Private Reflections of Power

[Caelan Valoren]

ATTIRE: Link
COMPANION: BD-F8
TAGS: Valery Noble

"Dwoo-beep bwoo-dweet-vrrt!"

Fate was taking his task in stride. It wasn't easy pushing the create, but he put his head down, literally, and got to it. Eventually he got it where he needed and started making necessary repairs, at least the ones he could make on his own. He didn't have as many appendages as some other droids did and he couldn't fix everything himself.

"Bwee-dwoop dwoo-vrrt beep-beep!"

"Alright, I'm coming," he said as he shrugged at Valery and walked past her.

While he didn't know how to fix the ship, the little droid could accurately direct him. Together, the two of them managed to patch up the hyperdrive in a way that would keep it working sufficiently for quite a while, though if they'd actually owned the ship it would end up getting replaced rather quickly. Soldering things together could only go so far compared to factory approved construction methods. He certainly wouldn't trust it much further than a flight or two, but hopefully after they reached their destination, they'd get a proper flight back.

That job done, he and Fate both made their way back to Valery and stood before her. Caelan was now sufficiently covered in grease among other things. Hazards of the job.

"I think she's space worthy now."

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery watched with an amused smile as Caelan worked with Fate, the little droid's persistent chirps and Caelan's resigned yet focused demeanor forming an unlikely but efficient duo. She crossed her arms and leaned slightly against a bulkhead, her fiery eyes sparkling with both amusement and pride as she observed the young Jedi's determination.

When they finally approached her, Caelan smeared with grease and Fate beeping triumphantly beside him, Valery pushed off the wall and offered an approving nod.

"Nice work, both of you," she said, her tone warm but edged with playful humor. Her gaze flicked to Caelan's grease-streaked face, and she chuckled softly. "Though I think you might want to avoid any mirrors for a little while, Caelan."

She crouched briefly to pat Fate's domed head, eliciting an excited series of beeps. "And you, hero of the hyperdrive, deserve some extra power charges later."

Straightening up, Valery turned her attention to the cockpit, gesturing for Caelan to follow. "Alright, let's get back up there and see if we can get this old bird flying again. The faster we make it to Hurikane, the sooner we can wrap this up and get back to somewhere less..." Her gaze shifted briefly around the dim interior of the freighter. "...claustrophobic."

Moments later, Valery settled into the pilot's seat, her hands moving deftly over the controls. The ship groaned slightly as systems powered up fully, but it held steady. "Here we go," she murmured, more to herself than anyone else, as the hyperdrive came online with a faint hum.

She glanced at Caelan as the ship ascended and prepared to make the jump to hyperspace. "You ready for this?" she asked, her tone softer now, carrying an undertone of reassurance. She wanted him to know she trusted him, and that no matter what awaited them on Hurikane, they would handle it together.

With a final pull of the lever, the stars stretched into lines, and the ship vanished into hyperspace.

Caelan Valoren ​

 

[Caelan Valoren]

ATTIRE: Link
COMPANION: BD-F8
TAGS: Valery Noble

"What?" he asked.

"Bwoo-dweep! Vrrt-dwooo bwee-beep!"

"Oh!"

He flushed a bit and used his sleeve to try and wipe some of it off. Better his clothes be dirty than his face. Not that it made a huge difference considering his clothes were also dirty. Still, he did his best to get as much of the grime off of his face as he could because it just wouldn't do for him to walk around with a dirty face, even if Master Noble found it amusing. Alcohol might get some of it off, he thought to himself as he made his way to the crate where he'd seen some, popped the cork on a bottle, and took a whiff.

Nose crinkling in disdain, he poured some of it out into his hand and then rubbed them together. Stung a bit. Must have gotten a few cuts and scrapes on his hands during everything that was going on. Alcohol would kill any nasty's in there though, so he didn't mind. Rubbing his face with it seemed to get more of the grease off than his sleeve did, too.

