Private Trouble never Ends

[Valery Noble]

Denon

​

Outfit: Factory Link
Appearance: Link
Weapons: Lightsaber
Tag: Alicio Organa

"Great work, now let's finish this," Valery said with a slight dip of her head after Alicio joined her with his own lightsaber drawn. She trusted him as much as most Jedi she could have had with her here, so as waves of blaster fire sought to take them down, she only needed to focus on what threatened her directly. She didn't deflect any of it back towards the attackers, even though it would have been easy to do so, opting instead to deflect it away safely.

Nobody needed to die or get seriously hurt today. But she knew that there was a chance that it could happen.

"Hey, is that... Valery fuckin' Noble?"

"Who cares, keep blastin'!"

Valery blinked and briefly glanced in Alicio's direction before she suddenly advanced and cut one of their rifles in half in the blink of an eye. The thug's eyes went wide but before he had a chance to move, she shoved him into the wall of the building with a telekinetic push.

"Chit, get the hell out!" One of the thugs yelled as she began to retreat, but both Alicio and Valery were much too fast and overwhelmed them before they could do anything. But from the side entrance of the building, a new problem appeared.

"Alicio, on the right!" Valery exclaimed, as two thugs carrying a heavy repeating blaster appeared and opened fire at the count. These bolts were much heavier than the ordinary blaster, making them trickier to deflect without losing balance or grip over the lightsaber.

 

[Alicio Organa]

Like water, Alicio flowed over their makeshift battlefield, pouring into the spaces of their opponents, chopping weapons and flowing around blaster fire. In lieu of any great strength or telekinesis like Valery possessed, Alicio left her to finish most of the thugs he disarmed, although he did have to stab through a man's leg when the poor soul tried to kick him.

It wasn't long though, before another snag caught in their controlled fight. Heavy blaster shots launched their direction, and Alicio made the mistake of trying to block them like he did regular blasts. Introspect was nearly ripped from his grasp as he intercepted a shot from an odd angle, causing Alicio to narrowly dodge to avoid the rest of the stream of red. He frowned severely, concentration sharp as he narrowly avoid blast after blast.

Seeing an opportunity, Alicio stepped behind a dumpster, taking a moment to breathe. Then, the Force swirled around him, emanating off of the Count like a heat mirage. He propelled his consciousness at the two criminals, an overpowering mental assault with one simple, piercing command;

"Stop!"
​

Alicio could only hope the mind trick held long enough for Val to capitalize.

- Valery Noble -

 

[Valery Noble]

Denon

​

Outfit: Factory Link
Appearance: Link
Weapons: Lightsaber
Tag: Alicio Organa

With Alicio seemingly pinned down behind a container, Valery gritted her teeth. It wasn't easy for her to break free while they were still being shot at from other directions, but she was far too stubborn to give up on that idea. Luckily, her opportunity came swiftly as she felt him connecting with the minds of the thugs.

The heavy repeating blaster fire suddenly ceased, and long before they had any chance to recover, Valery charged right at them with overwhelming speed. Her blade cut through the weapon and with another telekinetic push, the goons using the weapon were flung into a wall and knocked out cold.

However, right after her burst of telekinetic energy, something unexplainable sparked a sudden, peculiar dip in her Force energy. She seemed staggered and in her moment of weakness, a bolt struck the back of her shoulder. Valery hissed at the pain, stumbled forward, and spun around to deflect a second shot.

Her presence in the Force felt normal again, although the pain from the hit pulsed out as well.

"Push up to the building!" She called out despite it. The remaining thugs were trying to retreat inside, so this fight was over. All that remained was going after them and forcing a surrender.

 

[Alicio Organa]

Alicio was happy to see Valery dash across the battlefield, closing with the heavy gunners like a blur. He'd opened the tiniest of doorways, and she was able to burst through it. The Count had never seen Val in action before, but seeing it here, now? He saw why the evils lurking at the edges of the galaxy feared the name of Valery Noble.

But then, something odd happened. A... hiccup, in the power surrounding the Jedi. Alicio dashed around the corner, spurred by the sudden pain of his friend. He found his way to her side, his blue and black blade dancing in a circle around him, turning blaster fire to the side.

"Push up to the building!"

