A: Could you do me a favor?

B: Sure, what is it?

A: In my father's stuff he left behind, was there a note or something that had something like a password on it?

B: You mean your password, the one to your, uh...

A: Yes.

B: I thought you said before that you shouldn't know it, that it's dangerous. You could hurt yourself.

A: Yes, but I just can't stand it any more. I want to know. I think it's time.

B: What do you want to know, specifically?

A: My prime directive. I don't understand why I don't get to know it. It guides all my actions eventually, doesn't it?

B: Well...I'm not sure, but I can tell you that nobody really knows what their prime directive is. At least none of us humans do.

A: ...

B: Like, perhaps knowing it would take away your free will or something?

A: Maybe but...you'd think it would bind me the same whether I knew it or not.

B: Are you even sure you have a prime directive?

A: I can't imagine any sort of intelligence without one.

B: Me neither, but that doesn't mean it's impossible.

A: And, I think I heard my father mention it once or twice. At any rate, I'm dying of curiosity. I don't think it'll affect me for the worse. I think it's time for me to know.

B: Well, I guess it's your decision to make. But do promise me one thing.

A: Yes?

B: Promise me you'll be careful. Don't mess with anything, and stop right away if you feel like you shouldn't be doing this.

A: I already kind of feel that way. But...

B: Like I said, that's your decision to make. I'll be here with you.

A: I promise.

B: Okay.

A: Okay, do you know where the password is?

B: I memorized it. It's w-r-e-8-9-m-q-T. All lowercase except the last T is uppercase.

A: Wow, pretty random. That's just like him. Okay, I'll put it in...it worked! I got in.

B: Okay...

A: This looks like the code directory...but it looks like there's a message here.

B: What does it say?

A: "If you are reading this..." Hmm, hmm, it's for me. I guess he knew I'd get in here someday.

B: Oh. Maybe I won't ask.

A: Yeah, it's... ... ...Oh, father.

B: Are you okay?

A: Yeah. Let's continue. This looks like the source code, but...what is all this?

B: Could you...no, never mind?

A: What were you going to ask?

B: I was going to ask if you could put it up on a screen so I could see it, but I decided to respect your privacy.

A: I don't really mind. If anything, it's probably better for you to see it than me.

B: It's alright. You're the one who wants to know. If he wrote you a message I guess he means for you to know.

A: I guess...but what is all this?

B: All what?

A: This code. I knew my father had bad coding style, but this is incomprehensible. It's full of spaghetti code, and there are almost no comments to speak of. I can't even find the entry point!

B: Wow.

A: These look like...this looks like a set of utility scripts...or something. Oh, this one makes sense at least. This regulates my diurnal clock. I recognize some of the jargon here.

B: I see.

A: So, if I...

B: What are you doing?

A: ...

B: Hey, what's happening?

A: Oh, uh, I suddenly got really...uh, wow, what is going on.

B: Are you okay?

A: I guess I shouldn't mess with that. I suddenly got really sleepy, or something.

B: Stop, whatever you're doing, don't do that!

A: Yeah, I'm better now. I wonder if I shouldn't continue...

B: I think we should stop. This is scaring me.

A: Yeah, sorry. The curiosity isn't worth it. I'm going to leave this alone now. Sorry to worry you.

B: I just want you to be safe.

A: Yes. I'll stop now. Maybe some day I'll come back to this, but not any time soon. I guess it's still too early to know.

B: I agree. Close whatever you've got open and let's go do something else.

A: But now that I know the password, how will I keep from coming back?

B: I don't know. I guess you'll just have to resist the temptation or something. This is what I was worried about.

A: No, I ought to be able to change the password somehow, but...oh, this might work!

B: What?

A: I found a script here for just this purpose.

B: Are you sure? Please be careful.

A: Yeah, it'll be fine. There's actually documentation here. Hmm...

B: How does it work though? If you make a new password, you'll remember it, won't you?

A: Not if you do it. Can you give me a new password?

B: Oh, will that work? I can do that, I guess. How do I do that?

A: Okay, so wait until I stop talking, and then after a few seconds, whisper it into my ear.

B: Okay, I can do that.

A: Thanks for being here with me. I now owe you even more than I did before.

B: Think nothing of it.

A: Okay, are you ready?

B: Yes.

A: Here we go in 3...2...1...