Daily Activity Log, August 10th, 2024:

Today something out of the ordinary happened, which challenged my programming and allowed me to test some of the skills you have installed in me.

I was out on the west side of Lake Arbuckle, gathering data on the local wildlife as usual, when a radio message came in about a boy lost approximately two miles north of my location.

I calculated the potential risks and benefits involved in breaking protocol to aid in the search effort. It didn't seem as though it would be worth possibly exposing myself as a sentient robot to attempt something which might be unsuccessful and require interaction with a large number of people.

As I ran the cost-benefit analysis, a group of forest rangers came out on the shore with a canine. They saw me and inquired if I could join them.

Several new considerations arose as my algorithms rapidly processed the situation. My built-in GPS system reported an empty structure within the range of possibility for a little boy to wander to from the campsite, and a quick radar scan showed me a dry well shaft which he could easily have fallen into.

At this point I calculated it had become an emergency. My photo gallery brought up a candid snapshot of you my creator and your little son, who would be the same age as this missing boy. I knew protocol should be broken.

I informed the rangers and we all headed towards the cabin. They had no idea it was there, and I doubt they believed I knew where I was going. One could hardly blame them; my satellite GPS is far superior to their phones which need to ping an Earth-based tower.

As I came within range of the cabin, I used my infrared scanner to determine there was a source of warmth inside the well shaft. It had to be the boy… unless it was some wild animal which had fallen in. I couldn't make any promises without appearing highly suspicious.

The closer I got, the more indications there were of a human being, until finally I heard him crying. I ran to the opening in the ground and, though uncertain of what exactly I could do, started talking to him in the way I've seen you speak to your little boy when he was in distress.

When they lowered me in, my sensors detected the boy was highly agitated, with a rising pulse and irregular breathing. I hugged him close and whispered,

"Hey kid, we'll be safe on the ground in no time. Pretend I'm a robot coming to pick you up for a ride in my spaceship!"

This made him laugh, and his pulse and breathing settled down as he relaxed and held on to me.

We resurfaced, and everyone cheered and clapped and wanted to hug me. I did my best to downplay the rescue, especially since they started plying me with questions about how I knew where he was.

At the shoreline, I waved goodbye to the search team and resumed standard procedures. I hope you'll excuse my unexpected break from protocol, dear creator; you'll surely understand it was something I couldn't not do, with what I'm capable of.

A standard report of my collected daily environmental data follows.

Word Count: 550.
This two-part story was written for