Golden Elanor-

Mellon…has anyone ever told you that you were crazy? –Grins- Of course…I'm not saying that I'm sane…if I were…I'd be a very different person….don't ask…it's the sugar talking!

Glad you've liked it so far, and glad that you've understood it so far, if you ever get confused, feel free to ask, cause I do make some references to previous books in the chapter.

Kynstar-

Yeah, Serr did betray him, not a very nice kid, Adi and Siri will be in the pic later…just not now, having way to much fun for them to spoil it at the moment O.O

MusicDreamer

Adi and Siri are around, but not in this chapter, not yet anyways. Serr…well, he'll be back later too, can't get rid of him quite yet. But I'll let you have him after the story's done, okay?

Halfling

There will be more confrontation, some in this story, and some later, depending on what you see as confrontation exactly. Now that I think about it, I guess that last part does seem like POTC, but that didn't cross my mind until you guys pointed it out. Poor Obi-Wan though, he does need to learn to negotiate.

K-rock

Yes, you were very right about Serr, and I'm not sure how many times that happens with you, but with me…a few times…not very often though. And another feeling…hmm…I won't give any clues.

And the POTC factor again…I didn't realize it sounded like that, I wasn't aiming for the piracy feel…but ey, it works!

Saiyan Jedi

-beams- I try at least, and I do enjoy writing, I just wish I had more time do so. Obi-Wan is a bit…trusting of others, his own age at least. He doesn't like others that are older, such as Didi, he didn't like him at first, and didn't quite trust him at first either. But he got used to him.

Mellaithwen

-runs with an inhaler-

Breathe! Don't die, I don't want to be responsible for killing my readers with certain betrayals!

Ona Nobis, funny…there is a lil bit of a mentioning of her in here…not quite, but just the same.

But it sounds interesting, which means you have to start writing or I'll have to go all the way over there and make you write, and I don't have enough money to do that.

Yes, Serr is an evil git…what is a git anyways? –Thinks- I'll have to check up on that one.

Ahn-Li Steffraini

Sounds interesting, I read your first chapter, but I haven't left a review, I do need to do that don't I…

When I have time at least. Enjoy the chapter

Warnings: This chapter is rated R for umm...torture –runs and hides-

Chapter Ten

Betrayal, now he knew what it felt like, knew the stabbing pain, the foolishness felt. He had trusted Serr with his life, trusted someone he had barely known. Now he had been stabbed in the back.

Obi-Wan dropped his head into his hands, rubbing his temples. He had been such a fool, he had followed Serr blindly, because he had been too focused on his goal, to worried about the future. How many times had Qui-Gon told him to focus on the present? Apparently not enough, he decided.

It was a shock, to find out that Serr had been working for Xanatos, a bitter pain that he could not explain worked its way through him. Was this how Qui-Gon had felt when he left him back on Melida/Daan? Or was it worse? He had Qui-Gon had a bond, while Serr had not. If it hurt this much for him, he could only imagine what Qui-Gon went through.

Obi-Wan pushed himself to his feet, surveying his surroundings once again. He was in an open-barred cell, large enough for him to move freely about without hassle, but small enough to still make him feel restrained. He had been locked in here by some Strunian guards, left to wait for Xanatos to come fetch him. It was something Obi-Wan was not looking forward to. The sounds of footsteps alerted him that he wasn't alone, and he turned to face the other, surprised to see Serr come along side his cell.

"What are you doing here?" Obi-Wan asked coldly, crossing his arms as he leaned against the bars.

"I came to see how you were doing," Serr answered, grabbing a hold of a bar.

"You have a lot a nerve," Obi-Wan continued, "I figured you would be up celebrating with Xanatos, or something of that matter."

Serr looked down for a moment, grasping the bar tightly. "I'm sorry Obi-Wan, I didn't have a choice. Xanatos has promised me things…things no one else can give me," he lifted his head, eyes meeting with Obi-Wan's. "I'll finally be able to get out of here, live my own life. It's what I've always wanted."

Obi-Wan scoffed, "Xanatos doesn't help anyone but himself."

"I don't' believe that," Serr said sharply, "Xanatos is a fantastic leader, look at what he's done for them! After my Uncle killed my parents I was left alone, until I met Xanatos. He promised me I would have great power, and that I would be able to leave with him when his work was done here, all I had to do was help him."

"And have you received any of these promised things?" Obi-Wan asked him.

Serr was quiet for a moment. "Not yet, but I will, you'll see."

"I find that hardly possible. He's planned to kill both my Master and me. I won't be around to see it."

