Author's Note: Warning this chapter is a bit steamier then most. I'm really using that T rating. It has sexual suggestions, but no detailed descriptions.

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Old Man and the Desert

Chapter 21

Location: Imperial battleship, Detention Center, cell 1

Obi-Wan woke up with a splitting headache. He shook his head and saw that he was trapped inside an anti-gravity field. He hadn't been in once since the Clone Wars. The room was dark and slowly he remembered what had happened. He, Thrice and Ahsoka had been left stranded on the crippled Clan ship on the asteroid while Luke and Captain Rex made their escape. The Empire had found them and then they were dragged into the Imperial battleship by a tracker-beam. It was very undignified, but Obi-Wan didn't remember anything else because he was immediately knocked out once they were seized.

Though, a sound caught his attention. He turned his head and saw that someone else was inside the dark room. A body was lying on the floor and moaning while a man in a black cloak stood over the prone figure and gently stroked the person's head. Obi-Wan was confused by the scene, but he realized that the person on the floor was Thrice.

"Thrice!" shouted the Jedi Master.

He then struggled to break free from the anti-gravity field was it was no use. No matter how hard he tried to fight, he couldn't even move an inch. Meanwhile, the black cloaked man turned to face him. He had dark brown hair and the yellow eyes of a Sith, but Obi-Wan didn't recognize him.

"Ah, I'm so glad you're wake, Master Jedi. I thought perhaps I would spend more time alone with Lady Thrice."

In a harsh tone, Obi-Wan said, "Leave her alone. What have you done to her, Sith?"

The man grinned and ignored him. He began petting Thrice's hair. It made Obi-Wan's blood boil. The Sith was violating her. Nobody was allowed to touch her that way but him. Thrice was his. She had given herself to him. She would never allow an enemy to touch her so easily.

Yet, the Sith just laughed. He straightened up and said, "Don't worry Obi-Wan. She is unharmed. She is merely drugged. Clan warriors are notoriously stubborn. They aren't weak like the Jedi. They are hard and uncompromising, but they are susceptible to strawberries."

"Strawberries?"

Obi-Wan had a sudden feeling of dread. He remembered Thrice telling him strawberries were an aphrodisiac to her people. She said it was the only thing that could cause her to bare younglings. She said she was infertile without it, but it never occurred to Obi-Wan that it would knock her out like a drug.

Defiantly, he said, "Let her go, Sith. The Clan has nothing to do with our fight. It's me you want, not her."

The Sith chucked and said, "Maybe so, Obi-Wan, but one does not rise to become Emperor without taking precautions."

"Darth Sidious…" gasped the Jedi Master in awe.

Obi-Wan had his suspicions to the young Sith's true identity, but it was still shocking to learn that the Dark Lord had been restored. He knew when Thrice felt Lord Blackswan's passing it could only mean one thing. It meant that Sidious had undergone the reincarnation process and that he had eliminated Lord Blackswan because he was no longer useful. Though, Obi-Wan had hoped that Lord Blackswan would have sabotaged the machine before it was finished, but obviously he was wrong.

"Well Sidious, now that you have me, what now?"

The Dark Lord grinned and said, "Patience, my dear Jedi. After the drug has gone into affect, I will return to interrogate you and Lady Thrice. You will tell me the location of the Rebel Base and then I shall rid myself of their nuisance once and for all."

The Emperor then left the dark room and locked the door to seal Obi-Wan and Thrice inside. Yet, Obi-Wan was still unable to move. He tried using the Force to break the anti-gravity machine, but it was no use. He was hanging in mid-air like a dead weight. Yet, he was growing more and more concerned for the war-maiden. Thrice hadn't moved since he spotted her on the floor and wondered if she was all right.

He called her. "Thrice. Thrice, darling. Wake up. This is no time to sleep."

"O—Obi-Wan?"

"Yes, dear. It's me. Are you alright?"

"Mm…dizzy…"

Obi-Wan started to panic. He was worried she might be hurt. He had no idea what Sidious had done to her while he was unconscious. He thought perhaps Sidious had violated her and that she might be injured somewhere he couldn't see.

"Thrice! Please, try to get up."

