Private The Cult’s Call

[Valery Noble]

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Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery staggered back, her boots skidding against the rocky cavern floor as Diogo's Force push sent her reeling. She braced herself, the impact jolting her but not breaking her focus. Her eyes snapped to the Padawan as he leaped toward the blood-soaked slab, desperation radiating off him like a toxic haze.

She couldn't let him fall further. Not like this.

With her heart pounding, Valery thrust her free hand forward, her palm outstretched and steady. The room seemed to pause, the oppressive dark energy pressing in from all sides meeting a sudden, unwavering resistance. From her palm, a warm, golden light began to emanate, pulsing like the beat of a steady drum.

The first pulse of Force Light was faint but steady, washing over the slab and its bloodied surface. The vile substance recoiled as if struck, the shadows around it writhing and peeling away. The darkness clinging to the walls, the floor, and the very air of the chamber began to wither under the onslaught of the pure, unyielding light.

The pulses grew stronger, each one rippling outward like waves crashing against a shore, cleansing the cavern of its malevolent taint. Her amber eyes locked onto him, and for a moment, her expression softened, "Snap out of it," she said, hoping he'd be able to resist.

As the light intensified, it zeroed in on Diogo, focusing on the blackened corruption that gripped his arm and clouded his mind. Valery's resolve hardened, her connection to the Force blazing with determination. The light wasn't just a tool of purification — it was a bridge, an extension of her will reaching out to him, offering him a way back.

Diogo Talon ​

 

[Diogo Talon]

The fact Diogo successfully pushed Val back with the Force was surprising. He was intimately familiar with his embarassing inability to manipulate the Force outside of his own body. Yet, here he was, the power of the dark side unlocking his potential. It was intoxicating. Though it satiated some part of his insecurities, it also deepened them further.

Something to process later, when he wasn't fighting for his life.

But when he finally reached the slab, all was for naught. The syrupy, blackened blood turned to a thin, crimson smear, and then began evaporating, as though struck by the intense cosmic rays of a white hot sun. As whispy tendrils of smoke rose, his probiscis hopelessly snatched at the air.

Diogo spun, locking his vengeful gaze on the Jedi Master. The warm, golden light that pulsed from her shimmered in his eyes, like a lighthouse, a beacon of salvation. Val's visage was fiery, but softened as she spoke, her words both a command and a plea. Like standing knee-deep in the waters of Niamos, wave after wave of light crashed into him, dispelling the corruption within.

It was a redemptive lifeline away from the malevolent storm. He stepped forward, and it felt like crossing an invisible bridge of pure light. His walk of atonement. But the dark side was petty and stubborn, refusing to let go without cost. Darkness fades, but so does the flesh. His arm, no longer blackened, began to wither, like his muscles were desiccated and shredded to pieces. With strength sapped from it, his grip loosened on his lightsaber and it clanked to the craggy floor, kicking up pebbles and dust.

Bewildered by all that transpired, exhausted beyond understanding, but cleansed of the taint, Diogo stumbled towards Val. Then, he fell.

Valery Noble​

 

[Valery Noble]

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Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery's fiery eyes softened as she watched Diogo stumble toward her, the golden light she had summoned still faintly pulsing around them. The corruption was gone, and his steps — though unsteady — were his own again. Relief washed over her, but it was bittersweet. The cost had been great, as evidenced by his withered arm and the exhaustion etched into every inch of him.

When he collapsed, she moved swiftly, catching him before he hit the ground. "I've got you," she murmured, her voice steady but gentle. Cradling him against her, she glanced around the cavern, her focus sharpening on the path out. The oppressive darkness was gone, replaced by a quiet stillness that echoed with the aftershocks of their struggle.

With a deep breath, she hooked one arm beneath his legs and the other around his back, lifting him effortlessly. The Force aided her, lending strength and precision to her movements. His lightsaber, still lying on the ground, was drawn to her hand with a subtle pull of the Force, and she clipped it to her belt for safekeeping.

