We all have choices

Ah, my pet, you're awake!  Wonderful!  I was worried that you might expire too soon for our little test.  Now now, save those tears.  You might have need of them later.

What's going on you ask? It's just a little experiment.  A test of sorts.  You see, my associates and I think that your kind is too frail to handle the consequences of really hard decisions.  We think that your sense of self sacrifice will be overcome and fail when faced with impending personal doom.  In other words, we think that you will do absolutely anything just to live for another hour.

I'm sorry, I really can't let you go.  You have a part to perform and I just know you'll make a wonderful contribution to our body of work.  Just remember, you are acting as an Ambassador for your kind, and this is for posterity.

We're lowering you into a large container.  Before you ask, there is no way out.  This container is nearly full of water.  Enough so that only your head will be above it while your body is firmly chained in place.  On the wall over there - yes, that one.  Can you reach it?  Good.  On that wall are two buttons.  The blue one will heat the water by 2 degrees every time it is pressed.  The red one will signal my wrack that you wish to have a part of your body removed instead and the water temperature will be reduced by 1 degree.  We can perform this service without removing you from the container.  Once an hour you must push a button.  Quite simple really.  

Let's get started shall we?  Go ahead and press one now.

Oh, I see you are refusing.  You should be aware that when you fail to make a choice at the appointed time then one of your friends will be slowly flayed over the course of that hour.  While you watch.  You remember your friends don't you?  The ones we captured from near your home when we escorted you here?  There were a few dozen of them as I recall.  You do remember!  Good.  Sarloa, will you please select one and bring them closer so our guest can properly see them?  Why don't you go ahead and chain them to that wall.  Can you see them?  Nothing is blocking your view?  Good.  

Sarloa, please begin.  It might help our guest to fully understand the consequences of each of it's choices.  I don't want there to be any misunderstanding.

...

Now, let's try again.  Please make your choice.  Ah, now that's better.  I see you've selected to increase the water temperature.  Wasn't that easy?  Just 2 degrees at a time is all, it's nothing really.  The timer has now reset and you can relax.  There is plenty of time to consider your next choice.

Oh, and just so you know, I've taken the liberty of injecting you with a special concoction that removes your need for sleep and will ensure you are fully aware regardless of how hot the water gets or how many parts you've given up.  I wouldn't want you to accidentally miss an opportunity to push a button.  That wouldn't be helpful at all.  No, each of your choices must be consciously made - even refusal is it's own choice.

What's that you say?  Oh such defiance!  Please hold onto that feeling for as long as you can.  The caskets above you are paying attention.

Now that we're all set and everyone understands the situation, I need to check in on a few other experiments and will return later.  Always remember, when the bell rings you must make a choice.

Never read these before going to sleep

Also... just two degrees per hour? Some Dark Eldar have just so much patience...

I had in mind the old saying about how to properly cook a lobster or frog.  You put it in cool water, then slowly turn the heat up over time.  That way the thing doesn't fight you.  

So I thought "what about someone that *knows* the water is not just getting hot but that it's going to become more so and ultimately cook them? What would they do to keep the temperature from going up, and I put two pretty horrible other options in play.   So the victim can choose between being cooked, diced or watch everyone they know be hacked up.

I think a haemi would patiently wait the outcome from that.  The victim would be in a constant state of fear the whole time, which would help those trying to regenerate their bodies.  *evil snicker*

Sick, Clively. Nice one!

Push the blue button until the water is a comfy body temperature, then press the red button to lose a body part.

'Which body part?'

'My button-pressing finger.'

And watch your friends get hacked up. I mean, for one thing, they're going to get hacked up anyway, and after hours of dunking in the tank you're going to be really bored, so you might as well get some entertainment; and for another, you can always get new friends, but if you're all cooked up and cut up then no one is going to want to talk to you.

That...

...was actually a really good story! Brief, clever, scary and sooo Coven.
I like it a lot!