Private A Visit to the Madhouse

[Val Drutin]

After pirouetting his way through an asteroid field, his terrified passenger had screamed, "You're crazy! You belong in an insane asylum!"

"Huh." He turned around in his pilot's chair to look at them. "Know of any good ones?"

Sneering, they replied, "Try the Hoth system. Ask for Jakob Benson. If he can't help you, no one can."

He had never heard of this person before, nor did he know of an insane asylum located in the Hoth system. But Val was nothing if not impressionable; the suggestion had intrigued him, and on a whim the madman decided to check it out.

After dropping off his passenger at their intended destination, an Outer Rim planet, he headed for Hoth. The snowy planet remained as inhospitable as ever, but he managed to make contact with a small outpost on the surface. His questions about Benson were answered with titters and jeers.

"I don't see what's so funny," Val said, frowning. "I was told he could help me."

The laughter through the comm grew louder and went on for some time before he was finally given the proper channels for contacting Benson. By then he was just relieved to finally have a line to the man himself, and he immediately sent him a message.

"Hello? My name is Valerian Drutin. I'm looking for Jakob Benson. I hear he can help people who... have trouble thinking clearly. I'm here in the Hoth system, in my own ship. I'd like to set up a meeting with him, please."

| Jakob Benson |​

 

[Jakob Benson]

Val Drutin

The communication came in moments later, after a series of checks and sweeps. Given that the Sanitorium had been under attack before, one could never be too careful.

Benson listened to it over and over again. He could hear something in the lad's voice that tended to only come from certain patients. There were some that needed to come in by force. Yet there were others that were quite willing to come on their own. There was little need for manipulation on his part. Just what kind of help Valerian would need he wasn't certain. But that didn't mean that he wasn't curious to find out.

Hitting the commlink switch, Benson patched through a messge. "Mr. Drutin, this is Doctor Benson. I hear that you are in need of some help. I can arrange an appointment for you at the Sanitorium within a few hours. Should that work for you, the co-ordinates for the hanger will be sent to you directly. I look forward to helping you. Benson out."

As always his responses lacked any emotions. It was as though he had done this hundreds of times before. And perhaps he had!

There was only one way for Val to find out.

 

[Val Drutin]

Practicing a handstand in the interim between sending his message and waiting for an answer, the sudden chirp of the comm sent the dancer sprawling. He picked himself up off the floor of the cockpit and settled into his chair, listening to Benson's response. The man sounded very serious, his toneless voice almost a robotic drone. Val started to nod off just listening to the recording, and wound up having to play it back again.

An appointment? In just a few hours? Serious and efficient. This guy was starting to sound more and more like a droid every second. Still, he came highly recommended...

Val launched into his reply without thinking about what he was going to say first: "I'd like that, thank you. Um... where exactly is the Sanitorium? Is it on the planet's surface, or..." He trailed off, distracted by a beeping noise coming from the navicomputer. The coordinates had already been patched through. As it turned out, the Sanitorium was not located on Hoth, but in the nearby asteroid field.

He keyed the sequence, and the Stardust headed for the Sanitorium - a facility constructed from two asteroids tethered together. This remarkable feat of engineering was unfortunately lost on Val, who took in the sight with as much awe as he would watching air traffic on Coruscant. He was far more excited - and anxious - about meeting Dr. Benson.

| Jakob Benson |​

 

[Jakob Benson]

Val Drutin

Again the lad's voice came over his comms. The particular tone he used was enough for Benson to forego the newest protocols aimed at his protection and instead meet the future patient in the hanger himself. Of course the hanger wouldn't be ENTIRELY empty. There would be a bunch of 501-Z Police droids on hand. As well as at least one other administrator. Still, Benson was keen to make his way over from the asylum's asteroid.

Once the Stardust touched down, Dr. Benson was there in wait. He didn't move as the ship's exhaust ports whipped the air around. Instead only the fabric of his suit and his hair moved. His posture was poised, his hands at his sides while his eyes searched at such depths that it was as though he could read a person's soul. A well practiced observer, Benson merely waited for the lad to choose to exit his ship.

