The Vengeance of A Sith.
Summary: Anakin is captured by Darth Algaroth a Sith Lord, formerly known as Aldous Payne, friend of Obi-wan Kenobi and Padawan at the Jedi Temple; nearly twelve years ago he was swayed to the dark-side, now he has returned for revenge.
Anakin: 15.
CHAPTER THREE.
Obi-wan sat in the council chambers, his head in his hands; every moment they took trying to find Aldous and Anakin was another moment his Padawan suffered.
"It's not your fault Obi-wan."
Mace Windu's voice made his head lift; shaking his head Obi-wan closed his eyes. "Isn't it?" He had left Aldous; he'd just left him to take on a Sith Lord all on his own. "If I had stayed_"
"Most likely, you would have been turned too." Mace shook his head, "we did everything we could to find him." The Jedi Master shrugged, "and we did find him."
Obi-wan closed his eyes and gritted his teeth, it was true he hadn't given up, and yes he had found Aldous. "Not in time to save him." No, they had been too late.
Twelve years ago.
It had been three years, the only reason he wasn't giving up was because he knew, he knew his friend was still fighting; somewhere, Aldous was out there; and he was in pain.
Of that Obi-wan knew for certain, he and Aldous had been close, they shared a bond equally powerful; he felt his friend's pain like it was his own, and right at that moment it was unbearable.
SWSWSW
Aldous screamed as the pain tore through him, he writhed as the agony engulfed him; it had been years, years! And still no sign of help, Obi-wan had failed him; and he was left to this, to endure the agony everyday.
"You are so close," the cold hands lifted his head, "why go on fighting? Your 'friend' has abandoned you, your only way out is to give into the anger_"
Aldous shook his head, "I am a… Jedi." His breathing was harsh and laboured, his body shaking.
His captor laughed, "A Jedi? Still?" He dug his fingers into one of the numerous gashed that marred his face, and Aldous let out a tortured howl.
"Even after all they have put you through?" His captor wiped a tear from his eye, "they have all abandoned you! They have left you here to suffer in agony, while they continue their lives as though nothing happened!"
Aldous closed his eyes; trying to ignore the truth of the Sith Lord's words.
"It doesn't have to be this," a hand lifted his head while the other held a cup to his lips. "Why, won't you let me end you pain? Why must you suffer to people who have left you to die?"
Fury flared through him, it was true, all of it; they had left him alone, afraid, to suffer agony and torture. Obi-wan had abandoned him, leaving him here to die! Why should he be loyal to them?
"That's it," hands helped him sit. "Just give in, embrace the anger and hate within you."
Aldous scowled; standing shakily he glanced at his 'captor'. "What must I do, my Master?"
SWSWSW
"We've found him!" Qui-gon smiled at Obi-wan, "we know where he is."
"How?" Obi-wan's face lit up with shock, "all our leads went cold over a year ago."
Grinning Qui-gon shrugged, "we received a coded message from him, he's escaped but he needs medical treatment immediately."
Obi-wan raised his eyes brows, "then what are we waiting for?"
Finally, after all this time, Aldous had been found! It was a miracle, it had been so long that the rescue mission had nearly been terminated; but that didn't matter, they knew where he was now, and they were coming for him.
SW
A soon as they landed at the spot Aldous had designated for his pick up, a lone figure approached; his clothes were blood soaked rags that were torn and tattered from years of torture and abuse, he moved in a pained shuffle as he drew nearer to the ship.
Obi-wan leaped out and ran towards his friend, "Aldous!"
He smiled, eyes gleaming as he slowed; there was something odd about his attitude, he was calm, relaxed, things you would never be if you had just escaped from an evil 'monster'.
Slowing to a walk, obi-wan frowned, "Aldous?"
"Actually, it's Algaroth now." His smiled turned to a nasty, evil grin, "Darth Algaroth."
Obi-wan shook his head, no; it wasn't true, it couldn't be true! "Don't joke about that Al, just come home."
Aldous chuckled and shook his head, "you really don't believe it do you? You actually believed I could have held out for three years? Aldous sauntered closer, "You actually believe that I would just let you abandon me like that?"
"I would never do that!" Obi-wan shook his head pleadingly, "we looked for you_!"
"Oh of cause you did," Aldous laughed, "at least you made it look like you did; but really, the moment you left, my fate was sealed." He ignited his lightsaber, "I saved you and you left me to die!"
It was then that Obi-wan felt it, the raw, unrestrained fury and hate radiating from his friend; it was true, his friend- his best friend- had become his enemy.
Present Time.
Obi-wan shook his head at the memory of the fight that had ensued, he hadn't understood then why Aldous - Algaroth - had let him live; his 'friend' had had him dead to rights, and until now he hadn't understood why he had let him live.
Only now did he understand, it had been too easy then; so Algaroth had waited, and when he had least expected it, he made his move. He had never told Anakin about Algaroth, because he had never thought to see, or hear from him again; now he knew his mistake; he should have prepared him, should have protected him better.
It was his fault, all of it; firstly by not finding Aldous sooner, and secondly, for not destroying him when he had the chance.
SWSWSW
"Your loyalty is impressive, considering everything you Master is responsible for." Algaroth grinned at Anakin, his eyes gleaming. "But I bet he never told you did he?"
Anakin hung suspended in the air, held ensnared by the Force; still unable to move. His chest heaved as he fought to breathe, his arms extended far above his head; his muscles taunt and searing with pain.
"All this time, and he didn't think to warn you?" Walking forward, Algaroth gripped Anakin's chin and forced the boy to meet his eyes, "he knew about me and did nothing to prevent this from happening. You are suffering at his hands, all your pain is because of him."
Anakin shook his head, "you're lying." His voice was a hoarse whisper as he rejected the accusation.
"What reason do I have to lie?" Algaroth shook his head, "I promise you Anakin, all I am telling you is the truth; you're just too blind to see it." Stepping back a step, he gestured with a hand, Anakin screamed as his arms were yanked outward, stretching the muscles to the point of tearing.
"P-p-please…" His voice shook as Anakin struggled to breathe, "p-please… stop…"
Algaroth smiled gently, "Join me."
Anakin sobbed, shaking his head desperately. "I… can't!"
Sighing softly he stepped close, "yes you can." When Anakin continued to shake his head, Algaroth rolled his eyes. "Come on Anakin, save yourself…" Lifting Anakin's head, he shrugged. "No-one's gonna blame you," he smiled gesturing with his hand; Anakin flinched, readying for the pain…
It came, sudden and shocking; Anakin howled, his vision went grey…
Then the force holding his arms lessened, relieving the strain from his muscles.
"Just say yes," a cup was held to his lips and a hand supported his head while he drank, "Give into you anger and all this will end."
Anakin closed his eyes, swallowing the last of the water he took a deep breath; he hadn't noticed it at first, hadn't noticed his body spasm with the pain. It had been involuntary, but even so, his body had moved; all he had to do, was make those movements become voluntary, use the pain to break through the Force holding him.
Breathing deeply, he focused on the pain that throbbed through his body and concentrated as he manipulated the Force restraining him, he took control of it, redirected it, pushed it back at Algaroth.
The Sith Lord was flung back as Anakin dropped to the ground; he hit the ground running, fleeing from the furious roar of his captor.