Chapter 9
Captain Emotion sat in his private quarters before him, scattered across his desk, were prototypes of the Xenomorph 2.0 parts. In front of the captain was one of the arms. Using a special type of electrical tweezers Emotion poked at a spot on a computer chip. The fingers of the mechanical arm curled into a fist. Emotion poked at the spot again and the fingers uncurled. Emotion quickly wrote this down in his notes that the arm computer chip responded well to electrical currents.
Emotion sighed and looked at the mechanical parts scattered on his desk. They were only prototypes on what the captain had guessed would work for the limbs. Now that he knows that xenomorph's have acidic blood or some type of acidic defense system, he would have to design acid proof limbs so they won't be destroyed by this fascinating defense system.
Emotion typed something in his holopad and a holographic image of X-1 appeared. He then got up out of his chair and walked over to holographic image. Emotion studied the image, trying to get at least a clue of how the xenomorph functions. Since he only has one living xenomorph desiccating it would be a waste, so he has to guess how its body functions.
"What other surprise do you have for me?" Emotion asked the image, thinking aloud.
Emotion opened the panel in his armor and typed a command on the keyboard. The image of the xenomorph disappeared and a recorded video feed from several security cameras in the reactor room took its place. Emotion typed something again and the video played.
Emotion watched with pure fascination as X-1 killed the battle droids that were searching the rector room aboard the "Injustice". The xenomorph used its environment and the shadows to its advantage, hiding in the shadow casted by the reactor, climbing along the walls to strike from behind.
A loud beeping noise could suddenly be heard and Emotion stopped the video. Emotion sighed and pressed another button on his armor panel and the video was replaced with a holographic image of Number 2.
"Sorry to interrupt my lord, but X-1 is ready to be transported to the clearing for environmental testing," Number 2 said
"Very good I'll be right down," Emotion said
The dropship flew over the lush surface of Felucia before coming upon a large clearing. In the distance a tall building could be seen. It's silver, metal walls looking out of place amongst the green of the planet.
The dropship landed in the center of the clearing.
"Alright unload X-1 and make sure the venting is covered. I don't want it smelling the fresh air yet. If it finds out it's in the open it'll try to escape" Emotion ordered the droids as he stepped out of the dropship "Yes this is perfect,"
The clearing was large and open. The ground of the clearing was just fresh soil and dirt. Emotion could tell it had rained lately by the softness of soil. The clearing seemed like a bold spot on the head of an ageing man, for it seemed like noting but soil surrounded by the strange native plant life of the planet.
Emotion looked to see the battle droids and the grappler droid unloading a large metal container. This container was designed specifically to keep organic creatures in an enclosed space with no way of the creature to know where it was or what was going on. On the door of the container was the captain's symbol. Another good thing about this container was that it could only be opened by a special code inputted from captain Emotions control panel in his armor.
"Right then put it in the center of the clearing and remember if tries to escape stun rounds only. This is the only mature specimen so if it's killed before I can continue my research I'll have you melted down, sold for scrap and turned into a toilet for the organics to relieve themselves." Emotion said threatening the battle droids.
The battle droids did as the captain had ordered and switched all their blaster to stun. They knew that Emotion took things like this very seriously so if he threatened someone about turning them to scrap he would have it done before you could apologize. In some cases his anger was worse than General Grievous'.
"Alright everyone back, I want all possibly escape routes sealed." Emotion ordered.
The Battle droids backed up and covered all open areas of the clearing Number 1 and 2 stood next to Emotion as he typed in the code to open the cage. The symbol on the door of the cage moved into place to unlock the door with a click. The door slide open.
X-1 cautiously walked out of the cage. It's smooth, black exoskeleton gleaming in the sunlight. X-1 moved its head examining the new environment. The battle droids quickly aimed their blaster at X-1. X-1 replied with a hiss.
"Steady, it's just getting a fill of the environment. Don't do anything rash or I'll personal see you melted down," Emotion threatened the battle droids again.
X-1 walked on all four out into the opening a little more. It paused, the battle droid watched nervously. X-1 dug its claws into the fine, moist soil. Suddenly there was the screech of a strange bird causing X-1's one head to lurch up. It tilted its head sideways listing to the new, strange sounds of the planet. There was another screech this time closer. X-1 stiffened and emitted a loud hiss.
