A Tale from the Tribunal: Sabacc Night

*Taking place after Bota Zi assumes command of the New Republic Bounty Hunter Guild and just after Blaine has met Elayne, this story involves the group of characters who have come together on the flagship of the guild, the Hunters' Tribunal.*

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           Blaine slowly opened his other eye. Lying on his back in his newly refurnished room aboard the *Jinxed Starhawk*, his head turned slowly to look at his chrono. He sat up, stretched, and flipped a picture over in his hand. He set it down, strapped his blaster on, put two cold objects into his pockets, and peeked his head out of his door.

           He heard the snoring of two Wookiees on his left.

*Good.*

 He crept down the hall, tiptoeing, realizing the irony of sneaking around in his own ship. He checked on the cabin across the hall. He saw a little boy, with fiery red hair, sleeping. Blaine smiled for the first time since he got back from his home planet.

           He slowly walked across the last room. Of all people to wake up on this ship, she was the one he least wanted to catch him. Creeping across the ship, to the landing platform, Blaine walked out of his battered ship.

           The docking bay was cold. *The Hunter’s Tribunal* operated on standard military time even though there was no night nor day in space- but it was considered ‘night’ now. That meant less power was put into the air regulators, lights, and heating control for non-living quarters. It almost made Blaine have second thoughts about living on the *Starhawk* and not accepting a room.

           *But Tal, Kai…everyone followed me onto my ship, didn’t they?*

           He jogged to the other side of the docking bay, and into a hallway that led to a large storage room. One of the first things Blaine did when he had free time aboard this ship was to thoroughly examine it.

           *The Tribunal*, as Zuckuss had named it, was once an ore transport ship. Aside from the lack of powerful weaponry, it was otherwise a perfect choice for the base of operations for the New Republic Bounty Hunter Guild. There were plenty of bunks for the crew and visiting Bounty Hunters, the massive ore hold had been transformed into a large, much-needed docking bay, and it had impressive hull strength. It seems that pirates at one point took it over, made more than a few upgrades and eccentric changes, until the New Republic commandeered it and re-fitted it.

           Of course, in typical New Republic fashion that they were in such a rush, they didn’t do as in depth of a survey of the ship as they should have... meaning they hadn’t found *everything* that the pirates had left behind. And Blaine had found one of them.

           From the outside, it looked like a wall between two supply closets, but if anyone put their head down to the floor, they’d feel a cold air. Not that light had gotten through, but inside the hidden closet was an air cooler that had apparently been running until Blaine came in and shut it off. Getting in was easy; one simply had to knock, wait a few moments, and knock again. The wall would open up, revealing its insides.

           Blaine rapped on the door, waited and rapped again. He was late, apparently.        Inside was Tessa Barronax, a dark-haired female pilot, the irrepressible Jack Cronn and his droid Monnok, Bedrill, a male of some species resembling insects, and Arrinci Nebbus, the Sullustan navigator, sitting around a big wooden table, all became silent when they saw him.

           “I, uh, heard about what happened.” Jack said, scratching the back of his head and looking down. “And I, well, just… you know I was there, and…”

           “What I presume Jack’s trying to convey,” Monnok said in a tinny voice, “Is that of-”

           Blaine raised a hand. “Don’t even bring it up. I’m all right.” He sat down at the table they were sitting at. The words came out quick, and jumbled: “Just because I once said that I wouldn’t let some rogue force wielder ever render me powerless again, and because I trained to do that, and still failed doesn’t mean I’m a mess.”

           He exhaled. No one was looking at him. “Okay, so I’m not okay. I mean, I just lost my mother. I’m upset, but I’d rather be out with friends and doing something, instead of doing nothing and letting it eat me up inside.”

           “Well, we’re missing a few people, but we’re pretty much ready.” Tessa said, barely missing a beat. She nodded to the rust-colored droid: “Monnok, are you dealing again?”

           “I can’t believe we let one of the player’s droids deal!” Bedrill said, defiantly. “I mean it’s *his* droid.”

           “I think his droid would rather have him lose than let him win,” Blaine said.

           “I know I’d make him lose,” Tessa smirked.

           Jack held his arms up, innocently. Whatever comment he was about to make was cut off by Monnok, who repeated the house rules and reminded everyone about these meetings being secret.

           *Just because we’re ‘New Republic officials’ doesn’t mean we can’t have fun.*

           Blaine smirked, and then it grew to a smile when he got his hand.

           “You know an *Idiot’s Array* beats *Pure Sabacc*,” Jack said, wirily. His mouth formed a smile, showing his jagged teeth.

           “It does, and if tonight goes well, I’ll have both.”

           Arrinci shook her head. “If it gets that far, I’m going to fold.”

           After a few hands, Blaine, Jack and Tessa were up, while Bedrill had lost all 4 hands so far. He was about to start complaining about the droid dealing again, but he was cut off by a knock… followed by another few.

           *That knock doesn’t sound like any of our regulars…*

           The door opened to a startled lady who looked older than her actual 17 years of age. Blaine slumped in his seat.

           “Wow, I’m not even Human, but she-” Bedrill was cut off by a smack from one of Jack’s large arms.

           The intruder placed her hands on her hips, and cleared her throat. “Were you going to invite me?” she asked accusingly.

           Blaine scratched his head, “Yeah, but you looked so beautiful sleeping in your bed that I thought it would be a crime to wake you.”

           She sat down and gave Blaine a quick, forced smile. “Of course that’s true, but you know I love sabacc!” She paused and looked at the players. “Even with… ah, your ‘friends.’” She licked her lips, “Deal me in.”

           Blaine slumped even further.

           *This is going to be a long night.*