A/N i havn't done this in ages but a huge thank you to my special beta LiGi for her input and flawless work with this and then next chapter in particular :D

Chapter five

Anakin awoke completely dazed, his vision has blurry and dark and he could see nothing but black until his eyes began to adjust to the gloom. He tried to rub the sleep from his eyes but found that his arm didn't move. He squinted upwards to see that his wrists were clasped together above him by a luminous blue bonding, which was resisting any movements made by his arms. His feet were restrained by the same thing but around his ankles. He groaned in frustration.

"Anakin?"

"Obi-Wan? Is that you? Where are we? What happened?"

"No idea. We were attacked by droids with … something."

"Where's Echo?"

"Here somewhere – I hope. She didn't escape if that's what you're asking."

They were both restrained in the same way and next to each other, lined up in darkness, lit up only by the meek light emitted by their bonds.

Then more light suddenly came from Obi-Wan's other side.

"Wha-? Where'd my hand … oh … great." said Echo as she awoke and did the exact same thing as Anakin had – looked up at her hands.

"Echo, you're here!" exclaimed Anakin.

"Wherever here is." Said Obi-Wan.

"Yeah, brilliant, being captured and all."

"At least we're all together and … alive." Anakin said.

"For the moment." mumbled Echo.

"You must not be so pessimistic" scathed Anakin.

"Stop fighting, you two. It's not going to help our situation." Obi-Wan sighed.

Just then lights appeared above their heads. All three of them groaned at the sudden eruption of blinding light.

"I knew that it would not be long before The Republic sent more than just spies to this domain but three Jedi spies? It is almost … over kill." A metallic voice gurgled around the room. Obi-Wan, Anakin and Echo all looked around the room to try and find the source of the voice. "There is no use searching for me – I can see you clearly but you cannot see me."

"Oh, the wonders of a spot light." said Echo, sarcastically.

"Pessimist." hissed Anakin, from the other side of Obi-Wan.

The mass of black before them suddenly broke to reveal another spotlight over a huge table with more blue bonds at each end.

"Whatever you are after you cannot hope to get it from us." said Obi-Wan having guessed the purpose of the table.

The metallic voice chuckled loudly. "You have no clue what is going on here do you?"

"Care to enlighten us?" coaxed Obi-Wan.

"Jedi Kenobi. You are a bold one." It gurgled, slowly. "Very well."

Echo's hands leapt forward - dragging her body along with it - into the darkness to appear again in the spotlight with the table and flipping her onto it. The bonds on the table attracted Echo's bonds and stretched her across the table. She let out a brief cry of pain as her spine was suddenly wrenched straight.

"Why don't you tell me what you think you are looking for?"

"I haven't got a clue." snapped Echo, bitterly. She glared into the black abyss, in the direction of the voice. Then her head flew back against the table as she screamed in pain when a whip struck her across her torso.

"Echo." Whispered Anakin as he winced at her pain – his eyes never leaving her – and Obi-Wan sent a concerned glance in his direction before turning back to watch Echo as the voice continued.

"Really? So you are here blind?" Obi-Wan noticed a flicker of the corner of a black cloak – with an unusual red lining – in the spotlight over Echo. It was circling her.

"No, actually I'm here on vacation." she said sarcastically.

"Jedi scum." This time when the whip came down on her she flinched but didn't make a sound.

Echo strained to continue: "So why are you here? It's not a particularly sought after vacation spot – that's why I chose it."

She was struck again, to no avail.

"Why do you think?" the metallic voice lowered in pitch.

"To torture the mind of the resident Jedi." Said Obi-Wan.

"That red skinned weakling? Ha!" the laugh was curt and short.

"What do you want with her?" panted Echo. The whip cracked again.

"Why do you defend her? She isn't of your species."

"It … is our …"

"Duty." Anakin finished her sentence for her, softly.

Metallic laughter rang again. "She is the reason you are all here."

"What did you do to her?" asked Obi-Wan.

"I used her … weaknesses to my advantage like any other strategist."

"It is not the same … you used her … in her greatest time of sorrow."

The whip came down again and Echo could now feel dampness through the excruciating sting from the hit. It had broken her skin.

"Why are you doing this to her?" yelled Anakin desperately.

