[SFS - PbP] 1-03 Yesteryear's Truth - GM bigboom (Inactive)

Game Master bigboom

Naboh looks himself over.

Eh, I got a burn on my arm but I'll be okay. It's well known that Ysoki are the most resourceful species in the Pact Worlds. A simple electrocution isn't gonna slow me down.

"Electrocution" may be overstating it juuuuuuust a bit. :-)

Dyukela enters the room and carefully watches is there something strange.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

You step into the room take a look around and see that the console on the northern generator is flashing red, indicating a malfunction with one of its coils. However, before you can investigate further, a couple panels slide open in the northeast and northwest corners of the room and in steps two robots shaped a bit like ghibranis. In Ghibran, they state with a mechanical voice, "You are not authorized to be here. Depart immediately!"

Map updated and NPC image revealed. Note that the NPC image is something I pulled off the internet so just imagine it's a ghibrani-shaped robot. And just as a reminder, share languages is still up on all of you, so currently, everyone can read, write, and speak Ghibran.

Sev scans the new arrivals.

Life Sciences: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25

"Curious." Sev states as it considers the features on the robots' techno-frames. A few moments later, as if considering a number of hypotheses, the android states, "It is possible that there have been, and may continue to be, more than two sentient species on this planet."

Naboh mutters under his breath,

That's fascinatin', chief, but I don't think our new friends are particularly friendly.

No criticism of Sev's action from me, only from Naboh. :-)

Captain, you might remind them that we are here by the authority of the High Council, and request these nice fellows' help in repairing their machinery.

Bluff or Diplomacy, whichever is chosen, Aid Another: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (5) + 0 = 5

Naboh realizes too late that he meant to say "Most Elevated Council".

Aww, pronk. When ya gonna learn to keep your mouth shut, Naboh?

life science: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19 (Xenoseeker makes rare creatures DC -5 lower possibly revealing more about it's abilities)

Padme' knowing it's nearly impossibly to negotiate with a Robot once it identifies you as an unauthorized individual, makes a leader's decision. Don't try to negotiate with them people, just destroy them quickly so we can get on with the investigation! Padme draws a frag I grenade and throws it right between the two robots. grenade: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7dmg: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Well that tears it! Twik mutters as he see the Captain let loose with the grenade.

He draws his weapon and advances into the room with the rest of the group.

As Naboh said, You all have been busy while Ive been asleep - 27 new posts!

I hope the large number of posts didn't leave anyone feeling left out. I was once advised that getting through doors can bring PbP games to a painful standstill. So I figured it didn't hurt to rapidly get through the door despite having just several people involved in order to quickly get us to the more interesting room with robots!

We're now obviously entering combat, so I'll look to get the initial combat post up ASAP within the next couple hours!

Padme' knowing it's nearly impossibly to negotiate with a Robot once it identifies you as an unauthorized individual, makes a leader's decision. Don't try to negotiate with them people, just destroy them quickly so we can get on with the investigation! Padme draws a frag I grenade and throws it right between the two robots.

The first artificial life-forms we encounter on this planet other than ourselves and she wishes them destroyed quickly.. Sev ponders. She and this unit do not correlate.. The android's head gives a noticeable twitch.

Padme': I've repositioned your arrow to indicate the intersection where I assume you're targetting the grenade. I've also drawn the 15' circle template (in green) to indicate the AOE area from that intersection. Feel free to delete both the arrow and the template after you've seen it and agree with it.

Everyone, note that on this map, the grey boxes are power generators and about waste high. If you stand behind one, you can take ranged attacks over the top of them and they provide cover.

As the robots wait for you all to vacate the area, Padme' tosses a frag grenade at them, just managing to place it between them!

Combat Round 1

The following characters in bold may take their action:

Padme'
Dyukela
Naboh (-1 hp)
Twik
Blue Robot (-1)
Red Robot (-1)
Sev
Remi (-1 hp)
Id

Naboh scurries behind cover as far from the robots as possible and takes aim at Red.

Pulsecaster Rifle: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6 Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 4

His aim is thrown off, though, by the eerie way the robots speak synchronously about Extermination.

