Private Into the Past

[Valery Noble]

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Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring

Valery’s eyes widened as the ice spread from the floor panel up her leg, locking her in place. “Cold!” she muttered under her breath, the sudden chill numbing her muscles. She tried to pull free, but the ice held firm, and when she applied more force, it shattered — sending her tumbling backward.

With a soft thud, she landed squarely on her butt, and she let out a breathless yelp. “You really don’t like it when I mess with our ship, huh?” She asked, her voice a little strange because of the busted lip.

Her leg was still tingling from the cold, and she shifted back on her elbows, scooting away as fast as she could. “Uh… is it too late to surrender?” she asked with a playful grin that couldn’t quite hide the hint of panic in her voice.

She was in big trouble.

She paused, glancing between Kahlil’s dangerously focused expression and her numbed leg. “If you try anything... I will fight back, and I may or may not bite."

Kahlil Noble
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[Kahlil Noble]

Kahlil said nothing more as he stepped over and crouched beside Valery. A hand reached out, though to gently cup her cheek as he brushed a thumb over her busted lip. There'd be a chilling sensation to at least soothe it. It was clear now that he'd already won, but he didn't want her to be hurt. Too bad, anyway. His hand fell away after a moment as he pushed himself to his feet again, stretched his arms overhead.

Then, grinned.

"Do or don't, doesn't matter. I will be."

He then plucked her right up from the floor into his arms.

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

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Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring

Valery’s eyes narrowed slightly as Kahlil’s thumb brushed over her busted lip, the chill soothing but still a reminder of the hit she’d taken. “You busted my lip,” she muttered with a pout, though the playful spark in her gaze softened her words. “So no kissies for you, love.”

But before she could say anything else, he scooped her up effortlessly into his arms. Valery blinked, caught off guard, and let out a soft, breathless laugh. “Kahlil—!” She began to protest, but he grinned and carried her off with that familiar, confident stride that made her heart skip a beat.

The rest of her words trailed off as he headed straight for their bedroom, and Valery just sighed with a mixture of exasperation and fondness.

---

The cockpit doors slid open, and Valery stepped inside, her hair slightly tousled and her face still flushed. There was a noticeable sway in her step as she walked — one that spoke of more than just the earlier sparring session. A bemused expression settled on her features as she glanced back at Kahlil, who followed close behind.

“Did you really have to be so rough?” she asked with a teasing tone, though the subtle wince as she shifted her weight betrayed just how much she felt it. “We still have a mission to do, you know.”

Despite her words, the smile tugging at her lips was undeniably affectionate, and she reached up to smooth down a few stray strands of hair, doing her best to regain some semblance of composure.

“Now, can we focus?” she added with a smirk, though the glimmer of warmth in her eyes suggested she wasn’t too upset about the distraction.

Now though, it was time to look into more Sith creations.

Kahlil Noble
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[Kahlil Noble]

"Yes, yes I did."

That was all Kahlil was going to say on it. He just smiled, ruffling Valery's hair as she tried to smooth it out. It was the last little bit of teasing he'd actually do though, as he looked back to the controls to see where they were on their route. Not much longer at all to reach the destination he'd put in on a whim. Well, not really a whim so much as a feeling through the Force.

"But are you sure you can focus, love?"

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

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Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring

Valery's eyes softened, and a gentle smile curved her lips as she looked up at Kahlil. "Am I sure?" she murmured, letting out a light, affectionate laugh. "I'm never sure I can focus when you're around, love. You're always distracting me." She stepped closer, her fingers brushing through his hair with a tenderness that matched the warmth in her gaze.

"Love you," she said without her usual teasing touch.

With a deep breath, Valery pulled back slightly, a playful glint in her eyes. "But… since we still have a mission to finish, I'm going to do my best to stay focused. Though I can't promise I won't get distracted again." She waggled her brows and limped back to the pilot chair, where she dropped herself down with a groan of relief.

Hopefully, this mission wouldn't involve too much walking around.

She offered him a teasing grin, the mischief in her gaze sparkling brightly. "So… think you can keep your hands to yourself until we're done? I think we're getting close."

