Private The Cult’s Call

[Valery Noble]

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Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery felt Diogo's hand settle gently on her shoulder, a quiet gesture of reassurance that she deeply appreciated. For a moment, she turned her fiery gaze to him, offering a small but warm smile before continuing her work. The grim atmosphere of the cavern and the suffering around them demanded all her focus, but Diogo's support was grounding, a subtle reminder that they were in this together.

She moved quickly and methodically, freeing the captives one by one. Her lightsaber hummed softly as it cut through the bars, the oppressive weight of the Dark Side pressing down on her like a leaden cloak. Yet she worked with precision and purpose, her presence in the Force radiating calm and strength to those who had endured far too much.

When her eyes drifted to Diogo, she saw him crouched near a small child with curly brown hair and wide, tear-filled eyes. The way the little girl clung to his leg struck a chord deep within Valery, her own motherly instincts flaring to life in an instant. The pain and fear etched on the child's face were enough to make her heart ache.

Valery straightened and softly called over, her voice warm and soothing. "Diogo, take the lead on freeing the rest of them," she said gently but firmly, nodding toward the remaining captives. "I'll take care of her."

Approaching slowly, Valery crouched down beside the little girl, her fiery eyes softening as she offered the child the warmest smile she could muster. "Hey there, sweetheart," she said softly, her tone filled with compassion. "It's okay. You're safe now. No one is going to hurt you anymore."

The child turned her tear-streaked face toward Valery, her tiny hands still clutching Diogo's leg. Valery extended her arms, giving the little one the choice to come to her. After a moment's hesitation, the child released Diogo and practically fell into Valery's arms, clutching tightly to her shoulder. Valery stood, cradling her gently but securely, her hand rubbing soothing circles along the girl's back.

The way a Mother would, as if nothing was wrong.

"It's okay, little one," Valery murmured as she began to sway slightly, rocking the child the way she often did with her own. "You're safe. We're here to help you." The girl buried her face in Valery's shoulder, her sobs softening but still tugging at Valery's heartstrings.

With the child safely in her arms, Valery glanced back at Diogo. "We'll get them all out of here," she said, her voice steady and resolute, though her expression betrayed the depth of her empathy. For the captives, for this child, and even for Diogo, she would not stop until they were free and safe.

Diogo Talon ​

 

[Diogo Talon]

Diogo already admired Val, but now he envied her and how effortless it was for her to comfort the child. She was a mother through and through, but there was more to it than that. She was a model Jedi. She made everything look easy. He knew he was looking at someone cultivated through decades of rigorous training and experience, but it was hard to appreciate all the individual puzzle pieces when the completed image was staring right at him. Diogo hoped to be like her someday, if he could just figure out how to put the pieces together.

With the child safely in her arms, Valery glanced back at Diogo. "We'll get them all out of here," she said, her voice steady and resolute, though her expression betrayed the depth of her empathy. For the captives, for this child, and even for Diogo, she would not stop until they were free and safe.

The green-haired boy smiled. "We will," he agreed.

Diogo took care of freeing the rest, cleaving through their cell doors with his lightsaber. An elderly woman, balancing on her tiptoes, grabbed Diogo face's and peppered his cheeks with a couple kisses. Her lips were irritatingly dry, but he didn't complain. His proboscises imperceptibly wiggled. "Uh... thanks, lady."

"Right, let's get you folks back to the village. We'll lead you there in case the forest has any nasty surprises. Just stay close."

Valery Noble​

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery watched Diogo closely, her fiery eyes filled with a quiet admiration. Not long ago, she had felt the dark tendrils of corruption wrap around his mind, warping his thoughts, testing the very foundation of who he was. And yet, here he was now — pushing forward, helping these people, offering them a way out of this nightmare.

He had every reason to falter, to let himself crumble under the weight of what had been done to him. But instead, he was proving exactly what it meant to be a Jedi. Her gaze lingered as he worked, slicing through the cell doors with steady precision, his presence radiating the kind of strength that wasn't found in power or aggression, but in perseverance.

