Chapter 2: The Torture Chamber

FOREWORD

I know its been long since Chapter 1 but i just didnt feel inspired until today. Sitting through a boring two-hour lecture of 'Advanced Computer Architecture' apparently inspires me like nothing else. A lot seems to have happened between the bookslinger pursuing his 'Final Exam' and this scene in the torture chamber. Havent given it much thought though but i guess the bookslinger did conquer his goal and move on in his quest, just as i did finally write all my papers and move on to the second semester. Still waiting for my results!

CHAPTER 2

The bookslinger slowly opened his eyes. He'd been asleep for a long time. Just how long, he had no idea. Time seemed to have its own pace in this place. He waited for his eyes to adjust to the dimly lit chamber. The pain seemed as real now as it did when he was brought bound and gagged into the room. He knew what was about to take place and a part of him wished for the bliss of ignorance.

Then it happened. The Professor walked into the chamber. This Professor like the rest of his alien race was a master of torture and lived solely for the sadistic pleasure of watching pain being inflicted on others. The bookslinger tried as hard as he could to gather his senses. It took more than a mere mortal to withstand the attack of a Professor. 'And I certainly am no mere mortal', whispered SwitchBlade as the alien beast opened its mouth and shouted out...

"Pipelining Techniques for Parallel processing!"

The bookslinger's body writhed in agony. The words stung his mind like a whip to bare flesh. This Professor was apperently extremely good at his trade. Bravo! thought SwitchBlade to himself. The sick realisation that he was cheering on his torturer did not ease the pain.
He tried to recollect his training. The lessons of 'Mind over Body' which he had breezed through. He knew that he had to remember every last bit of the course if he had to make it through this torture alive.

"Overlapping Execution of Instructions!", yelled the Professor and SwitchBlade tasted blood and bile at the back of his throat.

He did not know how much more of this he could take. No amount of training could have ever prepared him for this onslaught. Then he saw them out of the corner of his eye. His holsters and his reference books lying at the corner of the room. If he could only loosen himself from his chains and get his hands on them....

"Resource Utilization as a Performance Factor!"

A fresh wave of agony hit the bookslinger. The pain filtered down through the rest of his body as the words slowly sank into his sub-conscience. His thoughts began to wander now as the darkness slowly enveloped him. 'So much for my training!' he mused as his body worked its own mechanisms to deal with the wounds. He welcomed the darkness and the painlessness it brought. Whether he was slipping into death or merely a stupor, he really didnt care as he closed his eyes and once again, embraced nothingness.