Chapter 16: Shadows of the Past
The dark Sith leader raised his hand, signaling the stormtroopers to escort Rey and Ben up the ramp of The Dreadmourn. Rey struggled against her restraints, but the troopers' grip remained unyielding, suppressing their ability to use the Force. She shouted desperately toward Sky, who stood watching from a distance, conflicted and torn. Sky longed to help her, but the inner turmoil was overwhelming. Ben felt a deep sympathy for Sky, recognizing the familiar pain of being betrayed and manipulated by a master who thrived on torment and failure. Ben's mind raced as he recognized the voice—this man was clearly familiar with him from his days as Kylo Ren.
Ben's eyes darkened as he recognized his former friend as the man moved closer lowering his hood slightly. They had once trained side by side as Padawans under Luke Skywalker, bound by dreams of heroism and a bright future. But after the temple's fall, it was Ben who had drawn Cameron and five others into the shadows, forming the Knights of Ren. Both were initially trained by Snoke, but once the Knights were fully established, Ben assumed the role of Cameron's master. Kylo Ren had been relentless in his teachings, pushing the group to their limits. Despite this, he forged a strong bond with Cameron, often shielding him from Snoke's harsher punishments. Cameron had always admired Ren's strength, striving to emulate him, but deep down, he knew he could never truly match him. Ren was a force unlike any other—an unparalleled power Cameron could only watch from afar.
Now, standing before Ben, Cameron was no longer the young Knight of Ren. He had transformed into Darth Renatus, a Sith leader with dark ambitions. What had once been admiration for Kylo Ren had twisted into something far more dangerous—a fierce determination to bring Ben back to the darkness. Darth Renatus planned to exploit the power of Rey and Ben's Force Dyad to fulfill the Sith's agenda. Unbeknownst to Ben, Cameron had fully embraced his new identity, the name Darth Renatus symbolizing his rebirth as a Sith Lord. It wasn't just a title; it marked his ambition to manipulate Ben back into the dark side and reclaim him as an ally. Cameron believed that Kylo Ren's return would honor his former master and restore the legacy of the Knights.
The Sith leaders, aware of Ben and Rey's unique ability to manipulate time, wanted to use that power to secure their dominance over the galaxy. Cameron, for his part, still longed to reassemble a new order of Knights, with Kylo Ren at the helm and himself as second-in-command. Many of the original Knights had fallen or been injured at Ben's hand during the battle on Exegol, but Cameron had survived. He believed that survival was no coincidence—it was destiny. A path to leadership, power, and a chance to surpass even Kylo Ren.
Despite his desire for power, Cameron still held deep respect for Kylo Ren. He would welcome Ren's return, knowing that the dark side demanded it. The Sith viewed it as a failure to not have the descendant of Darth Vader at their side. With his eyes gleaming with resolve, Cameron—now Darth Renatus—stood ready to confront both his past and the future he sought to control. And now, he had Rey and Ben exactly where he wanted them.
The cold, sterile interior of The Dreadmourn echoed with the metallic clanking of armor as stormtroopers tightened the restraints around Rey and Ben. Their attempts to summon the Force were met with an agonizing resistance, like trying to pull through thick, impenetrable darkness. Every breath Rey took felt labored, as if the air itself had been corrupted by the looming presence of the dark side. She glanced toward Ben, her mind racing, but the dark energy around them clouded their connection.
The hooded figure—Cameron, or Darth Renatus now—watched with a chilling smirk. His black robes billowed slightly as he moved closer, his aura exuding confidence and malevolence. His eyes bore into Ben's, the cold glint of familiarity causing Ben's stomach to churn. Cameron had once stood beside him in admiration, a fellow Knight, but now, the years of twisted ambition had warped that admiration into something far more dangerous.
"Master Ren," Darth Renatus's voice was almost mocking, the title laced with venom, "it's good to see you again. Though it seems... you've lost your way."
Ben struggled against the stormtroopers' grip, his eyes narrowing as he met Darth Renatus's gaze. "I didn't lose my way. I found it."
