> Disclaimer: Star Wars and all of it's Intellectual Properties is owned by George Lucas and Walt Disney, This fictional work and all of it's original characters are however mine.
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The moment the crew reached a consensus, Kado wasted no time contacting the seller. A couple of tense hours and some skillful haggling later, they’d struck a deal. Thanks to their recent salvage runs, they’d scraped together enough credits to buy the YT-1300. The price left them with little to spare, but as Kado liked to say, it was money well spent.
After sealing the deal, Mira and Davik took to the local marketplaces, looking for some respectable ship weaponry. Their stockpile of parts wasn’t enough to outfit the YT-1300 with anything serious, so they scouted for affordable cannons or blasters they could bolt onto the freighter once it was ready. Meanwhile, Jake’s mind was racing with all the modifications he’d planned. He couldn’t wait to get his hands on the ship, and two days later, the YT-1300 arrived, docking neatly in Bay 7-10, which Kado had rented from a friend who ran a hangar in Mos Eisley.
As Jake approached the YT-1300 in Hangar Bay 7-10, he took in every dent, every scrap of exposed wiring, and every panel askew. He let out a series of wild chuckles as he circled the ship, inspecting it with near-maniacal glee. Hangar workers passing by shot him odd looks, and even Kado raised an eyebrow when Jake occasionally burst into full-blown cackling. But Jake paid no mind to the stares, lost in visions of the upgrades, modifications, and ingenious traps he could weave into the vessel’s structure.
Running his hands over the ship’s hull, Jake let his mind wander further. A thought struck him as he considered the extensive work ahead. What if he built bipedal droids to help him out? They could act as extra hands, gunners, or even crew. With a few well-designed droids, he could manage the YT-1300’s upkeep and even get some added security.
“Imagine an HK-47,” he muttered to himself, eyes glinting. “Or… a Sonny-type model from iRobot. Cold, precise, and fiercely loyal… just the thing to get the job done.” The idea filled him with excitement, and he sketched ideas in his mind for droid designs, envisioning their sleek frames, agility, and sharp reflexes.
It was only when he heard Mira’s voice behind him that he snapped back to reality.
“So, evil genius,” Mira said with a smirk. “Think you can stop giggling long enough to show us where to start?”
Jake grinned, more than ready to dive into the project. The dream of turning this stripped-down freighter into a tricked-out, armed-to-the-teeth vessel—and maybe even staffing it with droids—was finally coming to life. And with the hidden cache on Malachor V in sight, they were about to embark on something unforgettable.
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Jake stood before the crew, still buzzing with excitement after examining the YT-1300’s condition in real-time. "Alright," he announced, rubbing his hands together. "Now that I’ve seen everything up close, I’ll put together a full set of plans for upgrades, repairs, and, of course, a few tricks. I’ll start with building some ‘combat worker droids’ using those droid parts you gave me, Kado. They’ll be useful for heavy lifting, repairs, and—if things get messy—a little security."
Kado, Davik, and Mira exchanged a look, knowing well enough that the journey ahead would demand more than just elbow grease and enthusiasm.
"This is going to be a long-term project, Jake," Kado said with a nod. "As it stands, our liquid funds are nearly dried up, especially with the cut we put into the ship."
Davik added, "We’ll need consistent work, and probably more than the usual runs, if we want to fund this project without cutting into our shares."
A smirk spread across Mira’s face. "Good thing I’ve got a lead, then. I’ve been keeping tabs on a salvage location a contact sold me intel on. It’s a formerly buried crash site, recently uncovered by a Krayt dragon that wandered through. Davik and I can scout it out; if it’s worth our while, we’ll bring back what we can."
Davik grinned, already gearing up for the trip. "A site big enough to attract a Krayt dragon? Might be worth two days' travel to and from if the finds are decent."
With their next steps clear, Mira and Davik quickly gathered their supplies and prepared to head out. They notified the rest of the crew about the distance and timeline, then loaded up a speeder and set off, prepared for the long haul.
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Meanwhile, Kado returned to his shop, managing the business to keep income flowing while the others focused on their tasks. Back at the workshop, Jake moved to the garage-turned-storeroom where he’d set up his workspace. Surrounded by piles of droid components and scattered blueprints, he was in his element. With a few deep breaths, he dove into designing the code and assembling the parts.
