Private Taris Enclave: Cultural Preservation

[Efret Farr]

"Master Farr?"

After the master had helped Kene to her feet, Nirrah indicted to her that one of the protocol droids was speaking to her. "Yes?" she asked as she stepped back into the room out of the closet.

"I was inspecting the artifact scans and am afraid I have some bad news to report..."

Efret's brow creased.

---

Fortunately, Cora's behavior in the road did not cause an accident, though it did result in a few horns honked. At least the divers of Middle City were attentive and responsible.

The shortcut suggested to her did lead her to the nail salon, but, by the time she arrived, Miona and Braji were nowhere to be seen. However, the very top of the spaceport was visible on the horizon. All Cora had to do was follow this road. In a few minutes' time, even at a rushed pace, she would enter the first concourse. On her way through the spaceport—through security checkpoints and into the second concourse—she would catch periodic glimpses of the two rouge Jedi. Cora was catching up, but the crowd was now even thicker, and the walking current seemed to be moving against her.

As Braji reached the hangar bay that Efret and Cora had landed in, he let go of Miona. She lingered in the open blast door for a beat before rushing after her master towards the freighter's extended loading ramp. "Quickly, Miona."

Corazona von Ascania​

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

The shortcut might've been accurate, but it didn't prove immediately fruitful. By the time Cora had worked her way through traffic without causing a five-speeder pileup, she'd reached Polished Perfection‘s storefront too late.

A few images of the salon's work were plastered along the front windows, enlarged to show detail. Cora paused and lingered for just a moment before shaking the intrusive thought from her head.

I'll look them up on the holonet later.

Fortunately, the spaceport was within her sights. Cora pushed onward, following the main road to her destination as quickly as her feet would allow.

Even if the path was now laid out before her, that didn't mean that it was easy - her progress was slowed by the increased foot traffic moving in the opposite direction, as well as the various checkpoints, one of which she managed to slide through with a suggestion and a deft wave of her hand.

All throughout, she would occasionally catch the motion of Minoa's robe or the back of Braji's head before they disappeared into the sea of travelers. Too far away for her to reach, but a sign that she was on the right trail.

That fact made her heart beat a little faster, made her throat just a little tighter.

Finally, her steps carried her into the hangar bay, just as Minoa rushed after Braji for the loading ramp.

Her hand reflexively flew forward, summoning the Force to wind around their limbs, an attempt to root them in place.

"That's far enough."

Efret Farr

 

[Efret Farr]

The stasis worked on Miona, but Braji resisted the effect.

He turned around on the ramp, nearly upon the airlock threshold. His eyes first found his padawan's, then Cora's, glowering at his fellow knight. "Stop that!" he demanded. "Let her go—let us go. I've coded a virus into Farr's holoscans. Once we're allowed to go on our way, I will deactivate it."

Corazona von Ascania​

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

Let her go.

Cora's heart dropped a beat at having ensnared poor Minoa in stasis. She still wasn't sure of the girl's role in all of this, but she released her hold on the Padawan.

She had a soft spot for girls in trouble - especially when they were young and innocent - probably because she saw a past version of herself in them.

And she had a hatred of the men who manipulated them. Perhaps she was jumping to conclusions, but she matched the intensity Braji's glower and stayed rooted to her spot a few paces from the ramp.

"Why?"

It was a question that left room for Braji to answer however he liked, but the stern tone demanded an answer. Her hand was still raised, still stretched outward toward them, prepared to summon the Force if needed.

Efret Farr

 

[Efret Farr]

Though freed, the padawan hesitated. "Miona..." the voice of her master dragged as she cast a desperate glance over her shoulder at Cora.

Then, with a burst of speed, Miona was at the female knight's side. "I'm sorry..." she whispered to Cora, stepping behind her with eyes downcast, not wanting to meet her master's disappointed gaze.

Braji shifted his focus from Miona and Cora. "Why?" he repeated, tone harsh. "The Nursery sample and its accompanying context are astounding. It proves that Ashla has a immune system that is primed against Bogan and all that call on Him. Don't you see, or are you one of them, the weak-minded servants of the current Council that lost us Tython? Derriphan midichlorians could deliver it back unto us."

Corazona von Ascania​

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

With Minoa behind her, a brief sense of relief washed over Cora. She instinctively shifted her arm outward when Braji spoke, as if to shield the girl from the venom in his tone.