Dyukela comes little bit closer to the red robot and tries to overload it's mind with a glut of psychic information.

Mind Thrust: This spell deals 2d10 damage (Will DC 15 half)
to one creature with an Intelligence score.

damage: 2d10 ⇒ (6, 7) = 13

The robot does not react to the mind thrust. It appears to suffer no ill effects from the spell!

Combat Round 1 cont'd

The following characters in bold may take their action:

Padme'
Dyukela
Naboh (-1 hp)
Twik
Blue Robot (-1)
Red Robot (-1)
Sev
Remi (-1 hp)
Id

Twik bounds into the room one eye on his gear as the causes sparks to jump from the room as a distraction before the real threat - Twik's trusty tactical pistol - is revealed as he fires it across the room at one of the robots (blue)

Trick Attack - Computers vs DC (20+CR): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (13) + 14 = 27
if successful, his opponent is flatfooted vs his attack (below) and takes the TA bonus damage (also below)

Trick Attack - Pistol vs KAC: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13
TA Damage (Slashing): 1d6 ⇒ 4
TA Bonus Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 2

Padme' backs out to the door the came in from using it as cover, to fire her laser pistol at the red robot. laser pistol: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18dmg: 1d4 ⇒ 2

Twik's sparks manages to catch it's attention long enough to expose a vulnerable joint, which Twik successfully hits with his pistol! Padme's shot also lands as she backs away from the intimidating robot!

Red Strafe Attack AC 15: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10
The red robot takes cover behind the power generators then executes a strafing attack towards Dyukela and Sev with lasers shot from its eyes!!! But it misses horribly!!

Blue Attack: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14
Laser Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
The blue robot also takes cover behind some generators and fires its eye lasers at Sev, hitting him!

Combat Round 1 cont'd & Round 2

The following characters in bold may take their action:

Padme'
Dyukela
Naboh (-1 hp)
Twik
Blue Robot (-7)
Red Robot (-3)
Sev (-2)
Remi (-1 hp)
Id

Id runs into the room and ducks below the generator opposite the red robot. They have no minds to thrust, Dyukela! You have to use more conventional magic! Id punctuates his telepathic message by conjuring two shooting stars and firing them at the blue robot, magically circumventing the generators.

Move to location (I can edit the map on my PC for some reason), standard cast shooting stars (magic missile).

Force damage: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (4, 4) + 2 = 10 Woot! Max damage!

"Sorry guys for that one before! I was totally surprised by the fact that robots attacked us that I did not know what I was doing!"

Dyukela pulls out from his pocket a stone, drops it on the floor, and then telekinetically hits the red robot with the stone.

Telekinetic Projectile: Dyukela can telekinetically hurl an object
weighing up to 5 pounds at a target within 30 feet, making
an attack roll (+1 bonus) against its KAC. If he hits, both the
target and the object take 1d6 bludgeoning damage.

To hit KAC: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17
damage: 1d6 ⇒ 5

Remi is startled by the sudden sounds of gunshots and spells from the next room, and she hurries in to duck behind one of the generators. She takes in the situation with a glance and then carefully aims a shot to skim just above the top of the generators so it will startle the nearest robot. (Assuming it's still up)

Survival, trick attack vs red robot; DC 20+CR: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (15) + 12 = 27
Flat footed and extra damage

Pistol vs red KAC: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
Piercing damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1
Trick attack damage: 1d4 ⇒ 2

Sev notices the rips in its cloak where the robot’s beams had torn through it. Analysis: Non-violent resolution improbable. Recommendation: Neutralize threat. the android concludes.

The eyes in Sev’s head seem to roll backward for an instant and the air around it seems almost to get thicker.

Casting jolting surge as a standard action. The android seems almost to be dragging its feet along the floor as it moves toward the robot that fired on it. Taking move action to position next to the blue robot to use touch attack next round. Map updated. I almost had Sev stop and put on wooly socks to show it was building up an electric charge

Sev: With jolting surge, you make a melee touch attack against the blue robot. You can take your move action to move up to the blue robot, then as a standard action, you can cast this spell (this spell doesn't provoke) and make a touch attack. Go ahead and make your attack and damage rolls, which I believe are 1d20+1 and 4d6 electricity. If you want to, you can hold the charge and make your attack on the next round but I'm guessing you would prefer to make your attack this round instead of delaying it?