Slowly, the she-warrior rolled over and lifted her head. She looked dazed, yet oddly cheerful. She looked up at Obi-Wan and beamed. "Hello, handsome!"

The Jedi Master sighed with relief. He thanked the Force that she seemed all right. She was just a bit goofy which wasn't surprising since she was drugged. Though, it was strange to see her so wasted. He wondered if she could focus long enough to free him, but there was only one way to find out.

Sweetly, he said, "Thrice, darling? Could you do me a favor? Could you come here and free me from this anti-gravity field?"

Thrice smiled and staggered up to her feet. She giggled at her own clumsiness and tried to pry open the control panel with her fingers, but it was no use. It was bolted down and Darth Sidious had taken their weapons. Obi-Wan knew she wasn't strong enough to break it and she was so high he doubted she'd be able to concentrate long enough to use the Force.

"Thrice, never mind. Forget the field. Go and open the door and look for something to break it."

The she-warrior huffed. "Oh, but I don't want to leave. I want to stay here with you. Hehe, my skin tingles all over." She then stroked her wrist. "It's warm…like a fever. It's like something is burning inside me. Obi-Wan? Can you make me cool?"

The Jedi Master tried not to roll his eyes. It appeared that Thrice had lost all reason. He wasn't sure she could help him let alone herself. He hadn't seen her this delirious since she did have a fever back on Tatooine when they first met.

"Uh—perhaps, but go find something to break this field. I'll make you cool again if I'm not trapped."

Thrice giggled and said, "I don't need to find something. I can free you all by myself."

She then pressed her hand over the base of the anti-gravity field generator and quickly blasted it with a bolt of Force-lightening. Her power short-circuited the entire system. Suddenly, the field was gone and Obi-Wan dropped onto the gravity platform gracefully with the aid of the Force. Though, the dark room was even darker now that the field was gone. Instead, only low torchlight illuminated the walls. Thrice's reflective eyes shine in the dim light.

"Ah, much better. Now all we have to do is figure out a way to open the—ouph!"

He was tackled. The she-warrior had jumped into his arms and wrapped her arms and legs around his body and kissed him hungrily. She quickly broke the seal of his lips and touched her tongue against his and started to purr. Obi-Wan staggered back but managed to hold her, as she tasted him aggressively. Then, she broke away from his lips and bit him on the neck.

Obi-Wan groaned at the sensation and realized that she did feel hot. Her skin was on fire and the Force-bond between was wide open. He could feel everything she was feeling and it ached. Obi-Wan had never felt so aroused in his life. She slowly nipped and nibbled at his ear and began pulling at his belt.

"I need you, I need you, please, please…"

He could hardly stand it. He had never heard her beg so wantonly. She then boldly touched him through his pants. Obi-Wan struggled to breathe. He grunted as she brazenly stroked him back and forth, but somehow he had to muster up his strength to pull her away.

He squeezed his eyes tight and said, "No—no, we can't. This is neither the time nor the place. We need to find Ahsoka and escape."

Thrice giggled at his protest and said, "All I want is you." Then, teasingly she said, "If you like, I'll call you master and I'll be your bad apprentice."

Obi-Wan groaned. He had never heard her sound so naughty before. He liked it. He knew it was disrespectful to degrade the relationship between master and apprentice, yet he found the whole idea exhilarating. She was being highly inappropriate.

Then, before he could stop, he said, "No, you be the master. Let me serve you."

Wide-eyed, Obi-Wan was shocked. No, he didn't mean to say that. He wasn't the sort to indulge in role-playing. It was disgraceful. Yet, he couldn't stop it. There had to be something wrong with him, but he didn't care. The only thing that matter was Thrice and the fact that she wanted him. He couldn't think about anything else. He wanted to please her and stop the burning. He had to stop the fire. He then impulsively captured her lips and surrendered to desire.

XXX

Location: cell 2

Meanwhile, Ahsoka Tano was trapped in another cell. She was also floating in an anti-gravity field and it was Darth Vader who was interrogating her. Ahsoka heard his labored breaths and watched as he staked around her like a caged animal. She could feel his hate radiate off of him like waves. It was like he could hardly contain himself. Though, she also sensed something else—something like pain.