Serr shook his head. "He's said he wouldn't hurt you. Just confine you until he's finished. I can't blame him, he doesn't want his work ruined. He told me about your plans to try and stop him. He said that your Master was jealous, jealous of his abilities. Xanatos said that he chased him out of the Jedi Order, because he was better than Qui-Gon. He told me that Qui-Gon killed his father, and that you killed another student because he was more skilled than you, that's why the two of you work so well together, and you needed to be stopped."

Obi-Wan frowned. "He's told you a lot hasn't he? Shame most of it isn't true."

Serr slammed the bar with his hands. "Do not call him a liar!" he cried. "I know Xanatos, he wouldn't lie!"

Obi-Wan shrugged. "So I must be lying, only because everything else I've told you was true."

With a sigh the prince shook his head. "Believe what you want, you'll understand when I'm off on my own."

"I hope you enjoy it then," Obi-Wan told him shortly.

"I said I was sorry," Serr told him. "What more do you want?"

"Oh I don't," Obi-Wan said, gesturing around the cell. "Maybe to get out of here so Qui-Gon and I can leave?"

Serr shook his head. "I can't do that."

"Oh don't worry, I wouldn't expect you to, that's a job for a friend."

"You're still my friend," Serr explained.

"Truly? You have an interesting way of showing friendship."

"And what would my assistant be doing all the way down here?" Xanatos said, coming in from the shadows. He came up behind Serr, placing a hand on his arm. "I think it's time for you to leave. Young Kenobi and I have certain…issues to discuss."

Serr nodded, "Our discussion is over," he told Xanatos, turning his gaze toward him. "I'll be waiting up top."

Xanatos smiled as he left. "Such a good boy," he stated, entering the cell. He left the door unlocked, Obi-Wan noted with rising hope.

"Now, as for you," he started, only to be cut off by the padawan.

"I'm not afraid of you," Obi-Wan stated crisply.

"We'll have to fix that then, won't we?" Xanatos responded, his ice cold with fury.

Suddenly Obi-Wan dogged around Xanatos' form, running for door. But Xanatos was quicker, much quicker. Grabbing the boy by the shoulder, he threw him roughly into the wall. A popping sound was followed by a deep burning sensation in his shoulder, following down his arm as his shoulder was dislocated. Obi-Wan lost his footing, falling forward and catching his weight with arms, the motion causing his shoulder to pop back into place.

He grimcaced as Xanatos grabbed him by the forearm, dragging him back to his feet. But he wasn't willing to give up quite yet. He threw a punch at Xanatos, catching him in the head, but it only earned him a sharp blow to his face and a second blow to his midsection, dropping him to his knees once again. With a sharp tug, Xanatos had him back upright, wrapping an arm around chest, pinning him still. With his free hand he pulled out a small vial that held a clear liquid.

"No," Obi-Wan whispered, trying to wrench free of Xanatos' hold. He heard his captor laugh.

"You remember this," Xanatos said with a smile, bringing his first hand up to grab the boy's chin. "You weren't supposed to, but your mind is strong."

Obi-Wan grabbed Xanatos' arm, trying to push him away. Xanatos only laughed harder as he opened the vial, forcing Obi-Wan to open his mouth as he poured the liquid inside. A burning sensation coated his tongue as he tried to spit the toxin back out. Xanatos covered his mouth and nose with his now free hand, cutting off his air supply.

Obi-Wan struggled in vain, refusing to swallow, his eyes were beginning to tear. He let his legs buckle underneath him, hoping his weight would pull him free but Xanatos held him fast. His lungs were on fire, begging for air. When long at last Obi-Wan finally swallowed, it was much to his dismay.

As soon as he had done so, Xanatos let him free, dropping the gasping boy to the floor. Obi-Wan supported himself on his hands and knees, his body trembling lightly from the toxin's effects. He felt the force seemingly drain away, followed by a sharp throbbing pain under his skull.

Xanatos drug him back to his feet, the sudden movement making him nauseous. "Don't worry," he told Obi-Wan sharply. "You aren't finished yet. I can guarantee that you will not survive this time."

Obi-Wan was unaware of where he was being taken, most his energy was spent to keep his stomach still and legs underneath him. Even though this drug had been given to him several of times before, the results were still the same. He could not fight the turmoil inside of him. He could not touch the force, and the darkness was ever growing.

Xanatos suddenly stopped, pushing him to his knees. "Stay there," he warned, walking up ahead of him. Obi-Wan couldn't move anyway, the toxin robbed him of his strength, he could do little more than support himself right now. He calculated in his head how long the single dose would affect him. Several hours at the very least, too long to attempt an escape. To long to do anything but hoped he survived whatever Xanatos had planned for him.

