Life:
Byte whimpers, feeling his master's distress. A hand pets his car-mangled head. "Good boy!"
His circuits cut, the fire leaves Byte's eyes.
Master’s face turns away, tears falling. "Sorry kid."
*****
Afterlife:
"It's an odd case. I’m not sure."
Byte feels fire returning. Where is this? Glowing, winged beings converse, staring down at him, concerned faces morphing: now human, now robot, now dog.
"Compassion, self-sacrifice, intelligence... Fire is definitely in him. He has a soul. -- But where does he go now?"
"You know the law; if he's the first, he gets to build it."
"What? You mean a robot-dog heaven?"