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]

[Luke just keeps smiling.]

What do you think I'm suggesting?

[sparkwhisperer]

[He's trying so hard to be offended at this point.]

I think that you're trying to be purposefully contrary by suggesting that because the ship is mechanical and not sentient, that you should not be held accountable for knowing the where the line into an organism's self-awareness lies.

While in reality, yes the ship is in fact mechanical, but it has no consiousness. I may as well counter with the sentience of a human corpse. It has the means for sentience but in reality it is nothing but lifeless parts and therefore not a viable example.

[t65]

No, no- I wasn't saying that. I'm sorry. [He says it with genuine concern, attempting to mollify.] I was asking if the ship was sentient. How do you know it's not? You probably know better than I do.

[sparkwhisperer]

Oh...

[Tarn's anger diminishes even further.}

Well, no. The ship has most likely been created by an organic race for the soul purpose of transportation. It's just a vehicle; it requires a full crew and captains to navigate space.

[t65]

Hm... [Luke taps his stylus against the draft paper scattered along with metal detritus on his desk.]

But this ship is so big... it must have automated systems. Life support is probably run on a fully automated grid. Does that count? You can't say everything automated is sentient, anyway; I worked on vaporators that had automated storm protocols... I hope those weren't sentient. [What a terrible life, to be a moisture vaporator.] How automated is fully automated? Humans need doctors, and follow orders; we don't do everything ourselves.

[Luke. Luke. You're rambling, dude.]

I guess... what I'm saying is just what I said before. It's impossible to judge.

[sparkwhisperer]

[Tarn huffs a long suffering sigh]

So you say.

But does the ship have emotions? Thoughts? Automated systems have nothing to do with it, they are merely programed in.

[Tarn crosses his arms, tapping a clawed fingertip against his own plating]

Yes, sentient beings sometimes need to follow orders, but we also have thoughts of our own and sometimes make the executive decision to deny those same orders.

Do you understand?

[t65]

Oh!

[Luke perks up completely, smiling brightly.]

Then everything should be fine! I'm not going to put a personality matrix into the droids I'm making.

[sparkwhisperer]

[Tarn just stares at Luke as he perks up.] Very well then. [He's satisfied enough with the response. Simple AI coding is one thing, but it's a slipery slope.

He'll have to keep an eye on this human.

But, for now, Tarn is just too worn down by Luke's persistent optimism.]

I recommend that you keep it that way

[t65]

[Luke is severely tempted to say something like 'how do you know they're not sentient just because I didn't put a personality matrix in them', but that seems like he's pushing it with someone he promised to be careful around. He smiles instead and waves with his left hand.]

I promise! By the way, I'm Luke Skywalker. It's nice to meet you!

[sparkwhisperer]

[Tarn feels a bit strange about this.]

Tarn, Commander of the Decepticon Justive Division.

[What, is he supposed to say that it's a pleasure?

Instead he just sort of makes an uncomfortable grunting sound.]