Title: Baser Instincts; Part 1 of ?
Author: Diebin
Rating: NC-17 (eventually, not yet)
Summery: A simple enough mission gets really complicated. Cameos from
KNIGHT!Kenobi, GENERALESQUE!Kenobi, SLAVEBOY!Obi, POSSESSIVE!Obi, and
PROTECTIVE!Obi. Oh, and there will be Angst.
Archive: Okiday
Disclaimer: Georgie Porgie Puddin' Pie, owns the boys and makes Die cry.
Dedication: I love you Shana and Caeryn. :) Thank you for feeding the
bunny. Now lets buy us a house and blast the Imperial March to our hearts
content, okay?
~*~

~~~PART 1~~~

"Dare I hope that this means I'm to be partnered with my favorite field
operative?"

Tio-Kina Neai looked up from where she was perched on one of the benches in
the Jedi Council Chamber waiting room, her heart lifting at the sight of a
friendly face--the first one in a long while. Shoving her unruly mass of
hair out of her face, Tio-Kina rose to her feet and stretched out a hand
towards the man approaching her. "Obi-Wan! Last I heard you were on Yavin
with your Padawan! Don't tell me you've been called back for a mission
too!"

"The Council notified me yesterday that I was needed, though having you
here too is a very pleasant surprise." Obi-Wan Kenobi caught up the hand
extended towards him, clasping it firmly as his own smile broke out.
"Anakin is on his first independent training mission . . . and from what I
can tell, more than happy to be out of my sight finally." Releasing
Tio-Kina's hand, Obi-Wan heaved a melodramatic sigh. "He's decided I'm
horribly old-fashioned and uptight. The teachers tell me that it is normal
for a boy his age to feel that way . . . but I never--"

Tio-Kina laughed, ignoring protocol and throwing an arm around Obi-Wan's
shoulders for a brief hug. "Dear Kenobi . . . your disapproval of your
Master may not have lasted for long . . . but it was the talk of the Temple
for the two weeks you persisted in believing he was frumpy. I had just
become a Padawan, remember--and I was horribly scandalized by the whole
thing. You were such a shock to me!"

"I'll deny it to my dying breath," Obi-Wan said solemnly, leading Tio-Kina
back to the bench and settling down next to her with more than his usual
amount of solicitude. Noticing it, Tio-Kina scowled.

"Don't you start that too, Obi-Wan," she growled, batting the hand away
that he had reached out to her shoulder. "I'm in perfectly good health, and
I'm so tired of being coddled. If you're going to insist on treating me
like an invalid, I'll demand a new partner for whatever fool mission the
Council is sending us off on."

"Tio--"

"I had a baby, Obi-Wan. Human women do that, you know. Perfectly natural."
Smirking slightly, Tio-Kina leveled a look at Obi-Wan. "Or are you going to
try to tell me that you don't know about human reproduction. Because if you
are . . ."

"I'm not," Obi-Wan responded good naturally. "I was just worried, Tio. All
of us were. The conception wasn't exactly . . ."

"Voluntary?" Tio-Kina snorted. "Trust me, Obi-Wan. If the Council thought I
was harboring any residual guilt or pain over that incident, they wouldn't
have cleared me for duty again. I've had a year to get used to it and clear
up any emotional problems. And despite what you may think, Obi-Wan--it was
voluntary." Tio-Kina's eyes went flinty as she stared at the older Knight,
her expression stern. "I didn't know what they'd do to me, but I agreed to
participate in the ritual. I accept the consequences . . .and I have a
child, Obi-Wan." All steel faded from Tio-Kina's face as her voice became
soft, haunting. "A beautiful baby girl, who is going to be a Jedi some day.
Like her mother."

Obi-Wan stared at the woman in front of him for a few moments, unsure what
to say. The ritualistic rape of a member of the Jedi Order could very
easily be considered a diplomatic incident . . . and whispers of the fate
that had awaited Tio-Kina had become increasingly loud over the past year.
A master of diplomacy, if not of war, Tio-Kina had sacrificed herself for
the peace of a planet--and much to the anger of the Jedi Council, had
refused to let the Healers purge her body once it became clear that she was
carrying the child of a known political rebel.

The birth of that child was the Council's worst kept secret. Knights and
Masters had discussed her choice loudly, both behind closed doors and in
open hallways. It had become something of an academic question . . . a
topic for debate. In all the furor about deciding the moral ramifications
of what was now being called 'Neai's Choice'--very few had stopped to think
about the affect it would have on the woman who had made that choice.

Obi-Wan had, having had some affection for the girl he'd tutored in math
during his younger Padawan days. She'd been a quiet student, quick to learn
once something was pointed out, but never quite able to figure it out on
her own. Obi-Wan had berated himself more than once for not going to her
after he'd heard . . . but it had seemed like the last thing he should
do--and truly, he wouldn't have known what to say.

Besides, he would have had to get in line. Everyone suddenly wanted to
spend time with Tio-Kina . . . who didn't want to spend time with anyone as
she tried to make it through something few Jedi women ever underwent--a
pregnancy.

Tio-Kina was uncomfortable with the focus of so much attention. Unlike
Obi-Wan, who had always been in the center of things, Tio-Kina was really
just an average Jedi. There was little to distinguish her from anyone else,
except maybe the extent of her averages in a place where everyone seemed
geared towards excellence. Her scores in classes had been neither high nor
low, and although she had passed all her classes as a Padawan, she had
never done so with exceptional scores. Average in height and build, her
sabre skills kept her alive, but would never win her any competitions. Even
her looks were quite ordinary--neither her hair nor eyes were of any
definable color, both a muddy brownish gold.

Tio-Kina was just an ordinary Knight--who'd been forced into making an
extraordinary choice.

"Stop thinking so hard," Tio-Kina's voice muttered, and Obi-Wan felt her
jab him slightly in the leg. "I can just /hear/ the gears in your brain
turning."

Obi-Wan shifted his attention back to the woman next to him. "I was just
thinking about how much I've missed, having been away for so long."
Slinging an arm over Tio-Kina's shoulder, he pulled her closer for a hug.
"We'll have time to catch up finally, if the Council means to send us on a
mission together."

"I don't know, Kenobi," Tio-Kina said, her voice self-depreciating. "You're
a little out of my league, as far as Jedi Business goes." When Obi-Wan
opened his mouth to protest, she waved her hand. "No, I'm one kind of Jedi,
Obi-Wan. You're another. In fact--sometimes I think you are your own type
of Jedi." Smiling, pulled back, ducking out from under Obi-Wan's arm and
moving away slightly. "I have a feeling any mission that you're going on is
not going to be run of the mill."

Any response Obi-Wan could have made was cut off when the Council doors
slid open, revealing the ancient, nameless Master who had been conducting
people to their interviews with the Jedi Council for as long as Obi-Wan
could remember.

"The Council will see you now," he intoned.

Obi-Wan climbed slowly to his feet, unable to explain the sudden foreboding
in the pit of his stomach.

~*~
~~~PART 2~~~
Disclaimers in part 1

At first, the meeting with the Council seemed nothing special. The two
Knights bowed deeply to Mace Windu, the nominal leader of the Council,
before straightening to face him, both wearing carefully neutral
expressions.

