Everything Broken: A Star Wars Story

Chapter 17: The Force is with Us

The bond between the two padawans was absolutely lit up, like a live wire, the force between them singing like it had never sung before. It was harmonious, bright and beautiful.

Kidara had felt love before. It was warm, comforting, blanketing and all encompassing. She felt it when she was near Obi-Wan—she felt the remnants of it when she thought of Quinlan.

But with Ashoka, the love that she felt was something more. It was frantic, hungry, longing. It made Kidara ache, like she wanted nothing more than to continue kissing the girl—

"Ashoka—" Kidara broke away from the torgruta, panting and smiling. "We have to calm down, at this rate the entire temple will feel what we're projecting."

"You have," Ashoka kissed Kidaras jaw, a short, chaste peck. "No idea," She kissed the skin just below her collar bone. "How long I've wanted to do that."

Kidara laughed, her cheeks flushed and her hair slightly disheveled. Now she could really look at Ashoka, her bright eyes and long eyelashes, the way her lips curved into a sly smile.

"I think I do." She pulled Ashoka in at the waist. "You're not as good as shielding your emotions as you think, Soka."

"Hey!" Ashoka cried in protest, but then Kidara was kissing her again.

Neither of them noticed the older padawan enter the sparring ring. They didn't notice how she covered her mouth with her hand to stifle the gasp that left her mouth.

"Ashoka?" Barris whispered, a horrified tone in her voice. "Kidara?"

The two broke apart, nearly shoving each other back as they whipped around to see Barris standing in the entryway to the sparring room.

"Barris, I can explain—" Ashoka started, but she was quickly cut off.

"This is attachment!" She cried defensively. "Theres nothing to explain!"

"I-" Kidara didn't know what to say. "Barris, you don't know that."

"I though I'd come in here to find someone dead!" Barris nearly shouted. "The way you two are projecting in the force is a clear indicator of what you mean to each other."

"Barris, please." Ashoka pleaded, taking Kidaras hand. "It doesn't have to be like this."

"No," Barris turned away, her eyes glued to the floor. "It doesn't"

And with that, Barris swiftly left the sparring room, leaving a very mortified Ashoka and Kidara.

Kidara could vaguely hear what Ashoka was telling her, the frantic, rushed reply as Kidara stood frozen. Because Barris was going to tell someone. As a jedi, it was her responsibility to ensure purity within their ranks. And then the both of them would be cast out from the order. Separated. Alone.

What is Obi-Wan going to say.

Kidara's head rushed, the fleeting emotions rushing back to her and rooting themselves deep in her mind, the ones that made her feel hatred, hatred towards herself, towards the council, towards Barris Offee—

"Ara." Ashoka tugged at her arm, her eyes glazed over with a look of worry. "Ara you're drifting, stay here, stay with me."

"Barris is right." She muttered, her head turning to meet Ashoka's pained gaze. "Ashoka, this is attachment."

"Kidara," Ashoka mouthed. "Kidara I can't—"

"You can't what?" Kidara snapped, immediately regretting her tone.