Jedi Insurgency 153

Corvus sat motionless, save for the slow, methodical flex of one gloved hand against the pazaak table. The dim light behind him cast his mask in the shadow. Across from him, Hondo Ohnaka lounged like an outlaw prince with his boot propped on top of a crate. Hat tipped drunkenly askew, his grin was so wide, so confident, that one would never guess that the Weequay had entered the game of his life. 

Honestly, Corvus sort of admired the balls that this man had. He was well aware of his reputation, and the weight that the name Revan carried in the galaxy. And still, Hondo chose to challenge him. Such a maverick maneuver, only someone with courage like that was worth considering as an ally! To become Pirate King, and stab Palpatine in the eye, a man needed a pair! 

Taking a swig of his tea, Corvus wolfishly grinned to himself. Now it was time to see if the wrinkled alien had what it took. 

“Master Revan.” Hondo uncaringly murmured whilst swirling a half-empty glass of lum. “I must say, for a man who has been depicted as a monstrous murderer, you are shorter than I had anticipated.” He then shrugged with theatrical nonchalance. “But! I am a generous pirate. I’m sure the Force will serve you well, assuming, of course, she likes you today.”

Corvus began to slowly shuffle the deck, and slightly inclined his head. 

“I've never been defeated. The Force is with me, always.” He said in a smug tone, omitting any mention of save scumming, as what he said was technically correct. The best kind of correct. 

“Ha! Then you clearly haven’t played enough pazaak.” Hondo laughed, slamming a hand on the table, jostling several bottles, and a pile of chips. 

Corvus slapped the deck down, and the pirate leaned forward to cut the deck, smiling all the while. 

“You know.” Hondo mused, tapping a finger against his chin. “I have gambled with Hutts, Mandalorians, Sith-if you count Dooku-senators, warlords, and at least one very angry Wookiee, but never against a Jedi who wanted to win my life.” He chuckled, light and breezy, though a bead of sweat was forming beneath his goggles. “One hundred million credits should I emerge victorious. My neck in the noose if I lose. Such stakes! I must say, you really know how to motivate a man.”

Corvus chuckled. “Ah, but this is an opportunity. Like I said-”

“King of the Pirates, yes, yes, but that is so far away, nothing but an idea! This money, my life! They are right in front of you! All within reach!” Hondo sloshed his drink around, spilling a drop on the top card as he gestured towards the stack of creds in the hold, and slapped his chest. 

“You speak as if you’ve already lost.” Corvus narrowed his eyes, sensing that something was off, but he couldn't quite place what it was. 

“Oh no, no, no! I merely speak like a man who appreciates his own life experience. It is my greatest weapon, you see. Well, my second greatest behind my good looks! My third is cheating, but don’t tell anyone.” Hondo wagged his finger at him, then lowered his voice for the last part with a wink. 

Corvus rolled his eyes, and couldn't help but warm up to the bloody pirate. What was even crazier, is that he hadn't told an outright lie-at least from his own perspective-this entire time! 

“Let me guess, your fourth most exceptional skill is your mouth?” Corvus replied knowingly. 

“The first three are so excellent I hardly need a fourth.”

Lie. 

Shaking his head, Corvus gestured towards the pile of cards, levitating the starting hand into place. Taking a quick peak, he saw that he had a +2, +5, -3, -1, and a 2&4 card that changed all 2's & 4's on the board to either negative or positive. With a goal of reaching 20pts, and any score over 20 losing, it seemed he had a shit starting hand, but he would make it work. So long as Hondo didn't reach 20 before him, it should be fine. 

After several back and forth plays, his total rose to 18, and was dangerously close to 20. However, his remaining cards were a -2, and +3, useless in this scenario. Hondo’s eyes widened in a way that made it difficult to tell whether he was horrified or delighted.

“You’re flirting with the void, my friend. One misstep, one slip, one small nudge from destiny and poof! You fall.” Hondo dramatically raised his hand upwards, sloshing all the ice in his drink vertically into the air, and then dextrously caught the cubes back into his glass. At the same time, with his other hand, he slammed a card down, putting it into play. 

“And how can I trust that you didn't just cheat?” Corvus called him out, as he found such theatrics amusing.

“Because. I'm dishonest, and a dishonest man you can always trust to be dishonest. Honestly, it's the honest ones you want to watch out for, because you can never predict when they're going to do something incredibly stupid.” Hondo grinned, and then gestured down with his eyes. 

Once Hondo removed his hand from the table, his total score was revealed. 

19. 

The match was almost over at this rate, however, a small grin began to form across Corvus's face. 

A quiet breath-one that was barely perceptible-left the pirate’s lips. 

“Well now, that is either very good…or exceptionally fatal.”

Corvus smirked at the bombastic buffoon, and drew his next card slowly, and with deliberate suspense. Hondo watched the card with rapt, horrified fascination, like a man unable to look away from a crashing starship.

Glancing at the card he drew, he then played the -2, and +3, he tied the game, they were both at 19! 

Furthermore, the Weequay's hand was empty, the victory or defeat of this match would rely upon his next draw! There was no strategy, or amount of mind games that could save him, it was all down to pure luck! 

The pirate blinked. “Oh! Oh this is wonderful. Terrifying, but wonderful.”

