A big "thank you" to my faithful reviewers, Sassy-Satine, abcd and Sith Lord Darth Revan. (Please forgive me if I've left someone out!) Your comments have been much appreciated!
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Padme was back on the wall again, eyes cemented open. She watched the troopers locking Obi-Wan into the binder chains attached to the wall opposite her. He was again stripped down to his under-shorts. He was facing her. She saw Darth Vader pick up Obi-Wan's lightsaber off of the now very bent and barely standing cart. She tried to stay calm. Her emotions were still raw from having to watch Obi-Wan be tortured yesterday. She knew that this was going to be worse – much worse.
Obi-Wan took a deep breath as Vader ignited the lightsaber. Obi-Wan watched as the green blade drew closer. "Has Sidious told you why he wants me?"
Vader turned the power on the lightsaber down a couple notches. He wasn't going to allow Obi-Wan to stall him. He then slowly raked the end of the blade from the top of Obi-Wan's chest down to the top of the fabric of his shorts, leaving a somewhat deep, bright red, bubbling path on Obi-Wan's skin.
Obi-Wan made no sound, besides his breathing coming out in pants. His forehead was already wet with sweat. He tried to focus on what he was doing.
Vader was irritated again by the lack of response. "No. Nor does he need to. I know what he has in mind."
"I somehow doubt that you do." Obi-Wan gritted his teeth at the pain. He called to the Force and released the pain into it. Again, it seemed to happen so easily. It almost felt like the Force was hovering around him, wanting him to connect with it.
Even as Vader started tracing another line down Obi-Wan's chest, he sneered, "Oh, please enlighten me, Obi-Wan." He cursed inwardly as he finished and again got no response.
Obi-Wan tried to concentrate. Sweat was now dripping into his eyes, stinging them. He again released the pain into the ever-waiting Force. He wanted to start healing himself, but he had to stay focused on the task at hand.
"Sidious has no intention…of giving me to you." Obi-Wan tried to focus on Vader's emotions. "I know that's what you think, that I'm meant to be some sort of…reward for you. That you'll be able to do…whatever you wish with me."
Vader paused as he was about to start another line down Obi-Wan's chest. It irritated him that Obi-Wan knew exactly what he was thinking. Vader then continued his task. He tried to make his voice sound nonchalant. "I don't care what my master has in mind for you. It doesn't matter to me one way or the other."
Padme wanted to cry out for Obi-Wan to stop baiting Vader. But she didn't dare. She had to trust that Obi-Wan knew what he was doing. But she was finding that rather difficult. What is Obi thinking? All he's going to do is make Vader more angry and determined to hurt him! She watched as Obi-Wan bit his lip to keep from making a sound. He was sweating profusely. Her wide-open eyes were welling up with tears. Her vision blurred. She tried blinking the tears away, but of course, that didn't work. The tears slid down her face as she unwittingly struggled to see what was happening.
Obi-Wan struggled to stay on his feet. He closed his eyes to keep some of the streams of sweat out of them. He called to the Force, which was still right there ready to aid him. He felt it flood through him, taking the pain with it. "Things aren't exactly well…between you and Sidious, are they?" He felt a spark of surprise and then anger from Vader.
Vader started another line down Obi-Wan's chest. "You've got a lot of nerve! You know NOTHING about us! Things are fine! It's a much more rewarding master/apprentice relationship than I ever had with you!"
Obi-Wan pushed away the pain that last statement brought to his heart. His mind was fogging up. He shook his head, trying to clear it. He felt his mind wanting to black out, but quickly called to the Force. Once again, the Force whisked through him. He could feel it working to keep him awake. It wanted him to stay awake. Well, the Force seems to approve of what I'm doing. He forced his eyes open.
Vader started another line. Obi-Wan's eyes closed against the pain. He managed to gasp out, "Liar! Your master…isn't exactly…happy…with you right now." Force, help me stay awake! He gasped as the blade dug deeper into him.
