C63 Zakuul?

C63 Zakuul?

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After a long trip, Peter and Groot's ship descended towards the bustling city of Knowhere. As the craft circled the space station, Peter peered out the window, his eyes widening at the sea of newcomers crowding the place.

"Whoa, looks like Knowhere's become popular while we were gone. I wonder why?" he muttered, half to himself and half to Groot, who was busy securing their belongings. "Do you think it's because they heard about what happened to the Hutts?"

"I am Groot," came the usual, calm reply, though even Groot seemed to take in the chaotic scene with a hint of surprise.

As they descended to land at the palace hangar, the sheer scale of the influx hit them. People of all species hustled along, dragging luggage or negotiating for goods. The air buzzed with a hundred languages, the excitement palpable.

"Man, when we left, this place was a ghost town. Now it's like... Well, it's like a space Vegas," Peter remarked, adjusting his bag over his shoulder.

Groot nodded, though he had no clue what a Vegas might be, his eyes sweeping over the crowd. "I am Groot."

"Right? It's gotta be like half a million people? We need to check with Carina about our resources. Because I don't know if we have enough to sustain this many people," Peter spoke with a tone tinged with concern, yet carrying a slight reluctance to delve into administrative tasks.

Landing in the hangar at the palace, they docked their ship. As the ramp slid open, Carina and Cosmo were there to greet them. Groot stepped out first, receiving a warm but somewhat subdued welcome.

Carina's expression was tinged with worry as she peered anxiously around Groot, hoping to catch a glimpse of someone else. Her voice, laden with a quiet unease, faltered as she spoke. "Did Peter come back too—"

Her words trailed off as her gaze swept the empty space behind Groot, her disappointment briefly shadowing her features.

Despite her disappointment, she mustered a warm smile for Groot, her professionalism masking the deeper emotions stirred by Peter's absence. "It's good to have you back, Groot," she said, her tone genuine but carrying a hint of sadness. "We've all missed you."

But then, from the top of the ramp, a familiar figure emerged, his face breaking into a broad grin. "Surprise!" Peter called out, enjoying the shocked looks he received.

The transformation in the hangar was immediate. Carina's worry flipped to relief and joy, while Cosmo barked enthusiastically, her tail a blur as she dashed towards Peter. She reared up, placing her front paws on his chest and licked his face, making him laugh as he tried to dodge her enthusiastic kisses.

"Hey, hey! Okay, okay, Cosmo, that's enough. I missed you too, girl," Peter chuckled, patting her head affectionately.

Cosmo's electronic collar translated, "Peter! It's so great to see you! We were worried you might not come back!" Her tail continued to wag furiously as she lowered herself off Peter and began circling him excitedly, pacing around his legs. Her gaze, full of affection, never left him as she moved.

Carina stepped forward, her expression brightening further. "Peter, it's good to have you back with us. Knowhere has changed a lot in your short absence."

"Yeah, I noticed. Looks like we're running a full house now," Peter said, looking around. "We need to talk about the logistics here. I just flew over a sea of people and ships. Do we even know why they're all here?"

Carina nodded, her demeanor turning serious. "They see Knowhere as a safe haven from the Hutt's, and we'll gladly take them in, but now the population has more than doubled, and resources are tight. However, I'm already working on fixing it," she assured him. "I've contacted suppliers and contractors to expand our infrastructure and increase our resources. We're also looking into possibly producing our own food. It's a lot, but we're making progress."

Peter nodded, clearly impressed. "Okay, I trust you've got this handled. Just keep me updated, alright? If you run into any issues that are giving you trouble, I want to help figure them out."

Carina appreciated his offer. "Thank you, Peter. I'll gather all the data we have and make a report for you."

Peter clapped his hands, eager to shift the focus. "As I said, Revan is here to join us," he continued with a grin. "Think of him as an ancient grandpa with tons of experience. His insights and skills are going to be super helpful."

Revan's expression shifted slightly, a single eyebrow twitching in visible annoyance at being called a grandpa.

The group exchanged looks, their initial shock fading into a cautious curiosity. Oola hesitantly approached Revan with a gentle smile. "Would you like some wine, sir?" she offered, extending the glass towards the fearsome figure.

Revan, taken aback by the kindness, paused, then shook his head slightly. "I appreciate the gesture, but..." he trailed off, leaving the implication hanging.

Peter chuckled, stepping forward to demonstrate. He waved his hand in and out of Revan's ghostly head. "Revan's a bit more... spectral than we are. No drinking or eating for him, unfortunately."

Curiosity piqued, Groot stomped over, his wooden fingers reaching out to pass through Revan, marveling at the interaction with a soft, "I am Groot?"

Similarly, Cosmo trotted up, her nose sniffing curiously at Revan's legs. She phased her nose in and out of his ghostly form, tilting her head in puzzled interest.

The hangar's atmosphere lightened as the group witnessed this interaction, their initial wariness giving way to a more relaxed curiosity. Peter watched with a satisfied grin, his gamble to introduce Revan, even in his ghostly form, beginning to pay off.

————

A few days later, Peter leaned back in his chair, the hum of Knowhere's bustling city filtering through the windows beside him. A report from Carina lay open on his datapad, detailing the rapid construction projects and the influx of vendors eager to capitalize on the city's growing population.

As Peter scrolled through the report, he came across a section detailing the purchase of hundreds of Molecular Food Assemblers—a significant purchase by Carina.

'She spent almost all of our money?!' Peter's eyes widened in shock, but his initial outrage softened as he continued reading. It appeared the investment might just be worthwhile.

Apparently, these devices could construct food at the molecular level from raw, nutrient-rich compounds. "Wow, this is insane," he muttered, impressed. 'This really is a sci-fi universe...'

He couldn't help but feel a surge of pride. Letting her manage everything had been the right call, and the city thrived under her control. His gaze shifted from the datapad to the bustling streets below, a smile tugging at his lips.

Everything seemed to be on the right track. 'But, now we have to worry about money...' he thought, a sigh escaping his lips. 'If only the Collector left me his bank accounts in his will...'

Suddenly, a low, resonant voice interrupted his thoughts. "Impressive view," said Revan, appearing in the chair across from him, his ghostly form flickering slightly.

Peter looked up, startled, then relaxed. "Yeah, it's something, isn't it? Carina's done well."

Revan nodded, his gaze drifting towards the city, a trace of nostalgia flickering across his features. "She has done well."

Peter nodded, then remembered another matter he had been meaning to address. "Actually, there's something I've been wanting to ask you about." He reached for his datapad again, swiping through screens until he found what he was looking for.

He handed the device to Revan. "These are coordinates for three planets. I'm trying to determine if any of them is my home planet. Do any of them look familiar to you?" He asked, hoping to narrow down the search.

Revan studied the screen intently. The first two coordinates elicited a simple shake of his head, but as his gaze landed on the third, his demeanor shifted. His spectral form stilled, and a shadow seemed to cross his features.

"Zakuul," he muttered, his voice laced with an underlying rage.

A/N: 2103 words :)