Private In the Lion's Den

[Zandra Ruus]

Zandra was unsure about throwing resources at the sacking of Cathar, to her it was a untamed ball of dirt and grass, no more important than any other backwater planet. But one thing that did put a smile on her face was the fight the Cathar were putting up. They fought like the beasts they resembled, not giving an inch to the Mandalorians without bloodshed. As soon as they saw they were losing, they'd retreat back into their city-trees, where the Mandos couldn't follow easily.

Of course this wouldn't be without consequences, Mandalorians did not fight the same as formal armies with rules of engagement. Mandalorians would fight savagery with outright brutality. To that end Clan Dryggo would use the host of incendiary weapons to set fire to one of these city-trees. Watching as ash and charred wood filled the air underneath the massive tree, lighting up the night for miles around. All of these beasts would know not to fight back against the occupying forces, better to roll over and play dead than to have their trees burned to the ground.

There was nothing more to do but watch the flames dance and the embers fall. Zandra would sit down in the tall grass in view of the burning tree, watching with a mix of wonder and pain as she watched her handiwork. Was it worth it to destroy lives just to take one ball of dirt? Curse this guilty conscience.

The only solace she could take now was that she wasn't alone in burning the tree. She was the one who lead the strike teams to set bombs along key structural supports, and it was her who helped defend the engineers who set them. Maybe, if any silver lining was to be had, it was that she might impress her mentor, Sig Dryggo . She hadn't seen him much since he initially took her under his wing, but this would be enough to secure his trust.

If, that is, she was willing to give up a part of herself...

 

[Sig Dryggo]

In the Lion’s Den
Tag(s): Zandra Ruus
Objective(s): Secure the Area, Regroup

Sig eyed the flames with a spiteful grin. Standing on the bridge of the Dauntless allowed him to take in the full destruction they had wrought. “Status,” he stated coldly.

Behind him walked in M9, the protocol droid he recently reprogrammed to serve him. “Neo-Crusader forces have successfully left the system, en-route to the fleet,” it stated with a tone that was only colder than Sig’s purely because it was a droid. “The village was sacked and the farms razed- four new Foundlings joined you. A successful raid indeed, Master.”

Sig nodded, pleaded with the report he had just received. His clan’s numbers were growing. With this raid he hoped so too would his influence. He had big aspirations and goals, the likes of which required significant influence among the people. Cathar was a historical target and was chosen for this reason. Another message to the galaxy the Neo-Crusaders were here with a vengeance.

“Zandra?” he added.

“Awaiting you at the coordinates you sent her,” M9 said with an exacerbated breath. Sig had programmed him to remain loyal to himself. That came with the unintentional hiccup of M9 hating everyone who wasn’t Sig. A flaw Sig wouldn’t fix. “Though we could leave, let the locals find her…”

Sig let out an annoyed groan and turned to leave the bridge. “Take me down,” he stated upon exiting, leaving the droid to do his bidding.

A few minutes later and Sig’s starship came roaring down, speeding the flames of the nearby crops and destroying the already weakened structures of the now abandoned village. As the ship powered down and the ramp lowered for Sig, he could tell something was on the mind.

It was true that since recruiting her he had spent little time with her. In fact he regretted it. Before he had officially rooted his clan on Dathomir, and even sooner before he started recruiting Foundlings during the raids, there was Zandra. To him, she was the first child of his clan. That meant she was the one who he’d personally train, the one that would become the clan’s eventual rally master.

As he approached he stood there, arms crossed and eyes fixed on the destruction before them. Even more grand in person than in orbit. “You’re troubled,” he stated bluntly, never one for subtly, “Doubt is a weakness we cannot afford: whatever plagues your mind, speak and learn.” He had spent many years alone. Many years without a clan. But Sig recognized that in order for Clan Dryggo to thrive, he’d need to be more than just a leader. Like all great Alor’s in history, he’d need to lead by example. Stern, but fair. It was time to begin teaching.
​

 

[Zandra Ruus]

As The Dauntless broke through the frankly massive cloud of smoke and ash, Zandra felt her stomach drop. This would be the first meeting with her mentor face-to-face in quite some time. There had been communications via hologram messages and military orders, but this would be different. It was highly unlikely he was coming down just to give her more orders, and as he walked down the ramp, that thought took hold. Had she gone too far in aiding in the burning of a city-tree? No, it appeared not.

