{Broken}

A Star Wars Fanfic

By: Liv

(Credit: Given to the makers of the Star Wars series. All characters (excluding mine) and settings are all theirs. I take no credit.)

{Chapter 1: Prologue

Coruscant

The early morning glow dimly spread across the horizon, streaking through the building and glimmering off the metal hulls of the vehicles speeding through the air. Rain was falling in thin, diagonal, cold sheets, bouncing lightly off buildings and unfortunate people alike.

Claire Pelatiah was one of those unfortunate people, since the rain was lightly pelting her, running through her dark hair and streaking down her thick leather boots. But she seemed to be ignoring the rain that was splashing all around her. She was loading her last suitcase on the silver flier, which was parked on the edge of a departure platform. Claire slid the final suitcase into the back of her flier, and then she closed the hatch and pushed into the lock. She sighed inwardly, seeing the reflection of the city in the shiny hull. Claire turned away and stared out across the platform through the thin sheets of rain. At the opposite end of the platform stood a man that Claire half-way expected not to be there. He was standing in the rain, seemingly unaware of its cold presence. He stood in his usual attire, and in his usual position— thick, light brown boots, and cream coloured Jedi garb, with his arms tucked inside a long brown cloak that was draped over his shoulders. His light brown hair was matted down by the rain, but he didn't seem to notice. He was watching Claire.

Claire ignored the pangs of guilt and remorse, and even that bit of annoyance that she always seemed to feel toward him. Though, she began to let the annoyance fill her— maybe it would help her leave this place easier. Claire stared at the man, who stared back. She waited, unsure of what the man wanted. But, she figured it out soon enough when the man pulled out of his long brown cloak a dark object; a material of sorts. It was then that Claire realized, and looked down at herself, that she was in fact missing her own cloak. With another inward sigh, Claire strode out across the wet platform, her boots deflecting the rain. Now she could feel the rain seeping in through her own deep brown, almost black, Jedi garb. Claire met the man at the edge of the platform and he extended his arm and the cloak toward her with a very small smiled. Claire felt herself smile involuntarily back at him. It couldn't be helped— he seemed to have the effect on her. Claire accepted her cloak.

"Thank you…" she murmured, ad she slowly slipped the black cloak over her shoulders. From the inside of the cloak she pulled out a long silver and black cylinder-shaped object, and tucked it into a loop on her belt that was attached to her black corset that she wore over her Jedi apparel. Claire's eyes met the man's finally. He was silent, yet he seemed to be saying everything.

"This is good-bye then," the man finally spoke. For a moment Claire was unsure of how to reply.

"…They need me," she finally said quietly, "the governor of Xenus 4… you know how they get." They man nodded. Claire had had this discussion about fifteen times with this man. They were silent a few moments before the man asked the next fatal, dreadful questions.

"Will I ever see you again?"

Claire felt a strong, sudden pain in her chest as she pondered his questions. She knew he would ask, yet she had no idea how to respond. She looked into the man's deep blue eyes, which were questioning and patient, and Claire's own sharp green ones were filled with such agony that she was sure he could see. Claire brought herself to speak at last to answer him.

"Obi-Wan…" yet she choked on his name. She couldn't say it. She couldn't say good-bye. Obi-Wan seemed to let out a sigh, which increased the horrible pain in Claire's heart. Of course he didn't want to let her go. Right?

"You need to do what you feel is right, Claire," said Obi-Wan quietly, his voice floating through the rain that was still falling.

"Then I must go," Claire responded, testing him. She would see how he would respond.

"Then may for the force be with you, Miss Pelatiah," Obi-Wan replied. It was suddenly as though a thousand icicles were plunged into Claire's body. Claire successfully hid her shock and deepening pain from the Jedi. So this is it, Claire thought, this is how we end. He won't even fight. It was then that Claire forced an iron wall around her heart. She wouldn't let her feelings keep her any longer.

"May the force be with you Master Kenobi," Claire spoke at last, her voice completely calm and seemingly unregretful. With that as her final farewell, Claire turned away through the rain, facing her flier. She almost expected the Jedi to stop her. But Claire walked back to her flier without a moment's hesitation from either herself or Obi-Wan. She did, however, let a lonely tear roll down her already rain-streaked face. If only he'd just ask me…

Obi-Wan watched as Claire Pelatiah walked back to her flier without looking back. She was leaving. She wanted to. And he couldn't stop her. Well he could, but she seemed to not want to stay. Not even for him. She would've stayed, if she wanted to. She was stubborn and strong-willed— something that Obi-Wan particularly liked about her, even though he hated it at first. If only she'd just ask, Obi-Wan thought in the back of his mind, I would let her stay… Obi-Wan watched as Claire stepped up to her flier, opening the hatch. Claire turned her head just slightly, as if looking at him one last time, through the corner of her eye. But she turned away. Suddenly a tear welled up in his eye as Obi-Wan watched Claire step onto the flier, and the hatch closed behind her. Obi-Wan abruptly felt the irrational need to run after her, force open the flier, and pull her back to Coruscant. Back to him. But the engine of the flier roared to life, and Obi-Wan knew it was too late. But maybe it's for the best of things, he thought solemnly, as the flier lifted off the departure platform. Love is forbidden for Jedi's, after all.