Suddenly, an acklay burst from the forest knocking down two battle droids. It roared at X-1 and impaled the two battle droids it knocked down with its claws. X-1 hissed at the intruder and backed away from the acklay. The acklay roared again and charged at X-1. X-1 quickly jumped out of the way.
"Fire at the acklay!" Number 1 shouted.
"No! This is the perfect time to text X-1's combat capabilities," Emotion shouted.
The battle droids kept their blaster aimed at the acklay. The acklay let out a frustrated roar and turned to face X-1. X-1 let out a hiss and stood its ground. The Acklay charged at X-1 again. X-1 quickly dodged the charge and ran underneath the big animal. The Acklay tied to move form on top of X-1 and to impale it but X-1 kept up and moved when the acklay moved. X-1's tail suddenly went up and impaled the acklay's soft underside. The acklay let out a screech of pain and surprise. X-1 ran from underneath the larger creature and jumped onto its back. The acklay let out another screech of surprise and tried to shake X-1. X-1 dug its claws into the ackaly's exoskeleton. The acklay charged and rammed into a giant mushroom hoping to knock X-1 off. X-1 took this as an opportunity to hide and to examine this new creature and decide if it would be a suitable host for its sisters. X-1 jumped of the ackaly's back onto the mushroom and hid underneath its cap. The acklay began to search for X-1 hoping to finish it off. X-1 watched observing the acklay. It had already found its weakness, its soft underside, and knew it had a protective exoskeleton and that it was determined to see X-1 dead. The acklay quickly retuned its attention to the droids, figuring it had made X-1 retreat.
"Wait, where's X-1?" Emotion asked 1 and 2
"Umm we don't know sir it just disappeared," Answered number 1
"WHAT! What do you mean it just disappeared! It was there then it jumped on to the mushroom. Wait a minute the mushroom that's IT! This just proves how intelligent it must be," Emotion exclaimed excitingly
The acklay let out a roar and charged at Emotion and the other droids.
X-1 quickly jumped on to the acklay's back. The acklay continued to charge. Emotion quickly raised his zap cannon ready to fire at the acklay when he noticed X-1 on its back. X-1's inner mouth shot out and bit into the acklay's neck injecting a small neurotoxin. The acklay staggered forward before collapsing and sliding to a stop two feet away from captain Emotion. X-1 hissed at Emotion, acknowledging his presence, before climbing off the acklay.
"Steady," Emotion said to the nervous battle droids
X-1 moved to the back of the acklay and grabbed one of its back legs and began to pull on it.
"Umm captain?" number 1 asked
"Ssshhhh, I'm observing," Emotion said shushing the battle droid commander.
X-1 continued to pull only succeeding in moving it a few inches. Emotion decided to interact with the xenomorph and moved to the other back leg. X-1 hissed at Emotions approach.
"Don't worry my friend, I mean you know harm I just wish to help you see?" Emotion said as he discarded his weapons
X-1 observed Emotion before letting out one last warning hiss before proceeding to drag the unconscious acklay to the cage that brought it here. Upon arriving at the cage X-1 was baffled at how to get this fine host back to its unborn sisters. X-1 moved into the cage ready to try to move its prey into the, when the door closed and looked. X-1 let out a hiss of rage and rammed the sides of the cage.
"Try all you want my friend but this cage is made out of the toughest metal I could buy with Separatist's funding" Emotion commented as X-1 rammed the sides of the cage again. "Oh and please do give up some time I would hate for you to die of exhaustion. I still have several tests in mind for you,"
Emotion couldn't help but let out a sinister chuckle he already had several tests in mind before this one and this test just increased the captain's need to find out everything possible about this creature.
"Umm sir what about the acklay?" asked Number One
"What oh yes take it with us I've just come up with the most brilliant test we could use it for," Emotion answered already walking back to the dropship
Number 1 and Two ordered the droids to move the cage and the acklay to one of the dropships. Once everything and everyone was loaded on the dropship they took off.
Emotion walked into his private quarters watching the recording of X-1's fight with the acklay on his holopad.
