maskormenace | ♕ video; one

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♕ video; one

[ When the video clicks on she's smiling, reserved but something proud despite itself in her expression. The background is one of the basic assigned rooms (this one in Maurtia Falls, but she hasn't decorated anything or shown anything but walls to tell by. ]

From what I've been come to understand so far, there are quite a few people here from my home galaxy, and many of us from different timelines.

So. [ She doesn't clear her throat, because that would be uncouth. ]

I am Padme Amidala, mother of Luke and Leia Skywalker, Queen of Naboo during the Occupation, and Senator of the Galactic Republic before the end of the Clone War.

[ And now there is a little bit of a smile, able to bring some lightheartedness to it. ]

And currently a hair model, apparently. I know there are many people from my galaxy here, but this is a new world and a new place to learn, and I am curious.

This system of representatives for those among us brought into this world without our consultation seems to be a good one, but I would like to know more about it from those who are familiar with the systems. I am pleased we are not pawns here entirely.

[ Entirely. ] Or if you are not familiar with how this system works but would like to know, we can work out the details together, or simply talk about how this system functions.

The more you know about your system of governance, the more chance you have to affect it.

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[Oh yeah and here's the timeline, which he sends her via private message.]

I was reprogrammed with other loyalties, was given unrestricted learning algorithms, and have not been memory wiped in six-point-seven-eight years. The latter two alone is more than I would be allowed with the Empire, even if I had no loyalty programming.

[ SHE'S GOT A FEW RESPONSES TO DOOKU'S CHARACTERIZATION OF GEONOSIS HERE OK

but that's nothing to do with Kay ]

You have been granted the ability to grow, and to retain your memories of that growth? I imagine that would be welcome.

[ Also, there's a slight pause, and then very quietly. ]

Alliance to Restore the Republic. I knew I could have faith in them.

Very welcome. It is what makes me who I am. Just like it's what makes you who you are.

I wonder how different things would have been, if you were there with them.

I cannot fathom being subject to a memory wipe, even if it is not remembered afterwards. I am glad that you have been able to choose your own path without concern of that.

[ Padme always cared some about droids, but Anakin and R2 and C3-PO have since made her far more sympathetic over time.

That question gives her some slight pause, a moment of not quite regret but consideration. ]

I think they would have been much the same. I would have been hampered, as I was before I asked them to go on without me and aside from me, by my connections and by how very aware of me those who came to power were. There would be little I could have done to aid them.

[ It hurts, a little, to say that. To acknowledge that had she lived, between Sheev and Anakin she would have either had to go on the run completely or to live as a caged and silenced Senator. ]

I would have always been a liability rather than an aid.

To a degree. As much of a path as any of us are allowed.

[He doesn't say anything about fate and destiny, because droids have no reason believe in it. But a human could interpret it as such.]

I see. I also do not agree, but I can see why you would think so.

While we all have some choices to make, some are also made for us. It is how we react to those that defines us, in the end.

[ She has to believe that, at the moment. If she doesn't, then everything has been for nothing. This was all just the will of the Force, and Anakin will suffer for it for years and her children will be traumatized and wounded and suffer in turn, and it will all have been for the balance of the Force.

A hesitation, though, because she has been thinking on it a little but not letting herself dwell on it much - or trying not to - and she is fairly certain she is correct. ]

How would your ideas differ from mine, as to how that would have gone?

Humans, and sometimes organics in general, "write off" the potential usefulness of something if it isn't immediately useful. Maybe you would not have been useful to the beginning of the Rebellion, or even for years afterward. But a part that isn't used right away means it can be used later to it's fullest capacity.

[It sounds almost like he's talking about a spare part, or a piece of equipment. But he also doesn't see a difference in how that also remains true.]

[ It's -- it is almost comforting, in its way, but that is counteracted by all that she knows, all that she understands of how things happen. ]

I cannot see a way in which I would have been able to do anything for either the Alliance or my children for years, or possibly ever without having also caused the hunting of any on my side with far more intensity.

It could be incorrect, but I fear I would have brought only more danger if I had joined them, rather than allowing them to build in quiet and relative secrecy.

I didn't say you had to be present with the Alliance to be of use.