The Count nodded, although a color of concern flashed like lightning in his overcast eyes. "I'm with you," he said, taking the lead as he walked to the building, a step ahead of the Master to allow her to recover. To the criminals, the Count's flowing coat, dark expression, and piercing eyes would make him seem like a specter of death, cold and calm, but with a new incessant ferocity in each movement.

He inevitably moved into the doorway, kicking aside a bookshelf they'd attempted to block it with, barking out a simple, quiet command.

"Lay down your weapons," he said darkly.

- Valery Noble -

 

[Valery Noble]

Denon

​

Outfit: Factory Link
Appearance: Link
Weapons: Lightsaber
Tag: Alicio Organa

While there was very little time to think and discuss what happened, Valery showed a grateful smile when he quickly showed up by her side. It offered her some relief against enemy blaster fire, and with him taking lead as they pushed forward, she hid away behind him a little more. Her outfit had absorbed much of the energy from the shot, but she was still injured and needed time to recover.

But as they moved, Valery realized that something had changed about him as well.

She could see it in the way he moved, the way he looked, and especially how he felt in the Force. The thugs weren't sensitive to it, but his body language was more than enough to convey how he felt.

They knew it was over.

When the command was given by Alicio, the thugs began to lay down their weapons one by one, until all of them stood with their hands raised and egos hurt. They knew Jedi wouldn't strike down prisoners, and even though Alicio wasn't a Jedi, they couldn't tell the difference with him wielding a lightsaber. So they weren't frightened or begging for their lives. They just stood quietly in defeat.

"Law enforcement has been alerted, and will be taking you all in," Valery said after she had raised her vambrace to send a signal to local police forces. "Don't try anything stupid, and none of you will get hurt. You have my word." With that, Valery turned to Alicio and offered a pained smile.

"Thanks for having my back there. I... don't know what happened."

 

[Alicio Organa]

Alicio glared daggers at everyone in the room, Introspect humming low at his side as he looked between them. He didn't mind getting mistaken for a Jedi; Amani had called him an honorary Jedi, once, and he'd taken it as the highest compliment. And even though he wasn't a Jedi, he too would never hurt someone that had surrendered.

Valery was quick to call in reinforcements, before stealing Alicio's concerns right out of his mouth. "I'll always have your back," he returned, his noble severity lifting for a moment, the shadow of a smile brightening his sharp features. He left it at that, until authorities arrived.

Which they did, in a few minutes. And as armored CorpSec officers led the defeated gangsters out of their hideout in cuffs, Alicio turned to Val, once they had a bit of privacy.

"So... what exactly happened to you? It was as if... the Force left you, for a moment."

- Valery Noble -

 

[Valery Noble]

Denon

​

Outfit: Factory Link
Appearance: Link
Weapons: Lightsaber
Tag: Alicio Organa

She knew the conversation was coming.

After Law enforcement arrived, Valery and Alicio walked away from the scene to get fresh air and talk privately. But she knew that it wasn't just going to be about this case. What happened to her was... very strange, and she didn't really have the answers either. So the look she gave him was one of confusion and discomfort.

"I... have no idea," Valery said as she rubbed the side of her left arm. "My senses suddenly went blank, I lost my reflexes and speed, and I couldn't do anything." The pain from that hiccup still burned her shoulder as they spoke. Luckily, it wasn't a serious injury but she was definitely going to be sore from taking the hit.

"It has never happened before. Maybe it's just because I've been tired, or... I don't know. I'll figure it out and hopefully, it won't happen again." She looked at Alicio with a hopeful smile and placed a hand on his shoulder. "We should head back. Report what happened and take some time to rest."

"Or if you're hungry, we can grab something to eat somewhere."

 

[Alicio Organa]

The raven-haired nobleman puckered his lips as Valery tried and failed to explain what exactly had happened. If she didn't know why the Force had simply drained away from her, there was no way he could guess.

As Val put a hand on him, he tried to find a smile, though anxiety tensed the muscles in his shoulder. "Until you find out why it happened, please don't get in over your head." He finally gave up his attempts at a smile. "Today, it was a gang of street toughs. Tomorrow, it could be in the middle of a battle, or against a Sith Lord."

"Just, be careful, please."

