Private The Forgotten

[Kahlil Noble]

They didn't need to be told twice. With the creatures stunned from the sudden drop in temperature and Valery's order the Epicanthix moved in, blasters firing to finish off each as they went through. Kahlil followed in suit, his blade flashing through the air to cleave down each that stood before him until the bridge itself was empty of life. Most life, anyway. With the creatures dead, all that remained were eggs.

Dozens upon dozens all throughout the bridge. Tied into the electrical systems in most cases.

Kahlil frowned. A lot of the panels around had been torn apart to expose the wiring within. There'd be a lot of small repairs to do, which he got right into doing. "We'll have to destroy the eggs, I think."

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Valley of Forgotten Lords

​

Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Appearance: Link
Ship: Link
Weapons: Blasters | Lightsaber | Double-Bladed Lightsaber
Tag: Kahlil Noble

"We should really get our people to help the Alliance," Valery said a little quiet to keep it just between the two of them. "They're very effective." She wasn't really surprised, but she was definitely impressed. They weren't missing important shots, they covered each other and with no loss of life, they had retaken the bridge. Add in the two Jedi helping them and it felt like an unstoppable force that had entered this ship.

But there were still matters to address.

"Yeah, we'll take care of the ones on the bridge first, then perhaps scout around a little? It'd be a problem if we discover more of them elsewhere." She gave the signal to the Epicanthix, and then... stood right by Kahlil's side while he worked on patching up a panel that had been exposed. She rocked back and forth on her heels and smiled sheepishly.

"...I uh, am not good at fixing stuff. Should I join the warriors?"

 

[Kahlil Noble]

"Go through and help them clear it out, yes. I'll get this at least able to fly up." He flashed her a brief smile. They had, at least, made sure Valery knew some of the handsigns the Epicanthix used to relay orders. It was the only way the warriors were going to communicate while they quietly stalked through the halls. Even Kahlil wouldn't have been speaking if Valery wasn't here. He probably didn't need to, but he did want to make sure she understood everything.

The last thing he wanted was for her to feel out of place.

"Be careful. They chewed through the hull, so there's no telling what they could've gotten into."

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Valley of Forgotten Lords

​

Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Appearance: Link
Ship: Link
Weapons: Blasters | Lightsaber | Double-Bladed Lightsaber
Tag: Kahlil Noble

Valery quickly leaned in and pressed a long kiss against his cheek, "I'll be okay, and I'll keep our people safe." She smiled and put a little emphasis on our people. Perhaps it was silly but she wanted to feel like she was part of those living on the colony. She had, after all, married into their culture and helped them get settled.

Luckily, the Epicanthix had very much accepted her, and not just as Kahlil's wife. She was a warrior herself and that got her a lot of respect.

"Have fun playing with your new toy." She winked, then turned around and gave the signal for the others to form up on her. She was going to take lead and guide them through the ship - her senses could pick up on those creatures and she would be able to keep them away while the warriors around her gunned them down.

It was going to be necessary, because it didn't take long for the group to find a few hatched eggs.

"Chit..." Valery whispered, knowing she broke silence but she felt too much tension in the Force to care. They were going to need to fight for this ship.

<Babe if you hear anything, tell me. I will be there with you,> she said protectively.

 

[Kahlil Noble]

"Technically it's an old toy, you know."

Kahlil called back after her, chuckling where he was currently trying to figure out which wires needed to be changed and which could just be salvaged. He sighed after a moment, his brow knitted together with concentration. This wasn't going to be easy, but all he needed to do was get a couple of the systems operational so they could lift off and not just die when they broke atmosphere. And the constant drain by the planet itself wasn't really helping.

<I'll let you know, but focus on helping them. I'm not sure how much longer they might be able to handle this planet before it wears them down.>

So far the warriors themselves seemed fine. Long trained to not show weakness and keep focused on the task at hand. The lead one stepped forward, blaster up before suddenly turning to let loose a volley. Right into a smaller one of the mantis like creatures. Hatchlings, but already grown to at least twice the size of their egg. He reached a hand up, making a couple quick movements and signs. Eyes up. Alert. Group up.

