As the Bender Bot came forward with thumping steps, Maphira closed her eyes and braced herself for what was about to happen. Somehow, she had to resist. If she gave an incorrect location for the Resistance base, she wouldn’t have anything to worry about. If the Bender bot managed to get the truth out of her… well, at least she had a plan.
Bender Bot stepped closer, now within striking distance. It lifted its metal poles that she supposed passed for robotic arms and gasped her head with its cold, hard fingers. An antenna on top of the robot’s head began to flash with green light.
“Where is the Resistance base?” asked the robot in its tinny voice.
She could feel Bender attempting to break inside her mind, so Maphira put walls up inside her head. She’d withstand the siege and make this whole project a big waste of time. Bender battered against her will, attempting to break the barriers, but she stood firm.
I really hope that using a 500KW solar system doesn’t cause any issues, or I’m done for.
It was Vai’s voice, although Maphira only heard it inside her head. Was the Bender Bot linking her mind to the other people here?
Excellent, my child! Break her will! This one came from Dr McBane, followed by a much darker voice. This is it, the moment we achieve victory over the Resistance. The Great Mechanist, perhaps?
Surely the type of commercial solar system installation we chose doesn’t matter, right? This is going fine. Nothing is going to happen. McBane was just being dramatic.
While she heard the voices of those in the odd theatre, Bender continued trying to break Maphira’s will. It bashed against her consciousness repeatedly, and although Maphira had been sure she could withstand it, she was beginning to feel tired. So tired…
With one final strike, Maphira felt her resistance shatter. How could she fight against Bender, with all its strength?
“Where is the Resistance base?” asked Bender again, and this time, Maphira wasn’t able to stop the words from coming out of her mouth.