When Valery mentioned getting out of there, and motioned for them to follow, Caelan and Fate both did so. The latter had some serious pep in his step at the notion of getting extra charges. It was clear he was feeling good about himself. The pats on the head had probably done most of that. It was going to be hard getting him down from that sort of high, even if he was a droid. Personality was something that Fate had in spades.

He settled into the copilot seat and strapped himself in.

"Ready," he said before grabbing up Fate and putting him in his lap for safety.

He almost closed his eyes because it might be easier to die not seeing it, but he was pretty sure they had fixed things appropriately. Thus, he kept his eyes forward and soon enough they'd shot into hyperspace and he breathed a deep sigh of relief.

"Well, I feel better now."

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery glanced at Caelan out of the corner of her eye as he settled into the copilot seat, Fate perched snugly in his lap. The faint remnants of grease still smudged his cheek made her smile, though she didn't comment further. He'd worked hard, and his effort had paid off.

The ship hummed steadily as it glided through hyperspace, the stars streaking past them like silver threads. Valery leaned back in her seat, her fiery gaze fixed on the swirling blue tunnel outside the viewport. The soft hum of the ship's systems filled the silence, a soothing rhythm after the chaos they'd just endured.

"See? I told you we'd get it flying again," she said, her tone light and teasing. She shot him a sideways grin, the humor in her expression underscored by genuine pride. "You and Fate make a pretty good team. Though I think Fate might have a little too much confidence now. You'll have to keep him grounded."

Her expression softened as her gaze shifted back to the stars. "But in all seriousness, you did great back there. It's easy to get frustrated when things go wrong, but you kept your cool and got the job done. That's not something everyone can do."

She reached over and gave his shoulder a gentle pat before settling back into her chair. "Now let's just hope Hurikane doesn't throw us any more curveballs. But if it does," she added with a smirk, "At least I know I've got a good copilot."

Valery let the moment of calm stretch between them, savoring the brief respite before their next challenge.

Caelan Valoren ​

 

[Caelan Valoren]

ATTIRE: Link
COMPANION: BD-F8
TAGS: Valery Noble

"You did," he agreed. "I should have trusted more."

She talked about Fate and him working well together and he smiled. But when she said he'd have to keep him grounded, he couldn't help but laugh.

"Hey, it's your fault he's got a big ego now! You're the one who's been talking him up!"

It was true, she had! Every time he did something she praised him for it. Not that Caelan actually minded. Considering what Fate had been through, praising him a bit could help him to get even more comfortable. At the very least, it probably made him more apt to continue to do what he was doing by helping them than it would be to make him withdraw and start thinking about whomever it was that he'd been stolen from by the Nihil. That was a story for another day.

For the most part he did remain focused and collected, didn't he? Not to toot his own horn, just that he hadn't really thought about it. It was just the way that he did things. Some people were extremely emotional. He used to be. Tython had taken that from him. What he'd seen and done there had stripped him of the wiles of youth.

"I could say that my upbringing contributed to my demeanor but that would only be a half truth. My experiences on Tython and shortly thereafter had a real effect on me. Before I met you, I was more like some of the other young padawans, a kid who enjoyed kid things. I can't go back to that now, though."

He shrugged.

"My people need me to be strong anyway, so you could say it's been helpful to grow up sooner. And thanks for the compliment. I'm sure Hurikane will have some challenge for us."

Though he didn't know what it was.

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery listened to Caelan's words, her expression softening with a quiet understanding. The humor they'd shared moments ago faded just slightly, replaced by a deeper connection as he spoke of his past and the weight he carried. Her gaze lingered on the tunnel of hyperspace ahead, but her focus was entirely on him.

"Growing up too fast… it's something I think we've both had to face," she said, her voice steady but carrying a trace of empathy. She turned her head to look at him, her fiery gaze warm, but steady. "But just because you've had to grow up quickly doesn't mean you have to stop finding joy in things. There's room for both. It's something I learned the hard way, and something I think you'll find in time too."

Her hand rested lightly on the armrest of her seat as she leaned back, her lips curving into a small, encouraging smile. "As for Hurikane," she added, her tone shifting to something lighter, "I'd say we're long overdue for an easy mission, but I've been around long enough to know that's wishful thinking."

