C53 Jabba the Hutt

C53 Jabba the Hutt

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A week had passed since Peter unceremoniously declared himself the new overlord of Knowhere. The once lawless space station mining city, a hub for the galaxy's most nefarious activities, was now under his unexpected and increasingly firm rule.

After his initial declaration, the reactions were mixed; some were hopeful, while others were skeptical or fearful. But Peter didn't care. His message was clear: crime would no longer be tolerated.

Enforcement came via the automated turrets and drones, remnants of the Collector's extensive security system, which Peter had repurposed and deployed under his command.

The following days were a test of resolve. An armed uprising broke out almost immediately, a violent backlash from those who thrived under the lawless regime.

But, of course, the rebellion was quashed not by troops or fierce battles but by the cold, impartial automation of turret fire. By morning, the bloody, mangled bodies lay as grim reminders outside the palace walls for all to see.

Peter, observing from above, felt a twinge of discomfort at the sight but dismissed it with a pragmatic shrug. The message had to be clear: rebellion would not be tolerated. It was a harsh lesson, and it resonated. Each subsequent uprising diminished in fervor and size until they stopped altogether.

"You think they finally gave up?" Peter asked over his shoulder.

Carina nodded, walking over to serve Peter some tea. "I think so... There hasn't been an attack in two days, after all."

"I am Groot," Groot interjected, his tone suggesting skepticism.

Peter sighed, meeting Groot's gaze, seemingly understanding what he said. "Yeah, I think so too."

Cosmo wagged her tail slightly. "It doesn't smell like blood anymore, I like it..."

Peter smiled down at Cosmo, grateful for her positive outlook, even if it was kinda creepy. "Hopefully it stays that way..."

Free from his cage, Howard the Duck scoffed loudly, drawing their attention. "I hope they come at us again; I've been meaning to try out my tommy-gun. It's been gathering dust for too long..."

Upon hearing this, all eyes shifted to Howard who was meticulously polishing his machine gun. Their gazes lingered curiously, taken aback by his unsettling eagerness for violence.

"What?" Howard queried, his expression a mix of confusion and amusement. "You've never seen a handsome duck like me before?"

The room shared a collective eye roll, especially Cosmo, who had grown resentful toward her animal counterpart. Even now, she couldn't forget his harsh words. 'I'm not a bad dog...' she thought to herself.

...

By week's end, just as they had hoped, the rebellions had not resurfaced. But, half the station's population had either fled or died, leaving a vacuum that Peter was quick to fill with new rules and opportunities.

Among the remnants were hardened criminals, wary yet subdued; miners thankful for improved safety and better wages; small-time merchants optimistic about stability and profits; and lastly, the ordinary citizens, penniless and without the means to leave, many of whom were born on the station.

Peter's leadership style in Knowhere was unique, blending compassion with authority, which quickly began to transform the community.

From the start, he understood that providing incentives—such as living wages and employment opportunities—was crucial to maintaining peace and building loyalty among the inhabitants.

One of his first actions was to establish a fair wage system. He raised the pay for all workers, ensuring that it was not only sufficient to live on but generous enough to stimulate the local economy.

'I never thought my economics classes back at the temple would come in handy...' He thought.

This initiative was funded by the vast wealth he had inherited from the Collector, which he redirected from hoarding precious artifacts to improving lives.

The moment he read its description on his datapad, a shiver of dread ran through him. "Nope, nope, nope," Peter chanted, quickly logging its coordinates for deep storage.

The Fire of Mahkala was less intimidating but shrouded in mystery. A beautiful, solitary blue flame danced on a pedestal, serene and inviting. "Pretty and probably deadly," Peter remarked, deciding against any interaction. He documented its location and moved on.

A lighter moment came when he found a large black marble known as the Black Sphere. Its surface, speckled like a starry night, was mesmerizing. "Finally, something that doesn't want to kill me," he said with relief, leaving it on display.

