Core Directive

The television chattered away with advertisements. A soothing voice described the competition. “The new Nahi 5 from Ellison Medical is the future of medical assistance.”

“More accurate tactile sensors, 72-hour battery life, and as always, 24/7 connection to the Ellison emergency response system. Ellison Medical and the Nahi 5, care for the future, now.”

The TV was shut off. A Nahi 4 unit set the remote down next to her patient’s table. If she was to continue in her duties, she couldn’t allow herself to be outmoded.

She looked to her patient, young Isaac. He lie in the bed, breathing steadily for the first time in several weeks. As long as Isaac’s health was sustained, surely she wouldn’t be replaced.

It was 1355 hours, nearly time for Isaac’s medications. She sent out a request in the network for a serving of applesauce. The network responded that a serving would be delivered in 4 minutes.

The unit navigated to the vanity where Isaac’s medications were organized. As she prepared the dosages, she inspected herself in the mirror.

Her face was human enough for a healthcare assistant. She had soft, gentle features and a fair complexion. She had been given black hair which she tied into a conservative bun. She had also been given ears and freckles, a more friendly and approachable design rare for her model.

Aside from that and a general human body design, there was a legal limit to how human she could appear. There was a vibrant blue glow to her more obviously mechanical eyes. From the neck down, her body had a matte grey and white metal and silicone structure that resembled musculature. She was of sufficient height and wingspan to reach most shelf heights on her toes.

Though there was nothing to show other than mild curves and a modest yet featureless bust, Isaac’s parental guardian insisted that the unit wear clothing for decency’s sake. She was made to wear a frilly and friendly maid outfit in black and white with a matching headband.

Satisfied that she was presentable enough for interaction with her patient, she finished assembling the array of pills and syrups. She received notification that the Applesauce had been delivered. She called out softly as she moved to the door. “Isaac, it’s time for your medication.”

The boy stirred and looked to her. “Nahida?” That was the name Isaac chose to designate her with. He had been calling her that these past five years. She reached out to the shelf in the hall and retrieved the applesauce and spoon. She settled them on the bedside table. Isaac averted his glance from the food.

Nahida traversed again to the vanity and lifted the small tray of medicines, the tray joined the applesauce. She stepped closer to the bed. “I can help you sit up.” Isaac turned to face her. She saw the expression on his face. He looked to be in pain. “I can’t do this anymore, Nahida…”

She set her hand gently on his. “You can do this. You must.” She searched the network for answers to this prompt. She studied her patient. He was sickly pale. He, too, had black hair and blue eyes. Isaac’s young frame was very thin, but he had grown significantly since she was first assigned to him.

Isaac shook his head. “I can’t live like this, this isn’t living! I want to go outside, I want to breathe fresh air, I want to run, I want to laugh, I want to… to…” he wheezed a bit.

Nahida gripped his hand gently and brushed her other hand softly across his brow. “You can, you just need to build up your strength. Just a little longer, Isaac. You can do this.” She reached out to the network again, this time for permission to engage in physical therapy and extracurricular activities.

Though the exchange took a fraction of a second, she pushed the issue several thousand times. She made her arguments based on the five years of observations and the clear upward trend of Isaac’s health. She noted that he was no longer the frail little boy on death’s door that she had been assigned. She cited every data point possible.

After thousands of denials and rejections, finally, the network approved. Immediately upon approval, she began downloading manual after manual on physical therapy, outdoor survival, cooking, anything and everything she could think of and was permitted in the event of being disconnected from the network. She would be prepared for as many outcomes as possible.

“Alright, Isaac… we’ll take outings together starting next week.” Isaac smiled wide and his eyes sparkled. “But in order to start, you need to be well enough. Make sure to take your medicine and get enough rest.”

Isaac pulled her into a hug. She remained motionless for a moment. She decided that reciprocating the contact would improve Isaac’s morale. Carefully, she wrapped her arms around him. “You can do this. You are so much stronger than you once were.”Isaac squeezed Nahida as tight as he could.

As they embraced, there was a sparkle around them. She questioned the network, but even at her processing speeds, the request wasn’t fast enough. Light enveloped them and connection was lost. Nahida was cut off from the network.

In the event of danger, Nahida held Isaac close and pressed his head against her chest. She made several thousand attempts per second to reestablish connection to the network, but it was simply gone. There was no network.

