QI’RA: Chapter Forty-Four

Leaving Coruscant

Captain Peer couldn’t believe what had happened. Since the party the previous evening Crimson Dawn leader Qi’ra had nearly been assassinated, her bodyguard, the stern cyborg woman named T-38 was dead, and her top lieutenant was apparently the orchestrator of Qi’ra’s attempted assassination.

As he walked across the tarmac filled with Star Destroyers alongside a subtly seething Qi’ra he could only think of one thing to say: “I knew your top lieutenant was untrustworthy.”

QI’RA: Chapter Forty-Three

Qi’ra vs. Nienye

Qi’ra never imagined that when she discovered Nienye on Tamoran over a year ago, admiring his skills as he fought ten opponents to stay alive, that she was looking at her greatest opponent. And greatest he was.

Nienye was a skilled spearsman and his weapon’s length was keeping her at bay. Every time she tried to move past his defenses he performed a maneuver with his spear that forced her to back away. Spectators had moved away to prevent from being struck in the fight but they were sticking around to watch the duel, oohing and aahing like individuals at a sporting event as Nienye and Qi’ra added to the nighttime entertainment.

QI’RA: Chapter Forty-Two

Found

Nienye was sitting in a nightclub, the neon lights, loud music, rowdy inhabitants, and clouds of smoke assaulting his senses. This was where Ruthless Kruul had said he’d meet him.

He had gotten to the establishment nearly thirty minutes ago and Kruul was nowhere to be found. He had hired the bounty hunter upon their arrival on Coruscant because Kruul was supposed to be an efficient killer who got his job done quickly. But Qi’ra was a formidable warrior. One of the best he had ever seen. What if Kruul wasn’t able to defeat her? The thought was terrifying, to say the least, for Qi’ra wasn’t one you wanted to have on your bad side.

QI’RA: Chapter Forty-One

Qi’ra knew Nienye was behind the ambush. Why he turned on her, she couldn’t understand. She had never treated him poorly and they seemed to have a close relationship. And yet, he had betrayed her and T-38 was dead because of his traitorous actions.

The tears she shed had reached its end. Now she was filled with an anger that burned like a coal inside her stomach.

QI’RA: Chapter Forty

Survival

Qi’ra and T-38 burst into the front room of the suite to discover a man cloaked in black waiting for them, a small gang of eight black robots with red eyes wielding daggers in their hands at his back.

There wasn’t a chance to assess what was about to happen. Instead, Qi’ra and T-38 attacked immediately.

QI’RA: Chapter Thirty-Nine

Ambush

T-38 rushed to Qi’ra’s side, her eyes wide as she beheld her boss. Her skin was getting paler, her breaths were heavy, and she seemed barely on the cusp of consciousness. She hurriedly picked Qi’ra up and took her into the bedroom. As she lied her on the bed Qi’ra grabbed her arm.

“Nienye,” Qi’ra said softly. “Where’s Nienye?”

“He left,” T-38 told her bluntly. “Now stay here. I need to find out what’s wrong with you.”