Memories

Chapter 28.

On my right, Ahsoka shifted anxiously, looking across me for instruction.

"Relax," I told her. "Just concentrate. You'll do fine."

She managed a small smile. "Thanks, Master."

Then the noisy crowd quietened somewhat as Poggle ordered something in his language. I waited expectantly for the portcullises to open and for the various beasts to come charging out. But nothing happened. 

That horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach became increasingly worse, and I listened with growing apprehension as the spectators began thumping their feet in time to a beat. The noise thundered louder and louder until it was near deafening. 

Getting out of that energy field had allowed me to feel the Force to its full effects again, and it seemed to be making up for lost time, yelling danger in my ears so hard that I could barely think. And it was yelling danger for Obi-Wan.

Instead of a beast coming through the gates, into the arena came Asajj. She swaggered past me, shooting me an unbearably smug smirk, and mouthed, "You can't protect them."

I crunched my fists into a tight ball, and the binders around my wrists, though thick and unyielding, still crumpled slightly.

Asajj waggled a finger at me as she stopped in front Obi-Wan. "Be careful, Skywalker. You care about your friends, don't you? Just listen."

I glowered at her but kept my mouth shut. Count Dooku's rich voice bellowed across the arena, silencing the wild shouts and explosive thumping.

"As you will have seen," he began grandly, "today's execution is not proceeding in the normal fashion. The beasts are not required on this occasion. Instead, my apprentice Asajj Ventress will be key to this execution. Ventress," he called down to her, "explain how things are going to work."

Asajj stood up tall and spread her arms out, making sure the camera droids were getting a good view of her. "Welcome to Petranaki arena!" she announced. "We like to keep people interested and engaged, so things have been changed up! As everybody knows, Kenobi and Skywalker are the best of friends." She narrowed her eyes at me. "Today is going to test that loyalty."

She ignited the one lightsaber she had on her and swung it just above Obi-Wan's head, severing the chain that held his binders up, then gestured for him to step towards her. He hesitated a moment before obliging, but, once he had done so, she swiped her saber at his leg, nicking his calf and causing him to cry out and crumple to his knees. 

I strained against my cuffs, feeling my temper flaring and fear tightening coils around me. "Leave him alone!" I shouted.

"Stay put, Skywalker," Asajj warned, "or both your friends will suffer." She indicated to Ahsoka, who was looking very uneasy. "If you don't try anything naughty, then only Kenobi will suffer."

I crunched my fists tighter, resisting the urge to yank open the cuffs around my wrists. I didn't want either Ahsoka or Obi-Wan to be pain, but if I could in any way prevent that from happening to at least one of them, I would try. 

Asajj smirked slightly, sensing my resolve. "I see you've made up your mind. Shall we test that for you? Shall we see what kind of a friend you truly are?" Then she kicked Obi-Wan, who was still on his knees, getting him full in the guts. He gasped, collapsing further onto the ground, and some of his pain slipped into the Force, giving a taste of it to anyone and everyone who was nearby.

As she delivered a series of quick blows to his head and body, I looked away, my heart pounding. How could I just stand back and watch? It was my fault that my friends were captured in the first place.