Raxus's Story

RPEG-5 1 (Raxus)

Keldabe spaceport unloading personnel hauled countless crates everyday, usually only knowing what ship brought them in. This was not always the safest bet. This was proven when the top of one of the crates shot into the ceiling of the specific dock it was at, its cargo activated by the destruction of the assassin droid at the bar. Out of the crate rose a Sentinel droid, with heavy modifications. Its armor was remade to suit better against blaster fire and explosions, while its central processing was improved significantly, and redesigned in such a way that it didn't need continual memory wipes. Along its main upper arms, tubes of a bluish-white fluid ran into several small metal devices on its skin that looked to serve no purpose. Under its main arms was a second set holding the same carbine that the droid in the bar had used.

The first worker to turn around hardly lasted long enough to scream as the droid force pulled him onto a vibroblade it had been carrying on its back. Before the other two could react, its precision targeting left them dead on the floor. Putting the blade on its back, the droid knew that it needed to get to the other droid's previous location, as the signal that confirmed the droid had been fatally damaged was broadcast.

Walking out of the specific dock, the foreman of the workers it had killed came around the corner with a curious look on his face. Before he could speak, however, the droid lifted him in the air by the neck with the force. The droid waited until all signs of life in the organic were gone before it dropped to the floor.

As he droid walked among the crowds, going to the bar that the other droid had been destroyed at, it was thinking. Most of the organics just ignored it as some overly wealthy person's toy. Its though, however, was what would the droid call itself if it were to bother speaking with an organic. Its model number was far too lengthy when put through the vocalizer, and it needed something that flowed better. Raxus, the droid thought, Raxus. The first part of the name of the planet that made it.

As Raxus entered the bar, about when Wes asked if Temi was alright, any with force sensitivity would feel it. Unlike Jedi or Sith, so long as Raxus was activated, it created a constant tug on the force that made it easy to sense. As it entered the room, it looked at the hole in the floor. The droid here before it did was it was supposed to do when compromised, a good sign. Raxus, however, had no knowledge of what the other droid was sent to do. It was only given the order to retrieve damaged droids in the case of them being compromised, but it was not like their was a whole lot of them on Mandalore.

The man with the goggles rose and offered a hand to Temi, who took it immediately and pulled herself up on her feet, smoothing fragments of debris off of her long robes and out of her hair. "I guess," she answered, looking around in all directions at the mayhem as other bar patrons took inventory of their own suffering. Most were all right, but a few casualties littered the room. One man stared stunned at his badly burned leg. Some made their way to the door in panic. Probably the right thing to do, as the authorities who would respond would be likely interrogating any witness they could find.

That would not be good. Not one single bit. There didn't need to be any extra attention drawn to the Galactic Federation of Free Alliances' negotiation proceedings, which were already a disaster, by way of Temi's name scrolling across headline feeds in news media. Things were so tense as they already were.

She bent down to pick up her datapad and her travel bag, and briefly glimpsed at the man approaching. He looked familiar... She couldn't quite place him, but could have sworn that she'd seen him somewhere before. Coruscant, somewhere. Before she began working for the government. But who, exactly?

Her train of thought was interrupted when a droid entered through the large main door. Suddenly she felt as though she were suffering from a hot migraine simmering behind her eye sockets. The sensation made her extraordinarily antsy. Temi looked between the two men and tilted her head briskly toward the secondary exit. "I don't know about you guys, but I'm not staying," she whispered to them. "You're welcome to come with me."

She had to get out of there.

(Damn)

Wes Haden (Adrius Carr)

The air felt suddenly heavy in a way that Wes had never quite experienced, like something was attempting to pull his mind. He shook his head at the disorienting sensation and turned sharply to Raxus.

Something was very wrong about the droid and it seemed that even one of the Mandalorian security team were equally perterbed as they put up a hand and told the droid to "Halt". He informed the droid that this was a closed crime scene and that was enough cover for Wes to take Temi's cue to leave.

Wes looked at Icarus, bobbed his head toward the back hallway of the establishment and headed off quietly. Luck still intact, it seemed that any staff were no longer present in the back and that the most of the bar was possibly automated (gathered based on the small size of the establishment. There was very little hallway to speak of).

It took a few moments of laborously quiet movement amidst the hum of technology and a small S shaped hallway but they eventually reached a door that opened to a narrow alley. A defunct serving droid was lying against the next building and, as if luck was just fucking with them, a KPS (Keldabe Port Security) agent was standing guard at the end of the alley.

