Private Finding a Savior

[Zari Daal]

Sector: Somewhere in the Outer Rim
Planet: Arbra


A dark gray escape pod dropped from the sky with a boom that shook trees. The pod was set ablaze when it punctured the atmosphere of this relatively quiet planet, and whatever woodland creatures that gathered in the bushes turned their heads up to stare.

The pod zipped for the ground and struck the forest in an instant. Branches and limbs were torn away, green brush set on fire as the object cut through the air and slammed into the forest floor.

A mess of mud and twigs followed the pod as it zigzagged in a careless arc, leaving behind bush fires that were hot but not deadly; enough fire to cause the air to thicken with gray plumes of smoke, but not enough to put the forest in danger.

The pod flipped to a stop and rolled, until it came to crash against a solid tree trunk and then lay still. It was lucky it hadn't killed anyone.

A warning buzzer - barely audible from having been smashed on impact - informed the occupants inside that they had reached a suitable environment for oxygen-dependent life. Somewhere in the dark recesses of the pod, a droid voice announced, "Landing successful."

"Zat was a…success!" A man's voice shouted, a bit annoyed.

"Landing successful," the voice repeated calmly.

Zari sat alone inside the pod. He wrapped his arms over his knees and kept his eyes closed, rocking slightly as he sighed in relief and pent-up agitation.

"Oh, great Mother, mother, mother…" he repeated quietly to himself, rubbing his bare red arms with his hands. He had only half-believed he was going to escape alive, had only half-believed he would make it to the planet below.

Now that he was here, alive, the idea to escape naked seemed rather…inconvenient.

The Twi'lek stood from his seat and grabbed the door hatch with two arms - arms that had grown slightly in bulk in his year-long incarceration - and pried the door open to stumble out into a bright, yellow light.

He covered his front with two hands and looked this way and that, his chest rising and falling in ragged gasps of air as his wide nostrils were filled with the earthy scent of the forest.

His lekku twisted in unrestrained exaltation as he broke into a wide smile, sharp teeth flashing in the sunlight as he fell to his knees beneath the shade of the tree he had crashed into. The wood seemed to groan under the weight of his escape pod.

"Oh, great Mother!" He called to the azure sky, leaning his head back to close his eyes and let his lekku slip past his shoulders as he rested in the grass.

"Free at last!"

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery's X-wing cut through the planet's atmosphere with a graceful precision, its hull gleaming in the sunlight as it approached the dense forest below. From the cockpit, her fiery amber eyes scanned the terrain, drawn to the faint column of smoke rising from the trees like a beacon. The escape pod's crash landing had been a chaotic event, and the Republic had flagged it as part of a recent prison escape — one Valery had been sent to investigate.

Her lips pressed into a thin line as she guided the ship to a clearing just wide enough for the X-wing to touch down. The landing was smooth, the ship's repulsorlifts kicking up loose dirt and leaves as it settled. Valery shut down the engines, the mechanical hum fading into the quiet symphony of the forest.

Unstrapping from her seat, she reached behind the pilot's chair to grab her lightsaber and a small field pack. She slung the pack over her shoulder and stepped down from the cockpit, her boots crunching against the forest floor as the ship's canopy hissed shut behind her.

The air was heavy with the scent of smoke, mingling with the earthy aroma of the woods. Valery stretched her senses outward through the Force, feeling for any signs of life amidst the scattered wildlife. A faint ripple brushed against her awareness — a presence alive and vibrant, but tinged with exhaustion and something else... relief?

Her amber gaze narrowed toward the direction of the smoke. Whoever had been in that escape pod was alive. Whether they were friend or foe remained to be seen, but she couldn't ignore the possibility that someone needed help.

Valery adjusted her pack and set off toward the crash site, moving swiftly but cautiously through the underbrush. The sound of distant birdsong mingled with the occasional crackle of burning wood as she closed the distance. Each step brought her closer to the unknown presence, her connection to the Force her guide.

As she reached a small ridge overlooking the source of the smoke, Valery paused, crouching low to scan the scene. The escape pod lay half-buried in the soft forest floor, its exterior scorched and battered from the crash. But the pod wasn't empty — not far from it knelt a figure.

She began to move towards it.

Zari Daal ​

 

[Zari Daal]

Zari scrambled up from the forest floor, very aware that he needed to get away from the escape pod. More than likely the Chief Warden could track such things.

But his spirit was in a constant state of celebration, often no matter how dire his circumstances. What that usually translated into was…dance.

