Darth Vader walked into the room holding Obi-Wan's light saber and a small blaster. He set them down on a cart beside the metal table.
Sidious walked over to him. "As expected, Lord Vader, Kenobi is being stubborn. I leave it to you to convince him otherwise – within reason." He said the last part with a hard edge.
Vader nodded. They'd had this conversation before. The Emperor had made it quite clear that he was not to kill Obi-Wan, and had implied dangerous consequences if he did. He truly didn't understand his master's interest in Obi-Wan. He's not worth anything to us, weak as he is! He thought about his master ordering him out of the room before. A flash of anger coursed through him. But then another thought struck him. Maybe my Master wants to reward my loyal service by giving me Obi-Wan! He smiled as he thought about Obi-Wan being his servant, having to do his bidding. "I will convince him, Master."
"I'm sure you will. I'll be back in a while to check on your progress." Sidous left the room. He signaled the four Stormtroopers outside to enter as he passed.
The four troopers walked over to Padme and Obi-Wan. Two grabbed Padme and pulled her off the cot. Obi-Wan squeezed her hand one last time before she was taken away. They took her over to the wall with the binders.
Padme tried to keep herself calm and focus on her breathing. She never took her eyes off Obi-Wan while the binders were locked around her, one by one. She was locked in a standing position, binders on each arm and each leg. The last one to be locked was the one to secure her head. She strained to keep her eyes on Obi-Wan as they locked the mechanism around her forehead.
Obi-Wan tried to move over to her, but was stopped by his two troopers. He watched helplessly as Padme was locked to the wall. He closed his eyes to calm himself first, then reached out to her to calm her as well.
Padme closed her eyes as she felt Obi-Wan calming her down. She opened them again to find Obi-Wan being taken over to the table. The torture table and the binder chains on the wall were directly in front of her.
Vader put up his hand. "First things first." He was obviously enjoying himself. He picked up what looked to be a small medical tool and walked over to Padme.
As he reached toward her face, Padme wanted to shrink back, but couldn't. Vader took the small tool and while holding her eye open, touched one of her eyelids with it. She felt it zap her. He then did the same thing to the other one.
Vader stepped back and looked at her. "I saw you earlier not wanting to take your eyes off of your precious Obi-Wan," he hissed. "So, I'm humoring you. You will find that you're unable to blink, unable to close your eyes at all. You now have no choice but to keep your eyes on him at all times." He walked back over to Obi-Wan, who was still staring at Padme.
Padme heard Obi-Wan's voice in her head. Remember, we'll get through this together.
Vader growled at the troopers by Obi-Wan, "Get him ready!"
The troopers yanked Obi-Wan's cloak off, followed by his cream-colored tunic. "Take off your boots and your pants," one trooper ordered.
Obi-Wan obeyed, all the while reaching out to the Force to prepare him for what was to come. After a couple of minutes, Obi-Wan was standing by the table with nothing on but his under-shorts.
"Get on the table," Vader said with anticipation in his voice.
Padme watched as Obi-Wan got onto the table. The troopers came and locked the binders around his upper arms and his thighs, just above his knees.
"Leave us."
All four troopers complied.
Padme studied Obi-Wan. She realized that this might be the last time she would see him uninjured. She'd never seen him before without his Jedi gear on. The most he'd taken off in front of her had been his cloak. Obi-Wan was big on propriety and always looking the part of a Jedi. She respected him for that. His body was compact, but muscular. He'd obviously kept himself in shape while on Tatooine. She would have enjoyed looking at her handsome Obi-Wan, given different circumstances. His eyes were closed and his face was serene. He's ready. Am I?
Vader picked up the small blaster. "I think we'll start off slow and easy." He set the blaster on its lowest possible setting.
Obi-Wan kept his eyes closed, focusing on the Force. He could sense Vader getting ready to start.
Vader aimed the blaster at Obi-Wan's stomach and fired a short burst.
Obi-Wan's body tensed, but he didn't utter a sound. He didn't even open his eyes.
Padme could see the open, red burn just above the fabric of his shorts.
Vader fired at his chest, then his side. Still no reaction. This angered Vader. He fired at his left thigh, then his right. Aside from the tensing of Obi-Wan's muscles and the sweat dripping from his forehead, there was no evidence of pain.
Vader didn't sense any anger coming from his former master, which was setting off his own quickly. So help me, I will get a reaction out of you! Vader moved the setting on the blaster up a notch.
Obi-Wan was only half aware of the pain now coming from several burns. He released his pain and his emotions into the Force. He could tell the Force suppression drug had almost completely worn off. He felt like he was floating, floating on a still river. The Force embraced him, welcomed him back.
Padme watched Vader as he shot Obi-Wan over and over. She was in awe at Obi's lack of reaction. She could tell that Vader was getting angry. He was not getting the reaction he had hoped for. Then she noticed him move the setting on the blaster up a notch. She watched in horror as he aimed for Obi's chest.
Obi-Wan's eyes flew open when the blast hit him in the chest. The pain shot through him and set fire to the nerve-endings in the area. He grunted, but still made no other sound. His connection with the Force was interrupted by the blast. He closed his eyes again, trying to get it back. He grit his teeth against the searing pain in his chest. He could tell the wound was deeper than the others. He felt warm liquid running from it and down his sides. He reached out to the Force and was relieved when it seemed to reach right back. He focused on healing himself, even as Vader was inflicting more wounds.