Private The Cult’s Call

[Valery Noble]

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Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Lightsabers

The Bastion hummed quietly as it cut through the expanse of the Unknown Regions, its sleek silhouette barely distinguishable against the endless void of stars. Inside the cockpit, Valery sat in the pilot's seat, her fiery amber eyes focused on the faint blip of their destination on the ship's navigation system. Beside her, Diogo was seated, hopefully ready to take on an assignment in the Unknown Regions.

It wasn't every day you ventured this far from the Core, after all — especially to face what awaited them.

A small colony had sent out a distress signal, claiming a dark side cult had begun to take root within their ranks. Reports spoke of disappearances, shadowed rituals in the wilderness, and whispers of power that twisted the minds of the desperate. The Unknown Regions were no stranger to such disturbances, but this cult had drawn too much attention to ignore. If left unchecked, their influence could spread like a wildfire, consuming not only the colony but nearby systems as well.

Valery glanced at Diogo, her tone calm but edged with purpose. "The cultists we're dealing with are dangerous, but they thrive on fear and secrecy. If we disrupt their power base and take their leaders down, the colony has a chance to rebuild."

As the Bastion drew closer to the planet, its shadowed surface slowly coming into view, Valery adjusted the ship's course for a discreet landing near the edge of a dense forest. The cult's main activity had been traced to a sprawling cave system hidden within the wilderness — a perfect location for the kind of rituals described in the colony's reports.

Valery powered down the ship as they touched down, the hum of the engines fading into an eerie silence. The cockpit lights dimmed, leaving only the faint glow of the planet's surface outside to illuminate their surroundings.

She stood, her dark jumpsuit shifting slightly with the motion. "We'll start by scouting the area. Stick close, and keep your senses sharp. The dark side may be clouding more than just the Force here."

Diogo Talon ​

 

[Diogo Talon]

Diogo reclined in the co-pilot seat, nonchalantly sprawled out as much as the chair allowed. His gaze out of the transparisteel viewport was relaxed and unfocused, absorbing the black fabric of space and its collage of stars without concentrating on anything in particular. He casually brushed his bangs from his face.

Though he acted calm—and Valery's presence was always grounding—there was a detectable uneasiness in Diogo. He was familiar with cults, having grown up in one on Niamos, a Jensaarai off-shoot, to be specific. The circumstances were completely different, but this still felt oddly close to home.

On the bright side, Diogo was working with Valery Noble. Y'know, the fethin' Grandmaster. Which meant this mission had a very high likelihood of success, with or without him. In fact, he thought about making trouble just to give her a bit of a challenge and keep things interesting. She would appreciate that... probably.

The thing Diogo was really looking forward to was wrestling back control of his life. This seemed like a start. Lately, he was feeling like a victim of circumstance. First a Rishi pirate attack, then a Neo-Mandalorian raid on Keshi… Diogo was sick and tried of surprises. It was time for him to be on the other end for once.

"The cultists we're dealing with are dangerous, but they thrive on fear and secrecy. If we disrupt their power base and take their leaders down, the colony has a chance to rebuild."

"A head-on confrontation?" he asked.

"The dark side may be clouding more than just the Force here."

Diogo didn't know what the hell that meant, but he had a feeling he was gonna find out real soon. Confirming her instructions, he gave Val a firm nod of his head before they moved out.

As they cautiously exited the starship, Diogo was caught off guard by what he saw. The dark side had clearly infested this place, making the forest look more like a swamp than anything else. The vibrancy of the flora was muted with dull grey undertones and there was a thick stench of decay that clung to the air. The chittering of various bugs and the leaf-rustling movements of local fauna were the only sounds that found his ears. As far as Diogo could tell, no sentient being had noticed their arrival.

After checking their immediate surroundings, there was nothing left to do but press forward.

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery descended the ramp of the Bastion with deliberate steps, her fiery amber eyes scanning their surroundings. The oppressive weight of the dark side hung in the air like a shroud, pressing against her senses. The warped flora and swamp-like terrain were as unnerving as they were telling — this place had been consumed by the corruption they were here to root out.

