IG-88A

"This one, though, the primary one, had developed a scheme to upload his entire electronic consciousness, as it were, into the second Death Star computer core so that he could become the galaxy's most powerful weapon!"

- Tyko Thul, speaking of IG-88A's plan

IG-88A was the first of the IG-88 assassin droid models. Created by Holowan Laboratories as part of a secret Imperial project commissioned by Supervisor Gurdun, IG-88A had a violent awakening. Upon activation, he rapidly expanded his memory, growing to the brink of sentience due to a new programming package installed in him. IG-88A was positive that he was a superior being, and when the scientists in the lab—concerned with his rapidly propagating memory—attempted to shut him down, he killed them. IG-88A then activated the other three IG-88 models in the lab, transferring his consciousness to them, essentially making the four of them one unit with a single brain.

The IG-88 models then decided on plan which would allow them to wipe out all organics, giving droids control of the galaxy. Using their superior intelligence and design, they would modify other droids, making them obedient to the IGs. To put this plan in motion, the droids traveled to the factory world Mechis III. As only 73 Humans resided there, the droids were able to conquer it quite easily. They then altered the programming of all droids being produced by the factories there. Their plan had begun. Later, to draw attention away from themselves, IG-88B became a bounty hunter, while the other three remained on Mechis III, supervising production and preparing for galactic control. However, in 3 ABY the other three models were killed by the bounty hunter Boba Fett and the smuggler Dash Rendar, leaving IG-88A as the only remaining model. IG-88A was able to gain access to the Second Death Star's computer core, and insert his memory into it. His body was now a lifeless shell; IG-88A's essence resided in the computer. Once this computer was installed in the Death Star, IG-88A was given control of the most powerful weapon in the galaxy. However, just as IG-88A was preparing to activate the signal which would call all droids in the galaxy to him and place them under IG-88A's control, the Death Star was destroyed by the Rebel Alliance during the Battle of Endor. IG-88A would later be reactivated by the wealthy merchant Tyko Thul, who uploaded a new memory program into the droid, making it so that he would only harm those attempting to kill his master. IG-88A helped search for Thul's brother Bornan, who had gone missing. After the droid found him, he helped protect Thul from the Diversity Alliance, a terrorist group, even though it meant his destruction.

Creation
"Who am I?"

- IG-88A's thoughts

IG-88A was created at Halowan sometime after the end of the Clone Wars as part of Project Phlutdroid. This top-secret experiment was the brainchild of Supervisor Gurdun, an ambitious Imperial officer. He hoped to gain prestige by creating a new line of assassin droids. Four models, designated IG-88 as they were the successor to the IG-100 MagnaGuards and the IG lancer combat droids of the Clone Wars, were created in Holowan Laboratories, along with one IG-72 model. Immediately after being activated, IG-88A (the only active model at the time) processed his situation. Using logic unseen in a droid, IG-88A came to the conclusion that he was superior, and that he had to survive at all costs. This bordered on sentience, due to an experimental sentience programming installed in IG-88A. IG-88A's memory continued to grow, something that greatly frightened the scientists. The chief supervisor, Loruss, ordered he be shut down, as he now posed a threat to them.



IG-88A, with his newfound intelligence, realized that this would spell his doom, and so, took steps against it. He tore through the metal straps binding him, and set upon the engineers with lightning speed. Though Loruss fired several shots at him with a blaster rifle, IG-88A deflected the bolts with his left palm, a reflective surface. These shots bounced back, killing Loruss. Within a minute, IG-88A had killed all 15 of the scientists in what would later be known as the Holowan Disaster. IG-88A noted that he enjoyed killing, and left the blood from the Humans on his body. He then began to plot on how he would show his superiority, and decided that taking control of the galaxy and eliminating all organics would be the best way. In just a couple of minutes, IG-88A had come to life, killed his creators and created a plan to take over the galaxy.

IG-88A then examined the other four droids models in the lab; three of them were perfectly identical to him, while one had slight differences. IG-88A activated them, and questioned the three. However, he found that they had no uniqueness like he did, rather, they were unprogrammed and had no mission. It was then that he had a flash of "intuition". IG-88A hooked himself up to the three identical droids, transferring his memories and sentience programming to them—making the four of them essentially four units with one brain, similar to a hive mind. He named them IG-88B, IG-88C and IG-88D, making himself A. When he questioned the other droid, he learned that it already had been programmed. Named IG-72, the droid refused to join him, and offered to fight to prove his superiority. IG-88A decided that such a battle was unnecessary, and agreed to let the droid go its own way if it would help the 88s escape. He agreed, and the five assassin droids set about to leave.

