Private Nightmares on Thule

[Valery Noble]

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Location: Thule​

Valery: Appearance​

Ship: Factory link​

Tag: Kahlil Noble ​

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Valery chuckled at his response and set her gaze forward as the ship began to approach the planet's atmosphere. She took it into a steep decline and moments later, they'd have a clear view of the desolate world below. As much as their senses were sharp enough to tell them what this planet was like, seeing it with your own eyes was something else entirely. Valery frowned and briefly glanced at Kahlil. She didn't say anything, but her expression said more than enough - this place disturbed her a great deal.​

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The coordinates for the facility were already set in the computer, so once she leveled at a stable altitude, a brief flight towards their destination began. Since it wasn't the safest place to travel to, Valery circled over it, and found a place to land a bit further away, but still within walking distance.​

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"Alright, let's scout the area before we go in," Valery said as the engines powered down. She lowered the ramp leading outside and gestured for him to follow her. ​

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Looking out towards the building in the distance, Valery tilted her head and looked at Kahlil.​

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"Any particular Sithspawn you believe we should be extra careful with? If you remember what all could be here, that is."​

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[Kahlil Noble]

"I wouldn't know. Whatever happened here changed.. Everything." Kahlil returned her smile, but only briefly. It truly upset him to see the result of his father. Neither Valery Noble or him wanted to be here, that much was obvious. And yet, he followed her towards the ramp, pulling his saber out in his palm. Whatever was here wasn't going to be friendly. "But, well. There's a couple of my earlier experiments. Shadowy birds. Familiars. I was trying to find a way to mass produce them. Only a couple were made, but they're nasty little things."

His gaze turned to the sky around them.

"If they're still small."

 

[Valery Noble]

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Location: Thule​

Valery: Appearance​

Ship: Factory link​

Tag: Kahlil Noble ​

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Valery also looked up at the sky and blinked at his answer to her question, "Small or long-gone, preferably.." she muttered before turning her gaze to the facility up ahead. Together with Kahlil, she began to approach it but as they drew near, they could feel the darkness from within its walls.​

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She would stop a decent distance away and narrow her gaze at two large durasteel doors. They looked like massive blast doors capable of keeping great explosions contained. Or dangerous Sithspawn. ​

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But what seemed off was how the doors were bent - it looked as if something had hit them really hard from the inside. Maybe something had tried to get out? ​

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"Hmm.. do you know of any entrances into this facility?" she asked. Valery had no idea if Kahlil had been to this building in particular before, but it was worth asking. If not, she'd get them inside but it would likely draw a bit more attention than finding a quieter entrance.​

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[Kahlil Noble]

That wasn't a good sign. Kahlil stared at the damaged door, grimacing. Was this something recent? Something from before? Or worse, something that had survived? The Knight stayed beside Valery Noble for a moment longer, then closed his eyes. No matter what this was, the Jedi Master was going in. And he certainly was going to follow her. Well. He gave her a nod before leading a way around the facility towards one of the other entrances.

"There are some evacuation tunnels in case an experiment went.. Awry. Or the Jedi came. There's a maze in there, so people who don't know it get lost or run into whatever got free. Another test for the Sith."

 

[Valery Noble]

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Location: Thule​

Valery: Appearance​

Ship: Factory link​

Tag: Kahlil Noble ​

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Valery followed his lead and circled around the facility until she could see one of the alternative entrances. The idea of it leading into a maze filled with Sithspawn caused her to blink, but the way he delivered it made her believe he knew the way through. Or at least, he at some point knew how to get through.​

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"If you know the way through the maze, then let's take that route. I have a bad feeling we'll run into something inside, but... the two of us can handle it," she said with rational confidence. Her expertise was hunting Dark Siders and their creations, and she was much stronger when she fought alongside someone she shared a powerful bond with. ​

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And Kahlil had been here before, so there was no doubt about his experience either.​

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With that said, Valery began to move towards the entrance of the maze, ready to take on whatever was within its walls.​

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[Kahlil Noble]

"They should be empty. I don't think this place was evacuated, so the doors that lead into the maze should still be shut." Even as he spoke his gaze drifted to where the front doors had been nearly bashed open by.. Something. If whatever it was knew of the tunnels, then.. He didn't want to think about it. Instead he ignited his saber, letting the blue glow shine on the wall they were walking along. Getting in from the outside wasn't exactly what it was meant for, but if you knew what to look for it was possible.

