Hi everyone! well, here's chapter 7! Now I've got to go and do tonnes of homework! HEHE! I was a little disconcerted how excited everyone got at the prospect of torture:s LOL! Oh well, whatever floats you boat! Lol!

Thanx for all your kind reviews, keep them coming in, their really helpful.


Obi-Wan was woken from a restless and fitful sleep by the faint cries sounding from beyond the overhang

Of his tent. He shook his head in attempt to clear his mind, thinking the sound was his own overactive

Imagination. Once his vision cleared, and his head ceased to spin, the cries continued to persist. It took

Only moments for their relevance to sink in. 'Anakin!' In sheer desperation, Obi-Wan tugged at the chords

On his wrists, just short of verbally begging them to loosen, to just let him release himself and help his

Padawan. He received no give, and was exhausted with the effort. Never had he felt so helpless, he

Reached out with all his will to the force, feeling it within his grasp then felt it slowly slip away, as

If abandoning him, abandoning his apprentice, the cold, deathly whisper of isolation and fear clouded his

Already muddled mind, and he could not help but feel it was a losing battle between himself and his

Overwhelming emotions. The cold, 'snap!' of an aged whip broke the silence of the morning, and

An anguished cry broke out from his Padawan causing Obi-Wan to flinch in anticipation, the sound echoed

Once again, and Obi-Wan felt the full force of his fear and despair crushing down on him, suffocating him,

like someone had pulled a sheet over his head and was refusing to let go, he pulled at his binds once

more, ignoring the burning sensation in his wrists and the screams of protest in his stiff and wrenched

Muscles, but it was of no use, he was going nowhere. Another 'crack,' another cry, and the agonizing,

Torturous pattern continued on, and on, and on. Obi-Wan closed his eyes and calmed his furious breathing.

This was for him, it was up to him now, give them what they want and it will stop, that's what the man had

Said, and the age old ethical question had arisen once more, as it did so often in his life as a Jedi. Does one

Sacrifice the lives of thousands to spare the ones closest to you, or do you sacrifice those closest to you

To save many? It was a question who's answer Obi-Wan had never quite conquered. Anakin was almost

Like a son to him, a son that was at present being brutally beaten no more than twenty yards away, and he

Could do nothing, he could only sit and listen to the endless, pained, cries, that erupted every time one lash

Of pain would break through Anakin's strong resolution, and it sickened him, sickened him to the point of

Fury, which was a line no Jedi wanted to cross, an emotion not associated with those so attuned to the force.

He had to speak with D'agri, even if he could not give them the dispatches the Jedi had sworn to carry to

Safety, the very thing that D'agri seemed to be bent on getting his blood-stained hands on, he hoped he

Could at least form some sort of agreement with the man. His breathing became rushed once more as he

Frantically considered his options, the constant throb of the whip breaking through the select moments of peace every four seconds or so. Anakin's cries had minimized to weakened groans now, and

Obi-Wan realized with despair that the boy was getting progressively weaker, he tried to ignore

The boy's constant, pain-filled pleas through the force, crying out, to anyone who'd listen, for help, in

Any shape or form. He didn't have much strength left in him. Obi-Wan felt like his heart was being torn in

Two, and his own indecisiveness angered him, he knew he had to try, for Anakin's sake, even if he failed,

Anakin could at least live with the knowledge that his master had tried to help him. The force had

Abandoned him, he did not know why or how, but somehow, it had, and one thing was for sure, Obi-Wan

Would not do the same thing.

"D'agri!"

No response.

The lashes continued to fall on his Padawan's broken body, the groans grew fainter, and fainter, he was

Losing the battle for his life, and the comforting darkness of unconsciousness threatened to consume him.

Obi-Wan tried again, not even trying to hide the desperation in his voice.

"D'agri!" He waited many, agonizing moments, and after several seconds, the harsh 'crack' of the bloodied

Whip ceased to pierce the morning air. Words were exchanged, few, and frantic, and hurried footsteps made

Their way to Obi-Wan's tent, Obi-Wan breathed a sigh of relief, at least his Padawan would be receiving a

Few minutes of well deserved rest, if that's what he'd call it. The overhang was thrown back, and D'agri

Rushed in, none of his calm collected stance or serene features seemed apparent anymore, though the pride

Was still very much alive. He smiled his evil smile, and bent down to Obi-Wan's level.

"I knew you'd come around, the tried and tested methods always work the best I find." Obi-Wan had to take

Several deep, filling breaths to keep his emotions in check, and his voice steady. But D'agri prompted.