Id's magic missiles hit the blue robot hard as it begins to spark!! Dyukela's stone flies towards the red robot but the cover provided by the power generator gets in the way, blocking the stone from its target! Remi's shot definitely caught the robot off guard but the shot goes wide and misses the robot!

I'll resolve Naboh's attack after resolving Sev's attack.

Combat Round 2

The following characters in bold may take their action:

Padme'
Dyukela
Naboh (-1 hp)
Twik
Blue Robot (-17)
Red Robot (-3)
Sev (-2)
Remi (-1 hp)
Id

Sev: With jolting surge, you make a melee touch attack against the blue robot. You can take your move action to move up to the blue robot, then as a standard action, you can cast this spell (this spell doesn't provoke) and make a touch attack. Go ahead and make your attack and damage rolls, which I believe are 1d20+1 and 4d6 electricity. If you want to, you can hold the charge and make your attack on the next round but you can make your attack this round if you prefer.

Thanks for the clarification, I thought it took a standard to cast and another standard to make the touch attack.

Instead of touching a device, Sev's target is the robot, so Sev gets a +2 to the touch attack. CRB, pg. 363.

Touch attacked (jolting surge) against robot's EAC: 1d20 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 1 + 2 = 13 Jolting surge (electricity damage): 4d6 ⇒ (4, 4, 6, 2) = 16

Sev, hands crackling with energy, just barely misses the blue robot as the energy discharges harmlessly!! Naboh's AI floods his vision with various combat tracking data on the blue robot, improving Naboh's accuracy, but the shot is still unable to land on target!

Combat Round 2

The following characters in bold may take their action:

Padme'
Dyukela
Naboh (-1 hp)
Twik
Blue Robot (-17)
Red Robot (-3)
Sev (-2)
Remi (-1 hp)
Id

Padme' again takes careful aim and squeezes off a shot at the red robot
laser pistol: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20dmg: 1d4 ⇒ 4

Twik dashes through the room behind his ally using the blindspot to pull the same electronics trick as before and then firing his pistol once again at the same target.

Trick Attack - Computers vs DC (20+CR): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (9) + 14 = 23
if successful, his opponent is flatfooted vs his attack (below) and takes the TA bonus damage (also below)

Trick Attack - Pistol vs KAC: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23
TA Damage (Slashing): 1d6 ⇒ 3
TA Bonus Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 2

Padme's shot is right on target, singing the red robot a bit when it hits! Twik's sparks again catch the robot off guard and his subsequent shot smacks into the robot's head, dead-center. With a crunching, whining sound, the blue robot slumps down, no longer active!

Red Attack: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20
Laser Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Red robot attacks the only target that is currently without cover - its laser eye beams hitting Dyukela!

Combat Round 2 cont'd & Round 3

The following characters in bold may take their action:

Padme'
Dyukela (-4)
Naboh (-1 hp)
Twik
Blue Robot (removed from combat)
Red Robot (-7)
Sev (-2)
Remi (-1 hp)
Id

Padme' moves back inside the room trying to stay low. She pokes her head out from behind a generator to encourage Dyukela, You've done great work! But, no need to stay in the open and take the brunt of it's attacks for the rest of us..find some cover Starfinder! A commendation will surely be on your record when we're through here. Padme ducks back behind the generator as best she can. Brave entity that Dyukela, hope I convinced him, not to sacrifice himself. Padme' moves to her current position and uses her inspiring boost improvisation ability, to 'heal' 4 stamina points on Dyukela.

Id steps past the generator so he can see the edge of the robot, then rattled off another two bolts magical energy.

Move guarded step, standard cast shooting stars.

Force damage: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (3, 3) + 2 = 8

I'd say you can see him from where you were since the generators are waste high. You can go ahead and full attack cast the magic missile and add another 1d4+1 damage.

Okay, thanks! Do I need to wait until next turn before the spell actually fires, or does it fire at the end of my turn?

Force damage #3: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5 Total 13 damage.