"I must contact the general immediately. He may not share my views on organics and using them as weapons but once he hears about what I've found out so far he'll have to convince those no brained organics in charge of this alliance that they'll have to continue funding my beautiful Project Cyborg, and then I'll make them believe I need more money than I do and then Ha Ha I'll use that money to bring out the demise of every organic life in this galaxy!" Emotion said to himself reciting a new addition of his plan to cleanse this galaxy of the organic filth.
"I don't mean to interrupt your evil monologuing James but you are receiving a call from an Identity," The computer said
"Identity? Perfect put him through computer," Emotion ordered the computer
Emotion reclined into his chair and watched as a holographic image of what appeared to be a human skeleton appeared.
"My liege," the skeleton said with a bow.
Emotion shivered at the skeleton's soft, comforting and evil voice why the impostor droid used this voice he never knew. He figured it added to the physiological terror it caused its victims, for it enjoyed seeing terror in its victims and watching them suffer.
"Yes, Identity, I'm glad you've called. I have so many things to tell you about this creature." Emotion said addressing the skeleton.
Identity chuckled, Identity was the leader of the impostor droids, a group of droids designed to be able to impersonate anybody and anything, Identity was the best of them all. He chose the name Identity because he chose to instead of simply impersonating someone he would steal everything that made them unique. Identity loved doing it so much that he had even developed a taste for skinning his victims alive instead of using and Organic Matter Suite and applying said skin and other organs and muscle tissue to his body to complete his horrific transformation.
"I bet you do" Identity said "You always seem to find something "tasteful" out of these useless organics,"
Emotion let out a small chuckle. Like most of the droids Captain Emotion had created Identity had gained an ever growing hatred for the organic creatures that plagued the galaxy.
"Oh but this is truly fascinating. The organic creatures I've discover, that I've dubbed xenomorph do to their strange form, is quite the specimen," Emotion told the impostor droid.
"I'm all ears," Identity told him, as pulled up a chair.
Emotion began telling Identity about how he and General Grievous had discovered the eggs in a crashed ship on an unknown planet, and how it was parasitic in nature and how it performed against the acklay. Emotion talked slowly, despite how exited he was to share this information with the impostor droid, making sure he didn't leave anything out. After finishing captain Emotion leaned back into his chair.
"Well?" Emotion asked the impostor droid
Identity was in deep thought, head resting in his hands, still on the edge of seat.
"When do I get to meet it?" Identity asked the captain
"Well that depends on how well we can train them," Emotion answered sitting up in his own chair.
Identity just nodded his head.
Emotion could tell Identity was deep in thought, thinking very hard about the xenomorphs
"Can you describe its body structure for me again? Please," Identity asked the captain.
Emotion nodded and described the body structure of the xenomorph again. "But without further examination of the body I can't give you any more information of the xenomorph then of what I've seen." Emotion finished.
"Body description should be enough." Identity said standing up out of his chair.
Emotion watched as Identity's mechanical body began to change. Each piece of his flexible metal body was moving, rearranging Identity's once human body shape and changing it into the shape of the xenomorphs body. When his body had stopped changing Identity spoke.
"Well? How do I look?" Identity asked Emotion.
"HOW DO YOU LOOK?! Do you have any idea how dangerous it is to change your body shape without the proper information on the bone structure and mass of the creature?!" Emotion shouted angrily
"It worked didn't?" Identity stated.
"Yes, BUT imagine the possibility if it didn't. Your body could have collapsed in on itself. If I had wanted you to be able to take on the shape of anyone by a mere description of the body, I wouldn't have installed a scanner in your head!"
Identity could see he had made the captain very angry. He did have a point though; a more vivid description of the bone structure and body shape did provide a more exact amount of data.
"I'm sorry, I'm just so eager to be able to impersonate one," Identity apologized
"No I'm sorry, I should've known that your programming instincts would've kicked in and immediately do what you told your body to do, Emotion said, having calmed down.
"I guess I should change back then,"
Emotion watched as the impostor droid changed back into his human form.
"I would love to continue our little chat ID but I have several tests to perform and a certain Kaleesh cyborg to report to," Emotion told the impostor droid
"I understand, say hello to the general for me," Identity said a sly smile spreading across his mechanical lips.
The image of Identity disappeared and Emotion let out long sigh.
