Benjamin Reynolds

# Benjamin Reynolds Junior

For Benjamin's father, see: (Benjamin Reynolds Senior)

Benjamin Reynolds Junior, typically called "Ben Reynolds", or just "Ben", is the biological son of Denise Darcy, and Benjamin "Benji" Reynolds Senior. He is the adopted son of Rose Reynolds (his grandmother), and Peter Reynolds (his grandfather). He is one of the major POV characters in the first book. He has three aunts --Patricia Harmann, Skye Foster-Reynolds, and Isobel Reynolds--two uncles-- Jonathan Reynolds, and Jack Harmann, as well as one cousin --Collin Reynolds. Though, where Ben had a decent relationship with his family (sans his father and mother) on Earth, on the Afterlife, Ben finds himself alone, and out of his depth.

## Appearance and Character

Ben Reynolds is a thin boy of eighteen, with a large poof of curly brown hair atop his head. He looks similar to how his father did (in Benji's youth). On Earth, he wears glasses over his hazel eyes, but when he arrives to the afterlife, his eyes become sapphire blue, and his apocolite mutation makes it so he no longer needs his glasses.

Ben is a sweet, and naive boy, who always assumes the best in people and situations, but is timid and easily frightened. Many of his friends find his mannerisms annoying, and oftentimes his wants or desires are misunderstood by his peers. Ben has autism, (most likely inherited from his father), and dislikes abrupt loud noises as a result. He loves trains, particularly those of the steam-powered variety, despite the stereotypes associated with his passion. When not getting what he wants, Ben tends to "shut down" as rejection is his bane. When triggered, will go into silent anxiety attacks, or fits of tears or rage. His dream is to go to Berklee College of Music in Boston, and become a famous musician, and is distraught at the idea of becoming a warrior.

Ben often wears drab clothing, a tan sweatshirt and jeans. His clothing upon arrival to the afterlife are arrival's rags, made of indiscernible material. Later, he wears a navy self-cooling submariners uniform, which is blue and white in the shirt, and navy blue in the pants, made of cotton. He wears this uniform till the end of "Universe Eight."

## History

Ben was born to Denise and Benji, two alcoholic parents who were unsuited to the task of parenting. Ben recalls vague infantile memories of his parents throwing bottles at each other in their arguments. When Benji was two, he was taken by the United States Child Protective Services, and was later adopted by Rose and Peter Reynolds. Ben feels disdain for his parents to this very day, and struggles with abandonment issues due to the pain caused by his parents neglect.

Ben was bullied in middle school, and parts of high school. His method of dealing with this bullying is to go silent, and get away from situations as fast as possible. This worked half the time, and Ben had tennis balls thrown at his face as his bullies taunted him, calling him the 'r-slur' all the while. Ben built a massive resentment for bullies during this period of his life.

At some point during his formative years, Ben made friends with Jeremiah, Sal, Brian, and Richard. This was possibly in a music class, and the five bonded over their growing love of music. Eventually, the band 'Eight Nites Out' formed, and the group started playing gigs around the towns of North Haven, New Haven, and Hamden. At some point, the band gained a residency at Justin's Cigar Bar and Lounge, and the group frequented the venue, despite being underage.

In the spring of 2013, Jeremiah and Sal got into a fist fight at their high school. Ben was distraught at this, and couldn't imagine two of his friends not getting along. Ben insisted on continuing Eight Nites Out rehearsals, despite Jeremiah and Sal wanting nothing to do with each other. This formed tensions within the group, as Brian and Richard refused to take sides. Ben was oblivious to this social dynamic.

Ben noticed his grandfather talking to a strange figure around the year 2012, and asked about it, but never got a clear answer.

## Universe Eight:

Towards the end of Ben's senior year, it was decided that Eight Nites Out would disband when the bandmates went off to their various colleges. Ben, looking forward to being educated at Berklee, wanted Richard and Brian to go with him, but the two declined. Ben decided to make the most of what he had, and the group agreed to play one final show at Justin's Cigar Bar. The rehearsal went as the past few had, awkwardly, sloppily, and with disinterest by the band. Despite trying to hype up his fellow bandmates, Ben failed. When getting a glass of orange juice on a break, Ben found his grandfather talking to the strange figure again. The figure mentioned ominous things, but Ben didn't understand. The band loaded their gear into the car, and left Ben's house for the last time.

Approaching Justin's Cigar Bar was a railroad crossing, long since abandoned by the New Haven Railroad, and later Penn Central. Ben noted there was a derailed boxcar beneath the highway overpass that had never been moved, and wanted to get a good look at it one last time. As Jeremiah's car approached the tracks, the engine died, and the doors locked. A blue orb appeared down the length of abandoned rail, and a German train pulled by two steam locomotives appeared from the light. Ben had no time to identify the train, and was frozen in fear. The train smashed the car, and when Ben died, his Earthly body and mind was bathed in the same blue light.

Ben awoke on the Afterlife, and noted immediately the differences between this place, and Earth. The trees were red and purple, the grass was orange. His confusion as to where he was, was only mounted by a singular tree in the center of the field he awoke in, with an odd object protruding from its center. Ben instinctively grabbed the object, and the tree was struck by lightning at once, revealing the object as a crystalline, blue katana. Ben questioned why he was given a katana, as he had never held a sword in his life. A voice spoke to him then, and recited the Chosen Five Prophecy to him. Ben didn't understand what it meant.

Ben wandered to the lakeside, and noted there was a massive goose eating a fox for lunch. Ben avoided the animals, and encountered two men hunting the goose; Joe and Henry Huxley. Ben was interrogated at gunpoint, but eventually, the farmers relaxed and explained to Ben where he was. They brought him on their super-goose hunt, and killed the goose. Ben was immensely frightened by the sound of the gunshot, and Joe and Henry made fun of him for his fear. Joe and Henry bring Ben back to their home, and feed him.

