Helper programming

Helper Programming is a set of mental conditions that The Helper Corporation forcibly instills in Helpers before selling the Helpers as slaves.

Effects of Helper Programming

"Slaves, specially bred and programmed for absolute obedience."

―Miss Fortuna^[src]

The Helper Corporation indoctrinates Helpers with the belief that their purpose is to serve their owners. Helper Programming also assigns Helpers a gender, with roughly one in six Helpers assigned male. 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.

As part of their programming, Helpers are supposed to show unconditional love and adoration for their owners, even owners they just met or owners who are abusive.

Helpers are unable to refer to their owner by name, even if their owner wants them to. They typically refer to their owners as "Master" or "Mistress." As of Chapter 9 it is unknown how a Helper would address a nonbinary owner.

Additionally, Helpers are unable to name themselves, or even give themselves a nickname or alias. Helpers are usually named by their owners.

When speaking to a human other than their owner, Helpers will usually address them using gendered prefixes such as "mr," "ms," or "mx." However, a Helper can pretend another human is their owner and address them accordingly.

Their programming also makes Helpers susceptible to sexual assault from their owners

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.

Young Helpers are especially likely to accept almost any suggestion from anyone. Most young Helpers can barely form a sentence without checking with their owner.

Fighting Helper Programming

"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^[src]

Helper Programming is designed to be very difficult to resist. 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, and Pandora used that knowledge to attempt to escape.

During a mission to rescue Petrichor, Pandora volunteers to do something dangerous, even though Isabelle explicitly said she didn't want Pandora to do anything dangerous.

Maple demonstrates the ability to show she is unhappy even when her Master wants her to look happy.

Adrastea is able to tell a lie of omission to her master, as well as to criticize him. She also says fighting programming gets easier with age.

Echo demonstrates the ability to call humans by their names, without gendered prefixes.