"Of all the people in the galaxy I have to report to its General Grievous. What are the odds of that? He's not even a science officer! Just because he's the Supreme Commander of the Droid Army doesn't automatically make him in charge of every division of the Separatist army that doesn't involve politics," Emotion said, talking to himself
"If you have such a problem with the general why don't you included him as a prime target in your plan to eliminate all organic life in the galaxy, James?" The computer asked.
"I don't hate the general that much. I see him more as a rival then an enemy. Besides Grievous has his uses and if I could convince him to join my cause he would make a valuable asset," Emotion answered.
"I see, would you like me to contact the general for you then?" The computer asked kindly
"Oh he can wait a few more days. The tests I need to perform with X-1 are far more important than giving the general the satisfaction of the fact that I have to answer to him when he should be answering to me considering what information I have about him and everyone else in this alliance," Emotion said with a small sinister chuckle. "You would think that once they found out about my cameras and spy droids they would spend more time making sure there aren't any of them hiding around before discussing top secret information,"
Emotion let out another small chuckle. The information he had gained by back stabbing, hacking into very important computers and spying on secret conversations was so top secret that with it alone he could probably defeat both the Republic and The Confederacy of Independent Systems with simply knowledge.
"Oh general if only you knew the true cause of your "accident", then you'd be more willing to join my cause." Emotion said with an even more sinister chuckle than before.
"Computer contact Number 1 and 2 and tell them to prepare a room and X-1 for an intelligence test. Oh also tell them I'll need a few organics sentient or not and a cage or more," Emotion ordered the computer standing up out of his chair.
"Gentlemen I give you X-1, unknown organic creature of wonder!" Emotion exclaimed arms out stretched like some kind of ringmaster.
Emotion looked at the holographic images of Count Dooku and General Grievous, they weren't amused.
"Right I forgot I was talking to you two," Emotion said lowering his arms.
A small growl came from Grievous.
"Anyways I've recently developed a theory suggesting that the creatures we've discovered or xenomorphs, if you prefer a more scientific name, have a rather high intelligence. So to test this theory I've come up with a test to test X-1's intelligence," Emotion explained.
"X-1?" Dooku asked.
"Yes, the xenomorph we captured aboard the "Injustice"," Emotion mentioned
"He's named it. As if it's some kind of pet," Grievous said the disgust could be heard in his voice.
"For YOUR information GENERAL it is not a "name" it's a way for me to identify it from the others. A specimen label if you will," Emotion said, doing his best not to angrily lecture the general in the difference between naming a creature and giving it a serial number.
"I've told you before my lord Emotion can't be trusted with such a responsibility, he gets to attached to his "projects"," Grievous snarled.
Emotion couldn't control his anger anymore, his head quickly switched to anger "WHAT! Like you could do any better, general, I'm an expert!If you were in charge we'd have more failures then successes! In fact…" Emotion angrily shouted at the general before being interrupted by Count Dooku.
"Enough! Captain, can we please continue with the demonstration I have important matters to attend to," Dooku mentioned calmly.
"Yes, of course my lord," Emotion agreed regaining his cool.
Emotion opened his armor panel and pressed a button. The wall in front of them disappeared reviling a room with four cages. The cages had a see through window with metal walls and a control panel in front of each one. The closest cage contained X-1, the second one had a confused and frightened Felucian, the third one contained a still unconscious acklay and the fourth one contained a xenomorph egg.
Emotion walked up to the cage containing X-1.
"Now then each cage has a control panel with three buttons on them. Each button has a different result, observe," Emotion explained pressing a yellow button in the center of the control panel.
Nothing happened.
"You see the yellow button will serve as our neutral button," Emotion explained "Now then to test the red button we must first get X-1 to attack the window"
Emotion turned and loudly tapped on the glass. X-1 launched itself at the window and collided with the glass.
"No bad parasitic, xenomorphic organic creature, bad," Emotion waving a finger at the creature
X-1 responded by launching itself at the window again
"Hey, stop that you might hurt yourself if you do it again,"
Again X-1 launched itself at the window, trying to brake out.
"I told you stop that, and don't make me tell you again otherwise you get a time out mister," Emotion said, talking to the creature like it was some kind of youngling.
X-1 still launched itself at the window.