Finally, Peter paused, his eyes fixed on a mask displayed prominently on a pedestal in the center of the room. 'The Mask of Darth Nihilus...' he read from his datapad, nearly overwhelmed by its dark aura. The malevolent energy pulsing from the mask made his decision swift. "Into the vault you go, no arguments," he said firmly, locking away the mask and feeling a weight lift off his shoulders.

Exhausted yet exhilarated, Peter stepped back, surveying the room. "Not a bad day's work," he declared, wiping his brow.

...

..

.

Later, as Peter sat cross-legged amidst the relics he had set aside to examine more closely, he pulled out the Krayt Dragon Pearl again. Its surface seemed to ripple with an inner light, mesmerizing him. Curious about its properties, Peter flipped open his datapad, scanning for more information.

The datapad beeped, displaying a detailed entry: Krayt Dragon Pearl—Extremely rare and powerful, often used to enhance energy-based weapons, particularly lightsabers, by amplifying their power and altering their properties.

Peter's eyes widened with realization and excitement. "Enhance a lightsaber, huh?" he muttered to himself, glancing over at his own lightsaber on his waist. An idea sparked in his mind. Why not combine the pearl with his lightsaber? The thought of wielding something even more unique and powerful was too tempting to resist.

He retrieved the lightsaber, carefully opening its compartment housing the Kyber crystal. With a gentle, precise touch, he placed the pearl next to the lightsaber's crystal before closing it back up and turning it on.

The effect was immediate and dramatic.

When the blade ignited, the energy that emerged was still black, consistent with his original Kyber Crystal. However, with the addition of the pearl, it now radiated a striking yellow glow, enhancing its appearance and intensity.

It was now a vibrant, crackling energy blade, pulsing with power that filled the room with a howling sound, reminiscent of a Krayt dragon's roar. The blade seemed almost alive, its power visibly greater, and the howl it emitted was both thrilling and slightly terrifying.

"Whoa," Peter exclaimed, almost dropping the saber as the sound echoed off the walls. He steadied his grip, marveling at the transformation. The lightsaber felt stronger in his hand, and the pearl had integrated perfectly, as if it had always been meant to be part of this weapon.

As he switched off the saber, after giving it a few practice swings, the sound faded. Hanging the saber back on his hip, Peter's thoughts drifted from his current arsenal to another mystery he had tucked away—the Holocron he'd found upon his arrival.

Taking the small, cube-like device from his pocket, Peter turned it over in his hands, intrigued. "Alright, how does this thing work?" he muttered to himself, pressing his palm against it, channeling a slight push of force power.

The Holocron responded immediately, its surfaces glowing a bright, almost blinding grey. Light filled the small space, and Peter squinted, stepping back as the device projected an array of holographic images and cryptic texts swirling in the air.

"Cool and... confusing," Peter remarked, scratching his head as he attempted to make sense of the symbols and diagrams that floated before him.

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Meanwhile, not too far from Knowhere and unbeknownst to Peter, danger was brewing in the vastness of Hutt space. Jabba the Hutt, a name that inspired fear and respect across the galaxy, sat in his opulent throne room surrounded by his minions and henchmen.

[Insert picture of Jabba the Hutt here]

News of the Collector's demise had traveled fast, bringing with it opportunities for those quick enough to seize them.

"Knowhere mo maka-cheesa(Knowhere is ripe for the taking)," Jabba rumbled in his deep, guttural voice, his eyes gleaming with greed. "Peedunkee na Collector, huttun kuna me exploit. Uba tu fleet. Me wanna wanga tu territo(With the Collector gone, there's a power vacuum we can exploit. Prepare the fleet. It's time to expand our territory)."

His underlings nodded, a mix of excitement and fear coursing through the room as they anticipated the coming battle. Plans were drawn up, routes mapped out, and soon Jabba's forces were poised to strike at the Tivan Group, and ultimately, Knowhere, eager to claim it for themselves.

A/N: 2385 words :)