In the whole of the Star Wars mythos, there
are few characters as complex and challenging as Den Siva. Introduced
as an enemy during the Nagai
invasion of issues 95-97, Den Siva developed from cold-hearted
villain to uneasy ally during the remainder of the series, finally
fighting along side our heroes in issue 107, the concluding chapter
of the Marvel saga. A key moment in Den Siva's development can
be seen at the end of issue 103, "Tai."
Den's introduction during the first chapter of the Kinooine invasion can be found in "Wookiee World" volume 6 of Star Wars: A Long Time Ago..., Dark Horse Comics' reprint series of the entire Marvel run. Volume 7, "Far, Far Away", reprints the rest of his appearances.
Den Siva
An abandoned platform floated carelessly above the waves of the planet Iskalon's unending ocean. Rusted debris and torn plasteel littered the platform's ruined surface.
A young swimmer silently surfaced and crested the deck of the platform. He stood carefully at first, his legs adjusting to the unfamiliar weight and his gills breathing gassy air.
A golden skinned Iskaloni with flowing blonde hair, hidden by the shadows of the late day sun, emerged from behind the rubble. "Does it amaze you that the outworlders must live in such an environment?" he asked the startled swimmer.
"Kiro!" The young man called. "I did not see you there!"
"I did not mean to frighten you, Orin. What brings you to this sad place?"
Orin shrugged. "I don't know. The elders of the school say that the outworlders used to visit Iskalon. They say that starships used to land on these platforms and aliens would journey below to the city of Pavillion."
Kiro nodded. "It is true. When I was a boy, Pavillion was filled with all manner of aliens, knocking on the glass and trading exotic wares. Today Pavillion is a ruin."
Orin nodded. "I go there even though Mone forbids it."
"I don't think he'd approve of your visit here either." Kiro swept his dagger across the deck. "But it was here that I forced the Nagai off our world once and for all."
"You traveled among the outworlders, Kiro. What are they like?"
"I suppose they are as diverse as us, but adrift. Those I knew had no home, no school. Some were searching for a place to belong. Others turned their backs on it and could never make their way home. The worst of these were the Nagai."
"The invaders. They came to Iskalon after the Empire fled."
"Yes," nodded Kiro. "I knew one Nagai. His name was Den Siva. His people were stalked across their galaxy by an Enemy that was unyielding and brutal. Den Siva learned to fight the Enemy. He was a fierce and canny warrior; on a distant world called Kinooine, he nearly killed me."
Orin was shocked. There was no greater warrior on Iskalon than Kiro. Orin looked over to Kiro who smiled fiercely. "Nearly dead is a long way from all dead, Orin. Siva underestimated me."
"And in the end, all of his skill was nothing against the Enemy, and the Nagai fled into the worlds of the Empire. Den Siva led the invasion and enslavement of the systems they discovered." Kiro paused and looked sadly to the horizon. "He tortured the people who would one day save his race."
"It's madness!" Orin swore. "They say you slew many Nagai, Kiro. I hope this Den Siva was among them! It sounds like he deserved it as much as the rest of them."
"We should pity him. He thought he was saving his people. He fought to protect them. The Nagai fought their Enemy; they fought the Alliance; finally they even turned on themselves. Fighting was the one thing they knew. The one thing they had left. Only when they had no choice, did the Nagai ask for and accept the help of the Alliance. Everything Den Siva believed in, he betrayed. Few of us, I fear, would act any differently."
"Did you ever see him again?"
Kiro smiled grimly. "Yes, I did. I tried to kill him. He said he had changed, but I did not believe him."
"What happened?"
"That is a story for another time. Come. To linger is to attract the attention of the Chiaki." With that, Kiro gracefully dove into the water.
Orin looked around the platform one last time before following Kiro into the sea.
Den Siva
Type: Nagai Warrior
Height: 1.8 meters
Species: Nagai
Sex: Male
DEX 4D+2 PER 3D+1
Blaster 5D+2 Bargain 4D+1
Brawling Parry 5D+2 Command 5D+1
Dodge 6D+2 Hide 4D+1
Melee Combat 7D Investigation 5D+1
Melee Parry 7D Search 5D+1
Thrown Weapons 6D Sneak 6D
KNO 3D+1 STR 2D+1
Alien Species 5D+1 Brawling 5D
Cultures 5D+1 Climbing/Jumping 3D+1
Intimidation 7D Stamina 4D+2
Survival 6D+1 Swimming 4D+1
Tactics 6D
Willpower 5D+1
MEC 2D TEC 2D+1
Beast Riding 4D Computer Programming/Repair 5D+1
Communications 4D Demolition 4D+1
Sensors 4D First Aid 5D+2
Security 5D+1
Force Points: 2
Dark Side Points: 4
Move: 10
Equipment: Knives, blaster, cloak.
Description: Den Siva is tall, lean and handsome Nagai with a full head of
black hair and penchant for black leather garb.
A Quote: "I never considered, before I came here, that there might be beauty
in what is weak and ephemeral."
Den Siva was created by Jo Duffy and Cynthia Martin.