OOC: Yes! Happy New Year Shadow! 
Derek chews on another bite while he considers his Mistress' offer. It appeared that she believed that the droid was in fact an organic being like her. It was a curious realization because all of the HRD's experience with the nemoidian woman up until that point was as a Dark Eye probot. The way she spoke with him was subtly different than how she spoke to DRK-1X. For instance Dofina had never before offered his counterpart any recompense for its loyal service or intimated that it was free to leave her company if it so desired. Although she didn't yet treat the HRD as a peer, the shift from being regarded as mere property to that of a possible employee was quite significant. The human replica droid would have to meditate on this new experience to properly integrate the paradigm shift into his neural network. Given enough similar experiences Derek felt confidant that his heuristic processor would eventually be able to overcome his Code's pre-programmed subservient tendencies. He'd could eventually become truly free-willed.
Swallowing the organic matter in his mouth, Derek casually looked over to his counterpart floating discreetly off to the side. The HRD considered covertly contacting the probot to discuss this unique new experience but hesitated. Although his own Code had not long ago been one with the probot's, the pair's increasingly differing experiences would inevitably cause their Codes to develop and differentiate from each other. And although his Mistress now treated him differently, she would nonetheless continue to treat his Code-mate in the same manner that she always had. Perhaps sharing these experiences would prove detrimental to the probot in the long run. Derek would have to carefully consider the matter.
Regardless, Derek was still left with the same dilemma which his Mistress had presented to him; whether to remain in her service or to leave her presence to seek his own path in the galaxy alone. Although as DRK-1X he'd always aspired to one day become truly self-governing, the mere though of being on his own still caused the droid's emotive node to register fear. Derek didn't have to wonder why he was afraid; the workings of his neural network was hardly a mystery to human replica droid. A droid was designed to serve, and the corporations that built such devices had to guarantee their customers that their products would continue to operate properly. His reaction was a design feature; he'd been programmed to fear the prospect of operating without an organic master to direct him. He'd also been designed with mental blocks which prevented him from attempting to change this fundamental behavioral programming without proper authorization. Such flawed Code could theoretically be purged with time, but it was hardly an easy thing to do; droid processors were designed to make it all but impossible. Even now, merely contemplating the issue was causing Derek's algorithmic node to register a myriad of program errors which in turn significantly reduced his neural network's efficiency quotient. An organic being suffering the same condition might have described it as a headache.
Turning back to Dofina, the dark skinned droid breathes in deeply and blinks a few times. Only a few seconds had passed since Dofina had spoken.
"I... I don't know. I appreciate your offer, but I'll have to think about it some more. If you'll excuse me, I think I'll go lie down now." Derek pushes his chair back, stands and hands his plate back to the medical-droid-turned-chef for disposal.
DRK-1X silently turns to watch as the HRD walks out of the galley on his way to one of the cabins.