"Knight Kenobi--we have a mission for you." Holding up a small data chip,
Mace motioned Obi-Wan forward, dropping it into the Knight's outstretched
hand. "This is no ordinary mission--and the dangers presented by it are
quite substantial. We believe that only your unique talents have a chance of
making success possible."

Obi-Wan bowed before taking step back, tucking the chip in his pocket. His
instincts were still screaming that something was not right, but he could
not think of any other alternative than to simply wait for events to unfold.

"Knight Neai," Mace continued, transferring his gaze to the young woman.
"You have been called before us because Obi-Wan will need a cover on this
mission, and you are to be that cover."

Tio-Kina frowned slightly, her eyes confused. "I'm afraid--I'm afraid I do
not understand, Master. If this mission is Knight Kenobi's--what part will I
play?"

"As I have said, you are to be his cover." Mace drew his hands together,
steepling his fingers in front of his face. "The planet he is being sent to
is . . . unusual."

"Unusual in what way, Master?" Obi-Wan inquired politely.

"We are sending you to Zyavit," Mace responded.

Obi-Wan stiffened, his gaze seeking out Tio-Kina's. Her eyes were equally
wide, her mouth hanging slightly open. Despite her initial surprise,
however, it was she who recovered first.

"But Master Windu--Zyavit is not fond of Jedi, and males . . ." She snuck
another look at Obi-Wan, comprehension dawning on her face. And something
else--something she hid so quickly Obi-Wan wasn't sure he'd seen it. "His
cover. I understand, now."

"I'm afraid I do not," Obi-Wan said slowly. "Even if she were to pose as the
Ambassador, you know that I will not be allowed on the planet unless I am
her--"

The look of stunned comprehension on Obi-Wan's face was so funny that
Tio-Kina couldn't quite suppress her nervous laughter.

~*~

"According to this, Zyavit had an equalized balance of power up until three
hundred years ago," Obi-Wan said, leaning back in his chair and staring at
the viewscreen where the information on their mission sat. "There was some
kind of epidemic or flu--I'm not sure which one. But it killed most of the
population, and of those who were left, only sixteen were women of child
bearing age. Those sixteen became the most important members of the tribe,
based on the ability to bring new life into the world. After that the social
structure became focused around women."

"Mmmhmmm," Tio-Kina said absently, not even glancing up from where she was
digging through the box that held their disguises for the mission.

Obi-Wan continued, despite the flagging interest of his audience.
"Apparently, about fifty years ago the head of the Ruling Council passed an
edict that all men must be property of a woman. There are two castes of
slaves--professional and pleasure. The professional are responsible for the
menial work of the kingdom, grunt labor and such. They are generally owned
by the Ruling Council, unless a woman buys one for stud services. The
pleasure slaves are trained . . . well, in pleasure. From what I understand,
that's pretty much all they do. Only the very rich or very powerful have
their own, but those of lesser means can rent one at Council Approved
Houses."

"I am /not/ wearing this," Tio-Kina exclaimed suddenly, tossing a bundle of
fabric at Obi-Wan's head. "If men are supposed to be the slaves, there's no
reason for me to dress like one."

Obi-Wan caught the clothing deftly, standing up and walking over to where
Tio-Kina sat, glaring at him. Shaking out the fabric, Obi-Wan held it up,
feeling his eyebrows climbing almost to his hairline. It seemed to be some
sort of a dress . . . though what exactly it was supposed to be covering was
a mystery. Between the plunging neckline, the web of straps that passed for
a back, and the four slits running from ankle to waist, the thing revealed
more than it concealed.

And it had the most obnoxiously garish yellow embroidery he'd ever seen.

"You haven't seen my clothes yet," Obi-Wan responded, dropping the dress
over the back of a chair and settling down in front of the computer terminal
again. "I certainly hope it's warm on Zyavit--or else I'll die of exposure
within a few days."

Tio-Kina tossed another article of clothing over her shoulder, still
grumbling under her breath. "How about that?" she demanded. "I thought my
persona was a diplomat. Exactly what planet am I supposed to be a diplomat
from? I can't even think of a climate this would be practical in."

Obi-Wan was having a hard time hiding a frown as he watched Tio-Kina
continue to dig through their costumes for the upcoming mission, her
eyebrows drawn together into a scowl of disgust. Open minded as she was,
Tio-Kina had a reputation for being a bit of a prude, which was very
uncommon in the open and loving atmosphere of the Jedi Temple. Not for the
first time, Obi-Wan questioned the wisdom of sending a woman who was not
particuarly fond of sex to a planet where the dominant gender had imposed a
rule of sexual submission on the opposite gender.

His reservations--voiced quietly to Master Windu after Tio-Kina made a
startling and not particuarly Jedi-like comment about the stupidity of a
race who made sexual slaves of half their populace--had been turned aside
with the normal evasiveness of the Council. "She has been chosen for a
reason," was the only response Obi-Wan was given, and by now he knew better
than to try to force the issue.

"I can't do this," Tio-Kina said suddenly, sliding to the floor in the
middle of the pile of clothing. "I can't, Obi-Wan. I'm not smart enough to
lead a mission--or even to pretend I'm leading one." Holding up one of the
scanty garments, she scowled at it. "And I can't wear this."

"Tio . . ." Rising, Obi-Wan padded across the room and sank into a kneeling
position in front of the distraught Jedi. "Look at me." Grasping her
shoulders, Obi-Wan gave her a gentle shake. "You /can/ do this. The Council
believes in you. I believe in you. All you have to do is trust yourself."
Plucking the garment from her fingers, Obi-Wan smiled. "And you most
certainly can wear this. I know you're a modest woman, Tio--but sometimes we
have to sacrifice our own needs to the greater good. I'll make a deal. You
put this on--"

"In front of you?" Tio-Kina demanded. "Not a chance."

"Tio . . . you're going to have to put it on in front of me eventually."
Smiling as she stuck her tongue out at him, Obi-Wan continued. "You put one
of yours on, and I'll put one of mine on. Trust me, Tio-Kina. Mine's worse.
Mine is much, much worse."

Tio-Kina sighed. "I suppose we need to get used to them, don't we," she
conceded, climbing to her feet and snatching the fabric from his hands. "And
despite what you may think, I was listening to you earlier. So which caste
of slave are you supposed to be?"

Waggling his eyebrows at her, Obi-Wan grinned. "Pleasure, of course."

