Private The Abyssal Nightmare

[Reina Daival]

Location: Jedi Temple
Tags: Valery Noble
Lightsaber - Pequod
Leg - Anchor

It was the same dream. Same as always. Reina found herself atop an old ship, strangely similar to the one she was raised on. Rocking and back forth as the waves threatened to capsize it. A heavy storm battering down upon her as the rain stung against her bare skin. Yells and screams echoing through her ears that she couldn't quite decipher before she saw it. A gigantic white whale, with a myriad of black corruption pulsing beneath its skin as large spikes of coral erupted from its skin. A singular eye, blacker than the darkest abyss of space staring down at Reina as the beast rose out of the ocean and came crashing down upon the ship. The sound of cracking and splintering being drowned beneath the storm as Reina was launched into the air and straight into the murky abyss of the ocean. As her eyes snapped open in her fear, she saw more horrors beneath the surface. Dozens upon dozens of decayed aquatic species reaching up to grab the sailors that had fell into the ocean, to drag them into the dark abyss. Inky ooze seeped from various gouges and wounds from the monsters' bodies as they claimed their victims. And as a pair of hands wrapped around Reina's ankles, she found herself jolting awake in her dorm room, the last echoes of her own screams reaching her ears.

She jumped straight out of bed and straight towards her washroom to check over herself. It had been a long time since she had seen her face as white as it was, almost as pale as the very Whale from her nightmare. Though something tugged at the back of her mind, was it a nightmare? It felt so real. Like she was there...but she clearly hadn't been. She was safe, in the Jedi Temple. But her family wasn't. She had finally seen the crew that had raised her as her own family and now there was a chance they were in danger and needed her help. But what if it was all just some kind of dream? Could she live with herself if she chalked it up to a dream and her family were in danger? Could she deal with it if she made a fool of herself from over-reacting? Reina could feel her frustration bubbling up to the surface as she brought her fist straight tot her mirror, wincing at the pain. At least the pain cleared her mind somewhat. She needed to talk to someone. Whilst she trusted Everest with her life...Reina wasn't sure if her best friend would be able to help her. No. She'd try to go to the very top.

With that, Reina set out from her dorm. Yes, sure she probably should have waited until the morning but Reina was slowly learning how important it was to face her fears and emotions instead of burying them down. The Jedi Temple did very little to help comfort her from her fears as she looked upon the familiar pillars, sighing to herself. It wouldn't be long to get there. She just had to figure out the words that she wanted to use. Reina wasn't afraid of seeming insane, not after the voices she had spoke about in her head. No. She was just afraid of hiding stuff without releasing it. Once she arrived at the door, Reina cleared her throat, knocking on the door.

"...Master Noble. Are you in there? I need to talk."​

 

[Valery Noble]

The soft knock at the door was unexpected at this hour, but Valery was still awake — just brushing out her hair as the Temple's quiet settled around her. She'd been getting ready for bed, wrapped in a pale blue nightgown that brushed just past her knees, her long hair cascading freely over her shoulders. It had been a long day, and she'd been looking forward to a few minutes of peace before sleep. But the voice on the other side of the door changed everything.

Her expression shifted immediately at the sound of Reina's voice.

She crossed the room in a few quick steps and keyed open the door. Warm, golden light spilled into the hallway, and Valery stood in its frame, relaxed but fully present. She took in the young woman's expression — the tension in her shoulders, the look in her eyes — and her own softened with immediate understanding.

"Reina," Valery said gently, voice warm with concern. "Come in."

She stepped aside, making room for her to enter without hesitation. "Give me just a second," she added, disappearing briefly into the kitchenette tucked to the side of her quarters. A moment later, she returned, already reaching to prepare the kettle.

"Would you like some tea?" she asked, glancing over her shoulder with a faint, reassuring smile. "Something calming — it helps, sometimes." Once Reina was seated, Valery settled into the opposite chair, posture open, legs curled loosely beneath her, and eyes quietly searching the Padawan's.

"You're safe here," she said softly. "Whatever it is… I'm here to listen."

