Sabercrazy: dude niice title. lolz, maybe I'll keep it.  

:Evil grin:: Hahaha… I luv this chapter. I'm just soo… oh whats the word… not sane when it comes to…well… everything! Have fun…

A Present

Obi-Wan shivered in the cold air.  It had been so long since he had sent the outside, all seemed lost. 

Besides loosing track of time, whether it was day or night, and how many days he had actually been there,

Obi-Wan was loosing hope. 

The one thing that would keep him sane was slipping away with every new pain he endured.

Every laceration he received. 

Every shout he cried out.

So many thoughts ran through Obi-Wan's mind. Thoughts that kept him alive and others that made him wish that first blaster bolt had gotten him square in the chest.

That stupid blood carver must be lying. He thought to himself remembering all the things that carver told him during one of the many long 'sessions' as Showdow liked to call them.

The Temple was not destroyed. 

His friends and family weren't all dead.

Qui-Gon had not abandoned him that night in the alley.  His Master wouldn't.  So many times had he seen his Master's faithfulness:

The, what seemed like zillions of times, Obi-Wan was in the Med Ward, Qui-Gon wouldn't leave his side. No matter what anyone did or said.  Even before they were Master and Padawan, on Bandomeer.  Obi-Wan had been kidnapped and put into an underwater mine.  Even then Qui-Gon came for him.  On every mission and every hardship he went through, his Master had always been there. 

He would never just leave.

Sure he had left on Meilda/Dann, but he had come back. He had taken Obi-Wan back as an apprentice.

Obi-Wan peered up at the energy shields surrounding him.  It was because of them he had lost most of this hopes.  Because of five simple walls he had no connection to the Force.  He knew he wasn't completely gone.  It was there every time Showdow took him out to do one twisted thing or anther.  It was there waiting to be embraced and each time Obi-Wan brought it to him, refused to let go.  Until those walls went back up.  He gripped it until the last possible second. Until the thread was impossible to keep a hold of.

But that wasn't the worst… the worst was loosing Qui-Gon each time.  Every time he was taken out Qui-Gon was there, but never responding.  Was his Master hurt? He was so faint… or had he blocked him…

Lost in thought Obi-Wan was startled when a rough kick was planted on his back.

Gasping in pain Obi-Wan cursed loudly as his infected cut from the vibroshiv was re-opened.  The warmth of his blood swept over his back and seeped into his crusted tunic, then out onto the floor.

"Oops." Came a snicker. "That must have hurt."

Yeah oops! Obi-Wan thought to himself. That was more than just some stupid oops.  He looked up at Showdow through blurry vision. With those stupid boots of yours, damn straight that hurt.

Showdow roughly rolled Obi-Wan onto his back.  The Padawan let out a small cry as his numerous broken bones, bruises, and lacerations shifted.  His broken leg stayed in spot stuck out at an odd angle and numb.  His blaster wound screamed out in fury and the youths head began to spin. Sharp quick breaths made the carver laugh.

Obi-Wan closed his eyes to calm himself.

"So Jedi. Can you tell me what day it is?"

"What do you think?" Obi-Wan croaked in his rough pain wracked voice.

A laugh. "I'll give you a hint.  It has been exactly two weeks since you landed on this planet."

Obi-Wan was confused. How was that supposed to help him? "That jut tells me I've been in this place for thirteen days."

"And fourteen days ago your Master was talking to you about a very important occasion."

Obi-Wan's eyes flew open. How could he forget?  A small gasp sent pain shooting throughout his body.

Kenobi you've got to stop doing that.

"That's right." The carver said. "And I even got something for you."  He smiled evilly as he unclipped a needle from his belt.

Horror shot through Obi-Wan.  Besides the fact he hated needles, they help but one purpose.  To inject something into someone.  What did this one hold?  What 'present' did Showdow hold in his shaking hand?

"This won't hurt." He said grabbing Obi-Wan's arm harshly. "For now at least."

A tight pinch sent the cold liquid into Obi-Wan's blood stream.  The boy scrunched his face as the needle was slowly pulled out of his arm. 

He then watched as the walls around him began to slowly ascend upwards.   Obi-Wan reached out with all his energies he had and grabbed a hold of it.  Bringing it closer and closer it became more and more faint.

Once again it slipped away.  The Force was all but feet from his grasp and yet it was impossible to get a hold of.

Obi-Wan stared at the ceiling in the same position the carver had kicked him in.  Back sneering in pain from the cut Obi-Wan began to gather his strength to turn himself over.  Fear tremored through him.

He couldn't move… he couldn't feel anything.

Suddenly out of nowhere pain such as Obi-Wan had never experienced violently shook him.  Every muscle in his body contracting and tightening.  Some slowly and others fast.  Each vibrated in sneering convulsions before giving in.

Obi-Wan gasped for air in short, sharp, and ragged breathes. 

Another attack… this one longer. 

Obi-Wan screamed out. He couldn't hold it in any longer.  If the other tortures hadn't killed him this certainly would.  The pain was too intense for the Padawan.

There is no pain. Only the Force.

The lesson repeated in his head like a broken record.

Only the Force.

Another attack.  Obi-Wan felt like a fish out of water. Helpless and flopping stupidly around the ground gasping for air. 

Force it hurts! MASTER!

His body falling limp again white spots danced in from of his eyes as the youth tried to control his fast breath and rapidly beating heart.

Another shriek ripped from Obi-Wan's lungs as his body contracted up involuntarily.  His broken bones jolted about, his cuts re-opened from being stretched all adding more flames to the fire that was on his body.  The boy gritted his teeth praying that his body would just give out. 

He wouldn't have to feel it if he just gave up.

Slamming to the floor Obi-Wan flipped to his side.  The wind caught in his throat causing him to gag and cough. 

Bright red dots of blood splattered the white marble.

Darkness called to the boy.  It clouded his eyes and fuzzed his hearing; which was picking up distance laughs from the blood caver indulging every cry, every tear dripping down his face as though it was the air he breathed.

A small tremor in his arm warned Obi-Wan of another attack and the pain that was about to come.  Another eruption of convulsions sent the exhausted Padawan into darkness.

*****

The carver had sat on the floor and watch the youth scream out to his Master and to the Force.  He was in pain… and Showdow loved it.  Even long after the boy had lost consciousness the carver stayed to watch the Jedi's body shake violently. 

His mixture had worked.

Standing up Showdow let out another bone chilling laugh at the still softly shaking form of the eighteen year old on the floor.  He turned to the door and peered back at the boy.

He opened his mouth and spoke three words that only the wind could pick up.

"Happy Birthday Obi-Wan…"

Soooo you like? Haha I had a particularly fun time writing this chapter… gee I wonder why.  Review please! Thanx and Till later~

Peace Out