Dani the Zeltron
It was a bright, sunny day on Iskalon. A battered Corellian freighter rested on a landing platform that floated on the calm surface of the endless Iskaloni ocean. Rik Duel tossed his vest on the boarding ramp and unzipped the collar of his flight suit to cool off. He stepped under the eaves of his starship, the Moonshadow, in a vain effort to escape the midday sun. Glistening sunlight reflected off the water all around and pursued Rik into the shade.
Rik shook his head. Not too long ago he would have said the hell with it and gone back inside. But he wanted to make sure Dani was going to be all right. He tried again to shake it off, but it didn't work. They'd never believe it back home, he thought. Rik Duel's gone soft. He didn't care. Besides there was no one around to see.
He looked over at Dani who was still standing on the edge of the platform, waiting for Kiro.
"Oh, Kiro, why didn't you tell me?"
Kiro brushed his long, wet hair away from his round, golden eyes and looked at Dani. She scarcely resembled the young woman he had known. She was still beautiful, even by Zeltron standards, yet there was grief in her eyes now.
"I hoped it would be easier if you thought I was dead." He looked over the sea. "I had to come home. My place is here, among my people."
Dani shook her head and tried to smile. "You should've trusted me."
Kiro looked away. "I never meant to hurt you. I was afraid. Afraid of many things." There was much he wanted to say, but none of it seemed like it would help. "I'm sorry," he said instead.
Kiro turned to Dani again. He couldn't tell what she was thinking.
"When I heard you were alive, I came as quickly as I could," she said finally. "Luke told me."
Kiro smiled weakly. "I asked him not to."
"Luke is wiser than the both of us, I think," Dani replied.
Kiro nodded, but was silent for a while. "What's to become of us?" he asked.
"I don't know," Dani said. "The galaxy's at peace now. Did you know that? I was on Saijo when the Tofs surrendered. I watched it happen. I feel like a spectator. I don't know where I belong anymore. I don't know if anything we did mattered."
"It mattered!" Kiro took Dani's hands. "I don't care if everyone in the galaxy forgets or doesn't care. It mattered to me. You showed me places I never could've imagined, and we had grand adventures together. I owe it all to you, Dani."
Dani let go of Kiro. "But when I needed you most, you left me," she said.
"I don't think you ever needed me," Kiro answered sadly. "You're stronger than you know."
Dani sat down on the edge of the platform and dangled her feet in the water. "I wish that was true," she laughed bitterly. "I have such nightmares. I dream of love and terror, intermingled and gone bad. Everything I feel comes out wrong. All because of Den Siva. He tried to make me just like him." Dani snarled. "He tried to make me like the Nagai."
Kiro flinched, stung by regrets. He knew that he had to leave Dani and return home. He had to. It's what he kept telling himself.
"Dani, listen, please. You're so much stronger than that wretched Nagai. No matter what he did to you, you can't let him break you. Your heart is fearless. I saw it on Shawken and Kinooine, and I see it now."
Sensing the awkward moment, Rik Duel, strolled over from the Moonshadow. "How's it going, Kiro?"
"Hello, Rik. It's good to see you again," Kiro answered, thankful for the distraction.
"Rik, what happens next?" Dani asked without turning her gaze from the ocean.
Rik chuckled and stroked his goatee. "You got me, sister! All I know is this: we can't go back to the way things were before, and we probably shouldn't want to. It's a brand new galaxy. Let's check it out."
Dani stood and picked up her boots. She smiled at Rik's foolhardy optimism. "I'm game," she said.
Rik turned to Kiro. "What about you, kid? You're always welcome. I'm sure I can find something for you to do."
Dani put her hand on Kiro's arm. "No, this is his place now."
Rik looked up at the sky. "Up there, that's where I belong."
Dani smiled again. "One day, I'll find where I'm meant to be."
"Dani, I'd like it if you would visit me again," Kiro said.
"Oh, of course, Kiro, honey!" Dani said as she gave him a hug. "I thought you were done with me."
"I guess I was wrong," he answered.
• Dani
Type: Zeltron Adventurer
Height: 1.7 meters
Species: Zeltron
Sex: Female
| DEX 3D | PER 2D+2 |
|---|---|
| Blaster 7D | Con 5D |
| Brawling Parry 6D+1 | Persuasion 4D+2 |
| Dodge 7D | Sneak 6D+2 |
| Pickpocket 5D | |
| Running 4D | |
| KNO 3D | STR 4D+1 |
| Alien Species 4D | Brawling 7D+1 |
| Cultures 4D | Climbing/Jumping 4D+2 |
| Streetwise 4D | Stamina 6D+1 |
| Survival 6D | |
| Willpower 5D+2 | |
| MEC 3D | TEC 2D |
| Hovervehicle Operation 4D+2 | Security 5D |
| Repulsorlift Operation 5D+2 | Space Transports Repair 3D+1 |
| Space Transports 5D |
Special Ability:
Stamina: Zeltrons are notoriously hard to kill. Their natural endurance gives them +2D on all Stamina, Survival, and Willpower skill checks. These bonuses have been included in Dani's stats.
This character is Force Sensitive.
Force Points: 1
Dark Side Points: 1
Move: 10
Equipment: Two blaster pistols, 1000 credits.
Description: Dani is tall, magenta and haunted by tragedy.
A Quote: Den: "I think... we are not so different after all."
Dani: "And I say we are, and I cheer the differences."
Dani was created by Jo Duffy, Kerry Gammill and Tom Palmer.