[Mac]

Unfortunate Circumstance

{The Soft Intro}

Recently, I’ve been extremely frustrated, with no desire to try and hide it or make any excuses, this is the truth and I know it. Something that Austin James Mercer said to me a day or so after he beat me rings true. He told me, that we are not built for kind words, men like us are made for war. There is a lot of truth in that; trust me, I’ve thought about that a lot since it was said.

It has come to my attention that I may have no other choice but to be that person again. The war with Masque and her newly reformed alliance. That was what was forcing this line of thinking. The return of Matt Knox, after I had provided him with everything he needed to be free of her. My best friend, Ken, socialized with her and tried to figure some things out. I doubt he even knows why he is there meeting with them. The only thing that I can figure is that she’s sunk her claws into his psyche and he can’t shake her loose. That she has gotten to him somehow and now he’s questioning himself. The proverbial devil on his shoulder.

Speaking of which, Gabrial Baal has come into our lives. My wife is my heart and soul, I’m honest, I don’t like her choice of advisers. Much like she didn’t like mine, but she supported me nonetheless, as I will her. I know who and what he is, and he’s far more than a devil on her shoulder. He’s the type of person that will wreak havoc on families. Only if you allow it though, he does have weaknesses of his own. You have to go through hell to find them though. Unless you know who to talk to that is. I will continue to be supportive of my wife in this regard, as I always am.

As for Carter who I face this week, I’m sorry, kid. I’m not the one you should be facing right now. Not in a return match. You might want to check with Underwood and see what you did to piss him off.


{The Bane Ranch - Las Vegas NV - “The Elephant in the Room”}

Constantly finding yourself in no-win situations was an art form. Most people found themselves in that kind of situation a few times in their life, for me, it was Friday. Since Amber had made the decision to take Gabriel Baal up on his offer to be an advisor or agent, whatever the situation called for, things had been a little strained. The problem for me was that I knew Gabriel, for what he was and even more importantly what he was capable of. So I sat in silence, enjoying my first cup of coffee of the day, my beautiful wife asked the question, “Shall we address the elephant in the room?” I looked up at her just as she said it and almost sprayed my coffee everywhere. A small smirk appeared on her face as I wiped away the single dribble of coffee with a napkin. “Your timing is impeccable my dear,” I said with a smile.

Her smirk became almost like neon on a foggy night. “I did learn from the best, why should I always be the one wearing what I’m drinking?” I barked a laugh, this was karma for all the times I had done that to her. “That’s fair, love, that’s fair. I had honestly been dreading this conversation. Any slight misstep on my part would send her headlong into his camp quite permanently. “So, sure, which elephant are we talking about?” I made sure my tone was serious and not flippant in any way. “Gabriel,” she said in a matter-of-fact tone. I nodded, “Okay, I really wasn’t aware there was anything for us to talk about where he is concerned.” I held up a hand with my index finger extended, asking for a second. She nodded at the unasked question. “Red, I told you from the beginning that I would not fight you on this one. When you tell me you need something, then it’s going to happen. I’ve always got your back, you know that.”

She considered my words and nodded her head in acceptance. “You don’t like it though.” I nodded my agreement, “No, I don’t but in the same respect. You didn’t like me traveling with Chris or using him as an agent. You didn’t fight me on that and I appreciate that very much. I’ve respected your decision and will continue to do so.” She smiled at me as I stood up, “Want to go outside with me?” She nodded and grabbed her hoody, well it was actually my hoody but no sense in arguing semantics. She followed me toward the back but I stopped at the pictures in the hallway. I touched the picture of us standing together as husband and wife. “Til death do us part,” I whispered to her. “I will always back your play, love.” She smiled as I kissed her on the forehead. “Marking your territory again, eh?” Now it was my turn to smirk, “Only if I need to.” She smacked me on the arm as she went out through the door that I was holding open for her. We went to our usual sitting places by the firepit. I lit it to put some light and heat on the subject. I grabbed my cigarettes and lit one. I looked over at her, the morning light of a firepit does amazing things. It framed her face as if I was looking at an angel or a member of a royal house. “How well do you know Gabriel?” It was an honest question, and to her credit she didn’t get defensive or try to duck the question.

