Private Shadows on the Rim

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

The shuttle hummed softly as it cut through the stars, the vast emptiness of the Outer Rim stretching infinitely in all directions. Valery sat in one of the shuttle's side seats, her hands loosely clasped in her lap, amber eyes gazing out the viewport at the distant glow of a system they were approaching. The mission ahead was one of growing concern — a Jedi Knight, tasked with suppressing pirate activity near Sith Order borders, had gone silent. The pirates had grown bolder in his absence, launching more frequent and devastating attacks on nearby settlements.

The silence in the shuttle was broken only by the occasional beeping of the control panel and the faint hum of the engines. Valery turned her attention from the stars to her companion. Jedi Knight Gil Horn, a name she recognized but a face she hadn't yet worked alongside. This mission would serve not only as a chance to investigate the troubling situation but also as an opportunity to build trust with a fellow Jedi.

She shifted slightly in her seat, offering him a warm smile. "Knight Horn," she began, her voice calm but carrying the weight of her station as Grandmaster. "I realized we haven't had the chance to properly meet. I'm Valery Noble." Her tone softened slightly, a touch of humor slipping in, "Though I imagine you already knew that."

She leaned back slightly, her hands resting on her knees. "I'm glad to have you with me on this mission. It's always a good chance to get to know others in the Order by working together like this."

Gil Horn ​

 

[Gil Horn]

Location: Deep Space | Jedi Shuttle
Tags: Valery Noble

​

There was something almost magical about traveling in hyperspace. The ability to step onto a ship on one planet, travel for a few hours or days, and suddenly find yourself halfway across the galaxy on a new planet was as astounding to Gil as it was mundane to most other inhabitants in the galaxy. Having expected to spend his entire life on the streets of Corellia, to now have the chance to travel the galaxy and meet so many new people, and see so many new places was one of the things he cherished most as a Jedi.

This trip though was not just for pleasure.

He was currently scrolling through the datapad containing the relevant information for the mission he had be selected for. Details about the pirate group, reports from the Jedi Knight assigned to the area before he went missing, and the relevant local history. Persons of interest, cultural backgrounds that could tie into the motivations and actions of the pirates. There was a lot of information, but reading and learning were a favored pastime for Gil.

He was not alone on the mission though, and he turned his attention to the other occupant of the shuttle as she shifted in her seat. Going on a mission was stressful enough, but to be on mission with the Grandmaster of the New Jedi Order no less made Gil even more on edge, more eager to prove himself.

Gil bowed his head to her. “It is hard to find someone who does not know you, Master Valery. It is a pleasure to meet you face to face though.” A small smile crossed Gil’s face as he nodded his head. “I am pleased to have been chosen for the assignment, Grandmaster. I am eager to work with new members of the Order as well.”

Gil lifted the datapad in his hand, shaking it slightly. “I am very eager as well to find and help our comrade however we can.”

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery offered a warm smile in return, her amber eyes reflecting both understanding and a quiet confidence as she inclined her head toward Gil. She could sense the mix of respect and eagerness in his tone, a familiar energy she often encountered in Jedi who were new to working with her directly.

"The pleasure is mine, Knight Horn," she said, her voice carrying a calm but encouraging tone. She leaned back slightly, her posture relaxed but still attentive as she gestured toward the datapad in his hand.

"I'm glad to see you're diving into the mission details," she continued. "The more we understand about the situation, the better our chances of finding our missing Jedi and dealing with these pirates effectively." Her expression softened for a moment as she glanced out the viewport, watching the swirling blue of hyperspace. "But this isn't just about strategy. We're stepping into a region where the Sith's influence runs deep, and that makes this quite dangerous."

Her gaze returned to Gil, more focused now. "It's not easy losing contact with one of our own, especially so close to enemy borders. But I have faith in our ability to bring clarity to this situation, and more importantly, to bring our fellow Jedi home."

Pausing again, Valery ran a hand up through her hair and sighed, "I have a terrible feeling about this whole situation."

Gil Horn ​

 

[Gil Horn]

Location: Deep Space | Jedi Shuttle
Tags: Valery Noble

Gil nodded his head, his eyes narrowing as he rested an arm on the terminal beside him. “Everything I have seen about these pirates leads me to believe they have connections to the Sith, Grandmaster. Their tactics and methodology are far too aggressive for simple pirates. They are driven and directed by an entity unseen, of that I am sure.”

