Drone Pony 4: Alternative Refueling

"Typically any variant of Drone Pony Units will come with an initial canister of bio-fuel which is good for up to 5 refueling processes. While we recommend purchase of more bio-fuel for maximum efficiency from our product, we understand that some may not wish to spend the necessary bits monthly for the service. As such, we designed each variant with the ability to consume just about anything an average pony can. This was one of a variety of reasons that we gave the Drone Pony Units mouths that replicate that of your average pony."

You re-read the paragraph again, scratching your head slightly at the explanation, before continuing to read aloud as PQ-1 sits on her haunches and listens intently.

"A Unit may ingest up to one half gallons worth of liquids without any difference in appearance or function, and reduces the need for more frequent refuelings. However, any more than a single half-gallon at once may partially overtax the Core of the Unit, making it respond sluggishly as it tries to process the inherent magic from the liquids. Similarly, any Unit may ingest foods to extract necessary magic from. The load limit is about the same, though you should be careful in all respects. Monitor how your Unit responds to varying amounts of foods of different densities, as well as what foods produce the most energy. While we performed extensive research, much of the potency derived from substances depends on quality of the product. Locally grown foods may provide more or less than what we offer via our bio-fuel.
On a final note for this instruction manual, you need not worry about your Drone Pony Unit processing any unwanted material through defecation or expunging. The Core in each Unit disintegrates any unworthy materials in the process of absorbing the magic within it for fueling itself. If you desire further information about any of these processes, please consult the Refueling Addendum in the back of this manual. If missing, please contact your local dealer for a new copy."

You blink a few times and look up at PQ-1, who's head is tilted to the side while listening.

"Did you get all that?" you ask, not quite sure you've got the whole grasp of it yourself.

"Yes, Commander. I recorded the information and compared it to my internal notes. They match quite nicely."

Well, that's good. The emotional addition you made to her doesn't seem to have interfered with such a basic function at least. Setting the hefty instruction manual down you pick up an apple from a bowl of fruit you keep on the end table next to your couch. You heft it in the air once or twice as PQ-1 opens her mouth wide, small tongue hanging out the front of her mouth as she sits with her head tilted back. You lean forward and briefly look into her mouth. She has teeth like a normal pony, thankfully, otherwise it'd be too weird. The inside of her mouth is light pink and fleshy looking, the tongue a similar color. It looks wet, but you think you can see a faint light at the back of her throat.
As far as you can tell, it looks like any normal pony's mouth. Except for the light in the back.

Making a surprised "Hmph," sound, you pull your head back and set the apple in her mouth. It's a large apple and rests on her tongue, but taps the top of her mouth as well. Despite this, she doesn't show any signs of discomfort.

"Do you want me to slice that for-"

She tilts her head back slightly before you can finish your question, and the apple slides into her mouth as she makes a slight whirring noise. She starts moving her mouth to chew the apple whole, though she can't close her mouth properly at first.

You find yourself laughing softly despite the weird display you're witnessing. Something about her struggling with the apple tickles you a bit, and you notice her whirring intensifies as the lights in her cheeks light up slightly.

"Take your time," you say with a chuckle, getting up from the couch to let her eat in peace, "I'll see if I can't whip something else up for you."

"Mmhhphoh, Hophhamndah," she tries to reply, the apple muffling her voice as it obstructs her throat. You laugh as you wander into the kitchen and start scouring your pantry for something to eat. Watching her eat kind of got you feeling snackish as well. You browse the shelves, top to bottom, finally picking out some tomato soup, crackers, cheese, and some bread. Grilled cheese with soup sounds pretty good to you, and you really don't know if PQ-1 even has preferences, so it'll be fun to experiment.

By the time you've got the soup going on the stove and some cheese sandwiches laid out for searing, PQ-1 has finished her apple and wandered into the kitchen behind you, a gentle hum coming from deep inside her as her Core no doubt gets to work on the materials provided to it.

"Did you like it?" you ask over your shoulder with a smile.

She tilts her head, "Like?" she says questioningly, "As in, how I 'like' the Commander?"

Every time she says that you find yourself smiling. "Kind of," you explain, "Did you enjoy eating the apple? Actually, can you taste things?"

She makes a clicking sound that makes you think of someone blinking slowly, "Taste? Is that what it is composed of?"

"Uhh, not quite. Foods have taste. You have a tongue like most ponies, so I was wondering if it had taste buds. They tell you if something is sweet or sour, among other things. Do you have something like that?"

She clicks again, head angling downward as she processes, "I am unsure. I have no database to compare the value of the apple to, so it simply is what it is."

"Well, in that case," you say as you turn the soup to low heat and start tossing grilled cheese sandwiches into the pan, "This next bit of food might help you compare, if you do have taste buds or sensors or....something."

