All of this is NON-CANNON, and a great deal of liberties have been taken with this story, including new races and planets. Please don't shoot me, cannon-nazis. Previous parts are in previous blog posts. Enjoy!
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“Take those fighters out, Kira!” Aaron shouted through the ship.
“What do you think I'm trying to do?” Kira shot back, manning one of the four beam turrets against the pursuing Vaakra fighters.
“How long until we make the jump to hyperspace?” Aaron questioned the computer.
“Fifteen seconds until hyperspace jump.”
“Just a little longer, Kira!”
“Why do they always say that?”
“Ten seconds to hyperspace jump.”
“Aaron, we've got ten more fighters on approach. I'm taking them out as fast as I can, but I can't kill them all. When are we jumping?”
“Right... about... NOW!”
The Shadow Wing disappeared into hyperspace, easily outrunning the Vaakra fighters, as they were only equipped with sub-light drives. Aaron leaned back in the pilot's seat, finally relaxing. Kira walked into the cockpit, taking a seat across from Aaron.
“Who the hell are they and why are they after me?” Kira questioned.
“They're called Vaakra. Assassins, some of the best. They never allow themselves to have their hunt interrupted, unless they are physically threatened, or they see me.”
“You? Why?”
“A few months back, I went to their planet. I had killed a few of their hunters and wanted answers as to why I had to. I ended up killing the leader of the most powerful clan of Vaakra, and a great deal of his guards. Caused all this anarchy, but they reunited eventually, with me as their common enemy, a monster in storybooks.”
“Why are they after me?”
“Damned if I know. You probably made an impact on the wrong people. Lots of Vaakra are guns for hire. But that's just a possibility. For now, let's focus on what we've got. The Vaakra were supposed to go to Kashyyyk after they left Nar Shadda. I plan to go there as well. We've got exact coordinates, let's use them.”
“Fine by me. Now, tell me, why are you after them? Why were you on Nar Shadda?”
Aaron sighed with sadness, “Someone, something destroyed Kayburr. Nothing left but asteroids,” Kira widened her eyes in shock but said nothing. “My entire damned family was there, and I will avenge them, even if I have to face a thousand Sith Lords to do it.”
“I'm sorry, Aaron. I truly am. It seems we both have a reason for vengeance.”
“Then let's go get some,” Aaron replied.
The Shadow Wing left hyperspace and descended down into the atmosphere of Kashyyyk. They're destination was an Imperial military outpost. The Shadow Wing was set down on a landing pad. Aaron and Kira walked down the loading ramp, examining their surroundings. They continued towards the door, and found two corpses, both with lightsaber wounds. Recent too, as the guards' flesh was still glowing hot. Aaron and Kira drew their weapons, ready for anything. They stepped into the base. It was a run-down military complex, looking as if unattended for years. The Imperial symbol was scratched out. Bodies littered the floor, all killed by either a lightsaber or an impact with a wall. The pair advanced, but paused when they heard voices. They listened to what sounded like an interrogation.
“I will give you one last chance. Tell me where you got your orders or meet the same fate as the rest of your men. And I will not kill you nearly as quickly. Why did you send Vaakra into my people's territory? Why did you order them to attack without provocation. Why have you cut off all ties to the Empire? Tell me, or you shall be the one to throw your head onto my blade,” a harsh, rasping voice questioned.
“Go to hell, snapjaw,” another said, obviously trying to hide his fear.
“Very well,” the voice rasped. The man being questioned flew across the room in front of Aaron and Kira. A two-legged reptilian, with a slightly elongated neck, an angled head, with a muscular body befitting that of a warrior, with two sheaths, one containing a blade, strapped to the front of his chest in an “X”, jumped into the room with the other blade, a wicked looking curved and serrated blade, in one hand and the hilt of a blue lightsaber in the other.
“A Drakkar!” Aaron gasped, surprised. The extra-galactic species was rarely seen, mainly due to the fact that the Empire was able to take over their home system, making it very hard for Drakkar to leave and arrive. This one had his blade to the throat of the last guard, ready to tear it out.
“One last chance,” the Drakkar growled.
“Go to hell, you stupid lizard!” the guard sneered defiantly, followed by his agonized screams as the metal blade dug into his throat. The screams died down as the guard died. The Drakkar wiped the blood off on his scales, which were stained with even more blood. He turned his head noticing Aaron and Kira. He drew his lightsaber, a blue, single bladed weapon, and questioned the pair.
“Who are you? What do you want here?”
“Relax. We're not your enemies. We came here for the same reason you did. To find out who these guys are taking orders from,” Aaron said, sliding a hand to his lightsaber. The Drakkar cautiously shut off his blade, staying back.
“Either you are very good at deceiving your mind, or you're telling the truth.”
“Why did you kill the last one? We could've used the information!” Kira suddenly growled.
“Because he was hostile, and he was not going to talk.”
“Oh really?” Kira argued.
“Really. They are loyal to their master, though either fear or charisma, and they will not betray him.”
“So it's a dead end?” Kira asked.
“Not exactly,” Aaron spoke up. The two turned their heads to him. He gestured to the scattered blasters. “These weapons. I know where they come from. I have an old friend there. I believe you'll recognize him too, Kira. He can tell me who purchased the weapons.”
“It was probably one of the guards,” Kira growled.
“Perhaps not. They have no shuttlecraft, and they have been here a long time. The weapons are relatively new, which means that someone else bought them,” the Drakkar explained.
“Smarter than I thought,” Kira smirked.
“Heh. You haven't been on a Drakkar ship. The Valiance was the best cruiser in the Republic fleet. That ship was the pride of the Drakkar fleet, and for good reason. That thing could probably tear apart a fleet of Modern Star Destroyers with not even a scratch. The Drakkar really outdid themselves with it.”
“We build things to last,” the Drakkar stated plainly. “I'm Vorack, by the way.”
“Aaron Karax.”
“Kira Fett.”
“We'd best be leaving now. You should com with us, Vorack, we could use an extra body.”
“Fine. But destroy my ship. There can be no evidence the Drakkar were here.”
“Right.”
The three boarded the Shadow Wing, with the Drakkar examining every last bit of the ship, comparing it to Drakkar fighters and corvettes.
“Not a bad ship. I daresay it could defeat a squadron of Dragoons if fully-equipped with a capable crew.”
“That it could,” Aaron replied, punching in a new course.
“Where are we headed?” Kira asked.
“Bonifex,” Aaron replied.
“Not Bonifex! That place is worse than Nar Shadda. There's open war there, Aaron. You can't possibly believe we'll find anything useful there.”
“Yeah, there's open war. Two armies, considered 'gangs', mainly for titles, as it is a criminal world. One of these 'gangs' is lead by an old friend. Contemplate the name 'Arcturus' while we're flying, Kira. It'll come to you.”
“Arcturus? Doesn't ring a bell.”
“Just think.”
“You sure it's a good idea to fly this ship over to a planet where ships disappear all too easily?” Vorack asked.
“We'll activate the cloak.”
“And if a ship lands on it?”
Aaron sighed, “Fine. We'll activate the automated defense systems. Is that alright?”
“Fine,” Kira agreed.
“Satisfactory,” Vorack accepted.
“Good. Now, we've got a few hours. Get some rest. We'll need it.”
“Yes sir,” the two others both said, walking off to the bunks. The Shadow Wing left Kashyyyk, and the abandoned Imperial base with a destroyed landing pad and the indistinguishable parts of a Drakkar freighter, behind.
I hope they survive at Bonifex .