Knife was the first Nagai
to appear in the Star Wars mythos, in issue 91 of the Marvel series.
While visiting Kashyyyk, Han Solo, Chewbacca, and Lando Calrissian
encountered a mysterious alien known to the locals as "Knife"
who was attempting the restart the slave trade on the beleaguered
Wookiee homeworld. Thanks to the intervention of Chewbacca, Solo
and Calrissian, the scheme was foiled, but Knife managed to escape.
Shortly thereafter, in issues 95-97, Knife was revealed to be a member of an alien race called the Nagai. The Nagai attempted to deal a crippling blow to the Alliance of Free Planets by capturing the Alliance ambassadors and delegates convening on the planet Kabray. However, Knife failed to account for the elemental power of four Zeltron teenagers, and they, along with Han Solo and Princess Leia Organa, managed to save the day.
In order to build a power base ahead of the Nagai's ancient enemy, the Tofs, Knife continued to lead the Nagai against the Alliance and enlisted the aid of Imperial remnants as well as the Dark Lady Lumiya.
More than anyone else, the Corellian rogue, Han Solo, proved to be a thorn in Knife's side. Solo even critically wounded Knife during the Nagai's assault on the Rebel base on Endor. Ultimately, however, the Nagai united with the Alliance against their common foe; and Solo and Knife fought alongside each other in the final battle against the Tofs on the planet Saijo in the concluding story of the Marvel series, issue 107.
Knife's appearances can be found in volumes 6 , "Wookiee
World", and 7, "Far, Far Away", of Star Wars:
A Long Time Ago..., Dark Horse Comics' reprint series
of the entire Marvel run.
Knife
"Damn you, Siva!" Knife snarled, "I should kill you where you stand!"
It was not an idle threat. Den Siva took a step back from his commander. They stood on the bridge of the Nagai battle cruiser Katara where Siva had just completed his report of the events of the Nagai's assault on Zeltros. Things had not gone as planned; the Nagai had not been the only ones to invade the Zeltron homeworld that fateful evening.
Den drew himself up again. "Sir, I don't think you understand."
Knife snapped back at Siva. "I understand perfectly. You accepted the help of our enemies. Your infatuation with that Zeltron girl has dulled your senses. You've forgotten who you are."
"And you've forgotten who the real enemy is. How long have the Tofs pursued our people? Yesterday on Zeltros we defeated our ancient enemy. How many times has that happened? These people we've encountered hold the key. The humans, the Iskaloni, the Hiromi, and yes, the Zeltrons, they are not our enemy."
Knife's eyes seemed to burn with rage. "They are all our enemies!"
"We are Nagai, Siva. We exist now only because of the strength that has been tempered into us. It is this strength that has kept the enemy at bay, and if we accept any weakness, any mercy, we will shatter and die. We risk abandoning those beliefs which we hold most dear."
"We risk extinction if we don't accept the help of the Alliance. Just because you are known as Knife, the meaning of our people's name, does not mean you speak for all Nagai. If we do not ask for help, we will die. Even your brother would agree."
Den took a breath. He risked much to invoke Knife's half-brother, Bey.
"My brother is weak. His weakness nearly killed me and betrayed us all. If we defeat the enemy but lose ourselves in the process, the struggle and sacrifice of those who came before will have been for nothing."
"I would rather live than die," Den Siva said.
Knife looked at Siva with disdain. " I will transmit your
report to our leaders. They will decide our fate. Either way,
I fear it will be the end of the Nagai."
Knife
Type: Nagai Officer
Height: 1.8 meters
Species: Nagai
Sex: Male
DEX 5D PER 3D+2
Blaster 7D Bargain 5D+2
Brawling Parry 7D Command 7D+2
Dodge 7D Con 6D+2
Melee Combat 8D Hide 5D+2
Melee Parry 8D Investigation 5D+2
Thrown Weapons 9D Persuasion 6D+2
Search 5D+2
Sneak 6D+2
KNO 3D STR 2D+1
Alien Species 4D Brawling 5D+1
Intimidation 6D Climbing/Jumping 3D+1
Languages 5D Stamina 4D+1
Streetwise 5D
Survival 5D
Tactics 7D
Value 5D
Willpower 6D
MEC 2D TEC 2D
Astrogation 4D Computer Programming/Repair 5D
Repulsorlift Ops 4D Demolition 5D
Space Transports 4D First Aid 4D
Starship Gunnery 3D+2 Security 5D+2
Force Points: 3
Dark Side Points: 6
Move: 10
Equipment: Throwing knives, vibroblade, blaster, bandoleer.
Description: Knife is a small and lean Nagai with pale skin and dark gray
hair. He wears loose fitting robes in which he conceals numerous daggers
and blades.
A Quote: "Mercy to the enemy isn't our way, Bey. I thought you understood that."
Knife was created by Jo Duffy, Tony Salmons and Tom Palmer.