“You expected the Force to hand me the win, didn't you?” Corvus teased. 

“I misunderstand many things! It is part of my charm.” Hondo exclaimed, and then took a big swig out of one of the nearby jugs, now that his glass was empty. Licking his lips, the alien's eyes seemed to dilate as he stared at the top of the deck. 

It had thinned so much due to their skilled play, that now, only one card remained on top. As Corvus was closest to 20, Hondo could only win if he scored a perfect 20. Any minus card, and he would deck out, giving the match to Corvus. Anything +2 or higher would lead to defeat. Stained by a small drop of some liquid, this mottled card would determine Hondo's fate one way or the other. 

“The final card decides it. Make your move, Pirate King.” Corvus taunted. 

“Oh, yes. The final, tiny, horrifying thread upon which my life dangles. If I draw too high, I die. If I draw too low, I also die. Truly, why do people not see the appeal of pazaak? It has everything.”

Corvus waited, utterly still. He spoke not one word, but the shadows around him seemed to crawl in anticipation. Hondo pulled his hat tight, and sucked in a deep breath. 

Hondo drew, then exhaled as he slapped down the last card, a +1, and stood up from his seat in triumph, rattling the table once more. 

20. 

It was a perfect score. 

The hold in the Falcon seemed to echo within the Force with the sounds of a distant, ghostly casino. Hondo himself looked at the card as though expecting it to vanish.

“Oh my stars, I won. I actually won.” Hondo took off his hat, and wiped the sweat from his brow before putting it back in place. 

“Congratulations.” Corvus ever so slightly inclined his head. 

“Master Revan! I knew luck loved me, but I didn’t know she loved me this much. I could give you a kiss right now!” Hondo took a step forward, seemingly forgetting himself. 

Corvus waved his hand, gently [Force Pushing] the pirate back into his seat. 

“The Force has quite a sense of humor, it seems.”

“Oh, that is a dangerous revelation for the galaxy.” Hondo laughed uproariously, and slapped his knee. “A Jedi Master acknowledging my superiority in games of chance! I shall cherish this moment for the rest of my-hopefully long-life!” 

“The credits are yours. Your life is your own.” Corvus waved at the pile of cash looming behind them, and spoke in a solemn tone. 

Hondo rose once more, and clapped him on the shoulder as though greeting an old friend. “Master Revan, if ever you need someone to gamble for 100 million again…you may call on Hondo Ohnaka!” 

“I won't.” Corvus replied, his voice barely above a whisper. 

“Of course not! But it felt polite to offer.” Hondo bowed with his hat, and then sauntered over to admire the stacks & stacks of golden credits piled high. 

Pure, impossible luck. That was what Hondo had delivered. Corvus was in search of heroes to help him in his war against Palpatine. Skilled people who were masters of their field. Not only would they help in times of war, but be a great boon during peace. 

Hondo Ohkana, for all his faults, and treacherous nature, was a good man. Perhaps it was worth trusting him, just this once. 

“So. Have you given any thought to my offer?” Corvus said, folding his hands in front of him. 

The pirate seemed not to hear him, as his eyes were glued on the creds, like how a child's unwavering gaze was drawn to the flicker of a TV screen. 

Letting the Weequay enjoy his moment, Corvus brewed another cup of tea, and after about 15 minutes had passed, he ‘accidentally’ telekinetically dropped a few credits on Hondo's head. They were harmlessly light, but the contact disrupted the pirate's ‘gold madness’ for a second. Reacting on instinct, Hondo reached for a blaster that wasn't there, and spun to face Corvus. 

“Ah, forgive me, my friend, force of habbit!” Hondo weakly laughed, and slightly cringed as he saw Corvus's aloof demeanor. 

“Our arrangement?” 

“What arrangement?” Hondo blinked. 

“The part about the Pirate King. Are you willing to uphold your end of the bargain?” 

“Ah, that. See, I was thinking. How about another wager of pazaak? I mean, my 100 million against my word says I don't have to join your eh, ship.” Hondo replied whilst fondling a few creds in his hand. 

Corvus simply stared at him, the shadows in the room drew taught, and the lights dimmed. 

“Ah, ah, not that there's anything wrong with joining up with a Jedi, but I am a Captain in my own right, and am accustomed to roaming free. Besides, last match was so close, you could even win the next one!” Hondo swaggered back to his seat, and even began to gather the cards-which were strewn across the table-to shuffle. 

The pirate counted 49 cards, frowned, and was about to say something, when Corvus stood, making Hondo pause in his actions. 

“Now, now, we, we had a deal!” Hondo nervously stated, as Corvus let a bit of his aura leak. 

“Indeed we did. Ye can't best the devil twice, son.” Corvus replied in a rough tone, then slapped down the last card, the one he had drawn before Hondo won. 

Hondo’s chocolate skin turned milk white as Corvus brushed past him. The cards in his hand collapsed, and he began to violently cough into his hand. 

“You work for me now, Mr. Ohnaka.” Corvus said, before disappearing in a whirl of darkness. 

Hondo’s eyes, still wide, peered down at what had gotten him all choked up. It was what would have been the winning card, had Revan chosen to play it. 

+1.