Kahlil Noble
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[Kahlil Noble]

For a moment Kahlil was actually surprised. It wasn't the first time Valery had said something that brought heat to his cheeks, but he hadn't expected it at all. Teasing her often brought the defiant side he loved so much, but these rare moments from her- He smiled softly as he reached down to take her cheek in his palm and just, pulled her into a kiss. One he let linger before he'd let her go and stepped over to the controls without even addressing why.

"We're just about there. You've got all your gear, right?"

But, she'd be able to see it, if not feel it. The blush, red on the tips of his hears as he went to handle the landing.

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

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Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring

Valery's eyes widened in surprise as Kahlil pulled her in, his hand warm against her cheek. The unexpected kiss sent a rush of heat to her face, and she melted into it, savoring the moment before he pulled away. When he turned to the controls, the deep crimson blush lingered on her cheeks, her heart fluttering wildly.

What had just happened?

It wasn't until he moved that she noticed the tips of his ears, flushed with a matching red. Through their bond, she felt it too — the tender affection and the lingering warmth, leaving her glowing with pure, unfiltered joy. Gently biting her lower lip to contain her smile, she shook her head and murmured softly, "Yeah, I've got everything," though it sounded almost distracted. Her gaze remained locked on him, drinking in every detail of the rare vulnerability he showed.

"I just… yeah..." A gentle laugh escaped her, light and full of happiness, and she reached up to brush her fingers across her own cheek as if still feeling the lingering sensation of his touch. "Gosh, love," she added, as her hand moved further to fix her hair. After that, she took another deep breath to try to flush the heat from her body.

With one last glance, she straightened up and adjusted her gear, eyes still twinkling with the joy and warmth he'd given her. "I'm more than ready to get started."

Kahlil Noble
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[Kahlil Noble]

"Good."

Kahlil let out a breath as he got the ship to land. A planet he'd never heard of, one that wasn't on any star map. Yet he could already feel the Dark leaching from it. Was this where the Force had intended for them to go? Was he distracting himself from the rare fluttery feeing he was currently going through? Yes. But the ship touched down regardless as he frowned in thought.

"It's never good to see planets like this. Unknown, and dark. Keep your eyes open, mm?"

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

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Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring

Valery's gaze shifted from the ship's controls to the dark landscape beyond the viewport. The unsettling aura of the planet seemed to bleed into the air around them, sending a shiver down her spine. Still, she glanced back at Kahlil and offered him a reassuring smile, despite the tension.

"I've got your back," she murmured, her voice carrying a steady confidence. "And…" She paused, letting her gaze linger on him for a heartbeat longer. "I'll try to be more focused now," she added teasingly, referencing their earlier distraction. "We'll figure this out together."

With a final look at the eerie surroundings, Valery drew in a deep breath and adjusted her lightsaber on her belt. The darkness around them felt oppressive like it was trying to seep into her mind, but she centered herself with the warmth she still felt from their bond.

"Ready when you are," she said, eyes locked on his with a smirk tugging at her lips. "And Kahlil… stay close."

Kahlil Noble
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[Kahlil Noble]

"There's no one I trust more with it."

He glanced once again to his wife, giving her a brief smile before he turned his gaze back to the landscape. The planet felt cold. Freezing, almost. And yet, it was a white, sanded desert. His brow furrowed as he took out a holopad to check. Sure enough, this place was as hot as Tatooine. So a planet so wracked by the Dark that it felt frozen despite it's natural environment?

They'd have to be careful. But, together, they'd be fine. His smile returned as he let himself feel the bond they shared. Let that be his warmth despite feelin gas if he'd freeze over.

"Stay close indeed. We'll have to make sure we're careful. I don't like how this planet feels."

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

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Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring

Valery's smile lingered, even as the unsettling aura of the planet pressed against her senses like a cold weight. Kahlil's words and the warmth of their bond grounded her amidst the oppressive darkness surrounding them. She moved closer to him, feeling the contrast between the barren landscape and the strength of their connection.

"Neither do I," she admitted, her voice soft but steady. "It's as if the Dark Side knows what I hate most, turning a warm planet into something cold," Valery quipped, pulling the zipper up as far as she could for some extra warmth.