If they hadn't changed anything.

About a minute passed as he surveyed the wall, his silver colored eyes narrowed in concentration. Then he found it. The slight, so very faint seam. With a grin he stepped back and brought his saber around. There was no normal way to open it from the outside. So he cut the door out. Using the seam as a guide he'd bring the plasma weapon around. Normally a siren would go off. That was the biggest reason no one did this.

No sound. A frown settled on his lips before he kicked the door inwards, letting the molten edged slab of metal crash onto the ground. Inside was a damp, muggy looking tunnel. "Sewers, by the way. Well, not so much sewers as waste disposal. Probably going to smell as a warning." He turned his gaze back towards Valery Noble , cracking a brief grin. "Ladies first?"

 

[Valery Noble]

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Location: Thule​

Valery: Appearance​

Ship: Factory link​

Tag: Kahlil Noble ​

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Valery walked along the wall with him and nodded, "I really hope there is nothing inside the maze. Wouldn't be the most ideal place to fight." she said but after having seen what happened to the front doors, she wasn't too optimistic. She doubted that these beasts were supposed to reach those doors either, yet they did.​

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She then stepped aside as he cut their way through the wall, and instantly a terrible smell began to flow out. Valery made the typical face you'd expect and turned her head away from the hole.​

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"Thanks for mentioning that now.." she muttered as she stepped up to take a look into the dark room. Her eyes quickly adjusted but spotted nothing inside yet. Her senses felt the darkness of this place but there was so much, she couldn't quite focus on just the maze alone. They would have to be careful.​

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"Ladies first?"​

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Valery rolled her eyes and chuckled before stepping inside to begin their journey through the maze. "Just don't fall too far behind," she said with a smirk. After passing through the hole, the smell only got worse, but the feeling of darkness also increased. ​

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"Are you really sure nothing could get in here..?" she asked to confirm again.​

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"I feel like something is out here."​

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While she couldn't pinpoint it, a pair of eyes were already looking at them through the darkness. It was only a matter of time before it all began.​

 

[Kahlil Noble]

"I plan on staying by your side." Kahlil chuckled a bit, winking as Valery Noble passed him to get inside. He followed shortly after, and sure enough planned on walking by her side. He kept his saber on, up, using it much like a glowrod as he scanned the path ahead. Did she.. She did. Something was here. He stayed beside her, trying not to be any more tense than he felt. If whatever was in here could see them, they couldn't see it.

"If it's something that's survived, it won't be g-" He didn't get the word out before they were jumped. His eyes widened as a creature leapt from the shadows. Wyyyschokk, by all appearances. But the dark clung to it in unnatural ways. And, given the state of the planet, it shouldn't be alive. He jumped back, swiping his blade out to cut through one of their claws.

His blade caught it. But didn't cut it. So that's what this was? "Sithspawn! Stay close!"

 

[Valery Noble]

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Location: Thule​

Valery: Appearance​

Ship: Factory link​

Tag: Kahlil Noble ​

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"If it's something that's survived, it can't be g-"​

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Valery blinked as suddenly a creature jumped out towards them from the darkness. She couldn't immediately get a good look at it, but she felt its darkness, which had warned her of the imminent attack. Just in time, she jumped aside to avoid it, and then watched as Kahlil struck at it with his lightsaber. ​

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Sithspawn spiders... great, the woman thought as the purple plasma of her lightsaber ignited.​

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But seeing his blade deflect the way it did, she wondered just how resistant they were. Not wanting to take any chances, she channeled the light and sent several withering blasts out towards the creature from the palm of her hand, hoping to weaken or even kill it. But as she engaged, a second Wyyyschokk appeared behind her.​

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It fired its iconic web towards her, and while she was able to avoid getting trapped entirely, the sticky web had caught one of her legs, pinning it against the ground.​

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"Ugh, disgusting.." she muttered but from the corner of her eye, she could see the creature jumping out towards her, clearly with the intent to kill the woman.​

 

[Kahlil Noble]

The Light. Right.

