One part left. It's really just an epilogue though. -------------------------------------------------------------- Ren tried to recall his training. He was supposed to remain calm and vigilant if he were ever captured. Well, that and kill himself but he was fairly confident that Brendol would object to the later. It was difficult, especially when he was concerned for Bren. He was supposed to protect him and he couldn’t do that if the other male was being interrogated. He laid down on a small pull out cot that barely fit his body to try and rest, collect his thoughts before they took him to interrogation. When he closed his eyes and let his thoughts wander he could almost hear Brendol’s voice and another, maybe the crying woman?
“General Hux, what is it that you want? I don’t believe that you would bring my son back out of the goodness of your own heart.” Brendol scoffed.
“Well, first, I didn’t bring your son back. I brought my personal guard, Ren, designation RN-001 if you prefer. You’ll find that our Stormtrooper program is rather thorough which means that even a child taken at the age of five would have no recollection of their former life.” Stormtroopers were normally taken as infants so Ren’s case was rather unique. “Second, while my feelings for Ren played a role in my decision you would be correct it stating that I didn’t do this without cause. The failure of the chips used to regulate Ren’s midi-chlorian count once his hormones balanced out is an unforgivable crime. The Supreme Leader decreed Ren should either be dead, or preferably a loyal member of Stormtrooper Corps. As the current head of the program, I am responsible for this failing regardless of the fact that I was nine at the time of the procedure. The Supreme Leader doesn’t take failure well and I would prefer to live or die based on my own actions rather than the actions of others.”
Ren chuckled, the voices fading when he heard the sound of a door slamming nearby. Brendol both hated and respected his father and to die for his failings would be the ultimate insult. He closed his eyes and tried to focus on the voices again.
“…you want from us?” the woman’s voice again.
“I was hoping that we might be provided with a safe haven in return for information.” Brendol answered, his voice even.
“And why would I do that for the man who raped and brainwashed my son?” The woman was trying to restrain her rage.
“Raped and brainwashed? I think you’ll find Ren and I both desired our current relationship and that any brainwashing that might have occurred has long since faded. Ren isn’t loyal to The First Order. He’s only loyal to me because we share a bond built up over countless years.”
The woman smirked. “So you’re saying he has Stockholm syndrome.”
Brendol looked down and Ren could feel his shame as deeply as if it were his own. Ren felt an anger at the thought of anyone would make Brendol feel ashamed of himself. It was as if without his mask to hide behind his emotions were taking control of him.
Ren heard a loud bang and was pulled away from Brendol and the woman. He looked over to the door of the cell to find the bars crumpled in a heap at his feet. It seemed they had spontaneously collapsed in on themselves and for a moment Ren considered going to retrieve Brendol. He only stopped because he figured it would not be a good show of faith when they were trying to seek refuge from these individuals. Still, he couldn’t seem to connect with Brendol and the woman again, their voices dulled beyond what he could hear.
Luckily he wasn’t left to wonder what they were discussing for long. Brendol was brought by his cell on a way down the hall and while the guards both raised an eyebrow at the state of the door they didn’t say anything, leaving the woman following behind them to speak instead. “Did you find our accommodations not to your liking?” she asked.
Ren shook his head. “No, I thought that was a feature.”
She chuckled. “Ren is it? Do you know who I am?”
Ren tensed but he wasn’t sure why. “You’re General Leia Organa, the head of The Resistance and…” he paused unsure if he should say more. “…biologically speaking you’re my mother.”
She had tears in her eyes again. He wished she would stop that. It was a shameful display of human emotion. It showed she was weak. “Yes, I am. General Hux says you’re not my son anymore… but you know me.”
Ren shook his head. “I heard you. I thought it was just a dream at first but Bren’s logic was spot on. He never sounds as brilliant as he actually is in my dreams. I don’t do it justice. He’s right though. I’m not your son. Whoever I was back then is long gone.”
She actually cried this time. “I failed you. I’m so sorry Ben.”
Ah, so that was where Ben came from. He was born Ben. He wondered if that was why Hux decided to call him Ren… because it was already so close. “You failed him. That much is true. You’re not alone though, he isn’t the only child who was taken. Besides, I am happy as the man I am now. I would think, as a parent that would be most important.”
She shook her head. “But he brainwashed you.”
“No!” his rage rose up for a moment. “No, he didn’t. You’re probably unaware of the protocols that go into making a Stormtrooper but Brendol requested the lowest level of conditioning so as to retain my metal state and intelligence. My conditioning was broken years ago. Brendol asked me to help him. He was alone, no one to trust. I didn’t have anyone back then. So we chose to trust each other.” Ren spoke gently.
She was also angry, also frustrated. He could tell but she hid it much better than he did. “That’s called Stockholm syndrome. He twisted you into believing you love him even as he holds your leash.”
“NO!” The sound of steel crumbling. One of the nearby cell doors must have broken. “Brendol is many things but he’s not a rapist. He didn’t twist me into loving him. We’ve both done wrong but Brendol never hurt me. I won’t have you making him believe I don’t love him for my own sake!” he was screaming, his cheeks wet. When did he start crying, why was he so weak.
“REN! Enough.” A voice spoke over them both. It was Brendol. It must have been his cell that opened when the other door collapsed. “I’m glad you believe in me. I am. I also appreciate your defense of my character but, you’ve protected me for so long. I need to protect myself, I will to protect us both now. Okay?” Brendol stepped into the cell, the guards too dumbstruck to do anything about it.
Ren nodded trying to focus on his breathing. “Of course.”
