Hello! It seems I have neglected this for entirely too long, and I felt it time to remedy that! Life has, as seems to be the norm of late, been crazy busy, but I had a moment (in class, but *shhh*) and I was able to polish up this second chapter. My thanks for the lovely reviews as well! Both were very much appreciated! Hope you all enjoy!
Unprepared for the sudden lack of support from the chains, CC-2224 collapsed forward before he could catch himself when his cuffs were cut to pieces. Expecting to collide harshly with the cold steel floor, CC-2224 couldn't repress a gasp of shock as he was instead caught easily in a powerful grip. The clone froze, completely still for only a moment, before struggling desperately, the suddenness of his actions causing the surprised Jedi to release him. The wounded man fell to the floor, and instantly, desperately, began shoving himself backwards away from the Jedi as quickly as he could.
General Kenobi made an aborted motion as if to reach down for the clone, and CC-2224 flinched violently, ducking away and attempting to half-crawl blindly away. It took him a moment to realize as he did so that he had moved, on instinct, towards Ventress' rooms. Before he could make it even half of the distance, he felt the eerie sensation of the Force catch him, dragging him slowly, inexorably back towards the Jedi who stood over him with outstretched hand.
CC-2224 went still, minute tremors running through his now-limp body as he surrendered instinctively, closing his eyes and awaiting his fate. After what felt an eternity, he felt his body come to a stop, and when he dared to open his eyes, he saw the light brown, scuffed boots of the General mere inches from his face. Immediately, the clone clenched his jaw, staring blindly at the tips of the Jedi's boots, wondering if they would soon be colliding with his head in a vicious kick. It would not be undeserved, the clone thought, after he had tried in vain to flee from the Jedi's wrath.
"Peace, my friend. I mean you no harm." The clone winced at the sound of the Jedi's voice, so deceivingly gentle in the quietest of murmurs. "Are you able to stand?" CC-2224 trembled worse, knowing he was mocked, though he could not repress a spark of hope. If the Jedi was amused, content with mocking him, perhaps the torment that would follow would be… less prolonged, than might otherwise be the case.
Still, the scornful query of the Jedi was likely a veiled order, and the injured clone quickly struggled up to his knees, attempting to comply swiftly enough to forestall any further penalties than those he already found heaped against him. Gasping as the new position put strain on his beaten form, the clone fumbled to get to his feet, swaying on one knee before he felt himself begin to fall. Expecting the ground, CC-2224 once again found himself caught in the Jedi's grip, though this time he managed to remain still and pliant.
"Easy" the Dread General muttered, his hands still so gentle beyond what CC-2224 could have ever believed or imagined, as the Jedi stood to his full height to help the clone to stand as he had been ordered. Then, CC-2224 understood with a flash of insight, why the General had not yet begun to destroy him. While the Jedi Master was no doubt nearly as powerful as his mistress, he did not want to alert the assassin of his presence, and would now… CC-2224 could not repress a shudder of renewed terror, though he was careful to keep his face as blank as he could. Now, the General would take his prize back to his own ship, upon which he would be free to torment the clone as he desired. The Jedi would need not concentrate on silencing any screams CC-2224 could not suppress, and would have a source of amusement in the torture of the clone until CC-2224 was decommissioned.
The clone tried to remain steady on his feet, relieved beyond measure for small mercies when the Jedi released him, CC-2224's gaze finding the floor and staying there. CC-2224 flinched but dared not attempt to flee again when the Jedi whispered a quiet command to, "Come", and obeyed instantly.
Obi-Wan paced silently through the halls of Ventress's ship, the tortured and nearly broken clone following in his wake. The General kept his senses on high alert, even as he followed the bright trail emanating from the life forces indicating two other Mandalorians in the ship nearby. After hearing enough of the 'conversation' between Ventress and the clone now meekly trembling at his heels, Obi-Wan knew these must be the 'brothers' the assassin had referred to. He only wished there was time and safety enough to further reassure the man that he meant him no harm, but any second longer spent on Ventress' ship than absolutely necessary only increased the risk to all involved.
He felt another overpowering wave of fear suddenly flow over the clone behind him, and the Jedi turned in time to see the broken man fall silently to prostrate himself on the floor of the deserted corridor. "Please…" the clone's rough voice pleaded in a desperate whisper. Obi-Wan glanced between the clone and the doorway he had just walked up to, and realized the clone must have only just understood that he would not be taken alone. "Peace. We are only collecting your fellows before departing this place."
The prone figure dared not glance up, but his wounded body's trembling increased to cause his fingers to jolt and skitter on the floor as they reached imploringly to hesitantly brush the tips of the Jedi's worn boots. "M-Master Jedi, mercy. Please, h-have mercy." Obi-Wan felt his heart ache at the broken, helpless, desperate plea, but he steeled himself to remain in control until they were safely well away from the ship. Even now, any of Ventress' underlings could come across them, in the open corridor as they were, and so the Jedi settled for falling easily to one knee, gently grasping the clone's hands. He ignored the terrified flinch, and forced himself not to let his emotional turmoil show on his face as the clone's hands went limp in his grasp, surrendering to what the man clearly expected to be agony.
"Come now, get up. We must hurry." Obi-Wan urged gently, lightly pulling on the clone's hands, and adjusting his grip when he felt what were clearly at least two broken fingers on the man's left hand. The clone immediately obeyed the implicit command, rising to his knees though he continued to tremble and dared not look higher than the Jedi's feet. "Come on." The Jedi urged again, gently moving his right hand to grasp the clone's left elbow instead of his hand as he helped him to stand once more. The clone had fallen silent, and kept his head down, chin tucked to his chest as he remained as still as he could despite the tremors coursing through him.
Obi-Wan looked him over once more, before nodding once, encouragingly, and then moving to open the unobtrusive door with a wave of a hand and the intent of the Force.