AS THE CHANDRILLIAN Dream dropped out of hyperspace, Corban Sonmi giggled and shuffled in his seat, rummaging around in his bad for his tickets, a grin etched from ear to ear as he readied himself for the ‘unforgettable’ weekend the tour office had told him was in store. Sat next to him, a well-dressed, severe looking creature of a species Corban did not recognise, huffed. However, Corban, far to lost in his own thoughts, spared none for his travelling partner, and pressed his stunted nose against the viewing port as Canto Bight came into view. ”There is it,” he gasped ”...magnificent.” he added, breathlessly.
”The galaxies playground, I’ve heard. They say it has the largest artificial ocean this side of Manaan, the fanciest food from here to Corsucant, and big-money games that make the Hutts weep!” he enthused, as his travelling partner harrumphed and put in it’s earplugs.
”I can’t believe I made it!” he gasped. Against all the odds, he had won his ticket in a lottery through his employer, Blackwell Technologies their annual draw had paid out big this year, and he, assistant junior sub-clerk of the year for the mid-rim sector alpha, subsector gamma, had won!
The voyage here had already been more luxurious than he ever could have imagined, snacks, complementary napkins – they’d even called him ‘Sir’ when he boarded! ”This is just so exciting.” he enthused, as the seatbelt sign flicked off, and the smooth voice of the ships captain clicked in over the intercom ”Gentlebeings, this is your captain speaking. We have just touched down in Canto Bight. Please make your way to the exits, enjoy your stay, and thank you for flying Blackwell.”
Corban did not need to be told twice, and he bustled past his travel mate, who merely rolled his eyes, and, grabbing his suitcase, headed off the ship. After a brief struggle with a turnstile, he found himself face-to-face with a bored looking Ithorian, a black uniform, punctuated by a stylized ‘C’, signalling the Cantonic Port Authority, standing behind the arrivals desk. ”Good After,” he check the time ”...Evening, and welcome to Canto Bight, the City were your wildest dreams become reality.” He tapped his computer a few times ”I hope you had a pleasant flight.” the man said, in a way that suggested he really didn’t care ”Name?”
”Corban Sonmi.”
”Species?”
”Suerton.”
”Homeworld?”
”Corsucant.”
”Sponsoring agent?”
”Blackwell Technologies.”
”Did you pack your luggage yourself, and did any sentient being, agent of, for or on behalf of any political, parapolitical, military, or paramilitary organization ask you to carry anything for them?”
”Urm, no?”
The Ithorian looked up and tapped his screen ”Welcome to Cantonica. NEXT!”
With that, Corban hurried to the waiting taxi, the door opened, and in he bundled himself.
”And who, exactly, are you?”
Corban looked concerned, and slowly he turned around to where to deep, angry voice had come from. He looked down, and sat in the chair, well – on a hoverchair, balanced on top of the cabs seat, was small green alien, adorned in finery, with a small crown on its head and a scowl fixed on its face. Opposite it was a worn out looking Weequay, doing its best to not make eye contact.
”Well? Answer me damnit. Had I known this was some sort of,” the alien made inverted commas with its pudgy hands as the taxi got underway ”...carpool, I would have booked with a different company.”
”Oh, well I am so sorry, my name is...” Corban stammered, desperate not to offend.
”To think that I, Hypaxian the Twenty-Seventh, would have to car-pool with the likes of, well, whatever you are? By the force it beggars belief doesn’t it Frooj?” the alien, now known as Hypaxian lamented as they zapped past ‘Florgs Florg House’ and up the main casino ”Frooj! I’m talking to you. Frak me the audacity!”
”Corban Sonmi, I won this trip through Blackwell, my employer. Spending chits and all.” he interjected, as Hypaxians eyes widdened.
”Well, good for you,” he patted Corbans hand patronisingly ”Anyway, thank the force we’re hear, FROOJ!” he shouted, waking the Weequay up, as the taxi arrived by the Casinos entrance ”Well, I suppose you’ve got the coin for a game then eh?” Hypaxian barked, as he floated out of the cab, Frooj in tow.
”Well? What does a Royal have to do to find someone with the karks to meet me at the tables!”
