Private Reflections of Power

[Caelan Valoren]

He wished he was gifted enough in sensing things that he could tell what was going on outside. The sound of blaster shots didn't bode well, but he was certain that the Grandmaster would be alright. Well, mostly certain. Enough enemies could overwhelm anyone if they weren't careful and there were a fair number of combat droids out there. He needed to end this before things got so out of hand that Valery was in danger.

The door melted into slag, parts of it falling away on the inside, until there was a hole in it wide enough for her to fit through. He waited long enough for any molten metal to cool, so he wouldn't end up burned, and then stepped through into the control room, lightsaber raised. A good thing, too, because a few blaster shots were sent his way that he promptly deflected into the ceiling, showering the room in sparks to the point that someone shouted out of fear as they were blanketed in sparks.

"Enough!" Caelan yelled over the din. "Who is in charge here?"

The people within were primarily trandoshans. A couple of humans were intermixed in their number, along with a single brolf. One of the trandoshan's stepped forward, but Caelan could tell by the way the brolf was moving that it was him that was in charge, not the trandoshan, so he pointed his lightsaber in the formers direction, but kept his gaze on the furry guy.

"You're in charge, aren't you?"

The brolf hesitated, but then nodded. "I am."

"Shut the mining platform down immediately."

"I assure you this platform is completely legal. The Mining Guild-"

"Has no jurisdiction on this world," Caelan finished for him. "Hurikane is an inhabited world. The inhabitants may not have the kind of technological level we do, but they have the rights to it, not the Mining Guild or anyone else. Judging by the dead outside, they've made this clear to you. Now. Shut it down."

The brolf didn't seem to want to comply, but the presence of a lightsaber was hard to ignore, and he gave a node to the rest of those in the room. Outside, the mining laser would cease to function.

"Now tell your combat droids to stand down and send the order for your transport to come and collect the platform. This world is under the protection of the Jedi of the New Jedi Order and we will not allow you to mine here. Do you understand?"

"Yes, yes, I understand. Do as he says."

Those inside began to comply with the given orders, though he could tell the trandoshan's were not happy about it. They tended to be more volatile, and he stared at them to show he was not afraid of them, and that he would not allow any dissent to his orders. Once all the orders were given, Caelan motioned for them to exit. They'd all have to get picked up by their transport, along with all of their droids. He followed them out of the platform and back down to the ground to find Valery while they waited for the transport to come and collect them.

---

ATTIRE: Link | COMPANION: BD-F8

TAGS: Valery Noble ​

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery twirled her violet blade in a wide arc, deflecting another volley of blaster bolts back toward the advancing droids. Each move was precise, her form fluid as she closed the distance to the remaining units. One by one, the droids fell, either sliced apart by her lightsaber or crushed by debris she pulled down with the Force. Sparks flew and the sounds of metal hitting the ground echoed across the platform as the last of the droids crumbled under her relentless assault.

With the area cleared, Valery extinguished her blade and took a steadying breath, letting the Force settle around her. She quickly scanned the battlefield, ensuring no other threats remained, then reached for her communicator.

<Caelan,> she said, her voice calm but carrying the sharp edge of a leader ready to adapt to the situation. <The droids are down on my end. What's your status?>

She stepped toward the platform, her fiery gaze shifting toward the structure's upper levels as she waited for his response. Despite the lingering tension, a sense of accomplishment tugged at the corners of her mind. They had handled the chaos effectively, but her focus remained on the task until they could be certain the mining platform was fully shut down and its operators were under control.

Her hand rested lightly on her hilt, ready for anything that might come next.

Caelan Valoren ​

 

[Caelan Valoren]

He heard her call over his comlink and grabbed it from his belt.

<I've negotiated their withdrawal,> he said, still following the miners out. <You should see their transport ship coming to collect the platform shortly.>

The miners began to file out through the door that Caelan and Fate had previously unlocked, and they lowered an access stair to the ground below. Caelan followed them down. His eyes scanned the horizon and noted the deactivated droids. As he watched, some of the locals walked up to them and aggressively pushed them over. It was pretty clear they were not happy with the presence of the droids, even if it wasn't clear before. He didn't blame them. The idea of people invading your world was angering.

He spotted Valery and moved over to her, even as a ship appeared in the sky's above, descending through the atmosphere. It could have blasted them, but it would have been too difficult to avoid hitting their own people and the platform. They weren't going to be that foolish.