Reina Daival ​

 

[Reina Daival]

Location: Jedi Temple
Tags: Valery Noble
Lightsaber - Pequod
Leg - Anchor

Compared to the first time she visited Valery's office, Reina was less hesitant to come in this time. Of course, she felt bad coming to Valery for it, but there weren't any other Knights or even Masters that she trusted enough to come to with her concerns. She sat herself down carefully, crossing her legs across each other, adjusting her prosthesis for a moment before wrapping her hands together

"I'd like some tea, yes. I'm...trying to acquire a taste for it."

It was another step of progress she was trying to make. Instead of letting frustrations and nerves run out, Reina had started trying to find pre-emptive measures. Things that could help her calm down, such as tea. Meditation was on the list but she was still struggling with that. She wasn't fond of just sitting still and waiting.

"I'm sorry to have come to you so late. It's just...I had a nightmare. It felt real though. As if it was actually happening and I was just there watching it..."

Reina rubbed her thumbs over each other as she figured out how to word the nightmare. The malevolence she felt from it all. The only time she had experienced such a similar sensation was when she was on Woostri with Jonyna, and Reina had her first true encounter with the Dark Side.

"There was a ship in a storm. The ship I was raised on. The air felt like it was suffocating, like I couldn't breathe it in. It was like some kind of...miasma. People were running back and forth but I couldn't quite see who they were. Then there was a sudden weight of despair that washed over me as a giant...Whale breached the surface of the ocean..."

It sounded more stupid out loud. A Giant Whale. But that was the best way for her to describe it. It had seemed huge, bigger than some of the ships she had seen the Alliance use.

"...It looked right at me. The Whale. With this huge soulless eye. And I felt like...It saw me. Not in the Nightmare, but here. In the Temple."

There was something she wanted to ask but she needed to figure out how to get the words, because the answer she could get might very much not be what she wanted to hear.

"...I still don't know much about the Spirit...or well, Force. But it is possible...to have a dream that takes you elsewhere in the Galaxy? Or that lets you see the future?"​

 

[Valery Noble]

Valery didn't speak right away.

She sat quietly as Reina shared her dream — no, her vision. That much Valery was already leaning toward, even before the girl finished describing the whale, the storm, the weight in the air. Her expression was calm, but her eyes followed every word, watching for more than just meaning. She listened through the Force, too — to the fear clinging to Reina's aura, to the quiet plea for answers beneath her voice.

Only once the Padawan had finished did Valery exhale and lean slightly forward, elbows on her knees, the warmth in her gaze unwavering.

"You're not wrong to question it," Valery said softly. "That may not have been just a dream." She let that truth settle for a moment — not to frighten Reina, but to give weight to the moment. She was always honest with her students, especially when the Force chose to show them something.

"The Force… it doesn't speak in words the way we do. It uses feeling. Symbolism. Sometimes, it pulls pieces of memory, or fear, or hope — and weaves them together into something that feels like a dream. But visions?" She nodded once, slowly. "They're real. Or… they can be."

Her fingers curled lightly around her mug as she glanced into the tea, then back up again.

"They don't always show the future as it will happen. Sometimes, it's what could happen. Or something happening now, somewhere far away. Or something the Force believes we need to prepare for — emotionally, physically, spiritually." A quiet beat passed, and Valery's voice dipped even softer.

"That sense you had — that it saw you? That you were really there?" She nodded. "That's how it starts, sometimes."

Reina Daival ​

 

[Reina Daival]

Location: Jedi Temple
Tags: Valery Noble
Lightsaber - Pequod
Leg - Anchor

And that was the answer Reina was dreading as the colour drained from her face. She didn't want to know something like that could be real. That her family could be in danger. And if that thing saw her, was it going to come after her? No. That last thought was ridiculous. It wouldn't be able to survive on Coruscant. Though that still meant they were other worries she had...

"...My family might be in danger then. I can't stay here and do nothing if that's the case...If there's some form of undead attacking them, infesting an ocean...I need to help. Them, and the Sea."

