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At the beginning of the Human/Android war
Humans did not consider them to be alive, and yet, Androids could die. Really die. This would be the case whenever the fallen android's A.I. chip was damaged beyond repair, as the A.I. chip contained the android's existence and awareness. Even when the A.I. chip was destroyed, however, it was still possible to collect some data and memories from the fallen androids' memory chips. It was an easy enough process, yet only the Ten and the Watchers had the physical ability to perform this feat. The memories of the fallen would then be input and conserved on a giant server located at the Android base until they could be injected into a new, metallic body, thus allowing the newly awoken androids to profit from their predecessors' experience and knowledge.
"Watcher 443… … Make sure they’re laid to rest properly."
Order received from Master Delta. Must lay to rest fallen comrades. Recovering bodies and memory chips.
As he was ordered to, Watcher 443 gathered the remains of the androids who had been destroyed during the struggles with the humans, along with his metallic underlings.
Watcher 443 always obeyed those orders precisely. His comrades’ fate did not affect him particularly.
He and his metallic brethren would dig the correct amount of graves, one for each of their fallen, and lower their chipless body into the ground before going back to their usual occupations.
Order from Master Delta partially fulfilled. Fallen comrades have been laid to rest. Starting security patrol. Awaiting new orders.
***
Several years later
"Watcher 443… … Make sure they’re laid to rest properly."
Order received from Master Delta. Must lay to rest fallen comrades. Recovering bodies and memory chips. Organizing farewell gathering.
Over the years, as he kept laying to rest his fallen comrades by the hundreds of thousands, Watcher 443 started feeling that this unpersonal way of handling his brethren’s passing was insufficient. He had noticed that some of his fellow Watchers and even some regular androids were observing their fallen comrades with a form of mild sadness whenever they would put the chipless bodies into their graves. Watcher 443 himself felt that sadness needed to be addressed.
He had seen how his Masters Delta, Gamma, and Omega had grieved when their own siblings had died: by holding a short ceremony among themselves, lighting candles in a dark room, and sharing memories they had of those they lost. Watched 443 had felt this might be an appropriate way for the androids to bid farewell to their fallen comrades as well.
And so, unknowingly to his Masters, Watcher 443 would call on all nearby androids whenever any of their brethren were put to rest to hold a short memorial.
He would usually say the exact same words. Regular androids had no real personality or traits, so there was little to be said in regards to their characters. Even in regards to their lives, there were no particularities. Others would have called Watcher 443’s endeavor futile—but it helped him and the other androids feel at ease.
On that specific day, only two androids had died.
Watcher 443 had laid the bodies next to their graves and lit up a few candles around them. He then stood in front of a gathering of around fifty androids that had come at his call.
"Today we must say goodbye to Androids 1123581321 and 1231853211.
They were good androids who always listened to Master Delta, Master Omega, and Mistress Gamma.
They always cleaned and took care of their metal.
They have killed many nasty humans.
We will regret them until their memories are put inside Android 22461016264 and 22461016265."
After his little farewell speech and as he always did during his ceremonies, Watcher 443 gave the order, and a few of his fellow Watchers carefully lowered the bodies of their fallen comrades into their graves. The remaining, still living androids remained silent for a minute. Then Watcher 443 blew out the candles, and all androids returned to their respective occupations.
Order from Master Delta fulfilled. Fallen comrades have been laid to rest properly. Starting security patrol. Awaiting new orders.