Under Better Circumstances

[Narir Solus]

Narir Solus had been busy in the backgrounds of the war for months now. Fighting to secure areas against growing witch infestations on Dathomir had slowly eaten up what was first weeks and then months. It had been a mess started by some odd ritual that had burned down half the forest. In the aftermath, Narir had led a group of Mandalorian raiders to clean up the remaining problem causers in the area, but the process had been slow and painful.

When the news of what had happened at Mandalore had reached him, he had felt physically ill. It was even worse that Raz was dead and he hadn't been there. He. Hadn't. Been. There. One of his childhood friends and half of his people scorched, and he'd been off securing other territory. Now, as he looked down at the burned remains of the planet, he could feel his jaw trembling, a lump growing in his throat, and a rage. It was the kind of rage that he knew he couldn't do anything with. No matter how many Sith he killed it wouldn't go away. It would only grow and fester.

He turned away from the viewport and took a deep breath. Channeled rage, he told himself. A pointless, directionless anger wouldn't help anyone and he'd watched it consume other men before. He feared it might do the same to him. He was thankful for any distraction as he heard the doors to the bridge hiss open because he knew that hearkened the beginning of his meeting with a man who would know his anger and perhaps then some. It seemed like it had been ages, but he was glad to see his old badger friend. @Painus

 

[Leandros Solus]

An immense burden weighed heavy on Leandros’ heart. Returning here was not what he wanted to do, but it was something that needed to be done. Very few times before had he seen wanton destruction on such a scale, and each of those times he had been at the forefront of it, annihilating the enemies of the Mandalorian people in his quest to break the shackles of oppression. Now it was his people who suffered greatly at the hands of a cowardly enemy. Millions lie dead on the planet below, the life snuffed from them before they had the chance to fight back. It disgusted him to think about.

His heavy footsteps echoed loudly down the metallic corridors of the ship. Weapons clanked against the sides of his armor with the rapid movement of his body. Every step closer towards Mandalore, even in the vastness of space, seemed to cause his anger to grow. He was here to meet with someone he had not seen in quite a long time but was thankful to finally talk to again. He needed to speak with someone who would share his frustrations and want to do something about it. It would serve no one to allow this hatred and rage to go unused. He clutched his daughter’s hand tightly, refusing to allow her out of his sight for the time being, even on a friend’s ship.

The doors to the bridge slid open with a metallic hiss and closed quickly behind him. Leandros strode in, fully clad in his armor, face frozen in a rictus of distaste but hidden behind the faceless visor of his helmet. Without stopping, Leandros continued to march forward, slamming into Narir and wrapping him up in a brotherly embrace. He gripped the man tightly for a moment before pulling back and giving a firm nod. ”Narir,” he finally spoke at last, looking at the badger, ”Thank the gods, you’re okay.” His daughter hid behind his leg, holding onto the backside of his thigh, unsure of who the man her father embraced was. It had been a very, very long time since the two had seen each other.

@Phoenix

 

[Narir Solus]

It was a relief to see a friendly face - or rather armor - again after so long on the ground in the muck and death of Dathomir. He embraced his old friend and comrade in an equally tight embrace, the deep thud of their metal plates ringing out loudly. Nothing that Mandalorians did was subtle, even their greetings.

Su'cuy gar, he said in greeting. "So you're still alive" went the traditional and ironic greetings of the Mandalorians. It seemed more apt than ever in today's situation, and its message was all the more relevant. Each of their lives was fleeting and could be lost in these wars in an instant. Now was not the time to lose heart or falter.

It's good to see you again, he continued in the Mandalorian tongue. It's been too long, he said. How are you? he asked. He didn't feel the need to stand on ceremony, and he knew that Leandros must have been hurting whether he chose to show it or not the door was open.

As the embrace ended, Narir took a step back and noticed the young girl holding tightly to Leandros's leg. Despite having seen Raz numerous times for missions and hearing about the little one, he'd not yet had the chance to meet her in person, although he'd insisted that Raz tell her daughter about "uncle Narir."

Hey there, I'm Uncle Narir, he said, bending down to her level. It hurt him in his heart that the young girl would grow up without a mother. He didn't expect the girl to immediately warm up to him, but he was determined to watch over her if he could. That was what Clan was for. They were all family in the end.

 

[Leandros Solus]

Narir was one of the few original members of Clan Solus who yet lived. Narir, Koil, Reyna, Tanx… So few of their longest-serving comrades continued the fight against the Sith. It seemed, these days, that more and more Mandalorian leaders were being cut down by their enemy or losing the will to fight. With the loss of their Mand’alor, even Leandros had his doubts about the cause for which they fought. The image of their scarred world behind Narir, though, provided him the justification he needed to continue their endless conflict. They could not withdraw now; they needed to unite, now more than ever.