His braid was pulled sharply as Xanatos half drug and half pulled Obi-Wan near the wall. Before he knew what was happening, chains were placed around his wrists, holding him in place. Obi-Wan pulled back, twisting the chains, trying to pull free, even though he knew he could not.

Xanatos disappeared from his line of vision, walking behind him. He appeared on his other side, holding something in his hands. "Do you know what this is?" he asked the boy softly. Tapping the butt of the weapon against his arm.

Obi-Wan said nothing, but he knew what it was. He had seen one before, the same weapon the Sorrusian Bounty Hunter had used, in the events that had led up to Qui-Gon's first capture. Obi-Wan closed his eyes as Xanatos began to explain its functions in detail.

"We use to train our fighters," he told the boy with a laugh. "Many of them have thick skin, so electro-jabbers do little damage. These whips are more, efficient you could say," he added with a grin. He snapped the whip in the air, causing Obi-Wan to grimace.

"I think I will rather enjoy this," Xanatos added, as he dealt the first strike. Obi-Wan grimaced, biting his lip. The whip was hardly wider than his index finger, but it cut through his tunic, slicing his skin. The sensation burned as the cut began to bleed.

He was struck once more, Xanatos showed him no leniency as he brought the whip down on him again and again. Obi-Wan struggled against the chains, trying to pull away from the blinding pain. Never before had he felt such pain, and he never wished to again.

He let out a short cry as his breaths came in heavy gasps. Silent tears fell from his eyes as he bit his lip, trying to collect himself. The last thing he wanted was to show Xanatos his weakness, but it was hard. The pain was pushing him beyond his limits.

He let out a startled cry when the next strike burned him. Xanatos had switched it to laser mode, on the low setting, he guessed mildly. As soon as it began, he wished for the regular whip again. The laser hurt worse then the one before.

Suddenly the blows stopped, and Obi-Wan fell forward, the chains supporting his weight. He was crying, his hands balled up in fists as Xanatos knelt next to him.

"Painful isn't it?" Xanatos asked, grabbing onto his tattered tunic. With a none to gentle motion, Xanatos cut the cloth from his torso, wadding it up into a ball.

"I do believe your Master would like to see your progress," he told Obi-Wan with a laugh. Obi-Wan said nothing, keeping his eyes fixed on the floor. Xanatos stood, kicking the cloth away as he picked up the whip again.

"Ready for a second round" he asked, raising his arm. Obi-Wan closed his eyes, focusing on his training as the whip came down again. He would accept the pain, even as his head swayed, and his senses numbed as he fell into a dark abyss of anguish.

Qui-Gon paced back in forth in the small cell, his mind turning over itself time after time. He was frustrated, no he was beyond that. How could he have been so stupid? Why had he actually believed Xanatos? After hearing that Obi-Wan had been killed he cut himself off from the force. He hadn't tested the bonds, hadn't trusted himself to see if his padawan stilled lived or if he had actually fallen victim to Xanatos.

With a sigh Qui-Gon let himself sit down. He wasn't strong enough to continue his relentless pacing. His thoughts drifted back to Obi-Wan. What was happening to him, where did Xanatos take him? He reached out with the force, testing his bonds, but felt a void. It made him ill.

Was he to weak to sense Obi-Wan's presence, or had something happen to him? Qui-Gon's stomach twisted to this thought. He wouldn't believe it now, he had once, but he refused to allow him to think such thoughts.

The door to his cell opened, and Qui-Gon was on his feet as Xanatos stood in the doorway. His former apprentice grinned at him as he tossed a dirtied rag inside. "I've brought a present that may cheer you up," he said, laughing.

Qui-Gon's face paled as he picked up Obi-Wan's tunic, the fabric torn and stained with blood, Obi-Wan's blood, Qui-Gon realized dimly. He glared back up at Xanatos, who still had a smirk on his face.

"What have you done, where is he?"

"He got what he deserved," Xanatos said, shrugging. "If he had died when he was supposed to, I wouldn't have had to deal with him. He's quite strong," Xanatos remarked, rubbing his cheekbone. "Put up quite a fight. Strong willed like you. Pride got the better of him though."

Qui-Gon felt a rage building inside him as he stepped up to his former padawan. His hands trembled he gripped the cloth. "Where is he?"

"Put away for now, nothing you need to worry about. You should worry about yourself, your time will come too." With that, Xanatos left, closing the door behind him.

Qui-Gon smashed a fist against the door, screaming in frustration. With a deep breath, he tried to calm himself as he slid to the floor, clutching his padawan's tunic in his hands. Once again, Obi-Wan had taken the punishment for his own mistakes.

TBC