Private A Day Off

[Valery Noble]

Coruscant

​

Outfit: Casual | Wedding Ring
Appearance: Link
Weapons: Blasters | Lightsaber
Tag: Gatz Derrevar

"You didn't try bringing him in. We were focused on getting those kids out, and you used him as a hostage," Valery said with a huff again. "And those five hunters are exactly the reason that we have to make it stop. Both for you and everybody around you." She was, in all honesty, mostly concerned about him. But Gatz had this thing about him that made him more worried about hurting other people around him.

So maybe that'd help convince him a little. By being attacked in the streets, other people could be harmed too. But whether or not it would help change his mind, he at least understood her at this point.

He knew she wasn't going to give up on this. On him.

"Do you really have to ask me that? Of course I won't. Kragan is a threat to you and every person he enslaved, and I want to stop him now, with your help." She looked him in the eyes with that fiery intensity again. This was not something she'd be talked out of, and she wanted to make that clear to him.

"So please, let's do this one together again, alright?"

 

[Gatz Derrevar]

​

“What did you want me to do, get bound into slavery?” Gatz got defensive, “we tried confronting him directly before, and it ended terribly!”

He was about to continue his argument, until Valery made a point that Gatz just couldn’t refute: these bounty hunters weren’t just a threat to him, but to everyone around him. Yes, he had considered how they were a threat to Valery and her family. But he hadn’t considered how they were a threat to every bystander he passed in the street.

The change in his expression—shock, consideration, acceptance—was a clear indicator that she’d gotten through to him, something she would undoubtedly be smug about.

Valery wasn’t going to budge on this, that much was clear. And, in all honesty, he needed the help. He’d barely survived this week. He probably wouldn’t survive the next without her. But still, he had a number of reservations, all stemming from the nightmares that had plagued him since they escaped Sovereign Station. There were just some things he couldn’t allow to pass.

“If we do this,” Gatz spoke slowly, “I have to know you’re coming home to your family, Valery.”

Because, really, she had everything to lose. And the people around her had her to lose. He had nothing but Klein, and the two of them barely got along. The old badger might miss him, but… it would pale in comparison to how many people would miss her, and how strongly they would feel her loss.

“I’m not doubting your ability to protect yourself. Jedi Battlemaster and all that. But you have to promise me: if there’s a situation like on Sovereign Station, where you have a choice to give up your life for mine, you don’t take it. I won’t be the reason Vera, or any of your children, lose their mother. Promise me that. Promise me that and I’ll do whatever you ask of me.”

---

Tags: Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Coruscant

​

Outfit: Casual | Wedding Ring
Appearance: Link
Weapons: Blasters | Lightsaber
Tag: Gatz Derrevar

Well, at least her argument helped a bit.

She had been so ready to snap back at him when he started arguing, but there was nothing he could say about the bounty endangering other people around him. Sure, he could try to isolate himself completely to avoid others being caught in the crossfire, but what kind of life would that be?

"If we do this," Gatz spoke slowly, "I have to know you're coming home to your family, Valery."

Valery frowned, but remained quiet while she looked at him and listened. She had told him why she took the shot for him, and why she'd do it again, but she could understand his perspective too. Perhaps it was also a little selfish of her to be willing to sacrifice herself, and leave someone else with extreme guilt. So, for the first time today, she sighed and dipped her head in agreement with him.

"Fine," she said. "I promise I won't do anything like that again. But you better make sure there's no reason to. There's only so much smuggler I can patch up." She smirked a little bit again and ran a hand up through her hair. This was already such a tiring day, and it was only the beginning.

"So, we're doing this then? If so, where do we go next?"

 

[Gatz Derrevar]

​

She wasn’t going to make that compromise, Gatz knew. She, for whatever reason, valued him too much to agree not to put her life at risk for him. He didn’t know what his next step was, if she rejected his demand. Valery was entirely right: he couldn’t just keep running from Kragan’s bounty hunters. He had to take care of the man eventually, and he would need help.

He’d just have to give in to her—

She agreed.

Gatz blinked in surprise. He’d expected that to turn into another argument. She had stipulations of her own, of course, but he didn’t think what she was asking of him was unfair. If he didn’t want her to risk her life for him, then he had to stop putting himself in situations where she had to risk her life for him. That was reasonable, he supposed. Of course, their entire plan here put both of them at risk, but he could promise not to do things like randomly take a crime lord hostage.

“At this rate, there’s not going to be any smuggler to patch up at all,” Gatz gave a defeated sigh, “but okay. I won’t do anything stupid if you don’t do anything stupid. Hunting a crime lord notwithstanding.”