Gil put the datapad down, and rested his chin on his propped up arm. “I share the same feeling, Master Noble. I know the Jedi we are searching for. Heron Crawl and I shared the same master, separated by several years. He is a good man and a wise Jedi. Whatever has gotten to him must be terrible indeed. Should the worst be true, we must ensure that no other Jedi fall prey to whatever darkness we face.”

Gil was silent for several moments, staring out the viewport at the streaking lines of stars as the shuttle flew past them. “These pirates, those suffering under their influence and now the loss of Knight Voss…the war against the Sith reaps a heavy toll, even when we are not actively fighting them. The shadow they cast across the galaxy is vast indeed.”

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery's expression grew more somber as she listened, her arms folding loosely across her chest. The mention of the Sith's possible connection made her jaw tighten ever so slightly, but it was the name Heron Crawl that truly deepened the weight in her gaze.

"Heron Crawl," she repeated softly, her tone tinged with recognition. "I've heard of him — a strong Jedi, steady in his convictions." She let out a slow breath, her thoughts racing as she pieced together what Gil had said. "That makes this even more troubling."

Valery turned her head to meet Gil's eyes, her amber gaze filled with determination. "You're right. The Sith's influence doesn't always come in the form of open war. They weave themselves into the shadows, pulling strings, manipulating events from a distance. These pirates could be more than just a nuisance; they might be tools in a far larger scheme."

Her voice softened slightly, a touch of empathy slipping through. "I know how heavy that toll feels. Every time we lose someone, it chips away at us. But that's why we're here. To ensure no more lives are lost to the darkness, to shed light where shadows seek to consume."

She paused and offered an encouraging smile, "One way or another, we'll find him."

Gil Horn ​

 

[Gil Horn]

Location: Deep Space | Jedi Shuttle
Tags: Valery Noble

Gil nodded his head, tapping his fist against the terminal beside him. "Protecting the innocent." Those simple words seemed to stiffen Gil's resolve, and he leaned back in his chair. "One way or another, protecting those in need, those that cannot protect themselves. That is what we need to do. It's what Crawl would do."

Gil offered Valery a quick smile before a beeping tone started going off beside him. He spun in the shuttles chair, his eyes glancing across the controls. Moments later, the streams of stars flashing past the shuttle began to slow, and the shuttle made its return back to standard space. "It looks like we are at our destination, Grandmaster." Gil clicked his tongue, tapping a few controls into the ship. "I'm picking up pretty standard communication traffic and readings from the system. It looks like everything is normal for now."

He turned back to look at Valery. "Where are we going to begin our investigation anyway, Grandmaster? The pirates have struck half a dozen different targets in the past few weeks. It will be difficult to find their point of origin."

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery's gaze shifted to the viewport as the swirling blue of hyperspace gave way to the calm, scattered stars of realspace. The system stretched out before them, a deceptively serene backdrop for the turmoil they were here to confront. She absorbed Gil's report in silence, her mind already running through possible starting points.

She turned her attention back to Gil, her expression sharpening with determination. "We'll start with the last known location of Jedi Knight Crawl. He was investigating a mining colony in this sector when he went silent."

Valery reached out to tap a few commands into the shuttle's console, bringing up a map of the system. A small dot blinked on the display, marking the colony's position. "It's a remote outpost, isolated enough that any trouble there could easily go unnoticed for a while. We'll investigate the colony first — see if we can pick up his trail or find any clues about the pirates' movements."

Her eyes flicked back to Gil, and she offered a faint but reassuring smile. "Be prepared for anything. If this is just a case of pirates, we'll handle it. But if there's something more… we'll need to be ready."

The calm before the storm, she thought, her hand tightening subtly on the armrest. And storms always break eventually.

Gil Horn ​

 

[Gil Horn]

Location: Deep Space | Jedi Shuttle
Tags: Valery Noble

"An out of the way location," Gil said as he looked at the map Valery brought up. "I can see why the pirates might strike there. Isolated, lacking immediate support from other colonies. If it wasn't for the proximity of Sith space, I would almost believe these pirates were a natural occurrence."

Spinning in his chair, Gil began to punch in the coordinates for the mining colony. Despite its size, he was able to locate what looked like a small starport at the outskirts of the colony. It made sense he supposed. A mining colonies entire livelihood relied on being able to export whatever it dug up offworld. The starport might be one of the oldest buildings in the entire colony. Sometimes, colonist dismantled their own ships to build the starport, a commitment to a new life that impressed Gil.

An odd thought came to Gil's mind as the shuttle banked, beginning its approach to the colony. "Outposts like this tend to rely on a marshal service of some kind. They don't have the resources or funding needed to have a full law enforcement division. It Crawl had been operating in the area, he would have been working with their marshal."

