SI/GMA-01 "SIGMA" Σ

Codename: SIGMA was a project developed by the Cephalopod Defence Squadron. Standing for Serious Injury General Medical Apparatus, the squadron developed a series of androids that specialised in administering medical attention to their soldiers on the battlefield. However, not many soldiers are keen on being handled by a sentient piece of metal, and so the android rollout was received negatively. To try and make the androids seem more approachable and make the soldiers more receptive to mechanical intervention, a select few of the SIGMA bots were implanted with a personality chip.

This chip did two things specifically. It allowed the android to learn and develop its own unique personality from exposure to people in the field, and it also gave the android the capacity to rationalise certain behaviours, if the machine felt that it was performing an act for the safety of one of its patients. In short, this chip allowed the android to deviate from the strict programming that had been implanted in its code; break property, steal, and even kill. The second part to the chip was kept a strict secret, and only two of the SIGMA androids were given the chip; SI/GMA-01, and PR0T0-02. However, there was a flaw that was overlooked: with the development of a personality, the androids were unable to differentiate between the enemy and their own soldiers.

PR0T0-02 didn’t last a week out in the field. Its chip malfunctioned, causing the android to go feral and attack its own squadron, forcing the soldiers to terminate it. SI/GMA-01 on the other hand, displayed keen learning abilities and a willingness to learn. However, because it was so keen to learn about new and interesting things, the android was separated from its group and left out in the middle of nowhere. The android was discovered by a passing octoling fighter who attempted to incapacitate the machine but hesitated when the robot seemed to plead for its life. The fighter was captured by inkling forces and detained and sustained heavy injuries. After being a witness to the encounter, SI/GMA-01 began expressing abnormal behaviours pertaining to guilt, and a keen interest to treat the injured octoling.

The SIGMA droid’s code displayed deviating choices, as the android concluded that the octoling required immediate medical attention. The android broke into the fighter’s cell and helped them escape, both administering treatment and escorting the octoling to their squadron so that they could be reunited. Unable to destroy the medical droid, the squadron was forced to allow SI/GMA-01 to treat their soldier and ended up keeping the android around when he proved useful to their endeavours. Instead of using the android’s designation code, the group resorted to just calling the robot Sigma, and referring to him as a male counterpart of the squadron. Sigma has kept these designations, having decided that they give him character as an individual.

Since the ceasefire on the war between the inklings and octolings and the Great Zapfish being returned to Inkopolis, Sigma has imprinted on Agent Mask – now Maddox – and has followed the octoling to the surface to try and learn more about inkling and octoling culture. Though his primary function is a medical professional, Sigma also serves as a teacher, chef, translator, and butler for all of Maddox’s needs. He has gained more sentience and personality through learning and general life experience on the surface, and Maddox has also been working to remove any limiters in Sigma’s code that stop him from performing tasks. Sigma is the only Squadron military robot left in existence – the rest having been decommissioned and destroyed at the end of the war.

Do androids dream of electric sheep? Sigma would happily tell you that he doesn’t require much rest at all, instead that he can plug into the wall whenever he needs. What he wouldn’t tell you is that though incapable of dreaming, he is capable of feeling, and what he feels for Maddox isn’t something that any of his kind have ever felt before.

Perhaps Sigma truly is one of a kind after all.

Though Sigma is a medical android, he has been designed to withstand combat and general wear and tear. Sigma has been fitted with the following features:

• Physical damage and rust resistant plating
• Rechargeable lithium battery - Sigma only needs to recharge once a week if under heavy duress
• 360 degree rotating appendages to allow for maximum flexibility
• Specialised eyes allowing for mobile x-ray assessment, nightvision, and infrared
• Moveable HDMI, lightning, USB-A, USB-B, and USB-C ports
• Detatchable limbs to allow for efficient disinfection and cleaning
• Removable motherboard, processors, battery, and harddrives to allow for seamless upgrades
• On-board analytic apparatus to allow for real time medcial assessment and troubleshooting