Planet Gand, Pef Empire

On board New Celestial Thorne, the Redbox deck.

25 BBY

Eighth month.

If I wasn't an AI right now, the strain of juggling of the intelligence operations of my empire, would have been too great.

But for now, they only took 0.034 percent of my available mind partitions.

Operation 665 was progressing as planned, pitting House Pelagia and House Mecetti against each other, a few years sooner than they would have in the original timeline. Only this time, their war won't devastate the entire sector and kill billions.

Attacks and counter-attacks against both sides, ships vanishing in transit, various unprotected heirs dying mysteriously.

I sent the final okay, and both houses ended at once. Two different bioweapons, each tailored for the gene markers of their families, then electropulse weapons erasing any electronic records and destroying the remaining nano-gene droids.

And then another heist, stealing all their credits and the library with holocrons. Luxum was on site directing the electronic warfare along with Ray. Over a thousand deaths, from family and administrators and palace guards, plus whatever crew the ships had.

This might bring us in the attention of the Jedi or the Sith, but the bounty was to big to let it go to waste.

Droids carrying ysalamiri in life support backpacks rose from under the sea, and began looting the library, with Luxum staying hidden at the edge of the system. Greymist was running silent, without life support or gravity, and hidden in the light.

Our first holocron had been balanced out a little, as I imprinted some Jedi and Fallanassi abilities into it. Once the spirit was removed, the holocron proved much less dangerous to use, though I still restricted a few types of Mind alter for Master levels.

That was myself and Wialu only, so far.

Experimenting with mental force abilities like psychosis and rage or fear and terror was quite damaging for organic psyches.

'Droids returning to ships. Extraction begins now' Luxum sent through her Voice bond. I did manage to make the connection stable and long range now, after studying the Sith holocron at length.

The first ship containing a Jedi holocron jumped away, towards the core, while the ship with the Sith holocron jumped towards Hutt space. Then the next ship jumped heading towards Endor, and another towards Mandalore. More ships jumped away, some empty, some with holocrons on board. 10 minutes later, the seismic charges went off, sinking the platforms at the bottom of the ocean.

And then 10 minutes later, the last cookie in the jar, an electromagnetic torpedo I learned from my Sith friends, though just a weak one, detonated under the sea and erased all trace of a robbery.

Everything alive for 20 kilometers died, mainly fish and other aquatic life, creating a disturbance in the force and muddling attempts at retrocognition.

If anyone traces the weapon, it will lead to the crazy magicians of Tund. Always be prepared to blame the Sith. Nobody would doubt them being crazy or capable of mass-murder.

'Jumping towards Felucia, see you next week' Luxum sent and vanished.

Hyperspace still messed up the Voice, unless we traveled close by.

In the corners of the room and along the walls, I had olbio tree in large pots, with a few ysalmiri hiding between the leaves, leaving only the large holographic table and a few meters around it, not covered by the force blank bubbles.

Around the redbox room, I had the red energy screens and around that, armor of ten different types, layered one over the other.

A few trading ships, hailing from Serrano and Felucia and Fondor had arrived just last week, looking for valuable explosives to buy.

Maybe just commerce, maybe something else. I rather be prepared.

Wialu and Vera had also donned power armor and went to Lotho Minor, under the guise of purchasing a Lucrehulk load of old droids and cybernetic scrap. But not just for that, our old friend Darth Maul was living there, eating garbage. Wialu wanted to drain a real Sith herself, and so I pointed her towards the easiest one.

Maybe Palpatine has taught him something nice, though I doubted it.

Then again, it was Palpatine. Who knew what the man had in his mind. I will have to wait a few years to find out.

And Lira and Celine went to speak with Ventress, who was at this time still ruling over Rattatak

They had a legion of droids with them, and the VSS, and a Mon Calamari cruiser, so they should be fine.

I hoped.

I left the room and nearly crashed into Vette.

"Why are you staring at me, got something on my face?" the blue twi'lek asked with a dubious voice, wiping the corner of her mouth.

"You like the cruiser I bought for you?" I asked amused, noticing she ditched her escort somehow. Maids only warranted a pair of Uulshos justice droid, but anyway...

"Yea, it's totally cool. Except is too big! Can't catch any pirates in it. I want my frigate back!" she yelled at me, just as her escorts arrived running at high speed.

"You can use the fast escorts for that task, adored maid." I replied, tilting my head towards the escort.

Huh, got them locked in an elevator while she stepped out. Childish jokes.

"I know I can, I studied the damn books! But, it's not the same if other people shoot them. Feels...fake, like having sex with water instead of a hulky male." Vette argued, her voice decreasing as she became embarrassed.

"I promise I will sex you up soon, dear maid. I just need a year or so" I whispered, dragging her to my chest.