The shuttle broke through the atmosphere of the planet as it began its descent, clouds flowing past the ship as it approached the starport. They were dinged for clearance as they made their final descent, and Gil opened a communication line. "This is Jedi Knight Gil Horn and Master Valery Noble, requesting permission to land."

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery nodded as Gil shared his observations, her expression thoughtful but tinged with unease. "You're right about the marshal service. Something worth looking into." She glanced out the viewport as the shuttle descended, the mining colony coming into view — a small cluster of utilitarian structures set against the rugged terrain.

Her gaze lingered on the display for a moment before returning to Gil. The shuttle shuddered gently as it entered the atmosphere, the clouds parting to reveal the colony's modest starport. Gil's communication was quickly answered by a curt voice on the other end of the comm.

"Jedi shuttle, clearance granted. Proceed to Dock 3."

As the shuttle settled onto the landing pad with a soft hiss of hydraulic systems, Valery rose smoothly to her feet. She adjusted her lightsaber at her side and cast a brief, resolute glance at Gil. "Let's see what we're walking into."

The shuttle's ramp lowered, and Valery stepped out into the crisp air of the mining colony. The starport was a utilitarian structure, its surfaces worn and battered by the elements. Despite the remote setting, Valery's eyes immediately narrowed at the sight of numerous armed personnel stationed along the perimeter. Security droids patrolled in measured patterns, and sentries watched from elevated platforms.

"That's a lot of security for a mining colony," Valery murmured, her tone cautious as her amber eyes swept over the scene. "Even with pirate activity, this feels… excessive."

Her senses extended outward, brushing against the undercurrents of the Force. Tension clung to the air, subtle but undeniable. She turned to Gil, her voice low. "Stay sharp. There's more going on here than what meets the eye."

Valery's focus sharpened as she gestured toward the entrance to the starport. "Let's find the marshal and start asking questions."

Gil Horn ​

 

[Gil Horn]

Tags: Valery Noble

Gil walked down the ramp of the shuttle behind Valery, his eyes glancing around the perimeter as he assessed the situation. At first glance, perhaps his thought about law enforcement had been wrong. For many frontier worlds security droids were the preferred method of keeping the peace. Effective, thorough, and most importantly, replaceable given the usual rough characters that made trouble away from the Core worlds. But as he observed the droids, and security personnel themselves, he noted the rather high powered weapon for simple security.

They looked more like war droids.

"If I had to guess," Gil said, folding his hands into the pocket of his shirt beneath his robe, flipping it out behind him and exposing his lightsaber for all to see, and have ease of access to in one motion, "I would think that they don't like visitors in general. Odd for a colony that needs to deal with visitors to survive."

He nodded his head at Valery's words to stay on guard, and extended his senses out with the Force. There was the usual feelings one might expect, simple emotions like boredom, excitement and more...intense emotions this close to habitation dwellings, but there was more. Gil narrowed his eyes, trying to focus on the one feeling that lingered around all the others. Pervasive and malignant, it coiled around the hearts and minds of many near the starport.

"Dread..." Gil said, the word slipping from his lips barely above a whisper. He corrected himself quickly, putting on the look of a determined Jedi Knight.

"Maybe we can ask that one for directions," Gil said, nodding his head to an approaching official wearing a drab gray and blue uniform. He was followed by two of the security droids, their mechanical eyes locked unwavering on one Jedi each.

The official came to a halt before them, lifting a datapad in his hand and tapping a few buttons before finally speaking. "I am Watch Master Nadiel, please state the reason for your visit."

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery offered a polite, if restrained, smile to Watch Master Nadiel, her amber eyes steady as they locked onto his. She could feel the tension in the air, the cold professionalism in his tone matched by the mechanical precision of the droids flanking him. The pervasive feeling of dread, as noted by Gil, lingered like a storm cloud just out of reach, and Valery knew they needed to tread carefully.

"Watch Master Nadiel," Valery began, inclining her head slightly. "I am Jedi Master Valery Noble, and this is Jedi Knight Gil Horn. We've been sent to investigate reports of pirate activity in this sector." Her voice was calm but firm, projecting authority without unnecessary aggression.

She gestured subtly to the colony behind him. "The last known location of one of our Order's Knights, Jedi Knight Crawl, was here. He was investigating disturbances in the area and has since gone silent. We're here to continue that investigation and ensure the safety of this colony."

Nadiel's expression remained stoic, but Valery noted the flicker of something behind his eyes — unease, perhaps. His fingers hovered over the datapad as if weighing his options.

