Private Shadows, Spies & Secrets

[Persephone]

​

Today was a meeting that was long overdue. It should’ve happened long before, shortly after Persephone had been appointed the new Director of the SIA. And as much as the Chiss liked her efficiency, it was damn near impossible to get all the leaders together, let alone try to organize and plan a time to speak to them individually.

Not right now, when war and conflict were erupting around the galaxy.

But it was the incident on Hapes, where the Galactic Alliance’s Chancellor was almost killed, that had been the catalyst for Persephone to not waste any more time. Today was a meeting with the Grandmaster of the New Jedi Order, Valery Noble.

Someone the Director had been interested in meeting since starting. In part because of the Jedi’s history as a Shadow; and if reports were to be believed, still dabbled in every now and then. But there were also a few topics Persephone wanted to broach, that were better kept between the two of them, for now.

Thus Persephone reached out and arranged a meeting between herself and Valery. Although the invite didn’t send her to Coruscant, or Fondor even, but rather a seemingly inconspicuous planet tucked away within Alliance space. And even when Valery landed, it wasn’t directly where the Director was located.

Instead, it was at the starport, a modest port of call that sat at one end of an idyllic-looking town. At the other, was a chateau that sat at the crest of a hill, overlooking it all. Valery was chauffeured right through the town, to the very front doors of the building.

There a protocol droid greeted her, with a respectful bow.

“Greetings, Grandmaster Noble. Lady Persephone is awaiting you in the solarium, if you’d please follow me.”

Valery Noble​

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Blasters | Lightsabers

The shuttle touched down with practiced ease, its engines whirring into a low hum as the ramp began to lower. Valery stepped out moments later, her long hair catching the gentle breeze that drifted over the sleepy town below. It was quiet — almost unnaturally so, for Alliance territory. A stark contrast to the usual buzz of Coruscant, or the constant tension of the front lines. She welcomed it.

Her eyes lifted toward the chateau on the hill as the sun caught its edges in soft light. Elegant. Remote. Exactly the kind of place she expected from someone like Persephone. The new Director had built a reputation for precision, efficiency, and a keen ability to remain several steps ahead. Valery respected that — and she was more than curious to finally speak with her face to face.

As the protocol droid greeted her with a bow, Valery offered a small, polite nod in return.

"Thank you," she said, her voice calm and clipped but not unfriendly. "Lead the way."

She followed, her steps quiet against the stone path, eyes scanning the surroundings with subtle interest as they ascended toward the solarium. The air smelled faintly of wildflowers and fresh soil, a stark reminder that despite everything, some corners of the galaxy still clung to peace.

Still, her mind was already at work.

There were many reasons the Director might want to meet — the Hapes incident or the war among them. But Persephone had chosen a setting this... removed, this carefully orchestrated. Which meant there was more to this than simple debriefs and formalities. Valery's gaze narrowed slightly, thoughtful.

Whatever it was, she'd be ready.

And she doubted this would be a conversation either of them would forget.

Persephone ​

 

[Persephone]

​

Valery was guided around the front of the chateau, along the stone pathway that led around back and through the estate’s garden. Decorate flawlessly with local flora, with not a single bush or blade of grass out of place.

The work of someone who planned things meticulously, or who had those working for them, who followed a particularly strict set of rules.

After a short walk, Valery was finally brought to the solarium itself, a domed glass structure. From the outside it was almost impossible to get a glimpse within, the glass panels obscured by a variety of flora. Although unlike the garden, these were distinctive from planets across the galaxy.

The droid raised a hand, gently knocking on the glass before opening the door. “Lady Persephone? The Grandmaster has arrived.”

“Fantastic, send her in. And make sure we aren’t disturbed for the next few hours.”

“As you command.” The droid bowed, before taking a step back and holding the door open for Valery, quietly closing it after she stepped through.

The Chiss in question was sitting in a lounge chair, adorned in a fairly casual outfit, at least compared to the suits she usually wore when working. She seemed focused on the datapad in her hand for several moments, before finally putting it down.

In an almost effortless glide, Persephone slid off the chair and looked at Valery. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Grandmaster Noble.” She said with a smile, holding out a hand for the Jedi to shake.

“First and foremost though, thank you for accepting my invitation. I know it isn’t exactly easy to find time to step away for long, with everything going on.” Especially when it involved travelling to somewhere that was quite out of the way of the usual hotspots within Alliance space.

Persephone gestured towards the nearby table, where a steaming teapot rested atop it. “Please have a seat, would you like some tea? It’s a local blend.”

Valery Noble​

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Blasters | Lightsabers

Valery stepped into the solarium with a quiet, appreciative glance around. The filtered light streaming through the dome danced across the leaves and petals of exotic flora, casting intricate shadows that reminded her, strangely, of temple skylights on Coruscant. It was beautiful here — not in a gaudy or ostentatious way, but in the same way a finely tuned lightsaber hummed with intention. Precise. Controlled.