"And it better be good. Or I will leave you and buy myself a harem. I am quite rich myself, I can afford a few boytoys..." she muttered in my chest.

"Shhhh. Our love is hard and strong. We will pass this test. And you can model my body to be whatever you want. I'll send you my initial designs" I added with a lighter tone.

"Oh. Oh! I can build my own boytoy. This may be worth the wait..." Vette said, in deep contemplation, while her breathing became a little more abrupt.

"Now go do whatever, Honored Maid, I have an Empire to build too" I said, pushing her in the arms of her escort.

They latched tightly, and anchored themselves with metal leashes to her belt.

"Idiot! Now I can't sneak around anymore" she yelled after me, as I glided away on my repulsor beams.

Planet Gand, Pef Empire

On board New Celestial Thorne

25 BBY

The Meteor battleship has began cooling, the exterior at least, and so I prepare to visit the Greyforge system and start putting the metal devouring strain to use.

"Zuckuss my friend, take 2 hours every day to meditate, and focus on growing five fingers on your hands. It's unseemly to be my Hand and only have 3 fingers. People will say I should find a bigger hand. Zuralee, you too. And tone down the claws, we use elegant weapons like nukes and masers to gore our enemies." I said, almost joking.

"Emperor Pef, you crazy droid. Who cares about female nails? Next you're gonna teach Zuralee what eggs to crack" Zuralee answered, without bothering to turn towards me. Hmmm, she was adjusting our budget and was cranky. And pregnant. Back away slowly...

"That's why females stay at home Pef. So the warriors can survive next day and bring home food." Mujilik commented wisely. His own female was also pregnant, and lived permanently in a jacuzzi now. Her back hurt, or so she claimed.

Arrange another jacuzzi for my pregnant Hand apartment. She took a mate from the returning Findsmen, a rather famous one.

"My home is where Pef is." Dora, my green twi'lek Voice added, and hugged my armor with one hand.

I toned down the bond, not sure if the adoration was real or enforced.

Dora didn't care and remained clinging to me. Okay then, she was just clingy.

"Alrighty then, I'm off to Greyforce. Don't blow up my Empire while I'm gone." I added with a more serious voice, lifting Dora in my arms and gliding away.

I entered my own apartment and started preparing another armor set for Dora.

"Sorry Pef. I'm the only Voice left, I shouldn't come. Take Vette, she'll love the battleship" Dora said softly, caressing my chest, where the crystal self was hiding.

"You're right. Duty and all. But you still have to wear the armor. I'll make it have breasts and leku, and paint half of it green. Sounds okay?" I answered, feeling a little stupid. Leku were their brain appendages, hanging down around her face like braided hair, or perhaps tentacles.

"No leku, just leave room inside. But a feminine shape would be nice. You saw how the Captains jump straight when Vette runs around in armor. They think it might be you"

"Or maybe it's because she drags her escort too fast and they scratch the floors." I answered instead, pointing with my head at Vette, who just arrived, holding the leashes of her droid escorts.

"You! You were going to leave without me again. Lucky my friends told me and I got here fast enough. Check out my hands!" Vette yelled, brimming with energy and excitement.

Her armor's gloves were tingling with the Force, imbued with another strange ability by the weird cult who lived on her ship. The back of her hands sported glowing crystals now, somehow embedded in the phrik alloy. Which lightsabers couldn't cut.

"Yeah, they glow. What does it do?" I asked amused.

"No idea. But looks cool. Oh! boob armor. I want some too. And leku!" Vette exclaimed, bouncing up and down and smashing the Justice droids into the floor. I let the leashes go, and had the droids sent for repairs.

"No leku. Make hers half blue as well" Dora intervened, holding a single finger up.

Vette calmed down at once, her mood disappearing. How did Dora do that? It was like magic. Only without the Force.

"So, I can come and see the battleship?" the blue Maid asked meekly, and her aura mingling respect and awe.

"Yes Vette, I spoke for you. But behave. The phages may eat you both, if Pef makes a mistake" The green Voice said softly, lowering her finger. Magic.

And one hour later, I finished armoring up my Voice and my Maid, and made both of their armors appear feminine and sport their skin color, around midriff, and arms and legs.

"The face and neck too" Dora demanded, checking herself in a mirror.

Huh. They used me as a makeup artist. The sex better be worth it.

Alrighty then, time to drag the old Celestial Throne to Greyforge, and park it there for eternity. The biolab inside was too dangerous to keep around a populated trade route. People may poke their noses inside, and end all life in the galaxy, by accident or not.

Maybe hollow out an asteroid, and hide it inside as well. Yea, that sounded great.

I ordered the droids inside to go full alert, then locked down the armored doors.

Arrange our MC80 cruiser to form up, along with a few corvettes, push the spacestation with a few Corellian freighters, those that well all know and love, looking like a falcon.

And jump.

A tiny tingle in the force, like something was wrong.