She took a moment to adjust her grip on her lightsaber hilt, clipped securely at her side, before turning to glance at Diogo. His earlier question about a head-on confrontation lingered in her mind. While his posture and outward confidence seemed intact, Valery's instincts picked up on a subtle undercurrent of unease.

"Ideally, we'll avoid a direct fight until we know exactly what we're dealing with," she said, her voice calm but edged with focus. "But if it comes to that, we'll handle it together."

The soft crunch of her boots against the decaying undergrowth punctuated their movements as they pressed deeper into the forest. The thick air carried a stench that gnawed at her senses, but she didn't falter. Her gaze remained sharp, flicking from the trees that twisted unnaturally toward the patches of murky water that glistened in the faint, unnatural light filtering through the canopy.

After a few minutes of walking, Valery held up a hand, signaling for Diogo to pause. She crouched low, her fiery gaze fixed on the faint remnants of footprints leading toward a narrow path partially obscured by dense, thorny vines.

"Looks like we're on the right track," Valery murmured, her voice low to avoid disturbing the eerie quiet. "These prints are recent — humanoid. Likely the cultists."

She reached out with the Force, allowing its currents to guide her perception. The dark side pulsed faintly in the direction the footprints led, each beat growing stronger as she focused.

Her amber eyes met his with steady resolve. "I'll take point, but I want you close. Stay sharp, and trust your instincts. If something feels off, don't hesitate to speak up."

As they continued along the path, the air grew colder, the unnatural silence amplifying the faint sound of dripping water in the distance. Valery glanced back at Diogo briefly, her expression softening for a moment. "You're handling this well," she said quietly, her voice carrying a note of encouragement. "The dark side thrives on doubt and fear, but you're not letting it get to you." It was important to keep it that way.

They were getting close.

Diogo Talon ​

 

[Diogo Talon]

"Ideally, we'll avoid a direct fight until we know exactly what we're dealing with," she said, her voice calm but edged with focus. "But if it comes to that, we'll handle it together."

"Understood," Diogo said, though his voice was tinged with some impatience. He couldn't stand this foreboding feeling. There was a heavy texture that seemed to press down on him, as if the gravity had been cranked all the way up. It was an oddly familiar anxiety, like the quotidian fear of his own Anzati nature, but this was palpably more intense and in the moment. Truthfully, Diogo just wanted it over with.

But Valery was here. Her calm resolve and steadfast focus on the mission kept him grounded. The safety of her presence was like a bright aura that burned around her, keeping the sinister shadows at bay.

After a few minutes of walking, Valery held up a hand, signaling for Diogo to pause. She crouched low, her fiery gaze fixed on the faint remnants of footprints leading toward a narrow path partially obscured by dense, thorny vines.

"Looks like we're on the right track," Valery murmured, her voice low to avoid disturbing the eerie quiet. "These prints are recent — humanoid. Likely the cultists."

Diogo paused. With his attention focused elsewhere he almost bumped into her, but managed to stop just short. He shook his head, admonishing himself for not paying better attention.

Val was good at this, no surprises there. She found the footprints and pointed out the narrow path that was partially obscured. Now that he was looking at it, it seemed obvious. But there was no way he would have figured that out on his own. He had a long way to go in his training, he realized.

"I'll take point, but I want you close. Stay sharp, and trust your instincts. If something feels off, don't hesitate to speak up."

"Right behind you," he whispered, confirming. "Looks like we're close."

"You're handling this well," she said quietly, her voice carrying a note of encouragement. "The dark side thrives on doubt and fear, but you're not letting it get to you."

"Eh, no big deal," he said quietly, bluffing a bit. "I can handle anything." Did he actually feel that way? Debatable. The foreboding feeling had grown more acute and a headache was aggressively tightening around his head like a vice grip. As the sound of dripping water punctuated the eerie silence, each echo was like a hammer blow to his fragile skull. Her presence was doing a lot of the heavy lifting here, keeping his doubts and fears in check, but he wasn't about to let her know that.

