Private Those Who Can't Do, Do Not (Markus Kortu)

[Elora Praithwyn]

NABOO - JEDI TEMPLE - SPACEPORT
​

Shuttles all landed at the Naboo Spaceport, the center of the High Republic's influence, and the location of the Jedi Temple. Ella had been reading the entire flight, barely lifting her head to look at the other passengers - mostly kids of various ages, along with a few instructors and a couple Jedi Knights who had selected their students themselves. There were aliens of several different species, but the most numerous looked human.

A Rodian, a Duro, a few young Wookies sat together, but there were even a few Miralukan that Ella recognized from home. Not a small number looked as though they had had their own adventures and a number of the younglings even had constructed lightsabers of their own. Ella on the other hand, had no such luck. She was on her own, with just a copy of "Histories of the Old Republic" written by a former Confederate droid soldier that had survived the Clone Wars and written several books from the perspective of droids and others. Her nose had been all but buried in it for the trip, and she hadn't spoken a word to the others around her, no matter how much they tried to excitedly engage her.

Ella didn't get annoyed though, she was a resilient girl, and one of the few literate people from her home village. Not that they were uneducated, but growing up with few non Miraluka had made Ella treasure every book she found, and every moment she could dedicate to reading or studying. Thankfully, because of her human parent, Ella had been born with a set of working eyes, yet still had the senses born out of thousands of years of Miraluka evolution around dim and dark stars.

When the thrum of the engine switched to the anti-gravity thrusters, all of the young kids rushed to the windows to look out at the Naboo city of Theed except Ella, who only looked up from her book long enough to see the dim horizon and find a bookmark. She placed the book inside her sachel, which contained a change of warm clothes, a data pad, a handful of credits and a glowing blue holocron - made by the elder Jedi Knight, Koma Praithwyn - her father by blood.

Ella was dressed simply, in a cool black strapless tube shirt - popular among girls her age and made fashionable by Twi'lek and Togruta - and a rough pair of baggy work-pants, which had been her own back home. They still had marks from mud and plant matter. Her hair was tied up, with whisps framing her cheeks. She maintained a neutral expression most of the time, even when she was in a strange place, surrounded by strange people. Ella thought back to the moment she found out she would be going to the Jedi. It happened when she had a moment's break from her work tilling soil and harvesting the ripe crops. Miraluka were mostly vegetarian, after all.

As she disembarked, the crowd spilled out around her and jostled her disconcertingly. Ella wasn't used to physical contact, so she just did her best to put up with it, clutching her satchel tightly to her chest. When the crowd had dispersed into small groups and meandering pairs and lone students, Ella finally unsnapped her satchel and drew out her holocron. Her eyes closed and a calm spread through her, and the geometric device began to hover and spin above her hand, emitting a light that pointed directly at the Jedi Temple.

Ella placed the holocron back in her bag and started towards the direction her holocron had indicated. Her hazel eyes glanced at the domed buildings and the spires that dotted Theed, as her mind went through all the trivia she knew about Naboo. Naboo is ruled by a Queen, who is also elected, represented by a Senator, who is also elected. The planet is mostly water, with a compressed water-plasma core and is shared between humans and Gungans. Their major export is... is... plasma! Naboo was the center of the Clone Wars, also known as the Fourth Galactic Civil War, and led to the rise of the First Human Empire, and the fifth Empire in Galactic History. The first was... the Rakata Empire. The second was the Despot Xim's Empire. The third was... the Sith Empire? Yes. The Sith Empire was absorbed by the First Republic. So that made the first Human Empire the Fourth Empire.

Satisfied that she had successfully answered all her own mental quizzing, Ella looked around and realized she'd lost track and was now in a much darker part of the city. She unsnapped her bag again and reached for her holocron when she heard a voice shout "Hey!" which startled her and made her fumble the device back into her bag. "Uh-huh?" She responded, but realized that whoever it was wasn't talking to her as they ran past where she was standing. Her shoulders sagged in relief, the tension dissipating, and reached for her holocron again.

Markus Kortu

 

[Markus Kortu]

Fancy Jedi Robes
Markus' Lightsaber


"As you might have noticed I have a dig site to go to," Markus strode pompously towards the Spaceport his smug face was bare for everyone to see. Jedi and pilots alike sneered at Markus though he ignored them. Those..... people meant nothing to him, they were just background noise What really mattered was securing a dig site. The Sacred Forest of Naboo was a place revered by the Gungans, it was teeming with history especially relating to the Elders: A mysterious Repiltian species who once warred with the Gungans thousands of years ago. The Gungans as part of their pact with humans made the Sacred Forest off-limits to outsiders. Until today where Markus charmed the Boss Nass into allowing him to explore the ruins of the Sacred Forest.

