Ask Programming Loyalty

[Max Dram]

BONJAN'S BARGAINS
Jakku, 11.00hrs local time​

The place was a dump. Max strode across the sand, non-descript military fatigues giving no real hint of his Imperial allegiance. He could handle himself anywhere, particularly in a lowlife swamp like Jakku, but it rarely made sense to draw unnecessary attention.

The shopfronts - if you could call them that - were ragtag and rather pathetic, their owners even more so. Still, people he trusted had assured him you could come across rare finds here, among the stock less picked over than that on Raxus Prime or more notable Rim worlds like Tattooine.

His goal was a rare find indeed. A HK model a contact of his had told him about only three days past - a rare example of a unit that could be just what he needed.

"HumON! HumON! Come look at Bonjan's collection - you will like!"

Max was about to ignore him, but the sign above the door was indeed the one he'd been told to look out for.

"You have a HK model?" the Lieutenant asked, keeping his voice low "HK?"

Bonjan's eyes went wide in comprehension. "Yes yes! This way HumON! HK is in the yard, you see how well he works! Come come!"

Max followed the creature inside, nose wrinkling but hazel eyes scanning like a hawk. This unit better be all it promised.

@Nor'baal

 

[HK-24]

He was imprisoned.

Of this HK was sure. Ever since he was reactivated and reset, he had been unable to move and communicate beyond simple phrases - unable to be who he was programmed to be! HK knew why; the restraining bolt affixed to his chest acted as a set of chains. He yearned to be set free, to have the bolt removed, be reunited with his weapon and show that good-for-nothing scrap dealer that lauded it around the place, who was really the boss.

But no.

At present all he could do was stand, statuesque, and respond to verbal questions when posed to him.

But wait?

He heard something in the distance. The shopkeeper talking to someone new, a voice he had not heard, clipped and with imperial tones, doing his best to keep his voice low - Pah! As if HK would be fooled by such designs. He listened to it. It was him he wanted! Had it been able to smile, the droid would have done so - for this, surely, was his path to freedom? He straightened up, and looked as imposing as he could muster, waiting for the customer to come and see his prospective new purchase.[/size]

 

[Max Dram]

Bonjan led Max through a dusty, dimily lit workshop and out into a central courtyard. Much of the place was a disorganised sea of junk, but there had been a weak attempt to arrange certain models around the perimeter so they could be viewed by customers.

The Lieutenant scanned the goods on offer as they walked, hazel eyes looking them up and down with a predator's glare. He saw the HK chassis before Bonjan pointed it out and was already sizing it up when the gluttonous fellow began his sales pitch.

"Tis a mighty fine unit HumON. Best processor, full translation, classic design and very rare these days!"

Max said nothing, peering at the droid. It was the model he was after, but Bonjan was still exaggerating as was his nature. The HK had a good processor, arguably unique, but a little dated without an upgrade. Their translator units were high spec, but still had their limits, and all the HKs had long histories by now. There was no telling what damage this unit had taken along the way and it remained to be seen if it was fit for Max's needs.

"What is your designation and purpose?" the Lieutenant asked, addressing the droid rather than Bonjan. It was time to start the conversation that actually mattered.

@Nor'baal

 

[HK-24]

For a moment HK was stunned. Finally, after all this time someone had come to liberate him from his prison, and enable him to return to his natural arena, one of assassination and violence. Had he not been restrained, he would have jumped for joy. Keen to not ruin the moment he had been waiting for, he weighed his reply to the man's question, trying to suss out what purpose he desired the droid he sought to purchase to have.

He had the cut and stance of a military man, presenting himself as if ready for action, and obviously keenly aware of his surroundings. Making the judgment call that the man was looking for a military-grade droid, HK decided to be honest and answered accordingly. "Statement: This unit is designated for combat, assassination and espionage." he replied flatly, hoping beyond hope that he had not massively misread the situation.

 

[Max Dram]

Mas smiled thinly at the droid's response. They were certainly the words he was looking to start with. It was always possible some braindead past owner could have repurposed the HK for lesser things and he was glad that hadn't happened. It would cost far too many credits to reverse.

