So like I said before, this chapter is a lil' descriptive in the first part.
A wave of nausea washed over Anakin as he viewed the sight before him, the glow of his lightsaber spreading light over the horrifying scene.
There was blood splattered on the floor, the walls. The smell of vomit and other things he preferred not to think about was thick in the already horribly scented cell, making Anakin gag. He looked around the room in horror, seeing the chains and various torture devices scattered around the cell, hearing the clicking sound of the tiny claws of some small animal scatter across the floor. Anakin walked over to one wall and picked up a scary-looking instrument, noticing the blood encrusted handle and chains. The Force whispered to him of the suffering that had occurred here, with these very items. He was so engrossed in his observations that he didn't notice the prone figure on the floor until the Force warned him of another presence, and he finally looked at the far wall.
And saw Obi-Wan.
For a brief, terrifying moment, Anakin thought he was too late. There was no Force signature from his Master, not a whisper from the bond or a single movement. Anakin momentarily forgot how to breathe. And then, by some Force miracle, he heard the tiniest groan come from the man on the floor. His heart started beating again as he dropped to his knees besides Obi-Wan.
If he hadn't been there, Anakin would have never believed the whimpering, shivering ball huddled against the wall was his Master.
His wrists and ankles were bound by rough leather straps, a gag was tied behind his head and a chain connected him to the wall, keeping him from moving. Anakin's heart constricted painfully, seeing Obi-Wan chained up like an animal. He easily sliced through the chain with his lightsaber, then picked up a discarded vibroblade and cut through the straps. He loosened the gag and gently turned Obi-Wan over, cradling his head in his lap. Anakin frowned at the strange black mask covering his Master's face, and promptly removed it. Obi-Wan gasped and shuddered but made no other movement as Anakin threw the mask away, sensing the Dark Side woven into the fabric.
He smiled in relief as Obi-Wan's weak Force signature returned, blinking back tears as he observed the damage done.
"Oh, Master." He whispered softly, brushing a hand through his Master's hair, "What did she do to you?"
Cuts, whip marks, burns and bruises all marked the places not covered by tattered tunics. Whatever skin wasn't covered with blood and grime was extremely pale, and he was much too thin, as if he hadn't eaten in months (which he probably hadn't). Obi-Wan's short hair was now to his shoulders again, matted to his head by dried blood, which turned the color from auburn to brown.
The Jedi Master whimpered as he was lifted into strong arms, curling into a tight ball of agony. Anakin pressed a tender kiss to his forehead and whispered, "I'm gonna get you out of here, Master, don't worry."
With that, Anakin raced down the hallways with his Master in his arms, not caring who noticed him only caring that he needed to get to the ship immediately, for Ventress would no doubt be heading their way. The few guards he did pass were too slow to catch up to him as he dashed onto the landing pad, where Ki-Adi-Mundi was waiting already.
"Skywalker." He acknowledged before he looked down at the ball in Anakin's arms and visibly blanched. "What…?"
The sound of heavy footsteps interrupted him. Ki-Adi pulled out his lightsaber and shouted at Anakin to get the ship ready.
"We are about to see some company!"
Anakin ran up the ramp and into one of the two medical rooms, passing the clone on the way. He gently set Obi-Wan down on the bunk and gave him a pained look.
"I'll be back, Master," he promised before heading to the cockpit. Anakin powered the ship up and lowered the ramp, swinging it towards the Jedi Master now fighting with Ventress. Master Mundi jumped aboard along with Ventress, but managed to kick her off. Anakin waited until he sped into the cockpit to slam the hyperspace switch and shoot off towards Coruscant. As soon as they were in hyperspace, Anakin ran into the main bay without another word. He barely noticed the clone in the other room, bandaging Force-knows-what-kind-of injuries as Anakin hurried to the other room, grabbing a med-pac as he went.
The door made a soft hissing sound as it closed, but he barely noticed. In the better light, Obi-Wan looked far worse than he had before. Anakin slowly approached the bed, a little bit scared at what he might find. He carefully sat on the edge of the bunk that held his still balled-up Master, reaching one hand out to take a smaller, scarred one in his, maybe to try and remind himself that this was real. He'd saved his Master and they were on their way home, things would be back to normal soon enough. Obi-Wan was safe and relatively sound.
Anakin cursed when he found no painkillers or medications in the med-pac—just some bandages, bacta patches, burn salve, and cleansing wipes. It would have to do. They'd have to wait to get back to the healers for proper treatment. For now, he'd have to do the best he could.
One last concerned glance at his Master, and Anakin set to work.
Cleaning off caked blood and grime, bandaging wounds, checking for fractures and breaks—one broken rib, fractured wrist—and overall fixing his friend up as best he could, all the while wincing sympathetically at the pitiful mewls and whimpers he didn't even know Obi-Wan was capable of making. It was long, slow, hard work. There were some wounds Anakin would have preferred not to see, added to the occasional sob when he worked on a sensitive place.
Finally, Anakin stepped back to admire his handiwork. Instead of weapons, Obi-Wan now looked like he was attacked by a barrage of bacta patches and linen rolls. There wasn't more than an inch of skin left uncovered, either by bandage or bruise. Anakin had scoured the ship and found a clean pair of pants and a loose tunic that were both far too big for his Master, but at least it was something other than the shredded remains of cloth now kicked into the corner. The young knight decided there was nothing more to help with here, and with a concerned glance, he gently tucked a thin sheet around the unconscious man before heading into the cockpit once more.
Space travel was far too tedious for one as impatient as Anakin Skywalker. As soon as he arrived back in the room with his fellow Jedi he was informed that they overshot Coruscant by almost a day. He groaned and plopped down in the pilot's seat.
Ki-Adi-Mundi pursed his lips and leaned forward. "Well?"
Anakin sighed—he'd really rather not talk about it—but Master Mundi was the reason he was here in the first place. He deserved to know (besides the fact the he was a council member and therefore able to demand answers from lower-status knights like him). With shaky breaths, Anakin was barely able to relay his story after the two Jedi split up. Ki-Adi's frown deepened as he heard the story from the knight radiating mute shock and anger into the Force. As soon as he finished, Anakin dropped his head into his hands.
"It's all my fault! I should've been there sooner, I should've done something!" he lamented.
Ki-Adi uncertainly placed a hand on his shoulder. "It was not your fault, no one could have foreseen or stopped this. When we get back to Coruscant, I am going to deny saying this; but the council was wrong in not believing you this time. I apologize for our stubbornness."
Anakin just stared at the Jedi Master in shock, his mind slow to process rational thought. A council member. Apologized. For being irresponsible. To him. If the situation hadn't been so serious, Anakin would have laughed and bragged about his never-before heard of accomplishment. Instead, he merely nodded his thanks. He might never forgive the council for not believing him, for putting his Master in even more pain than could have been avoided.
Okay, seriously sorry for the delay. I was right in the middle of posting this chapter when BAM! Power goes out cause of Hurricane Sandy. Luckily I got it back within 24 hours. I think this one ended a little soon, but still. R and R please!