Pandora Wilde-Hopps was sitting at her computer. "So... how have things been going for you?" Pandora said as she was live chatting with her friends. The otter Joshua Otterton, and the horse George Flanka-Alonz.
"Schools going fine for me, I met this really cute otter girl. I don't if she'd be into me, but we're both on the soccer team." Joshua said, as the previous year, both his and George's family moved from Zootopia.
"Just be yourself Joshua and it'll work out, what about you George?" Pandora asked.
"I have made the polo team, but what about you Pandora?" George asked the now ten-year-old fox/rabbit hybrid.
"Oh... I've been doing things. Auntie Selene has been teaching me how to make robots. And I found this weird glowing rock in a crater a few weeks ago." Pandora said as she put on a fake smile.
"Well, that sounds cool. But I've got to run; I have to leave for practice in a few minutes. Goodbye." Joshua said as he logged off.
"As do I, na razie Pandora," George said as he logged off.
Pandora's ears drooped as she logged off. "Bye..." She said, looking forlorn.
"Hey kiddo," Nick said as he entered the room. "Is everything okay?" He said, noticing that Pandora was clearly depressed.
"It isn't the same dad." Pandora lamented. "A live chat here... some work on a browser game there... and that's it! They live too far away to play with either of them in person."
"Well you know, you could play with your fourteen brothers and sisters," Nick suggested coyly.
"I've tried, they either get mad that I'm better at it than them, or I get bored by how... basic it is, or we can't agree on WHAT to do." Pandora moaned.
"I see, and I take it your prospects at school aren't all that good either?" Nick said.
"NOPE... at best the other kids grudgingly tolerate that I'm a hybrid. And at worst... well you remember THAT Halloween I'm certain." Pandora said.
"A fair point... it took an entire night bathing to get all the blood out of your fur," Nick said.
"And you and mom, but especially mom are busy with work. So... there isn't really much for me to do." Pandora said, sighing.
"There, there Pancake. You'll make new friends soon... no idea what soon it would be. But you never know." Nick said as he kissed his eldest daughter and left the room.
Pandora's mood piqued... or more precisely, her curiosity was piqued. "I'll... I'll MAKE a new friend! Dad... you're a genius." Pandora said to herself, knowing full well that inflating her father's ego was an inherently bad idea. She quickly got to work, drawing up what this new friend would look like and do.
Eventually, she settled on a rabbit, a female rabbit with largely grey metal skin, green eyes, blue and green lines that went vertically down her body, ears and limbs, black feet, black hands, and black ears. Several weeks later, Pandora with her robotics mentors Selene they were working on the new robot.
"And... there we go. We finished your robot. Now, what do you think we program it to do?" Selene said as she and Pandora made the finishing touches to the robot.
Pandora thought for a moment. "She should be cheerful, empathetic, optimistic, and helpful. Also, she should know how to cook, bake, fight, and clean. The Nanny-Bot has been neglecting cleaning the basement. Also, she should like hugs, giving them and getting them."
"Well... those are all good ideas. But I don't think-"
"Don't care about your doubts. In the zone, am programming the AI." Pandora said as she went to a computer to program the robots AI like a duck to water.
"Of course," Selene said with bemusement. "Do you mind if I step out and get myself some coffee?"
"Of course," Pandora said absentmindedly. An hour or so passed as she coded the AI. "And... DONE!" Pandora said triumphantly as she finished creating the AI, and using a USB cable uploaded the AI into the robot.
The robot sat up. "Salutations!" The robot said cheerfully as Selene returned.
"Okay... never made a robot that was that animated," Selene said.
"Hello, my creator! Thank you for giving me life and purpose!" The robot rabbit said as it hugged Pandora.
"Your welcome, Elizabeth," Pandora said as she returned the hug.
"And you must be Selene! Thank you for teaching Pandora on how to create me! Existing is just so... SENSATIONAL!" Elizabeth said excitedly.
"What exactly did you do?" Selene asked of Pandora.
"Well, I quickly figured out from the simulations that the AI I wanted wouldn't work as I wanted it to. So I created a program from scratch that would allow me to not only more precisely program the personality traits I wanted, but the skills that I wanted her to have." Pandora explained.
"You... of course you did," Selene said in bemusement. "Any... any plans for that program?"
"I'll take it home with me, along with Elizabeth," Pandora said.
"Do they actually know about this one ahead of time?" Selene asked.
"We told them we were making a robot didn't we?" Pandora said.
Eventually, Nick arrived to pick up Pandora. "So how was your day today- who is that?" Nick said, noticing Elizabeth.
"Salutations Mr. Wilde! I'm Elizabeth, your daughter created me, and gave me life a few minutes ago." Elizabeth said as she got into the backseat with Pandora.
"So you took what I said to heart... literally," Nick said sardonically as he drove off.
"Well dad, it was either that. Or try to make friends with kids my age that don't even want to talk to me. So obviously creating a robot and a whole new program for programming an artificial intelligence seemed like the more productive thing to do." Pandora said, Nick just rolled his eyes at his daughters logic.
Eventually, Judy saw Elizabeth, and she scanned the newly made robot with her good eye. "Why are you naked?" Judy asked.
"I'm sorry?" Elizabeth asked in confusion.
"You're naked; you're not wearing any clothes," Judy explained.
"I... didn't think to get her any," Pandora said in embarrassment.
"I really don't mind, I don't have any explicit components anyway," Elizabeth said.
"I know a yak that would agree with you... for completely different reasons. Regardless, I'm going to get you some clothes tomorrow." Judy said.
"So you like her?" Pandora said, wagging her tail excitedly.
"I do... just take care of her. Okay, Pandora?" Judy said, Pandora happily hugged her mother, followed by Elizabeth joining in the hug.
"I do so like hugs!... and you are so warm Mrs. Wilde-Hopps," Elizabeth said.
"Please don't make it weird Elizabeth," Judy said.
"Ah... well, I suppose I should make myself busy in the meantime. Would you mind at all if I introduced myself to Pandora's siblings?" Elizabeth asked as she let go of Judy.
"Judy... you mind if we talk in private," Nick said, as he led Judy off into another room.
"If this is about the fact that Pandora has made another robot... and making it her friend, and your misgivings about the matter. I just... she needs this, I think. Her best friends living out of town, the children at school not giving her a chance, her siblings are simply too young for her. She needs some kind of positive influence, and while Elizabeth seems REALLY naïve... and naked. Pandora needs someone she can talk to when we can't. And I don't think I need to tell you about how the Nanny-Bot is acting lately. Even with Pan's defragging and firewall maintenance. Bits of Bellwethers personality still keep seeping through." Judy said.
"I know but-... don't you think it's time we tell her about the... 'C-Thing'?" Nick said, referring to the fact that Pandora was technically a clone of him and his wife. Judy clamped her hand around his muzzle.
"Not. Until. We know she can handle it. And with her emotions the way they are these days. Telling her the truth of her birth would break her!" Judy said harshly. Unaware that Pandora was holding her ear to the door.
"C-Thing?" Pandora said, wondering what her parents were talking about.
"Pandora! May I ask for your aid?" Elizabeth yelled from across the house. "I am attempting to care for the kits. But they are very... energetic!" She said as she was covered in small bunny/fox hybrids biting at her.
Pandora just rolled her eyes. "Alright Elizabeth, I'm coming," Pandora said as she went to help her newest creation.