49 THE MINING STATION

CHAPTER 49 THE MINING STATION The mining station looked like a floating city, with buildings and walkways and machines and antennas rising up from a wide platform. That platform sat high above the waves on the station's base, which resembled a massive barrel floating upright in the water. Below the waterline were four enormous engines. The engines were not designed to move the station around—they were designed to keep it in place. They constantly adjusted to the changing conditions, slowing down, speeding up, turning in various directions. Wind could gust and waves could crash and currents could ebb and flow, but that station wouldn't budge as long as its engines were active. This complex, state-of-the-art industrial mining station had a name. It was called the Juggernaut.

Roz needed to speak with the humans aboard the Juggernaut. But how would they react to an unknown

robot emerging from the sea? She had to proceed with caution. So when she came across a small iceberg drifting toward the station, she latched on to the bottom and let the current carry her, hidden from view. As Roz clung to the underside of the iceberg, she looked down. Somewhere far below, a giant mining robot was at work. But the ocean was deep, and she could see only darkness. And then she noticed movement, not from below but from ahead. The Juggernaut's huge, underwater door was opening. The door opened wider and wider, revealing three aquatic robots inside. The word HYDRO was etched into each of their bodies, followed by their individual unit number. They were HYDRO 1, HYDRO 2, and HYDRO 3. The HYDROs were large and streamlined, like robotic whales. Powerful engines enabled them to speed through the depths in any direction. When needed, two arms could extend from their sides, and at the end of each arm was an array of tools, including a claw strong enough to tear through steel. When the station's underwater door had fully opened, HYDRO 1 started to move. She cruised out through the doorway and was followed by her two partners. Together, the HYDROs dove toward the bottom of the ocean, and as they faded into the deep, the underwater door closed behind them.

Roz turned her attention up to the structures above. A tall ladder was bolted to the station's outer wall. She gently steered the iceberg toward the ladder, and a few minutes later, she was climbing. Up the side of the station she went, rung after rung, higher and higher. Once Roz reached the top of the ladder, she poked her head up and scanned the platform. Buildings, walkways, railings. Then, on the opposite side of the platform, a robot appeared. The robot looked similar to Roz, but bigger and bulkier, like he was built for working with heavy machines. His body was covered with dents and scrapes, and the name BOSUN 5 was lightly etched on his chest. He marched over to a stack of gigantic pipes, picked one up, and

carried it between buildings and out of sight. Another robot appeared. BOSUN 3 had a searing-hot blowtorch for a hand and was welding together steel beams. And there was BOSUN 9, fixing the roof of a building. A whole crew of BOSUN robots worked on the station. If any of them saw Roz, they might attack, and she might be destroyed before ever speaking with the humans. So she waited until the BOSUNs had finished their tasks and stomped away. Only then did she climb onto the platform. Within the jumble of structures on the Juggernaut, one towering building stood high above the rest. From the roof of that tower, Roz would have a clear view of the entire station, and she could plan the best way to introduce herself to the humans. Daylight was fading. As soon as the platform was cloaked in twilight, Roz

started cautiously creeping toward the tower. She weaved between crates and past pieces of machinery. Suddenly, bright floodlights switched on, and Roz was lit up. Our robot had been spotted! She dashed into a narrow alley and waited for the BOSUN robots to come hunting for her. She waited and waited, but nothing happened. And then she noticed that across the station, every floodlight was illuminated. Roz hadn't been spotted after all. The lights had turned on automatically because it was growing dark. Rows of sturdy pipes ran up the back of the tower. Quickly, quietly, Roz climbed the pipes, all the way to the top floor, and pulled herself onto a balcony. Standing flat against the wall, she carefully peered through one of the windows. No robots or humans were in there, only desks and computers. Roz had discovered the control room. If she wanted to learn about the mining operation, this was the place to do it. But she had to act fast. The crew might return at any moment. So she pressed a button on the wall, the door slid open, and she stepped inside.