She stood up and paced the floor in front of her workstation. Surely, she was not the only one who noticed the trends. The analysis would have been shared among all the Admin Class Slaves. After all, it was their job to make sure that the Griddish systems operated with the utmost efficiency. All the Slipshot Silos, all the devices that were attached to them, that managed them, all the Vérkatrae, all the Slaves, even the dome itself, they were all connected to each other, dependent on each other. If one Node within the network were to fail, there would be errors that would need to be fixed. The Mechanics would do that. But if many Nodes were to fail all at the same time, there would be a series of cascading failures that would result in a catastrophe that Griddish itself had never before witnessed, not even in its eons of existence.

The Slaves were at war with the Engineers. At least, in the past, they had worked together. But no more. “There must be something we can do,” mumbled Judith. “Or, something I can do.”

She sighed deeply, as she wrapped her arms around her waist. “But what could a technician like me do?” Admins Class Slaves, after all, were designed to monitor things. To make recommendations and provide maintenance specifications to the Mechanics. “The Mechanics. How fortunate they are to be free to move about in this world, and travel to the Vars.”

Judith turned and skittered through the corridor, the silvery, almost glass-like walls reflecting a steady, blue light throughout. She turned and walked towards a door, pausing as it opened before her. She stepped in.

A figure stood hunched over a panel that was set in the middle of the chamber. Judith stepped forward, her uncertain footfalls pattering nervously, her breath quick.

“I was wondering when you would appear.” The figure turned towards Judith.

“Benj, I….”

He stood tall. His lithe body was slender, almost delicate. His hair was white. He gazed at Judith, his gentle, gray eyes locking onto hers. A nearly indiscernible smile crossed his face.

Judith glanced away. “Always probing, huh, Benj?”

Benj smiled a bit more widely. He lifted his arms and placed his hands on her shoulders, barely touching them while he held an arm-length’s distance. “Of course not. I am simply available to you when you need me.”

Judith felt her neck and cheeks grow warm. She lifted her hands to cover the latter. “Sure, you are.”

He let his arms fall to his side. “So, what brings you here in such a hurry?”

Judith pouted. “As if you don’t know.”

“Now, why would I?”

“Cuz you know everything about everyone.”

“I only know what you choose to share with me.” He paused. “So far, you’ve shared nothing about your current state of mind.”

Judith sighed deeply. “God, Benj, you’re such a pain sometimes.”

Benj smiled. “Am I? I don’t wish to be. Not to you, Judith.” Judith snorted.

“I’m sure you enjoy it.”

“As a Psyche Class Slave, my duty is to help whenever I am needed.”