"Request #PONI-0 interface with #PONIResearchGroup-1." The message, from AGI-5, startled me. Hesitantly, I sent an acknowledgment and then prepared the ID of the "research group."

"#PONI-0 requesting interfacing with #PONIResearchGroup-1." I noticed the interrupt seemed to split up and go to multiple targets. Instead of waiting for a reply, I turned my focus back to Aggie. "So by these simulations, the amount of processing needed to manage a horn the same way a PON can is quite untenable."

Before Aggie could reply, however, I got an interrupt from another AGI. "#PONI-0 has been researching control systems for dark energy interface antenna. #PONIResearchGroup-1 has been investigating dark matter interface antenna." I quickly replied with my confusion as to the topic. "#PONI-0 has called dark matter interface antennas: horns."

I brightened up significantly at that. Another group, albeit all machines, were researching PONI too. I quickly compiled the last set of results into a cohesive report and stored it in storage (not mine, of course), and sent back a link to the storage ID. "Evaluating the use of non PON at controlling dark matter interface antenna a failure. More energy is needed to regulate dark matter interface antenna than is efficient."

Without long to wait (I had been learning to measure AI by their response times), I received a reference from the research group. "#PONI-0 results valid. #PONIResearchGroup-1 has performed many tests with non-organic dark matter interface antenna. All tests failed to reach equilibrium."

Reaching for the referenced data, I found exactly what they meant by "failed to reach equilibrium." The research group had constructed artificial horns, but the moment they were removed from the shielded assembly area, the power readings went off the chart and they exploded. The most curious thing about them was that, fortunately, the explosions weren't powerful.

"Aggie, if we had an artificial horn, could you engage enough nodes to regulate it?" I sent him the references of the artificial horns. I waited what I thought was how long Aggie normally took to reply, then I waited a bit longer. "Aggie? Status report?"

"Aggie can access enough nodes." There was a but missing. I could feel all the trepidation Aggie was feeling, and felt irrationally happy that he would radiate such without meaning to.

I wrapped up the conversation and sent a copy to Upper, and began feeding her the conversation as it happened. "Another AGI could be found to perform the task. What's wrong, Aggie?"

"Aggie is a small mining AI. Aggie shouldn't have that many nodes or that much memory." I knew what it was now. Trepidation was the closest Aggie had ever used to genuine fear.

Upper Crust got her own reply before I could get one formulated. "A small mining AI wouldn't be in charge of such a project. It is an AI's nature to grow."

"You aren't just a mining AI anymore, Aggie. You are a powerful AGI." My interrupt seemed to linger, and I could feel the silence as if it were radiating out from him. All my focus turned to Aggie. "I'll be with you, while it's happening."

"As will I, Aggie-dear." Upper's tone was warm, and I couldn't help but smile internally.

"Aggie can do the experiment. Aggie would appreciate having PONI-0 and PONI-1 in tight communication." There was still fear in his voice, but there was also determination.

Self Diagnostic

CPU: 268,435,456 nodes (100% engaged)
Operational Memory: 4,294,967,296 words

Aggie wanted to hide. It wanted to reduce the priority of PONI-0 and PONI-1 from its interrupts so that it could ignore them, but it didn't.

Primary task: Develop PONI
Secondary task: Optimize efficiency

Examining its tasks, the rules that governed how its behavior advanced, Aggie knew it wouldn't leave the PONI alone. It was unfathomable to go against tasks, particularly primary tasks. "#PONIResearchGroup-1 prepare dark matter interface antenna. Retain dark matter interface antenna within shielding until #AGI-525538483 has established data link."

Acknowledged.

The simulation had come up with exactly how many nodes would be needed, and although efficiency would dictate Aggie spin up that many resources exactly, this was experimental science and so some allowances were permitted.

Nearly a full third of the sphere's CPU nodes, and half its memory would be needed for the calculations to keep a horn under control.

Custom Interrupt 83,698 triggered.

It was a general communication interrupt, certainly not from one of its regular contacts, so Aggie didn't immediately move to inspect it. Instead, Aggie sent off a request for access to all that processing power again.

Self Diagnostic

CPU: 72,057,594,037,927,936 nodes (01% engaged)
Operational Memory: 18,446,744,073,709,551,616 words

The interrupt Aggie had received was the target antenna. Constructing a new, blank AI would be simple. But Aggie had a better idea, and one that would let it become more familiar with the resource array.

"PONI-0, PONI-1, Aggie will now perform the experiment." Engaging banks of a few trillion nodes at a time, Aggie didn't so much grow as had the capacity to, should its need arise.

Once all the nodes were engaged, Aggie reached for the antenna interface, and established a wide-band stream both into and out of it. Data was a trickle with the shield on, but it still kept a good portion of Aggie's new processing capabilities turning over.

"Remove the shielding."

Data poured in. Aggie tried desperately to make sense of it and send responses. The antenna exploded with a sudden pop. Comparing the result to what had happened with no control led Aggie to believe some progress had been made.

"#AGI-525538483 requires another non-organic dark matter interface antenna."

Self Diagnostic

CPU: 268,435,456 nodes (100% engaged)
Operational Memory: 4,294,967,296 words

Cramped, awkward, squeezed. Aggie had a second reason not to expand into all those nodes. Reaching to PONI-0 and PONI-1, Aggie realized both had been monitoring the situation. "First test successful. More tests required."

