Watch it burn.

[Dax Rau (TL8)]

Umbara - Shadow Enclave
22:00 hrs.
​

Dax Rau stood at the controls of a holo projection table within one of several mission briefing rooms on the Mandalorian base know as "The Enclave." His home as it were. He had been here, in front of this table, for hours. Deep diving into the battle on Toydaria, the bunked watch mission on an abandon space station, and a couple of other mistakes. The first of which nearly cost him everything.

Toydaria put him in a med bay for weeks. It had nearly killed him, slagged his armor. And nearly taken his closet friend. In the wake of that battle, what had remained of The Death Watch had scattered to the winds. Returning to their clans or to other personal agendas.

Broken and alone, he rested and healed. Now, he stood at this fraking table. The imaged were like chains, binding him to it. A prisoner of his own self doubts.

"Lurking in the shadows is not your style." he said, in a not unhappy but flat tone. He didn't turn to look but he knew that Cory was standing in the shadows. Watching him beat himself up.


@EmilyHuene

 

[Corrine Solus]

A failed mission. A daring escape. Weeks of guilt. Corrine Solus knew what Dax Rau was feeling because she was feeling it too. Her mission to the space station Archimedes which was orbiting Vandyne had been a total failure. It was Corrine's first time being in charge of a squad -at Dax's request- and she'd bombed it. Her troops were scattered and she found the place far too protected for their efforts and they had to retreat. Corrine was humiliated. But it had worked in her favor in the long run for her regret and suspension prevented her from taking part in Toydaria. That sunk her spirits even lower because she was not there with her friends as they died and perished in battle. All while she sat on the benches. Her honor had never felt so non-existent.

While Corrine dealt with the aftermath of that downfall -the funerals and sort on Mandalore- her captain stayed behind to wallow in his guilt. She should have come to check on him, to visit him in the medical wing, but she had ties to those who were gone first. Dax would understand. If not, kark him.

She docked earlier that night in her Kal-class fighter transport -another resource the men hadn't had for that battle- and headed off to her bunker. She wasn't tired by any means; she'd come to get her stuff. As of today, Corrine Solus would be leaving Death Watch.

With her father's armor safely stored on board The Red Blade Corrine would pack up the Death Watch Beskar'gam she'd gotten here when she joined. She removed any of her extra advanced functions before storing them in the bag and set those on the side to take back to her ship when she left. Being Mandalorian, she was used to having very few items to lug around. That was just part of their culture. All that ended up in her "to-go" box was basically a few sets of extra clothes, some personal hygiene effects, and extra ammo she'd purged from their armory weeks ago.

Now, with her secondary armor in hand, she would head over to where she figured Dax was. The medical wing. She figured the man was probably still sleeping his head off and enjoying some much needed down time. But she understood if he wouldn't. She'd never been injured like that, but she expected herself to be jumping out of bed as soon as her feet could find the ground. And as she walked past the other more injured soldiers her heart went out to them. At least they still had their lives. She thought back to Mandalore with all those families who would never see their loved one again.

She got to the end of the wing and stopped in an annoyed grunt. She was wrong. Dax wasn't here at all. Turning around she went to find his room which was clear on the other side of the complex on Umbara. Groaning she should have known he'd be out of their as soon as he was able. She'd just thought about how she'd done the same. So clearly he'd gone back to his room for privacy. She was about to knock on his door when she realized the door was wide open, and he wasn't in it.

"Ok....where the frack was he?"

Another angry groan and Corrine turned to find the nearest droid to call around and figure out where the commando was. She knew he was here, his log said he was. Was he in the mess hall? Shooting range? In a meeting? This place was huge! She couldn't spend all day searching every door she came to. Finally she got her answer and was heading off in the right direction this time.

Corrine was ever so close to giving the man a piece of her mind when she came around the corner and saw the images of Toydaria playing on the hologram. She shut her jaw and stopped herself from speaking. Ever so gently she'd place her bag down on the ground trying to not make too much noise. Though he'd likely heard her boots from the hallway outside. Corrine had been wearing a simple tanktop for the journey with some black sweater pants under her combat boots. Her skin which was covered in scars and burns for the world to see were like trophies to the Mandalorian daughter. Proof that she was a fighter and a warrior. It was extremely uncommon for anyone to see her in anything but her Iron Skin, but she hadn't come here expecting any fight. Civilian Corrine was here now; Soldier Corrine was taking a break.

"Oh. Hey boss," the redhead would reply when Dax called back to her about lurking in the shadows. "You doing....a book report on that or something? Not exactly my first choice of home movies."

​

 

[Dax Rau (TL8)]

"That rocket should of got them, their was another Sith there. In that damn crowd, hiding in the civilians."

It bothered him, had been since the dropship pulled them out. It was all he thought about while he was bound to the bed. It was why he was standing here, draining his life away on these damn vids. Dax turned them and noticed the bag by Cory's feet. It was not exactly a surprise. Many had gone, why would she be any different. After all somewhere out there was her husband. Lost in a galaxy at war. As they all were.

"What about you, any regrets. Does the station still claw at you ?"

 

[Corrine Solus]

To her question, Dax would explain what he knew: that another Sith was waiting for them that day. She hadn't read the official report, so her guess was as good as his. But she figured he'd been pouring himself over and over again in these recordings. Corrine sighed as she looked to the monitor for a moment but quickly looked away as she saw one of the men they'd burned in memorial back on Mandalore. It was all too painful.

He'd then turn and see her bag, followed up by asking her if she had any regrets. "My life is full of regrets. Strange that I only see that now. I never should have come to this group. I was...angry. I was alone. But I realize now I should have stayed with my family, my loved ones. So that's what I'm going to do. Hopefully they'll forgive me for my actions here."

