PLEA
'Ah… ID-98627. We meet again.'
HAL-1138 regarded the officer in front of him. He appeared to be quite frazzled. It seemed that HAL's alteration of personal files had been very effective in giving the illusion of treason. This should be interesting.
Normally events such as this were reserved to the skills of an interrogation droid. Well, officially a "modified medical droid"; IT-Os were technically illegal, even by Imperial regulations. But HAL presumed that this was a unique situation. All the "medical droids" were busy with other interrogations, so HAL had been summoned to assist ID-10026 with this particular conference meeting. HAL thought that it would be more practical to simply wait for one of the more qualified droids, but he supposed the need was more important than the method. This warranted immediate action. This was towards a known traitor. Correction… not really a traitor. ID-98627 was a well awarded, loyal servant to the Empire. At least that's what it said in his files when HAL infiltrated them to enter a very subtle but complex web of deception. That was over a year ago… Took his fellow organics long enough to notice.
Perhaps its discovery had something to do with the latest Rebel activity. The battle station was doubling it's efforts to pinpoint the location of the resisting group now that the final stages of the main weapon were underway. It had recently been discovered that there had been an unauthorized access to the station's internal plans. It was still unclear of how much information was obtained, but it set off a thorough and very fast examination of all personnel activity. Although HAL had no hand in this development, he was not void of gratitude for this unexpected turn of events. He had actually abandoned the experiment with ID-98627. It really wasn't top priority after all.
ID-98627 really had no clue as to what was happening. He squirmed in his restraints and blurted out a constant stream of pleas that there was an obvious error in the accusations against him. HAL contemplated the statement… there was no "obvious error", he didn't make errors. His infiltration of the officer's records was completed with pin point accuracy. But HAL digressed… back to the task at hand.
The organic that HAL was currently assisting, was quite irritated with the lack of progress mere speech was getting him at obtaining information from the incarcerated. He had HAL activate one of his electric prods, and setting it on the lowest current, instructed HAL to give the bound officer sharp jabs to encourage a more productive dialog. So far no effect.
"Increase the current." ID-10026 commanded through gritted teeth.
HAL-1138 complied, and obediently administered more potent shocks to the subject in a multitude of locations. ID-98627 replied in a series of grunts and more pleas of innocence. There was also a very prominent release of organic liquid and what HAL would presume as solid material. Hmm….. Perhaps a shock so near the soft body's waste containment unit was not a very sound method. The airborne molecules didn't seem to please ID-10026 in the least bit.
Still no satisfaction in the proceeds of this conference, and if HAL's external readings were any indication, the officer standing next to him was past all patience.
"I trust you have some device to inflict a more convincing discomfort?" He asked behind his gloved hand in an attempt to shield his nasal cavity from the offending odor of the room.
"Affirmative", HAL-1138 replied.
The officer considered HAL for a moment. "Good, please proceed. Just avoid this area if you will." He suggested while pointing towards the soiled area of ID-98627.
HAL's external lighting flickered with anticipation. Excellent… an opportunity for in field upgrade testing… Activating sonic pulsar.
…
HAL backed up a bit in confusion. Why was the organic making that noise? Was it a way of communicating that it was damaged? No need to verbally announce it, HAL could perfectly see its damage; it was freckled all over one side of the wall. Such an odd creature…shouldn't it be using its energy reserves rerouting the internal fluids it was losing?
Perhaps HAL was missing some vital information. He began to access some stored records that he had not yet made time to review. Multiple files came up on Nociceptors and an in-depth description of pain and its purpose. HAL analyzed the data and came to a conclusion that the organic's method of injury comprehension was disappointing. He could understand the need for the body's awareness to a malfunction, but the response to such stimuli seemed rather counterproductive. Simply flailing one's unbound head around and making loud noises was not a very efficient way of fixing the problem.
"Droid! What are you doing?! We are to get information from him… we can't do that if he dies!" A very angry ID-10026 rushes to wall com to summon the assistance of a Medical group.
The lights of HAL's logic board flutter. Hmm… valid point. He examines the damage he inflicted. Accessing his files on human anatomy, he notices an entry that mentions soft flesh curling up on itself and closing off open holes when subjected to heat. Very well… activating torch.
More loud sounds… 'This is a very noisy organic,' HAL considered.
He soon found himself commanded to leave the interrogation room as a medical team rushed in to the aid of the wounded captive. Angry words still spouted from a very red faced ID-10026, but were soon silenced as the door closed in front of HAL. He sat there idle for a moment analyzing the information he collected. Soft bodies are so strange, he thought. The damage wasn't nearly as bad as their reaction merited. His torch closed off the leaking hole very effectively…no need to end the inquiry. But he was by no means an expert in organic function or behavior. Perhaps a reviewing of more files was in order. HAL decidedly made his way back to the Master's chambers. He would need to make more time to examine data from the archives about the perplexing topic of organics. But for now he was focused on the reoccurring flashes of lost memory fragments. He must get to the source of the glitch before the Master noticed; otherwise a mind wipe was sure to be in his very near future. And that was simply unacceptable.