It fires off as a part of your full round action this turn

Padme's inspirational encouragement grants Dyukela a second wind. And Id's volley of shooting stars takes a significant toll on the robot, taking it down!! Its last words were, "EXTERMINATE! EXTERMIN--- uh oh..." and it hits the floor with a THUNK!

Combat Over

Searching the room, you find that one of the storage slots from which the robots emerged contains an ember flame doshko, two shock grenades II, and a set of casual stationwear armor.

Looking around this room, you find nothing else of significance, aside from the northern generator continuing to display a coil malfunction on its console and a door to the east.

When the party is ready to proceed through the door, just say the word and we'll apply the 'no-rolls-needed door processing method' we agreed to in the discussion thread.

Twik examines the console and determines that there is a coil malfunction in the northern generator. It’s no match for the talents of Twik and the rest of the teams engineering training members.

Engineering, T10: 10 + 12 = 22

Ready to continue

"Guys I almost died because of my stupidity! But now is not the time to cry, let's move on!"

Dyukela tries to find out if there is anything magical in the room and on the door.

After checking the door wDyukela is ready to move on!

Padme holsters her weapon and starts issuing orders, Thank you Twik, let's hold off fixing the generators until we finished our sweep. Ok everyone ready? Let's breach that next door...standard procedure please. O.K. initiate..

Padme is ok with standard procedure of going through the doors

Sev analyzes the northern generator. "Perhaps this is the source of the blackout and other mechanical problems the city has been experiencing."

Engineering: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20

"Analysis complete. Source of power fluctuations in Arkeost identified. Repair time estimate: Twenty-minutes. Recommendation: Complete mission objective by repairing generator. Initiating repairs." Without seeming to notice the activities of its companions, Sev commences repairs to the generator.

Not trying to split the party or slow us down; just trying to demonstrate Sev's programming to complete mission objectives as being overriding to its personality.

Uhh...hey, Sev? Captain says we should finish the sweep before fixing the generators. You with us?

Ready to move on.

Uhh...hey, Sev? Captain says we should finish the sweep before fixing the generators. You with us?

The android looks up when it hears its name. "Apologies, Naboh. Initiating temporary override of mission protocols." Sev recites. Then he looks at Naboh. "This unit is a Starfinder. It will stay... connected... to members of the Society."

Ready to move on per SOP.

Remi straightens up and moves toward the damaged area while some of the others investigate. She slowly says, "So we've found the source of their power troubles, that's good. But something still bothers me about this whole thing. Why were there robots programmed to keep intruders out? And who would have been allowed to enter, when all the ghibranis consider it taboo to even come here?"

She shakes her head and looks at the mangled robots. "I guess it's a bit late to find out from these fellows. Not that I'm not grateful," she hastens to add, looking around at her teammates, who all handled the combat well.

Remi shrugs and follows Padme's instructions to move along to the next door. "Maybe we'll find out more in the next room."

Ready to go

The door is not trapped and not locked, posing no obstacle as the party moves to the next room.

Room revealed in slides.

The temperature of this narrow room is a few degrees warmer than the previous chambers. Racks of computers line the walls, with tiny lights blinking and hard drives audibly whirring. A single terminal stands opposite the door you entered through, an input prompt flashing serenely

With a take 10, Remi, Naboh, Twik, Sev, or Padme' can easily log onto the computer.

Now logged into the computer, you have access to a vast data store of archived information. It will probably take specialists back at the Lorespire Complex years to analyze all the various details of ghibranis history, technology, social development, etc. But after a couple hours or so of skimming the data, you get a high level picture of what happened on this planet...

Just over 300 years ago the ghibranis engaged in a brief but deadly nuclear war between several of its now-forgotten nation states. Prior to their cataclysmic conflict, ghibranis paid their respects to an aspect of Damoritosh — a god of war most commonly worshipped by the vesk in modern times. This worship shaped the race into a strong coalition of militarized states, with religious servants of Damoritosh in key advisory positions. The war that destroyed most of the ghibrani race occurred only decades after the Gap, as the addled state of the world’s leaders in the Gap’s aftermath only exacerbating existing tensions.

