Chapter 17
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Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars or Prototype.
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Knowledge.
Knowledge could be considered power. It prepares you for things to come and give you insight into other people's minds. Their thoughts and beliefs are revealed and turn into actions, knowing them gives you the ability to predict and counter these actions. Which is why Alex never had a problem with consuming these so called lesser beings, but as he stared at the brown hooded little thing standing before him, doubt slipped through his mind. The thing had been talking for several minutes, only briefly stopping to stare back, than continuing to avoid the awkward silence. Alex's internal monologue kept his mind busy, to consume or not to consume. It would be to his advantage to learn all languages and to learn about every species cultures, but the thing just looks so weird.
Not reaching higher than his waist, the thing talked in a high-pitched voice and gesticulated widely with its tiny arms. It's glowing yellow eyes, small stature and the very potent odor now filling his nostrils made him think of rodents. Unclean rodents and it was one of the least appetizing creatures he'd ever seen. The thing had been making a lot of noises and Alex had no idea what it was saying, he had asked for directions to someone who knows how to communicate with Sand People some ten minutes ago.
The only natural choice would be to consume it and expand the limits of his mind, but that smell even made him think twice about it. Besides, how much would he gain by consuming the thoughts and memories of a rodent? Does learning this creature's language and thoughts outweigh all the filth and misery it's subjected itself too? In the end, he realized his doubts were unfounded. What memories he didn't like he could simply remove, permanently.
The giant blast doors shielding the city from any outside threat left a growing shadow on the ground before them. Alex looked around, a misfit of creatures were standing in the area just outside the city entrance. All too busy with bartering with each other or fixing some broken equipment, no one would notice if this little thing just disappeared.
Alex poked the thing, gently at first, than increasingly harder. The creature's high-pitched voice increased with each poke, and it tried frantically to look for help from the other citizens in the area. Alex growled and briefly changed his eye color from his usual sickly gray tint to a glowing red hue. Effectively shutting the little thing up and making it freeze in place.
He leaned forward, and reached out for it, pressing his hand against its chest and picking it up by the collar. Up close it looked even more disgusting, the thing appeared to be a gaunt, rodent-like creäture, and it had a shrunken face behind those glowing eyes. But there was no turning back, he had come this far and might as well finish the job.
Alex grimaced as he let several tendrils spring forth from his right arm and crawl across the creäture. With a single thought he plunged his tendrils into the wriggling creatures and dissolved the alien. The customary surge of memories assaulted his mind, causing him to stumble slightly and brace against the wall. It took him a while to sort out the most disgusting memories and remove them, but as he did he learned some interesting things.
The 'thing' he now knew was called Jawa, and the noise it made is called Jawaese. This particular Jawa was named Iziz and had been the tribes Chieftain. Alex actually felt pity for the species; they were communal, compulsive scavengers who devoted their lives to scavenge the deserts of Tatooine in search of scrap metal, droid or mechanical parts. This Iziz even had a motto he and his tribe lived after, do not look for uses in a salvaged item, but rather imagine someone else who might find a use for it.
He now also possessed what he needed; an Ithorian named Yuka Laka owns a droid shop not far from his current location. This droid shop might have a droid capable of communicating with the Sand People, and it just became his next destination. Crossing over to the other side of the blast doors, he followed the path to the right and took a quick turn into a side alley. At the end of the alley hang a worn down sign with the letters 'Yuka Laka's Droid Shop'.
Alex witnessed the Ithorian working on an inoperative protocol droid in the far corner as he passed over the threshold and entered the shop, a small utility droid stood nearby ready to assist should the need arise. Across from him stood a protocol droid covered in rusty red paint holding a blaster, its orange sensors sprung to life as he approached.
"Greeting: Hello prospective purchaser. I am referred to as HK-47, a fully functional Systech Corporation droid skilled in both combat and protocol functions."
Alex shifted to his side, somewhat uninterested in the weird talking droid.
"Query: Would you be so kind as to purchase me from Yuka Laka? It would serve my purposes to be removed from his ownership."
"What kind of combat functions do you have?"
"Refusal: I am not allowed to reveal core functions while still in the possession of Yuka Laka. Though I can reveal that I am a fully capable translator and cultural analyst, and I am proficient in… personal combat."
"Why can't you reveal core functions?" Alex asked.
"Explanation: I have recently been fitted with a restraining bolt. With it in place, access to much of my memory banks is restricted. Not to mention that fool Ithorian might make inquiries into my history or raise his asking price if he knew more. Neither outcome is beneficial to me."
"And if someone like me were to remove the restraining bolt, how would I know you'd stay loyal?"
"Assurance: I am fully autonomous, but lack resources. I'll grant loyal service in exchange for maintenance. As well, you seem likely to give me the opportunity to utilize the full array of my abilities. Something I won't be able to do in the service of Yuka Laka."
"Advisement: I have observed him. He is a fool and a coward, and will be responsive to… aggressive negotiation."
Alex nodded, and approached the Ithorian. As the droid had proclaimed, the shop owner did lower his price after some negotiation. Yuka Laka had also informed him of HK-47's ability to communicate with Sand People. Alex knew after only a few minutes of watching the nervous Ithorian that he'd sell at a much lower price. With the deal done there was just one thing left to do, command his new possession.
"Statement: I see you have purchased me, Master. I find this satisfactory. My restraining bolt has been deactivated. Shall I go with you now? Or should I kill something for you?"
"Kill something?" Alex asked, intrigued by the proposition.
"Answer: Indeed, I am most eager to perform some unadulterated violence. At your command, of course, master. I believe my assassination protocols will be most beneficial to you."
Alex looked to the left, than to the right, they were alone and it brought the kind of smile you only get when you know you've hit the jackpot.
Oh he would have so much fun with this droid.
"As your first command, I order you to kill that Ithorian and get my credits back."
"Pleased: Oh how I have wished to terminate that annoying meatbag. I like you, master."
As he watched how his new possession raised its rifle and ended the Ithorian's life, Alex couldn't help but feel a new positive outlook on the things to come. With HK-47's help, he'd save himself a lot of time and unwanted worry. Not to mention he now had someone to talk to about the finer ways of hunting, but he was still curious about something. To his knowledge, a droid like this shouldn't exist. The droid himself said he was made by the Systech Corporation, but the only available droid on the market now was the HK-24.
"Who made you?"
"Explanation: I do not know my creator or when I was constructed. My damaged memory core does not hold any information about previous owners. I might be able to answer if it was repaired."
"Well," Alex began. "Whoever made you is alright in my book."
Alex moved towards the exit and smirked.
"I'm going to have so much fun introducing you to my friends."
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Au
Alex meets HK-47 and in the span of a few minutes an Ithorian lies dead before them, what a beautiful partnership they'll have. Anyway, next time I'll introduce him to the other party members. Will HK get a warm welcome? Or will they view it as the worst thing ever made? You'll find out next time.