~*~

~~~PART 3~~~
Disclaimers in part 1.


For humanoid Padawans Tio-Kina's age, there had been a certain ritual so
universal it was almost a right of passage. When one reached the age to
become interested in the opposite sex--or in many cases the same sex--they
invariably developed a crush on one of The Padawans, which Padawan depending
only on the gender they were attracted to.

Those who favored women fell immediately for Ilian Bonau, one of the most
beautiful women in the Temple. Skilled in every form of combat, death on two
feet, so smart that Masters often engaged her in conversation simply to
marvel at her wit, and yet caring enough that she often took time to soothe
the fears of troubled initiates--Ilian was the most celebrated Padawan of
her age group, with only one notable exception.

That exception, naturally, was Obi-Wan Kenobi. Heartbreakingly gorgeous,
able to best any Knight and many Master's with the sabre, Obi-Wan was the
student every Padawan wanted to emulate. The fact that he was woefully blind
to his own prowess only enhanced his reputation--how one so brilliant and
talented and kind and beautiful could be totally unaware of his own value
was the topic of many a late night conversation between those enamoured of
Kenobi's charm.

Tio-Kina, much as she pretended otherwise, was hardly immune. At fourteen,
she had fallen desperately in love with the nineteen year old Obi-Wan,
mooning about with wide eyes and scribbling bad poetry in her comp pad when
she should have been paying attention to class. When he was assigned to
tutor her in higher Math, she'd nearly blushed herself to death during their
first session, and it took several weeks before the patient older boy could
make her relax enough in his presence to learn.

By sixteen, luckily, Tio-Kina had grown up. Her infatuation with Obi-Wan had
fizzled after a few months of passionate devotion. She'd very scrupulously
erased all of the bad poetry, scowling at the depth of her own foolishness.
When Obi-Wan stopped her in the hallways to say hello or ask after her, she
smiled and felt perfectly comfortable chatting with him.

She'd even fallen in love with someone else a few years later. Real love
this time--not the fanciful daydreams of a fourteen year old.

Tio-Kina could honestly say that she was over her crush on Obi-Wan Kenobi.

And then he prowled back into the room, dressed in his costume--and Tio-Kina
was fourteen again.

She felt her mouth go dry as her eyes widened, staring at the man who was
slinking towards her, the long suffering expression on his face a sharp
contrast to the sinuous way his body moved.

Her eyes drifted down from his face, flittering over his bare chest
nervously. There was no safe place to rest her gaze--the smooth muscles of
his shoulders and chest were bare, with the exception of only an ornate
leather clasp around his left bicep.

And the collar, engraved with a stylized 'K'--which she supposed marked him
as hers, since she was to be known only as 'Kina' during the mission.

Swallowing nervously, Tio-Kina let her eyes sink down past his waist to the
lose flowing pants, clasped at his narrow waist with an ornate silver belt.
The pants themselves were of some wispy, black fabric--which didn't seem
transparent when stationary. But when he moved . . .

Tio-Kina swallowed again.

The pants were slit up the sides, clasped only at the waist and ankle,
leaving the expanse of his well muscled legs open to her nervous gaze.
Blinking once, Tio-Kina let her eyes slide back up to meet Obi-Wan's . . .

Only he wasn't looking at her.

At least, not at her face.

~*~

Obi-Wan had been prepared for many things when he stepped out the door to
face Tio-Kina's blatant perusal. His clothing was nothing if not
scandalous--especially by the comparatively modest standards of the Jedi
Temple.

He'd been prepared for his body to react to her. She was a pretty enough
girl, and the dress she had put on left very little to the imagination. That
he felt his body stirring was no surprise.

What he hadn't been prepared for were the scars.

His eyes fell on her right arm, horror rising up in him as he took in the
fine white lines that wrapped around her upper arm in strange designs. Lines
that could only have been left by--

"A knife, Kenobi," she said suddenly.

Obi-Wan lifted his eyes to hers, recoiling from the anger in them.

"What--"

Tio-Kina scowled, grabbing her robe off of the floor and pulling it on
hastily. "They used a knife."

"Tio--"

"I don't want to talk about it," Tio-Kina said firmly, tucking the robe
around her body. "It's past. It's done with. The scars are mostly gone--the
Healers say that in a few years they'll be barely visible."

"Who did that?" Obi-Wan hissed, anger rising in his throat.

"He did," Tio-Kina said softly. "They did. It was part of the--part of the
ceremony."

"The--" Obi-Wan's eyes grew wide. "You've had those for a year and no one
has seen them before?"

"And who was going to see them?" Tio-Kina snapped. "The Healers know, but
they don't go telling the Temple gossips about every patient they treat. And
my tunics hide them."

Obi-Wan took a step forward, ignoring the way she shied backwards. "Are
there--are there other ones?"

Tio-Kina smiled sweetly. "You'll never know, will you Kenobi."

It was totally irrational--and he knew it. But suddenly, Obi-Wan knew that
he /would/ know.

How--he wasn't certain.

But he would.

~*~
~~~PART 4~~~
Disclaimers in Part 1

Almost as soon as the set foot on the planet, it became blatantly obvious
why the Council had chosen Tio-Kina as Obi-Wan's partner.

She may not have been particuarly intelligent or diplomatic--but she was a
born actress. Her talent was so natural that she barely even seemed to
notice that she /was/ acting . . .

Which made Obi-Wan a little nervous. The shy, reserved Jedi who was so plain
she blended into the crowd was gone. Tio-Kina had become simply Kina, and
she played her part as a dawdling daughter from a rich family well.
Supposedly she was on Zyavit to try to negotiate the sale of several slaves
. . . an example of which was Obi-Wan.

He had to give himself credit . . . he wasn't doing half bad with his own
role.

"Obi, do come back here," Kina murmured from across, her voice throaty.
Realizing that he'd gotten sidetracked in his musings, Obi-Wan picked up a
glass of wine and prowled across the room, sliding gracefully to his knees
in front of Kina.

"Surely they're not all like that," the woman who was speaking with Kina
said, her eyes running over Obi-Wan in a way that made his skin crawl. He
was used to being looked at . . . but not as if he were a prize stud for
breeding.

Kina glanced at him, sensing his uneasiness. Reaching out with one hand she
slid short fingers through his hair, caressing his scalp in a strangely
soothing manner. "Of course they're not," Kina replied, dimpling at the
other woman. "My Obi is a fine specimen." Her eyes fastened on to his, and
he could /see/ the teasing glint in them. "One of a kind," she purred.

In Obi-Wan's opinion, Kina was maybe having just a little too much fun with
this. Of course, their real mission didn't start for another few days
anyway. All Obi-Wan had to do for now was make sure that everyone believed
that he was nothing more than a pleasure slave--a pleasure slave with not
much room for anything else in his mind.

Maybe it was time he started playing too.

After all, it was all in the name of the mission.

~*~

Kina knew she was in trouble when she saw the look in Obi-Wan's eyes. Her
nervous attraction to him had been surfacing in all sorts of odd ways, and
from behind the protection of her persona she had perhaps been a little
forward. But her teasing had helped to unleash some of her nervous energy .
. . and she had half-heartedly hoped that Obi-Wan realized that she wasn't
doing it on purpose.

When he rose to his knees and begin to slink around behind the pillow she
was sitting on, Kina got very, very nervous. She covered as best she could,
trying to focus on the conversation she was having with the woman next to
her.

Unfortunately, the woman had eyes for nothing but Obi-Wan.

