The drive back was supposed to be triumphant, if not even a little exciting, but the air was tense the entire drive back. Neither of the puppies had spoken a word since leaving Evcon Industries, concerning Ryder regarding their mission morale.

"Come on guys, happy barks," he said into the radio. "PAW Patrol is on a roll, remember?"

Chase's less-than-pleased voice appeared through the static, "sir, I look ridiculous wearing this."

"Yeah well, you said the same thing when I fitted your uniform. Get used to it, because it just might become a piece of your regular gear."

No matter how garbled the connection was, the shepherd's disdain was clear as day. "Forgive me, sir, I'm just not comfortable using an AI or... any of the weird stuff Justin said."

Rocky's slightly exasperated tone joined the call, "did you even turn it on yet?"

"I'll do it when we get there. Not while I'm driving, in case it hacks my vehicle or something."

Mayor Goodway was nearly melting in her own stress once they returned to the bank, skidding into the parking lot and stopping without properly aligning their vehicles with the other cars. Charging through the doors as if the whole world was waiting for him, Ryder proudly marched back into the main lobby, and promptly twitched upon seeing Chase hadn't immediately followed. It was a comical scene; dozens of patrons watching Rocky shove his outfitted coworker through the doors with his forehead, forming claw marks on the tile as the nervous shepherd anchored himself into an unmovable object.

"You're back," Goodway approached Ryder, twiddling her fingers together. "Do you have the means to fix this place?"

"I sure as hell hope so!" he said, forcing the fakest optimism he'd ever done in his life. "Because we... have no other ideas."

"Nng-" Rocky gave a final push, nearly flinging the other dog into the light. Almost all his strength for the day had been spent in that action alone, weakening the mix of his endurance and forcing him to breathe for a second. "God, Chase, quit being a child."

"We are children, though," the shepherd looked over his shoulder, trying to deflect his embarrassment. "We're puppies."

"You know what I mean, now are we gonna help these people are not?"

Knowing what the time called for, Chase sighed in defeat and nudged the metal band tied around his head. "I guess so, I hope this thing doesn't explode or anything." He felt around its polished pieces, blindly groping for anything that felt like a switch. Hot embarrassment quickly burned into his fur, praying to whatever deities imaginable that people weren't staring at him. "How do I... turn this on?"

Rocky walked a circle around him, carefully inspecting the Neuroband for anything he could recognize. "Maybe it's bark-activated?"

"Worth a shot. Ruff... Neuroband!" He audibly barked into the air, the exact method of activation for all other tools they used.

Nothing.

"Ruff... activate...?" he tried again, growing redder from the sheepishness. "What's the word for this thing?"

Rocky put a grey paw to his furry chin, "did Justin even program it that way? Maybe it needs batteries."

"Well, this is going swimmingly," Chase quickly retreated to a more secluded corner of the lobby to hide from the expectant gazes. "Do these things even work?"

"Try the AI," the mixed breed followed him over, subtly glancing back at the several people impatiently anticipating whatever amazing thing the PAW Patrol was pulling off.

"Oh yeah, the AI that'll enslave me one day, perfect," Chase said sarcastically, nudging the dog tag with his paw. "Does this have a button or-"

A small chime unexpectedly emitted from the tiny piece of metal, a single note of artificial consciousness awakening from hibernation.

"I am Amata," the tag spoke, singing with its mechanical voice. "Who are you?" It was clearly programmed to sound feminine, yet the faint layer of cybernetic static just barely exposed its illusion.

Wonderful, a talking AI, he couldn't have possibly rolled his eyes any harder. He was actually talking to an infernal AI, just like he always swore he wouldn't. Resisting the urge to bang his head against the wall, Chase nervously spoke his first words to the artificial life.

"My name's... Chase?" he said aloud. "What... what do I talk into? Can you hear me from there, or is some kinda mic I need to-"

"There is no need, I can hear you quite clearly. Hello Chase, it is a pleasure to meet you. I am Amata, your artificial companion to assist you on your endeavors."

