NOBLE: The Bad Batch

𝟐: Little Curiosities

21 BBY | Month 6, Day 15-16
Deep Hyperspace | Unknown conditions
The Havoc Marauder - cockpit

Noble sits in the cockpit of the Havoc Marauder, her glasses perched neatly on her face as the blue, swirling tunnel of hyperspace stretches out before her. The ship hums softly, and the journey feels endless. It's been more than a week, maybe two, yet time seems to have slipped by unnoticed-a strange sensation for her, given how hyper-aware she usually is of every second.

Hunter is in the back, quietly occupied with navigations and system checks, while Crosshair and Wrecker have taken turns napping in the bunk racks with the squad, the group doing rounds, waiting for comm details on their next mission.

Noble taps away at her datapad, her mind only half-engaged as she inputs evaluations from their last mission. A few scratches and minor injuries-nothing serious-yet Nala Se insists on receiving updates and making sure the female clone doesn't stir up trouble. Noble doesn't bother questioning it; she knows the Kaminoan is watching her every move, especially now that Lina Ru is behind bars. Once she finishes, she sends the data with a casual flick of her finger, barely thinking about it.

Then, something catches her eye-a flash of movement in the swirling blue. She looks up, squinting through the viewport. Her breath catches when she realizes what she's seeing. A pod of Purrgils, their massive, ethereal forms gliding gracefully alongside the Marauder.

Noble stands up abruptly, her datapad nearly slipping from her hands. "Tech," she murmurs, unable to tear her gaze away from the majestic creatures. "Look."

Tech glances over, still focused on his work, his spanner wrench in hand as he tinkers with the handle. "Ah, those are Purrgils-fascinating creatures, really," he begins, his voice slipping into that familiar analytical tone. "They are large, space-faring creatures capable of traveling through hyperspace. Their presence is often seen as a sign of-"

"I know what they are," Noble cuts him off, a hint of urgency in her voice as she moves closer to the viewport. "I studied them when I was younger; I have never seen them before in person."

The Purrgils let out deep, resonant calls that seem to vibrate through the very fabric of space, and Noble feels a strange connection to them through the Force. It's faint, almost elusive, but it tugs at something deep within her. Yet, she knows better than to think of herself as anything close to a Jedi; her so-called "master" said she wasn't, as well as the Kaminoans. The connection is there, but it's... muted. She can sense them, feel their presence, and they feel her, but nothing more beyond that.

Tech, oblivious to the deeper meaning behind her words, continues his unnecessary explanation. "I see. But, did you know, Purrgils utilize a natural ability to generate hypermatter, allowing them to enter hyperspace at will? Interesting creatures, though often a nuisance to spacefarers-"

Hunter's voice breaks through Tech's monologue, cutting him off. "What's going on up there?"

She turns to the sergeant, still standing by the viewport, as the massive creatures vanish. "Purrgils," she says, almost breathlessly. "You just missed them."

Hunter strides up to the cockpit, but by the time he gets there, the Purrgils have already faded back into the swirling depths of hyperspace. He gives Noble a curious look, but before he can say anything, the ship's console beeps, signaling an incoming holo communication.

"Patch it through," Hunter orders, and Tech quickly complies, shifting to the communications panel.

The hologram flickers to life, revealing Marshal Commander Cody standing alongside Jedi General Obi-Wan Kenobi and his Padawan, Toni Valorum. The young Padawan, with her dark hair styled to her shoulders, stands slightly behind her master, but it's clear she's paying close attention, braiding her hair with slight boredom.