A Bounty of Employees is Common

[Darlyn Excron]

Stand down... the order wasn't something [member="Lady Kay"] often did, and her words about [member="Macoda Haberon"] was enough to make him put his blaster away, but even so his anger was rolling off of him in pulsating waves. Like a pot boiling over, he needed release, or he'd only explode at the worst of times. His eyes quickly scanned left to right, to find the least expensive, and least meaningful object in the room. Something she wouldn't miss, that could be replaced. Something... anything..

With another hiss the lightsaber in hand was disengaged, but even so his anger would be sated. Darlyn turned on his heels, and aimed at the least expensive part of the wall with his hands, as the violent bolts of lightning shot forth. He knew well enough nothing would catch fire, and if he broke anything important then Kay might be upset with him, more than she likely was already. Still, he let out as much frustration as he could, before the bolts cut out, having left a sizable burn mark on the wall.

Breathing slowly, Darlyn ran a hand up through his hair, not turning to Kay as he spoke again. "... Explain."

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay frowned as [member="Darlyn Excron"] burned a hole in her wall, that thankfully didn't burn all the way through. He shut off his lightsaber, yet she knew that it wasn't all over yet.

She glanced over her shoulder to @Macoba Haberon . Despite her position of power, between the two of them she felt quite small. But at least for the moment, she had stopped a fight.

"Mac made a mistake and it cost two lives, of which he is going to pay for. Neither of us are innocent. We have all killed people...people that we shouldn't have. He is going to work off his debt to me and to the families of the men that were lost." That's all that she wanted to say on the matter. She just wasn't sure whether or not Darlyn would press for details. She hoped that he wouldn't.

 

[Hadrian Bjormund]

Mac's anger for the threatening Sith was interrupted by a flash of intense fear as lightning shot from his hands and scorching the wall. The same force lightning illuminated his nightmares as he recalled how his father died screaming in agnony. The static was deafening to him. It was all Mac could do to not flinch, he knew [member="Lady Kay"] could probably feel his fear and anxiety. However Mac was anchored by the presence of Kay, now was not the time for another panic attack. He stood closer to her in a defensive way. Mac never took his eyes off of [member="Darlyn Excron"], though he did lower his axes a little as the situation seemed to diffuse somewhat.

A part of Mac was worried about how much information Kay was going to divulge. He was hesitant in giving any information about his past to the Head of Security who was clearly a Sith if Mac ever knew one. He wondered how Kay would make such a lapse in judgement in letting this man be her Head of Security. First he had allowed Mac to kidnap the Queen of Commenor and now barges in to her office threatening her. Lady Kay was the only force user that Mac had any trust in. He doesn't forsee Darlyn changing his stance on that anytime soon.

 

[Darlyn Excron]

Darlyn listened quietly, letting Kay have her short bit before he shot a glance over at the both of them. She was ever the voice of reason, [member="Lady Kay"]. Likely the only person that could keep him calm after boiling over as he had, given their rather close, he wouldn't know if it was a friendship or not, but something like that. The anger in him slowly began to recede, perhaps not entirely but enough that the man could speak and think far more clearly. And fortunate for [member="Macoda Haberon"], when he did get the alert to the two dead guardsmen, he was able to contain himself again, the only sign of anger being his clenched fist.

"Kay.." There was no bitterness to his tone now, no anger. Even though the strain and frustration was evident in how he stood, he managed to keep focused on the moment, to retain some level of professionalism. "I still owe you much. Next time, tell me where you're going, at the very least. I can't hunt you down across the galaxy if I'm left out of the loop. Just.. trust me alright?" He gave her a quick glance, making sure Mac wouldn't be able to see the concern on his face.

After letting Kay know that, he made his face stern again, and stepped past Kay, standing somewhat, defiant almost, of the taller man with axes. "And you, we'll be having discussions... you'll be under constant watch every second you're on palace grounds, and you will check in every time you enter or leave the premises. Kay doesn't want you arrested, but I don't trust you. The second you do anything to betray her trust, I can and will make you regret that decision for every waking moment you continue to live. Are we clear on that?"

