Molly was tired.

  To be perfectly honest so was I.

  I had really over clocked my CPU back there. The past few hours had been intense. First the goblins, then when we got away from them, skeletons. I had lost an eye and Molly was in danger. I almost failed my prime directive because I didn't keep watch enough. One of the only good things to come out of that debacle was flashing on my status screen.

  ______________________________________________

  Stat points +1

  +10 currency

  ______________________________________________

  I spent the stat point on Soul. The past hours showed I needed it. No use almost passing out every time I use an ability. I quickly closed the status and looked around.

  There in the distance was the goblin camp.

  As much of a blessing it was to finally know the location of the goblin camp right now me and Molly needed a safe place to rest and recharge more.

  Literally, in my case. My battery was dangerously low.

  Power level at 20%... Find battery charging station immediately.

  The safe place or safest place we found close enough in the area was a ravine that was closed in on three sides. This way enemies could only come at us from one direction.

  Molly with some prompting bought a sleeping bag. With much hemming and hawing I tucked her in and she went to sleep. She slept fitfully. Probably having nightmares of the days events.

  I watch over her while she slept taking the opportunity to charge my batteries. I charge them slowly to conserve Aether in reserve in case of an emergency. As the morning arrived according to my internal clock. The sun never moves here. I woke her for breakfast.

  The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  I bought the usual ration and water for Molly but this morning she seemed distant .She kept looking at it with a sullen expression.

  "I not hungry," she grumbles.

  I know she's hungry. I can hear her tummy rumbling but she doesn't eat. I try coaxing her to eat but she just grumbles again louder this time "I'm not hungry!" Starting up a full on temper tantrum.

  "I don't want that nasty food!"

  "I don't want to walk more!"

  "I want to go home!" She yelled her face turning red.

  "Oh honey. I know. I know. I'll get you home soon." I try to console.

  "But I want to go home now!"

  "We can't."

  "Why?! Why can't we?!" she cries.

  "Because first we got to defeat the Goblin Chief." I respond before I can help myself.

  "Where is Goblin Chief?" She asks forcefully.

  I think about refusing but nothing in my programming is good at refusing information and it doesn't go against my prime directive.

  "According to my probability algorithms the Goblin Chief is most likely at the goblin camp." I rattle off.

  "Where goblin camp?!" She asks, beet red in the face.

  I point in the direction of where I saw the goblin camp.

  She sets off walking in that direction at a quick huff. I hurry to grab our things and keep up with her. She walks with heavy foot falls for a while with me walking beside her. We keep heading in a straight line until we run into a problem.

  A river lies in the way of our path. Molly stops at the edge of the river staring out over to the other side. She heaves out breath after breath until slowly her angry fades and is replaced by despair. Her eyes grow watery as they burst into tears.

  "I don't know what to do." she full on sobs. I hug her as she cries into my shoulder. Eventual the sobs slow as I console her.

  "You know I don't know what to do either." I confide in her.

  "Really?" She gasps out through sobs.

  "Yes, really. I have been making up new protocol everytime new information becomes available."

  "But I promise you Molly I will get you home." I declare with all the conviction I can muster.

  New secondary objective updated... Fulfill your promise to Molly and get her home.

  Old secondary objective gather information downgraded to tertiary objective.

  Old tertiary objective Defeat the Goblin Chief downgraded to quaternary objective.

  Re-evaluating my objectives the promise I just made now takes top position right below my prime directive.

  If it be in my power I will get her home.

  I pick her up and search for a way to cross the river. I have a promise to keep.