Un-Common, Uncomfortable and Unpredictable

[Kay-Larr]

Kay paced back and forth, wringing her hands together, in an empty warehouse in Nehass city on Tarhassan. Ever since she had found out about her husband's attack on the Jedi Temple on Deneba, a world under CSA protection, she knew that she had to do something about it. And it wasn't something so simple as just confronting him and telling him to stop. No. She had to take a different approach.

Her reach to various governments in the Galaxy stretched far and wide. The fact that her government had remained neutral all this time was certainly something that had a hand in keeping the Galaxy's wars away from her borders. And now her husband, a man of integrity, was set to destroy all of that. She loved him beyond anything, their strong Force Bond and all that they had done to build up the CSA was a testament to that. But she needed to stop him. He was becoming that which he had fought against for many years. He was destroying what they had built together.

With the death of Ra came a new Mandalore, a leader that was guided by her adopted Clan's Alor, [member="Gray Raxis"] . Their Empire was to be different, one that was neutral like her own. And she needed their help. Tarhassan was the closest planet in CSA space to their territory. So it was there that Kay had set out to hold a meeting with [member="Silas Mantis"] . His name was one that was forwarded to her, as well as a handful of others. She had a job for them. Subtly was key.

Kay's brows furrowed as she looked at the time, looking to her personal bodyguard [member="Macoda Haberon"] as he stood nearby, obviously much more calm than she was. "They should be here soon." She hadn't told Mac of what was really going on. It would surely make him angry, yet the less times that she had to discuss it, the less chance that there was for it all to get out. All of this had to be a secret. One that was to be kept for quite some time.

 

[Hadrian Bjormund]

Mac stood tall and silent with his arms crossed over his chest, axes ever holstered at his sides, waiting for [member="Lady Kay"]'s guests to arrive. He looked more like a rugged mercenary than the Captain of the Commenori Royal Guard, with his bearish look and leather outfit. He had kindly refused to wear the blue and grey outfit associated with his position, opting to instead wear what he was comfortable in. Besides, the seven foot tall giant stuck out in a crowd already, let alone if he was wearing royal attire. Clearly subtlety was the name of the game for this mysterious gathering. Meeting in a warehouse on a rather obscure planet on the edge of Commenori borders was not the most glamorous of locales.

Mac tried his best to appear calm although he really wasn't. Kay's continuous pacing had began to set him on edge. Her uneasiness was contagious. She was clearly nervous about something and the fact that she didn't express her feelings to Mac made him all the more nervous. In fact, Lady Kay didn't give offer any details at all to Mac, her own personal bodyguard, on the nature of this meeting. Mac figured that could really only mean one of two things, either this meeting was not a big deal, or Kay knew that he would react badly to whatever this meeting was about. He will find out soon enough, although he had a terrible suspicion that it was the latter. Ignorance is certainly not bliss.

He rested his hands on his axes.

[member="Silas Mantis"]

 

[Silas Mantis]

[member="Karsan Calnov"], [member="Amanda Kyrze"], and [member="Desmond Verd"], that was his team. Aside from Calnov, who he considered a friend, Silas knew none of them, but regardless they were the team he was given. Details were sparse, but deniability would be an asset, so beskar was abandoned in favor of OLYMPIAN, and their names were cast aside for false ones. He was to become Thaddeus Sayne after they left here. Clad in the armor so many of his nephews had fought and died in, the group of Mandalorians would pass themselves off as former Republic special forces seeking some new purpose.

Though in reality, all they sought were credits for the Empire.

His tomahawks had been left behind, instead a long combat knife rested on his shoulder plate, and a DC-18 hung across his chest. He felt naked if he was being honest, but it mattered little. Approaching the meeting point, [member="Lady Kay"] would be informed that the Mandalorians had arrived only minutes before they waltzed in. Silas' helmet was clipped to his side, leaving his face exposed to the woman and her guard, [member="Macoda Haberon"].