The goal was clear: build functional, adaptable droids that could handle labor, assist with repairs, and—if things got dicey—serve as extra protection. He’d have to design them with limited resources, but that challenge only seemed to drive him further. He imagined giving them names, unique programming, and little tweaks that would make them reliable crew members, almost like his own mini army.
Hours passed as Jake worked tirelessly, his fingers flying over wiring, welding, and coding with a focus that kept him oblivious to the time. For now, the sound of tools and sparks filled the workshop. Soon, he’d have a handful of droids at his command, and with Mira and Davik scouting for more salvage, the pieces of their larger plan were falling into place.
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Jake hunched over his workbench, sketches and holograms spread out in front of him as he designed the new Combat Worker Droids—or “CWDs,” which he’d taken to calling “Quids” for short. The decision on how to design them wasn’t simple; he kept weighing the pros and cons of making the droids either nimble or stocky.
If he went with a nimble build, they’d be lightweight, allowing for flexibility and speed. He’d need to focus on reinforcing the joints and motors, making them quick and versatile. Nimble Quids could be outfitted with hardpoints along their backs, forearms, and thighs, designed to carry various interchangeable tools and weapons. Scanners, shields, maybe even camouflage systems could be added to make them useful in any number of scenarios. On the other hand, if he went for the stocky model, they’d be heavily armored with built-in weaponry—perfect for brute force but limited in agility. Without access to premium alloys, he’d have to make do with thick, robust plating. These units could carry repair tools, scanners, a blaster or two, and maybe even a backup power pack for extended operations.
After careful consideration, Jake made his decision: he’d build two stocky Quids and three nimble ones. It was the best balance he could manage with his current resources, maximizing versatility while still giving them solid defensive capabilities. With a satisfied grin, he got to work. For the next forty-three days, the workshop buzzed with the hum of welding, the whirr of motors, and the occasional spark as Jake crafted his vision into reality.
His final touch was a companion droid—small and packed with scanners, slicing programs, tasers, and a hidden compartment for storing small items. It was agile, nearly silent, and would make a fine little assistant. By the time he was done, Jake had developed a mad-scientist routine, punctuating his progress with bursts of manic laughter that earned him wary glances from everyone who passed by.
Meanwhile, Mira and Davik had kept up a steady pace of scavenging, braving several outings over the two months. They’d managed to avoid major trouble most of the time, though twice they’d run into rival scavenger groups. One run had even forced Davik to team up with a friendly rival group when a pack of Tusken Raiders ambushed them. The other two outings were quieter, and Kado had even tagged along on one, proving his own scavenging skills and lending an extra hand when they needed it most.
Kado made good use of their haul, selling the more intact equipment in small batches over the following weeks. With each sale, the group’s funds crept back up, and by the end of the third month, they’d not only recovered what they’d spent on the ship but also had a tidy profit. Kado also held back a few select items: a scanner module, an armless medical droid, some body armor and blasters, a handful of ship-grade sensors, signal jammers, and a few repulsors—all valuable additions for future projects.
The crew gathered in Kado’s workshop for their monthly check-in. As they settled in, Kado looked around with a triumphant grin, barely able to contain his excitement.
“I’ve got good news,” he announced, and they all leaned in. “We’ve finally made back what we spent on the ship—and more.” He shared the final tally, which brought grins to everyone’s faces. “And I’ve held back some gear that might be useful for the ship once we start those upgrades.”
Jake, unable to hold back his excitement, jumped in with his own report. “The Quids are done! We’ve got two stocky models and three nimble ones, plus my little companion droid, which should come in handy.” He grinned broadly, looking more than a little devious as he detailed the droids’ features. “Now that they’re done, I can finally start on the ship’s repairs and mods.”
Unbeknownst to him, his expression had twisted into a look of pure, maniacal delight, his eyes wide with enthusiasm and his fingers twitching in excitement. He let out a low, unsettling giggle as he laid out his plans, leaving the crew both amused and slightly wary.
Mira gave a mock salute, holding back a laugh. “Well, our mad genius has spoken. Let’s get this ship in the air.”
With resources in place and Jake’s droids ready to assist, they were finally poised to turn the stripped-down freighter into the vessel of their dreams. And as they worked, the promise of Malachor V and whatever treasures it held waited in the distance, closer now than it had ever.
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