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The following day, an essential meeting convened in the luminous Jedi Council chamber, attended by all members of the council. Though there were two people in the room, who weren't usually there, one of which wasn't even a Jedi. The Nova Prime, and Peter Quill, who was invited as he had suggested seeking the Nova Corps' help in the first place.
Nova Prime's arrival brought hope for assistance in their dire situation, as no one knew if or when the Mad Titan would come knocking.
Mace Windu took the lead, detailing the attack on the Temple, as well as everything they'd learned from Gamora.
Peter, though physically present as he was the one to offer the idea to ask the Nova Corps for assistance, found his mind wandering back to the shadowy depths of the Temple, where his conversation with Darth Revan had unfolded.
The Star Forge, a beacon of untapped potential and a solution to their dire circumstances, beckoned Peter from the depths of his thoughts. However, its location within the fearsome expanse known as the Maw Cluster transformed hope into a formidable test of courage and resolve.
More than just a collection of monstrous black holes, the Maw Cluster was a vortex of chaos, home to space anomalies that defied understanding. Temporal distortions, gravity wells that could crush a starship like a tin can, and spatial anomalies that made the fabric of reality seem like a twisted joke – these were the hallmarks of the Maw. Every moment within its bounds was a gamble against the very laws of nature.
'Why there?' he questioned inwardly.
Out of every conceivable hideaway in the galaxy, Revan just had to park it in the most inhospitable, unforgiving place known to man. The thought alone was enough to chill the blood of even the boldest adventurer.
The allure of the Star Forge – with its promise of a droid army, ships, and an infinite cache of resources – was a siren song too compelling to ignore. Yet, the Maw presented not just a physical barrier, but a haunting legend as well.
The last known soul to have entered and returned from the Maw emerged a completely changed man. The accounts spoke of him as someone who had stared into the abyss and had the abyss stare back into him. His mind, once sharp and clear, was eroded by visions and horrors unseen, eventually driving him to madness.
One day, unable to escape the call of the Maw that echoed ceaselessly in his fractured psyche, he piloted his ship back into its depths, vanishing forever. That was nearly a thousand years ago, and since then, no one has dared to breach the Maw's boundaries and lived to tell the tale.
The Maw was not just a place; it was a living nightmare, a testament to just how frightening the universe could be. Every reported anomaly, every lost ship, every vanished explorer served as a grim reminder of its lethality.
Yet, for Peter, the necessity of braving this cosmic horror became increasingly evident. The Star Forge represented their only hope against the looming shadow of Thanos.
However, he wasn't willing to throw his life away, having been given a second chance already. He was not prepared to gamble this precious opportunity away, even for an artifact as special as the Star Forge, which held the capability to amass an army with the strength to dominate the galaxy—not that conquering the galaxy appealed to him, as it seemed like an overwhelming responsibility.
'Too much work for my tastes…' Peter thought, getting tired from just thinking about all of the paperwork. 'I never understood why Sidious, or any other Sith, would ever want to be emperor…'
Ultimately, Peter resolved to find a safer approach to penetrate the Maw, one that wouldn't demand a reckless sacrifice of his life. He was determined to find a method to navigate its dangers without throwing away his second shot at existence.
As Peter was thinking about all of this, suddenly, Yoda spoke, breaking him from his thoughts, his voice calm but carrying an undercurrent of urgency. "Guarding Coruscant and the Republic, seeking help, we are. To you, Nova Prime, we turn for aid."
All eyes turned to Nova Prime, awaiting her response. "…"
After a moment of reflection, she finally spoke, her voice carrying a mix of resolve and regret. "The Nova Corps recognizes the severity of your situation and the threat posed by this Mad Titan," she began, her expression serious. "In light of our shared goals, I'm prepared to lend a small portion of our forces to the Jedi."
A sigh of relief was almost audible in the room, but Nova Prime was not finished. "However, I must be frank. The Nova Empire is embroiled in a conflict with the Kree, as you're already aware, and diverting resources will significantly impact our war efforts. We will have to withdraw ships and personnel from critical battlefronts..."
The room's atmosphere shifted as the weight of her words settled. The Jedi Council members exchanged glances, their faces a mix of concern and dismay.
Before any could respond, Nova Prime continued, "Despite these challenges, I am still willing to offer our support. But in exchange, I ask that the Jedi join us in our fight against the Kree. With your expertise and abilities, the setback of reallocating our forces would be easily mitigated."
The proposal sparked immediate reactions. Several Jedi voiced their opposition, unwilling to involve themselves in conflict, as they were a peaceful people. The room buzzed with tension and disagreement.
Amidst the chaos, Yoda raised his hand, calling for silence. His expression was one of deep thought, untouched by the surrounding dissent. "Consider your proposal, we will," he said calmly. "Request that you step outside, we do, while deliberate, we must."
Nova Prime nodded, understanding the gravity of her request and the difficult decision the Council faced. With a respectful bow, she exited the chamber, leaving the Jedi to their deliberation.
The door closed behind her, and the room erupted into fervent discussion. Peter, caught in the middle, could only frown in thought as they argued. Until finally, Windu turned to him.