"Ha-ha!" He chuckled to himself and slid one foot across the grass, hardly minding the twigs that jabbed into his foot. The Twi'lek spun into a graceful twirl that made him rotate in the air, lekku springing in a languid arc, before swinging back down with him.

He broke into a celebratory series of spins as he twisted across the forest, closing his eyes and listening to the different chirps and warbled from birds all around. Bits of smoke still roiled at his feet and shrouded parts of his body as he strolled casually, but he was far from hidden.

There was the matter of getting clothes at some point - and possibly explaining his naked state to whatever unfortunate pilgrims he might discover in the mountains that overlooked this forest. But then, need he explain himself? One lie would lead to another lie, and then another, and another, until…

He was robbed. He was robbed and they took his clothes.

"Zey took my clothes," he murmured to himself, as if practicing the lie. He began to sing soft and low in his chest, his red arms swinging at his sides as his eyes darted this way and that to look for a wa out of the forest.

His eyes slid left and he suddenly saw a dark shape prowling toward him.

He turned his body and backed away in reflex. The shadowy shape morphed into —

A woman! A woman of brunette hair and amber eyes, crouched toward him in a dark flightsuit, and in her hands -

A lightsaber!

"Whoa! 'Ey! 'Ey! 'Ey!" Zari exclaimed and held out his hands. He made a mad scramble for a tree trunk and slithered himself behind it.

He crouched and panted. "Par-don me! I do not want eeny….trouble!" he called out to this…Jedi…? Woman.


Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery tilted her head as the Twi'lek's flamboyant movements caught her attention, her amber eyes narrowing in curiosity. His exuberant dance in the aftermath of a fiery crash was... unusual, to say the least. But as her presence became known and he bolted for the nearest tree, a smirk tugged at the corner of her lips.

His frantic calls of "Pardon me! I do not want eeny... trouble!" echoed through the forest, and Valery straightened her posture, extinguishing her lightsaber. There was no immediate threat here, just confusion and perhaps a little chaos. With deliberate steps, she approached the tree, her brow arching when she caught sight of him peeking nervously around its trunk.

"Are you—" She began, stepping around the tree. The words died on her lips as her fiery eyes swept over him.

Oh.

Her gaze instinctively dropped, taking in his entirely unclothed state before shooting right back up to his face. A faint blush crept across her cheeks, though she quickly composed herself, her expression shifting to something more neutral — though the faintest hint of embarrassment lingered in her tone.

Oh my.

"I see you're, uh... unprepared for the elements." She cleared her throat and locked her gaze firmly on his eyes. "Are you one of the prisoners who escaped the ship?" Her voice remained steady, but her curiosity was piqued. He didn’t seem like a hardened criminal, though appearances could be deceiving.

She crossed her arms, her demeanor calm but firm. "You're lucky I got here before anyone else did. Now, why don't you come out from behind the tree, and we can talk about what happened up there?"

Zari Daal ​

 

[Zari Daal]

Zari's nails dug into the bark of the tree he had slunk to and cowered behind. He waited, heart pounding with every snap of every twig as the woman came around the tree with her lightsaber weapon powered off.

Zari waited, using one finger to rub a bit of sweat out of one eye. He hoped soot from the escape pod did not smudge his body.


"You're lucky I got here before anyone else did. Now, why don't you come out from behind the tree, and we can talk about what happened up there?"

Zari blinked. This Jedi woman had not taken his head off, and she wanted to know what happened. Alright.

If there was one thing he could do, he could talk. Time to shine. Stick to the lie. He had to say it so even a Jedi would believe it.

He stood up straight and put his hands on his hips in a relieved manner. This human woman did not mind his nakedness, and she was quite beautiful, he noted casually.

"Zey stole my clothes," he repeated out loud. He pointed with one hand in the othe direction. "Two men jump out of that thing, zey rob me of my clothes, and zen zey run off!"

He waved dismissively and his lekku swung. He placed both hands back on his hips. "In zat direction…"

His eyes slid up to study her amber eyes.









Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery shifted a little, her fiery amber eyes doing their best to stay fixed on his face despite his current... state. A faint blush still dusted her cheeks, but she straightened her posture, arms crossing tightly over her chest as if it would help her focus. The Twi'lek's confident stance and the way his lekku swung with his exaggerated storytelling didn't make it any easier to keep her eyes from shifting down.

"Stole your clothes, huh?" she repeated, her voice tinged with dry amusement. Her brow arched slightly as her lips quirked into a faint smirk. "That's... unfortunate."