 

[Hadrian Bjormund]

Mac holstered his axes as he picked up on some sense of concern for Kay in Darlyn's voice. He continued to watch Darlyn carefully as he approached him. Mac stood almost a foot taller than the Head of Security but if that intimidated [member="Darlyn Excron"], he didn't show it. He couldn't care less about his threats. There was no way that he was going to betray [member="Lady Kay"], not after everything that she had done for him. He stood unwavering in front of the shorter man. His jaw clenched.

I don't trust you either, you witchy cur.

Mac replied rather tensely, "I understand your concern with Lady Kay's safety. But I trusted her with my life and she has trusted me with hers. He glanced at Lady Kay before he continued in a more menacing tone. "I'll answer to Kay, I won't answer to you."

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay breathed out a sigh of relief as the situation calmed down. So she let herself relax. She nodded to [member="Darlyn Excron"] 's concerns and terms. He was right. As the head of her security, he had a right to know where she was. But still, she hated the lack of privacy.

"I'm sorry Darlyn. I won't let it happen again." She glanced over to [member="Macoda Haberon"] whom seemed very steadfast in looking out for her as well, even when it came to facing what he feared. She had respect for that. "You are both fighting on the same side, despite your differences. None of us are the same types of people. I just hope that some day....you two will come to terms, settle your differences and be able to work together when it's needed." How long that would take, she didn't know.

 

[Darlyn Excron]

"And she has trusted me with her life in the same way she has saved mine. I don't care if you like me, Mac, I didn't take this job to make friends. I took it to kill whatever Sith, Jedi, or Hunter decides to mess with her, and repay my debt to her. You can hate me all you want, but you will listen to direct orders from me when it comes to my field of authority. You aren't her guard."

Perhaps Darlyn felt, somewhat threatened by the man. Not in a physical way of course, the man paled in comparison to a Herglic, and he'd seen his fair share of those in his time. But on another level, well, Kay could always fire him if she wished. And despite his loyalty and capabilities, and even the trust he'd give her, there was just that nagging...

He took a couple steps back, shooting Kay a glance. "... I presume you want me to make sure your new friend isn't carted off to the mines. I'll do it, but he'll be coming with me when I deliver the news to their families." Maybe forcing the man to see the effects of his actions would offer Darlyn some small comfort.

[member="Lady Kay"] | [member="Macoda Haberon"]

 

[Hadrian Bjormund]

[member="Darlyn Excron"]'s words left a foul taste in Mac's mouth. This Sith bursts into [member="Lady Kay"]'s office, treats her like a prisoner, burns a hole in her wall after igniting his lightsaber in anger and now he tries to flaunt his authority. In the course of a day, Mac had developed an intense loyalty to Lady Kay. Mac rarely ever developed such feelings of loyalty but it would be a feeling that he would likely carry to his grave. Had this confrontation been in any other situation, then Mac would be crippled by fear, especially after Darlyn's display of force lighting. Yet he was not alone, Mac knew he had the protection of Lady Kay and that made him much braver. He was not full of fear but instead full of anger.

"Aye I am not her guard, so why should I take orders from the Head of Palace Security? I am Lady Kay's personal pilot and have pledged myself to her and her alone. If she wants me to obey you then obey I will, but that is up to her to decide and not the likes of you, Sith."

Mac spat the last word at him with a venomous hatred, his hands resting on his holstered axes. He loomed over the force user threateningly. Though Mac couldn't tell if this intimidated him, it did not matter. He wanted to make his presence felt, to inform Darlyn that he was not a man to be trifled with, as the two guards on the Free Lady and many before them had learned the hard way. Mac's jaw clenched, he turned to Lady Kay, awaiting her instructions.

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay started rubbing her temples as the bickering between [member="Darlyn Excron"] and [member="Macoda Haberon"] continued, each one postering and puffing up their chests in a bit to be tougher than the other. Male egos. Gotta love it.

