"Lord Vizsla, don't be mad Let me help you cool off"
"Get out." Max Vizsla barked flatly, stopping the Twi'lek manager who had already crouched down.
Was Max furious?
On the surface, yes. The moment he returned to the suite, he flushed red with anger and ordered the Cloud City to begin launch preparations. He also ordered the Screeching Eagle Squadron's pilots into their cockpits, ready to depart at any moment. He looked like he was livid—like he was about to cut the Coruscant visit short and leave immediately.
In reality, he was genuinely angry, but not as angry as he looked.
If he truly wanted to bolt, he could have issued the order on the way back from the Jedi Temple to Republic 500. The reason he waited until he got back to the room was mostly theater—performing anger for whoever was watching the suite.
The Jedi Temple was in the wrong first. If he then used the incident to amplify the pressure, he could seize the moral high ground and force the Jedi Temple and the Galactic Senate—eager to placate an "injured guest"—to make certain concessions or offer compensation in the formal negotiations later. That was the real thinking behind Max Vizsla's "anger."
However, by noon, Max Vizsla was genuinely angry.
Dank farrik. The Jedi Temple was unbearably arrogant—shockingly rude. Two or three hours had passed. Forget Master Yoda or that "motherf—er hero" showing up in person to apologize: not even a single holocall had come through with an explanation.
The rage of being humiliated face-to-face, plus the humiliation of realizing his play hadn't worked, ignited him. "Bang!" He slammed a fist down onto the service bell.
"Ding-ding—Hello, Lord Vizsla, what can—"
"I want a shower."
"Yes. Right away."
...
After a cold rinse to put out the fire, Max Vizsla calmed down.
He'd already struck the pose—ready to abort the trip and leave. No one responded. So what now?
Leaving outright would clearly damage both his personal interests and Bespin's ability to maximize outcomes. But if he stayed and refused to move, it would be embarrassing—and worse, it would expose that his anger had been performative, revealing that he wanted something. That would hurt him in later negotiations.
He had it. Not a good solution, but it would buy time.
Max activated his comm and spoke loudly: "Seyn, prep the fighter. Chris, you're with me. We're visiting Almec—quick in, quick out. Captain Gor, keep the Cloud City on standby. The moment we're back, we lift and depart."
"...Target preparing to depart to visit New Mandalorian politician Almec. Emotional state remains heightened..." Behind a monitor, someone typed rapidly.
The moment Max stepped out of the suite, Aayla Secura—who had been waiting nearby—quickened her pace and caught up.
"Lord Vizsla, please stop. This was a misunderstanding, we—"
"Ms. Secura, you don't need to say anything else." Max halted and raised a hand, cutting her off.
"You said it was a misunderstanding. You said the Jedi Temple would provide a reasonable explanation. I believed you. I believed all of it. So the ship's engine block is already lit, and I waited in my room for two or three hours. Two or three hours of doing nothing but waiting. And what did I get? The Jedi Temple didn't even send a single holocall!"
"Lord Vizsla, it's a misunderstanding—"
"Enough." Max waved a hand, turning as if to leave. "Fine. A misunderstanding is a misunderstanding. But I'm not waiting two or three more hours. I'm going to see Almec. After that, we depart for Bespin. Any 'misunderstanding' can be explained later."
"I'll take you."
"No need. We have our—"
"Lord Vizsla," Aayla Secura said earnestly, "a starfighter weaving through the city can cause panic and trigger interception by police and the Judicial Forces. That could create unnecessary trouble for your schedule. Take my Jedi T-6 shuttle instead."
"Ms. Secura, you're a capital-G Good Person," Max said solemnly. "Me and Bespin—we owe you."
The reason Max hadn't used the direct private route to his dedicated landing berth, and had insisted on coming out through the front again, was precisely because he wanted to say a few things to Aayla Secura—to use her to remind the Temple: if you want to apologize and defuse this, then move. Now.
But the Jedi flower's sincerity still made the calculating Max Vizsla feel, frankly, a bit ashamed.
...
"Lord Vizsla, it really was a misunderstanding. Master Yoda intended to come and apologize in person—but Chancellor Palpatine urgently asked him to the Chancellor's office. The Senate is worried about the blood feud between the Jedi Order and the Mandalorians. They hoped that, before the misunderstanding is resolved, the Temple wouldn't contact you rashly—so as not to provoke or further inflame you."
In the cockpit of the Jedi T-6 shuttle, Aayla Secura explained helplessly.
(Dank farrik. Palpatine, you bastard—you really are something.)
Max Vizsla understood instantly: in terms of scheming, he still wasn't in the same league as Palpatine. If not for the Jedi flower's sincerity, under the clash of his own calculation and Palpatine's, the Jedi Temple and the Mandalorians would have ended up with a huge new grievance between them—again.
"Is that true?" Max asked.
"Of course it's true."
"Then fine. I believe you." Max nodded. "Ms. Secura—let's go to the Senate Building."
"Lord Vizsla?" Aayla Secura looked at him, hesitation written plainly across her face.
"Relax. I'm not going to start trouble. You said Master Yoda meant to come explain in person—then I'll go hear what he has to say. And before I leave, I should also formally say goodbye to the Chancellor. After all, I came to Coruscant on Chancellor Palpatine's invitation."
Sincerity was a lethal weapon. Max pivoted fast—if he couldn't out-scheme Palpatine, then he'd play it straight. He would wait outside the Chancellor's office and force a three-way conversation with Yoda and Palpatine on the spot.
Besides, with Master Yoda present, Max wouldn't have to worry about Palpatine "turning into Darth Sidious" in a private talk and tossing him a Force lightning bolt.
"As you wish." Aayla Secura smiled and pushed the control lever, steering the shuttle toward the Senate Building.
...
"Still busy, Chancellor?" Master Yoda asked, sounding slightly anxious.
At Chancellor Palpatine's request, Master Yoda had come from the Jedi Temple to the Chancellor's office, intending to explain the incident that morning in the Temple Museum. Yet after arriving, Palpatine had remained "in meetings," never making time to receive him.
"Almost done, almost done," the Chancellor's aide forced an awkward, ingratiating smile. "Master Yoda, please wait just a moment. The meeting will be over soon."
"Master Yoda!"
A familiar voice called out.
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