Mercy

Discomfort At Its Finest

  (Reader's POV)

My eyes bore onto the dark ceiling above me. Something was holding me back from falling asleep again. Every single time my eyelids began to droop, I see visions of Naboo catching aflame; exploding from a blood-red laser. I wasn't sure if the Commander was fully responsible for this, or if it was my own fear of his threat in my previous nightmare. Yawning over and over without being able to sleep was torture all on its own. But combined with the uncomfortable cot and the nonstop nightmares, it was almost unbearable torment. Almost. I'd rather go without sleep AND food for days, no... weeks than let him have his way with me. I could see through his plan like it was a mere game. He wasn't allowing me to sleep so that I was more willing to give in to his arrangement. In one hand, I could continue on resisting and stay resilient. In the other, I could give up in order to guarantee Naboo's safety. I was in high hopes that in letting him win his corrupt game, he wouldn't destroy my home. Although...nothing could guarantee its safety, I could fully obey and he'd still blast my planet into oblivion because that's the kind of monster he is. As I contemplated, the effects of no food and not enough rest were taking a toll on my body. My head pounded; my stomach growled, my mental state was wearing thin, ultimately my energy was weak. I couldn't keep up with this pointless battle much longer. It was a fight I'd never win.

  Right on cue, the door to my cell opened with a hiss. Standing tall, Commander Ren strode in, alongside two Stormtroopers.

"Trouble sleeping Princess?" His tone generator smothered his intonation well. It made me unable to tell his mood.

I sat up, now my vision locked on the wall in front of me, avoiding his gaze and his question.

"Have you forgotten what happens when you don't respond? Shall I remind you?" He took another step, only a few away from my cot. The Stormtroopers remained outside the entrance, holding their blasters at their chest plates.

"...why ask questions you know the answers to?" I mumbled. My lack of sleep was allowing my attitude to get the best of me. I wasn't in the mood to remain civil.

"Questioning my methods again." He moved to stand in front of the cot. "Asking to be tortured this early in the morning, a strange request." 

"Yes, I am unable to rest. Is that what you wanted to hear?" I crossed my arms.

His mask tilted down at me. "Control that filthy attitude of yours, or I will."

I adjusted my gaze from the wall behind him to his balled-up fists at his sides. In this moment, I didn't care if he choked me to death. He'd be doing me a favor by putting me out of my misery.

"You're out of time. Have you made your decision?" His low, synthetic voice rang in my ears.

It really is too early for this.

"Submit and you'll be permitted to sleep in a comfortable bed, isn't that what you want?" He leaned forward, meeting eye level with me.

"No. You know what I want." I lowered my head to glare back.

His mask tilted. "You said so yourself, this is getting you nowhere. Tell me Princess," He leaned back and paced back to stand at my side. His chest puffed out, his proximity made me scoot over to the corner, leaning my spinning head against the wall. "Can you live with yourself knowing your insolence and stupidity caused all of Naboo to die?"

I re-envisioned my nightmares, ancient buildings burning to the ground, dead bodies scattering the streets. I now saw my mother and father, deceased, lying face down side by side, outside our home. And it being all my fault. My eyes watered, but I wouldn't shed another tear in front of him. "I'd rather die than submit to you. If you refuse to kill me, I'll find a way to do it myself."