Purge (Star Wars)

Consequences

Ilyana slowly opens her eyes to find herself lying on the floor, surrounded by stark, featureless metal walls. For a moment she has no memory of how she got here or what she had been doing. But as her vision comes into focus she sees her ruined arm stretched out on the floor in front of her. Eighth Brother's lightsaber had cut through the bones in her wrist and tore a huge gash up her arms to her elbow. Thankfully it had cauterized the wound as it went, keeping her from bleeding out, but when she tries to move her fingers they do not respond. Her arm is useless.

"I must admit," comes a cold, familiar voice that echoes as if two voices are layered on top of each other. Ilyana quickly pushes herself up with her good arm and turns to face the direction from which it had come. Seventh Sister is standing near the entrance to the detention cell on one of the steps leading down into the room. "I am impressed," the Inquisitor continues. "Were you able to use the force when you first came to us?"

Ilyana rises to her feet, trying her best to hide the disorientation and stands tall and composed. Gripping her ruined arm close to her body, she hardens her face in order to give nothing to the Inquisitor.

"I think you did," the Inquisitor sneers. Eighth Brother, on the other hand, doesn't care one way or the other. He just wants to kill you but I want more. I want answers and only when I'm satisfied will I let you die.

Seventh Sister laughs, then continues speaking at a more rapid pace. "Before we get to my questions, however, I want you to understand what will happen if you do not answer," and she waves her hand to the Purge Trooper guard standing just outside the door. The trooper understands the unspoken command and presses a button on the outer control panel.

Suddenly all of Ilyana's joints lock up and she falls hard onto the floor of the detention chamber. Now she understands why Seventh Sister had been standing on the stairs and not the floor of the cell: the floor is electrified. The current shoots through her body, locking her joints while causing her muscles to convulse. It takes all of her will to deny the Inquisitor the satisfaction of hearing her scream.

Despite the floor being active for only a moment, it feels like much longer than that to Ilyana. When the current finally ceases and her muscles are allowed to relax again she immediately forces herself back to her feet despite the lingering convulsions. The clenched muscles have caused blood to ooze out of several points along the wound on her arm, but she is unwilling to show weakness in front of the Inquisitor and she takes up the same posture and expression as before the floor was activated.

Seventh Sister laughs, "You are stubborn! Fantastic! You will be so much fun to break."

Just relax and listen. Let the Force focus your mind and help you find the answer. The words Cal had said back in the cantina on Savareen echo through her mind. That's where I'll find the answer. She takes a deep breath, calming herself, and allows the ripples in the Force form in her mind. But as soon as they start to move out from her she is thrown back against the wall of the detention cell, breaking her focus.

"Oh, no, no," Seventh Sister says while the force of the impact rings through Ilyana's ears. "You will not be using the Force here. We have made sure of that. In truth, we were not at all interested in the pathetic little skirmish on this planet until we received reports of someone using the Force."

This planet? Ilyana wonders. We must still be in orbit around Abednedo.

"I thought it was a Jedi. Imagine my joy when I learned it was you," Seventh Sister says as a wicked smile plays across Seventh Sister's face. "I will return tomorrow to ask you some questions. In the meantime be sure to get plenty of rest," she smears.