Then the old woman grabbed him, peppering his cheeks with kisses.

Valery's smirk was immediate, but it softened just as quickly. As Diogo awkwardly accepted the attention, she caught his gaze and gave him a small nod — a silent acknowledgment of how proud she was of him.

He was doing good work.

She shifted her hold on the small child curled against her, rubbing gentle circles along her back as the group began to move. The captives stayed close, clinging to one another for warmth and reassurance, and Valery ensured they remained in the center of their formation as they slipped back into the darkness of the forest.

By the time they reached the clearing where their ship was docked, the child in her arms had dozed off, her small hands curled into the fabric of Valery's tunic. The sight made her chest tighten, but she took comfort in knowing this little one — and all the others — would soon be safe.

Glancing toward Diogo, she gestured toward the vessel. "We can fit everyone aboard without a problem," she assured him, shifting the child's weight slightly as she moved. "The med bay is big enough to tend to the worst injuries, and there are enough supplies to keep everyone comfortable until we get them home."

She paused for a moment, considering him before tilting her head slightly. "Do you want to fly?" she asked, her tone light but encouraging. "It's my husband's ship. Not a small one, but you seem like a type who can fly." There was a glimmer of amusement in her expression, but beneath it, there was something more — trust.

If he took the controls, it would free her to focus on comforting the child and the others who needed reassurance. And once they reached hyperspace, he could switch to auto-pilot and join her in helping where needed.

"Up to you," she added with a small smile, adjusting the blanket around the sleeping girl in her arms. "Either way, let's get them home."

Diogo Talon ​

 

[Diogo Talon]

"We can fit everyone aboard without a problem," she assured him, shifting the child's weight slightly as she moved. "The med bay is big enough to tend to the worst injuries, and there are enough supplies to keep everyone comfortable until we get them home."

"Do you want to fly?" she asked, her tone light but encouraging. "It's my husband's ship. Not a small one, but you seem like a type who can fly." There was a glimmer of amusement in her expression, but beneath it, there was something more — trust.

"Sure, if ya'll got insurance," he said jokingly. Except it wasn't actually a joke—he couldn't fly for shit. But, if she trusted him then he could handle it. The journey would be simple, anyway, and auto-pilot would do most of the work. Besides, the big-eyed tyke was sleeping soundly in Val's arms and Diogo couldn't bring himself to peel them apart.

"This is a nice ship," Diogo remarked as he ran through the pre-flight checks. "Gotta get me one of these."

After confirming the ship's performance and safety integrity, Diogo fully powered the engines. He maneuvered the sticks a little too hard and the ship lurched, wobbling for a minute as he wrestled for control. Eventually, he got the hang of it and guided them somewhat-smoothly above the atmosphere and then beyond the planet's gravitational pull. Auto-pilot soon kicked on, sparing him any further embarrassment.

---

In the bowels of the ship, the elderly lady from before secretly huddled in a secluded cubby. She pulled out a small, metallic device that glowed with a dull crimson hue and subtly emanated seductive tendrils of the dark side. Her meek appearance flickered for just a moment, tattered rustic-toned clothing and withered skin giving way to wine-stained robes and pupil-less eyes...

Valery Noble​

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery smirked as Diogo made his quip about insurance, shifting the sleeping child in her arms. "Good thing Kahlil's ship has a good coverage plan," she teased lightly, though the subtle arch of her brow suggested she wasn't entirely convinced he was joking. Still, she let him take the controls, trusting him to at least get them into hyperspace without too much trouble.

As the engines hummed to life and the ship lurched slightly — okay, maybe more than slightly — Valery braced herself against the nearest bulkhead, her grip tightening instinctively around the child. "Smooth," she commented, the amusement in her voice clear. But despite the rough start, he got the ship off the ground, and before long, they were clearing the atmosphere and engaging the hyperdrive.