Her two prior trips to the planet hadn't gone without challenges either.

"I'm sure even Fate agrees," she teased, her gaze flicking to the droid in Caelan's lap. "He's got your back, and so do I."

Her gaze lingered on him a moment longer before she turned her attention back to the controls, her fingers brushing lightly over the dashboard.

They were getting close.

Caelan Valoren ​

 

[Caelan Valoren]

ATTIRE: Link
COMPANION: BD-F8
TAGS: Valery Noble

He listened to what she said, his hands fiddling idly with Fate, who didn't seem to mind since he wasn't actually doing anything that would affect him so much as he was sort of 'petting' the droid. In his mind he knew what she was saying and generally agreed with her. Finding joy was essential to life, especially for a Jedi. If there was no joy in life, it would just make it really easy to end up falling to the darkside and he didn't want that to happen most of all. There really was nothing worse to him.

"I still find joy," he assured her. "Especially in my friends and those like you. Plus, somewhere out there, I'm sure my sister is still alive."

Fingers rapped Fate lightly on the dome.

"Fate is a joy to be around, too."

"Dwooo-beep bwee-dwoop bwoo-vrrt-dweep!"

Caelan laughed. "Your head is fine, relax."

What she said rang true. Difficult had been everything about this so far. They were due for some ease, but he knew that things rarely got easier when they were already hard. But that was alright. He wasn't doing it alone. When you had friends with you, anything was possible. When you had friends with you, the difficult became a lot easier. He shrugged at her.

"Anything worth doing is difficult, as I've been told. I'm sure we'll be fine with whatever we face."

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery watched Caelan as he spoke, her fiery gaze softening further as his words revealed the depth of his resilience and hope. Despite the weight of his experiences, he still held onto joy where he could find it — in his friends, in his bond with Fate, and even in the hope of reuniting with his sister. It was a strength she admired, a quality that would serve him well in his journey as a Jedi.

"Anything worth doing is difficult," Valery agreed with a smile, "And the fact that you're already carrying that mindset shows just how strong you are." She glanced briefly at the hyperspace tunnel before turning her attention back to him.

"But strength isn't just about enduring the difficult. It's about knowing when to lean on others, too. And you've got that down, Caelan," she added with a small smile, her gaze flicking to Fate as the droid chirped again. "Even if some of your 'others' are a bit... quirky." Her tone was teasing, but the affection in her voice was undeniable.

Her hand then tapped lightly on the console before she straightened up again, her expression brightening. The navigation panel chimed softly, signaling they were nearing their destination. Valery's gaze returned to the viewport, her tone growing slightly more serious but still carrying the undercurrent of optimism that had laced their entire conversation.

"Let's see what Hurikane has in store for us."

Without any delay, Valery began to bring them down to the surface.

Caelan Valoren ​

 

[Caelan Valoren]

ATTIRE: Link
COMPANION: BD-F8
TAGS: Valery Noble

As she spoke he listened while looking out the window at the light of hyperspace beyond. He didn't know if what she said was right, at least he wasn't sure if it felt true to him. Most of the time he still felt like he was too weak to do what needed doing. But maybe, just maybe, what needed to be done was different than what he assumed? Maybe he really was right to approach things the way he did. It seemed right to him to approach everything from a standpoint of doing the least amount of harm possible.

What she said about quirky friends got him to laugh though.

"Well, if we were all the same, life would be kind of boring," he said, patting Fate's dome. "Right, buddy?"

"Bwee-dwoop!"

They came out of hyperspace near their destination and Caelan stared out the viewport at the world. For a long time now he'd dreamed of being there. Master Windu had in ancient times. Master Noble had. Others had. It wasn't uncommon for people to venture to the world in search of a crystal. But he felt strongly that the crystal he needed for his saber was somewhere down below. No matter what it took to get it, he would do it.