She ran her hand through her hair, and Gatz had to look down and pretend he was mulling something over just so that he wouldn’t stare. Sometimes it was hard to look at her and keep it together. She made even being covered in blood look good.

“We’re doing this,” Gatz confirmed, “but as for where to go… Give me a week. I need to put out some feelers with some old contacts, see if they know where Kragan’s resting his head. And I need a soak in a bacta tank, otherwise you’ll have to push me around in a wheelchair while we do this. And I need a new blaster. I don’t know how I’ve survived five murder attempts without one.”

Gatz took a look down at his leg, and the bloody sheets underneath.

"...that also gives me time to replace your sheets."

---

Tags: Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Coruscant

​

Outfit: Casual | Wedding Ring
Appearance: Link
Weapons: Blasters | Lightsaber
Tag: Gatz Derrevar

"Hunting a crime lord isn't that special. I've hunted far worse," Valery said with a smug grin, before her eyes settled back on him. She had noticed him looking away, seemingly deep in thought, and tilted her head again. Long locks of dark-brown hair fell in front of her face once more, and she just let out a soft sigh. As attached as she was to her hair, sometimes it really was frustrating to handle.

Anyway.

"Alright, hit up your contacts and stay in touch with me over a secured channel. As for your blaster, do you have the credits to buy a new one?" She asked. "Otherwise you can borrow one of mine, since I don't use them too often." She figured he'd just want to get his own because smugglers were the types to get pretty attached to their weapons. But the offer stood if they didn't have enough time to get him something new.

"As for the sheets, leave those to me. I'm throwing these away and have replacements already. You just focus on recovery and getting your gear ready for the mission. I'll handle my side of things." She gently patted him on the shoulder and stood up before turning her back on him. She walked over to the door, then stopped within the frame, so she could look over her shoulder at him.

"I'm going to make some food. Just relax, alright?"

 

[Gatz Derrevar]

​

Yeah, he supposed that Valery would have hunted far worse than a crime lord. That should have reassured Gatz, and it did, but it also made him feel… inadequate. He’d barely survived the last week—hunted for his life—a situation where she would have thrived. Even after taking the man hostage once, the idea of facing Kragan Garr terrified him again. Not Valery though. For her, that was a regular Tuesday.

Would he have felt the same, been as great, if only he’d stayed with the Order?

Didn’t matter. He had better things to do than brood over what-ifs. Starting with racking his brain for anyone he still knew in Kragan’s circle. And then racking his brain for someone in that circle that wouldn’t immediately turn him in for the bounty on his head. The chance of any of his old contacts not stabbing him in the back was slim, but it was worth the risk if it gave them a chance to put Kragan down for good.

Maybe then he’d get a good night’s sleep again.

“Credits aren’t the issue,” well… things were a lot tighter since he’d stopped smuggling, but that wasn’t the primary problem, “it’s finding a decent weapons dealer, in a place where I won’t get ambushed. I used to do my less-than-legal shopping on Nar Shaddaa. Probably not a good idea to step foot there at the moment.”

Then she offered to make him food, which… sounded great, but left him with a sense of guilt. He almost declined, almost insisted that she’d done enough. But then Gatz imagined the glare she was sure to send his way if he tried that, and decided it was just smarter to keep his mouth shut.

“I… alright.”

Besides, how many people could say they got a home cooked meal from the Sword of the Jedi?

---

Tags: Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Coruscant

​

Outfit: Casual | Wedding Ring
Appearance: Link
Weapons: Blasters | Lightsaber
Tag: Gatz Derrevar

"Yeah, Nar Shaddaa is definitely not an option," she said, almost as if she was bossing him around at this point. "There are plenty of shops in the Alliance though, so maybe they'll have something there?" Her blasters had been made by an old friend who produced weapons for people everywhere in the Galaxy, the Alliance included. So maybe his company or others out there would be able to make something custom for him too.

But she was going to leave that to him. He seemed pretty particular about what he wanted.

Then she left and started cooking a homemade meal not just for her and the kids, but a guest as well. So soon enough, they'd all be able to smell it, and they'd all be able to hear Valery hum a melody. The kids knew it well, as it was an old Keshian one she had remembered from her own mother, but it was soothing and Valery nailed the pitches.

She could sing too, but she didn't tell people that usually.

"You ready for dinner?" Valery asked after moving back over to the bedroom, "The kids are already seated. Don't worry though, they won't bite." She smirked and walked over to help him up if he needed it, before guiding him to the dinner table. Vera was already sitting there, and so were the triplets.

