Chapter 1: Boarded

Fenyx is 16 in this.

1 year after A Legacy Begins chapter 4

Fenyx flipped through a book. An honest to god paper book. He had no idea where they had gotten it, but it offered some much-needed escape from the throbbing in his shoulder. He marked his page and set it down as a crewmember walked in. "Sheril? What do you need?" He asked. "How's Jared?"

Sheril was a female around his age. She was tall, slim, and dark. She wore a pair of dark olive green leggings that stopped right below her knees, a medium grey long sleeved shirt, and (just like the pants) a darker olive vest over it. She wore a beret of the same color, which was currently shoved and sticking out of a pocket. A sharp and jagged blade was hidden in her boot and a pistol was holstered on her thigh. She leaned against the wall. "Just coming to see what's up. How your shoulder is. As for the Captain? We don't know… He took the shot at point blank…"

Fenyx looked where his right shoulder had been bandaged. It had been a lucky shot from security when the person buying the smuggled goods wanted to make sure that he wouldn't be outed.

Then

Fenyx stacked the last box of artifacts found on a wasteland of a planet in the hanger of the large ship. Jared was finalizing details for the trade. Fenyx rolled his shoulders back and did a once over of the crates. Everything was in order. He heard voices raising. He glanced to see the buyer adopting a threatening look.

He turned to Sheril, who was helping him with the unloading. "What do you think is going on?" he asked as he watched the buyer walk over and inspect the contents. He pulled out a slugthrower from one of them.

"No idea. Don't know why that thing is even interested in this old stuff. These weapons are so outdated by now…" She said, frowning.

Fenyx paused, "Maybe because the bullet fired would be moving too fast and be too small to block with a lightsaber? Or to see and move away from?" He suggested.

"Maybe. But it isn't up for us to figure out. Besides, do you see someone like them going against a Jedi and winning? I just hope they finish up soon. I don't have a good feeling about this." She said as the buyer turned.

"Yeah… I was talking Sith. At least they are finishing up now. Come on, let's get out of here." Fenyx said as Jared turned.

The next few seconds happened so fast it was hard for the crewman to take in. The buyer spun around with the loaded weapon. A loud bang and their Captain fell to the ground with a yell, blood staining his white shirt red. The two turned as the next round was fired.

"Grab Jared!" Fenyx shouted as he returned fire.

Sheril grabbed the Captain, hauling him to the entrence "Come on cowboy." She grunted.

A crewmember of the Rouge stepped out to see what the commotion was about. His eyes widened and he alerted the pilot to prepare to make a swift exit. Fenyx fired back, buying time for them to get on board. He made it into the Rouge. As the door was closing, Fenyx felt a sharp pain in his shoulder.

The other crewman waited for the door to fully close before all but dragging him to the Med-Bay.

End flashback

"Well, here's to hoping that he'll pull through. I don't think any of us what to have Vance in charge around here." The two laughed, trying to imagine what it would be like under command of the burly rodian in question.

Sheril stopped laughing and dropped down onto the bunk across from him. She hesitated before asking, "But to the reason I'm actually here. Next time we have leave, would you want to grab a caf with me?".

Fenyx stumbled over his words, "Sure… Yes… I would love to…"

"Great!" she stood and was gone, leaving him to bask in the awkwardness left behind. He covered his face. Vlad was right, he was hopeless.

The quiet wouldn't last long as the freighter rocked, throwing him from his seat. He recognized it the sound. Someone was firing on them. He heard the clunk of someone boarding the ship. He pulled a blaster from its holster and took off.

The door swished open and he ran out. The thunder of feet and the sound of blaster fire echoed throughout the ship. Fenyx came to a halt as a couple of boarders turned a corner. He fired a few unaimed shots before ducking into a room. He shifted out and fired, hitting one of the two. He fired again, the bolt hitting its mark. After this, the smuggler took off. He needed to get to the escape pod. That's where everyone else would be headed.

After a few firefights, he reached his destination. The pod was gone. He cursed, realizing exactly what had happened. The crew had jumped ship without him.

"Well then. Objective changed." He muttered preparing to clear the ship. He started systematically clearing the ship. The crew had taken care of most of them, leaving only three or four easily dispatchable henchmen. Fenyx turned towards the medbay. He froze.

The buyer stood, a dagger positioned right above the unconscious captain. "I'd lower that blaster if I were you. We wouldn't want Lee here to get hurt more then he already is." The leader growled.

Not knowing if he'd follow through with the threat, Fenyx holstered his guns. He raised his hands slightly, "What do you want. Well, besides us dead of course…"

"Dead? Why would I want you dead?"

Fenyx frowned, "Aside from shooting Jared? Or boarding our ship and killing half the crew?"

"They got in the way. I see you took down quite a few of my men yourself. I could use someone like you. Besides, I wasn't coming for you or your shipmates. I was after your cargo. Those I'm willing to let you go unha-" a bolt hit him in the chest.

Fenyx's eyes widened. He looked at his gun. He hadn't fired. He frowned before hearing the sound of metal sinking into flesh. A choking. He looked towards the dying pirate, then the smuggler captain (who had up to the point been still). He'd never seen someone he cared about die. He knew they had, but he'd never seen it happen. All his training had abandoned him as he stared in horror. The Pirate gave one last smirk before tumbling to the floor. Fenyx rushed to his Captains side and felt for a pulse. It wasn't there.

He turned and slid to the floor, suddenly unsure of what to do. He was alone on a ship of dead in the middle of space. He needed to clean up, both himself and the ship. First he needed to get in contact with someone. Fenyx stumbled to his feet. He leaned on the holocom, feeling emotionally drained, he dialed in a frequency. It was picked up.

"Fenyx? What is it?"

"Vlad… I need your help."

End Story

I was writing this while listening to Regretful Reads, and I want to bleach my brain and gouge out my eyes… Besides the traumatization going on, Regretful Reads is a great way to pass time and question your life choices at the same time… I'd suggest it for anyone over 13… Just don't start with the first Bee Movie video.

Stay safe everyone!

-VR