He did have a sort of ominous feeling wash over him when she spoke about seeing what was in store for them. He doubted it would be as bad as what they had faced on the transport, but it still worried him. What was down there? What kind of trial was the world going to put him through to find his crystal? He reminded himself that no matter what it was, he did have help. Both Valery and Fate would assist him in dealing with whatever they encountered. They'd be alright. She was the most powerful Jedi he knew.

"Something awaits. I can feel it. I'm ready, though." He looked over at her. "We can do this."

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery smiled warmly at Caelan's words, his confidence stirring her own sense of optimism. She could feel the currents of the Force shifting as they approached Hurikane, the planet below calling to them in its own quiet, enigmatic way. It was a feeling she remembered well from her own journey for a lightsaber crystal — a sense of destiny mingled with uncertainty.

As the ship pierced through the atmosphere, the swirling clouds of Hurikane gave way to jagged landscapes below. Crystalline spires jutted out of the ground like natural monoliths, their surfaces catching the sunlight in shimmering hues of violet, blue, and green. It was breathtakingly beautiful, yet the raw, untamed energy of the planet hinted at the trials that awaited.

The ship settled gently on an open plateau surrounded by crystalline formations, its engines humming softly as Valery powered down the ship. She stood, smoothing out her tunic, and glanced at Caelan with a reassuring smile.

"Something does await us," she said, her tone steady but carrying the weight of experience. "Hurikane tests those who seek its crystals — not with brute strength, but with the heart and clarity of your connection to the Force. This is your trial, Caelan."

Valery stepped down the ramp, the crunch of her boots on the crystalline ground echoing faintly in the stillness. The air was crisp and charged with energy, the Force flowing strongly through the planet's unique structures. She paused at the bottom of the ramp and turned to Fate, who beeped cheerfully, as if sensing the importance of the moment.

"Stay alert, Fate," Valery instructed, her voice soft but firm. "This world isn't hostile, but it has its own ways of testing us. Keep an eye on Caelan."

Caelan Valoren ​

 

[Caelan Valoren]

ATTIRE: Link
COMPANION: BD-F8
TAGS: Valery Noble

His trial. What exactly did that mean? What was waiting for him out there? Or who? He stood, after setting Fate down, and followed Valery as she exited the ship onto the rock and crystal surface of the world he had been seeking for some time. This place held a lot of inspiration for him. Not only had Mace Windu gotten his crystal from there, but so had Valery. There was a lot to be said for that. The strongest people he knew and read about had sabers made from the crystals of this place, and he wanted to be like them.

Fate tottered along beside him, and beeped at Valery when she said the world wasn't hostile and to watch Caelan. The droid had no intention of doing anything but what she said.

However, while the world was not necessarily hostile, the native people couldn't necessarily be counted on to be the same. Even Master Windu had been forced to flee from them, according to his own accounts. In the end he'd gotten a crystal by helping one of them who had gotten trapped, but it didn't change the fact that several of them had chased after him with the intention of harming him at first.

So it was that after a few moments Fate started beeping incessantly, and Caelan turned his eyes to the horizon. It took a moment, but he too noticed the subtle movements on the landscape.

"I think the locals are coming to investigate," he said, looking at Valery. "I think I can handle it, if you'll trust me."

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery's fiery gaze followed Caelan's as he turned toward the subtle movements on the horizon. The crystalline formations cast shimmering reflections that made it difficult to distinguish shapes at first, but there was no mistaking it now — the Hurikane natives were approaching. Their movements were deliberate, their crystalline forms blending seamlessly with the environment until they drew closer.

Valery glanced at Caelan, a small, reassuring smile tugging at her lips. His confidence in wanting to handle this on his own spoke to his readiness, and this trial was as much about trust as it was about his connection to the Force.

"I trust you, Caelan," she said softly, her tone steady but warm. "This is your moment to show them, and yourself, who you are."

She stepped back slightly, giving him the space he needed to face the natives without her direct interference. Her presence remained calm and supportive, a quiet reassurance through the Force that she was there if things went awry. But she wouldn't intervene unless absolutely necessary.

But she had a feeling that it wouldn't be necessary.

