Chigg

Chigg was an Abednedo male pirate. Around 233 BBY, he purchased a jellyfruit from the pirate gang of Taborr Val Dorn, who had stolen a crate of them and was selling them in the Yarrum Tower marketplace. While eating the fruit, he bumped into the pilot Nash Durango, who had disguised herself as a pirate, knocking her over. After Chigg helped her up, she and three Jedi younglings ultimately recovered the stolen fruit for the Jellyfruit Festival on the planet Tenoo, which Chigg later attended. The Abednedo later was present on Tenoo for Visitor's Day and also visited the eatery Hap's Sap Tap on two occasions.

Chigg and his crew gave up pirating and turned to selling exotic Outer Rim fruits for a living. When their group's ship got stuck in mud on the planet Galjaero, they sent out a distress signal, which was answered by Durango and the Jedi younglings Kai Brightstar, Lys Solay, and Nubs. Though their first attempt proved unsuccessful, Chigg helped Brightstar attach a tow cable to their ship, allowing Durango's vessel—the Crimson Firehawk—to pull the craft to safety. Afterward, Chigg and his crew of former pirates visited the Starlight Beacon space station with the younglings.

The Abednedo later attended the Starship Show on Tenoo, taking time to look at the XD-7 speedster starship display. Later, Chigg met his Jedi youngling friends and the Padawan Wes Vinik at Yarrum Tower. When the Ganguls pirates captured Vinik, Chigg pretended to join the group to save him. Eventually, Chigg succeeded in helping Brightstar, Solay, Nubs, and Vinik flee from the Ganguls' vessel. In another instance, the Ganguls commandeered control of Yarrum Tower, intending to force those present into their service. Chigg did not wish to return to pirating, so his Jedi youngling friends helped him escape the tower, with the assistance of the pirate Taborr Val Dorn.

Biography

Jellyfruit Festival

Chigg was an Abednedo male pirate who hung around Yarrum Tower marketplace on the planet Yarrum during the High Republic Era.^[2] Around 233 BBY,^[6] he^[3] bought a jellyfruit from the pirate Taborr Val Dorn and his gang. While he was chomping on the fruit, which he found scrumptious, the pilot Nash Durango, disguised as a pirate, collided with the imposing Abednedo and fell over. Chigg turned around, took a bite of the juice-dripping fruit, and greeted her, helping her get up and making sure she was all right. The Abednedo patted Durango on the head and apologized as he continued to munch on his jellyfruit. One of Durango's other disguised companions, the Jedi youngling Kai Brightstar, asked in a put-on gruff voice where he acquired the jellyfruit.^[2]

Chigg, who had not known the delicacy's name, pointed out Val Dorn, who he said had stolen a crate of them. Durango and the Jedi had come to Yarrum in search of the stolen goods, so another youngling, Lys Solay, thanked Chigg, though she initially forgot to imitate a pirate's deep voice. Chigg then walked off. Later, when the Jedi and Durango had re-acquired the fruit, Solay revealed that Val Dorn had stolen from an old farmer, which Chigg and some other pirates found particularly unimpressive. The pirates laughed at Val Dorn's gang and then walked away. That night, Chigg and another pirate attended the Jellyfruit Festival on the planet Tenoo, to which Durango had invited them in the spirit of including everyone, even pirates, in the merrymaking. Chigg enjoyed a jellyfruit and a beverage from the Hap's Sap Tap eatery.^[2] Afterward, due to the Jedi younglings' kindness, the Abednedo and his crew chose to stop stealing from others as pirates and instead gather and sell rare fruits from around the Outer Rim.^[4]

He was present on Tenoo again for Visitor's Day, which attracted visitors from all over the galaxy.^[7] The Abednedo later visited Hap's Sap Tap on Tenoo but eventually chose to leave alongside the establishment's other patrons when a Tikotiko creature spilled an orange-colored beverage on top of him.^[8] On another occasion, he and another patron sat at a table at Hap's Sap Tap and had their beverages spilled on them when a holo-dart—thrown by the Jedi youngling Nubs—collided with his drink.^[9]

Stuck on Galjaero

Later around the same year,^[6] Chigg and his crew of former pirates—including a Chagrian, a Kyuzo, a Twi'lek, and another individual—traveled to the planet Galjaero to acquire a rare type of fruit grown there. When their ship got stuck in the mud, they sent a distress signal. The Abednedo left the immediate area to gather fruit while his colleagues unloaded crates from their craft to make it lighter. While Durango was transporting Solay, Nubs, and Brightstar to the Starlight Beacon space station aboard her ship, the Crimson Firehawk, they responded to the call for help. However, they assumed Chigg's colleagues were holding the ship's legitimate owners inside to steal their cargo and attacked the group. Durango and Chigg quickly informed their colleagues of the situation, with the latter assuring his crew that their rescuers were trustworthy because they had shared their jellyfruit with him on Tenoo.^[4]