"These are Aeryn, Aurra and Adam," Valery said. For dinner, Valery had kept it mostly simple — bantha steaks, some vegetables and potatoes. But there was wine as well, or just water if he preferred that. "I hope it tastes good. Dig in~" she said, and Vera was quick to start eating like the gremlin she was.

However, the 'peace' didn't last very long. Because as soon as Gatz and Valery started eating as well, the triplets started crying, and Adam began to tug on her mother's tank top, right around her chest. Valery blinked, looked up at Gatz and smiled sheepishly, "The kids want their food too, so I'll be right back, okay?" she asked, while Aeryn's hand began to pull on her top too from the other side. "Vera, can you keep him company?"

"Mhm!"

 

[Gatz Derrevar]

​

“Man, I miss Nar Shaddaa,” Gatz sighed, but let Valery take her leave of him.

It occurred to Gatz, now that he was alone in the room, that this was an ample opportunity to sneak out like he’d wanted. One throb from his thigh told him that that wasn’t happening. One flash of Valery’s disapproving glare in his mind told him that it wasn’t a good idea anyhow. Very well. He resigned himself to his fate: a good meal. How frightening.

At some point, the young scoundrel dozed off, only waking when he heard the door open. He had to admit, while blinking the drowsiness from his eyes, that waking up to the sight of Valery Noble wasn’t all that terrible a fate either. Of course, Gatz wasn’t stupid enough to voice that. If he was going to flirt with a married woman, he wasn’t about to do it in her own home, or while her children were around.

Even he’d never sunk that low.

Valery had to guide him to the table, and Gatz was thankful that she’d had the foresight to send her droid out for a spare set of clothes from his ship. Eating with a man covered in blood was never an appetizing thing. It also probably would have traumatized poor Vera, more than he probably already had today.

So it turned out that Valery had a set of triplets, and boy did Gatz have questions about that pregnancy. That was just another thing he didn’t let leave his lips, especially not at the table with her young daughter. But later… yeah, he’d ask a few questions later. He just hoped the answers would be worth the wallop over the head she’d give him.

“It looks good, thank you.” Gatz began to eat delicately, knife and fork.

He was a scoundrel, but he was from Naboo. His table manners were exquisite.

Gatz had looked up, to ask Valery a question about… something, when her son started pulling down her shirt. He looked away respectfully, and for once, was able to keep the blood from rising to his cheeks. Table manners and all that. But then she left, almost sheepishly, leaving him behind with her eldest child who was practically inhaling her dinner.

Holy shit she’d left him alone with a child. Gatz didn’t interact with children, outside of literally saving their lives. How did one talk to a child?

Like with all things in life, he tried to follow Valery’s example.

“Vera,” Gatz spoke softly, “I wanted to apologize if I scared you earlier today. I’m sorry you had to see me like that.”

---

Tags: Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Coruscant

​

Outfit: Casual | Wedding Ring
Appearance: Link
Weapons: Blasters | Lightsaber
Tag: Gatz Derrevar

Vera was staring at him.

The moment her mother had left and closed the door to handle her siblings, Vera perked up and was shamelessly staring at him. Mom usually only brought home people she already knew a bit, so now she was curious. "I've seen way scarier things," Vera said before shoving another piece of steak into her mouth. It was way too big though, and poked out her cheeks while she still looked at him and still tried to talk.

She had the same energy and manners as her mother when she was little, but luckily, he didn't know that. Though it was easy enough to assume it had to come from somewhere or someone.

"I see visions a lot, and they sometimes get scary," Vera then said, her voice muffled from the food in her mouth. After a bit more chewing, though, she swallowed her bite and grinned wide at him. "How do you know mommy? You don't look like a Jedi to me!" she called out with curious, multi-colored eyes looking him over.

"You must be a friend if you can come here without mommy beating you up."

 

[Gatz Derrevar]

​

Vera really was the spitting image of her mother, all except her eyes, which were still half Valery. Gatz didn’t know what was so interesting about him that she would stare, except the whole walking in covered in his own blood thing. And the fact that he was a stranger in her home. Also she was a child and they just did that. So, actually, he supposed it made perfect sense that she’d be so wary of him. Or interested. Or both.

She mentioned seeing scarier things before, and that made something in his stomach twist. She was no older than seven. What did she mean she’d seen scarier things than a stranger covered in blood stumbling into her home? But then, when your mother was the most high profile celebrity in an entire nation…

She was still too young to have ever needed to see something like that though. But then she mentioned visions, and that twisted his stomach even more. He’d grown up in the Order. He knew what she meant. Vera was a Seer, and Gatz didn’t envy her one bit.

What a terrible burden for a child to have to shoulder.

