Private Cleaning out the Filth

[Tarw Rhyfelwr]

Location: Coruscant Lower Levels
Attire: Scoundrel Outfit
Equipment: Blaster Rifle, Beskad, several thermal detonators
Tag: Valery Noble

It had been a long time since he had last worked with the Jedi Master. Some might consider it to have been too long. However, Tarw knew that he was needing space after having killed the unarmed traitor, Stu. He had done it coldly, without remorse and stated it was the correct action to take. The man was too dangerous to be left alive and Tarw held too much anger, too much revenge in his heart to just allow this murderer to escape once again. It meant that he needed space, time to grieve the loss of his team, deal with the emotional turmoil that he was going through from everything that occurred that mission as well as figure out whether or not he should continue to be a part of the Galactic Alliance's army. Or whether it was better to leave so that he was not tainting the reputation of the Alliance.

He was comprised and shown to be a wild card at times.

Before Tarw could make any final decisions, Tarw had been working the desk on Coruscant. Going over cases of criminal organisations and elements that were happening in the lower levels. It was a position that Tarw forced himself to take while he contemplated his future. As he poured over the files, mindlessly at this point since there was mostly just smaller illegal smuggling acts and drunken incidents. However, as he continued to go over the cases, something kept drawing his eyes. Flipping between files, cross referencing the information, Tarw needed to make sure that the details were correct before he took this matter further. Small incidents that were meant to be lost in the masses of reports, but Tarw tracked more and more that demonstrated something small but well organised with a dangerous backstory.

"Fuck." Tarw growled when he looked over all the evidence. He was going to need some help with this.

That meant one person. Which was not ideal but it was the best person to help him with this.

Sending a quick message to Valery:

Hey Valery,

I know it has been a while. But this is pretty important and thought that you might want to help me out with this. Attached is some files I found of criminal activities happening within the lower levels of Coruscant. While they are meant to appear individual and uncoordinated, I think they are all connected and tied to the Dark Empire. Each person involved has some previous ties to the Dark Empire, they are purposefully meant to be small level acts of criminal behaviour to avoid drawing too much attention.

I am planning on investigating this further and hopefully find some more concrete proof to act upon. However, I would greatly appreciate you joining me in this, since I know some Dark Empire people can use the Force and having a Jedi could help counter that.

I understand if you would rather not work with me, if you choose not to join.

Thanks
Tarw

He sent the message and sighed. Hoping he did not come across stupid or needy, Tarw just wanted help with this mission. Heading back home, Tarw grabbed some clothes that made him look more like a criminal, with some weapons that would help if anything kicked off in the lower levels. There was a level of lawlessness that the lower levels sometimes dealt with that was more akin to the Outer Rim worlds than the pristine upper levels of Coruscant. Having his weapons allowed him to feel more safe and assured.

Arriving at the meeting point, Tarw looked over his watch, wondering how much time that he would need to give Valery before he descended further in the Coruscant bowels. He was curious how things had progressed for the Jedi Master, how she was doing since they last talked.

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Smuggler Outfit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Blasters

The hum of a speeder overhead cast a brief flicker of light across the alleyway before it vanished again into the steel canyons above. Down here, the shadows clung tighter to the walls, and the air carried the heavy scent of damp duracrete, ozone, and long-forgotten promises.

Valery appeared at the edge of the alley. Leather-strap harness tight across her torso, brown trousers hugging her hips just enough to be dangerous, and a blaster resting low on her thigh, gleaming faintly in the ambient glow. Her dark shirt was half-laced, collar dipped low, exposing the faint sheen of skin and sweat along her collarbone from the heat trapped in the levels.

She moved like she didn't care who was watching — or maybe like she expected someone to. And when her eyes found Tarw? She didn't speak immediately. Just looked at him for a moment before speaking, "You know," she murmured, a smile tugging faintly at one corner of her mouth, "When you invite a Jedi to skulk through the underworld, you really should expect me to show up."

Valery closed the distance, glancing down at the weapon on his hip, then up to meet his eyes again.

"Still look like a soldier," she teased lightly, then let the smirk fade into something a little softer. "I read your message. You did the right thing calling this in. If there's even a chance the Dark Empire's got a foothold down here, we can't afford to let it grow."

She turned then, scanning the alleyway and the passage beyond that would lead them deeper into the lower levels.

"So," she said, one hand resting on her blaster as the other casually fixed a loose strand of hair from her ponytail, "What's our play?"

