A Match Made In Stockholm

"Thinking back, often becoming lost in my memories, I can still see her face. Set ablaze, all over again when I picture her silky hair and her fair complexion. I reflect on the softness of her touch and the fire in her eyes. I am plagued by her memory, almost consumed by it. It will be my undoing, Jaxon." 

Corvo stood, gazing out the viewport of his vessel, a single finger pressed against his lips. 

"Sir, I never kne-" Jaxon was a budding member of House Marka Ragnos' research team. He was tasked with gathering intel on Corvo's species, as to many, the Chiss were still an anomaly. It was a difficult task with success weighing heavily on the Captain's cooperation. 

"Knew what, ensign, that a Chiss could love?" The stoic being cracked a smile from the corner of his lips. 

"I meant no Offense, Capt-" Jaxon stammered, quickly thinking of a follow-up line of questioning. "What was her-?"

"Simplified in your tongue, her name was Sanja." With mental quickness and perception, Corvo already anticipated the same simplistic questions, the same choreographed lines that dominated Human interrogation. 

Jaxon opened his mouth to speak but was again cut off.

"Csilla, a remote place, my place of origin." Corvo thought of home. "For as many years as I can remember, Csilla had relied on the findings of the Ascendancy Fleet. Exploration, charting the stars, various rercaci-" 

"Systems?" Jaxon was trying to pick up on the Chiss' language over the course of their 'partnership' and Corvo had been patient thus far, as he too, had something to gain as he polished his Basic. 

"That is correct," Corvo nod, "isolationists for so long, the Chiss people had much to learn. Groups were sent out to reestablish our presence. Some went to Wild Space, the Outer-rim, Core Worlds as you refer to them. I was sent into a Shroud. A blanket of darkness."

"You're talking about Antei?" 

"Correct," Corvo spun to face his curious passenger, "When I arrived, my ship was raided by pirates. The only logical option, being alone, was to surrender," he paused, "or, trigger an energy overload that would create a chain reaction of energy dispersion."

Jaxon raised an eyebrow.

"It was truly something, to be taken onboard the pirate ship. To see the looks on so many sad faces when they watched their comrades, the unfortunate souls left behind, tasked with piloting my ship to some miserable rundown docking port, erupted with a flash." Corvo mused. 

"O-oh, I see."

"The incinerated pilot, to my dismay, was Sanja's brother. My captor. We did not start off on, how do you say in your language, the proper foot?" 

"Right." Jaxon corrected.

"What is right?" 

"Nevermind, please, go on." 

"Well, naturally, when I was restrained and thrown into the cargo bay," the Chiss shook his head remembering that they didn't even have a proper holding cell, "a beautiful specimen stepped in to interrogate me. Her eyes were a hypnotic verdure and her hair was the color of fire, matching her personality. I spoke in cheunh, only to create tension as I understood your language then, but testing patience and resolve is an important step in getting to know your enemy."  

"But you didn't stay enemies?"

"She frequently grew impatient with me." Corvo smiled. "But when I spoke of my past and my people, she became hungry for more."

"But what of her brother?" 

"She forgave me in time. She realized that the life that her and her brother signed up for was filled with danger and uncertainty. She mourned, but ultimately she forgave."

"I see." Jax narrowed his eyes.

"Her interrogations became soft, sweet in a sense. She returned my answers with insight of her own. She told me of her past, her passions. I was enthralled by her. I loved her. In such a short amount of time."

"So what happened, why are you not together now?" 

"Because she's dead, my boy."

"Dead, how?"

"I overheard her talking with the rest of her crew. They wanted me dead, and while her words seemed apprehensive, I couldn't take unnecessary risks. So, I did what I was taught to do, what I knew how to do, what survival required," Corvo paused for what seemed to be an eternity. "I slit her throat with a broken piece from my shackles." Corvo's eyes narrowed and his face grew stern. 

"Wha, what?" Jax stumbled through his words.

"I loved her, it's true. But she was always my enemy. She jeopardized my mission, she was a stepping stone that had I allowed her, would have weakened me."

A look of horror crept across Jax's face as he took a step back.

"You would do well to learn from this lesson. If I could so easily kill someone I loved. Think about what I could do to those I do not love." 

Outpost Besh
Ragnath
North Pole

The small outpost was a modest affair. The military capabilities of Scholae Palatinae were still overwhelming for the system and could easily annihilate and subjugate all other polities, however in the grand scheme of affairs they were modest at best. And as such Mauro Wynter was stationed for a time at the tiny outpost, manning the command center.

Wynter had flown down himself in his Tie Defender, with no escort and had greeted the small garrison of Praetorian Guard. The fact that the Empress’ own guards had to man the post was telling. What was more telling was that the rank and file of the Imperial Scholae Army did not take the posting. It was a thankless post, and to set the tone the Proconsul took command personally.

The monotony of holding a small garrison together overlooking nothing took its course fast. The support staff was small as was befitting the old Imperial prefab post. Besh had two dozen Praetorians, two Tie Fighters on patrol, and a handful of AT-STs. The support staff counted a communications technician, a medic, and four mechanics. It was the medic that caught his eye.

Her name was Sylvia Tanos. She had porcelain skin and white waist long hair tied up in a bun. Her drab gray military jumpsuit contoured her lithe body and her healthy bust. The other Praetorians took to her looks and demeanor, and Wynter was not blind to her charm. She eyed the Proconsul every time she made her rounds. He wanted to approach her but his position and his lifetime of military ethic forced him to remain neutral. Fraternization was a firm no-go for the man.

And yet, every time he saw her his eyes widened and he gained a jolt of energy. They began speaking little by little. In time a bond grew. How she got posted there was a mystery to Wynter at first. He checked her files and the true picture came to light. She was one of the refugees from Judecca that had came over with the Clan as they relocated. She came to Judecca ages ago as a slave that was rescued from pirates and had devoted her life to giving back. She was a true idealist and one that worked hard and strove to be of use.

That meant a lot to the jaded Proconsul. Wynter had come back to the Clan as a mercenary coaxed for the pay and the opportunity to lead once again. He didn’t plan on staying at the post for long, but Sylvia kept him there longer than he ever imagined. Why did he linger? The Proconsul being away from command at the grand level at such a small post meant a lot to the rank and file but at some point he would need to go back. How would he do it? He couldn’t reassign Sylvia to return to Judecca Station with him. Well he could, but that would raise questions. However – how could he allow her to languish here? That question vexed him.