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."

As they walked towards the main hall, Peter turned to look out of the hangar at the sprawling city of Knowhere. A sense of pride washed over him as he took in the bustling activity and the diverse crowd that now called this place home, reflecting on how much he had accomplished.

…

As Peter walked through the halls alongside Groot, Cosmo, and Carina, they inevitably ran into the only other residence of the palace.

Before them, Howard the Duck sat on a barstool, eyeing Oola's ample chest as she poured his wine. Oola, noticing his gaze, simply ignored it, already accustomed to Howard's sleazy behavior.

"Hey, baby, how about me and you—" Howard began, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively. Before he could continue, Peter suddenly cleared his throat, drawing their attention.

Howard's eyes widened briefly upon spotting Peter, "Huh? What are you doing here? I thought you had Jedi bullsh*t to deal with," He grumbled, taking a sip of his wine with a dramatic sigh.

Oola, standing gracefully with the wine bottle in hand, offered Peter a warm, sincere smile. "Welcome back, Peter," she said. Her voice held a gentle reverence.

Peter returned her smile with a nod and then gathered everyone's attention. "Since we're all here, I want to introduce you all to someone," he announced, his voice carrying a hint of mischief that made Groot tilt his head in confusion.

Groot glanced around, puzzled, as there had been no other passenger on the ship with them. Peter reached into his bag and pulled out a Holocron, but it wasn't the gray artifact they had seen before; it now pulsed with a deep, vibrant red.

Cosmo, ever observant, barked, "That wasn't red before!"

Nodding silently, Peter tossed the Holocron aside nonchalantly. The artifact froze mid-air, and a ghostly figure materialized from it, the Holocron embedding itself in his chest like a heart. The figure was clad in dark robes, his presence menacing yet contained.

"Everyone, meet Darth Revan, my Sith Master." Peter introduced, gesturing towards the Sith apparition. Revan nodded solemnly to the group, his aura unmistakable. "He'll be joining our crew from now on."

Instantly, the color drained from Carina's face, her eyes widening with recognition and fear. She instinctively took a step back. Her reaction caught everyone's attention, causing a ripple of unease to spread through the group.

Revan turned his piercing gaze towards Carina. "You know of me?" he asked, his voice low and resonant.

Carina nodded slowly, still clutching her datapad like a shield. "Yes, I've read about you in the Collector's archives," she admitted, her voice a mix of awe and fear. "You were a commander, a Jedi, then a Sith Lord who reshaped the galaxy, before returning to the Jedi once again. Your story is... legendary."

The group exchanged nervous glances, the weight of Carina's words sinking in. Her knowledge seemed to add a tangible gravity to Revan's spectral presence.

Revan simply nodded, a small, vindicated smile gracing his face. 'At least, not everyone has forgotten me...' he thought.

Meanwhile, the rest of the group absorbed the impact of Carina's revelations. The mix of awe and fear was palpable as they reconsidered the figure standing before them.

Peter turned to Revan, confusion knitting his brows together. "Wait, you returned to the Jedi? So why are you a Darkside force ghost?"

Revan's ghostly figure shimmered slightly as he met Peter's gaze, his expression unreadable beneath the hood. "It's complicated," he replied, refusing to say anymore.

Peter's eyes narrowed, though he decided not to pry any further. At least for now. Turning slightly, he caught Carina's eye and gave a subtle nod, signaling his intention to ask her for details later.

Seeing that everyone still seemed wary of Revan, Peter hastened to reassure them. "Okay, I know having a Sith pop out of nowhere and join our crew can be a bit unsettling. But trust me, Revan's probably the nicest Sith you'll ever meet, even if he wants to pretend otherwise."

Revan's expression soured at Peter's words, a low growl escaping him, but he restrained any further comment.

Howard, seizing the moment to lighten the mood, said, "Nice or not, anyone who can scare Carina without saying a word has my respect." His comment drew a few hesitant chuckles.

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.

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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 :)

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