Thankfully, she turned the topic onto something a lot more lighthearted: how he’d met her mother. Gatz smiled. That was his favorite story to tell, though, it was a little dark to tell to someone of Vera’s age, Seer or not. But he could sum it up for her real quick.

“Well, almost a year ago, your mother needed the best pilot in the galaxy,” the smile on his face widened a little, “so, naturally, she got in touch with me.”

If this kid was anything like Valery, she’d call him out on his bullshit, but Gatz couldn’t bring himself to mind.

“And we’ve kept in touch since then. She’s helped me out more than a couple of times. Like today. And I’m really grateful for that.”

---

Tags: Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Coruscant

​

Outfit: Casual | Wedding Ring
Appearance: Link
Weapons: Blasters | Lightsaber
Tag: Gatz Derrevar

"Nuh-uh," Vera was quick to argue. "Daddy is the best pilot, and Mommy in a fighter only." She giggled, and while her parents were certainly good pilots, her world view was still somewhat limited. Her parents were her personal heroes, so they were the best at everything to her. But aside from that, she seemed to like what he was telling her. Mom needing help on a special mission, the two working together.

Sounded a lot like mom.

"Mommy appreciates the help too," she said with a big nod, before shoving another large piece of steak into her maw. "She also likes you, or you wouldn't be allowed here." Especially not so close to her kids. She'd kick just about anybody else out, except for a handful of other friends she trusted. But Gatz likely knew that already.

"You two surviving over here?" Valery asked when she returned moments later, now with three happy, squealing triplets in her arms. She put them down in the seats, plopped back down into her own, and let out a content sigh before adjusting her shirt a little bit after all that.

"So Gatz, how did you actually end up such a good pilot? Just a natural thing for you?"

 

[Gatz Derrevar]

​

"Well, you got me," in spite of everything that had happened today, Vera managed to get a chuckle out of Gatz, "then I guess your mom needed the third best pilot in the galaxy. So really, only I would do."

Loathe as he was to admit it, considering she probably outshined him in virtually every other possible way, Valery would probably smoke him in a fighter. But damn, that would be a good dogfight to see. He'd pay for tickets to that show. But until then, Gatz would just have to ensure that there was always a freighter she needed flown.

Because, really, what else did she need him for?

Gatz figured he wouldn't have been allowed within a parsec of Valery's home, or her children, if she wasn't fond of him. If she didn't have trust in him. Having it confirmed filled his chest with something warm… and also wracked him with guilt. She'd trusted him with her home and her family. And he may have brought Kragan's attention with him.

You didn't know, he told himself, and the alternative was to bleed out. Do you really think Valery doesn't understand that?


Gatz wrangled his guilt just in time for Valery to return with the triplets, adjusting her shirt, which he was careful to avoid looking at once more. She came with a question of her own, and Gatz blinked in surprise for a moment. She wanted to know something about him? People usually just wanted something from him—

But Valery wasn't like other people. Never had been.

So he wanted to answer the question, except his response wasn't exactly suited for children. He'd grown up on Theed, hotwiring speeders. Then ships. The rest he'd learned from trial and error: dodging blaster fire as he avoided being shot down with a cargo bay full of spice.

"...mostly from my father," he started in such a way that it would clue Valery in that he was obscuring most of the story, "and a lot of hands-on practice. Being Force Sensitive helps a lot."

But he had a question of his own.

"You know, I've always wondered: who taught you to fight with a double-bladed lightsaber? That's a little out of the ordinary in the Order."

---

Tags: Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Coruscant

​

Outfit: Casual | Wedding Ring
Appearance: Link
Weapons: Blasters | Lightsaber
Tag: Gatz Derrevar

Valery got what he was trying to say.

A lot of people in the Order came from less fortunate backgrounds, where they acquired certain skills out of necessity or just because it was the whole atmosphere there. It didn't bother her, and it did answer her question. He had started young, and that's why even at his still relatively young age, he was already such an excellent pilot. She could only imagine what it'd be like in a few years from now.

But he also had a question for her that made her chuckle.

"Well, I was a Lightsaber Instructor, so originally I was given permission to wield one so I could instruct others. But the weapon grew on me, and I ended up using it as my main choice of weapon for a long time. As Battlemaster, I've taught many others how to use it in various forms too, though these days I rarely see people wielding one."

"The Lightsaber skills for many Jedi are... not exactly what they used to be." For various reasons too — a lot of the Jedi were far less traditional, which had a lot of benefits but caused some differences too. "So perhaps it is for the best." Valery then took another bite from her own steak and followed it up with a few sips of wine. It was maybe a little bit fancy, but she loved the mix of steak and wine.