"Ooooh," Rocky was already invested as if he were talking to the element of magic itself.

The shepherd visibly cringed, "don't get used to it, I'm only wearing you on behalf of your manufacturers. This is purely business; I don't need any of your sentient AI bullshit."

"I understand," said Amata, sounding as if she were permanently smiling. "Now what can I assist you with?"

Asking an AI for help went against every religion Chase could've ever aligned with, at least for him anyway. What was he supposed to say to this thing? His organic body was too limited and helpless, and he needed a robot to take his job from him?

"I just... need to know how to work this weird band thing."

"Ah, your Neuroband, of course. I am already detecting it nearby, shall I activate it for you?"

"Can't I do it myself?"

Amata stifled a giggle, "no, Chase. This must be your first time wearing one, using it will be quite a new experience for you."

The shepherd ducked behind a bench to snarl his teeth without someone watching, "I can do whatever the fuck this band can do a thousand times better, I only need your help for this one time. Now tell me, how do I fix the tablet with my mind? And don't lie to me!"

"I would not dream of lying to you, Chase. You must intertwine your brain with the vast new world provided by the Neuroband; do understand, you are no longer a normal dog wearing that, all Evcon tech will respond to your mind without a single flick of resistance. Great opportunity is now open to you, I would be quite remiss if you didn't use this gift to the fullest."

"Just tell me how to hack the damn tablet."

"I just said how, you must face it wearing the activated Neuroband and will it to be so. But it's your first time, so you'll need a... boost to get it done. Do I have your permission to link myself with your band's network?'

The shepherd hesitated, feeling as if he were facing a terms and service agreement. "I... guess? Will that help me?"

"The whole purpose of my creation is to help you, Chase, now please, allow me."

Overhearing the conversation, Rocky raised an eyebrow at the odd words he eavesdropped from the two. If the band allowed users to operate technology with their mind, then wouldn't the Neuroband's "network" technically classify as its wearers brain? If Amata was connecting herself to the "network," what exactly was happening to Chase in this exact moment? He felt tempted to say something, watching the shepherd stare off into space for a few seconds.

A gentle flicker of light danced in Chase's eyes, making him blink and look around with a narrowed gaze, wondering if anyone else saw that. Odd beeping rang in his ears, then quickly evolved into powered hums of the Neuroband waking up.

Amata spoke again, "you are online, and I am linked with the band, shall we fix us a bank?"

Taking a moment to adjust the band's fit, Chase took a deep breath and walked out from behind the bench, already planning to grow out his fur just to hide this revolting technology. At least Amata was concealed inside a dog tag, but the Neuroband sat on his head clear as day, he'd have to invest in a bigger hat or something. Praying for the absolute minimum of people staring into his head, Chase padded down the hall to where he remembered the vault was.

"So... Amata," he began, morbidly curious of his new capabilities. "What exactly can I do?"

"You can manipulate any smartphone or piece of Evcon tech with your mind itself, you also have rather... innovative vision. Allow me to activate it for you."

"What do you-"

Like fireworks in the sky, the world illuminated with brilliant outlines before his very eyes. The shepherd stopped on a dime, overwhelmed with information coming at every possible angle. His first instinct was to run, his entire body tensing with anticipation for an escape, but a greater fear had paralyzed him to the floor. Every wire in the walls, the flowing waves of wireless connections webbing in the air, the sounds of networks and internets all intertwining, thousands of serial numbers took shining form and levitated into his visibility.

His shaking mouth opened, but nothing came out.

Amata perfectly read the locked animal, "I understand this is quite overwhelming, you'll get used to it. With Neuroband technology, you are able to see an augmented digital reality, an impressive matrix, is it not?"

"Chase?" Rocky caught up to him, confused by the shepherd's mortified expression. "You alright?"

Still nothing, Chase stood like a deer in headlights.

"Ah... perhaps I should turn that down," Amata said with a chuckle. "Perhaps it was unwise to rip that bandaid off so early. Standby, Chase."