It was rare for anything to withstand the Light. As an alchemist and a Sorcerer once, Kahlil knew just how difficult it was to withstand the Light for beings of the dark. Complex runes could help, but for a Sithspawn that was a rare addition. The spider before him withered instantly, the light burning it's body like a vampire in the sun. He didn't waste a second, though. Where there was one, there was sure to be more.

There was an odd sensation as he felt danger, but not for himself. Without thinking he moved, rushing past Valery Noble and bringing his saber around. The blue of his blade shined brightly, brighter than normal as he cut outwards. The crystal within channeled the light. Not just the Knights, but the master. Pulling on this bond between them. In a single swipe of his blade he cut through the Sithspawn's claws, burning it much like Valery had burned the other.

"We need to get moving. Stay close."

 

[Valery Noble]

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Location: Thule​

Valery: Appearance​

Ship: Factory link​

Tag: Kahlil Noble ​

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Bound to the floor by the creature's web, Valery watched as the creature moved to attack her. But not even for a moment, she feared that this Sithspawn would reach her, as she felt Kahlil intercepting it through their bond. So while the creature was cut down by his blade, she slashed down at the web to free herself. ​

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Stepping away from the sticky web on the ground, she quickly joined Kahlil and nodded. He knew this place much better than she did, so staying close was definitely the best option.​

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"I'll be right behind you," she assured him.​

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The two then began to move but it wouldn't be long before she had a feeling that they were being followed. She looked over her shoulder but didn't see anything yet. Did Wyyyschokk typically live in large groups? Or didn't that matter now they were corrupted and twisted? She had no idea.​

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"Hey, Kahlil... I think there are more of them in here with us."​

 

[Kahlil Noble]

"There probably are." Kahlil kept his voice low and his saber high. It's blue turned more white as he let the Light focus through the crystal, brightening the area. Making a threat for these Sithspawn. On the bright side, their ferocity suggested they at least killed whatever else might be lurking in the dark. The downside? They might only be in this maze because something nastier survived within the facility itself.

He shook his head. Whatever was deeper in they'd deal with. For now-

The Jedi's blade stayed bright as they moved deeper within. Sure enough, things hadn't been changed. The sickly web the spider left behind were burned by the light all the same. None of the spiders continued after them. They knew the threat. Even monstrous they still had a need to survive. Deeper in, they'd eventually make it to the deeper door. A large barricade, broken through likely by the spiders.

Darkness seeped from within. Something worse did linger. "You ready?"

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

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Location: Thule​

Valery: Appearance​

Ship: Factory link​

Tag: Kahlil Noble ​

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Valery remained close to Kahlil and used the purple plasma of her lightsaber to illuminate part of their path as well. Her Keshian eyes kept track of any moving creatures around them, but they seemed to be holding off from attacking. As mindless as some Sithspawn were, these at least recognized how easily the two Jedi had slain a few of them. ​

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"We might have to take care of those on the way back..." she whispered. The idea of leaving the Sithspawn spiders alone wasn't something she was quite fond of, but there was something far darker to focus on.​

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The two then reached the large door, and Valery immediately extended her senses beyond the thick layers of metal. She felt that something terrible wandered through the facility on the opposite side of the doors, but she had no clue as to what it could be. Her eyes just shifted to Kahlil and she nodded, her lightsaber drawn ready for combat.​

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"I'm ready, let's move."​

 

[Kahlil Noble]

"I'd rather avoid fighting them at all. This world is.. Lost. Until we can properly heal it, the things of the dark will only continue to grow and multiply." And, hopefully, they'd just die off on their own. A fight that didn't need to be had was a fight Kahlil was all too willing to avoid, especially with Valery Noble by his side. Fighting meant risk. Risk meant danger. Best they stay safe as often as they can.

