> 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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As the day unfolded, I dove back into my work, focusing on the gauntlets while the others prepared for our upcoming rendezvous with Gardulla’s representative. The morning air was thick with the smell of metal and oil—a scent that had begun to feel oddly comforting. I laid out the components I’d gathered from our salvage runs: a collection of wires, small servos, and odd pieces of circuitry, hoping they'd serve my purpose.
Everyone here referred to ancient tech as “Old Era tech,” or “Old Republic Era” tech if they were being specific, a term used to convey both reverence and mystery. I’d already decided I wanted to dig deeper into what I could find from those eras—and maybe, if my luck held, bring a few of those tech relics back to life. But first, I had a more immediate project in mind. Alongside the gauntlets, I had my sights set on building a companion droid, inspired by that small, agile droid from a Star Wars game I’d once started, but never finished.
The first order of business, however, was reinforcing the gauntlets’ frame. I pulled out some scrap metal, hoping it would offer the durability I needed. As I began my work, I visualized each modification in detail, mapping out where every enhancement would go. I needed the upgrades to be versatile, allowing me to adapt quickly and navigate the inevitable hazards of Tatooine.
Mira walked over, wiping a bead of sweat from her brow as she observed my progress. “You’ve really got a vision for those things,” she remarked, glancing at the gauntlets. Her voice was soft, kind, and she rarely spoke unless she had something meaningful to say.
“Reinforcement and added features,” I replied, looking up from my workbench. “I want to incorporate tech that'll make them useful in tight spots—a retractable grappling hook or a slicing tool. Something I can whip out fast.”
She nodded thoughtfully. “You think you can finish before we meet with Gardulla?”
“I have to,” I replied, feeling the weight of her question. “This is my chance to show that I can handle more than just salvage work.”
“Just be careful with the Hutts,” Mira cautioned, her tone earnest. “They can be ruthless if you give them any reason.”
Hours passed, and I finally managed to complete the gauntlet upgrades, integrating a scanner into my left arm for quick environmental assessments. The right gauntlet would be outfitted with tools for slicing and field repairs—small but powerful assets in unpredictable situations.
Just as I took a step back to admire my work, Davik approached, crossing his arms over his chest. “How are those things shaping up? Think they’ll hold?”
“They’ll hold,” I assured him, flexing the joints. “I’m feeling good about them.”
He nodded, clearly pleased. “Good. We’ll need every advantage with Gardulla. Just remember, if things go south, we bail—no hesitation.”
“Got it,” I replied, the weight of the meeting setting in.
Before leaving, I had also crafted a small blaster, something I could hide easily. It wasn’t as powerful as I’d like, given the materials, but it might be enough to make a difference in a pinch. As we headed out, Davik suddenly noticed the extra weight under my jacket.
“What’s that?” he asked, his brow furrowed.
“Just a little insurance,” I replied casually. “A small blaster. Not exactly Hutt-grade, but it’ll work if things go wrong.”
Davik gave a slight nod, understanding the necessity. “Just make sure it’s hidden. Hutts don’t take kindly to surprises.”
Mira glanced over, nodding her approval quietly. “Smart. Better to be prepared.”
I adjusted the blaster so it fit snugly against my side, fully concealed. As we neared the meeting spot, the dust and heat of the Tatooine sun reminded me just how precarious dealing with Hutts could be. But the promise of opportunity was too tempting to pass up.
As we stepped inside the dim cantina, Kado was already seated, scanning the room. He motioned for us to join him, leaning in close as he spoke. “Gardulla’s rep should be here soon. Remember, we’re here to assess the tech and gather intel. No side deals, no unnecessary risks.”
I nodded, clenching my fists and feeling the reassuring weight of the gauntlets. This was my chance to make a mark.
After a few tense minutes, a tall figure stepped in, flanked by two enforcers. His robes, worn yet finely tailored, marked him as one of Gardulla’s trusted associates. He approached, assessing each of us with a piercing gaze before settling on Kado. “Kado,” he greeted in a gravelly voice, “you brought the extra hands?”
