A/N:Ê I wonder if anyone will still be reading this?Ê Heh, oh well.Ê Sorry to all for the overdue update again, been having midterms and end-of-quarter funness to deal with.Ê Thanks again to all reviewers, and for letting Obidala romance win over friendship, because frankly I wanted it too.Ê And just a warning, this chapter has some...uhh, rather darker substance to it.Ê Nothing too bad though.
Consciousness slowly returned to Obi-Wan, accompanied by a dull, numbing pain encompassing his entire body.Ê He reached out for the Force, but it was distant.Ê He couldn't think clearly enough yet to figure out what had happened.Ê All he knew is that he was in pain, and couldn'ªt move.
His second realization, as the Force began gradually to come back to him, was that he was not alone.Ê Someone was hovering around him.Ê Opening his eyes did no good, as he only saw a dark blur.Ê And when he tried to move his arms and legs, he found that they were bound.Ê Never one to give up, Obi-Wan consented to his situation and stopped struggling.Ê He lay still, purposely letting his captor have the upper hand.
The presence he sensed was growing stronger, and more familiar.Ê But instead of the usual effortless wave he usually felt through the Force when he met old friends, this person was pressing heavily on his mind, with an ever-growing darkness.Ê Obi-Wan took the time to study the mind he was obviously being allowed to connect too.Ê He wasn't strong enough yet to recognize the person, but he was determined to find out whatever he could.
He stretched out his mind, closing his eyes again, letting the darkness fall over him.Ê This other presence was not necessarily threatening, but Obi-Wan simply sensed that something was wrong with it.Ê That was the only way he knew to explain it to himself.Ê He felt that both captor and captive understood that this shouldn't be happening, but were facing it.Ê There was anguish and torture in this beings' soul such as he had never known.Ê
Obi-Wan dared to slowly open his eyes.Ê He gave an inward sigh of relief as he found he could see again.Ê Unfortunately, just as he twisted around to view the victim of his studies, he saw the door to the chamber he was in close.Ê No more than a few seconds later, it opened again.Ê But a different presence came through it this time.Ê Familiar still, but minus the pain and hurt.Ê This person had been a long friend of the darkness, and proud of it.
Obi-Wan sighed again as the face came into his vision.Ê He should have known.Ê How could he forget, from all those years ago?
"Welcome, old friend," drawled Count Dooku.Ê Dooku smiled ironically at Obi-Wan trying to speak.Ê "Don't attempt it, Master Kenobi.Ê You are completely bound until we figure out what to do with you and your companion."
Obi-Wan felt his stomach lurch as he remembered...Padme!Ê What had they done to her?Ê He had to get to her.Ê But he immediately pushed back his fear, keeping his guard up.Ê For this to work, the masquerade had to go on.
Dooku continued his scrutinizing glare on Obi-Wan, as he spoke again.Ê "How strange, we should find you of all people here.Ê What could one of the most respected Jedi Knights and one of the most sought-after politicians be doing here, on the darker side of Tatooine?Ê I dare not say you merely stumbled into our humble little hideaway."
Obi-Wan simply held Dooku's gaze.Ê What could possibly possess one of the best Jedis, one of the biggest peace advocates, to turn into this?Ê A Sith, a lover of shadows and the other side?
After a moment's contemplation, Dooku hovered closer to Obi-Wan and passed a hand over him.Ê Obi-Wan gasped and suddenly felt his throat open up.Ê "Speak, friend," came the whispered command.
Obi-Wan blocked out his feelings as he prepared himself for his cover story.Ê He hated lying, and most of all hated pretending to be something he could never become.Ê The thought that he would actually have to be a Sith still hadn'ªt fully sunk in.Ê So he kept his emotions in check as he began to tell the tale.Ê "I have been looking for this place for awhile.Ê Insider rumors finally led me here.Ê But '' been having...trouble back at the Temple.Ê I can sense something big coming, anyone with any trace of Force powers knows that, but I think I'm on the other side of it from everyone else at the Temple.Ê And they know I changed.Ê I want to help in this war, but not the Jedis.Ê I'm ready.Ê I want to join you."