Clearing her throat, Valery glanced at the direction he pointed, though she didn't sense any immediate presences beyond his. "Well, I'm not exactly carrying spare clothes, and I doubt they left a wardrobe out here for you." She gestured toward her X-Wing in the distance. "But I can fly you somewhere safe and help you find what you need."

Her tone softened slightly, though she kept her composure. "You'll have to make do until then."

Taking a slow breath to regain some semblance of professionalism, Valery extended a hand. "I'm Valery Noble," she said, her voice calm and steady despite the blush still threatening to return. "And you are?"

Her gaze flicked to his once more, holding his eyes with a mix of curiosity and caution. While his explanation wasn't the most convincing, something about him didn't scream hardened criminal. Still, she'd keep her guard up.

Zari Daal​

 

[Zari Daal]

Zari let out a pent-up breath and his posture relaxed slightly. The Jedi sounded as if she did not believe him, but she was not pushing it any further.

He stepped forward and took her pale hand in his red one. His orange eyes took in her utility belt, the other lightsaber hanging from it, and the scars that slashed across her left eye.

Valery Noble could dismember him in two seconds. And yet - now she offered him help. He would tread carefully.

"Valery Noble, I am eeen…chanted." He lowered his eyes as his lips pecked the back of her hand. His lekku slipped over his shoulders as he performed a little bow in front of her with one leg behind him. "And you may call me Zari."

He straightened quickly and began a casual stroll next to her through the woods. "Uuh…I would like to get off zis planet." He gave her a small smirk as his lekku bounced with their stride.

"I would like zat more zen having clothes, ac-tu-ally."





Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery's fiery amber eyes flicked down momentarily as Zari stepped closer and took her hand, the warmth of his touch catching her slightly off guard. Her blush deepened as he kissed the back of her hand, his charm utterly unshaken by his rather precarious situation. She quickly cleared her throat, forcing herself to focus as he introduced himself.

"Zari," she repeated, a faint smirk tugging at her lips. "Well, it's nice to meet you... under such interesting circumstances."

She started walking, leading the way toward her X-Wing through the forest. The soft crunch of leaves underfoot and Zari's easy stride alongside her gave the moment an almost surreal quality. His casual attitude about his lack of clothing didn't help her maintain her composure, especially when he so boldly stated his preference for leaving the planet over finding something to wear.

Valery glanced sideways at him, the faintest hint of exasperation mixing with her amusement. "As much as I admire your... priorities," she began, her voice tinged with dry humor, "We might have a little problem."

They emerged into the clearing where her X-Wing was parked, its sleek frame catching the sunlight. Valery gestured toward it, her expression half-apologetic. "The X-Wing is a one-seater. So, we'll need to figure something out."

Her gaze lingered on the small ship, her mind racing through potential solutions. "We might be able to flag down some kind of transport or... improvise a way to secure you inside the cockpit with me." She gave him a side glance and waited for his reply.

Zari Daal​

 

[Zari Daal]

Zari stopped short of her X-wing and gave it a careful once-over as he folded his hands behind his back and stood next to her.

He glanced around nervously when she mentioned waiting to flag down a transport.

"Uhh..no, no," he answered quickly. He leaped forward nimbly and planted one foot along the ramp of the x-wing.

He turned to face her with a wide smile. "Zis is no problem! You will just…uh…ride in my lap…and uh…off to zee Jedi we will go!"

He gestured toward the cockpit with one hand and offered her his best smile….hiding the anxiety that was telling him to get off this planet as soon as possible.




Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery crossed her arms, her fiery gaze narrowing slightly as she studied Zari’s eager demeanor. His anxiety to leave the planet was clear, even if he tried to mask it behind his theatrical charm. She sighed, her lips twitching into the faintest of smirks as she stepped closer to the X-Wing.

"You really are something else, aren’t you?" she said, shaking her head. "Fine. We’ll do it your way — but if this ends badly, you’re explaining it to the Temple mechanics."

Not that that was the main concern.

Valery climbed up the ramp and maneuvered into the cockpit, a space so tight it barely had room for one, let alone two. She settled into her seat carefully, trying to ignore the fact that Zari was now her makeshift seat.

"Alright, hold still," she muttered, her tone dry but betraying a hint of amusement. "Try not to move around too much."

With Zari’s arms awkwardly pressed to his sides, Valery reached for the cockpit controls and began the pre-flight sequence. The hum of the X-Wing’s engines filled the clearing as they roared to life, the craft vibrating gently beneath them. The canopy closed overhead, sealing them inside the cramped space, and Valery guided the ship upward, breaking through the forest canopy with precision.

