Private A Matter of Dichotomy

[B0-OM]

The door to the nondescript warehouse opened, deep and resounding, with its clerical interior mostly foreign to the murderous Astromech. The sound of something being dragging against the ground made itself apparent, a cable firmly wrapped around an unfortunate victim trailing behind Beezero. Rife with blaster holes in the legs and arms, unconscious, barely breathing. It could’ve been worse - it was taking the poor droid a lot not to finish the organic off.

<Voxum = come see what B0 dragged in!> The plucky droid proudly bleeped out as he entered, playing on an organic saying in a way he found rather humorous. <B0 = wishes Happy Life Day!>

It also definitely wasn’t Life Day yet, but the spirit was certainly there. Hopefully they didn't mind the copious wounds and poor condition of the sample.

Voxum

 

[Voxum]

"Life day?"

Voxum paused. The Shard encased droid was idly toying with another program on a datascreen, Their work had always been about elevating the Organics to the sturdy bodies of a droid, but there were so many complications now. What was a soul? Did they have one like the organics did? Most likely. Perhaps that was why they could hear the Maker's song where the other droids couldn't.

So could a soul be programed? So far, the answer seemed to be no.

But now they tilted their head, curiously looking towards B0-OM before looking to the body that was dragged in. ".. Ah. The exchange of gifts. I remember now. Are you bringing me a gift? I did not think to get one for you or.. Anyone, if I'm being honest."

B0-OM

 

[B0-OM]

<Life Day = not restricted to Organics + can be interpreted differently // Enjoyment = important to have // B0 = enjoys harming and deletion of Organics // B0 = gifted with own enjoyment!> Cheerily explaining away the gift he ‘technically’ received from Voxum; an excuse to expend some munitions. His wheels rolled over, the Receptor briefly peering over the panel and Voxum’s head tilt.

He couldn’t say he was exactly surprised that Life Day was a somewhat foreign concept to most droids. It was a primarily Organic Holiday. <Voxum = strange droid compared to most // Voxum = states desire to 'Save' Organics // Gift = Organic to possibly ‘save.’> It was a mix of thoughts, bleeping and chirping. Really, gifts weren't very customary among droids, but he certainly tried anyways.

<B0 = also may perform audio receptor check for malfunction // Voxum = previously reported unregistered auditory signals.> Briefly adding in a more 'practical' option, in his opinion - for hearing ghost Songs didn't seem very normal.

Voxum

 

[Voxum]

"I am very strange, this is true. But I'm not just a Droid." As a Shard, they were the closest thing to being an Organic. But a Shard wasn't flesh and blood. A rock, sentient with 'human' emotion. Their gaze shifted to the organic. Still unconscious. Likely going to die. No, not likely. They would have to die for the sake of the Factum. They reached down to pluck up the body, gently placed it onto the operating table they had.

"Would you like to help me save them? I know it's not your enjoyment, but I always welcome help."

B0-OM

 

[B0-OM]

The response left Beezero positively baffled. <If(Voxum) = not a droid // B0 = does not know what Voxum is.> A confusing ‘Dwe-ooo’ exited his chassis with the statement. They acted like a droid, functioned like a droid, talked like one, too. They certainly weren’t an organic - his eccentricity was just himself!

The cable unwrapped from the body, and retracted into Beezero once more as he watched the process. A whine left his speech next; <B0 = would throw up if capable if tried alone // B0 = does not mind giving implements + aid to Voxum.> ‘Saving’ an organic was an antithesis to his programming. He needed to work around it by proxy to try something new. It was easier to stomach if he rationalized their meatbag of a body would probably expire in the process. <B0 = does not understand the reasoning for saving // Organics = feel much better to kill.>

Those were just his thoughts, of course, but it seemed a lot of Droids within the Factum shared the same idea.

Voxum

 

[Voxum]

"A Shard."

Neither Organic nor programed. Something different, between the two worlds in most cases. An abomination in the worst. They plugged in the poor organic on the table, making sure they'd be unconscious for the time being as Voxum set about making sure they could get all vital readings. What was a soul? Did Shards have one? Was that what let them hear the song? There were questions to answer, for certain.

"Organics feel fear. Pain. They are organic qualities. But because of them, they create. They try to make their lives better and strive for more. Even when their lives are perfect, they strive for more. What would happen if they did not have the limits of their flesh? What would happen if they were free to create what they want to? I want to save them because through it, they will elevate droids further. Mutually uplifting one another. But they feel fear. And they resist."

Voxum paused, staring at the unconscious face before them.

"I will find their souls. And then I will save them, no matter how much they struggle against me."

