Warning: Things are about to get racy. If you do not like sexual situations erotically described, then this may be the last chapter for you. My apologies, but the name of the story says it all. Thanks for all your support!

Down the Wrong Path, Chapter 4

Tempting, even to a Jedi

He could feel the strength returning. He was lying very still, breathing slowly, calmly, focusing his energy into his muscles, nerves, and bones. The tingling had become a warm pulsating wave, rolling from his extremities and up to his torso. He had put himself into this trance as soon as Eyuria hat left. However long ago that was, he didn't know. How far along his healing had progressed thanks to his trance, he also wasn't certain. But he knew he would be much more ready the next time a visitor came by, whether it was little Eyuria or one of her Xaantin cohort.

Not much was known about the Xaantins. The Republic rarely made contact with races who, by even the most liberal measurement, were primitive, and the conditions on the planet that hindered even their most sophisticated sensors did not advance the study of the people. Also, the planet was not known to have any large deposits of highly sought after natural resources, thus sparing it from the interest of the many commerce guilds and trade federations.

But there was something. When he was preparing for this mission, he'd made a quick sojourn into the massive Jedi library. The Jedi had scouted out the planet about a century ago. Two Jedi Masters and their padawans were sent out. When they returned months later, they reported no contact with sentient life. But they did report odd disturbances in the Force, momentary lapses in their ability to connect with it. The Council at the time decided to investigate it further in the future, but he found no more records under the planet's listing.

And I'm just remembering this now? Of all the things Obi-Wan marveled about in this vast universe, the human memory didn't often make the list. He made a note to pay more attention to that particular subject if - when - once he made it back. No reason thinking negatively now. After all, he could wiggle his toes!

The scraping noise returned.

Obi-Wan's eyes snapped open, immediately withdrawing from the healing trance.

"Are you awake?"

"Eyuria," he replied, craning his head to look behind him. A little fresher looking than last time, she held another waterflask and bowl and was staring wide-eyed as Obi-Wan rolled on his side and struggled to push himself up. "Can you help me?"

"You are moving!"

"Yes, I think the poison from those insects has finally worn off." He managed to push himself up, but he had to use his arms to keep himself propped into a bowed sitting position. He felt like a youngling, meeting Yoda for the first time. "Although, I am not entirely myself yet."

"The insects, they kill with their poison," Eyuria said softly, putting down her wares and gliding to crouch beside him. Hands fluttering hesitantly, she bit her lip and gently grabbed his shoulders, directing him to lean back against the wall. She moved to get up, but Obi-Wan gently laid a trembling hand on her leg.

"Then I owe you my life."

He didn't need the Force to feel the uncertainty in her when she refused to look into his eyes.

"It is the chopak, it heals the bites," she whispered back, wiggling out from underneath his hand. She hurried across the room. Obi-Wan, grunting, pushed himself up and off the wall after her.

"Wait, Eyuria, I'm sorry, please, let me help you."

He got two full steps before his third failed him. Eyuria was quick. She caught him just before his face met the metal of the floor. Not even his arms were fast enough to save his nose from that injury.

"I appear to be thanking you for many things these days," he answered, coughing, into her lap, which he was amazed to find his face buried in. More tingling let him know that part of him was no longer numb. And it was firmly pressed against the hard metal floor. And why am I not moving my face?

After that puzzling moment passed, Obi-Wan again found strength in his arms and pushed himself up. But the strength did not last long. He managed to turn himself over, then collapsed again onto the floor. Except now his head was on Eyuria's lap. A placement he found himself, surprisingly, trying very hard not to think about.

"You should not be moving, you are still weak."

He felt slight pressure on his temples, which soon became a circling sensation. He closed his eyes, not even aware of the tension there until she started massaging.

"Please don't hurt yourself anymore."

"How could I possibly hurt myself in here?"

"If you try to escape, they will hurt you."

He looked up at her, managed to brush a hand against hers.

"Is that why they hurt you?"

