Private Little Star

[Valery Noble]

Jedi Temple

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

Valery was practically running through the Temple.

Younglings, Padawans, Knights and Masters alike looked at her in confusion, but she paid no attention to them. Vera had seen something in her visions and tried to call both her parents about it, but Kahlil was busy. After Valery had helped Cora get settled back into the Jedi, Kahlil had taken her for another session in the rage room like they had during the Ukatis situation. But she suspected that they either weren't getting any signal in there, or that comms were turned off to just focus on Cora. Whatever the reason, Valery had a feeling that this was something they should all address together.

It'd be a good chance for Cora to truly feel like a Jedi again too.

Soon enough, Valery made her way into the hallway and sprinted up towards the locked door. With a flick of her hand, she unlocked the rage room and burst inside, knowing that she could end up running into a good bit of trouble.

Hopefully nothing was being thrown around. Or worse, being thrown at her.

"Love? Cora?" Valery asked upon entering. "You two in here?"

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

The moment Valery opened the door, she'd find the business end of a bat pointed at her face.

Moments prior, a heavy ceramic vase has exploded under the pressure of said bat. Shards and fragments of the pot lay scattered across the floor, with Cora having just followed through on her swing.

The Padawan blinked. Kahlil had brought her to a rage room in the city several times before to work out her frustrations, and in the time since she'd left, a training room in the temple had been repurposed into one. Apparently, it was quite popular.

"Wha-" Cora spun on her heel, face soured with mild irritation. She was prepared to give a good talking to whoever had interrupted them, but surprise knocked the admonishment from her tongue at seeing Valery. She looked concerned.

"Master? What's wrong?"

Valery Noble Kahlil Noble

 

[Kahlil Noble]

It was surprising how much the Jedi had taken to the Rage Room. Well, no, it wasn't at all. To the Galaxy Jedi were beacons of serenity and calmness. But all Jedi knew they still had emotion. Still felt frustration and anger. The difference was they never acted on them. But that made it's own issues. Build up until they reached the boiling point. They'd gotten better about that now. Therapy, talking about it, was important. The Jedi were always still people.

And sometimes breaking shit really helped with that.

Kahlil had broken another glass, mostly just to participate with Cora than actually get his own anger out. He didn't have much at the moment, nothing that made him want to break something at least, but there was eventually the door. He'd been suppressing the Force within himself to avoid tapping into it, but now he fully embraced it to figure out who was rushing in. Valery. "Wai-" Ah. Cora had already at least stopped herself from smacking Valery. Kahlil let out a sigh of relief before glancing between the two. Blinked. Then frowned.

Something was off.

Valery Noble | Corazona von Ascania

 

[Valery Noble]

Jedi Temple

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

Valery blinked at the bat mere inches away from her face.

That was too close.

"You could have hit me with that!" Valery said with a grumble before she shook her head and- "Wait, is that my vase? And those glasses..." Or maybe they just looked a lot like those they had at home. She shot her husband a brief look to make sure he wasn't destroying their stuff because the rage room had ran out of things to break. Once that was done, she cleared her throat and looked between the two.

"Vera saw a vision, and it's something bad. It hit her like a nightmare, and she called to tell us to go," Valery stepped aside and clearly seemed a little overwhelmed. If her little star was feeling like this about it all, they had reasons to be worried. Vera's visions were intense and powerful.

"Come on, I'll try to explain more along the way, and we can call Vera for more details. You have the Bastion parked here at the Temple, right?" She asked Kahlil before turning to get moving.

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

"And yet I did not." Cora grumbled back, easily matching Valery's momentary irritation. At the mention of the vase, she glanced to the exploded bits on the floor, then back to Kahlil – but the mood had quickly shifted into something more sober.

"A vision?" The Padawan frowned. Visions were not uncommon for Jedi, but Vera's were especially potent. Before her Jedi training, a younger Cora had been afforded brief glances into the future, but none as vivd as the images she'd received on Thule, of Ukatis burning to the ground. To experience something on that level, at Vera's age, must be rightfully jarring.

