Private Invaders from Beyond

[Valery Noble]

Unknown

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Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Blasters | Double-Bladed Lightsaber
Tag: Kahlil Noble

The Epicanthix soldiers all turned to head back, but none of them were going to arrive fast enough. Kahlil, however, drew on the Dyad to step by Valery's side, and for the first time, he'd see the Hunter - a faceless figure with red eyes underneath a dark hood, dressed in a long cloak to shield himself against the elements.

He held two blades similar in appearance to a vibro-blade, and both were dripping with blood. One of the Epicanthix soldiers, the man who Valery had taken a shot for, was on his back in the snow, his face pale and with blood seeping out from an open wound.

Now, the Hunter had turned to Valery, who stood with a lightsaber drawn, ready for battle. No matter how much poison flooded her system, she would never allow herself to look weak, and she would never go down without a fight. But the Hunter knew what plagued her.

"Careful, he can-" she stopped as he vanished in an instant - invisible but nearby. His presence seemed to linger somewhere he hadn't just been, and another identical presence moves in a different direction to circle the two Jedi.

But where was he?

 

[Kahlil Noble]

Kahlil stared at the downed trooper once he arrived. The one from before. It wasn't hard to guess what had happened. He decided to take a strike for her while she was weakened. This Hunter was skilled at hiding themselves. Throwing off perception. Hiding. He wasn't surprised that that's what they were doing, how they were fighting. It was one of the best ways to fight against a Jedi when they were aware of how.

But that's not what Kahlil was thinking of.

He was strong. He wasn't arrogant about it, but he knew he was strong. Stronger than a normal person. Stronger than most Jedi. Sith. He was the Shield, and that strength was supposed to be what he used to protect everyone around him. The Jedi, the Alliance, the innocent people in the Galaxy. His wife, the Sword. His people. The Force swelled around him as a different emotion filled his expression. Frustration. Anger. Everything he'd done to try and handle these invaders from beyond had only been met with complication after complication. They'd escaped to this galaxy, poisoned his wife, killed his troops while he reacted to the situations.

He raised a hand, pulling on the Force around him that had begun to churn. There was a sharp gasp of pain from the shadows as he caught hold of the hunter. Wrenched him forward with an invisible grip tightening around his body.

"You came and attacked my people. My home. You poison my troops, my wife. I refuse to allow this any longer. You started a war. I will finish it."

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Unknown

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Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Blasters | Double-Bladed Lightsaber
Tag: Kahlil Noble

The gasp was one of pain and shock — even Jedi and Sith would struggle to pierce through the shroud he created. But Kahlil was driven by something that made his senses far stronger, and this Hunter stood no chance. His body appeared again, drawn towards the Shield whilst being subjected to an increasing amount of pressure. Every part of his body hurt, and his face underneath his cloak began to twist.

Still, he managed some words.

"Kill me, and the witch... dies," he said with a strained voice, and Valery shared his concern.

"Love..." she said weakly, "The syrum. Don't break it," she added, hoping that all this pressure on the Hunter wouldn't destroy whatever contained or vial he kept it in.

"She's... running.. out of time."

Valery was struggling to breathe already, and closely watched her husband. She didn't want him to kill this man in anger, and her feelings through the Dyad said as much, even now. Alive, they could extract the syrum and perhaps learn more about who sent him after the Epicanthix on Niv Hani.

"We've won, love."

 

[Kahlil Noble]

"The only one running out of time right now is you."

Kahlil turned his hand, and with it, snapped both of the man's arms. He wasn't playing around with this anymore. Nor was he going to let this unknown have any freedom of movement. They were a threat, and a largely unknown one. Only then did he lower the man down, though still under his hold. Kahlil stepped over, tracing the same rune on his forehead. The only thing that mattered right now was getting that serum. Not just for Valery, but for the one laying in the snow.

If they were still alive.

"You want to tell me which of the vials is the antidote."

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Unknown

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Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Blasters | Double-Bladed Lightsaber
Tag: Kahlil Noble

The Hunter let out a scream that echoed through the mountains after his arms were broken. A small price to pay for what he had done, and while painful, at least he might live after all of this was over. Valery certainly had questions for him about the people who hired them. But Kahlil had a far more pressing question he demanded an answer to, and with his use of runes, he forced the answer straight from the Hunter's mind.

"Left side of the coat, green vial. Do not take the red one," he told Kahlil, who would have to grab it himself. Broken arms made it a impossible for him to hand anything over.