With the worst of it behind them, Valery focused her attention on the freed captives. She moved through the cabin, offering gentle reassurances and tending to small wounds with the supplies available. The child in her arms barely stirred, exhaustion weighing down her tiny frame. Valery smoothed a hand over her hair, her warmth a quiet beacon of comfort in the dimly lit space.

"You're safe now," she murmured softly, more to herself than to anyone in particular.

But then… something shifted.

A dull throb pulsed at the base of her skull, sending an uneasy ripple down her spine. She exhaled sharply and pressed her fingers to her temple, as if trying to push away the sensation. The warmth of the ship's interior suddenly felt colder, the comforting hum of the engines distant beneath a low, crawling sense of unease.

Her fiery gaze flickered toward Diogo, her posture tense. "Do you feel that?" she asked, her voice quieter now, the playful edge from before replaced with something more measured.

Something was off.

And it was getting stronger.

Diogo Talon ​

 

[Diogo Talon]

Her fiery gaze flickered toward Diogo, her posture tense. "Do you feel that?" she asked, her voice quieter now, the playful edge from before replaced with something more measured.

"My fething head," Diogo groaned, stumbling out of the pilot's seat. The pounding in his skull returned with a vengeance. "It's like from before, in the cave. Something—or someone—got on the ship?" Diogo grabbed a bulkhead for support, glancing alarmingly at Val. Like a dam bursting inside of him, fear flooded through his veins as the sensation grew stronger.

The once-comforting hum of the engines was suddenly drowned out by the piercing wail of a woman.

Valery Noble​

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Lightsabers

The moment Diogo stumbled, Valery was there.

Her free hand pressed firmly to his shoulder, and in an instant, the chaos in his mind —the fear, the invasive pressure clawing at him — was silenced. Her Light flooded through him, strong and unwavering, like an unbreakable wall standing between him and whatever was trying to dig its way in.

A fortress. The pounding in his skull eased. The fear still lingered, but it no longer consumed. Then, the scream tore through the ship. A chilling, unnatural wail — not just heard, but felt. Valery's fiery gaze snapped toward the sound, her jaw tightening. She gave Diogo's shoulder one last squeeze, steady and grounding, before locking eyes with him.

"If you feel yourself slipping — tell me. Immediately." There was no room for argument, no space for bravado. She needed him with her, not lost in whatever nightmare was clawing its way onto their ship. Releasing him, she turned sharply, striding toward the source of the sound. Her voice, though calm, carried authority.

"Everyone, sit tight and stay together. Don't go anywhere alone." And then, without hesitation, she moved forward, toward the scream.

Diogo Talon ​

 

[Diogo Talon]

Diogo stumbled, but found Val's firm hand. In an instant, the pounding in his head was silenced. It felt like someone drilled a hole in his skull and let all the pressure out. "Thanks," he said, exasperated.

"I'm alright. I'm not as susceptible as I was in the cave. Don't worry about me," he assured her, then grit his teeth. "Let's end this once and for all."

Close on her tail, Diogo let Val take the lead. She knew these corridors well. They stalked through the intenstines of the ship with deliberate movement; the disturbance in the Force was an unmistakeable pull guiding them.

After worming their way through the ship, they emerged onto a grisly scene. A female lay face down in a pool of her own blood. Diogo scanned the area as calmly as he could. A few people were congregating around the crime scene, including the elderly woman from before. Their starved, weathered faces revealed bewilderment and concern, but that was to be expected. All else, besides the dead body, seemed normal. The disturbance was present, but it was impossible for him to pinpoint.

"What the hell happened here?" Diogo asked, demanding an answer with mildly surpressed rage. He'd clearly had enough of this sithspit.

Valery Noble​

 

[Valery Noble]

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Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Lightsabers

The scent of blood hit Valery first. Metallic. Sharp. Still fresh.

Her fiery gaze swept the scene in one sharp motion, taking in every detail—the way the body lay motionless in its crimson pool, the stillness of the air thick with tension, the way the gathered survivors exchanged glances, their expressions laced with confusion, fear… and something else.

Something darker.

