‘For the third time this year and in just under two years since their change of management, Neosansus in partnership with E.L Industries have harvested yet another award for their innovative creations in the fields of programming and robotics.’

‘This has been a special ceremony for the company, being the first to feature several of their creations, including the prototype to the planned commercial model of C.A.S.S, their acclaimed spearheading therapist android C.A.I.N – as well as a surprise 4-legged visitor that has been more closely dubbed as another employee than part of the Neosansus roster of robots, named Caleb by his creator Mikhail Petrov, who upon questioning appeared reluctant to consider adding a few more pieces to the pack-'

“Yeah, just what I need, a pack of Calebs tapping circles in my workshop,” Mikhail sighed, turning off the summary of last week’s ceremony playing on his tablet, “but Isaac was right, dogs really do seem to get the crowd’s attention…would’ve thought a humanoid android would be more exciting, though.”

As if to answer the mechanic’s musings, a tapping trot approached from the back of the workshop. Caleb has woken up from its nap in the charging station, following the voice of its owner and creator like a giant puppy, rolling its front shoulder joints side to side in anticipation.

"You see, boy? You’re a crowd favorite,” Mikhail smiled and pat his chest a few times, to which Caleb responded by stepping closer and craning its head up to rest it against the human's ribs, earning itself a few strokes and scratches along its elongated muzzle. “Except for one piece of tough crowd…you think that old witch saw us, too?”

Caleb tilted its head a little, flat eyes focused on the man’s face, almost looking inquisitive.

Mikhail huffed, nodding. “Yeah, you’re right. She hates all this dangerous tech-stuff, doesn’t she?” he sighed, patting the back of Caleb’s neck, “at least she doesn’t care enough to oppose that she’d stir up something in public,” he was almost amused at the thought, if it wasn’t for the idea of how much damage can a single anti-robot protest can make. That old witch has already alienated the one person he cared for away from robotics.

Caleb revved its motor, making for a sympathetic growl.

“You can say that again,” Mikhail was urged into looking around for a moment by the realization that he’s talking to himself, with Caleb having no processing abilities that could allow it to understand this conversation. “You can’t judge me for talking to myself, so we’re good,” he clarified to his canine companion, running both thumbs on the edges of its upper jaw.

A moment later Caleb’s optics shifted slightly as it picked the sound of oncoming guests seconds before the human could, shifting its head slightly in Mikhail's grip to peer at the workshop's entrance.

“Hey Mike!” Evelyn’s voice was so unmistakable that Mikhail didn’t even look to make sure. “You busy?”

“Not really, was about to clean up a bit.”

“Funny,” both of them laughed, but something caught the man’s attention, as he could’ve sworn that he heard another voice chuckling. “Well, it’s a good thing that you’re free, then, because you have a visitor,” Evelyn chirped with growing excitement, which she did a poor job in containing.

He wasn’t expecting any visitors, business related or otherwise, but only in his dreams has he ever expected to encounter what sight awaited him when he turned his head to the entrance. Next to Evelyn stood a young girl, couldn’t have been older than 18, perhaps younger, judging by her school uniform; her dirty-blond hair was smooth, appearing short in a ponytail, and her eyes were the same blue as Mikhail’s, but with a bright glimmer shining through them.

A glimmer the man knew well, even after not seeing it in years. “Nina?”

She giggled in response, meeting his gaze of growing bewilderment. “Hey dad,” she couldn’t quite contain the awkwardness within her excitement, earning a conspicuous nudge from Evelyn to get her to cross the threshold into the workshop.

That was all the push either of them needed, as for each step Nina took Mikhail matched two of his own, just shy of leaping towards her, but once within an arms' reach it was Nina who threw hers first, catching the mechanic off guard with the iron hold around his waist, feeling the slender fingers clinging to his back straight through his overalls. Frozen for a moment, Mikhail slowly relaxed, carefully wrapping his arms around her, forgetting she was no longer the dainty little girl he remembered.

Resting one hand on the back of her head, he could hear a content little sigh escaping Nina’s mouth as she leaned her head into his shoulder. Mikhail didn't want to let his eyes close, fearing it might spell the end of this reunion, but his vision was blurring so fast that he didn’t have much of an option. Letting his eyelids drop, he ignored the warmth of the tears on his face to direct his mind to the warmth of his single most greatest creation.

“You’ve…grown up so much,” he finally took a deep breath to steady his voice, eyes slowly blinking open to confirm this was indeed reality, “I almost didn’t recognize you.”

"Almost?” Nina laughed, looking up at him, “you lit up like a Christmas tree in like two seconds,” the comment even drew a chuckle from Evelyn, as well as caught the attention of another presence in the room.

Caleb trotted next to them, resting its head flat on Nina’s arm, motor humming in a plea for pats.

