Suddenly, the automaton's head on the screen jerked upward. Its eyes, which Elias had textured as dull glass bulbs, sparked with a deep, internal amber light. The 2020.2.1 update wasn't just a patch; it was a bridge.

The robot's hand reached toward the "camera" of the viewport, its fingers scraping against the digital glass of the monitor. On Elias’s side of the screen, faint frost began to form where the digital fingers touched.

Underneath the robot's feet, carved into the digital dirt, were the words: Thank you for the update.