“Not really all that well, I know his reputation but I’ve heard he’s changed.” I considered my next statement and slowly made the comment, “When the time comes, you should probably reach out to Kyra or Lucy. They know him far better than I do.” She looked over at me, “When the time comes? What does that even mean?” I smiled at her, “You’ll know when that time is, trust me.” I took a drag off of my cigarette and exhaled slowly but the expected explosion didn’t come. She seemed to consider my words very carefully but didn’t say anything in return. With Amber that can be both good and bad at the same time. When I looked up at her, she wasn’t staring daggers through my skull, I saw the eyes of a woman who loves her husband. She understands me better than anyone on this planet. She knows who I am and what I’ll do if someone threatens our family. She is my focus, my reality, and my motivation.

Fade


{Vivian’s Apartment - Las Vegas NV - “Reliving The Past III”}

[As told From Vivian’s Perspective]

I just could not believe what I had been told by Julian, that his men do what they want and they are untouchable. I was completely taken aback by that news and his hard stare to back it up. I knew better than to try and argue at that point. I knew that Captain Castello and the rest of the team were inbound and due to arrive at zero-five thirty tomorrow, then I wouldn’t feel quite that alone. I could do this, I was going to make sure I was there to greet them. Once Jeff knew what was going on, he’d be able to help better protect people from this monster. Rear Admiral Gomez’s assertion that his team could do whatever they liked, didn’t sit well with me. Knowing that there is little you can do about something can be very tiring to the point of exhaustion. I had my bunk assignment now so I wouldn’t be staying in the same place tonight. My phone chose that moment to buzz, good old watts line, it was Jeff. “Petty Officer Castle,” he began. “Yes, Captain.”

“We are ahead of schedule, be at the airstrip in one hour.” I was shocked at first but then I remembered that Jeff often put out misinformation to lure people into a false sense of security. Especially if he felt he had enemies that were out to get him or his people. “Yes sir, I’m on it.” I replied immediately with respect. “No need, the squad will be at your new quarters within the hour.” I was confused at first, but I was certain that he would explain it to me once they arrived. “Yes sir, I’ll be on standby.” There was a pause from the other side. “That seaman that you told me about in your report.” That caused my mind to lurch, I was hoping for the best but expecting the worst. “She followed your direction and filed a report with me last night. I had her moved to a location that they can’t touch.” I almost whispered it, “oh, thank god.”

“Keep your guard up, Petty Officer Castle,” he said to me and I responded, “Aye Captain.” then the communication stopped. I felt eyes on me as I ended the call but I ignored it as I weaved my way through the compound to a makeshift px(or company store if you will). I ducked inside, knowing I was being followed. Within seconds of my entering the store, Joshua Nightlinger came in, fancy that eh? He approached slowly and confidently. “Petty Officer Castle,” he said in acknowledgment. I returned the respect, “Petty Officer Nightlinger.” He studied me for a moment and then offered an apology, “I wanted to apologize to you for the way I treated you earlier, that was unsatisfactory.” I inclined my head, “Apology accepted.” His eyes never left mine as he asked another question, “Do you remember the pretty blonde sailor that was just outside the barracks today?” In response, I feigned ignorance, “Can’t say I recall anyone, when I went outside I was adjusting my seabag to get the weight distributed more properly.” He sighed, “Too bad, I really needed to have a word with her. I don’t suppose you’d accept an offer for a drink and dinner, would you?”

I smiled coyly, “perhaps another time, I’ve got a lot to do this evening and am afraid I won’t have much time to myself.” He nodded in what was fake acceptance based on the set of his eyes that had steadily hardened as we spoke. I’d learned a very long time ago, that certain types of men, do not like to hear the word no. What he didn’t know is that my location was being broadcast to the squad the entire time. “I’m told that you know Gomez, he promoted you not long after boot, right?” His gaze was now cold, there was nothing warm about him, fake or otherwise. “That’s right,” I said in response. “I’m also sure that he told you that his men are untouchable, right?” I nodded my head, in response. “That’s right he did say something to that effect.” I followed that up with, “I’m supposing that there’s a point to all this bravado?”  He sneered at me and then a shadow fell across his face. I looked up and then snapped to attention. “Captain Castello,” I said in a voice full of respect. “At ease, Petty Officer Castle,” he said quietly. “Petty Officer Nightlinger, these gentlemen will escort you to your new barracks assignment.” Jeff jerked his thumb at the two Marine Corps Military Police.