Caelan Valoren ​

 

[Caelan Valoren]

When she gave him the acknowledgement that she trusted him, he nodded and stepped forward so that he was the first one that they came to. It took them a little bit to reach them, but when he did, he held his arms upward in signal that he meant no harm to them, and that he came peacefully to their world. Whether they understood that, he didn't really know, as they spoke away in their language, which he did not understand. Even Fate didn't seem to understand what they were saying. Not all that surprising since their language wasn't common.

They did seem agitated, one of them pushing on him and knocking him back a few steps but he didn't retaliate or initiate a confrontation. He just waited for them to calm down a little.

"We didn't come to cause trouble," he said.

To emphasize, and possibly speak in a way they would understand, he pointed to himself, Valery and Fate and then to the Hurikane natives, before making a circling motion with a flat hand. He was indicating togetherness, that they came in peace. One of them stepped forward and pointed at Caelan, then at the ground, then at the ship they'd arrived in.

Caelan shook his head, waved a hand at the ship, then himself, and indicated with several hand gestures that they had not come to steal from them. There was some discussion amongst them, then the same one from before pointed at each of them, and then off into the distance. When Caelan looked that way, he didn't see anything, but the leader of this contingent clearly wanted something as he did the whole routine again, with much more emphasis.

"I think he wants us to go that way."

He pointed at the trio of them, put his hands together and pushed one off into the distance before pointing the direction the native had. It bobbed its head up and down and moved aside, and Caelan nodded.

"Yeah. Something is that direction that it wants us to see or do. I think they're going to follow us, too."

Caelan started walking, motioning for Fate to keep up, and knowing that Valery was with him in this adventure. Hopefully, whatever was out there, whatever the natives wanted from them, was something they could handle. And sure enough, the natives did follow them.

---

ATTIRE: Link | COMPANION: BD-F8

TAGS: Valery Noble​

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery watched Caelan with quiet intensity as he stepped forward to meet the Hurikane natives. Her fiery gaze followed his every move, observing his gestures and the way he handled the situation. There was a calmness to her presence, a steady assurance in the Force that she projected toward him, even as the natives displayed their initial agitation.

When one of the crystalline beings pushed him back, Valery's hands twitched slightly, instinctively moving toward her sides. But she stopped herself, recognizing that this was Caelan's trial. He handled it well, responding with patience and understanding rather than aggression. A faint smile touched her lips — it was a small moment, but one that spoke volumes about his growth as a Jedi.

As the interaction continued, she remained a few steps behind, her hands loosely folded in front of her. When Caelan deciphered their gestures and explained what he believed the native leader wanted, Valery gave a small nod of approval.

"You've done well, Caelan," she said softly, her voice carrying a warmth that contrasted with the cold, crystalline world around them.

Her gaze shifted toward the direction the native had pointed, her expression sharpening slightly as her senses reached out through the Force. The landscape offered no immediate hints of what might await them, but the subtle currents of the Force whispered of something deeper. Something significant.

"Whatever it is, let's address it together," she added, stepping forward to walk alongside him. The natives moved behind them, their crystalline forms catching the light and casting prismatic reflections across the frozen ground. It was both mesmerizing and unnerving — a reminder that Hurikane was as dangerous as it was beautiful.

Caelan Valoren ​

 

[Caelan Valoren]

"I think we will have to," he said as they walked. "I get the feeling it's something material, with how agitated they are."

Walking was treacherous. There were a lot of random crevices and gorges that they had to work across. It never failed, though, that whatever they crossed, the natives crossed with them. Something had bothered them enough that they were in need of help in dealing with it. That was rarely a good thing. In fact, it left an uneasy feeling in his stomach, more than just the thought of dealing with some sort of mental challenge could. A mental challenge wasn't likely to kill him.

Eventually they crested a hill, and what he saw made him step back and crouch down so he was just peaking over the hill. Ahead of them was a mining platform. It was currently boring into the planet with a laser. As he watched, he noticed many mining droids scampering around the outside, and on the perimeter were what appeared to be combat droids. Some kind of automated combat platform. Now he understood what was agitating the natives.

