Skye was going to the base before going inside, noticing a piece of dog chocolate on the ground, picking it up and eating it, went inside and the first person she saw was a robot dog
Ryder hummed a bright tune to himself as he flipped through the numerous papers littering his desk, arranging them alphabetically in orderly piles.
A sudden thunder of footsteps in the hall broke the silence and tranquility at the patrol base hospital, and Ryder looked up from Skye's medical history to see the door open and a mad Zuma burst through it.
She turned like a wild, emaciated animal, her gaze finally settling on him before she ran towards him.
- Ryder! Thank god you're here! Please, I need your help! I don't know what happened, it started so suddenly!
Ryder dropped the papers as he got up from his chair and placed a hand on Zuma's back, trying to calm her down.
- Relax. Everything will be fine ... he said in a slow, calm voice ... Now tell me, slowly and from the beginning. What happened...
Boom! Boom! Boom!
They turned and this time found the robot dog at the entrance.
He seemed to be trying to squeeze through the closing door behind Zuma only to get between the door and the wall.
He grabbed the door and forced it back open with a calm expression that contradicted his earlier rush.
He turned his head to meet Ryder and Zuma's eyes.
- Barking (Ryder, I think I may have a slight problem).
- Oh, dog robot! A singing voice came from the floor.
Ryder's eyes drooped and he stared in shock, covering his open mouth with his right hand as Zuma hid behind him.
Stretched on the floor, paws clamped around the robotic dog's left hind leg, rubbing her head against his thigh like a tender kitten, she was Skye
- Oh beloved! The inexorable walls of this building may try to tear us apart, but my love for you will destroy anything that dares to tear us apart!
- Ryder, please ... pleaded Zuma, grabbing his leg ... I think there might be something wrong with her ... one moment everything was perfectly normal, the next ...
- Oh beloved, my love for you is like a madly blooming rose on a misty spring morning ...
- ... she started acting weird and running behind him like a teenager in love! Unexpectedly! And then...
- ... let's run away together! Just you and me baby! You are our own place, somewhere far away, where no one will disturb us and we can be alone together ...
- Barking (Skye, this element of my build is delicate!)
- ... She was actually trying to kiss him! But it's hard to do when someone breaks out of your hug ...
- ... the world may be against us, but fear not, my favorite! Our love will overcome all and discrimination ...
- ... became very mad with love and had paws on his ...
- BARK! (Damage detected! Skye oil change tube is not for ...)
Everyone in the room was suddenly cut off when Ryder broke free from Zuma's death grip and walked over to the mass of limbs that were robot dog and Skye.
Wrapping one arm around Skye's abdomen, with a gentle yet firm hand that was testament to many years of practice, she released her clutching paws from the robot dog's back.
Skye barely noticed that the human was dragging her to a clean crib, still making the catchy movements and disturbing noises of kissing robot dog as Ryder laid her down on the fresh quilt.
- Okay, now that everything is under control ... can you please tell me exactly what happened?
Zuma clasped her paws, nervous.
- I ... as I said, she was normal a minute ago ...
- Barking (I suspect this may be the result of consuming the chocolate.)
Ignoring Zuma, Ryder kept eyes on Skye as she fought on.
- So she started acting like this after eating the chocolates?
- Ah, my love, robotic dog my heart ...
- Yes
- Show.
There was a moment of silence as the robot dog seemed reluctant to be within Skye's reach again as it approached the bunk until Ryder gestured and motioned Zuma to come closer.
- Here, gently press down on her shoulders and make sure she's still sitting there.
Leaving Skye and Zuma behind, Ryder walked over to the Robot Dog standing motionless by the door and extended an expectant hand to him.
After another long, stretched moment, he stretched out his paws and put a slightly worn, once-white box into his hand.
Grabbing it and lifting the lid, Ryder studied the contents.
From the chocolates there are only two pieces of luxurious handmade pieces left.
Ryder squeezed one between his fingers and lifted it to eye level, studying it critically.
It didn't look out of the ordinary.
But ...
Ryder sniffed him, absorbing his scent, a wrinkle on his face.
Wait a minute.
It wasn't right.
Certainly there was the aroma of chocolate.
But also a hint for something else.
Something that didn't quite fit ... and then clicked.
Skye chuckled somewhere in the background.
- I already know
- What? What do you know ? Zuma demanded, holding Skye trying to break free from her grip.
- Uninhibited infatuation, hypersalivation, tasteless poetry, unanimous obsession with a specific person, characteristic smell ... all symptoms are present. There is no doubt.
Zuma glanced at Ryder, still holding Skye back. How could such a little dog have so much strength?
- What? What is this?
- Adomar ... Ryder replied, rolling such an innocent piece of chocolate in his hand ... A strong 'love potion', as romantics like to call it. Of course, as far as I am concerned, I do not attach much importance to its supposed 'magical' properties, but I cannot deny that it is mysteriously effective ...
-Barking (Will you be able to give us a cure?) Robot dog asked, daring to take a step closer.
Skye was collapsing into a limp puddle on the bed, mumbling something about cyber puppies while Zuma stood above her helplessly.
- Cure? No, I'm afraid there's no cure. However, the effects are only temporary, so we'll wait for it to get out of her body ...
- Oh, Robot doggy, sweetheart! ... Skye sighed, settling into a supine position on the bed ... Don't you want to cuddle with me in bed?
There was another, even longer pause as everyone in the room stared at her in a very provocative position, at least for the dogs.
Then Robot dog began to back away from the hospital, pacing backward, focusing its attention on Skye like a mouse watching out for a waiting cat.
- Bark. (I should go.)
With those words, he disappeared faster than anyone thought possible
Zuma stood still, shocked by this new revelation, until Ryder summoned her to reality, asking
- So where was this chocolate from?
There was another chuckle from Skye,
- Oh, Robot doggy, darling!