Déjà vu filled me when I woke in a gelatinous blue blob in a huge cavern with bioluminescent walls. I could only move my eyes. Across a stone table, the monk stared at me with his big brown eyes.

He leaned forward. “Hello, Mr. Darkson. Remember me?”

“Roach Rhino?”

“As you know, I’m Blake’s marriage counselor.”    

“Whose body am I in?”

Roach smiled. “No one’s. The ADAC transferred your essence into an amorphous life form. I use it to counsel people from all over the world. Right now, though, I’m concerned about your emotional well-being. Why are you depressed?”

An orange cat jumped on my soft body and made itself comfortable. “Do I have to talk about it? I’m ready to call off working for the ADAC. It’s torture. I feel like a hypocrite.”

“You hold the fate of the world’s disabled.”

“Oh, thanks a lot. Is that all? Forget it. I’m not up for it. I helped all I could with my inventions, but the Grand Exodus is the only real cure. Max supports me on that, and he never supports me on anything.”

“I understand you had a bit of a problem with your other robot, June.”

“Oh, please. Can I go?”

Roach paused for a long moment. “Max is comforting her. You need to understand that your two robots are young. Max is only five and June only three.”

“They’re robots. They should be more mature by now. But since they’re not, I’ll think long and hard before making another sentient robot.”

Roach shook his head. “June’s rejection has had a lasting effect on you.”

A white cat jumped on me and purred as it dug its claws into me. “My mistake. I was dumb enough to think she’d fall for a quadriplegic?”

“No one has invented more machines to help the disabled, and you’d be rich if you hadn’t selflessly refused to patent your inventions.”

I wanted to sigh but couldn’t sigh with my blob body. “I make a comfortable living. That’s all I need.”

“Why did you give June the ability to change into any female form she pleased?”

“I thought she’d like it?”

Roach looked down. “Did you think you’d like it too?”

“Maybe.”

“June feels guilty because she made herself so attractive to you.”

Hearing she was faking it hit me right in the guts. “Can I go now?”

“In another moment, you’ll be in Blake again. But will you speak to June?”

“Ugh. Let me go. Fine, I’ll do it.”