She spread out her fingers, and the massage moved to his scalp.

"No questions now, only answers."

"Answers? What do you - "

He saw her eyes close, then -

Master Yoda, and he was just as big as the grand Jedi Master, standing at the center of the auditorium, addressing all the younglings. He felt so small amongst the grandeur of the centuries old Jedi Temple. But even he could sense it. The calm power down below them all. He had never sensed anything like it before. The Jedi Master seemed so fragile, so in need of protection. Obi-Wan just wanted to rush down there and make sure nothing hurt him. That nothing would ever take away that calm power that made his heart feel full for the first time he arrived at the temple.

They came without stop, without borders. Washing over him, pulled up without his control. He was swept into them, without awareness that he was being swept. He was only aware of that moment he crashed into. The feelings, the people, the sensations from the people. Each so vivid. Real, or not.

They were both shirtless. He could feel the sweat pooling in the back of his trousers. How much longer? Qui-Gon didn't move. The muscles across his chest and arms were taunt, but not tight, not pulled into the readiness that would belie when he would strike. There was hardness there, but Obi-Wan knew from experience. That hardness only hid the fluidity that would ultimately be his downfall.

All the people, who've come and gone. He was with them again.

Eyuria felt his expressions, saw the impressions he left as she sent him crashing.

So tall for someone so young. And so impulsive. Obi-Wan sighed for the umpteenth time and kicked the lightsaber back to Anakin. The young man pushed the dank blonde bangs from his face before pushing himself up, his young muscles rippling across his back. He watched his padawan pull himself back to his full height and summon his lightsaber to his hand. It was hot, the sun high over the Massassi temple. They'd discarded their heavy tunics. Watching his young padawan, he was wondering if that was such a good idea.

Wrong thoughts? Or were they right? Were they actually his? Did it matter? They made him happy. And happiness is not a path to the Darkside.

They were all alone. Somewhere waves lapped the shore, and birds sang to the sun as it set. The stars were sprinkling the evening sky, prompting the evening blooms to unfurl and perfume the air. But the beauty of the nature around him was not equal to the beauty he saw before him. The slightest breeze stirred the layers of silk around her, moving her into a shimmering cloud, an ethereal vision he did not think possible on any world. The setting sun set her ringlets on fire, as she stood against the rail, her eyes half closed and turned towards the water and sun and the world that appeared crafted at just this moment for her. Obi-Wan could watch her there, in that moment, without a care for the war around them, or the oath he took, or those he might hurt if he so much as took that step towards her that he knew could send them both over the edge. But what an edge it would be. And for all his training, all his discipline, everything he had been taught and recited and reiterated to his padawan, deep down none of it mattered in that moment. Teetering on the edge, he took the step. And she turned to him, her half closed eyes beckoning as her innocently seductive smile slid onto her full mouth.

"Padme," Obi-Wan breathed.

Eyuria's eyes snapped open, but he remained still, his eyes closed, his mouth still parted from the name that passed his lips.

Her heart beating, her face flushed, she knew what to do.

She bent down, with hesitation only a brief flicker across her face, and brushed her mouth across his, trailing her lips down to his ear.

"I'm here, Obi-Wan," she whispered, moving her hands behind his head. "I'm right here."

Obi-Wan's eyes fluttered open. There was no sudden confusion. Only warmth, as the same scared smile flitted across his lips.

"But you can't be."

Eyuria smiled down at him. "Yes I can. I am here, with you, for you, Obi-Wan."

"Padme," was all he said before he found his strength to pull her to him.

Eyuria no longer hesitated.

Tamolok opened his eyes, a sneer pulling on his lips. It had begun. He nodded to the shaman that sat across the hearth. They had seen the same thing. The shaman continued chanting, and tossed more insects unto the hearth. They screeched until they popped, sending a greenish tint into the smoke that circled around the hut's ceiling before escaping through the small chimney hole. The shaman's apprentice scooped the crisp insect bodies from the fire with his bare hands and dropped them into the chopak he carefully stirred on his own hearth.

