Private Into the Past

[Valery Noble]

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Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring

Valery's eyes flickered with surprise as Kahlil suggested that these monstrous golems could be made from the local animals. "Wait, you think the creatures here are really that big?" she asked, her voice filled with curiosity and disbelief. Her gaze returned to the lifeless remains of the Kraken, still twitching and gaping at them. "But they don't feel organic at all… more like machines than anything alive."

"And who could have made such a thing? Few are as good at this stuff as you..."

As the adrenaline of the battle finally began to fade, a sharp pain radiated through her rib cage, and she instinctively winced. She raised a hand to her side, her brow furrowing at the unexpected ache. Then, a drop of blood dripped down from her nose, catching her by surprise. She wiped it away quickly, frowning slightly.

"Guess that hit earlier did more damage than I thought," she muttered, trying to hide her discomfort. But the toll from the earlier impact was becoming more apparent. Still, she stood tall beside Kahlil, determined to push through. "We should get what we can from this thing quickly before I start feeling worse."

Kahlil Noble
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[Kahlil Noble]

"I don't think any of these are alive. I think they took the soul of something alive and used it to make the cores powering them." Kahlil pulled on the Force, this time able to use it on the remains. enough for him to crack it open and pull free the core. His expression was rather neutral, almost narrowed in focus. Toying with souls. It was the sort of work he expected. Why it had interested him in his youth.

"Let's get back to the ship. We can figure our next move there."

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

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Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring

Valery nodded slowly as Kahlil explained his theory about the golems. The idea of souls being used to power the cores sent a shiver down her spine. It made the constructs even more grotesque and unnatural than they already seemed.

A sinister contrast to the Kyber crystals that willingly empowered the golems he had made with Vera.

Her eyes followed his movements as he cracked open the remains, her own mind still processing what this revelation could mean. "That's... disturbing," she finally muttered, wiping another streak of blood from her nose before nodding again. They weren't going to find the answers here, so it was time to go.

Before more of these things could show up.

"You're right. Let's get back to the ship," she agreed, her voice still steady, though the pain in her ribs throbbed with each breath. She forced herself to stand tall, determined not to show any weakness as they made their way back. The earlier wound might slow her down, but she wasn't about to let it stop her.

"Have you seen anything like it before?" Valery asked as they walked up the ramp, "I've seen a lot of Sith creations during my time as a Shadow. Hunted them, even. But never anything like this."

Kahlil Noble
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[Kahlil Noble]

Kahlil exhaled softly before he, without waiting any longer, reached down to lift Valery up gently in his arms to avoid hurting her and started to walk right back to the Bastion. The pull he felt in the Force, he didn't feel it here anymore. The Core would be enough to show them were to go. The apperance of another so drastically different made him believe that this wasn't the lab.

This was a dumping ground.

"You really let yourself get beat up huh?" He teased, but given the subtle tightening of his grasp it was more that he let her get so hurt. The golem being hidden from the Force itself was a different beast all together. He should've been more prepared. Ready to keep her safe so she wasn't this injured.

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

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Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring

Valery's heart clenched as she felt Kahlil's arms tighten around her, his teasing words a thin veil for the guilt weighing on his mind. She knew him too well — behind that playful exterior, he was blaming himself for not protecting her better, for letting her get hurt. But that wasn’t how she saw it.

Gently, Valery shifted in his arms, her hands sliding up to cradle the back of his neck, and she pulled him closer. Her forehead rested against his, her voice a soft but firm reassurance. "Love, it's alright," she murmured, gazing into his eyes with tenderness. "This isn't on you. I should have been more serious, and it just... happened. You can’t always protect me from everything, you know."

Her lips curled into a gentle smile as she spoke, hoping to soothe his worries. "I’m strong, and I’ll be alright. We handled it together like we always do." She squeezed him a little tighter, her tone softening even further.

For a moment, Valery simply held him, feeling the steady rise and fall of his chest as they walked together toward the ship. The pain still throbbed in her ribs, but being in his arms made her feel safe — more than any battle or wound could take away.

"Now let's focus on pulling apart this thing's brain, huh?" she whispered with a smirk

Kahlil Noble
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[Kahlil Noble]

"Mm.. I know."