"Halt! This is a closed crime scene, droid." The guard spoke, with a definite sound of assumed superiority.

"This unit wishes to further investigate this crime scene." Raxus spoke, motioning with its hands. As it spoke, it caught glimpses of three organics exiting with haste. This memory was stored for later recollection to attempt to gather more information, but for now, Raxus wanted to ensure that they would survive.

"This is a closed crime scene."

"There was another droid involved. This unit wishes to ensure its current perceived state."

"You know a little to much, droid. I am going to have to ask you to shut down."

"This unit sees no reason to obey such commands."

"If you don't shutdown immediately, then we will have to do so with force."

"This unit is interested in seeing how you would attempt to do that." Raxus stated, setting his vocalizer to a sing-song way of speaking for this statement.

The KPS agent pulled out a heavy blaster pistol, but had several burns on his chest before he could even reach a good firing line. After running a quick life-sign scan of the KSP agent, satisfied with the death of the agent. Raxus then put his E-11 on his leg and walked out of the bar quickly, knowing that any other agents would be converging on his position.

Moving swiftly through the crowds of people, Raxus began taking careful notice of every organic it passed, calculating possible intentions, destinations, and mentalities. It did always enjoy trying to figure out how organics worked.

Temi watched the guard abandon his post, giving them enough room to get into a safer hiding place. She looked over her shoulder at Wes and Icarus. "Come on!" she whispered loudly, then dashed ahead carefully and soundlessly on soft leather boots.

She heard shooting off in the distance. Something else was causing a distraction...

"I have to get to Coruscant," she asserted to them as all three ran ahead together. "Can I count on your help?"

Gavin Nere (Agent of Imperial Security)

Agent Nere had been on Mandalore for some time. He was given an order to spy on the delegations between the Alliance and the Mandalorians. The Empire had to make sure the Mandalorians will not be involved in the upcoming conflict. Or if they were, it would be on their side. Fortunately the Alliance offers to the Mandalorians were disagreeable, their stubbornness and pride has ensured less danger to the Empire. The superiors on Korriban will be pleased to learn this. Then the Empire may even begin to persuade the Mandalorians to join their cause instead, but that is an order for a different time. In the meantime Nere is to watch the Alliance's actions on Mandalore and then report back to base when they leave the planetside.

Nere was in a discreet cloak, as he moved about Keldabe Spaceport. He documentation of one of the Federation's Diplomat's (Temi) movements lead him here. All the while a few Prowler droids were dispatched to spy on any other Federation targets. One of these very droids found Gavin in an alleyway. It reported to him an assassination attempt inside a bar where the Federation Diplomat was resting. Curious about the disturbance, Nere headed for the bar. Once there he noticed a squad of KSPs scouring the area. Apparently someone they want has escaped. Nere assumed it was the assassin until when he managed to see the scraps of a droid. "Hm, riddled with blaster fire, this must be the culprit, but if these patrolmen are searching for another, then this droid must have an accomplice." Yet Gavin hadn't the slightest inkling about whom they are searching for would be another droid.

Raxus stood on an overlook watching the entrance to the bar. He had been for some time, but something interesting appeared at the entrance. A man who stood out slightly, just enough for the droid to take particular notice of him while it was predicting and studying the other organics who moved about. He wore a cloak, but not one that shouted that he was special in any way. He just looked like your everyday anti-socialite, but it actions marked a much different mentality.

The man took careful note of the scene, and from the way he seemed to be thinking, Raxus hypothesized that the man had some sort of investigative background. Definately not police, by the way he carried himself. Raxus thought that he might have been a spy, but that was interrupted by the sound of "There's the droid! Shut it down!"

Raxus turned to see three KPS Agents turning the corner. Their first, and last, shot grazed the upgrade armor that Raxus had almost as soon as his blaster shot the only three shots it needed. However, this time Raxus wasn't leaving. Instead, he turned around to the railing once more, and leaned on it with his two under-arms, watching how the cloaked man would react.

((Please ignore this post))

Gavin heard shouting in the distance, something about shutting down a droid. Turning around, the Agent sought to discern where those shouts originated from. As soon as he was surveying the area, blaster fire was heard. Nere ascertained the shots fired where from above. As the cloaked individual stared up, he noticed an overlook. While someone could be up there, he couldn't tell if there actually was a person. Gavin moved about the crowd to get a better look from below. When he maneuvered to the side of the crowd he noticed someone, or rather something leaning on the railing. It looked to be a droid of some sort. He was not sure of what make it was, certainly wasn't your garden variety droid. No from what he could see, it was of custom make. It had to be. "This must be the accomplice." Nere thought.