She cast a brief glance at the desert outside, her hand instinctively shifting down to her lightsaber hilt. "Let's move carefully. I have a feeling this planet will test us." Her eyes met his again, a flicker of playful confidence behind her seriousness. With that, she gestured for them to press forward, the weight of the dark side thick in the air but far from enough to quell the fire inside her.

"From your experience, what kind of thing can cause this? Sorcery? An artifact? An experiment gone wrong?" She looked at him, her eyes full of love and affection, but also her curiosity.

She loved learning about these things from him. It helped her understand her enemies better.

Kahlil Noble
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[Kahlil Noble]

"Don't bundle too much. This place is actually pretty hot. You'll give yourself a heatstroke if you're not careful." Grant it, he knew that she hated the cold most of all. He reached up, patting the top of her head gently before he set off. The Force, twisted as it was, still pulled him in a direction. To what, though, he had no idea. His brow furrowed slightly in focus.

"Could be all or none of the above. We won't know till we find the source. All I know of this place is that they've made something along the lines of Golems. Sith Familiars are something similar as it is, but they're fragile. This is something greater."

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

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Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring

Valery took in the landscape around them as Kahlil spoke, her sharp gaze scanning the desolate world. The horizon stretched out in endless dunes of pale, white sand, eerily reminiscent of a frozen wasteland despite the oppressive heat radiating off the ground. Strange, jagged rock formations dotted the landscape, casting long shadows in the harsh light. The air felt heavy, thick with dark energy that clung to everything like a suffocating veil.

The eerie silence was only broken by the occasional gust of wind, whipping the sand into swirling patterns that danced across the ground. It was an unnerving place, and despite the heat, the dark energy made the entire world feel chillingly unnatural.

"Heatstroke, huh?" Valery teased, her smirk deepening as she glanced over at Kahlil. With deliberate slowness, she tugged the zipper of her jacket down a bit more, revealing just a bit more to make him glance her way. "How about now? Is this better?" Her voice was laced with playful mischief, her amber eyes twinkling as she enjoyed the momentary distraction from the unsettling atmosphere around them.

But when he mentioned golems, Valery's expression shifted, her playful demeanor giving way to genuine curiosity. She shot him a questioning glance as she looked around at the strange, desolate world again. "Golems?" she repeated, her tone more serious now. "Are they anything like the ones you and Vera have worked on?"

Kahlil Noble
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[Kahlil Noble]

Kahlil glanced to her only briefly. Anywhere else and his gaze would've lingered more, but he didn't dare here. Later. Later he'd remind her of why she shouldn't just do that around him. "They are, yes. I'm working with Amelia, actually, to create a sort of strike team to stop the Sith and their rituals where we can. Golems of metal, with my runes along them to ensure they can not only resist the Force the Sith would employ, but contain it."

He paused as the Force seemed to shift, his gaze turning through the sands. It stirred before them. Something beneath, but not yet willing to reveal itself.

"I doubt it's anything alive. This planet seems to devour life itself."

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

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Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring

Valery blinked in surprise at the mention of Amelia, her lips parting slightly before a soft smile curled at the corners of her mouth. "You're working with Amelia too?" She chuckled softly. "Seems like we both are, though on very different projects. She and I are collaborating on something more archival… preserving history and knowledge for a certain reason."

"I can tell you more about it if you'd like." She'd never hold secrets for him, after all. Even if the entire project with Amelia had to be kept secret.

Her voice trailed off as she glanced around, the sands shifting beneath them unsettling her. Valery instinctively drew closer to Kahlil, her pillar of strength and support, while her senses sharpened. "If it's not alive, we should be ready for whatever else this place has to throw at us."

Her hand rested on her lightsaber hilt, ready to ignite it at the first sign of danger. "And whatever it is... I have a very bad feeling about it." At least, she felt confident that they could handle it together.

They always did.