The journey out of the cave was a careful one. The rocky terrain and lingering shadows demanded her full attention, but she moved with purpose. Her connection to the Force guided her steps, and the golden light she had summoned earlier continued to radiate faintly, illuminating their path.

By the time they emerged into the open air, the harshness of the sunlight felt like a balm against the lingering tension. Valery carried Diogo to a shaded spot beneath a sturdy tree, laying him down gently on a soft patch of grass.

Kneeling beside him, Valery took a moment to check his condition. His breathing was steady but shallow, and though his arm bore the marks of the battle, he was alive. That alone was enough to spark hope in her chest. She placed a hand lightly on his shoulder, her expression a mix of pride and sorrow.

Diogo Talon ​

 

[Diogo Talon]

Val scooped him up, but in his dream it felt like floating. Perhaps on the dark clouds that were once fogging him. Now, in their purified state, the clouds were soft and comforting, and he lay upon them in exhausted victory.

From his elevated position, he looked down and saw murky images below, like a distorted reflection in rippling water—mom, dad (before the incident), Niamos... but soon they gave way to darker visions—Iridonia, Keshi, Ettiau... all the lives lost, that could've been saved, if only he possessed the Force control he demonstrated against Val in the cave. Everything could've been different. Instead, he was weak, a failure, and worse—a monster.

And so, the last image was hardest to stomach. In front, two familiar eyes, pale and yellow, staring back at him. Scruffy emerald hair sprouted from its head, and a playful smirk lingered below. Then, the visage twisted. His doppelgänger's eyes melted into a dark crimson, its smirk turned sinister. Blood-soaked and eager, its Anzati proboscis burst forth and the figure leaned in...

...

Diogo awoke with a startle. He wasn't floating, but laying down. For a moment, because of the shade Val graciously placed them in, he mistook that for the darkness of the cave. He panicked for a moment, blinking back his muddled consciousness, before he recognized the dull, muted gray-greens of the forest. They were outside.

Val's hand was on his shoulder, though he couldn't feel it. Couldn't move his arm, either. He found her fiery amber eyes, seeing the sadness, concern, and pride in her expression. Glimpses of the terrible visions slowly faded in the back of his mind, but they mixed with scrambled memories of the events in the cave. It was hard to decipher, it all just felt like one long nightmare.

"Master?" he croaked. His throat was dry as old bone. "Are you okay? What happened?"

Valery Noble​

 

[Valery Noble]

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Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery's hand remained steady on his shoulder as Diogo stirred, her fiery gaze softening further as his eyes opened. She could see the confusion, the lingering traces of fear, and the exhaustion that weighed heavily on him. The shadows of whatever he had faced — both within and outside himself — still clung to him, but there was also something else in his expression: clarity.

When he croaked her title, her lips curved into a gentle smile, and she shifted slightly to sit closer to him.

"I'm okay, Diogo," she said, her voice quiet but warm. "The question is, how are you feeling?" Her gaze flickered briefly to his arm, her expression betraying a faint shadow of concern, but she quickly returned her focus to his face.

"What happened," she continued, her tone steady, "They took control over you somehow, and filled you with bloodlust. I tried to snap you out of it, but this curse was strong. It took a lot to break the connection, but you're safe now."

Her free hand moved to a small pouch on her belt, and she retrieved a flask of water. Uncapping it, she offered it to him. "Here, drink. You've been through a lot."

Valery allowed him a moment of quiet to collect himself, her presence calm and grounding. She glanced at the forest around them, the serenity of the natural world contrasting starkly with the chaos they had just escaped.

Diogo Talon ​

 

[Diogo Talon]

Diogo rose to a sitting position, wincing as he did. He hung his head. It was hard looking at her smile, and the soft concern that pooled in the liquid amber of her eyes. He didn't deserve it.

"I'm okay. I heal fast," he said softly, then paused. As an Anzat, he would regenerate quickly. His arm might require more sophisticated healing techniques, though. Not all of his wounds were physical, of course, but there wasn't much he could do about that in the middle of a mission in hostile territory, so he didn't elaborate. "Thanks. For... saving me."

