Chapter 4
Beka landed in the spaceport and secured the Maru before heading out. She had no idea what she wanted to do or even what there was to do. Planets weren't really her thing normally. She just felt like getting out and doing something totally different for a much needed change.
Not really sure where to start or where to go, being a stranger here, Beka figured she'd go someplace that every planet and drift had—a bar. Beka felt comfortable in them. She'd been in enough all her life.
Luckily there was one not too far from the spaceport. Beka entered and checked out the action. It was your standard ordinary bar/casino. All kinds of drinks were being served and many gambling games were going on.
Beka took a seat at the bar and ordered a Sparky Cola. Harper wouldn't have believed it if he were there. She could hardly believe it herself. But Beka figured why not try it? It wasn't too bad.
She finished it and then got up to leave. "Hey want to join us?" A male voice called to her. Beka turned towards it. From one of the gaming tables, a tall, muscular, dark man called. "You look like the gambling type. We're playing poker? Care to try your luck?"
Beka thought for a minute. 'Why the hell not?' It would be something to do. She took a seat at the table. She knew how to play poker. This could be fun. "Deal me in."
At first things were O.K. But then Beka noticed the guy who called her over was cheating. That annoyed her greatly. "Hey, you, if you can't play, don't play but don't cheat."
He was indignant. "I don't cheat."
"Well, excuse me, but I know cheating when I see it." She didn't add that that was because she had done her fair share of it over the years. "You were cheating."
"I wasn't and I'll thank you to keep your mouth shut."
That was the last straw. "Nobody tells me to shut up."
'Well, I'm telling you."
"I won't."
Then he shoved her. She shoved back and he bumped into another patron who then took a shot at them. Before too long the whole place had erupted into a brawl. Chairs and tables were flying allover the place. It was inevitable that the security force for this planet would be called in. And they were. And they hauled off and arrested everyone involved. Including Beka Valentine.