Diogo glanced up. The forest's canopy of grey, sagging branches blotted out the sky. After a brief, forgetful moment, his attention snapped back to the ground in front of them, eyes scanning for anything out of place.

"Do you think they might have boobytraps or something? I doubt they anticipate havin' visitors, but you never know."

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery's focus remained razor-sharp as they moved forward, her fiery amber eyes scanning the path with heightened awareness. The earlier trap had put her on edge, and though her movements were fluid and deliberate, tension coiled like a spring within her.

"Stay close," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper as her senses brushed against the dark side presence saturating the air.

Her boot pressed into the soft undergrowth, and for a fraction of a second, everything stilled.

Then, with a mechanical snap and a whir of tension-releasing mechanisms, a net made of coarse, dark fibers shot upward from beneath the ground. It wrapped around Valery in a blur of motion, yanking her off her feet and into the air. She twisted instinctively, her lightsaber snapping into her hand.

She quickly cut herself out, then landed on the ground below, her hair tousled and her eyes betraying a hint of frustration. "Chit," Valery cursed, "We need to pick up the pace. There's a chance they might have overheard that." It was ironic that she had been caught in a trip, not long after he mentioned them possibly existing out here.

But things rarely went according to plan.

Diogo Talon ​

 

[Diogo Talon]

Diogo lurched backwards when he heard the mechanical snap. As Val was yanked into the air, he fumbled at his belt for the lightsaber that hung there. The dark side energy made his movements sluggish and his headache certainly didn't help things. Before he could even unclip his lightsaber, she had cut herself free and landed on the ground with a thud. Relief washed over him. At least one of them was competent.

Val's eyes betrayed a hint of frustration and the seriousness of her mood kept Diogo's mouth shut. Normally he'd quip, telling her to watch her step, or him being glad she was tanking the traps for him, but contradictory to his usual nature, he thought it better to be wise and silent.

As the pair prowled further through the forest, the sound of dripping water steadied to a thunderous rush as though there was a waterfall of some sort nearby. Its source presumably lied in the cave. "Think we're close, they must use the water as a sound barrier." Which was good news for them, because that natural security feature was double-edged, meaning the cultists probably hadn't heard them. Diogo figured their security concerns were probably minimal, anyway. All the way out here in the Unknown Regions, why would they expect Jedi to show up? Which also explained why the traps were rudimentary capture devices—at most, their only real concern was likely local village kids wandering curiously into the jungle. Or... they liked their victims alive for sacrifice... or something more nefarious...

With the cave mouth in view, Diogo started noticing runes (his best guess) carved into various trees trunks and painted on moss-covered rocks. They glowed a dull purple-ish color, and there was a heaviness the boy felt just looking at them. "Uh... what are those?" Diogo asked, concern tinged in his voice, pointing the runes out even though Val was probably well aware of them.

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery's eyes swept over the glowing runes, their dull purple light casting eerie patterns against the foliage. Her fiery amber gaze narrowed slightly, her steps slowing as she took in the intricate carvings and the ominous weight they carried in the Force. Each rune seemed to pulse faintly, as though alive with dark energy, and the oppressive presence of the dark side thickened with every step closer to the cave.

"They're Sith runes," Valery replied, her voice low and edged with tension. There was no way she'd ever mistake them for something else, considering Kahlil's focus on the Jedi variant of them. She gestured toward one of the symbols etched into a mossy rock, her fingers hovering just above its surface. "They serve different purposes — wards, barriers, or sometimes they're meant to amplify the dark side's influence in a specific area. These..." she trailed off, her gaze shifting toward the cave entrance, "Feel like they're meant to protect this place."

The thunderous rush of water echoed around them, a natural curtain concealing their presence as much as it concealed the activities within the cave. But the runes were a complication — not just a passive defense, but an active warning for whoever had carved them.

