Private Blade Guardian

[Valery Noble]

Bastion

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

For a moment as they walked, Valery looked at Aris with a proud smile. 7 years old and already he was so good at keeping himself composed despite the fear from earlier. Sure, Valery knew a part of that was having his mother with him, but she was still amazed by it. One day, he was going to be a fantastic Jedi if he continued down that chosen path, she just knew it. A mother was always right about these things.

Her eyes did quickly shift back up as they walked through the streets, following potential sources of danger, but they seemed to be in the clear for now. She had no idea where they were, and the Imperials they left behind didn't either. So without disruption, they went under the city, and much to her surprise, they found a lake.

Valery froze.

Echoes of the past lashed out at her immediately through the Dyad — this place had such a strong connection to him that she could feel it too. Aris was right. "This is it," she agreed and after taking his little hand, she started to go further. Deeper into the place he had been a long time ago.

"I can feel your dad's presence here. Do you feel it, too?"

 

[Kahlil Noble]

"Yeah. It's.. I feel them." Them. Not just Kahlil. There were others here, though they certainly didn't feel like a threat. He squeezed Valery's hand as they walked into the alcove. By all appearances, there was nothing in there. But as he reached forward towards one of the smooth walls, it reacted. Runes. Sith Runes. They were Kahlil's old runes, and they acted both as a way to hide from the outside world and protect from it.

"This place is dangerous, mom."

More than he knew as the very shadows of the room seemed to come to life. A figure made purely of it emerged from behind, rending out claws as it spoke in broken High Sith. Fury, rage, regret, sorrow. A mix of emotions as it aimed it's claws only for Valery.

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Bastion

​

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

"Them?" Her bond to Kahlil was so strong that she hadn't even noticed it. Not until her son pointed it out, and she immediately began to look around for potential threats and danger. Kahlil's old runes and creations had proven to be tricky in the past, ranging from a Hydra in a lab where they discovered their dyad, to even a Leviathan they fought and killed together.

If there was anything of the sort here, she'd be getting the hell out with her kid. Not because she couldn't handle it, but because Aris' safety was more important than anything they could possibly find here.

Not a minute later, the danger finally came to life in the form of a shadow lashing out at them. Having little time to respond, Valery moved her body over Aris and felt the claw go across her back. It wouldn't have hit her son in hindsight, but she felt a lot better when she picked him up and knew for sure that nothing would happen to him.

She could bite through a bit of pain.

Valery then turned, knowing Aris would see the injury this time, and raised her hand, "Stand down, or this will be your end." To make it clear what she meant, a pulse of Force Light illuminated the room with only a fraction of her strength in the Force. She knew how to handle beings like this, so it was at a huge disadvantage.

 

[Kahlil Noble]

It's claws came down.

And barely left a scratch. The shade slipped away, hissing in a guttural High Sith again before it outright hissed at the flash of light. More, it seemed to practically burn in it before it dipped into the shadows of the room. Or would have. It seemed very confused when it couldn't.

The Light prevented it.

Aris, though, was now visible with panic. Shallow as the scratches were, he could see them now. And with the bruise, she looked hurt. Very hurt.

"Mom..?"

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Bastion

​

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

There was a time when Valery would have ended it here, and destroyed this Sith creation in an instant. A part of her still felt like she should, but if this thing was made by her husband, perhaps it didn't need to be destroyed. So, she let her burst of light be a warning, and quickly turned back to her son. She could feel he was scared now.

He had seen that she was injured.

"Hey sweetie, it's okay." She leaned in and just picked him right off the ground to pull him into a hug. "I'm okay, it doesn't hurt that bad." While she hugged him, she kept her senses focused on the shadows that returned.

If it made a wrong move, she could destroy it before it ever got close to her and her son.

"We'll only continue if and when you feel okay. I don't want this to be too scary."

 

[Kahlil Noble]

"I know. I-"

Well, he wasn't sure what to say. He knew she was okay, but how he felt didn't line up with it. He was afraid. He didn't like being afraid. But he didn't like seeing her hurt. That much clicked in Aris's mind. He looked past her to the shade as it clung to the darkness as much as it could. Frail, weak. Monstrous. And.. Connected. Aris squinted at it for a moment. ".. It's dads. Bound? I.. Can feel it? .. It's just.. Dark. All dark."

