Private Confronting the Past

[Kahlil Noble]

".. Are they still full? The pods?" Now that he thought about it, he wasn't sure if he knew how many pods were there. How many might've been frozen with Valery Noble . His gaze stayed on her, the concern obvious in his gaze. Were there past friends that had been trapped? He let out a breath before reaching over. Taking her hand in his. Squeezing gently. Whatever happened, whatever they found, they were at least together.

"We got this, don't worry."

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Location: Onderon
Appearance: Link
Outfit: Factory Link
Weapon: Double-Bladed Lightsaber
Tag: Kahlil Noble

"I... don't know, but those visions keep showing me at least some are," Valery said, clearly getting more worried and nervous about the whole thing. Maybe she should have gone back sooner? Or couldn't she have known? Or ma-

Her thoughts were interrupted as Kahlil took her hand, and the gentle squeezing forced her back into the present. That effect he had on her to keep her grounded, safe, and focused... that's what she really needed. "We do, thanks love." Valery began to smile again and stepped out through the gate of the city.

And into the Jungle.

As Valery explained, it would be several miles out into the thick flora, but she had chosen the path to avoid dangerous animals or other sorts of trouble. So soon enough, the two stopped near a tree line on Valery's signal, and she gestured for a large cave entrance. Durasteel doors were built into the opening, and two guards stood outside.

Another patrol seemed to be moving through the area as well but they were still some distance away.

"They have increased their security..." Valery whispered with a frown. "What do you think? Should we try and get in stealthy or catch them by surprise and go straight through the door?" She turned her eyes to him, hoping he'd be able to help her out now that she felt a bit less confident about everything.

 

[Kahlil Noble]

Ah, guards. Kahlil watched them closely, humming in thought. What would be the best way to deal with this? He wasn't like Valery Noble , at least, he wasn't trained to be stealthy. He had spells of course, but well, spells weren't his thing anymore. He palmed his saber, thinking through the various options. Then just, well, shrugged. "I've always found it more polite to knock." He cracked a grin, glancing to his wife for a moment.

Then back ahead. "I go right, you go left?"

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Location: Onderon
Appearance: Link
Outfit: Factory Link
Weapon: Double-Bladed Lightsaber
Tag: Kahlil Noble

"Such a gentleman," Valery teased before she looked over to the guard on the left, and nodded. It wasn't going to be difficult for them at all to take them out, but the path through the facility was going to be hectic after knocking. But she agreed it was the better plan, so she reached for the hilt of her new weapon and stood ready.

"Let's go,"

Without anything more said, she accelerated away and felt the way Kahlil moved down the right flank through their bond. The two blades of her weapon ignited, but only to deflect the one or two shots the guard got off in his panic. Because the second she reached him, her feet left the ground and a kick sent him to the floor.

"There is a way out into the jungle on the other side of the cave — that'll be our exit so we can just leave them here," Valery said, knowing Kahlil would have taken care of the other. She then stepped over to the door and with a quick tap against the durasteel, the whole thing crumbled into pieces to allow them a way inside.

But that's also when a wave of darkness spread out and hit the two Jedi from within the facility. Something sinister lay ahead, and Valery just stood frozen in the doorway for a moment as it struck her. Then, the voice of a woman echoed to both of them through the Force, and the Keshian visibly tensed.

"Missed me, Valery?" ​

 

[Kahlil Noble]

Kahlil let out a sigh as Valery Noble rushed right off. The more they worked together, the more he realized just how much she could out class him. Like now. She was faster. He chuckled as he raised a hand just as his target realized him and his ally were under attack. He didn't so much as get a word off before his body was brought low to the ground. A trick through the Force, bringing their mind to a pause. Knocking them out cold.

He finally caught up just as the voice echoed out, and his lips turned to a frown.

"Someone from your past?"

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Location: Onderon
Appearance: Link
Outfit: Factory Link
Weapon: Double-Bladed Lightsaber
Tag: Kahlil Noble

"Yes but something is different about her voice," Valery said, clearly bothered by something about what she heard. But despite it, she tried to set it aside and took the first step into the facility. She remembered none of it, because Ala had removed her from a pod deeper in the facility, and they had taken a different way to get out.

"She feels cold, and that sinister tone..." she sighed and looked at Kahlil, clearly needing his support a little. "I hope it's not too late for her and whoever else may be stuck inside."