PQ-1 perks up, a smile brightening her demeanor as she stands, "The Commander is too generous to this one. I await the surely delicious foods that he will make."

You laugh as she trots over to the kitchen table and climbs up onto a chair designed for ponies slightly larger than herself, whirring with effort before pulling herself into place and sitting at the table almost immobile. She turns her head from the table to look at you, then back to the table when you turn to look at her.

"You don't have to pretend you aren't waiting," you laugh, putting the grilled sandwiches onto a plate and grabbing some heat pads for the pot of soup, "Don't be afraid to speak your mind, either."

"This unit has far too many observations concurrently to express at once," she says flatly, before rephrasing. "I mean, I cannot decide on one single thing to talk about with the Commander. Much of it seems unwarranted."

"That's called 'small talk,'" you say as you bring the plate of sandwiches over and set them on the table, before going back for the pot of soup, "Sometimes we talk about things that aren't critically important just because."

"Just because why, Commander?"

You shrug, "We like to hear each other talk. Find out how our friends are doing. That kind of thing."

"But this one, or I, rather, lives with the Commander. Daily updates on the Commander's status expressed in such a manner seem needless."

"Well, that's up to your discretion," you say, sitting at the table as you place bowls in front of your seat and hers, "But if you decide to talk about anything with me, I'll be happy to talk to you."

"I do enjoy hearing the Commander's voice," she says happily as she picks up a grilled cheese sandwich, "So I suppose this 'small talk' would help the Commander grow fonder of this unit as well. Unless the Commander finds my voice less than desirable?"

You hadn't really thought about it, but it seems she's saying she can change it. Maybe something to keep in mind for later.

"No, you're just fine the way you are," you say with a grin, earning a grin from PQ-1 in return, "Alright, so how about we eat and you tell me what you think about it."

"Of course, Commander!" she says, throwing the entire sandwich into her mouth and slowly beginning to chew on it. You laugh at her lack of manners, though you suppose she wouldn't know anything about table manners either. She tilts her head, mouth moving as she chomps away but clearly questioning your response.

"Okay, you should probably eat like this," you say, taking a reasonable bite of your sandwich and chewing it. You swallow before continuing, "It's considered polite, and it'll let you talk between bites if you want. Also, you might scare ponies if you eat everything like that."

She nods, opening her mouth as though she's going to remove the sandwich from her mouth, making you look away with a groan as you tell her to quickly keep her mouth closed.

"If you've already got food in your mouth, try not to open it. Seeing chewed up food is kinda gross."

She nods again, shutting her mouth as her cheeks light up again. Eventually, she finishes, and you finish eating your sandwich as well. You open the lid to the pot of soup and spoon some into the two bowls before grabbing another sandwich from the plate. You make sure you have PQ-1's attention as you tear a piece of the sandwich off the rest and dunk it in the soup before eating it, briefly explaining how the flavors work together and make it taste better than separately. Or at least, in your opinion.

She does the same, and you notice her whole body perks up when she does so.

"That is incredible, Commander!" she exclaims happily, eagerly tearing another chunk of sandwich off and dunking it in the soup, "Do all foods interact with one another in such a way?"

You nod before telling her that "Not all foods have good combinations with all other foods. You'll find good ones and bad ones."

She rapidly finishes another sandwich and then drinks the hot soup from her bowl completely. You'd be worried about her burning her mouth but...she seems unphased. Huh.

A high pitched beep comes from her after a second bowl of soup, and she looks down at the table almost sadly. "Refueling safety limit nearly reached. Refuel mode disengaged." You reach across and pat her on the shoulder with a chuckle. She whirrs gently before smiling with you, then hops down from her seat and starts removing some of the dishes from the table.

"Thank you for the food, Commander. Please allow me to help clean as compensation for your efforts."

The two of you wash the dishes together, PQ-1 attempting to strike up some small talk as you work.

"Commander, do you like other ponies?"

"Like? Yeah, I have plenty of friends in town. We don't always hang out a lot, but-"

"This unit meant like in a different manner. I apologize, I mean, do you have affection for ponies?"

"...You mean love? Or have a crush on?"

"What is a 'crush,' Commander?"

You sigh as you wipe your hands on a dish towel, doing the same to PQ-1's hooves as she blushes. Or what passes for blushing for her.

"Let's have this conversation later. I don't think it's relevant right now and I wouldn't want to throw too much information at you at once."

"But this unit is made for processing-"

She falls silent when you look down at her, something clicking. "Oh! I understand. I will relegate it for a later date, Commander. I apologize for bothering you."

You sigh and pat her head gently, smiling at her as you try to assure her she wasn't bothering you. You just aren't sure you're ready to try and explain complex emotions to her yet. It would complicate things, no doubt.

And for now, you'd rather just get used to having her around and not worry about all that other stuff. Not yet, anyway. Besides, how would that even work out? She's a robot....thing.