Tarw Rhyfelwr ​

 

[Tarw Rhyfelwr]

Location: Coruscant Lower Levels
Attire: Scoundrel Outfit
Equipment: Blaster Rifle, Beskad, several thermal detonators
Tag: Valery Noble

As Tarw waited for Valery, he looked over and spotted a woman approaching, however it was not Valery wearing her usual jumpsuit and carrying her Lightsaber. It was a very different look to Valery that Tarw was a taken back by. She was always stunning in his mind but seeing her in this smuggler attire, Tarw could not help feel the pangs of jealousy that she was already very happily married. Seeing the faint smirk appear on Valery's lips, Tarw gave a smile back since it seemed his friend was still in good natures with him which was a good sign.

Tarw was also glad that she had been the one to join him. "Well, if all my missions had you on board, that would be a very comforting feeling." Tarw chuckled softly, giving a wink to Valery as he gave a curt, polite nod of his head as he acknowledged her arrival.

He snorted and shook his head, lowering his shades to look at Valery's attire without them, "well, I would try saying you still look like a Jedi.... but dayum..." Tarw laughed a little deeply as he gestured to her get up, "I don't think I have ever seen you in something like this." There was a slight flirtatious tone to his voice but he reigned himself back in and shrugged, "I tried looking more hired muscle style scoundrel/merc. Maybe even ex-soldier style."

When it was mentioned the importance of handling the Dark Empire problem at hand, "I know of a couple spots that they are likely to be hitting next. I am not entirely sure of their intentions currently, other than weakening the GA's position here on Coruscant and priming the lower level citizens for a rebellion." Tarw mentioned, he wasn't sure what Dark Side tactics could be at play since he hadn't gotten a lot of experience with Sith and their ilk. "Hoping you might help with that, since you have more understanding in how they operate." Tarw mentioned.

Pulling out a holomap of the local area, "I was thinking we could infiltrate as a couple hired enforcers, heavy hitters since I figure we probably look more experienced in combat than most others that we will be dealing with. In terms of a back story, we can be colleagues, a couple, rivals on the same job? Whichever suits your preference for a cover story." Tarw mentioned.

"Thinking we demonstrate our abilities in helping on a couple hits, cause some property damage, intimidate a few stores, ruffle up a couple people to look like we are dedicated to helping the cause. Should get us a place in meeting the actual people running these operations."

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Smuggler Outfit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Blasters

Valery's smirk deepened just slightly as Tarw's gaze lingered — she caught the way he looked, the subtle flare of flirtation, and let it slide with the same practiced ease she used navigating Coruscant's lower levels, "Let's keep our heads in the mission, soldier," she teased, giving him a pointed glance as she shifted her weight to one hip. "Can't have you losing focus just because I finally ditched the jumpsuit."

But her expression softened again when he laid out the plan. She listened in silence, eyes on the holomap, letting him speak without interruption. The ideas were sound — risky, but grounded. And clearly thought through.

"Going in as hired muscle works," she said, nodding. "We lean into it — two criminals with enough bite to be useful, and enough edge to keep people guessing. They don't need to know exactly what we are, just that we're dangerous enough to be worth keeping around."

She reached out and tapped the holomap where a cluster of recent disturbances had been logged.

"But just to be clear — I'm not actually committing crimes, Tarw. Jedi or not, undercover work only works if you still walk out with your soul intact." Her voice was steady, firm. "Intimidation, presence, maybe a few scare tactics? Sure. But I'm not going to hurt people or destroy property just to impress the locals. That's not how this works — not for me."

She stepped a little closer to him, her voice lowering as her gaze sharpened. "We don't need to play the part to the letter. We just need to get in far enough to find the real players. The people calling the shots. Once we know who they are, we can plan the takedown. Clean and targeted."

Then, a beat passed, and she added with a faint grin, "Besides, you and me? We can sell the part without going full criminal. Let 'em think we're a pair of hot-tempered, well-armed freelancers in it for credits and a good scrap."

She adjusted her blaster on her thigh, then looked back toward the alley's deeper shadows.

"Alright, partner. Let's go make some noise."

Tarw Rhyfelwr ​

 

[Tarw Rhyfelwr]

Location: Coruscant Lower Levels
Attire: Scoundrel Outfit
Equipment: Blaster Rifle, Beskad, several thermal detonators
Tag: Valery Noble

Tarw chuckled and shook his head, the shifting of weight to one hip, the acknowledgment of the flirtatious comment from Tarw. Valery knew what she was doing and it was tough for Tarw to not push things further. However, she was correct and sticking with the mission made sense. "A man can multitask, I can focus on the mission as well as comment on your new style." He chuckled before returning his focus to the holomap and listening to Valery's comments.

