Private Investigate This

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery's fiery amber eyes softened as Lyla's voice cracked, her raw emotions spilling out in a flood of pain and guilt. The Jedi Master's frown deepened, but she remained silent, allowing Lyla the space to speak and unburden herself.

When the woman mentioned "the rocks," Valery's brow furrowed slightly in confusion. Her gaze flicked to Asher, searching for any sign of recognition or understanding in his expression. Whatever the rocks were, they clearly carried significance — enough to cost a Jedi their life and send Lyla spiraling into this moment of anguish.

Valery took a steadying breath, her voice soft and calm when she finally spoke. "Lyla," she said gently, her tone steady but laced with urgency, "I need you to tell me a little more. What rocks?" she asked.

"And who are they?"

Asher​

 

[Asher]

Valery Noble

"You KNOW the rocks!" She cried out. "Th- co- cort- the… WEIRD saber rock!"

"The Cortosis." Asher finally added and interjected into the conversation "The rocks are called cor—"

He fell silent, deep into thought for a moment before he exhale with a laugh. His hands extended before him in excitement, like a child who got told that Life Day presents would be opened any moment now. He cracked it, it had been right THERE.

"THE ROCKS!" He exclaimed. "It's a code, a- a clue!"

Despite the clear grief on display, even Lyla managed to shoot a confused glare at the man.

"Whiskey on the rocks, Valery!" He said and grabbed her. He shook her just a little. "The rocks are IN the WHIS—"

He finally calmed down, got a read of the room again. His eyes darted between the Jedi Master and Lyla before he cleared his throat and stood up straight again. He let the master go and covered his mouth with his fist to bite down on the awkwardness of the situation.

And yet, he still couldn't keep from going.

"The rocks are hidden in whiskey barrels. There is a warehouse full of the things not too far from here. Customs gets paid off, they think it's just a regular whiskey smuggling operation, get a small piece of the cut, when in reality it's a cortosis ring."

Lyla wasn't even sure if she was hurt or not by the man's actions. She just let out an exasperated, shaky sigh and then turned to them both.

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery blinked, her fiery amber eyes narrowing slightly as Lyla's cry broke the tension, followed by Asher's sudden and energetic outburst. Her head tilted just enough to convey her confusion as he interjected with what sounded like a breakthrough, his excitement palpable.

"The rocks…?" she echoed softly, the words barely leaving her lips before Asher lunged forward, grabbing her shoulders.

The Jedi Master stood utterly still, her wide eyes locking onto his as he began shaking her like a toy caught in the hands of an overzealous child. Her mind raced to process what was happening, her lips parting slightly in shock. For a Jedi who had faced Sith Lords, intergalactic crises, and more than a few bizarre situations, this was somehow one of the most disorienting moments.

What's happening? her expression all but screamed, though no words left her mouth.

When Asher finally released her, Valery straightened her stance, smoothing out her jumpsuit in an almost mechanical motion. Her amber eyes remained wide as she stared at him, clearly still trying to catch up to his sudden burst of enthusiasm.

"... Whiskey barrels?" she asked, her voice tinged with disbelief. She blinked again, glanced at Lyla — who seemed equally baffled — and then back at Asher. "Cortosis hidden in whiskey barrels?"

Her gaze lingered on him for a moment longer, assessing the sheer earnestness in his expression. Slowly, Valery's confusion gave way to cautious understanding. If he was right, this was a significant lead, albeit uncovered in the most chaotic way imaginable.

"Alright," Valery said finally, her voice regaining its composure. She took a steadying breath, then turned her focus to Lyla. "This is important. Is he right? Is the cortosis being smuggled in whiskey barrels?"

"If so, we should perhaps check out that warehouse."

Asher​

 

[Asher]

Valery Noble

"Yes, I am." Asher answered Valery for Lyla who shrugged and shook her head. That info was way above her paygrade. She was just muscle, even if she didn't look like she should be anything the like.

"Lyla, I am so sorry for what you have been through." The man said and dug through his bag to withdraw a credit chit. "I can't fix your pain, but I can help you move on. This is five hundred credits. Please, take it."

Lyla looked even more confused than ever. It was the very same chip Valery had given Asher earlier.

"You made a mistake, you were forced to do something you didn't want to do, but that doesn't mean your life is over. If you stay here until we come back, after we have checked the warehouse, I will use my contacts to see if any of them can get you off-world undetected."

The confusion didn't stop. Lyla looked at Valery who seemed to be the sane one. Was any of this true?

Given Asher's sincerity: yes.

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery offered Lyla a reassuring nod, her expression softening to counter the whirlwind of chaos Asher had just unleashed. "Yes," she said gently, her voice steady. "Asher is serious, and he's right. We'll do what we can to help you get off-world safely once we've confirmed the situation."

She gestured to the credit chit in Asher's hand, the same one she had given him earlier. "Take it. It's a start, and he's offering it because he genuinely wants to help."

Her fiery gaze lingered on Lyla for a moment longer before she turned toward Asher, her demeanor shifting into one of quiet determination. "Alright," she said firmly. "Let's move. If the cortosis is being smuggled through the whiskey barrels, we need to confirm it and figure out how deep this operation runs."

Valery adjusted the lightsaber clipped to her belt, a faint hum of the Force radiating from her as she mentally prepared herself. She glanced over her shoulder at Lyla one last time. "Stay here, stay safe. We'll be back."