"Hello Caleb,” Nina chirped, moving her hands off Mikhail’s back to stroke the quadruped’s smooth skull-like head. “He looks so much bigger up close.”

Mikhail looked between the two, baffled. “Up close? How did you know his name?”

"I saw both of you in the latest innovation award ceremony for robotics,” her tone made it sound like it was supposed to be obvious. “I've seen Neosansus coming up in other ceremonies, but the latest one was the first time you two have been on stage. It's pretty cool having a famous dad.”

Mikhail’s smile turned bittersweet at the compliment. “Bet your mom doesn’t share the sentiment,” he sighed.

Nina shook her head, looking away from Caleb, “she never liked the whole robotics thing. She doesn’t even like me watching the award ceremonies, but luckily she’s not too tech savvy to do anything about it,” she glanced at Mikhail with a wink. “She kept saying how she doesn’t want me to turn out like you, but…I think it's exactly how I'd want to turn out.”

"That just might be the best thing a father could hope to hear,” Mikhail leaned to give Nina a peck on her forehead before moving away to one of his cluttered work surfaces, “and frankly, you’ve had quite a part in how I turned out to be,” he opened a drawer under the desk, rifling through a few documents before pulling and old, wrinkled paper. He walked back, handing Nina what looked like a child’s crude drawing of a very rigid giraffe with a dog’s head.

She held the drawing in both hands, taking her turn now to wipe the tears welling in her eyes. “You kept it…” but she couldn’t wipe the smile from her face.

"It’s still my favorite blueprint,” he admitted, “I could never forget, after you couldn’t convince us to buy you a dog, you marched into my study and demanded I'll make you one,” he pointed at the legs, “you wanted him to gallop like a horse, and be big enough to ride,” he traced upwards to the head along with Nina’s fingers, “and you wanted him to have a neck like a giraffe-"

"So he can reach the snacks on the top of the fridge,” her voice choked slightly, unable to contain the happy, nostalgic memories her childhood drawing brought to the surface. “Aw, dad…so, Caleb…is he-?”

“Was supposed to be your dream pet, yes,” Mikhail nodded, looking at Caleb tapping its feet to the floor at the mention of its name. “I wanted him to be a surprise, but your mom left before I even had a prototype. But a promise is a promise. I built him just how I thought you’d like, and his prototype helped me get the job here.”

Nina bit her bottom lip, still in awe that not only did her silly little demand was taken seriously, but it was staring up at her, looking much like she had expected it to look when she thought it up. "And it's thanks to you working here that I got to find you again," she smiled, leaning to wrap one arm around her father again. "Mom really made an effort to never mention you or what you do...there are more 'Mike Pertov's than you'd think," she added with a light-hearted chuckle, resting her head on his shoulder while still holding the old drawing in her hand. "None compare to you, though."

"She has your sense of flattery alright," Evelyn giggled, enjoying her front-row seat to the sweet scene. "Good thing she takes more after you than your ex, huh?"

"I'd give you my full honest opinion, but there's a child here and it'd be highly inappropriate," Mikhail declared, gesturing to Nina as she nudged him back, "but yes, it's a good thing indeed."

"She'd probably lose it if she knew I snuck after school to visit you here, with all the scary robots," Nina assured, sounding quite aware of her father's full, honest opinion. "Um...actually," she sighed and reluctantly leaned away again, "my friends can only cover me being here for so long before mom gets nosy...wouldn't want to get you in trouble."

Clearly just as reluctant to let go, Mikhail nodded, trying not to let his smile appear too bitter. "Wouldn't want you to get in trouble, either," he rubbed the back of his neck, "but hey, at least now you know where to find me."

Nina nodded back, looking cheered up, "in your little evil lair, with your animal henchman," she gave Caleb another pat, "and in two years or so she won't have a say in it anyway, so I could join your world domination program."

Both Mikhail and Evelyn laughed together with her, with Mikhail's spirit being lift as well at the realization that she was right. "Here, give me your phone," he reached his hand out as Nina pulled it from her pockets, adding his own contact details to her list before handing it back. "Next time you can schedule, so we can have enough time to show you around."

Face beaming and smile widening, Nina took her phone back like it was a piece of priceless future technology. "I'd like that," she pocketed the device, looking back to where she came from with Evelyn. "Since you're not busy...mind walking me out?"

"Of course. Caleb needs his walk, anyway."

"She's sweet," Evelyn grinned at the mechanic once he came back to the complex after seeing his daughter off. "You think she'll come back soon?"

"I hope so," Mikhail smiled, patting Caleb's neck as it started to circle him, "I'll let you know."

Evelyn bounced in her place before walking with Mikhail back to his workshop. "You know, she was really excited just looking around the complex on our way to see you. Maybe you'll end up coworkers, at some point."

Mikhail hummed, already looking thrilled at the idea alone.

"I'd like that."