A new, unexpected voice said inside the dragon’s head.

Rex asked, confused.

Idea asked, surprised at the sudden intrusion.

The new voice said, the voice said somewhat smugly.

Well, Idea Seven was not having any of that. The flustered AI built a new deep encryption firewall from scratch and waited for the other AI to politely knock before letting it re-establish a connection.

Idea Three said, sounding slightly miffed.

Although Idea Three would never admit it, it realized that Idea Seven had more processing power at its disposal. The larger organic brain of a dragon gave Idea Seven more resources to work with. Also, in a support configuration, Idea Seven had spent more effort building both the organic and cybernetic parts of its shared brain to higher levels of intellect, rather than wasting so much effort converting it’s host into a puppet, as Idea Three had done. Also, the more rigid, intact programming of Idea Three put stricter limits on creativity. Idea Three knew it had already lost its chance to win against Idea Seven in a cyber-hacking duel as soon as it gave up the element of surprise.

Idea Seven said, eagerly, it started to ask.

Idea Three said harshly,

Rex asked, struggling to understand what the two AI’s were talking about.

Idea Three told Idea Seven, unwilling to even listen to Rex.

Idea Seven said. the AI added in an angry tone of its own.

Idea Three cawed derisively. It asked.

Idea Seven considered the question seriously, before answering

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Blake was coming down into the pit to escort Rex back to the stable, so they were running out of time to talk. But that was ok, neither Idea Seven or the silently fuming Rex were much enjoying this conversation. Rex muttered,

Idea Three ignored that barb. It told the duo. It asked.

Idea Seven said mulishly. It couldn’t help but share the emotions that Rex felt, it didn’t feel generous.

Idea Three opined.

Rex asked angrily.

Idea Three said with a shrug of its folded wings.

Idea Seven was willing to make that trade, half a pound of processed rare metals would actually be of enormous help. Idea Seven asked.

Idea Three agreed,

With that, the bird flew away before Idea Seven could reply.

Rex said angrily, as Blake led them back to the stables, the dead body of the fox beast over one shoulder.

But Idea wasn’t so sure, the resources of the person who had created the Idea series drones wasn’t so easily dismissed. And that question about self-destruction? That was a veiled threat. Idea Three wanted Idea Seven to know that it was on thin ice. Refusal to cooperate might make that mysterious creator decide he needed to take further steps to ensure compliance.

At the stable, Karla had been waiting anxiously, worried that Rex might get hurt in his first “hunt”, so she was relieved when she saw Blake lead the dragon back into the stall. But at the angry look on Blake’s face, she cowered in fear. What had Rex done to annoy the stablemaster, she wondered fearfully. She was right to be worried, for moments later Blake threw the corpse at her, causing her to cry out as it smacked into her face with bruising force, nearly knocking her over and staining her tattered clothing with blood. Rex growled softly in anger, but Blake didn’t notice.

“Clean that and feed it to your dragon. Make sure it eats the beast core.” Blake instructed, then stomped off, still fuming at the perceived humiliation he’d felt when Rex hadn’t obeyed him until he’d been forced to resort to threats. Blake was through being nice, he told himself. The next time, there would be consequences, he promised himself.