(no subject)

Slater State Park is one of the older and better-preserved parts of New York State's Catskill region. While a good deal of the Catskill Mountains were long ago overtaken by inexpensive resorts and kitschy entertainment halls, Slater State Park falls under the umbrella of the New York State Forest Preserve, which by law must remain forever wild. At the most city-remote edge of Ulster County, it's a destination for hikers and campers of the most persistent kind.

Or for one robot car in desperate need of some mostly alone time, accompanied by her father.

"Thank you, Daddy," said Ecto on the morning of their second day at the campgrounds. "I know you didn't wanna come out here."

"It's okay, kiddo," said Ray, resisting the urge to swat at a hovering mosquito. "You'd think I'd be used to this by now."

Ecto smiled a little. Her father was, there was no denying it, the worst Boy Scout ever in the history of Boy Scouting. Some things would never change, no matter how long he spent in low-tech environments. "At least it's not Nyissa?" she offered.

"You know, I give thanks to the universe itself almost every day that I'm not in Nyissa any more," Ray said. "Bad enough that regular nature hates me-"

"It doesn't hate you. There haven't been any bears or raccoons or anything in camp!"

"This is true," Ray had to concede. "On the other hand, the local insect population all wants to say hi, which is really asking just a little bit much. The next time we do this, remind me to invest in something a little bit stronger than citronella and Deet?"

Ecto nodded. I'll remember, Daddy," she promised. "Maybe we can go somewhere different next time, too."

"Like where? Don't say Maine. They have blackflies in Maine."

"I wasn't gonna say Maine!"

"Good. And don't say Canada, either. We can't take you to Canada until Minister Frasier gets the rest of the Government to acknowledge your American citizenship and passport." Ray shook his head. "The last thing either of us need is to wind up at the middle of a reverse Dred Scott situation."

"Ewww." Ecto would have wrinkled her nose if she had the facial servos for it, but Ratchet hadn't given her anything more elaborate than the rest of the Autobots in that regard. "No, not Canada either. I was thinking maybe Pennsylvania." She thought a moment, then added, "Someplace that Peck didn't take the Ark of the Covenant."

"Wise caveat," Ray approved. "We'll have to look into it. In the meantime, do you think you'll be good to go back to the city today?"

"Can I just get a little bit more circuit-su in first?" She'd acquired some of the basic forms and disciplines from her last data exchange with Bumblebee, when she and Ray and Romana had gone to the Autobots' Earth for Memorial Day. Not being able to pursue more than the mental disciplines in Manhattan was a little frustrating sometimes, even if she was only a beginner.

Ray just smiled. "Sure thing, kiddo," he said. "Take your time. I'm just going to get the camp cleaned up."