x1 | video.

[t65]

[Hey, it's Luke Skywalker, sitting at his pastel desk. There's plenty of junk littered on it, mostly scraps of droid parts and tools, but the inquisitive observer will notice a few mystery vials of colorful chemicals, and a hypo of fast-penta scattered among the rubble.]

I noticed there aren't any service droids on the ship-- when I mentioned that to the captains, they said I should... make some? [Luke has a distinct look of 'what have I gotten myself into' on his face.] We definitely need some mouse droids and basic repair droids-- we already have good engineers, but this would help them out in a pinch. Do you think we need gonk droids?

[Well? Do you?]

Have you noticed any droids we could use? A 1B prototype couldn't hurt...

[That's right, request a droid, Luke might be able to make it for you eventually. He's serious. Though they probably won't have much in the way of lively personalities, who doesn't want a robot?]

Oh- and Doctor Yewll? Mr Banner? Ed? I know we discussed some kind of prosthetic... if I'm going to be making droids, I might need that sooner than later. [He kind of cringe smiles before cutting the feed.]

Comments

[t65]

I'll be right over.

Self-aware... [He's never heard droids described like that before.] Oh, no. We don't really need anything with a full personality matrix. Repair and labor droids follow simple orders, that's all.

[imaginary_wife]

Alright. Well. Be very careful with that. My own race was manufactured to be used as slaves.

We didn't react well to it.

But some simple minded automated repair drones that are treated well, I would much prefer.

[t65]

[Luke's brows shoot up in obvious surprise.] I- what? I would n- I wouldn't even know how to-

[Pull it together, Skywalker.]

W-well, I... I promise, that sort of thing won't be happening here. I'll only be putting in command interfaces, that's it; you have my word.

[imaginary_wife]

As long as you realize exactly what you're handling.

[It's a genuine caution from her, considering. A lot of people don't realize what they're getting into.] Because most of the artificial beings on this ship are actually people still. We would want anyone created here, any persons created here, treated with respect.

[t65]

You were cloned, or...? I mean, if you feel like talking about it.

[Luke considers it, frowning lightly.] Well, it sounds like you'd know better than me if I wasn't doing a good job. [Fondly, with an edge of teasing:] I bet you'll be the first to tell me.

[imaginary_wife]

In a way.

Indogenes were created with optimized DNA from several sample species, grown in vats. In a system where several different forms of technology developed on various different worlds, having an organic race that could adapt to almost any of that technology and act as a necessary conduit was a big plus. We're made of something malleable called "protoform", allows us to interface with any complex computer system. It's what I use to create the brain cells and new nerves that allow people to control their more complex prosthetics.

Manufacturing a little bit of the biotech that makes up Indogenes for the greater good.

But we're pretty good at adapting to living in other people's forms. We can doll ourselves up to look like any species we want to. Earned us the spiteful nickname "shape-changers" from our carnivorous creators.

So yeah, you'd better believe I'd bring it up.

[t65]

[Luke nods, suddenly serious.] Good. That's the sort of thing we're fighting against back home. [Well, sort of. It's bad, it's opressive, it's slavery-- in Luke's mind, that's close enough.] It's on everyone to make sure it doesn't happen here.