Private The Spark

[Valery Noble]

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Outfit: Combat Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

The jungle beyond the Temple was alive with sound. Insects humming, distant creatures stirring in the undergrowth, and the rustle of wind through leaves. But within the Temple walls, the air was still. Tension lingered beneath the surface, but for now, there was peace. Valery stood in the main courtyard, her arms folded loosely in front of her chest. Sunlight filtered through the trees above, and for just a moment, she could enjoy the peace of its warmth on her skin. It had been a long time since she had walked the halls of New Cov's Jedi sanctuary, and even longer since she had considered building something new from the ashes of war.

But here she was.

She had stepped down from her place as Grandmaster. Not out of regret or defeat, but because the path forward had changed. The Jedi needed to be closer to the people again. Closer to the fight. And if the Galaxy was to have a chance at healing, someone had to start walking that path first.

She had not expected company this early in the process, though. A name had reached her. Jane , a younger Jedi, but one who had shown interest in the same cause. Valery didn't know her yet, but she was willing to listen. Willing to meet her here, where roots ran deep and intentions could not be hidden behind politics.

Her gaze turned toward the entrance. She sensed someone drawing near.

Valery stepped forward and waited.

Jane ​

 

[Jane]

Outfit: Jedi Robes and Armor
Inventory: Jedi Training Lightsaber, pouches with seeds, standard Jedi equipment.
Tag: Valery Noble

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After meeting Everest Vale and witnessing the Jedi's downfall all around her, Jane was certain she didn't want to linger. To be honest, the girl didn't really know what she wanted. She had just joined the New Jedi Order when Coruscant was attacked, and within hours she was on her way to Alderaan. All she saw were concerned faces and a collective song so sad that it made her uncomfortable, a rare experience. And so, despite not knowing who or what she wanted to be, she knew Alderaan wasn't where she belonged. There was a whole galaxy to discover and, above all, to protect. Of that she was certain. Despite her dislike for travel, when Eve offered to escort her, she jumped into the metal box of doom that would transport her to New Cov's Jedi sanctuary.

The ship arrived after an exhausting flight. In reality, the flight was perfectly smooth and Eve, who was escorting her, was nothing but kind. But the ship shook not once, but twice! And the metal engines hummed so loudly that it screeched in her metallic ears! It was enough to make her small hands tremble in her lap. So, when the ship landed on the landing pad near the scantuary and the ramp was lowered, Jane unbuckled herself, muttered a quick but polite thank you to the pilot, a goodbye and thank you to Eve, and dashed out of her chair and down the ramp, into the lush and beautiful jungle.

It was beautiful. The slightly worn and overgrown temple was surrounded by a symphony of the Living Force. She felt alive, just like the jungle itself. A fast improvement over Coruscant, a metallic and cold planet, and even Alderaan, which was pleasant but not to this degree. No, it was here that her dull cybernetics stopped bothering her, for the Force was so bright and alive that all she saw and heard were vibrant colors and melodies.

All that was left now was her talk with Valery Noble. Former Grandmaster and Eve's Master.

Despite the slight pressure, Jane felt no nerves or fear as she approached the sanctuary's entrance. Near the entrance, she heard footsteps and a song so bright. She had never heard a soul's melody sound so much like a flame before. No, it's not just a flame. It was more akin to a bonfire, warming even the coldest hearts in a snowy forest. She pushed her way forward, through the entrance, concluding that it must have been the former Grandmaster.

Her pitch-black, empty cybernetic eyes fell on the woman near the entrance. She stood tall, her eyes reflecting the fire in her song. So that's the presence of a Jedi Master. After taking a deep breath, Jane approached her straight away. She came to a stop in front of Valery, far too close for comfort, and extended her small scarred-covered hand for an awkward, stiff handshake.

"Hello. You're Valery Noble, correct? I am Jane. Thank you for meeting with me. It is beautiful here." The short, almost doll-like girl spoke in a flat, monotone voice, her expression never flickering to reveal any emotions.

"I was told that you are helping people. I want to help."

 

[Valery Noble]

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Outfit: Combat Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery watched the young girl approach, her arms lowering from where they had rested across her middle. The moment Jane stopped in front of her, close enough that most might have taken a step back, Valery didn't flinch or recoil. Instead, she took the offered hand with warmth, her touch firm but not overbearing, and smiled.

"It's good to meet you, Jane," she said gently, the edges of her voice softened by that ever-present fire beneath. "And yes, it is beautiful here. The jungle has a way of making everything feel a little more alive." She let go of Jane's hand and took a small step to the side, one arm extending in gesture toward the temple entrance. "I can always use help. Especially from someone who feels the call to do more."

"If you're up for it, I was just about to sit down for some tea in the garden. We can talk there, and I can show you a little more of the Temple along the way." Her eyes met Jane's again, warm and steady.

"No pressure. But I'd like to hear more about you."

