7
Anakin groaned as he woke from his forced slumber. His head lolled and he struggled to remember where he was. There was incredible pain in his arms and shoulders, and oddly enough, his feet didn't seem to touch the ground. How strange…
"Ah, good morning, Lord Vader." Palpatine's voice cackled. Anakin's head shot up, and he bared his teeth in an expression of pure and malevolent hatred.
"You…where am I? What have you done with my son?" Anakin looked around, suddenly recognizing the room that he was in.
An interrogation room. The place where beings were tortured until their wills gave out or their bodies gave in. HE was strung up in heavy chains, and the Force didn't seem to exist here. He looked down at his feet and saw that the toes barely touched the gray floor that was stained with many shades of dark red. Growing slightly ill at the sight of the stains on the floor, he lifted his eyes and glared at his captor.
"Your offspring is quite happy where it is, Skywalker, don't you remember?"
"That isn't true, and if you think that I'll be driven into despair because of a false image you need to have your head examined."
"Ahh, young blood burns so hot in its veins." Palpatine shook his head in mock sorrow. "You need a lesson in manners, child."
"I quiver in fear."
"You'll be doing much more then that when I get through with you, I assure you."
"Your overconfidence is your weakness." Anakin snarled.
"Your faith in your endurance is yours." Palpatine's good mood suddenly evaporated and he spat at the chained Jedi. "You seem to forget that I was making people beg for mercy at my hands while you were being potty trained." The snarl disappeared, and the confident smile returned. "No matter, you will find that you have a breaking point, just as everyone else does. I don't believe being fatherless has changed that, do you?"
Anakin lunged for him, jerking his arms back when he used up all the slack in his chains. His shoulders screamed in protest and the chains rasped in sympathy with them. His body jerked to a stop, but still continued to strain at the chains. Blue eyes blazed hatred at the yellow ones that were only inches away. Palpatine smiled mockingly, and Anakin snarled his defiance. Palpatine laughed at this futile display and patted Anakin's cheek.
"Oh, little Jedi, I will enjoy seeing you regret every sound you make now. Before my minions and I are done with you, this chamber will run red with your blood and you will beg me to serve me again. I'll make you forget what it is to be rebellious and defiant. Oh, and Anakin," Palpatine added in a secretive whisper, "if you manage to hold on to your spirit and your sanity, don't worry, I still have your son."
He laughed loudly as he strode out the door, drinking in Anakin's screams of hate.
Obi-Wan sat in deep meditation, questing for Anakin's presence. He hadn't told Padmé that when he had sensed Anakin last, the man had been in deep pain. Obi-Wan didn't trust Anakin, not yet, but Padmé seemed to think that there was hope, and for her sake he would believe it.
But he couldn't believe it in his heart of hearts. He had just been betrayed one too many times.
Qui-Gon, master, where did I go wrong with the boy? He was always so smart and so kind, when did the impossible happen? When did that little boy that I so loved disappear?Obi-Wan sighed at the lack of response. Many times like this he had cried out for the wisdom and compassion of his beloved master, but Qui-Gon had yet to answer him. That didn't stop him from trying, however.
He sighed again, and reached out for his former Padawan. Anakin…
Nothing. The bond had been severed completely…or had it? Obi-Wan reached out again, trying to find some small filament of the strong bond they had once shared.
Nothing…but wait…THERE! It was microscopic, but it was there. Obi-Wan hesitated, not wanting to have to face another betrayal, but then reluctantly followed the hair thin link to Anakin.
Anakin, are you there?AHHHHHHHH!!!!!
Anakin!!! Pain flared along the bond, and Anakin's screams grew louder. Obi-wan forced himself past the barrier of incredible pain and looked through Anakin's eyes.
An interrogation droid…it came closer and there was pain. No sound came from Anakin, and Obi-wan realized that his screams were only mental. Anakin was far too proud to scream and show his pain.
Obi-Wan tried to touch the tormented spirit, but a burst of unimaginable pain cut him off. He gritted his teeth and tried again.
Anakin, can you hear me?Come to gloat over my suffering, Obi-Wan? Or to sigh and tell me that you told me so? Anakin's tone was strained and bitter.
I have come to do neither, Anakin; I merely want to help you.
I'll believe that when I see it, old man.
You will get that chance soon. Tell me where you are.
Why? Now, the tone changed to real curiosity.
Because we're coming to get you and Luke.We?
Padmé, Leia, and myself.
There was a pause, then a grunt of pain. You're bringing my daughter, are you mad?
No, I assure you, I'm quite sane. Leia is our best way to find Luke.
If she is hurt, Kenobi, dark side be damned, I'll kill you myself.
I begin to wonder how Padmé saw the light in you at all.
Kenobi, I'm currently under torture, you cannot expect me to be at my best. A soft cry followed this statement. It was becoming obvious that Anakin was falling toward unconsciousness, his mental words softer, slurred like a drunken man's.
I can understand that, old friend. Tell me where you are.Coruscant, somewhere in the Imperial Palace. There's a Ysalamiri in my cell.
If there was, I wouldn't be able to contact you, Anakin. They lied.
They took it out of my cell so that Palpy could shoot some of that weird lightning stuff at me. Ever had it done to you?
I have to say that I've never had the pleasure.
Hope that you never do. It hurts like you wouldn't believe, and it doesn't stop. Another cry of pain. Listen, Kenobi, if you can't get me out of here, just get Luke out and go. Leave me.
Sith-Hell I will.
Just do it, I don't give a pound of bantha poodoo what you think of it. The blasts of pain were fading now, growing farther away. Obi-Wan envisioned Anakin's head beginning to loll from side to side.
Obi-Wan?Anakin?
Keep my family safe for me… The connection was cut suddenly, as Anakin's body gave out from the pain.
Obi-Wan rose from his position, breathing deeply. Striding into the cockpit, his went over to the comm console and opened up a channel.
"This is Knight's 'Saber to the vessel Nubian Pride. General Panaka, General Tarpals, we must move quickly. Let's get this rescue on the road."
"Yes sir." Panaka's voice was familiar over the comm system. "Alright people, let's haul jets. We have a Skywalker and a Skycrawler to get back."