His hair had been cut in an effort to portray that of a soldier of a more conventional aruetti army, but it had the side effect of making his numerous scars all the more visible. Silas Mantis and the warriors who stood with him were killers, that much would've been evident to anyone. "You called?"

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay stopped pacing as soon as heard word. They were coming. She stepped back towards [member="Macoda Haberon"] , not giving him her usual smile, but a small nod of her head instead.

It was time.

Her jaw clenched as the door opened and the Mandalorians came in. Of course they looked quite different than expected, [member="Silas Mantis"] in particular. Kay bowed her head to him. "I did. Thank you for coming." She took in a deep breath and let it out slowly, fully aware of how awkward the silence must be. Her mind was swimming as she collected her thoughts, trying to determine how to begin and how far to go in detail. They were strangers afterall, and there were many things that they shouldn't know.

"There is a Dark Jedi Order forming, with my husband [member="Veiere Arenais"] as it's leader. In a bid to help the Galaxy gain peace he has....lost his way. I need discreet eyes and ears on him. I need to know what he's planning and who his targets are. The last that he told me was that he was heading south of Galactic Empire space. But then he attacked a Jedi Temple on Deneba, attacking innocent people...." This wasn't the Veiere that she had married. He was better than this. She had to save him, just as he had saved her. "Infiltrate his Order, be one of his soldiers and report his plans to me. Depending on the intelligence you gather, I may have you detain him as well." All of this felt like a nightmare that she couldn't wake from. One of the many. "Are you up for it? The cost will not be cheap, I realize that."

[member="Karsan Calnov"] [member="Amanda Kryze "][member="Desmond Verd"]

 

[Hadrian Bjormund]

Though Mac continued standing tall and silent, his face twisted into a grizzled scowl as he processed the information that [member="Lady Kay"] had relayed to [member="Silas Mantis"]. The news had dropped like a bombshell on Mac, though he concealed his shock behind his silence. Of course Mac had always carried his own suspicions on why [member="Veiere Arenais"] had relinquished his crown, but he never truly realized the weight of the situation until now. He had figured, in his naivety, that Veiere's fall to the dark side would just result in two of [member="Darlyn Excron"] running around the palace, an uncomfortable result that he had already accepted. But now, this was far beyond anything Mac had ever considered. He hoped these Mandalorian mercenaries would be up to the challenge. Veiere, in creating this fanatical Order, posed a direct threat to Lady Kay. Such a betrayal, Mac would never stand by nor try to understand. His jaw clenched in anger as he thought of Veiere endangering the one he claimed to have loved. Was he feeling a hint of jealousy?

But as Mac silently stood by Kay's side as she explained the mission, he realized that Veiere wasn't the only one he was furious at.

How could have Kay not farking tell me about this?

He stood there, brewing in anger beneath his stoic facade. Kay could surely feel how livid Mac was, he was practically radiating anger although the mercenaries wouldn't be able to tell. Mac felt betrayed. He was the Head of Security, the Captain of the Commenori Royal Guard, the personal Bodyguard of the Queen, and Kay purposefully did not inform him of a direct and serious security threat. Why in the name of Urdu did Kay appoint him to this position if she did not trust him with her security? It was both bewildering and upsetting. And here he was, thinking they had some sort of mutual trust. All he wanted was to do his duty and protect Kay from personal harm. Not just because that was his job but because she was his closest friend. Yet this was how his loyalty was rewarded, with clear mistrust. What would have happened had Veiere decided to march on Commenor with his Order of Sithspit?

However, Mac knew that this was not the appropriate time to display such emotions and thankfully, his body did not betray his feelings. He would deal with this later. This conversation was serious, and it was important that he and Kay present a united front. First they together must focus on how to handle Veiere. Then Mac would figure out how to handle Kay.

