Taming the Mechanical Beast

I woke up in the runner trench, only to hear a menacing low hum creeping across the floorboards. Out of the shadows emerged an autonomous cleaning robot, prowling like an armored assault hovercraft straight toward the baseboard! Naturally, a tactical mercenary doesn't retreat; I staged a flank maneuver, timed my stride, and leaped directly onto its sleek circular chassis. It gave a cheerful beep, spun forty-five degrees to avoid a chair leg, and took me on a high-speed victory patrol across the living room carpet. I rode that motorized disc like an intrepid chariot commander until it docked against its wall charger.