The Witch and the Lich; the Gravagans

Credits; Krell, Rea,
Rea took the lead as they headed down the ramp into the, well, the parking lot.  Krell glanced up and realized that they were actually on a planet, blue sky, white clouds, lone sun high in the south, and not an anti-air turret or fighter patrol in sight.  That, coupled with the names Rea had provided for the people they had come to visit, could only mean they were in the almost legendary Gravagan Collective.  He'd never been before, but the Gravagans were known for their rigid electoral system, short term limits, and refusal to do anything without a lot of deliberation.  Considering their origins, it was actually rather ironic.  The Gravagans were a silicon based lifeform created by the universe's most powerful Necromancer, the nefarious Thalia, who had also been the mastermind behind the immortal's villains and heroes system, as well as being the mother of Arcania, who had been responsible for the frostbourne war.  The Gravagans had been her personal and unstoppable army, designed in every way to make them a highly efficent military force.  They ate dirt, never complained, could run for days, had strength comparable to a Nielda and were nearly as good at range.  Although their crystaline fingers denied them much of the dexterity needed for melee combat, the same crystaline nature allowed them to shrug off most melee attacks.  Under their maker's leadership they had been renowned; since her death they had simply never had the cohesion needed to be considered a real power in the universe, despite their numbers and military might. 
Rea walked up to a small white building, almost like a pillbox in the middle of the parking lot.  Inside they found a receptionist's desk with an elevator.  The receptionist was Gravagan, llight purple skin glimmering from the flourescent lights, and her amethyst strands of hair looked like a thousand gems fused together.  It was no wonder Gravgan women were said to be a rich man's ultimate trophy wife, she looked more expensive and attractive than Rea's ship. 
"Hi Sh'nn'n."
"I'll call you back Liz, we've got a customer."  The receptionist hung up the phone and swiveled towards them.  "It's  just Shannon, with vowels.  What can I get for you today?"
"I need to see your boss."
"Mr. Davon is on paternity leave this month."
"Your other boss."
"Do you have an appointment."
"No, but they won't care either."
"Then you know them, so according to the rules I can just let you in.  First though, how did you know my name?"
"Igor always hires receptionists named Shannon, and when he doesn't he calls them it by accident.  It was a safe guess."
The elevator door opened and Shannon motioned towards it.  Rea nodded courteously and they entered it.  Krell instantly noticed that the elevator contained several couches, a magazine rack, and a small buffet that had been set with coffee and small muffins containing various bits of fruit.  It was only after he realized that it was a waiting room that he realized it was also a lot bigger than the pillbox they'd entered it from. 
"So how long have you known these people?"  Rea had already made it over to the buffet and was pouring a cup of coffee.
"Well, I knew Igor from way back.  We'd shared a few mutual friends and whenever I needed something unusual in order to handle a target delicately, I'd give him a ring and he'd whip up something genius.  I got invited to the wedding, disrupted it, and ended up doing the bride's make-up as penance.  I've been popping in and out since before the war; and as I said back in the ship, I wouldn't dream of killing them, and they wouldn't dream of me killing them.  So this is probably as close to a home as I have."
"And you think they can help?"
"I know they can, there is nothing in the world they won't at some point manage to create in their pursuit of other things.  They've figured out everything from time travel to building battleships that can shrink themselves down and fit in the palm of your hand.  Neither of them could cook if their lives depended on it, and I still don't know if they've figured out that there's more to marriage than rings and name changes, but they're very nice and I like them."
"What was that about marriage?"
"It seems safe to assume they're both still virgins.  They're the most brilliant people in the universe, but not the brightest." 
"Innocent as an empty frame then?"
"I wouldn't say that, they designed most of the weapon systems used by the Gravagans, Pythens, and did the research needed to build most of the universe's superweapons.  Whenever a star blows up, or a planet is wiped clean, or a bunch of machine-cyborg things starts yelling about how they want to wipe other races from the universe, one or both of them is probably involved somewhere along the line.  They are not innocent, I just find it completely justified to speculate as to their virginity.  You'll probably see why once you meet them."
The door reopened and she lead them out.  Before them lay the largest and least decorated laboratory he'd ever seen.  But it was huge.  A great steel frame that seemed to stretch upward forever, and at least as far outwards.  all pristinely white, and at the base of every pillar a desk, or a console, or a rather complicated set of wires, glass tubes, or other equally confusing looking pieces of scientific equipment.  It was loud, and yet there was no generator or factory in sight.  It was as though every piece of machinery was humming in a single great chorus.  It was magnificent.
"Is that a Lich?  Cyssie come look, a real live Lich, sort of.  I haven't seen one in ages.  What's it like?"
Before he could look to see who was talking a young woman popped into exsistence directly in front of him and stuck something cold and metal into one of his eyes.  A series of beeps and whistles made it clear she wasn't trying to kill him, but he still pulled it out on principle. 
"Igor, this isn't just any Lich.  This man's been compelled, I haven't even heard of that happening in my lifetime.  This may be the greatest necromantic oppurtunity ever!"
"A compelled Lich?" Exclaimed her companion, who was now furiously waving a second gadget under his feet.  "Why that's extroridnary, I always thought it was only possible in theory and now here one is right in our lab!"
Rea snapped and both of them were pushed back, much to Krell's relief. 
"Father Krell, allow me to introduce to you; Igor and Cystronella Von Gravaga, the original mad scientists."