Bankor

*Does one demand respect? How is it gained? It seems...important.*

It didn't take a rocket scientist to see the droid's question had some kind of point.

"Plenty of sentients have demanded respect, but they have never been successful. Respect exists in the mind of the giver, and no amount of demands can force another to think a certain way. Demands may cause sentients to act as if they respect the one demanding it of them, usually out of a sense of self-preservation." Running a hand through his curls, "like affection, a sentient is no more capable of demanding to be respected than they can demand that another feel affection for them."

*That is complex. A droid can simply be reprogrammed, to feel loyalty, to follow commands, to treat another as one in charge. We have less freedom of choice than many other sentients as a result.*

"There is a similar thing that can be done to sentients, with varying degrees of success. It's called brainwashing, and while's not specifically against Republic law, it is highly unethical," the wording of law around 'brainwashing' was complex and poorly-defined to the point of being ineffective. "For the most part, sentients value their own agency very highly, and see any attempt to influence it against their will as highly offensive."

*Ah, but droids are tools to many, not fellow sentients. We are useful and if we are not useful, we are scrap. Sentients cannot be scrap. Only tools.*

"They subject of when a droid becomes a sentient in its own right is a question for scholars and philosopher's far wiser than me. Whether an individual has the right to reprogram a toaster droid, or if permission should first be sought is a matter I'm not qualified to weigh in on."

The droid rolled back a few steps. *Of course. And I am just a droid. I only know what I am programmed to know.*

Cocking his head to one side, "were programmed with this curiosity about sentient organics, or did that emerge out of your programming?"

The droid swirled ze's head chassis. *My previous employers provided some original code for their specifications. They wanted me to be able to think more for myself at times. This appears to be an outcropping of that code over time.*

"So you are learning, much like an organic species," he observed.

The droid looks at Cole through ze's optical port. *Or perhaps not like an organic species. We won't know without study.*

R4 backed up. *Learning has its own complexities.*

“Are you uncomfortable?” Can droids experience psychological discomfort? Cole wasn’t sure, but that was twice the droid had retreated now. In a person, he’d have recognised the escape tactic, and closed the conversation.

R4 paused for a brief moment. *I...am unsure. I am not skilled at reading organic facial features. I am not always knowledgeable of when my words have caused offense. So, I take precautions. Organics can be quick in expressing their displeasure.*

“Mmm, probably wise to be cautious, some people can resort to violence when they are confused.” Running a hand through his hair, “if nothing else, can assure you that violence is not in my nature. In fact, I was so bad at it, I almost got kicked out of the Navy when I was just starting.”

The droid moved slightly closer after Cole's mention of his lack of skill at violence. *Why would they remove one who is bound not to harm people for refusing to harm people? This seems illogical.*

"Everyone who joins the military, in any capacity, should be fit and able to fight if called upon to do so. A lot of effort and logistics goes into ensuring that surgeons and spies aren't actually needed on the frontlines, but everyone who signs on goes through the same basic training and specialises from there. I was not up to the military's standards for armed combat."

*But if one is not suited to such tasks, why would one be asked to do such a thing? Surely there are posts that require absolutely no armed combat training. Why would they not utilize one they have already trained?*

"The idea is that, when there are no already trained soldiers left to do the fighting, those in support roles are still capable to take up arms and continue the battle. Of course, if it ever reached that point, the war would already be well and truly lost, but the mentality remains."

*That seems illogical. If the war is lost, it is lost. Fighting so all die is an illogical waste of resources.*

“Which is why it is exceedingly unlikely that it will ever happen. But the mindset that all soldiers must be fit and prepared for the eventuality persists, regardless.”

The droid spins ze's head chassis. *You are obviously more informed on the topic than I, but I still find it illogical.* Ze hummed in ze's processors for a moment. *WAs it optimal for you to leave the Navy or sub optimal?*

“I doubt you’d find anything logical about my naval career, Ar-for. Few sentient species are known for their rationality. Optimisation often falls a distant second to pride, obligation, or sheer necessity.”

The droid pauses. *What is pride like?*

“Pride is the sense of satisfaction and accomplishment for a job well done. I take pride in my surgical skills when my training and dedication are repaid with an effective procedure. Pride can also have its drawbacks. If one is too prideful, they may become blind to their flaws.”

*What is the purpose of pride?*