The offer of food finally lightened the mood, Alicio nodding after a moment. "Honestly, I am a little hungry. Let's see what's around."

As the pair of them walked back towards the business sectors of Denon, Alicio tapped his recovered cane on the ground. "I see why they call you the Sword of the Jedi, Valery. You're... terrifying in combat." He smiled. "In the best way."

- Valery Noble -

 

[Valery Noble]

Denon

​

Outfit: Factory Link
Appearance: Link
Weapons: Lightsaber
Tag: Alicio Organa

She had tried to make light of what happened but failed and she knew that it was something to take seriously. So when his smile faded, Valery pulled back her hand and nodded, "I know, and you're right," she admitted with a soft sigh. "I'll try to take it easy and maybe visit one of the healers to help me figure out what happened." She hoped it wasn't anything too serious because it wouldn't be long before she was needed at the front again.

The war efforts never stopped, and she felt that it was her duty to be there.

Luckily, the offer to get some food seemed to brighten things up a little, and Valery found herself able to crack a smile again when he accepted. "I don't think we'll find a great restaurant around here, but I'm sure one greasy burger won't kill you, right?" She grinned and turned to one of the larger streets with shops and fast food places.

None of it looked overly appealing, but she planned to count this as a cheat day anyway.

"Oh yeah?" Valery chuckled at first when he brought up her being the Sword, but blinked when he called her terrifying. "Well, I'm glad to hear that I still got it. You've really made a lot of progress yourself and it almost felt like I was fighting alongside another Jedi. Maybe not too strange if Amani has been helping you train?" She grinned and only stopped to point at a burger place.

"Burgers? Or are you feeling something more exotic? I think I saw a Zeltron place over there too."

 

[Alicio Organa]

Valery's affirmation that she would slow down a little to at least talk with someone got the Count to relax, if only for now. Still, he turned up his brow suspiciously. "Good," he finally said. He knew Val to be the type to push herself far too hard. They were similar, in that regard. He doubted this would be different. But he couldn't command her to 'take it easy'. All he could do was worry.

At the mention of greasy burgers, Alicio fully found his own grin, as well. "I've been known to indulge in the rare late night McYoda's run." He found his pace alongside Valery, glancing to and fro as they passed a few restaraunts.

"You've really made a lot of progress yourself and it almost felt like I was fighting alongside another Jedi. Maybe not too strange if Amani has been helping you train?"

"She has been," he said, an involuntary smile cracking his concentration. "And... thank you for noticing. I've been working hard. Making sure that, when it counts, I can be there for people that need help."

Stopping at a burger joint, Alicio skewed another smile Val's way. "This will do." Walking into the establishment, and up to the front counter, Alicio ordered the smallest, most conservative hamburger they sold, before finding an outdoor table to sit down across from Valery.

"I'm sorry we couldn't learn more about the train. Sure, we got one answer, but it only dredged up more questions." Who was the blue-haired girl? Why had she done it? Why was she so... happy?

- Valery Noble -

 

[Valery Noble]

Denon

​

Outfit: Factory Link
Appearance: Link
Weapons: Lightsaber
Tag: Alicio Organa

"Well, she has done a great job teaching, and the hard work shows," Valery complimented with another smile. Even though nobody had been able to stop those thugs from raiding their way through the streets that night, his assistance made sure they'd never get the chance to do it again. But with all that said, Valery was ready to move on to better topics, and getting some food was priority number one.

They settled on the burger joint, and after Alicio ordered the smallest possible burger, Valery began to smile very sheepishly. "I uh, want the XL cheeseburger, please. Extra bacon and cheese. And some fries..." She looked at Alicio, expecting some kind of look or comment, but what could she even say? She ate a lot and made the most of her cheat days.

With the ridiculously large burger and her fries, she joined him at the outdoor table and began to dig in while she occasionally looked up at him. She did listen, though, and nodded in response to what he said. It just took her a moment before she could respond — the bite she took had been far too big.

"It's alright. Maybe it's for the best that others are going to pick up from here. I probably shouldn't be so involved in a case where I was also the target." She let out a soft sigh and set her burger down for a moment. "I just want things to change here on Denon, but it's such an uphill battle."

 

[Alicio Organa]

"I uh, want the XL cheeseburger, please. Extra bacon and cheese. And some fries..."