Much like its occupant.

Valery's gaze found Persephone with ease, and as the Chiss woman rose and extended her hand, Valery stepped forward without hesitation to take it, "The pleasure is mine, Director," she said, her grip firm but respectful. "I was curious to meet the person stepping into such... well-worn shoes."

There was no venom in her tone — no real judgment, either — but it was no secret that her past dealings with Director M had been, at best, strained, especially after Exxegol.

When Persephone offered her the tea, Valery nodded once, and moved to sit gracefully across from her. "Thank you. A local blend sounds perfect." She reached for the cup, her fingers steady as she lifted it to her lips. The steam curled up gently, fragrant with herbs she didn't immediately recognize. It was good. Calming. She allowed herself one quiet moment to enjoy it before setting the cup back down and turning her full attention to her host.

"You'll have to forgive my curiosity," she said, her eyes keen but her tone light. "But this meeting, the setting — it's all very different from what I've come to expect from Intelligence."

A small, wry smile touched her lips.

"So either you wanted to make a strong first impression…" she tilted her head slightly, studying the other woman, "Or this is more than just an exchange of pleasantries."

The smile lingered — not unfriendly, but sharp.

Persephone ​

 

[Persephone]

​

“Wonderful!” Persephone didn’t waste a moment as she picked the teapot up and poured a cup for Valery. The movement was smooth, delicate, but also deliberate in even the smallest of movements.

Not a single drop of tea spilled as she finished pouring Valery’s, followed by her own.

With a content sigh, the Chiss settled down opposite to the Grandmaster. She had just looped her fingers around the handle, when Valery spoke up. The corner of Persephone’s mouth shifted slightly, into a smirk, or a smile perhaps.

As if the Director had been anticipating it to be Valery’s earliest question. She certainly showed no surprise that it was immediate after she had sat down.

“Oh you know how it is…” Persephone began, pausing for a moment to take a sip of her tea. “A little bit of column A, a little bit of column B, and then throw in a dash of column C too.”

A second sip, larger than the previous.

“Sometimes I grow tired of the droll and monotone mood in the Intelligence offices. So I come here, to brighten things up more.”

Persephone’s eyes never left Valery’s, as though she was ever watching and examining the Jedi Master’s reactions. “But yes, I do intend on discussing a few topics with you, and even show you something.”

Mischief twinkled in the Chiss’ eye as she took another sip.

“But first tell me, as you were being driven through the town to get here, did you have any particular thoughts about it?”

Valery Noble​

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Blasters | Lightsabers

Valery met Persephone's gaze over the rim of her teacup, the corner of her mouth twitching upward at the Chiss woman's answer. There was something almost disarming about it — not evasive, not exactly playful, but a kind of verbal sleight-of-hand she hadn't expected. Mischief was rare enough in Intelligence, but in a Chiss? That made it even more unusual.

"I see," Valery murmured with a soft exhale that might've been a laugh, setting her cup gently back on its saucer. "A Director with a sense of humor. That might be more dangerous than any weapon in your archives." She didn't miss how closely Persephone watched her. Valery was used to it — she'd lived under the eyes of Sith, Jedi Masters, and Senators alike. Still, this woman's gaze had a particular sharpness to it. Measured. Intentional. She could respect that.

When asked about the town, Valery's expression shifted — her eyes drifted slightly to the glass ceiling above, as if retracing the memory in her mind.

"It was peaceful," she said at first. "Perhaps a little too perfect, like it hasn't realized the rest of the galaxy is burning yet." She turned her focus back to Persephone, "I also think the town's real. But it's watching me, just as carefully as you are." A small smile ghosted across her lips again.

"Or, perhaps I'm just overthinking it."

Persephone ​

 

[Persephone]

​

Persephone chuckled at Valery’s response, suspecting a ‘Director with a sense of humour’ wasn’t exactly a common sight amongst her predecessors. But it was exactly because of that, that the Chiss had adopted that particular principle when accepting the position.

The Galactic Alliance was a well-oiled machine, made up of a number of different parts. She was at the head of one of those, but she was still a living being. There was always time to be serious, to do away with frivolous niceties, but one shouldn’t need to get rid of them entirely.

“Or, perhaps those Shadowy instincts are still sharp as ever, despite how long it's been since that was your primary responsibility.”

Persephone smiled, taking a sip of her tea before placing the cup down and folding her hands atop her lap.

“The town is indeed real, was here when we arrived; as did this lovely chateau. But every person you saw was either an Agent or an Intelligence asset.” The Chiss paused, gauging Valery’s reaction before continuing.

