I Never...

ATTON RAND flips a +2 Pazaak card over the dash of the Hawk's controls. URELA TORAL stands behind him, her dark eyes fixed upon the lighted Galaxy Map.

ATTON: Staring at the map isn't going to get us to Onderon any faster.

The Exile nods absently, but does not look away from the blinking orange light at the center of the map.

URELA: Master Kavar needs our help more than he's letting on.

Her frustration is palpable. It makes Atton uneasy, and he channels that energy back into his cards.

ATTON: It will be six hours before we reach Dxun. Get some sleep.

URELA: (Yawning) I'm not tired. I need to be doing something. Anything.

ATTON: (Suggestively) Anything?

URELA: Not that.

With a grin, the scoundrel shoves his prized deck of cards into his front jacket pocket.

ATTON: I was talking about a friendly game of Pazaak.

URELA: Right. Because you only know three phrases in Basic: 'Lets play Pazaak, I need Juma, and will someone please let me out of this Force cage.'

She turns on her heels, abandoning her post at the map and relaxing into the empty co-pilot's chair. Atton offers a conspiratorial wink as he liberates a flask of Correllian whiskey from a cabinet beneath the Hawk's controls.

ATTON: There's another game we could play, if you're interested. A game about the truth.

URELA: (Amused) You've made a game out of the truth, have you?

He pours a finger of whiskey into the flask's shiny lid and sets it in front of her.

ATTON: We take turns using the phrase 'I never.' If you've done whatever I tell you I never have, you take a drink.

Urela sniffs the drink warily.

URELA: Sounds like an excuse to get drunk.

ATTON: Nah. Think of it as a way for us to get to know each other better.

Intimacy is not something the Exile enjoys. She turns away, feigning interest in a stack of old hyperspace charts.

URELA: Maybe I don't want to get to know you any better.

ATTON: Alright, then it's an excuse for us to get drunk. What do you say?

The whiskey smells tempting. Almost as tempting as the promise of a moment's diversion. Urela smiles and nods her assent.

ATTON: Good. I'll start. I've never... wielded two lightsabers at once.

His first pitch is a softball. Urela rolls her eyes and rocks back the shot.

URELA: Okay, I've never counted the power couplings to keep someone out of my head.

Atton raises his flask in a small salute and takes a healthy drink.

ATTON: I never ran around Peragus in my underwear.

She attacks her drink with a scowl, slamming it back hard on to the ship's console.

URELA: Well, I've never crashed the Hawk.

Atton's jaw tightens. He brings the flask to his lips and takes a long, slow drink.

URELA: (Sweetly) Shouldn't you take another? One for each time you've crashed the ship?

If looks could kill, she would certainly be dead, but Atton swallows his pride and takes three swift gulps before refilling Urela's shot glass.

ATTON: I've never made out with Mical in the cargo hold.

The Exile locks eyes with the scoundrel and takes a dainty sip from her glass. Her coy smile ignites both fire and jealousy. Atton stands, unsure of whether to find Mical and kill him, or offer congratulations.

URELA: (Laughing) I'm sorry. Did you think I was admitting to something? I was just thirsty.

Atton can't help but keep score in his head. He knows Urela is making him look foolish, so he decides to attack from another angle.

ATTON: So, what's the deal with you and Kavar?

URELA: It's complicated.

ATTON: So are hyperspace routes, but I manage.

The whiskey has begun to take effect and Urela finds her darkest secret difficult to keep.

URELA: He was my Master for a short time, before the Council intervened. They said we were not a 'good fit.' Among other things.

ATTON: Why'd they do that?

URELA: My habit of forming... attachments was troubling. They felt I had no business roaming the Galaxy at Kavar's side. So, they stuck me in the library. With Atris.

ATTON: The Telos Ice Princess? No wonder you ran off to fight the Mandalorians.

URELA: Yes. I pleaded with Kavar to speak to the Council, but he refused. He was always a loyal soldier, even back then.

ATTON: (Realizing) You had a thing for him.

URELA: What? No. Love is expressly forbidden.

Atton nods, unconvinced, and Urela realizes she has given up a devastating bit of information. She feels exposed. Vulnerable.

URELA: I've... uh... never brought a cantina joygirl back to the ship and had my way with her.

The scoundrel's eyes narrow. She is retreating from him. Again. He clenches the flask tightly before taking the shot.

ATTON: I've never used the Force to make someone shake their shapely behind for a fat, slimy hutt.

Her eyes grow wide and her face flushes a deep shade of crimson. There is a reason she persuaded the bounty hunter to don the dancer's costume, but it is not something she is willing to share.

URELA: You should be grateful Mira danced for Vogga. If she had resisted, you were going to be my second choice.

ATTON: (Cocky grin) If you want to see me without my clothes you don't have to use the Force.

The Exile blushes and Atton grins, enjoying her embarrassment. This only serves in making her angry.

URELA: (Furious) I've never wanted to see you without your clothes.

ATTON: Well, I've never been in love with my Master.

His words are sharp and quick like blaster fire and Urela reacts as if she has been stung. Her long fingers slowly close around the glass and she drains it. For a moment, there is just the hum of the ship's engines until Atton raises his flask and takes a long deliberate drink, answering her confession of love with one of his own. When he is finished, he studies her, waiting for her to speak. The scrutiny of his stare is suffocating.

URELA: Atton, a relationship between us... would not be... I don't...

He lets her stammer a moment longer before stepping in to save her:

ATTON: I'm sorry. Did you think I was admitting to something? I was just thirsty.

It is meant playfully, but the Exile can't see past her own humiliation and anger.

URELA: I've never killed anyone I loved because I loved them.

A shadow falls over the scoundrel's eyes as he takes a swig of whiskey. His everpresent cocksure grin disappears. Replaced by something else. Something far colder. Something Urela has not seen before and does not recognize.

ATTON: I've never blown up an entire planet. What's that feel like, Urela?

Painful. Too painful to express in words. She snatches the flask from his hand and polishes off the remainder of the whiskey.

URELA: I guess that makes me more disgusting than you. More wretched. More pathetic. I guess that means you win, Atton.

She tosses the flask onto the console before exiting and Atton hurls it against the wall in frustration. With a sigh, he retrieves his Pazaak deck and resumes flipping through the cards. Slowly at first, and then faster and faster as he ponders the price of his victory.