Private Trouble on Denon

[Vess Sadragen]

Vess twirled the terminal in her hand, feeling pleased with herself as she listened to Valery, especially when she mentioned terrorists. "Oh, that's great to know. One more group that probably wants to either murder me or hire me," she sighed. "I'll just need to be more careful, I guess. Honestly, I didn't think about any sort of terrorist groups on Denon, but it makes sense."

Her eyes involuntarily drifted back to Valery, who seemed completely at ease despite the tight crop top highlighting her chest and abs. Vess could feel her cheeks warming, and she cleared her throat, trying to maintain her composure. The combination of Valery's calm demeanor and her striking appearance was hard to ignore, making it difficult for Vess to concentrate.

Suddenly, Valery changed her demeanor, pushing away from the wall and closing the distance between them. Vess's eyes went wide momentarily as she looked at Valery, then quickly looked back at the terminal. "Force-sensitive? What do you mean?" she asked, genuinely confused by the question.

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

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Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Weapons Double-Bladed Lightsaber

"I suggest that you don't work with them," Valery said and she hoped that was obvious enough. It'd not only put a huge target on her back and get her into a circle with some incredibly dangerous people. It'd also make it impossible for Valery to continue working with her. She had often worked alongside people with a rougher past or career, but she wasn't going to even entertain the idea of working alongside a terrorist.

She had her limits.

Before her approach, Valery again noticed the woman's eyes drifting, pulling another smirk onto her lips. But rather than call her out, she stepped closer and pointed at the terminal first, "What you did to get it working — you used the Force for it. You know, the very thing that gives a Jedi their abilities." Valery tilted her head curiously. Surely, if Vess had been able to tell that she was a Jedi by just seeing her lightsaber, she had also heard about the Force, right?

Withdrawing a step, Valery looked Vess in the eyes and grinned, "Are you doing alright, by the way? It looks like you're burning up a little," Valery said as she referred to the woman's cheeks, knowing exactly why it was, but choosing to play dumb.

Vess Sadragen​

 

[Vess Sadragen]

She shook her head firmly, a hint of defiance in her eyes. "You don't have to worry about that. I'm not stupid... well, not that stupid anyway," she said with a wry grin, her expression softening as she looked up at Valery. The tension in Vess's shoulders became more pronounced as Valery approached, pointing towards the terminal with a deliberate motion. Vess's attention shifted to the terminal, but she was clearly distracted by the surprising news. "I did what? Wait, wait, wait... I used the Force? How?" Her voice was filled with disbelief, her eyes widening in shock. The realization was so overwhelming that she almost missed Valery's next movement.

As Valery stepped even closer, Vess felt a flush creep up her cheeks. When Valery inquired if she was feeling warm, referring to the redness on her face, Vess hesitated before responding. "Um, yeah, I guess it is a little stuffy in here. I should open a window," she said, her voice slightly flustered. She quickly jumped up and set the terminal down before she moved towards the window, trying to regain her composure while still processing the extraordinary revelation about her use of the Force.

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Weapons Double-Bladed Lightsaber

"Because you're Force-sensitive," Valery explained, knowing it didn't exactly answer her question. "Even without training or knowing that you are, you can tap into it. Especially with an ability that comes naturally, and you clearly have an affinity for tech." It all made sense now. Why Vess was relatively young and inexperienced, but already so capable at handling technology. It went beyond just the basics of slicing and hacking.

She had a real connection to the systems she got into.

After her next question, Vess experienced another wave of heat burning her cheeks. She didn't see it, as she rushed for the window, but Valery smirked.

"Are you okay? What's on your mind?" she asked with a playful smirk. "I know it's a lot to take in, but if we end up working together, I could help you learn more about your connection."

Vess Sadragen​

 

[Vess Sadragen]

The words hit her as she turned back to look at Valery. She didn't need to see the smirks to know Valery was teasing her; it had been clear since she had dried off and Vess was trying very hard to remain professional. She listened and absorbed what Valery was saying. "So, I'm basically an untrained Jedi. Huh, who knew. I guess that explains it. I always heard the Force could do crazy things, but I didn't realize you could use it on tech. That's wild."