Leandros nodded again in response to Narir, ”Angry,” he said, downplaying how he felt. He glanced down at his daughter as Narir addressed her, smiling gently. She was apprehensive, not knowing who the Badger in front of her was. She recoiled slightly, hoping to hide behind her father’s leg, peeking around it just enough to keep an eye on the mysterious figure. ”He’s a friend, girl, it’s okay,” he reassured her, ”You know who he is.” Though she continued to remain apprehensive, he figured that, in time, she would become more comfortable around him. The trauma of the past few weeks kept her quiet and close to him, afraid of being ripped away from another parent.

Leandros looked up and past Narir, at the planet behind him. Even from up here it looked desolate, hopeless. He inhaled slowly and sighed, his chest rising and falling painfully. ”I don’t even know how many we got off world,” he finally said, shaking his head. After a while, he looked over at the man in front of him, ”I don’t even know how I got off world. How I couldn’t find her.” He didn’t need to clarify who he meant, he was certain Narir would figure it out. The pain in his voice was noticeable, as was the anger. This troubled him deeply.

@Phoenix

 

[Narir Solus]

Narir recognized the word all too well. Anger. It was often too easy a crutch to rely on when you wanted to avoid other emotions. Pure, unbridled rage was the acceptable emotion even if it wasn't always the one they needed. He knew it, but he also didn't change anything about it. It may have been hypocritical of him, but the rage was the only emotion he could bring himself to embrace. It was better than the pain or the guilt.

The girl, though, was a bright spot in the galaxy. Narir smiled under his helmet even as the young girl shied away. That was the unfortunate galaxy she lived in these days: one in which she couldn't even trust her clan. Fear had seized too many of the Mandalorian people. Or was it complacency? The smile quickly faded from behind his helmet at the thought, and with that thought the memories of what had transpired came flooding back. Reality returned.

You're safe. We'll become fast friends eventually, he said in a sweet voice before standing back up to face Leandros again. No, there was no need to clarify who he meant.

We'll bleed them for this, he said quietly. He hated himself for not being there. He should have been. He should have been by Raz's side. But he knew that Leandros was thinking the same.

Were you here? What happened? he asked. He knew what had happened, but that wasn't the same as a soldier's perspective. The perspective of a warrior he respected. He knew that to hear it - or recite it - would be painful for them both, but sometimes the boil needed to be lanced. @Painus

 

[Leandros Solus]

Leandros smiled at the interaction between Narir and his child. The child was still traumatized by the events she had witnessed in the past few days, but the presence of her father and a friend put her at ease, if only somewhat. She continued to hide behind her father’s leg because it made her feel safe. Leandros felt immense guilt that she had to be exposed to war and bloodshed at such a young age and feared for the effects it might have on her in the future. He prayed that nothing ill would befall her mind as she matured but accepted the grim reality that she would be inured to the hardships of conflict far before she needed to be. ”Her name’s Lily,” he said, smiling warmly to himself, knowing that Raz’s middle name embarrassed her to no end. It was a miracle he managed to convince her to name their child that. Now, as her final legacy, he was glad she agreed.

Leandros bent over and picked the girl up, cradling her in one arm, and walked past Narir to look out of the viewport at his home. He elected not to answer the man’s question for a few seconds, instead staring at the massive orb as it floated in space. ”Yes,” he finally said, ”We were about to go get lunch.” He began recounting the events leading up to the annihilation of Mandalore, the surreal memory still fresh in his mind. He thought about that day over and over again, wondering what he could have done differently, wishing he had stayed with Raz to defend her. ”They smashed through our defenses before we could react. The entire Imperial fleet.” He could picture it from here; capital ships slamming out of hyperspace in the bleak vastness of the void to engage the system defense fleet, outgunning it in almost every way. The defenders put up a good fight, but the sheer size of the enemy force overwhelmed their defenses and allowed them control over the space.

”The Empress demanded our surrender, knowing we’d rather die than kneel. The bombardment came shortly after. Troops landed and engaged us on the ground.” He turned to look at Narir, shaking his head, ”They dragged those who couldn’t fight back out into the streets and killed them. Slaughtered them like animals.” He inhaled and let out a tired sigh, turning his gaze back to Mandalore. ”We fought back. Refused to give up even an inch of land. They took immense casualties…” He shook his head once more, scowling beneath his helmet, ”… But it wasn’t enough.” Even in just recalling the battle, he could smell the smoke and fire, the blood and gore. He could hear every scream, every blaster bolt, every lightsaber crack as it slammed against a beskad or through a body. It was like being transported back in time to it.