"That would be upsetting for me to discover as well. I'm assuming they tried to fight back and failed."

He could see some bodies lying around the field that looked like the natives based on their sprawled nature. Probably they had tried to fight them but hadn't been able to. The droids were certainly more advanced than the natives, considering they had blaster weaponry. The platform itself probably had automated cannons as well. This was very dangerous, and honestly, he didn't know how to handle this one, so he was very glad that Valery was with him to help come up with a plan.

"There's a lot of them, but I understand why they're upset. This is their world and someone is mining it. We have to stop them, but I don't know if that thing is fully automated or not. If not, there's probably people on it, and I don't just want to blow it up with people inside. What do you think, Master Noble?"

---

ATTIRE: Link | COMPANION: BD-F8

TAGS: Valery Noble​

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery crouched beside Caelan, her fiery gaze narrowing as she surveyed the mining platform below. The whirring sound of the laser boring into the crystalline surface of Hurikane was a jarring contrast to the natural beauty surrounding them. The scattered bodies of the natives and the movements of the combat droids painted a grim picture — one of conflict and disrespect for the balance of this world.

Her expression hardened, though her voice remained calm and measured. "You're right to hesitate," she said, her eyes still locked on the scene ahead. "If there are people aboard that platform, we can't risk taking aggressive action without knowing their intent or whether they have the means to stop this operation peacefully."

Valery turned her attention back to the platform, reaching out with the Force to sense the activity within. She felt the faint flickers of life aboard the structure — enough to confirm that it wasn't entirely automated. That complicated matters.

"Here's what I suggest," she began, her voice steady but tinged with the weight of the task ahead. "We'll approach carefully, using the terrain for cover to avoid detection by the combat droids. If we can reach the base of the platform, I'll create a diversion to draw the droids' attention away from you."

Her fiery gaze shifted back to him, sharp but encouraging. "While I handle the droids, you'll board the platform and locate whoever is in charge. See if they can be reasoned with. If they refuse to stop their mining operations peacefully, we'll have to regroup and reassess."

Caelan Valoren ​

 

[Caelan Valoren]

As she studied the scene beyond he watched her. This wasn't just a test for him. As in all things, this was a learning opportunity. What she did, he took into account. What she said, he took into account. When she came up with a plan that made sense not just to her, but to him, he nodded his head in agreement. This way, they wouldn't inadvertently kill anyone, and they could shut this operation down before Hurikane ended up a barren rock that even the locals couldn't survive on.

"Right," he said, nodding in agreement. "Fate can help me get in."

He motioned for the droid to come over and hop up onto his shoulder and waited for him to do so before pulling his borrowed lightsaber out into his hand. Going into a combat zone, he was going to be prepared. He studied the path between them and the platform and moved slowly and deliberately, doing his best to stay behind boulders and along ridgelines so as to avoid being noticed by the droids. The plus side, at least the rocks would also radiate heat, so as long as they weren't looking at him when he moved, he'd probably be alright.

It was slow going. Between the nature of the terrain and doing everything possible not to get spotted he couldn't move quickly. They split up the closer they got. Caelan narrowly avoided one of the battle droids, sliding around a large boulder as it rounded the other side, and moved into a position where he could quickly reach the platform access when Valery created the diversion allowing him to do so.

He waved a hand in her direction to signal he was ready.

---

ATTIRE: Link | COMPANION: BD-F8

TAGS: Valery Noble ​

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery nodded subtly when she caught Caelan's signal, her fiery eyes scanning the terrain one last time before she moved. Her posture shifted as she dropped lower to the ground, her movements smooth and deliberate to avoid detection. The tension in the air was palpable, and the whir of the mining platform's operations echoed against the rocky expanse.

She extended her senses through the Force, ensuring that the combat droids' attention remained on their programmed patrol patterns. Then, with a steadying breath, she reached out to the Force, pulling its energy inward and allowing it to surge through her.

The diversion began.