"Is he okay?" said the nervous mix, feeling odd asking a question directly into a dog tag.

"He is fine, the effect can be quite jarring when it all turns on at once."

From Chase's perspective, the blinding lights that surrounded him quickly dimmed, fading away the digital clutter until life returned to normalcy. His brain went on the defense trying to tell him it was all hallucinations, and he was not, in fact, going terminally insane. Blinking a few times, Chase snapped back to reality with a violent shaking of his head, blinking the soreness from his eyes.

Giving Rocky a wildly disturbed stare, he spoke with a shaking voice. "Did you... see all that?"

"See what?"

"I don't know, I just saw..." he absently looked off in the distance, clawing in his mind to comprehend the maddening images flashed before him. "I saw everything."

"I promise you'll get used to it," Amata spoke up, unnaturally cheery. "Now if you'll just bear with me-"

"Oh hell no!" Chase said with a furious snarl, engaging a fight response with himself. "Rocky, help me take this thing off, I am never- ever going to-"

In his frenzied barking, he didn't hear Ryder tapping his foot behind him. Rocky spotted him first, flinching sharply and backing away with a sheepish smile.

"Everything okay, Chase?" the boy said, unamused and slightly cross.

The shepherd twitched, drowning in conflicted emotions. "Fine... sir. This band is messing with my head."

"I said you'll get used to it," Amata said, trying to be reassuring.

Ryder tilted his head, crossing his arms with vague interest. "It talks?"

"Apparently," Chase sighed, already slouching with mental exhaustion. "I wonder if I can customize her, make it British or something."

"I... must protest," said the AI, sounding slightly offended at the idea. "I'm quite happy with myself the way I am, plus, I am purely an experimental model. There are no customization options, perhaps in future updates."

Despite his rather firm stance on his own opinions, Ryder couldn't help kneeling down like he discovered an alien artifact. "Gotta admit... this is something else. Can you fix the bank?"

"If Chase stops collapsing or swearing at me every time I do something, maybe I can."

"Alright alright, fine!" the shepherd stood up sharply, his fur flushed with embarrassment. "Rocky, go entertain the crowd, I'll handle this."

"Enter... tain?" Rocky flashed him a questioning look, confused he was even asked.

"Do tricks or something. If my head doesn't explode, I should have this done within the hour."

If Ryder didn't spend every thirty seconds asking Amata idiotic questions, Chase likely would have mellowed out in the time it took walking back to the vault. Peaceful silence was all the puppy wanted at this point, made difficult by his suddenly tech-curious owner practically assaulting Amata with inquiries. Chase was just a few seconds from ripping his own ears off, not from his owner, but the constant answers from the AI with its fake voice. Something about Amata's near perfect facade of being a living creature was making him antsy.

"Well, here it is," Ryder said, the group coming to a stop before the steel doors of the vault. The broken tablet meant to be the only barrier defending the town's money displayed confused mayhem on its screen, a flaw of its overly complex programming.

"Oh, well this is too easy," Amata was the first to speak, almost laughing over herself. "Five minute fix."

"You can see it?" Chase raised an eyebrow, thinking back if Justin mentioned any kind of camera on the dog tag.

"Sure I can, Chase. Anything you see, I will see as well. I'm wired into your network."

The shepherd flinched, a note of alarm coursing through him. "You- you mean my-"

The AI cut him off, "hold up your paw to the machine, your mind will do the rest."

Hold up his paw? What was he, some sweaty nerd trying to use the Force on the wall like some damned theme park attraction? He'd have to suppress his own dignity for a few minutes if it truly meant getting this mission over with. Did Ryder have to be watching, though? His burning, expectant gaze on Chase's back was triggering his flight or fight instinct, impatient eyes refusing to release him.

Making a mental note to burn all memory of this day, Chase raised his front leg at the machine as if he were reaching a loved one. It was quite possibly the stupidest, most absurd pose he'd ever taken in his life; he was thankful Skye or Zuma weren't around to be tempted into photographing the event. He would've burned down the entire tower if such a humiliating photo was taken.