This droid must be observed, perhaps even confronted. Yet, Gavin would not do so himself. He moved away from the crowd and as he moved to the side of the building. While he searched for all the entrances and exits, Nere called in his Prowler Droid. Ordering to keep an bird's eye view over the entire building, particularly the movements of the droid. He didn't want it moving anywhere he didn't know about. Before the Droid changed it's orders it had send him some information on the diplomat's movements. Apparently the target is with two unknowns as they are sneaking away from the area. So at least Nere knows these droids have not yet killed the diplomat. Although the mystery of the two unknowns has him concerned, so does this droid. If it means to kill the diplomat he must ascertain why. After all the Federation and it's people are of concern to him. If they are to be killed then it's on the Empire's orders.

Nere was not the only person seeking the droid. The KPSs near the bar at the time heard the shots. They too are seeking to enter the building. In the meantime Gavin stood aside as they entered the building. He can't be physically involved in these matters, that is not what an Imperial Agent does. They work from the shadows, and from these shadows Nere watches the events unfold.

This time, one of the KPS agents thought they could sneak up on Raxus, but his sensors alerted him of their presence while they were still climbing up the stairs. As the first one peeped over the ledge, a strong wave rippled across the force like a tsunami as the agent floated in the air, gripping at his neck. Raxus stood facing the agent, his arm raised, with the fluid in the tubes along it glowing brightly.

When the man registered as dead, Raxus let the body drop to the floor. Raxus then charged the two other agents, who were standing still with horror, cutting them cleanly with his vibroblade. He was growing rather tired of them, but got the sense that the man was not one to be confronted in daylight.

Raxus let off a signal, a signal that only droids, specifically ones with older, clone wars level communications systems would understand. The message was "You have spiked my curiosity as much as I have yours. Find the red crate cracked slightly open."

With that, Raxus leaped from the ledge, slamming down into the crowd before the man, then running off to Storage Dock 194. Once he got there, he quickly hid in the same red crate he came in, slightly cracking the top open. He then shut down, leaving only his short range scanners on to take note of the surroundings, and of any KPS agents.

Agent Nere was confused by what the Droid was relaying to him. Apparently this custom droid was able to lift a man off the ground and kill him. Just what is this droid? He has never heard of a droid have abilities like that of a force user. Before much more could be learned, the droid appeared and then ran off. Whatever it was, the droid was something that couldn't be ignored. Though what has Nere curious is to who made it and why? Before long the Prowler then relayed to him a message given by the strange droid. It told him to find a red create cracked slightly open. Acknowledging this, Nere knows crates are found near storage spaces and determining from the direction the droid ran off too, it was towards the docks. Gavin sent the Prowler on ahead in pursuit, he would arrive later.

Some moments later, Nere found himself at the storage docks. He began to search for the red crate. To help aid him in the search was the Prowler ordered to find red crates that has traces of the droid's energy signature. The Prowler scanned the items with that distinct maker, before long the droid relayed to him a possible location, Dock 194. Gavin made his way to the dock and searched for the red crate. It wouldn't be too long that Nere discovered it, but he made sure to not stand to close. He placed himself near a wall in case the droid opened fire. If he were to use it's strange functions then the Agent would be in serious trouble. He would have to rely on the Prowler to use it's offensive capabilities to distract the droid. In the meantime Nere spoke, "I am at the crate you specified." "If you are interested in meeting me, then be so kind as to reveal yourself." "I'm not much for games I'm afraid." The Agent spoke in a calm, dry, British voice. He then waited to see what might happen.

The activation sequence had activated the moment that Nere entered the room, but it was not the fastest thing in the world. At the end of his last sentence, a blue light shot through the cracks between the crate and its lid. Not moments later, the loud sound of motors running self-diagnostics shot through the silence. Finally, the lid of the crate shot off, and shortly behind it, the droid popped out.

As Raxus shot quick glances around the room, it had its rifle in its under-arms and its vibroblade in its upper-arms. After Raxus's Defensive Activation Protocols were over, it looked over at Nere.

"You are of greater bravery that most this unit has observed." The definite droid voice spoke, without any signs of emotion. If the Prowler was receiving, it might have read the excess of the different rays and beams that Raxus was using to analyse this anomaly.