Leaning the bat gingerly against the corner of the room, the blonde wiped her hands and began peeling her gloves off. They hadn't been necessary, but she'd come here to wreak havoc on old pottery and discarded electronics, not her nails.

"Lead the way, Master. We're with you."

Valery Noble Kahlil Noble

 

[Kahlil Noble]

"The Temple relies on donations for many things."

Kahlil shrugged indifferently before giving Valery a brief smile. A grin, really. "I figured we could go shopping later, anyway." None of it was anything truly special, at least. No family heirlooms or the like. Just some easily replaceable and very shatterable plates and vases. He might be paying for it later, but he didn't seem to mind too much at the thought. Not that there was long at all to be smiling. He quickly started walking after them, dropping his own bat and pulling off the safety outfit.

"In the hangar, where it usually is. What did she see?"

Valery Noble | Corazona von Ascania

 

[Valery Noble]

Jedi Temple

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

Valery squinted at Cora's response before turning to Kahlil with even more of a glare, "Yeah? Well, if you're not careful, I'm donating you to the Temple." She huffed but it was a challenge not to smirk a little in response to that grin of his. He had luckily for his sake, picked out vases and glasses that she didn't really like anyway. Now she had the perfect excuse to-

"I figured we could go shopping later, anyway."

Valery smiled and nodded, "Oh we will," she said before it was time to get serious. Without really explaining a whole lot more, she pulled them out of the rage room and started rushing down the hallways leading up to the Hangar. Vera's visions were never to be underestimated, so every second mattered.

But right as the blast doors of the Hangar opened, and Valery was ready to explain the vision, she stopped — Vera was standing right there, at the lowered ramp of the Bastion. She had her backpack on, Fuzzy was on her shoulder, and she looked ready to be a Jedi.

"Took you long enough!" Vera called out to them, causing Valery to raise an eyebrow. "The Twi'leks on Ryloth need us! I saw it in a vision!" she exclaimed to her parents and big sister.

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

Cora blinked, her head turning rapidly towards Kahlil, then Valery. Had he actually brought decorative items from the Noble home to be used in the rage room? Was that allowed?

She didn't want to think about how Valery and Kahlil would patch this one up, beyond shopping. The Padawan shuddered as she kept pace just behind the two Jedi Masters on their way to the hangar.

The moment the trio entered the hangar, they were confronted by Vera. Though this wasn't the first time she'd seen her little sister since her return from Thule, Cora was struck by how much she'd grown.

Her lips twitched, fighting back a snicker when Vera informed them that they'd taken long enough. That was pure Valery, right there. Cora's expression sobered as they made their way up the ramp.

"The Twi'leks on Ryloth? What did you see, Vera?"

Valery Noble Kahlil Noble

 

[Kahlil Noble]

"What?"

Kahlil blinked, glancing to Cora as she looked his way.

"I really wanted to shop for new ones."

He shrugged casually. Yes, he did actually want to shop for new ones. Why wouldn't he? Shopping tended to be fun with Valery, and given the nature of their new place it wouldn't hurt to change some things around. It didn't all have to be pure Epicanthix aesthetic just because they were living in the Epicanthix colony.

Though that wasn't something he thought on long. He raised a brow right up as he saw Vera there waiting. She would be, of course. She knew just where to go to make sure she could come along. Especially with the urgency. He chuckled, patting her head as he stepped by to get up to the controls and get the Bastion up in the air. "Ryloth is Mandalorian territory. We'll have to be careful."

Valery Noble | Corazona von Ascania

 

[Valery Noble]

Jedi Temple

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

"I really wanted to shop for new ones."

"Of course, honey," Valery said with an innocent smile, but Cora's silent staring had now given her the idea that she could get a lot more out of this than just a shopping day. Sure, that alone would be plenty of fun with her beloved husband, but... she had some ideas for later. After the mission, and after dropping Cora off again.

When they were alone.