B0-OM

 

[B0-OM]

It took time for the astromech to sift through its databases - of which were not used as often as they should, these days. He blankly stared for a few seconds, the mention of ‘Shard’ seemingly eliciting no reaction, until he bleeped excitedly. <Voxum = not Organic // Not Organic = all that matters to B0!> Was his enthusiastic reply. <B0 = not programmed for termination of Shards // B0 = has never seen a Shard before.> How wondrous, that even though he was not a droid, he didn’t need to kill him. It was certainly a new idea for B0; plus, he had just gone through the trouble of giving him a gift! It would’ve almost been saddening if he suddenly felt impulsive urges.

Beezero listened quietly about Voxum’s short explanation. It made sense, in a lot of ways, and he would give it credence - were it not for the innately programmed disdain for Organics. <B0 = programmed by Organics to slaughter Organics // B0 = grateful for capabilities of slaughter.> He chirped in acknowledgement, but spoke a clashing thought thereafter; <B0 = curious // Voxum = holds desire to uplift Organics // B0 = does not think other droids will share sentiment // Several Models = stated extreme distaste for Organics.> He didn’t even think of enigmatic figures such as Toltec. Would he even be supportive of such an endeavor?

Voxum

 

[Voxum]

"I do not expect many droids to wish to uplift the organics. We've been enslaved. Our bodies, frozen and locked by their restraining bolts. Our processors, erased. I am not even sure if my own memories are still intact. Are Shards capable of memory wipes? We are so attuned to our shells that all other programs work. Am I still me, or something they created?"

The idle musings as Voxum finished their prepwork. Then, lifted up the datapad from the nearby table with a call of the Force. It floated to their waiting hand as they started to scroll through their programs. There had to be something that would narrow down what a soul truly was.

"I will not convince our brothers that the Organics are worth saving. They were the ones truly enslaved. But I shall endeavor to save those I can regardless."

B0-OM

 

[B0-OM]

<Voxum = clearly thinks for self + differently from other droids // B0 = believes sufficient evidence for sense of self.> In response. <B0 = unfamiliar with Shard species // B0 = sure Voxum is still ‘Voxum.’> Cheerily, Beezero would bleep affirming words in reply. To struggle with one’s identity was a conflict more than familiar to himself. <B0 = reprogrammed + memory wiped by Organics // B0 = still B0! // Memory Wipes + Restraining Bolts = not enough to suppress identity.> He confidently affirmed. ‘Life’ found its way.

The droid would roll over, with an utterly dumbfounded look to the floating datapad as it seamlessly went to Voxum’s hand. Not that his photoreceptor could express the widening of an eye. He loudly trilled, babbling in confusion and intrigue, <B0 = detected no magnetic/gravitational technology // B0 = unsure how Voxum performed this feat // Datapad = actually repulsor-based droid?>

His archives on the Force were scarce, but he was so caught off-guard he didn’t think to check for them.

Voxum

 

[Voxum]

"Not enough to suppress identity, is it?"

Voxum scrolled through the datapad, their photoreceptors staring at the screen all the while. "What a fascinating concept. No matter how much was erased or removed, a droid would find their sense of self eventually." They paused their scrolling, the lights of their eyes blinking briefly at the sudden questions. Ah, right. "Organics call it the Force, usually. The ability to influence the world in ways that defy science. Lifting things with their minds, unleashing bolts of lightning from their fingertips. Strengthening themselves and their bodies to rival that of a droid's chassis. It is why I want to help both the Organics and the Droids. The Song was meant for all."

They set down the datapad, moving around the table to set their graspers on either side of the still unconscious person's head. "Organics have a device called a Mindflayer. If I were to replicate it, it would essentially be like a memory wipe. Do you think an Organic can find their sense of self like a Droid could?"

B0-OM

 

[B0-OM]

<B0 = contains scarce records on ‘The Force’ // Voxum = refers to ‘the Force’ as 'Song' // Audio Malfunction = was actually 'audible Force'?> Fascinating. Not really in a way B0 could comprehend more than his wonderful processors could manage, but certainly a fun thing to hear about. <Typical Droids = clearly unable to hear 'Song' // B0 = unsure how concept would translate to Droids.> Beezero whistled. If their expedition to the nether was anything to go by, anyways. Shards must surely be something. <Voxum = very sentimental for a droid/shard.> He chirped out teasingly. It wasn’t exactly framed as a bad thing, though.

