[video] un: k2so

[k_2so]

[A video! Of a DROID. A dark faced droid with white photoreceptors looking at his video feed. If droids could have facial expressions, his would be confused, or annoyed, or a bit of both really.]

Handy man. I was assigned to be a handy man at a place called Nuts and Bolts. What an absurd name for a business. If they understood my capabilities they would understand they are well above “Handy Man”. I am not some simple labor droid.

[He pauses his rant, head lifting and looking back and forth, before continuing to speak again.]

This situation is abnormal. The odds that they are lying however appear to be low. The situation I recorded last was ... not good, so this could be considered a vast improvement. I am, however, unfamiliar with some of the technology here. They could have at least equipped me with some upgrades instead of this communication device.

[What a string of complaints! Oh right, this device. He looked down to it again, stared, then lifted his other hand near it.]

I am K-2SO. I am looking for those who may understand the call sign of “Rogue One” ... which is also an absurd name.

That is all. [and he would cut the feed unless someone replies to this. The odds of someone replying are high. The odds of it being someone he actually knows are about middle ground. That, to him, is being optimistic and hopeful]

Comments

un: longshot

[andreios]

[ The part of Sam that thought he was human is hesitant to engage an unknown machine. The rest of him is curious to meet one who isn't a Cylon. ]

They made me a technician at a repair service. [ He offers a crooked smile. ] I guess they think we're only good for a specific kind of work.

[k_2so]

[Very clearly not a Cylon, whatever those are.]

I would be better suited as a technician in programming or even in defenses than a handy man. The simple connotation of "handy man" implies that I am only competent in a variety of small skills or inventive or ingenious in repair or maintenance work. Or... a person who does odd jobs.

I do not want to do "Odd Jobs". I can do much more than that.

[andreios]

I understand. I can do more than this too. Much more.

[ He shakes his head. ]

Maybe you could petition for something more suitable that would make better use of your skills. A ship this size has to need competent people.

text | un: v-nikiforov

[genice]

( He would have responded with video if he wasn't staring at the screen because that sure looks like a robot. That looks like a really awesome robot. THIS SCIENCE FICTION LIFE HAS LEVELED AGAIN!

It's a silly thing to be caught up in on some level, but it's also complicated; Victor settles on text in the end. )

Sorry to say that it's apparently all on purpose that we're given work that has nothing to do with any capabilities we do or don't have. Apparently, life on ship runs much more smoothly when everyone's thrown blindly into the mix. Everyone of the crew I spoke with over the last few weeks has reiterated how it used to be different, but that was apparently more of a disaster.

Welcome, for what that's worth! Nice to meet you, K-2SO. I'm Victor Nikiforov.

[k_2so]

A ship this size shouldn't need a "handy man". They should have an entire department of maintenance droids to do that.

[Don't mind him. He's just bitter at being labeled a Handy Man. Technician seems so much more respectable...]

And who calls their business Nuts and Bolts?

[andreios]

They should have an entire department of people to do that.

[ He's very firm on this. Humans and Cylons went to war over humans treating Cylons like slaves. ]

Machines aren't slaves and shouldn't be relegated to work humans don't want to do.

[k_2so]

[That sure IS a 'robot'. Droid is the proper term however. He sure the heck is AWESOME too.]

[Text however, will be returned, with less sarcastic 'tone', but no less sarcastic in words.]

The odds of using your man power where they are best suited seems much more efficient than to haphazardly toss people here and there and hope something works out. Why would anyone do that on purpose and think that was a good idea?

Thank you, Victor Nikiforov, for your welcome.

[k_2so]

[His head lifts a bit at that. A long calculated pause. Interesting.]

If not required to do what they are programmed for, would you rather "machines" do work outside of their standard program parameters, or not function at all?

[It's almost a trick question...]

[andreios]

I would rather machines do what they want to do. It's arrogant and foolish to believe a sentient being should be bound by programming.

[ It's taken a lot of death and two thousand years of regret, but some people finally get it. ]

Everyone deserves the opportunity to determine their own destiny.

[genice]

( This is his first proper robotic (droid) experience, part of him is REALLY EXCITED. Part of him is remembering Sombra talking about Russia caught in endless wars against AI. In the end, it's rather irrelevant; their different worlds and universes are not yet showing that they exist here beyond the memories they each carry.

Ergo, he's going to stick with finding this really cool, and proclaiming loudly to his dog, "Makkachin, I'm talking with a real robot!" His dog remains ambivalent, for all his tail thumps twice in response to the lilt in Victor's tone. )

I was equally curious, but no one really had anything in specific to say. At one time, no one was assigned to anything. After that, people were assigned to better jobs, and it was a disaster. Why? How? Good questions! No one's come up with an answer yet, no matter how happily tipsy we're all getting together.

