Private Investigate This

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery glanced up from the datapad in her hands, her amber eyes narrowing slightly at the sound of Asher's laugh. She arched an eyebrow as she saw him holding a book, and then the envelope that fell from its pages. The faint imprint of lipstick on the seal was enough to make her frown, curiosity and unease swirling in equal measure.

"Odd doesn't even begin to cover it," she said, rising from her crouch and stepping closer. She gestured toward the envelope he had found. "What does it say?"

Her tone was calm, but there was an edge of urgency in her words. While Jedi weren't forbidden from personal relationships, it was unusual for someone like Jarec to have something this… intimate tucked away. The implications unsettled her.

Valery then held up the datapad she'd found. "This is locked and I'm not great with tech. Are you able to bypass its security? Could have mission notes or other personal entries." She paused, her gaze flicking between the datapad and the envelope. Between the two items, there had to be more clues.

Her gaze lingered on Asher for a moment, her thoughts skimming the surface of his rugged, grounded demeanor. As always, there was something about his sharp-edged practicality that balanced her more methodical approach.

"Maybe your lover theory isn't so far off," she admitted with a faint smirk, though the weight of the discovery kept her mood restrained. She didn't like surprises, especially when they painted an unclear picture of a man she had once trusted.

Asher ​

 

[Asher]

Valery Noble

Thanks for last night.
- Lyla

Asher read the message aloud and raised his brow. Well that was certainly succinct and to the point. In their case it was even far too to the point. Who was Lyla? What had happened? Where? He handed Valery the piece of paper and grabbed the datapad off her hands.

"Sure." He said and reached into the messenger bag slung over his shoulders to withdraw a small spike and jacked it into the charging port. It was high-end, beyond the usual hardware on the street. It gave away that Asher had at least a few contacts that could supply him with items, but as far as solving this went he figured his 'friend' had already figured that much.

An electronic whirr rumbled through the little device until it eventually came to a stop with a click. Asher withdrew the slicing spike and put it back in his shoulder bag again. Right, so what was in there?

Jarec was investigating a local cortosis ring. Asher was no geologist, but if a Jedi wanted to track some kind of rock from the look of things it was probably bad for them. He shifted through the rest of the pad's contents. For a man performing an investigation it would seem that he kept very few notes.

"Cortosis. Whisky on the rocks?" He raised a brow. "What's a cortosis?"

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery's eyes flicked from the handwritten note to Asher as he worked on slicing the datapad. The faint message from "Lyla" only deepened the mystery surrounding Jarec's activities, leaving her uneasy. But when Asher brought up cortosis, she stiffened slightly, her expression sharpening.

"Cortosis is... trouble," she said, her tone serious. "It's a rare mineral that can resist lightsaber strikes. In some cases, it can even short out the blade entirely." Her gaze dropped to the datapad in Asher's hands.

She ran a hand through her ponytail, a habit that betrayed her discomfort, and glanced at him again. "It also means he was dealing with people who knew what they were doing. A cortosis operation isn't something you stumble into by accident."

As she processed the implications, her thoughts suddenly shifted, and she blinked, a faint realization dawning on her. Her lips tugged into a sheepish smile as she turned toward him. "I just realized I haven't paid you yet," she said, her tone softening slightly. Yeah, her turn to be embarassed.

Fishing into the pouch clipped to her belt, Valery retrieved a few credit chips and stepped closer, holding them out to him. "Half up front, like we agreed," she said with a faint smirk, the moment lightening briefly despite the grim discoveries they were uncovering.

Her expression grew thoughtful again, though, as she returned her focus to the datapad and the troubling web of clues.

Asher ​

 

[Asher]

Valery Noble

"I hadn't." Asher said and flashed a grin as he grabbed the credit chip. "Thank you."

Then it was right back to work.

"Soooo, we're looking at serious players who know how to disable Jedi glowsticks." The man scoffed with a perplexed but amused chuckle. "That's good. Means we're most likely dealing with people who aren't locals either. No-one around here is dumb enough in the head or has ballooned their ego to poke whatever mind powered force cult is topside. Especially ones capable of bringing down the roof on top of them."

