EPISODE XVII THE COLLECTOR'S OBSESSION
EPISODE XVII
THE COLLECTOR'S OBSESSION
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away....
The young panda BEANJI had never felt such a chill of pure terror as when his ship was captured by the massive dreadnought Invisible Hand. The mechanical whirring and clanking that echoed through the corridors spoke of a presence that was neither fully alive nor completely machine.
He was escorted through the ship's dark corridors by battle droids, their mechanical voices offering no comfort as they marched him toward what he assumed would be his doom. But instead of an execution chamber, Beanji found himself in the most unexpected sight - an elaborate trophy room filled with thousands of lightsabers and, surprisingly, an equally impressive collection of brewing equipment.
GENERAL GRIEVOUS stood with his back turned, his four mechanical arms working simultaneously on what appeared to be the most complex coffee brewing apparatus in the galaxy. The cyborg general's cape flowed dramatically as he moved, and the sound of his mechanical breathing filled the chamber with an ominous rhythm.
"So," Grievous said without turning around, his voice a mechanical rasp that sent shivers down Beanji's spine, "the famous coffee panda finally arrives. I have been... collecting information about your encounters across the galaxy."
When Grievous finally turned to face him, Beanji was struck by the terrifying sight of the cyborg's mask-like face and glowing eyes. But what caught his attention even more was the precision with which all four of Grievous's arms continued to work on the brewing process, each appendage performing a different task with mechanical perfection.
"You see, little panda," Grievous continued, his voice carrying a hint of pride beneath the mechanical distortion, "I am a collector. Lightsabers from fallen Jedi, artifacts from conquered worlds, and... brewing techniques from across the galaxy. Your reputation for discovering unique methods has reached even my ears."
Beanji watched in fascination and horror as Grievous demonstrated what he called the FOUR-ARM SUPREMACY BLEND. Each mechanical arm operated a different brewing method simultaneously - one grinding beans with precise mechanical force, another controlling temperature with digital accuracy, a third managing pressure extraction, and the fourth adding ingredients with calculated timing.
"This technique," Grievous explained with obvious satisfaction, "incorporates elements I have... acquired from every brewing master I have encountered. Jedi meditation methods, Sith precision, smuggler improvisation, even some techniques I learned from defeating a coffee master on Malastare."
The brewing process was both mesmerizing and terrifying - a display of mechanical efficiency that no organic being could match. Steam rose from multiple vessels as Grievous orchestrated a symphony of brewing that seemed to defy the laws of physics.
"But why show me this?" Beanji asked, trying to keep the tremor out of his voice. "What do you want from me?"
Grievous's mechanical laugh was like the sound of grinding gears. "I want to add your techniques to my collection, of course. But more than that... I want to understand how you succeed where I have failed."
The cyborg general's tone became more serious, almost vulnerable. "I have collected thousands of lightsabers, defeated countless Jedi, conquered entire systems. Yet I remain... incomplete. You, a simple panda, have accomplished something that has eluded me - you have brought beings together rather than driving them apart."
When Grievous finally presented the finished coffee, Beanji was amazed by its complexity. It was technically perfect, incorporating flavors and techniques from across the galaxy, yet somehow it felt cold, mechanical, lacking the warmth that came from genuine connection.
"It's... impressive," Beanji said carefully. "But it feels like it's missing something."
Grievous's glowing eyes dimmed slightly. "Yes. I have suspected as much. I can replicate any technique, improve upon any method, but I cannot... I cannot create the connection that you seem to forge so effortlessly."
For a moment, the terrifying cyborg general seemed almost... lonely. "Tell me, panda, what is the secret? How do you take these simple brewing rituals and transform them into something that brings enemies together as friends?"
Beanji considered his words carefully. "It's not about the technique, General. It's about the intention behind it. When you brew for someone, you're not just making a drink - you're offering a piece of yourself, creating a moment of vulnerability and trust."
Grievous was silent for a long moment, his mechanical breathing the only sound in the chamber. "Vulnerability," he repeated, as if the word was foreign to him. "I was taught that vulnerability is weakness, that only strength and fear command respect."
"But you're not happy," Beanji observed gently. "For all your power, all your collections, you're still searching for something more."
The cyborg general's four arms slowly stopped their mechanical movements. "Perhaps... perhaps there is wisdom in your approach. But I fear it is too late for one such as me. I have become too much machine, too little... whatever I once was."
As Beanji prepared to leave, Grievous made an unexpected gesture - he offered the panda a small container of his Four-Arm Supremacy Blend. "Take this. Not as a trophy of conquest, but as... a gift. Perhaps you can find a way to add warmth to what I have created through cold precision."
What lessons will Beanji learn from his encounter with the galaxy's most feared collector? Can even the coldest mechanical precision be warmed by genuine connection? The collector's obsession reveals unexpected depths...