She had a bit of context from Master Farr regarding the Derriphan spores - but the archaeologist's discovery had come only moments before Braji had locked them in, and Cora didn't have the necessary background to know whether or not he was capable of such destructive exploits.

"I don't see." Cora said flatly. "But that’s an incredibly consequential conclusion to draw from just one sample.”

Efret Farr

 

[Efret Farr]

"Yes." He sounded almost pleased, missing her point entirely. "It is, isn't it? And its story, told by Master Lya'Fey about Rharo Thif..." His eyes hardened from full of misguided wonder to misguided loathing. "...now kept from the Order by Efret Farr. The Council would do nothing with this knowledge, this weapon, granted, but we will."

Whoever we was, it definitely didn't include poor Miona anymore.

"I wouldn't fight it if I were you, not if you respect Farr and her artifacts."

Corazona von Ascania​

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

Cora's brow furrowed heavily. She wasn't certain about Braji's conclusion, but if there was even a chance that he might be correct…

…could she risk it? In the face of Master Farr losing everything she'd been working towards? Cora knew the choice she would've made if her own life's work had been on the line, but what would Efret have done?

It wasn't easy to put yourself in the shoes of someone you didn't yet know very well, but Cora tried to envision everything she'd learned about the archaeologist so far. Then, the answer was clear.

Of course.

Forgive me, Master Farr.

"Minoa, please return to the museum." Low and soft, Cora spoke with a thread of steel woven into her voice. Whoever the we in this scenario was, she couldn't let Braji meet with them.

Her palm thrust outward in a Force push that attempted to send the Knight backwards, or at least push him off kilter - followed by a burst of speed as she surged froward.

Efret Farr

 

[Efret Farr]

"O-okay..." Miona's small voice responded as she ever so slowly sidestepped a few strides behind Cora and towards the door. Two beats later, her pace quickened and she was out into the hall. As she rushed into the greater spaceport, looking over her shoulder, she ran into Efret coming the opposite direction. "Master, I—" It was surely the beginnings of an apology.

"Not now, Miona," Efret replied. She put one arm protectively around Miona as she clung to the master, and looked towards the hangar bay Cora and Braji still occupied. She already knew of the virus. On top of that, she felt this was Cora's fight. "Come, my dear." They began walking back towards the museum.

Cora's Force push landed. It threw the knight, distracted by ideas of his own grandeur, back into the airlock. As he landed, he used his own augmented acrobatic skill to return to his feet and hit the door controls beside the threshold, hoping that the airlock door's hydraulics would somehow be faster than Cora.

When it seemed like they in fact wouldn't be, he turned tail and ran further into the freighter towards the main hold.

Corazona von Ascania​

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

As Minoa fled into Efret's arms, Corazona very narrowly slid past airlock's door as it hissed closed.

Her trajectory would've taken her right to Braji if he hadn't moved, and she didn't have enough room to stop on her own. Throwing her arms out, Cora braced against the ship's wall and scrambled to turn.

The traitorous Knight moved further into the craft, and after a brief moment to gather herself, Cora gave (delayed) chase.

"If you surrender now and leave the scans untouched-" she called out, "Master Farr might be lenient with you!"

Cora couldn't speak to whatever punishment would befall Braji. If there would be a way to both stop him and preserve Efret's work, that would be preferable. If she could only choose one, then, well…

She'd made her choice the moment she'd pushed him.

Efret Farr

 

[Efret Farr]

Stumbling back into the main hold as he turned about, Braji lashed out at the ceiling above Cora in the ship's corridor. A wide, flexible pipe came loose a few feet ahead of her, spewing warm steam in her direction. If it got into her eyes, it wouldn't hurt her, but might disorient her.

"Will she be lenient with you when I refuse?" he shot back. "Turn back and walk away. I will draw on you."

His hand hovered over the hilt of his lightsaber hanging on his belt.

Corazona von Ascania​

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

Cora's advance was halted as a pipe loosened above her, and a sudden burst of steam obscured her vision. She coughed, squinting as she tried to wave away the thick clouds even as Braji's voice rang out.

His point made her hesitate - would Master Farr be upset with her if her scans were erased? She could imagine the Jedi Master's face, disappointment creasing her delicate features.