Asher quickly cleared his throat.

"No, uh… no offense. Of course."

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery raised an eyebrow at Asher's quick attempt to backtrack, her smirk growing slightly as she crossed her arms. "Mind-powered Force cult, huh?" she teased, tilting her head as if considering the description. "That's one way to put it."

Her amber eyes sparkled with amusement as she stepped back, leaning lightly against a nearby table. "Don't worry, no offense taken," she added while she flicked her hair over her shoulder, her tone carrying a faint, playful edge. "We're used to people being a little... intimidated by our 'glowsticks.'" She punctuated the word with a wry grin.

"But you're right," she continued, her smirk fading into a more serious expression. "If cortosis is involved, these aren't small-time operators. They're playing a much bigger game, and that's what makes this even more dangerous."

Valery glanced toward the datapad again, her arms uncrossing as she took a step closer to Asher. "So," she said, her tone shifting back to something lighter, "Any brilliant insights from our favorite underworld expert?" Her smirk returned, faint but deliberate, as she watched him.

Asher ​

 

[Asher]

Valery Noble

"Well… Yeah?" Asher shrugged at Val's initial questioning stare about mind-powers. It was like something would fall back into place, just a little. Like the sensation of the right puzzle piece giving a love tap to its match.

This Jedi was different but in a sense not. He supposed the only real similarity was the fact that they were doing good for the sake of good right now. Well, that and money, but everything included money down here. These days it just felt nice to do it for the right reasons.

"Well we're looking at someone trying to cover their tracks. For all we know, Jarec was following another lead that just so happened to intersect with what we know now. Given that you never seem to have been updated on it," Asher looked at Valery. "Or just never told me," And then he looked back at the corpse pile again. "He either kept this from you, or never had the chance."

"Also given the amount of trash in this place, he was here for a while. A month or two at the very least. The perps broke in through that door," Asher raised his fingers to point at the door that he and Valery had come in through. "This one," He pointed at the signs of a struggle by one of the counters. "Most likely tried to grab him but was pushed back. Look at the way the trash was thrown around, right?"

"Once he recovered, jumping at Jarec must have triggered a panic reaction and he got his saber out and made a wide swing to save himself from the two men, but if you look at the way his corpse was left on the ground, he had lowered his guard before he was shot."

"Meaning…" He said and trailed off, rolling his hand as if expecting Valery to finish the sentence off.

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery listened intently to Asher's analysis, her arms folding again as her amber eyes flicked to the door, then to the counter, and finally back to him. His attention to detail was impressive, and the way he pieced the scene together gave her a deeper appreciation for his investigative instincts.

"Meaning... he could not get himself to fight whoever pulled the trigger," she finished, her voice calm but laced with a heavy undertone of realization. Her gaze dropped briefly to the datapad in her hand before returning to the scene, "Either that, or a third attacker ambushed him after this initial clash."

Her lips pressed into a thin line as the weight of that truth settled over her. If Jarec had been here for weeks, maybe even months, without contacting her, it meant he was either hiding something or didn't think she needed to know yet. Either way, it added layers of complexity to the situation.

Valery stepped toward the counter, her boots crunching lightly over the scattered debris. She crouched again, her hand tracing the disturbed patterns on the floor as if trying to visualize the struggle through the Force.

She rose to her feet, brushing dust from her hands, and turned back to Asher. "What about the cortosis operation?" she asked, her tone shifting slightly. "If someone connected to Jarec's investigation wanted him out of the way, that's a lead we can follow." Her smirk returned faintly, a spark of determination lighting her features. "Think you can dig something up? Otherwise I could try to use the Force to find some pieces to the puzzle. It'll just... unsettle me." Using psychometry at a scene like this could be disturbing, but she would do it if it helped them get closer to finding the answers.

Asher ​

 

[Asher]

Valery Noble

His hand flailed for a second in the air, his head bobbing side to side.

"Sooomething like that, yeah." He whined for a moment before he stood up straight. "Oh, no doubt the cortosis operation is the heart of all this. Question is why he would keep it to himself."

There was no mistaking the unease in the way the Jedi looked at the idea of doing her force thing. Asher's lip pulled to the side.