( Not that he's drinking so much as it seems, but it's definitely easiest to get people to chat when drinks are part of the equation. #hetries )

You're not stuck where you were assigned out of orientation, for what that's worth. Once you're settled here, they invite us to apply where we like, even to this crew. I was reassured of this many times over.

[k_2so]

[Interesting! He's even more surprised, or pleased, by the response. Intrigued even.]

You have had to work with droids before this. It is rare to find someone with as much conviction as you have towards my kind. Rare but not unheard of.

Username "Longshot". Is that what you are called?

[andreios]

Sam Anders, actually. Longshot was my callsign back on the Galactica. [ A beat. ] The battlestar I served on.

[ It's strange to be this candid about what he is, but he powers through it. ]

I'm a Cylon. I know I look human but I'm a machine too. It's a pleasure to meet you.

[ That is completely sincere. ]

[k_2so]

[He's never really been a 'first' for most people. Droids are all over where he is from.]

Thank you for the information. The reassurance to being able to find a new assignment is... helpful.

Tipsy? Is there celebration going on, or a lack of oxygen.

[genice]

( The sad part is Victor will likely tell him this to his face if and when they meet. So. That's a part of your future, K-2SO. What a glorious future? )

You're welcome. I won't fault people for wanting to allow those of us who have never lived in space or... dealt with anything close to this time to adjust. Making sure our work isn't terribly important saves a certain amount of effort on everyone's part.

Hah! The celebration was a few ship-cycles ago, by my count, but no, it's nothing formal. Grabbing drinks and raising a glass to the life you're living now, as you do.

[k_2so]

[Battlestar? That's not like a Deathstar is it? They were working to destroy that. He says nothing on that just yet. There are more important points made just now.]

[He is much more interested in the reveal here.]

Sam Anders. Cylon. Is 'Cylon' a make or model, or another term for 'machine' like 'droid'? Where I am from, machines and droids do not look so... life like.

[It IS a pleasure to meet him, though he will state that after he's done processing this and trying to tell, over a video, if what the man says is real or not. At the moment the odds feel... low. How can that be?]

[k_2so]

[He will just have to deal with it, wont he?]

I see. You are from a primitive planet not yet tangled up in the advance technologies of space travel. I'm not sure if that is a pity of a mercy for you and your kind.

[There is a pause before more text shows up... 'as you do'?]

It is not something I do. It is, however, something my Captain has done, so I understand your meaning.

video | un: erso

[realists]

[ can you groan and look happy to see someone at the same time. jyn fucking erso can. she just wants him to say something terrible to her so she will feel sane again. ]

Cassian is here, don't worry.

[k_2so]

Oh.

It's you.

[Terrible enough? Give him a moment to warm up. She said Cassian is here and that was really all that mattered.]

[Also... she's here. And... that matters a bit as well.]

And... the others?

[realists]

[ it's close, a smile twitching at her lips. ]

Bodhi, but that's all. Just the three of us. Your U-Wing is here, as well. Unharmed.

[k_2so]

[He stares at the video for a moment longer, photoreceptors white and none blinking.]

[Interesting. The odds did not favor any of them getting out of that situation in... good condition.]

The pilot. The ship. You, Cassian and I. That is more than I expected. I do not remember anything that happened after shut down.

[andreios]

[ He has to take a moment to figure out the answer to that. ]

I guess it's like droid. Cylon is the name of our species. There different kinds of Cylons, but we're all artificial intelligence. Our Centurions look more like you. And for a time, their freewill was inhibited by programming by other Cylons. [ He frowns. ] Unfortunately, enslaving others for work deemed unsavory isn't just a human characteristic. My people were guilty of it too.

Humans don't tend to differentiate between our different types. They just call us Cylons. Or toasters, if they want to be insulting.

[realists]

[ he says shut down and jyn's expression pretty much does the same thing, forcing herself to ignore the rest of what happened on scarif. it's fine, she's so good at pretending to be fine. ]

For the best.

[genice]

( Pretty much... )

You're not wrong! We've managed to make it to our moon and back, and have a space station in orbit of our planet, but manned missions beyond that haven't been put into action yet.

Yes... I'm sorry, this is probably rude. Can you even drink?

[k_2so]

Is it?

[He asks because he wants to know what happened. He also doesn't want to know. He ran a simulation to force himself to think Cassian would be ... fine. Was he though? He as here. That was.... enough.]

[realists]

Yeah, it is. [ a beat, mouth slanting down into a familiar frown. ] I'm not sure it's something you want to hear from me anyway.