"Anakin?"

"Silence! Do not speak that name. Anakin Skywalker is dead. I am Darth Vader."

Ahsoka was heartbroken. She didn't want her former-master to be dead. She didn't want him to be gone, but she had to face the fact that Vader had done many horrible things in the name of the Empire. He had killed younglings. He had hunted her friends. He had stabbed her in the chest and left her for dead. He was a wicked man. His heart was as black as his armor, but Ahsoka still missed her old master. She missed the man she used to worship and admire.

Coldly, the Sith said, "Your sympathies cannot reach me. I have long ago turned my back to the way of the Light."

The Togruta-beauty raised her brow. "Oh, really? Gee, I hadn't noticed. Maybe you should get a longer cape?"

Irked, Vader said, "I will not tolerate your impudence, Jedi."

"So, what did you expect me to say? You're holding me against my will in a trap and you want a friendly chat?"

"You would not have to be trapped if you joined me. I have come to make you an offer, Ahsoka Tano. Come, join me. Be my apprentice once again. Join the Dark Side."

Ahsoka turned her head away from Vader's out stretched hand. She couldn't believe he'd ask her that after betraying her and the Jedi. Did he really think she'd turn her back on her comrades? Or Rex? To her the Rebel Alliance weren't just her friends. They were her family.

"No, I can't do that Darth Vader. I may not be a Jedi anymore, but I'll never become a Sith."

Vader was annoyed. He was a fool to actually feel some relief at seeing his former-apprentice alive again. He was growing sentimental. He was growing weak. He had no need for warm feelings. It was just the faded memory of his old past that lingered inside him. He turned to walk away.

He stopped at the door with his back towards her and said, "We shall see. For now you will remain here until you either come to your senses or die."

When Vader left the door Ahsoka felt hallow inside. She felt lonely and wondered if Rex and Luke had made it back and if they were all right. She knew that Rex would come for her. She never doubted her Captain. Though, she wished he'd hurry up and rescue her soon. It was boring being trapped inside the anti-gravity cell and she had no idea what happened to Obi-Wan and Thrice. She knew Vader hated Obi-Wan. She was worried he'd kill him in cold blood.

XXX

Location: cell 1

Obi-Wan tried to catch his breath and felt incredibly guilty. It wasn't like him to lose control. It wasn't like him to give into inappropriate lust filled fantasies. He was a disciplined Jedi Master for Force's sake. He should be able to handle his hormones. He should have been trying to find a way to escape. Not take advantage of Thrice's drug induced passions.

Yet, the she-warrior seemed to enjoy their quick romp. There was no foreplay involved. They just went right down to business like animals. They didn't even bother taking off their clothes. Thrice took the lead and straddled him and it had been phenomenal. Her body was feverishly hot and their bond was so open he felt like they were one.

She lazily nuzzled him and raked her nails over his nape and whispered, "More…"

Obi-Wan shivered as her nails dragged across his skin, but managed to grab her wrist and pulled her away. His head was clearing and he noticed she wasn't so feverish anymore.

"No, we have to escape. Come on."

Thrice pouted, but didn't argue. Together they straightened out each other's clothes, but Thrice stopped him at the last minute. She pulled up his tunic to expose his stomach.

"Darling, no. We don't have time for this."

The she-warrior giggled—"Relax, love. I just want to do one last thing"—she then bent down to lick his belly button. Obi-Wan nearly jumped out of his skin. Her warm tongue left a cold trail across his stomach.

"Ah! Thrice! Stop that!"

"What in the world is going on here!" shouted Darth Vader as he entered the cell.

The Sith was stupefied. He watched the Clan-warrior lick his former-master's stomach like a treat. His brain had stopped working and he desperately tried to make sense of the scene that was unfolding right in front of him, but it didn't add up in his head. Why would Lady Thrice lick Obi-Wan's stomach? Why on earth would she do something like that? Unless—unless, no! Had the Clan-woman really corrupted his former-master? What sort of relationship did they have anyway?

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TBC

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Cliffhanger! Shock and horror! Vader is stunned. Obi is trapped.

Please reivew. Thank you.