November didn't mean to do it.

How could she be blamed? She was excited! It happens to everyone, she told herself. And now, her wretched biology had hurt someone. All it was was a simple touch on the arm. But, naturally, it didn't take long for the man to blurt out about how much it stung and burned, alerting all of the nearby security bots in the spaceship's plaza district.

"DANGER MODE!" the grey security robot announced just in front of her, flashing a circle of yellow lights on the ground. "Physical biohazard quarantine procedure begin! Local H-R-C VESKY patrol 33 and 74 converge on my position to contain outbreak! Field on standby; energy optimal!" From the robot's hips and wrists, several small guns deployed and pointed at November with a loud whirr and clank.

"Now, hold on! Wait a sec!" November exclaimed, taken aback by the sudden change in the robot's demeanor. She'd observed these security robots prior to the incident – this one had gone from a casual person having a nice conversation with a human traveller, to a duty-oriented war machine in an instant. November quickly raised a hand toward the grey robot. "It's okay! I'm not-"

"Please remain still until quarantine backup arrives. You will not be harmed if you cooperate."

November could tell it wasn't going to let up. It was only a couple feet away – maybe if she could just...

Too late. Like silverware against a wine glass, the rapid tip-tap-tip-tap of the incoming robots' needle-like feet sprinting across the floor from the other end of the hallway filled the air. Backup was here.

The robot facing November turned around for just a brief moment to face the incoming bots. This was her chance...!

November reached out and shoved the nearest of the three robots away with a powerful step forward and an outstretched palm. Without a moment of indecision, she wheeled around and bolted around the corner she'd come from just before the face-to-face encounter.

She ran as quick as she could. However... there were no tip-taps of metal feet pursuing her. Taking a brief moment to hide behind a pillar near the side of the hall, she waited and listened for a second.

"...Physical biohazard quarantine procedure modification! I have been contaminated! Local patrol 33, act to contain SELF. Local patrol 74, act to contain TARGET."

Did she... "infect" that robot?

Now wasn't the time to think about it. If November could get to somewhere isolated, like a maintenance tunnel or that effluvium chamber she'd found earlier, she'd definitely be safe from security. She leaped out of her hiding spot and tried to retrace her steps back from where she originally came.

The tip-taps were coming again. They weren't going to make it easy.