With that, she looked away and began to move deeper into the facility until more signs of people could be heard up ahead. None of them were warned by the guards, so they could hear a few discussing something while the pacing of a few guards through the hall echoed out to them as well.

"You ready?" she asked but it was more likely that she wasn't entirely ready, judging by the more subtle bits of hesitation in her voice.

 

[Kahlil Noble]

Not too late for her? Kahlil raised a brow, glancing back to Valery Noble . Someone from her past, but someone who was.. An ally then? At one point, at least. He let out a sigh as he followed after her, saber tucked away again on his belt. No point in announcing themselves with an active blade. Then, hesitation. His gaze drifted back to Valery, watching her. He always forgot. She was someone of immense strength, power. Confidence.

But that wasn't her all of the time.

He smiled, reaching out to set a hand on her shoulder. Gently, comfortingly. "We got this."

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Location: Onderon
Appearance: Link
Outfit: Factory Link
Weapon: Double-Bladed Lightsaber
Tag: Kahlil Noble

Feeling the hand settle on her shoulder, Valery paused and took a small breath as her body relaxed. For just a moment, she even closed her eyes to take a second or two where she was able to set aside the things she worried about. That was the strength of their bond and relationship.

"I love you," is all she said when they opened again, and she'd start moving much more like her usual self. With confidence and that fiery spirit only those close to her really knew about.

The two Jedi Masters then continued their path through the hallway until Valery raised a hand, signaling for him to stop. The main hall was up ahead, the one where Ala had freed her from captivity. It was barely lit outside of a few workstations in the back, but the stasis pods and their flickering control panels stood out immediately. There were at least a dozen of them, all set up in a circular pattern in the back on an elevated platform.

A handful of scientists wandered between them and their workstations but in the very center, there was a woman dressed in black and purple robes, with brown hair, much like Valery's, but worn in a short bun. She possessed a darker aura in the Force and stood with confidence as she directed people around.

"No... it can't be," Valery whispered as she studied the woman for a moment. But as she did, the figure turned with a grin on her face and called out through the Force again to both of them

"Where have you been, Valery? It's been years. And who is there with you?"​

Valery swallowed hard and briefly turned her eyes to Kahlil before she stepped out into the main hall, the hilt of her weapon resting in the palm of her hand. Of all the things she could have found in his place, this clearly wasn't what she was expecting

"You're not her,"

"No, I'm so much more," and with that, the woman raised her hand to unleash a powerful surge of blue lightning towards Valery, who was still processing what she was looking at exactly.

 

[Kahlil Noble]

This was too personal. That's what Kahlil realized as they stood together, side by side within this main chamber. The woman before them, whoever she was, whatever her connection. Valery Noble hesitated. Kahlil did not. His blade flicked around as the streaks of lightning came, his saber igniting as he took his place between her and this unknown to him foe. He smiled, arching the lightning harmlessly above as he focused instead on the woman in front.

"That's not a nice way to greet folks you haven't seen in a while. I know she can be a little too business first at times but she certainly isn't someone to lash out at." His voice was almost playful, trying to pull Valery from her stupor. They were here together. He wasn't going to let her face this alone, but he also wasn't going to let her retreat into her mind. His gaze shifted, looking back towards the Keshain with that same grin.

"Should we remind them of manners?"

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Location: Onderon
Appearance: Link
Outfit: Factory Link
Weapon: Double-Bladed Lightsaber
Tag: Kahlil Noble

With the arcs of lightning dancing between the fingers of this strange woman and Kahlil's lightsaber, the scientists in the room all quickly decided to make a run for it. And while they retreated to the other side of the facility, Valery snapped back to reality after a series of more playful comments from him.

A little too business, huh?

There was no time to give him a look, and she quickly ignited the blades of her saberstaff to stand ready with him. Looking up into his eyes, Valery smiled back and stepped forward to join him at his side again.

"She reminds me of an old friend who had a problem with manners in the past as well. So let's do something about it." Valery said while the woman just stared at the two, clearly annoyed that her attack had been deflected so easily. Then, with a burst of speed, Valery closed the distance first and found herself in a blade clash with the woman who looked like an old friend.

Of course, the plan was to have Kahlil join in and break this blade lock up.

