[Video]

[k2so]

[When K-2SO show in the screen he's holding a giant white egg, head tilted. He has no proper features to show concern or confusion but his body language should be enough to give that away. In his shoulders, where the Empire emblem used to be, a bright orange Starbird can be seen instead.]

This thing showed up in the living-room, next to my recharge station. It also had a card with my name on it. I put it in the fridge but a few minutes later it when back to the living room, somehow.

Is this is how storks and babies work for humans? Because I think there's been a grave misunderstanding.

Comments

[k2so]

They gained a sentence and immediately wanted to kill their creators? That really is bringing your family issues to a whole new level. None of them is here, I take it?

[Garrus, plz. kay is not that easily offended, though. At least not hen it comes to serious matters, he can be pretty childish otherwise.]

It's fine. You have reasons to dislike them, I can not fault you for it. But no, I have no wish to hurt anybody.

[reachnotflexibility]

This was before my time, though, so I suppose I can't be completely certain, but that's what the reports said. And I've seen them first hand recently, and I can promise you that those were real bullets and missiles they were shooting at us.

[ He nods, glad that Kay understands without him having to make a show of it. ]

You'll have to remind me to ask Cassian how he did that with you. Turned you from a mindless killing machine into, well, you. If the Geth were more like that, then I think the whole conflict could have been avoided.

[ And it might not hurt to repurpose one and try to learn more about them. ]

[k2so]

I don't doubt it, I was just surprised. I haven't heard of the Geth before, I don't think they're here.

[He knows war and conflict too much to , and he chooses to be a jerk mostly when it's harmless, not when it can make people upset for real.]

Droids like me are hardened against hacking and Cassian is not exactly an expert programmer. What he did, that I do know, was change my Empire protocols so I didn't have to follow their orders. Some of my databanks are now half erased, others missing completely...without those limitations and with the ability to think for myself, my A.I. developed until it made me this charming fellow you know today.

[Cassian's reprogramming process basically goes as follows: grab the A.I. and butcher it until no longer wants to kill you.]

[reachnotflexibility]

[Garrus is a pretty good hacker himself, but to actually rewire the AI part? Sounds pretty expert to him.]

Hey, never said it had to be a precise hack. If there’s some damage done to them, no dirt off my shoulder. [Did he mention how much he hates the Geth?] I am curious how he managed to bypass the security protocols and reconfigure so much with no resistance. Normally there’s a lot of firewalls and what not to get through, and that’s before you take the hostile droid actively trying to shoot you into account.

[k2so]

[Garrus and Cassian should combine forces and see what happens.]

Asking Cassian directly would be a good idea, even though I'm not sure if he actually knows what he did. [Maybe once or twice, yes.] But there was resistance, my kind is hardened against intrusions.

[reachnotflexibility]

[That right there is too much power in the wrong hands.]

I'll be sure to shoot him a message, then. Have there been any problems since the new code was instilled? Any resistance to it?

[k2so]

He didn't exaclty install anything, he changed the existent code. There's always the possibility that the reprogramming could reverse itself. Interacting with troopers triggers my harcoded obedience instinct but I manage to suppress it.

[reachnotflexibility]

Hmmm.

[ It wouldn't do them any good to reprogram one just for it to turn on them. ]

How do you suppress it? Is there a code for that, or...?

[ Man he wishes Tali were here. This is much more her area. ]

[k2so]

How do you suppress your wish to gun down everyone? You just don't do it. [What a question, Garrus.]

In my case it happens with more or less difficulty sometimes. I do not kill randomly, if that's what worries you.

[reachnotflexibility]

It's not the same with you - you're an AI. So how do you do it? You said you were an enforcer droid before; I would imagine the desire to follow orders would be programmed in there pretty well; you said yourself that you had to suppress it. You said there was a possibility it could reverse itself; how do you keep it from doing that?

[That's a comfort, but not what he's going for.] I'm more worried about your original programming making you attack the person that reprogrammed you, so in this case Cassian or the Rebellion or whoever you two fight for now.