[member="Karsan Calnov"] [member="Amanda Kryze "][member="Desmond Verd"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay could feel the anger coming from [member="Macoda Haberon"] and she had fully expected it. But here with others she knew that he wouldn't act on it yet. There were different scenarios that played in her mind as to what he would've done if he knew about this beforehand. She didn't want him to stop her from this and she didn't want him to go after Veiere either, or worse, ban her husband from seeing her. It was a very dangerous chess game that she was playing, made even worse because it involved her husband. His actions didn't endanger her personally as far as she was aware, but they could endanger her people.

And it already has. The attack on Deneba's temple, the bringing of troopers to follow his orders and not only other Dark Jedi was just...not what she was expecting. It was not what he had told her that his plans were. Not at all.

She glanced over her shoulder to Mac, risking the glance to see the anger in his eyes. A look of apology was all that she could muster at the moment before turning her attention back to [member="Silas Mantis"] and the other. Regardless of whether or not this meeting was successful, she was far from being out of the woods.

 

[Amanda Kryze]

[member="Lady Kay"] [member="Macoda Haberon"] [member="Silas Mantis"]

Amanda stood behind silas as she glanced around the place, or well to others Olivia fide stood behind thaddeus. Her cover was a republic special forces engineer...fitting for what she did. Honestly she was a bit nervous doing these covert stuff wasn't exactly something she did she was either loud ooooor really quiet

However there was credits involvedand she really liked that idea of getting a cut out of this, she looked forward seeing lady kay and what looked like a guard for her man looked pretty intimidating more so wirh those duel axes he had on his side...truely someone she didn't want to fight alone but maybe he would make a good fight...but she rather not...

 

[Karsan Munin]

Karsan remained silent as she spoke. He had a shoulder holster and a Gladiator assault rifle strapped across his chest. Karsan put in a lip and stared at the lady, spitting into a bottle.

He looked over at Silas and spoke in a low volume, asking him a few questions. Silas returned them in kind. Karsan nodded before speaking.

"And if it comes to the conclusion that we have to kill him?"

Ever the operator, Karsan didn't mince words or dance around the issue.

[member="Lady Kay"] l [member="Macoda Haberon"] l [member="Silas Mantis"] l [member="Amanda Kryze "]l

 

[Silas Mantis]

The Mandalorian listened intently, quickly coming to understand why deniability and maintaining their cover would be paramount, and why the job paid so much. Dar’jetti Orders were notoriously twisted, be they Carnifex’s Sith or Sieger’s Ren, already his perception of Arenais sunk at the mention of ‘Dark Jedi’. Just another group of forcers who thought they knew best.

The group he brought with him shared his sentiments as far as he knew, they were soldiers of the Empire after all. He knew nothing of [member="Amanda Kyrze"] or [member="Desmond Verd"] true, but he could only assume with them. With Calnov however, he was sure, what he’d done in the throne room hadn’t escaped the Mantis’ notice, the former Black Blade held no love for dar’jetti, only hatred, and that was only one of many things the two agreed on.

“We’re up for it, but my friend raises a point.” He replied, jutting a thumb to [member="Karsan Calnov"]. “Vode are warriors, killers, if we are given no other option we will not hesitate.” Silas stated firmly, drumming beskar fingers on his rifle as he stared down the Lady of the CSA. “If you understand that, then we can get to work.”

For a moment Silas’ eyes shifted to the woman’s bodyguard, [member="Macoda Haberon"], a fellow Epicanthix if his height and appearance were any indicator, the mountain of a man only had around three inches on the Mando but it still let him look down on Silas ever so slightly. The Mandalorian wondered if he thought those few inches made him intimidating, perhaps to others it would’ve, but to vode it was nothing. His axes however were something indeed, Silas smirked, it seemed great minds thought alike. Though they laid tucked away in his home now, the young wolf had come to favor a pair of tomahawks in much the same way.

Perhaps it was something with Epicant genetics that left them so predisposed to such savage weapons, not that he was all that bothered by the notion.

