So, what you're about to read is a part of Lilak's childhood written by Lynn herself. If you can't figure it out, I'll explain. This takes place when she is 6.

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Lilak Renner, age six, was slumped against the casino wall next to the slot machine when she heard the sound of glass breaking. She looked up from her action figure toys, glancing around the casino for the source of the sound.

Over at one of the poker tabels, several patrons were getting roudy. One of them had thrown and shattered the other's beer glass. Lilak shifted her position and leaned forward to listen to them. 

 "You were cheating! I saw it!" 

 A large Chiss was angrily yelling at the dealer. The other players had formed into a semi circle around the two, picking sides in the brewing fight.

Fights were not unusual in Lilak's parent's casino. It also had a bar, and alcohol and chance games aren't always the safest combination. Usually the security droid her father bought took care of fights, but it has been damaged a few days ago and was still in the shop.

Lilak stood up and began to quietly make her way towards the fight. She knew her mother would lecture her for getting close to another fight, but the poor dealer looked like her was about to wet himself, and the glass jugs were expensive and the casino's reputation could be damaged. 

 "Fess up!" The angry Chiss shouted. He jabbed a finger against the dealer's chest, who only gulped in response. Lilak pushed her small body through the crowd of onlookers to get closer. 

 "Hey, kid, get outta here," someone said. Lilak ignored the voice behind her, and managed to break through into the inside of the circle. 

 "I-I swear! It wasn't me!" The dealer said shakily. He caught sight of Lilak, and Lilak recognised him. He had been working at the casino for almost two months now. His name was Aaron, and while he was a good dealer he was also quite a bit timid. 

 Lilak stared into his eyes for a moment. His gaze flickered between the angry patron and her, but all his body language told her he was telling the truth. The patron was just drunk. 

Lilak bravely stepped up to Aaron's side. 

"He wasn't cheating ," she announced. She hated how small and squeaky her voice was compared to the Chiss' growls. 

" Get outta the way, " he snapped at her. He was much bigger up close, but Lilak held her ground. She knew how to handle drunk people.

"No." She responded. The Chiss glared at her, and Lilak glared back. A silence filled the room. Lilak took the opportunity to study the patron. He had an expensive coat on, adorned with flashy buttons and cuffed sleeves. The cuffs were large, and lacked buttons. 

"What are you, four? How'd you even get in here?" the Chiss leered at her. Lilak looked at his blue skinned face, and angry red eyes. They weren't as clouded as a drunk man's should be. A nother reason for why the alien was so upset dawned on her. Her eyes drifted back to the fancy coat he was wearing. 

 "My parents own the casino." Lilak informed him. She took a step forward. A small feeling of victory welled up inside her when the patron's face faltered. " And for the record, " Lilak continued, stepping even closer to him. "I'm six, not four." 

Before the Chiss could respond, Lilak hooked her small hand around the left cuff of the coat, and gave it a hard yank. Several playing cards- all aces- slipped out and fluttered to the floor. 

Another silence filled the area as the situation registered with the rest of the crowd. It was if the whole casino was holding its breath. Lilak thought she ought to deserve a small reward for exposing the Chiss as a cheat, but instead of smugness, a different feeling filled her. It was like an internal alarm screaming at her, look out, run, go. 

Lilak took a step backwards, and not a moment later the Chiss swung at her. Lilak felt wind rush past her as his fist narrowly missed her small head. Immediately, shouts erupted from the crowd and chaos seized the casino. 

"Get over here, you little-" whatever the Chiss was saying was cut from Lilak's hearing as Aaron hoisted her up into his arms, and ducked out of the way of the commotion. 

"Lilak, you gotta stop doing this." He said once the two of them were well away from the crowd. He set her down on an unused roulette table. 

" Doing what? " Lilak asked. 

"Interfering with stupid bar fights," Aaron explained. "That guy almost decked you." 

"But he didnt" Lilak objected. Aaron made a weird stuttering noise and said thing for a moment. The two sat in silence, while security guards broke up the fight from across the room.

"How'd you know?" Aaron asked after a moment. 

"Know what?"

" That he was cheating. He had extra cards, right? " 

Lilak shrugged . "I dunno. It just sorta happened, " she said. 

Aaron sighed. 

"You're such a weird kid, Lilak. Don't tell your parents I said that." 

FIN 

-Lynn