Marius pressed his lips together to keep himself from protesting. Truthfully, though, X5-452 was correct in him needing sleep—and his eyelids drooped as if agreeing with the little boy.

Without a word, he curled up close to the corner and leaned the side of his head against the wall, allowing his eyes to fall shut. His breathing evened out almost immediately, and soon the looping narration from the screens and the occasional chatter of conversation faded into a murmur, as his mind drifted off into a place of dreaming.