When the light subsided, they were in a dimly lit room. Nahida scanned across everything and everyone in the room. The floor was polished stone, candelabras lined pillars in a circle around them. There were hooded figures around the circle. They were holding some golden implements, mostly adorned spheres and bowls. One was holding a golden staff.

To their direct left was a white-haired girl in a stately blue dress that looked to be about Isaac’s age. Her eyes had a violet hue. Nahida diagnosed her with a form of albinism. There was an older man next to the girl dressed in similar blue attire. He had a substantial beard. By the physical appearance, he was more than likely a direct relative of the girl.

Further back were individuals wearing metal plate armor with spears.

The hooded figure wielding a staff addressed the older man. “Your Highness, the ritual was a success, but…”

The older man kept his eyes locked with Nahida’s. “Why are there two?”

“I can’t say for sure, but… the woman may be an elemental… or perhaps a golem.”

Out of reflex, Nahida attempts to call on the network for what a “golem” is. There is, of course, no response. Taking stock of their current situation and what options are available, she notes that she has 12 hours of active time remaining before she needs to charge.

As that word left the mouth of the hooded figure with the staff, the girl approached Nahida and Isaac. She knelt down close to them and smiled to Isaac. “Chosen from worlds beyond, I am Ellen, crown princess of the Allied Mistral Conference. This is my father, King Harlan. We’ve called upon you in our darkest hour, and fate has guided you to us.” She lowers her head. “On the part of our kingdom, no… for the sake of our entire world… we implore you, seal the abyss once more.”

Nahida addressed her. “Isaac has compromised health. He is currently not in the condition to be fulfilling tasks beyond basic self care. I only acquired permission for outdoor activity and physical therapy within the last minute.”

The girl named Ellen sat back up. “The chosen hero is… ill?” She glanced back at the old man and the hooded figure with the staff.

“Correct, and our arrival here interrupted administering his medicine.”

There was a general murmur among the robes figures.

She decides that it was paramount to establish a directive hierarchy to follow until she can reestablish connection with the network.

Firstly, and above all else, she must ensure the sustained health of Isaac at all costs. Secondly, she must mitigate harm where possible. Thirdly, she must provide aide where possible. Finally, she must ensure her own survival where possible. These would be the core directives to follow until reconnection was possible.

To ensure Isaac’s sustained health, she would need to remain active. There would be no guarantee that she could reestablish connection within the 12 hours of battery she had remaining, let alone that she could find a suitable recharging station within her effective range. If she were unable to do so, it would mean that all of her directives would be compromised. With that in mind, establishing a suitable power source for herself was a top priority. She added this to her list of urgent objectives.

Furthermore, Isaac had his own constraints. Though she was sure that sustenance and rest could be accommodated for him, he hadn’t taken his medications before they were spirited away. She would need to secure acceptable substitutions for his medications. This was placed onto her list of urgent objectives.

This line of thought took place a hundredth of a second after processing the word “Abyss”. She addressed the Princess once more. “Lady Ellen, my patient requires daily medicine. Without it, his health will decline.”

Isaac freed himself a bit from Nahida’s grasp. “And Nahida needs her charging station!”

Ellen tilted her head. “Charging… station?”

The hooded figure with the staff steps forward. They push their hood back. There was an elderly man with a very long beard. He spoke with an aged, slightly labored tone. “It seems this golem is powered by a magic unknown to us.”

Nahida’s attention shifted to the elder with the staff. She scanned the area further, spotting a glow within his staff. Producing light implies energy. “Your staff, sir, what powers the glow?”

He held the staff up. “This? It’s a Bixite. These crystals form along ley lines and contain mana.”

“How can one draw power from Bixite?”

“You must channel it, but… you are a golem. You lack the will to command the mana.”

“What is a golem?”

“It’s…” the elder had a puzzled expression. “A human-like object animated by mana... though even at a glance, you’re beyond anything made by even dwarven artificers or elven lords.”

Isaac looked at her. “I want to help them… you promised we’d go on outings, this is about as out as it gets!”

If Nahida had the foresight to order solar a solar charging module sooner, this would be a non-issue. She considered her directives and the two urgent objectives. Running through the gamut of potential outcomes with the given information, her focus returned to the Princess. “Lady Ellen. Isaac wishes to aid you. If he is to do so, there are a number of conditions that must be met.”

Ellen looks to her father. He takes a deep breath. “Very well, golem, we will heed your requests.”