Working together, the Jedi younglings attempted to lift the ship out of the mud while Chigg and his crew used tools to pry it upward. However, the group's efforts accidentally pushed the vessel too far, causing a mudslide that sent it over a cliff and near the entrance to a creature's den. As the creature's tentacles moved to drag the ship closer, Brightstar and Chigg prepared to attach a tow cable to the crew's ship while it was distracted by their other friends throwing fruit at it. The Abednedo leaped onto the top of the pirate vessel and fastened the cable, allowing Durango to pull the starship free using the Firehawk.^[4]

As his crew loaded their ship, Chigg inquired what had brought the Jedi near Galjaero to answer their call. Brightstar—noticing the Abednedo's excitement when he mentioned their destination—invited the former pirate to join them on Starlight Beacon. After the crew finished loading their ship, they traveled through hyperspace with the Firehawk to the station. Once there, he explained to Jedi Master Estala Maru that the younglings had been late due to answering his crew's distress call. The Master was surprised by their presence but nonetheless invited them to tour the facility with the other Jedi.^[4]

Rescuing friends

At another point, Chigg was present at Yarrum Tower and walked past while the Brightstar, Solay, and Nubs were there searching for the droid 0G-LC's artifacts, which pirates had stolen.^[10] On another occasion, Chigg attended the Starship Show exhibition event on Tenoo and looked at the display for a XD-7 speedster starship, owned by the human Luggs Neelo.^[11] Later, Chigg met the three younglings and the Padawan Wes Vinik at Yarrum Tower while the former group was on a supply run for the Jedi Master Zia Zaldor Zanna. Though Vinik was skeptical that Chigg had renounced his pirate ways, the younglings insisted he and his crew only sold fruit. When Vinik returned to the tower's marketplace to finish their resupply list, he was captured by the Ganguls pirates, who had been in the tower recruiting pirates to join them. Seeing this, Chigg pretended to join the Ganguls to get aboard their shuttle. Brightstar, Solay, and Nubs also snuck aboard the shuttle to rescue their friend, though the Ganguls also caught them in an energy net when they tried to reach Vinik.^[5]

Orryak ordered Chigg to dispose of the younglings, shocking the trio of his apparent joining of the Ganguls. The Abednedo publicly agreed to comply with the order and escorted the three away, though let them free of their magnetic binders and returned their lightsabers once out of sight. Chigg instructed them to call Durango to meet them for a pickup on the planet Variax and told them he would meet them in the hangar. Afterward, Chigg left for the hangar and was spotted by Vinik, who expressed anger toward the Abednedo for apparently joining the pirates. Brightstar, Solay, and Nubs revealed their presence as Durango arrived in her ship to rescue them, moments after the pirates arrived on Vianax to steal ships from its shipyard.^[5]

In the ensuing skirmish, the vessel began tilting sharply to one side, causing Vinik to dangle from his binders, which were attached to a set of boarding stairs. From a walkway above the hangar floor, Chigg attacked two droids and stole an electrostaff from one, somersaulting onto a crate near Vinik. He reached out his hand to Vinik, though the Padawan indicated he did not trust the supposed pirate. Chigg ignited Vinik's lightsaber and cut the Padawan's restraints off, telling the latter that he had faked joining the Ganguls to help the younglings. The pirate Sellaccc Orryak expressed her disgust with Chigg's betrayal of the Ganguls, firing an energy net at him and Vinik, though it attached harmlessly to the wall instead after the Abednedo dodged. Chigg told her that he was no longer a pirate and safely escaped the vessel on the Firehawk with his allies after dodging yet another energy net. After returning to Yarrum Tower, Vinik thanked Chigg for his help and apologized for not trusting him earlier. Chigg accepted his apology and enveloped Vinik in a hug.^[5]

Escaping Yarrum Tower

At another point, Chigg operated a small booth at Yarrum Tower to sell some of his fruit. After a visit to a moon near Yarrum, he brought back a selection of multicolored berries from his travels. He served the berries to Brightstar, Solay, and Nubs, who were delighted with the treat. As Chigg prepared to present the trio with another type of fruit to try, a detonator was thrown into the market area of Yarrum Tower, clouding the area with smoke. Chigg and the younglings swiftly dove behind the former's stall to hide, with the Abednedo also pulling its fabric-based roof down on top of them for further cover. The Ganguls, led Toda-Joh, announced they were claiming Yarrum Tower as their own to use as their headquarters. The leader then gave orders to gather those present, to force them to work for the Ganguls. Chigg quietly told the Jedi younglings with him that he did not want to become a pirate again.^[12]

