Sabacc

“Kirana, we’re going to a show. It has N*aboo, Critney, Blisstina - all the good ones. Wanna go?” Yuki asked.

Kirana rolled her indigo eyes. “Yuki, you know I can’t stand that stuff.”

“But N*aboo is so cute!” Yuki gushed.

“I like REAL men,” Kirana said, stars in her eyes. “Like Kendren...”

“Oh, fine. You can stay here with Priire,” Yuki said.

“You mean Ippin’s not making her go?”

“Are you kidding? After she shot people last time? I doubt she’s allowed there ever again.” Yuki giggled. “Well, bye!” She ran out the door, but not before hitting herself on it.

Kirana flopped onto the couch.

The closet door creaked open. “Are they gone?” whispered a voice.

“Yeah,” Kirana said. “You can come out now, Priire.”

“Oh, good.” The green-eyed blonde sat next to Kirana. “So, what do you want to-”

She was cut off by the opening door.

“Hey, everyone, guess what?” It was Kendren, and he was very excited. “I got a job as a supply courier for the Jedi Temple. Isn’t that great?”

“You mean you quit your old job?” Kirana said as Priire said, “You have a ship to replace your old one? Great!”

“Calm down,” Kendren said, laughing. “Here’s the story. I was playing sabacc, and I won a ship. It’s kind of junky, but... anyway, so I got a job here - I AM a pretty good pilot, you know - and quit my job at the mechanic shop.”

Priire, whose eyes lit up when he said, “sabacc,” asked, “Can we see her?”

Kendren smiled. “Sure!” he said, leading the girls to the ship.

The ship was a light freighter, dull grey and junky. But pride shone in Kendren’s green eyes.

Priire’s own green eyes widened. “I could help you fix her up!” she exclaimed.

“What’s the ship’s name?” Kirana asked.

Kendren grinned. “It’s the ‘Omwati Goddess,' ” he said.

“You mean - after ME?” Kirana asked.

Kendren hugged his true love. “Yes,” he said.

“Hey, Kirana,” Priire said to the younger girl, “have you ever played sabacc?”

“No,” Kirana answered.

“Let’s go back in,” Priire said, “and we can teach you to play!”

Kirana held up a card-chip. “What was this one called again?”

“That’s the Idiot,” Priire answered.

Kirana giggled. “The Idiot,” she laughed. “That’s so funny...”

About thirty minutes later, Kirana was STILL confused.

“Why don’t you watch us play,” Priire said.

Kirana agreed. As Kendren and Priire played, they talked. “So, what’s your homeworld?” asked Priire.

“Corellia,” Kendren answered. “My father is Corellian and my mother is Firrerreon.”

“That would explain your hair,” Priire said, looking at his dark hair with the blond streaks.

Kirana looked over Kendren’s shoulder. She couldn’t tell if what he had was good or not. There was something called the “Queen of Air and Darkness.”

“So,” Priire said, “What do you have, Ken? Can I call you that?”

“Um, well, that name has always bothered me-”

“Okay, Ken,” Priire said mischievously. “Alright, KENDREN, what do you have?”

Priire’s cards equaled twenty-two, which was unbeatable unless you had a pure sabacc or Idiot’s Array.

Kendren put his cards down. “Pure sabacc,” he said.

“Good thing we weren’t playing for credits,” Priire said. Then she added, “Hey, you’re good - Kirana, mind if I borrow him sometimes to play?”

“Sure,” Kirana said. “But don’t expect ME to learn how.”

“Hey, everyone, we’re back!” Ippin squealed. “Hey, Aster, did you have fun?” she asked Priire.

Her blond twin smiled. “I learned a lot of stuff - Kendren loves sabacc and he beat me! And guess what - his hair is NATURAL!”

“You got BEATEN?” Kyoko said as Annika asked, “His hair is NATURAL?”

Kirana, Kendren and Priire laughed hysterically.