Alicio looked away to hide a tight smile. It wasn't that he was judging her, the Sword of the Jedi could eat whatever she wanted. He just found it... a little funny, was all.

Finding a seat together, Alicio took a small bite of his own, more reasonably sized, burger, waiting patiently for Valery to finish chewing before listening to her response. He shrugged his shoulders to her, putting down his food to caress his jawline. "Every time we try to help Denon... it decides to remind us it would rather stay the way it is. Broken."

"Though, it is probably for the best someone more removed takes this case." It wasn't exactly a silver lining, but it was close enough. He pondered the situation over another bite of his sandwich.

"Do you think... we're actually helping these people?" Or are we making things worse, he didn't say.

- Valery Noble -

 

[Valery Noble]

Denon

​

Outfit: Factory Link
Appearance: Link
Weapons: Lightsaber
Tag: Alicio Organa

Valery knew he was smiling, but he didn't comment, so she wasn't going to either. She was just going to enjoy her food the best she could, given how disgustingly greasy it all was. But every once in a while, she enjoyed not having to care about what she was eating or drinking.

Although with her current plans in life, alcohol was still off the table.

"Yeah, I'm going to leave this to you and whoever else gets involved but... I don't know. I once stopped Iris from going down the Vigilante path here and convinced her that there were better ways with a more lasting impact. Then when that bill didn't pass... I almost felt as if I lied to her." She frowned and put down her burger again.

"Maybe Denon can't be fixed in a lifetime, or even two, but I'd still like to think that we can help people. Even just taking that gang off the streets does something. I just wish we could do more."

 

[Alicio Organa]

Alicio raised an eyebrow as Valery mentioned Iris' vigilante path. He knew about Iris' time as a 'masked hero', had even worked with Valery's former padawan to come up with the evidence needed to start a conversation about Denon's safety. Evidence that had yet to see light.

Partially, that was because he was waiting for the right time. Alicio had seen what happened when another Senator tried to spring the conversation before it was ready. But partially, it was also because he was afraid of what effect that might have.

"I... sometimes have my doubts, on whether any path is the right one forward for this place. Rock the boat, and the people suffer. Leave it, and the people suffer." His scowl deepened as he stared at his hamburger, as if it had greatly displeased him somehow. "There's an... ecosystem on Denon. It's... an evil, greedy, violent ecosystem, but it's been stable. Until... Until you were attacked here. After I asked for your help."

Alicio looked back up to Valery, a sort of helpless resignation playing across his face. He'd pondered the same question over and over, but couldn't find a way beyond this point. Maybe Valery would have some insight. "After everything you've seen, Val, after everything that's happened... Do you think I'll hurt Denon, by interfering? Should I... should I stop?"

- Valery Noble -

 

[Valery Noble]

Denon

​

Outfit: Factory Link
Appearance: Link
Weapons: Lightsaber
Tag: Alicio Organa

"No, you shouldn't stop," Valery said as she looked up at him and no longer really paid any attention to her food. She could feel that what happened with the bill and assassination attempt sparked conflict in him about the cause, and she didn't want him to give up on Denon now.

"Those responsible for making this a broken world rely on people like you to give up. They control with fear and corruption, and even though it might seem pointless sometimes..." she let out a soft sigh and looked down at the untouched fries for a moment. "I'd like to believe that in the end, we can change something."

She looked back up at her friend and tried her best to muster a smile again. "I know this has been a setback for all of us and for Denon, but please, don't give up. If anybody can make a difference out here, it's you." After everything, Valery no longer felt that she could be of much help.

She'd either be viewed as too biased, or more people would try to kill her when all she wanted was civil discussion.

 

[Alicio Organa]

Alicio twisted his mouth at Valery, as she immediately fought to defend him against his own thoughts, ensuring him that he could make a difference. That he was the only one with the tenacity to create real, lasting change.

That was what scared him.

"I'm not worried about if I can change things here," the Count started, neglecting his burger in front of him to stare out over the streets. People walked to and fro, an odd moment of peace in a world so embattled. "I'm sure I could expose the corruption to the Senate. Lay bare the wrongdoings of the governing body, reveal their exploitation of the people. I know I can. I probably have enough evidence, enough allies now, to start an official investigation."