Much like Kahlil, Valery reacted a little surprised when they ran into Vera at the Bastion — the young Noble knew exactly what to do in order to come along. Vera herself still seemed a little tense though, up until her father patted her on the head. With a little bounce, she showed her excitement and turned around to run into the ship.

"Rebels!" She called out while she made her way into the cockpit and put away her backpack. Fuzzy crawled into it for warmth almost immediately, and she booted up the projector. "I saw people hiding and fighting the Mandalorians, but they need help! Something bad is going to happen to them," Vera told the three other Jedi.

Now she was really like her mother — briefing time.

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

"I can understand the need to shop."

There was an emphasis on shop that implied…never mind. They weren't going to Ryloth to shop.

Cora visibly tensed when Vera mentioned
Mandalorians in her vision. Before Ukatis, she had no strong feelings towards them. Now, she despised the warrior culture for laying waste to her home.

"Vera, are you sure you're alright with coming along?"

There was a glance to Valery and Kahlil there. Vera was a promising young Jedi, but she was still a youngling. Her parents would be the ones to determine whether or not she was ready for the task that lay ahead.

Cora was just protective of her little sister.

Valery Noble Kahlil Noble

 

[Kahlil Noble]

Rebels? Fighting against the Mandalorians, no doubt. Kahlil glanced briefly to Valery before looking back down towards Vera. And smiled softly. "Alright. We'll handle it. You'll be staying here, though."

No, that was active war. So no, Vera would not be coming along.

"Guide us as you always do, but not from a world at war."

Valery Noble | Corazona von Ascania

 

[Valery Noble]

Jedi Temple

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

"But..."

Vera fell back and plopped into one of the cockpit's seats with quite a pout on her face. She had already packed her backpack, gotten Fuzzy ready, and she knew all the details! Why couldn't she come along? She already went through her gathering too — she was ready for this. But it seemed Mom and Dad were just being protective again, so she knew that coming along wasn't going to happen today.

At least not-

"No hiding in the cargo bay either," Valery said with narrowed eyes, and Vera squinted right back.

"Fine," she said, clearly frustrated. "I'll stay at the Temple and call you when I see things." She stood back up, huffed exactly the way her Mother sometimes did, then squinted at all three of them before walking away. Valery just smirked a little and looked at her husband, expecting some kind of teasing comment from him.

"I think we're going to have to make up for it with a nice dinner when we get back," Valery said with a chuckle after Vera had stepped off the ship. "For now, let's go find these rebels, hm?"

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

Cora blinked, watching mother and daughter face off. Showing the slights hint of defiance would be met with a swift reprimand at the Ascania manor, so it took her a few seconds to process that this was what a healthier family dynamic looked like.

That, and seeing Vera squint right back at Valery was sort of funny. She raised a brow when Vera directed the expression at all of them.

"You're still a big part of this mission, Vera. We couldn't do it without you." The older Padawan gave her a gracious smile. It wasn't fun being excluded from things, but it was for the best.

Once Vera had departed, Cora turned to Valery. "I certainly know where she got that look from."

Kahlil Noble Valery Noble

 

[Kahlil Noble]

"She is very much like her mother."

Kahlil chuckled. Just a little. He wasn't trying to tease his wife too much now that they were on mission, but he couldn't help himself there. They would get Vera something later, when this mission was all said and done. Pancakes, most likely. Those were the Noble stapple after all.

"But yes. I'll have us drop outside sensor range of the planet, just so we can approach at our own leisure. The Mandalorians are likely still around there, and I'd rather not have to dodge them right away."

Valery Noble | Corazona von Ascania

 

[Valery Noble]

Jedi Temple

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

"Yeah, yeah. I know," Valery said with a chuckle of her own in response to Padawan and husband. Vera was reaching that age when she'd be a little more defiant, and it was honestly adorable to Valery. As long as she still listened to her parents, anyway. "Let's hope she'll be more like you by the time she turns 14 or so, or else we're going to have a real rebel in the house," she then told Kahlil with an even bigger grin.

Either way, it was always going to be fun to have their little star around, rebel or not.

