Planet Gand, Pef Empire

Zero Garden

23 BBY

Like a good father, I try to visit my Avatar and spend time with him, even among a million flowers and a watchful Jedi Master. But the Empire business also follows me, wherever I go. And since my latest idea...

Zuckuss and Zuralee and Mujilik stare at me like I've grown another head.

"Droid, the stupid droid says. Expensive Survey droid, with a simple steel frame to attach a small hyperdrive. Why did you wait this long to come up with this great wisdom?" Zuckuss wonders, perhaps a little upset.

"Because, the small hyperdrives had to be invented first. Either way, the Exploration Corps now has a wonderful tradition, with tragic deaths and triumphant heroes. The gene pool has been cleaned of weak attempts at being a Findsman. Just think though, there should be 1 or 2 million stars in range of these small drives. If we calculate the astronomical distances correctly, through astronomy and other remote methods." I explained, while making Peffy form a star system made of fireballs and spinning it gently.

Holographic magic, how cool was that? I had to try to feed more oxygen to the center fireball though, make it look like a sun.

My Gand Hands were not impressed though.

"And we do not have models of these survey droids anyway. It's just a possible future" Zuralee said calmly, petting her two small Gand she kept from the thousand eggs she laid. Her long claws were also gone, so maybe she gored her eggs with them?

Just imagine the other 998 tiny Gands peeking through their eggshells, praying to whatever god they could, maybe Lady Luck or Evolution "Not me, please don't stab meeeeee. Awuek!" 997 eggs left. Next.

"We will try to buy them or else steal them. I have a thief maid now" I mused out loud, as I discovered another elemental ability with Peffy. Wind. Let's try to lift some leaves...pain and a strong boost to force connection for a second.

Must have worked then. Breathe and regenerate, my Avatar. We'll test this again, later.

Interesting, as a hobby, but not important. Water would be important.

I could learn from Solana then.

'Perhaps, little Avatar. We will bathe again tonight' Solana sent with a tender tone in the bond.

Baths with Solana were amazing. She was so soft...

"Do you even know where such droids can be found, Emperor?" Mujilik asked with a sad tone.

Hmmm. Let me check my databanks. I mean, my memories. Planet Esseles and corporations belonging to Cassander Tadrin. If he was still alive. 300 trillion credits estimated value. Not shabby at all.

"Planet Esseles, in the Core. Tandrin family. Very rich, due to said survey droids. Almost as rich as me" I answered, feeling a little envy and competition.

"And if they use their credits wisely, very well protected. Perhaps our third Hand wants to say something?" Zuckuss asked no one, but made the cloaked Gand reveal himself. Smell detectors still trumped the smell cancelers then.

" Lu'daal-ud is ashamed for being caught doing his job. He hopes he won't be caught during the next job. Perhaps he could use a Culexus droid, or a few other advanced techniques?" my third Hand asked in return.

"Carbonite flash freezing or an entropy stasis field. If those exist yet. If you prefer something risky as infiltration. I'd rather use a neutral slicing group, and simply reroute a shipment containing such droids to a remote place, and then just take them" I added my own opinion. I mean, James Bond movies are very cool, but perhaps too high profile.

"Immortal Pef is not always stupid. A single binary string should be possible to modify without much risk. How blessed we are, to end hundreds of heroic deaths with a few datapad taps" Zuralee commented, still focused only on her tiny kits.

"Yes, much harder to trace as well. Operation 3239 is thus ordered, Emperor. For the Empire" Lu'daal-ud whispered and vanished. Very impressive.

Let's check on sonar and ultraviolet. Nothing. Living force, Peffy? Yep, the grass was still bent, a few meters away.

Kriff, a Master Jedi or dark jedi would still pinpoint our agents.

"I'll take my first female. Wish me luck tonight" Zuckuss muttered and floated away towards his ship.

Wow, first person speech? He really was getting confident. And maybe he won't be chased away like the last 6 times.

"Don't worry Emperor. The female is my friend. She wants his tiny Gands, since he's proven strong and capable." Zuralee added helpfully.

Great, now I'm gossiping insect mating rituals. Grow up already Peffy!

Don't just fall asleep. Gah. Babies everywhere!

Planet Gand, Pef Empire

Zero Garden

23 BBY, Sixth Month

"Come Peffy, let's fly, it's so easy!" My angel maid, Angie exclaimed, flitting around using the force and her wings like a butterfly.

"Slow down, hyperactive maid" I muttered with my Avatar, trying to emulate her natural abilities with telekinesis and wind alter.

It wasn't easy at all, especially using an organic body. Add another partition for Avatar's use. Ah, a bit more control now.

I could maneuver a droid army of millions with one partition, or a whole fleet, but directing wind was still hard.