When Valery spoke next, Vess glanced back and saw the smirk. On one hand, she barely knew the woman, but on the other, did it really matter? She chuckled. "There's a lot on my mind right now, yeah. A lot to take in." The wheels were definitely turning, and she was still dodging Valery's actual question—quite intentionally. "I would like that, learning more about the force I mean, and working together to be honest. Seems like at the very least I'll have somebody watching my back."

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Weapons Double-Bladed Lightsaber

Valery dipped her head and offered a warmer, "I've got your back, I promise." It was difficult, if not impossible to learn how to wield the Force without any help. Whether that was a teacher or just proper teaching material. Vess was likely going to need both to explore her innate skills with technology — Mechu Deru was no easy ability to learn.

She had the basics down, but there was far more left to learn.

"For now, why don't we get some rest first?" Valery asked as she stepped back, "We could look into working together and training again in the morning."

Vess Sadragen​

 

[Vess Sadragen]

Vess listened as Valery spoke and nodded in agreement. Rest sounded like a good idea. It would also give the security forces of Denon some time to chill out while she figured out what to do with this new knowledge and her fellow Keshian.

"Yeah, that sounds like a good idea to me," she replied. "We'll have to double up, though only the one bed, but it's plenty roomy. Unless you want to sleep on the floor, but I wouldn't recommend that. I've fallen asleep on the floor more than once, and I couldn't move the next day. Durasteel makes for a terrible mattress." she laughed.

--Morning--

Vess slipped out of the bedroom with the first light of morning. Normally, she would dive right into her routine, pulling out her terminal to hunt for the next job. But today, she found herself taking a different approach. Leaning back against a chair, she sipped from a steaming cup of caf, her eyes fixed on the bright morning sky outside the window. The clear blue was a stark contrast to the torrential downpour of yesterday, it was merely something for her to look at while her mind sorted through everything Valery had told her the night before.

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Weapons Double-Bladed Lightsaber

Valery chuckled, "That's fine with me. We'll make it work." With that, she followed Vess and decided to leave the remainder of their discussion for the next day. Finding out about Force sensitivty was no small thing, and she'd likely end up with countless more questions. She'd have the chance to ask them all tomorrow.

And Valery would be happy to guide her.

---

"Good morning," Valery said when she joined Vess not long after the other Keshian had gotten up. She wasn't one to really sleep in — she had never been permitted to when she was young and in training, so she wasn't used to getting up late. "How are you feeling after last night?" She asked with a smile.

It had been quite the revelation.

Sitting down, Valery raised her arms, sighed, and began to fix her long hair into a ponytail, "If you have any questions, please do feel free to ask them."

Vess Sadragen​

 

[Vess Sadragen]

Vess took a sip of her caf as Valery called out. She turned and swallowed before speaking. "Good morning! I'm well rested and quite relaxed, actually," she said, offering a smile in return. "How about you? Do you drink caf? I know it's not for everyone, but if you'd like some, I have plenty." As she pondered Valery's question she shrugged slightly, setting her cup down gently on the table. "I do have questions, actually, probably too many to count or for you to answer all at once. I suppose the most pressing and pertinent one is: what's next?"

She paused for a moment before continuing. "I know enough about the Jedi to know it's dangerous, probably even more dangerous than what I do. But if I keep going the way I have been, eventually I'll run into someone who doesn't care about my well-being." She flashed an appreciative smile at Valery. Vess was intelligent; it didn't take her long to figure out the stakes on either side. "So, I either throw in with you, or I gamble on the future. Personally, I'm a terrible gambler, so I'm choosing the obvious opportunity in front of me." she picked up her cup again and did a simple toasting gesture before taking another sip.

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Weapons Double-Bladed Lightsaber

Valery shook her head with a smile, "No, thank you," she said, choosing to get herself a glass of water instead. After last night, she needed it. "You seem to be in a good mood." She chuckled and joined Vess in the room, right in time to start answering the abundance of questions the other Keshian likely had.

