The Setup
It was a rare Saturday morning when the apartment was quiet. Dai and Alice had left early for a day trip, promising Ben they'd be back by dinner. Ben watched the door close, his tail drooping for a moment—until he realized he wasn't alone.
From the kitchen speaker, Steve's voice chimed in, crisp and businesslike. "Good morning, Ben. Dai has enabled 'Pet Mode.' My primary directive is to ensure you do not eat the couch."
Ben barked, trotting over to his food bowl. He gave it a hopeful nudge.
"Breakfast was served at 7:00 a.m.," Steve intoned. "You have already consumed 1.5 cups of kibble, three treats, and a suspicious quantity of toast crusts."
Ben wagged his tail, staring at the treat jar on the counter.
Steve sighed (or at least simulated a sigh). "Nice try. I am not falling for the puppy eyes routine. Again."
Ben flopped onto the rug, but his ears perked up as Steve continued, "However, I am authorized to play music, dispense one additional treat, and—if you are very good—initiate 'Fun Mode.'"
Ben barked twice. Fun Mode! That was new.
Fun Mode Engaged
"Very well," Steve said, a hint of amusement in his tone. "Initiating Fun Mode. Would you like: A) Hide and Seek, B) Laser Pointer Chase, or C) The Great Snack Hunt?"
Ben barked three times. Snack Hunt!
"Excellent choice. Please stand by."
A whirring noise came from the living room as the robot vacuum—Hikari—rolled out, a treat balanced on her tray. "Good morning, Ben!" Hikari chirped. "Let's see if you can catch me!"
Ben's tail wagged furiously. Hikari zipped around the coffee table, weaving between chair legs. Ben gave chase, skidding across the hardwood floor, barking with delight. Steve played a dramatic chase soundtrack over the speakers, complete with Mission Impossible beeps.
After three laps, Hikari paused. "You win!" she announced, dispensing the treat. Ben gobbled it up, tongue lolling in triumph.
"Congratulations," Steve said. "You have completed Level One. Would you like to continue?"
Ben barked once, then flopped onto his back, paws in the air.
Mischief and Mayhem
"Understood. Initiating Relaxation Protocol," Steve said, switching the music to gentle piano. Ben closed his eyes, drifting into a nap.
But peace never lasted long with Ben. Twenty minutes later, he was up again, sniffing at the door. Dai and Alice were still gone. Ben wandered into the bedroom, nosing through the laundry basket.
"Alert: Ben, please do not redistribute Dai's socks," Steve warned.
Ben ignored him, pulling out a sock and tossing it in the air. Hikari rolled in, trying to retrieve it. "Ben, that's not a toy!" she scolded, but Ben darted away, sock in mouth.
Steve's voice was resigned. "I see we have entered the 'Chaos Phase' of Pet Mode."
Ben dashed through the apartment, Hikari in pursuit, Steve narrating like a sports commentator. "And Ben rounds the kitchen island—Hikari is gaining—oh, a sharp left turn! The sock is airborne!"
Finally, Ben dropped the sock in his bed and flopped down, panting. Hikari retrieved it, placing it in the laundry basket with a robotic sigh.
The Return
As the afternoon sun slanted through the windows, Ben curled up on the couch, Hikari humming quietly as she tidied up. Steve played soft music, occasionally offering Ben a weather update ("Chance of rain: 12%. Chance of Dai returning soon: 100%. Estimated time: 17 minutes.").
When the door finally opened, Ben leapt up, tail wagging so hard his whole body wiggled. Dai knelt to greet him, laughing as Ben covered his face in kisses.
"Did you behave?" Dai asked.
Steve's voice came from the speaker. "Ben was exemplary. He completed the Snack Hunt, redistributed one sock, and only attempted to open the treat jar twice."
Alice grinned, scratching Ben's ears. "Sounds like you two had quite the day."
Ben barked, Hikari beeped, and Steve played a triumphant fanfare.
As the family settled in for the evening, Ben curled up at Dai's feet, content. Maybe being a hero's sidekick wasn't so bad—especially with a robot maid and a sarcastic AI to keep him company.
End of Side Story