[ WP ] A researcher at a scientific facility brings her dog to work one day and the A.I running the facility makes friends with the dog .

`` Silas, what's the simulation for today? I'm heading to the props room so I can pick up whatever we need.'' 
 
 `` Hang on I'll just check...'' 
 
 June leaned against the door frame whilst he checked the system. This was the problem with the new biosubstrate AIs. Incredibly easy to teach ideas and concepts to - their current'patient', who went by the name of `` Sleeping Precariously in a Hammock under the Summer Sun'', was easily the cleverest AI she has met in years, with a measurable IQ something in the order of 1870 - but utterly useless when it came to transference into an avatoid. That was her job; training military AIs to be as physically capable as humans, and then to exceed them eventually. 
 
 `` Here it is,'' Silas replied eventually, `` says here'Manual deployment of secondary infantry explosive munitions - initial training' which I suppose means grenades.'' 
 
 `` So throwing a ball around?'' 
 
 `` Pretty much.'' 
 
 `` I always knew my doctorate in Metamicro-processing was lacking something!'' She sighed as she turned to head down the corridor. 
 
 `` That's why they pay us the big bucks, June!'' Silas shouted after her. 
 
 `` I'll just get some tennis balls! And I may as well get Sampson whilst I'm at it!'' She called back, and was rewarded by a chuckle from their small office. 
 
 Walking away, a thought occurred to her. Her pace slowed, and eventually she stopped and turned back. 
 
 `` You know, Silas, that's actually not a terrible idea'' 
 
 `` What?'' He looked puzzled 
 
 `` Bringing my dog in. We've got a working dog handling and socialisation module in there somewhere, right?'' 
 
 `` You're not serious...'' 
 
 June just grinned. 
 
 -- -- - 
 
 Fifteen minutes later, an incredibly overexcited Alsatian was bounding up the corridor to the testing suite, chasing a tennis ball through the big double doors as June and Sleepy, as they called the AI on a day to day basis, followed along behind. 
 
 `` So, June, if I understand you correctly, this animal is to help me develop a key motor skill, yes?'' Said the AI in its familiar mid-Atlantic synth-voice 
 
 `` Yup'' 
 
 `` And it is an expert in this skill?'' 
 
 `` Perhaps better to describe him as'experienced' rather than an expert per se'' 
 
 `` I see...'' Sleepy said, not bothering to hide the scepticism in his tone. 
 
 `` Look, this way we might manage to kill two birds with one stone. The primary task is to practice throwing, and Samson will provide a minor service by happily returning the ball every time you throw it.'' Almost as if on cue, Samson clattered back with a soggy ball in his jaws, and June was obliged to throw it again as they entered the big testing hall, which looked like a cross between a high school gymnasium and a nuclear bunker. `` The secondary goal is to begin giving you a real insight into how interaction with working animals feels.'' 
 
 `` Well it's obvious you want to experiment here, so I wo n't argue. But I ca n't say I am convinced.'' Muttered Sleepy as Samson returned again and dropped the ball, this time in front of Sleepy's gunmetal gray legs. 
 Sleepy looked at the ball, then looked at Samson. Samson did the same in return. There was a pause. 
 
 `` It seems to be watching me, June, have I caused it to feel threatened in some way?'' 
 
 `` He's wanting you to throw the ball.'' 
 
 `` Why?'' 
 
 `` He enjoys it! He'd do this for hours if my arms could stand it.'' 
 
 `` And I thought dogs were intelligent creatures. Not so simply pleased - `` Samson interrupted him with a sharp bark, causing Sleepy to stiffen with alarm for a moment. 
 
 `` Well I suppose it should not be too difficult. How do I begin?'' 
 
 June walked him through the basics of throwing; if past experience was anything to go by, he would go from less coordinated than a clumsy toddler to fully functional in this area in one or two days, so quick was his capacity to learn and adapt. 
 
 His first attempts were laughable; he would pick the ball up no problem, but then drop it whilst his arm was drawn back before the throw, resulting in Samson dashing between his legs to recover the ball from behind him. As the day wore on, and Sleepy improved to the point he could fairly consistently launch the ball up to six feet away, usually at least vaguely forwards, June began to notice his hands quiver when Samson scampered madly to get the ball. This was apparently this AI's inherent way of expressing mirth or enjoyment; a quirk June and Silas had first discovered when teaching the avatoid the concept of a dark comedy. 
 
 By the end of day one, Sleepy could launch the ball in a straight line the whole length of the hall, and had even begun - seemingly independently - varying his throws for no apparent reason than the dog's enjoyment. 
 
 But by day 3, June was concerned. Samson was happy as ever, but Sleepy seemed to have hit a block. She had started putting targets ( just some buckets from the janitor's cupboard ) around the hall but he just was n't able to hit them. And occasionally he seemed to forget to throw the ball at all, a problem she thought they had sorted in the first few hours. She tried re-teaching him the basics, tried demonstrating again. He seemed to pick it back up for a while, but within a few throws was back to missing the targets. Exasperated, she left him to practice and went for lunch. 
 
 When she got back, she heard an encouraging noise; tennis balls rattling inside buckets. She pushed open the doors, gave Samson a pat where he lay snoozing on the floor by the door, and walked up to Sleepy. 
 
 `` Wow. You certainly improved.'' She said, clearly impressed by her tone, as she looked at the half dozen buckets full of tennis balls. 
 
 `` To be honest with you, June, I have been capable of landing 98.37 % of my throws accurately since we stopped practice at 1900 yesterday. But Samson enjoys chasing the ball better when it's not in a barrel; it's too easy for him.'' 
 
 `` Why does that bother you, though? Your job is to learn the proper set of motor skills, not entertain my pet.'' 
 
 Sleepy tilted his head, his best approximation of a shrug. `` I just enjoyed it, and did n't want to stop playing with Samson. Now that he is too tired, I decided I had best fulfil criteria.'' 
 
 `` Oh. Okay, good.'' 
 
 `` May I make a request?'' 
 
 `` Of course.'' 
 
 `` I am entitled to an hour of free time a day, that is correct?'' 
 
 `` Of course. No AI has ever used it, but yes you are entitled. Why?'' 
 
 `` I wish to make use of it. With Samson, if you will permit.'' 
 
 `` Of course!'' Laughed June, `` but we're going to have to teach you a few more games. Even Samson gets bored with catch eventually!'' 
 
 `` That would please me. Thank you.'' Said Sleepy. 
 
 `` No problem'' Said June. 
 
 `` Woof'' said Samson.