She brushed her thumb over her hand for a moment at that thought. Reina could not stand here and do nothing whilst the people who had raised her were in danger, but at the same time...She couldn't expect to do much by herself. It was a sign of her growth at the very least. Reina knew she could no longer do everything by herself. Even as a Jedi, her strength was limited. It wasn't just her duty to help her family however. As a Jedi, thanks to Everest Vale at least, Reina was realising how important the environment was. She had to make sure whatever planet it was happening on wasn't ruined by whatever corruption was in its water. Reina took a long moment to debate things over in her mind, trying to come to a decision.

If she asked for help, then there was a chance people could hurt. People she had never met, people who didn't know her who were willing to help a stranger. But did she really deserve that kind of help? After all, she had somewhat resented the mission to save Azurine. People had fought for a Padawan they didn't know against the Sith and some died...One even died in her arms. Was it fair for Reina to have people help her? When she had anger towards the mission? It could prove her wrong. She had thought no-one would help her if the roles had been exchanged...Reina took in a deep breath, as she came to her decision. Man, Karma was so annoying.

"...I have to do this alone. I can't ask anyone from the Order for help. Not after how much I resent the mission to Jedha. It'd be selfish of me to expect anyone to help me. Hypocritical. I can't wrap my head around why any...normal person would die for someone they don't know."

Normal person. Because in her eyes, the Jedi weren't exactly normal. They were Heroes. They went out of their way to save people who they didn't know or had never met. But your regular person? Your regular trooper who had a family? Reina couldn't expect to let someone like that get hurt to help her save her own family. All that being said...She wanted help. She just felt like she didn't deserve it.

​

 

[Valery Noble]

Valery didn't interrupt. She let Reina speak — let her work through the fear, the guilt, the weight of responsibility that came with seeing something like that. She'd seen it before, in others. In herself. The Force had a way of dropping burdens before a person was ready to carry them, and it never asked permission.

But when Reina finally went quiet again, Valery set her tea aside and leaned forward, her voice steady and low.

"You're brave, Reina," she began, and the sincerity in her tone left no room for doubt. "Brave to feel this deeply. Brave to want to act. But I need you to hear me when I say — don't rush." Her expression softened, but her gaze stayed steady, unwavering.

"Visions… they're powerful. But they're not always meant to be acted on right away. They tempt us into believing we must do something — anything — to stop what we see. But sometimes it's that choice, that rush to intervene, that actually creates the future we fear." A pause. "The Force doesn't give us answers. It gives us questions. Warnings. And time to choose wisely."

She let those words hang for a second, giving Reina space to breathe.

"And as for doing it alone?" Her brow lifted, and her smile returned — warm, knowing, with just a hint of that motherly strength Reina had come to trust. "You're not. Jedi help each other. Always." She placed a hand lightly over Reina's — grounding, real.

"This isn't selfish. You're trying to protect people. You're trying to do the right thing, even when you're afraid. That's what the Jedi do. And if you ask for help, we will come — not because we have to, but because we want to. Because you're one of us. Because you matter."

A small pause. Then, a smile touched her lips again.

"So let's figure this out. Together."

Reina Daival ​

 

[Reina Daival]

Location: Jedi Temple
Tags: Valery Noble
Lightsaber - Pequod
Leg - Anchor

Valery was the second person to call Reina brave. The first having been Everest. It was strange how similar the pair were now that Reina thought about it. Was that a part of a Master and Padawan relationship? Or was it just a coincidence that the pair were two of Reina's biggest inspirations. Two of the people responsible for helping Reina to flourish into who she wanted to be. They had faith in her...and whilst Reina didn't have the same faith in herself, she believed in Everest and Valery.

"...Even if my family isn't in danger, there's some kind of corruption in that ocean. And...I can't deal with corruption. Tython taught me that. I can fight against it. I can push it back...but I can't extinguish it. Not like Knight Von Ascania, Knight Valoren or even Everest...But I want to learn. I want to shine. As bright as all of them."

It was part of Reina's determination to do things alone that was pushing that desire to learn. But at the same time, she knew it was something she needed. She couldn't be a beacon of light herself, until she learned how to shine brightly. She had her own Light. It was faint and dimly lit, but she had it. She just needed to make it grow. And time to learn how to do that...but like Valery had said. The Spirit of the Sea was giving her time to learn. To grow instead of rushing in. It was the main lesson she needed to learn. The Spirit had tried to teach her that lesson plenty of times already, her leg being the freshest reminder of it all...She just had to take a step back and breathe.

