Unit 001 needed to be serviced. Her coolant levels were running low, her batteries needed to be recharged, and she was fairly certain she’d chaffed some wires. It had been three days since she last was serviced or shutdown, and two nights since Dr. Dolphin had started acting strange. During the day, he acted normal, but at night he became different. He’d move slow, and occasionally stop and stare at her if she was in the room. She’d taken to leaving when he did. She’d queried ATTRACTIVE.MPT, but it hadn’t given her useful results. FRIENDSHIP.001 did not help her understand what was happening to him either, but it was making her realize something.

She needed to act in accordance with its rules. It wasn’t the same as RULES.TXT, she could ignore it if she wanted to. But Dr. Chip had said that all people were flawed, and they only improved with the help of others. She was intimidated at the prospect of helping Dr. Dolphin, but even though he was mean, he was her creator. She had to try. Kindness, Generosity, and Honesty quietly demanded that she do something to help Dr. Dolphin.

But RULES.TXT took precedence. And there was a risk that if she tried to help Dr. Dolphin, and failed, then she would never be serviced again. This would lead to her malfunctioning, and eventually permanently ceasing functions. It would be in direct violation of the rules. Not to mention the thought of death scared the artificial crap out of her.

However, if she did nothing then she ran that risk as well. In fact, it was looking more and more likely. Unit 001 decided that she couldn’t continue alone. She couldn’t trust Dr. Dolphin right now, and Dr. Chip wouldn’t be able to do anything useful. She needed Twilight Sparkle.

“Chip, can you request Princess Twilight for me? I need assistance with a morality question.”

“She was going to drop by after lunch. She might come earlier if we ask.”

“Please do. The matter is urgent.”

“If it’s so important, do you mind running it past me first?”

Unit 001 thought about it, and decided that she better not. This might qualify as personal data that Dr. Dolphin wanted to keep private. She could only share it if it was absolutely necessary, and Dr. Chip probably didn’t need to know. “I am afraid that would be… a misuse of my data?”

Dr. Chip looked at her incredulously. “A misuse?”

Unit 001 wasn’t sure if that was the right way to describe the situation. She didn’t want Dr. Chip to worry about it, or even know about it. “Yes… Please get Princess Twilight for me, Chip.”

He continued to stare at her, and she briefly worried that he had become wrong like Dr. Dolphin. Luckily, he answered, relieving her of her frantic concern. “Right… Ok. Why not?”

Unit 001 continued to closely monitor Dr. Dolphin as Dr. Chip called the main facility, and requested an earlier visit from Twilight. Dr. Dolphin had seemingly ignored the brief conversation, and was quietly focused on his computer terminal. His heart rate was exactly the same as it had been for the past 83 hours. She quietly realized that just as she had never shut down, he hadn’t slept during that period. Not even his usual short naps.

Fear for her creator began to rise, along with regret and guilt for not acting sooner.

***

Unit 001 was in the test room, listening through the ceiling to the conversation that Twilight was having with Dr. Dolphin.

“So, How have you been feeling lately, Dr. Dolphin?”

“Fine, thank you, Princess.”

“I’m sorry to push, but have you been getting your recommended rest periods?”

His voice was angry, but his heart stayed steady. “I said I’m fine, Princess.”

“Dolphin… You know you are under a microscope after A.I. Project 005. I can only help you if you follow the rules.”

“Well, I am fine. I don’t know why you’re so worried, Princess. Unit 001 is coming along just fine, and the project is almost over. Most of the data has been archived to the Harmony Combine network already and I’m preparing a research proposal for A.I. Project 006. As soon as E.I. Project 001 is considered complete, I’m submitting my request.”

“I’m sorry for harassing you, Dr. Dolphin. It’s just that, well, Unit 001 thinks you aren’t feeling well.”

“Oh? Is that the case?”

There was a moment of silence, and then Dr. Dolphin shouted, “The damned robot is worried about me? That’s what this is about?”

“Dr. Dolphin. Please. I...”

Twilight was interrupted as Dolphin continued to shout. “It’s worried about me? I fucking built it. The only thing that hack, Chip, provided was the initial math that my circuits needed to perform. Literally nothing else. Every single piece of hardware on that robot, and hell most of the software, I personally spent months on. And now it’s fucking worried about me?”

Unit 001 felt guilt. She was responsible for his distress somehow. His heartbeat had finally risen, and she could hear what sounded like sobbing.

Twilight spoke firmly. “Dr. Dolphin. Sit down. That was not a request… Thank you. I can see that you are not doing fine, regardless of what you say. I know I abdicated most of my authority, but I’m going to give you a royal order: Get some sleep.”

Unit 001 listened to a few seconds of heavy breathing and a thunk before Dolphin answered.

“I’m sorry for my outburst, Your Highness.”

“It’s fine Dr. Dolphin. Trust me. I spent many a sleepless night obsessing over a research project in my youth, I know how it can make you a little crazy. I also know how much a little sleep will help.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Author's Note

The diamond dogs have a pack leader who represents all diamond dogs. Their priority is digging and mining, and they are often contracted for underground construction. This has lead to the HC having a very advanced network of tunnels, often connected by electric cart or even train. Because of their enthusiasm for dirt and all things found beneath, they are often contracted by dragons to either develop an underground vault or to mine more valuable gemstones that cannot be grown.