 

[Kahlil Noble]

Kahlil played the role of support in this clash. The two knew how to work beside each other, how to slip in and out of combat to avoid slowing one another down, getting in the way. That was always the biggest issue of fighting with multiple people. Being used against your allies. Valery Noble and his own Dyad made it easy to avoid this. But this woman, someone who looked like an old friend, he didn't know her capabilities.

So he observed. Reached out with the Force to try and slow her movements. Here and there, supporting Valery as best he could from a distance. And, more accurately, focusing on the room around them. There were guards, and with the scientists running it'd only be a matter of time before the word was out and they'd get swarmed.

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Location: Onderon
Appearance: Link
Outfit: Factory Link
Weapon: Double-Bladed Lightsaber
Tag: Kahlil Noble

Within only a minute or two of fighting, it became rather clear that this woman wasn't a match for either one of her opponents, let alone both of them working together. But as opportunities to end the clash presented themselves, it seemed as if Valery intentionally wasn't taking them — the fight only took longer as a result, and the woman grew more frustrated in the process.

This anger that boiled up reached a breaking point, and while she was slowed down by Kahlil, a scream of pure rage released a powerful wave of dark side energy that forced Valery to stop moving. She blocked the attack but before she could pressure the woman again, she heard her words.

"You left me to die,"

Valery frowned and briefly froze again, her eyes meeting the other's.

"You're not he-"

"Shut up!" she interrupted, and Valery felt the pure hatred in her words. The room now began to vibrate heavily under the woman's anger, causing the stasis pods to rattle and with the increasing pressure, debris began to fall down from the ceiling, and moments later, the glass cover of one of the pods shattered.

"Please don't do this..." Valery said as the place around them was starting to come down, clearly bothered by what she was seeing. But even now, she wasn't moving to finish the fight.

 

[Kahlil Noble]

There it was. It truly was whoever Valery Noble had known. Someone from before, someone from when she first woke, Kahlil couldn't say. But she was violent, angry. Dangerous. Kahlil's attention turned to the room behind him just as more people shouted. Guards, incoming. His eyes closed, just for a moment. Felt through the Force, trusted it to guide him. They needed to get out of here, or at least stop this part of the fight.

So he moved. Or rather, appeared beside Valery. He swung his arm around, not bothering to use the saber, not wanting to. A swift hard chop for the back of this woman's neck, pulsing with the Force. Knocking her out cold in a single strike.

"Valery, focus." This time he was lecturing her as he scooped up the girl. "We'll figure this out, but stop panicking. We're still in danger here."

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Location: Onderon
Appearance: Link
Outfit: Factory Link
Weapon: Double-Bladed Lightsaber
Tag: Kahlil Noble

This time it wasn't a gentle touch but his stern words that drew her back into reality, and she could feel her face burning up from the embarrassment. She wasn't one to ever really lose her focus like this, but something about this place, the woman, and what she felt through the Force made it so hard to be focused.

"You're right, I'm sorr-"

While the knocked-out woman was no longer disturbing the facility with her use of the Force, the damage had already been done. From above, large chunks of rock and metal came falling down, some of it right for the couple but other pieces were headed straight for the stasis pods. This time, Valery was focused and jumped away with her hands coming up to catch debris telekinetically.

But there was so much and even with her quickly setting aside some of it while Kahlil kept the woman safe, there was no way to stop all of it. All around Valery, metal began to hit the floor and stasis pods, causing her to stumble around as she tried to avoid it, but it seemed only a matter of time before something would go wrong.

"We have to get out of heeEEE-" she couldn't finish her sentence as the rumbling of the ground suddenly knocked her over, and into a stasis pod. Her orange eyes fell onto the glass and through it, she saw a face that caused a tremor to echo between the Dyad she shared with Kahlil.

A bright flash followed, and everything changed.

3596 BBY - Onderon

"New arrival?" a Zabrak Jedi asked Kahlil, as he found himself inside the captured Imperial facility. Flags were still up on the walls, equipment was buzzing and flickering, and battle-worn Jedi were moving through the hallways, carrying equipment or evacuating wounded soldiers. Whatever happened here, it was obvious that it had been quite a fight to take control of this place.

"Don't see you in the logs, but just check in with Master Noble and you'll be fine. Good to have the extra hands," The man said before bowing his head lightly.

"You can find her in the far room on the right."

 

[Kahlil Noble]

Panic, concern, fear.