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Bastion

​

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

Valery held him just a moment longer before finally putting him back down on his own feet. Even now, he was scared but still able to think straight. More than enough to focus on the shadows and understand what he was looking at, and what he was feeling through the Force. It was as impressive as Vera and her affinity for visions.

Biased as she was, Valery just knew there was something special about all of her kids.

"It's called a familiar," Valery explained and to help make clear what it was, she focused on the crystal in her weapon and summoned the little fiery fox. It appeared like a bright flame igniting out of nothing and danced around Aris a little before they stopped in front of him.

"Hello!"

"This is chaos, my familiar." She chuckled and looked at the shadows. "The one over there must be from your father's past. I just... don't know if we can do more for it."

 

[Kahlil Noble]

Aris blinked in complete surprise as the fire fox popped up in front of him. And smiled, brightly. There was a warmth there, and not one that would hurt like he might have expected from a fire. Chaos, though? He raised a brow, glancing up to his mom, but didn't say anything. Instead he looked to the Familiar in the corner. It was still seething. Anger, hate, sorrow, they were the only emotions it had.

It was a being of darkness born from corrupted blood.

".. It's tired, mom. Hate and rage is all it has. I can feel it. .. I don't think there is anything we can do."

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Bastion

​

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

Oh, she caught that look.

He wasn't teasing her about the name of her familiar like his father had, but there was a good chance that he wondered what was up with it. A question he might ask her later, or even ask his father. She really had to prevent the latter or else she'd have two Nobles teasing her about it for sure.

But much like Aris, Valery quickly focused on the familiar in the corner again and frowned. She felt the same emotions, but she had hoped there was something they could do. Unlike the Sithspawn Kahlil had healed, this being was sadly a creation purely of the dark, and not a manipulation of anything natural.

She saw no way to help it.

"That one is mean, don't trust it!" Chaos added.

"Sweetie, there are some things in this Galaxy that, no matter how hard we try, we can't help. If we leave it here, someone else will run into it one day and perhaps get seriously hurt or worse." Aris probably understood, he was smart like that, but she wanted to make it very clear that she was doing this because it was necessary, not because she wanted it. Valery turned, raised her hand once more and let an even brighter flash burn all the shadows away in an instant. Quick and without suffering.

"Are you feeling okay, sweetie? I think there's more up ahead that might be more fun to check out."

 

[Kahlil Noble]

Aris watched in mostly silence as Valery handled the familiar. He understood pretty well, even if he looked sad as the creature was erased. Just from what he felt there was no hope of saving it. Not in any meaningful way. Perhaps in a way this was how they could help it. Freeing it from the torment it'd been locked to. But that wasn't what upset him. Aris stared at where it was for a moment longer before looking up to Valery.

"Why did dad do something like this?"

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Bastion

​

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

Oh.

Valery turned to her son at the question and saw some upset in his eyes. He hadn't expected that his dad, who loved and protected his family so much, could have ever done this. She understood that feeling and quickly crouched down in front of him to take both of his hands and smile, "Your dad was born as son to one of the most evil people in the Galaxy. A man who forced him down a darker path from the day he was born." She frowned at the idea of a parent having such an influence on their kids, but pushed it aside to focus on Aris.

"He has worked very hard since then to be where he is now, and stopped a lot of the things he made in the past himself. Today, we get a chance to help dad with that just a little bit." She smiled and reached for the top of his head to ruffle his hair.

"Just don't worry, okay? Dad will never make something like that again."

 

[Kahlil Noble]

Aris watched her for a moment longer before looking back to where the Familiar had been. So there were more still out there that dad hadn't had a chance to deal with? Part of him wanted to get right to helping. But.. No. He wasn't old enough to do that yet. Maybe one day he could. Maybe Vera would help. For now though? Aris looked back to the rune lined wall with a frown. There was still something calling him here.

"Okay. I think we can keep going deeper."

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Bastion

​

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

Valery recognized that look in his eyes. He wanted to help just like his father would, or well, any Noble really. One day, she knew that he would and a mission like this would have mother and son working together to tackle the most dangerous and tricky issues like true Jedi. Perhaps Vera would be with them too, or Kahlil.

The idea of solving problems with the family already made her smile. But for now, he was too young and she didn't want her kids to be unnecessarily exposed to danger or war.

