Galaxy of War || A clone wars fanfiction

Chapter 36

I'm exhausted. I've lost track of time and have for a long time. The facility we're in doesn't let any natural light in, so I can't go off that. They've placed the four of us in the same place, to shovel coal into buckets. My arms are weak and tired. My wounds on my back are still bleeding, it's not much, but over time it has soaked my shirt.

"Obi-Wan Kenobi, once a Jedi Master, now a Jedi slave," Keeper Agruss, the man in the flying chair laughs, "pitiful." not once has he referred or mentioned me or me being a Jedi, not that I complain. He then flies off as his laugh can be heard from far away. Around it is clear of the slaves suffering. Moans and screams of pain fill the thick and hot air.

"Everything about this place is designed to shatter the will. It has already begun to affect these poor people," my master says as he watches a slave get whipped for not working hard enough.

A sudden whip cracks against Obi-Wan's arm. "Speech is forbidden!" One of the guards points his finger at him.

"I'm sorry. It won't happen again," my master apologizes, but the damage has been done.

The guards turn to Governor Roshti. "There will be punishment!"

"No stop!" My master drops his shovel.

"Master don't," I whisper to him. Knowing he will only make it worse.

But he doesn't listen. "It's my mistake! Leave him alone!" It only results in the guards taking their electric staff and jamming it into him, sending a wave of electricity through him.

"Now a slave gives me commands?" The guard stops and asks. Then turns to the governor with his whip. "Beg! Beg me, before this one dies because of you!" He keeps swinging the whip as I see my master not even having the strength to speak.

"Please. Forgive me, Master," he finally says. The guards just chuckle as they move along to cause pain to someone else. When they are gone, Obi-Wan rushes to the governor's side, but he only pushes him away.

"Keep away from me! Jedi only make things worse," he says. My heart stings as I can see the pain in my master's eyes.

"Master, it's not your fault-" I try to comfort him.

"Not now, Lora!" He snaps. I pull back and begin to shovel coal again while trying to blink back tears. Force, I hate when people snap or yell at me.

"He's under a lot of pressure right now. Don't take it to heart, Commander," Rex tries to tell me.

"You don't think I know that!" I snap as well. I instantly feel bad and take a deep breath to calm myself. "I'm sorry. That wasn't fair."

He sends me a small smile. "It's alright. I get it."

A silence falls deeply over our little group. The only noise is from the pained grunts from each time we have to fill the buckets. I lift my head when I hear the sound of people throwing themselves onto the floor and yelling. Its first when a bowl of food is placed in front of us that I understand. We all let the governor take some first, he doesn't even look guilty when he takes half of the bowl's content to himself, only leaving behind two small pieces of bread and some green roots. Obi-Wan hands me the bowl and gestures for me to eat.

"I'm not hungry," I shake my head.

"Lora, you need to eat. You already lost a lot of blood and your body needs fuel," he persists.

I roll my eyes before taking one of the roots and one of the pieces of bread. "Yes, dad."

The remaining two share what's left in the bowl, which is not a lot. I put the bread in my mouth only to grimace at the taste. It's hard, so hard I almost break my teeth while biting into it, and so dry it would make Tatooine proud. The roots aren't much better. But at least they're chewable and as long as I swallow it quickly, I can distract myself from the flavor.