Power is a Privilege (Luke Skywalker x OC)

Chapter IV: Deal

Cass turned her head to see a man standing behind the bar. He must have been the one who yelled at the guard since there wasn't anyone else paying attention to their predicament. He leaped over the bar swiftly and approached them.

"What do you think you're doing?" he asked the guard, "They're with me. Didn't you see my letter?"

The guard looked confused and slightly scared. He let go of Luke's arm and took a step back hesitantly.

"That's what I thought," the bartender gave the guard a stern look, "I won't report you this time, but no more mistakes from here on out, got it?"

The guard nodded his head furiously and proceeded to return to his position of guarding the door.

Cass turned to the bartender, slightly wary of his motives, "Well, thank you for the help, sir. We'll be going now."

As she gestured for Luke to follow her, the bartender reached out and stopped her with a hand on her wrist.

"Hold on, now. Not just anyone tries to break into the Canto Casino. Either you are really desperate for a drink, or you're here for information."

Just as Cass was about to retort, denying his claims, Luke responded for her, "As a matter of fact, we are here for information. Have you heard any news of Sullest lately?"

Cass' jaw dropped in shock. She couldn't believe that Luke had just given them away to a complete stranger.

She recovered as quickly as she could and was about to cut in, but the bartender cut her off, "I'm personally not familiar with that system, but I can direct you towards somewhere who is. You see that rodian over there?" He pointed towards a rodian playing Sabaac with a pair of trandoshians, "That's the guy you want to ask. I heard him muttering about the Sullest System over his cards earlier."

Luke nodded abruptly, "Thank you for your help."

He and Cass made their way towards the rodian.

"Stay wary," Cass said, "You can't trust anyone here. Not even that bartender. They are all the slime of the earth."

Luke laughed at her suspiciousness, "Why, because they decided to have a couple of drinks and do some betting?
"No," she shook her head, "Because they chose to do it at Canto Bight. I've had my fair share of interactions with gamblers and people trying to run away from their problems. If they come here to do it, they've got something to hide, or they're trying to sell their secrets away."

They both stopped at the table the rodian was seated at. Despite Cass' warning, Luke stuck his hand out as a greeting.

"Hello there, we were told we could get some information from you," he smiled innocently, probably hoping to be hospitable and earn the rodian's favor.

The rodian blinked back at him. As the silence dragged on, Luke's smile began to falter. He leaned towards the rodian and whispered in his ear.

"Information about the Sullest System?"

The rodian reeled back in disgust, "You think I am just going to give you information like that? Did you even bring anything to barter?"

Cass grabbed Luke's arm at attempted to stop him, but she was too late.

"No, I did not bring anything, but I will give you anything you are willing to have."

She sighed, now they were in for it. She had warned Luke about these types of people, and now they were going to pay the price.

The rodian leaned in with a newfound curiosity, "Anything?"

Luke nodded.

"Well," he said, his voice drawn out and low, "I just so happen to be in quite the predicament. I have a fathier in the race that is to take place later this very night. However, the rider quit, and I haven't had the time to find a new one. If you race for me, that information you seem to so desperately need will be yours."

Luke shrugged, "Seems easy enough. I'm in."

"I'm glad to hear it. Meet me at the stables at 2100, and you will race."

"Thank you so much for the help," Luke still had a smile on his face as Cass pulled him away.

She dragged him around a corner, making sure they were out of sight of the rodian. When they finally were, she rounded on him.

"What were you thinking?"

"What do you mean? We're going to get our information, are we not?"

"You are so naive, I warned you about this. Do you even know how to ride a fathier?"

"No," Luke shrugged, "But I can learn how."

Cass shook her head at his ignorance. Fathier races were very dangerous. In fact, they were outlawed on most civilized planets, but Canto Bight was far from civilized.

Cass all but yelled in Luke's face, "If, and that's a big if... you survive the race, there is no guarantee that the rodian will give you the information. He doesn't have a reason to have to. For all we know, he could pack up while the race is going on and leave, and he would still get his money. Fathier races are dangerous, Luke. Just one wrong move and you'll be thrown 30 feet into the air or trampled by dozens of 1,000-pound animals."

Somehow he had stayed calm all while she was screaming in his face. Even more surprising to her, his face raised into that smile all over again.

"Relax, Cassandra," he drew out each syllable of her name, "I've got the force. What could go wrong."

She rolled her eyes, "A lot could go wrong, Skywalker. You're just not willing to see it. Go do the race, see if I care when you're dead."

She stomped away from him. She didn't know where she was going. Probably to get a drink, but mostly to get away from Luke Skywalker. She still didn't know much about him, but she did know that she would not let him be the death of her.