"I'm sorry," he spoke at last, his voice raspy. It was funny how much weight sat behind just two words. Shame, guilt, remorse, embarrassment... the list goes on. "I think I must have made contact with one of the runes. I should have said something. I didn't want to worry you." Or disappoint her, but that might hurt too much to admit.

Diogo sipped eagerly from the flask, draining about half of it, though a good portion of that failed to make it inside his mouth in his haste to hydrate himself. With his good arm, he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, and offered her the flask back. "Thanks." He lifted his head, avoiding eye contact with Val, and his gaze carefully swept across their surroundings. The forest around them was quiet, tranquil even, but it felt wrong when he knew the cult threat hadn't been contained yet. They still had a job to do.

Turning his attention to Val, Diogo's eyes shifted hard with determination. "What's next? We still have to complete the mission, right?"

Valery Noble​

 

[Valery Noble]

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Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery accepted the flask back from Diogo with a gentle nod, her fiery gaze remaining warm and steady as she listened to his words. The weight of his apology was palpable, and she could see the guilt written across his features, etched into every syllable he spoke. Her expression softened even further as she leaned in slightly.

"It's alright. What happened in there wasn't your fault. These curses, these runes, they're designed to manipulate and exploit even the strongest minds. But it is important to never underestimate anything, and to communicate." She smiled encouragingly and left it there. He had learned his lesson the hard way, so she saw no need to scold him or keep reminding him of mistakes he made.

All that mattered was that he learned from this.

When he asked about the mission, Valery's brows furrowed slightly in thought. She glanced at his injured arm, then back into his determined eyes. Her own resolve wavered for just a moment before her duty as a Jedi took precedence.

"Are you sure you're ready to keep going?" she asked, her voice calm but with a note of concern. "I don't want to push you into anything if you need time to recover. Your safety matters just as much as completing the mission." Her fiery gaze searched his face for any sign of hesitation. She trusted him to be honest, but she also understood the burden of wanting to push through for the sake of others.

"If you feel up to it, we'll move forward carefully. But if there's any doubt, we'll take a moment. We gain nothing if you end up getting hurt or worse."

Diogo Talon ​

 

[Diogo Talon]

"It's alright. What happened in there wasn't your fault. These curses, these runes, they're designed to manipulate and exploit even the strongest minds. But it is important to never underestimate anything, and to communicate."

"You're allowed to yell at me, y'know," he said, grinning—but only a little. "But you're right. It won't happen again, master."

When he asked about the mission, Valery's brows furrowed slightly in thought. She glanced at his injured arm, then back into his determined eyes. Her own resolve wavered for just a moment before her duty as a Jedi took precedence.

Diogo recognized the furrowed brow, the concerned glance at his arm, then her determination. That order mattered. She was Jedi Master Valery Noble, NJO Grandmaster, and probably the greatest Jedi he'd ever meet. But she was also a mom. She could stop being a Jedi if she chose, but she would never stop being a mother.

"Are you sure you're ready to keep going?" she asked, her voice calm but with a note of concern. "I don't want to push you into anything if you need time to recover. Your safety matters just as much as completing the mission." Her fiery gaze searched his face for any sign of hesitation. She trusted him to be honest, but she also understood the burden of wanting to push through for the sake of others.

"To be honest, my arm's shot to chit," he said. He was learning the lesson about communicating earnestly. Despite his admitted injury, there was no hesitation in his voice. "But everythin' else works so I can manage. These cultists rely on trickery and manipulation, and I know I shouldn't underestimate them, but now that we know what to look for I think it will make things much easier."

"If you feel up to it, we'll move forward carefully. But if there's any doubt, we'll take a moment. We gain nothing if you end up getting hurt or worse."

"I'm ready. If something changes, I promise I'll tell you. But we can't leave without dealing with these cultists. Not after we saw that... thing."

Valery Noble​

 

[Valery Noble]

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Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery studied Diogo for a long moment, her fiery gaze flickering over his injured arm and the steadfast determination etched into his expression. His honesty and willingness to admit his limits earned a faint smile from her — he was learning, and that was what mattered most. Still, a shadow of concern lingered in her eyes.

