Private Dark Echoes

[Valery Noble]

Aruza

​

Outfit: Epicanthix Outfit | Wedding Ring
Appearance: Link
Weapons: Blasters | Lightsaber
Tag: Kahlil Noble Shan Pavond

"W-what?!" The man shouted in anger when Kahlil effortlessly made him float and kept him locked in place there. He was clearly fighting against it, but without any knowledge of the Force and no strength of his own, there wasn't anything he could do. He just flailed his arms and legs about, yelled and muttered a bunch of nonsense.

His wife, meanwhile, clasped her hands together in front of her mouth and quickly got up to follow after the two Jedi, "You shouldn't!" she yelled, and it sounded like a genuine warning. Not a threat, but as if they were heading into danger by going down there.

Within the basement itself, locked in what looked like a cage for a larger animal, sat the Twi'lek Padawan. He was no older than 16, curled up on the ground and repeating the same words over and over again.

"Master Ai-to is dead..."

 

[Kahlil Noble]

Kahlil raised a hand, and the wife got a similar treatment. Frozen in the air, unable to move. Not just keeping a boy locked away, but in an actual cage.

"Not another word."

Less he killed them both, then and there. He himself said nothing further, instead stepping by the cage. The Force swelled as he ripped open the lock, then crouched. Raised a hand for the clearly traumatized boy.

"It's time to go home, child."

Valery Noble | Shan Pavond

 

[Shan Pavond]

Location: Aruza
Objective: Find out more about Nyaeli and her history
Equipment: Lightsaber - Blaster
Tags: Kahlil Noble Valery Noble
​

Shan held his hand out, getting ready to just hold the woman back...before he saw the woman get frozen in the air and turned his head over to look towards Kahlil. He hadn't really seen this side of his Master before, and honestly? It was scaring Shan. He just turned his attention back over towards the woman, keeping his hand held out towards her, trying to reassure her, even though it was pointless by now with Kahlil using the Force against them.

"Please Ma'am. Relax. We aren't going to hurt you...I think. We're just going to take him away. You both should be reassured by that. He'll be out of your hair. Though if this is how Nyaeli was treated...It's no surprise she did what she did. You treat people like animals, and they'll end up acting like one. You should remember that, in case something like this happens again. You don't try to treat suffering with more suffering."

He supposed she'd be too scared to respond because of Kahlil's treat, but Shan still wanted to make sure they knew this. He doubted they'd change. He also doubted he'd be able to rebuild Nyaeli's town with how the Aruzans were going to feel towards the Jedi...but this was still worth it at the end of the day. They had rescued a Padawan. Or at least it seemed like they were about to rescue him.

 

[Valery Noble]

Aruza

​

Outfit: Epicanthix Outfit | Wedding Ring
Appearance: Link
Weapons: Blasters | Lightsaber
Tag: Kahlil Noble Shan Pavond

A wave of warmth echoed through their bond, as Valery felt the intensity within her husband. He wasn't crossing the line, but what happened here brought him closer to it than she liked. So, as she had promised to him, she would be there alongside him to shoulder the burden. The young Padawan was going to be safe, and all of them were going to make it out without anymore trouble. She was going to make sure of it.

"She's the one who treated us like animals, when she forced us to kill each other," The woman hissed with fury in her tone, though with Kahlil's warning, she shut up.

She was afraid.

Meanwhile, the kid didn't move at all, though he didn't resist help either. He was broken over the loss of his Master, but something else bothered him more.

"I-I killed him," he told Kahlil. "I c-couldn't help it. The voice..." he muttered softly.

"Love, let's get him out of here and leave this town. He needs proper medical help."

 

[Kahlil Noble]

"Shan."

Kahlil turned his gaze to the Padawan as the boy finished speaking. His expression was softer now as he lifted the once caged boy in his arms. These were not the type of people that could be helped. Not the type of people that could understand the irreversible pain and scars they inflicted. He would've killed them. That much was clear in the back of his mind. Valery kept him from crossing that line.

It wasn't the fate they deserved.

"We're heading back."

He nodded once to Valery. The Force settled, releasing the couple to settle back on the floor as he left through the door. Paused there, though, to look back at them.

"The Alliance will be investigating this. You will be going to jail, as well as all others who had a hand in this cruelty. I care not what happened to your people, nothing excuses what you've done. And you will be paying for your sins."

Valery Noble | Shan Pavond

 

[Shan Pavond]

Location: Aruza
Objective: Find out more about Nyaeli and her history
Equipment: Lightsaber - Blaster
Tags: Kahlil Noble Valery Noble
​

"That didn't mean you had to become animals yourselves. You lost any of my sympathy once you've done this."

