Out of the Frying Pan... (d20 Star Wars)

[Ambrus]

"Statement: The architecture of my heuristic neural network is modeled in part on organic thought processes and are designed to emulate the means by which organics experience and adapt themselves to their environment. You are therefore familiar with the process even if you are not consciously aware of being subject to it yourself. It is commonly called 'learning'.

The hologram fluctuates and distorts momentarily as Felia waves her hand through it before reforming. DRK-1X doesn't react to the movement except to say: "Statement: I will accept your offer of a stalemate. Inquiry: Would you like to play again or perhaps try a different game? Statement: I can also project other forms of sensory entertainment for your viewing pleasure if you wish." Over the next few seconds the boards and pieces shifts several times to display other possible game configurations.

In response to her last question, DRK-1X says in its monotone whisper-soft voice: "Statement: If the circumstances permit, I sometimes interface, speak or correspond with other heuristic droids and artificial intelligences to discuss subjects of mutual interest.

 

[Kemrain]

"Okay, two things," she starts, putting the thought of another game aside for the time being. "First, what sorts of things would droids find of interest, and second, why do you keep telling me what sort of thing you're going to say before you say it? I can pick up on your intentions without it, I'm pretty sure most people could, and you don't seem to have any difficulty parsing what I'm saying without me doing it..." She trails off for a moment before asking, "So what's its purpose?"

 

[Ambrus]

Statement: I personally enjoy discussing such subjects as technology, programming, psychology, philosophy and spirituality. My diminutive chassis size dictated the selection of commercially available vocabulator units which could be successfully installed within my housing. The economically pragmatic model selected for me does not have a data buffer of sufficient size to allow for the use of inflections, emphasis and other nuances of organic spoken speech. Consequently the designers of my vocabulator's programming judged that it was necessary to include qualifying precursors to the vocabulator's spoken speech to ensure that less astute listeners could fully understand the speaking droid's intentions. I continue to use them because Mistress Dofina has never indicated a desire for me to stop. If you wish, I will discontinue their use while speaking to you.

 

[Kemrain]

"Oh, I don't care. I just wanted to make sure you had a good reason. And, between you and me, I doubt your mistress would even notice if you stopped doing it around her."

Felia sighs, getting up and heading over to the pull-out washing station. "We can play another game in a little bit," she tells the droid as she heads away from it, pulling the privacy screen shut and nearly hitting Femi with it.

Behind the screen she washes off the dirt and grime of Taris, washing her clothing as well. Once clean, or as clean as she can manage with such meager facilities, she begins the process of skin oiling, to keep it from getting dry and cracked.

About 30 minutes later she comes back out, cleaned, oiled, and dressed, giving the water recyclers a hefty task. She sits down in the pilot's seat, after brushing it off, and looks back to the droid.

"Let's play again, and you don't need to go easy on me this time."

 

[Ambrus]

The diminutive probe droid turns its top sensor pod to regard the female as she gets up and walks away. In response, the holographic game-board vanishes as the diminutive probe droid's external holoprojector pod lens dims.

Cognitive Processing
Deactivate holoprojector unit.
Heuristic Node: The unidentified female human now appears relaxed.
Emotive Node: Sympathy 37.3%; Curiosity 29.3%; Uncertainty 19.4%; Pleasure 13%.

While left alone to pilot the ship, DRK-1X occupies itself by exploring the inner workings of the Geth Hound's navigational computer and external sensor readings of hyperspace while meditating upon the curious exchange it just experienced with the inquisitive female human. When she returns to the pilot's chair 34 minutes later, the droid immediately responds to her order for another game.

Cognitive Processing
Upload archival recreation data files 12634-12679 to holoprojector data buffer 23G.
Upload data vocabulator data buffer 18E.

DRK-1X's external holorecorder pod swivels and its lens begins to glow a bright blue as a abstract transparent game board in a standard holochess configuration with playing pieces appears before Felia. The board begins to slowly rotate horizontally. Request: Please select difficulty setting; novice, journeyman or master. Inquiry: Would you like to move first?

 

[Kemrain]

Wondering whether the droid didn't understand or simply didn't acknowledge her comment about not needing to go easy on her, she smirks and replies, "Let's see what master translates to. I guess I can go first this time." Offering her first move to the droid, she sits back, watching its holoprojector glow.

"So how long have you worked for Dofina?" she inquires, arching an eyebrow while she contemplates her next move.

 

[Ambrus]

In response to her statement the game board ceases to rotate once the row of light pieces is in front of Felia. Acknowledgment: Setting; master. On the holographic board a tiny glowing game piece moves according to Felia's instruction. Without a pause, an opposing piece slides forwards to challenge the first piece. In its whisper-soft voice the droid responds "Report: I have served Mistress Dofina for the past 6 years, 8 months, 17 days, 13 hours and 27 minutes."

 

[Kemrain]

She gives a new game piece and set of coordinates, watching both the board and the droid.
"What?" she asks, her smirk growing, "No seconds?" Before giving the droid time to respond she continues, "How does she treat you, and what does she have you do for her?"

 

[Ambrus]

The tiny glowing game pieces continue to shift as Felia gives instructions for a second piece to protect her first. Immediately DRK-1X's challenging piece eliminates the first piece but leaves itself vulnerable to Felia's second piece. In its whisper-soft voice the droid responds "Report: When reporting to organics, I have learned that it is rarely appreciated for me to describe a period of time with a more precise unit of temporal measurement than the nearest minute unless reporting on events of immediate urgency. Report: Mistress Dofina has utilized me to aid her in her endeavours and to protect her interests. Statement: Your second question requires further parameters for me to formulate an appropriate value judgement. Request: Please clarify your question. "

 

[Kemrain]

"Does she treat you well, I mean. I don't suppose that she would, given how she treats other people. Then again, she's expressed less of her usual disdain towards you than to anyone else I've witnessed. From what I've seen, you're the closest thing to her equal on this ship, in her eyes."

She sighs, continuing to play.

"Do you have any idea what she's planning for me? Somehow I don't suspect I'll like it."