"Eh," He grunted and shook his head. "These idiots have left enough to get us this far, we just have to find the last piece."

He gave one of the dead bodies a playful little kick on one of its feet. Brainwave.

"Wait." He said. "Of course."

Asher knelt down and began to dig through the inner pockets of each thug's jacket.

"Aha!" He exclaimed and pulled out a matchbox. "Knew it."

The Red Road.

"Bet you twenty that's where they came from."

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery watched Asher closely, her arms folding loosely across her chest, amber eyes following his every move. The way he moved with sharp precision, the confidence in his actions, and the ease with which he seemed to navigate even the grimmest of circumstances all captured her attention. He was rough around the edges, undeniably so, but there was a certain charm in that ruggedness, one that drew a faint smirk to her lips as her gaze lingered a moment longer than she intended.

When he produced the matchbox, her smirk widened slightly, her expression a mixture of admiration and amusement. "Impressive," she said softly, tilting her head as she stepped close and leaned just enough to get a better look at the clue he'd uncovered.

Her smirk shifted into something more mischievous as her eyes flicked briefly over him again before locking onto his. "The Red Road, huh?" she mused, tapping her fingers lightly against her arm. "Well, it sounds like that's where we're headed next."

"Lead the way," Valery added with a faint nod toward the door, her smirk softening into something warmer. "I've got your back." She turned away from him, but flashed a simple grin over her shoulder as she walked a few steps ahead to get moving.

Asher ​

 

[Asher]

Valery Noble

Oh, she wanted to go first? That was just fine with Asher. There could be benefits to that even, one particular of which was— Ah crap, she was looking over her shoulder. The man cleared his throat and glanced away from whatever it was that he had been admiring for a moment before he strolled up next to her, eyes fixed on the road ahead perhaps a little too much.

"Air's better out here." He joked and finally let his eyes wander around them a little. "Barely."

"Haven't been to Red Road, but I know roughly where it is. Old foundry district turned 'entertainment hub' during one of the Sith eras." He shrugged and pushed the call button on a nearby elevator. "Some hotshot Sith wanted a playground for their experiments. Then after a while they disappeared and the current tenants filled the power vacuum."

The elevator arrived and Asher ushered the two of them inside.

"... At least they don't have to worry about randomly choking to death because someone force fed them laughing gas, y'know?"

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery stepped ahead with a purposeful stride, a subtle sway to her hips adding an extra touch of grace to her movements. She knew exactly how the jumpsuit hugged her figure and had no illusions about where Asher's attention had wandered. Her smirk deepened, unseen by him as she moved confidently toward the elevator, her pace deliberate and unhurried.

When she glanced back over her shoulder and caught him hurriedly averting his gaze, a flicker of amusement danced in her amber eyes.

Inside, Valery took her place in front of him, standing close enough that the faint scent of her hair — subtly floral and warm — lingered in the air between them. She tapped a control panel, her focus seemingly on the descending levels as the elevator hummed to life.

"An entertainment hub built out of an old Sith foundry," she mused, glancing at the elevator walls as though imagining what lay ahead. "Sounds charming."

Her tone carried a touch of sarcasm, but the smirk tugging at her lips betrayed a flicker of excitement. Despite the grim circumstances, the hunt for answers had stirred something in her.

Asher's remark about Sith experiments drew a low chuckle from her. She tilted her head slightly, her ponytail brushing against her back. "Laughing gas?" she echoed with a wry grin. "That's an idea I'll keep in mind."

When the elevator jerked slightly, signaling their imminent arrival, she turned her head just enough to glance back at him over her shoulder. "You ready for this, investigator?"

Asher ​

 

[Asher]

Valery Noble

Artificial rose and tea… Asher let in a deep breath and rubbed his hand against his neck for a moment as the elevator slowly seemed to descend to their destination.

"Mhm, yep." He said and chuckled. "Suppose survivors had a sense of humor."

The ride continued until eventually the he was saved by the bell. The doors opened and the duo stepped out into the crowd.

"Been ready ever since we left that hole." He joked and elbowed his way over towards a nearby railing that was just a little less crowded. "So, you're the goody-two-shoes here. How do you wanna play this?"