A small percentage of ghibranis survived the devastation. A powerful force field spared the metropolis of Arkeost the brunt of the nuclear war, but subsequent radiation carried by shifting wind currents wracked the city. Many died, but a sizable population endured. The ghibrani leaders knew the city didn’t have sufficient resources to support all the survivors, so after much discussion, they purposefully engineered several additional minor disasters to trouble the populace. The leaders then seeded rumors that an angry Damoritosh was responsible for this “divine” punishment and devised the creation of a false deity — Mother Touloo — who promised salvation to those ghibranis who gave up the comforts of civilization. Agents planted within the populace spread this false religion, leading a sizeable contingent of ghibranis into the wastelands. Meanwhile, the leaders of Arkeost and their closest family and friends remained behind.

Over the following centuries, very little contact occurred between the ghibranis who chose to live in the wastes and those who stayed in Arkeost, though both remained acutely aware of each other’s presences. The passing years, as well as healthy doses of lingering radiation, caused a physical division to occur between the two factions. The ghibranis in the badlands lost the use of their wings and developed hardier exoskeletons; they became known as “husks.” Those who lived within the surviving city kept their wings, but became thinner and more fragile; they are known to the husks as “membranes.”

Today, while the membranes have all but forgotten their true past, the husks continue to believe in the fictional Mother Touloo. They remain focused on survival in the harsh desert wastelands surrounding Arkeost, battling against vicious fauna, and view the membranes as keepers of the vast “metal graveyards” of the old city. Meanwhile, the membranes lead a relatively privileged lifestyle. Some of the ancient ghibrani technology persists, but centuries of indolence have left the membranes unaware of the treacherous deeds perpetrated by their ancestors.

The data archives includes several confessional vidclips recorded by the ghibranis who originally orchestrated the creation of Mother Touloo, photos of the planet as it was before the attack, and information on the orbital defense system. The party can download all this information onto your personal datapads or any other data storage medium for closer examination and research back at the Lorespire Complex.

There is nothing else to be found in this room and we have just about reached the end of the scenario. However, before moving on to the conclusion, the party should discuss what you will do with this newly uncovered information?

Id lowers his head, his antennae drooping morosely. All these years the husks have been deceived into living on the verge of starvation following a false deity. This is not right. We should tell them the truth.

Padme' ponders for many moments on, all her training, all her years in classes, all the instructors that, had warned her not to interfere, with other societies natural genesis or social structures. However, this deception, did bother her. Wasn't that the very reason my race rebelled against it's former masters? Treated as slaves and second class citizens? However, her mandate, her programming was clear. This decision was beyond her rank.

I've been your Captain on this mission but, this is not a decision that I can make for everyone. In maters of life and death, where instant action and direction are needed...it is often best to rely on one competent voice to speak for all, rather than debate. Padme' sighs, replicating a human trait she had scene done when the organics were faced with a tough moral quandary. However, when Philosophical and ethical dilemma's are clearly part of the equation....Debate is not only warranted but often necessary. Therefore, I cannot.. Padme' pauses to rephrase, ....no will not, order or attempt to sway any of you in one direction or another..considering what we've learned about the ghibranis today. I feel my personal feelings and miss-givings about my own race's past and present, weigh to heavily on my ability to think through the process without bias. Therefore, I will not say anything to either the sub-species of the ghibranis. I will take this information to the Starfinder command and allow the council to decide, what to make of the information. I feel that, anything else I do, prejudices my mission with either the Membranes or the Husk...possible both. Padme' pauses again to take in the rest of her companions reactions to her decision. Therefore, if there is to be a vote among us, I'd like it noted, in the logs...I vote against telling either sub-species of their true past, until we've presented this information to our superiors.

Remi watches the records displayed in front of them with shock and increasing sadness. Her heart breaks a little at the way many of the ghibranis were manipulated centuries ago. But... “The husks we met did not seem to be suffering in misery. Their life is difficult, yes, but they were full of joy, and purpose. It is the membranes I pity, who close their own eyes to the city crumbling around them, all the while ignorant of what their current civilization was built on.”