Shan glanced over towards Kahlil, just giving a short nod. Every excursion he was going on with Valery and Kahlil was making him have to confront something he didn't want to. These people weren't even Force Sensitive but had done something so cruel...And it was because of Nyaeli? Shan was feeling more and more unsure of his choices now, trying to wrap his head around everything before letting out a long sigh. Just stop thinking. That was what he had to do. Don't think about it. It was in the past. Just carry on with life.

"You're afraid. Aren't you? Only those who have committed crimes should be afraid of a Jedi. So I suppose this makes sense for you. At least I know to distrust your words about Nyaeli."

He refused to turn his back on the pair. They had proven that they could do dirty tricks, and lie to their faces so Shan wasn't going to give them a chance to stab any of them in the back. Just folding his arms along his front and stepping backwards to try and keep up with Kahlil and Valery.

 

[Valery Noble]

Aruza

​

Outfit: Epicanthix Outfit | Wedding Ring
Appearance: Link
Weapons: Blasters | Lightsaber
Tag: Kahlil Noble Shan Pavond

Valery dipped her head lightly when Kahlil nodded, and offered him a gentle smile. She had felt the tension in him, but similarly, she was feeling it slip away again. The Padawan, while scarred because of what happened, was going to be okay now. These people wouldn't hurt him anymore.

"We'll bring him back to the Bastion. Then... I could make a run to the Temple to get him to the Halls of Healing? He looks physically okay, but I'd rather be safe than sorry," Valery said. "You two could stay here and maybe wrap things up? I believe Shan still had his crystal, right?" Valery asked while she looked between the two.

"I think it'd be good for Master and Padawan to do that, and I could catch up later and keep you updated on the kid." As Valery proposed this, the woman sat down on her knees and looked away in shame. Her husband, however, was livid. He crawled over to a cabinet, and opened it up as the Jedi were walking down the porch.

There weren't many Aruzans with rifles, but he had been a hunter once.

With the weapon in his trembling old arms that could barely handle the weight, he stepped out and directed the weapon at Valery's back, before pulling the trigger.

Bang

 

[Shan Pavond]

Location: Aruza
Objective: Find out more about Nyaeli and her history
Equipment: Lightsaber - Blaster
Tags: Kahlil Noble Valery Noble
​

"First we focus on getting you and the Padawan safe before we worry about the crystal, okay Master Noble? It's clear that we can't let our guard down around here...You never know what the people might pull out of their sleeves." It was amusing. Normally Shan thought better of people, but they had lied to his face and they had been caught in the act so he wasn't going to think the best of them anymore. They were criminals and he wasn't going to let them away with it.

Shan was still on guard. He didn't trust the Aruzans at all, as he kept his eyes on the woman, mostly since the husband had crawled inside of the house. The Padawan was getting ready to do something just in case the Aruzans were stupid...and it turned out his instincts were right. For once. He wasn't quick enough to stop the man from firing off his rifle but that didn't mean Shan was frozen in the spot as he ignited his lightsaber to deflect the shot from the rifle, or at least deal with it.

With a flick of his wrist, Shan used his lightsaber to try and deflect the shot off into the distance before rushing forward. And then, the Padawan, who was mostly focused on being a pacifist, who wanted to just focus on protecting people and detested the idea of violence, brought his saber down towards the Husband...to slash through his rifle and then using the technique that had been taught to him by Jasper to harden his fist before slamming it into the husband's stomach, a scowl on the Mirialan's face.

"I think if you value your life, you should start apologizing. Fast. I don't think my Master is going to react well to you trying to shoot his wife in the back."

 

[Kahlil Noble]

Death.

That was the only thing that waited for the man who'd dare point their gun towards his wife. But Shan had reacted to defend her. She didn't need to be defended, but the same couldn't be said for the Padawan she was carrying. It saved his life. The Force had already shifted in Kahlil's control as he had no hesitation behind crushing the man. It would be a thin justification of defending his fellow Jedi, but he'd already wanted to kill the man.

He let out a breath, and with it the Force stopped trembling.

"We'll get the Padawan home, then focus on the crystal. Though not before the people of this town pay for their actions."

