Heiji switched on his flashlight, which presumably Mr. Ninja had returned to him earlier, and proceeded down to the storage room. He tugged at the door, which was ajar but difficult to open. "Looks like this thing is busted; it's not opening right. Though I guess at least it ain't locked..."

Something fell over in the gloom of the cafeteria, near the entrance. In the quiet that had fallen over the area, it might as well have been a gunshot. Heiji switched off the light at once, but the silhouette in the doorway of the cafeteria was quite clearly that of a robot. Had it heard them, somehow? Had it seen the flashlight beam?

It took a step toward them.