Program 2187

V

The metal on the man's mask reflected light that wasn't there. The reflection was the only light, even his body flowed into the shadows seamlessly. The darkness was familiar, and despite not being able to see his own body, FN-2187 knew he was being held down by restraints. He began to struggle, overtaken by fear and panic as Kylo Ren drew closer. The gash on his back ached from being reopened again and again in sessions similar to this one, but his terror numbed the pain. He wanted to scream, but his voice wouldn't work. He wanted to yell for someone, but he couldn't remember who.

FN-2187 shot awake as Kylo Ren raised his hand. He sat in a small, impersonal room holding nothing close to his chest. Before the rebels had captured him, he held his only possession when he slept. It made him feel infinitely better after nightmares like the one he had just had. He didn't know exactly why, he couldn't remember where he had gotten it, but it was calming. Now, that was gone. One of the Resistance fighters had taken it.

He swung his legs over the side of the bed and rested his head in his hands. He hated reliving the torture he had endured for sins we couldn't remember committing. But, the nightmares came back nearly every time he closed his eyes. The physical pain hadn't been the problem, those wounds would heal, it was the psychological torment that had really left a mark. It was the constant mind sweeps, the tugging at memories, the use of the Force.

He stood, looking around the small room he was being held in. It was nicer than the one the First Order had given him, but it was still a room on a base. It was blank and small. He shivered, hating how familiar it felt. Like he belonged in a room like this. Just another soldier.

He shook off the thought, just as a loud explosion rocked the base around him. 

×××

Rey was in the mess hall when the first assault on the base cane through. She had been waiting patiently for Poe, as General Organa had requested. She had just begun to think about how it seemed most if her life now comprised of sitting around, waiting for Poe Dameron, when she was interuppted.

A man, who Rey assumed was normally a pilot, rushed into the mess hall, tripping over himself in his panic. "Where's the General?" He yelled. The usually loud room slowly fell into silence. "TIE Fighters are approaching from the South!"

Pandemonium broke out across the hall. Some people made a break for the dock, hoping to get into their X-Wings before the attack began, some people sat in shock, others attempted to make their way to the deeper levels of the base for sanctuary.

Rey stood in the middle of the chaos, cold panic gripping her. She knew there were only two ways the First Order could have found them, and neither one was better than the other. They had either followed the Falcon, or they were tracking Finn.

Rey had a flash of concern for Poe. He had left into the woods, and would be completely unprotected from any attacks. Besides, she would have guessed the Resistance could have used their best pilot at that moment. But, she knew her first priority should be to find Leia.

She plunged through the crowd, deeper into the base. Now that the initial horror of the moment was gone, most of the pilots were rushing to their ships, and Rey was working against the current.

Suddenly, General Organa was right next to her, asking her to calm down. "Please, Rey, I need to know what's happening." Rey took a deep breath. She had used a lot of air calling for the General, who had emerged from the crowd.

"There are TIE Fighters on-" An explosion shook the building around them. "Here. There are TIE Fighters here." She amended her statement. "What do you need me to do?"

"Just stay safe. Unless you could help in the Mellinnium Falcon." General Organa was, as usually, incredibly calm.

"No, not unless- I need a," Rey felt her stomach drop, remembering the first time she had ever flown her ship. "a gunner." She remembered how well Finn and her had done together. Against TIE Fighters, as well.

"That's okay." General Organa assured her, gesturing down the now close to empty hallway. "For now just stay safe." And the  she was gone.