Private No Lesson Like the Field

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Combat Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

The Council Chambers were still, save for the faint hum of the wind outside brushing against the Temple walls. Morning had fully settled over Tython, and the distant sounds of training exercises echoed faintly from the lower courtyards. But within the chambers, the air held a different kind of energy, one shaped not by debate or judgment, but by preparation.

Valery stood near the central platform, reviewing the mission notes stored on the datapad in her hand. She had already reviewed the intelligence several times, but her attention shifted now to something more important: who would accompany her. There were many Jedi she could have requested, but her thoughts kept returning to one name.

Padawan Klar .

The young Jedi had shown promise in recent months, not just in ability but in spirit. There was a steadiness to her that made Valery curious, and something told her that Klar would gain something important from this assignment.

She had sent word earlier that morning, asking Klar to report to the Council Chambers without offering many details. Now, with time passing, Valery glanced toward the doors, waiting for them to open. This was not a test, nor a hidden lesson. It was a chance to serve, and to grow.

As footsteps approached, Valery straightened and looked to the entrance, ready to speak once Klar arrived.

Klar ​

 

[Klar]

​

This was becoming a little alarming.

As a masterless Padawan of a fairly advanced age, Klar wasn't used to having Jedi Masters pay much attention to her. She attended lectures, she participated in lessons and exercises, she was consistently active and helpful around the dorms. She was twenty - she reckoned - and figured that at some point she could probably request a promotion to Knight. Most Padawans had somebody vouch for their advancement, but Klar didn't have that sort of one-on-one instruction, and she hadn't been a youngling due to the biological realities of her species and the fact that her father had sold her into slavery. She'd entered the Jedi Order late, and been more or less left to her own devices.

Until recently, anyway. Essentially since she'd been transferred from Coruscant to Tython. Recently, she'd had ALL KINDS of attention paid to her, and she was starting to get more than a little nervous about that.

When Grandmaster Noble had requested her presence, Klar's heart had lept up into her throat immediately. Now that it'd been almost an hour later, her heart was merely pounding at her ribcage like a bird trying to escape. Had she replied too slow? Had the message taken too long to reach her? Klar had all but jogged through the temple to get up to the Council Chambers - and sprinted when nobody was watching - but - no. Klar reminded herself forcefully that Jedi Masters weren't exactly known for being impatient people.

The blonde Codru-Ji paused at the council doors to catch her breath, smooth her robes, and fix her hair. Had to make sure she was presentable. Composed. She then looked as tranquil as she possibly could and stepped through the door into the Council Chambers.

Klar bowed her head respectfully. "Grandmaster Noble. You requested me?"

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Combat Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery turned as the doors opened, her expression softening when she saw Klar enter. She returned the respectful bow with a dip of her head and offered a warm, reassuring smile.

"Padawan Klar," she greeted, setting the datapad aside. "Thank you for coming."

She stepped forward and let the silence rest briefly before continuing.

"I have an assignment that requires travel off-world. I believe it will be a good opportunity for you to gain some field experience alongside a Master." Her tone remained calm, but there was a quiet sincerity behind the words.

"You have shown a lot of initiative and strength since arriving on Tython. I believe you are ready for more than just classroom lessons and temple routines."

Valery paused for a moment, then offered a small nod.

"I would like you to join me. If you're willing."

Klar ​

 

[Klar]

​

Klar was so on board with this idea that for a moment she had to take stock and make sure she wasn't dreaming. One-on-one time from the Grandmaster - who saw something in her specifically worth cultivating? Terrifying AND exhilarating, she'd had dreams and nightmares both that started like this. This hesitation to make sure she was actually awake might've seemed like she weighing the options to an untrained eye. In truth, there was no option here. Klar straightened up immediately and nodded. "Y-Yes! Of course, Grandmaster Noble." She replied quickly. "I'd be honored!"

Her mind was already off to the races. Where they might be going, what she might need to bring, how dangerous it might be. In a vacuum of information, Klar scrambled for any details she could get. Had she heard of Grandmaster Noble planning an excursion? Was this to do with the Blackwall? With how wide the Noble family was and the promising talents of the triplets, it was hard to think of anything Klar could help her with that Aris couldn't do a better job at. Which meant that this was an instructional endeavor. Klar was not there to help Valery, Valery was there to help Klar.

Made sense, she reasoned a little glumly. Grandmaster Noble was the leader of the NJO, and Klar was a rudderless Padawan. What help could she have possible thought she might provide?

"If I may ask, Grandmaster - where are we going?" Klar inquired politely, her four arms behind her back, her expression inquisitive.

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Combat Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery watched Klar's expression shift and settle, the eagerness clear despite her attempt to remain composed. It brought a smile to her lips. She remembered what it was like to be a Padawan, uncertain of her place but always eager to step forward. That hunger to prove oneself was not a flaw. It was something that, when tempered, helped a Jedi grow.

"We are headed for the Outer Rim," Valery began, her tone calm and steady. "A passenger vessel went missing several days ago during a routine journey. Its last transmission indicated a course correction that took it far from its intended route and into a region we do not patrol."

She stepped back toward the central platform and picked up the datapad again, tapping once to bring up the relevant information. Then she glanced back to Klar.

"There were no distress signals after that last ping, but something pulled it off course. Our task is to find out what happened. If the passengers are alive, we help them. If the vessel is lost, we find out why."

She paused for a moment before adding, "It may be a simple recovery, or it could be more. These areas are not always well charted, and surprises are common. That is why I asked you. It will be a good test, and I believe you are ready."

Valery gave a small nod, her eyes meeting Klar's.

"You will have time to gather your things and meet me in the hangar within the hour. If you have questions, you can ask them on the way."

Klar ​

 

[Klar]

​

Valery Noble
A passenger ship that swerved off course in the middle of nowhere. No escape pods, no distress beacons found - yet. Klar considered the options for a moment, her brow furrowed as she cupped her chin and put her hands on her hips. "It could be a mechanical issue - nav computer going haywire, or something similar?" She mused aloud. "If the bridge had been seized, I'd assume there'd at least be some sort of escape or signalling..." Klar was far from experienced in the way things worked outside of the Core, but - well, it just made sense, right? Outer Rim, ship disappears - seemed like a pirate issue. The response of a Jedi Battlemaster seemed like overkill, but depending on how many people were on that ship it might not be enough. But! There'd be time enough to figure out what was going on when they got there. No sense chasing her own tail in circles over it now.

Time was clearly of the essence. Good thing she'd taken Xuko Pagoi 's best practices to heart and had a go-bag ready.

"I'll get ready to go, Grandmaster." Klar reported, back straight as she dipped her head respectfully. When dismissed, she rushed off at a brisk walk - breaking into a run the moment she wasn't observed.

Sure, she was worried for those poor people. But a part of Klar couldn't help but be elated. This was it! Her moment! Her CHANCE! Her opportunity to impress somebody, to prove she had the stuff necessary to be worth respect, of carrying the title of Jedi.

The Padawan ran back into her dorm, left Jobbi a note explaining she was out on mission, and stuffed some extra clothes into her go-bag. She was at the hangar within a half hour.