"That's it you've made me mad now" Emotion said pressing the red button on the left.
X-1 screeched as it was electrocuted by the metal sides of the cage. Emotion lifted his finger off the button. X-1 stopped screeching and angrily launched itself at the window again. Emotion pressed the button again and held it down longer than before. When he finally lifted his finger off the button X-1 was ready to launch itself at window again but stopped when it saw Emotion's finger hovering over the button. X-1 then retreated to a corner of the cage.
"Very good, you see, with most non-sentient creatures they would continue to attack no matter how bad they were getting hurt, but with intelligent creatures they usually stop when it comes clear to them that, no matter what they do they can't escape so this proves at the very least the xenomorphs have some sort of intellectual probabilities," Emotion said, explaining what had happened.
"Impressive, now if you don't mind me asking what are the other cages for?" Dooku asked
"They are here to further test X-1's intelligence," Emotion answered.
"I see and how are you going to do that?"
"Well how did you think we got them all in the cages, and why do you think there is a third button on the panel?" Emotion said as he pressed the green button on the right.
The cage door opened and before X-1 could sprint out Emotion pressed the button again causing the door to close.
"Now, before I continue with the test and allow X-1 to roam around and test the buttons itself I'd like to ask everyone to step back behind the yellow line and please don't do anything that might agitate the animal, please and thank you," Emotion said again sounding like some sort of ringmaster.
"Number 1, Number 2 and Sniffles are exits covered and sealed?" Emotion asked through his com-link
"All possible escape routes are covered my liege" Number 2 said
Emotion nodded his hand, reached out and pressed the green button and retreated back to where the holographic images of Dooku and Grievous were.
X-1 jumped through the door, landed and watching Emotion and the holographic images. The first thing on X-1's mind was to escape but then he sensed the presence of prey and quickly hurried over to the cage containing the Felucian. The Felucian was startled by the appearance of X-1 and moved back against the wall of the cage. X-1 hissed and stood up on its hind legs staring down at the control panel. Its second jaw shot out and hit the yellow button, destroying it completely, nothing happened. X-1s head turned and destroyed the red button with its secondary mouth. This time the Felucian was electrified.
The Felucian's cries of pain finally stopped when it slumped down against the floor dead.X-1 seemed to let out a hiss of disappointment and frustration before moving on to the next cage. But instead of stopping at the next cage, like Emotion had predicted it might do, X-1 continued on to the cage containing the xenomorph egg.
X-1 stood at the control panel, reached out and touched the window. X-1 ducked its head and pressed the green button using its inner mouth. At the hiss of the door opening X-1 rushed into cage. The door closed behind it.
Emotion stepped back in front of the holographic images of his superiors. His head glowing a bright yellow.
"You see, X-1 demonstrated quite the amount of intelligence," Emotion said happily
"It did indeed," Dooku said agreeing with the emotional droid.
"So I'll be expecting the funding of this project to be increased for you see…" Emotion started before being interrupted by Dooku
"Ever since I've allowed you to continue your role as captain of the "Injustice" and granted you permission to keep a privet army of your own on your secret base and promoted you to a senior science officer, you've been abusing your power. Unless you can produce more of the xenomorphs and construct accurate 2.0 parts the funding of you Project Cyborg and other projects will remain the same, so unless you want me to stop all funding of your projects you'll start giving me result instead of worrying about accurate funding. You are a valuable asset to this army captain and I would hate to lose a droid of your skills so I'll leave you with this one warning captain, give me results or lose all that you have gained during this war," Dooku told the captain
With that the holographic image of Count Dooku disappeared.
"If I were you captain I would do as the count has commanded," Grievous said with a chuckle before his own holographic image disappeared.
Emotion stood there completely amazed at what had just happened.
"Number 1 read…ready the troops we are going to attack the clone base stationed here and tell all the droids I want every trooper in that base alive" Emotion ordered the droid through the com-link, his voice weak. "I'll be supervising the assault,"
With that Emotion left and headed for his private quarters to prepare for the assault.
"Umm sir two clone scouts have been detected in the perimeter, but I'll continue with your orders sir." Number 1 answered back.
"Hold those orders Number 1, I want X-1 but back in the other cage and put outside the base, I need to relieve some stress," Emotion told the droid.