Hector pulled the metal shutters of his store upward, the familiar screeching sound breaking the early morning stillness of the wasteland.
A gust of dry wind swept past him, carrying with it a fine layer of dust that had settled over everything during the night. As the light spilled into the cluttered space, Hector's robotic eye flickered faintly, adjusting to the brightness with a soft hum.
"Another day," he muttered to himself, stepping inside.
ARIA, his robotic assistant, moved silently into the room after him, her sleek, body sliding against the floor of the dirty store. It had been a while since they both checked inside the store. Her central eye blinked softly with a warm blue hue as she scanned the room.
"Room secure," ARIA announced in her calm, modulated voice. "No unauthorized access detected during your absence."