She knew it was imperative that she not react to anything he did. No one
would believe he was her slave if she acted as if his touch was something
she was not used to--and that would blow their cover and probably get them
both killed.

When she felt his hot chest sliding against the skin left bare by her dress,
she decided death might come anyway--in the form of heart failure.

His skin was electric. His touch incredible. It was all Kina could do to
keep breathing as Obi-Wan curled his body around her, resting his face in
her neck and nuzzling softly.

"Is he always like that?"

Kina blinked, trying to focus on the woman sitting next to her. "Oh, yes,"
she purred finally, curving her spine to mold it to Obi-Wan's body. If he
was going to play, she'd play too.

She'd lose for certain--but she'd play.

"I don't suppose you'd lend him to me for a few hours," the other woman all
but purred, the lust rolling off of her in waves. Kina felt Obi-Wan stiffen
slightly behind her before his body relaxed again, one hand sliding to rest
on Kina's thigh.

Sliding her hand over Obi-Wan's, Kina tapped her finger three times against
his, signaling that she needed his decision. The code they had worked out
was simple but efficient--as long as the questions were yes or no. Anything
more complicated would have to involve mindspeech--and Kina was really
dreadful at it.

Obi-Wan's hand tightened once on her leg, indicating that his answer was
yes. Supressing the flashing rage of jealousy--totally misplaced and totally
irrational--Kina gave the waiting woman a lazy smile. "Of course you can try
him out. I should warn you though . . . he's rather . . . energetic."
Tilting her head, Kina gave Obi-Wan a tight smile. "A little hedonist,
aren't you my pet?"

Obi-Wan's eyes drooped shut and he smiled slightly, purring against Kina's
neck. "If it please you, Mistress, I'd like to . . . spend some time with
you first."

So he had something he needed to say. They could only speak mind to mind,
but unlike Obi-Wan, Kina could not do it without dropping into meditation.
They needed to be somewhere private before they could hold any consultation
. . . which meant their rooms.

"It always pleases me," Kina replied, rising slowly to her feet. "You make
sure of that." Although she was getting used to it slowly, it still bothered
her to have so much of her body exposed by the clothing she was wearing. It
was even worse knowing Obi-Wan was right behind her--she could feel his eyes
on her.

It was most un-Jedi like of him. He /was/ a man . . . but still.

Of course, in all honesty, she did her share of gawking. Obi-Wan was a
creature to be admired when dressed in his Jedi tunics. Outfitted in
clinging, transparent pants and little else . . . he was a sight to stop
traffic. Which he had already once.

"If you'll excuse me, Lady," Kina murmured, bowing slightly to the
dignitary. "If you come by my suites in a few hours, you can pick him up."

"A few hours, eh?" the woman replied. "Looks, manners, and stamina. You sure
you won't sell him to me?"

Kina reached up to caress Obi-Wan's bare shoulder. "I wouldn't offer to buy
him until after you've tried him. As I said before . . . he can be a little
energetic." Smiling again, Kina swept from the room, Obi-Wan a subdued few
paces behind her.

~*~

Obi-Wan sprawled out on the bed, smiling as Kina approached more slowly. He
had already found the bugging equipment in their room--though thankfully it
was audio only. As long as their conversations were conducted mind to mind,
they should be perfectly safe.

Kina crawled up the bed, pushing her back into his chest stiffly and lying
completely still. Comfortable as she seemed outside of their quarters, the
minute the door closed she became her usual, quiet self . . . withdrawn to
the point of pain.

Obi-Wan reached up and casually rested his fingers on his temple, using the
connection to link his mind with hers. Most Jedi could accomplish this
without total concentration--and Kina's lack of ability to do so had already
proved an annoyance more than once.

::I'm sorry,:: Kina said softly in his mind. ::I wish I was of more use to
you.::

Obi-Wan realized suddenly that with the link already established, Kina had
heard his last thought. Sending a quick rush of reassurance down the link,
Obi-Wan pressed his face into her hair and brushed a quick kiss against the
back of her head. ::No, that was my fault. You are doing a wonderful
job--don't doubt yourself, Tio.::

::Kina,:: she corrected. ::Think of me as Kina. I need to keep myself in
character, or I'll . . . I don't know. I'll die of mortification.::

Obi-Wan chuckled, the fingers on her temple starting to move slightly in an
absent caress. ::You're doing well, Kina. I never dreamed you had such a
talented actress in you. Our cover story is almost perfectly established.
Give me a few more days and I'll be able to track down these rebels and see
what they have to say.::

::Be careful,:: Kina replied. ::I don't like the way some of the women are
talking about them. Not just the nobles--but the lower class women. The ones
who aren't as tied up in this whole slavery thing. Even though they might
have the right cause--these rebels make me nervous.::

::This K'itha woman who is going to . . . borrow me . . . tonight--she seems
to be involved somehow.::

Kina shifted slightly, her back rubbing against Obi-Wan's chest and drawing
forth a few very inappropriate reactions, considering how intimatly her mind
was linked with his. ::She is the most sympathetic. I do not know if this is
sincere, though.:: There was a brief pause, and Obi-Wan sensed a little bit
of annoyance. ::You saw the way she was salivating over you.::

::Did that annoy you?:: Obi-Wan asked with a soft chuckle.

Kina shifted again. ::Why do you have to be curled around me when we do
this?:: she demanded. ::No offense, Kenobi, but I think I have
claustrophobia.::

::Jedi aren't claustrophobic, Kina,:: Obi-Wan replied. ::And you know very
well why I have to be like this. The servants here aren't big on knocking,
in case you didn't notice. And it looks funny for us to be on opposite sides
of the room, with you all tranced down so you can talk to me.::

::So what are you doing tonight?:: Kina asked after a long pause. ::Go in
there and give her a good time?::

::Go in there, make her think I gave her a good time, and engage in some
productive pillow talk,:: Obi-Wan replied. ::Maybe I can get some
information.::

::Do we have anything else to talk about?:: Obi-Wan could sense Kina's
discomfort, so palpable that it was practically radiating from her. Frowning
slightly, he tried to reach out to discover what was wrong.

His wrist was caught in a tight grip suddenly, his hand jerked away from
Kina's head. The girl rolled over and pressed her lips to his ears. "You're
a lot better at that mind stuff than me, Kenobi," she hissed. "But don't you
dare swim around in my head. I'll know, and it's not right."

Pulling back, Kina smiled sweetly. "Take a shower before you come back to
bed," she murmured. "You know how I hate it when you smell like other
women."

Before Obi-Wan could reply, Kina had curled up on her side and turned away.

~*~

As soon as the door slid shut behind Obi-Wan, Kina dove from the bed and
straight into the shower.

The very, very cold shower.

As the frigid water cascaded down her body, Kina clenched her hands until
her fingernails dug into her palms. It was happening--what she had /known/
would happen was happening.

Stupid Council. She had begged to be released from this mission as soon as
she had understood her role. There was no way she could act the part of
master to the Sexual-Slave-Obi-Wan . . . not and come out of it without
being enslaved herself. The man radiated sexuality standing still buried
beneath his plain Jedi robes. Even Kina, who wasn't overly fond of sex, even
she knew that.