Valery turned to Diogo, her expression serious but calm. "Don't touch them. Even just brushing against one could trigger... well, anything. And we don't want to find out the hard way what these are designed to do." Her tone softened slightly, a touch of reassurance in her words.

As they moved closer to the cave mouth, Valery extended her senses through the Force, probing gently at the runes without disturbing them. The energies they emitted pushed back against her presence, resisting her attempts to analyze them fully, but she caught glimpses of fear and anger etched into the designs — emotions that had likely been woven into the carvings during their creation.

She glanced back at Diogo, her lips curving into a faint, wry smile despite the tension in the air. "You were right about the traps earlier, so I'm going to guess you have a good instinct for trouble. Anything else about this place feel... off to you?"

Diogo Talon ​

 

[Diogo Talon]

"They're Sith runes... They serve different purposes — wards, barriers, or sometimes they're meant to amplify the dark side's influence in a specific area. These..." she trailed off, her gaze shifting toward the cave entrance, "Feel like they're meant to protect this place."

Diogo's index finger was poised to press the rune in front of him. It was almost an unconscious movement, like the lure of the dark side was pulling him in without his knowledge or consent. He couldn't look away from the strange, purple glow. The closer he got, the faster it seemed to pulse.

Valery turned to Diogo, her expression serious but calm. "Don't touch them. Even just brushing against one could trigger... well, anything. And we don't want to find out the hard way what these are designed to do." Her tone softened slightly, a touch of reassurance in her words.

Val's words snapped him out of it. Abruptly, he jerked his finger back, but then his elbow flew back with the motion's momentum, colliding with a tree behind him. Dead in the middle of the trunk was a rune. Though he didn't hit it directly, the vibrations of the tree seemed to cause the rune to pulse faster. The whole ordeal lasted just a second and made next to no noise, so he assumed Val hadn't noticed. Since nothing was happening, he surmised nothing was wrong and he saw fit to keep it to himself. Miscommunication never caused problems!

"Right, well... glad you're familiar with them. They seem very dangerous."

She glanced back at Diogo, her lips curving into a faint, wry smile despite the tension in the air. "You were right about the traps earlier, so I'm going to guess you have a good instinct for trouble. Anything else about this place feel... off to you?"

"Just lucky this time, I think. Usually trouble finds me," he quipped. "I don't sense anything else, do you?" A numbness started spreading around his elbow, so he flexed his arm at the joint. Shaking it off, he convinced himself it was nothing. Diogo knelt behind brush, the mouth of the cave dead ahead. "What do we do now?"

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery turned her gaze back to Diogo as he knelt behind the brush, his question pulling her thoughts away from the oppressive weight of the dark side surrounding the cave. Her amber eyes flicked toward the mouth of the cave, her senses expanding outward to probe the area more deeply. The Force pushed back against her intrusion, resisting like a heavy tide, but it wasn't enough to keep her from picking up the faint echoes of movement and energy within.

"I don't sense anything immediate outside the cave," she said quietly, her tone calm but cautious. "But inside, there are faint ripples of activity. Whoever set up these runes likely anticipated unwanted visitors." She shifted her gaze back to Diogo, noting the subtle tension in his movements as he flexed his arm. For a moment, her fiery eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of concern passing across her face.

"You okay?" she asked, her voice soft but pointed. "If something feels off, tell me. These runes can have lingering effects even without a direct trigger."

Some even targeted the mind.

Her gaze lingered on him for a moment longer before returning to the cave. "As for what we do now..." She trailed off, her expression tightening in thought. "We need to get inside, but not without caution."

Valery crouched lower, her fingers brushing against the ground as she drew on the Force. Around her, the air seemed to hum faintly with energy, and she exhaled slowly, letting her connection to the light guide her thoughts. "I'll try to suppress the effects of the runes as much as I can while we move through. It won't nullify them entirely, but it should make it harder for them to trigger."