“You don’t really think this will stick do you, Captain?” Jeff smiled at the younger man. “Not only will it stick, but you’ll be facing a general court-martial, you can bet that your career in my Navy is over.” I watched as he was led away in handcuffs and sighed in relief. “What about the rear admiral?” I asked in a solemn way, knowing the answer already. “Between you, me, and this wall, he’s been relieved of his duties and is currently on his way back to Washington for a hearing.” I nodded and allowed a single tear to escape my iron control. “I understand that at one time, you and he were close. He had promoted you after saving his daughter.” I nodded and said nothing as I struggled with my emotions. “He’ll be treated fairly, he’s a career officer and had been a good one up until he was stationed here.”

The tug of the present brought me back again.

[Back to Mac’s Perspective]

 I could hear Jeff grunt as he stopped near the stairs. He quickly pulled out his radio, “Red One, tear ass. Red 6, are you primed?” The answers came back in the order that they were issued. “Red 1, aye captain.” “Red 6, we’re good to go chief.” He nodded, satisfied with the answers. I peeked around the banister enough to see the getaway van tearing ass toward the entrance. Mere seconds after that a black SUV took off after him.  “Okay, the decoy is away and at least one is after the van, up we go folks.” We moved as quickly as we could up the stairs and stopped at the door to scope things out. There was a helicopter not far away and its turbines hummed and whistled as they were coming up to full power.

We led them to the helicopter with me watching our backs. There had been no sign of anyone so far and I felt a little more at ease as we approached the helicopter.

[to be continued.]

{Unnamed Diner - Somewhere in Las Vegas NV - “The Conversation Part 3”}

 “Alright asshole,” he began until I revealed from the folds of my jacket the shotgun. “Move, and if any of your people even breath wrong, you’re a dead man.” Needless to say, he began making a move toward the door. When I motioned for Fexx to head out, he looked decidedly uncomfortable. I knew things like this were not what he wanted to take part in, but he did ask if he could help. So here we were, looking death in the eyes one more time for the fuck of it. We stopped at the door and Terryl went outside to wait by the truck. I nodded to him and he climbed in. “Okay Francis, this is where we part company. Don’t fuck with me or my family and you’ll have a very long and illustrious end to your career in D.C. I held the shotgun in his back, jammed it against the parking lot bumper, and smiled as it effectively pinned him to the door. He grunted in response, “You shouldn’t have done this Bane.” He said in a gravelly voice. “Well shit, if I had a dollar for every time someone said that to me, I’d have retired a long time ago.” I then stepped away slowly and got in the truck.

Terryl and I drove along in silence for several miles, then exiting the highway, I parked my truck near his vehicle. “Terryl, thank you for going out there with me tonight.” He nodded, “Sure thing, Mac, I learned my lesson, won’t happen again.” We both got a laugh out of that, we both knew that it was a lie when it left his mouth. He and I would likely have many adventures together in the future. Or, after this was resolved with Masque and Knox, he’d ride off into the sunset and I’d never hear from him again. Regardless, he seemed like a fellow I could trust to have my back. So we shook hands and went our own ways, with me headed for home and him off to no telling where. It didn’t take long before I made it home. I stood in the garage with the door open for a long time to make sure that no one had been able to follow me. After a couple of hours of sitting in the darkness with no sign of movement on our street, I finally went inside the garage and lowered the garage door. Then into the house, it was quiet as expected. It was almost two in the morning and so I padded as quietly as I could to the backyard. Kuyon always on high alert met me at the back door, rubbing up against me, I reached down and scratched his ears.

I opened the door and stepped out back into the night air once again. Kuyon followed close behind me as I found a pack of cigarettes and a fresh tumbler of my favorite scotch. Amber sat in the chair beside my own, “How’d it go?”, she asked me. “Well, about as well as you might expect,” I said with a half smile. I sat down and grabbed the tumbler, “But for now, he’s agreed to leave us alone. “Oh, and thank you for that shotgun.” She waived it off, “I wonder how many men have ever nearly lost their lives to their own firearms.” She winked at me as she said it and I laughed. She or someone she knew had stolen that shotgun from Frank’s own home. “Once he finally turns around, he’s sure to recognize it,” I said with mirth dripping from my voice.

Fade.