Once they had both finished for the moment, she dropped her hands from her head and looked to them both, one after the other. "Are you both finished? This isn't some contest as to who has more loyalty." She gave a pause for a second or two before continuing. "No, I don't want Mac sent to the mines, nor do I need him sent to the families of those killed either. That would only stir more hatred. He is already going to be paying for them, and their families will get the money. That is all the punishment that he will get right now. Is that understood, Darlyn?"

Kay looked up to Mac once again. "Both of you need to reign yourselves in a bit. And if you must take out your aggression on one another....than how about a sparring match? No Force use, no weapons, no cheating..." If they wanted to continue to be competitive, then it shpuld be done the right way.

 

[Hadrian Bjormund]

[member="Lady Kay"]'s suggestion had caught the attention of Mac. Mac broke his fierce glare with [member="Darlyn Excron"] and he cracked a wide smile. He turned to size Daryln up for a fight and was confident in himself. Mac had fought against force users before, and he found that they were overly reliant on their abilities. Take their powers and their lightsaber away, and there is not much left. Mac on the other hand was an experienced warrior who couldn't rely on the Force in fights. Sure he was used to fighting armed but Mac had been caught unarmed in many a street fight. He sized up the Head of Security that stood before him. Mac had the reach, the strength, and probably the experience. He could tell that Darlyn was faster, but Mac was pretty fast as well, for his size at least. Besides, Mac was used to fighting those faster than him. His smile was confident in a sort of mischievous way. He wasn't a jedi or a sith or anywhere in between. He was a warrior, this is what he did.

No Force. No weapons. No problem.

Mac laughed in excitement and eyed Darlyn. "What do you say? Think you can handle me?"

 

[Darlyn Excron]

Darlyn looked over the figure of [member="Macoda Haberon"] upon hearing [member="Lady Kay"]'s suggestion of a sparing match between the two of them. Mac was taller, stronger no doubt, and clearly confident in himself. Of course that was exactly what Darlyn was used to fighting, he'd been doing this since he was what, eight? Whatever age his old master had thrown him to the wolves at, hardly equipped or trained to fight. But here he was, standing in Kay's office, effectively being challenged to fight by the taller man.

"Of course I can handle you. I've fought for my life since I was a child, I can handle one beast of a man." The sith comment still rung in his ears.. oh how he wanted to pound the smug look off Mac's face until nothing but a bloody paste was left smeared on the training room floor. The thought sounded so.. satisfying. ".. But I have two funerals to plan, and families to bear the news to. I don't have time for something so... pointless." He turned his back to Mac, and addressed Kay again. "... Assuming you have nothing else you need of me, My Queen."

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay had expected [member="Darlyn Excron"] and [member="Macoda Haberon"] to want to duke it out in a match. But Darlyn surprised her and declined. It would have been quite the spectacle, but she wasn't going to force either of them.

She frowned a little, more so for him having to be the bearer of bad news than anything else. "Did you want me to go with you?"

Why did she care so much? Was the work that [member="Veiere Arenais"] and [member="Atheus"] doing on her psyche truly working? Or perhaps it was just her following her instincts on how best to rule and keep her people on her side. It gives the Loyalists less to fight against her with. And should war ever come to Commenor, then she will have more willing to fight to protect it.

 

[Hadrian Bjormund]

Mac was more disappointed than anything else when he heard [member="Darlyn Excron"]'s response to the spar. He knew it sounded to good to be true, to be able to fight Darlyn without fearing his use of the force. He wasn't slighted in that Darlyn didn't accept his challenge, but Mac frowned when Darlyn explained that it simply wasn't worth his time. His arrogance irked Mac in the way he flaunted both his force abilities and his authority. Mac was truly terrified of the force lighting that Darlyn managed to conjure up, but he wasn't scared of the man once you take that away.

Just witchcraft used to kill better men.

If anyone had the ability to change Mac's stance on force users, it would be [member="Lady Kay"]. Although Mac suspected that she was unique in being hesitant in flaunting her powers. She wasn't like any other that Mac had met. The conversation turned to the discussion about breaking the news to the families of the guards. Mac wondered if he himself should go after all but then he thought better of it. Lady Kay had a point, his presence would only cause more pain and more people would start to question Kay's decision to keep Mac alive which is something that he was understandably trying to avoid.