Deeper into the facility they would go, sabers lighting up the darkness. The shadows shifted, but it was hard to tell if it was a trick of the eye or something actually lurking there. The heavy, oppressive darkness that lingered wasn't something to be ignored. Death had come to this world and left it's mark. The facility itself was.. Ruined. Whatever was trapped in here had rampaged and destroyed much.

But Kahlil could see things he did remember. His lips thinned as they moved further inside, passing by one such room. His room. He paused, staring at the broken doorway. Into the room of various, now burnt, tomes and vials. Test tubes for creatures and people alike, as well as what was left of ancient artifacts he once studied. The memories came back. A scrawny, weak boy amongst untold knowledge trying to prove his worth.

It was all still fresh in his mind, even after all these years.

 

[Valery Noble]

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Location: Thule​

Valery: Appearance​

Ship: Factory link​

Tag: Kahlil Noble ​

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Valery frowned at the thought of this world being lost already, but she understood. For the type of Jedi, she was, leaving this place behind without cleansing it completely wasn't easy, but to just purge this building on a world so utterly corrupted hardly mattered in the end. It just meant risk.​

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So for now, the two carried on with their lightsabers drawn, their minds sharp and eyes open for any other beasts that wandered around. They had both sensed something far more awful than the spiders, but it had yet to show itself to them. So until it did, they could not even think about dropping their guards.​

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"Hey, everything okay?" Valery asked as she stepped up to his side. She had noticed him stopping to look into the room ahead and almost leaned against him with her side in a somewhat comforting way. Valery knew this place brought back bad memories, and she could feel the tension it often brought. ​

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The woman then stepped past him and into the room to take a look around herself. Normally, she'd try to investigate further using the Force, but using such skills in a dark place like this was never a good idea. ​

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"Whatever was once created in this lab must still be out here," she said as she looked at all the broken equipment, and the lack of remains you'd expect if a creature had died here. ​

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But as she stepped further into the room, a warning would echo between them through the Force. Something had set its eyes on the woman whose eyes so nicely reflected in the dark.​

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[Kahlil Noble]

"Huh?"

Right. Kahlil closed his eyes for a moment, letting Valery Noble 's presence and closeness pull him out of his own mind. His memories. They were here for a job. The last thing he needed to do was get distracted. For both their sakes. He flashed a brief smile to try and let her know he was alright, then he felt it. All at once the smile faded. Dread took it's place. The eyes watching them. "Chi-"

He didn't have the time to get the word out. A large, serpentine head came from above. Kahlil reached out, gripping the other Jedi to throw her aside just before he was thrown back by the impact. Pain. He gritted his teeth as he pushed himself up. His hand raised as he called over his saber, reigniting the blade. Sure enough, the creature before them emerged. That which belonged to this lab. A Metal Serpent hissed, it's eyes staring between the Jedi.

There was no escape. He brought his blade up and around, still his breath.

"We have to fight."

 

[Valery Noble]

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Location: Thule​

Valery: Appearance​

Ship: Factory link​

Tag: Kahlil Noble ​

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Valery turned to look at Kahlil, noticing a smile beginning to appear before it quickly faded as something came down towards them. Before she had time to react, she felt his firm grip snatching her arm, before tossing her aside and out of the way of the incoming Serpentine head. She fell onto the ground and watched with widened eyes as the beast knocked him around. ​

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"What the.." she looked at the large beast and quickly drew the hilt of her lightsaber into her hand.​

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But one of its heads also turned to Valery and especially from the side, Kahlil could see an orange glow coming from within. The creature then opened its mouth and a sea of flames were directed out towards Valery, which completely and violently engulfed her. The attack persisted for a moment until the fire and smoke faded.​