Jane ​

 

[Jane]

Tag: Valery Noble

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Jane switched her gaze to the Temple's entrance as she listened to the woman talk. So far, so good; no outright 'no's. That was a success in her book. Meanwhile, her arm dropped back to her side, dangling limply. "Yes, I feel that call." She replied. It was one of the only things she was confident of. She wanted to help anyone she could. After all, one of her oaths was to respect all life.

"Tea in the garden." Jane repeated after her, and her doll-like head nodded once. "That sounds nice." In contrast to the woman's, Jane's eyes never changed away from that empty look, scarcely blinking and rarely breaking eye contact unless something else caught her interest.

In this case, the temple around her as they began their journey to the garden drew her attention away.

Hearing Valery's voice again, Jane's eyes drifted back towards hers. She expected this kind of question and had practiced an answer several times to avoid stumbling and messing up. "I am Jane." She began. "I am estimated to be about 13 years old. I joined the New Jedi Order on Coruscant, 21 moon cycles before the invasion. I went to Alderaan, escorted together with other Jedi Learners. I left Alderaan afterward because I didn't like how sad everyone was."

The girl paused for a moment, realizing she had forgotten something. "Oh. Before becoming a Jedi, I was at a very nice elderly man's workshop. I heard the Force one day, at least the Jedi called it the Force but I find it more like a song, and left him to follow it. And that's how I found the Jedi." Jane's gaze danced away once she was satisfied with her response. Admiring the environment.

"How about you? I've spoken with Everest, and she mentioned you."

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Combat Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery listened closely as Jane spoke, her pace steady as they walked side-by-side through the Temple's main entrance. The air inside was cool, still touched by the humid breath of the jungle outside. Light poured in from the high archways, and soft echoes of their steps carried across the chamber's vast floor. They passed around the large central statue, a figure carved in the pose of a Jedi meditating, a lightsaber held high. Valery led them in an arc around it, her eyes flicking toward Jane from time to time as the girl shared her story.

"I'm glad you followed that song," Valery said, her tone warm, "Not everyone has the courage to leave something familiar behind, especially when it's safe or comforting. That choice alone says a lot about you." As they reached the back of the main chamber, the towering stone staircase came into view. Wide and winding, it curled upward toward the bridge above. Valery gestured and began the climb, keeping her steps slow so Jane could easily keep pace.

"I've heard about the Alderaan evacuations," she continued as they ascended. "And Everest Vale ?" Valery smiled again. "She's my Padawan. Strong-willed and talented. I'm proud of her, though she keeps me on my toes more often than not." They reached the upper level, where a huge stone bridge stood between them and the Temple Grounds on the other side of a canyon.

"As for me," she added, turning her head slightly, "I was born a long time ago, during a different era of the Republic. But I was placed in stasis after a battke, and when I awoke… the galaxy had changed. Everything was different." She paused to look around for a moment before guiding Jane across the bridge

"The Jedi took me in as a baby. Since then, I've served the Order in just about every way you can imagine. But no matter the title, I've always tried to stay true to what it means to help people."

She glanced at Jane again, her smile returning.

"Like you're trying to do now."

Jane ​

 

[Jane]

Tag: Valery Noble

---

Jane's eyes lingering on the statue as they walked around it, in awe in its grandness. Yet, it was not like the grandness of Coruscant, which was all clean, shiny, and large. This was much more subtle, proud, but yet much more humble. Perhaps she was biased, and these statues were no different. But in her eyes, here in the heart of a sanctuary surrounded by nature, carved out of simple stone instead of fancy marbles or metals, it was a big difference.

"I'm not sure if his workshop was safe or comforting. There was a lot of pain in there. But also a lot of healing." The short girl replied, her head tilting up to the staircase that lay ahead and the bridge above. "But it was familiar, yes. I sometimes wonder if he's okay. I never said goodbye." Jane remarked, before taking her first few steps up the staircase, grateful that Valery wasn't taking big or quick steps.

There was something endearing about the way Valery spoke about Everest. They were clearly quite close to each other. "I can imagine that. She was very sweet to me. She gave me food when I was hungry, and let me pet Isari. She must be a good Padawan."

As they came to a stop infront of the bridge, Jane's black cybernetic eyes scanned around the area again, taking in the view now up from above. When Valery went on, her focus returned to her, listening intently to her story even as she guided her across the bridge.

It was a remarkable story; she'd never heard of stasis before, but caught the main gist of it. She couldn't begin to imagine how horrible that must've been. Athough, in a way, maybe she could imagine it, waking up in a world that's new yet distantly familiar. "It must have been weird. Waking up in an entirely different galaxy. I think it is sweet that you never stopped helping. Was it difficult for the Jedi to accept you, after you woke up?"

When Jane realized Valery was looking at her, her little head raised toward her, but her expression remained the same; those vacant eyes lingered on hers until she nodded. "Yes. I don't know how yet. But I've made an oath to that old man to protect life. All life. So I want to help. Like you and Everest. How did you start helping?"

Finally she pulled her eyes away, to look at what lay at the other side of the bridge.