Turning back to Kay the leader of the Mandalorian team awaited her response, not bothering to discuss the notion of pay. [member="Lady Kay"] would discuss that with [member="Yasha Mantis"], Silas was here to do the grunt work and nothing else.

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay's eyes snapped to [member="Karsan Calnov"] as he suggested having to kill Veiere. Was he not listening? She said to detain, not to ki--

[member="Silas Mantis"] spoke up next, which drew her attention away. Instead of any reassurance, she was given the impression that she may have somehow gotten her message crossed. That needed clearing up right away. Better to do so now than to regret it later.

"I will not allow it. I will not allow anyone that I hire to kill my husband. Knock him out, stun him, detain him, but do not kill him. And that is ONLY if I give the word to act based on what information you gather." Was this a mistake? Was she going about this all wrong? "If you kill my husband, you won't be paid. It's as simple as that." Her love for [member="Veiere Arenais"] was too strong for her to even think about killing him. He was just not himself. She needed to remind him of who he was and pull him out of the Darkness. The attack on Deneba's Temple was very unlike him. It went against his moral code.

"The choice is yours. You can take the job, or leave it."

[member="Macoda Haberon"] [member="Amanda Kryze "][member="Desmond Verd"]

 

[Silas Mantis]

Silas took pause, looking down to [member="Lady Kay"] with something unexpected gleaming in his eye, sympathy. Such dedication and love, with the wanton destruction he'd seen wrought by forcers and the life of war he'd let consume him, it had become easy to forget those outside of Mandalore had family too. Even as the man she loved descended into madness and violence, she could not accept the possibility of letting him die.

"If it comes to that point, it would be only because there was no course left to take. These three are as much my family as he yours, if he means to kill one of them and I am unable to subdue him any other way, then I suppose you will not need to pay us." The Mandalorian replied firmly. Credits were one thing, but he would not allow one of his vode to simply be slaughtered, it would have dishonored him both.

But Mandalore needed this financial income.

"But do not worry, we will not allow such a situation to arise, my friend was merely addressing the hypothetical possibility." That was the truth, if she was at all connected to the force she would be able to sense that he was sincere. Amidst the maelstrom of other emotions and thoughts that swirled beneath the surface, one could sense Silas meant such a situation would not arise because he would lay down his own life to ensure it did not.

Giving his life for Mandalore was a certainty at this point, he didn't much mind when and where so long as it served his people, that was all, that mattered to the galaxy's soon-to-be youngest grandfather. Damn the Netherworld and it's screwing with time, in a matter of seconds he'd missed years of his adopted son and niece's lives, then they'd come back in love.

Despite the absurdity of it all, protecting their future was everything, and if he had to let this woman's rogue husband behead him for it then so be it.

[member="Macoda Haberon"] [member="Karsan Calnov"] @Amanda Kryze​

 

[Hadrian Bjormund]

What [member="Silas Mantis"] said was reasonable. There was a certain risk to Veiere no matter who [member="Lady Kay"] decided to hire, and that will have to be something that she must acknowledge. He must admit that Silas' first impression had been a strong one. The last thing that Mac expected to walk through those doors was a Mandalorian of his own species. Though Mac treats fellow Epicanthix with suspicion, there was no doubt that this Silas was a true warrior, and that was something he could respect. Perhaps most importantly, however, was that it appeared the Mandalorians shared no love for force users. Good. Mac had none either, save for Kay. Veiere was a bigger threat than she realized and Mac was glad that he wasn't the only one in the room who saw the true danger.

However Mac still did not speak. He recognized that he had no place in this conversation. It was abundantly clear that Kay didn't want Mac's say in the matter anyways, and the need for protection should the meeting go awry was the only thing that brought Mac into the fold. He let Kay handle this for herself. Mac would save his thoughts until after the meeting was over.