Valery moved forward, crouching beside the body. A woman, mid-thirties, her features frozen in a final expression of horror. No blaster wounds. No signs of a struggle beyond the way her fingers had curled in desperation. But her skin… It was pale. Too pale. The veins beneath it had darkened, as if something had drained her not just of life, but of something deeper.

Valery exhaled slowly.

"The one responsible is still here," she murmured, not looking up at first. The words cut through the gathered tension like a blade, sending a ripple through the group. Murmurs. Shifting feet. A flicker of fear. Now she rose, her stance commanding as she fixed each of them with a steady, piercing stare. "Nobody moves," she said, voice firm but calm. "Until we find out who did this."

She could feel it now. The presence. It wasn't obvious, wasn't flaring in arrogance or rage like a typical Sith would. No, this was subtler. A slithering thing that nestled into the shadows, wrapping itself in the cloak of ordinary fear. But it was there.

And she would find it.

Valery began to move, walking up to them one by one. Not just looking, but feelin g— reaching out with the Force, not for their surface emotions, but for that thread of something off. The wrongness. The darkness hiding behind a mask. One man avoided her gaze. Another shifted slightly as she passed. A younger woman chewed on her lip, nervous but not guilty. Not quite.

Then she stopped, right in front of the the elderly woman.

Diogo Talon ​

 

[Diogo Talon]

Dio stood back, hand on his lightsaber, sharply scrutinizing the bystanders. Val did her thing; she was a Shadow; an investigator; this was right in her wheelhouse.

The elderly lady shrunk back when Val stopped in front of her. Her shoulders deflated and her back arched forward—an attempted display of geriatric fragility.

Diogo frowned. It couldn't be the old lady. Look at her! Was Val crazy? Perhaps there was something he wasn't sensing or seeing.

"Master Jedi," the woman said nervously. "Can I help you? I'm sorry, but I didn't see anything," she blurted quickly and defensively.

Valery Noble​

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery's fiery gaze bore into the elderly woman, her expression unreadable, her presence unmoving. She didn't react to the frail posture, the nervous tremble in the woman's voice. She had seen too many masks before — too many faces hiding the truth beneath layers of deception. And this one?

This one was slipping.

She didn't blink, didn't waver. The Force surged around her, coiling like an unseen current as she reached through the moment, piercing past the surface of the woman's fear — past the quivering breath and the feigned innocence. Deeper. Into the core of something wrong. A darkness that did not belong. Something stirred beneath the skin. Valery inhaled slowly, the weight of the realization settling over her shoulders like cold steel. And then — she spoke.

"Diogo." Her voice was steady, firm, but it carried a new edge. "Get them out."

A command, not a suggestion.

The air seemed to shift, the room growing heavier as the words fell between them like a hammer striking durasteel. The others hesitated — confused, uncertain — until Valery's gaze snapped toward them, sharp as a blade.

"Now."

The survivors scrambled, fear overriding their questions. Their footsteps echoed against the cold floor as they hurried for the exit, leaving only the Jedi and the old woman standing in the center of an ever-tightening silence.Valery turned back to her. Her hand remained off her weapon. Not yet. Instead, she took a single step closer, her stance unwavering, the fire in her golden eyes burning with something colder. Something absolute.

"No more games," she murmured, her voice quiet but unshakable. "Drop the act." She could feel the mask straining. The presence beneath, coiling like a viper caught in the open.

"Reveal your true self," Valery said, watching, waiting.

A final chance.

"And please — surrender."

Diogo Talon ​

 

[Diogo Talon]

Valery commanded and Diogo obeyed.

"Come this way, you'll all be okay," he assured the survivors as he ushered them out of the vicinity.

Dio spun back around. Seeing this side of the Grandmaster was exciting in a way. She was fiery as always, but in a darker way, cold and absolute. He was still skeptical of her accusations, though. The elderly lady looked so old and innocent. If something sinister lingered below the surface, the Padawan was having a hard time seeing or sensing it. Despite himself, he tried to interrupt. "Master, are you sure—"

Suddenly, the corpse of the slain woman rose. Drenched in blood with a deep gash across her throat, she lunged at Val. "Behind you!" Diogo shouted.