Tamolok was satisfied. His daughter would serve him well.

A flicker of annoyance crossed his face as he heard them coming. He made no move to acknowledge them when they threw back the flap to the hut and entered with only the slightest of bows. Of course it was Lesser Elder Uchalok and his two followers. Any disturbances among the people could be traced back to his only son. It was the way of things that he should have such a shuga for his heir.

"Lord, we wish a presence with you," Uchalok said, barely keeping his head respectively bowed.

"You have already made your presence known, my son," Tamolok answered, his eyes focused on the smoke, but fully aware of every movement his son made. "Speak your mind, while you can still claim it as yours."

"Lord, there are those among your people who do not feel this is the best use for the telan," Uchalok responded. Tamolok saw his head raise a fraction, and restrained himself from snapping it back down. "There are those who believe we should trade him to the other."

Now his son had his full attention. What kind of shuga nonsense...

"Trade him?"

"The telan could bring us the powers of the other - "

"The telan will bring us power!" Tamolok roared. Uchalok's followers cowered, but he merely bowed his head. "Your sister Eyuria is with him now to see to this! Once he is broken, all your sisters will have his power, and our people will be stronger than any other on the islands."

"Good Lord, my humble self only worries that this power may be elusive, while the power of the other can be seen, and is just as strong."

Now Tamolok rose to his full height, the smoke circling him like a planet in orbit. The followers stepped backwards, dropping to the floor. Uchalok bowed deeper, but kept his eyes on his father.

"Elusive! It is this power that has secured our people's lives. It was the way of our ancestors," he rattled his staff of bones for added effect. "Powerful we became when the telan arrived many Chiefs ago, and powerful again our people shall be for many more Chiefs to come with the arrival of this telan. Even under your guidance, Uchalok."

"Yes, Lord, but perhaps, once he is broken, the other could be contacted?"

Tamolok paused, his heart swelling with, could it be actually pride?

"If he is not too broken, and if the other would receive our offerings, perhaps - "

The flap was barely up when the scout rushed in and prostrated himself before his Chiefs.

Tamolok, his favorite sneer returning to his face, returned to sit before the fire.

"Report."

Speaking into the ground, the scout did as told. "Lord, we have seen another."

Uchalok stood over the scout. "Another telan?"

"Yes, sir, he was seen in the lane to the hunting pits."

Uchalok looked to his father. "He could be with the other."

Tamolok closed his eyes, and looked, and looked. He could sense a darkness. Like the one shrouding the other that hid. But this darkness was not the same. It crackled with light, at war with each other. The other was a still pool of black.

"He may be with the other, or he may be with the telan."

"If he is with the other, then we should turn the telan over to him."

Tamolok opened his eyes. "But if he is with the telan, then we could trade him to the other, and keep ours until he is broken beyond repair."

Uchalok nodded. "How can we know?"

"Eyuria will know, once he is broken. The chopak will ensure this." Tamolok focused on his son. "Send warriors to him. Do what must be done to control him."

Uchalok thumped his hands to his armored chest, then swept out with his followers.

Tamolok looked down to the prostrate scout. "You will await for Eyuria, and tell her to focus on this telan. Describe to her, and await her response."

The shaman stopped chanting and took the bowl of chopak from his apprentice's swollen hands. The shaman bowed and offered it to Tamolok. He merely waved it to the scout, who showed no sign of pain as the hot bowl burned his hands.

"This chopak will eat into the telan's soul. Bring it to Eyuria. I sense the telan will need -- the persuasion it can provide."

The scout bowed out of the hut. Tamolok nodded back to the shaman, who began a new chant. Tamolok closed his eyes and returned to his meditation. He could sense his daughter, the heat she was experiencing. His sneer lit his features. The power of the telan will give his people command beyond that of their rivals. The ways of their ancestors will secure their future among the islands.