The Jedi Council chamber, once filled with the raised voices of arguing Jedi, fell silent as Windu's voice cut through the noise. "Peter," he said, turning the room's focus to his padawan, "you brought this idea to us. What do you think we should do?"
All eyes swiftly turned to Peter, who took a step towards the center of the room. He waited a moment, weighing his words carefully before breaking the silence. "We should take the deal," Peter finally said, his voice steady, capturing the room's attention.
As murmurs of disagreement rose, Peter stood his ground, "We need clear terms. She treating this as a transaction, so we should do the same. We need to know what we're getting—ships, soldiers, everything. And it has to be a significant force, not just some leftovers that they're pawning off on us."
He paused, letting his words sink in before continuing. "Also, the Nova Corps must cover all costs—food, gear, everything. The Senate won't pay for this. In fact, they'll probably whine and complain as soon as they find out, so we need to make sure they have no power over this."
Looking at each council member, Peter emphasized, "And finally, our help is voluntary. We'll send Jedi, but only those willing, and in proportion to the support we receive. If they send 100 ships, we send an appropriate number of volunteer Jedi."
Windu, his expression thoughtful, nodded slowly. "And if no one volunteers?" he asked, probing the practicality of Peter's plan.
Peter shook his head, a wry smile crossing his lips. "Unlikely. Between the Guard Corps, who would likely make up the majority of our volunteers, and those of us who see the bigger picture, we should have enough volunteers. Besides, the Kree haven't exactly been playing nice in this war, to say the least. I'm sure many Jedi will jump at the chance to put a stop to their atrocities."
His words seemed to resonate, with many council members nodding in agreement. Yet, some remained visibly uneasy at the prospect of engaging in war, showcasing the deep-seated Jedi commitment to peace.
After a lengthy discussion, marked by Peter's unyielding stance and the Council's rigorous debate, the decision was made.
Nova Prime was invited back into the chamber, where Yoda, embodying the collective will of the Council, laid out their conditions, echoing Peter's points in his own jumbled wording.
Nova Prime listened intently, her expression contemplative. After a moment of silence, she responded, "Your terms are acceptable. However, should the number of Jedi volunteers not meet our agreed threshold, we may need to reassess our arrangement."
Yoda nodded, the wrinkles on his face deepening as if marking the gravity of their deal. "Agreed, we are."
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On the bustling streets of Coruscant, amidst the sea of diverse beings that flowed like a living river between the towering skyscrapers, a figure moved with purposeful grace. She was stunningly beautiful, her green skin catching the light of the sun in a way that made her stand out, even in this metropolis of infinite variety.
Yet, none who passed her by could guess at the true depth of her beauty, for she was cloaked not just in the garments of a common traveler but in the anonymity that came with being far from home, far from the life of privilege and power she once knew.
[Insert picture of R'Klll/Skrull Empress here]
This was R'Klll, a name that once commanded respect and fear across the galaxy, a former Skrull Empress from the House of T'Ryss. The eldest daughter of the previous emperor, she was a living testament to the devastating cost of the Skrull-Kree War.
She had lost everything in the conflict: her home, her family, her friends, her status, and her wealth. Now, all that remained was her indomitable spirit, a ship, and the skills imparted by the many tutors and trainers of her former, lavish life.
As she navigated the crowded streets, her eyes remained fixed on the Jedi Temple in the distance. It was a symbol of a power and order she once wielded but now sought for a different purpose.
Without breaking stride, she mimicked the appearance of a passing Jedi, seamlessly adopting her features and garb with the innate skill of her kind. This disguise was her ticket inside the Temple, a place she had to infiltrate for a job she found beneath her royal status but was compelled to undertake out of necessity.
'A girls gotta eat…'
R'Klll's current mission was demeaning for someone of her former standing, yet she had no choice. The person who had hired her, Ebony Maw, inspired a terror in her that she just couldn't shake.
The task was simple yet daunting: locate a young girl named Gamora and, if possible, bring her back. The payment for this job was substantial, enough to sustain her as she figured out her next move in a galaxy that had taken everything from her.
Slipping through the Temple's grand entrances unnoticed amidst the comings and goings of actual Jedi, R'Klll moved with caution. Her thoughts were a whirlwind of strategy and survival, focused entirely on her objective.
Then, as fate would have it, Peter stepped out of the council chamber, deep in thought over the recent deliberations. Distracted by the weight of the decisions being made and the alliances being formed, he collided with R'Klll.
The moment their skin touched, a jolt of unexpected connection sparked between them. Peter, taken aback, found himself plunged into a vision that was not his own—a vivid, wrenching glimpse into R'Klll's past. "?!"
He saw the Skrull homeworld as it fell to the Kree, the chaos, the destruction, the loss. He felt the depth of R'Klll's despair, the day her life was irrevocably altered, the day her family was slaughtered, and she alone survived.
The vision ended as quickly as it had begun, leaving Peter staggered, staring into the eyes of the woman before him. R'Klll, for her part, was equally shaken, having no idea what just happened, nor why this boy was staring at her so intensely.
'Did he see through my disguise?'
A/N: 2095 words :) timeskip happening in two chapters!
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