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Valley of Forgotten Lords

​

Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Appearance: Link
Ship: Link
Weapons: Blasters | Lightsaber | Double-Bladed Lightsaber
Tag: Kahlil Noble

<I'll keep them safe, I promise. But...> She sighed and didn't finish her sentence. He'd know that there was no way that she'd let him stay there alone if there was trouble. They weren't dealing with a dangerous Sith or some kind of threat that actually had them give it their all this time, but she would still honor her promise. They'd go in together, they'd make it back out together and preferably unharmed.

Something she knew couldn't always be the case.

Luckily, the Epicanthix warriors seemed to hardly need her help — they grouped up and gunned down the first of the creatures who dared show themselves. But again, they were clever and didn't just charge into certain death. No, they had carved through walls and used it to encircle Valery and her group, before coming out.

"Behind us!" There was no point in being quiet anymore, so she called out her warning and sent several insects flying up into the ceiling to squash them.

<Love, they're moving around us. Please be careful - I think they might head back up for you!>

 

[Kahlil Noble]

<I'm not too worried.>

He wasn't. Valery and the Epicanthix with her would be more than enough to at least thin down the creatures while he worked his way through the bridge. So far he'd brought up a couple systems. He really only had two left. Thankfully they seemed to prefer the wires themselves rather than the consoles. Easier access, his guess. Though as he popped open the next panel and found himself face to face with a fresh hatching, he laughed.

Especially as it jumped at him and tried to very much bite his face off.

<Okay little worried but I'm good!>

The Epicanthix acted immediately on Valery's warning, turning to open fire at the group that had snuck around. They were too smart, too organized. Especially for virtual newborns. It was clear that had the warriors worried, but they didn't voice such concerns. Right now the only thing that mattered was making sure they covered one another and that none of them died to a surprise attack.

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Valley of Forgotten Lords

​

Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Appearance: Link
Ship: Link
Weapons: Blasters | Lightsaber | Double-Bladed Lightsaber
Tag: Kahlil Noble

<Don't laugh about it!> She almost snapped at him, and if she had been there with him, she'd have probably smacked him for it. Leave it to her husband to laugh in the face of danger, but Valery just couldn't. She was feeling a little on edge and was dead serious in her hunt for the creatures on board. If they were given too much time to bite and claw their way through panels and electrical systems, they'd never get this flagship up and running.

She trusted Kahlil and he could fix a lot, but repairing an entire capital ship wasn't really a one-man job.

"Come on, we need to find the disgusting thing that coordinates them! I have a feeling it's whoever laid these eggs," she told one of the warriors before moving up again. A part of her wanted to split up the group and send several to help Kahlil protect the bridge, but separating her people now would only get them in trouble along the way.

<You better have this thing moving by the time we're back, love~>

 

[Kahlil Noble]

<It spooked me, it was funny!>

The creature was, now, flattened elsewhere in the room as he redoubled his efforts to clean up and get things moving. If they ate further in, it'd be it's own problem, but they seemed to huddle around the controls themselves. Ease of access, if he could hazard a guess.

<We're just about there. Thrusters are capable of running, just gotta make sure life support doesn't fail before we head up.>

As in, he was already turning on the ship. The planet was draining them faster now. He could feel it. The more they killed, the hungrier the world itself seemed to get.

The soldiers with Valery were already starting to feel it. Their reactions slowed as they continued to handle the creatures that did pop in, but they were getting smarter. More used to handling how to fight against the Epicanthix. They weren't going to last long at this rate.

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Valley of Forgotten Lords

​

Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Appearance: Link
Ship: Link
Weapons: Blasters | Lightsaber | Double-Bladed Lightsaber
Tag: Kahlil Noble

<We're just about there. Thrusters are capable of running, just gotta make sure life support doesn't fail before we head up.>

<That sounds like a very smart idea, love, but please hurry it up, will you!>

Was she getting impatient and frustrated? Maybe just a little but with this planet draining their very beings, and the Epicanthix soldiers around her starting to feel the effects of it, she just wanted to get away. Time was running out for all of them, and the creatures seemed far less bothered by it. Whether that was true or not, she didn't know, and she wasn't going to stick around much longer to find out.

