Therefore I Am : The Tale of IG - 88 " Therefore I Am : The Tale of IG - 88 " is a short story written by Kevin J . Anderson and featured in " Tales of the Bounty Hunters " , which was published in December 1996 by Bantam Spectra . It concerns the backstory of the droid bounty hunter IG - 88 as well as its identical counterparts and their efforts to begin a galaxy - wide droid revolution , starting a few years before the events of " " , and ending during the Battle of Endor . The title is a reference to philosophical proof of existence , " , " or " I think , therefore I am , " which features prominently in IG - 88 ' s acquisition of sentient artificial intelligence . Plot summary . The IG Series Prototype Project was the visualization of Imperial Supervisor Gurdun to manufacture the ultimate assassin droid . The IG - 88 prototype was activated at the Holowan Laboratories sometime prior to the year of 15 BBY . Due to the sentient programming of one of the particular assassin droids , it immediately developed a sense of independence . After dispatching the laboratory personnel , IG - 88A infused his programming into three identical counterparts . The four quickly commandeered a starship and made liftoff . Traveling to Mechis III , they developed a stratagem to seize command over the galaxy . From orbit , the four assassins were able to reprogram the droids on the planet surface , ordering them to depose the human caretakers of the droid manufacturing installation . From here they would begin their quest for galactic domination . To all outward appearances , the administration of Mechis III remained the same , operations continued and orders were filled . The only difference was , the droids being shipped were programmed to efface all biological species when the order was given . After Gurdun issued a " dismantle on sight " order , IG - 88B was sent out to divert attention from the base on Mechis III . Accepting a bounty to capture Han Solo , IG - 88 found himself on the Super Star Destroyer " Executor " . While there , he downloaded the ship ' s computer files , discovering the construction plans for the new Death Star . A new objective presented itself to the foursome : take control of the Imperial space station . After planting microtracker s on the ships of the other bounty hunters , IG - 88B returned to base . While the assassin droids proceeded with their plans , information was brought to them that another bounty hunter , Boba Fett , had tracked the smuggler to Bespin . The " B " model was once again sent out to retrieve its bounty . Shortly after arrival in Cloud City , IG - 88B was destroyed by Fett , who ultimately captured Solo , frozen in carbonite . IG - 88C and IG - 88D were dispatched to exact revenge for IG - 88B , while the " A " version continued the scheme to procure the computer core of the Death Star II . " C " and " D " met their demise over the sands of Tatooine at the hands of Boba Fett , and on Ord Mantell at the hands of Dash Rendar , respectively . IG - 88A did obtain the computer core of the Death Star and assimilated himself into its programming . The realization of their goal was short - lived , however , as the space station was destroyed by the Rebel fleet at the Battle of Endor , in 4 ABY .