For a moment, he's reminded of the stone angels.

Then he's nodding a greeting. "Hello, CAL," Ryan says dutifully, not liking that the program? AI? Can show up whenever it pleases with no warning whatsoever. He can understand why it's scentless, but shouldn't it knock first or something?

Also, who programmed it to look like a child? He'd ask, but it's a question he's not certain who to address to.