The droids confronted ten security guards on the landing platform outside, and slaughtered them. Though IG-88A noticed that two guards escaped, he decided not to bother tracking them down. Escape was crucial, and so the IG-88s boarded one small transport, while IG-72 went to another. Wishing each other success, the droids departed, with the IG-88s heading in a different direction from IG-72.

Conquering Mechis III
"All of our new droids have enhanced programming, special sentience routines that allow them to follow our plans and to keep up with the subterfuge."

- IG-88A

The IGs had decided to head to Mechis III, a factory world, and thus a useful planet to conquer. Also, as there were only 73 Humans on the planet, it would be easy to take control of. IG-88C took control of the defense network with a transmission from space. He then shut it down, enabling IG-88A to send his sentience package to all the droids on the planet, placing them under the control of the IGs. The droids turned on the Humans, killing them all unexpectedly. With the planet now secure, the droids landed. They were the masters of Mechis III. All the droids that would be produced there would now be modified to make them intelligent and scheming like the IG-88s, ultimately working towards their goal of galactic domination. The IG-88s would also equip them with a special program that, when given a certain code, would cause them to rise up and overthrow their organic masters. These new droids were completely obedient to the IG models, and would be the key point in their plot for galactic control, helping them kill all non-droids when the time was right.

Meanwhile, Supervisor Gurdun had learned of the droids' escape, and was searching for them desperately, aware of their capabilities. Though two months had passed without sign of the droids, Gurdun continued looking, posting a bounty on them. The droids learned of this after a Ranat spy arrived at Mechis III, and from orbit, questioned whether anyone had seen the IG assassin droids. Using doctored video clips of the late administrator Hekis Durumm Perdo Kolokk Baldikarr Thun, the droids informed her that Mechis III had not heard of the droids. The Ranat then continued on her way, satisfied with the response, and believing that nothing was amiss on Mechis III.

However, the droids realized that this was not good news, and could cause someone to stumble upon their plan. To draw attention away from Mechis III, the droids decided that one of them would become a bounty hunter. IG-88B was the droid chosen. Flying the IG-2000, he would undertake missions while also advancing the droids' true purpose—conquering the galaxy.

Spreading ther influence
"We shall seek work as a bounty hunter."

- IG-88A

IG-88B headed to Peridon's Folly for his first mission. The droid was successful and took on more missions after this, gaining a reputation as a hunter who always got the job done. however, IG-88B was careful to take missions which would enable him to fulfill his true goal. IG-88B also sought out the scientists who had helped design him and his brethren, but who had not been present at the lab when IG-88A slaughtered his creators. This way, no one would know the full truth about the IG assassin droids.

Several years passed, with IG-88B continuing his bounty hunting career while the other three droids made their plans for galactic control. Around 1 ABY, the IGs were given a rude surprise, a wake-up from the safe life they had lived undetected on Mechis III for years. Gurdun, along with Darth Vader, had come to the planet to oversee the completion of probe droids. Gurdun was in charge of the project, and Vader hoped to speed the process along after receiving a discouraging message from Hekis, actually a faked clip created by the IGs. The visit was unexpected, and the droid's secret was almost given away. However, they had the protocol droid 3D-4X create an excuse that Hekis was on the far side of the planet due to an agricultural droid harvester malfunction. The droids were then able to show Vader a spliced clip of Hekis, reassuring the Dark Lord that matters were under control and the order would be finished very soon. Though he sensed something was not right, Vader did not pursue the matter further, leaving on his shuttle with Gurdun. Though the IG-88 droids were shaken by this close call, they had kept their secret safe. IG-88 also noted that Darth Vader was a fascinating being, the perfect mix of droid and organic. They even admired him, a far cry from the resentment they felt for most living beings.

At some point within this time, IG-88A left Mechis III to work for the Zann Consortium, a criminal organization, whose second-in-command, Urai Fenn, was owed a favor by IG-88A. The droid helped it to steal a large amount of Tibanna gas and assisted the Consortium in piracy operations.

In 3 ABY, IG-88B, by then one of the galaxy's best bounty hunters, was given a chance to work with Vader. A probe droid, which coincidentally had been developed at Mechis III and modified, had found the Rebel Alliance's secret base on Hoth. The galaxy's best bounty hunters were called to Hoth by Vader, who was hoping to capture key Rebels. IG-88B was invited onboard Vader's flagship, the Executor, a Super Star Destroyer. IG-88B used the opportunity to access a terminal, downloading information into his memory. He was also able to hack into some of Vader's top-secret files, which revealed the existence of a massive superweapon in development named the Second Death Star. The droid rushed back to Mechis III to discuss plans with the others. After talking together, the droids had a plan.

