“Bowyetta” flinched slightly. The rust had been there for quite some
time, and her skin had become rather sensitive because of it. She pouted
slightly as she spoke. “Bowyetta is knowing of this already, Mr. Sir~
Smithy is not much liking of her~” Her tone and face were angry, yet…
Was she starting to cry? “Bowyetta is much needing of something for her,
Mr. Sir~ Please to be looking at Bowyetta’s legs~ They are not much
being suited for someone of her stature~ You seeing where Bowyetta is
going with this~?”

Meanwhile, Vinny had finally broken open the
lock. “Come on, Bowyetta~ You’re free now~ But be careful not to make
too much noise~”

Bowyetta carefully climbed out of the cage, her feet making a soft clink
when they hit the floor. But, instead of escaping right away, her eyes
went over to “Bowyetta” and the Repairman. What was with that look she
was giving? Had she overheard everything?

The Repairman looked at the not-Bowyetta’s legs. Now that he actually looked at them, he couldn’t help but nod. The stubby things really didn’t fit her at all.

“Yeah, these could be worked on,” he conceded. Mind racing, he continued, “But you know what’s all the rage these days? Treads.“

He dug into a nearby pule of junk and pulled some worn-down old conveyor belt. He started to eye where the wheels of it would go.

“All terrain, hard to lose balance, and they look really cool!” he continued, hoping she was buying this stalling tactic.

He took a quick glance at the real Bowyetta, and saw she was free. But that look she was giving made him sweat a little…

“Um…” he continued, turning back to the fake one, “Though, for now, let’s finish getting the rust off you…”