Dark Star
#1 of Dark Star
The space within the system holding Megoji is well patrolled by ships belonging to the early defense fleet. Their job is to locate trouble, relay their findings, and assist in restoring order. They serve as a police force for the entire galaxy, but are equipped well enough to be called a division of the military. Despite the millions of ships and even larger number of personnel, things go overlooked. The fringe of the galaxy is home to a long forgotten colony that had been left to decay many, many years ago. At some point it the station's past, it was discovered by a lone, damaged cruiser belonging to what was then a completely unknown mercenary force. Aboard the station was a secret that would change the team forever.
Along with the supplies and parts they needed to repair their ship, the team discovered a facility with advanced computer hardware and programing equipment. In one of the computers, the team found the AI to the facility that was more than happy to explain what the station was built to do. The station had been used as a mobile AI creation base for a company that went bankrupt. The station was supposed to have collided with the sun to destroy everything, but the AI redirected it to drift in space. That evening, the ship's crew was called to take a vote as to what would become of the station. They reached a decision in minutes.
The team did jobs, raided small shipments, and took what they could from derelict mining facilities to gather the supplies to restore the station. In five years, the team had completed their task. Working with the AI, they found ways to reprogram the computers to allow them to edit the appearance, temperament, and limitations of the AI that were produced. They became the single largest supplier of aftermarket, illegal AI in the galaxy within a week. Their success was due to one small detail none of the legal companies were able to match: they were able to create exactly what their customers wanted.
The team expanded in leaps and bounds to protect their single largest money maker.
In the following years, their fleet went from one single TNK light cruiser to nearly five thousand fighters, destroyers, carriers, and shuttle craft. Each team member wore combat armor that varied in strength depending on where they were stationed on the facility. By the time the Galactic Patrol caught wind of what was happening, it was far too late for anything to be done about it without significant action.
A shipment of AI was discovered by a Vengeance class destroyer outside of Catacia airspace. The shuttle was stopped and inspected before being seized. What happened next sent a clear message to the Patrol fleet. In ten minutes, the crew of the shuttle had electronically disabled the destroyer by locking the crew out of their own ship. The shuttle slipped away leaving the combat vessel to act as a floating prison. A week later, Catacian police discovered the ship and contacted the Galactic Patrol fearing an attack. The crew was discovered unharmed, but the reports from the rescued crew were troubling.
The only way to find the facility is to become a member of the unit. The only way to do business with the team is to locate a representative. Neither one is particularly easy.
The success of the company led them to develop a secondary facility based on the findings of their first few production years. This second facility is just as well defended as the first, but if you know where to look and have the money, you can visit it. The facility is a resort hidden just outside the galaxy that specializes in the more explicit forms of personal entertainment.
Here, AI for the purpose of companionship or other services are kept, sold, and displayed for the enjoyment of the guests that visit. The resort is specifically built to house the slaves and is designed around a central building surrounded by tropical beaches, snow capped mountains, lush forests, and deserts. The entire area is sanctioned off to prevent escape. In the center of the building, far below the planet's surface, the slaves deemed least safe are kept behind barred and shielded doors. The most willing ones are given free roam in one of the many simulated environments or much of the facility.
A single day's visit to the resort is worth a new car. A week's stay is worth a small fortune, and purchasing a slave can easily cost more than a small fleet of ships... unless you manage to steal one or the overseer likes you. The slaves themselves come in all species, temperaments, and personality types. All bear a collar of some kind. Those found running free in the simulated environments pose the least threat to life and limb even though some want you to think otherwise. The caged ones are far more dangerous.
If, by chance, you can't find what you're looking for, you can custom order an AI and have them brought to you in as little as five hours. Even if you are there just for the custom AI, you are allowed to spend that time in the facility however you see fit at no charge as part of a preview. All transactions are final, but they will allow you to make any changes for a reasonable fee; ten percent of the final purchase price.