Star Wars: On the Job

Chapter 3: Interference

Three hours into the trip and the Ghost was purring like a loth-kitten. The blue of hyperspace swirled around the ship, pulling them along their journey from Brase to Husera. The cargo hold was silent, its contents awaiting delivery. But the quietest place of all was the lounge where Kanan and Hera stared one another down over the Dejarik table. Kanan was winning as usual, but Hera was unusually focused and had executed several excellent moves during the match. Kanan may have had more years of Dejarik experience from his days as a drifter, but Hera was as tough as she was smart. It was only a matter of time before she'd be able to wipe the floor with him.

She studied the board and made her move. The staff-wielding Monnok loped forward to the center of the table. It was a strategic maneuver, meant to draw Kanan into a more vulnerable position, but he repositioned his Ng'ok at the edge of the board. Hera studied the move with her chin in her hand as Kanan reclined back in the acceleration couch, stroking his beard.

Her eyes flashed up at him once. "What's that look mean?" she asked.

"Nothing," he said with a shrug. "Just waiting to see what you'll do."

His cocky attitude made her worry she was walking into a trap, but Hera was well aware that Kanan's nonchalance was as much a part of his strategy as the placement of his pieces. He kept his enemies off-balance with unexpected moves, then poisoned their decisions by making them double-guess themselves. He had a lot of cunning, doubtlessly the result of years on the move, bouncing from system to system and job to job. It took a person with extraordinary flexibility and creativity to lead that sort of life, and Kanan had excelled at it. That was why Hera took her time now and carefully studied the Dejarik board.

Kanan drummed his fingers on the top of the couch. "Time's running out," he said casually.

"I know how much time is left," she replied without taking her eyes off the table. She reached for the controls and then jerked her hand back. No, he wouldn't, would he? With a determined huff, Hera made her decision and Kanan's long-armed Molator squealed in pain as it was destroyed.

Kanan watched the holographic carnage with a cool expression and leaned forward, still stroking his beard. His eyes flicked across the black and white tiles before he pressed the buttons. His last remaining creature, the Houjix, scuttled across the tiles, destroyed Hera's K'lor'slug, then moved on to destroy her Monnok. The blue scorpion chittered in victory over its fallen enemies: the last creature left alive.

"How did you do that? It's against the rules," Hera exclaimed.

Kanan shrugged. "The game let me do it so it must be fair."

Hera scowled down at the holographic images as they flickered out of existence. Where did he learn all of these tricks? How could he cheat at a game that couldn't be cheated at?

"You messed with the programming, didn't you?"

He chuckled. "I'm impressed you'd think I'd go that far."

"Then how did you get two moves at once? And how did your creature suddenly become so much stronger?"

"What can I say? It's the mystery of Dejarik. Play enough times and you'll learn the mysteries, too."

Hera folded her arms. "I guess you're right," she said. "Experience eventually conquers in the end."

"Wisdom over beauty." He winked at her.

A laugh escaped Hera's throat. Despite herself, Kanan's flirting always amused her. "Do you want to play again?" she asked.

"I think I'm done for today." Arms stretched out over the back of the couch, he leaned his head back and closed his eyes.