She pauses for a moment, and then continues slowly, “I... do not claim to know what is right. If we tell them what we’ve learned, I don’t know how either the membranes or the husks will react, or if they’ll even believe us. But this is their world, and their history - they have a right to know. I believe that it would be wrong to keep it from them.”

Remi takes out her datapad and holds it loosely in both hands. “We should also take a copy of all the records back for the Starfinder Society to study. That is our primary mission, after all.”

She looks into the face of each of her colleagues, her expression resolved even as she wavers with lingering uncertainty. These are not questions that her years of study had prepared her for.

Naboh lets out a long, low whistle of amazement.

Yeah, that's a rough decision all right. The membranes are gonna have a lot of explaining to do to the husks. But at the moment both sides seem to have come to terms with their reality. And the ghibrani who made that decision are all long dead. It's above my pay grade to make this decision for a whole species we've just met today.

Twik’s eyes get rounder and rounder as he processes the information.

”Wow!...........

I’m with all of you. We don’t get to make this decision. It’s not for us to say. We will take the information to HQ and they can decide”

After brief consideration, Dyukela says: "I think both sides deserve to know the truth. But the knowledge of the truth could lead to conflicts between the two sides. That is why I think it is better not to say anything."

"Analysis: Conflicting directives..." notes Sev as it reviews the contents of the ghibrani data.

Will post later today when I have more time. Great game guys.

”The information stored in these databanks show that this species that preceded the ghibrani husks and ghibrani membranes species—the ghibrani progenitors—were once joined… correlated… connected… by means of a shared habitat, religion, physical form, and history.” notes Sev.

”Rather than be strengthened by this connection,” the android continues, ”the ghibrani progenitors allowed this connection to deteriorate by dividing the habitat that they once shared into separate states. The result was war, which devastated the planet. Thus, the ghibrani progenitors no longer have a common habitat to share.”

”Following the war, when faced with limited resources due to the losses to their shared habitat, the ghibrani progenitors of Arkeost chose to resort to deception and create a false religion. The result was a religious division and exile. Thus, the ghibrani progenitors no longer have a common religion to share.”

”Separated by self-imposed exile, the two groups of ghibrani progenitors evolved into two separate species. Thus, the two ghibrani species no longer have a shared physical form.”

”Focusing on their immediate needs and desires, the two ghibrani
species lost not only the knowledge of how to maintain their ancient technologies, but they also lost the knowledge of their origins and what they used to share. Thus, the two ghibrani species no longer have a shared history.”

”Accordingly, the deterioration of the connection that was first begun by the ghibrani progenitors has found its completion in the present ghibrani species. However, it need not be so.”

”The information that we, Starfinders, have uncovered can restore the shared history that was lost to the ghibrani. With that link restored, it may be possible to restore the other losses and to repair the other divisions that have driven the ghibrani apart."

The android’s head twitches a few times, before it continues.”This unit…this android… I…” Sev says with some with some difficulty, as if overriding long-standing code and internal protocols. ”have observed… analyzed… felt... what it is like to be disconnected. I do not wish it on any other being.”

”I believe that if we withhold the information obtained from the ghibrani progenitor databanks, then we fail at our mission to ‘make peaceful contact’. Indeed, I believe that by withholding this information--by continuing the fraud that divides the ghibrani species—by maintaining the disconnect between the native inhabitants of this world, that we would be not be maintaining any lasting peace, but would instead be perpetuating a most grievous harm.”

”I vote to inform the ghibrani species of the information we have obtained. Let us give the ghibrani species back their connection. Let us restore to them the history that they once shared.”

Sorry for the delay, but I knew that Sev would have a good deal to say.

"My first thought was that both sides must know the truth, but I gave up on that idea. Now that I've heard your thoughts Sev, I agree with you and I think we still have to tell them the truth."

"I think that for centuries this question will not be answered. Perhaps empathy is the answer to your question. I really do not know. All in all a very interesting thought. I think I'm going to spend the next night thinking about it."

"Your support is appreciated, Dyukela." Sev responds in a monotone fashion. "By the way, after your rest last night, did you arrive at an answer regarding my earlier inquiry regarding the soul?"

Sorry, Dyukela, but androids never forget.

Also, your English writing skills are excellent. I would not have guessed that it was not your native language.