“When it became known that M would support my rise to Director, she set before me a task to create a number of projects, from small to large in scope. The town is one example; more of a protocol if anything. Where SIA can take over a place, offering support to the locals in exchange for being eyes and ears. Whether that be for the planet, the local system, or even a whole sector; depending on say…if the planet falls along a trade route.”

Valery Noble​

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Blasters | Lightsabers

Valery's brows lifted just slightly, the faintest spark of amusement flickering behind her eyes as Persephone revealed the truth of the town. Of course it was. She should have guessed. But still, something about the meticulousness of it — the elegance in turning something so simple into a tool for Intelligence — was impressive.

Her lips curved into a knowing smile as she leaned back in her seat, hands folding loosely in her lap. "Leave it to the SIA to turn a peaceful retreat into a surveillance protocol." But beneath the humor, there was respect — real and grounded. It was the kind of strategy that worked not by force, but by subtlety. By trust, or at least the illusion of it.

"And here I thought I was just enjoying a quiet walk through a friendly little village," she added, her tone light but edged with something thoughtful. "It's clever. A little invasive, perhaps, but clever." She studied Persephone for a moment longer, her head tilting slightly. "You've built something efficient. Adaptable." A pause. "And I imagine not just for trade routes."

Her gaze sharpened, but not in suspicion — in curiosity. "What else did M ask you to create?"

Persephone ​

 

[Persephone]

​

“Hmm, let me think for a moment…” Persephone replied, tapping her chin in thought. The Chiss’ eyes seemed to drift off for several moments, until they suddenly snapped back into focus.

“There are final touches being made to a new state of the art simulation facility, for our Agents of course. Versatile and specialized per individual needs, capable of putting multiple Agents through a ‘gauntlet of challenges’ at once.”

She paused for a moment, that mischievous twinkle in her eye returning.

“And we’re sitting atop another complete project right now, but that’s for a bit later.” Persephone flashed a knowing grin, before she reached down to pick up her teacup.

Her expression turned serious just as her mouth disappeared behind the porcelain.

“We could talk about Hapes, or Woostri, or any other warfront that’s opened up in recent memory.” Persephone’s eyes locked onto Valery’s.

Calculating. Intense. Measured. Knowing.

“But there’s something more…critical to talk about. Namely the disappearance of a certain operative file. That of Allyson Locke . And the fact prior to its erasure, your credentials were used to lock it from being accessed.”

Valery Noble​

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jedi Jumpsuit | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Blasters | Lightsabers

Valery's smile returned the moment Persephone spoke the name. She reached for her own cup, lifting it with the same calm grace she always seemed to carry, and took a slow sip before setting it back down, "Allyson Locke," she echoed, letting the name linger between them like a spark in the air.

She leaned forward just slightly, her expression composed, but the gleam in her eyes was unmistakable — pride, tinged with defiance.

"She may have been one of the SIA's finest agents," Valery said evenly, "But before that, and until the end, she was a Jedi. That makes her legacy, and the handling of her file, a matter for the Jedi Order." There was no heat in her tone, but it left little room for doubt. It wasn't a challenge — it was a boundary being drawn with care.

"Her file is kept safe, and if a situation requires access, that's certainly possible," A brief pause, her smile softening. "Though not without coming through me first." She sat back again, more relaxed now, but there was weight in her posture — steady, unmoving.

"Does the SIA require access to the file?"

Persephone ​

 

[Persephone]

​

As Persephone listened, the corner of her lips twitched on her otherwise impassive face. This was a side of Valery she had heard about, always curious to see it in person. And it was the most interesting reaction in the Chiss’ mind.

“And I respect that, and would have no issues otherwise.” She paused for a moment. “However, she wasn’t just a Jedi, she was still an SIA Agent. Meaning that file had sensitive information that related to our organization. In which case, you shouldn’t have had sole authority to do anything other than view it. Anything beyond that should’ve required authorization from both parties. What if the roles were reversed, hmm? I imagine you wouldn’t be too happy either.”

Though it did intrigue Persephone that Valery hadn’t outright deleted the file, she had made a copy. Was Allyson aware of that fact? Did she suspect; likely yes. But the question was, would she even care?

If there were a handful of people the Corellian could trust, Valery Noble was likely on that list.

“As such, I’ve put forward a motion that any cross-group files, whether it be of someone in NJO and SIA, SIA and GADF, etcetera, require joint authorization to do anything beyond access.”

Persephone took another sip of her tea, glancing down at it afterwards to see it was nearly empty.

“Oh, access won’t be necessary. Important elements of Miss Locke’s file were already copied over as a precaution of this eventuality. Safely stored away in a private dossier, one that I…inherited.” Even despite the Chiss’ professionalism, there was no disguising the edge of bitterness in her voice, especially in that last word.

Valery Noble​