"Do we head in there guns ablazing, or do you wanna ass them—" He cleared his throat and looked down int othe abyss beyond the railing. "I mean, ask them a bunch of questions first?"

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery stepped out of the elevator into the lively chaos of the Red Road, the hum of the crowd filling the air with a heavy, almost oppressive energy. She moved with confidence, her head held high, and her amber eyes scanned the surroundings with sharp precision. The air was thick with the scent of spice, smoke, and the unmistakable musk of desperation, but she seemed unfazed.

When Asher spoke, his tone no longer carrying as much bravado, she turned to him with a knowing smirk, her arms folding lightly across her chest. His tough-guy act was admirable, but the cracks were starting to show, especially when he tripped over his words. Her smirk deepened.

"Ass them, huh?" she teased, tilting her head and letting her hair sway over one shoulder. "Well, that's one way to get information." Her tone was playful, and her eyes sparkled with mischief as she watched him flinch slightly at his own mistake. He was sharp, quick, and resourceful, but her teasing had clearly gotten under his skin — and she wasn't about to let it go.

"But no," she continued, her voice steady but with an edge of humor, "I don't think going in guns blazing is the best approach. Let's play this smart. Ask questions, follow the threads, and see where they lead us."

She stepped closer, her presence calm but undeniably commanding, and leaned in just slightly, her voice dropping to a lower, more teasing tone. "That is… if you're not too distracted to focus." Her lips curved into a faint smile, and she punctuated the moment with a wink before stepping away, letting the statement hang in the air as she gestured toward the crowd. "Let's start by blending in and seeing what we can pick up. We need to find the right people to talk to without drawing too much attention."

Valery glanced back at him over her shoulder, her smirk softening into something warmer. She was having far too much fun, but considering how flustered he was, she assumed he was, too.

Asher ​

 

[Asher]

Valery Noble

Ah, it was fun. Sort of. It'd been a few years since he had gotten a chance to be this loose with the rules in a way. There were different reasons he wouldn't do anything this time around but that didn't mean he couldn't enjoy the view or the benefits of the current partnership.

"Me? Distracted? Only when catching my breath." Asher chuckled. "Look, I can keep it together when it matters, don't you worry about that."

"I'm thinking you're the better one to do the talking." He fired back. "You have the means, and the voice."

"Some would say a natural!"

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery chuckled softly at Asher's attempt to keep up, her amber eyes glinting with amusement as she let his words hang in the air for a moment. He was quick-witted and charming in his own rugged way, and she found herself enjoying the banter far more than she should in a place like this.

"Natural, huh?" she mused, her voice carrying a teasing lilt. "Very well."

She shot him a quick smirk, then turned her attention to the bustling crowd ahead. Her demeanor shifted slightly, the playful edge in her tone giving way to a more serious focus. The Red Road was no place for complacency, and she could feel the tension in the air — watchful eyes, murmured conversations, the subtle exchanges of credits and goods in shadowed corners. This was a den of secrets, and every thread needed to be pulled carefully.

As she moved, she slowed her pace just enough to let Asher keep stride with her. "Let's split this up," she said, her tone more businesslike now. "I'll start with the bar and see if the bartender or patrons are loose-lipped enough to give us anything. You... work your charm on the floor. Blend in, listen, and keep your ears open."

Valery glanced at him again, her smirk returning, though faint. "But no picking fights unless absolutely necessary, alright? I'd hate to have to rescue you." Her teasing tone crept back just enough to lighten the moment, but the subtle fire in her gaze made it clear she wasn't entirely joking.

With that, she adjusted the lapel of her jacket and slipped into the crowd.

Asher ​

 

[Asher]

Valery Noble

Natural, well-rounded, there were descriptors to spare but none that Asher felt particularly inclined to share beyond what he already had. The Jedi disappeared into the crowd and he scratched his beard as he made way over to whichever bar he could see that seemed the least crowded.

While this place was full of people in general, he would manage to find one such spot. It was just him, a dozen people, a crying woman, a smoking man (metaphorically and physically speaking), as well as a gruff biker-looking dude.

