When they got to Solaria, they were in a big room. It was completely empty. R.Daneel was at the controls, which where the only piece of furniture in the room.
"This room is to receive us, and for when we decide to travel to another time, or planet. It is known as the travel room. No other dwelling on Solaria has such a thing."
"It's a big room, for just that."said Lance.
"This is a customary dwelling on Solaria. You have the entire estate, of course, as any Solarian. The population here on Solaria, is twenty thousand people. The planet is divided into estates, each supervised by a Solarian."
"So there are twenty thousand estates?"
"Wives share estates."
"So, then there's less estates? And that's what this planet is made up of? Just estates? No, like, say, stores, or anything?"
"No."
"How are we supposed to get our food and stuff?"
"Robots supply everything. There are a number of them. They will see to your every need. It is late, and I believe you would find it pleasant to eat something, and then sleep."
"You're right on that."said Fred.
"I must lead you to the dining room, where the robots shall see to it that you are comfortable."
"I thought you were a robot? There are more?"asked Lance.
"Of course. Here on Solaria, there are more robots than on any of the other Spacer worlds."
He nodded. They sat down, and at once the robots began to serve the food and drinks.
"Wow."
"You almost spilled it on my shirt!"exclaimed Pietro. "And go faster! Can't you see I'm starving!"
"I beg your pardon, Master."said one of the robots.
"These look like robots."said Lance.
"That is how they were designed."R.Daneel told him.
"And we're gonna eat like this every day, yo?"asked Toad.
"Yes."
"What if the food runs out, or we want something different?"asked Fred.
"That will not happen, Master. The robots shall see to that."
As they went upstairs, Lance commented, "This place is huge!"
"Such a dwelling is customary here on Solaria. There is one room for every purpose. One library, with a room devoted to every section, the bedrooms, the viewing room, the dining room, the conversation room, the-"
"I get the picture."said Lance.
"I think I could get used to this."said Pietro.
The next morning, after breakfast, R.Daneel took them to the conversation room.
"What about outside, yo?"
"The estate is several square miles, there is an ornamental pond, a lake, a swimming pool, several fields-"
"Is there a swamp?"
"I beg your pardon Master?"
"Well, anywhere we could go camping?"
R.Daneel looked at them.
"You know. Never mind. You were saying."
"Here is the conversation room. Here, you can make contact with anyone on the planet."
"Anyone?"
"Anyone. The robot in charge of the conversation room knows all the combinations."
"Incredible! Okay, say, I want to contact...um, we don't know anyone here. You choose someone."
"Someone fun, yo."
"Yeah."said Fred.
"Someonewho'snotaslowpoke."
"Can we reach Kitty?"
"I don't believe that anyone on the planet bears the name Kitty. Someone who's not slow. I believe you could reach Dr.Rikaine Delmarre."said R.Daneel. "I believe he is at his place of work."
The robot at the controls began to move its hands, and soon, part of the room disappeared, and a man appeared, with a different background than the one that had been there before.
"How'd you get here so fast, yo?"
"Wow."said Pietro as he sped towards him.
"AAAHHH! Pietro!"everyone exclaimed as Pietro disappeared.
"Ah! What was that!"he exclaimed reappearing.
"It is not wise to run into a trimensional image, Master. Although harmless to the body, it could be rather traumatic to the mind. This is Dr.Rikaine Delmarre."
"Um, hi. I'm, um, I'm Lance. And this is Fred, Toad, and Pietro."he said to the man. "Um, sorry, we're new here. It's just that..."
"Oh, I see, you were expecting to see me, perhaps?"he asked.
"Um, yeah, sure, why not?"
"I do not see anyone. You must have been misinformed. That must mean you are my new junior assistant. Dr.Klorissa Cantoro is already trained, of course. I felt it rather wise to train more youngsters."
"Wait a minute, what do you mean, your new assistant?"asked Lance. "You mean, you want me to work for you? How much do I get paid? What do you do?"
"I am a fetal engineer."
"Never heard of that."
"I am not fond of such jokes."said the man.
"No joke."
The man shook his head.
"You must come to the farm, then. Would you like to view it?"
"Um, you know, why don't we just set up a time. You got me curious. When am I supposed to be there?"
"This afternoon. You must have a gene analysis, of course. Done viewing."
And the image disappeared.
"What was that!"
"I think it's...it's like tv, no?"Lance asked Daneel. "Only that...you're talking. Like, if the people on tv, were actually there, as in...you know."
"Cool."said Toad.
Daneel looked pleased.
"You have accepted to work with Dr.Delmarre."he said.
"I guess so."said Lance. "Um, why not? What exactly did he mean by a gene analysis."
"That is customary on Solaria. They have bred almost all deformities out of their society."
The Brotherhood looked confused.
"I wanna try again, yo!"said Toad. "Who next? This time I get to try!"