Private Catching Up

[Minerva Fhirdiad]

Wayland, Wayland System, Outer Rim Territories
​

The shriek of engines rang out in the sky as a certain starship flew above the forest below. Inside the cockpit, wearing her helmet, Minerva kept her hands on the flight controls. She felt anticipation and nervousness as her ship continued toward its destination. Looking out at the scenery, she briefly smirked and said.

"Drego certainly enjoys the wilderness."

She approved of it, not that Clan Ruus' leader needed it. Eyes shifting back to her flight path, Minerva suppressed a sigh. She and Drego Ruus have been in an on-and-off relationship since that day on Onderon. It feels like a lifetime ago now. She thought to herself, before chuckling at how blunt she was about it.

That first night…

At the memory of what followed, the warrior finally sighed. She had relationships before Drego but they didn't last long, and she never shared herself with anyone as she did with him. Then Minerva grimaced underneath the helm. His duties as clan leader and her wanderings as a mercenary had often kept them apart, especially this last time. It wasn't fair to him, and she realized that recently.

Pulling the controls slightly to the left, she made a turn to the next mountain. Minerva looked at her gloved hands and reflected on her life. She had fought and wandered for so long that it was all she knew and felt comfortable even with a strong and united Mandalore. If she was being honest with herself, Minerva had deep down been afraid of a deeper commitment to the Mandalorian Empire and, by extension, to Drego. That has to change.

He has been more than patient with me.

Minerva bit her lip at the silent conclusion. It was true. Of course, for all she knew he may find someone else already or probably didn't feel the same way as he had before… The warrior shook her head, fighting back against that assumption. Until he says it to her face, Minerva will refuse to believe that fear.

It was time to see him, regardless of what happens next.

Gathering her courage at last, Minerva maneuvered her vessel through a canyon before ascending back into the clouds. Subsequently, she flipped a switch, sending a signal to Drego Ruus that she was coming. Rotations ago, Minerva had decided to come here unannounced.

Of course, knowing him, Drego was probably aware of her arrival since her ship entered the system, unless he was busy with something. Whatever the case, she was on her way.

Soon, Minerva spotted the home of Clan Ruus and began her descent. Within minutes, the ship landed at a platform. Getting up from her seat and checking her grip, the warrior Minerva made her way out of the cockpit and activated the ramp that opened up with steam hissing. With no hesitation, she marched down it and was soon out of the vessel.

Tag: Drego Ruus

 

[Drego Ruus]

Tag: Minerva Fhirdiad
​

Castle Ruus had been quiet these past few months. Or at least, as quiet as it could be. Men still wandered, warriors still trained, and smiths still forged. But it was quiet, in the sense that those who ruled had no one to talk to.

Drego had kept to himself since joining the Empire. Quietly running the Protectorate from his castle. It was mostly paperwork, and rarely fieldwork. Part of him hated it, the part that yearned for the battlefield. But it had to be done, he knew that. And Drego had always been never one to trust anyone but himself to get things done.

It was the core of what he had baked into the creed of Clan Ruus.

Be self sufficient. Be the one people can rely on to get the job done. Be the man of the house. Not in being strong, not in being tall, not in being powerful. But by being the one who those who trust you can depend on when times are tough.

And that mentality, it extended to how he saw relationships. Very rarely did Drego pursue such things. He rarely had the time. It was the downside of his philosophy, at the end of the day. Leisure time was time wasted. Drego never claimed to know what women want, but he believed that they at least wanted a provider.

So, the call that Minerva, a mandalorian he had grown close to, was suddenly back after a few months, it took Drego off guard. He'd been prepping for the incoming invasion. Retribution for the dead. Drawing up war plans, strategies.

He didn't expect his girlfriend to stop by.

"Liana, clear my schedule. I'll be back later."

That's all he needed to say to his scribe, before walking towards the hanger bay. He'd meet Minerva first hand.

 

[Minerva Fhirdiad]

As soon as she exited from her ship, Minerva glanced around the hangar bay. Clan Ruus has been busy. She quietly noted, watching her fellow warriors prep their starfighters and transports. In retrospect it wasn't a surprise, given that the war between their empire and the Diarchy had escalated. A sense of pride swelled in her soul not only for how these clan warriors conduct themselves but in her lover for leading them.

Just then, she heard footsteps coming in her direction. Turing her helm to the front, and saw a man in an all too familiar set of armor. Minerva's heart pulsed faster. She knew he would come and was relieved. A part of her felt guilty for possibly interrupting his preparations, but she wanted to see him nonetheless.

Then suddenly, Minerva's jetpack ignited, and she sped right toward Ruus' leader. As soon as she tackled him, the jetpack's engines turned off, and she held him in a strong embrace in front of everyone. Subsequently, she whispered in teasing affection. "Missed me? I sure did."

Tag: Drego Ruus

 

[Drego Ruus]

Tag: Minerva Fhirdiad
​

It would be easy to claim that Drego was a bitter, cynical bastard incapable of joy. He complained for fun, most days. Most of the time that was a matter of him being in the middle of a project, or just calling someone a dumbass. Drego never minced words when it came to what annoyed him. And a lot annoyed him.

And yet, those who knew him personally, those who had spent time with him outside of the battlefield, those who he trusted to show what he looked like under the helm...

There was a soft side to him.

That side, of course, was still as hard as a rock when it came to how he showed it.

The sudden thud against his chest was a show of affection that many in Clan Ruus would look bewildered at. The look of men not used to their commander bracing himself for the impact, then pulling his girlfriend into a tight hug.

"Every day. I take it you're still traveling the stars, trying to make a fortune? We could use people like you here in the Castle. I've got foundlings who can barely understand how to field strip of a rifle."

 

[Minerva Fhirdiad]

She chuckled in their shared embrace, not caring one bit about the shock and stares around them. At her lover's remarks, she finally let go, and as they got up, Minerva answered.

"I spent most of my last jounrey in Wild Space. Big galaxy and all that you know."

Pausing as she considered his offer, the mercenary smirked underneath the helmet. "Sounds like I've got my work cut out. A challenge is a challenge."

Looking around for a moment, Minerva shifted her gaze back to her lover. Her tone is more serious than before."

“Tell you the truth, Drego, I want to join Clan Ruus.“

She let those words sink in to him before she removed her helmet, allowing Drego to see her eyes. The rest of the conversation will have to be in private but she didn't say that out loud, trusting her beloved to understand.

Tag: Drego Ruus

 

[Drego Ruus]

Tag: Minerva Fhirdiad
​

"Wild Space seems to be busy lately. I've been pondering heading out that way myself, if only for bounty hunting. Plenty of contracts to take on the Black Sun or Imperials for the Mand'alor." Drego chuckled under his helm, before he listened to Minerva.

"...ah."

There was a moment of quiet, as Drego motioned Minerva to follow him to a private room. Once inside, her brought his hands up to break the seal of his helm, pulling it off. The man looked tired, but stern. His blue-ish skin shined under the artificial light.

"I'll be happy to have you, but you must understand, you will have to be treated as a fresh recruit. I make no exceptions to those who wish to join, myself included. You start from the bottom, earn your place, and show you can follow our code. That you can stand on your own two feet, and help others do the same."