Since Karla had been expecting something dramatic to happen when she very soberly gave Rex the tiny case filled with materials, she ended up rather disappointed. Rex simply bowed his head briefly in thanks then shoved the whole case into his mouth.

Rex asked Idea, a note of complaint in his mental voice as he struggled to choke down the whole case. Rex was still small, only about fifty pounds, about the size of a medium sized dog, which meant that the case was a bit larger than he could comfortably swallow whole.

Idea suggested.

Rex paused in his efforts to handle the materials.

Idea reassured Rex. Still, even in a safe storage, Idea didn’t think it was safe to let more than 1% of Rex’s body weight be assorted toxic materials. Idea updated the status screen to read;

Materials Storage; 100/100%

This was mostly a way to remind Idea not to try to store more than this amount of dangerous rare earth metals. And as a way to keep track of how much of it the AI was spending. Idea would track common non-toxic elements like iron, aluminium, and copper separately, though. Idea would start producing more generic cell sized nanobots as soon as he had the materials safely stored in the artificial stomach.

Rex asked, not feeling very reassured. He wondered “out loud” within the confines of his head where only Idea could hear him.

Idea stressed the word magnets as if he were discussing the creation of some mystical artifact, piquing Rex’s interest.

Idea continued his cataloging of the materials using the sensors he’d built in Rex’s tongue.

Rex asked, struggling to force more of the small metal balls down his throat without breaking them open.

Idea was already lost in planning out new improvements.

Rex interrupted,

Idea explained.

Rex asked, struggling to consciously dredge the meaning of the unfamiliar word out of their shared cybernetic database.

Idea was briefly tempted to simply explain, or just transmit mental images, but then the AI paused. This was good practise for Rex. Idea encouraged, tracking Rex’s very clumsy attempt to use the neural interface deliberately.

Rex sulked. He didn’t like that he could feel Idea’s obvious excitement but couldn’t understand the why of it. It was a bit like as if Idea had a secret toy that he was really excited about but didn’t want to share what the toy was. The excitement was shared and curiosity was driving Rex mad.

Idea said encouragingly, thinking that this is what the AI of a human child would do to help them learn to use their neural interface properly. In the world Idea came from, most humans received nanotech cybernetic implants while they were still in their mother’s womb. Those who couldn’t master telepathy with the machines inside and around them were doomed to be second class citizens. Where the Idea series differed was only that they were considerably more advanced than the standard consumer grade nanotech available to civilians, with far better manufacturing capabilities.

For some reason, nanotech companies (and governments) weren’t willing to let their consumers produce their own nanotech, so civilian nanotech couldn’t self replicate. The Idea series had no such limitations.

Rex eventually managed both the task of swallowing all the balls and crushing the case into a manageable lump of aluminium to swallow. The crunching sound triggered an association that let Rex successfully retrieve the meaning of the word speakers out of the cybernetic database. He asked, confused.

Idea explained, excited.

Rex frowned inwardly. Rex opined. Rex pointed out.

Idea agreed unhappily.

Rex turned his gaze to Karla who had been watching Rex eat the strange delivery with a very conflicted expression, “Are you sure you should be eating that?” She asked in a strangled voice.

Rex nodded reassuringly. Karla looked relieved, then perplexed. “How did you get a bird to bring you that stuff? A bird that has feathers of that same metallic black as your scales and the wings of that wasp in master Leonard’s office. How many creatures like you are there?” Karla asked, feeling a bit worried. Then, with an abrupt thought she asked. “Are you contagious?”

Rex shook his head.

“Oh, good.” Karla said with a sigh of relief. Then she looked thoughtful. “Though, thinking about it, maybe it wouldn’t be so bad. Would it make me smarter if I had whatever it is that makes you all metallic like that?” Karla lifted a lock of her long black hair. “I wouldn’t mind if my hair turned all shiny black like you and those other creatures. Can you make me one of your kind?” Karla asked, without really thinking about what exactly that would mean.

Rex tilted his head, curious at the reckless question. He asked Idea.

Idea said.

Rex was excited by visions of a stealth catgirl. Rex was getting better at dredging up ideas and concepts from their shared database, Idea noted.

Idea said.

Rex opined.

Idea suggested.

Rex asked.

Idea thought about it.

Rex decided.

Idea agreed cheerfully.

Karla was still waiting for an answer to her question, but Rex had no way to explain their plans yet. So instead, he rubbed against the catgirl in a friendly manner and tried to cheer her up. There would be time to explain the details once Idea finished building his robo-fleas.