Author's Notes: Because I couldn't find a definitive answer whether Kowakian monkey-lizards use spoken language or not, Salacious will use gestures and/or selection options to indicate his in-game choices.
For this chapter, words in «angled quotes» represent dialogue spoken in Shyriiwook.
⁂
As the opening theme music played, clips of previous shows aired, including Cad Bane's hit of the 3000-credit space in round two. The contestant turntable rotated 180° to reveal the host and 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 the next quarterfinal in our tournament," Alan said. "We're looking forward to more excitement with our players, so let's meet them. First, we have our 23rd seed. He may not be a creature of many words, but we expect he will have plenty of fun. Let's greet Salacious Crumb."
Salacious chattered happily, smiling and waving in acknowledgment.
"Next, we have our 14th seed—a former Jedi turned Sith. Let's meet that master of Makashi: Count Dooku."
"I was never a fan of game shows or competitions," Dooku admitted, "But who knows, maybe I'll actually win for a change."
"Finally, we have the day's top seed, the veteran Wookie loved by many, our fifth-seeded Chewbacca."
«Thanks. It's nice to be here,» Chewbacca replied.
"Here is our big board with credit values for you to win along with Raffi. You want to avoid Raffi because he'll take your winnings faster than an underworld criminal. If you're unlucky enough to have four Raffis during a game, you're automatically eliminated.
"Let's check the spin count for round one. Salacious has two spins. Dooku has three. And, Chewbacca has a perfect six. We start play in order of least spins first, so Salacious goes first."
Salacious studied the board, seemingly mesmerized by the changing colors of the spaces. Finally, he pressed his plunger.
"Three fifty to start off with. You have one more spin. You can play it or pass it."
Salacious pointed at the board and took his final earned spin.
"Big Loot! That takes you to the space above it for 1500 credits—the highest amount this round."
Salacious chattered and applauded while the audience cheered.
"You finish with 1850 credits and Dooku now plays with three spins."
"If that monkey-lizard can do well, I can do better. Let's get a big amount here to start and stop."
"Stop on 212 credits—not a bad start. You still have two spins."
"I definitely need to go again with the Wookie having double the spins. Let's get something bigger or with an extra spin. Stop."
"Raffi!"
As the audience groaned, Raffi appeared on the screen and detonated dynamite. Dooku's score disappeared along with Raffi, leaving behind a pile of animated feathers. Also, a Raffi indicator popped out of Dooku's display.
"I'll remind our audience no real vultures get harmed during our show," Alan said. "You still have a spin, Dooku, and I assume you'd like to take it."
"I need all the credits I can get for now," he answered. "Let's get credits here to end on a positive note. I may as well get something out of this. Stop."
"One hundred credits. That's your score for now as we turn to Chewbacca and his six spins."
«Let's get any credit amount here. I have plenty of spins for catching up. Stop!»
"Two hundred credits puts you in second place with five spins."
«I'll go again. Let's get more of the same or a bigger amount here. Stop!»
"One fifty more for 250. Four spins remain."
«I'm ready for something bigger here on Good Luck on the Trigger. Stop!»
"There's 212, almost doubling your score to 462. You have three more spins. Play or pass?"
«I'll play again. I need Big Loot now to catch up fast. Give me big credits. Stop!»
"Four fifty. You're slowly building your score up with a new total of 912—not quite half of Salacious' total. You still have two spins, though."
«Let's try for the big amount at least once here. I want first place. Stop!»
"There's 400 more. Chewbacca, you have 1312 credits—538 less than Salacious with one more spin. You can try to catch him or pass and hope he hits Raffi."
«I'll play, Alan. Let's get first place here, even if it's just by a credit... Stop!»
"Stop on 500. At the end of round one, Dooku has 100 credits and a Raffi. Chewbacca has 1812. And our leader, by just 38 credits, is Salacious with 1850. We'll be right back with round two.
⁂
"Welcome back to Good Luck on the Trigger as we conclude today's tournament quarterfinal," Alan announced. "Let's see who gets how many spins and announce the order of play.
"Salacious, who plays last this round, has three spins and 1850. Chewbacca has five spins and 1812 credits. Dooku, with 100 credits, a Raffi, and four spins, you play first by virtue of having the lowest score. The board is yours."
"Winning would be nice, so let's hope I get something better than 100 credits this time," Dooku replied. "Stop."
"Raffi!"
Dooku shook his head in disbelief. Raffi appeared and attempted to shoot a blaster at Dooku's score. The resulting misfire took out both the score and Raffi with a large explosion.
