{Chapter 12: Partners
Without further a due, Claire jumped out of her vehicle, which was now running smoothly (at least that little creature did something right…), and landed on the hard solid ground in front of the Jedi temple. Claire took a moment to glace up at the tall building in admiration. It had been a while since she had seen the place. It was still just as tall, and tan-coloured like many of the other buildings around, and it looked magnificent in the morning light. Turning away from the building, Claire pulled out a small device from her pocket. She clicked a button on it, and then waited. Seconds later, Claire heard R7 beep on the other end.
"R7," she said. R7 beeped back, sounding very much calmer than he did when Claire last spoke to him.
"Hey, you're not mad at me still I see?" she said, grinning. R7 beeped something that sounded vaguely sarcastic.
"I need you to do me a favour R7," Claire added. "Can you call up Mercado and tell him to alert the Jedi Council here that I am coming. I don't want to walk in there and there be no one…" R7 buzzed in reply, and Claire frowned in response.
"They already know?" she asked. R7 beeped back, and Claire shrugged.
"Well okay, if they're already ready for a meeting with someone else, I'm sure they won't mind me dropping in." R7 said something else, and Claire smiled.
"Okay R7," she said, "I gotta go. I'll call back soon, when I get lodging." With that, Claire closed the device and stored it in her pocket. Claire let out a long sigh, and then she turned back to the temple. She looked back up at it, and then she made her way to the entrance of the Jedi temple. It felt kind of strange, walking up to the Jedi temple by herself, when the last time she was accompanied by none other than a Jedi Master himself. But now Claire had to rely on pure memory in order to get to where she knew she needed to go. I really do hope that they know that I'm coming, Claire thought to herself as she entered the temple, which automatically blocked out the noise of the city outside. The inside of the temple was just as Claire remembered it. It was light-coloured like the outside, with large windows that showed the city with its speeding vehicles.
Claire walked deliberately down the halls, taking in the look of the temple once more.
Before long, she found herself at the entrance to the Jedi Hall, where she knew the Jedi Masters were waiting. Boy did this feel like a déjà-vu. Claire stood outside the door, briefly recalling how she felt the last time she stood in front of this exact door. She was nervous out of her skull, being a young Jedi, and she was very unsure of herself and how to face these Jedi masters. But now, she wasn't nervous, knowing she had faced these Jedi's before, and she was much more trained in the ways of the Force, and she had a calm sensation spreading through her. It was going to be a piece of cake. Walk in, present herself, announce the coming of the droid army, and also announce that she was taking the job to stop the droid army. Claire smiled loosely to herself, and then she wiped the expression on her face, readjusted her black robes and corset-belt, and then she bravely walked into the Jedi Master's Hall.
The inside was, of course, exactly as Claire remembered it. It was large and round, and brightly lit, especially because of the brightness of the morning light sifting in through the large windows. The seats were still situation in a circle around the room, and a particular patch of darkened floor was still in the core of the room indicating the place for the required person. Claire stopped just inside the room, and when the eyes of the Jedi turned to her, she bowed humbly before them.
"Forgive me for arriving uninvited—" she started, but the dark Jedi in the center of the row of chairs held up a hand.
"No, we've been informed of your arrival by a Master Faleur," Master Mace Windu said. Claire stared at him for a moment, and then she nodded her head. She walked to the center of the room, taking a moment to glance around at the Jedi Master's present. Most were missing, obviously proving that this meeting was just recently brought together.
"I hope I'm not interrupting in any sort of way, I don't wish to cause any trouble," Claire said, facing Master Windu again.
"I understand," Windu said, "but we know this is important as well."
"Good…" Claire said quietly. "Well, as you may already know, a droid army is in fact heading straight for Coruscant… we believe that the Sith Lord has sent them here for the destruction of the Imperial City." Windu simply looked at Claire blankly.
"Yes, we are aware of that," he finally said. Claire nodded again.