Meanwhile, the elderly woman's guise faded away, revealing her true self—a tall, lean cultist in wine-stained robes wielding a curved ritual dagger smeared with crimson. "My master wishes you to join him in the Netherworld." Lunging forward, the cultist struck like a viper, attempting to stab Val.

Diogo froze for a second. He wanted to throw up. That grotesque, no-pupil freak had kissed his fethin' face! Disgusted, he angrily reached for his lightsaber and rushed to Val's defense, even if she didn't need the help.

Valery Noble​

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Lightsabers

She felt it before she saw it.

The hunger.

The malice.

The unnatural pull of death clawing its way back into the living. Diogo's warning came a half-second before the corpse lunged, the stench of blood and rot filling the space behind her. But it wasn't fast enough. Valery twisted — but not far enough.

Sharp pain. The dagger's tip plunged into her stomach, slicing through fabric, grazing flesh. Not deep — not enough to be fatal — but enough to send fire racing through her nerves. A quiet, sharp gasp hissed through her teeth, her body tensing as the cold steel bit into her skin. But she didn't freeze. She never froze.

Her fingers snapped forward, gripping the woman's wrist before she could drive the blade in any further. And then, with a surge of pure brute strength, Valery yanked back, ripping the dagger from her own flesh as she twisted the cultist's arm away from her. The woman shrieked. Whether from frustration or pain, Valery didn't care. She forced her back a step, momentarily unbalancing her. Enough for Diogo to strike.

She felt the warmth of her own blood trailing against her abdomen, soaking into the fabric of her clothes, but her grip on the fight never wavered. Her fiery gaze snapped to Diogo.

"Now!" A single word. A command. She was giving him the opening.

The rest was up to him.

Diogo Talon ​

 

[Diogo Talon]

Diogo didn't hesitate. The moment Valery wrenched the cultist's arm aside, he surged forward, blue blade flashing against the sleek gray of the starship's interior.

With one swift, vengeful cleave he sliced the cultist in half with his lightsaber. The body stood still for a minute, like it wasn't sure which way to fall, until it finally collapsed, the top half tipping forward and the bottom falling back.

Dio immediately extinguished his lightsaber and jolted to Val. "Shit, shit, shit," he said, watching the blood soak through her robes and trickle down her abdomen under the force of gravity. "What do you need?" he asked, hastily pulling the medkit off his utility belt.

Valery Noble​

 

[Valery Noble]

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Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery exhaled sharply, her grip loosening as the cultist crumpled into two lifeless halves. The battle was over — at least this one. But the adrenaline that had kept her upright was already beginning to fade, and with it, the painful reality of blood loss set in.

Her legs wavered, and she muttered a low, irritated "Kark it," before dropping down onto the nearest stable surface. A hiss escaped through clenched teeth as she pressed a hand over the wound, fingers sticky with warm, fresh blood. It wasn't bad — not fatal, at least— but it was enough to send a wave of lightheadedness washing over her.

Diogo was already on her, his voice quick, edged with concern. Valery let her head tip back for just a second, staring at the ceiling as she exhaled through her nose, steadying herself. Then, her eyes flicked back to him, still sharp despite the growing haze in her limbs.

"We need to stop the bleeding," she said, voice firm but carrying a wry edge. "Then we can get back to the Temple and let a capable healer deal with it."

She nodded toward the medkit in his hands, her smirk faint but teasing. "Unless you have a hidden talent for healing you haven't told me about?"

Diogo Talon ​

 

[Diogo Talon]

Diogo helped Val to the nearest stable surface. Her blood was flowing freely, warm and thick as it ran across his fingers. Like her, Diogo grew lightheaded, but for different reasons. Biological compulsion, mainly. His proboscises, tucked inside his cheek flaps, writhed with excitement. He jerked his head away, burying it in the crook of his arm, biting back his Anzati urges.