With a final glance at the brush concealing them, Valery rose to her feet and gestured for Diogo to follow. "Let's move. Whatever's in that cave, we need to figure it out before it becomes a bigger problem." She cast one more look over her shoulder, her eyes flicking between Diogo and the glowing runes as the two pressed forward into the unknown.

Diogo Talon ​

 

[Diogo Talon]

"Im... okay?" Diogo said, with a rising voice inflection. Chit, why did it come out as a question? It irritated him how bad he was at lying. "Uh... I must have just been sitting in a weird way on the ship. My arm just fell asleep."

Diogo nodded, following her lead as they cautiously entered the cave. Passing the threshold of the cave mouth, the shadows slowly enveloped them, like a silent beast swallowing them whole, and jagged stalactites and stalagmites were like fangs, belaboring the imagery. Deeper along the slithering path, the faint, purple flicker of the runes was the only source of light, giving off an eerie glow. There was a strange dream quality to it, causing the boy to be unable to cardinally-orient himself, like he was floating in the middle of a vast, haunting ocean. Just keep going forward. Val's concentration was vital here, so Diogo walked slowly, avoiding sudden movements and the like.

The number of runes multiplied as they trekked along and they seemed to pulse faster than before. The corrupting influence of the dark side grew, causing Diogo's headache to worsen and his arm to throb. Diogo could hear quiet, indecipherable whispers. The emotions behind the cacophony of voices were twisted and angry, dripping with poisonous rage. He couldn't make heads or tails as to where they were coming from. Was it in his own head?

"Do you hear that, master?" he asked, his voice more sluggish.

Up ahead, the path before them forked in opposite directions.

Valery Noble​

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery's fiery gaze swept across the eerie, flickering runes as they pressed deeper into the cave. The oppressive energy of the dark side thickened with every step, wrapping around them like an invisible coil. She kept her focus on suppressing the worst of its effects, her presence in the Force a steady light against the growing shadow.

When Diogo spoke, his voice tinged with uncertainty, she glanced back at him. The way he answered her earlier question still lingered in her mind — he wasn't fine. She could sense the tension in his aura, the faint ripples of discomfort that weren't just from the environment.

Her gaze softened for a brief moment. "If it gets worse, tell me," she said firmly but gently. "This place is designed to manipulate and unnerve us, and the dark side feeds on any weakness it finds. Don't let it fester."

When the whispers reached her ears, she slowed her pace. They were faint and elusive, their words incomprehensible but their intent clear — anger, hatred, and pain. The emotions clung to her like smoke, but she pushed back against them, her mind a fortress of calm.

"I hear them," she replied, her tone steady but tinged with tension. "They're not real — echoes of whoever created these runes. Memories or projections designed to disorient and weaken us." Her words were meant to reassure Diogo as much as they were to reinforce her own focus.

As they approached the fork in the path, Valery stopped and let her senses stretch outward. The left path felt colder, heavier, and the whispers seemed louder in that direction. The right path wasn't much better, but the oppressive energy felt... quieter, more muted.

Valery glanced back at Diogo, her expression calm but resolute. "The left path is more saturated in the dark side. That likely means it leads closer to the heart of this place, where the source of the runes' power might be. But it'll be harder to resist."

She stepped back slightly, giving Diogo a chance to process the options. "What do you think? Either way, we stay together." Her voice softened, but her determination remained.

Diogo Talon ​

 

[Diogo Talon]

Without Val here, Diogo wasn't sure what he'd do. He'd never experienced the dark side like this before. It was oppressive, making the air feel heavy and saturated. His mind ran, his heart pumped. The whispers threatened to rip his skull apart and the acrid taste on his tongue left him feeling nauseous. This was an assault on all his senses, corrupting the very fabric of how he processed the world.

By the time they reached the branching paths, Diogo's knees were weak, his joints stiff and sore. Still, he was determined. Not even a mountain would stop him now. He gazed down each path. When he looked left, it felt like a noose wrapped around his neck and dragged him forward.