Valery Noble | Shan Pavond

 

[Valery Noble]

Aruza

​

Outfit: Epicanthix Outfit | Wedding Ring
Appearance: Link
Weapons: Blasters | Lightsaber
Tag: Kahlil Noble Shan Pavond

A shot rang out and Valery gasped for air as the Force around her trembled. She was about to turn and deal with this imminent threat to the best of her ability, but luckily it wasn't necessary. Shan had deflected the bolt up into the sky and even knocked the man down with just one punch. Kahlil, she could feel was angered by this cowardly attacked.

But with Shan handling it, the tidal wave around him faded into more gentle currents. Valery offered him a gentle, reassuring smile and looked over at Shan for a moment. She was very proud of him after today, and she was certain that Kahlil felt the same way too.

"I'm not... apologizing," the man hissed after he finally was able to catch his breath again. Without the weapon, he tried to crawl away, to his own wife, and hoped to forget about these Jedi.

But Kahlil assured them it wasn't that easy.

"I think a proper investigation will be necessary here. Some people will naturally be innocent and unaware of what happened. But those involved in this..." she frowned and looked at the other two Jedi.

"They will be dealt with, and we'll bring this Padawan home."

 

[Shan Pavond]

Location: Aruza
Objective: Find out more about Nyaeli and her history
Equipment: Lightsaber - Blaster
Tags: Kahlil Noble Valery Noble
​

The adrenaline was still rushing through Shan's system, as he finally deactivated his saber, resting it back on his belt and started to stare down the man, even as he said he wouldn't apologise. Crouching down as the man crawled back to his wife, Shan just shook his head as he spoke. "Just know that when the investigators come here to see what's going on, when they start looking through these houses to see who was working with you, that you brought this upon yourself. Not Nyaeli. Not us. But you."

Normally Shan would have been far more forgiving than he actually was, but this situation hit...too close to home for the Mirialan. Whilst it made sense that he wouldn't have to worry about Valery, Valery was a mother to people that Shan cared about. So it made sense as well for his irrational reaction, considering the current situation with his own Mother. It reminded him, that he'd have to mention it to the Nobles eventually, but right now was not the correct time. The Padawan was who they had to focus on, not himself.

"I'm sorry for reacting the way I did Masters. I may have...reacted too hastily." The Mirialan lowered his head in the direction of Kahlil and Valery, before preparing to head off with the pair, to at least get the padawan safely on the Bastion. There was no need for him to focus on the crystal right now. It might be pain, but it could wait whilst they made sure everyone else was okay.

 

[Kahlil Noble]

"What you did was save that mans life."

Kahlil didn't go into further detail on what he meant with it. No master was a perfect being. Kahlil knew his weaknesses better than most, but he wasn't going to talk about it in length with Shan. Instead, he just reached down to pat the top of his Padawan's head. He was genuinely thankful that Shan was the one who stepped in.

"You did better than I. Let's get this Padawan back to the temple, then we can look more into the crystal."

Valery Noble | Shan Pavond

 

[Valery Noble]

Aruza

​

Outfit: Epicanthix Outfit | Wedding Ring
Appearance: Link
Weapons: Blasters | Lightsaber
Tag: Kahlil Noble Shan Pavond

"You helped me out, too," Valery said with a gentle smile. She had sensed the danger of the imminent shot, but it hadn't been as easy for her to deflect it. Not with the other Padawan being so close to her. And she knew what would have happened if that bolt had even just scratched her.

The man was lucky to be breathing, still.

"For now, I agree. We head back to the Temple to drop off the Padawan, then we focus on that crystal and perhaps on Nyaeli as well. If these are the kinds of people she had to deal with, I doubt she really ever got the help she needed, hm?" Valery proposed, as she turned around to head for the Bastion.

"Maybe we can do more than bring justice to the people who did wrong here, and address the mistakes they made as well."

 

[Shan Pavond]

Shan knew better than to ask what Kahlil meant about him saving the man's life. It was obvious enough to the Padawan as he sighed to himself. To think it would have came this close. Anger was a strong emotion from what he could see. Anger, vengeance, resentment. Though he shook his head, deciding it was best not to focus on that for now, and instead to hurry off with Kahlil and Valery.

"It makes more sense as to why she hates the Jedi now. Why I felt so much anger from her, when I was fighting her..." He frowned at that, staring off into thought. It was at least helping him to be sure that his choice to try and help Nyaeli was going to be the right choice. She was the exact kind of dark side user that Shan wanted to help. They didn't turn to the dark side just because they wanted power. It was because of their situation and their upbringing...