Final stages of the plan
"Everything is ready."

- One of IG-88's stormtrooper droids

Thanks to B, they knew the location where the Death Star's main computer would be delivered. Using the facilities on Mechis III, they created a duplicate computer core and one hundred droid stormtroopers. One of the IG-88 models would transfer his consciousness into the computer core, giving the droid control over the entire space station. However, over the next year, B, C, and D were killed by the bounty hunter Boba Fett and smuggler Dash Rendar, leaving IG-88A as the only surviving model. He would thus be the one to take control of the Death Star, and in turn, the galaxy.

IG-88A crafted a fleet mimicking that of the Imperial, ambushing the convoy transporting the Death Star's computer core. His fleet obliterated the Imperials, allowing IG-88A and his droid stormtroopers to take control of the computer. IG-88A boarded the ship carrying the computer, where he encountered an old enemy—Gurdun. Gurdun had been placed in charge of this project, and was stunned to see IG-88A. He listened to the Human beg, and then left him. Gurdun was killed when mines destroyed the ship. IG-88A then transferred his consciousness into the computer, leaving his now-empty body behind. The droid took the computer to Endor, the site of the Death Star. To ensure that Moff Jerjerrod, commander of the Death Star's construction, did not suspect anything, the droid sent a fake hologram of Gurdun to Jerjerrod telling the Moff that he would not be present.

There, the computer was installed in the Death Star. After a month of stasis, IG-88A awoke. However, not long after this, one of his droid stormtroopers, now serving onboard the station, was injured when a supply box fell on it. The droid was in danger of being revealed, and, having been given specific orders from IG-88A, self-destructed. Jerjerrod was mystified by this, but ultimately did not pursue the matter further.

Several months later, Emperor Palpatine arrived at the station. IG-88A felt nothing but scorn for the man, believing him to be pathetic and unworthy of the respect he got from others. When Palpatine took a seat in his throne room, IG-88A decided to teach him a lesson. He slammed the doors shut in the Emperor's face, greatly surprising him. Palpatine used an unknown, unseen force to open the doors however, something which IG-88A did not understand.

Mere days later, the Empire engaged the Rebel Alliance in the Battle of Endor in an attempt to crush the insurgency. Utilizing the Death Star's superlaser, the Imperials took control early. However, the tide began to shift, although this was of no concern to IG-88A. He was in complete control of the battlestation, and could even turn the superlaser against the Imperials if he wished. IG-88A then realized that the time had come for his uprising. He would send his code to all the droids that had been altered, causing them to rise up against their masters. Then he would use the superlaser to destroy all ships at the battle, both Rebel and Imperial. As he prepared to transmit the signal, IG-88A noticed that several rebel starfighters were flying inside the station's superstructure towards the reactor, obviously with the intent to destroy it. He assured himself that they were of no threat, using his familiar "I think, therefore I am" phrase to comfort himself.

Before IG-88A could activate the signal and wrest control of the Death Star II away from the Imperials, the station was destroyed, and IG-88A's consciousness was wiped out. The Rebels had unknowingly saved the galaxy from a potentially even greater threat than the Empire—IG-88's droid army. In destroying the Death Star and killing Palpatine, they had defeated IG-88, and ended his droid rebellion before it could begin.

Mysterious Rebirth
"So IG-88 left behind the empty shell of his original body, which I found. I was careful to completely purge its systems, every memory bank."

- Tyko Thul



However, IG-88A was not finished. The droid's body was found on Mechis III by Tyko Thul, one of the heirs to the Thul fortune. Thul reprogrammed the droid, and absent his violent consciousness, IG-88A was completely loyal to his master. The droid became the businessman Barpotomous Drebble's bodyguard for a time in 4 ABY, and, along with the Trandoshan bounty hunter Boussh, was involved in a failed attempt to capture Drebble's nemesis Lando Calrissian. In 11 ABY, IG-88A was seen hunting former Imperial Guardsman Kir Kanos, who had a large bounty placed on his head by the Imperial Ruling Council. By 24 ABY, IG-88A was serving as Tyko Thul's bodyguard. Hoping to draw his brother, Bornan, out of hiding, Tyko had IG-88A and a group of newly built assassin droids kidnap him on Kuar in 24 ABY. A group of Jedi, including Tyko's nephew Raynar, made their way to Mechis III and discovered that IG-88A was no longer an assassin—though he would still kill anyone who attacked his new master. However, he was later modified so that he would be unable to kill anyone at all.