Even if that was how things turned out, Cora wouldn't be able to forgive herself if she let Braji and his plans slip away. Who knew what - or who - would be caught in his crossfire.

"How dare you-"

The steam was still billowing, and though she couldn't see Braji, she had an idea of his general direction when he spoke.

"-drag that poor girl into this."

Sensing the increased humidity, an air scrubber droid was trundling near, little red lights flashing through the steam. Cora blinked, an idea forming in her head.

Sorry about this, little guy.

With a telekinetic grip, she flung the poor cleaning droid in the direction of Braji's voice.

Efret Farr

 

[Efret Farr]

Baaaadeep? The droid made a confused warble in binary as it levitated off the floor.

And, though the sound and flashing little red light rising in the steam were indications of what was to come, Braji did not have time to process them before the droid was hurdled his way. His hand pulled away from hovering over his lightsaber in a bid to protect himself from Cora's opportunistic projectile.

The scrubber connected with the knight's forearm.

Crack!

He crumpled backward to the floor with a broken arm.

There was a datapad on his person, screen cracked from the fall but functional. If Cora was to wake up the display, she would be able to find a countdown. 00:00:00, it read, flashing slowly, mockingly, in red. Below the time were three words: SUCCESSFUL REMOTE DELETION.

Corazona von Ascania​

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

As the droid made contact with Braji's arm, Cora managed to telekinetically shove the pipe back in place. Temporarily, at least - repairs would still need to be made, but it stemmed the flow of steam for now.

She paced forward and knelt next to the fallen Knight, quickly retrieving the saber hilt from his belt. A pang of sorrow hit her at having to turn against one of her own, and for using the poor scrubber droid in such a manner.

"Sorry about that, little guy." She murmured to the bot before her eyes landed on the datapad. With Braji's saber now clipped to her own belt, she had both hands free to pick up the tablet and wipe the screen with her sleeve.

00:00:00, it read, flashing slowly, mockingly, in red. Below the time were three words: SUCCESSFUL REMOTE DELETION.

Cora's heart sank, this time deep into her stomach. She glowered down at the rogue Knight, but held back any cutting words in favor of a curt tone.

"She'll decide what to do with you."

But how am I going to face Master Farr?

Efret Farr

 

[Efret Farr]

As Cora led Braji out of the ship, Nirrah waited for them atop the docking terminal about halfway between the loading ramp and the door. The small avian took off as they neared. She made it back to the museum before the Jedi.

When they entered into the first room, past where the Elder statue had previously hung, Efret stood up from one of the waiting chairs to meet them. "Knights," she said as she approached. Her gaze settled on Braji. "I noticed your gift." She smiled, the expression somehow not nearly as warm as was usual with the Jedi master. "You shouldn't have."

Instructor Olphen and one of the protocol droids came up to the group next to take Braji into the research room that they would be using to hold him for the time being.

Efret turned her attention to Cora. Her faux smile melted away but without it she didn't seem upset, just overtired. No one had expected this, least of all her. "Nirrah showed me that you had arrested him. Thank you. I took the liberty to call on some Alliance military police from Thustra. They should be here before evening. They will escort Knight Braji to prison...somewhere, to await trial and surely sentencing." Between attacking Cora, attacking Curator Kene, and installing a virus onto Efret's holoscans—an act which Olphen had caught him in the middle of—there was no way that Braji would get away with all he had done. "I'm unsure if an institution in the Core is their first choice."

Corazona von Ascania​

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

Their march back to the museum was silent, Nirrah going unnoticed. The spaceport crowd now flowed around Braji and Cora, which at least made their journey a little easier. They were still drawing stares of course, and she bit back an urge to inject some levity into the situation. Some things were simply meant to be uncomfortable.

After passing through the entrance of the museum, Cora was and wasn't surprised to find Efret waiting for them – but she flushed faintly all the same, tilting her head in deference to the Master. Her brows twitched, wanting to quirk upward at the bit of sarcasm Farr levied towards Braji. She did it with a sort of genuine grace, an enviable trait.

"Master Farr," she stated in greeeting.

Olphen arrived, flanked by a protocol droid, to move Braji into holding. Now that she and Efret were alone, her cheeks burned a little brighter. An unpleasantly familiar sensation began to squirm in her chest, and it kept Cora's eyes cast downward.

