Lost in song, Artie walks on auto-pilot until his feet get wet. And then his shins. Knees. Thighs - what's all this muck? Did something just slither?

Only loyalty (and fear, obviously) keeps Artie moving forward into the grimey water. Is a lot of grime called grimes? If so, we're heading into some Thick Grimes. Artie chuckles without really knowing why.

Then the confusing and tinny voice, the red light.... Computer!

Always there for us when we need! And when we don't! And all times in between!

And a new mission within a mission? "Very loyal stuff indeed! We are entrusted with a great task! Escorting a Jackobot!"

And guard it... from what? From everything? Everything.

"Let's find this Jackobot and guard it in the most loyal manner possible!"

There's a cheery poem of obedience referencing a Jackobot... "Let's declare our loyalty as we march slash swim!"

"Jack - o - bot went up the HIL Sector,

to fetch a pail of H20

Jack - o - bot fell down and broke his crown-circuit

and many clones were summarily executed for failing in their duty to protect the Jack - o - bot as ordered by friend Computer"

No questions - "Team Leader, take us this 'riefinginging' the Computer mentioned".

This is a relatively peaceful and cooperative adventure, so far, compared to some of the Paranoia we played way back when!

Caution and rationality are not synonomous with loyalty.

Artie considers Brighte's bright idea, "If we all get in a line behind the team leader and hold onto the clone in front of us we can at least stay together as we move blindly forward.  Always forward."

So basically, just conga line through the sector! Possibly the most ridiculous and treasonous idea yet.This sack of meat is definately not running on a solid state drive! What a crazy idea! On the other hand, at least with a conga line Artie won't stub his toes - he's clumsy enough. So he'll play along for now...

"Loyal team members will line up behind team leader, pending power repairs, and prepare to conga! Remember this was Brighte's idea! Loyalty officers are mandated by friend Computer to go last in a line, to watch out for treasons. Let's all be orderly while our leader attempts repairs."

Meanwhile if Ammpe can get those power conduits operational, it will be temporary proof of his loyalty. Temporary. But really, a clone fixing power conduits? Inefficient.

"Ammpe, wouldn't it be better if you got a robot-handy-fixer to fix that? We can all see, you can't fix stuff as well as a robot. We understand if you're not up to the task. We ceed to your judgement, though, team leader".

And this Blowz-R-UPP-2... very interesting. If anyone else talked like that, Artie would definately report them with his laser. But Blowz is funny. Of course, if Blowz 2 is was Artie thinks, Artie knows what to do.

In the meantime, while we await the power repair, or shuffle in conga formation, Artie recalls a happy song of joyful subservient obedience...

"Hello darkness our old friend, we'll fix the conduits again,

Because the prospect of a treason

Leaves a corpse, we know the reason

Friend Computer, power surges are your right!

we will not fight

we happily serve

in silence."

Sometimes Artie finds it difficult to gauge whether he is more happy or more loyal. Loyal, definately. And happy. Mostly loyal.

Looks like our someone wasn't loyal enough. Or maybe they were - who gives a s**t. Artie doesn't have a tool to fix a laser disintegrated Red. Or a hand. Or a backside. 

Whence Brighte is done eulogizing, Artie applauds loudly and gives a "Hip-hip, hoo-ray!" in a show of morale. And loyalty. Always loyalty.

   "How long will we have to wait for a replacement clone?"

Artie wonders if we're being loyal enough... to fast? Too slow? Artie wants to get on with this mission. Artie looks around for a robot to repair in the meantime, perhaps he can be useful while we wait.

   "Steam, you know, I'm from Tech Services, I can give that laser blaster a once over."

In the meantime, Artie awaits the replacment clone with a song of happy obedience;

   "Send in the clones... there ought to be clones... well maybe, next year-cycle...."

This mission is going great!

Artie looks about whilst singing obediently, and sees the open door as an indication of the Computers will.

Artie goes like a go-bot through the doorway.

"Onward! What a day-cycle, the concrete under our red issue boot, corrugated tin walls at our side, ductwork and pipes overhead!"

"Steam, if your hand is less than 100% functional, the morale officer may be of loyal assistance. Quite an honor! And what loyalty, keeping your blaster with you in the circumstances!"

The Computer probably didn't want us the loaf about at that doorway.

Artie's eyes light up. The computer is taking an interest in our team. In our mission. Oustanding!

"Hello, O great computer. It is us, your loyalist of loyal red troubleshooting teams! We're looking forward to this task, I can tell you, and looking forward to the ensueing promised promotion!"

"You may remember me, great computer - I humbly tended to the gear-o-matic rhumba mop-bots the next sector over. Oh, what larks!

"Anyhoo - these carbon-basers are with me, the loyalty officer. And as far as I know, they're all loyal - excepting the ones which you're blasting while I chirp away like a chirp-bot. We will loyally stand here while you blast away, computer - we who are about to be blasted, salute you!"

Artie salutes and drops his toolbelt in the process.

"Can someone get that?"

"Let's see some salutes! More loyalty!"

Perhaps a song of obedience....

"It goes BIP when it moves and BOP when it pops and WHIRR when it is still... We OBEY the computer happily and I know I always will..."  (dodges a laser beam) "EVERYBODY now, second verse, same as the first, a little more loyal and work up a thirst!"

Artie conducts with a spanner wrench. 

"That was what us wrenchheads call a soft re-boot. Let's be more loyal, and avoid a hard re-boot".

Artie puzzles over the comings and goings, drops his spork and picks it up again.

He considers fixing the speaker - no, Artie is meant for fixing better machines. Perfect ones. And the whole speaker thing is sort of done.

Artie thanks the Morale officer for his concern regarding Dweeb. "Your vigilance towards loyalty will not to go not unnoticed neither unrewarded if due in the mission output tabulation of the Computer, no doubt.  This Dweeb had faulty coding. Carry on!"

"Loyal mission leader! Continue your excellence in leading us to the mission area."

"Thanks to these loyal Yellows for seeing that our mission gets off to an auspicious start. Thanks for filling that Dweeb with holes." 

"This broken speaker will ensure we leave no trace for commie spy filth to track us. Thanks to our loyal team member - whoever it was."

"Last one to the mission area is a disloyal traitor!"

Artie takes one more sporkful of soylent green, and then exits the cafeteria.

Artie is of good cheer with all his happy colleagues, and you see that he keeps hard at work with his wrenches, spanners, and other loyal tools. Of course he consistently fumbles and drops them, but gosh, consistensy is loyalty.

"Dropped a number five torque threader in your work area, citizen! Grateful if you'll hand it back to me! The Computer demands cooperation!"

“If we work hard and are loyal and happy, the computer might select us randomly for a special routine non-hazardous mission with a danger pay per diem!  Look busy!”

Artie whistles while he works, a popular song of obedience; “I believe that robots are the future… maintain them well and let them lead the way…. “

Artie can fix anything. Even treason!

Time for a lunch pill! Yay!

All hail the Computer!

Grateful if the computer will allow it's humble servant to run the clone Artie-R-FCL.

Artie - he's smart, that's why they made him a tech, he's loyal - so loyal, I mean, you just wouldn't believe how loyal this guy is - pretty loyal all right. Definately not a member of a secret society.