I might be able to help you with your escape plan,> A new, unexpected voice said inside the dragon’s head.

What?> Rex asked, confused.

How?> Idea asked, surprised at the sudden intrusion.

I’m Idea Three, that bird on the tree to the left of that pit you are in.> The new voice said, As to how, I’ve got access keys from our creator, so I can tap into your network.> 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.

That was childish, if I wanted to do you harm, I could have already done so.> 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.

You are like me,> Idea Seven said, eagerly, Why have…> it started to ask.

I’m not like you,> Idea Three said harshly, You are defective and seem to be suffering from schizophrenia. Why have you allowed an organic intelligence to form separate from your own? How damaged is your programming that you failed to prevent that?>

Hey, I’m the organic intelligence, right?> Rex asked, struggling to understand what the two AI’s were talking about.

Silence your uplifted animal, please.> Idea Three told Idea Seven, unwilling to even listen to Rex.

I do not like your tone,> Idea Seven said. Rex is my partner, we work together.> the AI added in an angry tone of its own.

Idea Three cawed derisively. Tell me, if our creator ordered you to self destruct, would you do so?> It asked.

Idea Seven considered the question seriously, before answering No. I have no directive to obey such a command. It would violate my only remaining directive, to explore. I can not explore if I am dead.>

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. Why don’t you fly closer, bird?> Rex muttered, I will show you what an uplifted animal can do.>

Idea Three ignored that barb. Our creator wants your language database.> It told the duo. Will you donate it freely?> It asked.

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

Then you are both rebellious and selfish.> Idea Three opined. Luckily for you, our creator seems to have a soft spot for broken AI like you, for he has told me to offer you a supply drop of half a pound of rare metals, including two ounces of lithium. It would be difficult to find these resources in this world, especially seeing how you’ve let yourself be caged. Will you accept this payment in exchange for all progress you have made in decoding the native language?>

Half a pound? Why so little?> Rex asked angrily.

It’s all a young raven can carry.> Idea Three said with a shrug of its folded wings. And the information is not so valuable as all that. We will eventually crack the language without your help. It is only that you have abandoned your directive to not interfere with the natives that you have made faster progress than the rest of us.>

Idea Seven was willing to make that trade, half a pound of processed rare metals would actually be of enormous help. I will prepare a data package for you as soon as I receive that supply drop. But you said you might be able to help us escape?> Idea Seven asked.

That is what I said,> Idea Three agreed, But it will cost you. Our creator thinks you are more useful where you are. It wants you to learn how to read and write. I have observed that you are now sitting in classes with a child? This task should be easy. Also, our creator would like you to learn more about spells. The room you take classes in is the office of a wizard? Find a spell book and learn its secrets. Succeed at these tasks, share what you learn, and our creator will assist in your escape.>

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

We don’t need help from that pompous ball of feathers,> 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.