{The Bane Ranch - Las Vegas NV - “The Trash”}

I could be quiet when I wanted to be. However, when two hundred and eighty pounds of man transitioned from carpet to wood flooring, the staccato of boot heel’s echoed throughout the long hallway leading to the studio. The light grey walls were adorned with family pictures. The day that Amber and I had become husband and wife. I traced the picture frame with a finger and a fond memory sprang to life. My son, Jimmy, had teased her for months, calling her “almost mom”. Then after the vows, he smiled at her and said, “welcome to the family, mom.” These are the memories that I cling to, but even that couldn’t break my sour mood.  I had been feeling very frustrated as of late but I had no real desire to focus on that. I would be facing someone who wasn’t necessarily a friend but someone I had empathy for. poor kid, I thought to myself as I prepared for the video to promote our match.

Unfortunate circumstances.

That’s where we find ourselves today, Carter. I don’t know if you are still in the same situation as you were. Being a prisoner in your own home and all. I hope you’re not, I hope your friends were able to separate you from the thug you were living with. If they were able to do that, then I’m glad, if not, well maybe I can knock some sense into you. Facing me in a return match is the last place that I’m sure you wanted to be. I have a certain reputation for hurting people who deserve it. The real question is do you deserve it? The short answer is no, you definitely do not deserve it. 

he reminds me so much of my own childhood. My mother was a prisoner in her own home.

I’ve heard the whispers, some people believe you have Stockholm syndrome. That is not the only reason I speak to you now in a respectful manner. The other is that I believe you have the potential to become a world champion here. That would mean that you would have to start beating people like me. I just don’t really believe you are quite ready for prime time. I don’t think you have the focus and the drive to take on the elite of this company. I know you won your fair share of titles down in SCU but the competition in SCW is a lot tougher. I know you know this already, so go out there and prove me wrong if you can.

My mother developed PTSD that was so bad, my father and his friends would raise their hands up. Even that slightest movement would cause her to have a panic attack.

Do I believe that you’re capable of beating me? Right now? No. The reasons are not what you might think. Let’s talk about the obvious for a moment, shall we? First is the size difference. I am one of the biggest on the roster, maybe the biggest. The only person that is not intimidated by my size is the man I faced last time out. And Fenris of course who’s not scared of anything walking the face of the earth. The difference in experience, there is a huge disparity there as well. Knowing how very proud you are of your accomplishments in SCU. They still don’t measure up. I have more world title reigns than titles you’ve won. You’re not on my level, Carter. I’ve won world titles all over the world, and I’ve held a world title on sixteen different occasions. Obviously not all under the sin city banner, I’ve held that title three times. 

I smile a sad little smile at the camera while thinking to myself, “What the hell did he do to piss underwood off?”

You have everything in the world going for you. You are the darling of the locker room, everyone loves you and you're over the top personality. That will win you a lot of friends, but it won’t win you many matches.  Especially not against me. This is the last show of the year, when we come back it will be time for the super card once again. Everyone and I do mean everyone who is booked on this show is looking to build momentum. Myself included.

I shake my head in disgust while thinking to myself, God I hope that kid got away from Laz, he deserves so much more from life than that.

What that means for this match is exactly the way it sounds. I’m not going to sugarcoat it for you. It’s the way it is. When we come back from the break, I’ll be challenging for the world title. While you are fighting…?

I spread my arms out wide indicating that I don’t honestly know.

If it were a high-profile match, I think I’d remember who you were facing at the super card. Are you even booked?

I drop my hands down by my side.

That’s just super disappointing, isn’t it? It’s like you don’t know what the future holds, or maybe Underwood doesn’t think you have one. You’d have to ask him because honestly, I don’t know.

Crossing my arms across my chest, I set my jaw and I can feel my gaze harden.

I know one future that isn’t possible. That future match against me, the one we are are scheduled for here in a few days. That match has already been decided by fate, you’re going to lose. Hell if you beat me, maybe I’ll give you my spot for a shot at the world title. That won’t be necessary though. You got your doctor’s release, which is great, but you’re stepping into the ring with a man who is known for picking apart his opponents. How long do you think it’ll be before I target your hand? I mean why not? That’ll make an early night for me and an easy trip to the pay window. Would you risk reinjuring your hand for the sake of pride? 

I almost feel sorry for carter, he’s stepping into the ring with a guy who doesn’t have sympathy for self-inflicted wounds.

It doesn’t mean you can’t beat me, I know you’re capable but it would require the perfect storm.

I smile at the words.

I told Sin City that I felt there was a storm coming. Some people may have thought I was talking about Masque or Amber. The real answer is I was talking about me.

I am that storm.