Especially not with her people getting in trouble. After a long fight, exhaustion combined with the planet's effects began to take its toll, and one of the soldiers was cut across his thigh. The mantis was slain almost immediately by another warrior, but to Valery it was a sign to run.

"Go! Stick together and head to the bridge! My husband is getting us out!" She called out, and the Warriors began to move, though without Valery.

"I'll hold them back."

 

[Kahlil Noble]

<I'm working on it. You try reconnecting wires that have been chewed through with little actual replacements. I've got to pick and choose which systems will be active. We won't have shields or weapons until it's repaired, but at least we can get this off world.>

There it was. He glanced over as he pulled on the Force again to deal with another creature, but rather than flatten it outright he could only pin it down. He grimaced. He was getting weaker. But he found the last wire he needed. Hooked it up, hit a couple buttons, and at once the ship came to life. The engines flared before he set it to pretty much immediately head to outer atmosphere.

<We're heading up! Regroup in the bridge!>

The soldiers didn't hesitate. The moment they realized their own growing weakness they started to huddle ranks, slow retreat. They didn't leave Valery immediately either, instead falling back rank by rank to help cover her. They were a unit, and just because she was a Jedi didn't mean they were going to leave her behind.

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Valley of Forgotten Lords

​

Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Appearance: Link
Ship: Link
Weapons: Blasters | Lightsaber | Double-Bladed Lightsaber
Tag: Kahlil Noble

<You try fighting off an army of these things under these circumstances!>

She pouted a little but quickly regretted being so snappy with him. He was doing his best and without his skills here, they would never be leaving this planet behind. Oh well, she could make up for that later - right now she had to get her people out, especially as Kahlil gave the signal to head back up to the bridge.

The Epicanthix did as she said, but in a very controlled way. They didn't just turn and run, but moved back in layers while they covered her retreat as well. It made it a lot easier on Valery, who was slowly losing her stength and fighting as hard as she could to retain it.

But by the time they had reached the bridge, it was really starting to show.

One of the creatures threw a wall panel at her, and even though she sliced it in half, the impact sent her stumbling back until she topples over and landed on her back. The creatures immediately rushed forward, only to be met by a wall of blaster fire from the Epicanthix - they were not leaving anybody behind.

Valery groaned and rolled over onto her stomach to push herself back up, but it really was time to go now.

<Babe...get us out of here!>

 

[Kahlil Noble]

"Alright, we should be.. Good."

Kahlil reached a hand out, pulling on Valery to drag her fully into the bridge before hitting a switch. The blast doors shut just as the ship suddenly began to rise up. Slow at first, but faster with every second until it finally breached atmosphere. Kahlil stood at the helm, flashing a grin from where he stood even as he bled a little. Not much, but those scything claws even of the young still cut as well as any knife.

Then he hit a switch. All at once all of the whole ship lost atmosphere. Everywhere but the bridge was vented out completely. A simple idea he figured out while trying to make sure they had life support.

"That should take care of most of them, if not all. Good job, Valery. And all of you. Good to see no loss of life."

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Valley of Forgotten Lords

​

Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Appearance: Link
Ship: Link
Weapons: Blasters | Lightsaber | Double-Bladed Lightsaber
Tag: Kahlil Noble

With a quick pull, Valery was yanked onto the bridge and both heard and felt the doors behind her close. She let out a breath of relief, but she didn't get up yet. While the creatures hadn't been able to imjure her, she was exhausted and it showed. Her body ached, she was out of breath and sweat trickled down from her face onto the metal floor.

She wanted to just stay down and sleep until they made it back home. At least, until she noticed that her husband was bleeding.

Valery was up on her feet in an instant, uncaring that the injury looked very minimal, and was right on top of him to take a closer look, "You're bleeding," she said as she brought a hand closer to the cut. "Not feeling any pain or dizziness, right?" She asked but it was perhaps an ironic question - getting up so fast wasn't a good idea. She stumbled around and away from him and began to topple over herself again.

Much to her embarrassment with all the Epicanthix warriors around her being able to see it happen.

