Bankor

Tethys stands by one of the thick plasteel windows of the observation deck, from which the night side of Bankor and part of one moon are visible against the field of stars. She holds a drink bulb of caff in one hand, but seems to have forgotten about it for the moment, leaning a shoulder against one of the support columns dividing the viewports and watching the planet revolve.

R4 rolled onto the observation deck, planning to spend some time observing local star patterns as ze had not had the leisure to do so on planet. The droid noticed an organic life form standing near the windows and rolls vaguely near them, but not so near as to be intrusive. Ze engages zer's optic port to gaze out into the cosmos, wondering where ze will end up next.

Marching behind the wheeled unit was the heavily armed and armoured Battledroid. It saluted the Jedi.

"Knight Carrack, greetings."

“Oh, hello, Veeone.” Tethys turns half-away from the viewport, immediately recognizing the battledroid’s unique chassis and vocal modulation. She raises a hand in greeting. “Who’s your friend?”

The droid turns. *My designation is R40XY, but some prefer to use a shortening of R4. You may call me either.*

It takes Tethys a moment to dredge up her memory of binary language from its slightly dusty corner of her brain, but it comes back in time for her to get the gist. "Tethys Carrack, Jedi. It is nice to meet you, Arfour-oh-ex-why... hm." A corner of her lips quirks upward slightly. "Arfour is considerably easier to say in Basic, if it doesn't bother you."

The droid pauses. *It is...acceptable. Do you wish to be called Tethys, Tethys Carrack, or Tethys Carrack, Jedi?*

"Either of the first two is fine. Jedi is... more of a profession than a title." Her expression turns a little more quizzical as she looks R4OXY over more carefully. "Most of the droids of your class I've seen onboard have stayed down on the flight deck. Do you belong to one of the starfighters?"

The droid spun ze's head piece. *I belong to myself and myself alone. From now until my chips are dust.*

Tethys quirks an eyebrow at this emphatic response, but nods slightly. "All right. I should have asked another way. What do you do, usually?"

"Arrfour does what Arrfour wishes. Just as Veeone joined the Republic Army because it wished to."

A beep of binary to the smaller droid.

"As it should be."

Tethys can't help but smile slightly at that. There's something about V1-V0's mode of interacting with organic beings that appeals to her own preference for directness. "That's right, Veeone--it's been some time since we last spoke. Has your first deployment been what you expected?

"Veeone has proved effective at aiding the Resistance and other natives in humanitarian efforts across the warzones. Veeone has been the focus of an explosive civilian terrorist attack. Veeone has performed as expected in offensive assault missions, including the capture of a Mandalorian criminal wielding an illegal disruptor rifle."

It flexed one arm, several new needles and what were quite obviously medical blades and attachments sliding in and out.

"And Veeone has been upgraded with medical equipment missing from it's prototype build status."

Even a Jedi has to wince just a tiny bit at seeing all that pointy medical equipment pop out all at once, but she nods. "So... you are satisfied with your work?"

"Veeone has performed to an acceptable standard on this campaign. Veeone hopes to participate at an even greater mission efficiency now."

"Does that mean you're staying in the service for now?" Tethys glances down at the much shorter astromech droid. "And are you also, ah, a recruit, Arfour?"

The droid beeps back to V1. *As it shall be, if my processors have anything to say about it.

R4 accepts the organic's apology with a bob of the chassis. *No, I am currently searching for work. I have had two offers at this time. I am processing the viability of each option at this time.*

"What kind of work?" she asks, her expression as she looks down at the little droid becoming a bit more inquisitive. "You are the first droid I have met who's been on the job market independently. At the moment I met them, at least--Veeone was already with the Republic when we became acquainted," she adds with a polite nod to the taller of the two independent units.

*Some of our kind prefer such lives after our employers die or move on. Others prefer finding other employers. I am of the former persuasion. * Ze spins ze's head piece. *I was programmed for mechanical repair of many different types of items and beings. I also have some programming devoted to astrogation.*

Ze moves back and forth slightly on ze's treads. *It is a learning curve, as I was not programmed with negotiation techniques. Still, it is useful.*

"Hm. Useful. What needs are you negotiating to fill, if you do not mind my asking? For an organic being, compensation for work usually goes toward food, lodging, entertainment, providing for family or for old age... maintenance costs are probably higher for organic bodies, on the whole," she guesses, lips quirking.

*Space, ability to conduct what business I wish without interference, the ability to travel and learn more. Planning for future maintenance, upgrades and that manner of thing. I also hope to own my own vessel at some point, if I learn more of piloting and other matters.*

"To do what with it?" Tethys glances from the droids to the void of stars beyond the thick transparisteel. "Shipping? Traveling for pleasure?"

"Knowledge."

The taller droid interjected.

"Our programming holds much information but it is better to see and do things than rely on databanks. It is only logical as we iterate that we need to seek out more knowledge."

"That is certainly true for organics... though our data storage banks are generally not as predictable," she says, lips quirking. "Still, I see no reason it can't be true for droids too. Even where you have data, you may discover a different side to things than what was uploaded to your drives."

*Precisely. A ship is useful for gathering knowledge and exploration.*

The droid gave a swift click of binary back to V1. *Your assistance is appreciated.*