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.

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Smuggler Outfit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Blasters

Valery didn't answer right away. She watched him, listened to every word. The closeness, the weight behind his arguments, the conviction in his tone. But the fire that had once burned in her gaze had cooled. Not out of weakness or defeat. Out of choice.

She took a breath, slow and steady, and turned away.

Her attention shifted back to the ruins ahead. The darkness that lingered in the cracks. The whispers in the Force that pulled at her focus. This was what mattered now. Not another debate. Not another clash of perspective.

"Keep your voice down," she said quietly, already moving again. "We're not alone in here."

Her saber stayed at her side, unlit, but her steps were purposeful. The air grew colder as they moved deeper. Faint echoes rolled through the stone. Movement ahead. Faint, but close.

Valery glanced back once, just long enough to make sure he was following.

Then nothing more.

No argument. No judgment.

Just silence, and the mission ahead.

Tarw Rhyfelwr ​

 

[Tarw Rhyfelwr]

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

The sudden lack of fire from Valery's gaze, the fight leaving her as she walked away. It stunned Tarw, he had expected more of a fight, more of Valery defending her position with the fierceness that he loved in her. However, she dropped the matter and it knocked the wind from his sails, he wondered if she saw him as someone who was beyond saving. Someone who was too ideologically opposed to what she was. No longer the friend that she could trust or rely on.

As he nodded his head to Valery, he moved forward with her, keeping her back safe from harm. As she reached for her Lightsaber, Tarw reached forward and tapped her hand away. Not out of malice but concern, "we're mercenaries, right? Start whipping out your Lightsaber and people are going to realise you ain't a normal mercenary." Tarw grunted in a whisper, offering his blaster rifle to her as an alternative weapon for her to use. He didn't expect Valery to fight unarmed and though he trusted she could defeat anyone they fought without weapons. It was also potentially too much attention on them this early on in the mission.

Stepping forward, Tarw turned around the corner and saw a group of 4 criminals. They were smashing a food store, clearly someone hadn't paid their protection tax, something that Tarw despised but he had dealt with the issue enough to know what they needed to do. "They are smashing the store for not paying protection money, if we walk up as if we were hired to finish the job while they go meet the boss, we could trail them to where the boss is and then go from there?"

It was a rough plan but one that Tarw felt somewhat confident in.

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Smuggler Outfit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Blasters

"You make a good point," Valery admitted with a sheepish smile, "No lightsabers." She unclipped the weapon to stow away and repositioned her hand to the hilt of her blaster to show him that she wouldn't need his rifle. Her pistols were custom-built to fit her hands and style, and she much preferred the smaller weapons over a big, clunky blaster rifle.

That would just feel... off.

When the two rounded the corner and witnessed the confrontation at the store, Valery paused, her eyes narrowing at the targets ahead. They were simple people. Thugs with no ambition or future, ruining the livelihood of someone who worked hard for theirs. It made her stomach flip around and the blood boil in her veins, but she kept herself cool on the outside.

And focused on the inside.

"We can try," Valery whispered in response, "But they might be enjoying themselves too much to give up on that." Her fiery eyes flicked to Tarw, showing him she was with him for this.

One way or another, they'd have to make their approach.

Tarw Rhyfelwr ​

 

[Tarw Rhyfelwr]

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

When Valery reached for her own blaster, Tarw nodded his own head. It was smart to stick with a weapon she knew over one that Tarw just offered without giving a lesson on how to use it. It was an interesting styled pistol that Tarw saw Valery grab, he wasn't sure how he would like the build personally but he was also someone who wasn't a fan of pistols over heavier weapons. More impact and faster rate of fires were Tarw's taste, especially fighting tech enhanced beings and Force Users.

This was just interacting with likely normal gangsters so higher end weaponry wasn't going to be necessary. However, Tarw couldn't shift his dislike for smaller blaster pistols. Perhaps that the Mandalorian in him, needing powerful, reliable weaponry at all times.

It was Valery who was affected the most by the scene, seeing the criminals destroying the store. For Tarw, it was a scene he had seen all too often that he was numb to the notion people did this. That this was something that needed to be stopped, it hadn't been stopped for years and might not for many more years to come. Especially with the wars distracting the Galactic Alliance attention away from the issues at home. It was a time period where criminals celebrate the ability to work and operate with much less oversight.

Walking forward, Tarw led the way, "oi! You lot! Boss called, you gotta turn in the collection money now. We are here to finish the job." Tarw stated with a firm tone, his eyes pierced over the shades he was wearing and stared down the criminals intensely. Making sure they knew that his authority and violent body language was going to override their own.

"Who are you? We ain't seen you before?" One of the criminals retorted.

"New hires, here to make sure the job gets finished. Demonstrate our dedication to the cause and the abilities we got in intimidating shop owners." Tarw flexed his muscles as a way to show off the tough muscle hire that he was acting to be as he watched the group discuss what to do amongst themselves.