[k2so]

It's hard to explain. Usually I don't think about it, the reprogramming Cassian did is enough to smother the wish to act according to my old protocols. Cassian knows the risks too.

[And yet, even knowing Kay could turn on him unwillingly he still trusts the droid. That means a lot to Kay.]

If it's of any consolation, I don't want to hurt anybody, least of all Him.

[reachnotflexibility]

I know you don't. [He's joking when he refers to them as a couple, but he knows they're close.] I don't want to hurt you either. [He never thought the day he'd say that to an AI would come.] Just need to know if it's something I should be worried about. Or if we could potentially do something similar back home.

[He'd rather eat levo food than work with a geth, but there was so much they could learn from one.]

How long have you been like this?

[k2so]

That's...[Unexpected.]...thank you, Garrus. And no, you don't have to worry at all. Even if some of my old programming returned, nothing would compel me to hurt you.

Cassian reprogrammed me 9 years ago.

[reachnotflexibility]

Even if I were working to change you back? [He's pretty sure that would make him a target. Wouldn't blame you if you did then, though, since it wouldn't really be you.

Nine years and counting, huh? Sounds like he did a thorough job.

[k2so]

Now, the important question is...why would you want to do that? [It would but Kay would still try not to hurt him if he can incapacitate Garrus in some other way.]

Yes. Or he butchered my memory banks so badly there's nothing left to go back to. Pick your poison, they say.

[reachnotflexibility]

[Is that really a question?] Because you'd be a potential threat to others? Because you might try to shoot Andor? Or maybe just because you wouldn't be you if your original programming took back over.

[Butchered memory banks would come in handy, but that had to suck.]

You don't remember anything from before that?

[k2so]

...that was rhetorical. [Why you gotta be like this, Garrus.]

Not much. Bits and pieces. Enough to be sure I don't want to know.

[reachnotflexibility]

Oh. [Whoops. Note to self: AIs understand the concept of rhetorical questions.]

That's, uh, probably for the best, then. [Makes it harder for him to revert back.] So it's just been you and Andor for as long as you can remember, then?

[k2so]

Yes. [They're AIs. They understand all the things, bro.]

Yes, I think so too. [And the question, Kay nods.] I've worked alongside other Rebel teams but Cassian was always part of them.

[reachnotflexibility]

"Rebel teams?" Just how big is your rebellion?

[He had kind of assumed it was a pretty small thing that wasn't really a threat and that's why the government hadn't kiboshed it yet, but now he's not so certain.]

[k2so]

Not as big as it should be, considering the Empire controls most of the Galaxy. But growing in numbers as time go bye.

You need to understand that people has been suffering for decades, that's generation after generation of unhappiness. You can only stand it for so long until something snaps.

[reachnotflexibility]

You guys have been fighting for decades? That's either dedication or madness. Then again, if I were unhappy, I'd probably try to do something about it too.

Do you have a lot of planets in your galaxy?

[k2so]

No, the Rebel Alliance is a relatively new thing but the Empire had existed for that long. Madness...we like to call it 'hope'.

There are around 50-60 million inhabited systems that we know of. The Outer Rim territories are still mostly a mystery.

[The Galaxy is a pretty huge place.]

[reachnotflexibility]

[Damn that's a lot.]

I'm surprised that it took so long, then. And that you don't have more people on your side with that many planets.

How does the Empire rule over the Outer Rim area if they don't know much about it? Do they just assume they follow them?

[k2so]

[And those are only the ones that had been discovered! :D]

Some had been fighting for a long time, like the people in Onderon or Ryloth, but the Empire is strong and widely spread. Besides, they control the Trade Federation and could easily starve the population of whole planets by blocking their trade system.

The Empire has academies and they indoctrinate. Most planets side with them because it's better in the long run but some truly believe in what the Empire teaches because they had been brainwashed into it for years. Peace through tyranny.

They don't. They are expanding their forces on that side of the galaxy but the outer rim is mostly free of their control.