A small rock at the edge of the clearing suddenly lifted from the ground, then hurtled into a nearby stack of crates with a loud clatter. The sound echoed through the platform, causing several of the combat droids to turn sharply toward the noise. As their sensors activated and they began to move toward the disturbance, Valery used the momentum to create another distraction. A metallic cable hanging from the edge of the platform was yanked free, sparking as it snapped against the ground.

One by one, the droids shifted focus, clustering near the source of the noises. Valery stayed low, her fiery gaze darting between them to ensure their attention was locked on the diversions and not on Caelan's approach.

With the droids sufficiently distracted, she moved carefully to a new position behind a jagged rock formation, keeping herself hidden while maintaining a clear line of sight to the platform. Through the Force, she reached out toward Caelan again, sending a gentle pulse of reassurance to signal the path was clear.

Now's your chance.

Caelan Valoren ​

 

[Caelan Valoren]

He sat and waited for the distraction to begin. Not knowing what she was going to do built a little bit of trepidation into him, but he quickly pushed it aside and remembered that he wasn't alone in this. Together they could handle it.

When he felt her nudge, he grabbed hold of Fate and leapt up onto the mining platform. Moving around the perimeter, he found an exterior door and set fate down. Silently, he pointed to where the droid could access the controls to the door with his scomp and then leaned back against the wall. He had his saber in his hand at this point. Well, his borrowed saber. It was better to go into the situation armed, just in case. Plus it would tell whoever was inside what they were dealing with.

The door snapped open and he stepped into an automated, largely, operation. The corridor was completely empty and he guessed that the control station was somewhere near the center in order to protect its operational integrity. Unfortunately, the interior had cameras, and whomever was operating the thing noticed he was there, because they quickly slammed down the blast doors around the entrance to the control center.

"Drat," he said as he looked at the controls. "Guess I shouldn't expect things to be easy."

He knew how this went. They wouldn't be able to open those doors with Fate's efforts. Controlling them would be hardwired to a control switch that wasn't accessible by accessing the inner network of the platform. This was going to take more work than he'd hoped. At least Valery was on the outside and could handle the droids. Hopefully. He was going to need her to keep them busy so that he could focus on getting through the door and speaking with the people on the inside.

Activating the saber, he plunged it into the metal of the door and began the process of melting the door down. Best he could do.

---

ATTIRE: Link | COMPANION: BD-F8

TAGS: Valery Noble ​

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery crouched low behind the jagged rock formation, her fiery eyes fixed on the droids still swarming toward her diversions. The sound of the snapped cable sparking and the tumbling crates continued to draw their attention, and for the moment, the mining platform seemed unaware of Caelan's presence.

She stretched out her senses through the Force and felt him moving along the platform's perimeter. When the faint hum of a lightsaber activating reached her ears, she knew Caelan had run into an obstacle.

Still, she couldn't let the droids detect him while he worked.

Shifting slightly to keep herself hidden, Valery reached out with her senses and felt the droids' programmed movements. Their mechanical focus made them predictable, and it gave her the advantage. With a flick of her wrist, another rock soared through the air and slammed into a stack of barrels further away, drawing a few more droids toward the noise. But there were still too many of them actively patrolling near the platform, and time was running out.

Her gaze sharpened, and with a calming breath, she stepped out of cover, her violet blade igniting with a sharp snap-hiss. The brilliant glow illuminated her determined features as she drew the attention of every droid in her vicinity.

"Hey, over here!" she called out, her voice cutting through the whirring machinery and sending the droids pivoting toward her. She raised her free hand, pulling at a nearby support beam with the Force. The structure groaned before collapsing onto a group of advancing droids, crushing them beneath its weight. The remaining units turned their weapons on her, but she was already on the move.

Valery spun gracefully, her blade a blur of light as she deflected blaster bolts back toward their sources. One after another, the droids crumbled under her assault. Her presence in the Force flared brightly, commanding the battlefield and ensuring Caelan had the time he needed.

With another spin of her blade, Valery deflected a final volley of blaster bolts and surged forward to engage the remaining droids head-on, her mind calm and steady as she held the line.

Caelan Valoren ​