Private Taris Enclave: Cultural Preservation

[Efret Farr]

Efret didn't look away from Cora. "His timing may have been opportunistic rather than intentional," she began, her tendency for extending the benefit of the doubt making itself known, "but even so, we're at war. I imagine whatever punishment he receives will be much harsher for that." Her lips twitched into short-lived smile. She took no joy in justice like this; her reaction was only meant to soothe herself. It didn't.

"He will probably await criminal trial somewhere in the Core. Once the Senate has settled on Fondor and begins to select jurors to hear Jedi criminal cases again, he will have his day in court. He very nearly radicalized Miona, and, as well as you, he assaulted Curator Kene." She paused to worry her lip. "I'm going to request, when I can, that his title is not stripped, that he instead put on indefinite suspension from the Order."

Corazona von Ascania​

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

Even though the synthesized voice couldn't convey as much emotion as natural human tone could, Efret's expression was telling. There was no delight to be found in this situation, and even though Braji's plans had ultimately been foiled, the outcome was still unsettling.

Cora's heart fluttered at the mention of Minoa and Curator Kene. A thread of guilt worked into her expression.

"Is…is Minoa alright? I tried to stop them both with paralysis. It's not a pleasant sensation…"

She frowned, recalling the way the Force coiled around the Padawan's stiff body. "And the curator? Are they alright?"

Then, Efret’s opinion regarding Braji's sentencing had Cora's soft expression hardening. Her lips firmed into a harsh line, but she spoke carefully;

"Master Farr, is that…wise? He assaulted museum staff, held your data hostage, and tried to make off with a Padawan to do Ashla knows what with his knowledge!"

Efret Farr

 

[Efret Farr]

"Yes, they're both alright now," replied Efret with a nod. "The curator's wound was nothing I couldn’t handle. She is physically comfortable now and is in a classroom debriefing Miona as we speak."

When she was asked if her planned intercession for the rogue knight was wise, a hint of a smile came to her face but did not grow. "Maybe so, maybe no. The answer matters on which judge hears my case." She shook her head shortly. "Jedi both historic and contemporary can seem delusional sometimes, even to fellow members of the Order, but one person's delusion is another's hope, and my hope is to one day bring him back to the fold.

"That said, I'm not naïve. He will benefit from time served. Once he is free, he must lose privileges to weapons, padawans, and archives...until he proves himself worthy again." Efret paused, considering what just happened between her and Cora. Perhaps the archeologist was overthinking this, but she would rather be too careful rather than careless. "I believe he will, but I entreat you to disagree if such is your feeling on this matter. Difference of opinion is what challenges us, keeps us honest with each other, and strengthens the Order."

Efret offered a smile meant to comfort and encourage Cora. Though it was hard, sometimes, for the archeologist to come into dissent with others, she truly knew it was necessary for opinions and feelings and ideas to be incongruent from time to time. Diversity of thought was much better than blind homogeneity, even if the former could be uncomfortable and confusing. But even those weren't problems that meditation couldn't fix.

"I have hope," she repeated. "I don't mean to change your mind, but I want to show you why. Come."

Efret led Cora a few paces away where her duffle bag was almost full of holoprojector pucks and rods now all blank of data. She reached in and pulled out a small cargo box. Placing it on the counter, she plugged in an access code and removed the lid. Inside, a large golden pendant somewhat reminiscent of an insect with many red eyes sat nestled into a black velvet travel cushion.

"This," she began with one hand as she took the artifact out of its case with the other, "is a recreation of the Muur Talisman, and one of the only physical artifacts in this collection. Knight Braji left this as well as the others untouched." She offered it to Cora. If the knight didn't wish to hold it, Efret would replace it in the box. In either case, she looked back to Cora seriously but softly. "I'm not excusing what he did to my data, but see the relevance in what he didn't do. He still cares about history. He took some amount of care in not taking anything from me that couldn't be relatively easily replaced." It would, ironically, not be easy to have another fake talisman created. Not many artisans that either were Jedi or were open to commission by the Jedi wanted to copy an ancient Sith object, and rightfully so. This one was completely harmless, but, in a galaxy like this one where so much was possible, the hesitancy and superstition was more than understandable. "Though it was a small amount of care, it's precious to me. It speaks volumes and I appreciate it."

Corazona von Ascania​

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

One person's delusion is another's hope, and my hope is to one day bring him back to the fold.

Cora frowned. It was difficult to tell whether it was an expression of disapproval, or if she was thinking deeply about Master Farr's words. Jedi were often derided for having too soft of a touch in trying to see the good in others – and in the same breath, they were also disparaged for passing judgment too harshly. Much of that criticism came from their own peers.

Efret directed her attention to the cargo box, then once it had been opened, to the object within. Ruby red eyes glinted back at her, and Cora accepted the pendant with a measure of hesitation. She'd read about the Muur Talisman in the library on Thule, but only a description of the artifact had been supplied by the tome. Her fingers gingerly brushed against the gilded finish, and when she sensed no traces of Dark miasma, Cora settled the amulet into her palm.

