"Did I miss something?" Lita asked as she and Serena stared after Arie.
"I'm missing something too," Serena moaned, "Last night, Darien and I walked home and met her and a young man, who must be Erin. After that, Daren hurried home, called you, and left."
"Did they say anything helpful?" Lita asked as the two of them began walking again.
"Darien asked if Arie was a . . . something," Serena answered shaking her head, "He didn't finish the question but Erin said that she was. Erin then asked if I was a model. I just don't understand." Serena bowed her head and Lita pursed her lips.
"Amy, Amy," Lita shouted, being sure that Serena noticed her as well, and waved her over. Serena didn't cheer up as Amy came over. Lita tried again, "Amy, do you want to go see a movie with Serena and me? I'll pay."
"Sorry guys," Amy apologized, noting Serena's look, "Erin Welks is finally came in last night." Serena raised her chin a bit and Amy continued, "He won the American robotics competition. You didn't forget already, did you?" Serena looked past Amy impatiently, her eyes widened, and she stomped past Amy.
"Lita, what's going on?" Amy asked, "What's wrong with Serena? I've never seen her this mad."
"Its Darien," Lita whispered, "he's been acting weird and Serena's worried. Let's see what they're talking about." Ami nodded and the two of them hurried to Serena and Erin.
". . . really don't know what you're talking about," Erin replied as they approached, "Darien came and talked to me and he left soon after. He didn't say much." Serena stepped back and stooped her shoulders.
"Do you two know each other?" Amy whispered as she watched Serena. Amy turned to see Erin's thin smile before he turned away.
"We met last night," Erin replied as he crouched and reached to the ground, "She was out with Darien." He rose with a hunk of metal cradled in his arms. A thin spire of metal shifted and turned. Serena drew in a breath as the hunk extended a hinged spire over Erin's shoulder. The mass inched upwards and out of Erin's arm. Soon the mass hung on Erin's chest and he relaxed his arms.
"What is that?" Serena asked and she paused, "Is that a spider?"
"It's a synthetic spider," Erin replied as the mass extended its leg and inched onto Erin's back, "I made him a year ago."
"It's called a robot," Amy piped up, "It moves with 20 ft of magnetic coils, a 20 volt battery, and it's made of steel." Erin smiled
"Gee, Amy," said a small voice said behind the girls, "You sure are smart." Serena turned to find Arie, still in the red dress and blonde curls. The robot leapt off Erin and landed on Arie with a thud, the small girl caught the mechanical spider. She began petting its shiny silver back.