Byte Out-of-Life

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?"