He set Lily down and turned around to look at Narir, crossing his arms over his chest. ”I fought the Empress on the ground. Schutta came to see the massacre with her own eyes. Ran into me.” His chest heaved with an angry exhale, ”I… don’t know how she got away. I don’t know how I failed to kill her.” He looked down at Lily and shrugged listlessly, letting his hands hang limp by his side. ”Raz was off in another district to rally the resistance there. We split up because we both knew we could handle ourselves.” He shook his head a third and final time, clenching his fists tight. ”Stupid. Stupid, stupid decision.”

He gazed at the ground for a moment, lost in thought, before looking back up at Narir. ”And you? Where were you at, brother?” His tone was hurt, almost accusatory.

@Phoenix

 

[Narir Solus]

Narir knew this would be hard. He knew it wasn't fair to ask Leandros to recount it, but he needed to hear it. He needed to feel the weight of the shame of not being here when his people needed him. There was anger and hatred boiling within him, and it only grew as he listened to the horrible tale. Their people had fought bravely and cost the Empire dearly, but in a war of attrition they always had the disadvantage. The Empire simply outnumbered them too heavily, but they couldn't match Imperial ferocity.

He walked over to the viewport and put his hand on the window, looking down at the planet. For a moment as Leandros described it, Narir was there amidst the chaos. He knew the rush of combat and he knew what death looked like. He knew the streets of his world and in his mind he could see them flooded with blood. And then for a moment he could see Raz. Alone and isolated with a hundred enemies around as she was finally cut down.

He sniffed as quietly as he could. The helmet made that sound the only betrayal of the tears that now streamed freely down his face. I should have been here, he thought again. Over and over the words repeated in his mind.

He wished they had at least butchered the shabuire who had led the attack, but they hadn't. He wanted revenge. He wanted the Empire to pay for this betrayal. There had been a peace and when they had least expected it they'd been struck. He noticed the accusatory sound in Leandros's tone, but how could he argue with it when he even blamed himself?

I was wrong, he said quietly after a moment of steadying his voice. I thought the peace would be... he shook his head ...I was a fool. I thought the greater Dark Side threat was on Dathomir. After the ritual I interrupted there I spent months rooting out remaining insurgents and witches, he said. He knew the Sith weren't people of their word, but perhaps he thought at least the late Emperor would uphold the deal. With his death, Narir supposed it made sense that the deal was broken. He just didn't think it would be so quick.

I should have been here, he said, accepting the blame in Leandros's voice. Abruptly, Narir's fist pounded against the transparisteel and he turned back to Leandros. He could - and would - blame himself to the end of days, but he knew he couldn't change the past. What he could do was find justice for those lost. His armor was not black by coincidence.

I want to make them pay, he said. I don't care what it takes or what cost there is to me, he said. It was a matter of honor: his honor. He had a black mark that he needed to wipe out. He had friends and loved ones who had died. His people had been slaughtered because of a lie. There needed to be retribution.

 

[Leandros Solus]

Leandros listened as Narir gave his excuses. He was foolish to believe there could ever be a peace between their people and the Sith; they all were. Such was the nature of those demons – to lie and deceive others. Yet, for some unfathomable reason, they believed it would last. He now knew that there could be no lasting peace between the two factions, not after the glassing of Mandalore; not after what they did to their people. Leandros watched with cold impassiveness as Narir wrestled with his own demons over his decision to attend to the threat on Dathomir. He couldn’t blame the man, truthfully; none of them could have predicted this attack. He knew that the mental punishment he’d put himself through to atone for this would be far worse than anything any other Mandalorian could do to him, and that was enough for Leandros.

”We were all wrong,” he said after a while, ”Wrong to think that our lives could be anything but unremitting conflict.” He inhaled slowly and sighed, walking over to place a hand on Narir’s shoulder. He patted the man’s armor a few times reassuringly, nodding his head. ”But we’re not dead. So long as a single Mandalorian lives, we will never be dead.” He turned to face the planet, folding his arms over his chest. ”All the Sith did was piss us off. We’re going to make them pay.” His tone barely concealed the hate he felt for their eternal foe. He was rearing for a fight and knew that Narir was too. He needed to gather everyone, rally them, reassure them that this blow would not go unanswered. They needed a direction, a guiding force to follow. He went quiet, deep in thought, and stared at Mandalore.

”I’m going to stake my claim as the next Mand’alor,” he finally said after a while of silence, ”I’m going to rally the clans and we’re going to burn every Sith planet we come across. There will never be a peace until every last Mandalorian is avenged. Until Raz is avenged.” He turned his head, first to look at his daughter, who, by now, had become more comfortable with Narir and no longer felt the need to hide, then to Narir. ”Will you support me?”