 

[Val Drutin]

Before he left the ship, Val took the time to glance at himself in the mirror. He wanted to make a good impression, but he hardly understood what exactly that entailed. As usual, he was dressed in a costume borrowed from the theater on Coruscant where he worked as a dancer. The unusual and rather impractical getup would certainly make an impression on the doctor, who would no doubt be further convinced that Val was a special case.

As the loading ramp lowered to the floor of the hangar bay, Val hesitated, torn between nervous optimism and sudden fear. His danger sense inexplicably flared as he stood at the top of the ramp, though it was only momentary. The warning confused him. What was there here that he should be cautious of? The police droids that served as security? The other patients? Dr. Benson himself? He wasn't sure.

Eventually, his desire to give the facility and the doctor a chance won out, and he descended the ramp to greet him.

Dr. Benson was taller than Val, not enough that he towered over him, but the difference in height was significant. The man stood perfectly still even as the air whipped at his clothes and hair. His eyes, which had been scanning the area with a laser-sharp gaze, now settled on Val, who gulped.

"Hello," he said, awkwardly extending his hand. "You must be Dr. Benson. I'm Val - Valerian Drutin. I sent you a message earlier..."

| Jakob Benson |​

 

[Jakob Benson]

Val Drutin

The elaborate costume that Val wore was....something else. It caused Benson to raise an eyebrow or two, which at least made the lad aware that he was capable of emotions. There were times when he chose to share them, even while he was having meetings with his patients. But he was never really friendly with them. They were his life's work and part of that was to make the Galaxy a better place.

This was all a part of that.

Taking the lads extended hand, Benson gave it a firm shake. "I am Dr. Benson, yes. You said that you wanted my help. This....get up of yours...is this how you dress in your day to day? Or is there some other meaning behind it?" Whether Val was trying to impress him or not, Benson wasn't certain.

The Police droids just stood still as if waiting for something. That something of course was a cue from Benson to indicate friend or foe. And right now Benson wasn't certain of which it would be.

 

[Val Drutin]

Though he was the one who held out his hand first, Val’s hung limply in the doctor’s steely grasp as he shook it.

Val’s brow furrowed. Others had remarked upon Val’s... off the wall fashion sense, but few cared enough to ask why he dressed that way. “I guess you could say it’s significant,” he replied. “I work for half the year as a pilot, and the other half as a dancer on Coruscant.“

His face reddening, he quickly amended this statement, wanting to make sure the doctor didn’t get the wrong idea about what sort of performer he was. “Not in like a club or anything like that. I’m a professional. I perform on stage in a theater. A very respectable theater.”

Bouncing on the balls of his feet, he clasped his hands behind his back and looked around the hangar. The droids were standing at the ready, awaiting their master’s command. Val was not at all unnerved by them—he was used to dealing with droids. In fact, he sometimes preferred them to sentients. “Nice place you have here,” he remarked idly.

| Jakob Benson |

 

[Jakob Benson]

Val Drutin

It was times like these when Benson wished that he had his notebook and pen with him. He prefered to write things down and file them later, as opposed to having to recall every detail.

A pilot and a dancer. It wasn't often that the two of them mixed. Yet there could be reasonable explanations for Val's choices in careers. Benson just needed to do a little digging.

Idle chit-chat was often an indication of having little to say. Benson on the otherhand was more or less the type to just observe rather than spend his time chatting.

"It serves it's purpose. Now in your message you expressed that you required my help. Would you mind elaborating on that further?" Information was needed. And although Benson had yet to lead Val to a meeting room, he was content at keeping him here in the hanger until it could be decided that he DID need some help.

 

[Val Drutin]

Val hesitated. “Well, you see, you were recommended to me by one of my passengers. They told me I belonged in an insane asylum.”

