Disclaimer: Star Wars brings in tons of money and as I have not seen a single cent of that money, I am not George Lucas and therefore don't own Star Wars. And sadly, that means I don't own Obi-Wan either.

Summary: The second story in the Jedi Trials series. Obi-Wan's been captured, Qui-Gon's left the Jedi Order, and Anakin must learn to trust his new Master. The Republic is on the brink of war and only Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon, and Anakin can save the galaxy.

Author's Notes: I plan to do a lot of writing over the next couple of days, so expect an update on Friday or Saturday. I would really prefer Friday because Saturday is Christmas Eve, and I expect it to be hectic. For all those traveling over the holidays or just heading to the store for some last minute Christmas shopping, be safe. Enjoy this next chapter – it's vital to the story.

Torture and Death

By Kekelina

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Chapter Thirteen: A Sith Revealed

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Two lightsabers danced in the dark. The stronger of the two swept viciously towards the younger blade, which blocked the attack with great ease. The younger, crystal blade somersaulted over the wiser blade and cut shortly towards it, then changed its attack at the last possible second and instead swept elegantly near the floor.

The second blade, however, had already sensed the change in attack before it happened and had gone down to meet the younger blade before it did any damage to the older blade. The first blade cursed at the change in plans, but quickly made good use of it and thrust towards its attacker. The older blade blocked it and swept it away; the crystal blade barely managed to stay in the battle.

The first blade recovered quickly and went in for a daring air attack, but the darkness suddenly evaporated, distracting the blade. The wielder of the second blade kicked the owner of the first blade out of the way, and the battle was over.

Anakin lay on the ground for a few minutes, more stunned by his distraction rather than from the pain of embarrassingly landing on his hindquarters. He called his lightsaber to him and slowly sat up to find out what had caused the lights to turn on without a command from his Master.

Anakin stood up immediately and bowed when he found himself staring at Master Siri Tachi and her soon-to-turn-Knight Padawan, Ferus Olin. His cheeks tinged red as he realized he had just fallen in front of one of his fellow students. Although he and Ferus weren't the closest of friends nor mortal enemies, he still didn't want Ferus to think he couldn't handle a simple spar against his Master.

"What's wrong, Siri," Bant asked her friend, and Anakin realized that Master Tachi looked very displeased, while Ferus seemed to be slightly confused. The two Padawans exchanged a glance that suggested neither knew what this was about and allowed their Masters to talk in silence.

"The Council," she spit out the word in disgust, "just declared Obi-Wan missing."

Bant's silver eyes filled with worry. Anakin furrowed his eyebrows together. Knight Kenobi was missing? Hadn't Master Bant asked the Council about his well being not too long ago? Hadn't they said he was safe and fine, just completing a mission? What could've happened to him?

"What?" was all Bant could manage to reply.

Siri's gaze softened a bit, and Anakin saw concern flash across her eyes quickly, then disappear as if it had never been there to begin with. "They've sent Shaak Ti and Kit Fisto to search for him." Anakin heard the unsaid ending to that sentence. They don't know where to look.

Bant nodded in reply. Anakin had heard that Master Fisto had once been her Master, but from the look in her eyes, she didn't seem to hold a lot of faith in her old Master in regard to his new mission.

Anakin stood awkwardly next to his Master as Siri and Ferus left them alone. He wished he could comfort his Master, but he had no idea what to do. He had never had one of his friends go missing, though his mother had been kidnapped shortly before she died. Was that how his Master felt at the moment? Like he had when the Lars family had told him about his mother and the Sand People?

"Spend the rest of the day with your friends," Bant finally said, breaking the tormented silence. Anakin couldn't help but notice how strangled the word "friend" came out. "I have some business with the Council I must take care of."

Then she was gone, leaving Anakin alone in the training room feeling utterly helpless.

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"The Jedi have abandoned you, Obi-Wan."

Obi-Wan struggled to raise his head to show the Sith the defiance in his eyes, but he was too weak. He had just been horribly beaten – perhaps worse than the other times – and now the Sith had returned to taunt him. Obi-Wan felt dizzy, and kept spitting blood with his saliva. It left a metallic taste in his mouth that he struggled to get rid of by spitting, but in the end, his efforts only hindered him more than they helped him.

"The Jedi don't…abandon anybody," Obi-Wan replied, his throat scratching open with every use. He felt more blood dribble out of his mouth.

"You must see past their lies," the Sith insisted from beneath the hood of his dark robes.

Obi-Wan let out a strangled skeptic laugh that sounded more like a snarl. The act of forcing his voice to make a sound such as that caused him to double over as he began to cough, his body unused to such actions that had at one time been normal. The Sith sneered as Obi-Wan's body contracted in pain, but waited until Obi-Wan could hear him clearly before he continued speaking.