[member="Karsan Calnov"] @Amanda Kryze

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay bowed her head as [member="Silas Mantis"] described a different scenario. Self defense was a different story. She just didn't want Veiere to be some bounty or mark for assassination. "In matters of self defense, I wouldn't forfeit your pay. And I wouldn't expect either of you to die for me. If it gets too dangerous, then abort. That too wouldn't forfeit your pay." She was an honourable woman, afterall.

" My husband has respect for Mandalorians, so you all wouldn't have to hide that from him. He has often encouraged me to embrace that part of my life, but my priorities to the billions under my care haven't allowed it." She was adopted into the Raxis Clan by [member="Gray Raxis"] long ago, before she was Queen, in a bid to keep Commenor safe from the first Crusades. And it had worked. War had not reached their soil.

She fidgeted in her pocket and brought out a datachip, holding it out to him. "Here's how you can reach me. You can use my alias of Cessy if you'd like." Having an alias was brand new for her. It wasn't anything else that she was hiding from [member="Macoda Haberon"] . But he'll learn that soon.

[member="Karsan Calnov"] [member="Amanda Kryze "]

 

[Silas Mantis]

Silas nodded curtly, taking the datachip from [member="Lady Kay"]. He knew she meant well by mentioning that they would need not hide their true nature as Mandalorians, but the security of the Empire dictated otherwise. That said, since the Clone Wars the Republic's military had always been influenced by the warrior culture, seemingly every clone army produced spare the small Jorin batch were from Mandalorian stock, Fett, Mantis, or otherwise, and even the non-clones seemed to take up their traditions.

By taking the name Sayne, he covered his bases. That name belonged to a small clan that had been made dar'manda long ago, and who's daughter had sought to redeem them during the recent Civil War, she might've succeeded if Silas had not killed her, but such was war. "Then we will depart immediately, and check in once we have integrated into his ranks." Silas responded, giving the Commenor's monarch his assurances before casting a glance back at his team.

"Now, is there anything else we should know before we go?"

​

[member="Macoda Haberon"] [member="Karsan Calnov"] @Amanda Kryze​

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay gave [member="Silas Mantis"] a bow of her head as he gave the indicatikn that they were ready to go. Queen or not, she didn't really hold herself above everyone. Only when certain situations dictated that she should. But this wasn't one of them.

"There's nothing that I can think of at this time. I'll try to keep contact at a minimum. I also have a financial account set up that you can use as petty cash. No need for you all to pay out of pocket. The information is on the datachip."

She folded her hands in front of her. "Good journeys and good luck." Kay chewed the inside of her cheek as she waited for them to depart, knowing full well that it wasn't yet time to return home. She needed to give [member="Macoda Haberon"] some answers first.

[member="Karsan Calnov"] @Amanda Kryze

 

[Karsan Munin]

As the Queen finished, Karsan spit into his bottle and looked over at [member="Silas Mantis"]. He spoke quietly, lowly so that the Queen wouldn't hear.

"If this lady's husband gets jumpy I'm putting him down and going to bed fine with it."

He turned back and looked at the rest of the team, remaining coldly silent and professional to [member="Lady Kay"].

 

[Hadrian Bjormund]

Mac watched as the Mandalorians departed the warehouse with crossed arms and a furrowed brow. The door to the warehouse closed behind them with a loud slam that echoed through the building, and all that was left was himself, [member="Lady Kay"], and the cold, deafening silence. Mac stood there, silent for what seemed like an eternity. He would not look at Kay and instead let her stew in her painful discomfort and guilt. He was the one who was wronged and she knew it. He shouldn't have to speak to her. Fortunately for Kay, Mac's explosive wrath had simmered down somewhat during her conversation with the Mandalorians. However it was not just anger that Mac was grappling with.