Vader channeled his anger into his stroke down the left side of Obi-Wan's chest. How does he know that? My master certainly didn't tell him that! "I suggest you shut up, Obi-Wan! You may think you know what's going on, but you don't!"
Padme had to swallow down the sobs working their way up her throat. She wanted to scream, but couldn't find her voice. Obi, stop! Please, stop!
Obi-Wan knew he was playing a dangerous game, but also knew he couldn't stop. He was hanging limply by his arms, his legs having given out. His breathing was ragged. Sweat was dripping into his wounds, which felt like trails of fire moving down his chest.
Even with the Force helping him, it was really getting hard to concentrate. Here goes nothing…
Vader was now working on the last available strip of skin on the right side of Obi-Wan's chest. He paused mid-stroke as Obi-Wan's latest words hit him.
"Sidious…doesn't…want you…as his…apprentice…anymore." Not exactly true, but not exactly a lie either. All thoughts left Obi-Wan as his saber started digging further and further into his side.
Padme saw Vader halt his stroke, shocked by Obi-Wan's statement. She watched in horror as Vader kept the lightsaber against Obi-Wan's side, letting it bore further and further in. She saw Obi-Wan lose consciousness as the blade dug deep into his side. "STOP!" She screamed so loud it startled Vader and he withdrew the saber. At the same time, Padme saw the Emperor come running in, followed by a couple of Stormtroopers. She'd never seen him run before. He'd always sort of glided. He showed none of the calm that he usually displayed.
Sidious ran over to Vader and the form hanging limply from the chains. "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?" He undid the binders and lowered Obi-Wan onto his back. He could see his internal organs through the gaping hole in his side. Fluid was flowing out of the wound. He turned to the nearest trooper. "Go get a healer, now! Your life depends upon your speed!" The trooper left at a run.
Sidious stood up slowly, fire in his eyes. Vader could sense the Force swirling around his master. He could also sense his master's rage. Before he could utter a word, he felt himself being Force-pushed all the way to the back wall. His head smacked against the wall with a crack. He couldn't move. Sidious was holding him in place.
Sidious slowly walked towards Vader. He worked to calm his murderous rage. "Do you feel the need to test me, Vader? Is that it? Are you testing my words to you?"
Vader tried to speak, but the force against him was so great he couldn't get any words out. He tried to focus and send his thoughts to his master, but Sidious was blocking him.
Sidious stopped in front of Vader. "So help me, Vader, if Kenobi dies, so do you!" He waited for a moment before finally letting Vader go.
Vader's head was throbbing. He stepped away from the wall. How in the galaxy did things get this bad? "Master, I…"
Sidious cut him off. "I suggest you get out of my sight for the time being! Do not go far, for this discussion is not yet over."
Padme was watching the whole spectacle with shock, curiosity and a tiny bit of vengeful pleasure. Her eyes followed Vader as he left the room. She knew that it wouldn't take long for the shock to wear off and Vader's anger to return full-force. She also knew who would be the target of that anger.
Padme's eyes returned to the still form on the floor. Her heart sank. He was so pale. He looked…dead. Padme felt herself dying inside at the thought. She saw the Emperor approach Obi-Wan. He put out his hand and Obi-Wan was lifted off the floor. The Emperor turned slowly toward the cot in the back. Padme watched as Obi-Wan glided through the air and was laid gently on the cot.
Just then, the trooper came running back in, followed closely by a healer who was breathing heavily. The healer noticed the still form on the cot and rushed over to him. She gasped as she noticed the severity of his wounds. She opened her kit and quickly injected Obi-Wan with a hypo. As she set to work on the hole in his side, the Emperor approached her.
Sidious looked at her and pointed to Obi-Wan. "If he dies, so do you." The healer's eyes widened, but she nodded and quickly got back to work.
Sidious then walked towards Padme. He released her from the wall and watched as she stumbled over to the cot. She seemed to be in a daze. Sidious knew that Padme would probably be the key to Obi-Wan's survival.