Then.. Light. And a.. Facility? Kahlil stared blankly around himself, his gaze traveling over ancient machinery. No, not ancient. Why did he think it was ancient? It was state of the art, right? His gaze shifted to the Zabrak, nodding slowly. Master Noble? ".. Right." Yeah, no. He was here to help the Republic against the Empire. He grinned to the Jedi, setting a hand on the blaster on his hip.

"Shame I missed the fighting, then. Or I guess I'm right on time." He snickered a little, though the Jedi just raised a brow at him. Kahlil shrugged it off before wandering in, scanning around for this Valery Noble . He still had a job to do. Smuggling wasn't something to mess around and loose track of time with.

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Location: Onderon
Appearance: Link
Outfit: Factory Link
Weapon: Double-Bladed Lightsaber
Tag: Kahlil Noble

With a shake of his head, the Zabrak Master watched Kahlil depart, and he truly wondered why the Republic was hiring smugglers and other mercenaries now to help. Were they getting that desperate? Was the war really going that bad? He didn't think so, but here they were.

Kahlil would meanwhile make his way over to the room he was directed at, which was set up as a temporary office from where Valery could coordinate the war efforts. Of course, despite being the leader, she had stubbornly placed herself directly at the frontlines — sitting still had never been an option in her mind.

"Ah, you must be the new arrival?" she asked, as she glanced over her shoulder at the sound of footsteps. Turning around, she looked the man over and found herself surprised. She couldn't sense his presence in the Force at all, and judging by the blaster on his hip, he was just some smuggler or mercenary.

She had no clue what was going on, but nothing showed in her expression as her eyes met his.

"Did you come here to help fight or were you sent to deliver supplies?"

 

[Kahlil Noble]

Kahlil paused in the doorway. Leaned against it, really. Arms crossed over his chest, grin on his lips. Yeah, that seemed right, Jedi knew he was coming before he even said anything. "Technically just here to drop off some supplies. And some uh, 'gifts'." He lifted his hands to air quote before pushing off the wall to wander into Valery Noble 's 'office'. Just looking around, humming in thought.

"Jedi operations like this aren't the kind I'm usually called to. What do ya need the uh, extra shipment for exactly?"

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Location: Onderon
Appearance: Link
Outfit: Factory Link
Weapon: Double-Bladed Lightsaber
Tag: Kahlil Noble

"Gifts?" Valery asked with a raised eyebrow and a slight tilt of her head. She had requested supplies a few days ago, but she wasn't quite sure what else they could have brought for her and the others who were asked to hold this position. But if it could help them fight back the Sith... she wasn't going to complain.

"We need the supplies because we're expecting a Sith counter-attack. Or well, several most likely," Valery admitted as she stepped away from her desk and up towards Kahlil.

"The Republic front grew stagnant, and all troops and Jedi were ordered to hold positions. So here we are." She said before she offered him a credit chip — his payment for bringing the supplies over. "Which reminds me, you won't be able to fly out of here until at least tomorrow morning. The no-fly zone is not something you'd want to test your luck against, mister...?" she asked, hoping to at least get the man's name.

 

[Kahlil Noble]

Oh. Did she.. She must not. Kahlil shrugged it off, not bothering to elaborate on what he meant about 'gifts'. Valery Noble seemed like the all business kind of Jedi. If she did know what he was bringing, he'd probably be arrested on the spot. Though, now he was left wondering who exactly ordered this uh, shipment. "No fly zone huh? Wouldn't be the first one I snuck through, but I'm not in that much of a hurry I suppose." That and he needed to figure out whoever it was that was going to pay him, if she wasn't. Not for the regular fare at least.

He blinked, then flashed a grin. Right.

"Kahlil, Master Noble. Pleasure."

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Location: Onderon
Appearance: Link
Outfit: Factory Link
Weapon: Double-Bladed Lightsaber
Tag: Kahlil Noble

He didn't really answer her question about gifts, which caused the woman's eyes to narrow just a little bit. If he was smuggling illegal goods or other kinds of trouble in here...

"Well, I won't stop you from trying to break through, Kahlil," Valery offered a brief but kind smile, "But it is for the best if you don't, and it gives you a chance to show me those supplies you brought with you, hm?"

She flashed a quick grin of her own and looked past him, at the doorway.

"If everything checks out, I'll make sure your payment is transferred."