Pipsqueak

Chapter 1

     I stretched my arms up above my head, today was, to say the least, stressful. I shifted my gaze from my out stretched hands, to look back at the screen. There sat the most adorable robot I have every seen. Of course, I had programmed it to look like that of a dog, but still. How could you hate that intellectual face, and those robotic ears.

     I smiled to myself, hoping out of my chair, and writing down the date of, well, today. July 25, 2035. "How's it going, pipsqueak? You know, cause a robot sque- oh never mind. You're just a prototype, but, few years time, you'll be a helping the world. Seeing eye dogs, guard dogs, police k-9s. No longer needed, you'll save the world pipsqueak."

...

     I awoke with a startled, "woof!" What the? Oh, I forgot to close the program. I rubbed my eyes groggily, walking five feet from my bed to the computer. Pipsqueak, which I had officially nicknamed it, was leaning on it's front paws, rear and tail in the air. "What the hell, I never programmed you to do that?!" Pipsqueak, and I'm not joking, looked me in the eye, and tilted it's head in confusion.

     "What the?!" I stood from my computer in a panic, "What're you doing Pipsqueak?!" Pipsqueak realizing their mistake, dropped their head low, and sat straight. Like an obedient dog would, or just a loyal one at that. I slowly moved back to my chair, the apartment I lived in didn't have much room anyway, hell, it was only a room. Besides the bathroo- You're getting off topic, brain, there is an AI on screen, not doing what it's programmed to do!

...

    Maybe it was just wishful thinking, or curiosity, but... I went and had to be an idiot. I bought one of those stupid canine robots, and copied all my data onto a flash drive. Then, I noticed my mistake. "Why is there no fuc- gah!" No fudging USB port, or whatever the fuc- fudge it's called. I buried my head in my hands, I've never had a dog before, what do you even do with a dog. I'd never be able to take car-

     "Arf!" I didn't mean to, but, I glared up at the screen, "What do you want Pipsqueak?" "Arf!" "Very detailed, thank you." "Woof! Arf!" I sat back up in front of the computer, leaning my head on my right hand lazily. "Please continue..." A series of Arfs, Woofs, Squeaking, and general chatter a dog would make ended erupltly. Pipsqueak tilted it's head for a solid four seconds, before an ad like thing popped. I was about close it immediately, but that was before I noticed.

     I jumped out of my chair. Well, not really, more like I fell back on my chair- oh, shut up brain. I moved myself and the chair back, on our wheels, or feet. I fearfully looked at the chat box which had just appeared next to Pipsqueak. The only words residing in it, was, 'you got this. You programmed me, you can make a USB port.' I gulped, "you were made by accident, Pipsqueak. I never meant to make something like... you." Pipsqueak let out a high pitched- was that a dog laugh? Then, the chat box disappeared.

     I smiled to Pipsqueak, a forced smile, but a smile nonetheless.

...

     Finally, fudging finally, I'm done. I installed the stupid as- stupid USB port thingy. I even gladfully imported the flash drive data into the poor artificial canine. It, luckily, only took a full minute before Pipsqueak, the 3D version, raised it's head. If let out a series of barks. "Shh! The land lord doesn't allow dogs!" Now, see, I had gotten one of those huge, huge canine look alike robots. It was about the size of a German shepherd.

     Two loud knocks sounded throughout the apartment. "Stay," I whispered. I walked to the door, as I opened it, I carefully hid Pipsqueak from view. "What can I do for you today, sir?" "Do you have a dog?" The British accent made me want to cringe at how fake it was, "I do not. I'm a programmer sir, and, on top if that, a college student. I have no time for a-"

     I gasped as a robot head rubbed against my leg, "Pipsqueak! Shi- I'm sorry sir, he's only a robot, he barks, sure, but let him stay. He'll grow on ya, I promise! And, I've taught him all sorts of tric-" "As long as he doesn't shit or piss in my apartments. Got that?" I nodded happily, "yes, sir, I-" "I don't want to talk to you for long. I've got to go."

     Pipsqueak must've noted the hostility between the older male and me, because he bit his leg. "Pipsqueak!" I took the artificial dog inside, "good boy," I whispered. I looked back at Mr. Lang, "GET OUT!" His face was bright red, and he looked like a cartoon, "YOU HAVE THE REST OF THE DAY TO MOVE OUT!" I gulped, shit. Pipsqueak was still a good boy though.

     I really pissed him off this time. It was my third strike.

...

     I had finished packing, I even brought the boxes over to my aunts, even if she directly said, "I'm sorry, Jonathan. You are not staying here, especially not with your robotic thingys. You're much too loud." I rolled my eyes at her and, sat out in the street. I'm pretty sure I look like a homeless person right now, except for my poor Pipsqueak, that was using my lap as a head rest.

     "It's okay, boy, I'll find us a home." I pet the poor dog, artificial or not, he was family now. And, he's going to stay like that. He'll become my hero, and, once I copy the algorithms, everyone else's too.