It has been a long time since I last updated, and I'm afraid I left Obi-Wan in a bad situation. Wish I could say this post would ease your worries.
Chapter 30
Obi-Wan could hear muffled voices nearby as he flirted with consciousness, surfacing as one would after being underwater. The Force was distant, not absent, but it slipped through his fingers as he tried to grasp for it. He cracked heavy eyelids open, hoping to gather some information about his surroundings.
Someone dangerous had arranged for his abduction, someone who knew Jedi motivations, who knew how to misdirect, who knew how to use an innocent as a weapon, and who had concocted the perfect sedative to cripple him.
His hands were firmly fixed behind his back in binders. From where he lay on a durasteel floor, he could feel the telltale vibrations of a ship in hyperspace. Unfortunately, that meant he was being taken away from Kyatn IV, which would make rescue more difficult. It would most likely be up to him to free himself and alert someone to his location.
"Damn, he's coming to," a man's voice called out. "I need more of that sedative."
"You've dosed him every time he twitches and given him enough to put a bantha out," another voice warned. "Any more might kill him. We won't get paid for a dead Jedi."
"What do you suggest? It ain't exactly safe if he wakes up."
Obi-Wan let out a resigned sigh, certain he already knew the answer. Sure enough, a sharp clap from a blaster to the side of the head sent him back to oblivion.
Crion could sense his father's presence in the sitting room of his quarters and briefly wondered how the coming confrontation was going to turn out. Never one to wait around, he opened his door and made his way into the other room, stopping short at the sight before him.
Xanatos was kneeling on the floor, bathed in the light of the Force as he meditated. Crion was reluctant to bother him and started to sit on the sofa when Xanatos waved him over. Against his better judgment, he kneeled down facing his father. Now was not the time to be headstrong in little things.
"How are you feeling?" Xanatos asked, finally opening his eyes.
"I feel like my head is splitting in two," Crion responded.
"I have something for that." Xanatos reached for a hypospray on the tea table, bringing it up to inject the content into Crion's neck. The pain immediately began to subside, but his mind still felt numb, for lack of a better term.
"My master is in trouble," Crion said abruptly. He had no desire for small talk.
"I know," came the surprising response. As Crion tried to form his next words, Xanatos continued. "Although you are loathed to admit it, we do share a bond. When your shields shattered, I felt everything you felt. I only regained consciousness myself a couple of hours ago."
"I want to go find him," Crion demanded.
"No," Xanatos countered firmly, with surprising patience for what Crion knew about him.
"He needs me," Crion pushed with determination. "He called for me."
"He reached for the two people he shares bonds with," Xanatos replied evenly. "I understand that you do not respect my authority over you. However, Master Yoda is of the same mind on this. He told you to stay put. Someone will be sent to rescue your master."
"You expect me to believe that you would contact the Jedi Council …"
"The transmission is saved if you would like to verify for yourself," Xanatos interrupted. "You may not think I care, but I know what you felt is deeply troubling. I am cooperating with the Jedi Council and making any resources and contacts I have available to them."
"Although you are loathed to admit it," Crion bit back, trembling with emotion, "I am a Jedi and my master is missing. I should be a part of his rescue."
"Crion," Xanatos said gently. "One thing your master and I would no doubt be likeminded about is keeping you safe. I intend to do just that. When we know more about the situation I will consider accompanying you, but until then, you will have to wait."
"Yes … father," Crion ground out, making his frustration known.
"My suggestion to you now, as your master's would be as well, no doubt, is meditation," Xanatos offered softly, reaching to his son's shoulder. "If you need help centering …"
"I can manage," Crion snapped, flinching and shrugging Xanatos' hand from his shoulder.
"Very well," Xanatos said, getting to his feet. "I have information to get to the Jedi Council. I will be back to check on you soon."
When Obi-Wan began to gain consciousness again, he was aware of being half-carried, half-dragged. Not desiring to be deprived of his faculties again, he kept his eyes firmly shut, concentrating on trying to accumulate the Force around him.
"Bring him here," came a raspy voice.
Obi-Wan felt his arms stretched over a frame of sorts before being firmly set into binders. His heart leaped at the fact that he would be easily able to escape the bindings until an energy field surged through the bindings.
"About payment?" one of his captors asked impatiently. "Wasn't easy capturing and transporting a Jedi."
"Ah yes," the voice crooned. "You will get what you deserve, of course."
Obi-Wan felt his chest constrict at the rapidly billowing darkness. Even in his compromised state, it was nearly suffocating. He had only felt such darkness once before – Sith. The unmistakable snap and hiss of a saber igniting preceded screams as the life forces of his captors were extinguished in an instant.
"Open your eyes. I know you are awake, Master Kenobi."
Obi-Wan opened his eyes, searching out the cowled figure in the shadowed room. The Sith approached the Jedi, his icy fingers directing Obi-Wan's chin up so he could look on him.
"What do you want with me?"
"Quite simple," the Sith replied. "You deprived me of an apprentice, and I have been unable to find a suitable replacement."
"You know very little about me if you think I would ever comply."
"I never entertained the illusion that this would be easy, but you will find I can be quite persuasive."
"I will resist …"
The protest died on Obi-Wan's lips as a hand on his chin sent a jolt of icy pain down his jaw and through his body.
"I have no doubt you will resist. In fact, I hope you do. It will make you stronger and all the more worthy of a prize."
The cold hand came up to rest on his forehead. Obi-Wan felt a sharp tug against his mental shielding, a battering ram testing the fortress that was his mind. He reinforced quickly, adjusting to the sobering reality that while he had endured torture in his life, this battle would be waged both physically and mentally. Ultimately, he would be fighting for his own soul.
"Yes, quite strong …" the Sith hissed in delight. "This will take time, but the Sith are above all, patient."
The Sith drifted away from him and Obi-Wan wondered if he might be granted a reprieve. All hope of having time to strengthen himself in the wonderful embrace of the Force fled when he looked at the pyramidal object the Sith placed on the ground outside of his reach.
"Your sedative is wearing off. I have deprived you of the Force long enough. You must desperate to feel its embrace, so I will leave you with the Force … in all its glory, Master Kenobi."
A pale hand reached out and lightly touched the crystal at the top of the holocron, plunging the room into a vortex of darkness. Obi-Wan closed his eyes, bracing himself against a chorus of voices that advanced on him, their unanimous will chanting.
"Die Jedi … die Jedi … die Jedi … die Jedi … die Jedi … die Jedi … die Jedi … die Jedi …"
"I look forward to beginning your training."