"We'll do our best to fix it. It's what I do best anyway. I'm a fixer." The Mirialan chuckled to himself, giving a small thumbs up in his attempt to try and keep a positive atmosphere. Mostly for the other Padawan, but also to try and make sure Kahlil was okay. Shan would be lying if he said he wasn't worried for his master

Kahlil Noble Valery Noble

 

[Kahlil Noble]

"We will do what we can to help, Shan."

He glanced to the boy as they walked, smiling just a little. It was good that he wanted to help make things right, but positivity didn't erase what happened. A machine could be fixed and broken parts replaced as if they'd never been broken. It wasn't the same for people.

"But we won't be able to truly fix this. Just help make sure the people in need get the help they deserve, and that it won't happen again."

Shan Pavond | Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Aruza

​

Outfit: Epicanthix Outfit | Wedding Ring
Appearance: Link
Weapons: Blasters | Lightsaber
Tag: Kahlil Noble Shan Pavond

Valery nodded, "We'll make the best of it, and hopefully with time, the people of Aruza can heal." There was still fear and hesitancy everywhere, and Valery couldn't really blame them after what happened. People all across the Galaxy fear the things they don't understand, but this always gets worse when it directly impacts them.

These wounds were going to need time to heal, and the wrongs that had been done were going to be investigated too.

Coming aboard the Bastion, the Twi'ek Padawan was given a place on one of the medical beds, before the group as a whole took off and left Aruza behind for now. There would undoubtedly be a return someday, but for now, they had a Jedi to return and after that, a crystal to heal.

"So, since we have some time before we arrive on Coruscant, how is a crystal actually healed? I've never done it or seen it happen. My way of cleansing things of the Dark is not what one uses here, I assume?"

 

[Shan Pavond]

"Time and a lot of care is what's going to be important for the Aruzan people..." Though Shan wasn't entirely sure if that would be enough to change their viewpoints. This was something that was going to take a lot more time to try and change things. Time was something they had though, so there was no point in trying to rush through it, at least that was how the Padawan saw things.

"...Though technically nothing can be fixed back to the way it was. There will always be cracks and scars left behind. It just means...more care will need to be taken to make sure it doesn't break again." Shan hadn't expected all of this to be the result of their journey out to Aruza...though if he thought about it, in a way this Padawan they had saved owed their freedom to Nyaeli. If Shan hadn't encountered her, they probably wouldn't have came to this planet. Now he was feeling that his choice to spare her was more and more of the correct choice.

"Yes, how exactly...am I meant to help heal the crystal? I assume I can't just...use the Force to heal it as I could with a person?" He tilted his head afterwards, rubbing his chin afterwards as he was trying to figure out how he felt about all of it. This was the main goal anyway, trying to fix the crystal and here they were, about to get to it.

Kahlil Noble Valery Noble

 

[Kahlil Noble]

"The only thing I've healed that's similar was my dagger, but that was.. Explosive." It took some time to get the shards out of his arm. And there were likely still some somewhere in his flesh. "And Sithspawn are not the same as a bled crystal. I know some of the theories, but now we know who's crystal it was originally. And the state that brought Nyelia to where she is. You'll have to face that, Shan. Her at her darkest when she bled it."

Valery Noble | Shan Pavond

 

[Valery Noble]

Aruza

​

Outfit: Epicanthix Outfit | Wedding Ring
Appearance: Link
Weapons: Blasters | Lightsaber
Tag: Kahlil Noble Shan Pavond

"That sounds...intense." Valery looked at Kahlil with a frown and then turned to Shan. She knew he wasn't going to give up on the idea of healing the crystal because of this, but she was clearly worried about it. So, rather than try and talk it out of him, she looked at her husband for help.

"If he tries to cleanse it, can you help or support him in any way?"

She let out a sigh. "This sounds dangerous, knowing what she did to the other Padawan."

 

[Shan Pavond]

"I've beat her once. I can do it again." Shan kept a smile on his face. This was still going to be hard, no matter what. But if it was Nyaeli at her darkest, well it potentially also meant it was when she was her least experienced. It means she might just try to power through Shan's guard...but at the same time, could a crystal spirit, or whatever he was going to be fighting tire out? Or would he be committing himself to tiring himself? Shan just shook his head, glancing between the two Masters, keeping a grin on his face.

"As long as the crystal doesn't end up exloding in my face, I can do this." He kept a bright smile on his face, rubbing his hands together. Shan was eager to get down to work to deal with the crystal. He could battle Nyaeli. He had confidence in himself, even if he wasn't much of a fighter. He just had to prove to himself that it wasn't just a fluke. That he could replicate the same results.

Valery Noble Kahlil Noble