"So, why don't you tell me about yourself, Ariel?"asked Valeria, as she drew a few cards.

"I am simply a robot, madam."

"I mean, about your life before...here. Before you met me."she said.

Ariel simply stared at her.

"A robot cannot be alive, madam. A robot merely functions."

"Well, tell me about your function before you met me."

"I lived on Aurora, madam. I was not able to function for some time, due to the fact that certain parts needed replacing, and there were no roboticist left on the planet, madam. Then you replaced the parts. My positronic brain, though, was in perfect functioning order."she said.

"Sort of like in a coma."

"I beg your pardon, madam?"

"Never mind, Ariel!"snapped Valeria. "Just pay closer attention to the game."

"Yes, madam."said Ariel, returning her attention to the cards in her hands.

"So what happened to you master? Or mistress?"asked Valeria.

"You are my mistress, Madam Valeria."

"I mean, before me."

"Then I was a house robot. I had fewer duties than I have here with you, but that is because you have only one robot, and that is myself."

"Well, you're more efficient than ten robots, if you want to know. You're my lady in waiting, everything."said Valeria. "How come you give the illusion of wearing clothes, even though I've noticed you don't?"

"My exodesign is that way, madam. Almost all Auroran robots are designed in this fashion."

Valeria nodded.

"Interesting. Is there any way in which it would be possible to change that design, Ary?"

"I am sure there is, madam."

"So, what happened to your master? You still haven't answered that question, Ary."

"The mistress fled Aurora. To another world called Trantor, I believe."

"Trantor. I know Trantor. Or at least I know about it, in a sense. So why did she flee? Was she a criminal."

"Madam?"

"You know, did she do something wrong?"

"My mistress never did anything wrong."

"Was she...chased by somebody, I mean, you know, someone who does something wrong by the law, that's a criminal."

"There are no criminals on Aurora."

"I'm sure there were. There are criminals everywhere. Trust me."

"I trust you, madam. But there were no criminals on Aurora."

Valeria shrugged.

"Oh, well. Get me my book-film. The one I've been reading, will you, Ary?"

"Yes, madam."

"And put it in the viewer. I'm going to view for a while, and when I'm done, I want you to tell me more about your old mistress. After all, it's not like you really learn anything new on the hyperwave, do you? Almost always the same thing. At least you tell different stories."

"I am glad that you enjoy what I have to say, madam."

"I'm glad, too."said Valeria.