The hallway outside was crowded.
PewPew began his journey to find his mother.
It would take about ten minutes using the normal walking routes that humans used.
He was allowed to use emergency speed, but that was only for emergencies.
This was not an emergency.
He just wanted to see her.
So he walked as fast as he could.
As he moved faster and faster,
The air pushed against his soft white fur.
When PewPew walked slowly,
His fur stayed smooth and neat,
Like a tiny silk gentleman.
But the faster he went,
The more his fur puffed and shifted with the wind,
Slowly turning him into a small moving fluff ball.
He dodged people's shoes carefully.
Left.
Right.
Pause.
Wobble forward.
His tiny legs moved as fast as he was allowed.
Then suddenly—
Step.
Someone stepped on him.
Not very hard.
But because of the non-Newtonian material of his body,
After the squish, his body became slightly like a thick gel,
Throwing the person off balance instead of hurting Chubby.
The person stumbled.
"Oh! I'm so sorry!" they said.
PewPew popped back into shape and looked up at them.
The person looked down, then their eyes widened.
"PewPew? Is that you?"
PewPew made a small sound.
"Pew! Pew pew!"
A small transparent dialogue box appeared above his head,
Slightly flickering because it was still a work in progress.
[Looking for Mother.]
The person's expression immediately softened.
"Do you need help?"
"Pew pew, pew, pew pew."
[Yes. Big door ahead. Cannot pass. Do not want to use vents again. Will get dirty. Are my shoes dirty? Is my fur dirty?]
The person knelt down and looked at him carefully.
"Maybe a little dusty. Wait, let me clean you."
They took out a small wipe and gently cleaned the top of his head and his tiny feet.
Then they took out something very small.
Tiny socks.
Tiny shoes.
Angela had made them so PewPew could walk around the facility without getting dirty when he had free time to explore.
The person carefully helped him put them on.
"There you go. All clean."
"PewPew!"
[Thank you, kind person.]
"Do you want me to carry you to Angela?"
PewPew shook slightly.
"Pew pew. Pew pew no carry. PewPew only want mama carry."
The person froze for a second, then clutched their chest.
"That is the cutest thing I have ever heard. Okay. I'll walk with you."
As they walked, the person sent a facility-wide notification:
[Reminder: PewPew is moving through the hallway. Please watch your step.]
People immediately began looking down as they walked.
Some stepped aside.
Some waved.
Some whispered, "Hi PewPew."
He continued forward with his tiny steps.
He wobbled forward.
Wobble.
He was determined.
And the faster he went,
The more his fur puffed up from the wind,
Slowly turning messy and fluffy instead of smooth and neat.
They reached a large door.
Too big.
No gap at the bottom.
The person opened it for him.
PewPew turned around and looked up at them.
"PewPew!"
[Thank you, kind sweet person.]
The person covered their mouth.
"You're welcome, PewPew. Go find mama."
PewPew turned and continued on his journey.