As the opening theme played, the display turned around to reveal the day's contestants.

[These three players are here to be part of the madness! Here is Good Luck on the Trigger with our host, Alan Tuumen.]

"Thanks, and welcome to our tournament. We started yesterday, so today is day two. We'll see who else joins Asajj Ventress in what will be our first round of 27 players," Alan told everyone.

"Today's group seems to be quite the mechanical bunch. First, we have our 30th seed, General Grievous."

"Anything has to be better than bossing around those bumbling B1 battle droids!" Grievous bellowed.

"Perhaps you'll win enough to reprogram some. Next, we have our 29th seed. Here's our persnickety protocol droid, C-3PO."

"I'm not sure who came up with this grouping, but I feel something dreadful is going to happen to me before they day is over," C-3PO replied.

"At worst, you might find Raffi four times. Finally, we have our top seed, 26th-ranked IG-88."

IG-88 simply nodded in acknowledgment.

"The strong silent types are always interesting. Let's start round one. Everyone is guaranteed at least two spins. Grievous and C-3PO receive two each and IG-88 has five. We'll start with Grievous. Go for it."

"Let's see how easy this works. Just hit the button and say stop?" Grievous asked.

"That's how do it," Alan assured him. "And you started off with 350 credits. Would you like to take your last spin?"

"You bet. Let's get a bigger amount. I know you're up there somewhere. Stop."

"Stop on 150. You finish with 500 credits. Next, we have C-3PO and his two spins."

"Oh dear. I guess I better get this over with. Let's just get something good," C-3PO said, silently pressing his button.

"Thee fifty credits. That must be a popular first spin. You have one more spin for catching or passing Grievous, or you could pass it to him."

"I think I want to try again, Master Alan. I need whatever I can get here."

"There's 400 more credits for you. That gives you 550 and a 50-credit lead over Grievous. Now, we go to IG-88 and his five spins."

IG-88 examined the board and stopped it without saying anything.

"Two hundred credits. Third place and four spins."

IG-88 chose to spin again and did so.

"Five hundred more. That puts you in the lead with 700 credits."

The audience applauded as IG-88 took his next spin."

"Six fifty credits. Your next total is 1350—800 more than C-3PO—with two more spins."

The crowd cheered with anticipation of the next spin.

"Another four hundred credits, giving you 1750 and a 1250-credit lead. What do you want to do with your last spin?"

"Pass," IG-88 replied simply.

"Threepio, that spin is yours, and you have to take it. Let's see if you can close the gap or retake the lead."

"Let's get this over with. I wish I was programmed for this game. Maybe Artoo would have better luck. Stop."

"Five fifty for you. After our first round, Grievous has 500 credits. Threepio has 1100, and IG-88 has 1750. The best part: nobody landed on a Raffi space."

⁂

Alan once again addressed the audience, saying, "We're back with Good Luck on the Trigger and the values are bigger and better. Raffi still lurks, so be careful.

"Once again, the spins are allocated two each to Grievous and Threepio and five for IG-88. Grievous, you have 500 credits—the lowest amount—so you'll play first. Go for it."

"Excellent. Let's take the lead now... Stop!"

"Five hundred credits. That doubles your score to 1000 with one more spin."

"I see 800 up there. Let's get that and retake the lead. I'm the superior being here! Stop!"

"Seven fifty instead. That puts you in a tie for first with IG-88. Next, C-3PO who has 1100 credits and two spins."

"Oh my, it is that time again. Alright, we'll get this over with as painlessly as possible," Threepio replied.

"Stop on 200 and a spin. You have 1300 and that spin keeps you at two."

"Well that was a good thing. Let's try this again. Stop."

"One thousand credits!"

The audience cheered loudly at one of the bigger credit hits so far.

"That moves you up to 2300 credits, 550 more than either Grievous or IG-88. And you still have a spin."

"Oh dear, I'd love to pass, but IG-88 has five spins of his own. I better go again... stop."

"Oh no!" Alan exclaimed. The accompanying sound effect and groan from the audience confirmed Threepio's landing on a Raffi Space.

Raffi laid what looked like an egg shape bomb. As he turned to let it explode, it rolled underneath him and wiped out the animation with its bang.

"That was a tough break to get Raffi on your final spin. But we'll see what happens now that IG-88 has 1750 credits and five spins."

As before, IG-88 silently took his spin.

"Two fifty credits to give you the lead again with 2000. You have four more spins."

The crowd silently rippled with anticipation as IG8-88 took his next spin.

"Seven hundred more. You lead by 950 with 2700 credits in all, three spins."

IG-88 once again chose to spin.

"Stop on 400 credits. IG-88, you have 3100 credits with two spins."

"Pass!"

"OK, we have some strategy involved here. Grievous, those spins are yours and they must be taken. You need 1351 credits or more to win. Anything less than 1350 and IG-88 advances."

"Finally, a chance to show my domination. Let's get something good here. Stop!"

"Raffi!"

As Grievous snarled in displeasure, Raffi flew on screen and pointed towards Grievous to mock him. Realizing something was amiss, Raffi fell to the ground and off-screen.

"Grievous, first, we'll take your remaining passed spin and make it an earned spin because you hit Raffi. Now, you have a decision to make. You trail by 3100 credits. Our largest space is 3000. You need to find one of the few spaces with an extra spin to stay in the game.

"However," Alan added, "You could pass to IG-88. If he hits Raffi, we'd have a three-way tie and have to use our tie-breaker to see who advances."

"Pass!" Grievous replied.

"IG-88, the spin is yours. Hit a credit space, and you win. Hit Raffi, and we have a three-way tie with zero."

IG-88 ignored Grievous' inaudible comments of "Raffi... Raffi" and took the passed spin.

"Raffi! We have a three way tie!"

The audience looked on in surprise. What would happen next?

"Everyone receives one earned spin," Alan said. "Grievous, we start with you. You can take it or pass it to one of your opponents."

"I'll take it! Let's get something big to win now. Stop!" Grievous bellowed.

"Raffi!"

Grievous whimpered loudly as Raffi appeared to drill a hole. Unfortunately, Raffi fell in it instead.

"That's no credits and two Raffis for you. Next, C-3PO plays. You can try for the lead or pass your spin."

"If I do that, I can't win. I have to go," Threepio replied. "Surely, I can get something good here, and stop."

"Three hundred credits is good enough for the lead. Now, we go to IG-88. You need 301 credits or more to win. Three hundred will force another tie-breaker between you and Threepio. Or, you can pass and hope he hits Raffi, forcing another tie-breaker."

"Play," IG-88 responded before carefully examining the board and stopping it when he felt it was best.

"Stop on 250. That's not enough; Threepio is the winner!"

The audience cheered Threepio's victory as the closing credits rolled.

"I didn't know I had it in me," C-3PO replied seriously.

As the closing credits rolled, Alan said, "Threepio, you advance to the main tournament. You'll be the 27th seed and play in our next game that features Luke Skywalker and Jabba the Hutt."

"These pairings sure do get more ominous."

"That also means Asajj Ventress advances as the 26th seed where she'll face off against Yoda and Jango Fett. Join us next time where we see if Threepio or his opponents have Good Luck on the Trigger! Until next time."

[Good Luck on the Trigger is a Mallet Media Production.]