Private Homecoming

[Valery Noble]

Keshi

​

Outfit: Keshian Armor
Appearance: Link
Weapons: Lightsaber
Tag: Kahlil Noble

"Your silly romantic," Valery 'corrected' playfully once their kiss broke. Her eyes remained locked into his, and she looked at him with nothing but intense affection and adoration. "And I love you too.... so much." She winked and performed the same trick again to turn around. Gently, she nudged her rear against him and enjoyed the feeling of having him close to her.

That was the real magic of this moment — flying out here together.

But they still had work to do as well, so once she had settled again, she began to guide the Ayda down at a much slower pace than before. She approached the Keshian camp and let the Ayda do the rest, as it safely landed the couple on the ground and ducked low so they could get off its back more easily.

With a hop down, Valery settled on the ground and shot her husband a grin, before looking at the keshians.

"How was it?" Eleya asked curiously.

"It was beautiful, and not as hard as I imagined it to be."

"Spoken like a Noble," Ayla said with a small, amused shake of her head.

Valery just grinned and looked at Kahlil, "We're going to get some rest, and then we'll be ready for the rescue attempt." The others nodded and turned to leave them alone for now.

"Before we get some rest though... you want to join me and see how Vera's doing?"

 

[Kahlil Noble]

He smiled warmly, cradling her in his arms again as he let his eyes close and just.. Held her. Let her handle flying them back atop the creature. All the way back to the camp. Even when they landed he let his hands stay around her waist. Help her down with her in his arms then glanced to the other warriors around. It was beautiful.

"Before we get some rest though... you want to join me and see how Vera's doing?"

"Well, yeah. Duh. Let's go see our daughter."

Kahlil grinned, reaching a hand up to ruffle her hair like it was the most obvious thing.

 

[Valery Noble]

Keshi

​

Outfit: Keshian Armor
Appearance: Link
Weapons: Lightsaber
Tag: Kahlil Noble

He likely didn't need to have his eyes open to know she was blushing and melting within his arms, as he cradled her on the back of the Ayda. Once they made their way down, and he lifted her into his arms to hop off the creature, it only got worse — her face was bright red for a few seconds, and then she noticed why he did it.

She saw him look at the other Keshians, who all turned away and seemed either jealous or even annoyed. For him to send them this signal felt... good. "I love you..." she said, her voice softer and appreciative. It was definitely the hopeless romantic in her, but she loved feeling like she was the one to him, as much as he was that to her.

Valery was then set down, and her suggestion was met with his hand ruffling her hair. "Heyyy," she began with a smirk, "You have no idea how much effort it takes to get my hair to look okay." She snickered and began guiding him to the training fields, where an older Keshian woman was watching over the kids. But to Valery's surprise, Vera seemed to be standing alone, while 4 Keshian girls of about her age all stood like they were ganging up against her.

"What's going on?" Valery asked, clearly the worried mother now.

"Oh it's alright," the woman said with a chuckle. "Your daughter insisted she could take them all on."

Valery blinked, looked at Kahlil, and smiled veeery sheepishly. That was definitely not dad's genes. "Well, alright then..." she said, and sure enough, Vera was quick to wipe the floor with two of them, as they rushed in and were expertly bonked against the ground. In her technique, Kahlil would surely notice the Epicanthix influence of his training.

"Yess... that's my girl," Valery muttered like a proud mother, as she watched.

"Look, daddy!" Vera called over casually, as she went after the remaining two, so she could take those out as well.

 

[Kahlil Noble]

"I love you too."

That he whispered. He'd made his declaration just carrying her in his arms, but those words of affection were hers and hers alone. All he had was a kind and loving smile for her, at least until she started to complain about him messing up her hair. Then it was just a wide, teasing grin. "You sure I don't? I'm pretty sure I'm the reason it's always so messed up." And not because of the hair ruffling he'd just done, either.
He didn't linger though, despite knowing just how red in the face she might get. Right now he just wanted to check in on their daughter. Who was.. Oh. For a moment he was just as concerned as Valery.

Until she started to move. He chuckled a little under his breath. She'd really taken his lessons to heart, huh? A very proud smile took over his face as he folded his arms over his chest. And tried not to just cheer her on. They were the guests here. It was bad enough she was mopping the floor with them.