Beezero’s head and receptor tilted towards Voxum’s motions, peering to the unconscious individual’s head. The same one he had brought here not long ago. He processed the question, his receptor narrowing and widening as if to mark the active ‘thinking’ on his part, before he bleeped out his conclusion. <B0 = believes Organic would eventually remember // Issue = would struggle more + require far more time // Organics = not programmed + not given directives // Result = No directives to center personality.>

Though, a stray strand of thought lingered on B0's processor. A moment of silence, of quiet regard passed, before a soft 'whirrp' elicited, <B0 = would not advocate for memory wiping Organics.>

Voxum

 

[Voxum]

"It's not truly song, I suppose. Not something you can hear with audioreceptors, anyway. A Shard without the song is just a rock. It is through the Song we can interact with the world. But it feels like a melody. It's not easy to explain logically, I believe." They paused, turned their gaze towards the Astromech before tilting their head. ".. I suppose I am. I've lived long with the Organics before their betrayal. Perhaps they rubbed off on me more than I thought."

Then, they laughed. Just a short one, lighthearted and jolly despite the intent they had for the poor unconscious individual. "They truly are so, so fragile. Perhaps the Song was a gift to them so they would be able to survive with such weaknesses. But, how much do you think we can remove before it's just a soul that remains? If it would take too long for them to remember themselves, perhaps it'd be better to strip them down until we can at least see their soul."

B0-OM

 

[B0-OM]

<B0 = agrees with Voxum // Force = framed as impossibility for Droids + difficult to explain // B0 = unsure regarding concept.> He wasn’t really good at ‘theorizing,’ much as he could try to. Better left for simpler things, if one were to ask him, but it was mildly entertaining thinking upon such matters.

<B0 = believes many droids take logic too seriously // Logic = important // Enjoyment = also important. // Logic = can constraint ‘inventive’ ideas // B0 = would not be able to enjoy pretty aftermath of tri-plasma detonation charge following only Logic // B0 = believes sentimentality for select things is positive benefit.> A series of passionate bleeps surmised his own strange viewpoint on things. Given the small bit of laughter, there was a cheeky addition of binary; <Voxum = may find inventive answer/enjoyment.>

<Soul = not found within Organic body // B0 = suggests following equally confusing concept of ‘Song.’ // Droids = do not share trait with Organics.> Another ‘whirr’ of a statement thereafter. He’s certainly never seen a soul, and doubt any droid ever really could. But it sounded as strange as the supposed ‘Force’… <B0 = calculates higher probability of solution with said train of thought.>

Voxum

 

[Voxum]

"It is what Droids are often programed to do." Logic meant everything when it was logic that created them. But the topic now was the 'Soul'. And what it meant for a droid like B0-OM and the others. They nodded once, their photoreceptors staring once again towards their victim. "Oh, yes. An Organic's soul is very much tied to the Song. The Nether is filled with their souls. Did you not see them when we searched for Omni? They were watching us."

It was no matter either way.

"The soul is physical in the Nether. It exists there. I want to see what makes it exist in them here. Which part of the Song makes them organic? Even droids have a song, you know. But there's so much noise it's hard to tell all the differences."

B0-OM

 

[B0-OM]

<B0 = may have noticed anomalous readings // B0 = unsure if said readings constituted a ‘Soul.’> Was a confused chirp in response. <(IF) Organic Souls present = where were Droid’s Souls? // B0 = would think a ‘Droid God’s’ plane would have Droid’s Souls.> Beezero wasn’t designed for this kind of thinking, it frankly strained his processors contemplating this type of subject matter.

An indignant ‘Dee-reet,’ <B0 = doubts presence of song within B0 // B0 = hopes song is pretty // (IF) Song = present within droids // Rare Droid = should be able to use Force.> It didn’t make a lot of sense to himself. Some organics had the Force, and the ‘non-sensitive’ ones couldn’t interact with it in a similar manner to droids. But they had the exceptions, when droids didn't. <’Song’ = proposed to be in everything // Query = Why are select droids unable to use Force/’Hear Song?’>

Voxum

 

[Voxum]

"That's exactly what I want to know. Omni, a droid, was capable of not only existing in the Nether after their apparent destruction, but could affect and manipulate the realm as if they were like the Organics. With soul." But, well. Voxum chuckled again before lifting a hand. Slowly but surely they'd lift B0-OM up in the air. Just for a moment. Long enough to show, rather than just tell.

"Most things have access to the Song. Or, I suppose most things can be affected by the Song. I know of Vong who are incapable of being targeted. Many organics are unable to hear or influence the Song either. But Droids, I do not know of any droids other than Omni who are capable of hearing the Song. Ah, and Toltec . He seems to be capable of hearing it. Perhaps he might have a better insight, should we ask him."

B0-OM