@Phoenix

 

[Narir Solus]

The slight gesture of a hand on his shoulder gave a very small measure of peace, but he knew that the hole in his soul wouldn't be filled until he had flooded it with Sith blood... if it ever went away at all.

There was some solace in the fact that Leandros also wanted revenge. He knew that there would be many Mandalorians who wanted the same, and it would be only a matter of time. Narir would be at the forefront of the venture, leaping at the chance for payback. His hand clenched and unclenched at his side. Normally it was a nervous gesture and a bad habit, but this time it betrayed the eagerness for violence that now pumped through his veins.

Absolutely, came his reply without a moment's hesitation. Narir could have put on one hand the number of people he would willingly accept to take on the mantle of Mand'alor. He didn't envy Leandros the job of taking up Raz's mantle, but he also knew that someone needed to do it. They needed unity and a single spirit, and Narir most certainly wanted to take part in whatever counter-action they took part of.

You can count on me for whatever we need to do, he said with a nod before turning to look back at the planet. Ash still filled parts of the planet's atmosphere from such widespread destruction, but he refused to look away.

We're going to make them pay for what they did, he said, this time taking the opportunity to reassure Leandros. Raz won't be forgotten, he said, thinking about all that Raz had done for their people. I don't think the Sith could wipe out her memory even if they wanted to. She'll become a rallying cry, he said, knowing even as he said it that he would forever miss her.

Do you have a target? I'm ready to kick some shebs, he said. He would have gone out to fight right now if he were asked, and he had no intention of backing down until the Sith were pulverized or he was dead on the battlefield as well. @Painus

 

[Leandros Solus]

A slight smile broke Leandros’ otherwise dour demeanor as Narir affirmed that he would support his claim to be Mand’alor. That settled his decision; he would rally the clans and assume the role that the gods destined him to be. Such a move would impel their people to go forth and conquer to avenge their fallen. They would not stop until they had liberated every planet from its Imperial overlords, something he would personally see to. Basilisks would fall from the heavens like meteors and bring Armageddon to any who stood in their way. Fire and fury would rain down upon the Sith and their worlds would burn for all eternity – the price they must pay for their crimes.

”Good,” he said, nodding in acknowledgment. He turned to look at their home again as well, his eyes panning over its ashen surface. He was looking at a gravesite for millions and it did nothing but make him angrier. They needed to strike back swiftly and with extreme prejudice. The Sith had kicked the hornet’s nest. ”Raz won’t be forgotten,” he agreed, ”But the Empire will. We’re going to turn their precious little empire to nothing more than dust.” His fists clenched tight, his blood beginning to boil.

His eyes flicked briefly to Narir as the man asked about targets. For a moment, he thought about where precisely they could attack to inflict significant harm to the Sith. There were so many worlds, so many temples, but which one would hurt them the most? Where could two Mandalorians cause as much damage as possible? Yavin IV, Serenno, Korriban, Dromund Kaas…

”Ossus.”

The word came out of his mouth before he could realize that he said it. Ossus held a Sith temple and academy, and likely a vast repository of knowledge. Leandros knew that its Great Library had been the site of a sacking by the Sith centuries ago, and attacking such a site now seemed poetic enough. ”We’ll destroy whatever knowledge the Sith have there. It’ll be the first step to erasing them from history.” He turned to face Narir again, fists clenched and a murderous gleam in his eyes hidden behind his helmet. ”We attack now.”

@Phoenix

 

[Narir Solus]

Narir's face behind his helmet was grim, but determined. He was ready for this crusade. More ready than he had ever been for battle before. It was time for these demons to pay for what they had done. They had taken too much to be ignored, and they would soon find out precisely what it cost for their sins.

Ossus it is, he said with a nod. Somehow in saying it there was a moment of reassurance. His mind slipped into the familiar zone of combat preparation where everything became hard and objective. His path was determined and was laid out before him as clear as day.

I'll unload my basilisk into a transport. I'll be ready to drop and go whenever you say the word, he assured Leandros. But first, I think we're needed on the surface, he said, knowing that the other men and women of Mandalore needed their new leader. He could guess that was where Leandros was headed next, and he would travel with him.

Ke nu jurkad sha Mando'ade, he said quietly to himself. It was a lesson the Sith were soon to learn in the hardest way possible.

Until we need to head down... he said, before turning and calling out. Around the corner, an excited badger ran around the corner and - upon spotting the little girl - made a beeline for her and began the snuggling process. I thought you might like some company, he told Lily. Narir's badger Atin had always been one for snuggling up to people, and children were no exception.