Darth Renatus chuckled, his voice low and dangerous. "Is that what you tell yourself? That abandoning the power we built together, the strength we forged in the fires of darkness, was the right path?" He stepped closer, his shadow falling over Ben like a suffocating shroud. "I believed in you, Kylo. I still do. The others may have fallen, but I survived. I endured for you."
Ben's jaw tightened, memories of the past flashing through his mind—training with Cameron, the weight of the dark side pressing down on them both, and the moment Ben left it all behind to reclaim his identity as Ben Solo. He had hoped the others would follow him out of the shadows, but Cameron had chosen differently. Now, the consequences of that choice stood before him, embodied in the twisted figure of Darth Renatus.
Cameron turned his attention to Rey, his eyes gleaming with a mixture of curiosity and ambition. "And you, Rey... the great Jedi. The last hope of the light." His lips twisted into a cruel smile. "But even you must feel it—the pull of the dark side, the Dyad you share with Kylo Ren. You cannot escape it. Together, you and he are the key to everything."
Rey met his gaze, her voice steady despite the fear gnawing at her. "The dark side offers nothing but destruction. We won't be a part of whatever sick plan you've twisted up in your head."
Darth Renatus's smile faltered for a moment, but his resolve didn't waver. "You think you can resist? You've barely scratched the surface of your power, Rey. There's so much more waiting for you—if you would just embrace it." His voice lowered, almost coaxing. "Imagine what you could become. Imagine what you and Kylo could do together."
Ben struggled against his restraints again, fury rising in his chest. "It's Ben Solo," he growled. "And I'll never go back to that."
"Ah, but Kylo Ren is who you truly are," Cameron replied smoothly. "No matter how many times you try to bury him under the weight of Ben Solo's fragile morality, he will always rise. It's in your blood, Ren. You are darkness—just like me."
Suddenly, the air around them shifted. The restraints tightened further, and both Rey and Ben gasped as the pressure of the dark side grew unbearable. They could no longer call on the Force—it was as though the darkness had seeped into every crevice of their minds, blocking any connection to the light. Rey's body stiffened, her muscles straining as she tried to push back against the invisible force bearing down on her.
"What... is this?" Rey gasped, her voice strained as she fought against the overwhelming sensation.
Darth Renatus's smirk widened, satisfaction radiating from him. "A little something I've been working on—courtesy of my time in the Unknown Regions. You're feeling the effects of a Sith relic—an artifact that dampens the light within those strong in the Force. It will prevent either of you from using your powers for as long as you remain in my grasp."
Ben gritted his teeth, frustration and rage building inside him. He had felt this kind of darkness before, the suffocating pull of the dark side, but this was different. This was a prison, one designed specifically to trap and exploit the connection between him and Rey—their Dyad.
The stormtroopers began to drag them toward the interior of the ship, their boots clanking heavily against the floor. Ben's mind raced, trying to find a way out, but without the Force, they were powerless. He glanced at Rey, seeing the same struggle in her eyes—determination mixed with fear.
They were led into a dark, cavernous chamber deep within The Dreadmourn. The room was lined with Sith symbols, ancient and foreboding, and at its center stood a raised platform surrounded by glowing red crystals. The air was thick with dark energy, the very essence of the Sith permeating every corner of the room.
Darth Renatus strode forward, his steps measured and deliberate. "This is where it begins," he said softly, almost to himself. "The new era. The rebirth of the Sith—through you."
Rey's eyes darted around the chamber, looking for any possible means of escape. "We won't help you," she spat. "Whatever you think you can accomplish, it won't work."
Darth Renatus turned to face them, his eyes gleaming with dark excitement. "Oh, but you will. The Dyad is a power beyond anything the galaxy has ever seen. You, Rey, and Kylo Ren together are more powerful than even the ancient Sith Lords could have imagined. And I will harness that power to reshape the galaxy in our image."
