Red/Story

Red

Story

Nar Shaddaa is a horrible place to live. I absolutely hate it with a passion. I can’t go outside without seeing someone trying to swindle the other, people getting shot for not paying their debts and the plethora of bounty hunters and mercenaries looking to make a quick credit. It’s a surprise that I’ve managed to live this long. Maybe it’s because of my connections or maybe the strangers who pass me by think I can fight because I’m an Echani. Whatever the reason, I’m alive and I feel like I shouldn’t be. My appearance alone should be the sole reason why I should be shot. Enough dwelling, Nash.

I walked into the cantina, the same one that apparently the Jedi Exile went to during the Mandalorian Wars. Was it the Mandalorian Wars? I don’t know. Does it matter? I’m not a subordinate of the Galactic Alliance anymore. I don’t have to pay attention to worthless history lessons that won’t benefit me. I’m a bounty hunter now. I only care about my survival and the credits. I chuckled while I took a sip of Juma. I am a bounty hunter aren’t I? I definitely don’t look like one and I’ve never taken someone’s life before. I’m just a young man with a bit of a belly who does next to nothing in life. I’m just a loser who should’ve picked a career in being some political leader’s advisor. Too late now.

“You shouldn’t wear such a nice white top” the woman’s voice oozed sexuality and seductiveness. I turned my head and saw a Twi’lek female with beautiful red skin wearing an outfit that exposed her arms and legs with a hole in the chest area to show her cleavage. She sat down next to me, my gaze strictly on her “What happens if you spill your drink? You’d never be able to wear that shirt again… that would be a shame because it looks so good on you”

I laughed and put my drink down “For all the times I’ve been here I’ve never been approached… especially by someone… like you” I said, trying not to seem corny or cliché

“That’s surprising, really” she said “You have gorgeous white hair and such a slim body”

I shook my head “I’m actually a bit fat. It just doesn’t look like it through my clothes but I bet if I took my shirt off you wouldn’t be impressed”

“Why don’t you take it off and let me be the judge of that?” she teased “I’m more attracted to someone’s aura and energy… you could be old and fat but so long as you have that magnetic feel to you that draws me in, that’s all that matters to me”

I raised my brow “Really? I’ve always assumed that women- of any race- liked their men tall, strong and wealthy… and trust me, none of those fit me” I said this to test her. Although the first two descriptions about not being tall and strong we’re true, I lied about the last one. I was testing her, seeing if all she wanted from me was my credits “Am I wrong?”

She giggled and moved in close so that our arms and shoulders touched “You just don’t know women then” that was true “You’re cute… your face… the way you carry yourself… it’s attractive in it’s own way. You’re like an innocent young man but when I see those eyes and the way you act… I can tell there’s something there”

I laughed softly and started playing around with my cup, my gaze now focused on it “You Twi’lek’s have a way of saying things… the way you say things reminds me of Zeltrons”

“Zeltrons just love to love… something I live by as well. In fact…” she wrapped her arms around my arm with her breasts pressing up against it “I was hoping that you would love me… for tonight at least. I want to give you comfort”

“Comfort?” I asked pretending not to know what she meant

Without another word I followed her out of the cantina to her place. We both knew what we wanted but we decided to play it slow and romantic. When we got there she poured me glass of a red drink that I didn’t know about. I didn’t say anything because I only had one thing in mind.

While she had her back turned, I went up to her and gently ran my hands from the top of her neck to small of her back. Although I couldn’t see her face I could tell her eyes were closed and that she loved it. I wrapped my arms around her waist while she put one hand on my cheek and the other she used to grasp my hands.

“What was that comment you made about me taking off my shirt earlier?”

She didn’t say anything. She just laughed and then turned around to face me. She wrapped her arms around my neck and proceeded to kiss me. We had a long passionate one. I used my hands to grab her by the thighs so that I could carry her to her bedroom. Once we entered, I forcefully pushed her onto her bed. I unbuttoned my white shirt and she was kind enough to help me. I decided to help her as well.

With everything exposed she looked at me, lying on her bed while covering herself up with a blanket “What now?” she asked

This is where everything ended. I knew it was coming but I still felt terrible about it. I swallowed and I swallowed hard “I’m sorry” I told her

She raised her brow while I started stepping backwards, trembling slightly. She stood up, her face filled with concern “Are you alright? Did something happen? Did I do something wrong?”

“Yeah you did” Tag said abruptly which made the Twi’lek turn around. She was shocked to find my tall blonde… girlfriend?- who wore her trademark outfit which consisted of short shorts and a corset-like top with a vest over it. Tag had her blaster aimed at the woman’s head, her eyes radiating hatred which I assumed stemmed from her jealousy.

“Sorry schutta”

I watched as Tag pulled the trigger therefore killing the red-skinned girl. She fell on the ground, her corpse right in front of me. Tag had made a burn mark right between her eyes. I frowned. Not because she was dead, but because I had become so accustomed to seeing horrors such as this that it became nothing special and even a part of life.

We left the body inside. Our employer would pick it up soon and by tomorrow we would get our pay. I walked out to the balcony to get some fresh air. I laid my hands on the rail with my head down trying to calm myself.

“Shouldn’t you be used to this by now?” Tag asked, sounding a little disappointed

She tossed me my shirt to me and while I put it on I explained myself, “It’s not that. It’s… I’ve just been thinking- about a lot of things lately. About life- about my life and how everything… ended up this way”

“Save it for someone who cares” she said while she downed the liquid of the death stick in her hand “Oh and don’t forget to take that antidote. That drink she gave you is about to come into effect soon so unless you want to be dead like her, I suggest you take it”

I smiled weakly while I reached into my pocket to grab a small tube that held a green serum. I downed it in the same manner as Tag had with her death stick. I went inside and found Tag sitting down and making herself comfortable. I’ve worked with her long enough to know that that meant she wanted to stay until our employer came. It felt odd sitting down inside the place of someone you helped kill. Even more disturbing was doing all that while the person’s corpse was in the other room.

“You did good today” she said, the death sticks slowing taking their effect “I can’t believe you actually pulled it off”

I smiled “What? You didn’t think I could be charming?”

She scoffed and rested her legs on mine. I put one hand on her bare thigh and the other on her boot. Soon, she became dazed and relaxed while she entered a new reality created by the drug she had taken. I sighed and thought to myself, what did I do to get me to this point in life?