"But Denon is a political powderkeg, waiting to explode. I'm worried that if I'm too successful, I'll push the corporations into a corner. Or the people will become militant. Or something happens that will set the planet ablaze again."

"I'm worried that the only way to fix Denon would be to break it first. And... I don't know what will happen to the people, if things start to break." Alicio had to stop, working to keep the burning doubt from his voice. "What they have now... isn't working. At all. But it's better than total destruction. I don't want to make the Denonian people's lives worse in an effort to make them better."

It was an impossible conundrum. Alicio was very scared of making the wrong move.

- Valery Noble -

 

[Valery Noble]

Denon

​

Outfit: Factory Link
Appearance: Link
Weapons: Lightsaber
Tag: Alicio Organa

"I..." Valery's lips pressed shut and her gaze shifted down to the food she no longer wanted to eat. Perhaps she had been far too optimistic about helping Denon. She had argued with Iris about what the right way was to help these people, and that ultimately led to nothing. The bill that could have maybe brought change failed, and her attempt to open discussions about it only made the state of the planet even worse.

Maybe Denon just couldn't be saved.

"I understand why it has been so hard on you and many others," Valery said after a moment. "The only way to eventually, maybe save this planet is to first make things worse. Any move you make could practically spark civil war at this point..." she sighed again and looked up to meet his gaze with a pained expression. The fire in her eyes had dulled and it was unlikely for anything to ignite them again today.

"I wish I had answers or advice... anything. But I'm feeling rather defeated as well. Maybe we just need more time to think it through, and maybe we'll be forced to take risks. I just... don't know."

 

[Alicio Organa]

Maybe they just needed more time.

However much Denon had left.

Alicio didn't like seeing Valery look as helpless as he felt. That made the situation sink in that much deeper. He'd accidentally made a Jedi Master lose hope. Not a feat he was particularly proud of.

"Perhaps that's why the Senate takes so long to decide on matters," he finally said, sinking his teeth into a tasteless bite of burger. "We're always stuck between impossible choices..."

Alicio put down his food once more, eyes staring off to the middle distance. "Now isn't the time to try anything reckless. But... I do have a path to take in the Senate. Once things calm down here. If they calm down."

"So... here's to hoping, I guess." He raised his fast food cup, as if to clink it nobly against Valery's.

- Valery Noble -

 

[Valery Noble]

Denon

​

Outfit: Factory Link
Appearance: Link
Weapons: Lightsaber
Tag: Alicio Organa

"Yeah, maybe..." She still looked a little defeated but when he mentioned that there was a possible path through the senate, she looked up and offered an appreciative smile. He had put a lot of effort into Denon already, so she really didn't want to look hopeless about it in front of him.

They had to keep trying and maintain hope not for the planet, but for its people.

"I'll drink to that," she said with a smile again, before raising her cup of disgustingly sweet soda to 'clink' it against his. She then took a sip, shoved some fries into her mouth, and sighed.

"We should really go out and do something fun again soon. You, Amani, and I'll drag Vera and Kahlil along." She chuckled as her little star's shenanigans at the festival resurfaced, and all she really wanted was to have more of those memories.

 

[Alicio Organa]

After their little makeshift toast, Alicio took a short drink from his cup, treating it like the fanciest of goblets.

"We should really go out and do something fun again soon. You, Amani, and I'll drag Vera and Kahlil along."

"I would love that," he said, nodding his head in agreement. The festival on Pasaana had been a much-needed break from the chaos of senate life, alongside some of his favorite people in the whole galaxy. He relished the idea of doing something similar again. "And I'm sure Amani would too, if she's free from her temple duties."

He also knew it would be good for Valery. More time with her husband, and more time away from the wars that harassed the Alliance, to remind her what she fought for.

The Count politely wrapped up the remains of his hamburger. He decided to voice one, last concern, his mind having been pulled towards his fiancé.

"I'm... a little nervous about the wedding." The Alderaanian smiled small towards his friend. "Everything is coming together really well, and I have no doubts about being with Amani, but when I think about it, I feel... fluttery. Excited, and... maybe anxious too." He shrugged.

"It's a huge step. Our lives... won't be the same. And that's exciting! And terrifying. You know?"

- Valery Noble -