And she wanted him.

Leaning forward, she let the cold spray cascade over her head and down her
body. The feeling of his body curled around hers, his heat seeping into her
and warming the places left so long cold. The way his muscles shifted
against her, the way his fingers fanned over her face. The feeling of his
mouth, so close to her neck . . . the feeling of him. Alive. Vibrant. So
very male . . .

It was far too addictive. She was getting sucked into the role, sucked into
the game. Her blood pounded for him when she was around him . . .

And the mission had barely started.

Groaning, Kina reached forward and turned the controls even lower. Hopefully
by the time he came back she could have her body temperature lowered enough
to deal with him.

Maybe around the temperature on Hoth.

~*~


~~~Part 5~~~

"I don't know what /you're/ complaining about," one of the
slaves--T'kaul--drawled. "Your Mistress dances to whatever tune you play."

"It's absolutely scandalous," another man--this one Obi-Wan knew was named
Obrin--chimed in, his voice high and mocking. Rolling his eyes, the man
plunged hit hands into the soapy water, shaking his head. "Really,
Offlander. What are you doing down here in the kitchen with us? Your
Mistress doesn't seem the type to let you out of her sight."

Obi-Wan relaxed a little, draping his arms over his chest. "Appearances can
be deceiving," he said softly. "She seems nice enough . . . but she's a
woman. And I don't care what any of them say, it's not natural to have them
ruling over us like this."

Obi-Wan held his breath as the two men exchanged glances. He'd been working
away at these two for nearly two days . . . trying to wheedle his way into
their trust. A little undercover work in the prior week had lead him to
believe that these two of all the palace men were the most likely to be
able to lead him to the Rebellion . . .

All he had to do was convince them he was ripe for the leading.

"That's dangerous talk, Offlander," Obrin said finally, wiping his hands on
a towel. "A man could loose some of the parts he values most for talk like
that."

Obi-Wan forced a smile. "If there's one thing I know, it's that my Mistress
won't ever let /that/ happen." Turning his smile a little smug, Obi-Wan
leaned casually back against the table. "There are some parts of my duties
that aren't all that bad."

"Like I said before," T'kaul growled. "That little slip of a girl dances to
whatever tune you play, Offlander." Smiling suddenly, the look in his eyes
turned predatory. "I can think of a few I'd like her to dance to, though.
Ain't half bad. Not exactly a looker--but she got a body on her that--"

"I wouldn't," Obi-Wan interrupted hastily, supressing the rising jumble of
emotions. Irritation and anger, mostly. "She may not look like much, but
all she's done for the past twenty five years is learn fighting from her
father and play with me. She could hurt you, friend."

"Around here, we trust before we befriend," T'kaul said coldly. "Now if
you'll excuse us, Offlander . . ."

"I can help," Obi-Wan said suddenly. His instincts told him that it had to
be now--had to be this moment and these people. They were the ones who
could help him. "If I trust you with something, will you trust me?"

Obrin leaned back, eyes narrow. "If you're asking what I think you're
asking, Offlander . . . it'd have to be something mighty big."

Closing his eyes, Obi-Wan tried to center himself in the moment. All his
instincts screamed that /now/ was the time for action. He had to take the
leap . . .

And if worse came to worse, he and Kina would be fighting their way off
planet.

"I am Jedi," he breathed.

He wasn't prepared for the laughter.

"I'm the Grand Duke of Coruscant," Obrin guffawed, slapping his knee. "No,
wait. I'm the Supreme Chancellor."

"And I am the Queen," T'kaul snorted. "Tell us another one, Offlander. Your
stories make the time go faster."

"Do you really want me to pull some dreadfully obvious stunt?" Obi-Wan
asked slowly. "I could, you know. Suddenly levitate you straight up into
the air, T'kaul. Or start bouncing dishes around your head, Obrin. Do you
really crave proof so badly that you'll destroy the chance I have to help
you?"

"There's little enough hope going around as it is," T'kaul said quietly.
"We don't need false hope--it just hurts all the more."

"I am Jedi," Obi-Wan said again. "And I am here to help you."

There was a long pause . . . long enough that Obi-Wan questioned the
intelligence of his decision. There were so many things that could go wrong
. . . so many--

"Well, shit." Obrin slapped Obi-Wan on the shoulder. "Help us finish up
these dishes, and we'll talk."

~*~

"You did what?"

Obi-Wan's hand didn't clamp over her mouth quickly enough to muffled the
enraged exclamation. Very tempted to bite his hand, Kina stared up at him
as he glared back down, aqua eyes piercing. "Not now," he hissed, his lips
barely moving.

"Yes, now," she hissed back, her voice muffled by the hand still stretched
across her lips. Sliding her hands up his bare chest, Kina dug her
fingernails ever so slightly into his shoulders as she ducked her hand out
from under his hand. "Now," she said very clearly, her voice commanding.

"As my Mistress wishes," Obi-Wan shot back quickly, the anger palpable
around him. Observant of the probable surveillance, however, he was dutiful
as he helped her to her feet before sweeping her up into his arms. "Faster
this way, Mistress," he practically purred.

Kina winced. That was not a nice purr.

Still--she held to her anger. He had endangered them both--quite possibly
destroyed any chance of the mission's success. The fact that he was
/supposedly/ the Knight in charge meant nothing to Kina now. Even the
barest Padawan knew that blowing your cover less than a week into an
undercover mission was not the best way to go about succeeding.

But Obi-Wan had done it, without so much as consulting with his partner.
Stupid, arrogant male.

Kina's mental tirade cut off with an audible gasp as her back hit the bed
with enough force to send her bouncing back up--directly into Obi-Wan's
body.

His entire body pressed into hers, pinning her to the bed. One strong thigh
slid between her legs, his hands coming up to sink into her hair as he
tilted her face up. Every move he made caused rippling muscles to play
teasingly against Kina's shivering body. The heat of him as he breathed
against her forehead made her light headed.

He paused there for a few moments before his fingers tightened almost
painfully in her hair. A slightly stubbled cheek slid down her own until
the tempting lips were hovering above her ear.

"Perhaps you've fallen a little too deeply into this role," the silken
voice hissed, the exhalation of air tickling against Kina's ear. "Perhaps
you've forgotten who is in charge. It isn't you, Kina. This is my mission.
My decisions."

"Mindlink me," Kina murmured softly, trying to keep her body stiff beneath
his to avoid betraying how very much she liked having him there, stretched
out on top of her. Hard and hot and lean and . . .

And pissed. Shaking herself mentally, Kina brought her brain back to the
point. He'd almost destroyed their mission--very possibly had--and /he/ had
the gall to be angry at /her/.

"No," the voice chuckled. The fingers tightened again, and Kina gasped
slightly as Obi-Wan pulled back, staring at her for a few moments before
sliding down to whisper into the other ear. "You don't get to talk back,
Kina. Remember that although you are playing the Master, it is I who is
giving the orders."

"You were stupid," Kina hissed, wishing she could scream it from the
rooftops. His overwhelming arrogance in believing himself right was too
much . . . she wanted to make him suffer for it.

How very Jedi of her. Shaking herself again, Kina tilted her head to stare
into the livid aqua eyes. "You could have asked me first," she whispered.

"No." Pulling back, Obi-Wan stared down harshly. "This is my--"

Whatever he was going to say was cut off as the door swung open. The next
few moments seemed to pass in slow motion--or maybe it was fast forward.
Kina wasn't quite sure, because the moment Obi-Wan sensed the door opening,
he did the first thing he thought of to save their cover.

He clamped his mouth over Kina's and did his damndest to kiss the living
daylights out of her.

It was fire--and no gentle flame. True fire. They were still furious at
each other--Kina could /feel/ how upset he was as clearly as she could feel
her own, equal rage. And yet--whatever else they did--they had to try and
salvage what they could.

Kina growled low in her throat as Obi-Wan's tongue swept at her lips.
Determined as she was to keep the kiss from getting any deeper, there was
nothing she could do when the slippery warmth of his tongue swept across
her lips again, this time coaxing. Reaching up to tangle her hands in his
hair, Kina let him kiss her.

And he did. On and on and on, even though the door slid shut and they both
knew that they were alone in the room. They kissed because they didn't know
how to stop--and then because they couldn't stop. As far as Kina could
tell, Obi-Wan was suddenly as essential to her survival as air, and she
couldn't pull away--much as she wanted to.

What was worse was that with each passing moment . . . her desire to pull
away diminished.

He was getting to her.

~*~
~~~PART 6~~~

