Dr. Kelden Amadiro's arrogant gatekeeper at the Robotics Institute on Aurora (RIA), Cicis tries to prevent the protagonist, Earth Plainclothesman Elijah Baley, from interviewing his boss concerning a roboticide. Only when Baley threatens to publish his assumptions does Cicis report to Amadiro, who overrides him, agreeing to give the policeman a few precious moments of his time.