce. She hated the unwanted attention.
Indigo pushed open the door to room 305 and Pierce stepped through. Three of the walls in the cool, dark room had cages pressed against it. Most of the cages held droid-dogs; Pierce assumed they were Sniffers, droid-dogs with the sole purpose of tracking down a scent. Other cages contained birds, such as pigeons, parrots and hawks.
Dr. Spencer gave a curt greeting to Indigo then said to Pierce, “I have bad news and I have good news. The good news is that if you pass this test I have set up for you—”
The door hissed open and a figure stepped into the room. “Do you mind if I join you guys?” asked Mason.
“No, not at all,” said Dr. Spencer. “Just don’t get in the way of Pierce during her test.”
Mason dipped his head and walked over to the corner of the room where he could observe them.
“If you pass the test, I will reward you by authorizing your fingerprint to the locks on your room and the elevator,” said Dr. Spencer.
Pierce looked up with interest, wondering what type of social studies test would require her to be in the droid-animal room.
“The bad news,” Dr. Spencer continued on, “is that I’m going to be rather busy the next few months and won’t be able to give your education the full attention it deserves. As a result, I am handing over the responsibilities of overseeing your training to Dr. Claries.”
No! No! No!
“I will still continue teaching your social studies classes, but your weekly checkups will be conducted with Dr. Claries. If you have any questions regarding your schedule or if you have any needs, make them known to Dr. Claries, not me.” Dr. Spencer rubbed the bridge of his nose. So quiet Pierce almost didn’t catch his words, he murmured, “Dr. Claries is right; I’m getting too personally attached to my project. I can’t focus on the greater needs of the Restorers at this rate.”
Is that all I am to you? Pierce wondered. Am I just an experiment, a project and nothing more?
“Is that okay with you, child?” Dr. Spencer asked.
“Um, I guess,” Pierce managed to choke out those words.
He rubbed his hands together. “Alright, let’s move onto your test.”
“Is it hard? I didn’t know I had a test today so I didn’t study and—”
“Relax. It’s not the type of test you can study for. The test I’m about to give you is a test of mental willpower.”