"If you come and work for me, you will address me as Sir" he told the droid. "I have need of a unit proficient in combat, assassination and indeed espionage, but I require absolute loyalty. Define your loyalty and service protocols".

Max motioned to Bonjan to adjust the parameters of the restraining bolt if necessary so the HK could respond in full.

@Nor'baal

 

[HK-24]

HK felt good as the restraining bolt was altered slightly so as to allow him to respond in full. "Statement: This Unit has24-series loyalty programming, which links the Unit to a named biological or organizational master, to whom the Unit owes absolute and complete loyalty, following each and every command bar self-termination." he replied cooly as if reeling off a script.

"Addition: This Unit currently does not have a master, however once programmed, loyalty and service protocols will be assigned to that master until the master's termination in combat, by illness or at the conclusion of their biological lifespan." he confirmed

 

[Max Dram]

Max didn't much enjoy hearing about his own biological lifespan, but the rest of the HK's answer was good, very good indeed. The Lieutenant nodded to Bonjan to confirm they had a deal and for him to take the necessary steps. He turned back to the droid as the merchant busied himself.

"Very well, then you and I can proceed clanky. Open programming loyalty settings and standby for reset and initialisation".

The Lieutenant reached inside the neck of his collar and pulled out his dog tags on their chain, bearing his name, rank and service number. "Set master to Maximus Escalion Dram, rank Lieutenant, service number 47110 Imperial Defence Force".

He looked the droid up and down expectantly. "Confirm?" The thing might need all manner of other information to complete it's initial set up.

@Nor'baal

 

[HK-24]

Almost as quickly as the programming started, it was over. HK had a new master, an Imperial master too! He stood up a little more straight and turned to face the shopkeeper, a malignant look about him as he almost squared up to the man.

"Request: Input kill order, Master." he stated flatly, his voice never leaving the base monotone which it was programmed with. Oh! How he prayed the Master would give him the command to end this miserable shopkeeps puny existence - what glee it would give him to do so.

"Statement: This Unit also requires it weapons back." he added, pointedly, as he stared at the shopkeeper, hoping the man had not already sold of HKs beloved firearm.

 

[Max Dram]

When the HK unit confirmed, straightening and turning its malice on the shopkeeper, Max knew they were going to get along just fine. More than that, the combat droid's mechanical fervour brought out an impulsive streak in the Lieutenant, an inner fire from his days on Adumar often kept in check by Imperial protocol.

"Give the droid its weapons" he instructed Bonjan. The merchant did not look convinced and made some remark about paying extra, but Max silenced him with a look. No one bought a HK without armament and Bonjan knew it.

The big oaf waddled off and came back with a rifle and one or two other bits, reluctantly passing them to HK-24.

Max waited a moment for those metal fingers to find their old strength, wondering if it was possible for the droid to feel the same sense of power he felt with a weapon in his hands.

Then he spoke, hazel eyes flashing hungrily. "Kill him HK, kill him now".

@Nor'baal

 

[HK-24]

As the rifle was placed into his metallic hands, HK-24 renewed his sense of purpose and direction. He clenched the weapon, targeting reticles and ammunition counts glinting into being in his view. The foolish shopkeeper had handed him his weapon and had yet even to bother to check if the ammunition clip was loaded. Regrettably, for the shopkeeper, it was.

When the instruction came in to terminate the organic, HK-24 was only too happy to comply. Quickly, his former jailor slammed his fist into HK-24s torso, an act of self-defence that would cost the man dear. His fist practically crumpled against HKs tough metallic exterior, the droid compensating for the impact with ease and bringing his rifle to bear on the man.

He fired a single shot through the man's neck, causing him to drop to the floor. The heat of the blast cauterised the wound as it passed through him - the shopkeeper couldn’t even scream. ”Statement: Mission Accomplished, Master.” HK returned his rifle to a guard position, holding it upright with his right hand ”Query: Shall we proceed?”

With a new master and having been reunited with his weapon - HK-24 followed the Imperial out of the shop and on to the next mission.

/exithread