Shepherd and the Wolf

Bunny ears and protective drones, what's not to like?

~>bzzt Hey boss! Ill intent bearing 315.. coming' at you fast! bzzt<~
"Good job, Shepherd. Can you check that out, Wolf?"
~>hft THEE hft<~
"what?"
~>hft it's THE Wolf, I told you that already or is your fragile little brain too small to remember that? hft<~
"seriously? You want to do this now? You don't call someone THE when you're addressing them? THE is used when referring to someone in the third person, and is used to indicate one of that thing in particular. You still have a lot to learn about speaking American... Damn it, Wolf! You distracted me. Go check out that incoming hostile... THREE ONE FIVE."
~>hft You still have a lot to learn. he says.. nya nya nya... As if a fleshbag like you could teach me... what if I WANT to be called THEEE Wolf ? ..... stupid human... Hey Shep, is he correct? hft<~
~>bzzt It's ShephERD, Wolf, and yes, he's correct. Incoming hostile is getting closer. bzzt <~
"You know I can hear you both, right?"
~>hft whatever. On it. hft <~

Both Shepherd and the Wolf are autonomous AI drones. They were capable of accepting direct commands from the operator at one time, but their built-in security feature made them incapable of accepting commands from anyone without proper authorization codes. Those codes have been lost along with the reconaissance team who brought them here. As a result, the current owner/operator must work with them more as teammates than as a controller.

Mechanics & Inner Workings

Shepherd hovers around a target that can be either the operator or another designated creature, never wandering more than a few meters from it. It constantly scans the surroundings of its target and is capable of psionically detecting hostile intent towards the target as well as detecting poisonous foods and liquids when asked.
The Wolf hovers around the operator and keeps a much greater distance (about 10 meters) which can be made greater or smaller at if the operator asks. When Shepherd detects hostile intent, the Wolf will attempt to hover around the originator of that intent, observing it, keeping its distance and marking its location. Wolf is equipped with both light and sound emitters so it can act as a beacon or to harass its target. Ingrained self-preservation prevents it from doing so unless it does not feel threatened.
The owner/operator of the pair is capable of remotely sensing anything either can sense by expending some personal power to establish the connection. They are equipped with senses of sight, hearing and smell.
Both drones are utterly silent in operation, however, they do create air currents when flying and hovering. They are dark grey.
The headset serves as both the operator's interface with the drones as well as their storage location when they are at rest. The 'ears' on top of the headset are the antennae for each of the drones respectively. Communication with Shepherd and the Wolf can occur mentally when the headset is worn. (yes, mental communication with a machine AI is definitely the realm of Techno-wizardry)
Due to the nature of these devices, they can not be controlled as if they were remotely operated. Rather, they each are equipped with an autonomous AI. The operator/owner can not issue commands as such, but can talk with them and they will usually do what is asked. Shepherd will constantly scan the surroundings of the target while the Wolf will scout about, often discussing what it sees with the operator. The owner/operator can activate them at will by expending the necessary power and can withdraw them at will, at which time they will return and reattach to the headset and go inactive.
Note: The headset can be integrated with all forms of personal armor, even full environmental armor, but not power armor.

Manufacturing process

The Technowizard who repurposed the two drones into Shepherd and the Wolf had incredible talent. Since their batteries had been drained, she converted them to recharge using arcane energy and equipped them with the additional abilities they now have.
As part of the techno-wizard conversion, each AI has been unlocked from its core programming and given its own purpose. Shepherd's purpose is to protect a single target while The Wolf's purpose is to harass threats to that target. This gave rise to the spontaneous development of personality, an indication of just how advanced the technology was that originally built them. As they are newly aware, their personalities are still a bit malleable; but Shepherd comes across as a overly attentive older sibling, trying to act cool and knowledgeable but unable to hide its deep concern for its target; while the Wolf strives to look as good as possible, seeking attention and praise and unwilling to acknowledge any weaknesses.

Item type

Unique Artifact

Current Location

North America

Rarity

Unique

Weight

Each drone weights about 0.25 kg (about 0.5 lbs), the headset weighs about the 0.5 kg (about 1 lb)

Dimensions

The entire set is about the size and shape of a large set of headphones with rabbit ears and an HUD. The drones sit on the sides.

Raw materials & Components

Shepherd and the Wolf were originally observation drones used by a reconnaissance force from a highly advanced society in another galaxy. The scouts did not survive their time on Rifts Earth, having been stranded after their Rift home closed behind them.
The team made friends with a talented techno-wizard who would eventually augment the drones for her own use after the team's passing.