Strangely, Dooku's face seemed almost pained.Ê Perhaps he, like Obi-Wan, was recalling memories from his days as an apprentice, when things had seemed so much easier.Ê When there was always someone to watch out for you, and you were never on your own.Ê But we all have to grow up sometime.Ê Dooku suddenly broke his contemplation, and glanced harshly over Obi-Wan's imprisoned body.Ê "That is apparent by your interesting change of clothes," he stated with just a hint of a smile.
Dooku continued.Ê "Obi-Wan, you, of all the Jedi I know...well, I thought you would be the one to hate us most passionately.Ê There was not a single Force-sensitive being who didnÕt feel your pain when Maul killed Qui-Gon."
Obi-Wan knew he would have to be harsh if he was ever to gain the trust of the Sith.Ê But his next statement shocked even him.Ê "Jinn deserved to die."
There was a long silence after that, while Dooku just watched Obi-Wan.Ê Obi-Wan was careful to block off his mind, as he felt himself inwardly weeping.Ê To him, that lie had been his final linking to the Dark Lords.Ê He had just brazenly defied his love for the most important person ever to enter his life.ÊÊ The one person that had kept him strongly hating the Sith.Ê Some people claimed there were shades of gray between the dark and the light sides, but Obi-Wan had only ever seen it as black and white.Ê The day the man he considered his father was killed by the darkness, anything in between was completely erased for him.Ê Any thoughts of gray had been replaced by a deep-seated loathing, most unhealthy for a Jedi.Ê
His last words, "Jinn deserved to die" echoed through his mind.Ê In his pain, Obi-Wan could almost hear them bouncing off the silent walls of the dark cavern he was held in.Ê This sensation left him feeling completely alone.Ê The cave was cold and empty besides him and Dooku.Ê Any signs of other life were long gone.Ê And as his recent lie continued to resurface in his mind again and again, he felt another loss.Ê Ever since Qui-Gon had been killed, Obi-Wan had been reassured only by the fact that he believed he could still sense a small part of him alive through the Force.Ê It was rumored that Jedis never truly died, but transcended.Ê Obi-Wan liked to think that he hadnÕt completely lost his former master.Ê But now that comforting presence was missing, and Obi-Wan was truly left to himself.
Dooku arose after a few moments, staring into the shadows, as if too mystified by Obi-WanÕs statement to look at him.Ê "Well friend, I believe you are here to help us.Ê I donÕt think you could have said that if you felt differently.Ê But the others will not be so easily persuaded, IÕm afraid."
He motioned to the bonds around Obi-Wan, and they loosened.Ê Obi-Wan sat up stiffly, arching his back as he felt his muscles contract.Ê Dooku motioned for him to follow him to the door.Ê As they left the small cavern, he quietly spoke.Ê "Come with me.Ê I shall take you to where Senator Amidala is being held, provided she isnÕt already dead.Ê Politicians can never be trusted, as IÕm sure you know."
Obi-Wan desperately tried to hide his fear for Padme as he reflected on that last statement.Ê Not more than a day ago he would have heartily agreed.Ê But he had learned since then to stop judging until you know someone well enough to care about them.Ê
Obi-Wan studied his surroundings as they continued on a long spiraling trail, headed ever downwards.Ê There was light, but only enough to see directly in front of him.Ê He could tell he was in a very open cave of some sort, and sensed many life forms in surrounding caverns.Ê How long had this hideout existed right under the JedisÕ noses?Ê
There was water dripping somewhere below him, into a large pool.Ê Strange rock formations rose all around him, leaving perception to the imagination.Ê All around him was mystery.Ê The perfect environment for the Dark Side. The air grew colder and blacker the farther down they went, always descending.Ê Obi-Wan felt like he was falling into nothingness, as he could barely see, and most other senses were equally cut off.Ê But suddenly Dooku stopped him, opening what appeared to be a hidden door in the rock wall.
Entering, Obi-Wan found himself in some sort of prison.Ê Dooku muttered a command to the guards, who left abruptly.Ê He turned to Obi-Wan.Ê "I will return shortly.Ê I must inform the others that you are here, and of your intentions.Ê In the meanwhile do what you can."
Dooku swept out of the nearly completely dark room, and Obi-Wan heard the metallic click of the door locking behind him.Ê But suddenly all other thoughts were lost to him, as he sensed a weakened presence lying on the floor.
"Padme," he whispered, as he bent down to find her.Ê
He felt her hand reach up to him, and she grasped onto part of his robe.Ê He could sense pain in her mind, over anything else.Ê It had long since replaced the fear.Ê He worried that the Sith had uncovered the truth.Ê But most of all he worried about her.Ê "Are you alright?" he asked gently, finding her hand to hold.
"Just fine, minus the beatings and the being unconscious till about now," she whispered hoarsely, letting Obi-Wan sense her weak smile.Ê
As Obi-Wan touched her face, he felt the blood there.Ê "Gods, Padme.Ê What have they done to you?"
She pushed his hand away from his face, and Obi-Wan sensed slight embarrassment.Ê "DonÕt worry about me, Obi.Ê IÕll be alright.Ê IÕll just have to stop being a politician from now on."
He smiled softly as he propped her up, supporting her back and shoulders.Ê "WeÕll have to be ready to leave soon.Ê DookuÕs coming back.Ê Do you think you can keep up our cover?"
"ItÕs you IÕm doubting," she quipped, leaning on him.Ê "What have you gotten us into, Kenobi?"
He laughed quietly, holding her against him.Ê He had slipped his arms around her to keep her from falling.Ê "Arguing again, are we?"
"As per usual," she returned.Ê "What did you tell Dooku anyway to make him believe you?"
Obi-WanÕs laughter subsided as memories of his recent untruthful confessions flooded back to him.Ê "Something I thought IÕd never have to say," he whispered in reply.
Padme seemed to see his grief, and left it at that.Ê As the door opened and Dooku came to lead them out, Obi-Wan felt sorrow taking over again.
He hated how easily the lie had come.
Consciousness slowly returned to Obi-Wan, accompanied by a dull, numbing pain encompassing his entire body.Ê He reached out for the Force, but it was distant.Ê He couldn't think clearly enough yet to figure out what had happened.Ê All he knew is that he was in pain, and couldn'ªt move.
His second realization, as the Force began gradually to come back to him, was that he was not alone.Ê Someone was hovering around him.Ê Opening his eyes did no good, as he only saw a dark blur.Ê And when he tried to move his arms and legs, he found that they were bound.Ê Never one to give up, Obi-Wan consented to his situation and stopped struggling.Ê He lay still, purposely letting his captor have the upper hand.
The presence he sensed was growing stronger, and more familiar.Ê But instead of the usual effortless wave he usually felt through the Force when he met old friends, this person was pressing heavily on his mind, with an ever-growing darkness.Ê Obi-Wan took the time to study the mind he was obviously being allowed to connect too.Ê He wasn't strong enough yet to recognize the person, but he was determined to find out whatever he could.
He stretched out his mind, closing his eyes again, letting the darkness fall over him.Ê This other presence was not necessarily threatening, but Obi-Wan simply sensed that something was wrong with it.Ê That was the only way he knew to explain it to himself.Ê He felt that both captor and captive understood that this shouldn't be happening, but were facing it.Ê There was anguish and torture in this beings' soul such as he had never known.Ê
Obi-Wan dared to slowly open his eyes.Ê He gave an inward sigh of relief as he found he could see again.Ê Unfortunately, just as he twisted around to view the victim of his studies, he saw the door to the chamber he was in close.Ê No more than a few seconds later, it opened again.Ê But a different presence came through it this time.Ê Familiar still, but minus the pain and hurt.Ê This person had been a long friend of the darkness, and proud of it.
Obi-Wan sighed again as the face came into his vision.Ê He should have known.Ê How could he forget, from all those years ago?
"Welcome, old friend," drawled Count Dooku.Ê Dooku smiled ironically at Obi-Wan trying to speak.Ê "Don't attempt it, Master Kenobi.Ê You are completely bound until we figure out what to do with you and your companion."
Obi-Wan felt his stomach lurch as he remembered...Padme!Ê What had they done to her?Ê He had to get to her.Ê But he immediately pushed back his fear, keeping his guard up.Ê For this to work, the masquerade had to go on.
Dooku continued his scrutinizing glare on Obi-Wan, as he spoke again.Ê "How strange, we should find you of all people here.Ê What could one of the most respected Jedi Knights and one of the most sought-after politicians be doing here, on the darker side of Tatooine?Ê I dare not say you merely stumbled into our humble little hideaway."
Obi-Wan simply held Dooku's gaze.Ê What could possibly possess one of the best Jedis, one of the biggest peace advocates, to turn into this?Ê A Sith, a lover of shadows and the other side?
After a moment's contemplation, Dooku hovered closer to Obi-Wan and passed a hand over him.Ê Obi-Wan gasped and suddenly felt his throat open up.Ê "Speak, friend," came the whispered command.
Obi-Wan blocked out his feelings as he prepared himself for his cover story.Ê He hated lying, and most of all hated pretending to be something he could never become.Ê The thought that he would actually have to be a Sith still hadn'ªt fully sunk in.Ê So he kept his emotions in check as he began to tell the tale.Ê "I have been looking for this place for awhile.Ê Insider rumors finally led me here.Ê But '' been having...trouble back at the Temple.Ê I can sense something big coming, anyone with any trace of Force powers knows that, but I think I'm on the other side of it from everyone else at the Temple.Ê And they know I changed.Ê I want to help in this war, but not the Jedis.Ê I'm ready.Ê I want to join you."
Strangely, Dooku's face seemed almost pained.Ê Perhaps he, like Obi-Wan, was recalling memories from his days as an apprentice, when things had seemed so much easier.Ê When there was always someone to watch out for you, and you were never on your own.Ê But we all have to grow up sometime.Ê Dooku suddenly broke his contemplation, and glanced harshly over Obi-Wan's imprisoned body.Ê "That is apparent by your interesting change of clothes," he stated with just a hint of a smile.
Dooku continued.Ê "Obi-Wan, you, of all the Jedi I know...well, I thought you would be the one to hate us most passionately.Ê There was not a single Force-sensitive being who didnÕt feel your pain when Maul killed Qui-Gon."
Obi-Wan knew he would have to be harsh if he was ever to gain the trust of the Sith.Ê But his next statement shocked even him.Ê "Jinn deserved to die."
There was a long silence after that, while Dooku just watched Obi-Wan.Ê Obi-Wan was careful to block off his mind, as he felt himself inwardly weeping.Ê To him, that lie had been his final linking to the Dark Lords.Ê He had just brazenly defied his love for the most important person ever to enter his life.ÊÊ The one person that had kept him strongly hating the Sith.Ê Some people claimed there were shades of gray between the dark and the light sides, but Obi-Wan had only ever seen it as black and white.Ê The day the man he considered his father was killed by the darkness, anything in between was completely erased for him.Ê Any thoughts of gray had been replaced by a deep-seated loathing, most unhealthy for a Jedi.Ê
His last words, "Jinn deserved to die" echoed through his mind.Ê In his pain, Obi-Wan could almost hear them bouncing off the silent walls of the dark cavern he was held in.Ê This sensation left him feeling completely alone.Ê The cave was cold and empty besides him and Dooku.Ê Any signs of other life were long gone.Ê And as his recent lie continued to resurface in his mind again and again, he felt another loss.Ê Ever since Qui-Gon had been killed, Obi-Wan had been reassured only by the fact that he believed he could still sense a small part of him alive through the Force.Ê It was rumored that Jedis never truly died, but transcended.Ê Obi-Wan liked to think that he hadnÕt completely lost his former master.Ê But now that comforting presence was missing, and Obi-Wan was truly left to himself.
