Dash & Kay - The Balmorran Star

Dash closed the door to the apartment, fighting the urge not to look up at the security camera that he knew was watching from above.

“Kay, are you here?”

“Yeah, I’m in my room.”

Heading towards Kay’s room he glanced sideways and caught the sight of himself in the common room’s giant mirror.

It’s still strange being blue, he thought. His normally red skin had been dyed a deep blue and covered in strange tattoo’s to mask his identity. He entered Kay’s bedroom.

“So… how’s it going?”

“Pretty good. I’m just touching up some of the highlights with makeup,” Kay said turning to look at Dash. “I still can’t get over you being blue though. At least I don’t see a complete stranger when I look in the mirror.”

“Yeah it’s pretty weird… being blue that is,” he murmured the last part looking at her with a twinkle in his eye. He had to duck as Kay threw her makeup bag at him.

“You’re going to pay for that comment!”

“Yeah well, speaking of paying,” his voice got serious, “I, uh, wanted to talk about the other morning. Look, I’m really sorry about what happened in the casino.”

“Hey, it’s OK Dash. I know you were just trying to find out about Starkon. Damaria was with you. I think she’d set you straight if you tried anything with some random floozy. And besides, it’s not like we’ll see this girl again anyways.”

“Yeah, uh, exactly.” Dash didn’t know how to explain exactly what happened with Koyi.

“Did you ever find out how she was linked to Starkon?”

“Not really. She did say he was talking to a lot of people.”

“Yeah, well I hope we can put this business behind us. I mean, I have enjoyed hanging out with you, that little furry magician was so hilarious, but the rest of all this.”

“Is there something wrong?”

“Well,” Kay sat down on the bed. “I don’t know if I can live up to everyone else’s expectations. I haven’t been useful at all this mission. They don’t even know me. I feel like an outsider. And…” Kay’s eyes started to fill with tears.

“Hey, that’s not true.” Dash sat down next to Kay and took her hands in his. “You’ve been super helpful. I know Damaria and Tor like you. We just met Arali but I think she’s pretty happy having us a nephew and niece. Swift’s pretty neat and Sprend just acts like a grumpy old man sometimes.”

“I guess so. I don’t know. It just feels like I’m living a different life now. After… well, you know.”

“Hey, yeah I know. It feels different for me too.”

“Dash?”

“Yeah?”

“About this mission, we’re supposed to find out all this stuff and steal it or whatever.”

“Yeah, I think we’ve done pretty good so far.”

“And then the Governor… we’re supposed to…”

“Make it look like an accident?”

“Yeah, are we actually going to do this? I mean, stealing stuff is one thing, but to… kill?”

“The Empire’s doing it every day. You’ve heard the reports from HQ. Entire planets being wiped out.”

“Yeah, but do we need to do the same? Aren’t we better than that?”

“We don’t kill because we want to. We need to defend ourselves.”

“Yeah, I guess so.” Kay looked up at Dash. “Do you think the others are going to make me do it? Kill Varentari, I mean? I know I could get close to him. I trained for that. But I don’t think I can do it Dash. I don’t think I could take that man’s life. I think that’s what has me worried the most. I can’t do what the Rebellion is asking me to do.”

“Hey, I get it. It’s one thing when the blaster bolts are flying, but to just sneak up and just do it. Not to mention something feels off about this mission. It seems like things are pointing away from the Empire.”

“You mean you don’t think Varentari is doing this for the Imps?”

“Maybe. I think we should talk to the others about it.”

“That’s a good idea.”

“And who knows, maybe we’ll get to see the Great Zeeastro again.”

Kay laughed at this. “Do you think he’ll perform again after last time? He seemed pretty angry at the crowd.”

“He can’t be too angry, that show was almost sold out.”

“True. Thanks again for taking me there. I don’t think I have laughed that hard in a very long time.”

“Hey no problem. When we’re back on Balmorra there are a ton of places I want to take you to. And maybe once we get there I’ll be able to wash this horrid blue color off.” Ducking Kay’s punches, Dash jumped off the bed and tried to run out of the room. With a sweep of her leg she tripped him and he tumbled down onto the floor.

“Serves you right, you idiot.”

Dash groaned.

“Just remember that when you go out kissing other girls.”

Dash groaned again.