Un-Common, Uncomfortable and Unpredictable

[Hadrian Bjormund]

Mac did not let up his intensity as [member="Lady Kay"] replied in a quiet tone. He completely glossed over her offer to make it up to him. He didn't know how she would do that even if she was serious. Kay's offer was just a politician's way of quickly ending this uncomfortable conversation and Mac saw straight through it. He wouldn't let her off the hook that easily. Her explanation had only served to irritate him. "Farking hell, Kay. If you don't trust yourself then farking tell me! I could've helped you!"

The hurt in his voice was displaced by a sense of exasperated frustration. As Kay grew quieter, Mac grew louder. Now she just wasn't making any sense. "You didn't tell me about this chit because you didn't want me to change your mind but you also didn't tell me because you didn't trust yourself to make the right decision? That doesn't make any sense! All I want is for you to remain safe. Just tell me the truth! What do you mean?"

By this point, Mac had allowed himself to get riled up again. The anger burned hot in his chest. So much for trying to avoid confrontation. Mac paused, his eyes desperately searching Kay's face for any answers. However Kay wouldn't even meet his intense glare, and instead averted her eyes away. The small act set Mac off and suddenly all the pent up anger burst forth from him in an explosion. "LOOK. AT. ME!" Mac barked at her in a far harsher tone than what he intended, but what was said, was said.

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay jumped in spite of herself as [member="Macoda Haberon"] yelled at her. His voice just boomed and echoed in the warehouse, giving it much more power and intensity than it should have. She snapped her head up to him, her eyes meeting his. What he saw in hers wasn't defiance or dishonesty; but instead there lay sadness and shock. Everything seemed to be spiralling out of control and she just wanted to scream back at him and to collapse in a heap of tears. Yet she couldn't do either of those things. It was best to save it for when she was alone.

"I know that I don't make sense! This whole thing with what Veiere has done doesn't make any sense! It's not what he said that he was going to do. I'm just so..so confused. I have to fix it somehow. If some of the other heads of governments found out...I need to do damage control, I need to be sure that it doesn't happen again and I need to find out why..." She clenched her jaw, her voice growing quiet again. "I need to know why he would do this. I told him not to go where I can't follow..." Veiere was quite intimidating when he was angry. And so was Mac.

 

[Hadrian Bjormund]

Mac's temper was much like a time bomb. Sudden, horrifying, destructive, but often ended as quickly as it started. As the dust settled, it appeared that [member="Lady Kay"] did not like her brief taste of Mac's wrath. When Kay snapped her head up to meet Mac's eyes, what Mac saw caught him off guard. It wasn't anger or defiance but rather sadness with a touch of fear. It was a look that instantly brought Mac back to reality and guilt started to cool off his rage. She was such a strong woman and this was.... unlike her. It was almost as if she was about to cry.

However the sympathy in Mac was rather short lived as it became evident that he wouldn't find closure on why Kay had refused to tell him of Veiere. It was obvious that all she could focus on was Veiere which left Mac sadly disappointed. How could she love a Darksider of all people? He had tolerated Veiere when he was an idealistic Jedi, but this betrayal crossed a line. If Veiere truly loved Kay, his actions surely didn't show it. He needed to be stopped before Kay suffers the consequences of his recklessness and blatant disregard for the well being of his "love". Just thinking about that fallen disgrace reignited anger and jealousy inside Mac.

But eventually the guilt over his outburst prevailed over his anger and jealous. The raging fire disappeared from Mac's eyes, leaving them soft and genuine. He needed to be therefore Kay especially since Veiere was not, regardless of Mac's motives for doing so. Mac placed a heavy hand on Kay's shoulder in an effort to assure her stress. He wouldn't apologize for what he said, but it was time to move past that for now.

"Listen to me. What you did was smart, tracking him. Veiere is no longer than man you married and has devolved into a loose cannon that could go off in any direction. If he can be saved then so be it, but now he is a threat that needs to be stopped before he does damage to Commenor or, more importantly, you. He needs to be caught and brought to justice. Despite his claimed love for you, I don't think he has any plans on stopping. I am going to make things right but I need your help, Kay. Do you understand?"

 

[Kay-Larr]

[member="Macoda Haberon"] was calmer now. And that was a good thing. It was better for them both to be calm. Perhaps it was better for everyone that way.

The tension in her body eased up a little as he placed his hand on her shoulder and spoke. Capture Veiere? Bring him to justice? Sure Veiere was different, but in many ways he was also the same. Was she supposed to treat him like some common criminal?

She studied Mac for a moment, not quite sure of where he was going with this. "How are you going to make things right? Are you going to use me as bait?" Kay was a horrible liar and through the Force Bond that she shared with her husband, he'd see right through that. It was why she had hired others to follow him. There was less of a chance that it could be tracked down to her.