"Alright," she said finally, her voice calm but carrying the weight of her reluctance. "But I want you to focus on shielding your mind as much as possible. If you know how to construct mental barriers, now is the time to use them." She paused, letting her words sink in, then leaned in slightly, her tone soft but firm. "And if you feel control slipping, even for a moment, you must tell me. The moment you feel something off, I can help stabilize you."

Valery straightened and offered him an encouraging nod, her hand resting briefly on his uninjured shoulder. "We'll move carefully and work together. We end this, but we do it smart."

With that, she turned back toward the corridor they had just exited, her posture straightening as her determination took hold. The eerie silence greeted them once more as they stepped into the shadowy depths, the air heavy with a sense of foreboding. Her hand drifted toward her lightsaber but didn't ignite it yet — stealth and precision would serve them better than brute force for now.

Valery extended her senses, brushing against the currents of the Force that swirled around them. The darkness was there, ever-present, but now she could feel its subtle patterns, its attempts to weave into their minds and tug at their fears. She cast a quick glance at Diogo, silently reminding him to stay vigilant as they descended further into the labyrinthine depths of the cult's domain.

Back into the lair of evil.

Diogo Talon ​

 

[Diogo Talon]

"Alright," she said finally, her voice calm but carrying the weight of her reluctance. "But I want you to focus on shielding your mind as much as possible. If you know how to construct mental barriers, now is the time to use them. And if you feel control slipping, even for a moment, you must tell me. The moment you feel something off, I can help stabilize you."

"Don't worry, I got this." Naturally, he was generally a private person, keeping his Anzati nature a close to his chest. As such, he'd made efforts to teach himself the basics of constructing mental barriers, though he was by no means an expert. "If anything happens, I promise I'll let you know."

Valery straightened and offered him an encouraging nod, her hand resting briefly on his uninjured shoulder. "We'll move carefully and work together. We end this, but we do it smart."

He glanced at her hand on his shoulder, felt it grounding him, and returned her nod. "We got this," he said, amending his earlier words.

As they stalked back into the jaws of the darkened cave, Diogo erected his mental barriers. The venomous whispers he heard earlier were now dulled, but a familiar creepy chill crawled up his spine all the same. He kept his hand on his unignited lightsaber hilt, following Val's cue, though he suspected stealth would only help so much now that they didn't have the element of surprise anymore. The remaining cultists knew there were Jedi here to foil their plans and they were probably in the midsts of preparation.

As they approached the belly of the beast, a confrontation was all but guaranteed, and Diogo was ready.

Valery Noble​

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Lightsabers

"Alright, let's go."

Valery moved silently through the shadows, her senses stretching outward as she led the way. The corridor's cold, oppressive air coiled around her like a living thing, but she kept her focus sharp. The flickering remnants of the dark rituals they had disrupted earlier still clung to the walls and floor — a faint but vile residue of the power the cultists had harnessed. Her fiery gaze flicked to Diogo briefly, ensuring he was steady, before her attention snapped forward once more.

They crossed the threshold into the ritual chamber where everything had gone awry earlier. The place still stank of blood and scorched ozone from the lightsaber combat. Faint smudges of ash and burned runes scarred the floor, marking where the cultists had tried to tether their dark power. Valery slowed her pace, her lips pressed into a grim line as she carefully stepped through the chamber. Every instinct told her the room itself was watching them, waiting for another moment to lash out.

Her voice dropped to a whisper. "Stay close. Whatever power was anchored here, it hasn't fully dissipated yet."

As they moved deeper into the labyrinthine structure, the air grew heavier. The oppressive weight of the dark side was almost tangible, pressing against her mental barriers like a cold, relentless tide. But it wasn't the darkness alone that sent a shiver through her. It was what she felt ahead — the unmistakable ripple of life signs, faint and flickering like guttering flames. Pain, despair, and fear saturated the Force, radiating from the cluster of individuals trapped in the deeper chambers.

