Chapter 2: A Threat Revealed
When Adnerson woke up he found himself in an Imperial holding cell. He was still dressed in the uniform he'd been wearing. He felt like he'd gone twelve rounds with a Barabell. His entire body ached from the steel shelf that served as a bed.
Suddenly the door to his cell opened, and he blinked at the sudden light. Two Storm troopers entered and roughly hauled him to his feet. They pulled him out of the cell and led him through a maze of corridors, eventually ending up at what looked like an examination room. Two medical personnel stood there, along with a man bearing the stars of an Imperial Admiral. He was wearing a sadistic smile.
"Welcome Lieutenant Adnerson. You know, you and your station have caused me much annoyance," he said. Adnerson gave him a satisfied smirk.
"Glad to hear it," he replied only to be struck in the stomach with the butt of a blaster rifle. He sank to the floor and tried not to puke.
"Let's get straight to the point shall we? I have very little patience for Rebels. All Rebels have already been condemned to death under Imperial law. However, if you decide to cooperate, I may be able to have you transferred to a hard labor colony. So, are you ready to tell me how the Rebels managed to amass a fleet of that size without the Empire's knowledge?" Adnerson spat in the Admiral's face. He received a strong punch to the jaw in return and was sent sprawling.
"I'll take that as a no. Well then, Plan B, Doctors," He called, and Adnerson was dragged kicking into the chair.
"I'll never tell you Imperial bastards anything!" He shouted.
"Perhaps, but you will tell it to that," the Admiral said, indicating what was clearly a torture droid being wheeled into the room. Adnerson went slightly pale. He had heard stories of what those droids could do. Still, he was loyal to the Rebellion. He would never talk!
"I am a compassionate man, so I will not have the droid tear out your intestines. I will instead have you convince yourself to talk," he said and walked out of the room.
Adnerson felt several sharp stings as needles pierced his flesh. The doctors watched several screens Adnerson could not see.
"Begin stage one," the first doctor ordered. Liquid pain flooded through Adnerson's veins as the drug was pumped into his system. Then the room began to contort and loose its shape. Colors danced in front of his eyes. The pain fallowed his gaze.
"Are you ready to talk now?" The doctor asked. He had been instructed by Admiral Sheridon to cease the torture when the Rebel agreed to talk.
"Never, you think a little pain will break me? HA!" He was already sweating.
"Begin stage two," the doctor said without batting an eye. He had overseen dozens of interrogation. This one would be no different. He enjoyed his work.
Adnerson felt as if he was on fire. The screams he had been suppressing ripped their way free of his throat. It seemed that vibro-knives were dancing across his nerve endings. He began to loose consciousness.
"Oh no, we can't have you falling asleep now," he said with humor in his voice. Adnerson was barely aware of another needle entering his neck. He immediately was fully awake again. "I've just given you a dose of a compound of my own invention. Did you know that if the human body endures a certain amount of pain, a gene activates and causes the body to enter a sleep state? The drug I've given you suppresses that gene. Now your body will suffer pain beyond your imagination." The pain began to increase until Adnerson felt his whole world shrink into a sea of pure pain. "Will you talk now?"
"I, I can't!" He replied through clenched and cracked teeth.
"Yes you can. It's so easy. Just tell us about the Rebellion and I can stop the pain," the doctor said, speaking as if he were addressing a small child. Adnerson shook his head, inducing a fresh wave of agony to his neck and back.
"Should we go to stage three?" The second doctor asked. "I've called the Admiral and he had given us permission."
"Very well. I'm sorry to have to resort to this Lieutenant but you've left me no other choice," he said as he injected something new into Adnerson. Suddenly the pain was gone. Then, his eyes began tingling. Then his vision began to blur.
"No doubt you're experiencing a tingling sensation behind your eyes. The compound is dissolving your Optic Nerve." Suddenly, the pain was back, and it was building. His head felt like it was being bashed with a hammer. "The pain will increase exponentially, until your brain begins to liquefy. I can reverse the process, if inclined to do so," he said. He was fingering a vial of what was clearly the antidote.
The pain! It was beyond what any man should ever be exposed to! His body was screaming louder than his lungs, which were filled with molten air. His head was splitting open! He couldn't take it!
"All right! All right I'll talk, just stop this! Please!" He begged. The doctor injected him and the pain immediately vanished.
"There, now that wasn't so difficult now was it? Now start talking or I'll begin all over again," the doctor promised. Adnerson hung his head in shame as he began explaining the secrets of the New Rebellion.
How was that? The next chapter will be much longer. What will Admiral Sheridon learn and how will he react? Find out in the next chapter. Until then, THE EMPIRE RULES!