"Hey." Asher said and leaned in to order. "Whiskey on the rocks."

The woman tightened her grip on her bottle, the biker cracked his knuckles, and the smoker stopped mid-drag to look at the new arrival: Asher.

"Or… Not?" He said and slowly turned towards the 'tender. "Did I say something?"

"Don't mind 'em. They're just superstitious is all."

"... About the most common drink in the galaxy?"

"Yep."

"Uh… Huh. Okay, well," Asher scratched his beard again. "Don't suppose you have something else back there then?"

The bartender grabbed the nearest glass and poured a glass of beer for him instead.

"Right. Thanks."

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery weaved through the crowd at the bar, her posture confident and her amber eyes scanning the room for anyone who might offer useful information. The energy was as chaotic as ever — people laughing too loudly, murmuring in hushed tones, or glaring suspiciously at anyone who dared to step too close. It was a dangerous place, but she thrived in environments like this.

She reached the bar just as Asher was handed his beer, and her eyebrow arched slightly at the odd tension surrounding him. The crying woman clutched her bottle like a lifeline, the biker still glared, and the smoker was halfway through another drag, his gaze shifting warily between Asher and Valery.

"Trouble already?" she teased, sliding onto the stool next to him with an amused smirk. Her tone was light, but her sharp eyes took in every detail of the room, analyzing the strange dynamic between the patrons.

The bartender leaned closer to her, his expression unreadable but his voice low enough to blend into the background noise. "You're not from around here, are you?"

Valery tilted her head, the hint of a smirk tugging at her lips. "Does it matter?"

The bartender glanced nervously at the crying woman and the biker before shrugging. "Depends. If you're here for trouble, you'll find it."

"Not looking for trouble," Valery replied smoothly, leaning forward just enough to make her voice carry without drawing too much attention. "Just a good time and answers."

Meanwhile, she kept the biker in her peripheral vision, her senses reaching out through the Force. She was a natural at getting people to talk. And she had a feeling this place was hiding exactly the kind of trouble they were looking for.

Asher ​

 

[Asher]

Valery Noble

Asher let a gentle foot step on Valery's toes with enough force to get his warning across. Don't trust these guys, also play along. At least he hoped she got the last part, maybe that was more of a kick thing and not a step thing.

A long sigh blew from his nose and he shook his head.

"Look, the boss told me to take his wife to see the sights." He said and continued to shake his head. "Told me to take her out and do whatever she wanted. She wanted to dance, so…"

"We're just warming up and all that."

"Right…"

"Yeah, ain't that right, princess?"

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery's amber eyes darted down to her toes, her brow arching slightly as Asher's foot gently stepped on them. The message was clear enough, but the faintest squint of disapproval flickered across her expression. Really? She almost rolled her eyes, but the hint of a smirk tugged at her lips instead.

When he called her princess, though, she couldn't hold back the amused scoff that slipped past her lips. She turned to him, tilting her head with an exaggerated look of incredulity, but her response was seamless.

"That's right," she said, her voice dripping with playful sarcasm. She extended her hand toward him, her amber eyes challenging as they sparkled with faint amusement. "Since you're so eager to take me dancing, how could I say no?"

The crowd around them was already thick with movement, the pulsing beat of the music creating a perfect cover for their little act. If Asher wanted to lead her into the chaos, she'd follow — but not without a little flair. "Don't keep me waiting," she teased, her smirk widening as she wiggled her fingers invitingly, daring him to make good on his own ploy.

She could get him to blush with far less, and they had the time, so she figured why not? Perhaps this would give them a chance to talk privately and pick out their next target.

Asher ​

 

[Asher]

Valery Noble

She tried to act all cocky, flailing to the beat as if that was dancing. Asher felt a grin tug at the corners of his lips. A chuckle rumbled in his throat and he slowly began to shake his head from side to side.

"That." He said. "Is not dancing."

Asher took a step forward to ever so slyly wrap his arm around Valery's waist and back, his hand intertwining with hers before he pulled her in close, his chest against hers as he slowly leaned her over and took the reins of this particular affair.

Tease him, would she?

"This is dancing." He said and began to lead her along to the tempo of the song.