 

[Hadrian Bjormund]

Mac was uncomfortable with the idea of using [member="Lady Kay"] as bait. Even in normal circumstances, Lady Kay was too important to risk like that. However Veiere is a different animal altogether and Mac would be a fool to underestimate him. That being said though.....

"Look, there is a good chance that Veiere might visit you. Like it or not, Veiere is a terrorist and we have to stop him before this thing spirals out of control. People might start calling for his death over the Jedi Temple ordeal or they might call into question your ability to lead effectively. Let alone the possible risk that he poses to you. He is still your husband and you will bear the consequences of his actions. There is no other way around this, we have to capture him before his Dark Jedi Order fully develops into something that can't be stopped."

The course of action was obvious for Mac at least. Kill or save Veiere, but either option would require him to be captured first. He knew that Kay would be hesitant to go through with this plan, but it was evident that she already recognized the risks that Veiere posed. Thats why she hired the Mandalorians in the first place, instead of just confronting Veiere.

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay dropped her gaze, her brows furrowing as she thought of what [member="Macoda Haberon"] had said. Although she believed that Veiere would never try to hurt her, she wasn't so certain about how he would be to everyone else. But did she want to risk capturing him right now? She hadn't spoken to her husband since he left, so of course she didn't know his side of things. And that would need to be known.

"So what are you saying, Mac? Are you going to ambush him when he comes? I don't know how affective that could be." She looked up to him again to see his answer as well as hear it. Obviously she had a lot going on in her mind. "Maybe we should talk to Darlyn first. He's the Minister of Justice. He should be included." Maybe the three of them together could come up with a good course of action to take that wouldn't blow up in her face. But right now it seemed as though there were no good options.

 

[Hadrian Bjormund]

Mac knew that [member="Lady Kay"] had a point. In a fair fight, Mac would undoubtedly be able to defeat Veiere. He was undeniably faster, stronger, and more experienced than the older man. However if Mac did face Veiere, it wouldn't be a fair fight. Veiere could have always used the force against Mac but this time he would have no qualms in doing so. Once you throw that witchcraft in the mix, Mac wasn't sure on how he would be able to handle himself. That being said, he was still willing to put himself between him and Kay if it meant an end to this whole situation. Mac still figured that a surprise arrest would be the best course of action and he still didn't see any other way.

However an old name captured Mac's attention. "Darlyn?" Kay's suggestion was taken as a small insult. Mac knew at this point that he was being petty, but this was just another instance of Kay not trusting Mac's judgement. No. After hearing Mac's opinion, she would rather reveal the information to a third person, a darksider no less. That is, if [member="Darlyn Excron"] doesn't know already. At this point, Mac wouldn't be surprised if he was the last to know. There would obviously be no closure for him today.

Still, Mac begrudgingly acknowledged that having Darlyn would be useful, If he hadn't joined Veiere's Order yet. Mac gave a small bow and replied somewhat coldly, "As you wish, your grace." His sudden formality was clearly evident of the rift that grew between him and Kay. Employee and employer.

 

[Kay-Larr]

So that was his plan. Kay saw it written on his face. [member="Macoda Haberon"] was wanting to ambush Veiere and put him under arrest. The element of surprise would only last so long, and not long enough for it to work. Kay knew that. Why didn't he?

The mere suggestion of Darlyn clearly what Mac had wanted either. Kay had figured that if it was justice that he had wanted, then surely letting Darlyn in on it was a great idea. But clearly she had been wrong on that point too.

Kay clenched her jaw as he bowed to her, giving her such formality that it was almost heavyhanded. She just about gave up then, figuring that they both needed time to regroup. There'll be a time to settle their differences later. She gave him a little nod. "Time to go home then. We're done here.. ." Kay turned on her heel and began walking out of the warehouse to where the Free Lady was parked, quite confident that the ride home to Commenor was going to be a quiet one.

 

[Hadrian Bjormund]

Mac watched with a scowl on his face as [member="Lady Kay"] turned her back on him and strutted to the Free Lady, clearly done with the conversation. He let out a short, low growl in annoyance. What did he possibly do to deserve this sort of treatment? She was blinded by her love for Veiere. How could she not see the danger in him? Clearly she had enough foresight to hire these farking Mandalorians instead of confronting him directly, but getting the Head of Security involved? No way.

He felt like he was unjustifiably discarded. He had always been loyal to Kay and his loyalty has been rewarded with disregard, distrust even. He was dead weight that was not even allowed to do his duty, and he was completely at a loss as to why. "Aye, we are." Mac grumbled to himself. That was all that was left to do. He then followed Kay back to the Free Lady, keeping a moderate distance between them. It was going to be a long ride home.