He sensed the doctor’s impatience, as well as his desire for answers. “I... I know that I don’t think like other people,” he added. “And I’ve been through a lot. Sometimes I see and hear things that aren’t there... and I have trouble talking to people.” Lowering his eyes, Val sniffed, suddenly on the verge of tears. “And I... can’t really... control myself...”

| Jakob Benson |

 

[Jakob Benson]

Val Drutin

Benson listened carefully to the lad, observing the way he moved, how he breathed, etc. He was categorizing all of it as if anticipating just what sort of illness it was that Val was suffering from.

With a gesture of his head, Benson bade the lad to follow him. "And are you prone to emotional outbursts?"

The police droids took the cue and went about their duties. Although a few escorted the pair out of the hanger towards one of the shuttles that would take them to the tethered asteroid. Benson wanted to interview Val properly for assessment.

 

[Val Drutin]

"Oh yes!" Val wiped frantically at his eyes as he fell into step with the doctor, his sadness abruptly disappearing. "All the time. I've been this way for as long as I can remember. Even when I was a child, if my brother or my sister so much as picked up one of my toys without asking, I'd become inconsolable."

He kept talking during the shuttle ride to the other asteroid, as though he suddenly couldn't stop himself from rambling about all the problems his fluctuating emotions had caused him. From brawls that could've easily been avoided, to blossoming friendships that were suddenly cut short by an unprovoked outburst, it was clear that Val lived in a world of extremes. He seemed to relive the chaotic feelings of those memories as he spoke of them, flashes of anger and sorrow, joy and humor passing over him rapid-fire.

"Then there's the episodes," he said ominously, his voice dropping low as the shuttled reached their destination and the doors hissed open. "Sometimes I can't feel anything at all. My life is meaningless and pointless, and I don't care about anyone, including myself. I've... done some pretty awful things while in that state."

| Jakob Benson |

 

[Jakob Benson]

Val Drutin

Benson listened to the lad very closely while their journey to the second asteroid took place. There was a variety of illnesses that could explain what he was suffering from. But as always he needed to go through the proper questioning first.

"When you say that you don't feel anything at all during these....episodes...Do you mean that you are devoid of all emotions or do you mean that you just don't care how you feel?" There was a big difference between the two, both of which would take some extra prodding.

It wasn't long before they reached Benson's appointment room. Given how the lad behaved, the Doctor took the shortcut. The room was empty of shelves and the like, furnished only by a desk and two chairs. The police droids stood guard outside the door while Benson gestured for Val to have a seat. He then took to his own chair and sat down before pulling out a new file from his drawer and a pen.

"I'll need your full name and age for my records. These will not be electronically reproduced, so everything written will be strictly confidential."

 

[Val Drutin]

"I mean I don't feel anything at all," Val answered as they entered the appointment room. "It's as if I've been drained of all emotions. But that's... well, I know what the cause of it is." After he spoke, he had a strange sense that he shouldn't have mentioned this little tidbit of information, regardless of how important it seemed.

He took a seat in the chair Dr. Benson pointed to. It was a bit uncomfortable - too high and narrow for his short, muscular frame. The atmosphere of the room, which was as spare and utilitarian as possible, didn't feel natural to him. He began to fidget - crossing and uncrossing his legs, tugging on the fabric of his clothes, rubbing the back of his neck.

"That's good, I guess. You already know my name. I'm twenty one years old."

| Jakob Benson |

 

[Jakob Benson]

Val Drutin

Benson scribbled on his paper, writing down little tidbits of information gathered so far. Usually the first appointment consisted of a series of apparently random questions. But not today. Today it was different. Val was different.

Already he could see that the lad was uncomfortable and as such, he made note of that too. It wasn't his objective to do so to him, but that would all be remedied later. Once a few other things were determined, Val would have a room chosen for him to stay in for his treatment.

"What do you believe the cause to be?"

 

[Val Drutin]

After the feeling of foreboding he'd felt earlier, Val debated lying to the doctor, but ultimately chose to tell the truth.