"You feel something, don't you? I do too because of my bond with your dad, but it's not quite like what you're feeling, hm?" She asked as she let him walk without holding her hand for once. "What is calling you, sweetie?"

 

[Kahlil Noble]

"A voice. .. Kind of like the Familiar, but.. It's not only darkness. It's sealed." He reached for the wall, brushed his hands over the runes. Slowly they began to light up in a sequence that.. He recognized. Or at least understood, somewhere. Aris didn't think on it long though, instead his eyes widened as the hidden door reacted and revealed a passage way deeper within. ".. It's kinda dark, isn't it?"

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Bastion

​

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

"Sealed?" Valery perked a brow and looked at her son for a moment. It was remarkable how he was already able to pick out those kinds of details through his sensed. When Valery was his age, all she could think about was lightsaber sparring and becoming the best duelist ever. It made her chuckle and reach for his head to ruffle his hair.

"It is dark, but a Jedi is never blind, sweetie. Focus on the Force and let it guide you. And...my Keshian eyes will make sure you don't bump your toes against anything." She smiled, took his hand and guided him through the darkness, while he'd guide her to what he was sensing.

"Maybe there is more stuff that belonged to daddy. I am certainly curious about it."

 

[Kahlil Noble]

"Okay."

Is what he wanted to say, at least. He frowned as he stared into the darkness and closed his eyes. Sensing things was something he could still do, right? Even though he couldn't do the other cool things? Sure enough, he could at least feel the presence of things around him as they stepped down into the darkness. He could feel something deeper with in still. Something dark was.. Calling. Yeah, calling was the word for it.

Aris focused his gaze as they went until the call turned clear.

Master.

The voice spoke in his head before there was a flash of steel. A blade came swinging with no wielder, right for Valery.

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Bastion

​

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

Valery watched him very closely as they walked deeper into this place, both because he was incredibly adorable to her, and to make sure that he was safe. This was about as much danger as she was okay with exposing him to, and mostly because she was able to focus it on herself, or it just naturally did. Her son wasn't going to get hurt, and that is all that mattered to her.

But clearly, she wasn't so lucky.

Valery couldn't hear the calling he heard, but her danger sense worked perfectly fine. She pulled her head to the side after it spiked, and watched a sharp blade pass by and just narrowely miss her. It struck the wall and stone exploded away as a resultx showing the woman in debris.

"Aris, stay back!" She called out as it came back around. This time she raised her weapon and caught the sword with her ignited lightsaber, but it was not easy to keep it at bay.

Figures something he made is trying to come for me, she joked though only to herself and her husband through the bond.

 

[Kahlil Noble]

Master, stay back!

The voice echoed in Aris's mind at the same time Valery's own reached his ears, leaving the boy stunned and confused. The sword floated on it's own, swinging in ways that no one wielding a blade could swing it. Haphazard. Desperate. It's edge cleaved through stone and rock with far too much ease as it tried to batter Valery away from the boy. The Jedi have finally come to kill you after all this time!

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Bastion

​

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

"Aris!"

Valery jumped back to avoid the erratic blade swinging at her, but she absolutely did not like leaving behind her son. Worst of all, how did you even fight a sword like this? Her experience and basic reasoning would suggest that whoever controlled it had to be taken out, but this place belonged to her husband.

And if he was causing this blade to swing at her, he'd be sleeping outside for a week.

Again, the sword came swinging at her, and Valery ducked low to keep it from cleaving her head off. Some of her long hair was cut in the process, causing her to grumble while she repositioned. "Aris, we need to figure out who is controlling it!" she called out right as her blade locked with the sword. Valery leaned into it, gritted her teeth, and worked hard to push the sword back and away from her.

 

[Kahlil Noble]

Aris still didn't move.

He was just confused. More importantly, he wasn't in any danger. He felt nothing, no threat, no lethal intent his way. No murderous presence. He was being protected by both of them. Which just made him that much more confused. Who was the one controlling the blade? Why did they call him master? Why were they protecting him and attacking his mom? It clicked after a moment before he rushed forward, hands outstretched.

"Stop!"

He didn't hesitate any longer, instead taking hold of the hilt of the blade. It was heavy, incredibly heavy, but it practically fell limp in his grasp as he took hold of it.

Master..?

Valery Noble