Valery then sat back and watched her husband prepare the ship for take-off. The trip to Ryloth was largely uneventful, though as they started to get closer, Valery did pay attention to help Kahlil safely navigate. Once they were outside of sensor range, however, a message from Vera came through - it was an entire flight path down to where they needed to be on the planet.

<Would have been easier if I was there,> Vera added and Valery just snickered a little. <Thank you sweetie, we love you,> Valery said in response, and on the other side of the comms, Vera smiled just a little smile. As much as she would have loved to be there, she felt proud that she could help her family.

Soon enough, the three Jedi would make their way down to the surface, where they'd follow Vera's path to a rock formation where the rebels were supposed to be. Above ground, they could only see a handful of people, but some seemed to be making their way into an opening leading underground. Stepping out of the ship, Valery looked around and spotted several Twi'lek rebels turning their way. Most seemed quite excited to see Jedi arriving, though some were too exhausted to react at all.

And some... were looking at them and whispering to each other a little too excitedly. Valery watched a pair of Twi'lek women look Kahlil up and down while they whispered to each other and playfully smirked his way. The death glare that followed sent ripples through the Force both Cora and Kahlil would easily pick up on if they kept their senses open.

At least it kept her distracted from the few looks coming her way.

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

Months passed since Cora had last been on Ryloth, where she and Kahlil successfully covered a group of rebels as they evacuated through an underground tunnel from the Mandalorian assault.

Things were quieter, for now, which meant that people would naturally relax a little more. The arrival of the Jedi was both a boon and a pleasant distraction, if the way some of the Twi'lek rebels eyed the pair of Masters was any indication.

Cora frowned as a wave of Valery's irritation washed over her. Standing behind her Master, she had a good view of a group of rebels that approached from the side, three men who brazenly looked Valery up and down.

The Padawan cleared her throat a little louder than usual.

"Gentlemen." She addressed them sternly. "You'd do well to keep your eyes from wandering."

Her gaze tightened on them, just a notch.

"You'll never know when the enemy will make a move. You wouldn't want to be caught with your pants down, would you?"

Valery Noble Kahlil Noble

 

[Kahlil Noble]

Kahlil let out a sigh.

They certainly were deciding to live up to their stereotypes now, weren't they? He decided to just ignore it all, they were here to help people, not be sexually harassed by the locals. Cora on the other hand decided to double down on the lecture, much to his surprise. He blinked, glanced her way, then smiled. Chuckled.

"Just point us to whoever leads this group."

Valery Noble | Corazona von Ascania

 

[Valery Noble]

Jedi Temple

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

Valery blinked.

She didn't even realize she had grabbed her husband's hand and squeezed it like she was trying to rip it off. Perhaps it was a little much for her to be so protective, but combine a woman who couldn't allow herself to love for 30 years with a wife who had once lost her husband, and it maybe wasn't the weirdest. She also knew she was a little protective and possessive, but he never seemed to mind, and he was equally willing to stand up for her.

Right now, though, it seemed Cora had it under control.

"Thanks, Cora," Valery said softly while they walked towards the entrance of the base. It was a heavy durasteel hatch leading underground, and two guards were stationed there to open it up. These ones at least behaved, and greeted the Jedi with a respectful bow of the head.

"Our commander is down below, at the far end of the hallway," one instructed, before stepping aside to let the Jedi climb their way down the ladder.

"Seeing all of this... it makes me wonder how Vera just knew. Her visions are really getting powerful."

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

Cora's stern expression loosened into a soft smile at Valery's gratitude. She dipped her head to her Master, then leveled a firm face at Twi'leks for good measure.

What Valery and Kahlil had was sacred. Eyeing up someone's spouse was a big no-no in the circle she'd been raised in. One of them rolled his eyes.

The air did thicken with tension when as Jedi worked their way underground. A different kind, though. The tired kind that accompanied a protracted war.

"She's like a prophet." Cora agreed. "There are court seers on Ukatis who have visions, but I've never met any who can see things on the same scale as Vera."

Valery Noble Kahlil Noble