Both guards fought bravely and died with honor. They will surely find the golden halls of their forefathers.

 

[Darlyn Excron]

"If you wish, Kay. I would warn you though, it's a less enjoyable experience than you think." NOt that he thought she assumed it was enjoyable at all, of course. Darlyn knew [member="Lady Kay"] well enough to know she'd understand it to be quite the unenjoyable, difficult experience. That said, it was worse than one normally would think, though Darlyn was admittedly unsure how much she had to experience in this particular field before now.

The more Darlyn began focusing, in his mind at least, on the task at hand, the more his anger receded and drew back inside him. He was, upset.. but he was hardly angry at the situation. Oh sure, he'd be infuriated for a while when thinking of [member="Macoda Haberon"] and what he did, but the entirety of the situation was simply a sobering, depressing spiral. He really, really needed a drink, several dozen more likely than not.

Maybe he'd take up a sparing match then, after he'd gotten thoroughly drunk and calm. But for now, it'd be best to handle the situation swiftly. "... I swear you're just, such a magnet for trouble Kay. One of these days we both need a vacation."

 

[Kay-Larr]

"I know what it's like to lose a loved one, Darlyn. So I can relate." She had been through war, mostly in her younger days, but even then she was kept out of the danger zones. For the most part anyways. Everyone lacked confidence in her ability to look after herself, and after her recent capture, she couldn't blame them. Kay lacked confidence in herself at times too. She carried doubt and guilt, and at times she was angry with herself and her swiss cheese memory.

But who ever said that life was fair?

To [member="Darlyn Excron"] 's last remark, she just shrugged her shoulders. "I know that I'm a magnet for it. That's why I don't get vacations. I have no time for it and I don't think that I ever will. Too many people rely on me and my choices."

Far too many emotions were running through her right now. She was promised some tea earlier, but had yet to have it. So Kay stepped away from the two of them and prepared the kettle. She preferred to do it herself, rather than call up one of her staff to do such a simple task for her. "I need some tea first. Do either of you want any?" Her eyes drifted to [member="Macoda Haberon"] and Darlyn.

 

[Hadrian Bjormund]

"No thank you, my lady" Mac heard himself say. After his incident today, he didn't want to impose at all. Besides, Mac really only drank water.

He hadn't spoken too much after his confrontation with [member="Darlyn Excron"]. Mac felt that after all the trouble he had put [member="Lady Kay"] through, that he felt that silence was the best route to take. However Kay's words about her stress had garnered pity from Mac. He knew that pity wasn't what Kay wanted but he pitied her all the same, and couldn't help but feel that his actions had made it worse. He could also feel that Darlyn wasn't looking forward to the task ahead of bearing the bad news to the families.

Mac tried his best to lighten the mood. "When is the last time you did something fun, Lady Kay? I don't know much about ruling, but you aren't good to your people if you work yourself to death." That was a little bit of a lie as he tried to humble himself before Kay. The truth was that Mac knew quite a bit about ruling from his father's reign, but he never had the chance to rule first hand. A very small part of Mac was thankful, not for his father's death or Fornow's fall, but that he wasn't confined to the shackles of rulership. Mac, for all intents and purposes, was free. That was what he loved most about pirating, that and the adventure. True, he had paid a price in freedom for his failure in kidnapping Lady Kay, but he was using his freedom to run away. Here, he might redeem some of his honor by protecting the one who showed him mercy.

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay took out her tea cup and tea pouch from a small cupboard, setting them on the small galley. The tea leaves were taken out of the pouch and crumpled in her hand before she dropped them into the cup and dusted off her hands. Preparing tea was almost a calming ritual for her. She knew it well enough to do so in her sleep, could do it without even thinking about it.