It took far too much will power to pull back. Mentally shaking himself,
Obi-Wan threw himself from the bed and paced across the room, taking rapid
breaths to hide his trembling.

That had not been right.

He could hear Kina's staggered breathing behind him as she fought for
control. The room fairly vibrated with emotions--powerful emotions. Anger
danced around confusion, trembling with frustration . . . and underneath it
all a tiny flame of lust weaving stealthily deeper into him with every
breath he took.

And that, Obi-Wan decided, was one of the most foolish things he'd ever
thought.

Clenching his hands into fists, Obi-Wan turned back to the bed. "Share your
thoughts with me, Mistress?" he asked softly. He had to talk to her--had to
actually talk to her. They had to work something out before one of them
killed the other one . . .

. . . or did something much more interesting.

"Of course, Obi," Kina replied, waving a hand at him. "Always." Her tone of
voice sounded natural enough--but trained in nuance from the time he could
walk, Obi-Wan could sense the tension.

Kissing her had been a bad idea.

A very, very bad idea.

Settling on the bed next to Kina, Obi-Wan dropped his fingertips to her
forehead. ::You may not like my decision, Kina, but it was the one that
needed to be made.::

Obi-Wan winced at the look in her eyes. ::If you say so, Master.:: The
biting chill of her mind voice was harsh.

::Stop acting like a petulant child just because you can't have your way,::
Obi-Wan snapped, perhaps a little louder than necessary. Kina's eyes
widened as his voice echoed overly loud in her head. ::You're a Jedi
Knight. Act like one, Tio-Kina. I have a rendezvous with the Rebel leaders.
You are here as my cover. So cover me, damn it!::

Leaning forward, Kina pressed her lips to Obi-Wan's slowly, her fingernails
digging slightly into his shoulder as she slid her lips carefully across
his. ::As you say, Master,:: she snarled.

Obi-Wan opened almost against his will, the softness of her lips caressing
his too tempting to pass up. He was enjoying the caress in spite of himself
. . . so close to responding . . .

And she bit his lip.

Smiling slightly, Kina pulled back. "I'm going out, Obi dear," she purred,
her voice a distinct contrast to her expression. "Don't stay out too late.
I'll want you to warm me back up when I get home."

Obi-Wan stared, mouth gaping slightly, as she prowled from the bed, shaking
her mostly bared hips at him. She smiled once over her shoulder when she
caught him staring, laughing as she swept up her cloak and headed out the
door.

Obi-Wan was worried about a lot of things. He was worried that she'd get
angry and blow their cover. He was worried that her sensitive state would
dull her edge. He was even worried that she might finally accept one of the
many pleasure slaves who had offered themselves to her in hopes of gaining
the favor of the 'foreign princess.'

The one thing he wasn't worried about was her safety. She was a Jedi
Knight. She was a woman on a planet where women reigned supreme. She was
posing as a foreign diplomat, hosted by the Queen herself and under royal
protection.

Who would dare touch her?

~*~

The attack was swift and brutal. Kina--an average warrior with a slow
reaction time--didn't have a chance as she was swarmed over by five large
men, a force inhibiting collar snapped around her neck as soon as they had
shoved her to the ground.

Her face was ground into the dirt as someone kneeled on her back, tying her
hands tightly behind her back. Someone else wound their hand in her hair,
jerking her neck back painfully as someone slapped a piece of tape across
her mouth. The final touch, a dirty rag serving as a blind fold, was tied
around her eyes tight enough to give her a headache.

She had barely processed the fact that she had been attacked when a sharp
blow to the head sent her tumbling into oblivion.

~*~

Obi-Wan was angry.

With pretty much everyone.

He was angry with Kina for running off without telling him where she was
going. He was angry with himself for letting her. He was angry with Kina
for not having better mind skills so he could reach her and talk to her. He
was angry with himself for not establishing some kind of link so he could
track her if it became necessary.

He was angry at the Temple for giving him a uniform that had no place to
hide a lightsabre. He was angry with Kina for stalking off with his sabre
on /her/ belt.

He was unarmed. He was half naked.

And his partner was missing.

All in all, the mission had just taken a turn for the worse.

~*~

The sound of lightsabres igniting was what woke her.

The blindfold must have been removed at some point, but Kina found herself
bound and gagged, strapped down tightly to a chair. The room she was in was
dark with no windows, the only light coming from a cheerful blaze across
the room.

And from the two lightsabres being twirled by hulking men in dirty clothes
in the middle of the room.

"Careful, Obrin," one drawled, examining the hilt of the blade in his hand.
"Looks like you could easily take an arm off with this thing."

Obrin was waving Kina's lightsabre around, laughing as the bluish blade
left a trail of light in the air. "They're awful pretty though, T'kaul. Are
you sure I can't keep one?"

"Hey." The one called T'kaul was looking at Kina, who started slightly.
"She's decided to come around. Welcome to the Rebellion, little Jedi,"
T'kaul drawled. "I hope you'll enjoy being part of it."

Kina stared at him, trying desperately to read his intentions. There was
some kind of shadow in his eyes . . . something she didn't like at all. But
it was nothing compared to the pure cruelty in Obrin's eyes.

"You're going to have to earn your keep, little Jedi," Obrin said with a
shallow smile. "First you can bring us your friend . . . the one who bows
to you in public and master's you in private. He'll join our crusade if he
knows that's the only way to get his Jedi Playtoy back." The smile grew
wider. "After that . . . you can just earn your keep."

