Sundus sat at the library computer booth, alternating between reading scientific papers to keep up with the current research, and poking and prodding at job applications. She looked awkward, with her backpack nestled on her lap, taking up the space between her chest, stomach, and the desk. She had to do this because Thag Simmons, her 'pet robot' stegosaurus, just would not stay still. Afraid to leave it out of her sight, but also afraid to be seen with it, Sundus carried it with her wherever she went. Simmons didn't like it, but Sundus didn't have any other options. She had kept it too long to be able to explain that she had simply found it, and she was afraid that if she ever got caught with it, she'd be going to prison. She could tell that this robot dinosaur belonged to Gaia Corp., what with the $10,000 reward going around. At first she wanted to keep it to spite them, then the few times she had wanted to come clean, the stegosaurus refused to be returned, desiring to stay with her instead. Now she felt like a criminal, carrying contraband with her at all times.

The backpack jerked suddenly. Simmons was getting restless. Sighing, Sundus quickly saved whatever documents she was reading or working on, and logged off the computer. She could do her research and job searching at home, but it felt good to get out of the house every once in a while and not feel like a complete freeloader, living off her parents. [color=00aeef]"Alright, Simmons, you win,"[/color] She whispered as she left the library. As she slung the backpack over her shoulder, she heard a loud rip, followed by the clatter of her personal belongings scattering on the library steps. She immediately bent down to catch her scattering things, noticing the little blue stegosaurus bolting away from her. [color=00aeef]"Hey! Simmons! Thag Simmons! Get back here!"[/color] Sundus yelled as if she were calling a child, but it was no use. Sundus scrambled to pick up her things, noticing that the rip in the backpack was not because of wear and tear. Fuming, she collected her things and ran after Simmons. She noted with some optimism, that he was leading her through familiar territory, the university. Simmons finally stopped in the quad and seemed agitated by something. A darkness passed overhead, forcing Sundus to look up at the cloud of bugs that was casting the shadow. [color=00aeef][i]Did stegosaurs eat bugs? Do robots eat? Why am I thinking about food?[/i][/color] Sundus' mind ran wild with speculation for a moment. She went over to pick up her stressed blue dinosaur. [color=00aeef]"Don't go nuts like that again, okay? I can't let anyone see you or I'm going to jail, okay?"[/color]