"Well?"

"I can't give you what you want D'agri, but I can make you a deal, a deal that will benefit both our worlds,

And should hopefully bring this bloody war between your planet and Derrus and Caversa to a peaceful

end." For a brief moment, D'agri seemed almost interested. He rubbed his bearded chin thoughtfully.

"What sort of deal?"

"If our mission had been undisturbed, all your planets would be well on their way to a peaceful solution

By now, one that would benefit you all equally."

"What are you implying?"

"Let us go, let us complete what we left to do, and I assure you, with my word as a Jedi, that all will be well

Between you in the next couple of days." The large man laughed, and shook his head, this wasn't going

Exactly as Obi-Wan had planned, but he hoped, as much as he disliked the idea, if he played to the man's

Weaknesses, such as his greed, and pride, he could come out of this on top. That was his hope anyway.

"Unfortunately Jedi, your word, just isn't good enough."

"What is it that you want then?"

"I just don't see how this would benefit me personally, galactic peace is a very noble vision, but war

Is a risky business, as you well know young master. I want to be sure that I won't come out of this ruined,

I want security, affirmation, as I'm sure you'll understand." Obi-Wan understood, but he could not

Sympathize, he could tell the truth, but it was a truth he didn't want to have to openly admit to this Chief,

He did not like having to play on another's greed.

"You'll be well compensated by the republic-"

"You lie!" D'agri bellowed, pointing his plump forefinger at Obi-Wan's face.

"I've already said that the republic means nothing out here, this is a con, they'll never compensate us! We

Mean as much as a bantha does to them!" Obi-Wan kept his voice steady, the voice of reason for the both

Of them.

"You're wrong, and they will compensate, you maybe out of the republic territories, but the senate's main

concern is the welfare of the galaxy as a unit, it is what they were elected to do, and one of our main laws is

the guarantee of a generous sum to be received by all previously warring planets' leaders, to go towards

damage repairs and the replenishing of resources. It's a fair bargain, and it'll be contracted, so it's

Certified." He released a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding, and watched as D'agri seemed

To be fighting some sort of inner battle, Obi-Wan's plan seemed to be working, he only prayed that

It remained that way. After what seemed like an eternity, D'agri straightened, and moved a few steps closer

To the overhang before speaking once more.

"You put up a good argument Jedi, and I assume you'll be wanting your Padawan's release?" Obi-Wan

Could only nod.

"Well, he'll have tonight to regain his strength, and I'll have tonight to consider your offer, should I find

A flaw in it, his punishment shall be doubled tomorrow." Obi-Wan swallowed, scared that he was now in a

Worse situation than he had previously been in. He hung his head, not trusting himself to meet

The Chief's penetrating gaze steadily. He heard the swish and flop of D'agri leaving the tent, letting the

Overhang flap about a few times in the momentary gentle breeze, before settling once more. A loud voice

Commanding one of the guards to cut Anakin down barked out over the tense silence. A soft disconcerted

Murmur seeped out from the gathered mob, and Obi-Wan heard the slash of bonds being cut, once again

He breathed a long sigh of relief, and thanked the force for these moments of mercy being given to his

Padawan. He closed his eyes and felt for him through the force, and felt his heart clench at the weakness and

pain he felt from his apprentice, the boy was exhausted, and in terrible pain, that alone was enough to

Break Obi-Wan's heart. Through the force he gently urged the boy to rest, to try and regain his strength, and

After a few moments passed, he let his eyes ease open once more, and for once, the light that exploded

Into his vision did not hurt, nor did it blind him, in fact, he welcomed it's warmth and comfort, and pleaded

For it to bring the same gentle comfort on his young, hurting apprentice. He shook his head in disbelief,

More at himself and the problems he had just brought upon himself and his Padawan. He knew, that if they

Got out of this-'when'-they got out of this, the boy would never let him hear the end of it. Obi-Wan allowed

Himself a small smile, and let himself to slip into a calming, medative state, the first he'd managed in

The two days they'd been in captivity. Insanely happy at the warm, calming sensation the meditation

Brought upon him, it was enough to make him smile openly this time. His frantic and confused thoughts,

Stilled and quietened, and organized themselves in his mind with the help of the force, only one

Tickling the back of his brain, was enough to bring him back to the present.

"What if the offer's refused? what'll become of us if I've failed?"

It was a question Obi-Wan did not want to answer.