Valery paused, holding up a hand to signal Diogo to stop. Her fiery gaze met his, her expression grim. "There are captives ahead," she murmured, her voice barely above a breath. "A lot of them. I can feel their pain... their hopelessness."

She tilted her head, listening to the subtle currents of the Force. "We'll need to move fast. If the cultists realize we're here before we can reach them, they'll use those people as leverage, or worse."

Diogo Talon ​

 

[Diogo Talon]

The air of the ritual chamber was heavy and thick. Heavy with the taint of the dark side and thick with a slew of turbulent emotions—anger, shame, regret. It took everything Diogo had not to succumb to them and fall into the pit of despair that lay at the end of their torment. Blood-soaked flashbacks of the previous confrontation threatened to overwhelm him. But with his mental barriers up, the incessant horrors broke against his Force-imbued shielding.

Valery paused, holding up a hand to signal Diogo to stop. Her fiery gaze met his, her expression grim. "There are captives ahead," she murmured, her voice barely above a breath. "A lot of them. I can feel their pain... their hopelessness."

Diogo paused. Val's expression was grim, as was his. He could feel them, too, like sharp, cold steel piercing his gut. "Can you tell how many there are?" Diogo's Force sense wasn't advanced enough for that. Just another weakness he needed to overcome.

She tilted her head, listening to the subtle currents of the Force. "We'll need to move fast. If the cultists realize we're here before we can reach them, they'll use those people as leverage, or worse."

Diogo nodded. "I can be bait," he shrugged, knowing full well she wouldn't like that idea one bit. "The last thing that cultist saw was us fighting. For all they know, there's only one of us left. So, I can distract them. They won't know you're here. Unless you have a better idea?" It wasn't like tactics were his strong suit. Diogo was more of a, lightsabers first, strategy was for nerds, type of guy. Plus, Val could conceal her Force presence a lot easier than him. With his skills in that department lacking, he might accidentally give the game away.

Valery Noble​

 

[Valery Noble]

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Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery tilted her head slightly, her fiery gaze narrowing as she stretched her senses further. The faint ripples in the Force grew sharper, more distinct, and the oppressive weight pressing against her became clearer. "Two dozen captives," she murmured, her voice grim. "And a handful of cultists. They're close, but they haven't noticed us yet. We still have the element of surprise."

Her attention shifted to Diogo, her lips pressing into a thin line as he suggested his plan. She could already see the determination in his expression — and the stubbornness that meant he wasn't going to back down easily. She took a breath, steadying herself against the tension she felt rising.

"Alright," she said after a moment, her tone calm but edged with quiet resolve. "We'll do it your way. Draw their attention, keep them focused on you. But be careful. I'll be right behind you."

Then, her smirk returned, "They won't even see me coming."

Before Diogo could respond, Valery closed her eyes and drew on the Force, letting its currents flow through her. The air around her seemed to shimmer, like heat waves rising from a heated road of stone, before her figure faded entirely. Light and sound bent around her, cloaking her presence completely. Even to Diogo's Force senses, she was nothing more than a faint ripple in the vast, oppressive darkness of the chamber.

<I'll ambush them,> her voice whispered telepathically, <Once you've got their attention, I'll take them down before they can react.>

Diogo Talon ​

 

[Diogo Talon]

"Two dozen captives," she murmured, her voice grim. "And a handful of cultists. They're close, but they haven't noticed us yet. We still have the element of surprise."

"Shit," he responded in a low, tense whisper. They could handle a handful of cultists, but two dozen captives complicated things significantly. There was only the two of 'em. Yeah, Val was the equivalent of a dozen well-trained soldiers, if not more, but Diogo—especially in his injured state—was probably threatening to reduce that number considerably.

"Alright," she said after a moment, her tone calm but edged with quiet resolve. "We'll do it your way. Draw their attention, keep them focused on you. But be careful. I'll be right behind you."

When she agreed, Diogo felt his stomach drop, as though he weren't expecting her to say yes. But his trepidation was short lived. He was determined to free the captives—and to never disappoint Val ever again.