He could only do so much. They both could only do so much, but he always wanted to keep her safe. To be beside her and unable to protect her? It was the heaviest weight that could land on his shoulders. He closed his eyes as they walked up the ramp, hugging her closer before a soft chuckle escaped. She wasn't going to let him linger on it long.

Good.

"Yes, why don't we~ We'll have to find where the core came from. Think you can find it's source by touching it?"

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

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Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring

Valery let out a soft sigh, feeling Kahlil's arms tighten around her once more. She squeezed him back, letting him know through that simple gesture that she was truly alright, despite the pain lingering in her ribs. "I'm okay," she whispered softly, her forehead still resting against his for a lingering moment. She wanted him to know, without any doubt, that she didn't blame him, and there was no need for him to carry the burden of guilt.

"But I'll need you to put me down if you want me to find its source," she added with a playful grin.

When he set her down, she straightened up with a small smile, looking back at the Kraken's core. "Alright," she teased gently, "Let's see what this thing has to say."

Valery knelt down and placed her hands on the core, her eyes closing as she allowed the Force to flow through her. The world around her faded away, and a vision rapidly took shape — a planet engulfed in storms, its surface scorched by fire and ash. Her mind raced, instantly recognizing the world before her.

Caamas.

The planet had once been beautiful, a symbol of peace and unity, but it had been ravaged by war long ago. Long after she had first been there. Now, the ruins and remnants of that destruction flashed before her eyes, and she could feel the lingering pain of those who had lived through it. As the vision faded, Valery slowly opened her eyes, a deep frown etched on her face.

"It's Caamas," she finally said, glancing up at Kahlil. "That's where the core came from, and where we'll find our answers." And where an important part of her history lingered.

Kahlil Noble
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[Kahlil Noble]

Caamas?

Kahlil nodded once as he stood from where he was sitting beside her, patting her shoulder in the process. It was never easy for her, these visions. He'd handle the flying. "Get yourself patched up, maybe take a nap? I'll get us our heading there, yeah?" He gave her one last smile before he went to the controls, sitting down to punch in the codes and get everything set.

Then, he'd go to cook. She needed a little bit to take care of herself, nap off her wounds while the Bacta did it's work. Then she'd wake up to some good food. Pastries, this time. He was in a danish mood.

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

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Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring

Valery smiled softly, her heart swelling with appreciation as Kahlil patted her shoulder and offered to take care of the ship and food. "Thank you, love," she whispered, leaning in to give him a quick kiss. "I'll be back soon, after I... freshen up a little."

Valery offered Kahlil one more grateful smile before retreating into the fresher. The warmth of the bath wrapped around her, soothing the tension in her muscles, while she allowed the events of the day to slip away momentarily. Once she finished, she applied Bacta patches to her side, wincing slightly at the sharp sting of her ribs, but she knew the healing would soon start along with the easing of pain.

Pulling on a comfortable robe, she slid into bed, hoping that the exhaustion from the fight would pull her into a deep, restful sleep. But as her body relaxed, her mind betrayed her. The nightmare came without warning — images that gripped her heart with fear, suffocating her with something familiar that had once been comforting, but now sparked her deepest fears and pain. Shadows swirled, her mind tormented by memory after memory of Caamas and what this planet meant to her.

Suddenly, she gasped awake, her entire body trembling as the remnants of the nightmare clung to her. Her breaths came in sharp, uneven bursts, her pulse thudding in her ears. Valery brought a hand to her forehead, wiping away the cold sweat. Her hands wouldn't stop shaking, and she felt as though the fear from her dream still lingered in the room.

She even felt tears welling in her eyes but forced them back.

After a moment, she looked over at the clock and realized how much time had passed. She cursed under her breath — Kahlil had surely been waiting for her. Steeling herself, she got up, quickly throwing on some fresh clothes, though the nightmare still gnawed at the edges of her mind.

When she stepped into the corridor to return to him, she forced herself to stand tall, her chin lifted as if nothing had happened. But despite her best efforts, her hands still shook subtly at her sides, and a weary shadow lingered in her gaze. She knew Kahlil well enough — there would be no hiding her restlessness from him for long.