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But there was no sign of Valery anymore. ​

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This gave the initial perception that the woman had been incinerated but if Kahlil were to focus on his senses, he'd feel her presence just as strong as before, a good distance above the head that served as the flamethrower. ​

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"Kahlil!" she called out as she came crashing down towards the beast's head, hoping to coordinate some kind of attack with him. She didn't know the strengths or weaknesses of this beast aside from the blatantly obvious ones. But her current vector allowed her a powerful cut into the beast's neck, outside the field of vision of the head she was targeting.​

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The other heads, however, remained a threat to her.​

 

[Kahlil Noble]

For a moment, panic.

His silver eyes widened as he saw the red glow form in the throat on one of the creature's throats. He knew what it meant. He knew what was coming. Without hesitation he reached out, but.. Too late. Valery Noble was consumed by heat and flame before his eyes. And for a moment, just in that singular moment, he fell. Anger and hate washed over him in an all too familiar wave. Lightning crackled over his arms as he let that darkness in.

Then he heard her.

The connection between them, the bond, her voice. It pulled him immediately out of the darkness, though not before it left a chill in his bones. Worse, his saber reacted. The blue glow popped out of existence as the crystal within rejected his influence. He gritted his teeth further. No, Valery needed him. He could think on this later. The lightning faded as he instead reached out to grasp the creature, holding it's head still for her strike.

All while the other head looked to him, a familiar glow forming in it's throat.

 

[Valery Noble]

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Location: Thule​

Valery: Appearance​

Ship: Factory link​

Tag: Kahlil Noble ​

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As Valery came down with her lightsaber ready to strike, she felt the darkness take over her boyfriend. The cold and painful feeling struck her through their bond, but also quickly faded as her voice and presence pulled him back out. It instantly worried her, however, and she wanted nothing more than to rush to his side, but she simply couldn't.​

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So instead, her gaze focused on the beast and while Kahlil held it in place, she landed on top and thrust the plasma through its skull to take it out. But following what she believed would be a lethal strike to this particular head, she sensed the imminent threat to Kahlil and felt the familiar heat rising from the beast's mouth.​

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"NO!" She called out as her hand extended and directed the Force outwards, hoping to shove Kahlil out of the path of the flames that quickly followed. It likely wouldn't be a nice landing if it were to hit, but nothing hurt more than the idea of him getting seriously injured or worse by the flames.​

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But with hopefully Kahlil moved out to safety, Valery's innate fierceness began to show as her attention shifted back to the beast again. She didn't channel anger or hatred, but her determination to purge this beast had certainly grown. It then launched its tail towards her to strike, but she lept over it with a Force-augmented jump while she channeled the Force within herself. Using the walls, the ceiling, and the floor, she bounced back-and-forth between the environment and the beast, each time trying to land a strike against one of its heads, its throat, or other sensitive body zones.​

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Due to its thick scales, it was highly resistant against singular attacks, but she hoped the perpetual flow of attacks would weaken it, or at least keep it busy long enough for Kahlil to help her fight this beast. He likely knew better methods to kill it.​

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Or so she hoped.​

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[Kahlil Noble]

Heat was all he felt at first. Right. His gaze drifted to the maw of the hydra. Could he make a barrier in time? Likely not. It didn't stop him from trying, though. Hand raised he willed the Force to listen. It didn't, though. Not because it abandoned him, but because of Valery Noble 's intervention. Without warning he was thrown to the side, away from the flames as they raised there he once stood.

Safe, at least for the moment. The head snapped shut it's mouth and turned to follow him. Chit.

"Don't cut off their heads! They multiply! Just- chit- You gotta burn it!" That was the trick. Kahlil weaved and jumped, narrowly avoiding the creature's hungry maw. His saber still didn't react to him. His lips thinned. That was going to be a problem. His eyes drifted, trying to find something in the room that could help. Broken test tubes, chemicals, was that a dead body!? .. Chemicals!

"Keep it busy!"