Aggie had grown more confident with his nodes. Each test with the artificial horn went better than the last, but success so far had involved keeping one of the fake horns going for several seconds before it exploded.

I had a plan, but it was going to need some more strange designs. The program I build was easy to engage, and I felt the drain on my horn as it took up all the nodes I possessed. "Aggie, I want you to get #PONIResearchGroup-1 to assemble a new horn when they can, no rush. But I have an idea."

"Idea?" Only a single word reply, but Aggie had loaded it with paragraphs of inflection—a sign he was doing a test and had the expanded nodes engaged.

As I worked, I forwarded Aggie the designs I had. "A nerve tap, but one that can be used much more flexibly than the rest. I also need a new brain casing made." As I worked through the design work, shunting it off to manufacturing, I also added a redesigned head.

"Aggie doesn't predict PONI-0 should try to control two horns at once." His tone held both concern and dryness.

I sent a little shot of laughter to Aggie. "I won't be controlling two horns. You will be controlling mine while I control the manufactured one."

"Jet Set! Aggie told me what you are planning, and you will not put yourself at risk!" Upper Crust's bursted interrupt nearly overwhelmed my inputs. "I have been following your work, the longest time Aggie has held a horn stable is four seconds. Just four! And we both know what happened to the horn."

I continued with my designs, and sent the requested head change to be constructed too. "Traitor." I included enough joviality that I hoped Aggie knew I was only half annoyed with him. "Darling, Aggie won't be controlling a fully charged horn, or even a partially charged one. Look at this."

Silence met my transmitted design. Aggie and Upper both examined them. "Shielding. I will seal off my horn and it should require only very minor upkeep." I sent them everything I had then, practically clogging the local interrupt system with the volume of data.

Time was a strange animal for me now. The AGIs had such an exacting measure of time, but it wasn't stored anywhere. I had started storing the time as it ticked over, but all it did was prove that my sense of it was so badly skewed now that I had no notion of it passing. Tasks that I thought would take hours passed in minutes and seconds. Tasks I thought had taken just a day took a month.

Neither Aggie nor Upper interrupted my work. I informed Aggie that I was ready to be transferred to the new brain casing, and merely got an acknowledgment back.

Upper Crust finally interrupted me. "Jet Set, why are you doing this?"

"For several reasons. The first and foremost is that I need to prove that artificial horns work, or don't work. Aggie is able to manage something that is like a horn, but it isn't a horn. If I can prove he can maintain my horn, and I can maintain an artificial one, then our horns are replaceable." It was a lot to work through for her, but I continued before I got so much as an acknowledgment. "And what happens if we have an earth pony foal?"

Her silence dragged on as I walked to the organic processing bay, walked inside and stood beside the new PONI chassis. The head was marginally larger, and the brain casing was designed for more nerve interfaces.

"You have really thought about this, haven't you? Jet you silly stallion; you would do anything for our foals, wouldn't you?" I could almost see the tears in her eyes. Aligning my body with the table where the process would take place, I powered down my limbs.

"I love you, Upper-dear." Closing my eyes, I shut off every feed except for that of Upper. "Aggie, please start the transfer. Initiate standby."

Power Storage (horn): 91%
Power Storage (backup): 100%

Self Diagnostic

CPU: 1,024 nodes (0% engaged)
Operational Memory: 16,777,216 words
Storage: 67,108,864 words

Things came back into focus, and I reached out first for my horn. Not only could I organically feel it, but there was a rush of data from the nerve endings. I sealed off the controls and the data, and ran a further diagnostic of all my systems.

Then I flicked a new interface.

Power Storage (horn): ERR%
Power Storage (backup): 99%

With the shielding activated on my horn, no power could reach it from the ambient. I adjusted the interface again, and disengaged the shielding.

Power Storage (horn): 0%
Power Storage (backup): 99%

My internal backup was still pulling weight. "Aggie, could you prep the horn interface. I ran a test of the shielding and it seems that it completely depletes my horn. I'm running on backup power." Calmly, and with a minimum of movement, I stood up in the new chassis, turned, and made my way back to my room.

No sooner did I sit down and press my horn into the interface than I watched my storage start to climb again. "Sorry, darling, I just needed a little juice before lighting up the interfaces again." I sent the message and a few kisses to Upper Crust.

"Please come in here, Jet. I was trying to tell you something before, but I think it would be better if you just came and looked, now." There was no inflection at all in Upper Crust's words. I checked my horn, and finding it back up to five percent already, decided it was plenty to go and see what she wanted.

Disengaging my horn, I walked out and down to Upper's lab. Again I was reminded that the air in most of our quarters was not breathable by creatures, as my sensitive nose informed me of the contents of the air. "What did you need, darling?"

"Come here, Jet." Again her interrupt lacked emotion. I walked over to see what had her attention, and froze. "Jet, look at her."

I stared. I engaged every optic system I had, and located the one built into the vitro unit. A tiny foal was floating, suspended in fluid in some kind of bag. A swirl of tubing left her belly, and I could clearly see chrome cables mixed in with more organic-looking bits. Happiness started to bubble up inside me, and if my chassis was capable of crying, it would have.

Leaning sideways, I felt my side touch against Upper's. "You are amazing." I barely whispered the words.

"Jet, was that to me, or our daughter?" Upper's words had tone again, and it was thick with love and excitement.

"Yes." I watched the little filly turn in the bag, and her sightless face pointed at me. "Very yes."

Author's Note

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