"Think back to your time in the Temple," the Sith began slyly. "How many times has a Jedi Knight gone missing? How many times has the Council waited, causing that poor soul's death."

Obi-Wan's blood ran cold. That had happened before, he knew. Wasn't that one of the reasons he feared for his own rescue? The Council preferred to deliberate on the matter for weeks while the victim remained in captivity. Many brave and powerful Jedi had died in captivity at the hands of their captors. How many lives could've been spared?

How long had he been here, again?

"You know I speak the truth, don't you?" It may have sounded like a question, but Obi-Wan knew it was a statement. The Sith had made his point, and he was very pleased with the results. He had placed a tiny seed of doubt in Obi-Wan's mind, a seed that, he was sorry to say, he couldn't fully banish because the Sith's words had some truth in them. That was what scared Obi-Wan.

Obi-Wan peered at the black void beneath the Sith's hood incredulously. "Who are you," he asked, his voice barely a whisper of breath.

The Sith only stared at him for a moment, not making a sound. Then, ever so slowly, his pale hands reached up to his hood and lowered it, revealing white hair, sinister eyes, and a crooked smile.

"Palpatine!" Obi-Wan cried out in shock, for standing before him was the leader of the Galactic Senate, Chancellor Palpatine.

Palpatine cackled, his voice magnified as it echoed off the rocky walls. "Surprised? I shouldn't wonder. No one on the Jedi Council would ever consider the leader of the Republic to be a Sith – especially a Master Sith, at that. The Jedi are blind to everything they don't want to see."

Obi-Wan could only gape at the Chancellor in shock. He hadn't felt the darkness surrounding him. He hadn't felt the dark side of the Force seeping from him. No Jedi had felt it. Their powers were failing, and the Republic was in the hands of a Sith Lord. The Jedi had handed over the galaxy to Palpatine on a platter.

"The Jedi Order is failing, Kenobi," Palpatine said harshly, venom dripping from every word. "They are weak, but you are not. They have abandoned you; left you to die. Even your beloved Master Jinn has forgotten about you." At the mention of Qui-Gon's name, Obi-Wan's entire body tensed. Qui-Gon was everything but beloved by Obi-Wan. It was Qui-Gon's fault he had been captured in the first place. Qui-Gon could've easily taken on the investigation himself and left Anakin with Senator Amidala. After all, Anakin was The Chosen One. Surely, he could handle protecting the endangered Senator. He was the perfect Padawan, wasn't he?

"A sensitive subject, I see," Palpatine said as he noticed Obi-Wan's rigid form. "Is this not the first time he's abandoned you," Palpatine asked innocently and with faux concern. Obi-Wan could feel him probing his mind and braced himself for the pain that followed the intrusion into his mind. "He left you, didn't he, for that snot-nosed brat, Skywalker?"

Obi-Wan turned his gaze away from Palpatine's to hide the anger crawling across his face. He could not let this Sith win. Obi-Wan was better than this; he was a Jedi. A Jedi did not know anger or hate.

Then why was Obi-Wan's body filled with it?

"You deserve better, Obi-Wan," Palpatine said sadly. "You deserve a Master that cares about you."

"Oh, like you?" Obi-Wan shot back, his voice tinged with malice.

Palpatine pursed his lips and gave Obi-Wan an unnerving stare. Obi-Wan struggled under its powerful gaze.

"I have never abandoned one of my apprentices," he said finally.

"No," Obi-Wan replied with hostility. "You just kill them." When Palpatine didn't answer, he continued. "Why should I believe you? The Sith only deal in lies." His voice broke.

"So, you're refusing my offer, then?"

"I will never join you, Palpatine," Obi-Wan replied more calmly than he felt. Palpatine nodded thoughtfully, then before Obi-Wan could suspect a thing, his hands flew from his sides and shot Force-lightning at Obi-Wan.

Obi-Wan writhed in pain, screaming, though he had no voice left to scream with. His body was engulfed in flames; his skin was boiling. Stab after vicious stab kept him rolling around, trying to escape from the inescapable pain. He was being mutilated, tortured slowly so that he could feel every unending second of his death.

This was it. He was going to die.

Then the pain lifted, and Obi-Wan was left with only the smell of his own charred skin. Smoke rose in spirals from his body. Sweat dripped down his forehead and over his cuts and bruises. His heart slowed to a normal rhythm. His vision became unfocused.

Everything went black.

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The Other Author's Notes: Palpatine has made another appearance, and Obi-Wan has learned the truth. Will he be able to escape and warn the Jedi about Palpatine? Will he be tortured until death? Will he join the dark side? As always, my lips are sealed…

For those interested, I have also written a short one-shot entitled Ta'imi if anyone would like to check it out.

May the Force be with you, and don't forget to review!