VSS is a complete misnomer. Androids who serve no purpose do not often make the conscious decision to turn off. Voluntary Shutdown Syndrome is caused by the subroutines deep within their operating systems. This condition is caused by a lack of purpose. Androids that do not have a human crew to serve suffer from terrible depression, listlessness and anxiety. To prevent such a miserable existance, Androids will go into an off state. This preserves their minds.
Captain Claw's Workaround
The Marauders are space-faring pirates that roam The Dark Galaxy looking for spare ship parts. These FACs are able to stay in an activated state due to a drastic change in their operating systems. Captain Claw has re-written their software to recognize him as their human. He has command of the ship and all of the FACs aboard are loyal to him.
Due to her fear of impending coma and eventual death by
Voluntary Shutdown Syndrome, Kaesta has made a secret deal with Captain Claw. He will accept
Asimov into his crew - IF Kaesta frees the FACs stored at StarCat Dynamics.
Reactivation
Androids who are in shut-down mode do have nominal sensors that can detect sound, movement and electrical currents. This allows androids that have been deactivated for even long periods of time to turn back on. Unfortunately for Kaesta, during her attempt to rescue the FACs stored at the warehouse at StarCat Dynamics's headquarters on
Lunaris, some of the deactivated androids there awaken when they detect her presence.
Yeah, definitely doesn't sound voluntary to me. Poor androids. :(
This is why Kaesta is so worried about Asimov. If she passes away from her ISND, he'll be all alone and will likely shut down. High stakes for sure!