Trigger Warning: This chapter features dark siders doing dark things, including torture. A character also has a panic attack. Should still be T rated though.
Chapter 19 – Fear
The room was dark, despite several lamps filling the space. It's master liked it that way. Muffled screams could be heard from the corner of the room. Snoke sat on his throne, a bored expression on his face as he watched this corner.
Just then a man in a First Order uniform walked in and bowed before Snoke. "Supreme Leader, we have a report prepared of all we've learned from the Jakku Prisoner."
"Yes," said Snoke. His mood seemed to lighten at the news.
"Well, Sir. According to our Genetic tests, he's an exact match with the late Emperor, Sheev Palpatine. He matches what is known of the man, too, except for his scars and force-lightning burns. That and he's several decades younger. He seems to be a clone, though his DNA lacks any markers or genetic manipulations to identify who by."
"And what have you learned from his interrogation?" Snoke encouraged.
"Well, Supreme Leader, Sir. He seems immune to the usual interrogation methods. He doesn't seem to fear his own death, and his motivation to avoid pain is minimal. He will tell us nothing, not even under torture."
Snoke snarled, then released a beam of force lightning at the man who was bound to a torture rack in the corner of the room, the red-haired, former-general Hux, whose failures on Starkiller Base earned him his current treatment. His previous torturer stepped aside as if this were a regular occurrence, and watched the beam of electricity fly past him. Hux tried to scream, though the gag in his mouth prevented it.
"P-Perhaps your own methods would have b-better r-results." The man stuttered.
Snoke turned to look at him and the man gasped. "If I could go to him I would, and be rid of your pathetic souls. The Force-Supression Artifact makes that difficult. We'll just have to send him on. Prepare him for transport." Snoke ordered.
"Yes, sir. He'll be ready for transport in five days."
"Five days! To move one prisoner! Are your men getting lazy?"
N-no Sir. He can be ready by tomorrow. It's just that the force suppression artifact will take some time to prepare for transport too. And you know it's dangerous to…"
"Don't tell me what I do and do not know." Snoke growled, and the man's knees shook. "Very well, get it done. We'll talk about the efficiency of your team when you are finished."
"Y-yes Sir." The man bowed, then quickly scrambled up and out of the throne room.
Snoke, meanwhile, turned his attention back to Armitage Hux, who sweated nervously. "This isn't the best news, but it has one benefit. A surprise will put him in a very good mood. Just need to get back the boy and stop that interloper Skywalker from influencing him. Cur, do you fear me." Hux gave what he could for a nod. "Good. I may have use for you yet." Snoke placed an elbow on the throne room armrest and laid his chin in his hand, as Hux sobbed uncontrollably. "You and your daddy's old play thing. What was it's name? You did keep it around, didn't you?"
Kylo turned from his interaction with Rey, sensing someone listening in. He saw the pilot Poe, the one who brought him to D'Qar.
"Hmm-hmm," Poe cleared his throat. "I just wanted to tell you, the others were planning a celebration tonight. Having had a successful mission and all."
Kylo could feel Rey start to struggle again with her tears. "A successful mission! We failed to rescue our asset. How do you define this as a success?"
"We didn't loose anybody. Going up against the Knights of Ren, I'd say that is a success. Look, there'll be fireworks and a bonfire. Plus the boys'll bring out there stash of booze once the General goes to sleep. You're welcome to come if you want to. Both of you." Kylo continued to glare and Poe put his hands up and backed away slowly. "If you want to."
Kylo turned back to Rey. She used her shirt to wipe her tears again, then looked up at Kylo. "Ben thanks, but I think I need to be alone right now." Rey pulled away, and Kylo watched her walk to the Falcon.
Chewy then walked up to Kylo and put an arm on his shoulder. He hummed something supportive, along with a suggestion.
Kylo turned to him in disbelief. "No, I'm not going to ask her to the party. You heard her. She wants to be alone."
Chewy replied with a few gruff groans.
