Ben – Age 11

Poe finally had a free afternoon. No scout patrols, no engine maintenance, no petty orders from the sergeants. The lights were dim, his head was an empty bliss of nothing, and he was comfortably slung over the bottom bunk when the room went dark.

"Power outage," Poe grumbled, nestling his head into the pillow. Either that, or his bunkmate was pranking him again. He'd sneak a few slugs into his boots tomorrow before inspection.

"Poe Dameron."

The rasping voice almost scared Poe out of his socks. Almost. There was a peculiar high pitch that pinpointed the culprit immediately.

"Ben, this is my afternoon off," he stated. "Scoot."

"My name is no longer Ben." Perfect. The kid was role-playing again. Poe resigned himself to a long afternoon.

"Mm. Grand Moff Tarkin? Trash compacter monster?"

"I am now Kyber Dem!" Ben boomed dramatically. "I am the most powerful Jedi in the galaxy! No one can defeat me!"

"Yeah. Got it." Funny how the times changed. When Poe was a kid he had pretended to be Red Five, blowing up the Death Star and taking down fifty Tie's in every battle. Ben seemed to like inventing his own tales.

"Poe, you're not looking. You're running the effect!" Ben sighed in frustration. "Play along, Poe!"

"Okay, you got it." Lethargically Poe rolled onto his side. He blinked. Twice. The kid's gotta stop playing with the lights.

"It's awesome, isn't it?" Somehow Ben had obtained the facial mask of a Tie Fighter pilot helmet. The rusted metal was painted white, braced over his face like a skeletal jaw. Plated eyeholes reflected maliciously against the glow of his lightsaber.

"Ben, take that off," Poe said unsteadily. He sat up slowly and Ben cackled.

"I did it! I finally scared you! You nearly soiled yourself – admit it!"

"Ben, take it off," Poe repeated. There was something wrong about the mask. Something that was no longer harmless.

Blithely Ben flipped his lightsaber, unfazed when it grazed Poe's bunk. "Stop worrying, Poe. It's only play. Remember when you used to join me? We fought off the Imperialists together. Pow! Pow!" He swirled his 'saber in a clipped arc and nearly decapitated a lamp.

"Ben, stop – stop!" Poe emphasized, grabbing for the handle. Ben's smile washed into confusion. Running a hand through his hair, Poe sighed. "This… this isn't funny. I'm not a Jedi, but I know this isn't what they stand for. Where did you find that mask?"

"Oh, come off it, Poe!" Exasperatedly Ben pulled off the mask and shook his hair free. "It's only a game. Your friend Ech'ban laughed."

The curdling in Poe's stomach tightened. Biting his lip, he shook his head. "Sorry. I can't play along this time." What was it in the soulless eye pieces that twisted anxiety around his throat? Some crude lifelessness had stolen a child's innocence.

Perplexed, Ben stared at him for a while. When Poe neglected to respond, he sheathed his lightsaber and turned in a huff. "You're boring."

It was the last time they played together.

*Posts chapter 10* *Checks email 1 hour later* O_o

That was my reaction yesterday. I have the best fans! \o/

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