Locke Kubed

“Do you know why Dejarik is the perfect game?”, Kube flickered slightly as he moved about the room.

“I know it makes us a lot of money back home.” Locke realized he was talking to a hologram about a holographic game. He relaxed a little and decided he would only have to fire SOME of his security staff instead of starting all over.

“It is the perfect mix of three things.” Kube continued, “You have brute strength, strategy, and luck. Most games are only one of each, two at the most.”

“Look, I’ve had a really long day, is there a point on the horizon or what?” Locke sat down on his bed. He wasn’t lying, today had been especially stressful. Usually, he would have welcomed conversation, but most people seemed to be avoiding him, and he was feeling the effects.

“My point is that you’ve been playing all wrong.” Kube’s eyeline didn’t shift at Locke sat down, so that told him it was an audio-only feed out. Clever. “You’ve been using your position and money like the brutes in the game.”

“Which piece should I imitate?” Locke humored the illustration a bit more.

“You shouldn’t be a piece, you should be a player.” Kube let the sentiment sink in with a few beats of silence. “You yourself should be working things from afar, not getting your own name in the record. Behind the scenes, that’s where you can win.”

“Win?” Locke perked up, “Win what?”

“That’s up to you Senator.”

“And why are you offering your services now?” Locke wondered about the timing, it almost felt too convenient.

“You came out of the shadows today, you showed everyone who you are, at least to those of us paying attention. This leaves us with the question, what do you want?” Kube realized he had a live one on the hook, it was time to just reel it in.

“Only one thing,” Locke admitted. “I can call you on this?”

“Any time any day,” Kube confirmed. Locked flicked off the holo transmitter, and was alone again with his thoughts. Kube’s words made sense, and he would need to be more discreet to avoid Halcyon’s displeasure. Besides, for his efforts to succeed, she had to be blindsided. A slow smile spread across his face, perhaps there was a chance after all.