"No, I don't want to hear a story about my Mom and Dad." Kylo started walking away quickly, knowing no one really told the old Wookiee what to do.
Luke's attempts to sleep that night were interrupted by sounds of a loud explosion outside. Terror gripped him. In his dreams right before he woke, there was a squadron of Tie Fighters descending on their location, and a team of imperial stormtroopers ready to break down the doors, all led by a familiar Sith commander. Luke woke with a start, throwing off his covers and jumping out of bed.
A bluish force-ghost suddenly appeared in front of him. "Luke, Luke. It's alright. You are safe. It's just the boys outside celebrating." Anakin held his arms out to try to block him.
Luke sat down on the side of his bed, breathing hard. "Are you sure?"
"Yes. There is no danger here. You can go back to bed."
Suddenly there was another boom, from outside, and Luke's pulse quickened again. "This is why I wanted to stay on that island." Luke put his hands over his head and moaned. "I'm never going to be able to sleep with this." Luke got back up and started dressing again. "I'm going for a walk," he announced before leaving.
That night Kylo was having nightmares as well. He dreamt he was walking through a dark tunnel, and he was lost, calling for help. Around him he heard people from his past calling out "Ben, Ben," but Kylo didn't answer them. He barely recognized the name.
"Ben, Ben." Kylo heard his mother's and father's voices calling to him.
"Ben, Ben," his Uncle Luke's voice was straining to reach him.
Then behind him he heard Snoke's voice calling out "Kylo, Kylo Ren." As Kylo turned and took a step, he knew he was walking towards danger. He could feel it. But this was the only voice calling his name, so he had to go.
After a few more steps he heard another voice in the dark. "Ben, Ben." This voice he heard clearly. It belonged to Rey, and he sensed no danger from her.
"But that's not my name." he tried to call out to her.
"Ben, Ben," she called out again.
"Kylo, Kylo Ren." Snoke's voice had its familiar soft appeal, though Kylo knew if he followed it, he'd face pain unimaginable.
He was filled with indecision. He felt sweat dripping off his forehead, and he tossed and turned in the bed. He knew this was a defining moment. Whatever voice he followed would name him. But was he Kylo or Ben.
Kylo woke suddenly to the force screaming in his ear. He jumped out of bed and grabbed his lightsaber. It was as if a torrent of fear were nearby and it was calling for him.
As Kylo crept down the hall he tried to locate the fear with the force. The hallways were empty, most of the base was still at the party outside. There was an unusually strong storm of fear nearby. He did not know where his mom had Ap'lek taken, but he suspected the Knight of Ren had managed an escape. It would explain the fear and it's intensity. Kylo turned on his lightsaber and drew it over his shoulder, as he turned the last bend.
There he stopped shocked. He saw Luke, standing over some resistance woman. His lightsaber was drawn. His eyes were wide and his pupils dilated.
Kylo turned off his lightsaber. "Luke?"
Luke turned. "Ben?" He deactivated his saber too, and let his hand drop.
Before either of them could move the woman got up and ran away.
"Ben, oh Ben," Luke wailed. Then Luke turned around suddenly, and reactivated his lightsaber. He held it ready to swing at his next attacker.
"Luke, what's going on?" Kylo had never seen his uncle in such a state. Well, almost never. There were times during his training, where his Uncle would call out from having an especially bad nightmare, and times when he'd react to simple things. A speeder blew a gasket once and Luke pulled out his saber and stood protectively in front of him, rather like this actually. Then Kylo heard the fireworks outside make an especially loud boom, which his Uncle flinched to and he made the connection.
"Luke," Kylo recognized the risk in confronting a very scared man with a deadly weapon, and considered drawing his saber again. But then he thought that might just make things worse. "Luke," Kylo repeated as he placed a hand on his Uncle's shoulder.
"Imperials, get behind me Ben," said Luke.
"No, there are no imperials here. Just some drunk partiers outside."
