Part Four: The Sith Device

Once a Senator, I was now an Imperial prisoner. To my lasting regret, I was a special kind of prisoner-one whom nobody knew even existed, save the Emperor and his guards. He wanted me down there, and those who did know were not going to disobey their Emperor-leaving me bereft of allies to call upon. The cell was completely hidden, in a part of the Imperial palace that nobody knew about except for those with authorisation, so I was highly unlikely to even be discovered as if an Imperial had risen high enough to know about the hidden cells in the Imperial Palace, you knew not to get overly curious. Discovery was therefore at minimal likelihood.

My cell contained no windows, and only a small light. All I had was a bed, a refresher and a hatch which dropped food twice a day-the bare minimum to keep my strength up. I had no company, and to make matters worse the cell was also soundproofed as well as force proof, so I shouted myself hoarse after a few days. Once I lost my voice, the solitude became maddening. I was forced to dwell on recent events, having to relive the nightmare that had torn my family apart, turned my husband into the galaxy's ultimate nightmare figure, and plunged the galaxy itself into darkness. I was also constantly re-living my own fall into my current situation. How had it come to this…? How had we not seen the signs and how had we been played so completely?

Finally, I was pulled out of the cell by two of his Royal Guard and was dragged to the Emperor's throne room again. He sat in his throne, with his back to me. In the room, however, was another of Palpatine's Imperial cronies. This one, however, looked different…more of a scientist type. The uniform was white, and the scientist had a gaunt face with eyes that hinted of obsession and a lack of conscience. I immediately gathered myself-this did not sound good. What was going to happen to me?

The Emperor spun slowly around in his throne, and I could feel the fear in me building. I don't normally admit to fear, but given that I had been left in a cell on my own for an indeterminate period of time, with nothing but my own thoughts for company, I was no longer in my normal frame of mind. Perhaps that was the intention in leaving me so long-render me vulnerable…

The scientist looked at me, and then looked at the Emperor.
He said simply "Is this the test subject?"
The Emperor nodded. "Have everything ready. She'll be with you soon enough…"
My blood running cold, I nonetheless asked what was going on.

He looked at me and sat back on his throne as he addressed me.
"My scientist here has an invention that he wishes to test out. You may be just what he needs…"
The scientist looked over me with piercing eyes, as if he were mentally assessing me for his needs. It made me feel vulnerable in a way that I have never felt before…He then bowed before the Emperor and left the room without a word.
"What do you mean? What sort of device?" I asked, my voice starting to sound strained due to lack of use.
"The laboratory scientists were tasked with means of maintaining loyalty in my subordinates, to ensure that they stay loyal and devoted. One such invention that they came up with was an experimental serum that would not only amplify the subject's physical capabilities but would also leave them more susceptible to following orders. They regretfully had to shelve it due to it being too limited use-it would only last for minutes at a time and would also require near-constant injection to be able to make proper use of it. Meanwhile, another lab was working on a device that would allow for constant injections of bacta, to keep healing troopers in the field. Both are experimental tech, but my scientist that just left the room believes that they can be combined. A device that constantly injects a serum that not only enhances their ability to the level that they could compete with a Jedi in agility, but also keeps the subject under firm control. I have used some suggestion to add some Sith knowledge to the device, just to increase its power. It is at last ready for testing of the prototype-we need to find out how it performs when connected long-term to a subject, to find out what the side effects are. All we need is a test subject…"

My blood froze in my veins and I felt genuine fear as I realised what was about to happen.
"I'm not your test subject…I'll never serve you!"
He looked at me, his scarred and deformed face now so close that I could smell his fetid breath.
"You will learn your fate after the device is grafted onto you. Take her away…"

And with that, I was dragged to the Emperor' secret Laboratory. I tried fighting the Royal Guards that dragged me, but after my long sojourn in my cell I was in no fit state to fight opponents of this calibre-and their Force Pikes gave them a decisive advantage. I was taken to the laboratory, which was hidden in a secret section of the building, accessible only by private (hidden) turbolift that took me into the bowels of the building. Within was a group of scientists, all with immaculate uniforms and matching facial expressions that betrayed their devotion to scientific progress over ethical treatment of the test subjects. The laboratory was dark except for the lights over a surgical table, but I could make out figures monitoring various computer terminals.

I was dragged to the surgical table, and the Royal Guards wrestled me onto it. I was strapped down, and the lead scientist approached me with a syringe and a malicious look in his eye.

"Just a little shot…this is a neuro-toxin that will shut down your nervous system and induce temporary paralysis. You'll be unable to move throughout this operation. You'll be awake for the entire procedure, but your vitals will be carefully monitored. You'll be unable to scream at least…" He said with a truly wicked smile. He then injected the needle into my neck, before inserting the fluid into my bloodstream. Immediately, I could feel the effects-I could no longer move my body, and I could no longer speak either. All that I could do was remain in position as they did Shiraya-Knew-What to my helpless body. I could not even close my eyes to shut out the ghastly sights that I was to be subjects to.

Within this terrible house of horror, the scientists gathered to perform their grisly work. Over the next few hours, I was fitted with the device. I'll spare you the ghastly details, but suffice it to say that the surgical operations were very invasive. Without the anaesthetic, it was unquestionably the most painful experience of my life (other than what I was in hospital for in the first place), and thanks to the neuro-toxin I was completely unable to even scream. All I could do was endure, and pray to Shiraya that the procedure would soon be over, but it just went on. Finally, the pain subsided, and the scientists admired their work before leaving to prepare their reports.

Once it was finished, I was shown my new augmentation. It looked like something from a horror holo-vid. A black durasteel mesh criss-crossing across my torso, with frequent claws digging into my chest, and a red jewel in the middle…that pulsated with evil power. Was it a Sith artefact? I had no idea…but I had a feeling about the device that it could not be for my benefit. I had no idea at that point that the device would turn my life into an unrelenting trauma. I remembered the words that Palpatine had used and mulled over them. Could this device really turn me into a combatant physically capable of fighting a Jedi in combat, or a mindless servant following orders just as readily as the clone troopers?

I wouldn't have to wait long to find out.
And that is where my nightmare truly began…