"So why don't you do me a favor and have the child be trained by someone else?" Markus spoke into his gold plated Holophone. The Jedi had assigned Markus into training a person who is way weaker and poorer than he is. Of course, the representative droned on about how they need to expand their numbers for the Sith but they are irrelevant to him right now. History was being made and a Padawan would slow him down. Ugh! She'll have to make herself useful.

"Very well....." Markus grumbled. "She'll be my apprentice! Now shoo! Go away! I have things to do!"

He shut off his Holophone placing it in his pocket before pulling his bags towards the small girl approaching him. "Ahh you must be my manservant!" Markus threw the bags onto her. "Now get a move on! I have a lot of things that I need to do and I am in no mood to listen to your whining!"

Elora Praithwyn

 

[Elora Praithwyn]

Elora eventually found the Temple and was shuttled along by the Caretaker Droid. "Come right along, young one, your Master is waiting and you're late." Ella's eyes widened realizing that she had been running behind and rushed along with them. "Your Master was hand-selected, your test scores showed that you were most suited for each other." A worried look crossed the caretaker's face, "He's a little abrasive, and quite full of himself, but very gifted." The look on the caretaker droid's chassis was neutral, but the tone showed that this droid knew well what she was in store for, and she sounded a little worried. She then piled an Apprentice's set of clothes into Ella's arms and pushed her along. "Go in there and get changed, your Master is waiting!"

Ella - ever studious and punctual, rushed inside what seemed like a communal shower and threw on her new clothes, an off-white Apprentice's tunic, brown nondescript pants, and a brown cloak. Remarkably all of them fit her without being too baggy in places. Ella wondered how well the Jedi Temple was prepared for new students. She made sure her satchel was secure and before she could do much more, aside from check to make sure her hair was tied, a metal claw encircled her wrist and she was off again, being half-dragged down the hallway. The droid's eyes lit up as she spoke into the com.

"Your student has arrived, a little late, but she's properly dressed and ready. Don't chase away this one, Master Markus."

A voice responded, and Ella only heard a few words, but they sounded more than a little annoyed. The droid shoved open the doors and continued the conversation - the voice in the Holophone echoing now that they shared the same space, but the droid spoke in spite of Ella's shocked look and Markus's continued annoyance.

"It is in your best interests to accept this student, Master Markus. Especially after past incidents, the Masters will not look kindly on you rejecting another."

The droid roughly dragged El into Markus's chamber and released her, causing her to stumble forward.

"Sir -- I mean Master Jedi, sir. My name is El--" but she had no time to finish her sentence before the bags thudded into her arms. Now Elora wasn't a weak girl - she'd taken care of a farm mostly by herself for her young adulthood - but these bags were not light. Filled with digging tools, lasers meant for cutting, and metal tools and brushes made for delicate work. Ella's legs shook under the sudden weight of it all.

Her protests were muffled against the first of the ruksacks he'd hoisted upon her.

"A moment sir," she put the bags down as gently as possible - which was not gently at all - and then began situating the load one after the other as the droid left and shut the doors behind. Manservant? Ella hoped she hadn't just been saddled with a madman. She started by hoisting one of the bags over her shoulder, the other over the other, and the third bag she hung around her neck. It was still awfully heavy, but she would make due.

"Where are we going, sir Knight?" Ella asked, hoping this isn't what the Jedi considered 'whining.' He certainly wasn't what she expected of a Jedi Knight. The stories her mother told her at night had always been about noble and humble warriors, willing to lay down their lives for the weak and helpless. This man acted like he had never acknowledged anyone weaker than himself.

Markus Kortu

 

[Markus Kortu]

Fancy Jedi Robes
Markus' Lightsaber

Markus turned on his heel away from his new manservant apprentice and strode across the Jedi Temple his expression looking as if he owned the place. "I sense a great unease manservant," Markus said continuing to walk. "Tsk, tsk, I must say that from the .05 seconds that we have met that I am utterly disappointed in you."

Padawans...... why couldn't they all be as brilliant as Markus was. It was already a burden for a Padawan to be this far behind in training. Doesn't she realize that he has an ancient place to explore?! "Ugh you're talking," Markus grumbled. "If you must be insistent, we are heading to the Sacred Forest of Naboo. Due to my brilliance and lot of credits, I have secured access to the long-forbidden forest."

He looked back at the girl. "Have you ever heard of the Sacred Forest?" Markus asked. "Oh, who am I kidding of course you haven't. I am a Jedi Archeologist, and I must know the secrets of this beautiful planet. So manservant, I suggest you watch your Master at work because I will not stand for it if you mess this perfect opportunity up."