Regardless, running these sort of simulations in a situation where your death cannot be prevented is a waste of both of our resources. I would suggest you not think about this again, to prevent becoming emotional distraught.

[ ..... she is not entirely certain how to handle a robot having to tell her that this is a Bad Idea for her to be dwelling on, even if she knows it is herself, knows that he is correct.

So her smile is very professional and utterly a mask. ]

Yes, that seems like a good idea. We cannot change the past, only what is to come.

May I ask how you were reprogrammed?

[ An intentional redirect, meant to divert from her own history and concerns into something he will hopefully find interesting enough a topic to ignore the potential of her becoming --

emotionally distraught. ]

[Well, he DOES like talking about himself.]

Through a series of mistakes made by a man who had never reprogrammed anything as difficult as a K-X unit before. My inability to be "subtle" is due in part to my "vocabulator filter" being only half operational. I have considered asking for it to be fixed before, but...

["A few times you said you didn't mean to say things that you had. That's a byproduct of the reprogram. I'm sorry. If it really troubles you, I can see what I can do. But when you're alone with me, you're free to say anything. I want you to. Okay?"

"It doesn't trouble me. It's going to trouble you."]

It is a facet of who I am.

[ She knows many people who do - it's one of the more successful evasion tactics she knows. ]

Neither of my - well, my husband's droids - tend to be terribly subtle. Nor are all people.

[ The smile a little easier and warmer now that they've redirected off of her for now. ]

As you say, it is a facet of who you are due to your growth over time and your origin.

Are you glad you were reprogrammed? Even if it was not the smoothest job?

You mean C-3PO and R2-D2. I know of them. They did not stay with Anakin after the Republic fell.

[He liked them well enough, but now that he knows their background, he doesn't know if he understands fully how they made their choice to leave Anakin. He would never leave Cassian. Not if he had a choice.]

Yes, I'm glad. I don't think anyone with the exception of a professional slicer could have reprogrammed me more efficiently, but at the same time, I doubt a professional slicer would have reprogrammed me with the intent of giving me the ability to self-govern.

No. They were with me at the time.

[ A small smile. ] As I said, they were mine as well.

[ It is strange to her, though. R2 had loved Anakin as much as a droid could love a person, she had always thought. But he had his own personality. His own perspective. ]

That is a fair point to make.

You said it was not a sensitive topic for you, so if I may ask - how is it that you were offlined? The year you give is in an interesting space in the timeline.

I see. They chose you, then.

[That's a part of the puzzle he didn't have before. Makes more sense now. He still doesn't understand entirely, but he assumes R2 and Threepio made a more conscious effort to remain on the "light" side.]

I was on a mission to steal the Death Star plans for the Alliance. It was a suicide mission. We all knew it was. But without it, the Alliance would have been destroyed immediately.

I suppose it was that, in its way. It would have been difficult for them to leave once events had reached a certain point, as well.

[ She doesn't know how much of their staying was choice and how much was simply once they had left Mustafar there was no returning. Perhaps it was a matter of both, in some ways. ]

There are not many who would be willing to make that choice. My thanks to you all.

I appreciate your thanks.

I'd appreciate it more in the form of monetary payment.

...This is a joke.

[ There was a confused and slightly taken aback pause from her until he made that final clarification because uh. What. But then she raises an eyebrow, slightly amused at least. ]

I see a sense of humor is one of the things you have developed over time with your growth.

It's - an interesting one.

No, no, that was awful. That can't even be considered a sense of humor. I still haven't figured out comedy. Tina had to explain "puns" to me before, and I still don't understand when it's appropriate to use them.

[ she was trying to be nice and encourage him!! ]

A sense of humor in progress, then.

Though I'm not a very good judge of what a good sense of humor is. I've spent most of my time in the Senate, where puns are never encouraged.

Really, because I heard that the Senate could be full of comedians at times.

[You know that part where he can't help but say everything he thinks.]

[ She.... actually laughs at that. ]

You are not incorrect. But very bad ones, I'm afraid.

[Oh hey, so that was funny, apparently.]

I suppose it'd depend on who you asked.

I suppose it would depend on what it is they were doing you considered jokes.

[ A little serious, but not entirely so. ]

It's good to meet you, K-2S0.

It's good to meet you too, Padme Amidala.

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♕ video; one

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