As Sig approached her, she felt some of the anxiety buzzing in her head subside. Though she couldn't tell how pleased he was at the destruction, there were signs that she'd done well. At times it was hard to get a read on Sig, his ever-present T-visor was all you ever really had to go off. His words came out less than sweet, but that was to be expected from the gruff Alor of Clan Dryggo.

"Fething Cathars, why do they resist us like this? They know they can't win, but they force our hand anyway!" A single tear welled up in Zandra's right eye, her voice cracking slightly as she half-screamed. "I'll fight their soldiers until there aren't any left, but even the women and children seem to want to kill us... It doesn't feel right..."

Zandra's feelings were understandable for a girl not raised in the ways of the Mandalorians, she lacked the learned brutality of the warrior clans. To her, killing everyone in a village seemed unnecessary. Yet she had done it anyway, not because she wanted to, but because she was ordered to. Some might be able to assuage their guilt by saying orders were orders, not Zandra. She'd seen plenty of orphans who's lives had been ruined by conflict, she herself had lost her home during a war.

"I can't keep doing this, burning homes and killing the innocent. I wanted to be a hero, someone who could help people in need. That was what I thought being a Mandalorian was about. When Drego saved me from the war on Coruscant I thought...I don't know."

Pain and anger fed each other in Zandra's soul, she was furious at herself for doing this. Sad that she was a murderer, that she'd become the kind of person she rebelled against. Her helmet couldn't hide the whimpers she made as tears ran down her face. She would sob there, unsure as to what Sig might do as one of his hardened fighters to be reduced to a simpering babe before him.

Tag: Sig Dryggo

 

[Sig Dryggo]

In most cases Sig would apply what he considered the ultimate form of teaching for a Mandalorian. In the case of Zandra Ruus , he hesitated. It was true, he didn’t like what he was hearing. Though his t-visor remained as emotionless as ever, the subtle shifts in his weight would indicate to any Mandalorian that he was displeased.

Sig placed a hand on her shoulder and gave her a gentle tap. “I too couldn’t see the vision I was serving,” he sympathized, though in truth this was far from reality. Sig knew from a young age what purpose he was meant to fulfill. But if he had to lie to help his student learn, then lying is what he’d do.

“History is a teacher,” he explained, his tone becoming a little more stern but still retaining a mostly gentle nature, “Throughout history there is one constant: chaos.”

He began to walk down the nearby path before stopping and giving Zandra a nod to follow. Together they’d make their way down to the village which was now completely devoid of life. As they reached the threshold of the village, Sig stopped and faced her. “Let me ask you: what is the most effective tool against chaos?”
​

 

[Zandra Ruus]

Walking through the now desolate village was sobering for Zandra, homes were reduced to cinders, and alien defenders were left stacked in the streets. She could smell the pungent smell of burning flesh even through her helmet. It would be something burned into her memory from that day forward. All of these sensations were too much for her at that moment, forcing her to turn her gaze away. The only thing in this chaotic scene that made sense to her was Sig, he seemed calm in his way, adjusted to the bloodshed.

In some ways she was envious of his ability to casually strut through carnage of the war-torn village. That was the way of a true Mandalorian, focused on the mission, strong, and determined. He was like a statue standing solid amongst a sea of corpses, meanwhile Zandra was more like a bowl of jelly, doing her best just to remain vertical.

One of the things that was trumpeted on in her previous clan was manhood, being a good man, that sort of thing. In that moment Sig seemed exactly like the kind of man the galaxy needed. One who could make the tough decisions, one who could walk amongst the chaos. In that moment something stuck her. She knew what the answer to Sig's question was.