"Cool, works for me. Strong, silent type of muscle works. Just wanted to throw away possible background stories in case needed for the cover." Tarw mentioned, some people worked best when there was a detailed history to work from. To ensure that they could pull a story out and lie with some confidence due to the detailed history pre-established. But he respected Valery's approach. Keep it simple, don't be open and don't talk too much. Sticking to the background and the shadows, it was a good approach.

Then came the Jedi ways of approaching things, Tarw had disagreements on this. It was too clean, attempting to remove the filth of the galaxy without getting your hands dirty. It just didn't seem possible in his mind. "We will approach it your way for now, Valery. But it isn't always possible to come out clean when doing this kind of work. Sometimes you have to get dirty. Sometimes you have to push the boundaries of your morals."

He stepped closer to her, "I am willing to dirty my hands to keep this alliance safe. To keep you safe. So, if needs be that one of us has to do something illegal to maintain the cover. Then I will do it without question." There was a cold stare in his eyes, he did not have the same morality as Valery, he was willing to do whatever it took to keep the Galactic Alliance safe, to keep those he cared about safe now. Dirtying his hands so that others might remain clean. It was a sacrifice but one he was willing to make.

Some enemies did not allow for mercy or morality, sometimes you had to do questionable things to restore peace and freedom.

Looking over her shoulder into the darker space in the alleyway, Tarw gave a grin and nodded his head. "Let's do it." He moved around Valery and led the way into the alleyway, heading to the meeting point with the criminals to begin the mission.

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Smuggler Outfit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Blasters

Valery watched him as he spoke — really watched. Not just the words, but the tone, the weight behind them. The cold stare, the way he stepped in closer, the conviction in his voice. It wasn't surprising. She'd seen that look before. In soldiers. In Jedi. In friends who had seen too much of the galaxy's worst and decided they'd carry the burden so others didn't have to.

But that didn't mean she had to agree.

Her gaze didn't waver.

"You say you're willing to dirty your hands to keep me safe," she said quietly, her voice steady but firm, "But that's not what I need from you, Tarw."

She let the words settle for a breath, then added, "That kind of thinking? That's how good people lose themselves. One 'necessary' crime at a time. One blurred line. One rationalization. Until there's nothing left but the mission, and the person you were is just... gone." Her eyes narrowed slightly, not in anger, but in conviction.

"There's a reason even undercover cops — the ones in the thick of it — don't commit crimes to sell their cover. Because the second you cross that line, you're not pretending anymore. You become part of it."

She stepped past him then, toward the darker path ahead.

"But for now," she said, glancing back over her shoulder with a faint, determined smile, "We keep going. We do the job. We find the people responsible."

And then, a final glance as she moved forward:

"Just don't ask me to let go of the line I've drawn. Because if I lose that… I lose everything that matters."

Tarw Rhyfelwr ​

 

[Tarw Rhyfelwr]

Location: Coruscant Lower Levels
Attire: Scoundrel Outfit
Equipment: Blaster Rifle, Beskad, several thermal detonators
Tag: Valery Noble

Tarw didn't expect Valery to stand down, the woman, the Jedi, that he admired was not someone who would back down when confronted by someone who saw the galaxy differently. It was respectable and levitated his admiration for her. However, he was equally stubborn and convinced that his stance was just as correct as Valery viewed hers. Breathing in deeply, his gaze focused on hers and listened to what she had to say. It made sense that she would believe that those working undercover wouldn't commit crimes, that there wasn't those out there willing to do what was necessary to ensure that victory was achieved. That sometimes, you needed to tread the murky waters to ensure your enemies did not succeed.

"Clearly we were raised in very different worlds, Master Jedi. I saw all flavours of cops, plenty of them bent the rules. Got dirty to make sure someone dangerous was not released on the streets again." Tarw lived in the lower levels growing up, he saw the way people were when the galaxy heroes were not turning their gaze upon them. Things were not squeaky clean or morally righteous.

He shrugged his shoulders, "you walk the path of doing the right thing and walking the line. But you don't realise that you need people who will step off that line, who will get dirty to ensure you never have to do what we do." Tarw didn't expect Valery to work the way he worked, doing what he was willing to do. Tarw did his dirty work to make sure there could be iconic heroes like Valery to be admired and seen as a role model. Tarw never expected that for himself.

"You get to be the hero, the role model because there will be people who will do things you can't to keep this alliance safe, and those things aren't clean, they aren't always legal and they certainly aren't things to be celebrated." Tarw stated as he walked, he was not seeking validation from Valery, more acknowledgement that there will be things that she can never be a part of but she needs happen.

