Rendezvous

[Uhtred Wardruna]

Rendezvous​

Some spacers called it the Outlands. Beyond the reach of Imperial Republica, the influence of Imperial Hutta, and the strong arm of the Old Empire, it was always anyone's guess as to who was in charge. Sometimes, it was the Hutts, grasping onto what vestiges of unclaimed territories they could in a feeble attempt to recapture their former glory. Sometimes it was the megacorporations. Czerka, Omolon, Dynamic Automata or the Commerce Guild. More often than not, however, it was more or less anarchy. Not that it was just chaos, but there was simply no one in charge.

And sometimes... that was just how Uhtred liked it.

The more legitimate elements of the galaxy didn't make it a habit of visiting such places without good reason, usually meaning they kept away unless they had something to gain. It wasn't fear so much as it was PR; the corporate elite didn't want to be seen with the dregs of galactic society, even if they brokered deals with them more often than anyone else. But, that was the way of the galaxy.

"Uba kung-bioo fierfek, uba caiot tee woy tah nei!"

A shout came across the room of Mubo's Tavern, overpowered the music and casual conversations in the proximity. A few eyes drifted over towards the sight of a Gran throwing over a sabacc table, irate as ever.

"Bouka! Yoieu jen doi wata!"

Within seconds, even before the figure behind the bar counter could finish his sentence, several other figures swamped the Gran, beating him to the ground and stomping and kicking him before dragging him out of the establishment. Nobody cared, though. Just another day.

Uhtred wasn't the gambling type, at least not with cards. Too easy to cheat, never invigorating enough.

"Come on now, you playing or what?"

"Alright, alright", Uhtred said, grinning. The rules were simple; everyone kept stabbing at their fingers till they finished their weave or they cut themselves.

Closing his eyes, Uhtred began his own round alongside two others, both off-duty security contractors. He was always arrogant, but this was more for fun than anything else. The table shook as all three men began stabbing down to complete their pattern, till Uhtred audibly winced as the side of his finger got cut.

Opening his eyes while laughing, Uhtred stabbed his knife into the table as he took a shot from a nearby glass of Rancor Blood. It was a loss for him, but one he was satisfied with. By contrast, the other two men completed their weaves without a cut, boisterously laughing as they did so.

"I swear, he's not even trying", the second mercenary said humorously, leaning back in his chair.

"Hey now, you play as you like, and I'll do the same", Uhtred said, wiping his mouth as he motioned to one of the nearby servers to refill his glass. Tonight was a night for fun, but who knew? Perhaps there'd be more to it than was planned...

@Farnis13