"Are you going to be staying here on Coruscant until we head out for the mission?"

 

[Gatz Derrevar]

​

As out of the ordinary as a double-bladed lightsaber might be for the Order, Valery was the Battlemaster. It only made sense that she had training and knowledge that other Jedi lacked. Hell, she probably even knew Juyo, which was an absolutely terrifying thought. But the ferocity form did pair well with as fierce a weapon as Valery’s. Gatz decided that was one lightsaber duel he didn’t want to see.

Only that one though. All the other forms were fair game.

It was odd to Gatz that the Jedi had fallen so far from their prime, at least, in terms of lightsaber prowess. A Jedi wasn’t defined by their weapon, despite what people thought. A Jedi was defined by their adherence to their principles, and the compassion they offered to those in need. But even so… training a Jedi in the ways of the lightsaber was a tradition as old as the Order itself. Gatz was no traditionalist, certainly, but it did sadden him to know that the Order was losing a piece of its history.

Wait a minute. What did he care? He’d left the Order.

But that train of thought, and the inevitable internal dilemma it would have brought, was interrupted by Valery’s next question. Gatz could tell by the way she’d vaguely worded it that she didn’t want Vera to know the details, which was something he stood behind wholeheartedly. Kid had enough going on just with the “gift” the Force had blessed her with.

“Well…” there was no way to answer this question that would make Valery happy, “I wasn’t planning on staying on Coruscant for more than a few hours. I have some errands to run in the Outer Rim, and I’ve gotta stop at home back on Naboo. Someone has to remind Uncle Klein to take his heart medication.”

Read: Valery I am not staying anywhere near your family while I have Kragan breathing down my neck. Also, I have to go network with some old contacts that probably would love nothing more than to hand me over to the man. And Kragan is not above targeting my Uncle, so I can’t just leave him alone.

Gatz was starting to worry that she was going to actually tie him down to the bed at this rate.

---

Tags: Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Coruscant

​

Outfit: Casual | Wedding Ring
Appearance: Link
Weapons: Blasters | Lightsaber
Tag: Gatz Derrevar

"Is that so?"

Her tone was awfully neutral, but contained a hint that betrayed she wasn't too pleased to hear that. Ideally, he stayed somewhat close, so she could help out if any other Bounty Hunters decided to try something. But... if he had to reach out to contacts, she did kind of understand his need to travel. The question was, did he really need to be off-world constantly just for that? Why not make Coruscant his temporary place of residence?

While Valery thought about it, Vera just giggled. She knew what was up.

"Alright, then. I can't really stop you if it's necessary for those contacts you have. But the second you've got everything you need, you're sending me a message." She finished up her steak at this point, and began sipping away at the remains of her wine. He'd be on his way soon enough, so she wanted to make sure he'd honor his side of the promise.

If he tried to run and keep the Kragan problem to himself... Well, she'd be the one hunting him down.

"We're going to figure all of this out, Gatz. But you better stay careful out there."

 

[Gatz Derrevar]

​

Oh, Valery was clearly not pleased. Which he entirely expected. But as much as Gatz bowed to her wisdom and requests from him, he just wasn’t willing to go along with her demands if he thought they had even the slightest chance of putting her family in danger. She had him wrapped around her finger, and after everything she’d done for him he had to honor her wishes, but there were a few things he wouldn’t bend on. Not even for her.

Was it dangerously arrogant to assume he knew what was better for her family’s safety than he did? Absolutely. She ought to kick him for the legs for thinking it was his place to make that decision. And he’d accept whatever consequences she sent his way for that. So long as Vera, Aeryn, Aurra, and Adam were safely distanced from his feud with Kragan Garr.

The kid totally knew something was up. Vera was certainly Valery’s daughter. That kind of terrified him. That meant there were two people at this table he couldn’t lie to, and lies were sort of a scoundrel’s bread and butter.

But you’re not a scoundrel anymore. You’re starting to grow beyond that.

The Sword of the Jedi made it very clear that she would tolerate no broken promises from him. And he had promised her he’d let her help. Oh, who was he kidding: he’d promised he’d help her. To a smuggler, words were just a fancy way to get what you wanted, and there was no reason to stick to them once you had it. To a friend though… a promise was an oath.

Gatz didn’t want to break an oath he made to Valery.

“I promise,” Gatz said softly, “you’ll hear from me when I’m ready.”

Because if she didn’t, Kragan Garr would be the least of his worries.

"And, come on now, "careful" is my middle name!"

She was going to kick his ass one of these days.

---

Tags: Valery Noble