Now, what to reply to the friendly message that the Republic's Chancellor has sent me, urging me to focus on culture and art and droid's rights. And less on militaristic or industrialization purposes. To open talks with the former Republic members. A Jedi Council member also signed the message, one Mace Windu himself. Hmmm.

My Empire only had 18 true sapient droids, and all were very old models that were not wiped by their owner for some reason or another. A few thousands were partly sentient, most of those being tactical or administrative droids that were created with laxer controls.

Okay then. Let's send a droid to these talks. Show them we do have droid rights.

"Proto One, our Empire has a vital mission for you. A negotiation will take place with the CIS at Chancellor's Palpatine demand. You are the perfect representative for droid rights, in our Empire. You leave in 6 hours, so report to the Celestial Throne's Mechatronic Art lab, where we can get you repaired and painted nicely."

'Me? It's an overwhelming honor, Droid Emperor. Do I get paid for this?' the cheeky droid answered instantly.

'Of course, my faithful droid. You get to keep the Interceptor frigate that will carry you to the conference, as well as your 10 guard droids. Try to avoid starting a war too soon, though' I added helpfully. He might even survive this mission...

'A war? oh dear...' the droid muttered, a bit scared.

Excellent. Too bad I don't have an expendable Padme to send on such fruitless missions. Damn that crafty Palpatine, he had everything so easy...

********

Interlude

'Oh look, the so called Immortal Emperor had replied. Sending a most trusted representative to the trap. Too bad he didn't come himself...' the Dark Lord mused, looking over his vast collection of artifacts and memorabilia he'd collected or inherited from his Master.

'Immortal, my ass. There can be only one Emperor, and that will be me!' he cackled inside, while maintaining a serene facade.

'But why hasn't any of his agents returned from the obscure new empire? which started a few years ago by selling fertilizers'

'Must be that Jedi bitch covering for him'. Master Fay hasn't returned to Coruscant after she survived a former Dark Lord assassination attempt.

'And now she is using this droid patsy to get ships and attack my Republic?' he muttered inside, while writing an eulogy for whoever will be killed at the CIS-Pef Empire talks. Hopefully another of those too effective Honored Maids.

And that pathetic apprentice of his, Darth Tyrannus...lost a handful of acolytes as well, first searching for a hoax holocron, then attempting to infiltrate the so called Imperial Academy on Gand.

No, that wasn't important.

That monstrous ship was, the Meteor. Looking like a shark, so possibly created by those Calamari companies that the droid owned. Only iron slugs, not a Kyber laser like he had envisioned, but still. It did destroy a Lucrehulk with a lucky shot. It also took 10 shots, whereas a Kyber laser would only fire once...primitives!

'Bah. Projectile weapons'. They truly must be primitive in that corner of the galaxy, if they had to arm dreadnaughts with cannons!

And what was worse, the droid stole his ideas for Hands and Voices!

Once he was Emperor, he will take those pretty twi'leks and do unnatural things to them. Really unnatural!

The human ones as well. But, not the truly alien ones. Water maids, and angel maids and even Iron Knights...

The galaxy was doomed. The place of such beings was as slaves and science experiments, not high ranking officials.

At least Dooku had managed to conclude an alliance with the Sith spirits on Korriban. Maybe more Jedi will be killed there...

Planet Gand, Pef Empire

Celestial Throne

23 BBY

"Report, Proto One. How did the negotiations go?" I asked politely, although the scorch marks on his armor were still visible.

"Ah. Well, you see Droid Emperor...the Trade Federation droids started it. Not my fault! I was polite and all, I even took a course on Neimoidian language and customs. But my counterpart was insulted and maybe scared, and his guards opened fire, then my guards returned fire..." My Ambassador droid explained with a scared voice.

Duh, I wasn't expecting anything else, but it was good to test the new cortosis armor. A bit of soap, and he'll look brand new.

The nanomissiles still missed about 33%, despite predictive algorithms. Back to the drawing board then. That was Jaybo's fault. Blaming a ten-year old...

"Eh, at least you were extracted intact and our rescue fleet was able to cover your escape. But, no more frigate for you, mister shoot instead of talking. You still get the hazard bonus and your guards, cause I'm generous, but it better not happen again, next time!" I proclaimed grandly, tossing an aurodium coin in his metal hands.

"What? Next time?" the sapient droid exclaimed after checking the purity of the coin. He's perfect for the Hutts.

"Of course, my faithful and loyal Servant. The negotiations only claimed a thousand lives. That's ten times better than our former Droid Ambassador. That's progress, right there! Now go, and study the galactic history and Hutt language. I have another mission in mind for you, next month." I explained politely, then waved him away.

"Hutt space? Oh dear, they torture droids there..." my new ambassador muttered in defeat.

