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]

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.]