"Nirrah showed me that you had arrested him. Thank you. I took the liberty to call on some Alliance military police from Thustra. They should be here before evening. They will escort Knight Braji to prison...somewhere, to await trial and surely sentencing."

T...thank you?

Cora blinked, dumb shock settling into her expression. It was only after Master Farr had thanked her did she come to understand that she'd been braced for beratement. A holdover from disappointing her father in whatever task she'd failed to perform sufficiently in. She swallowed thickly, taking a few moments to parse her way through the feeling, and what about this situation had it kicking up now.

"I believe they might be amenable to any suggestion you m-may have for his...penalty."

Get it together. Speak properly.

The knight cleared her throat, which allowed her another few seconds to let her strange emotions settle. When she spoke next, her voice held a smooth, overly-controlled cadence:

"Master Farr, I sincerely apologize. While I apprehended Braji, I failed to protect the holoscan archive that you spent so long building. I will accept any punishment that you see fit."

Efret Farr

 

[Efret Farr]

Efret’s brow furrowed. The next moment saw it smooth out as her confusion melted into a kindness over her facial features that she, for as warm as she was, hadn’t quite expressed before. Likewise, her gaze was especially soft.

“Corazona.” She took a small step forward towards the knight and attempted to put a gentle hand on her upper arm. Regardless of if her gesture was allowed or not, the master withdrew her hand and added, “Don't kowtow. I may outrank you but I'm not your better.”

She took a short pause. “Has another master made you feel like submission is necessary? If so, please tell me their name. Someone must talk with them.”

Corazona von Ascania​

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

When Efret placed a gentle hand on her arm, Cora flinched. A flush of embarrassment rolled over her at the sound of the Master's soft voice, and it took a few long moments for her concern to sink in.

Slowly, Cora's head rose to meet Efret's gaze. A pink blush dusted sheepish features. Perhaps she'd gone a bit overboard in her apology, but she was nervous and had fallen back onto familiar speech patterns.

Ones that, now that it had been brought up, were designed to show deference and submission.

"N…No." Cora shook her head, tucked a blonde lock behind her ear, and attempted a genuine smile. It looked half-hearted and awkward. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to worry you. I just…felt bad that you'd lost so much of your work."

Efret Farr

 

[Efret Farr]

When Cora flinched, Efret pulled back immediately.

"Don't worry yourself about it, my dear. I'm not," she said truthfully. "He," she indicated to the research room and Braji within it, "erased my data soon before leaving the museum. Your actions had no impact on his regardless of what he might have suggested. I hope knowing that and also that, even if they had, I wouldn't be angry at you brings you solace.

"One of the reasons I use holographic scans is just this one: if the data happens to get corrupted or the projector's destroyed, the original artifact it represented isn't lost." She nodded her head to one side in preparation to make a concession. "In effect it is until you travel to see it again and make another scan, but I'm not opposed to visiting places I've been before."

She continued, "It is much better than we did not lose Knight Braji. If he had made it to Wayland in Mandalorian Protectors' territory, extraction may have proved more...political." A slight frown touched her lips at the idea that justice could have been harder to attain had things gone differently for Cora. As the master had just made clear, she didn't care for justice in this situation for her; all she had lost was replaceable, even if doing so would take a substantial amount of effort, and would also have to wait for relative peace on top of that.

No, what was most important here was justice for the New Jedi Order, especially in this time of war.

That and justice for Curator Kene and Miona, both of whom had suffered much more than Efret considered herself to have suffered.

Corazona von Ascania​

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

Cora's posture remained tense as Efret pulled her hand back and explained Braji's actions. So the data had never hung in the balance – her face soured, scrunching at having been manipulated by the rogue Knight.

The knowledge that she'd made the right decision, and that Efret wouldn't have been upset with her had she been the cause of her lost scans, did eventually sink in. Some of the tension loosened from her shoulders, and Cora shifted her weight to one leg. There would be plenty of work ahead for Master Farr to recover the lost holoarchive, but it was better than the original artifacts themselves being gone.

"A respectable approach." She nodded. "I can imagine that many would be tempted to take the relic itself."

Still, her gaze shifted to the room where Braji was being held. Relief would touch her in earnest later, after the adrenaline had worn off. It didn't sit right with her that this might have been the best their situation could have turned out, all things considered.

"What do you think will happen to him?"

Efret Farr