I looked after him and smiled inward. He did better than expected. Vette or Ventress might have not run, and forced the fleet to engage in the hostile takeover of planet Columex .

Beginning the war too soon, before the armies and officers were trained and our forward bases supplied with fuel and rations. No, a coward messenger had his role, just as a brave one.

The CIS will feel they had won something, since we had run, while our Empire will seethe in more desire for payback towards the traitorous corporations.

Now, what to do about Voss ?

Their mystics and their commandos would be of help, in the future. My Paladins could use them.

But, they were too close to CIS, and exposed. I shouldn't expose them to danger, not yet.

'I'll go Pef. And take Angie with me. Poor Peffy is always exhausted from flying this much.' Wialu whispered in the Voice bond, her words feeling warm and comforting.

'Okay love. They do not need to join or anything. Just make contact, and offer sanctuary, for a few of them. Give them planetary shields and biolabs as well.' I said, thinking about potential dangers.

Too many to count, from force-based bioweapons, to toxic gases and lightsabers and up to Base Delta Zero and extragalactic entities. You could never be truly safe, in this galaxy.

'And more. I know, my dear droid. We'll do our best, or die trying.' Wialu mused, her tone a bit more sad now.

'And then, alive again. This will be quite a ride.' I answered, a bit upset with my fate.

Perhaps I should have chosen to be incarnated as a Neti and just be, drinking the sun and the rain.

Okay, enough misery, for myself.

Let's focus on Peffy. I was having him fool around in the garden.

"Don't kiss and pet the black scorpions, bratty child!" Zero yelled at my Avatar, whom had just upgraded from ants to bigger insects. Animal cotrol abilities are nice. Especially as they will work on bigger animals soon.

"B-buttt, look they're so cute, just like my Gand cousins." I explained with childish exuberance, and feigning a pout.

Zero's lips trembled a little, no doubt impressed by my acting.

"GAAHHH! That's it, you're not making me into a foolish maid. I'm a Jedi Master and only the force commands me!" she yelled, teleporting above my Avatar and kicking downwards.

Ha. Pathetic human. I am the wind...and you're too slow.

Dodge and fly above her, then kick downwards. My kick does little damage.

"Tcchhh. That's not fair. Humans can't fly!" She exclaimed, ignoring my kick and Pushing sidewise with telekinesis, and going invisible.

Damn, this was going to be tricky...plant sense, where is the evil jedi?

Ah, sneaking behind me.

Let's project a lightsaber illusion coming from the right, punch her from the left at hyperspeed.

Missed!

"You're decades too young to best me with illusions, tricky child" she boasted, and lit up her lightsaber.

This was going to be painful...

Planet Gand, Pef Empire

Celestial Throne

23 BBY Seventh month

"So, my brave maids, Aurra and Na-jia were successful? We have our survey droids and even 6 of them. The theft was not detected?" I asked, as my third Hand decloaked beside me.

"Errr. About that...your maids were also inspired by your previous deeds, Emperor. They might have drained a few dozen billion credits from our target while executing the droid heist. On the other hand, nobody will notice a shipment of droids missing, while they search for their credits." he replied, a little amused.

Hmmm. Stealing money was really too easy. Gonna have to form a special division just for this. Wars were expensive after all. I could finance the war simply stealing cash from my enemies!

"Indeed, wise Emperor. Such a fiscal division may damage our enemies more than simply destroying ships. I'll begin organizing this later today. Now, about the Kolto deposits. We should simply form a corporation especially for this task, and even recruit most of the workers from the locals. They wouldn't need to know where the shipments are being sent." he advised me, while slipping into first person. Ah, my third Hand was growing up too.

"Okay, that might work too. What about Krozurbia ?"

"Rumours we planted already identify Dooku and his clique as the most likely suspects. Training and educating the crocodiles is still difficult, normal neural programming is only party effective. However, synthmeat is working as a substitute regime, at least for the first divisions we are deploying as guards on new planets. Adding bayonets on the blasters also raised their perceived valued in their eyes, but I do not think they'll ever be competent enough to use armored vehicles or ships"

"That's okay. Grunts have a role too, especially where orbital bombardments are a possibility" I declared wisely.

"Well said, Emperor. Now, agents I sent did indeed locate and recover specimens of Malvil-tree, but even the best of them wasn't able to bond. Only their Xamster guide, a certain Xeran was able to control the trees. What should we do now?"

"Locate an isolated settlement, with at least 10 females and bring them all back. Bendu will want to see them."

"Sure thing, next on the list, the mission to Karvoss II. But a Gand/Anzat team? Perhaps a maid would have been better suited to contact the Matukai. Ventress perhaps?" he inquired politely.

"No. My maids already run dozens of things for me inside the empire. This is an Exploration Corps task, either stay and acquire mastery, then return or convince a few of their Masters to join us and train the special ops at the Military Academy."

