(Untitled)

[complex_design]

Here's a Gate, by the Sign, and in armor just in case the lack of it had contributed to certain events leading up to his questions. While he does hope the little droid hasn't been LOLed or damaged since it ran - or rolled - off, he can't help finding it all just a bit amusing

Comments

[wiltedivy]

"... I can honestly say I've never done anything like that. I've got a very good record with patients."

"And I haven't seen anything like that before."

[bweepingtrouble]

Gate tries to help the little droid with the tablecloth, which T3 allows... though the droid keeps a tight hold on his little change jar.

Gate still things T3 is a very strange looking little 'bot, but manages not to say so. "I'm Gate, and this is Plant..."

~T3-A4~ bweeps the droid.

[wiltedivy]

Plant frowns. "Sounds more like the serial numbers some of the ones we've rescued before had than a name. No offense meant, kid."

[bweepingtrouble]

A puzzled T3 bweeps that it's an abbreviation of his serial number, and then recites the whole thing. It's quite a long string, and no wonder it gets shortened for everyday use.

"... Is it common for Droids to be referred to by a serial number, then?" Gate asks, wishing he could be surprised but finding that he isn't in the least.

T3 beeps an affirmative to that.

[wiltedivy]

Plant nods. "We've been fixing that for the ones we've rescued that wanted a real name. It just feels wrong to keep calling them serial numbers. Even Wily treated us better than that."

[bweepingtrouble]

~What's wrong with it?~ bweeps a very confused T3, still holding his change jar close.

[wiltedivy]

Plant pauses to carefully think about how to put this. "There's nothing wrong with it. It's just that humans tend to take that sort of thing as a sign that we're easily replaced and expendable. Not people of our own."

[bweepingtrouble]

T3 makes a thoughtful little sound at that. It's something he'll have to give a lot of consideration to.

[wiltedivy]

Plant nods. "I know what that kind of thing is like. Not pleasant at all. Besides that, it's easier than calling people long serial numbers."

[bweepingtrouble]

~I understand,~ bweeps T3. ~but I've never been called anything else. It would be strange. I guess it would be confusing if there was another T3, but there aren't that many of us any more.~

[wiltedivy]

"If you prefer to be called that, then you will be. No one can make you respond to another name." Plant frowns at the part about there not being many others. "It's a shame that's the case for your kind..."

[bweepingtrouble]

~We're older designs,~ says T3, accepting this sort of thing as to be expected. ~And upgrades only do so much. People want newer models. But we're still better at slicing.~

[wiltedivy]

"You're intelligent. It shouldn't matter if you're an older design. They don't kill off older members of their own species as obsolete, do they? It's not right."

[bweepingtrouble]

~Maybe it's not right, but that's the way it is. If you have an owner you end up getting wiped eventually, unless they really like you. If you don't, anyone who catches you can sell you if they want. And if you're older, you're more valuable sold as parts.~

Gate mutters something about that being disgusting.

[wiltedivy]

Plant sighs. "It's not like that with us here. You're a free person. You don't have to worry about that again."

Not if Plant has anything to day about it, at least.

[bweepingtrouble]

~What's to keep someone from stealing me?~ asks T3.

"Well, there's this place's anti-violence field, for starters," says Gate. "And then there's that they'd have to fight their way past any of us that happen to be around. I'm not considered a combatant, technically, but I'm hardly defenseless."