Then, her smirk returned, "They won't even see me coming."

Diogo opened his mouth to respond, but Val disappeared, and he quickly shut it. Damn, she was good. He couldn't help but smirk, too.

<I'll ambush them,> her voice whispered telepathically, <Once you've got their attention, I'll take them down before they can react.>

Diogo was startled when she spoke into his mind. He was so on edge he heard her quiet words rattle against his spine, but soon everything quieted with resolve. Running a dirt-stained hand through his scruffy, emerald hair, Diogo tried to make himself look as disheveled as possible. <Alright, I'm ready. Let's go.> he replied telepathically.

"Hello, gentlemen," Diogo said, voice low in tone but loud with confidence, as he stepped into the ambient light of the cavern space. The handful of cultists turned their attention, their expressions hard to decipher because of their pupil-less eyes. "Surprised to see me? The lady wasn't as tough as she looked," he waved his hand dismissively. "So, what's the sitch, my friends?"

Valery Noble​

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Lightsabers

The cultists turned toward Diogo, their dark, pupil-less eyes narrowing in suspicion as he stepped into the cavern's dim light. Their movements were sluggish at first, like predators sizing up prey, but the moment he spoke, their postures tensed with recognition. The cavern seemed to grow colder as their oppressive auras pressed against him.


The cultists exchanged quick, silent glances before one stepped forward, his gnarled hand gripping a staff that pulsed faintly with dark energy. "You're either foolish or desperate to come here alone," the cultist hissed, his voice raspy and venomous.

Another cultist circled around, moving toward Diogo's flank. The others began to spread out as well, their weapons glowing faintly with malevolent energy. Diogo, to his credit, didn't flinch. He smirked, shifting his weight slightly as if he wasn't surrounded by enemies. His confidence bought them just enough time.

In the shadows, unseen and unfelt, Valery made her move.

The first cultist to step forward suddenly staggered, his staff dropping to the stone floor with a clang. His eyes widened as the unmistakable hum of a lightsaber erupted behind him, and a violet blade pierced through his chest. The cultist crumpled to the ground, lifeless, before his companions could even process what had happened.

The chamber erupted into chaos.

Valery's cloaking faded as she surged forward, her movements a blur of lethal precision. She spun her blade, deflecting an incoming bolt of dark energy and sending it careening into another cultist, who collapsed with a sharp cry. Her fiery eyes burned with intensity, her presence a storm of light and purpose.

One of the cultists lunged at her with a jagged blade, only to be met with a Force push that sent him hurtling into the cavern wall. The sickening crunch of bone echoed through the space as he slid to the ground, unconscious.

Diogo Talon ​

 

[Diogo Talon]

The cultists exchanged quick, silent glances before one stepped forward, his gnarled hand gripping a staff that pulsed faintly with dark energy. "You're either foolish or desperate to come here alone," the cultist hissed, his voice raspy and venomous.

"Why not both?" Diogo said, feigning indifference.

The dark side was relentlessly oppressive and it took everything he had to bite back the cold spike of adrenaline coursing through his blood. Diogo did his best to remain steady as they circled around him. He shifted nonchalantly, yawning in dramatic fashion.

As the cultists approached, the soft shadows of the cave no longer obscured Diogo's injured arm. Pupil-less, almond shaped eyes widened in recognition as the cultist who fled from the earlier scene realized the padawan's arm had been fully cleansed of the dark taint. With wine-stained robes swishing, the aforementioned cultist stepped forward, staff pulsing, but was stopped dead in his tracks as purple sizzling plasma pierced through his chest.

Diogo smirked as Val emerged. "Whoops, guess I'm not alone."

In an instant Diogo's lightsaber was lit, ready to dish out justice to these fethin' demons. Diogo decapitated one of the cultists with a simple cleave, but then his blade was halted by the last remaining cultist's staff. The twisted, rune-covered staff then slammed violently into the craggy cavern floor, sending out a devastating shockwave that sent Diogo, and everything else in the immediate vicinity, radially flying backwards.

Valery Noble​