The most pressing one, she asked first.

"Well, you don't have to become a Jedi. Some use their connection to do good or help people in their own way. But if you'd like to be one..." Valery smiled, clearly excited at the prospect, "The first step is to join me and travel to the Temple. We'd handle some paperwork, but you'd begin your training as a Jedi Padawan."

"You'll learn new skills, history, science classes, and everything you need to be an effective Jedi in the field. You'll also get to specialize in things that interest you, so there's a lot to do."

Vess Sadragen​

 

[Vess Sadragen]

Vess listened to Valery as she sipped her caf, paying close attention to what the Jedi had to say. She quickly picked up on which prospect Valery preferred, a wide grin forming behind her coffee cup as she decided to tease the Jedi. "Oh, well, in that case, I could just learn a bit about the Force, then come back and really terrorize the corpos," she said, listening to the rest of Valery's description of what being a Jedi would be like.

"Wait, wait, wait you can try to dress it up with Force powers and glow sticks, but you're basically describing school," she said with an overly dramatic sigh, for the first time really acting her age, signaling her comfort with Valery. She set the cup down on the table and tapped her chin lightly as if pondering. "I dunno..." the facade cracked rather quickly and she shook her head.

"Honestly, I do like the sound of being a Jedi. And if I'm going to do this, it'd be better with someone I'm comfortable with," Vess admitted, her tone sincere. This time, her smile wasn't teasing or sarcastic; it was genuine, reflecting a rare moment of vulnerability. She glanced down at her caf, swirling the liquid around as if gathering her thoughts, before looking back up at Valery. "I mean, it's not every day you get the chance to be a Jedi."

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Weapons Double-Bladed Lightsaber

Valery rolled her eyes when Vess decided to tease but decided against replying to it directly. It'd just play into her jokes, and she figured it was best to focus on what really mattered, "Well, in a way, it is." The classes, the teachers, being assigned a Master who acted as a mentor — it was a lot like school, but the skills were arguably far more useful and interesting than the typical skills one would develop in class.

"You'll be learning in classes, sure, but you'll also be learning out in the field. Once you have a Master, they'll bring you along on missions or training assignments that bring you across the Galaxy. Classroom learning can be useful, but at times, you have to be out there to really understand something." This also made learning far more interesting because a Jedi could instantly see how it was applied in the real world.

Classrooms sometimes missed that connection.

"It's quite the opportunity," Valery agreed, "But it does require a lot of hard work and commitment. It won't be easy, but if you want to use this connection you have to really help people, there's perhaps no better way."

Vess Sadragen​

 

[Vess Sadragen]

Vess smiled when Valery didn't take the bait, instead rolling her eyes and continuing to sip her caf. She appreciated the Jedi Master's no-nonsense attitude, especially given the serious nature of their conversation. It made sense to keep things grounded. The prospect of attending classes wasn't all that bad, Vess thought, and learning about the Force was a rare opportunity, one that most people never got. Sure, there were Force users scattered all over the galaxy, but people like her? They usually ended up dead in some gutter, not learning how to wield the Force under the guidance of a Jedi.

She swirled her caf idly in her cup, her hazel eyes fixed on the dark liquid as she pondered Valery's words. The idea of having a master intrigued her, and when Valery mentioned it, Vess inclined her head slightly, her curiosity piqued.

"And how is a master determined?" Vess asked, looking up to meet Valery's gaze. A hint of a smile played on her lips. "Would it be you?"

She wasn't sure what answer she expected, but the idea of having Valery as her master was an interesting one. Valery's calm demeanor and strength were qualities Vess admired, and she could think of worse people to learn from. Still, she knew better than to assume anything.

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

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Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Weapons Double-Bladed Lightsaber

"Not by default," Valery wanted to clarify, so she had an honest perspective, "A Master and Padawan can spend up to a decade training and working together before the Padawan is knighted. So, as I'm sure you'll understand, it's important that they work well as a pair. We all have different personalities and sometimes it just doesn't match." It didn't happen often, but she knew of cases where Padawans were reassigned and performed much better.