 

[Dax Rau (TL8)]

Dax moved from the table, walking a little closer to Cory as the started to explain her regret. Blinded by his own hate for the Sith and his own lack of empathy for those who might get in the way of his own brand of revenge at those who took everything he cared about from the verse.

"You shouldn't be ashamed of that. Rather, I think you should embrace it. What we did. What we stood for, what the are fighting to destroy. The Sith are takers. They hunger for nothing but power, taking everything thing and leaving nothing but suffering and destruction. Sometimes that wave of destruction must be met with equal force. Despite a few innocents caught in the crossfire."

 

[Corrine Solus]

As she spoke, Dax would move closer to her like a good friend might. He tried explaining to her she shouldn't be ashamed of her actions. But how could she not? Being in Death Watch, she was always so angry. And the bombings...killing all those innocents. It was so unlike her. And she knew, or rather believed, that her late father would be so disappointed in her actions. There was no honor in what she'd done.

But Dax on the other hand did not feel that way. He believed she should embrace it. The killings and raids were part of what they were trying to destroy. The Sith were evil and the Empire they built needed to be torn down. To even stand a chance against that effort, they had to fight back with everything they had. And sadly that meant many civilian lives would fall to their guns.

Corrine shook her head and crossed her arms defensively trying to put space between her and Dax. "No. I don't believe that. This might be a time of war, but that's why it's so important we stand by our values. We are fighters and killers, sure, soldiers of war and brute warriors ready to put our lives on the line. But there's always someone fighting back. What we've done...what I've done...there was no honor to be gained."

 

[Dax Rau (TL8)]

"While I admit I don't know your original clan that well. The fact is you are a Solus now. The clan that set fire to Sith space, and killed an Emperor with an IED. You married into one of the most respected and feared clans of the Mandalorian people. Not to mention the most battle hungry. Hell, our leader was your bride's maid. And I know first hand what she is capable of.

As for myself, the Rau clan is one of raiders and farms. We reap the land and void for what we need for that is what is offered to us and that is what we take. When the call for a Crusade came, we answered. Same as you, same as all of us. You have nothing to feel shame for. "

 

[Corrine Solus]

Dax would continue trying to lift her spirits by explaining to her the nature of her Clan. The Solus kin were killers, but proud warriors. They were the ones that brought down the Emperor. And because of her marrying into that clan, she found that honor she was looking for. Though he didn't say those exact words, that was the gist of what she got out of it. Corrine had been looking for a way to regain her family's honor after her father's passing and joining clan Solus did that for her. She should be proud.

When he mentioned the fact that her own bridesmaid was the leader of the Mandalorians, it brought a chuckle to her lips. She'd forgotten about that. The wedding felt like forever ago. But seeing all of her friends and peers around her, celebrating her, she knew at the time she'd made the right choice. That was what was important.

"Thank you, Rau. That....means a lot. I didn't think you had such kind words in you."

Corrine looked up again at the man and smiled, her green eyes exploring his with a new found curiosity. She'd always felt Dax was a pain in her butt, and a hott head to boot. Oh, and an alcoholic. Though half of the Mandalorian culture was. Ok almost all of them. But seeing this sensitive, caring side to him, it was refreshing to witness.

 

[Dax Rau (TL8)]

He didn't know why he was trying so hard to make her feet better. But the sudden realization that she was perhaps all that was left of this little movement other then himself, and that she was leaving, sent him crashing into a feeling of panic and fear. He had never before felt such a feeling as this. As if being apart from this woman would some how cut him deeper then a lightsaber.

He stepped even closer to Cory now. As she thanked him for the words, he could sense something. Perhaps it was not just him feeling this...whatever it was. Love, maybe? What ever it was the hardened warrior was now fumbling with his hands and his emotions turned his as lost as a teenager.

Their eyes met, and he could see the soft little girl she hid behind her grey and blue iron skin. The emphatic innocent that this war and burred within the warrior woman their fellows knew as Cory. He took another step, through caution into the inferno and reaching out with a hand to reach for her and pull her into a kiss.

 

[Corrine Solus]

Corrine would continue to look at Dax as he moved closer to her. She was smiling, for now, but it started to fade some as he looked down at his hands. She was waiting for him to reply to her comment. She'd just thanked him, the least he could do was say she was welcome. Not that men were ever good at their manners. But this was different. He seemed like...he was trying to think of something to say. Something that troubled him. Corrine couldn't blame him. Men were also much more difficult when it came to speaking their minds and opening up. So she waited, patiently, to see what he would come up with.

But what he did with his lips next really surprised her. Dax would step forward one lat time as he reached up with his hand to pull her close to him. She was so stunned she didn't react, and then he was pushing his lips into hers. Corrine gasped, and pulled back. Her eyes searching his for some explanation. Why had he? What was he? Why was he! Corrine couldn't explain what was happening. And he for a minute looked confused by her rejection. Nothing made sense. Corrine knew this was wrong. She was married. Taken by oath to another.

And then she kissed him anyways. Her head was completely gone, thrown out the airlock perhaps. Her arms reached up to cup his face as she pulled them together once more for a longer kiss. Her breath escaped her in breathy moans while she leaned into his strong body for that emotional connection she'd been missing and needing so much. She hadn't seen her husband in so many months and-

Wait! Her husband. Corrine shot back again with wide eyes. "Oh kriff!" she exclaimed. Then, awkwardly, she turned to the door and started to rush off. "I have to go."

~END THREAD~
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