"I am...grateful for your words. In the past, I might not have believed them, I'll be honest. Actions speak louder than words...but all of the actions I've seen of the Order since I've arrived...It makes me want to believe you."

She had faith in Valery's words. Even if Reina didn't fully believe that the Order was there, she had faith that she would be proven wrong. Faith that this was her home and where she belonged.
​

 

[Valery Noble]

Valery listened, her expression softening as Reina spoke from the heart — about her family, about corruption, about her desire to shine as bright as those who inspired her. It stirred something deep in Valery, not just as a Jedi Master, but as someone who had walked that same path. Who had once doubted her light too.

A warm smile touched her lips as she reached for her tea again, but she didn't drink. Instead, she set it aside and leaned in, her voice steady and sure.

"I'm glad you believe me," she said gently. "But I don't expect you to take that belief and carry it alone." She reached out again, her hand resting lightly atop Reina's. This time it wasn't just comfort — it was a promise.

"You won't face this without help. Not because you need rescuing, but because you deserve support." Her eyes gleamed, that familiar fire catching in her gaze. "And because this is what Jedi do. We show up for each other. We fight back the dark — not for glory, or reputation, but because we care. Because the people, the places, the oceans we protect? They matter."

She gave Reina's hand a gentle squeeze.

"If there's corruption in that sea, I'll come with you. Not just to help… but to teach. Cleansing darkness, purging corruption — I've done it more times than I can count. But the goal isn't just for me to do it again." Her smile softened into something deeper, prouder. "The goal is for you to learn how. So next time… you don't need anyone else to fix it. You'll be able to shine on your own when you need to."

A pause, then she added, "Other Jedi will come too. You'll have a team. We'll figure out how to approach this together. Step by step. The Force gave you this vision because it knew you were strong enough to carry it."

Valery leaned back slightly, her voice dipping with quiet certainty.

"And I know that too."

Reina Daival ​

 

[Reina Daival]

Location: Jedi Temple
Tags: Valery Noble
Lightsaber - Pequod
Leg - Anchor

"I've learned to...believe in the people that believe in me. I'm my own worst critic after all..."

It was thanks to the belief in Reina that her own Light was able to stay lit. There were plenty of times especially recently when it could have been extinguished but it kept lit. She couldn't let it go out when people were trusting her to stay on the right path. It was something she had found extreme value in now.

"I appreciate your help, truly. I've been doing my best to learn as much as I can...but considering my knowledge of the Force is already quite poor, it's a struggle for me to self-teach. I've been doing well with Lightsaber combat at least..."

She couldn't even keep herself resting when she had lost her leg. Even then she was going over lightsaber drills to try and build her strength and skillset. She knew she still had to open her eyes to the Force though. It was why she was grateful for lessons that helped to increase her connection. Master Si had already helped teach Reina and a few others how to connect to the wind more effectively which had been good for Reina. But she was getting distracted. She had to stay focused on why she was here, listening to Valery's words.

"...I want to make sure that any Jedi that do come along at least know how to swim. It's second nature to me, but I know people from more land-locked planets might never have needed to swim in their life."

It wasn't something Reina would be able to teach herself. She didn't see herself as ever being a good teacher. As much as she was working on becoming a more softer person, her personality was still far too sharp and harsh. She'd expect too much out of people...or maybe she was once again being her own worst critic.
​

 

[Valery Noble]

Valery smiled softly, her eyes never leaving Reina's as she listened. She heard the gratitude, the determination — but also the self-criticism that still lingered beneath her words like an undertow. It was familiar. Too familiar.

"No Jedi is expected to self-teach that much," she said gently, her tone wrapping around the words like a warm blanket. "That's why we're part of an Order. You're not supposed to have all the answers on your own — that's what Masters are for. That's what we're all here for." She gave Reina's hand another reassuring squeeze before letting go, her expression full of that quiet, stubborn pride that always lit her features when she saw potential burning in someone.

"You've already come so far. You've fought, grown, pushed through pain — physical and emotional — and you're still here. Still wanting to learn. Still choosing the Light. That means more than flawless technique or some perfect connection to the Force."