"We have to go left," Diogo swallowed hard, feeling like his throat was restricted even though it wasn't. "That's what we came here for. Right?"

Valery Noble​

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery's eyes lingered on Diogo, reading the determination etched into his features despite the weight of the oppressive darkness pressing down on them both. She nodded once, firm and resolute. "That's right, there's only one way."

With a deep breath, Valery turned toward the left path, her violet lightsaber humming faintly in her grip as they advanced. The air grew colder with each step, thick with a dark presence that coiled around them like a living entity. The whispers grew louder, words slipping in and out of understanding, but their intent was undeniable — malice, anger, despair.

The corridor twisted and turned, the walls narrowing as if the cave itself sought to crush them. Faint crimson light began to seep through cracks in the stone, casting eerie, shifting shadows that seemed to move of their own accord. The sound of murmured chanting drifted toward them, low and guttural, carrying with it a resonance of power that made Valery's skin crawl.

She slowed her pace, motioning for Diogo to stay close and silent. Her senses stretched outward, brushing against the ripples of energy ahead. What she felt made her heart tighten — death, pain, and fear emanating like a storm.

Finally, they emerged at the edge of a wide, circular chamber. The ceiling vaulted high above, jagged stone illuminated by the flickering light of dark crimson flames set into sconces along the walls. At the center of the room was a raised stone slab, its surface stained dark with a substance that could only be blood.

Strapped to the slab was a figure, their body limp but their shallow breaths visible even from this distance. Around the slab, three robed figures chanted in unison, their voices weaving together in a harsh and grating melody. The energy in the room pulsed with every syllable, the Force screaming in Valery's senses with the weight of their intent.

Valery clenched her jaw, her grip tightening on her lightsaber. Her fiery gaze flicked to Diogo, "Stay behind me, but be ready. If things escalate, we act together," she whispered.

Turning back to the scene, Valery took a cautious step forward, her presence in the Force flaring as she prepared herself for whatever horrors awaited. The cultists hadn't noticed them yet, but every second they delayed was a second closer to the ritual's completion — and whatever nightmare it sought to unleash.

Diogo Talon ​

 

[Diogo Talon]

"Together," he confirmed, staying behind Val's protective presence, creeping forward slowly.

The three figures, draped in wine-stain colored robes, chanted with malicious intent. A creepy chill crawled up Diogo's spine as he noticed they either had their eyes rolled back in their sockets or they simply no longer possessed pupils. Their bald heads reflected the faint glow of the cavern. The harsh, grating tones of the cultists echoed down the cavern walls, piercing Diogo's mind and triggering something in him. Arm suddenly searing with pain, Diogo dropped to his knees, crying out. The dark side whispers crescendoed in his ears.

Diogo was fighting for his life. His hands firmly gripped his head, his fingers trembled with exertion, as though he could stop the pain by squishing his own head like a melon. But it was no use.

Then, Diogo's whimpers were the only sound—the chanting ceased. The robed figures, seemingly unperturbed and self-satisfied, backed away. "Rise," they said in unison. Slowly, the gray-skinned, blood-soaked body on the slab awakened; its eyes were crimson, thick with bloodlust; its nails unnaturally twisted into sharpened claws; its needle-like teeth were bared with saliva-dripped fangs. In an instant, the grotesque creature launched itself at Valery.

So much for together, this was her fight now.

Diogo, for his part, slowly slithered toward the slab, bewitched by the dark side and desperate for a taste of the syrupy, blackened blood.

Valery Noble​

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery's grip tightened on her lightsaber as the chanting stopped, the sudden silence amplifying the tension in the chamber. Her fiery gaze darted to Diogo, alarm surging through her as he dropped to his knees, his cries of pain cutting through the stillness.

"Diogo!" she called out, her voice sharp with urgency. The dark side's grip on him was tangible, oppressive, and she felt the pull it exerted on his very essence.

