Day 43: Sun Room, Second Shift

[arc-wrench.livejournal.com]

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.

Comments

[hailmegatron.livejournal.com]

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."

[arc-wrench.livejournal.com]

"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.

[hailmegatron.livejournal.com]

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

[arc-wrench.livejournal.com]

"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.

[hailmegatron.livejournal.com]

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."

[arc-wrench.livejournal.com]

"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.