Slavery Is A Crime

Chapter 1

- Kadavo

"Obi-Wan Kenobi... once a Jedi Master, now a Jedi slave," Keeper Agruss laughed. Obi-Wan just glared at him. "Pitiful," Agruss said, floating away on his chair.

Obi-Wan continued to glare at the Zygerrian as he left, he then went back to shoveling coal.

They hadn't been in the mining facility, or as Keeper Agruss called it, the establishment long, but already, Obi-Wan could see that it was affecting the poor people of Kiros.

As he watched all of the despair on the poor people's faces, he started a discussion with Rex, the clone Captain that had unfortunately been captured along with the witty Jedi Master.

"Everything about this place is designed to shatter the will... it has already begun to affect these poor people," Obi-Wan stated before he felt an electric shock fill his body as an electro-whip collided with the shock collar around his neck. "Speech is forbidden," the slaver said.

Don't say anything, Kenobi, don't say anything. It will only get you into more trouble. Don't say anything. Obi-Wan thought, but of course, he didn't listen to his head. "I'm sorry, it won't happen again."

Bad idea, Kenobi. he thought as he tried to begin peacefully shoveling coal again. Unfortunately for him, he didn't get to react before... "You will be punished," the slaver said, then whipped the nearest Torgruta slave.

Obi-Wan's eyes widened. "No, stop. It's my mistake. Leave him alone!" Obi-Wan tried to reason, even as his head was screaming at him not to. He should've listened to his head. For within the span of two seconds, an electric shock was filling his body again as another slaver placed an electrostaff right against Kenobi's shock collar.

Kenobi screamed in pain while Rex watched everything happen in horror. "Now slave gives me commands?" yelled the slaver before taking his whip, and giving the Torgruta another lashing as Obi-Wan fell to his knees from the amount of electricity running through his veins.

"Beg! Beg me or this one dies because of you..." the slaver threatened. Obi-Wan's eyes were wide in fear and he shook his head, lowering himself into a bow of submission. "No... please... forgive me... Master..." Obi-Wan reluctantly mumbled out, trying to make the words as clear as possible. The slaver just laughed, then retracted his whip and walked away.

When he was sure the slaver was gone, Obi-Wan crawled over to the Torgruti slave and placed a hand on the man's shoulder. The Torgruta turned and looked at him in fear. "Keep away from me! Jedi only make things worse..." he said fearfully.

Obi-Wan's eyes widened and he looked at Rex with a mixture of shock, fear, and shame in his eyes. Rex tried to give him a look of understanding, but Obi-Wan just shook his head and did his best not to let the tears that brimmed his eyes fall.

He was a Jedi General for Force sake! He couldn't cry in front of an officer. Even though it wasn't like it was one of his own men, Rex was still close with his brothers and Obi-Wan just didn't feel right letting him see him in such a weakened state. Especially because Jedi were supposed to stoic beings.

I'll let it out later. he thought. He had tried to tell himself that he'd "let it out later" when Qui-Gon gave him up for Anakin, yet he hadn't... He told himself he'd "let it out later" after the man died in his arms, yet he hadn't... Would he really let this out later?

Obi-Wan shook his head and sighed, then went back to shoveling so as not to give the poor people of Kiros more of a reason to fear him.

~

- Kadavo 

A full month went by and there was still no rescue... that he knew of, at least.

Come on, Anakin... where are you...?  the Jedi Master asked himself more than he was trying to ask his old Apprentice through their Force bond since he had tried that a week ago and it hadn't worked.

Speaking of working... Obi-Wan had worked his back off this morning and all they gave him was the usual food ration that he gobbled up like it was the last food he'd ever see which, in his case, if Anakin didn't come to find him soon, it really would be the last food he'd ever see.

Anakin... if you can hear me... I'm in the Kadavo system... please come soon... Obi-Wan said through his Force bond with his old Apprentice... no answer. Obi-Wan sighed and just climbed up into his assigned bed in the mining facility, or as he liked to call it, Mustafar's heart. When you drop out of hyperspace, it's a beautiful planet on the outside, and yet there are hatred and suffering on the surface at its core.

~

- Kadavo

About a week after he had tried to contact Anakin, Obi-Wan had started to fall into pattern with the slaves' daily routine.

He and the other slaves were passed their rations for the day. He grabbed a bowl, sat in a small spot, and began to eat his share. He was so hungry, he ate the food like a wild animal... until a slaver knocked the bowl from his hands.

Immediately, Kenobi brought his fists up to fight the slaver as the slaver brought out his electro-whip. Kenobi stared him down like a feral animal stalking its prey, debating whether he should try something or not. Eventually, he gave in and lowered his fists, casually grabbed his bowl, and began eating the rest of his food with shame and remorse clear in his eyes if you looked into them.

Later in the day, he and the other slaves were in the mining facility harvesting coal. Kenobi was just doing his job of shoveling coal when one of the slavers purposely knocked the shovel from his hands. Kenobi glared, looked at him with his fists raised, ready for a fight. The slaver then brought out his electro-whip while a second brought out a shock rod and pointed it at his throat.

Kenobi knew what they would do if he were to fight back, he had learned that the hard way in the first few weeks of being on this planet. With that thought in mind, he complied with what the slavers were implying by picking up his shovel and going back to work without a fight.

Then there was the nighttime routine. He took the top bunk and sat against the wall of it with a slight look of despair. I guess the Jedi think we're just as expendable as clones... if they didn't, I'd probably have been saved by now... Kenobi cruelly thought.

Obi-Wan shook his head. What am I thinking? This is not how a Jedi would think... he thought guiltily. These slavers... I can't let out any other emotions other than anger, shame, sadness, and humiliation because I can't be the hero I need to be! It's a wonder I haven't turned to the Dark Side already! he mentally yelled.

Obi-Wan just shook his head and sighed. Well, thinking about it definitely won't help me sleep and I need all the rest I can get for tomorrow's labor day... thought the Jedi before he inched down from his sitting up position and lay his head down. He then began trying to get some sleep.

Though, who was he kidding, he wouldn't get any sleep tonight. Not with the guilt of not being able to take action gnawing at him, plus the screams of the other slaves.