It took several heartbeats and Tarw was concerned his bluff would be called, then the group grumbled disappointed in having to leave but turned around and left. Tarw looked over to Valery, relieved that they fell for his deception and he made a gesture to Valery to join him in destroying the property but he purposefully took long enough that the criminals had gotten out of eyeshot so they didn't have to actually break anything. "Give it another moment or two, there's an alley nearby that we can sneak into so that we can catch up to them." Tarw mentioned, placing some credits at the destroyed stall so that the owner could start restoring their business.

Tarw headed into the alleyway and strapped the rifle to his back. He moved through the streets with the measured steps of someone who had lived in this kind of area. Tarw made sure not to rush ahead so that Valery was beside him at all times and spotted the group moving to their boss. "There, we should be able to follow them to the hideout." Tarw whispered to Valery, tracking them while keeping some distance so that they were not spotted instantly. It was important the group did not realise that they were being tracked.

Then one of them looked back, in the direction of Tarw and Valery. Tarw panicked as they were going to be spotted instantly.

Acting on instinct, he pinned Valery against the wall, his left arm pressed on the wall above her. Tarw leaned in deeply, millimetres away from her face, blocking the view so it looked like the pair were making out. His hand lifted her left leg up, holding it as Tarw made them look to be intensely, passionately making out. His eyes studying Valery's as he listened to the group to make sure that they were not watching or moving forward. "Sorry to be sudden, I thought that this would be ideal since they won't see our faces." Tarw whispered softly, attempting to make sure that this was not merely something he had wanted to do.

He breathed in deeply, holding the position as he waited for some distance with the group to be made.

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Smuggler Outfit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Blasters

Valery gave him every bit of space to lead the way. Not because she wouldn't be able to lead this mission, but because she understood power dynamics in the underworld pretty well. Tarw was a big guy, tall and imposing in his presence, so it made more sense for him to be the one in the lead, rather than her.

They had no idea just how strong she was, after all. She had muscle on her, sure, but she was much smaller and they had no idea what kind of power flowed through her veins.

It was best to keep it that way.

As they arrived, Valery let Tarw do the talking, only briefly perking a brow when he flexed his muscles as a way of convincing them of who they were. Surely, that wouldn't work- Nope, it very much worked. Valery blinked, staring between the idiots inside the store and Tarw with disbelief.

Sometimes, people were too simple, but right now, it helped them out.

"Well, that was easier than I thought it'd be," Valery commented after they finally left, and the two of them walked into the store. She looked around, but only briefly, taking note of the damage they had caused. As much as it annoyed her, she pushed her emotions aside and followed Tarw into the alley.

It was time to follow them to-

Before she could fully realize what was happening, she was pinned against a wall inside the alleyway. Tarw lingered close, far closer than she'd usually allow anybody to be, but she quickly understood why, when she saw the thugs looking back. With her cheeks flushed and her breath caught, she looked at him and waited for the moment to pass.

Then, a sigh escaped her lips.

"That was... yeah." She cleared her throat and ran a hand up through her hair when it was time to step back. "Unexpected."

Tarw Rhyfelwr ​

 

[Tarw Rhyfelwr]

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

Tarw's fingers lingered on Valery's leg, caressing it as he held the position for a moment longer than he absolutely had to. He didn't really step back, keeping Valery trapped between the hard wall behind her and his large, looming figure. There was a dark flicker that crossed his gaze before he took a deep intake and nodded his head. Releasing Valery's leg back to her and making an obvious effort to create space between them after that tense moment they shared. Seeing her hand go through her hair, many thoughts raced through his mind but he shut it down and turned his attention back to the present moment and the mission they were on.

"Sorry, it was all I could think about for a cover in the moment." Tarw mentioned honestly as he gave a sheepish grin, realising that Valery might have found it deeply uncomfortable or unprofessional. "Better... better keep trailing them." Tarw stated as coughed, to try clearing the felt tension of the air. "We can talk about it later, if you wish." Figuring it was important to let Valery decide if she wanted to talk about it and how inappropriate it was of Tarw to do such an act.

Moving forward, Tarw had to take the lead now since he needed to focus his mind on the issue of the where they had gotten too. Tarw gotten distracted with the previous moment that he had allowed them to move forward more than he intended initially. Luck did seem to favour him though as he could feel his ears prick and pick up the gang's conversation. There was some comment on his and Valery's supposed public display of affection. However, they shifted the topic to the fact that there was going to be a big job coming up soon. Eventually, the gang knocked in a coded signal at a door and entered a rundown looking building. Tarw leaned against the corner of the building, looking out and spotting a guard posted above.

"One guard, on the ledge above. I heard the code used so we could use that to get in. We could also use some force to get our way inside." Tarw mentioned as he looked back to Valery. "We do have the issue of not knowing is going to be inside and they were talking of a big job coming up." Tarw repeated in case Valery hadn't caught their conversation, which a part of Tarw had hoped since the gang had talked about the pair of them.