"Look, daddy!"

"Focus, Vera! Don't insult your foes by letting your attention slip."

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Keshi

​

Outfit: Keshian Armor
Appearance: Link
Weapons: Lightsaber
Tag: Kahlil Noble

Valery's blush remained, but she seemed very timid all of a sudden when he whispered those words. He knew better than anybody else just how much they meant to her, and right now, she just couldn't feel better in life. At least, until he set her down and shot her that teasing grin she both loved and playfully hated. She knew what was coming, and what he said didn't disappoint at all. He could have made it far worse by really going into it, but she was already a tomato right now.

"Yeah..." she chuckled almost nervously with slightly widened eyes. "You definitely are the reason..." she began to get a little more composed now and flashed a smirk before biting down on her lower lip. She really looked like she wanted him right now, but they had something very important to focus on — their daughter.

But later, for sure.

Watching Vera wipe the floor with a group of warriors felt satisfying, and had her look at their little star with the proudest smile. But when Vera suddenly called back, she blinked as Kahlil corrected her from the sideline.

"Ohoho~" she snickered. "What was that? Competitive dad, or just serious?" she teased and leaned in close to gently wrap herself around his arm. Her hands shifted over his bicep, and she shot him a wink. "I like it."

Valery then looked back, just in time to see Vera snap into an even greater focus. She did not want to disappoint her parents, so she weaved between attacks, and knocked the other girls down with speed far beyond natural for a kid. She had tapped into the Force and used it to her advantage.

With the fight now over, she did turn and ran over to her dad with her arms outstretched. "Did you see me?!" she called out to her parents, and Valery immediately began to smile, while Vera just looked to get picked up and hugged by her father. "They said I looked weak." Vera looked back and giggled, knowing she had really shown them the opposite.

 

[Kahlil Noble]

Kahlil blinked for a moment, then glanced to Valery with a grin. A really wide grin this time as he reached a hand up to pat hers.

"Both, I imagine."

His attention didn't linger on Valery for much longer though. Instead, he was watching Vera, how she fought. Studying. Formulating the next lesson he'd probably end up teaching her soon enough. When she came running after beating them all, though, he just laughed. Immediately stooped down to pick her up in his arms and toss her in air with a laugh. "Well you showed them, didn't you?"

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Keshi

​

Outfit: Keshian Armor
Appearance: Link
Weapons: Lightsaber
Tag: Kahlil Noble

His grin was met with an equally wide one from her, and she even stuck out her tongue just a little. "It's very hot~" she said with a soft, more seductive voice before turning away as well. With Vera sprinting over and wanting their attention, there was just no way they could focus on anything other than their little star.

With her arms outstretched, she was picked up by her father and tossed up, which got her to giggle and squeal happily. Valery was just melting where she stood.

"Mm-hm! I showed them!" Vera grinned. "I used mommy's vision lesson, and I could see what they wanted to do! Then..." she punched in the air to demonstrate. "I beat them up like you, daddy!" she giggled again, and Valery couldn't handle the cuteness anymore. She stepped closer for a little group hug, and Vera realized it quickly.

She leaned down, rubbed her cheek against her mother's, and squealed.

"We're very proud of you, sweetie. Daddy and I are soon going to leave to get our people back and stop the bad guys. So be good and maybe help the other kids get a little better, okay?" Valery asked her daughter.

"Mkay!" Vera said before looking at her father. "When you and mommy come back, can we do more fun things here?"

 

[Kahlil Noble]

"Just don't get too cocky, yeah?"

He flashed a grin, reaching a hand up to ruffle Vera's hair briefly. Smiled as he watched Vera and Valery so close. It always made him so much happier to see them together. Kahlil nodded shortly after though. Still with the wide grin and smile that only his family could put on his face.

"Soon as we're done. Promise."

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Keshi

​

Outfit: Keshian Armor
Appearance: Link
Weapons: Lightsaber
Tag: Kahlil Noble

"I won't, daddy!" Vera said, but there was a good chance she'd be a little cocky. Valery was too at her age when her skills were starting to surpass others of her own age. But as long as it didn't get out of control, she wasn't going to worry too much about her daughter enjoying it a little too much.