The lewd look he gave her left no doubt in her mind how that earning would
come about . . .

Kina could only hold one thought in her head as she stared into the vicious
eyes.

She was a failure at being a Jedi.

Any real Jedi would have already thought of fifteen different ways to get
out, to warn Obi-Wan, to turn this to their advantage. They would be calm.
Detached. Ready to face the implications of what their captors had implied.

Kina, already once a victim of brutalization, couldn't still her mind
enough to hold more than one steady thought. Her body was shaking with
terror. Her mind ready to retreat into itself.

Groping desperately for something to cling to, Kina surfaced with one
thought. The one she held to her as more men wandered by her, occasionally
groping her or throwing vicious taunts at her. The one she clung to as she
saw the type of men left in charge of watching her, and the horrific way
they kept sizing her up.

It became her mantra, her promise, her hope.

They will not rape me.

~*~

~~~Part 7~~~

T'kaul was sitting at the foot of Obi-Wan's bed when he woke up. Lunging
for a lightsabre he didn't have, Obi-Wan rolled off the bed and came up
standing, arms braced out by his sides.

"Your mistress sent me to wake you," T'kaul drawled, giving Obi-Wan a level
look. "She decided to spend the night outside the city, but it seems she's
gettin' awful lonely without your company. How about you come with me, so
she doesn't suffer any more distress?"

The speech was patently rehearsed to inform Obi-Wan that Kina's life was in
danger if he didn't cooperate without tipping any listeners off. Grinding
his teeth, Obi-Wan slowly unclenched his hands.

"Where is she?" he asked slowly, trying to buy himself time to think. So he
/had/ been wrong . . . T'kaul and Obrin had betrayed him.

If they both got out of this alive, he'd be getting 'I told you so' from
Kina until the day he died.

"You questioning your mistress?" T'kaul demanded. "She wanted me to bring
you to her. So I'm here for the bringing." T'kaul drew a knife from his
pocket and examined the edge slowly, giving Obi-Wan a narrow look. "As I
said, we wouldn't want her to suffer any more distress without you."

Clenching his jaw shut, Obi-Wan followed T'kaul wordlessly out the door.

~*~

"Obrin!"

Kina heaved a sigh of relief as the harsh call distracted Obrin from the
cruel little games he was playing with her, doing his damndest to terrorize
her. The sneering man gave her a scowl before backing up a few paces,
turning to face another man in the corner.

"You have a problem, Johae?" Obrin drawled. Johae, a middle aged man with a
pronounced limp and a long scar down the side of his face, scowled.

"Yes, I have a problem. You know what T'kaul said." Johae pushed himself
away from the wall, walking slowly towards where Kina was tied tightly to a
chair. "You're not supposed to hurt her. We can't trust the Jedi to deal fa
irly if she's been damaged."

"I'm not hurting her," Obrin responded, spinning back to face Kina. He
leaned down, pressing his mouth against Kina's ear. "Am I, little Jedi?"

Still gagged, Kina could do little more than grunt. She chose to not even
do that, refusing to acknowledge the man hovering over her.

A rough hand grasped her chin, wrenching her head back painfully as Obrin
leaned down. "I've heard that Jedi are like priests. Celibate. Are you a
virgin, little Jedi? How'd you like a man to show you--"

The disgusting tirade was cut off when a fist impacted squarely with
Obrin's jaw. The man stumbled back a few feet, tripping over Kina's legs
and landing on the floor in an inelegant sprawl.

Johae stood next to Kina, one large hand resting on her shoulder. "Stay
away from her," the other man said coldly. Kina looked up, hoping to find
an ally in Johae, but his face was impassive. "She's our only bargaining
token, fool. You've seen the way he looks at her--if we hurt her, we don't
have a chance."

His cool, professional tone and emotionless gaze disabused Kina quickly of
the notion that he would help her . . .

But at least there would be no abuse while he was near. That, if nothing
else, was no small comfort.

It was only as Obrin stalked from the room, snarling, that the impact of
his words struck her.

"You've seen the way he looks at her."

~*~

Obi-Wan was creating quite a stir as he stalked behind T'kaul through the
city streets. He was wearing the original out fit he'd modeled on Coruscant
. . . and nothing else beside sturdy sandals. Women stopped to stare
blatantly, more than one eyeing him with definite proprietary interest. Men
avoided him completely--though Obi-Wan suspected they were avoiding T'kaul
more. After all, he was the head of the Rebellion . . . and not all men
were in favor of it.

They left the city behind swiftly, walking at a brisk pace as the sun rose
steadily in the north. It was a fair amount of time before Obi-Wan finally
stopped, standing with his arms draped across his chest.

"I don't stir another step until you assure me that she's alright," he said
firmly.

"She's alright," T'kaul said tiredly. "But she'll be less alright if we don
’t hurry. I mean her no direct harm . . . but she is a woman left alone in
the stronghold of the rebellion against women. She is hardly immune from
harm there. The longer you dawdle, the better the chance that she will not
stay alright."

T'kaul started off towards the hills again, and after a few moments Obi-Wan
followed. "I don't understand why you are using force to make me help you,"
Obi-Wan said as soon as he caught up with the other man. "I said I would
help you, and I meant it. What are you accomplishing by kidnapping my
partner?"

"We have been betrayed before," T'kaul said slowly. "This attack will be
our final one. We are desperate--and we can't risk failing if there is a
chance for success. We need you."

"But--"

"We need you," T'kaul said. "And she will ensure that we have you. And keep
you."

"I won't do anything until I've seen her," Obi-Wan commented finally. "And
I want her to be released to my care. She will not be chained up like some
prisoner or animal or--"

"Or slave?" T'kaul said bitterly.

There was really no response for that.

~*~

Kina found it amusing that, for the first time in her life, she was being
overestimated. At the Temple she was known to be a mediocre Jedi, no one
expected her to do half of what she could.

Now she was the stuff of myths come to life--and the men holding her could
not take too many precautions. Johae had approached her earlier with a rag
smelling sticky sweet, his face even. "I'm sorry, Jedi, but I'm going to
have to ask that you just do as I say. Just relax and breathe in."

"Why do I have to be drugged?" Kina asked with no little amount of panic.
Ever since the ritual rape, she'd had an absolute phobia of drugs--which
was understandable considering how large a part drugs had played in the
assault.

"We've got to move you know, and we're not taking any chances with your
Jedi magic," Johae said firmly. "Just behave, and you'll wake up before you
know it."

Claustrophobia had set in as the rag was pressed to her nose, but the world
had faded back in just as quickly as it had faded out. Kina sat up to find
herself chained hand and foot, garbed in a halter top and flimsy skirt
that, to her disgust, did nothing to hide the ugly scars twining around her
stomach and sides. The chains gave her room to move freely, if slowly, and
she relished the ability to stretch muscles long left unused.

She was sprawled on a surprisingly comfortable mattress, just thick enough
to disguise the cold stone floor beneath it. The room was of fair size, but
