LWA: 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...