"H-hey love," she began with an uneasy edge to her voice, "That smells very good." She didn't look at the food even once, her eyes intently focused on him while her body tensed. As if she was resisting the need to throw herself at him for the warmth of his embrace.

Kahlil Noble
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[Kahlil Noble]

For once, Kahlil actively kept himself from hearing Valery's dream. It was one that was clearly upsetting, but one so personal to her that he didn't want to spy. When she was ready, she'd tell him. The best thing he could do? Finish these little chocolate filled Danishes for her to enjoy when she did get up. He smiled to her once he did feel her approach, one hand holding up the tray of sweets for her to enjoy.

"I'm glad it smells good. I've been trying to perfect these ones."

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

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Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring

Valery shakily reached out for one of the chocolate-filled danishes, her hands trembling slightly as she brought it to her lips. She took a small bite, the warmth and sweetness momentarily easing the tension in her body. She forced a smile, her voice soft but sincere, "They're perfect, love. I... I really love them."

For a moment, she fell silent, her gaze locking onto him. The comfort of his presence was exactly what she needed right now, but the weight of her nightmare still clung to her.

Without another word, Valery stepped closer, wrapping her arms around him, resting her head against his chest. The warmth of his embrace, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat, it was all she needed to feel grounded again. "I had a bad dream," she whispered, her voice barely audible but filled with vulnerability. She held him tighter, as if drawing strength from him, feeling a little more at peace just being close.

"Caamas brings back some memories."

Kahlil Noble
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[Kahlil Noble]

"I know."

Kahlil smiled softly as he reached up to hug Valery close, gently running a hand trough her hair. Soothing, as best he could. He was very aware she had a nightmare, but the details, that was a different story. So it was a memory, perhaps? Of what, still no clue, but he held her and continued to pet her head as he held her close. For her to be this upset? It was something truly upsetting.

"Wanna talk about it?"

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

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Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring

Valery melted into Kahlil’s embrace, feeling the comfort of his hand gently threading through her hair. His warmth, the steady movement, grounded her, helping to ease the lingering shadows of her nightmare. She let herself sink deeper into his hold, drawing in a steadying breath before she began.

"I had a dream that I was back in the Old Republic," she murmured softly, her voice touched with a lingering ache. "Everything from my life now — you, the kids — felt like it had been a dream. Like none of it was real."

Her voice wavered slightly as she recalled the vision, her grip on him tightening. "I saw myself on Caamas, during the Siege… when the Sith Empire invaded. I was there to protect the Temple, but… they tore through it, destroying everything." Her shoulders shivered as the memory resurfaced, her gaze drifting, lost in the echoes of a past she had tried to put behind her.

"The fear that you and the kids were just… imagined," she whispered, her fingers clutching his shirt. "It was so real."

"And then to relive that death and destruction..."

Kahlil Noble
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[Kahlil Noble]

Kahlil exhaled softly. That type of dream, he couldn't imagine it. The idea that everything was just a dream- he tightened his grip just a little, hugging Valery more to his chest as he brushed his hand through her hair still. "Well. This is real. So, don't worry too much about that dream. This is our life. I wouldn't hesitate to drag you back if you ever did end up thrown in the past."

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

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Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring

Valery nestled closer, letting Kahlil's warmth melt away the last remnants of her dream. She breathed out a soft, almost relieved sigh, her fingers tracing light patterns along his back. His words anchored her, and she couldn't help but smile against his chest, feeling the love and protection in his embrace. Finally, she pulled back slightly, her hand resting on his cheek as she looked up at him, eyes warm and filled with gratitude.

"Thank you," she murmured, her gaze lingering, affectionate and steady, "I love you so much."

After a quiet moment, Valery's smile turned playful, her focus shifting to the mission that had brought them here. "So," she began, a spark of excitement in her tone, "How would you like to go about investigating these dark-side golems?"

She bit down on her lower lip and tugged on his hands, "We still have a mystery to look into."