"The colony has experienced some... challenges," Nadiel replied, his words cautious. "The increased security is a precaution due to the recent attacks. I'm sure you understand the need for vigilance."

Valery nodded slowly but didn't break eye contact. "Of course. That vigilance is exactly why we're here. Perhaps you can assist us by providing access to any reports, logs, or communications that might shed light on the pirates' activity or Jedi Crawl's investigation."

It was worth a shot.

Gil Horn ​

 

[Gil Horn]

Tags: Valery Noble

Gil narrowed his eyes. The mention of a Jedi Knight operating on the world did not come as a surprise to the Watch Master. That much was clear from his reaction, but he seemed to avoid any mention of Crawl. He seemed to be avoiding everything, skirting around questions and giving very much vague and uncommitted responses.

Perhaps he should be a Senator.

Nadiel typed a few commands into his datapad, and after receiving a flashing and loud intonation, he nodded his head. "Marshal Jen is currently in her office at the center of town. She will be able to assist you with any further questions you need answered. If you will excuse me..." Nadiel took two quick steps away from the Jedi, before turning and setting off across the landing pad to several nearby workers. Gil watched him go, one eyebrow raised as the little man stumbled across a power cable running across the landing pad.

"Well that answered so much," Gil muttered, turning to look at the two droids standing before them. They had not followed the Watch Master when he made his escape. They stood there, silent, watching the two Jedi, their photo receptors clicking every few moments. Gil could not tell if they were taking photos of them, or simply having malfunctions.

"Master Noble," Gil said, looking past the two droids towards the center of town where a large domed structure stood at the juncture of several different roads, "Did that also sound like an invitation to go exploring to you?"

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery watched Watch Master Nadiel retreat with a calm, unreadable expression, though the flicker of amusement in her amber eyes betrayed her thoughts. His vagueness was practically an invitation to dig deeper, and she had no intention of ignoring it.

As Gil muttered, Valery glanced toward the dome-shaped structure he pointed out, her smirk growing ever so slightly. "It certainly did~" she replied, her tone carrying a playful edge despite the tension hanging in the air. The droids standing silently before them only added to the strange atmosphere, but Valery didn't linger on them.

Instead, she began walking toward the center of town with a confident stride, her hands resting lightly on her hips. "Let's go," she called over her shoulder to Gil, the smirk never leaving her lips. She could sense his readiness to dive into the investigation, and she shared his determination. Whatever was happening here, they would uncover the truth.

The path toward the Marshal's office took them through the colony's main thoroughfare, and Valery's sharp gaze swept over the settlement as they walked. The streets were busy with colonists going about their day, but there was a strange quietness to the crowd. People avoided making eye contact, heads down, their movements quick and deliberate. A murmur of unease seemed to ripple through the air, feeding into the dread that lingered in the Force.

Reaching the steps of the domed building, Valery paused, her amber eyes flicking to Gil. "Keep your senses sharp," she said, her tone quieter now but no less firm. "There's more to this than just pirates, and I don't think Marshal Jen will give us all the answers outright."

With that, she stepped forward and pushed open the heavy doors, ready to meet the elusive Marshal and uncover the next layer of this mystery.

Gil Horn​

 

[Gil Horn]

Tags: Valery Noble

Gil nodded his head, setting off after Valery, his eyes resting on her back for a moment before turning to look at the people they passed. They certainly looked like mining world colonists. Most wore simple clothing in browns and grays, though a few wore more elaborate clothing. Shop owners if Gil had to guess. There was a disproportionate number of young adults and middle aged adults in the colony, and Gil see very few older individuals, or children for that matter. Not unheard of for the hard living of the colonies, but the sheer lack of either party drew Gil's attention.

Gil glanced back to Valery as she spoke, a grimace crossing his face. "They are as sharp as they can be, Grandmaster. There is some kind of...haze over the people here. A sense of loss in them. Something has happened recently, some great event that has shaken them to their core. I do not know what it could be though..."

Gil followed Valery inside the domed structure, taking a few steps away from Valery as they entered to spread the two Jedi out in case of a surprise attack. He doubted it, but there was enough going on here that ingrained teachings from Master Ohognh kicked in. She was very much a paranoid old woman Gil thought, a smile touching his face as he took in the security office.

Office was perhaps a generous word for the warehouse turned marshal building. Stacks of crates lined either side of the room, and Gil could see metal bars through a open door near the rear of the building. The holding cells he figured. Taking up a majority of the room was a onyx black desk with stacks of datapads on one side, and a picture frame set on the other. There was something odd about the desk, Gil though as he looked at it. It finally clicked as he glanced at the woman standing up from the chair, and noticed much the same thing about her.