It was not the real thing, but it had been crafted with care, from the materials to the detailing. Braji was a student of history, so perhaps he couldn't bring himself to steal or destroy the replica. That, or maybe he'd meant to deal more a philosophical blow to Master Farr, destroying her life's work to deter her from further purists.

A hint of a smile tugged at the corner of Cora's lip before it fell away. If that had been his aim, he'd done quite the opposite. In the wake of all that had happened, Efret emanated a steady determination to piece back together her catalog.

"Do you recall, just before the Empire invaded Coruscant, the list of names that were nailed to the temple's door? It condemned those who'd fallen from the Light – even those who'd repented and found their way back."

The Knight's frown deepened as a mixture of guilt and concern tightened in the pit of her stomach. Her own name had not found its way onto Bernard's list, and she was glad that it hadn't.

"Knight Braji made a mistake. He's very fortunate for your support – I only hope he realizes that the mistake he made was actually a mistake."

Cora pulled her eyes away from the pendant's ruby gaze and fixed her attention on Master Farr.

"What if he cannot be redeemed?"

Efret Farr

 

[Efret Farr]

"Do you recall, just before the Empire invaded Coruscant, the list of names that were nailed to the temple's door? It condemned those who'd fallen from the Light – even those who'd repented and found their way back."

Efret didn't quite nod, but lowered her head in glum agreement. "Yes, I do." Though she didn't raise her own eyes immediately, she could still see Cora's lips through Nirrah who had hopped onto the display table.

The master raised her head a few moments before Cora asked her second question. Nirrah fluttered back onto Efret's shoulder and the Jedi turned her face towards Cora out of instinct. Instead of answering right away, she raised a query of her own. "Did you read Inosuke Ashina 's casus belli letter, the one sent to all Jedi? I know well the danger of drawing conclusions, but I also can't deny that the beliefs behind Knight Braji's actions seem very...inspired." She paused to re-center, feeling her emotions beginning to slip into either anger or fear—she didn't dwell long enough to differentiate the sensation, just to notice it. "Redemption is relative. To me, to you, to Miona, to Curator Kene, he may need it, but to Lord Ashina's followers?" She shook her head. "If Knight Braji is an Apostate, I imagine that Hirata Estate would applaud his attempts and welcome him with no redemption necessary.

"For that reason we must try," she continued, "to rehabilitate him and those like him. Our Order loses enough Jedi to the Sith. We can't start losing to ourselves too."

Corazona von Ascania​

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

Cora remained quiet while absorbing Efret's explanation. At some point, she'd tilted her head to the side in thought.

The idea of a revolution was energizing, especially when it came from the mouths of those who'd once been proclaimed as heroes of the Jedi Order. Heroes that had disappeared for decades, then resurfaced bearing a dangerous notion that could splinter the Order.

"Infighting could invite our downfall," she nodded slowly in agreement. "I think that I understand what you're saying - if the only thing the Order does is punish Braji, then that could incense him to hold fast with his ideals."

Caught in the pincer of two Dark galactic powers, they couldn't afford to lose anymore Jedi. On the other hand, after what he'd done…

Cora inhaled deeply and held, letting irritation mingle with the air in her lungs. Then, she breathed both out with a gusty breath.

"Braji's error was made in service to the Light, not the Dark."

The way she spoke, it seemed like more of a reminder to herself. Still, Cora smiled, the sort of expression that lingered with exhaustion.

"I'm not yet sure whether you're an idealist, or that I have yet to reach your level, Master Farr."

Efret Farr

 

[Efret Farr]

Efret rose and lower her brow in the facial expression roughly equivalent to a shrug of the shoulders. "A bit of both," she said, admitting that she was an idealist. Her nuanced view of the Sith, for example, made her one. She didn't just care for dead and closed cultures, but alive and open ones too. Cultural competence was a great boon for anyone, especially a Jedi, but it did also directly challenge the traditional Jedi stance when it came to their most ancient nemesis.

She hadn't ironed out the complication her chosen discipline introduced into her life yet, and she doubted that she would ever manage to.

"Please go back to the ship to rest," she added with a smile of her own, not only noticing but experiencing some of Cora's mental and physical exhaustion. "We'll finish up here and join you when the military police arrive to take Knight Braji off our hands. Probably in a few hours."

Corazona von Ascania​

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

A bit of both.

Cora's fatigued smile warmed a little more.

Efret made the suggestion for her to rest, and Cora finally allowed herself to feel her exhaustion. What began as a pleasant history lesson had taken a jarring twist.

She returned the talisman to its perch, nestling it carefully against the cushion.

The Knight nodded and rolled the shoulder of her right arm, then tilted her head. First one way, then the other, to stretch the muscles in her neck.

"I think that's a good idea. I'll be off then, Master Farr."

Cora bowed her head to the elder Jedi. She rose to make for the room's exit but paused. Lingering near the doorway, she turned to face Efret.

"Interruptions notwithstanding, I did enjoy our talk, Master Farr. I hope that we can do this again sometime."

Efret Farr