Mac was overwhelmed with a flurry of emotions. He felt hurt and betrayed by Kay since it was quite evident that she placed no trust in him. He felt frustrated at the unjustified distrust that Kay had towards him. He felt angry at himself for having feelings for her when it was so obvious that she did not have the same feelings for him. He felt afraid of the sudden threat of Veiere and his potential to harm both Kay and himself. He felt embarrassed about his inability to control his emotions and express them without losing his cool.

Anger and frustration was the natural response. But despite how hurt he felt, Mac did not wish to snap at Kay and tried his best to remove himself from the situation before he could do so. Mac wanted Kay to feel guilty about what she did but he also didn't want to explode at her. He broke the silence with a grumble of general disgust with the situation and began to storm out of the warehouse, his fists clenched, not once looking at Kay.

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay hoped that she was doing the right thing. But it was difficult to know for sure. In some ways history was repeating itself. Just so long as [member="Veiere Arenais"] wasn't being a puppet to anyone else, the resemblance to the demise of her first husband wouldn't be repeated.

What [member="Karsan Calnov"] had said, she wasn't sure on that either. Obviously it'd be something that he knew that she wouldn't of liked, or he'd of said it out loud. Perhaps it was better if she didn't know.

After [member="Silas Mantis"] , Karsan and [member="Amanda Kryze "]left the warehouse, she stood there as [member="Macoda Haberon"] did, only she wasn't fuming. Instead she was trying to figure out how best to explain herself to him.

She was obviously taking too long, because Mac started to storm out. "Mac, wait!" Kay quickened her pace so that she could get in front of him, turning around to face him so that he'd see her at least for a second. "I'm sorry that you had to find out this way. I didn't want to hurt you, yet I didn't want you to stop me from doing this either. I couldn't have you tailing after Veiere for what he had done...I'm just at a loss over it all. I've hardly slept and hardly spoken to anyone, not even Olivia. It's nothing personal, I'm just trying to make sense as to why he would do this..." And how to handle it from there. The people of Deneba deserve justice. In the end she'll have to pay for it all and compensate the families. It was the least that she could do. Now she juat had to be sure that it wouldn't happen again.

 

[Hadrian Bjormund]

Mac still tried to avoid eye contact with [member="Lady Kay"] as she rushed to stop him from leaving the warehouse. He easily stared over her head as he processed her excuse. However one word made him snap his head down and locked eyes with Kay. She had struck a nerve. "Nothing personal? Your decision to not tell your Head of Security, your personal bodyguard, of an extremely dangerous security threat is nothing but personal. You chose to suffer in silence rather than get me involved.Do you have that little faith in me to keep you safe? If you did not need me for this meeting, I would've never known that there is a rogue darkseider terrorizing your people. What if he had come for you?"

Mac shook his head in sad disbelief. The hurt in his accusatory tone was evident. "After all this time, and you still don't trust me. Why did you appoint me to this position in the first place if you don't trust me enough for me to do my job?"

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay just stared straight ahead while [member="Macoda Haberon"] finally began speaking. This wasn't the first time that he had lectured her or gotten after her for something. And it probably wouldn't be the last. She was really going to need some tea after this.

When she spoke her voice was quiet. It wasn't as though she didn't want to be heard, it was that she felt so small against the weight of his wordsand the intensity in his glare. "Veiere wouldn't come after me...He still loves me...And it's not that I don't trust you to do your job, which I do, but as I said, I didn't want you to stop me from hiring these guys to tail them. I was afraid that you'd think it was a bad idea and that I'd have to try to think of something else." Kay sighed. After Mac had been gone for some time, she had grown used to handling things on her own. It wasn't as though he was replaced. But she had her husband to look after her. And now he was gone on his own...journey, if one could call it that.

"It's not you that I don't trust Mac, it's myself. What if I've made all the wrong choices? What if I'm just blind because of my emotions?" She wanted to know if she was being stupid about the whole situation, but she was afraid of the answer as well. "Somehow, I'll make it up to you...I promise." Though right now she wasn't so sure that Mac would take her up on that.