"It must be injected into her arm."

Valery blinked and almost hid her arm away. She was among the toughest and most powerful women in the Galaxy, but she had always hated needles. Almost as much as this cold.

"...just get it over with."

 

[Kahlil Noble]

Kahlil took up the syringe, frowning for a moment. There was no deceit from the man, not that he could lie to begin with with that rune on his forehead. He didn't hesitate to inject it into Valery's arm, either. She was uncomfortable with needles he knew, but that poison was spreading. And would kill her. No time to delay. Once she was injected he moved over to the soldier to roll him over, check if he was still alive.

"Let me know how you feel. If it's taking effect."

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Unknown

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Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Blasters | Double-Bladed Lightsaber
Tag: Kahlil Noble

"Ah!" Valery yelped and pouted after he plunged the syringe into her arm without warning. She hated the sting, but she knew it was necessary this time. Almost instantly, the color of her arm was starting to shift again too, as the violent poison was being neutralized by the syrum.

"It stings, but I think it's working," Valery said while she looked over at the soldier on his back. From up-close, Kahlil would be able to tell that he was still ive, though badly injured. Breathing, but with pain in each breath he took.

"Is she okay, sir?" He asked before coughing in pain. "We take care of our own. I want everybody to be safe, even if I have to die for it."

 

[Kahlil Noble]

"Everyone being safe includes you, you know."

Kahlil traced a rune over the wound. Close. It was a simple thing that'd keep him from bleeding out, but it didn't truly heal anything. He'd need a proper medic. There should be at least one here, so he'd pass them off there once he was certain everyone else was alright. He stood up, glancing towards the others. Only one was injured. Was the Hunter here alone? He glanced down towards the hunger, frowning a little.

"Where are your others? What's your plan?"

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Unknown

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Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Blasters | Double-Bladed Lightsaber
Tag: Kahlil Noble

The soldier offered a pained smile, and kept himself steady on his back. The wound was closed, but he had lost blood and was feeling weak because of it. If he were to rise now, it was more than likely he wouldn't be able to stay on his feet. A small price to pay, for protecting his people.

The Hunter, meanwhile, was still not able to move, and sat on his knees with broken arms dangling by his side. The rune kept him from trying anything, but even without it, there was nothing he could really do. "The others are dead. Your people killed them in that ambush," he said without any pain in his voice. He didn't care at all that the mercenary group had been wiped out. They were just a means to an end.

Valery sighed and flexed the fingers of her left hand — they were no longer purple, and the pain was starting to fade. "I'm feeling better, but we do need to know who sent them. Where to go from here, and how to get back. Is the door still open?"

 

[Kahlil Noble]

"Who hired you."

It was a simple question, and one he echoed more or less from Valery. It was good to know that there were no others, but it still meant that there was someone who'd hired them. He glanced briefly to Valery, mostly to where the poison seemed to be receding. That was good. He'd be happier later, when they weren't all still in danger.

"The door is still open, far as I know. We'll take it back immediately. Gather the troops."

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Unknown

​

Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Blasters | Double-Bladed Lightsaber
Tag: Kahlil Noble

"I do not know. They did not reveal themselves to me," he said, and it was an honest answer forced by the rune. Valery frowned at that idea — why would someone fight for someone they didn't even know? A deeper sigh followed this time, until she caught Kahlil checking up on her arm. She raised it a little and offered him a gentle, reassuring smile.

They'd be home again soon, she hoped, and that meant hugs and time together. Right now, they needed to stay focused, so everybody else could get out unharmed.

"Good timing, I think I see the five you had with you coming our way," Valery said as she stood up and tried to move her arm. There was no pain anymore, so she instantly felt much stronger.

"What do we do with the Hunter? Take him with us?"

 

[Kahlil Noble]

"Yes. We'll need as much information as possible, about his mercenary group and those who hired him. He doesn't seem willing to answer, but that's fine." Kahlil glanced to the five that had arrived, gave them a nod. Now was the time to leave, with everyone. He again looked to Valery, only briefly giving a smile before again motioning towards the others.

"They're your troops. Get them ready to move out and I'll lead the way back to the door."

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Unknown

​

Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Blasters | Double-Bladed Lightsaber
Tag: Kahlil Noble

"Yes, sir," Valery said with quite a grin, before she gestured to their new captive. They had two of the mercenaries now — a scout and the Hunter — so hopefully, they'd be able to extract more useful information from them. Because even though the mercenaries were stopped, Valery had a feeling they were merely used to test the strength of the Epicanthix by whoever sent them. Otherwise, they would have likely sent some of their own people, too.

