Sandstorm

Author: Pilgrim
Title: Sandstorm
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Star Wars characters or movies (unfortunately) and am not making any money from this (even bigger unfortunately)
Feedback: Please! First time fan fiction writer and desperate for tips, tricks, advice, stuff me full of info please! I want to improve and take over the world with my genius mwhahaha! Lol, only kidding but feedback would be fantastic, send it to raukarwen_deomene@yahoo.com!

Chapter 2

“Are you playing with me Arsha?” The voice resounded furiously over the comlink.

“Why would I do that? I have a Jedi in my sights right now. Asleep on my sofa, well… actually I think it might be closer to unconsciousness but he won’t know any better when he comes around.” Arsha smiled arrogantly as she glanced back over to the slumbering Jedi. The poor guy had no idea what he had gotten himself into. “So… what do you want me to do with him?”

“You should have given me warning. I was ‘not’ intending for ‘you’ to do anything other than locate one. I won’t be able to get in touch with my other contact now.” Arsha glared at the comlink furiously.

“Well, I didn’t exactly invite him to appear in my home!” The grumbling at the other end of the comlink died away and a sigh billowed over it.

“Very well, you will have to do. Though I highly doubt that your skills are adequate.” Arsha bristled and was about to mouth off when he continued, “You are to convince him to take you back to the Jedi Temple. However, before you go I’ll have some… provisions… dropped off at your inner-city hovel. Collect them before you go, as there will also be more instructions.”

“Wait, you want me to convince him to take me back into the heart of the Jedi Order? ARE YOU COMPLETELY INSANE?” Arsha screamed into the receiver, clasping her head with her hands in disbelief. She stormed around the kitchen with her eyes wide. Right, so now it was her and not the Jedi in over their heads.

“I am not insane Arsha, and if you still wish to live you will do what I tell you to.” The voice whispered viciously over the comlink. Arsha snorted.

“As if you would kill me. You don’t stand a chance.” Arsha folded her arms arrogantly and leaned back against the kitchen counters.

“You are playing with powers far greater than you can imagine my child,” the threatening voice whispered once more, promising pain beyond imagination.

“I’ll do what you say, but don’t even begin to think I’m afraid of you. I’m not.” A faint chuckle echoed out over the device sending a spurt of anger through her veins.

“Arsha, if you were afraid you would not be the most desired assassin in the entire galaxy.” The link died with a faint crackle before it slid back into the wall. Arsha stood silently for a few seconds contemplating her options, her eyes fixed on the metallic floor. Slowly they trailed up to Obi-Wan. He was still sprawled out on the sofa, his chest rising and falling rhythmically. She rapped her fingernails across the counter before stepping away and across the main room to her bedroom.

Sliding a drawer open, she flicked a switch inside it and watched the holo-image in front of her die. The backdrop fell away to reveal a second concealed set of shelves. Pulling out a needle and bottle, she contemplated the plan again. It was a bit risky, and there was no guarantee that this would work on a Jedi. She would just have to see how it went.

The needle and bottle was for Obi-Wan; she was praying it would remove the Force from his system for a few hours. Or rather, that the solution would do as it was supposed to and block Obi-Wan’s connection to his midi-chlorians. At the very least, she prayed it would just disrupt the connection enough for her to do what she had to do. That would be to leave his mind vulnerable and open to… suggestion. Her finger flicked the switch back over and the shelves disappeared behind the holo-image. Glancing down she paused in closing the drawer as her eyes rested on a lightsaber hilt. With a distant smile, she trailed her fingers over the smooth, chilled metal. Such a long time ago… It was no longer part of her world she reasoned, as she slammed the drawers shut and turned away.

Kneeling next to Obi-Wan, she rolled the right sleeve up to his elbow and injected the liquid. His brow furrowed and for a second she thought he was going to wake. Thankfully, he merely rolled over and wrapped his arms about his chest. Arsha sighed with relief and sat up, tossing the needle into the trash bin. Wriggling around she sat on the sofa, level with his waist and reached across to press her fingers to his temples.

Only the faint hum of the Force told her that he was a Force user. There were no shields up as there should have been, nothing to protect his mind or memory. With a faint smile she began her alterations, grateful that the solution had done some part of its job.

:/

Obi-Wan stirred, slowly rubbing his eyes. His head felt full of cotton wool as if he had spent the day before learning. Stiffly he sat up, his mind twirling and spinning erratically. “Here, drink this.” A warm and soothing cup was placed in his hands. Slowly he drank the heated liquid and the world seemed to right itself.

“Thank you. I don’t know what came over me. I must have drifted off…” He glanced around the room; everything was the same as it had been when he had fallen asleep. Turning back he glanced at Arsha and frowned deeply. “What happened to you?” She looked down bashfully and he reached out to brush fingertips over the bruising along her cheekbone.

“I didn’t think you would remember. You took such a knock to the head.” His eyes trailed past where she was seated to where a man was sprawled on the floor, a bloody wound in his stomach. Obi-Wan stood up quickly and stared down at the man, but didn’t recognise him. What had been going on while he had been asleep?

“Who is this?” He turned back to Arsha questioningly. Her eyes were still lowered as she brushed hair out of her face.

“That was my husband. He came home in a rage and attacked me… You saved me.” She stood up and clung to his shirt front tightly. “I thought he was going to kill me!” Obi-Wan stared down at her dumbly. She fought back a laugh and pressed her forehead to his chest pretending to sob. Arsha couldn’t believe he was buying this, but then he didn’t know her and she had perfectly re-aligned his memories. In a few hours he would ‘recall’ when he had heard the shouts from a distance and came charging in to the rescue. He would ‘remember’ stabbing the man and being hit over the head by a pan as the man fell.

Slowly Obi-Wan came round from his bewilderment and gently wrapped his arms around the trembling frame of Arsha. He didn’t really know what else to do. Life was definitely beginning to get very packed with events in his opinion.


AUTHOR'S NOTE:

MANY THANKS TO MY WONDERFUL BETA Procyon, AND ALSO MANY THANKS TO THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE RATED THIS STORY AND/OR REVIEWED!