Ben felt the weight of his past pressing down on him, the echoes of Kylo Ren's actions haunting his every thought. He knew Cameron's words were meant to provoke him, to drag him back into the darkness he had fought so hard to escape. But the worst part was, some part of him—the Kylo Ren he had once been—still felt that pull, still felt the temptation.
Rey could sense his inner turmoil, even without their bond fully open. She stepped closer to him, her voice quiet but firm. "Ben, don't listen to him. You're not Kylo Ren anymore. You chose the light."
Ben's jaw clenched, his eyes fixed on Darth Renatus. "I know who I am," he said, his voice low but resolute. "And I'm not going back."
Darth Renatus's smile didn't waver. "We'll see."
With a wave of his hand, the red crystals embedded in the chamber walls pulsed ominously, flooding the room with dark energy. The ground quaked beneath them, and the shadows thickened, suffocating the air. Rey and Ben instinctively braced themselves, but their strength waned as the oppressive force overwhelmed them. Moments later, stormtroopers re-entered, seizing the opportunity to drag them away in their weakened state.
Darth Renatus watched with cold satisfaction as Rey and Ben were forced into a single, stark holding cell. Each was strapped tightly into an interrogation chair, the two chairs facing each other. Ben was forced to watch, powerless, as Darth Renatus prepared to torment Rey before his eyes. The chamber was small, dimly lit, and utterly bare, save for the two chairs. No windows, no doors within sight—only cold, unyielding steel walls that seemed to close in with every passing second, sealing them in darkness. There was no escape.
Ben's muscles tensed against the restraints as he struggled to break free, his eyes locked on Rey. She sat across from him, her wrists and ankles bound, her chest rising and falling in quick, shallow breaths. The lingering effects of the Sith relic still weighed heavily on them, blocking any attempt to call on the Force. A cold pit of dread formed in Ben's stomach, knowing what was coming.
Darth Renatus circled the room, his movements slow and deliberate, relishing the growing tension. He halted behind Rey, placing a gloved hand on her shoulder, his fingers digging into her skin with deliberate pressure. Ben's jaw clenched, his eyes narrowing, but he could do nothing. He was powerless to stop what would come next.
The faint hum of the machinery filled the silence as Renatus activated the interrogation chair's controls. A low whine followed, and a faint crackle of energy pulsed through the room. Rey stiffened, her face tightening with pain as a sharp current surged through her body, making her gasp involuntarily. Her head dropped, her knuckles white from clenching her fists.
Ben strained against his bonds, feeling a surge of fury and helplessness rise inside him. He could hear Rey's breaths coming in ragged bursts, the pain visible in the tremors running through her body. His mind raced, searching for any way to stop it, to protect her, but his attempts were futile. His body felt like lead, weighed down by the Sith relic's suppression of his powers.
Renatus moved in front of Rey, his face calm, almost detached. His gaze flickered toward Ben, watching his reactions, the sick satisfaction in his eyes growing with each passing second. Another burst of electricity surged through Rey's chair, her body jerking violently against the restraints. Her eyes squeezed shut, lips parted in a silent scream.
Ben felt the knot of rage tighten in his chest. His breath quickened, but his body remained bound, unable to help her, unable to move. The pain on Rey's face tore through him like a blade, every twitch and flinch like a stab wound. Renatus continued his silent torment, never once taking his eyes off Ben.
The torment wasn't just physical. Rey's presence in the Force, normally so strong, was weakened, vulnerable. The connection between them was thin, like a thread on the verge of snapping. Ben felt every tremor, every jolt that rocked through her. His own body tensed with sympathetic pain, a phantom of what she was enduring. He fought against the anguish, but it was impossible to shut out.
Renatus stepped closer to Ben, his hand resting on the control panel as he increased the current. Rey's body seized once more, her eyes flying open with the pain, locking briefly with Ben's. Her gaze was a mixture of defiance and agony, but even in her suffering, she was still fighting, still resisting.
That only made Renatus push harder.
His hand hovered over Rey's shoulder again, his voice barely a whisper as he spoke. But there were no words needed for Ben to understand the message. This wasn't about Rey's pain—it was about his.
