Private Loose Ends

[Valery Noble]

Onderon

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Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Blasters | Lightsaber | Double-Bladed Lightsaber
Tag: Gatz Derrevar

"I never said to drop your guard," Valery replied with a perked brow. "But we shouldn't go in, focused just on the idea that we're going to kill her." Still, Valery realized that it was unlikely for the woman to be redeemed. It depended heavily on the experimentation done because if she was created in that lab purely with the Dark, then it could be as impossible as redeeming certain types of Sithspawn.

Valery wouldn't lose hope until she knew for certain.

Walking ahead towards the mountain range, Valery looked around but seemed relieved that they weren't finding any trouble just yet. The cloned friend likely didn't have people following her, or so she hoped. Sith, Dark Side corrupted Jedi or even just clever fighters were often not beyond hiring extra hands.

"The facility itself doesn't have defenses - it was never meant to be a military installation. Originally, it was built there because it provided easy access to the mountains and its surrounding jungles. Researchers there worked on learning about the local fauna and flora. Until... the Sith Empire of my days took it over. The only trouble we can find inside is her, and perhaps other people if she brought new friends along."

"Though I personally doubt that."

 

[Gatz Derrevar]

Ship: The Red Night
Weapons: Valery's Blaster | Valery's Lightsaber
Tag: Valery Noble

"I'm focused on the idea of surviving, not killing." Gatz clarified, "I'm always happy to help you, Val. But when I'm with you, we deal with Valery Noble sized problems. And I'm not your size. So I inevitably end up on my death bed. I'd rather not have my intestines ripped out again, so I'm going in expecting a fight. Not looking for one."

Of course, Gatz was far from naive. He knew that, whether he expected the fight or not, he was doomed to get hurt yet again. It was the way of things. He was a meat shield to be expended. Now, he wasn't exactly fond of his place in the galaxy, but at least he knew it.

"Maybe I'll get lucky this time, and she'll be the one to actually put me out of my misery." Gatz snorted, but there was no humor in it.

There was a small amount of relief in knowing that the facility didn't have built in defenses. At least they wouldn't have to deal with things like automated turrets, and a droid army for security. If it was really just this woman hanging out in there, then he might have an easy day ahead of him after all. Well, he would have, if he hadn't just had that thought. Now he'd jinxed himself.

"So... this is just a wrecked old building. She was experimented on here. Why come back? I can't imagine it's because she's nostalgic for the place."

She certainly couldn't be here for the locale. Onderon was nicer than New Cov to be sure, but it was still a shitty jungle. And there wasn't even a convenience store within walking distance. It wasn't exactly prime real estate.

 

[Valery Noble]

Onderon

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Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Blasters | Lightsaber | Double-Bladed Lightsaber
Tag: Gatz Derrevar

"Really? Lucky? You need to stop doing that," Valery said rather flatly when he spoke of the woman putting him out of his misery, "It's not going to help you, and it's just extremely off-putting towards people who have been trying to help." Her patience for that type of behavior was running thin, and only added to why she wasn't going to invite him over around the holidays at this rate. She'd gladly help and have him around, but only if he wasn't going to be self-deprecating at every chance he got.

All despite having the help of his friends constantly.

"You've been a good friend Gatz, but it's not anybody's obligation or job to pull you back up, invite you over, and help you feel less lonely, when you kick yourself and those around you down at every chance you get. If you want to be invited over for the holidays, at least make it feel like we're inviting a friend over who needs help, but is willing to keep going, and doesn't feel lucky at the idea of being killed."

"If you're beyond that point, you don't need just friends inviting you for Life Day, but someone who can offer actual professional help." She turned and looked at him now. This was his choice to make. Either he was going to keep digging his grave deeper down, or he'd actually do his best and be given a warmer place this winter. She wasn't bringing anybody around her kids, who gave her the impression that they were borderline suicidal.

 

[Gatz Derrevar]

Ship: The Red Night
Weapons: Valery's Blaster | Valery's Lightsaber
Tag: Valery Noble

He hadn't expected gallows humor, as tone deaf as it was, to evoke this kind of reaction from Valery. But then, maybe he should have: this was what happened when things didn't pan out the way she expected them to. When he wasn't what she expected him to be. When things were good, she promised to always help him and never abandon him.

When they weren't, her friendship became conditional. She'd abandon him because he wasn't giving her the outcome she wanted.

Not a friend. An 'obligation.'

That what he'd always been, wasn't it? Her vanity project. Proof that the great Valery Noble could take a criminal and reform him. And as long as he followed the trail of treats she left him, she plastered a smile on her face and offered kindness and compassion. But as soon as he strayed, she threatened to leave him. The compassion disappeared, until she got the outcome she wanted.

She turned to look at him, expectantly. Her ultimatum hung in the air. He was her dog, and it was either sleep outside for the night, or be 'graced' with the dog bed in the corner of the living room.

But she was all he had. So he had no real choice. Not if he didn't want to be alone again.

"Alright," he said quietly, head hung, "I'll do whatever you ask."

He continued on then, hoping they'd finally come across this fucking facility. The sooner they took care of the clone, the sooner he could be done with this day. Right now, all he wanted to do was curl up in bed.