 

[Kahlil Noble]

Kahlil reached out before she even started to tumble. Now outside the planet it was easier for him to feel the Force. And how exhausted she was. He just smiled as he caught her before glancing towards the Epicanthix around them. Who had turned away to give as much privacy as they could, given they were all locked on the bridge together for the time being. "I'm fine, love. Better than you are. Why don't you rest?"

The droids would be here soon enough to help get it finished. Then they'd all be heading home with a fleet to repurpose. And possibly some droids.

"We've succeeded."

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Valley of Forgotten Lords

​

Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Appearance: Link
Ship: Link
Weapons: Blasters | Lightsaber | Double-Bladed Lightsaber
Tag: Kahlil Noble

Valery didn't dare look around.

Her entire face was red while she rested in his arms after his smooth catch. She was a lot more exhausted than she had thought back when she was still down on the floor, and a little light-headed too. But with the Force returning to them, he knew, and he wasn't going to let her fall. The Epicanthix handled it very respectfully too, and gave the two Jedi as much privacy as they could by turning away.

Valery took advantage of that very swiftly, as she leaned up for a brief, tender kiss against his lips.

"I'll rest when we're back home. I'd... really like to stay here with you if that's okay?" she smiled warmly and looked around the bridge now that she had composed herself a bit. Other ships were visible through the viewscreens too, and quite a decent fleet was forming around them. "Impressive, hm? Just imagine when we've repaired everything, and bring these ships into combat alongside the Alliance."

Valery then blinked.

"...you know, you can let me go again." She grinned, but made no move to get out of his arms.

 

[Kahlil Noble]

"Oh we're heading back home now, don't worry. Well, soon as this vessel is flight worthy, anyway." It was good they were indeed able to get off the planet. Was he certain it would've work? He wasn't going to make a comment on that, rather just focused on keeping Valery up in his arms. "But this was what I meant by resting. You helped keep everyone alive. So, lean on me for a bit alright?"

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Valley of Forgotten Lords

​

Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Appearance: Link
Ship: Link
Weapons: Blasters | Lightsaber | Double-Bladed Lightsaber
Tag: Kahlil Noble

It was probably a good thing he didn't comment about whether or not he was certain about making it up with this ship. She had... already kind of yelled at him to hurry it up, so if it had also failed, she would have probably lost her mind. Not because she'd be angry with him, but the exhaustion and having to fight to keep everybody alive easily made her a bit cranky. She didn't want anybody to get hurt over a couple of ships.

No matter how important they could become.

"Oh, this is what you meant, hm?" She remained exactly where she was, even as some of the Epicanthix turned to start looking over things on the bridge. Why would she care about them seeing her like this? She was with her husband of all people.

"I can get used to it." She chuckled and brought a hand up against his cheek, soft and warm as it always was. "If we do want to go after the people who attacked our home, do you think we can with these ships? I'm not sure what they did to make that final jump back to where they came from, but... it didn't look like a normal jump."

"Can we make upgrades like that?" She smirked a little at the mention of upgrades. Maybe this time she did use the right term.

 

[Kahlil Noble]

"If we can get hold of the technology, I don't see why not." Any technology could be properly harnessed with the right know how and, more importantly, access. The next time those people struck, the Epicanthix would be ready. And if they were ready, they'd likely be able to take a couple ships back to at least salvage. He did smirk though, reach up to pat the top of her head as if she'd done something right.

Upgrades, yes.

"First, though, we'll have to renew this fleet for proper use."

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Valley of Forgotten Lords

​

Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Appearance: Link
Ship: Link
Weapons: Blasters | Lightsaber | Double-Bladed Lightsaber
Tag: Kahlil Noble

"Get hold of it, hm?" She hummed and got to thinking a little bit. Until he patted her on the head for using correct terminology. That got her to narrow her eyes a little, and as always, she poked a finger into his side. She knew it wouldn't make him squirm and it was perhaps dangerous now that she hung in his arms, but she just had to.

"I'm thinking, once we get the fleet ready, should we try to set up a trap?" She asked with a soft smile. It made sense to her, at least - they needed tech they didn't have but the attackers did.

"I'm sure the people who attacked are keeping an eye on us. They might make another move if they believe that they can catch us by surprise. Right now, an Alliance task force is defending our home. But if they were to suddenly be called away for an 'emergency', maybe they will strike." She grinned.