Elora Praithwyn

 

[Elora Praithwyn]

"Um, yes sir, sir Knight, sir," she fumbled her words and stumbled slightly under the weight. Disappointed?? Already? Ella trembled visibly and the shock was right there on her usually placid face. "Sacred--" she started, but was cut off by Markus's chastising. Her mouth snapped shut and she scrambled to reply, "No sir--" but he cut her off again. She nodded hurriedly and kept as quiet as possible. In spite of all the berating from Markus, Elora had to admit to herself that she was a little excited about the prospect of helping with his studies, and the way he talked about it only added to her anticipation.

The perfect opportunity to study an ancient, possibly extinct space-faring species who had left it's mark on Naboo so thoroughly? He was right that this was history in the making, and she had stumbled into it at exactly the right time to see it all happen. Still, she saw his gold embroidered robe and his gold - perhaps electrum - lightsaber hilt while she nervously chewed her lip.

Some misgivings welled up inside her, but she quashed them immediately. There was no way she was going to miss this, and even moreso, Elora intended not to make any more slip-ups. She was resolute in her desire to see the Archives one day, and explore even the deepest, most forbidden recesses for the most coveted of histories.

"Yes sir--Master Jedi," she fumbled, still uncertain what to call him, but she was ready now, and she struggled to turn about with all the weight on her back. "I'm ready, sir." She hefted the bags and stood as straight as possible, but she didn't know where to go. If he had a speeder, or what it looked like, or if he intended her to carry his bags the whole way. Ella quietly dreaded the thought, but couldn't put it past her new teacher.

He seemed strict. Ella was filled with dread and anticipation at the same time, an unexpected combination. She resolved again not to disappoint him again, but that seemed like an impossible task.

Markus Kortu

 

[Markus Kortu]

Fancy Jedi Robes
Markus' Lightsaber

At least the manservant is quickly learning her place in the Jedi hierarchy. Too many young and cocky Padawans thought they can breeze on through sheer brashness. The manservant even called him a Master which filled Markus' heart with joy. Everybody in the Galaxy knew that Markus was so brilliant that he deserved the rank of Master. It'll just take some time for them to recognize his greatness Markus is a patient man. "At least you're no longer complaining. Good. It's a sign that you understand your mistake manservant," Markus said continuing to casually walk towards the entrance of the Temple. "I believe we should exchange pleasantries. You have earned that right."

As the large doors opened, a large truck was seen Markus motioned the manservant to pick up the pace. "I am Jedi Knight: Markus Kortu," he said. "I am the best scholar in the Jedi Order, with 560 research papers to my name...... and counting. I have learned the classical arts of Jedi Combat. Graduated top of my class in the Makashi Form and I have a doctorate in Archelogy and ancient History with my dissertation about the rise and fall of the Infinite Empire making the front page of Nubian magazine."

The back door automatically opened as Markus gave a nod. "Put my bags over there manservant," he said. "We need to reach the site yesterday. I do not want to waste any more time."

Elora Praithwyn

 

[Elora Praithwyn]

Ella had a feeling she should be angry, that she should resent him for treating her this way, but a nagging voice in her mind told her this all must be a test. That he was teaching her by humbling her - or something like that. Her mother usually made her stand on one leg with her arms out as punishment, and although Elora's mother was blind, she always knew when she was lowering her arms, or when she put her foot down. This must be something like that. She listened intently as she lugged along the bags, never once stopping to rest or put them down. Her arms were aching and her legs were like rubber when they finally reached their transport - a multi-terrain vehicle with eight wheels that looked capable of climbing mountains.

She hurried towards it and finally put the bags down next to the truck, reaching for the handle to the side door to begin loading the gear. 560 research papers?? If that was true, Ella was in the perfect company. "That is very impressive, Master Jedi." The martial-arts talk went completely over her head though. El knew there were multiple Jedi styles for fighting with a lightsaber, and the general concept of not wanting to cut one's own foot off, but she had a severe distaste for fighting she'd inherited from her Miraluka mother. Still she said nothing about it, preferring not to let him know.

He changed topics rapidly, mentioning his credentials, and she - without realizing it - excitedly rattled "Is it true that the Rakata had ships that ran using just the Force alone? That they converted the entirety of their technology towards draining the Force essence and life from sentient beings before their entire structure collapsed, and that they invented Hyperspace travel?" She seemed to get her strength back, as she was carrying the bags one by one and loading them into the back without pause.