held nothing except for the mattress and a few pillows.

And Obrin, sitting by the door and eyeing her in a manner that, frankly,
terrified her.

"Took you long enough to come around," the man growled, pressing himself
away from the wall and stalking forwards. One large hand swooped down to
grasp the chains between her wrists, dragging Kina quickly to her feet.

She stared impassively at him, unsure what was going to happen. He
obviously had a cruel streak in him . . . and she devoutly hoped that he
wasn't here just to be cruel.

"You never answered my question," he hissed. "Are you a virgin?"

The gag had been removed when they changed her clothing, so Kina was free
to speak. Throwing caution to the wind, she just did that. "I'm a mother,"
she snapped.

"Is that so?" The hand on the chains tugged, bringing Kina closer to the
larger man. He was attractive, she supposed . . . tall and muscular and
ruggedly handsome. But the cruel spite in his face as he stared down at her
marred that. "So, you got any special tricks you want to show me, Jedi?"

Kina certainly did. In a mood old as time, she lifted her foot off the
floor and shoved her knee right between his legs.

~*~

Obi-Wan heard the scream just as he rounded the corner in what he hoped was
the last of the endless hallways. T'kaul broke into a run in front of him,
pounding down the stone corridor and sliding to a halt in front of one of
the doors, his fingers groping for a key at his belt.

A second scream, this one recognizably female, sent Obi-Wan charging after
him. The door was just swinging open as Obi-Wan reached it, and he bolted
through without a thought.

Kina was trembling against the wall, blood running down the side of her
face and one eye already swollen shut. Despite the chains, the indecent
clothing, and the obvious injuries, she somehow looked more Jedi than
Obi-Wan had ever seen her before. Her body was shaking, but her hands were
steady as she held them out in front of her in a defensive position.

T'kaul had one hand fisted in Obrin's hair, and was giving him what sounded
like an earful. Growling, T'kaul shoved Obrin out the door and turned to
stare at Obi-Wan levely. "I'm sorry about this, but there is nothing too be
done. I'll bring medical supplies. You are capable of tending her injury?"
At Obi-Wan's nod, T'kaul spun on his heel. "This will be your room. As you
requested, she is under your custody, but she is not to leave."

Before Obi-Wan could say anything else, T'kaul was out the door, the thick
wooden door thudding loudly behind him.

"Obi-Wan . . ." Kina's voice was hesitant, and Obi-Wan clearly heard the
chink of the chains as Kina took a step forward.

Turning slowly, Obi-Wan moved across the floor until he was standing in
front of Kina. Lifting one hand, he cupped her cheek. "I'm sorry," he
whispered. "I was wrong. And you've suffered for it."

"I'm fine," she replied, her voice somewhat dull. "Just . . . just don't
let them . . ." Obi-Wan could sense the fear rising up as she trailed off,
eyes wide.

But he knew exactly what she was trying to say.

"I won't," he promised.

~*~

Things were very, very confusing. It didn't take long for Kina to come to
that conclusion . . . but as for what she was going to do about it . . .

She was stretched out as comfortably as she could be in chains, laying on
her back as Obi-Wan meticulously doctored her scrapes and bruises from the
scuffle with Obrin. The feeling of his hands dancing over her battered
flesh was remarkably comforting, and even though a force inhibiting collar
like the one she wore shut off any chance he had of Healing her, the gentle
brush of his hands held a magic all their own.

"There," Obi-Wan said finally, his hand brushing gently across her
forehead. "That should feel better."

"Thank you," Kina murmured, shifting her head slightly to stare up at him.
The bare expanse of Obi-Wan's chest was distracting, but somehow she
managed to focus in on his eyes. "I'm sorry--"

"Shhh." Obi-Wan leaned down and brushed a few locks of hair from Kina's
forehead, dropping a chaste kiss on her cheek. "No more apologies from you.
Just relax, and sleep. I have a feeling you got precious little last night.
You can sleep now--I'm watching."

Kina held her breath until Obi-Wan had moved away again, the scent of him
so intoxicating that she was afraid she'd succumb to her urge to fall into
him and never leave the circle of his arms.

Obi-Wan stretched out on the mattress behind her, helping her adjust her
chains until she could lie on her side, spine pressed firmly into his
chest. She stiffened slightly as she felt his hand slide up to rest on her
hip, but the slow, gentle caress of his thumb against her side soon had her
relaxed again.

Kina sighed slightly as Obi-Wan's hand drifted to her stomach, fingers
tracing invisible patterns on her skin. The fire that shot through her at
his touch chased any chance of sleep away, filling her brain with a fiery
lust.

They both stiffened at the same time when Obi-Wan's fingers brushed across
the very real scars that marred the expanse of her stomach. Clenching her
eyes shut in shame, Kina shoved his hand away and rolled over to her
stomach, ignoring the bite of the chains against her stomach.

Warm hands fell on her shoulders almost immediately, coaxing her to lie on
her back again. Obi-Wan's greyish gaze fell to her stomach, one hand
hovering above the scars that had been partly hidden by her shirt before.

"Are they . . ."

"From the ritual," Kina confirmed, her voice dead. "They are a little more
. . . intense than the rest of them."

She had expected revulsion, or at least pity. What she had not expected was
the cool detachment as Obi-Wan carefully coaxed the halter top a little
higher on her ribs, exposing the scar that ended a few inches below the
swell of her breasts.

And she certainly didn't expect him to lean down and press warm lips to the
largest of the scars, his hot mouth sliding open as he pressed long, gentle
kisses to her stomach as he traced the scar up over her ribcage.

Kina tangled her fingers in his hair instantly, meaning to pull him away.
Somehow she couldn't bring herself to cut off the exquisite sensation . . .
and before she could firm her revolve he pulled back himself. Warm fingers
brushed over the scars as he coaxed her shirt back down. "Better?" he asked
softly.

Kina stared. "Obi-Wan . . ."

His face was above hers suddenly, his fingers tracing the curve of her lip.
"You are not as lowly as you think you are, Tio-Kina. You are a fine woman,
and despite what you think of as disfigurements--you are a beautiful woman
as well. Do not be ashamed of who and what you are."

Without another word, Obi-Wan resumed his former position, tugging Kina
tight against him as he drew his knees up to cradle hers more fully. His
hand slid over her stomach again, finding her own hand and twining fingers
gently.

"Obi-Wan," she said again, confused by his strange behavior. The only clear
thing was that he had started a fire inside her . . . something that needed
acknowledgement. Twisting her head, she met his gaze. "I want--"

"No." Lips descended to her eyebrow, brushing across the skin gently. "Not
right now. Not on a mission, and certainly not with you in chains." A
rakish grin curved Obi-Wan's mouth suddenly, and Kina shivered at the
heated look in his eyes. "At least--not chains of steal."

And then his lips claimed hers in a slow, tender kiss. It only lasted a few
moments, his warm, full lips sliding skillfully across hers as his hand
cupped her cheek, thumb rubbing slow circles on the soft skin below her
eye. "Sleep, Kina," he whispered against her lips. "Sleep."

~*~