This was about breaking him.
Each new wave of torment brought Rey closer to the edge, her body trembling, her breath faltering. The lights flickered, the pressure in the room intensifying as if the very air around them had grown heavier. Ben could feel his connection to her fraying. Her pain radiated through their bond, twisting and contorting in his mind, threatening to overwhelm him.
Ben's knuckles whitened against the armrests of his chair. His heart raced, the fury within him bubbling closer to the surface. He could feel the dark side pressing in, like an old, familiar weight settling over his shoulders, whispering in his ear. It told him that he could stop this—if only he gave in. If only he embraced the power that Renatus was offering.
Renatus stepped back, his gaze shifting to Ben. He could sense the storm brewing inside him, the war between Ben Solo and Kylo Ren playing out beneath the surface. He didn't need words; the scene before him spoke volumes.
Rey's pain was becoming unbearable. Ben couldn't tear his eyes away from her, even as her head lolled to the side, her body sagging against the restraints, each breath a struggle. She was breaking, and with every crack in her resolve, Ben felt his own foundation start to crumble.
But still, he resisted. His mind flashed back to the countless times he had chosen the light, to the moments when Rey had believed in him, had saved him. Yet now, he was powerless to save her. The rage inside him threatened to boil over, but he swallowed it down, holding on by the thinnest of threads.
Renatus took a step closer to Ben, his voice low and filled with twisted amusement. The Sith leader didn't need to say anything else. Ben knew what he wanted—to push him over the edge, to see Kylo Ren rise from the ashes.
As Renatus prepared to deliver another jolt, Rey's body jerked again, her strength finally giving way. Her eyes closed, her body slackening as the chair hummed with the final surge of dark energy.
Ben's heart shattered. He let out a guttural cry, pulling against the restraints with all his strength. His body trembled with unbridled anger, the temptation to give in pressing down harder than ever before. He could feel the dark side waiting, calling, promising release, promising *power*.
Renatus watched the struggle, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. Ben could save Rey—all he had to do was give in.
But still, Ben resisted, holding on to the last remnants of himself, knowing that once he crossed that line, there would be no return.
Darth Renatus, with a twisted smile playing on his lips, knew it was only a matter of time before Ben would break entirely. He relished the power he held, the psychological torment he was orchestrating. Soon, Sky entered the room, his demeanor tense as he moved toward Rey. Gently, he released her from the restraints, lifting her frail body with care. "You'll be okay, Rey. I'm sorry," he whispered softly, cradling her in his arms.
Ben's anger flared instantly. "Stop! Where are you taking her?" he shouted, his voice filled with desperation. Rey was barely conscious, her strength drained, and this would be the first time they had been separated in a month. Ben could hardly bear it, especially with her still aboard the Dreadmourn, vulnerable and alone with Sky. He trusted Sky not to physically harm Rey, but he knew too well that Sky was infatuated with her.
Renatus glanced over at Sky, then back to Rey. "Sky, she'll be staying in your quarters tonight. Be sure to treat her well," Renatus instructed, his voice oozing with mockery.
Ben struggled against his restraints, his voice rising in fury. "Do not touch her!" he bellowed, his heart pounding with fear and anger.
Renatus turned his cold, calculating gaze on Ben, a cruel grin curling at the corners of his mouth. "Torturing her in front of you wasn't enough, was it?" he said, his tone laced with venom. "So, I've decided to keep my promise to my young apprentice. He will have Rey—unless, of course, you return to claim her yourself, Kylo Ren." Renatus emphasized the name, deliberately stoking Ben's inner conflict.
"You'll be isolated for a while, Ben," Renatus continued, his voice silky with malice. "Perhaps some time alone will help you remember who you truly are—or rather, who you were always meant to be. Don't worry, though," he added, his smile growing darker. "I've assured Sky will take good care of her. Maybe a little too well... if you understand my meaning." His words dripped with a sickening insinuation, pushing Ben to the edge as the room filled with a chilling silence.