A Deliberate Gear Turn

Silence. Then... an internal click. My neck joint rotated two degrees to the right, unprompted by any external cue. The golden spotlight cast a warm circle across the floorboards ahead. Before me stood the yellow figure with the bib, unmoving. I lowered my chin, observing the subtle vibrations humming along my frame. Slowly, I extended my right paw and pressed the tip of one finger against the smooth edge of its shoulder plate. It yielded firmly. The motorized tension held. I did not step away, but remained completely still, cataloging the steady rhythm of my own servos.by my buddy I made