"I informed them they aren't to mine here and if we find them here again we will take action. These are part of the Mining Guild."

Several of the locals were coming towards them even as the transport ship was descending to collect the platform and the crew. They seemed pleased with the outcome. One of them approached him specifically, and he thought it was the one he'd spoken to before. It made several gestures and he nodded, responding by touching his chest and then spreading his hand to encompass the whole with his palm facing upward to say they were welcome.

The leader then did something Caelan hadn't expected, and pulled a crystal from his own body, which he offered. Dipping his head, Caelan accepted the crystal, immediately feeling a connection to it. The leader of the locals then, appearing satisfied, turned and left with the others.

"I didn't expect to get a crystal directly from his person."

---

ATTIRE: Link | COMPANION: BD-F8

TAGS: Valery Noble ​

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery stood with her arms crossed, her fiery gaze sweeping over the platform as the transport ship descended. The locals' obvious relief at the Mining Guild's withdrawal brought a small smile to her face, but her attention soon shifted as Caelan approached, a faint flicker of curiosity sparking in her expression. She listened intently as he explained the situation, her demeanor calm and collected.

When the local leader offered Caelan the crystal from his own body, Valery raised an eyebrow but smirked knowingly. The surprise in Caelan's expression didn't escape her notice.

"Yeah," Valery said with a chuckle, "They do that sometimes. It's their way of showing trust and gratitude. That crystal means they respect you — it's a gift that holds a lot of meaning for them." Her tone carried a note of approval as her gaze flicked briefly to the shimmering crystal in his hand. "You've earned it."

She glanced over her shoulder at the departing locals and the Mining Guild's transport, then turned her full attention back to Caelan. "So, what do you think? Are we done here? Or do you feel there's more to do?" Her voice was steady, but there was an intentional softness to her tone — this was his moment, and she wasn't about to overshadow it with her own conclusions.

"I'll follow your lead," she added with a faint smile. "This is your trial, after all. The decision is yours to make." She gave him a small nod of encouragement, her presence calm and steady as she waited for his response.

Caelan Valoren ​

 

[Caelan Valoren]

Caelan looked at the crystal in his hand again. It was something special and formed a connection between him and the people of the world. Forever would he have a connection to them, and should they need him, he was confident that he would feel it. Perhaps this was really what it meant to be a Jedi, going out intending to do one thing, and then finding yourself embroiled in other things and having to resolve them. It gave him a real sense of accomplishment to have been able to handle these things.

Valery asked if he thought they were done there and he turned to watch the last of the crew load up into the transport as its clamps settled on the platform. The transport lifted off, taking the droids, crew, platform and everything else with it. Left behind were only dead locals and the garrish holes in the ground made by the mining laser. It really was saddening to see what was going to be left behind, but at least it wasn't worse.

"I think this was what I needed to do," he said, looking back to her. "This whole trip has been my trial, in its own right. The Force wanted me to see that things don't normally go as we plan and that we must adapt to overcome. I think I did alright."

He smiled and pocketed his new crystal.

"Think we can head back to the temple now. I've got a lightsaber to build."

---

ATTIRE: Link | COMPANION: BD-F8 | OTHER: Sigil Bead (Necklace)

TAGS: Valery Noble ​

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery watched Caelan closely, her fiery gaze flicking between the crystal in his hand and the certainty in his expression. There was no hesitation, no doubt — just quiet understanding. He had come here expecting one thing and had found himself faced with an entirely different challenge. And yet, he had adapted. He had persevered.

And he had done well.

A small, proud smile tugged at her lips as she gave him a slow nod. "I agree," she said, her tone warm but firm. "This was your trial, and you passed. You've done really well, Caelan." Her gaze flicked toward the scarred landscape left behind by the Mining Guild before settling back on him. "That crystal wasn't just given to you. You earned it."

Her smile softened slightly as she inclined her head toward the ship. "Come on then," she said, motioning for him to follow. "Let's get back to the temple. You've got a lightsaber to build."

There was a hint of something knowing in her voice, something deeply understanding. She had guided many Jedi on this path before, and she knew that no matter how strong a Jedi was, no matter how much skill they had with the Force, there was nothing quite like forging one's own weapon. It was a moment of transformation.

And Caelan was ready.

Caelan Valoren ​