The voice chuckled again. It whispered: "Weaknesses." but only loud enough for Echo to hear.

"Anakin, forget it … I'm … fine."

Anakin's forehead creased in frustration but he remained silent.

"This planet is in the Thanium Sector? Tell me, what does it have of interest for the Confederacy?" said Obi-Wan.

"Jedi have a blind spot for here in the Outer Rim." The voice stated before spluttering into a fit of coughing.

"I see; so this is about gaining territory behind our backs?"

"Are you enjoying this, master?" whispered Anakin.

"Silence!" the whip cracked again and Echo hissed. "You cannot read me human."

Why her? Why is he using Echo to get answers? Thought Obi-Wan but then he heard a quiet whimper from his right and he could see the pain in Anakin's eyes. Ah. I suppose he sees their friendship as a 'weakness'.

"But why did you need to use Shaak Ti?" wondered Anakin.

"Because she is in charge here and it is an easier take over for them to have the leader to reassure the civilians." mumbled Obi-Wan which encouraged yet another metallic chuckle.

"Cowardly, isn't it, to take the easy route." Smirked Echo.

"It seems that I am not getting through to you." The voice almost growled, menacingly, as Anakin and his spot light slid across the room to stop a short distance from Echo. When Anakin and Echo locked eyes he could see that hers were wet and quivering where the tears were emerging and longed to relieve her form her pain. She closed her eyes so he could see no more.

She doesn't deserve this. He thought.

No, not him too. Echo thought. She could sense the pain that he felt for her, but she also knew that the metal voiced stranger could see it, so she did nothing. The whip cracked again and she flinched in preparation but the hit never came. Instead she heard Anakin cry out. She opened her eyes to see him writhing in pain, head bowed as he gasped for air. He did not look up.

"Will you listen now, Jedi scum?" The voice erupted again into coughs.

"Why are you doing this?" she asked.

This time she saw Anakin being struck, around his legs with the whip, with her own eyes. She snapped.

"No!" Echo screamed as her spine contracted and then she gasped as her body jolted. She remembered no more.

As her body jolted it had released a pulse that sent both Anakin and Obi-Wan flying backwards. As they hit the stone wall whatever was holding them to the ceiling broke and they fell to the floor but with the sound of them thudding to the ground, a clatter against the opposite wall could be heard – the metal voiced man. A second pulse washed across the room and this time the legs of the table holding Echo's body collapsed.

Obi-Wan heard a series of taps – like the sound of an insect – make its way across the floor and a hurt growl as the sound disappeared. He reached into his pocket and – fortunately – found a small lighting beacon which he threw into the air. It flooded the room with light to reveal that they seemed to be in a gigantic cave.

"Anakin, are you alright?"

"I think so, master." Anakin groaned. He looked up and saw Echo's body crumpled on the now cracked table and it took all his energy to run to her. He collapsed to his knees beside her and placed his hands either side of her face. "Echo? Echo, can you hear me?" There was no answer. He scanned her face for any signs of recognition; her lips were parted slightly … but her eyes were closed. He stroked her temple with his thumb. "Echo, come on."

Obi-Wan saw Anakin run and looked around to see Shaak Ti's body lying limply against the wall. He went to her side.

"Master Shaak Ti, can you hear me?" he patted her hand and she stirred.

"Master Kenobi? I remember you." She said weakly.

"I am glad that you are alright." he smiled at her kindly. "Do you know how you got here?"

"Not at all … I remember talking to your apprentice but then … nothing, I'm sorry."

"Not to worry; you are safe now."

"Master!" Anakin was panting desperately.

"What is it Anakin?"

"It's Echo … I can't find her pulse." Obi-Wan rushed to his side and held two fingers to her wrist. Nothing.

"I… I know that I am no medic but…" Anakin stuttered.

Obi-Wan tried her neck. Nothing. No. He thought and looked up into Anakin's ice blue eyes – now wet with tears – sadly and shook his head.

"She … she can't be … dead." Anakin swallowed hard. "She can't be!"

"I don't want to believe it, either." Obi-Wan's throat began to well up and he found it hard to get the words out.

"No!"

A/N i know, a cliffehanger! how evil am i? please review and tell me what you think will happen next and (of course) what you think of it so far!