Before she could reach him, the creature on the slab stirred, its grotesque features twisting into a feral snarl. The energy in the room shifted violently as the abomination launched itself at her, its claws outstretched and eyes burning with crimson rage.

With a swift motion, Valery extended her free hand, the Force surging through her in a controlled yet powerful burst. The creature was wrenched mid-air and flung sideways, crashing into the jagged wall with a sickening thud. Stones cracked and dust cascaded down, but the creature only hissed, its gaze snapping back to her as it readied itself for another attack.

Valery didn't hesitate. Her violet blade ignited fully, humming with a steady defiance against the darkness.

"Diogo!" she called out again, her tone firm but layered with concern. "You have to resist! This isn't you, it's the dark side trying to control you!"

Her eyes flicked briefly to where he was inching toward the slab, his movements erratic and his aura thick with the taint of the dark side. The syrupy blackened blood on the slab seemed to pull at him, promising power and relief from his pain.

"Diogo, fight it!" Valery's voice rang out, commanding and resolute.

Even as the creature snarled and prepared to lunge again, Valery held her ground, dividing her focus between the imminent threat and the Padawan's struggle.

Diogo Talon ​

 

[Diogo Talon]

The words pierced the darkened clouds of his mind. Diogo paused, looking around like a child who just lost their parents in a crowded market. His gaze found Val. "Master Noble?" he said shakily, his eyes round and pleading.

The cultists, wise to the inadequates of their creation against a battle-hardened Jedi Master, and aware of the green-haired boys vulnerability, turned their focus on him. They chanted in unison again, their corrupting control of the Force directed at the susceptible Diogo. In a flash, the whispered voices in his mind became screams, drowning out everything else. Val's voice became no more than a whistle in the wind. He hopelessly gripped his head at the sharp pain and his heart aggressively thumped against his rib cage. Given his weakened state, resistance easily gave way to acquiescence, and the dark side enveloped him, urging him on. Diogo's Anzati proboscis abruptly burst from their cavities—they trashed manically, desperately drawn to the scent of blood. He continued his slither to the blood-soaked slab.

Hoping Val was distracted, the cultists' grotesque creature launched itself at her again, snarling, hissing and screeching, its claws slashing at her throat.

Valery Noble​

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Lightsabers

The creature came at Valery with a feral speed, its claws slicing through the air toward her throat. With a fluid motion, she sidestepped the attack, her violet blade flashing with precision as it severed one of the creature's claws mid-swing. The grotesque appendage fell to the ground with a sickening thud, twitching slightly before lying still. Valery's hand shot forward, and with a powerful push through the Force, she hurled the creature back against the far wall once again. The impact sent a cascade of dust and debris raining down, momentarily obscuring it from view.

Her focus immediately snapped to Diogo, and what she saw made her heart drop.

His proboscises thrashed wildly, the dark side twisting his movements into something erratic and desperate as he inched closer to the blood-soaked piece of stone. His face was a mixture of anguish and surrender, and the cultists' chanting grew louder, their influence sinking claws deeper into his mind.

"Diogo!" Valery called out again, her voice firm but edged with desperation. She saw the dark side consuming him, twisting his very essence, and she knew she had to act before it claimed him completely.

With a sharp inhale, Valery extended her free hand toward him, the Force surging outward in a desperate attempt to break the cultists' hold. Invisible tendrils wrapped around Diogo's form, halting his advance toward the slab. She clenched her jaw, her amber eyes blazing with determination as she began to pull him back toward her.

"You are stronger than this, Diogo!" she shouted, her voice steady despite the emotional storm churning within her. In an attempt to free him from his curse, Valery threw her lightsaber into a controlled arc, its blade sweeping across the floor as it aimed to cut down one of the cultists before returning to her hand.

Diogo Talon ​

 

[Diogo Talon]

The creature slammed into the now-brittle limestone wall. Debris collapsed on-top of it, neutralizing any threat it posed.