Kado inclined his head, gesturing to me. “Only the best. This is Jake—good with tech, and discreet.”
The man’s eyes narrowed as he looked me over. “Gardulla doesn’t trust outsiders easily. If Kado vouches for you, I’ll give you a chance. Let’s keep it professional.”
“Understood,” I said, keeping my tone neutral. “What exactly does Gardulla need from us?”
With a flick of his hand, one of the enforcers produced a dust-caked case. He opened it to reveal a gleaming data module adorned with old Republic markings. I leaned forward, recognizing the rare design. This was Republic-era tech—potentially communications or sensitive information storage.
The rep watched my reaction, his eyes sharp. “Know what this is?”
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“Old Era tech,” I said, voice casual. “Could be high-end communications, maybe even encrypted data. It’s not junk.”
He nodded, satisfied with my answer. “Gardulla needs someone who can verify it, discreetly. If it’s what she suspects, more work will follow.”
“Understood,” I replied, glancing at Kado, who gave a subtle nod.
The rep’s gaze hardened. “One condition: If you discover anything... interesting... you report only to us.”
“Agreed.”
He slid the case across the table, his hand lingering for a beat. “Gardulla expects results by nightfall tomorrow. Don’t disappoint her.”
With that, he turned on his heel, his enforcers following as he exited the cantina.
Kado exhaled, tension leaving his shoulders. “So, Jake, looks like you’re in. Ready for this?”
I glanced down at my reinforced gauntlets, then at the blaster hidden at my side. “I’ll make it work. High stakes, but the reward is worth it.”
As we headed back to the shop, Davik fell in step beside me, his expression grim. “Just remember, Jake—Gardulla isn’t the only one sniffing out Old Era tech. Eyes are everywhere. Stay sharp.”
Mira gave me a nod, a quiet encouragement. Her confidence was reassuring, grounding me as we returned to the shop.
Back in the workshop, Kado pulled open a cabinet of spare parts. “Take what you need for tomorrow. Make sure you’re ready.”
I began gathering what I could, each part fitting into my plans. With every upgrade, I felt a step closer to my goal: not just to survive Tatooine, but to build a reputation strong enough to get me noticed.
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The next morning, as the first rays of sunlight crept over the sands, I was already up and back at the workbench. I knew I needed to give every ounce of focus to preparing the gauntlets and myself for the coming encounter. The Old Republic module had an almost magnetic pull on me—I could feel its age and history resonating with a strange familiarity, like it was calling out to be understood. There was no doubt in my mind that this tech held secrets, and I intended to unlock them.
Davik joined me early, his expression taut. “We don’t know exactly what Gardulla expects you to find in that module, so keep your head in the game. If anything feels off, back out.”
I nodded, appreciating the concern, even if I didn’t say it aloud. "Got it. Besides, I’ve already set up some protocols on my datapad to run scans as carefully as possible. No flashy displays; I’ll keep it subtle.”
He gave a small nod, reassured. “Good. I don’t know what’s driving you to go all-in with this, but I’ve got a feeling you’re not the type to back down once you’re in.”
“True enough,” I said, keeping my gaze fixed on the gauntlet as I tightened a few screws. “This is a big step forward, Davik. I’ll be careful, but I’m not turning back now.”
Kado wandered over, his hands resting on his hips as he surveyed my work. “We’re heading out soon. You ready?”
“Almost,” I replied, giving the gauntlets a final once-over. “I added a retractable scanner here,” I tapped my left wrist, “and reinforced the joints to handle more impact. These should hold up if things go south.”
“Let’s hope you don’t have to test them to that point,” Mira chimed in from across the room, her voice carrying a mix of caution and encouragement. “We’ll be there with you, but remember, subtlety is your best weapon. Gardulla’s rep isn’t going to be impressed by tech alone. They’ll want to know you can handle this without drawing attention.”