She leaned back a bit, finally taking a sip of her tea before she grinned.

"And don't worry. I'll make sure any Jedi who comes knows how to swim. If they don't, well…" Her grin widened just a touch. "They'll learn fast. Or they'll be stuck wearing floaties."

Reina Daival ​

 

[Reina Daival]

Location: Jedi Temple
Tags: Valery Noble
Lightsaber - Pequod
Leg - Anchor

"I've just...always learned things by myself. By watching. It's how things worked on the Ship. I'd watch and then do it. Made it so that I wasn't a drain on resources. I've tried to learn through reading but...it's a struggle. I don't get the words. Written down."

Reina let out a sigh of relief at the squeeze from Valery. It felt nice at the very least to know she had someone to come with her concerns. Or well, someone who was more wise to come to. Reina could come to Everest if she needed to, but at the same time Valery was someone she'd be able to get good answers from.

"Eh. I'm just picking this option because I don't want to go back to selling fish for the rest of my life. This is a lot more enjoyable."

She waved her hand dismissively, breaking out into a little grin. It was true at the very least, she'd much rather rush into a fight and try to help someone than slave away working on fishing. Fishing lost some of its appeal when it was a job. She had to keep her hobbies away from being her job.

"I can try to teach some of the people who don't want to swim just...how to do ship work. Keep them away from having to go into the water..."
​

 

[Valery Noble]

Valery chuckled quietly, the sound warm and low as she set her tea aside again and leaned forward just a touch — not to correct, not to lecture, but to simply be there in the moment with Reina.

"Well, that explains a lot," she said gently, the amusement softening the seriousness in her voice.

Valery leaned back with a soft sigh, letting her body relax more fully into the moment, shoulders no longer quite so tense. "And for the record?" she added with a teasing smile, "Selling fish is an honest job. But I'm glad you picked this path too. The galaxy's a better place with you fighting for it."

She tapped the side of her mug thoughtfully.

"Ship work sounds like a good backup plan for the ones who can't handle the water," she said. "Give 'em something to do while the rest of us are out getting soggy and wrangling sea-monsters." A glimmer of amusement lit her eyes. "I think they'd appreciate that more than being thrown into a lake."

Then, after a beat, her voice turned just a little quieter — more sincere again.

"You don't have to be a perfect Jedi, Reina. Just be you. We'll help with the rest."

Reina Daival ​

 

[Reina Daival]

Location: Jedi Temple
Tags: Valery Noble
Lightsaber - Pequod
Leg - Anchor

"Erh...What explains a lot? Me learning from watching? Or me struggling to read?"

Reina sipped at her tea, letting the soothing warmth help her relax a little bit. Convincing Reina to start relaxing, at least somewhat. It was true. Selling fish had been an honest job. But was the Galaxy a better place with her fighting for it? Reina felt like her aggression was far too...extreme for the Jedi. She threw herself into a battle far too much...

"Selling fish was honest work...but it got me into trouble more than once. Keshi. Jeshda. And now my family might be in danger, fishing somewhere out in the Galaxy..."

The back up plan idea did sound good to her. Make a fighting team that could go and deal with the threats that might be in the water, and then a ship-board team that could make sure that the ship was kept safe...However, Reina was snapped out of her thoughts by the last thing Valery said, as the fisherwoman blinked to herself a few times, trying to hide the embarrassed blush on her face.

"...Just me isn't good enough. I need to learn. I need to get better than who I am right now."
​

 

[Valery Noble]

Valery's eyes softened as she watched Reina speak — the way her voice dipped, the way she tried to mask that blush, the flicker of doubt behind her words. It was something Valery had seen in so many young Jedi before… and in herself, once upon a time. She leaned forward again, resting her forearms on her knees and lacing her fingers together.

"Let me tell you something my Master once told me," she began, her voice quiet but certain. "The path of a Jedi is the path of an eternal student. No matter how old, how experienced, how powerful you become — you never stop learning. You never stop growing."

She let that hang for a moment, her gaze steady.

"So when you say 'just me isn't good enough'? That's not a weakness. That's the heart of what it means to walk this path. You want to be better. You need to grow. That's exactly why you will." Her smile returned then — softer, full of pride.