As they ascended, Valery glanced back at him over her shoulder, her voice calm but laced with curiosity. "So, Zari," she began, her tone casual but probing. "What prison were you in? And what exactly did you do to end up there?"

Her amber eyes flicked back to the controls, but she remained acutely aware of his presence behind her. She wasn’t one to judge without understanding the full story, but she needed answers — not just for the mission, but to figure out what kind of man she was transporting so precariously close.

Zari Daal​

 

[Zari Daal]

Zari gritted his teeth and tried to keep his arms as awkwardly close to himself as possible without touching her. However, when Valery settled in and reached for different controls, he had to spread his thighs just the tiniest bit.

This was certainly the….squeeze.

He released a sigh of relief as the X-wing lifted and began take off. The warm air certainly must have brushed Valery’s skin.

But then her tone changed. Her body grew rigid and she asked the question.

That question.

Zari's sigh of relief got caught in his throat. "Uuuh…" He felt the blood drain from his face. The sound of his voice rumbled in her ears like the sound of the engine. He tapped his fingers against his thighs anxiously.

"Well." Zari focused on her ponytail as it brushed against his nose. She was a Jedi. If he lied now, she would be able to feel it right down to her core. He paused as he gathered his tumbling thoughts, then released a casual sigh, as if going to prison were a small inconvenience.

"Well, I do not actually recall ze name of the prison, at zis particular…mo-meant," he said in her ear. "Uh, it vas constantly moo-ving around, and ze woman who ran zis prizon….she was a very 'ard woman. Ze prison is very….fort-ti-fied."

His tone dropped from casual to just a smidge melancholy. "And I waz in zhere for some-thing I did not…com-mit."

He swallowed dryly. "I was in zhere for murder."






Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery's fingers adjusted the X-Wing's controls as Zari's words settled in the air, her fiery amber gaze fixed ahead. She didn't react immediately, letting the silence stretch as the hum of the engines filled the cockpit. But the tension in her expression softened, replaced by a faint, almost knowing smile that he couldn't see from behind her.

"I know you're innocent," Valery said softly, her voice cutting through the weight of his confession. There was no hesitation in her tone — just quiet conviction. "I wouldn't have come out here just to rescue random escapees when I don't know what they were in for. I've been keeping an eye on that prison, and I know what they've been doing."

Her grip on the controls shifted, and she leaned back slightly, her body pressing just a little more against Zari's lap. The motion was unintentional, but it was enough to draw her attention for a moment.

"Framed for murder," she continued, her tone steady but tinged with sympathy. "They needed someone to take the fall, didn't they? To make it easier to hide whatever it is they're really doing in there."

She tilted her head slightly, her gaze flicking to the edge of the canopy where the stars began to shimmer as they ascended. "I'm taking you to Niv Hani," she said, her voice firmer now. "It's where I live, and it's safe. I'll get you some clothes, supplies, and a chance to clear your head. From there, we can figure out what to do next."

Valery glanced back at him briefly, her amber eyes locking onto his. "You don't have to explain everything now, but you will eventually. If we're going to sort this out, I need to know everything you do about what's happening. And I'll make sure nobody else tries to use you as a scapegoat again."

Her expression softened slightly as she turned her attention back to the controls. "For now, just trust me, okay? We'll get through this."

Even as she spoke, she could feel the tension in his presence — a mix of relief, uncertainty, and the weight of everything he'd been through. She didn't push him further, letting her words settle as the X-Wing pushed onward toward safety.

Zari Daal​

 

[Zari Daal]

Zari listened intently while this woman - someone he dared to call a new friend - took command and issued him stern yet gentle instructions.

He opened his mouth to say more - there was much more to the story, and he suddenly felt the need to shine his reputation in front of her - but then he closed it. He felt a funny tightening in his chest that made talking seem trivial, and his more…primitive instincts were now talking.

He sighed again, this time one of deep relief, making sure that his breath touched the edge of her ear. Subtly - very subtly - his fingers came to rest on either of her hips, and he shifted comfortably, allowing them both to recline as much as an x-wing would allow.

"You know…zis iz not so bad," he said in her ear with a slight chuckle. "Heh. Ze prison rooms were not much bigger zan zis…"

He hoped to make her laugh or drop her guard for just a moment, and when she did, he took a subtle sniff of her hair.

Fruit. Her hair smelled of fruit. Perhaps there were orchards on Niv Hani…with the Jedi?

Zari rested at last as he thought of a potential future within the Temple, his fingers resting casually on her thighs.









Valery Noble