"I'll follow your choice on how to handle getting inside." Tarw stated, putting it in Valery's hands on what they did next. Showing his trust in her.

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Smuggler Outfit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Blasters

"It's alright," Valery said, as she watched him for a moment, her eyes fixated on his. "But let's try to focus again, alright?" A smile tugged at the corners of her lips, showing him she had noticed how he had looked at her, and that he was very much the one needing to refocus. But she also understood it had been a choice in that moment, one made without much time to think or consider other options.

No point in making a big deal out of it.

Valery followed Tarw and only paused when they heard voices up ahead — the gang members from earlier. She rolled her eyes at the conversation, but when Tarw mentioned having overheard the access code, she perked up, "Let's use the code," she told him with certainty. "We can escalate and fight our way through if it's necessary, but as long as we remain undetected, we can pick up on unfiltered conversations and gather intel."

A good Shadow only revealed itself when the mission required it.

"You heard the code, so lead the way."

Tarw Rhyfelwr ​

 

[Tarw Rhyfelwr]

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

Valery told him to focus on the mission which was something that was easier said than done when it came to her. There had always been a way that Valery could catch him off guard, something no one else had really achieved. However, his mind had already begun to refocus on the mission when Valery mentioned them doing that. He doubted she had been that distracted really, so it was a comment directed at him but Tarw didn't say anything back. It wasn't the time and right now they needed to plan for getting inside.

"Sounds good, I can get us inside." Walking up to the door, Tarw knocked the door firmly and confidently. It took a couple moments and Tarw could feel tense but the door unlocked from the other side and Tarw opened the door for them both. He looked to Valery and nodded his head. Taking the lead again and heading into the building, Tarw looking down, he didn't want to draw attention to himself and it allowed him to focus on his hearing, listening in on the conversations around them. It was important to figure out where this boss might be.

"Boss said to meet him up on seventh floor, said there was a new block to hit, should really fuck with the high borns." One criminal whispered to another with some chuckling and grunting shuffled in between.

Unsure if Valery knew Galactic Basic Sign Language, Tarw kept the gesture simple with a finger pointing upwards and flashing the number seven behind him. Hoping context clues could help Valery understand. Tarw started looking around for the stairs, making sure that they could reach the floor where this boss should be.

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Smuggler Outfit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Blasters

Valery remained perfectly quiet while she followed Tarw up to the door. He broke them inside, and from there, she listened and allowed her senses to expand. Each pulse of life inside the building reached out to her, and with what little time she had, she did her best to map them out. Some were on this floor, but most seemed to be higher up.

Which Tarw then confirmed when he pointed to the ceiling.

Soon enough, they spotted the staircase and began to walk up, only for Valery to place a hand on Tarw's shoulder to stop him in his tracks. Someone was coming down, and the moment he rounded the corner, Valery waved her hand, "We are supposed to be here. walk along." The guard blinked, straightened, and just kept walking down.

A breath of relief followed from Valery before she nudged Tarw again.

"Let's keep moving."

Tarw Rhyfelwr ​

 

[Tarw Rhyfelwr]

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

Tarw felt the hand on his shoulder and paused in the movements. Hearing the footsteps of someone else coming down the stairs, Tarw felt his right arm slide and wrap around Valery's waist to protect her but the Jedi Master was faster and used her Mind Trick to fool the guard. His arm lingered in wrapping around her waist. It felt like a natural place for the moment and he gave an instinctive caress to Valery before realising. His arm pulled back and there was a warm blush onto his dark cheeks since he let out a nervous smile.

"Good work on the Mind Trick, says us having another awkward moment." Tarw coughed and moved back up the stairs, getting to the seventh floor and let his eyes scan around the floor. He watched as Tarw gestured to Valery to follow him and then paused outside a door. His ear listening in to what could be going on.

There seemed to be some discussions going on and likely the room where the boss was. "We need to get some eyes and ears in here." Tarw whispered as he looked around for a vent, there had to be a vent for them to either squeeze into or get a listening device placed to overhear. "Unless you got some Jedi abilities to help us out here?" Tarw mentioned with a smirk to her.

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Smuggler Outfit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Blasters

Valery's eyes flicked to the door as Tarw whispered beside her. She took a second to focus, listening past the muffled voices behind it before glancing over at the vent he was eyeing.

"No need," she said, her voice low. "I've got something."

She stepped back from the door and exhaled slowly. The air around her shimmered, light bending around her form until it swallowed her completely. No trace of her remained, not even a sound. She was gone, completely invisible to the naked eye. Her presence in the Force dulled as she moved forward. Careful steps took her to the door, and without hesitation, she phased her way through the material.

Not a word or a sound.

She understood it meant leaving Tarw behind, but it would only be for a moment. Until she had what she needed, and then she'd let him catch back up.

Tarw Rhyfelwr ​