"Order..." She replied, head now held high to look the tall man in his face.

Order was a funny thing for someone like Sig to want, he seemed all about sowing Chaos. But, maybe he would explain what he wanted after she replied to him. Regardless of what he had to say, he'd had made quite the impact on Zandra just by his actions. The well of tears in her eyes were starting to dry, she had this strange stirring in her chest...

What was going on?

Tags: Sig Dryggo

 

[Sig Dryggo]

Sig smirked upon hearing her answer. Misguided. Blinded by the illusion the galaxy had painted for her. It was an answer he had truthfully expected. Upon stopping near the center of the small village Sig turned his attention to his Foundling.

“Look around at them,” he said, gesturing to the corpses littered about and to the hollowed remains of various homes. “Weak,” he stated simply and coldly. “This is what happens when you have order.”

Walking over to a pile or smoldering ash, Sig kneeled and grabbed a handful of it. Due to his cybernetic hand, there was no registration of pain or heat. Standing he turned to Zandra, his t-visor ever unblinking. “This galaxy isn’t ruled by order, it’s ruled by chaos.”

Nodding past her, he walked beside her and continued on with her in tow. Moving for another minute, the pair reached a long house. Or rather what remained of one, with it mostly burned to ground and what little remained was in ruin. “You must steal yourself, Zandra,” he said in a commanding tone, “The war is unending and people will die. Sometimes you have to be the one to pull the trigger. Sometimes you might have to kill someone you trust.”

Taking the still hot coals and ash in his hand, Sig brought it forward to showcase to his student. “The mission, our people, is all that matters.” Sig was speaking his truth. He existed to serve his people and to further their reach across the stars. “Are you willing to do whatever is necessary for your people?”
​

 

[Zandra Ruus]

For a while Zandra took in the sight of the still smoldering ashes, the glow of fire still living in Sig's hands. There was a certain poetry to Sig's lesson that wasn't lost on Zandra. Fire was an embodiment of chaos, and these ashes were a result of that chaos. The galaxy was naturally in a chaotic state, the only answer was to fan those flames. To purge those too weak to survive in that natural state, if these Cathar couldn't defend themselves, they didn't deserve to live.

There was only one thing left to do, embrace the fire, embrace chaos itself. To that end, Zandra would hold her gloved fingers out. Her hands would press into the still glowing embers, coating her fingertips in a fine layer of ash. It was hot, even through the padding of her gauntlets, but she ignored the heat. With her hands coated in ash she traced them down over her helmet, leaving a gray streak across her black helmet.

"You want more fire? I'll make this whole galaxy glow red." She smirked a bit under the cover of her helmet. Something had changed in her that day, tapping into the girl's inner revolutionary.

She wanted every fatcat and corrupt politician in this galaxy to quake when they saw her black beskargam. If that meant bringing the slaughter to every planet from here to Empress Teta, then she'd do it. Whoever or whatever got in her way, she'd see the chains broken, and the fires of revolution lit. Then, there was the matter of Sig. This man of power, of action, who would lead her new clan. She would follow this man into Hell itself if need be, as his right hand. His enemies were her enemies, and his allies likewise hers. Together they would bring a new reckoning to many squabbling factions that infested space. Even her once beloved protectors, who would no doubt come to stop her eventually.

Tag: Sig Dryggo

 

[Sig Dryggo]

A twisted grin formed upon his lips. As the young warrior reached down and took the smoldering coals in her hands, he could t help but see the same fire within her that burned within himself. Zandra Ruus had the potential to be the weapon Sig needed, the extension of himself that ensure the mission would live on even if Sig himself fell before its completion.