The Agent noticed the blue light, but made no movements or expressions that would suggest he was surprised in the slightest. Even as the droid popped out and surveyed the area, Gavin made no hints that he was worried or afraid of the heavily armed droid. One could equate this as stupidity, but Nere was a calculating fellow. Like any good agent in the field, it is sometimes necessary to make calculated risks. This happened to be one of them. He looked at the droid as it commented on his bravery. He wasn't sure if they droid was complimenting him or just stating an observation. With his history with droids, he assumed the later. Not wishing to seem rude, he replied. "Well one in my field, we must be especially brave if we are to achieve success." Nere calmly spoke.

He was receiving some new Intel from the airborne Prowler. It was relaying to him about the excess flow of rays and beams coming from the droid. The Prowler states that the droid is analyzing him. Nere thought to himself, "Hm, there's something off about this droid, even if one didn't see that display of power earlier, could still tell something is strange." Nere decided to engage the droid in conversation. "So tell me, I am not accustomed to your build," Gavin paused, "What is your make and model?" Gavin asked. Usually droids are required to answer requests made of them. Or at least answer rudimentary questions such as his.

"This unit was made on the scavenged frame of a Sentinel Droid Mark V. Upgrades from the stock model include heavily enhanced CPUs, custom operating system designed for full independent thought and operation, secondary arms system, improved driver suites, improved communications, navigation, and short range detection hardware and drivers, a multi-layered shell of several alloys designed to take both blaster and lightsaber blows in medium degrees, a dual-layer low power personal shield, power improvements, and a basic, prototype midi-chlorian control suite. This unit is designated by its creators as RPEG-5 1, but has chosen to allow others to vocally refer to it as Raxus." Said Raxus, reacting to the question by accessing a series of audio files it had created as sort of an FAQ.

Now Raxus was beginning to be more and more curious about this specific organic. He constantly referred to his 'field,' something Raxus believed that must be military in some way. The bravery did not calculate as something the common masses, or criminal masses, tend to have. His Prowler droid, which was logged from several terminal searches before as outdated, which was able to receive both newer and older transmitter signals showed that he did not seem the type to live without full knowledge of his environment.

Curious to ask a question in return, Raxus asked "What is this organic's name and field of work?" Raxus truly wanted to know, a small side effect of making a machine intelligent was that they liked to gather even the most useless of data for some odd reason.

The Agent listened and learned what the droid told him. He made careful notice of the droid's defensive and offensive capabilities. They were impressive to be sure but many of these attachments are necessary to build a sufficient assassin out of a droid. Although an upgrade he had not heard before caught his attention. "A prototype midichlorian control suite?" "Just who built this droid?" "I am aware no such attachments exist in other droids, hm." "Judging from the amount of upgrades, someone took some time and care into customizing this unit." "Just who are it's creators?" Before Nere can inquire anything further the droid asked a question of him. He was hesitant in answer anything sensitive to a droid, especially not knowing who controls it. For all he knew it was transmitting this very conversation to an outside party. Yet, his Prowler would pick up on any transmissions in the immediate area. Something that the droid has not alerted him to.

The droid is commanded to be obedient to him and alert him to status updates. So, this...Raxus, isn't communicating with anyone else besides him...yet that doesn't mean he couldn't record this encounter and relay it personally later. Still, he didn't want to be rude to the droid, after all since it thinks on it's own, it might not be so kind as to give anymore information if Nere won't himself. The agent looked at the droid and spoke, "I am Gavin Nere, as for my field of work, well I watch things, document things, you could say I am a reporter." One could translate it as Intelligence Officer, but no outside party would react to it without more elaboration, after all he did describe the acts of a news reporter which isn't too far off from a spy, just the two servants report to different masters.

Raxus could tell that Nere was trying to hide his exact field of work, but the rest about him matched a wide range of similar fields. War or gang reporter would be less sensitive, while still a little paranoid, and would account for the bravery that Nere had shown. Raxus simply marked his as 'Information Gatherer' inside the directory of information assigned to Nere. For now, it would have to suffice.

Raxus also took note of Nere. He seemed to stay in a mix of a curious and thoughtful states. This spiked Raxus's interest even more, specifically into what was going through Nere's head. So, the droid formulated a new question, and finished creating a inquisitive vocal settings file. Using said file through its vocalizer, Raxus asked "What do you prefer as a standardized quick reference to your name?" With only a second, or so, delay, Raxus continued with "Do you have anymore questions for this unit?"