"It's because of my brother," he explained. "We've always been very close, but we never had much in common. If I feel things constantly and have no control, he almost never feels anything and is always in control. Only when I have the episodes do I understand him. And when I have the episodes, he... becomes like me as I am now. He can't control himself." Val's smile had a touch of wicked humor. "He hates it. But I think it's good for him. He needs to feel a little every so often."

| Jakob Benson |

 

[Jakob Benson]

Val Drutin

An eyebrow rose ever so slightly as Val mentioned a brother. Benson made a quick note of that and then carried on listening. There was hardly any expression on hus face, so it wasn't too easy to guess his thoughts on the matter.

"Is he a younger sibling?" Was this brother a twin? Or was it some split personality? Those types of cases were always interesting to study. But no matter what it was that the lad's brother could be, Benson was interested all the same. His was a unique case, one that was out of the ordinary. One couldn't help but be fascinated by it.

 

[Val Drutin]

“No, older.” Val became increasingly animated as he spoke, cycling through a variety of complex emotions in just a few words.

“Alyosha. He’s my half-brother.” Fondness, warmth, affection.

“We have the same mother, but different fathers.” Disgust, resentment, sadness.

“I have a half-sister named Jolene, too—” He wrinkled his nose. “—but I was never that close to her. Not the way I was with Yoshi...”

He paused. Dr. Benson was clearly interested in what he was saying, but his lack of emotion was a little disconcerting. Val wasn’t sure if the doctor disapproved, sympathized, or had no opinions at all. He supposed that could be the case, but in a galaxy full of people with their own unique perspectives, it seemed unusual.

“...Will you really be able to help me, doctor?” he asked, gnawing on his lip. “I’d hate to do all this talking and have it come to nothing.”

| Jakob Benson |

 

[Jakob Benson]

Val Drutin

There was much said and much that wasn't said in the lad's sentences. Benson was sure to jot down both, so at times there was nothing but silence as he wrote on his paper. There was definite ties to explore here; those of family dynamics and relationships; each playing a part in what was plaguing his patient.

And then the question of help came. One that was often asked by those that arrived on their own. Was he able to help him? There was much more to it than a simple answer. "If you mean me being able to help you with your episodes, then yes. If you mean me being able to help you find some kind of meaning in why you are the way that you are, then yes. You've taken a bold first step to a better you."

Benson closed the file and then got to his feet. "Shall I show you your room? It's no padded cell, I can assure you." In fact it was far more furnished than this. Comfortable even, for some. It was merely the energy shield that kept patients from escaping.

 

[Val Drutin]

Val watched the doctor's movements as he close the file on his desk and stood up. He wasn't sure he believed Benson's claims that he could provide a cure or any kind of meaning to Val's madness, but he supposed it was better than nothing.

"Okay," he replied, sliding out of the chair in docile compliance. But as soon as his feet touched the floor, he again felt that all too familiar danger sense. This time, there were no police droids or other patients around. It was just Val and Dr. Benson in the room, which meant the sense definitely had something to do with the doctor.

He frowned, staying in place even as Benson started toward the door. "What exactly is the treatment?" he asked. "Are you going to dope me up? Will you have to run blood tests and stuff like that?"

He had a strong aversion to drugs of any kind, primarily because of his experiences growing up with an addict mother. But his intuition was also kicking in. As he progressed in his usual routine of examining this new patient, Benson likely would order a blood test, which would reveal that Val was Force sensitive. Something told Val that Benson wouldn't take the news too kindly.

| Jakob Benson |

 

[Jakob Benson]

Val Drutin

Benson tilted his head to the side a bit as the lad held his ground. This was more than a slight hesitation. This was something else.

There was fear.

He was well used to that. At times he used it to his advantage. Every case was different.

Val needed a more gentler approach.

"You'll soon discover that I do not dope up my patients. I merely do what we are doing now. I listen and ask questions. Althpugh yes, I do run blood tests. There are many things to check, such as physical ailments that even you might not be aware of." And then of course there was the case of discovering Force sensitivity. Such a thing would require a different room with a better shield that would protect Benson from mind manipulation or other such magic tricks.