"We're not trying to prove anything," said Docchi.
A brilliant light sliced through the darkness and swept around the rocket dome.
"Maybe we are," said Jordan. Impatiently, he hitched himself along the ground. "I think I am."
"What are you going to do?"
"I'm going up. With no legs, that's where I belong."
He grasped the structural steel member in his great hands, and in the light gravity, ascended rapidly.
"Careful," warned Docchi.
"This is no time to be careful." His voice floated down from high in the lacy structure. It wasn't completely dark; the lights were getting nearer. Docchi decided it was possible for Jordan to see what he was doing.
They hadn't expected to be discovered so soon. But the issue had not yet been settled against them. Docchi settled into a long stride, avoiding the low-slung repair robots that seemed to be everywhere. If Jordan refused to give up, Docchi had to try.
He stayed well ahead of the oncoming general purpose robots.