She looked over her shoulder to [member="Macoda Haberon"] as he asked her about when was the last time she'd done something fun. A few seconds pause followed as she mulled the question over. "I don't know. A while. I've been too busy to even think about it. There has been too much going on that needs my attention." Sure she would head out to the hedge maze sometimes and try to conquer it, but not lately. Nor had she been able to spend much time with her husband-to-be. They've both been busy and their engagement had yet to be made public. Kay used to ride her speederbike through the Twin Canyons, but that ended after she was captured while doing just that. But not going out of her way to have fun didn't mean that she wasn't enjoying life. There was plenty to look forward to.

The water was ready, so she poured some into the cup and stirred the leaves with a spoon. In a few more minutes she'd be able to drink it, once the Sapir leaves had dissolved. "Besides...I can relax while I'm sleeping."

[member="Darlyn Excron"]

 

[Darlyn Excron]

"A cup of tea could do wonders..." Darlyn mumbled to himself, as he wandered over to a chair, taking a seat. He'd be able to relax when all this was done, so much had been going on. If [member="Lady Kay"]'s life was hectic out of necessity, he worried himself to near death for no real reason. He didn't have to take on so much, yet he opted to do so in his fervor to repay her, though there was little doubt he'd probably paid for his debt to her several times over by now.

He sighed again, relaxing into the seat in the office where he'd normally take when joining Kay for a cup of tea. To [member="Macoda Haberon"] it no doubt looked arrogant as hell, but for Darlyn it was a semi regular thing. "Could always leave me in charge for a day Kay. Probably wouldn't destroy the planet while you slept in." His tone made the joke clear. The surge of anger brought on by his frustration was clearly fading rapidly as he settled into a more familiar routine.

 

[Hadrian Bjormund]

"Could always leave me in charge for a day Kay. Probably wouldn't destroy the planet while you slept in."

"Aye but you'd probably destroy me." Though Mac wasn't really joking, his tone implied otherwise. He looked at [member="Darlyn Excron"] sitting in one of the chairs in [member="Lady Kay"]'s office. His eyes then switched over to the hole that he had burned into the wall. The hole was minor but the wall around it was charred black, much like his father's corpse after his encounter with force lighting. Mac tried not to let his fear show on his face when he glanced at the wall but he might not have been successful. His hands found their way to rest comfortably on the axes that were holstered on his sides.

Mac's attention then shifted to Lady Kay who was now clearly enjoying her cup of tea. "Is there anything I can do Kay... I mean my lady?" Mac felt that both his failed kidnapping and Darlyn's subsequent temper had worn down Lady Kay, and he wanted to rectify that in some way. Especially considering that he was the cause of Darlyn's outburst. Mac looked at the hole in the wall again.

Although that by no means excuses it.

Mac kept one eye on Darlyn as he still made him nervous, especially after his force lightning stunt. A wave of exhaustion suddenly washed over Mac. He had killed two guards, tried to kidnap Lady Kay only to be thwarted by a panic attack, and then faced the fury of the Head of Security, standing only feet away from his force lighting. Mac took the liberty of sitting himself down with Kay and Darlyn.

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay nodded and took out another cup from the cupboard, preparing the leaves and pouring the water. She gave it a stir and carried it over to [member="Darlyn Excron"] , with her own in her other hand. She smirked at Darlyn's suggestion of letting him run Commenor. [member="Macoda Haberon"] was already quick to chime in before she could. "Darlyn....the last time that I took a morning off, you ended up trapped in the mines. I can only imagine what trouble you'd get into if you were left in charge for an entire day."

She sat down in her own chair, crossing her feet at her ankles and tucking them underneath her while she cradled her cup in her hands and rested them on her lap. The tea wasn't quite ready just yet. "Still....you have proved yourself to be more than just the head of security. Perhaps a promotion will soon be in your future." But she wanted to be sure that he could handle it, especially after that display of a temper.

Kay glanced over to Mac as he sat down. She noticed his ocassional looks at the newly burned hole in the wall and could see the anxiety growing. But at least he wasn't panicking. "You can call me Kay. We're not in public. But after the...investigation is handled, the Free Lady will need to be scrubbed clean." Manual labour yes, but it was his mess afterall.