The mental gears in his head turned, rather loudly in fact, a narrowed feeling prickling through his veins. Like fireworks, dozens of algorithms and digital highways manifested in his mind, he understood everything yet was left stunned in its awakening.

"Chase, what's happening?" Ryder asked, looking down on the still puppy.

He didn't hear him, Chase's ears filled with startling revelations, speaking in ones and zeros and painting a thousand lines of programming until the numbers itself got lost in his own brainwaves. A sliver of self-control was all that kept him from screaming; screaming not from pain, but from gawked disbelief at the life brought to existence within his own mind. He could see everything, he saw every digital wavelength within the tablet's programming, he saw every line, every network, every process and the actions they upheld. The numbers spoke to him, gestured with their invisible claws and scratched Chase's brain, producing an electric beat of laughter that united them both.

A word was uttered in Chase's mind: Reset.

Beeping in obedience, the wall tablet shut itself down, then illuminated a few seconds later. It emitted a faithful chirp, activating to its default state without a hitch. The whole thing was perfectly restarted as if it had never broken at all.

It was then Chase was finally brought back to reality, blinking away the visions like waking from daydreams. A faint high-pitched frequency was the only footprint of the sensation left in his mind, fading out so gently he was unsure if it truly quieted.

"Hey, you fixed it! Great job, Chase!" Ryder gave him a pat on the head. "I'll go tell Mayor Goodway, and we can all go home."

Not a single word had met the shepherd's ears, the thousand-yard stare remained fixed in his expression as he processed the unbelievable experience.

"Fantastic job, my organic friend," Amata said, singing with celebration. "You fixed it, all with your mind alone. Sure, I had to... help a little, being your first time and all, but in no time, you'll be diving into computers with a flick of your paw."

"Flick... of my..." the dog muttered aimlessly, terrified to even take a step. "Amata, what just happened to me?"

"What's happened? An awakening is what's happened! Reborn! Imagine the possibilities, Chase of the PAW Patrol, able to hack machines with his own mind! You would be... why, you would be revered as the future itself! And it's all thanks to Evcon Industries-"

"I'm not-" the shepherd shook his head of the buzzing numbers. "I told you, I'm not some lab rat for your company! But that..." he looked up at the machine he repaired by will alone, breathing in awe at the endeavor. "I really did that with my mind?"

"Of course you did, and it won't stop there. Like I said, the possibilities are endless. Consider this a new dawn for the PAW Patrol, see how many missions become a cakewalk with you now."

Turning to walk back to his owner, Chase's mind swam with questions and uncertainties. Earlier he nearly drowned in fear and confusion, but now things had changed, now his fear had shifted into curiosity and intrigue. "Okay... what else can I do? I know I... already asked that question earlier, but really; what can I do exactly?"

"Well I can be broad and give you another speech about endless possibilities," Amata said. "But to be honest, we won't know the specifics until you actually encounter other devices. Your Neuroband will jailbreak anything you connect with, allowing you direct access to manipulating the hardware and... pretty much do whatever you want provided the machine has the capability."

"I need to test this thing," Chase said to himself, an intriguing grin sliding on his face. "Amata, I know I was a little... harsh to you earlier today, but this might not be too bad..."

"There is no need to apologize to me, Chase," said the AI as if she were patting him on the shoulder. "I understand this integration is really jarring, anyone would react the same way you did."

"Yeah... sorry anyway though," the shepherd shook his head a little, flickers of shame beading in his fur, although another side of his mind proposed an interesting question. Did Chase, a living being, just apologize to an AI?

On any other day, he'd proudly puff his chest and strut to the exit while the roaring crowd celebrated their success. It was only natural a bank of all things would invoke the strongest reactions; God forbid anything happen to a man's money. Such material possessions were unfamiliar to not just dogs, but all animals given life across the Earth. Perhaps now the tables were turned, now it was not man, but dog who possessed something alien to the other side. A whole new world was unlocked to him, resting upon his brow and dangling from his collar.

He needed to find out more.