"I've read your Doctoral Thesis and your book on Rakata Prime, and on page three-hundred and sixty-one, you said that it was almost certainly not their homeworld because of the lack of transitional fossils or stone-age tools in the expected rock strata. How were you able to stage a dig so close to their ancient structures? The Rakata never allow interlopers that close." Ella babbled, citing page number from memory, mentioning mining companies, star charts, ancient Hyperspace routs, "...It was my thought that the true Rakata homeworld must be deeper in the Unknown Regions, which could explain the Chiss Ascendancy's technological leaps in the past five-thousand years, and their presence in the region at all, but staging an exploratory expedition would be even more challenging with all of the black holes and gravity wells--" El realized she was going on too long and too much, and her usually placid expression broke into wide-eyed terror. "Sorry, Master. We're ready to go." Her mouth snapped shut and she climbed into the back with the bags, expecting him to berate her again.

Markus Kortu

 

[Markus Kortu]

Fancy Jedi Robes
Markus' Lightsaber

"That......" Markus turned around his haughty demeanor faded...... at least for now. This manservant..... no girl had detailed knowledge of the Infinite Empire. An Empire that many people even in this civilized faction forgot existed. "Impressive manservant. You actually have a hunger for curiosity in that head of yours. It seems that history is your forte?"

Questions, questions it burned in Markus' brain. He needed to know about history, about what people left behind. "The Rakata deemed everyone who wasn't them lesser beings," Markus said. "They would rather burn themselves than share their technology. I've stated that in my introduction. We can barely understand our own technology much less the marvels that the Infinite Empire built."

Elora Praithwyn

 

[Elora Praithwyn]

"I read a lot," Elora said, stunned by his response. "I hope to become an archivist someday."

She nervously shuffled her feet, wringing her hands and glancing anywhere but directly at Markus. "My particular interest is in the Kwa. They're the ones who invented the Holocron, and could have been the first Hyperspace-capable species."

It was pretty common knowledge amongst infinite Empire scholars that the Kwa didn't last long after their encounter with the Rakata, and that much of their technology had been stolen and repurposed from the reptillian species. "I'd really love to see an Infinity Gate in person."

Just mentioning the ancient technology filled her voice with a hushed awe, which washed over her and cast her eyes down to her hands, imagining all the places a person could visit using one of these ancient portals. In comparison to an Infinity Gate, Hyperspace travel was slow and clunky. This was out of character for her. El wanted nothing less than to never leave the Temple, and live the rest of her days in reading and meditation.

This one thing though. Just this one thing, she'd drop everything for and even brave the swamps and Nightsisters of Dathomir to see.

Markus Kortu

 

[Markus Kortu]

Fancy Jedi Robes
Markus' Lightsaber

"Ahh the scholar!" Markus smiled. "It's great that the council recognize my desires. I do not wish for a brute who could barely spell their name. I need someone who has a mind that's willing to be filled with knowledge."

Maybe Elora will work out afterall but Markus has his ultra strict standards that she needs to adhere. "Just because you know a little bit of history," he said. "Doesn't make you into a renowned historian like me. I'm about to make a discovery that will shake the very core of Naboo. Can you say the same manservant?"

He paused as if waiting for Elora to answer. "No? You don't? Well, you are my padawan Manservant so if you may! We have lot of things to uncover!"

Markus entered the truck and AI powered vehicle drove away. "And of course you'll need to learn the Force and all that." he said. "So are you ready to be trained by a man who is already a prodigy in the Force?"

Elora Praithwyn

 

[Elora Praithwyn]

"I will do my best not to disappoint," Ella nodded in agreement, aware of her limitations. In truth, although she read a great deal, this was her first journey into field-work. She was becoming excited at the prospect. The vehicle rumbled into gear and Ella climbed up to the rear seats and pulled the safety straps around her with a 'click' of the buckle. She could see the terrain passing by, the 'woosh' of Naboo's very old architecture passing by, and then the sounds of nature. Ducks in particular. Naboo had ducks after all, and it was of vital importance that everyone be aware of that. She watched the high reeds and the trees and swamps pass by, staring out at nature with curious eyes. Each moment bringing them closer to their destination, many many miles away at a speed that was slower than, but not unlike a speeder... but speeders couldn't go everywhere, and the necessity of an all-terrain vehicle would become evident soon.

Ella was glad for the safety belts as things became rockier and more uneven, as swamps gave way to lakes and lakes gave way to swamps again. She noted that they passed through an ancient battleground at one point. A place where the native Gungans had fought the Naboo, and then again the CIS Droid Army. It would have been a fascinating dig, but Markus was looking for something much older, with much more of a connection to the wider galaxy. Compared to what they would be digging for, the battlefield was just recent history.

She lamented quietly as they passed by. Old technology, Gungan bones, energy shields unique to Naboo, and so on passed by without consideration, but soon they would be headed out into the deeper recesses of Naboo, searching for the answers to the giant heads created by the Ancients who once had come to and inhabited Naboo.

Markus Kortu