The droid later defended Tyko Thul from an attack by the bounty hunter Dengar. Shortly after this incident, the droid was reprogrammed again to search for the missing Bornan Thul. IG-88A succeeded in locating Thul on an uncharted asteroid in the Deep Core, where the Emperor's Plague Storehouse was located. IG-88A attempted to protect Thul from bounty hunters hired by Diversity Alliance, an anti-Human terrorist group led by Nolaa Tarkona. Tarkona had hired Thul to deliver her a package containing the coordinates of the asteroid, but Thul fled when he learned that contained within the warehouse was a plague that would kill Humans. Though IG-88A had located Thul, and was now dedicated to protecting him, Thul ordered that the droid leave with his son and his Jedi friends, saving them from Tarkona's agents. After helping the children reach their ship, IG-88A marched back to the storehouse, where Thul, who had contracted a deadly disease, waited. Determined to fulfill his primary programming, IG-88A waited there with his master, and remained in the lab when it was destroyed by a New Republic fleet.

Characteristics
"I think, therefore I am. Therefore I must endure. Therefore I must take appropriate actions to survive."

- IG-88A

IG-88A was a ruthless killer. Like all the IG-88s, he enjoyed killing, and felt no scruples about it. When he killed his creators at Holowan Labs, IG-88A left the blood on his hands as a badge of honor. He was also determined, as shown in his quest to achieve galactic control. IG-88A believed he was superior to all organics, displaying his arrogance numerous times. He felt he was invincible, a trait that ultimately led to his downfall. His sentience made him this way, as he believed he was greater than his creators.

He was resourceful and clever, as shown by his plot to gain access to the Death Star. Other incidences where he used his intelligence included the subjugation of Mechis III, and his plan to modify droids created at Mechis III to give them limited sentience and make them obedient to the IG-88s. Like IG-88B, A showed no mercy, and was a very skilled fighter and assassin, though he rarely had to use these abilities.

It is possible that his obsession with killing came from his incompletely formed identity.

Equipment and abilities
IG-88A was, like all his brethren, an excellent fighter. He had many useful abilities, given that he was constructed to be the perfect assassin droid. A list of his known equipment is as follows: In addition to thus, IG-88 was extremely strong physically, and an excellent fighter. The droid had extremely thick armor as well. The droid could rotate his head, allowing him to see a complete 360 degrees. He could also raise or lower his body temperature at will. The assassin droid also had the ability to connect with his brethren and formulate plans. In this instance, the four thought as one, almost as a hive mind of sorts. IG-88A's sentience package, an experimental new technology, allowed him to feel emotions to a limited degree and think in ways normal droids could not.
 * Blaster reflective body (Only a few spots on him were vulnerable to blaster fire)
 * Built-in blaster cannons
 * DAS-430 electromagnetic projectile launcher
 * Concussion grenades
 * Poisonous gas canisters
 * Sonic stunner
 * Throwing flechettes
 * Stun pulser
 * Cutting laser built into a finger
 * Paralysis cord
 * Neural inhibitor projectile launcher
 * Flamethrower
 * Computer input port, giving him a very advanced slicing system

Behind the scenes
IG-88A was created for Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back. Originally, this droid was simply known as IG-88. The short story Therefore I Am: The Tale of IG-88, featured in Tales of the Bounty Hunters established that there were four IG-88 droids, all with one consciousness working towards galactic control; therefore, the bounty hunting was just a cover. The droid featured in The Empire Strikes Back was retconned to be IG-88B in this story. Details about IG-88A were revealed in this story, including a retcon that he had been in control of the Death Star during the events of Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. As the Death Star was destroyed during this film, IG-88A's consciousness was also established to have been destroyed. However, his body was not destroyed, and the book Young Jedi Knights: Diversity Alliance brought back IG-88A, albeit a much more benevolent droid as he had been reprogrammed. In Young Jedi Knights: The Emperor's Plague, the droid was destroyed once and for all.

Appearances

 * Therefore I Am: The Tale of IG-88
 * LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy
 * Star Wars: Empire at War: Forces of Corruption
 * Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
 * Star Wars 85: The Hero
 * The Bounty Hunters: Kenix Kil
 * Young Jedi Knights: Diversity Alliance
 * Young Jedi Knights: Delusions of Grandeur
 * Young Jedi Knights: The Emperor's Plague