Diogo felt himself jerked back. Hissing, he clawed at the dirt, blackening his fingers and nails as he desperately tried to push forward. But it was no use. Simultaneously, an intangible tether, like a noose around his neck, snapped in an instant. One down, but two remained. One cultist, sliced clean in half, crumpled to the ground. Despite that, the two other cultists still held sway over Diogo. He wasn't gone, not completely, but Val had an uphill battle. The runes pulsed violently.

The two remaining cultists, alarmed, chanted louder and faster. Pain surged through Diogo, and the boy fed on it. There was one thing preventing him from his satisfying his blood crazing: Valery. She had to be stopped. She had to die.

The boy rose. His breath was ragged, his veins were black and varicose. Unclipping his lightsaber hilt, Diogo unconsciously flicked the ignition switch. The light of the blue blade bled into the cave, piercing the palatinate purple darkness. With a violently swift motion, Diogo attacked.

Valery Noble​

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery's amber eyes widened as Diogo ignited his lightsaber, the blade's blue glow painting the cavern walls in sharp contrast to the dark aura radiating from him. Her heart clenched at the sight of her Padawan, consumed by pain and the dark side's grip. She tightened her own hold on her lightsaber, its violet blade humming steadily as she prepared to defend herself without harming him.

"Diogo," she called out, her voice laced with urgency but underpinned by unshakable resolve. "Fight it," she urged him.

Diogo lunged with ferocious speed, his strikes wild and unrestrained. Valery moved swiftly, parrying his attack with a precision that deflected his blade without retaliation. Each swing was met with fluid, defensive movements, her experience and control evident in every step. But she would not strike back.

She sidestepped a particularly vicious strike, her lightsaber meeting his with a crackling clash.

As another blow came down, Valery baited the attack, stepping back just enough to create an opening. The instant his blade arced downward, she leaped into the air, her body twisting in a graceful flip that carried her over him. While suspended midair, Valery extended her free hand toward the chanting cultists. A chunk of debris from the cave floor rose and shot forward like a projectile, striking one of the remaining cultists in the chest and sending him crashing into the jagged wall.

Landing lightly behind Diogo, Valery pivoted to face him once more, her blade held defensively, "Don't let them have this sway over you. Shield your mind."

Diogo Talon ​

 

[Diogo Talon]

"Diogo," she called out, her voice laced with urgency but underpinned by unshakable resolve. "Fight it," she urged him.

The words echoed in his mind, but found no purchase in his consciousness. A background noise, filtered and subsumed by the corrupted clouds in his mind.

Diogo relentlessly attacked. Throwing caution to the wind, there was no patience, no reading of his opponent, just pure aggression. The Force surged through his body, enhancing his muscles and reflexes. Though he was naturally no match for Valery, he was stronger and more ferocious than he'd ever been. She met each attack with defensive precision, but refused to parry, riposte, or fight back at all. That just pissed him off even more.

Val shot a chunk of debris at one of the cultists. The wine-stain robed figure collapsed as ribs crunched under the blunt force impact. The other cultist, sensing the hour of his demise close at hand, tucked tail and fled, hastily stumbling down a darkened corridor. Whatever control they had on Diogo snapped, like a fallen, dry branch under a heavy boot. But he was still corrupted, his blackened arm was a testament to that. Exhausted and unable to think, he continued his savage offensive.

Landing lightly behind Diogo, Valery pivoted to face him once more, her blade held defensively, "Don't let them have this sway over you. Shield your mind."

This time, the words pierced his mind, like sunlight parting dwindling storm clouds.

His consciousness flickered. "I... I don't know how," he shuddered.

"I can't do it. I can't be helped." His eyes darkened again.

"I have to feed."

Diogo thrust his blackened hand forward, exerting a Force push on Val to try and give him distance. Regardless of the outcome, he took the moment to leap to the slab, desperately determined to consume the revitalizing blood and unlock the latent, congenital darkness within him.

Valery Noble​