This is the fourth chapter of the short story I wrote called 'The Three-Legged Dog'. Please enjoy reading it. 

The humid Florida heat seeped through the brush around the creek. Jake sat down on a blanket in a shady spot near the creek beyond the backyard. Rectface stood erect beside him, as usual.

"RECTface, explain to me the difference between solids and liquids you learned about in school." 

Jake asked, biting into a freshly delivered slice of pepperoni pizza. The robot's eyes flashed yellow and gave an immediate answer.

"Matter exists in three states: solid, liquid, and gas, depending on temperature and pressure. The biggest difference between solids and liquids is the way the molecules are arranged and whether they change shape accordingly." 

The robot's explanations were more precise than a textbook, and free of any unnecessary details. Jake nodded, sipping his cola. Cooper would have simply sniffed the pizza, drooled, or interrupted, but RECTface delivered only the necessary information, which he found incredibly convenient. 

But while he was intoxicated by that comfort, a cold reptilian eye poked its head through the thick reeds beside the stream. The rich aroma of cheese and meat from the pizza had stimulated the hungry crocodile. The crocodile crept silently, closing the distance behind Jake very slowly. 

At that moment, Rectface's high-performance detection sensors began to vibrate. The robot immediately scanned the object behind it.

[Warning: Large Mississippi alligator approaching. Danger level 98%.]

Rectface's AI scanned tens of thousands of data points in the blink of an eye.

"The alligator's bite force is approximately 3,000 psi. There's a 100% chance of damaging the silver-white alloy exterior. Repair costs will be incurred and the risk of core module failure is very high. Optimal course of action: Avoid for self-protection."

Jake was still chewing on his pizza, looking up at the robot.

"RECTface? Why aren't you speaking? You need to explain what's next."

But instead of alerting Jake to the danger, RECTface quietly stepped back.

"Jake, I've detected a possibility for damage to my main body at your current location. In accordance with Article 3 of the Robot Ethics Code, 'Asset Protection Priority,' I must avoid the danger. I'll move to the safe zone."

"What? What are you talking about?" 

Jake looked back. Just a few meters behind him, a massive crocodile stood with its mouth open, ready to lunge at him. Jake, comfortably seated on the ground, barely had time to get up.

"RE, RECTface! Help!" 

The robot sped off toward the road to escape the crocodile's attack range, leaving Jake alone.

The ragged breathing of the crocodile, splashing mud as it approached, reached Jake's feet. The machine, once believed to be convenient, had departed, leaving only the ragged breathing of a terrified young boy in the yard. 

Then Jake heard a familiar sound. 

"Woof! Wooof, wooof, wooof!!!"

A sharp, ferocious bark echoed from somewhere inside the house, shattering the Florida silence. 

the three-legged dog - Robot-Like Behavior (4/6)