Now, there were a lot of questions, while their enemy already had some answers.

"Do you think we should leave Niv Hani's defense just to our people? Or should we request help from the Alliance?" Valery asked once all the soldiers were caught up and following Kahlil towards the door.

"We have no idea who sent these mercenaries, and how strong they are."

 

[Kahlil Noble]

"Pride says we should handle it ourselves, but that is at the expense of our people. Working with the Alliance is.. An option. I don't like it, not with the bureaucratic side of it all. But it wouldn't be a bad idea."

They'd need someone to represent the Epicanthix there, but that could be figured out later. Right now, they needed to get back home. He reached out to open the door before motioning for the others to step through. He'd go through last.

"Home, first."

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Unknown

​

Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Blasters | Double-Bladed Lightsaber
Tag: Kahlil Noble

"We could ask Hapes again," Valery pitched as an idea. She could tell that he didn't like relying on the Alliance for it, and with all their bureaucracy, she couldn't blame him. Valery herself wasn't too fond of Hapes after her little slip-up, but at least they'd be able to send help without too much of a delay. The Hapans have also built up their forces for hundreds of years, so they're more than ready to fight.

But she'd leave that decision largely to Kahlil as well.

As soon as they finally stepped through the door, none of them ended up in the Temple back home. No, the portal took them straight into the town of Niv Hani, much to the surprise of those who had gotten through it already. Valery sighed and gave the soldiers on her squad a signal that allowed them to leave and head home.

"It's good to be back, huh?" She looked up at Kahlil and resisted the urge to jump him for a hug already.

 

[Kahlil Noble]

"I'm not sure I want to be in that Queen's debt any further than we've already been in."

They'd figure out something. Later. Much later. Kahlil looked to the soldiers once they were through the doors, gave them a nod of his head. "Tend to the wounded and get home. We'll imprison our two captives and question them later." He watched as the Epicanthix walked on, then, once they'd left, he finally turned to Valery and just lifted her up in his arms. Full on bridal carry as he started to walk out of the temple.

"It is good to be back."

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Niv Hani

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Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Blasters | Double-Bladed Lightsaber
Tag: Kahlil Noble

Valery snickered, "Afraid I'll end up punching her?" She waggled her eyebrows, but she agreed that it was something to figure out later. Right now, he seemed pretty eager to get going, and the reason for it became clear enough when the soldiers left. He reached down and, without warning, scooped her up into his arms.

Valery squealed with joy and wrapped her arms around his neck to hold onto him. Finally, she pulled herself up and pushed her lips into his cheek for a big kiss.

"You know, my legs weren't weakened by the poison." She teased with a grin. She loved being carries around like this, even if everybody in town would see it. A huge contrast to when he felt nervous about showing his affection in public, but certainly a fun change.

"I, uh, hope I didn't worry you too much, though."

 

[Kahlil Noble]

"You worried me tons."

He was going to be honest about that. She wasn't able to stop the ship from jumping and ended up a whole galaxy away. Got poisoned. Became incapable of depending herself against the Hunter once they revealed themselves. All he had was an endless amount of worry for her that he'd been stamping down until they weren't in danger any longer. So now he was going to spoil her, and she was going to have to deal with it.

"I want steak. You want steak?"

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Niv Hani

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Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Blasters | Double-Bladed Lightsaber
Tag: Kahlil Noble

"I figured," she said softly with a nod. If the roles had been reversed, Valery would have lost her mind. He was as worried as she would have been, of course, but perhaps better at hiding it and focusing despite it all. The soldiers had all acknowledged it too, but he really had done a good job leading everybody.

In the end, every soldier who ended up trapped made it home alive.

"Steak?" She thought about it for a moment, then smiled. "Steak dinners are my favorite... are you trying to score some brownie points?" She teased with a smirk, even though she knew why he was doing it. "Let's have steak, and make it a fancy dinner with the two of us in town?"

"Then we'll head home for dessert."

 

[Kahlil Noble]

"We're certainly heading home for dessert."

Kahlil didn't say anything else on that, instead just carrying her all the way back home. They'd have to get changed for a fancy dinner. Well, they didn't necessarily have to, but he had a feeling Valery might want to anyway. They were both pretty dirty just from the fighting alone.

"First we get changed, though."

Valery Noble