Luke seemed to come back to reality at this. He dropped his saber and began to cry.
Kylo got a sense of danger from the force again, and he could sense a hoard of people on their way to him now. Some were angry, others were drunk and unstable. The woman from the hall, she must've gone out to the party and reported her experience there.
Kylo looked back down at his Uncle. Luke was in no state to move, or to deal with a hoard of angry, drunk resistance personnel.
Then he turned and he saw Rey. She was standing near a wall, various tools appeared and disappeared from her hands as she did something to the wall in front of her. Suddenly she lifted up her head and turned towards Kylo. "Ben. How did you get in here?" she asked.
"You're not really here. Why does the force keep connecting us?" Ben asked.
Rey looked around contemplating him. "You're not… Ben what's going on?"
"I don't know yet. Listen, I need you to go to my mother's room. Wake her up and get her to come to the hall outside of room N-233. Luke's in trouble." Rey nodded with a serious expression and then seemed to walk through a wall.
Kylo turned back to his Uncle. Luke really looked a pitiable sight. The man who had haunted his nightmares ever since that night at the Temple now lay on the floor whimpering. "I should never have come back."
Kylo thought for a second about leaving him there. It's what he deserves. But then Luke turned and Kylo could see into his blue eyes. They were filled with shame. And Kylo wondered. "Is this what happened that night?"
Luke's eyes went dark. He looked away. "I had been having bad dreams. Stuff from the war. Sidious, Vader, they took a big part. When I had them, I'd take a walk. It relieves the stress and reaffirms that everyone's safe."
"So that's why you did your nightly walks."
"Yes, that night my dreams were different. I saw you destroying everything I had ever built. Killing all of my students. I tried to dismiss it as nothing but a bad dream. When I did my nightly walk. When I got to your hut I was still feeling anxious, so I tried to look into your mind to settle things. In your mind I saw." Luke's voice shook. "I sensed a very dark presence. Father claimed it was Snoke, but I didn't know that then. I was gripped with fear. But as I held up my saber I looked down at you and realized what I was doing. I was appalled. Then you looked up at me, a scared little boy. I failed you that night. I know I did. Can you ever forgive me?"
Kylo didn't get the chance to respond. Footsteps heavy with intent were on their way. Kylo turned to face them as they came up around the bend.
"Get out of our way!" demanded the one in the front. His breath stank of alcohol.
"We'd like to have a little talk with Skywalker. About how to treat a lady," said the next one, as he clenched his fists.
"No." Kylo clenched his fists and exhaled. He was prepared to fight these men, though he knew that using his lightsaber would be a very bad idea.
"Captain, you are dismissed!" Leia's voice was clear and commanding.
"General, it's been reported that he…"
"Dismissed!" The men became silent as they turned to walk away. When the men were gone Leia turned back to Luke and Kylo. Luke was standing up again. "Ben, Luke. What happened?"
Luke opened his mouth to start an explanation.
"A misunderstanding," Kylo explained. "Luke was walking in the dark and pulled his saber for light, when…"
"No Ben," Luke patted his shoulders. "I was having a nightly walk, when the fireworks startled me. In the dark I thought she was an imperial spy." Luke hung his head.
"Ooh Luke, I thought you said these panic attacks stopped." Leia looked at Luke with a loving gaze. "When did they start again?"
Luke tentatively peeked up at her, then sighed. "They never really stopped. I just didn't want you to worry."
"Luke, we're family. I have every right to worry over you." Leia put her arm around Luke's back and led him with her. As she did this, she turned to her son. "Thank you Ben."
He nodded, accepting the name along with her thanks.
Hi Everyone,
I worked hard on this chapter. I wanted to get it right because of the serious topics it covers. I did stretch the story of Luke's of that night a bit because this version I feel works best. And Luke has been criticized for his watching of his padawan's sleep numerous times, though no one ever gave it an explanation. At least one that was not creepy. I hope you like my version of events. Please do leave a review to let me know what you think.