“Good,” he said with a distant stare hidden beneath his t-visor, “No time to waste then,” he said, turning heel and expecting her to follow. “Time to leave this pitiful excuse of a world,” he said as he walked, never breaking his marched forwards and back towards the Dauntless. He finally stopped at the ramp of the ship and turned to face Zandra, “I’ve taken special interest in you,” Sig admitted to her, though that extend of that would remain unknown to her, “Therefore as long as you a member of Clan Dryggo you will have a home here aboard the Dauntless. Whether you utilize it is up to you, but seeing as I’m your only way off this rock…”

Turning he walked up the ramp and through the ship’s door, ready to give his student a tour of her new home. He didn’t bother explaining the first room, the cargo bay, and continued straight ahead through another door that lead to a small hallway where a two doors laid adjacent to one another. Turning, he motioned to the door on his right, Zandra’s left, “These are your quarters,” he explained, “Small and currently barren, but you’re welcome to decorate it however you see fit.”

He motioned to the door across from her room, “This is M9’s room,” he continued, “my first mate who you’ll meet shortly.”

Gently moving past her, he continued through the cargo bay to a set of stairs which lead to the ship proper, the first room being the main hold where a holo-terminal sat in the center. There was also a small table for eating or conversing and a hallway at the back which lead to Sig’s personal cabin.

At the front of the room just to the right of the top of the stairs was another door, which Sig and Zandra would move through next. This door and small dimly lit hallway led to the conference room, where various chairs sat in a circular shape around the room’s border.

Finally the final door lead to the ship’s bridge. Standing beside one of the two pilot chairs was M9; the tall droid turned and gave a salute to Sig. “Welcome home Master,” he greeted in his electronic tone. He turned to face Zandra and while he couldn’t show his displeasure he didn’t have any usually vocalizing a scoff upon seeing the young woman. “And who’s the stray?”

Sig chuckled, “This is Zandra,” Sig announced as he gave a motion for Zandra to step forward. “M9 is an outspoken protocol droid I salvaged from a raid. He’s loyal to me and only me,” Sig said with almost a laugh, “Problem with his programming, I’m not fixing it.”

He straightened, allowing himself to finally breath. He wouldn’t admit it to her but it was an odd feeling having another soul aboard. He had M9 and did enjoy his company. But he was a droid- programmed to enjoy the time he spent with Sig. Zandra was another human- another Mandalorian.

He wouldn’t deny the sinister ideas crossing his mind. Indeed in his heart he felt glad to have someone with him on his Crusade, especially one who seemed keen on learning his ways. But the ways of exploiting the situation and bending Zandra’s will to his own was a far more enticing thought. One he’d more likely, and much rather, act upon over his own emotions. But for now he needed to continue gaining her trust and teaching her his ways.

“What do you think?” He asked plainly, though deep down he hoped she liked it.
​

 

[Zandra Ruus]

It was a relief to finally be leaving the cursed planet and it's savage inhabitants behind. She wouldn't soon forget what had happened here, but that would have to wait. For now she had to follow Sig. She would be bringing with her a relic from the enemy. A fairly massive spear that had been used by a tribe elder to try and fight off the advancing horde. Her understanding was that this thing was some important tribal hand-me-down, passed from leader to leader. All she knew was it was able to give even Mandalorians pause, making it a good weapon to have.

As she entered the ship, she was met with M9, calling her a stray of all things. If this was a short time ago, maybe she'd agree with him. Now though, she was a proud warrior of this clan! "Back atcha bolt brain..."

Surly droids not accounted for, the ship was fairly impressive in it's own way. Small enough to be fast, and yet able to carry plenty of cargo. They would need to make full use of this. No doubt raiding so close to the outer reaches of the Alliance was going to have it's consequences. They'd need to be stocked up on supplies for war whenever it might come.

"She's a good ship Sig, I think it'll be nice to have a place to unwind after battles to myself. If you'll allow that is." With the battle now over Zandra sat down in the nearest chair. It was safe here, safe enough anyway. Though something nagged at her, a feeling that wouldn't be gone until she was a long way from this tree covered Hell.

Sig Dryggo