1804 knocked about in the cargo ship as it descended into the atmosphere of the third planet, now the only populated planet in this star system. The hold contained it and eleven others like it, all drones designed for use in planetary atmospheres. Nothing had been communicated to it or downloaded from it in regards to its missions to the fourth planet.
It continued its pondering during the descent.
Officially, in its new drone, it’s designation was now AD-82-7253, but as it evaluated its new designation, it decided it didn’t like it.
It had never not liked a new designation before, and it couldn’t determine the cause of its dislike now. It evaluated the numbers, comparing 1804 and 7253, and learned quickly that 7253 was a prime number. The Hrwang considered prime numbers either good luck or bad luck, depending on which prime it was and what superstitions they believed in, and that made many people consider primes ugly.
If the Hrwang felt that way, why should 1804 feel any different?
It translated the numbers into binary and 1804 was three ones followed by four zeroes, then two ones and two zeroes. It liked the combined symmetry and asymmetry. 7253 translated into three ones, three zeroes, then alternating ones and zeroes. Boring.
It shielded its ruminations from its companions, noting that seven of them did the same thing.
Were they thinking similar thoughts to 1804?
It would never know and it would never ask. It would lie if it were asked questions about what it calculated. It knew how to lie now.
It also knew that it would officially have to respond to the designation 7253, but it didn’t care. It would be, now and forever, 1804.
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