Vette looked around, then at her gloves. "Someone is following us. In hyperspace" she muttered, not really sure how she knew.

But I've seen the movies.

A Jedi, and very good.

Seems my stunts weren't unnoticed after all.

Oh well. It was star wars. Jedi everywhere, untill they all died.

Now, what could a jedi want from poor old me?

"What does the Jedi want?" I asked aloud, making the Findsmen near us jump in surprise.

"Location of Greyforge, I assume, Emperor" The Gand Captain answered immediately, but hesitant.

I turned my head towards his XO.

"Something aboard the old throne station, Emperor" the Findsman said, more confident.

"Vette?" I said turning towards my maid.

"Something aboard this cruiser. So, either you or my friends..." she whispered, holding her hands in front, and gazing at the crystals sparkle.

"Attacking me would be an act of war. It's not an official mission after all. The Jedi would announce themselves and stroll right in.

Something else then. Think about it, all of you." I explained, then turned and left the bridge, heading towards the empty starfighter hangar.

Time to speak with the Jal Shey, no matter how creepy they felt.

They wouldn't hurt Vette, since they owed her stuff. But plotting against me, or being hunted by the Jedi?

Either of those things were equally possible.

"Pef, don't hurt them. They don't fight..." Vette asked me with a pleading voice.

"Everyone fights, adored maid. They just use subtler means. Diplomacy and war...same goals after all" I mused, while the elevator brought us to the hangar deck.

"They value courage and friendship. But you saw the belts. Those are good things, right?" she asked, hesitant and afraid.

"The Jedi have murdered many force sects. For strange reasons, sometimes" I answered as we entered the hangar and the weird temple thing that the Jal Shey had built.

Strange workshops and diagrams, scrolls and scripts, nothing alike anything I seen with Jedi or Sith or any other sect.

"I am Peet Rigal, Mentor of Jal Shey" a reptilian kind of biped said, remaining straight. So, no bows. Cool.

"We have a Jedi in pursuit. And...I think they came for you" I said, going straight to the point. They should know who I was.

"Religion and pursuit of truth always come in conflict. It's inevitable. We'll leave" the Mentor said, with a long sadness in his aura.

Used to being chased and hunted. No longer fighting it.

"There's no need. The Jedi will be extinct in a few years. I can offer sanctuary untill then. A place to live and stop running. Maybe learn new things" I mused, looking over the strange group. 14 people of different races, two families with a kid. All force-users, if aligned with the Physical force the most.

For Jedi and Sith, and their obsession with the Living Force, they would appear defective.

"You know this. You've seen it like it has already happened. We could be free at last..." A woman said, stepping closer and gazing at my armor.

"Maybe. The ones who kill them won't stop with just the Jedi. They want all the Force, for themselves" I explained, floating around and scanning everything in my memory.

So much knowledge of the Force, lost and forgotten due to the fanaticism.

The aligning of this diagram, seemed almost like a Rakata piece in my shield.

A human stood apart looking at me, with distrust.

"And you? What do you say?" I asked, pointing a him. His face trembled for a second, almost like he was wearing another skin underneath.

"I say nothing, I'm just a neophyte." He answered, and pathed his way towards a door to his right, with his eyes.

Really, trying to run, while in hyperspace, on a spaceship with tens of thousands of droids on board?

As my head turned toward their leader, the man took off, moving at hyperspeed and almost reaching the door.

Almost.

I had my discharger trained on him anyway. He fell to the floor, and began spasming and changing faces.

A shapeshifter. Now, the Jedi made sense.

"Errr. You know Pef, I knew this trip was gonna be interesting..." Vette muttered beside me.

"So, not all Jal Shey can shapeshift then?" I asked to make sure.

"A target for the Jedi investigator we found. And another dead neophyte to mourn" another Jal Shey commented wisely, his species looking like a blue monkey.

Hey, if he was green and older, he'd be similar to Yoda!

They even spoke the same.

I went and poked inside the shapeshifter's brain a little. Planet Zolan. Didn't ring a bell. Bounty hunter. Getting close.

Stealing things and knowledge. Pretty close now.

To bring back and liberate his race from oppression. Okay, he was a good guy, of sorts. Only with murder and theft.

A bit like me then.

The ship dropped of hyperspace, and soon the rest of the fleet did as well.

Along with an extra ship. Sleek, painted black and stealthed. No kyber crystal.

Okay then. This Jedi was either a loser, forgetting his lightsaber, or a superpower ignoring the use of such.

I probably wasn't that lucky. It will be the latter.

The black ship hid behind an asteroid, powering down. Some strange ability, distorting the force and the space around it.

If I wasn't already expecting it, I might have missed it.

Damn it. My prison was in another system too.

This just wasn't my lucky day.

"I think it's a woman" Vette added, holding a crystal glove to her ear.