"Well then I'm here to inform you that the headquarters of our base stationed on Besond X have sent me to help bring an end to the droid army's plan, as long as I can formulate of group to help me… And I can do so by getting the permission of the Jedi council so troops can be sent here to aid me as well as the Imperial city," Claire explained. Mace Windu looked quite amused at Claire's request. Claire waited for their answer, unsure of their response.
"If permission you want," a small voice said, and Claire looked at the small Jedi Master next to Master Windu, whom she recognized once more as Master Yoda, "then permission you have." Claire smiled barely at him, feeling very grateful.
"We would be most acceptable to have your base on Besond X to intervene on the city's behalf," Master Windu finally said, and a wave of relief washed over Claire. For a moment she believed that they might decline to her request, which would have been quite bad.
"Thank you Jedi Council," Claire said, and she couldn't help but smile as she bowed humbly before the Jedi Masters.
"I'm sure my Masters on Besond X will be greatly pleased at your acceptance to give us permission to—er— infiltrate your city," Claire added as she straightened, smiling again at the corner of her mouth. Master Windu inclined his head in response. Claire was just about to turn away when a voice suddenly spoke.
"Though, request of you we have for you and your Masters," Yoda said, causing Claire to stop and turn back.
"Yes, of course," Claire said, and she looked at the small Jedi Master expectantly.
"Help you will need on your mission, yes," Yoda said, "another Jedi I recommend." Claire cocked her head to the side. For a moment she figured she might ask Mercado to join her.
"One of our Jedi's if it pleases you," Yoda added, and he gave Claire a peculiar look. Claire had the distinct feeling that he knew she wanted to ask Mercado Faleur.
"Of course, whatever you require," she said, and she smiled gently.
"We requested counsel of him, so he— ah, here he is now," Master Ki-Adi Mundi, who sat on the right of Yoda, began, and a bit of a relieved smile crossed his face.
"Forgive me for being late, Council," a familiar voice spoke, but it stopped when Claire whipped around to see who it belonged too. Her eyes were wide in shock as Obi-Wan Kenobi stopped dead in his tracks at the site of Claire Pelatiah. He obviously did not expect her to be there. Claire mouthed silently to him, "you?" He simply stared at her wordlessly, too shocked to say anything. Luckily, Master Windu cut in.
"Welcome, Young Obi-Wan," he said, and he nodded to Obi-Wan, who's eyes finally moved past Claire and onto the Jedi Master behind her. Claire turned back to the Jedi Council, still at a loss for words.
"I know you two have already met, and you've even worked a case two years ago together, so I know it wouldn't be a problem for Obi-Wan to be the one to join you on you and your base's mission. We've shared most of the details with Kenobi, but I'm sure you will be quite efficient to explain the rest to him, Young Pelatiah," Master Ki-Adi Mundi said, and he smiled an innocent smile at Claire. Claire forced a smile back, trying to fool them into thinking having Obi-Wan Kenobi on her team was perfectly alright.
"Yes Master's," she said, her voice tight, and she bowed as smoothly as she could.
"Master Windu— Master Yoda—" Obi-Wan started, stammering, "are you sure—? Am I qualified—?"
"Yes, we believe you are quite capable," Windu said, and he suddenly gave Obi-Wan a look that momentarily reminded Claire of Mercado when he gave Claire an order he knew she didn't want to fulfill. "But— what about—" Obi-Wan added.
"Fine, young Skywalker will be," Yoda said, "go along with you here on Coruscant he can."
That shut Obi-Wan up, and he refused to look at Claire. Claire, however, was eyeing Obi-Wan with constrained fury.
"Then I will alert my Master's on Besond X of your decision. I'm sure they will be—" she stopped to glance briefly at Obi-Wan, "most—er—pleased."
"Good," Master Windu said, "I really hope you both can work this out."
"We will do our best Master Windu," Claire replied, and she bowed again.
"May the Force be with you," Windu added.
"May the Force be with you," Claire replied, and with that she turned away. Obi-Wan muttered the same line, and he too bowed slightly before turning on his heel and walking out behind Claire.
When outside the door to the Jedi Hall entrance, Claire suddenly rounded on Obi-Wan, who stopped in his tracks.
