Thank you to everyone who reviewed! This chapter contains graphic violence at parts, just thought I'd warn those who don't particularly care for a lot of torture.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Jedi Apprentice characters, they belong to Jude Watson.

Can Sins Ever Be Forgiven

Chapter 6: Pain

The feel of the cold concrete against Obi-Wan's cheek offered little comfort to his tired aching body. The beating had gone on for hours, but he did not scream at times he wished that the next blow would end his life but it never did. The only comfort was the memories that Harvey showed him, he was able to lose himself in them and escape from some of the pain but not enough to keep him from losing consciousness.

He didn't know how long he had been out, he had awoke a short time ago in a darkened cell. This one was small and bare, he lay in the middle of the room with his legs tucked into his chest he could feel the fever of infection spreading through his tortured back. His lips were chapped and raw, they hurt as he spoke. "Harvey?" He called out softly, his eyes hadn't adjusted to the dim lighting to allow him to see the boy so he closed his eyes. As his heavy lids shut the familiar form of the lifeless Harvey appeared within his mind. "Thank you."

The thudding sound of boots walking down the corridor came near and stopped in front of his door. Cold air sent a shiver up his spine stinging his wounds as Xanatos stepped inside. "Are you ready for another round?" Obi-Wan remained silent his cerulean eyes boring holes into the fallen Jedi's face until a swift kick to the chest caused him to wince in pain. He felt himself being pulled up by his hair, once his hair held perfect ginger spikes, now it stuck to his head in heavy blood stained clumps.

"It's not polite to ignore someone when you are asked a question." He taunted the boy as he drug him down the hall. "Didn't your master teach you that? Well, I shall remedy that." As they approached the doors they slid open to reveal the torture chamber once more. Obi-Wan swallowed hard as he struggled against the fierce grasp that was at his arm but to no avail, he was met with a hard slap to the face with a shock stick and hoisted back into place and put in the restraints once more.

"For one so weak, you have a lot of strength burning within you. I can see it in your eyes." Xanatos smiled as he brought his face close to Obi-Wan's, several strands of his black hair falling over his eyes, dark blue burning into cerulean. "I will take great pleasure in being the on to dim those eyes. It was foolish of…"

"Stop monologuing and get to it." Obi-Wan mimicked the look on Xanatos's face as he leaned closer to him. "Or did your master not teach you it's impolite to monologue?"

A coy smile spread across his capture lips, the broken circle rising on his check. "Very well." As he drew his face away from the boy he jabbed a shock stick into his ribs, blood started to ooze out of Obi-Wan's mouth as he bit his tongue to stifle a scream that threatened to break his vow of silence. He would not give Xanatos the pleasure, he would die in silence.

Twice more came the shock stick and twice more Obi-Wan bit back a scream. He was thankful for the slight reprieve as Xanatos went to retrieve another torture device. Pulling back a curtain Xanatos revealed a metal table with an iron bar through the center, small studs lining it all the way around and at the top was a spindle. He glanced back at the boy with a smile on his face.

"I was saving this for Qui-Gon, but I think I might give you a little taste." He returned to the boy and released the energy beam that was holding him in place above the floor, grabbing him by the shackles he drug him over to the table. Obi-Wan resisted to the best of his ability but he still found himself laid out on the table with his arms above his head and his ankles were now strapped down as well. He pulled against his bindings as Xanatos circled back around to the head of the table.

"This device has broken many men, let us see how you fair against it." Slowly he began to turn the wheel, the restraints at Obi-Wan's wrists and ankles pulled in opposite directions stretching him. He could feel the skin growing tauter with each turn of the wheel, his bones screaming out in pain. He closed his eyes as the shock waves of pain shot through out his entire body, it was all he could do to keep from screaming out. The iron bar that rested under the center of his back dug deep into him, the studs pressing in more and more as the wheel continued to turn.

Once again he reached for the Force and once again he found nothing but Harvey. He felt himself start to slip away into the world of memories but was quickly brought back out of it as both his shoulder dislocated. This time he was unable to hold back the scream of pain, he could feel the hot salty tears spill forth from his eyes. Over his sobs he heard Xanatos laugh as the wheel stopped turning, he walked around to the side of Obi-Wan and leant his ear down close to the boy's face.

"What is this? I thought you said you weren't going to scream?" He laughed again as he wheeled a cart over beside the table, its contents shrouded by a white cloth. "This is going to hurt, but I promise that you will break the rest of your vow. You will be begging for him before I'm through with this." Tossing aside the cloth he revealed a surgical lay out of blades along with bandages and stitching equipment.

"After that last round in the sensory deprivation tank you were out for two days, let's see how long it takes you to recover from this." Obi-Wan screamed as the blade cut deep inside of his abdomen, slicing a long slit. More tears came gushing out of his eyes as blood came oozing out of him.

He couldn't feel exactly what was happening to him, all he felt was pain beyond his wildest imagination. It didn't take long before he broke down and began to beg as Xanatos said he would. He reached out to his former master with all the strength he had left. "Qui-Gon, please help me! I'm sorry, please help me!" He was chocking on his tears as he realized how pointless it was to call for him. "Harvey, I need you. Please make it stop! Make it go away." He repeated the words Harvey had spoke to him that day, but the pain was too much and he soon fell unconscious as his kidney was pulled out of his body and tossed into the fire.

oOoOoOoOo

Qui-Gon awoke screaming in pain and clutching his side. He felt Obi-Wan call for him in his sleep and then the most awful pain he had ever felt in his life, like someone was cutting something out of him. He made it to the fresher just in time to throw up the contents of his dinner. He sat on the cold floor and called upon the Force to ease the pain and clear his mind. After about twenty minutes he was able to calm himself enough to stand up, but found himself doubled over once more as a searing pain found its way to his right shoulder blade. He could feel his flesh melting beneath some unknown heat, once again he called upon the Force and pushed the burning away.

His hands were shaking as he stood up, the whole of his body screaming in pain. He splashed cold water onto his face and stared at his tired reflection in the mirror. What was happening? Was Xanatos torturing the boy? Would he even be alive when he got there? In his dream he had heard Obi-Wan's voice calling for him, then he felt anguish even worse then the pain as he felt Obi-Wan give up on him and call for Harvey. Who was this Harvey? Obi-Wan didn't have any friends by that name that he knew of.

Remorse over took Qui-Gon. If he had only taken the time to listen to the boy he would be safe at the temple right now and not in the hands of his former apprentice who would do anything to cause him pain. The holovid made mention of a message, had Obi-Wan been there that night to deliver it? All this pain the boy suffered through now was because of him and he knew it. He bit back a tear as he stared into his own eyes. "Hold on Obi-Wan, I'm coming." There was only a day left on the journey to Telos, he hoped that it wouldn't be a day to late.

Tbc.