Kahlil then ruffled her hair, and unlike her mother earlier, she just giggled and grinned. She didn't care at all about appearance yet, so she simply loved the attention. "Love you, mommy and daddy." She leaned forward and pressed a kiss against her dad's cheek, before looking at mom to make her come closer. She too got a kissy, and once she was set down, Vera would look at them for a moment.

It was clear that her parents were her heroes in every way.

"Love you, little star. We'll be back soon, we promise." She watched Vera run back to the other Keshians and let out a soft sigh. Vera really was growing up so fast.

"Alright, we'll be heading out soon," Eleya then said, as she approached from behind. "We'll be flying in two groups. One to set up a perimeter around the Keshians to defend them, and another to evacuate them. You two will be in the first group, so I hope you're ready for some action."

Valery just grinned, "We are."

"Alright, get to the Ayda and we'll meet in the skies. May the stars guide us to victory tonight."

Turning back to Kahlil, Valery motioned to the Ayda and made her way over to climb back on with him right behind her. The joy from before was almost entirely gone, replaced by her fiery focus. "If we run into trouble along the way, can you shield us? I'll focus on flying. Then once we get down there, we just do our usual thing." Perhaps he noticed, but being nervous always made her do her whole 'briefing' thing again.

 

[Kahlil Noble]

Kahlil climbed onto the back of the Ayda, his own gaze now pure focus just the same. People were waiting on them to save them, right? He briefly glanced towards where Vera had disappeared with the others. She was safe here, at least. That just made it easier for him to focus. A grin took over as he glanced down to Valery, then reached past her to gently trace a couple of runes over their mount.

There was a flash of light before a faint, shimmering field formed over the whole of Ayda. Then disappeared from sight.

"That should save us some time. You ready?"

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Keshi

​

Outfit: Keshian Armor
Appearance: Link
Weapons: Lightsaber
Tag: Kahlil Noble

"That... is very clever," Valery said with a small grin, but her nervousness about the whole situation was still visible. She seemed to be getting more relaxed though. as they prepared themselves and runes were applied. She wouldn't have become a Jedi Master if she wasn't able to set those feelings aside to focus. But... having Kahlil with her, and his runes protecting the Ayda — it helped a lot, so when they took off once more, she was ready for battle.

Up in the skies above the planet, an army of Keshian warriors on their Ayda swarmed over the clouds, which they used for cover. The creatures were dead silent and as the Faedra split into two groups, all they could hear for a moment was that same melody they had heard over the lake.

For about half an hour, their flight continued in silence, but it wasn't long until the bright fires that were spreading through the lands beneath them illuminated the clouds below the Ayda. A fierce battle had erupted — a last clash between these outsiders and the encircled Faedra. But they weren't alone.

Valery joined the others, as they pierced through the clouds, and transitioned into a steep dive to reach the battle as quickly as they could. Almost immediately, blasters and turrets lit up the sky, shooting down many but the Keshians did not back down. The bubble around the two Nobles kept them shielded against the few shots that grazed them, and soon enough, they were close enough to the ground to see the enemy.

And their two walkers

"Love?!" she called out over the rushing winds. "We should take those down!"

 

[Kahlil Noble]

The soar through the sky would've been breathtaking, if not for the danger on the horizon. And soon enough, it was visible in the distance. A frown took over his features as he caught sight of the blasterfire in the distance. These off worlders, they weren't just pirates or thugs. Those were military grade vehicles. Walkers.

"Love?!" she called out over the rushing winds. "We should take those down!"

"On it."

He flashed her a grin before just slipping off the back of their mount. Free falled the rest of the way down with his eyes now focused on one of the walkers. Both his hands came up midflight, tracing a sequence through the air in a flash of white. It was enough to catch the attention of those below, who started to try and shoot at the falling foe. It didn't matter though. They were already too late.

The sequence spread wide, wider than one of the Walkers below. Then he pushed his hands forward. A low rumble filled the air before the sequence brightened. Then pressure. All at once, overwhelming pressure. The walker below him suddenly flattened, the whole machine twisting and bending until it was flat against the ground. Everything around it followed suit, crushed and ruined in an instant. Enemy soldiers included.

