Before his chance meeting with the notorious Doctor Evazan, Ponda Baba was just another semi-successful pirate, roaming the Empire’s frontiers killing and causing mayhem. But one day while repairing his ship, a blaster battle ensued nearby between Jodo Kast and Evazan. Now Kast had roasted Ponda’s last partner and didn’t even split the reward as he had promised, so Ponda felt it was only fair to rob Jodo Kast of a prize this time around. When Kast shot Evazan across the face, he slowly moved in for the kill. But Ponda aimed well, using a weapon strong enough to punch through Kast’s battle armor. Ponda took the doctor aboard, fully expecting to turn the man in for a reward of his own. After realizing the value of his capture, in publicity and recognition value alone, he surmised quite correctly that, instead, he could profit handsomely from associating with Evazan. While a million credits was tough to turn down, Evazan’s presence would ensure that no one, but no one would make trouble for Baba. That kind of insurance credits couldn’t buy. Besides, reasoned the Aqualish smuggler, "I need a co-pilot and someone who can translate for me anyway."

The two formed a smuggling partnership that they compare to that of Han Solo and Chewbacca. Ponda and Evazan even picked up the Millennium Falcon’s old routes for Jabba the Hutt for a brief time.

Ponda was missing one big furry arm, lost in a bar brawl at the Mos Eisley Cantina. Unfortunately, the large alien chose the wrong person to pick a fight with-Luke Skywalker. While Skywalker was unarmed and unprepared for a fight, Obi-Wan Kenobi was ready.

Ponda eventually had a bionic replacement grafted onto his arm and is still seeking revenge on Evazan. Ponda will be terrified if he sees a lightsaber, and will flee the scene as soon as possible.

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