damned_institute | Day 43: Sun Room, Second Shift

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Day 43: Sun Room, Second Shift

When the shift changed, HK stayed put. Even after a long night of zombie killing, he had no interest in meatbag fuel, especially after all the discussion of chocolate with that rather strange meatbag. It was just making him crave the stuff even more than he had previously, if that was possible.

Oh, right. He was supposed to be looking for someone who was "VERY LARGE, WITH DARK HAIR." And also seemed to not know what lower-case letters were on the bulletin. As if that would help. He'd seen a likely candidate last shift, but talk of chocolate had distracted him.

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HK had to wrestle down his programming for a moment while Lugnut talked. Yes, this might be treason against the Sith Empire and his master. But only temporary treason.

"Statement: I would very much like to aid the Decepticons. I have only been online for three years, but I have amassed a kill count of over five hundred since my construction. I do not want to do nothing beyond random acts of violence when there are important things that could be done." Of a very important and thing-y nature that HK hadn't the foggiest idea what they were.

Five hundred kills in three years was impressive-- that was at least one kill every 2.19 days, assuming a human calender or something similar. Not even as a gladiator had Lugnut managed quite that many, or anywhere near as often.

Lugnut near beamed at HK-47, in his own muted way.

"The Decepticons can always use an able chassis and willing spark," he declared, rather grandly, and gestured towards the bulletin board. "But you will have to speak with Lord Megatron for official alliance, or to join our faction."

"Statement: I am most certainly willing and able. I already offered my services as an assassin against this Starscream that has caused so many problems." Starscream, who HK had already met, and was... confused by. He seemed to have all the manipulative abilities and love of backstabbing of a good Sith, and none of the tact. He didn't know how such an individual could continue to exist for so long, unless someone just wasn't killing him whenever these issues came up. Which certainly made no sense to him.

"Lord Megatron said he would be in contact with me, as of two days ago." It felt a little unnatural to refer to anyone but his master by a title like that, but this was for a good cause!

Lugnut approved all the harder at HK-47, eyes glinting. "Starscream," he echoed with all manner of hate in his voice, before continuing, "is not a good example of a Decepticon. He is a disloyal blasphemer, and deserves the most painful death imaginable." He nodded firmly.

"And I cannot imagine what has delayed him in letting you join our ranks, HK-47; you will make a spectacular Decepticon."

"Statement: I have already aided in the bringing of agonizing death to traitors before, and have relished those moments and the memories of their agony. I hope I can be of service if it is decided that Starscream should be terminated." The last and most prominent example was of course his master's apprentice, but the master had dealt with him personally. HK had just stayed on the sidelines, killing everything that might turn into an interruption of the process.

"Gratitude: Thank you. I will continue to hopefully wait in the meantime." No matter how dysfunctional the Decepticons sometimes seemed here, HK wanted to get as far away from the real meatbags here as possible. It was just too cruel to his sanity to continue having to exist like this!

"Statement: Before I came here, I had a master that I followed with absolute loyalty. Now that I am here, without standing orders, I would prefer to find someone who can act as my master until there comes a time that I can return to my maker, as my programing dictates I must do if I am physically capable."

Absolutely glowing, Lugnut enthused, "Your assistance will be greatly appreciated, if Lord Megatron ever gives the order to eliminate Starscream. And if you wish, I could ask him to consider you?" If ever Lugnut had sounded gleeful, it was now.

At the suggestion HK-47 made, Lugnut nodded enthusiastically. "Lord Megatron is a great leader; he will not lead you astray if you serve him properly."

"Affirmative: That would be a great help." Just for once in this place, everything was going as planned! ...And HK actually had a plan so that everything could go as planned!

"Statement: I have also been considering measures that could be taken to trick my programming into allowing a new individual to take over as my permanent master while my maker still lives. I think I have found a way to do this, and if it becomes an option, it will mean that I can serve with absolute loyalty." He still hadn't made up his mind. And he felt terribly guilty about even considering it. But as soon as he'd found out about what to him were basically giant droid Sith, he couldn't help but entertain thoughts on the subject.

Eagerly leaning towards HK-47, Lugnut replied, "Megatron rewards loyalty greatly, and with great trust. How would you manipulate your... programming?"

"Explanation: My programming dictates that I must serve a master until one of several events: First: The death of my master. Once the death has been confirmed, I am required to shut down, and seal all memories of my previous masters within an auxiliary memory core. Upon restart, the first individual who claims ownership of me will become my master. Second: I am returned to the possession of my maker. At this point, I default to my maker as master, and all inaccessible memory cores are unlocked. At present, it is unlikely that my maker would be an issue, as Darth Revan is still most likely within my home dimension. Third: In the event that I am physically unable to return to my master, whether by damage or total inaccessibility of transport, I am required to undergo the same shut down protocol as detailed in the first scenario," HK listed off, barely pausing to breathe in between long sentences.

"Hypothesis: If I were to become convinced that return to my master is impossible, then the third scenario's programming will activate and I will be required to come into the possession of a new master. While my programming still remains intact, the lack of auxiliary memory cores within this meatbag chassis likely means that in the event of this protocol becoming active, my memories will not be locked, and therefore I will retain all my current functionality and data I have acquired through the successful termination of all the targets I have been sent against previously." Which would be nice. He'd spent most of his existence as the droid equivalent of an amnesiac, and it had been very irritating at the time, not knowing who was to blame.

Lugnut blinked at the explanation, squinted a little, and declared, "That is the most ridiculously useless programming I have ever heard of. Who thought it a good idea to strip you of your experience whenever you would need it most to survive?" Doubtless an organic. No robot would ever think of something so foolish.

He shook his head and added, "But if you are right about your memory not being affected by a change of allegiance while in that organic body... my liege can be quite convincing. I do not believe he would have trouble helping you join us."

"Statement: A meatbag. However, it ensures that all classified information obtained during the course of my duties remains secure and cannot be tampered with by any other party." Unless his master was particularly good with repairing droids, but even then, the final triggered locks on his memory core could not be removed through any means beyond their genuine activation. "In the meantime, I am often mistaken for a civilian model until my master makes direct inquiries as to my full capabilities. It can be very, very boring during those times." And embarrassing. He was an assassin droid, not a... well, there were too many things he wasn't to list out, really.

"Affirmative: I am quite sure that my memory core will remain unaltered. I have been actively suppressing the protocol's activation for some time now, so it will likely take little direct effort to trigger it." That was the first time he'd admitted it out loud. His master was completely out of his reach, but he'd wanted to hold out hope that he might escape and return to his master's side. "Advisement: I have told no one of this fact before now, out of fear that I might become the possession of another meatbag. Or worse, a pacifist." HK didn't grimace, but his eyes took on a fleeting pained look at that concept.

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Day 43: Sun Room, Second Shift

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