While Solay reassured Chigg he would not have to go back to that way of life, the Abednedo suggested they could call Nash for help. Brightstar indicated it would take her too long to arrive, noting that they needed to leave now while the Ganguls were distracted. The group decided to ask Taborr Val Dorn for help, knowing that he disliked the Ganguls as well. Val Dorn begrudgingly agreed to help them, as escaping the tower himself would be easier with assistance, though told Chigg sternly that he was only helping for his own benefit. The group attempted to make their way to Val Dorn's ship, the Iron Talon, though the path to the turbolift was blocked by pirates. Though Val Dorn wanted to take out the leadership of the Ganguls, Brightstar indicated that evacuating Chigg was still their priority, as the Abednedo had made a choice not to be a pirate.^[12]

Chigg, Val Dorn and the younglings eventually managed to sneak down the turbolift and make it to the airfield. However, Val Dorn decided to attack Orryak, prompting the pirate Jooro Jarrot to notice and trap Chigg and Nubs under an energy net. A skirmish ensued, with Chigg and Nubs eventually managing to escape the net and board the Iron Talon. Afterward, Chigg thanked the pirate for his help, though Val Dorn expressed no emotion in response. After returning to Tenoo, the younglings and Hap gathered around Chigg's fruit stall in Kublop Springs, with Hap describing Chigg's stock of fruit as one of the best in the galaxy. Chigg thanked the Jedi younglings for helping him escape Yarrum Tower, with Solay sympathizing with the loss of his stall but expressing that she was glad he was safe. As the Jedi hugged him, Hap offered to whip up some fruit shakes at Hap's Sap Tap.^[12]

Personality and traits

Despite being an imposing pirate, Chigg helped Durango get up and apologized for their collision. He laughed at Val Dorn's unremarkable piracy.^[2] Following the Jedi younglings' kindness at the Jellyfruit Festival, Chigg and his crew gave up their pirating profession and instead opted to become traders of exotic Outer Rim fruits. The Abednedo was pleased to encounter Durango and the other younglings on Galjaero, working together with them to save his crew's ship. He also expressed excitement over the opportunity to visit Starlight Beacon, having heard many things about it.^[4]

Chigg considered Brightstar, Solay, Nubs, and Durango his friends, and was pleased when he had the opportunity to see them. Though Vinik was deeply skeptical toward him, the Abednedo nonetheless considered any individual who was a colleague of the Jedi younglings—which included Vinik—also a friend to him. To this end, even though he had given up pirating, he was willing to go undercover on the Ganguls' vessel to rescue Vinik and later his youngling allies.^[5] The Jedi youngling trio displayed a similar level of loyalty toward him, helping Chigg escape from Yarrum Tower before he could be forced to work for the Ganguls. They respected his choice to give up his pirating ways and pointed his change in behavior out to others, in the hopes they might follow the same path as the Abednedo.^[12] Chigg took pride in the exotic and rare fruits he and his crew found throughout the galaxy,^[4] often willing to share them with those he knew, alongside selling some to others.^[12] Chigg had patterned brown skin, green eyes, and white sideburns.^[2]

Skills and abilities

Chigg was physically fit and competent in combat, able to wield an electrostaff.^[5] He was also capable of flying a starship^[4] and did so on numerous occasions as an exotic fruit dealer who traveled the galaxy frequently.^[12] In attempt to free his friends from the Ganguls, Chigg was able to convincingly pose as a recruit of the pirate group for a short period, helping the Jedi younglings and Vinik escape.^[5] While operating as a pirate, Chigg proved able to steal from others, though later decided to cease doing so.^[2]

Equipment

Chigg wore a tattered green-and-white shirt and pocketed brown pants. He also donned brown shoes, fingerless gloves, and a brown belt with a lighter-colored buckle and a side pouch.^[2] His crew owned a starship, which they used to transport exotic fruits across the galaxy.^[4] Chigg also operated exotic fruit stalls at Yarrum Tower and Kublop Springs.^[12] At one point, while rescuing his Jedi friends from the Ganguls, he wielded an electrostaff stolen from a droid.^[5]

Behind the scenes

Chigg first appeared in "The Jellyfruit Pursuit," the first part of the fifth episode of the animated series Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures. He was voiced by Dee Bradley Baker, who also plays Jedi youngling Nubs in the series.^[2] The episode was released on May 4, 2023.^[13] Artist Virgile Fondanaiche did modeling work for a scene in Yarrum Tower in which Chigg appeared, using the Autodesk Maya software.^[14]

Appearances

• Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures — "The Jellyfruit Pursuit" (First appearance)
• Young Jedi Adventures: The Jellyfruit Pursuit
• Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures — "Visitor's Day"
• Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures — "Bad Eggs"
• Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures — "Big Brother's Bounty"
• Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures — "Stuck in the Muck"
• Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures — "The Team Up"
• Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures — "The Starship Show"
• Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures — "The Jedi Rescue"
• Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures — "Tower Run"

Sources

• Star Wars Encyclopedia: The Comprehensive Guide to the Star Wars Galaxy

Notes and references