It was spotless.

Nothing in the colony so far had been free of a pervasive red dust, it even lingered in the main room of the marshals office here. There was however no dust on the desk, nor on the blonde haired woman with sharp features, a dark smile on her face as she looked at the two Jedi. "Well, its not often we get your type around here," she said, her voice grating and lacking any sense of warmth to it, "my name is Marshal Jen Wielder. Here you came to look into our pirate problems?"

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery stepped further into the building, her sharp amber eyes scanning the room with quiet intensity. The Marshal's pristine appearance and unnervingly clean desk immediately stood out against the dusty, weathered backdrop of the colony. Every detail about Jen Wielder seemed deliberate, calculated even, and Valery didn't miss the grating tone in her greeting.

Stopping a few paces from the desk, Valery offered a polite but measured nod. "Marshal Wielder," she began, her voice calm yet carrying a quiet authority. "I'm Jedi Master Valery Noble, and this is Jedi Knight Gil Horn. Yes, we've come to investigate reports of pirate activity in the sector and to follow up on Jedi Knight Crawl's last known assignment here."

She allowed the name to hang in the air briefly, watching closely for any reaction from the Marshal. Even the smallest flicker of recognition or unease could reveal more than words.

Valery's stance remained composed but not overly formal — a subtle reminder that she wasn't here to intimidate but to uncover the truth. "Your Watch Master suggested we start here. Any information you have about the pirates' movements or disturbances in the area would help us piece together what's happening."

Her tone shifted slightly, becoming more conversational as she gestured lightly to the room. "The colony seems tense. I imagine the attacks have been particularly disruptive. Have they been targeting specific locations or resources?"

Valery tilted her head slightly, her amber eyes unyielding in their focus on the Marshal. "And, of course, any reports from or about Knight Crawl would be invaluable."

Her gaze turned to Gil — curious about what he had to say — and lingered on him for a moment. A smile then curved her lips before she looked back at the other woman.

Gil Horn​

 

[Gil Horn]

Tags: Valery Noble

Gil knew his place in these opening moments of the interview. Standard practice called one Jedi to draw the individuals attention, get them focused on the Jedi and, importantly, not focusing on the second Jedi. It was Gil's job to watch all the marshals movements critically, any subtle hints that Valery would not be able to notice without being too obvious with it. Gil also reached out with the Force, discreetly to try and gauge the emotions of the marshal.

He reached out, and struck a brick wall.

He blinked in surprise. There was a mental barrier surrounding the woman's mind. It was possible that it was something the marshal was doing subconsciously. Those of particularly strong minds could resist some Force based intrusions, but it was rare. She could possibly be a Force User, a possibility reinforced by a glance from the woman towards Gil the moment his tendril of Force energy struck that barrier. The marshal was certainly more than a simple frontier world gunslinger.

"Nadiel is correct," Jen said, her words oddly accented as she spoke, "I have been keeping track of their activities. It is all here if you want to read it yourself." Jen tapped one of the datapads on her desk. "As for the colony..." Jen shook her head, pursing her lips in a very good imitation of sadness or perhaps disappointment. "The pirate attacks have been particularly intense as of late, and their indiscriminate use of force has made it necessary for the colony to spend vital resources on increasing its defenses. I am sure you noticed the droids. In the most recent attack we were able to shoot down one of the pirates ships, but it unfortunately landed on the colonies education center..."

A frown crossed Gil's face. It might explain the lack of children he had seen, and the sense of dread hanging across the town. Taken from an outside view all the facts lined up. He was even inclined to believe it.

What she said next drew his attention back from his thoughts. "Your friend, Jedi Knight Crawl, was the one who brought down the ship. He felt guilty, responsible for the pain everyone was feeling. He set out after the pirates and promised to send word when he had discovered their location. That was about two weeks ago."

Gil stepped forward, momentarily losing his focus on the interview when Crawl was finally mentioned. "Did he leave any way to track him? Has he reached out at all since he departed?"

Jen turned her gaze fully on Gil, and the corner of her mouth pulled up slightly. "As a matter of fact, we do. He left us a tracking chip to follow him, but said we were to wait until he had located the pirate base. He wanted to get all the details of their defenses and possible routes of escape before I brought in the calvary. He has not reached out to us yet, but the chip is still active. Its right here if you want it..." Jen said, withdrawing a small device from the desk and extending it out towards Gil, the smile on her face growing.