Their conversation stopped short as the real Violet came sprinting into the hall, her second hand Chucks squeaking on the linoleum. One hand on the fire alarm she stared at her friend and the mech with her. For a brief instant she seemed to stare into something deep behind the glistening optical sensors of the mech.

Rae swallowed hard.

The moment passed, and Violet jerked the alarm pull. Her grin pulled to one side as the strobes and sirens went off.

As the shuffle of hundreds of adolescent feet began to swell Violet called out, “Run for it. We’ll meet up later at the spot.” With a wink she was back into her classroom from whence her voice soon came echoing out, “Run fer your lives! Get, get, get on out! Yeehaw!”

With a whir and a few clanks the mech was once again a scooter, just in time for a mad dash through the quickly filling halls.

Kids cheered her apparent disregard for rules.

Glee accompanied the respite from classes.

Rae swallowed hard again; if they only knew.

If anyone really knew.