"Just keep pressure on the wound," he said, voice muffled. She would know to do that, but sounding it out helped to ground him. While he gathered himself, Dio fumbled with the medkit, shakily searching through an assortment of stimpacks. He grabbed one, its label specifying it contained bacta and blood coagulants. He turned back, eyes focusing on Val's face instead of her wound. She wasn't lookin' too hot.

"No hidden talents, unfortunately," he said with a wry smile. "Not much bedside manner, either. Hold still."

Diogo didn't wait. He jabbed her mightily with the stimpack.

Valery Noble​

 

[Valery Noble]

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Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery barely registered Diogo turning his head away, too focused on keeping pressure on her wound to notice the tension in his posture. Instead, she just exhaled slowly through her nose, muttering something under her breath about Sith cultists and their karking knives.

She felt the medkit rustling beside her, heard Diogo rummaging for supplies, but she kept her gaze fixed ahead — until he spoke again. Her fiery eyes snapped toward him just in time to see the stimpack in his hand.

"Wait—"

Too late.

The sharp sting of the injection tore through her side, and Valery hissed, her muscles jerking instinctively against the needle. "Kriff," she spat through gritted teeth, her back arching slightly before she forced herself to sit still. "You could have warned me before stabbing me, you know?"

She scowled at him, but it was more for show than real anger. The stim was already working, cooling the worst of the pain, but that didn't mean she had to like it. Her free hand clenched into a fist before she exhaled sharply and rolled her shoulders, forcing herself to relax. "Next time, just let me bleed out," she grumbled dramatically, though the teasing shimmer in her eyes betrayed her.

Diogo Talon ​

 

[Diogo Talon]

Dio wanted to offer his condolences to Val, but he was busy trying not to slurp her brain. His desires were reaching a fever pitch. She was the Grandmaster, the most powerful Jedi he'd ever met, the ultimate delicacy.

The boy was holding his breath, sinking his teeth into his lower lip, fighting against insatiable Anzati hunger. Once the medicine was fully dispensed, he slid the stim's needle out of her flesh with one swift motion. Abruptly, Dio wrenched himself away. The stim clattered to the floor, carelessly forgotten. "I'm sorry," he murmured.

Turning his back to Val, Dio hunched over with his hands on his knees, trying desperately to compose himself. Profound exhaustion lingered behind his eyes, and moisture began blurring his vision.

Valery Noble​

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery's scowl faded the moment Diogo jerked away. At first, she thought it was just him being dramatic in response to her teasing, but then she noticed the way his shoulders hunched, the tension in his frame — like he was holding something back.

Her eyes narrowed slightly, concern flickering beneath the lingering sting of the stim. "Diogo?"

Slowly and carefully, Valery pushed herself up, one hand still pressed lightly to her wound. The stim had dulled the pain, but it hadn't erased the exhaustion. Still, that wasn't what mattered right now. She took a quiet step forward, her fingers reaching out to rest lightly on his shoulder.

"Hey," she murmured, her voice steady but gentler now. She wasn't pressing — just grounding. "Are you okay?"

Her touch remained light, ready to pull away if he flinched. Something was wrong. This wasn't just battle fatigue. This wasn't just stress from the fight. This was something deeper.

Diogo Talon ​

 

[Diogo Talon]

Diogo hesitated. She was close, too close. And he was tired. So deeply, bone-saggingly tired. So utterly exhausted, defeated, and drained. Every fiber of his body ached for an end to it.

Val was still covered in blood. His head swam, his chest tightened. He pulled away from her gentle, grounding touch, and regretted it. He yearned for her reassurance, needed it, but it was something he couldn't allow himself. There was a cold comfort in how familiar that was.

Shrinking away, he staggered to the bulkhead, creating more distance between them.

"I'm okay, I just..." Dio trailed off. Honesty was easier, he decided. Took less energy. "You saw what I was in the cave, didn't you?"

Valery Noble​