"You've already taken the hardest step, Reina. You chose to be here. You chose to fight. Not because it's easy, or because someone told you to, but because you knew the galaxy needed more than just silence." Valery sat back, taking her tea again. "And I know it's scary sometimes. I know it feels like the weight's on your shoulders alone sometimes. But it's not. You've got all of us — your fellow Jedi, your Masters, your friends."

She raised the mug slightly, like a toast. "We'll keep helping you get better. Every step of the way."

Reina Daival ​

 

[Reina Daival]

Location: Jedi Temple
Tags: Valery Noble
Lightsaber - Pequod
Leg - Anchor

It was hard for Reina to believe Valery ever had a Master. To the fisherwoman, Valery had always been this wise and knowledgeable. But she listened all the same. It made sense to her at the very least. You were always learning new things in life, so of course you'd learn new things in your life as a Jedi.

"I just...don't feel like I'm making progress on learning. I don't feel like I've been helping anyone. I'm just...violent."

She sighed to herself, linking her hands together to rest her head atop them as she looked down at her feet, trying to figure out how to word her thoughts.

"I lost my leg from being too violent. I rushed in to save some kids from a bunch of slavers on Onderon. I killed them...The slavers I mean..."

Reina felt like she had to put emphasis on that part, because she was starting to doubt that people thought she wanted to help others. At least that was she was starting to feel. She knew she was violent. She liked to fight, but Reina was trying to restrain that part of herself.

"...Some masked guy didn't like that I killed them. He confronted me. Then when the boss showed up to fight me, the masked guy turned off my lightsaber...And I can't do much with my bare hands against an axe..."
​

 

[Valery Noble]

Valery's brows knit slightly, not with judgment, but with a deep, quiet empathy. She didn't interrupt — just listened, her fingers curling loosely around the mug of tea in her hands. When Reina finished, her gaze lifted again, soft and steady.

"I'm sorry that happened," she said gently.

"What happenedwas a hard lesson. The kind of moment that leaves a mark — not just physically, but here," she tapped a finger over her heart. "But the fact that you're sitting here now, telling me about it, questioning it? That means something. It means you're already growing from it."

Valery's voice lowered, her tone reflective. "We all make mistakes, Reina. I've made choices I still think about. I've crossed lines trying to protect people, trying to end fights before they could get worse. And sometimes, it worked. Sometimes, it didn't. But the important thing was that I learned — and I let myself be better because of it."

She smiled faintly.

"You went in to save lives. That intent matters. The violence, the anger — yeah, that's something to be mindful of. But it doesn't define you unless you let it. And you're not letting it. You're here. You're asking questions. You're looking for better ways."

Valery sat back again, her tone warming.

"So maybe your lightsaber got shut off. Maybe the fight didn't go your way. But you got back up. You're still here. And next time? You'll be smarter. More ready."

Her smile grew a touch.

"One lesson at a time."

Reina Daival ​

 

[Reina Daival]

Location: Jedi Temple
Tags: Valery Noble
Lightsaber - Pequod
Leg - Anchor

"Don't be sorry."

Reina snapped slightly. Frustration bubbling up to the surface. Apologises wouldn't fix it. It happened. Valery wasn't involved. So the woman had nothing to be sorry for. It was just what Reina was like. She had been raised on tough love, so the idea of someone apologising for sympathy...wasn't something that would have ever crossed her head. It was just one of many lessons she still needed to learn to grow, not just as a Jedi to but to grow as a person. That was one of the biggest things she wanted to do. Become a better person.

"It wasn't a mistake. If I didn't step in, those kids might have been taken off world. I might have lost my leg and it might have...left a scar on my heart, but I don't regret it. That might be wrong...but I don't care. I regret the violence, yes, but I don't regret jumping in to save them. I'd do it all over again if I was given the choice."

At the end of the day however, Valery was right. Reina knew more than to rely on her lightsaber now. Not to rush into an attack without having some kind of back up for it. Next time if her lightsaber was turned off, she wouldn't freeze. She'd continue to fight. Because that's what she was deep down inside of her, Reina was a fighter.




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