Kahlil landed among them, another flash of a rune slowing his fall just before he touched the ground. Then ignited his blade as he looked towards the second walker. And flashed a grin towards the soldiers that stood there in disbelief.

"You should surrender, now."

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Keshi

​

Outfit: Keshian Armor
Appearance: Link
Weapons: Lightsaber
Tag: Kahlil Noble

"On it."

Valery blinked and looked over her shoulder. What did he mean by- She blinked again as he jumped off the back of the Ayda and towards the enemy down below. The runes he carved along the way created a beautiful flash of light that moved faster than any of the Keshians, but it also drew a lot of attention. In an attempt to be his shield for once, Valery focused on projecting the Force around him to deflect the few bolts that would otherwise get too close.

Either way, it was far too late for the enemy below.

With widened eyes, Valery watched the walker not just collapse, but fold in on itself under immense pressure. Other equipment and even soldiers followed, and those who remained were left standing face-to-face with the Jedi Master, as his green blade of plasma ignited in the darkness of night.

Several began to run, but perhaps surprisingly, many stood their ground and continued the fight. It was at this moment, that Kahlil would also be able to spot the symbol on the walkers, their helmets, and other pieces of gear. There was no running for these people, as that would mean a far worse end for them.

Suddenly, through their bond, Kahlil would feel pain echo out from Valery — not physical, but something about this ancient faction really made her skin crawl. A massive fire then ignited all around the enemy, trapping them much like how they had trapped the Keshian warriors, and in the sky above them, Valery looked down with glowing eyes, as she manipulated the flames to consume their weapons.

Even now, she would not burn people alive, but there was no way out for them. They stood between intense flames and a powerful Jedi Master who had already crushed so many of them. Their allies, who were still fighting outside the ring of fire could not help either.

They are here to enslave my people.​

The message through their bond was clear, and once again, that pain connected to slavery appeared in her voice and presence.

 

[Kahlil Noble]

His saber flicked up as a shot was sent his way. Then more, and more. They weren't going to back down, were they? The symbol was reason enough. Hutts. He didn't need to feel Valery's own resolve to understand just what was going through her head, but their bond made it all too easy. Even as the fire reached out to enclose them all in. They didn't hesitate to continue trying to shoot them, even as their guns melted in their hands.

They just turned to different weapons instead.

Kahlil himself was.. Unaffected. Naturally by the flame, for it was Valery manipulating it. But their frantic fighting against him, he weaved through their shots with ease. And when they closed in to try and use their blades, he just slipped through them with ease. Letting his blade passively defend himself.

They might not have a choice. Find their leader.

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Keshi

​

Outfit: Keshian Armor
Appearance: Link
Weapons: Lightsaber
Tag: Kahlil Noble

Valery gritted her teeth as the fire either consumed ot trapped the enemy, but sighed and allowed her body to relax when Kahlil called back to her through their bond. As much as a part of her wanted to hold each and every enemy soldier responsible for what was happening, shd couldn't do that. So many of them were brutal and showed no mercy to anybody, but she was still a Jedi and had to handle this right.

So once Kahlil has fought his way through the group she held trapped, Valery landed close to him and allowed the Ayda to fly up and follow them safely from above.

"I'm sure it's a hutt, and they will be around here somewhere. They love watching," she said with more disgust in in her voice than it ever had.

Looking around, Valery's fiery eyes fixated on a dense group of enemy soldiers, but she also spotted a large group of gammoreans, armesld with axes, blasters and shock whips.

"There!" She called out with a frown. "We have to fight through them somehow..." She gave him a pleading look, making it clear she needed his help

 

[Kahlil Noble]

Kahlil frowned as he glanced towards Valery. Just before his bade passed through another of the soldiers. Passed through with the nonlethal edge he had. If he didn't have to, he wouldn't kill. And right now it was the easiest time not to. And yet, he couldn't stop this sinking feeling in his gut as he watched his wife. She was still the Jedi she was supposed to be, but the anger she felt, he didn't expect it from her. They fought all kinds of monsters.

To think a Hutt was what pushed her this far was alarming.

His gaze followed where she pointed though, as he nodded.

"It's just a couple of guards. Easy peasy, for us." He flashed a grin before raising his hand. And slowly lowered it. His eyes closed as he focused on the flow of the FOrce around them. This close to Valery, to their Dyad, this was easy.