Re: FILL | RN-001 [6/7]
--------------------------------------------------------------
Ren tried to recall his training. He was supposed to remain calm and vigilant if he were ever captured. Well, that and kill himself but he was fairly confident that Brendol would object to the later. It was difficult, especially when he was concerned for Bren. He was supposed to protect him and he couldn’t do that if the other male was being interrogated. He laid down on a small pull out cot that barely fit his body to try and rest, collect his thoughts before they took him to interrogation. When he closed his eyes and let his thoughts wander he could almost hear Brendol’s voice and another, maybe the crying woman?
“General Hux, what is it that you want? I don’t believe that you would bring my son back out of the goodness of your own heart.” Brendol scoffed.
“Well, first, I didn’t bring your son back. I brought my personal guard, Ren, designation RN-001 if you prefer. You’ll find that our Stormtrooper program is rather thorough which means that even a child taken at the age of five would have no recollection of their former life.” Stormtroopers were normally taken as infants so Ren’s case was rather unique. “Second, while my feelings for Ren played a role in my decision you would be correct it stating that I didn’t do this without cause. The failure of the chips used to regulate Ren’s midi-chlorian count once his hormones balanced out is an unforgivable crime. The Supreme Leader decreed Ren should either be dead, or preferably a loyal member of Stormtrooper Corps. As the current head of the program, I am responsible for this failing regardless of the fact that I was nine at the time of the procedure. The Supreme Leader doesn’t take failure well and I would prefer to live or die based on my own actions rather than the actions of others.”
Ren chuckled, the voices fading when he heard the sound of a door slamming nearby. Brendol both hated and respected his father and to die for his failings would be the ultimate insult. He closed his eyes and tried to focus on the voices again.
“…you want from us?” the woman’s voice again.
“I was hoping that we might be provided with a safe haven in return for information.” Brendol answered, his voice even.
“And why would I do that for the man who raped and brainwashed my son?” The woman was trying to restrain her rage.
“Raped and brainwashed? I think you’ll find Ren and I both desired our current relationship and that any brainwashing that might have occurred has long since faded. Ren isn’t loyal to The First Order. He’s only loyal to me because we share a bond built up over countless years.”
The woman smirked. “So you’re saying he has Stockholm syndrome.”
Brendol looked down and Ren could feel his shame as deeply as if it were his own. Ren felt an anger at the thought of anyone would make Brendol feel ashamed of himself. It was as if without his mask to hide behind his emotions were taking control of him.
Ren heard a loud bang and was pulled away from Brendol and the woman. He looked over to the door of the cell to find the bars crumpled in a heap at his feet. It seemed they had spontaneously collapsed in on themselves and for a moment Ren considered going to retrieve Brendol. He only stopped because he figured it would not be a good show of faith when they were trying to seek refuge from these individuals. Still, he couldn’t seem to connect with Brendol and the woman again, their voices dulled beyond what he could hear.
Luckily he wasn’t left to wonder what they were discussing for long. Brendol was brought by his cell on a way down the hall and while the guards both raised an eyebrow at the state of the door they didn’t say anything, leaving the woman following behind them to speak instead. “Did you find our accommodations not to your liking?” she asked.
Ren shook his head. “No, I thought that was a feature.”
She chuckled. “Ren is it? Do you know who I am?”
Ren tensed but he wasn’t sure why. “You’re General Leia Organa, the head of The Resistance and…” he paused unsure if he should say more. “…biologically speaking you’re my mother.”
She had tears in her eyes again. He wished she would stop that. It was a shameful display of human emotion. It showed she was weak. “Yes, I am. General Hux says you’re not my son anymore… but you know me.”
Ren shook his head. “I heard you. I thought it was just a dream at first but Bren’s logic was spot on. He never sounds as brilliant as he actually is in my dreams. I don’t do it justice. He’s right though. I’m not your son. Whoever I was back then is long gone.”
She actually cried this time. “I failed you. I’m so sorry Ben.”
Ah, so that was where Ben came from. He was born Ben. He wondered if that was why Hux decided to call him Ren… because it was already so close. “You failed him. That much is true. You’re not alone though, he isn’t the only child who was taken. Besides, I am happy as the man I am now. I would think, as a parent that would be most important.”
She shook her head. “But he brainwashed you.”
“No!” his rage rose up for a moment. “No, he didn’t. You’re probably unaware of the protocols that go into making a Stormtrooper but Brendol requested the lowest level of conditioning so as to retain my metal state and intelligence. My conditioning was broken years ago. Brendol asked me to help him. He was alone, no one to trust. I didn’t have anyone back then. So we chose to trust each other.” Ren spoke gently.
She was also angry, also frustrated. He could tell but she hid it much better than he did. “That’s called Stockholm syndrome. He twisted you into believing you love him even as he holds your leash.”
“NO!” The sound of steel crumbling. One of the nearby cell doors must have broken. “Brendol is many things but he’s not a rapist. He didn’t twist me into loving him. We’ve both done wrong but Brendol never hurt me. I won’t have you making him believe I don’t love him for my own sake!” he was screaming, his cheeks wet. When did he start crying, why was he so weak.
“REN! Enough.” A voice spoke over them both. It was Brendol. It must have been his cell that opened when the other door collapsed. “I’m glad you believe in me. I am. I also appreciate your defense of my character but, you’ve protected me for so long. I need to protect myself, I will to protect us both now. Okay?” Brendol stepped into the cell, the guards too dumbstruck to do anything about it.
Ren nodded trying to focus on his breathing. “Of course.”