"All right. Next thing...the mission tho M'haeli. My agents have procured a few hundred orphans and even a few older H'drachi with some skill in time-stream. They were already expected and well received. We could extract thousands more easily. The ghettos are full of potential new Explorers." My hand argued, sliding a number of holos snaps taken by our agents. Superb precognitives, a whole species, and kept in ghettos? I'll take them!

"Not at once. Ongoing mission, one stealth freighter at a time. I'll prepare a place for them at Sanctuary as well. We might extract them all, if an occasion presents itself, but for now only younglings and Seers." I explained patiently.

Kids were also much easier to adapt and learn new things.

"Okay then. The other missions are still being prepared, Haruun Kal and Dantooine call for full exodus, and thus will require more planning."

"Okay. Go enjoy your females, Honored Hand. We'll meet next week, if you still survive." I allowed graciously.

"Wisely said, Maid Emperor. May you find even more, and live to tell about it" My Blacks Ops intelligence director joked as he vanished. It had to be a joke, right?

'Vette is coming back, from her visit to the Meteor. Be brave, adored Emperor' Solana sent, her voice promising a another training session in the jacuzzi.

Hmmm. That would be nice...

Planet Gand, Pef Empire

Mechatronic Art lab.

23 BBY Two weeks later.

"Stay still, my pretty violet maid. Or else, the armor won't fit right !" I demanded, while measuring Na-Jia carefully, making sure every inch of her soft, velvety skin was being touched by my tender fingers...

"Your armor is cold!" my almost naked maid yelled, and pushed my glove away from her generous chest. Tchhh!.

"Okay, then Na-Jia. Turn around while I take my armor off." I sighed, pretending to be defeated.

"Oh, just like you did? No way, I want to see you naked, mister too-rich-to-be-true Emperor!"

Well, if you ask so nicely...voila!

"You like?" I said pretending to be ashamed.

"Why are you wearing boxers over your droid chassis?" Na Jia wondered, staring at me confused.

"T-that's private! And personal. And you're wearing boxers too" I replied politely, but emoting like a shy droid. And she wore sport bra as well, god damn it.

"Oh? Do you have something there? Maybe a certain toy? Now I see...why your Voices are so happy" she teased me, and reached out to touch the forbidden fruit.

Aurra entered the room just then, also wearing only shorts and a sports bra. She had a runner's body with long fine muscles and a predatory step.

"Errrr. I can come back later...if I'm interrupting something?" Aurra said, not really shy, but curious. And she examined my cortosis chassis with a certain predatory look.

"Nah, just touching each other like any couple does" I answered airly, and proceed to paw over Na-Jia with my synthskin covered hands. Yes...quite firm and also elastic tissue...

"My armor better be as good as you say it is, Immortal sexdroid." the thief maid sighed and closed her eyes.

"You have a functional vibrator in your boxers? That's awesome!" Aurra Sing exclaimed after a few seconds of shock, and proceeded to paw over me, testing the firmness.

Ventress entered just then, and stared at the scene with a murderous look in her eyes. Her bountiful chest heaved with a deep breath. Was that a bit of anger?

"You're playing with the new maids, Emperor?" she asked coldly.

"Well, we're measuring each other, for some reason..." I said distracted, as Na-jia had become a little red in her cheeks and her breathing accelerated too.

"Hmmm. You may have a point, I did wonder if Aurra had better qualities than me, since you even let her touch your toy" Ventress added and stepped forward to compare her own size with Aurra.

Just then, Vette entered the lab, also wearing just shorts and bra. Her blue skin contrasted with her black lingerie, and her leku trembled with emotion. "Eh! We are that kind of maids?" she asked, with a little confusion and revulsion. Damn, my dastardly plans were revealed too soon.

"Come here and lift her knee to the chest, or I can't guarantee full athletic ability for Ja-nia's armor" I said rapidly, inventing a plausible excuse.

"Oh. That actually makes sense..."Vette muttered, straining to lift the violet maid knee up.

That when Angie entered the lab and blinked a few times in confusion and awe. Her wings fluttered and she almost lost her voice. "I heard human procreation is complicated, but that looks quite painful..." the angel said in a lyrical voice.

Celine entered as well, and lost her voice for a minute. Her white skin blushed to near infrared, and her blonde hair almost ignited. "You're abusing the poor droid, like that. Use a bed, for kriff sakes ! " she concluded, having arrived at a almost realistic assumption.

Wialu entered as well, carrying a baby Lira, and she quickly covered her eyes.

"This looks like fun, but not with a baby in my arms. I'll come back in a few hours when Lira's asleep" She explained with a kind smile.

Solana entered just then, and smiled wide. A globe of water formed above her palm.

"Bath time!" she exclaimed, spraying the room with a hose of conjured water.