Turning to Asher, her fiery gaze sharpened. "Lead the way," she said, her tone carrying both urgency and trust in his instincts. The pieces were starting to fall into place, and now it was time to act.

Asher​

 

[Asher]

Valery Noble

She took the money and that was good enough for Asher. He stepped out and Valery followed behind.

"It's right there when you think about it." He said as he hurried down the stairs. "Whiskey is literally on the rocks."

As they pushed into the street he kept an eye about him. No telling if someone had followed them to the motel with Lyla, but in a sense they had already gotten what they needed out of the girl. Whether she trusted the duo or not was up to her.

Up ahead in the docking bay area was a big warehouse complex that had been clearly split into several different yards, each of them seemingly as boring as the other.

"Sense anything, Master Jedi?" Asher asked, clearly just a little too excited. "This should be it. End of the line, after this we get above my paygrade."

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery followed Asher closely as they stepped out into the bustling street, her fiery gaze scanning the area with a sharp, calculated focus. She had to admit, his enthusiasm for the mission brought a slight smile to her lips, even if the situation demanded caution. His comment about whiskey on the rocks earned him a sidelong glance and the faintest chuckle.

"You're full of jokes today, huh?" she quipped lightly, though her tone quickly shifted to something more serious as they approached the warehouse complex.

Her steps slowed, and she closed her eyes for a moment, letting her presence expand through the Force like a net cast over the surrounding area. The hum of the city faded into the background as she focused on the currents of energy flowing through the warehouse yards. Most were mundane — workers going about their business, droids loading cargo, and the general hum of everyday operations. But there, beneath it all, she caught the faint pulse of something darker.

"There's something," she said, her voice calm but edged with tension. Her amber eyes flicked open, locking onto Asher. "I can feel it — a cluster of presences, concentrated near one of the yards. They're trying to shield their activity, but ill intent always pulses in the Force."

She nodded toward the far end of the complex. "That way. I'd bet that's where we'll find the barrels, and likely whoever's running this operation."

Or at least people involved in this whole business.

Asher​

 

[Asher]

Valery Noble

"... Right." Asher mumbled and nodded. "If we're lucky we'll end it. If not… Well, you should have enough to go on for yourself at this point."

He was serious with that. Asher was reaching the part where even he understood that further participation in this investigation would seriously hinder his ability to live down here. Despite all that was wrong with it, it was still home and he wouldn't want to move on from that.

The duo entered the bay and sure enough there it was. A group of people standing by a bunch of barrels, popping them up and pouring the whiskey on the floor in a hurry.

"That's them." Asher whispered to Valery. "How do you want to play this?"

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery's fiery gaze locked onto the group near the barrels, her sharp features set with determination. The subtle movements of the men pouring whiskey onto the floor were frantic, their actions betraying a sense of urgency — and guilt. She felt the faint ripple of their unease through the Force, confirming what she already suspected: they were the ones she was looking for.

Asher's question drew her focus back to him, and she gave a small nod, her tone calm but firm. "I'm going to confront them," she said, her voice carrying quiet authority. "I'll handle the direct approach — these kinds of people tend to react more when they feel cornered. The key is keeping this controlled."

Her fiery eyes softened just slightly as she regarded him, her connection to the Force brushing gently against his presence. "But Asher, if you need to step back now, I understand. You've already done more than enough to help, and I know what's at stake for you down here. I don't want to put you in a position that compromises your life here."

She gestured toward the nearby shadows, her meaning clear: he could retreat to safety and still remain close enough to assist if things escalated.

"The choice is yours."

Asher​

 

[Asher]

Valery Noble

He sighed.

"As much as I want to turn back, I am pretty sure word has already gotten out that I am working with a topsider." He frowned. "So, I guess we're better off just wrapping this case so we can move on."

Asher began to look around. There was a way…

"Up there." He said and pointed to a walkway above. "You talk to them, I'll be up there if anything goes down."

He didn't really give Valery the time to say yes or no before he set off to slowly sneak his way up a nearby flight of stairs. If she wanted to confront them then he was all for it. The thugs remained unaware of their presence, and the time to exploit that fact was running out.

He got into position while Valery did her thing. He peered over the railing…

… They were all standing in an ocean of whiskey right now. His eyes slowly began to dart around the place before he patted against the metal object in his inner pocket.

There was a way to take them all out in one go, but Valery most likely wasn't about to like it.

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery watched Asher climb the stairs, her fiery gaze following his movements until he was in position. A faint smirk crossed her lips — resourceful and determined, despite his earlier hesitations. With a deep breath, she turned her attention back to the group of thugs.

Stepping forward, her boots soft against the uneven floor, Valery's voice carried with calm authority. "You know, whiskey is a terrible thing to waste. Care to explain what you're doing?"

The men froze, their movements halting as their eyes darted towards her. One spoke up, defensive and brittle. "You're not suppposed to be here, so walk away, while you still can."

Valery tilted her head, her amber gaze piercing. "I'm not here for a fight if you don't force my hand. I'm here about Jarec Tane. Let's start with what you know."

The leader, stocky and scarred, stepped forward, growling, "Never heard of him. Now beat it before we ruin that pretty little face of yours."

But Valery caught the flicker of recognition in his eyes. Her smile faded, and her voice turned firm. "Lying to a Jedi isn't wise, you know."

Asher​