Kahlil Noble
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[Kahlil Noble]

"Oh? Lorekeeper Valery now, is it?" He chuckled lightly, but nodded his head. He'd love to hear about it. Valery didn't often show her nerdier side, but now their focus was on the shifting sands around them. It didn't immediately attack, but, he could feel the threat from it. It was waiting to strike. Well, they'd strike first then. The sand kicked up around him as he pulled on the Force, and within the shifting sands just before the unknow crawler a rune was carved.

And what was grains of sand turned solid. There was a screech of metal before the creation within emerged, clearly having crashed. What was revealed was a serpent of stone. A very large serpent at that. Red glowing eyes glared down at the pair of Jedi before it lurched forward, maw open to try and consume them both in an instant.

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

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Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring

Valery couldn't help the faint blush that rose to her cheeks at Kahlil's playful comment, her gaze flicking toward him as she wondered briefly if he somehow knew about her past role as a Lorekeeper, before her time in stasis. "Maybe," she said with a soft smile. "Amelia and I are working on something… special. A vault to secure knowledge and artifacts, but also a sanctuary. In case the Alliance ever falls apart, we'd have a place to protect what's important. Golems might be a part of its defenses too."

Still, she kept wondering. Did he know? He did know just about everything about her...

Her attention quickly snapped back to the desert as the sands swirled violently, and her eyes widened as the enormous stone serpent emerged, its red eyes glowing with menace. Reacting with the speed of a Jedi, she instinctively reached for the Force, feeling it surge through her body as she leapt to the side, narrowly avoiding the creature's initial lunge.

"Kahlil!" she called out, her lightsaber igniting with a sharp hiss as the violet blade cast a glow over the sands. "Let's bring it down together!" She called out before she charged at it to draw its attention.

If she caught it, it'd give Kahlil an opening.

Kahlil Noble
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[Kahlil Noble]

There was something there. He hadn't meant anything with the Lorekeeper but a little tease given how much she teased him and his nerding out over things he wanted to tease her in turn. If they weren't currently dealing with a threat, he'd absolutely be digging more into this subject and teasing her. But, first, giant metal snake. He reached his hands up as Valery pulled it's attention. He was fully intending to rip it into the sand to pin it.

Only, the most he did was slow it's movements before it turned it's head to him.

Kahlil blinked in surprise. He wasn't able to affect it much with the Force? Despite the danger of it, he grinned. Really grinned. A wide, nerdy, goofy as can be grin. ".. Okay that's cool."

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

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Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring

Valery thrust her hand forward, fully expecting her Telekinesis to slam the serpent back into the sands. But to her shock, nothing happened — the Force seemed to simply slide off the massive creature. She barely had time to react before the serpent's tail crashed into her, sending her tumbling through the air. She landed hard, rolling several feet before skidding to a stop, buried in the sand.

She was still in the sand for a moment, recovering from the sudden pain, but she was fine. Groaning, she pushed herself up, spitting out sand as she shot a glare at Kahlil. "Cool?! Really?" she huffed, half-exasperated, half-amused by his nerdy grin.

Brushing the sand off, she glanced back at the massive creature, catching Kahlil's wide-eyed excitement despite the danger. The situation was dire, but leave it to him to find this moment to marvel at a Force-resistant serpent.

"Can you nerd out later, love?" She asked him, half-serious, but also half-teasingly, "We still need to defeat it, you know..."

Her eyes flicked between the serpent and Kahlil as she regained her composure, ready to dive back into the fight. Even now, though, she couldn't help but appreciate his passion for what they were facing — something that only made her feel more grounded, despite the chaos swirling around them in the desert.

Kahlil Noble
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[Kahlil Noble]

"Very! I mean, this is the sort of effect I'm looking to replicate! What do you think it is that's keeping it from being affected by the Force?" Yep, there went the nerdy rambles. He knew Valery was safe, which was the only reason he was letting himself focus on the studying aspect of this. They did need to defeat it. Would that show him how it worked, if they were able to dismantle it?

His saber came out, flaring to life as he caught a tail swipe for him. It sent him skidding across the sand before he stopped, and grinned further. "And it's strong! Is it programed? I can't cut it with a lightsaber. Is it like a Terentatek? I don't feel the oppressive dark those have."

Valery Noble