During dinner, soldiers arrive from the shadows, and Ben witnesses as odd demon-like presence form into the shape of a military truck outside. Andrey Ivanov and the Knights of the Northern Isles storm the house, and hurt Joe's leg in the process. They demand Ben come with them, and Ben has no choice but to go, as the sword will not defend him against these men. They inject Ben with a syringe, and Ben falls asleep.

Ben awakens on a submarine, and finds the heat unbearable. He's given a submariners self-cooling uniform, and puts it on, listening to the sailors and Knights of the Northern Isles argue. Eventually, he is escorted by Theodore Lawrence to the bridge, where Ivanov and Captain Man Lai Choi are continuing the feud between the Knights and the sailors. Choi storms off in a huff, and Ben finds Ivanov's pleasure in winning the argument repulsive. Ivanov has him look out the periscope, where ships can be seen on the horizon. Ben finds them beautiful, but Andrey tells him they must be destroyed.

During dinner on the ship, Ben is trapped when the argument from before boils over. Many sailors are killed when Ivanov starts shooting them, and the sailors fight back, injuring Boris Krupin. Choi stabs Enrique Valdez, and retreats into the bowels of the vessel. Valdez gives chase, and Ben snaps, intending to go after him. Prahlad Krishnan tries to stop him, and shoots Ben, but the wisp katana twitches, and deflects the bullet back into Prahlad's neck. Ben is horrified that he accidentally killed a man, and goes into a panic attack. The surviving sailors try to calm him, but Ben is flung into a rage and chases after Valdez.

He finds Valdez in the engine parts room, near the body of a deceased Captain Choi. Ben refuses to look on the dead man's face, hearing his sword's wisdom in the voice of his father, telling him not to look. Ben threatens to kill Valdez, but the soldier dies on his own. Just then, more sailors arrive, and question Ben on his allegiance. Ben tells them he wants to take down the Butcher, and so they do. They arrest him, and throw him in a cell. The new Captain orders the torpedo's fired on the enemy vessels in the distance, and Ben can't help but feel like that decision was the wrong thing to do.

When the submarine is hit by depth charges, the captain steers it into the shallows, where the sinking sub is taller than the water it's in. The crew and remaining Knights of the Northern Isles disembark, and are bettered with gunfire from the Battlecruiser attacking them. Ben swims for his life, and is helped by Ivanov. They reach the shore, where Boris Krupin dies and an artillery shell opens a hole in the hill, revealing an ancient fort. The survivors enter, and hunker down, but are quickly set upon by Sun Nation sailors, who kill Theodore Lawrence, and attempt to kill Ben. Though, a ceasefire is called when Ben and his grandfather spot each other, and the two sides nervously lower their guns. Peter and what's left of his crew are captured by the Butcher, where they are bound and gagged.

Ben attempts to speak with his grandfather (who is the only one of his crew not bound or gagged), and notices tension boiling between some of the crewmen. Some hurl insults at Ben, some at Peter. Ben tries to shrug it off, knowing the Knights are the far more dangerous threat. Eventually, a ferry comes, and takes them to the Thane's Isle mainland. They go to Fort Lightchild, where Ben is introduced to Commander Alphonse Artemon of the Knights of Fall. The Sunnese sailors are put in the fort jail, where Ben refuses to leave them.

Eventually, Ben goes to get them food. He is disatisfied with his grandfather's non-answers to his queries, and meets Julia Nixon, Julian Ingolf, Selena Baudin-Sullivan, and Tyler Huxley while he is out. Ben remarks that he knows Tyler's dad and brother, and Tyler is happily surprised.

Ben returns with foot for the sailors, but he is ambushed and choked out by Laura Skarpelis, who blames Ben for their misfortunes. She is stopped by Naia Lore, but the Butcher overhears the attack, and executes Skarpelis out behind the jail. The tensions boil over, and Casper Roald vows his revenge on Peter for allowing Laura to die for nothing. Ben finds the situation terrifying.

Eventually, Artemon realizes they cannot keep the Sunnese at the fort, and due to his respect for Peter's status as a captain, offers to ransom them to Manuel Jaco. Peter accepts. Ben is initially refused when he asks to come with them, but Peter later concedes. Ben is shocked when the soldiers at the camp in the woods bow to him, as he feels unworthy of their praise.

The skirmish ends in defeat for Thane's Isle, and Artemon allows Peter, Naia, Armando, and Ben to escape out the back of his tent. Artemon is assumed killed in the fight, and Ben feels remorse for the man's sacrifice.

The journey through the woods takes a toll on all but Ben, who is sprite with his apocolite abilities, able to drink salt water from the river and stay hydrated while the others can't. Eventually, they come across the Thane's Isle reinforcements, and are arrested by Leon Broks. He brings them to Sophia Miller first, but she leaves quickly to go get the thane. Zenzele arrives, and questions them all. He decides he cannot let the Sunnese stay, nor can he let them go. Ben pleads with him, and Zenzele concedes to let two travel with him as far as King's Hill, but one must be questioned at Retirement Row. Armando is selected for questioning, and Naia yells at Peter, frightening Ben.

The group boards a truck, and they make a stop at the Huxley Homestead, where Joe is surprised to both see Ben again, and be hosting the Thane of Universe Eight under his roof. Ben and Zenzele get into an argument, and Ben is enraged when Zenzele starts to call him the 'r-slur.' Ben draws his sword, and swings it, but Zenzele catches it in his hand, using his powers as a Child of Light to prevent the wisp blade from cutting him.

Eventually, the motorcade arrives, and they leave the Huxleys with haste. