I'm sorry it's been so long. The curse of homework, and then a really bad cold, joined forces to prevent me from updating.

This chapter contains Obi-torture. Be warned.

By the way, a great big thanks goes out to all the people who reviewed - all 0 of you. Is anybody still reading this? I love getting feedback, so even if you're just going to say how much you hated the story, REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I really will review your story in return if you give me a title!

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Pain coursed through Obi-Wan's veins like acid. He struggled to move, but found his hands bound tightly with rough rope that burned into his wrists. The pain was blinding, robbing him of his ability to use the Force. His mind was gone, banished from his body. /Please, let it stop./ he thought. /Just let it stop. . ./

* * *

Anakin watched his Master writhe in pain, strapped to gurney so he couldn't escape. "Are you sure this is necessary?" he asked the man standing beside him.

"Quite, Anakin. Obi-Wan is extremely dangerous. He killed Qui-Gon, remember? He would have killed you, too, had he been granted the chance. Your isolation is all his fault."

Anakin thought for a moment. /He's right,/ he realized. /Qui-Gon wouldn't have treated me like this. And why didn't Obi-Wan want to teach me lightsaber fighting?/

"You understand," the man commented in his deep bass voice. "We must keep him subdued. The pain is only the beginning of his punishment."

* * *

Qui-Gon Jinn fought to escape the mental bonds holding him in place. "Why are you doing this?" he yelled, trying to reach out to his apprentice. "Let me help you!"

A cool hand brushed his forehead. "Obi-Wan isn't blocking you," Tahl said. "Dooku is. He doesn't want you to ruin his plan."

"I thought I wouldn't be able to see you," Qui-Gon stated, not believing his eyes.

"Believe it, I'm real," Tahl answered. "You need to know how important it is that you prevent Dooku from training Anakin. You must show Obi-Wan how to help him."

"How? I'm trapped here. I can't reach either of them," Qui-Gon trailed off as he watched Tahl's form disappear into the misty nothingness that surrounded him. "I hate it when she does that," he said to himself. Visions of Obi-Wan in pain teased him, reminding him of his helplessness. "Hang on, Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon said. "I'll help you this time."

* * *

Obi-Wan couldn't breathe. It was as though a bantha had stepped on his chest and decided to stay there. He hacked and gasped, trying to force air into his lungs, but the effort was too much. /I'm too tired to deal with this,/ he thought. /Why can't I breathe?/

His vision began to swim, blackness crowding out the blur of colors that had tormented him. /No!/ he thought vehemently, struggling to breathe. /I can't pass out. I've been through worse./

For a second, his sight returned to him. "Anakin?" he croaked, not believing his eyes. His young apprentice was advancing on him, holding an electrojabber straight out. "Anakin, no!"

* * *

The man stood behind Anakin. "Yes, young one. That is correct. You must exact Qui-Gon's revenge, avenge his death! Allow your hatred for the thing that killed your only true Master to guide you!" His breath caught in his throat, anticipating the pain the boy would inflict on Obi-Wan.

"Anakin, no!" the Master gasped, fighting for air. The man frowned. Obi- Wan had withstood amounts of torture that would have destroyed normal mortals. Anakin hesitated, uncertain.

"Remember Qui-Gon!" the man yelled desperately. "You saw what happened, how he was brutally struck down!"

The man's words strengthened Anakin's resolve, and the boy continued his advance on Obi-Wan. He plunged the electrojabber into his Master's side, watching as the electric shocks coursed through Obi-Wan's body. The power inflamed him, imbued him with a power so primitive it burned.

* * *

Qui-Gon watched Anakin's advance, paralyzed with fascination. /What's going on?/ he thought.

Obi-Wan's screams jolted him out of his trance. "No!" he screamed with his old Padawan. "Anakin, no!"

Something snapped, and Qui-Gon was sent flying across the plane. He landed in a heap, flung away from Anakin and Obi-Wan, but freed of his bonds. Shakily he rose, and ran back to where Anakin stood over Obi-Wan.

* * *

Anakin froze. "Qui-Gon?" he asked. "Is that you?"

"It was not!" the man yelled furiously. "Qui-Gon is dead! He killed him!" the man gestured wildly at Obi-Wan's tortured form.

//Do not believe him, Anakin.// The voice that sounded in Anakin's head was familiar. //I am Qui-Gon. My death was not Obi-Wan's fault, but the fault of a Dark Lord of the Sith. The man, Count Dooku, is another such Dark Lord, though he hides it well. If you continue to harm Obi-Wan, you will be just like Dooku.//

"Qui-Gon?" Anakin said, still incredulous. Something in the voice's words rang true, and he lifted the electrojabber and pointed it at Dooku. "You're lying to me," he said. "Master Obi-Wan loved Qui-Gon. He told me Qui-Gon was like his father." Something else snapped inside Anakin. "Dooku?" he wondered. "You were trying to throw us off the scent. You're the Sith."

"Anakin, don't believe it! It's just a trick!" Dooku backed up desperately, trying to avoid the electrojabber aimed at his heart.

"You were the one who killed all those people at the Temple, weren't you." It wasn't a question; Anakin already knew the answer. "Get out of here, before I kill you."

"You won't," Dooku said, suddenly calmer. "You can't." He raised a hand and pointed it at Anakin. Purple lightning shot from his hand to connect with Anakin's chest. The boy screamed, feeling his heart jump with the electric currents streaming through his body. "Your foolishness has killed you," Dooku said sadly, iginiting his blood red lightsaber and raising it to Anakin's throat.

* * *

Obi-Wan gathered his senses. The pain had abated with Qui-Gon's presence in the room. "Thank you," he whispered, reaching out to the Force for his strength.

As his vision cleared, he saw Dooku throw Force-lightning at Anakin. Realizing the peril his Padawan was in, Obi-Wan called the boy's lightsaber to his hand. He leapt towards the pair, using the Force to propel him forwards. He ignited the blue blade and sliced at Dooku. The man, preoccupied with his torment of the boy, could not block in time. He spun around, stunned at his defeat.

With an evil cackle, Dooku brought out a small box from his robes, fighting to remain standing. He opened the lid and flipped a small switch. "48 - hours," he choked, grinning. Blood spurted up out of his mouth, staining his lips and teeth. "48 - hours - before you - die, - fools." He collapsed, the wound having taken it's toll.

* * *

Qui-Gon felt an overwhelming sense of dread as a new presence infiltrated his plane. "Dooku," he said.

Now, we all know that just killing Obi-Wan and Anakin isn't enough, right? There's only one more chapter left in this story.

Please don't forget to review! It let's me know I'm alive and that all this is real. Otherwise, I could just be sitting in a white room with padded walls, and no access to computers, so how could I post the final chapter? Remember, this is AU, so anything goes . . .