"Well, Dooku, you crashed and burned on that spin. It only cost 100 credits, but you have two Raffis and three spins."
"Let's hope the next one is better. I definitely need Big Loot here if I want any chance of winnings. Let's get what we can. Stop."
"Seven fifty puts you back in the game. You trail Chewbacca for second by 1062 credits and you have two spins."
"I should be able to get that in two spins. Let's get a good amount to set me up for my last spin here and stop!"
"Another Raffi!"
The audience groaned once more while Raffi popped his head out from above to look down and laugh at Dooku before falling down with a splat.
"Dooku, you have a spin left, but you also have three Raffis. One more makes you the first player to be eliminated from our tournament in that fashion. Will you take that spin?" Alan asked.
"I can't win with zero, so I need to get something," Dooku replied.
"Alright, go for it."
"I need Big Loot here or an extra spin to have a chance here. Any credit amount will do now... Stop!"
"Stop on Raffi."
Dooku shook his head again. Raffi appeared and mockingly waved good-bye until his wing fell off. To add insult to injury, the fourth Raffi indicator popped up in front of Dooku.
"Dooku, I'm sorry but that fourth Raffi means you're out of the game and you can't advance in the tournament. We'll have some parting gifts for you, so sit back and relax as we see who wins between Salacious and Chewbacca—who plays next with 1812 credits and five spins."
«Let's hope those Raffis stay away. I don't want one, just credits. Stop!» Chewbacca called out.
"Eight hundred. That puts you in the lead for now with 2612 and four spins."
«I need to increase my lead with that 3000 space up there. Let's get more credits or Big Loot. Stop!»
"There's 400 more for you. That gives you 3012 and three more spins."
«Alright, let's go again so I can extend that lead. I want the big credits now. Give me the 3000... Stop!»
"Raffi!"
Chewbacca groaned along with the audience. Raffi flew up to Chewbacca's score and pecked away at the digits until they disappeared. As the last one faded, Raffi's beak disintegrated.
"Raffi really loves being part of this game for some reason," Alan noted. "The good next, though, is you have two spins to try to get 1850 credits."
«I have no choice,» Chewbacca replied. «I need credits here. Credits and nothing but credits. Stop!»
"Eight hundred. That's not a bad amount. You trail Salacious by 1050 so you need something more than that or an extra spin."
«You heard Alan. Let's get the lead or an extra spin. Anything else won't help me here. No more Raffi and stop!»
"Stop on 250. You have 1050—800 credits shy of Salacious. But you never know what could happen here. Salacious, you've waited patiently, so now we turn to you with 1812 credits and three spins."
Salacious grinned as he watched the board begin to update. After a short time, he pressed his plunger.
"Five hundred credits. That gives you 2312 and a lead of 1262 over Chewbacca with two spins."
Salacious pointed at the board again, opting to take his next spin.
"Stop on 400 more. Salacious, you have 2712 credits. That's 1662 more than Chewbacca. You can take your next spin, but hitting a Raffi means Chewbacca would win. Or, you can pass to Chewbacca and hope he comes up with less than 1662 credits for you to win."
Salacious pointed over to Chewbacca, intending to pass.
"Chewbacca, that spin is yours and you have to take it. You'll need Big Loot or something with an extra spin to stay in the game."
«That doesn't give me many good choices, but it's doable. Let's get one of those values we need now and stop!»
"Wow, 500 and a spin! You're still in the game with 1550 credits. You only need 1162 credits, but with the spaces we have you'll either need Big Loot or an extra spin again. Or, you can pass the spin back to Salacious."
To the audience's delight, Chewbacca replied, «I'll go for it!»
"Alright, good luck."
«Let's get the same thing here again. Another spin if I can't get big credits. Stop!»
"Six fifty is not enough. With 2712 credits, our upset winner is Salacious!"
Salacious laughed and put his hands together in a victory pose while the audience cheered and the board silently updated.
"Salacious, you advance to the semifinals where you'll face Yoda and the winner between Han Solo, Padmé Amidala, and Hondo Ohnaka."
Salacious laughed in response.
"Chewbacca, you did your best but came up short. Like Dooku, we'll give you some consolation gifts. Next time, we have Artoo Deetoo, Ahsoka Tano, and Bossk. So join us again next time for more Good Luck on the Trigger. Good-bye."
[Good Luck on the Trigger is a Mallet Media Production.]