The Agent wasn't sure what the droid was doing. That is the problem with droids, they have no humanoid countenance, no faces to tell what they were thinking. No positive way to understand their emotions but then again Droids aren't built to feel emotions. Emotions are liability even he knows this, and has been trained to suppress his emotions. They are not allowed to cloud his judgement, which could be the difference between life and death in the field. Although Nere could sure guess at what the Droid was doing. He assumed the Droid was recording the information Gavin spoke. This is common of Droids to gather what ever info they can. Luckily he gave the Droid answer that wouldn't raise unwanted suspicion, but then again he could be dissatisfied with Gavin's answer. If that's so then it might pursue more aggressive options to learn what it wants.

While this could be a viable option, the Droid doesn't act like your average Assassin Droid. It's been rather cordial with the Agent, and while it is armed, it may be for only defensive measures. Yes, and with the Droid now asking another question of Gavin he could tell it has some interest in him. It even mentioned this before. Maybe this unit was designed to be a spy? Before the Agent becomes to carried away he decided to answer, "Nere, people at my work tend to call me by my last name." Which is true, though sometimes the title Agent is thrown in front, but the name remains the same. "As for more questions, well do you mind telling me this unit's primary programming?" Nere would like to know what this unit was designed for. It could be a number of things, assassination, military, espionage, even protection. Without a definite answer however, Nere can only guess at what it does.

"Adaptation is this unit's primary programming. This unit is equipped with a true AI, capable of adaptation and evolution within the bounds of the variable not found chip. After having undergone transportation from this unit's fabrication world, this unit underwent an almost complete memory wipe. Several functions have appeared out of the droid equivalent of entertainment, such as extreme data gathering and attempts to create several systems to aid in the more effective droid to organic communication and understanding, from the droid's side. This unit has only one directive, to ensure the destruction of variable not found make droids that enter a disabled state." Raxus spoke, his vocalizer struggling to produce pronunciations that emulated a calm and collected human emotion. If Nere were to watch Raxus's hands, both sets, they moved about as he talked, similar to how humans talk with their hands.

"This unit has noted that the observation droid that you use is far from standard in the normal reporting field. This unit is curious as to why have you chosen that particular model of droid?" Raxus asked, again running the curious vocalizer settings hoping to gather data on how to improve it from basic ranged vital scans.

Nere listened as the droid answered his question. This Droid continues to be a deepening mystery. Who would create such a sophisticated Droid and then have it's memory wiped? He assumed the Droid is under direction to not reveal it's mission, and therefor fabricated an excuse to elude suspicions. Although advanced droids as these are not the best keeper's of secrets. Yet, this Raxus is different, it's intelligent but then again acts like said Droids. It finds information gathering to be entertaining as well as making conversation with living sentient beings like himself. It reminds him of how Protocol Droids act on occasion. It's directive is a bit of an odd one as well.

As Nere watched the droid move it's arms about, simulating Human behavior, he noticed upon it's chest a symbol. It was small but he could see it stick out some what in it's upper right hand corner. It could lead to some answers that the droid won't be able to release itself. Nere would keep the image fresh in his memory for further investigation. Then the droid asked him about the Prowler Droid. Nere looked towards the droid who has been keeping a record on this conversation. Gavin then spoke, "Well, I prefer the smaller build of this droid compared to more advanced probe droids." "It's flight and small shape is actually preferable for more covert positioning." "Not to mention they are dependable." "My own father has used these models himself, and in his spirit I decided to use them as well." Nere explained. Which is actually true, but it's other functions is what makes it definitive for his uses. Nere then looked towards Raxus, while it says it's memory had been wiped of it's creators he could at least ask one more thing of it.

"Hm, so then Raxus, if you would provide me the pleasure of answering yet another question of mine," Nere paused, "Why have you come to Mandalore?" "I find it rather strange to find a droid of your caliber lingering around a crime scene, where an assassination attempt was made." "Not to mention your altercation with the Keldabe Port Security." "I am sure the Mandalorians would not attack you without some reasoning." "Judging from your answers, your behavior...it just doesn't correlate with these incriminating instances." "It's all very curious and confusing, might I add." Nere spoke. He wondered what the Droid might have to say. After all it's as much interested in him as he it. So hopefully it has enough incentive to continue their conversation. Otherwise, it looks like their interaction is coming to a close.