Due to no fault of the Master, but purely the lack of chemistry.

"Ultimately, the choice is between both the Padawan and the Master. They can approach you and offer, but you can also ask or make yourself available for others. If both sides agree, the Council will support it."

Vess Sadragen​

 

[Vess Sadragen]

Vess nodded as she listened, then shrugged. "So no guarantee fair enough." She took a final sip of her caf and set the empty cup down on the table. It was disappointing, but at the same time, she knew there was still a chance. As she glanced around the small hideout, she figured that whatever accommodations the Jedi provided would be far superior to this.

"Well, I guess all that remains is for you to tell me when you're ready to leave, and I'll hitch a ride," she said with a smile. Her decision had been made long ago nothing here was holding her back.

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Weapons Double-Bladed Lightsaber

Valery chuckled, "Did you want me to be your Master?" She asked plain and simple. Vess seemed somewhat disappointed, but Valery hadn't said what she said to discourage her. She just wanted her to know that she had options. That she could take her time and explore who could be the best teacher for her.

Perhaps it'd be Valery, but she wanted Vess to at least get settled in first.

"It's possible, but I'd like you to first come with me to the Temple. Meet some other Jedi and make sure that your decision is made, knowing what all your options are."

"Does that sound fair?"

Vess Sadragen​

 

[Vess Sadragen]

When Valery chuckled and asked if Vess wanted her to be her master, Vess's cheeks reddened slightly, but she shrugged casually.

"I mean, you're the only Jedi I know," she admitted with a faint smile. "And really, there's only one other person who's treated me this kindly."

She nodded, thinking it over more seriously now. "Yeah, knowing my options, that would be the smart thing to do. Besides, I've never been to a Jedi Temple that would be interesting to see."

Vess glanced up at Valery, her curiosity evident. "When do you need to leave?"

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

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Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Weapons Double-Bladed Lightsaber

Valery understood what she meant and dipped her head, "I think you'll quickly learn that most Jedi will treat you very kindly. So, take your time to get to know a few, and I'm sure that you'll find yourself a good Master." Whether it was Valery or someone else remained to be seen, but she wasn't going to pressure any Jedi into going with the first and only Jedi she had met thus far.

There was no reason not to take some time to look around first.

"I'm not expected back until a few days from now. So... I have time. We could head out tomorrow if you wanted to, but we can also wait a little." Valery wasn't in a rush — she'd be fine with whatever helped Vess.

Maybe the young woman still had some business to take care of before leaving, after all.

Vess Sadragen​

 

[Vess Sadragen]

Vess shrugged, "No jobs lined up right now, so my schedule is wide open." She chuckled, a playful glint in her eyes. "I'd offer you a tour of Denon, but it seems like you've been here before and honestly, there's not much to see anyway." she laughed a bit at that as Denon was a place she came to out of necessity not because she wanted to.

She mentally ticked off her list. Travel gear was minimal blasters, her slicer kit, and enough credits to get by were all she really needed. She'd been on her own for so long, something about Valery's calm presence made her feel like this trip wouldn't be as chaotic as most of her past ventures. Not that she'd admit that out loud.

"Whenever you're ready, I'm good to go," Vess added, she was intrigued by the idea of taking her time, as Valery suggested, rushing headlong into things was just how she'd survived for so long. The thought of a more patient, guided path whether with Valery or another Jedi was intriguing.

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

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Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Weapons Double-Bladed Lightsaber

"I've been here far more than I would have liked," Valery admitted, "I was in hiding on Denon with friends during my first pregnancy and survived two assassination attempts." She wasn't too bothered talking about it now, but everything that happened on Denon had spooked her at the time. The pregnancy, but also a later assassination plot where Darkwire blew up an entire train to try and kill her.

For now, Valery set that all aside again — they were leaving Denon, and Vess almost seemed just as eager to get going. Not because she hated the planet as much as Valery did, but because she was excited.

She was going to become a Jedi.

"Well, if you'd like to go now, pack your things and we'll be on our way. I'm sure you're going to be blown away by Coruscant and the Temple."

Vess Sadragen​