Kahlil Noble
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[Kahlil Noble]

Kahlil just chuckled ever so softly. To see Valery bounce back as she always did, with how she smiled and teased. Showed that excitement to learn what was going on with these golems, he couldn't help but smile in turn. He squeezed her one last time before he more or less set her down. "We do. We'll follow your feeling with the psychometry, see if it leads us to the lab that these should've been made in."

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

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Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring

Valery met Kahlil's gaze, feeling her emotions settle under the quiet strength of his presence. Without him, she wasn't sure she'd be able to face the shadows of her past with this resilience. She gave him one last, heartfelt look, knowing how deeply his support grounded her.

Taking a steady breath, she shifted her focus, her expression growing resolute. "I know where these golems were made," she said, her tone soft but edged with intensity. "Whoever built them chose to work in the remnants of an old Jedi Temple — a place connected to my former Enclave." Her voice dropped, troubled, and she glanced at Kahlil, the weight of it clear in her gaze. "That Temple was attacked and destroyed long ago. To use it for something like this… it feels almost personal."

Memories of that Siege were still fresh on her mind if she focused.

She paused, drawing strength from her resolve and from Kahlil's presence beside her. "Let's go," she said, a spark of determination in her eyes. "It's time to see what's left and stop this dark work for good."

...

Soon, Valery and Kahlil stepped into the heart of the ruined temple, the remnants of an era long past stretching out before them like a grim testament to forgotten battles. Cracked tiles lined the floor, overgrown with thick vines and patches of stubborn moss that thrived in the decay. Statues of Jedi Masters, once proud and serene, now stood broken and worn, their faces unrecognizable, with some shattered entirely—mere stumps of stone amidst the debris.

The air was thick with the smell of damp stone and vegetation, an eerie silence blanketing the room despite the faint hum of the Force lingering in the air. Valery's gaze moved from the fallen statues to the torn banners hanging in tatters from the walls, faded symbols of the Jedi Order barely visible beneath layers of grime. It was hauntingly familiar, yet painfully altered, and her jaw tightened at the sight of it. Whoever had turned this sacred place into a workshop for dark creations had no respect for its history or the sanctity of what it once represented.

In the dim light filtering through broken windows, she could see the scattered remnants of tools and crude markings scratched into the stone — a sign that the desecration was recent. Kahlil's presence beside her kept her steady, but there was a surge in the Force nonetheless, as her eyes shifted around.

An unusual kind of anger for her.

Kahlil Noble
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[Kahlil Noble]

They used the old temple for it?

Kahlil walked quietly beside Valery, letting his gaze shift over the different machines, the different ritualistic sites. They were worn with time, but how much longer after this place had been lost was this made? How old was this? There were some questions burning in his mind, but those fell to the wayside as he instead reached over to touch Valery's shoulder.

Anger was a rare emotion to feel from her. And one he wanted to make sure she wasn't going to fall to.

"This looks like a good place to rebuild, don't you think?"

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

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Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring

Valery barely registered Kahlil's hand on her shoulder or his gentle words. Her gaze was distant, fixed on the torn banners and broken statues — the last remnants of a sacred space, now corrupted by dark intentions. She could almost hear the echoes of the past, the cries of younglings, the clash of lightsabers as Jedi fought to defend this place during that fateful siege.

The sacrifices she had to make to save as many as she could.

Her hands clenched into fists, her usual calm overtaken by a smoldering anger she rarely allowed herself to feel. This wasn't just desecration — it was an insult to the memory of everyone who had fallen here. "To turn a place like this into a factory for their twisted creations…" she muttered, her voice low and tight. "They defiled a temple that saw the loss of so many lives."

"Who would do something like this?"

She looked up, her amber eyes blazing. "Let's find out more about who made this and how they were made. Then, we destroy everything they left here." Valery gritted her teeth and forced a breath from her lips when she looked at her husband again.

Kahlil Noble
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[Kahlil Noble]

"Valery."

He spoke softly, squeezing her shoulder now. This resentment wasn't good, not for them. Not for Jedi. "They used a place where so many died because that makes the Dark stronger. It was smart on their part, because it also can unsettle any Jedi that would've come here to stop them. Don't let them have that, especially now after all these years. We'll rebuild, not destroy."

That's what they were as Jedi. Building a better future.

Valery Noble