Dooku arose after a few moments, staring into the shadows, as if too mystified by Obi-WanÕs statement to look at him.Ê "Well friend, I believe you are here to help us.Ê I donÕt think you could have said that if you felt differently.Ê But the others will not be so easily persuaded, IÕm afraid."
He motioned to the bonds around Obi-Wan, and they loosened.Ê Obi-Wan sat up stiffly, arching his back as he felt his muscles contract.Ê Dooku motioned for him to follow him to the door.Ê As they left the small cavern, he quietly spoke.Ê "Come with me.Ê I shall take you to where Senator Amidala is being held, provided she isnÕt already dead.Ê Politicians can never be trusted, as IÕm sure you know."
Obi-Wan desperately tried to hide his fear for Padme as he reflected on that last statement.Ê Not more than a day ago he would have heartily agreed.Ê But he had learned since then to stop judging until you know someone well enough to care about them.Ê
Obi-Wan studied his surroundings as they continued on a long spiraling trail, headed ever downwards.Ê There was light, but only enough to see directly in front of him.Ê He could tell he was in a very open cave of some sort, and sensed many life forms in surrounding caverns.Ê How long had this hideout existed right under the JedisÕ noses?Ê
There was water dripping somewhere below him, into a large pool.Ê Strange rock formations rose all around him, leaving perception to the imagination.Ê All around him was mystery.Ê The perfect environment for the Dark Side. The air grew colder and blacker the farther down they went, always descending.Ê Obi-Wan felt like he was falling into nothingness, as he could barely see, and most other senses were equally cut off.Ê But suddenly Dooku stopped him, opening what appeared to be a hidden door in the rock wall.
Entering, Obi-Wan found himself in some sort of prison.Ê Dooku muttered a command to the guards, who left abruptly.Ê He turned to Obi-Wan.Ê "I will return shortly.Ê I must inform the others that you are here, and of your intentions.Ê In the meanwhile do what you can."
Dooku swept out of the nearly completely dark room, and Obi-Wan heard the metallic click of the door locking behind him.Ê But suddenly all other thoughts were lost to him, as he sensed a weakened presence lying on the floor.
"Padme," he whispered, as he bent down to find her.Ê
He felt her hand reach up to him, and she grasped onto part of his robe.Ê He could sense pain in her mind, over anything else.Ê It had long since replaced the fear.Ê He worried that the Sith had uncovered the truth.Ê But most of all he worried about her.Ê "Are you alright?" he asked gently, finding her hand to hold.
"Just fine, minus the beatings and the being unconscious till about now," she whispered hoarsely, letting Obi-Wan sense her weak smile.Ê
As Obi-Wan touched her face, he felt the blood there.Ê "Gods, Padme.Ê What have they done to you?"
She pushed his hand away from his face, and Obi-Wan sensed slight embarrassment.Ê "DonÕt worry about me, Obi.Ê IÕll be alright.Ê IÕll just have to stop being a politician from now on."
He smiled softly as he propped her up, supporting her back and shoulders.Ê "WeÕll have to be ready to leave soon.Ê DookuÕs coming back.Ê Do you think you can keep up our cover?"
"ItÕs you IÕm doubting," she quipped, leaning on him.Ê "What have you gotten us into, Kenobi?"
He laughed quietly, holding her against him.Ê He had slipped his arms around her to keep her from falling.Ê "Arguing again, are we?"
"As per usual," she returned.Ê "What did you tell Dooku anyway to make him believe you?"
Obi-WanÕs laughter subsided as memories of his recent untruthful confessions flooded back to him.Ê "Something I thought IÕd never have to say," he whispered in reply.
Padme seemed to see his grief, and left it at that.Ê As the door opened and Dooku came to lead them out, Obi-Wan felt sorrow taking over again.
He hated how easily the lie had come.