Board the bus.

At the edge of the dock positioned high above the city streets stands a dark metal robot with piercing red eyes. It moves with incredible articulation, much like if a real man were to stand there, though it would never be mistaken for a real person. Searching your database, it isn't unheard of to see other robotic individuals that look indistinguishable from races purely of flesh, but the universe is vast. Almost everything exists somewhere. It makes you wonder why Dr. Freling keeps insisting you're so unique.

The ship comes to a gradual halt and locks securely to the edge of the dock. Dr. Freling swipes a card through a lit over the robot's hand, and the two of you proceed inside.

Could it be something symbolic? I'm the only one of me. I understand that. However, she also mentioned something about people possibly wanting her research, or her methods.

After the doorway shuts behind you and a couple others who enter, you hear the bus disconnect once more as it begins to lift off. At this speed, you'll get there in no time. There are a number of other people lining the seats both up and down in either direction, though thankfully it's quite large inside.

Neither of you sit. You both take hold of a handle hanging from the ceiling in unison, look to each other, and chuckle. Then your eyes peer past to the window behind her, where you're able to see the city being left behind.

Each city is within a dome, and they're connected by expensive tubes. Up ahead, you see a special passageway that exists purely for these buses to travel between, sort of like a train track but on air. There's an energy shield which keeps other vehicles from entering, but thankfully, this ship is able to pass right through without issue.

"This is kinda nice," you say softly. "I'm not sure what exactly is in store for us, Doctor, but there's something liberating about being in the sky."

"I know what you mean," she replies.

It's so silent as well. Without the tumbling of tires, you're left with nothing but the calming sound of carving through the air, though the vehicle's walls eliminate almost all of the noise. There's mumbling, but most people keep to themselves, perhaps going to or from work. You squeeze the handle, and turn to see a pair of men using handles as well, though standing a ways down. You lock eyes with one--a human, but with long pointed ears, nearly concealed by purple hair past his shoulders. Beside him is a shorter human with short black hair an oiled moustache.

You give a silent wave.

The man waves back with a smile.

Then, your eyes widen. Something is drawn swiftly from his pocket, and before you know it, there's a reverberating sound like lightning striking metal. Beep beep! Your red light panics, just as you are, but you focus enough to analyze the situation before someone gets hurt. Two men. The first who waved at me is holding an object in his hand. It has small rings around a red barrel, which leads to his finger clutching a trigger. A laser gun. Next to him, another man with an identical weapon.

A bit embarrassed, you clutch your hand around your antenna to hide the light. Thankfully it stops shortly after.

Though it seems to calm and friendly before, the purple-haired man's face contorts as his brow furls and his mouth opens wide to shout, "Everybody get on the god damn floor! This is a robbery!"

There's a burn hole on the floor. The gun he has would easily pierce right through a person's body, maybe worse.

"Don't move!" the shorter man yells as he fires a shot right between the feet of a nearby old woman.

The fear on her face--while it would be terrible for anyone to behold, your sensors can't help but lock-on. As you zoom in, time almost seems to slow. It's such a terrible thing, even with her being physically undamaged, and at any moment, someone could end up dead.

When you move next, you accidentally tear the handle right off the ceiling with a shocking twang, but it's only Dr. Freling who jumps. You're far too focused on the matter at hand.