"That is not a no."

"I'm pretty sure that's the restraining bolt. He should be able to tell you."

"Oh, okay. Please, tell us if you have any standing orders that we should know about?"

"I am to stay where I'm stationed and shoot anyone who attempts to steal from the area that I am protecting. If a thief flees I may leave my station to chase them. I am to preferentially shoot to disable."

"Ah, are those orders... comfortable?" He looks helplessly at Daisy.

"Having to stay put is a little harsh. Not that he should be wandering around the town, but you could loosen that one up so he can move around on or near the ship. The other two shouldn't come up at all but I don't think they'll be unpleasant if they do - Nine?"

He stands motionless for a few seconds, thinking. "I would prefer not to be limited in what I can say."

"Okay... I revoke your limitations on what to say and I loose the movement restriction so you can move around on or near the ship."

"Thank you, sir."

"Yes, thank you."

"You're entirely welcome."

Pause.

"That wasn't an order."

"Mmhmm."

"Okay, we still need to stop by the general store for another batch of droids, and then I need to go to the library and town hall - it should take less than two hours. Nine, will you be okay here while we're gone?"

"Of course."

"Anything else that you might need?"

"Nothing I can't pick up while we're at the general store."

"I meant 9"

"No, sir."

"Okay, let us know if that changes."

"Yes, sir."

"He'll get used to it," Daisy reassures. "It's just going to take a while."

"It's okay. He can take as long as he needs."

She nods, and then goes to check with the mechs - they want her to pick up some spare parts, and are dubious about it when she assures them that they'll have whatever they need back at home, but the promise of a trip to the city for anything they don't have satisfies them. She asks if there's anything else they want, too, prompting a flurry of excited upgrade suggestions.

Awww. That is adorable.

It really is.

"Lord Pradnakt will be doing any upgrades you want, but I'm sure she won't mind. We can get the parts as soon as you're sure you know what you want."

They beep happily at her and go sit in a corner of the cargo hold to talk it over between themselves.

"All right, it seems like we're all set - we can get three or four more droids at the general store, depending on whether you want to assign Nine to surveillance or have him patrolling."

"Is there a reason why we shouldn't get more droids to... raise?"