Assignment from Master Sulcus
Corik remembered back a month ago, the time of his first venture here with the Jedi after landing on Coruscant. The eyes of Master Sulcus, which back then were those of question and curiosity, were now beaming with excitement and confidence.
“Master Edem, there has been a disturbance down at Capula headquarters. Apparently there has been found a member of the resistance hiding out in a nearby apartment. They say he is planning something, and they want us to dispose of him. Take your Padawan on this assignment. If he proves himself enough, perhaps he will be ready to face the trials.”
“Yes Master Sulcus.” Master Edem replied. He turned and nodded to Corik, then headed for the door. Corik neither smiled back, nor moved. He stared at Master Sulcus.
“Resistance? What resistance? What, may I ask, is Capula?” His mind was running with questions that needed answers. Why would the Council agree to kill over capture, dispose rather than investigate? There must be a good reason, he thought.
Master Edem was surprised by his tone of voice and his quick questions, and a look of slight disgust or perhaps embarrassment came over his face. Master Sulcus seemed to notice his discomfort, and replied “It’s OK, Master Edem. Your Padawan has the right to know.” He eyes turned to Corik. “Capula is the conductor of all trade within the realm of the Republic. It prints and distributes the uniform currency we all know as the Caplan. It also finances much of the Republic’s actions and programs.”
“And what of the resistance?”
“A few systems have found distrust in Capula, believing it to have too much power to be of good to the Republic. They fail to realize the economic disaster it would create should Capula step down or be destroyed. The Republic would be in ruin for sometime.”
“Well, seems perhaps they have good reason to fear. Capula seems to have a lot of power. What if they turned on the Republic?”
“Capula is the Republic, and the Republic is Capula. They are not two separate bodies working together, but rather two names for different parts of a universal government. It is unity that makes the Jedi and the Senate trust Capula, and trust that keeps Capula and the Republic unified. Should the resistance break this trust, I don’t want to imagine what might happen.”
Corik didn’t ask anything further. He had heard enough to understand. The resistance needed to be stopped to preserve the Republic, and he was excited for his first perhaps very intense mission. He followed Master Edem out of the Temple and into a small speeder. They then took off, heading for the apartment.