His eyes flickered over to Valery, "I am not looking for you to lose everything Valery. The galaxy wants heroes like you. They just also need people who operate in the shadows, breaking laws to protect the fragile peace we hold in the GA." Peace was never a guarantee and it was something that was always a gentle breeze away from collapsing. It took more effort than people realised to maintain and it took work that some would consider criminal. But it kept others safe, it protected lives and it made sure that there could freedom for citizens.

Walking the streets, Tarw sighed deeply, he was never pleased with the work he found himself doing more since his last mission with Valery. But he also saw things differently when he had confronted the squad that killed his father. Getting closer to the meeting point, Tarw grabbed his rifle and turned the safety off, ready to fire the gun at a moment's notice. His eyes observed the situation closely and made sure things were safe, the meeting point was meant to be an invitation for hired muscles but Tarw always assumed traps were around the corner.

Getting closer, there was a Rodian, cladded in leather with a robotic arm that clearly had a scanner to ensure that they didn't have any wires or trackers. "Scan before you see boss man." The Rodian spoke in Huttese, and Tarw nodded his head, understanding the criminal as he stepped forward to allow himself to be scanned first.

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Smuggler Outfit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Blasters

Valery didn't stop walking.

The path ahead was still draped in shadow, the corridor narrowing as the crumbling structure shifted around them — walls etched with old warnings and older histories. But her pace didn't falter. Her voice, when it came, was even.

"You really don't know me if you think I don't understand the weight of doing what needs to be done," she said quietly, eyes scanning the dark as they moved. "I was a Shadow for half my life. I've dismantled cells, hunted Sith, taken down entire operations from within. You think I haven't stood where you're standing now?" She paused long enough to glance back at him — not with anger, but with something harder. Steel, tempered by memory.

"I've lived it, Tarw. Far longer than you have. I've walked into hell without backup and come out with blood on my boots and ghosts on my shoulders. So don't assume my morality comes from ignorance." Her gaze lingered for a beat, then returned to the passage ahead.

"I'm not naive. I'm just experienced enough to know how easy it is to let the work consume you." The hallway widened again into an open chamber — cracked stone, old conduits, and the scent of damp rot. This had once been something sacred. Now, it was a tomb.

She came to a stop at the threshold and looked around, letting the Force flow outward in steady ripples.

"We keep this clean," she said, firmer now. "We're not butchers, and we're not vigilantes. If they're here — if this is where the trail leads — then we bring them in alive."

Her lightsaber didn't ignite. Not yet. But her hand rested near it, calm and prepared.

"We do this the right way." A glance his way. "Or we don't do it together."

Tarw Rhyfelwr ​

 

[Tarw Rhyfelwr]

Location: Coruscant Lower Levels
Attire: Scoundrel Outfit
Equipment: Blaster Rifle, Beskad, several thermal detonators
Tag: Valery Noble

Tarw looked over to Valery and shook his head, taking several steps closer to her, there was intensity in his dark gaze as he looked down at her. "You were the one that demanded we did things cleanly, that you refused to stain your hands with the necessary darkness to get the job done." He pointed out since he was willing the break the law, to push the boundaries of what was legally right to do what was morally correct. What would save millions at the expense of a few.

"I did not state it came from ignorance, I came from the position that you are just as necessary to be seen as the hero as someone like me who is a renegade, who breaks the rules to save lives. You are the inspiration for people to reach for," Tarw stated, he admired Valery and he knew that she was everything that his father had been, had wanted Tarw to be. However, Tarw was travelling a different path now and this path was darker, more aggressive and it was a burden that he was willingly to carry.

He stepped closer to her, getting closer, not in a threatening or aggressive manner. He was just shifting closer, an intimate tone in his voice, "you want this done the legal way. The right way is something that is based on perspective, I believe killing these monsters is safer, morally correct in a way that prevents them getting out, escaping to cause further harm later down the line." Tarw pointed out in his whispered voice, "what happens to these people when you imprison them and so Sith or Imperial faction takes Coruscant? They get freed once again to go cause further harm and destruction." There was only one real way to ensure that these imperials could be stopped permanently.

Tarw maintained a closer presence to Valery, looking at her, "we will do it your way, but don't think that it is the purely right way. It is simply the legal way, that you wish to approach this." Tarw stated, reinforcing the point that he did not see the law as necessarily the correct way to approach things. It limited what was needed to be done and it sometimes forced evil to go about uncontested. Vigilantism was not bad in his mind, not in the way that Valery seemed to think it was.