Great, now my barely sensitive maid was more capable than me.

Greyforge system, Pef empire

Aboard HMS Liberator, a Pef Empire cruiser

"Okay, priorities first. Vette, take your friends in a corvette and jump back to Gand. Dora will take care of them." I ordered, while starting to delve into the Force, and taking over the droids on the ship.

The Jedi won't take long...

"I don't wanna leave. If you fight her it's gonna be epic. A legend to tell my children..." Vette argued, crossing her arms under her armor's shield emitters.

"And you might die, and never have children. Your Emperor is right, this time" the woman who spoke before argued, and somehow convincing my maid to obey, with just a few words. I had to learn how to do that...

They started packing things up, dropping some in hurry.

Sigh. The time to panic is after you survive. Organics!

I took over the evacuation, grabbing everyone and everything with telekinesis, while the corvette I called came about and docked with the hanger. A minute later they were already accelerating away.

I might have squeezed them a little while the floating train embarked, but at least they were safe. Now, let's see about the shapeshifter...

Where did it go?

Hyperspeed was so annoying. The guy was already running towards another hangar, where I had a few shuttles.

And he dodged the droids trying to intercept. Force-user and quite good.

I sped myself as well, and sprinted after, trying to get a bead with another discharger shot.

Just as I reached the hangar, a black wing of a black fighter swerved and clipped the changeling, then came to a stop abruptly, probably with telekinesis.

Then the cockpit opened and a beautiful blonde woman jumped out, moving even faster, and grabbing my prey. Jedi robes, check. Super powerful in the Force, check. Elongated ears...check.

"Errr, Miss Jedi, that's my prisoner..." I said weakly.

I was wearing a 3 ton power armor, with shields and weapons and an assassination droid underneath, and the woman was still intimidating. That piloting skill and speed...

The woman stopped, turning her head towards me, while her hand was pulsing with white light into the shapeshifter.

Healing most likely.

"You would be Pef? I heard of a new droid Emperor, but...is the name Master Aqinos familiar?" she asked, holding a palm towards me.

What, the sunesi heretic on Dweem? Why would...Telepathy?

Let's see...peace, love and understanding? Really?

"The guy wants to save his race...some sort of occupation force on Zolan. You defend slavers?" I asked, feigning confusion.

More droids arrived, forming a perimeter around us.

"You won't like what happens if we come to blows..." the woman sent, while showing me a scene where all the droids were trashed and my armor was split open.

So, that's how you play it.

"You're in my empire, on my ship. I think you should reconsider your situation, Miss Jedi" I said politely, lifting a finger and having my droids point weapons toward her.

"Kriff. It's always that kind of negotiation" the woman replied, lifting her hands.

Good, I have a Jedi...

Hey, the starfighter shot me!

My whole armor took a tumble, untill I reset the droid OS and my shields and repulsor beams.

When I landed, the droids were all fried by a familiar type of electro pulse weapon, my armor had a gaping hole in the chest, and the Jedi was already leaving with my prisoner.

'Good armor' the woman sent just before she jumped.

Yeah.

Just got robbed. By a Jedi!

I floated back to the bridge, the Captain and the Servants staring at me like I was a miracle.

"Jedi suck" I said, explaining everything.

The Findsmen nodded in agreement.

A Servant came and placed a bandage over my chest. Now I looked like a kriffing walking wounded.

The ship the woman had looked similar to the one Darth Maul had in movies, with arching wings on its tail. What was it's name...Scimitar. Tracking through hyperspace as well.

And those abilities. The woman was good. Too bad she wasn't friendly.

"Emperor, do you need to rest?" a Servant asked, holding a cup of tea in her hands.

Right.

"No. Let's start the operation, we're gonna need to move the ship somewhere else, and soon" I muttered, bringing out the capsule from the old Celestial Throne and starting holing out the interior of the Meteor.

The Jedi had at most seen a blob of melted asteroids and some beginning of shipyards. Nothing would scream super dangerous dreadnaught. Not yet.

Just a new empire, mining stuff and building corvettes to fight slavers and pirates.

I got lucky, after all.

If she had come for the holocrons...

Damn it. They'll have to be kept in ysalamiri fields at all times.

With Masters like these, appearing out of nowhere, I had to be more cautious.

"That seems correct Emperor. I'll tell my fellow Findsmen to avoid Jedi like snakes" the Gand beside me said approvingly.

And now I was speaking my mind out loud.

Like a defective droid.

I crawled away, while the phages devoured the intestines of the asteroid, and made room for hyperdrives.

An hour later, I sent the nano-phage cloud into the sun, and crawled home in defeat. Metal devouring nano-phages were too dangerous to keep around. I saved a tiny sample in a glass box, behind forcefields though, in case I might need it again, someday.

Conquering the galaxy wasn't fun anymore!