“Message received,” I said, strapping the gauntlets onto my forearms. “I’ve got this.”
We moved through the bustling outskirts of the settlement, where clusters of moisture farmers, traders, and drifters mingled under the unforgiving heat. Mira, Davik, and Kado walked close, keeping an eye on the flow of passersby while I kept my mind sharp, focusing on our objective. The coordinates we’d received led us into a more desolate stretch, a distance from the usual prying eyes and Hutt enforcers.
The rendezvous point was a low structure partially hidden by rocky outcroppings, its durasteel walls worn and scorched from the desert sun. It was an old comms station—abandoned, but still equipped with enough gear to facilitate encrypted transmissions, exactly the kind of place for a covert exchange. As we entered, I spotted Gardulla’s rep from the cantina, flanked by his enforcers, waiting with arms crossed in front of a rusting console.
“Jake,” he greeted me without preamble, his eyes flicking from me to my companions. “Are you prepared to do what’s necessary?”
“Prepared and ready,” I replied, keeping my voice steady.
The rep’s gaze shifted to my gauntlets, his eyes narrowing in mild curiosity. “Let’s hope you’re as capable as Kado claims.”
He gestured to the case, which lay open on the console, revealing the ancient data module. Its surface was cracked in places, but its core was intact. I stepped forward, activating the scanner I’d built into my left gauntlet, hoping my readings would be both swift and thorough.
As the scanner pulsed gently over the module, my datapad lit up with initial results. Fragmented data began to display, information leaking in piece by piece. I could make out code sequences and schematic fragments, most garbled but a few hinting at something far older than anything I’d worked with before—Old Republic fleet manifests, potentially.
“Anything yet?” Kado whispered, watching my datapad closely.
“Bits and pieces. This module might contain blueprints or records from the Old Republic,” I murmured. “It’s fragile data, though—encrypted and badly damaged. I’ll need more time to piece it together.”
The rep’s eyes sharpened at my words, a gleam of interest sparking. “You can retrieve those records?”
“Possibly, if I’m given the resources and time,” I answered, my voice confident but careful. “It’s not going to be simple or quick, but I can make it happen.”
He watched me, his gaze measuring, calculating. “Gardulla will arrange what you need. But understand this: failure will mean consequences for all of you.”
Davik took a subtle step forward, meeting the rep’s gaze evenly. “We understand the stakes. You’ll have what you’re looking for.”
The rep nodded, seemingly satisfied for now. “Fine. Gardulla will expect a report on your progress within the week. Don’t disappoint.”
With that, he turned and strode from the room, leaving the case and module behind, his enforcers following close on his heels. As they disappeared into the glaring daylight, a tension lifted slightly in the room.
Kado exhaled, his shoulders loosening. “Well, Jake, looks like you’ve got yourself a job—and a big one at that.”
I glanced at the data module, feeling a mix of excitement and responsibility. “This is more than I expected. If these are really fleet manifests or schematics, we might be sitting on something that could change everything out here.”
Davik clapped a hand on my shoulder. “Just be careful. This is Hutt territory, and they don’t forgive easily. You’ve got talent, Jake. Don’t let it end here.”
I gave a nod, absorbing the weight of his words. We gathered our things and began the trek back to the shop, each step deepening my resolve. The stakes were higher than ever, but with my team beside me, I was ready to take on whatever challenges lay ahead.
As we approached the shop, Mira gave me a small smile, a glimmer of pride in her eyes. “You’ve got this, Jake. Just keep your head and remember—we’re all in this together.”
Her words echoed in my mind as I set the data module carefully on the workbench back at the shop. I took a deep breath, steeling myself. This wasn’t just about the tech, or the credits, or even getting closer to the Core. This was my chance to prove myself in a galaxy that rarely offered second chances. And I intended to make the most of it.
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