They dropped. All at once he lowered them to their knees, then to their hands and knees, then right flat against the ground.

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Keshi

​

Outfit: Keshian Armor
Appearance: Link
Weapons: Lightsaber
Tag: Kahlil Noble

She hated feeling this way.

She was on edge, and getting closer to the hutt and his inner circle only made it worse. If it wasn't for all of her experience and her husband standing here with her, she would have likely given in to those emotions far more easily. Now, she was calm, but intensely focused and fierce as well. Almost as if she was bringing her Shadow identity to the battlefield.

"Right...easy..." She flashed him a brief, loving smile and then followed him back into battle. Her blade was anything but non-lethal, but her strikes were precise, and aimed to disarm as much as she could. But even that would no longer be necessary, as Kahlil tapped into the Force and their dyad for another great feat of Force prowess.

She was really happy to have him with her.

Sprinting past the enemy guards, Valery spotted the Hutt, held up like royalty on his portable throne, but there was something far more disturbing behind him. Cages. Rows of them, and all filled with her sisters who were being brought to the Hutt ships. Valery's muscles tensed and with a huge jump, she got closer to him. On impact with the ground, she channeled the Force into a wave to blast away his personal guards, forcing him to drop down, as his servants fell over too.

"It's over," Valery demanded, but the Hutt simply laughed at her.

From several directions around her, shock whips lashed out all of a sudden, wielded by Zygerrians trained to use them. And in her almost blind desire to end this, she could not stop one from latching around her leg, and another around her neck and throat.

"Ahh...you..." She bit through the shock, and stared down the Hutt, who suddenly seemed very afraid, now that the whips did not take her down. But Valery could certainly use some help as well, as she made her advance.

 

[Kahlil Noble]

Valery was in trouble for all of a second.

The moment Kahlil felt it, he'd moved. Danger. Her in danger. Not just the usual danger, but the kind where she was in actual danger. Like before. Like when he had to leave her and Vera for so long. The arms that held the whips, the Force twisted around them. Twisted them. Pain radiated outwards before the limbs themselves were suddenly twisted to the point they scattered into a puddle of blood.

Kahlil's silver eyes stared down at them, each of them, his calm expression replaced by a cold, empty gaze. Not again. Never again.

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Keshi

​

Outfit: Keshian Armor
Appearance: Link
Weapons: Lightsaber
Tag: Kahlil Noble

All at once, the pressure and pain in her neck faded away, as the arms of those wielding the shock whips were crushed and taken away by sheer force. Valery's eyes briefly widened as they screamed in pain or passed out from it, but she was very quick to sharpen her focus once again. This had to end, and there was only one way to do it.

She drew her blade and crossed the last stretch of distance to the Hutt, who would never be able to escape. She held up her weapon, looked into his eyes with a clenched jaw and tense body language, and he knew it was over. So many of his soldiers had started running after the two Jedi Masters fought through them like they were nothing, and now, not a single one was still willing to fight.

"Surrender and you-" Valery's voice was interrupted by a sudden flash of light coming from above. The bolt of heated plasma struck the Hutt and made its head explode, which had Valery turn away in an attempt to keep the blood from hitting her face. Eleya, with a weapon drawn, hovered above the battlefield and looked down the smoking barrel of her weapon.

"Well done, you two. This is over," she said, and even though these Hutts and slavers were the worst kinds of people, Valery felt conflicted as she turned to Kahlil with a frown. In doing so, he'd be able to see the laceration and burns in her neck, but the pain felt minimal because of Adrenaline and use of the Force.

"Are... you okay?" she asked, wanting to make sure after she had felt his intensity moments earlier.

 

[Kahlil Noble]

And like that it was over. Admittedly far more bloodily than Kahlil normally would've allowed or wanted. He frowned, his gaze falling on the now dead Hutt before he took a breath. He'd let himself get too.. Emotional, to say the least. His gaze shifted to Valery as he gave a simple nod. She was fine. Even as his gaze fell on the marks on her neck, she was fine. No, he wasn't fine. He let out a sigh as he stepped over to her, pulled her into a hug.

".. Sorry. Guess I'm not okay with you being hurt, still."

Valery Noble