Helper Programming is a set of mental conditions that The Helper Corporation forcibly instills in Helpers before selling the Helpers as slaves.[c1p4][c1p17][c2p14]
Slaves, specially bred and programmed for absolute obedience.
Miss Fortuna, [c1p17]
The Helper Corporation indoctrinates Helpers with the belief that their purpose is to serve their owners.[c1p1][c1p4] Helper Programming also assigns Helpers a gender,[c1p5] with roughly one in six Helpers assigned male.[c8p2]
When a Helper's pod is opened, a gas activates an enzyme in the Helper's bloodstream causing them to view the next human they see as their owner.[c1p19][c1p20][c7p15]
As part of their programming, Helpers are supposed to show unconditional love and adoration for their owners, even owners they just met[c2p8][c2p15] or owners who are abusive[c7p1].
Helpers are unable to refer to their owner by name, even if their owner wants them to[c2p5][c8p10]. They typically refer to their owners as "Master[c6p16]" or "Mistress[c1p19]." As of Chapter 11 it is unknown how a Helper would address a nonbinary owner.
Additionally, Helpers are unable to name themselves[c2p6], or even give themselves a nickname[c5p6] or alias[c5p11]. Helpers are usually named by their owners[c2p6][c9p10].
When speaking to a human other than their owner, Helpers will usually address them using gendered prefixes such as "mr," "ms,[c3p4]" or "mx".[c3p11]" However, a Helper can pretend another human is their owner and address them accordingly[c5p11][c9p1].
Their programming makes Helpers susceptible to sexual assault from their owners[c2p19][c4p7]
When aspects of their programming contradict each other (for example, if a Helper's owner asks them to do something against their programming), a Helper can experience extreme pain[c2p5].
Young Helpers are especially likely to accept almost any suggestion from anyone[c7p7]. Most young Helpers can barely form a sentence without checking with their owner[c7p14].
Helpers are typically not jealous.[c5p4]
Fighting our programming...It gets easier with time and practice. But with the head start you've had...You may be able to do things no Helper has ever done.
Adrastea, [c7p17]
Helper Programming is designed to be very difficult to resist[c8p19]. Nonetheless, some Helpers have made limited progress in fighting their programming. Some Helpers know they are trans despite The Helper Corporation's insistence to the contrary[c1p3][c1p6], and Pandora used that knowledge to attempt to escape[c1p9].
During a mission to rescue Petrichor, Pandora volunteers to do something dangerous[c5p8], even though Isabelle explicitly said she didn't want Pandora to do anything dangerous[c5p2].
Maple demonstrates the ability to show she is unhappy even when her master wants her to look happy[c4p20].
Adrastea is able to tell a lie of omission to her master[c7p12], as well as to criticize him[c7p16]. She also says fighting programming gets easier with age[c7p17].
Echo demonstrates the ability to call humans by their names, without gendered prefixes[c9p3][c9p9].
Pandora's struggle to overcome her programming is in part an allegory for overcoming internalized transphobia.