maskormenace

[Beck appears in a professionally serious mode today.]

This is a general call for volunteers to test out an upcoming therapeutic technology, funded by Wayne Enterprises for potential future use in one of their facilities.

Full disclosure, this is an ongoing process of testing and is not perfected as yet although it is very close. These are final tests to iron out any last bugs or glitches in the system. Non humans are especially welcome so I can input any differences with your psychology and physiology since it may affect the results.

I will be taking around five to ten volunteers for this. Serious applicants only and be warned that since this is about therapy, you will be compelled to divulge some personal details and it will bring up negative memories. These will not be made public.

One last assurance. You will not be physically harmed in any way but be aware of the psychological aspects and know you are signing up to be helped but we won't be held responsible for any adverse or lingering effects. You're being made fully aware up front that this is a trial.

Now! Who wants to volunteer?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Just one memory...

[ Luke murmured that more to himself than to Beck, a small frown on his face as he went to stand where he indicated. There was so much he would have wanted to change, though... the death of his aunt and uncle, or at the very least the last thing he said to them before they died. Ben's death, Biggs' death, Dak's death. Abandoning his training, finding out who his father was. ]

[ ...and then there was... ]

[ He let out a yelp, instinctively ducking down as one moment the room around him was fine, and the next he felt more than saw the tendrils of lightning lashing out at him. ]

[Beck watches with detachment, well aware of how this all worked - tapping into people's brains and displaying their deepest thoughts and memories. With a real therapist this could be better guided but Beck was letting people just bring out their nightmares and try to cope. He began adjusting some settings, watching this unfold.]

[ Luke's heart felt like it was up in his throat. He could feel it, hear it, smell it; the ozone from the lightning, the Emperor's words ("Young fool. Only now, at the end, do you understand."), and part of him swore he could feel the pain all over again, the energy crackling around him, stabbing through flesh and-- ]

Stop... stop, please...

[ Because right now he couldn't tell the difference between the tech and reality, and the Force was not helping him right now. ]

[Frowning slightly, Beck watches and waits... but it seems the young man can't help himself. So he speaks up. The words may filter in to Luke as if someone is speaking from a distance - or possibly reminiscent of being spoken to through the Force, as if Beck is now Obi-Wan.]

Stop it yourself. You have the power. Think. Concentrate. Pause the image. Change the dialogue. Make it all do what you want the outcome to be.

Ben...?

[ His faint whisper is barely audible, but even as he says it, he knows that's not what he's hearing. Ben wasn't there, couldn't be there. It was just him, and... he didn't feel as weak, back then; he didn't feel like he'd just been fighting, didn't feel like the lightning was digging into his skin as hard as it did before. ]

[ So he just reaching out and pushed. ]

[ Something rattled distantly, but it didn't quite register in his mind. All he knew was the lightning stopped, and he looked up to see the Emperor land in a broken heap on the stairs, leaving him staring at the empty gaze focused on the ceiling above. He... he was dead? Of course he was dead, but it couldn't be that easy... ]

[ A faint shuffling sound and the wheeze of a breath from behind drew Luke's eyes away from the impossible image, looking up as his father limped over to his side from behind. His respirator was struggling to keep up with his exertion from the previous battle (that... that hadn't happened?), and the pain of losing one of his prosthetics. They stared at each other for an overly long moment, and... they were okay. He was okay. They could escape the Death Star and... and he didn't know what, but they could just find some place. Somewhere far from the Rebellion and the Empire and just let it sort itself out. Maybe somewhere he could get his father some proper medical treatment and... ]

[ ...and... ]

[ The fact that it couldn't happen, that this wasn't really happening, hit Luke again like a knife in his chest. He felt his throat close up, tears glassing his eyes and making the image of his father -- still impossibly tall and imposing despite his injuries -- blur over. He blinked, struggling to see him, nevermind the tears that fell. ]

...I wanted to save you. Not just from the Emperor; I wanted to save your life.

[ He couldn't keep back the tears now, especially as he could almost feel the heavy hand that came to his shoulder, and he again had a moment where he couldn't tell if it was real, or just the illusions playing tricks on his mind and the Force deciding not to let him know otherwise. ]

I failed you, and every new version of your younger self I meet just makes it harder and harder to face just how badly I messed up everything.

[ Luke couldn't hold it in anymore, felt his legs grow weak and fail to support him as he broke down into shaking sobs, and he felt the Force finally kick in then, finally let him see through the illusions, even though he wasn't really seeing much of anything at the moment. ]

[Beck was aware of Star Wars. It was a real thing back in his world. This was like watching some alternate version playing out... Intriguing... But he had more pressing concerns. The illusions shouldn't generally physically hurt others in this set-up but the volunteers were causing Beck trouble with their powers when they couldn't restrain themselves and remember this was a simulation. The force push knocked some equipment over and Beck hurriedly went to fix it. Luckily it wasn't something critical to make this tech work, but it could be damaged and delay other projects. He turns again to Luke with a frown, making some adjustments and ceasing the program.]

You're reliving things. You're not changing enough. This is meant to help you.

[His tone was stern, as if Luke was the one failing and not his technology.]

[ It took some time before his heart calmed, but he could still feel like it was in pieces. Pieces... but he knew he could put them back together again, maybe this time in the right order. He took a deep breath, finally reaching up to rub at his eyes, before he pushed himself back up. ]

No. I did what I needed to do.

[ He paused, before managing to give Beck a soft, though pained, smile. ]

Sometimes, you don't need to change things to make a difference. Sometimes, you just need to say what you've been holding back.

[ Luke let out another breath, rubbing at his face again, before inclining his head respectfully. ]

Thank you, for this opportunity.

So that gave you some peace?

[He's still irritated by the damage but curious if Luke really got what he wanted.]

[ Luke nodded. ]

I still have some things I need to sort out for myself, but... I think I'm on the right path now.

Good for you.

Maybe you can visit Wayne Enterprises once this is properly set up there, if you need anything more.

I will.

[ Luke moved to leave, before he paused, a faint smile coming to his face. ]

...perhaps when that happens, a qualified therapist can assist with the process.

That's the idea.

This was just finalizing the testing of the equipment.

[Beck was no therapist.]

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