When it comes into view, I gasp at the sight of the bot. It is a perfect sphere about the size of a house cat. I can't tell how it works. It hovers in the air, low to ground. The red light emanates from its round, black body. The laser passes over us and pierces my eyes. I hide my face in Austin's shoulder. But when I hear it making a series of strange beeps and chirps, I can't help but peek at it.
The machine lands on the floor. The soft purr of its motor ceases. Segments of its body protrude and push its spherical surface toward us. I back further under the desk. A hexagon of its shell falls away. It spits out a roll of translucent material which immediately unfurls on the ground in front of us.
A man's face appears on the surface. I realize that it's a FlexScreen.
"Andrea Anderson?"
