Anna had finished her meal and was just sitting at the small table with the four maids. Yuri was sitting across from her sipping some tea. Shizu was sitting next to her with hands folded and a blank expression on her face. Solution was sitting to Anna's left… smiling at her. Anna didn't think it was a very friendly smile, little bits of drool kept coming out the corner of her mouth. The one called Entoma was seated to the right and was also focused on her. Entoma's face didn't move, and unlike Shizu there was a slight grin permanently in place. But where Anna liked Shizu's stoic expression, Entoma's made her nervous.
"Now then," Yuri set her tea cup down in its saucer. "Ains-sama has declared that we Pleiades are to be responsible for your care. That, of course, means we will not allow any sort of harm to come to you."
Anna noticed Yuri directing stares towards both Solution and Entoma, each gave small, silent nods. Solution also sighed and wiped her mouth.
"While this responsibility has been assigned to us as a group, one of us will need to be your primary guardian. I think-"
"Can I have Shizu take care of me?" Anna blurted out. "Nabarel is mean and these two scare me. Shizu-chan is really nice and I like her."
"Uwaah."
Yuri nodded. "She was actually going to be my choice. Shizu is familiar with all of the defenses and hidden mechanisms of the Great Tomb, and has no issues with humans. You would be safest with her."
"Yuri-nee, that's mean." Entoma complained. "Except if I'm really hungry I can control myself. She isn't even my type, I prefer men with thick, meaty arms."
"And what about you, Solution?"
The blonde sighed and shook her head. "I agree it wouldn't be a good idea to leave me in charge of her. She looks much too tender. I would hate to do something that would anger Ains-sama."
"Keep that in mind if the two of you should ever be alone." Yuri adjusted her glasses. "That is settled then. Next we will need to assign Anna-san a residence. Fortunately, there are available servant quarters here on the ninth floor."
"Can I stay with Shizu-chan? I don't want to be all by myself."
"I thought humans preferred having their own space."
"She's just a little girl," Entoma pointed out. "She's probably still in the larval stage."
"Good point," Yuri admitted. "Shizu, would you mind having her live with you?"
"I do not mind." Shizu reached over and with mechanical precision patted the top of Anna's head three times.
Anna smiled in relief.
XXX
Shizu was escorting Anna through the hallways towards her room. The little human kept gawking each time a servant passed them. Most of them were of the heteromorphic race, which meant mostly they looked like animal hybrids. Some of them had the heads of horses or dogs or goats, with more or less humanoid bodies. Some of them just looked like gigantic animals. All were polite as they passed by, but Anna would clutch onto her leg each time.
Shizu finally halted and looked down at her. "Is something wrong?"
"There are monsters here! They're everywhere!"
"Yes, that is true. You are the only human in the Great Tomb of Nazarick. Is that an issue?"
"But… but you're not a monster. Are you?" Anna whimpered.
"I am an automaton. I am classified as a sentient mechanical being. I am not considered a monster, but I am also not human."
Anna began to tremble.
"Is something wrong? Are you cold?"
"Are you going to hurt me? Like the bird monsters?"
"No, I am your guardian. I have been assigned the mission of guiding and protecting you. Also, you are under the personal protection of Ains Ooal Gown-sama. No one here will harm you."
Around the corner came a person with a giant snake head and wearing a butler's suit. Anna immediately latched onto Shizu's leg and began to shake.
The snake man halted and looked over questioningly. "Is everything all right, Shizu-san?"
"It is fine, Jiro. Please continue with you duties."
Jiro nodded and walked past.
Shizu robotically patted the top of Anna's head three times. "There, there, everything is within acceptable parameters. There is no need to be upset."
When Anna finally let go she looked up. "Will I really be safe?"
"Yes."
"Do you promise?"
"Yes."
"Do you always keep your promises?"
"I was programmed to accurately and comprehensively relay information to both my superiors and subordinates."
Anna was staring up at her with an open mouth.
"I don't lie." She held out her hand. Anna hesitated, but finally took it. They started walking again. When they passed Hina, an assistant maid with a raccoon head, Anna tightened her grip, but did not stop and grab Shizu's leg.
Eventually they arrived in Shizu's room.
"They're so pretty!" Anna was jumping about. "I've never seen so many dolls!"
"I like cute things."
Shizu's quarters consisted of a small living area, a bedroom, and a bathroom. Within the bedroom about half the floor was taken up by a small army of dolls and plushies. They had been arranged so they appeared to be dancing with one another or standing together shoulder to shoulder. Anna had a huge smile on her face as she went from one end of the crowd to the other looking over all the toys. She finally settled in front of a massive plushie that was as big as she was. It was some sort of black and white bird with webbed feet and a yellow beak.
"This one is so adorable! What is he?"
"An assistant butler."
Her answer made Anna giggle. "Does he have a name?"
"Yes. He is Éclair Acleir Aicler, he excels at cleaning bathrooms and plotting to overthrow Ains-sama and rule over Nazarick."
This caused Anna to burst out in fresh giggles. "Can I play with him?"
"Certainly. He is very huggable."
XXX
Anna played with Éclair then took a bath. As Shizu undressed for bed she removed the long white metallic contraption that she wore in a holster on her left hip.
"What is that?"
"This?" Shizu held the object out in front of her and Anna nodded. "This is my RN-19-A2. It is a 7.02 mm rifle. It is a lightweight, air-cooled, gas-operated, magazine-fed, shoulder or hip fired weapon designed for either automatic or semiautomatic fire through the use of a selector lever. It can be fed two thirty round magazines for uninterrupted fire of explosive, phosphorous, or standard rounds. The rifle also contains four launchable, high-explosive contact grenades, a short range flame thrower, and a self-contained, extendable, steel bayonet. The weapon has a fully adjustable rear sight. The bottom of the trigger guard opens to-"
Shizu stopped as she noted Anna was staring at her with an open mouth.
"It's my boom stick."
"Oh, all right."
As Anna slipped beneath the covers Shizu tucked her in before getting in herself.
"I hope you have sweet dreams," Anna said.
"I am not programmed to dream."
"So you sleep without dreaming?"
"Technically, I do not sleep. I shut down for eight hours to allow my internal maintenance systems to conduct necessary repairs and upkeep."
"Is it restful?"
"When I come back on line I am at full running capacity, so I suppose yes."
Anna paused and fidgeted beneath the blankets. "Momma would always sing me a lullaby before I'd go to sleep."
"I am not programmed for melodic forms of entertainment. I can juggle if you like."
"No, no, that's okay."
Shizu considered for a moment. "If you wish, I know a war song."
"A war song?"
"Yes. Do you wish to hear it?"
"Yes, please."
Shizu suddenly sat up and clapped her hands together three times in a rhythm. She 'sang' in her usual monotone.
"Pleiades maid shock troops.
Blood sucking war machine.
We're ready to fight,
ready to kill.
Ready to die,
but never will.
Blood makes the grass grow.
Maids make the blood flow.
Overlord Ains Ooal Gown, banzai!"
Anna smiled and clapped her hands. "Thank you, Shizu-chan. I like your song."
She yawned and closed her eyes and was soon asleep.
Shizu waited until Anna was well asleep before shutting down her systems. "Have nice dreams, Anna."