"No, no, no, no," Claire said menacingly to him, her eyes full of unexplainable fury. He looked just as furious.
"I didn't ask for this," he said, his voice calm, which furthered Claire's frustration.
"Well neither did I," Claire replied harshly, "I'm not doing this."
"What, are you going to go in there and tell them you refuse?" Obi-Wan said, gesturing toward the Jedi Hall.
"No, I'm not," Claire snapped, "I would look thick!" Obi-Wan stayed quiet a moment.
"Well you should've thought of that before you came here," he finally said, his tone icy.
"I don't want this any more than you do!" Claire hissed, pointing a menacing finger at the young Jedi, trying to control her scalding fury. Obi-Wan clenched his fists, straightening up in his own fury.
"Then why did you come here?" he asked.
"To save this pitiful planet, and the Jedi Council here, that's why!" Claire answered darkly. Obi-Wan stared at her hard for a moment.
"Well then I'll be sure not to get in you're way, then," he said calmly, and then he attempted to walk past Claire.
"You know I can't do this on my own, they'll know you aren't helping!" Claire hissed after him, following him.
"So are you accepting me onto you're mission?" Obi-Wan asked, turning around and smirking quite unpleasantly at Claire. Claire clenched her fists.
"I have no other choice," she replied harshly, "believe me; I would rather have my own previous Master, and friend, Mercado Faleur, here with me. But Master Yoda assigned you." And with that, she stalked off, leaving Obi-Wan to watch her leave, trying to get his frustration to ebb away.
"Look, I don't like this either," Claire said, and she pinched the bridge of her nose. Then she looked back at the holographic image of Mercado. Claire was currently outside the Jedi temple, relaying what happened back in the temple. She had called R7 to meet here there, so she could transmit through him to Besond X.
"Things are getting antsy here though," Mercado said thoughtfully, and he looked around.
"I wish you could be here…" Claire muttered.
"I know Claire," Mercado said, "but you'll be fine. We'll be sending a group of fighters. They should arrive tomorrow."
"Is Grindon coming?" Claire asked quietly.
"Yeah, I've got him in to come," Mercado said. Claire nodded.
"Good… I'll need a familiar face…" she muttered.
"Don't worry Claire. This will all be over. You're the best out there when it comes to droids," Mercado said, and he grinned.
"You're the best, Mercado, I got it all from you," Claire said, and she grinned back Mercado shrugged modestly.
"Well I should go…" Claire said after a moment of silence, "I gotta find some place to sleep…"
"Okay," Mercado said, and he smiled weakly, "don't let them Jedi's get you down." Claire nodded in response. And then the hologram faded away. Claire bit her lip nervously. She looked over at R7, thinking.
"D'you think I should've told him about Kenobi?" she asked quietly. R7 beeped something, and Claire sighed.
"Yeah… I know... I shouldn't get worked up about him like this. He just…" Claire stopped and placed a hand to her forehead. "He really gets to me." With a flustered sigh, Claire ordered R7 into the wing of the flier.
"Follow me," she said, "I'll try and find someplace to stay for the night." R7 beeped something, and Claire frowned.
"You know of a place?" she asked curiously.
"Alright then," Claire said, unsure about it, but she leapt into the front seat of her shiny black vehicle anyway.
"Lead the way, R7," she said, and she fired up the engine.
Back in the Jedi Council's room, Master Windu sighed to himself. All those who were not physically present in the session had left, leaving Windu, Yoda, Ki-Adi Mundi, and one other there.
"Still, even after two years, she seems unsure of herself," Master Ki-Adi Mundi said quietly.
"Darkness clouds her future still," Yoda said just as quietly, and Master Windu looked over at him. He suddenly looked very tired.
"An upset in the balance of the Force around her, I sense in the future..." he added, and he lowered his head. "Strike, tragedy will…" Master Windu looked back up at the door where Claire had left out of, thinking deeply. Not even Yoda knew of what he could sense. So what faced Claire Pelatiah, no one knew.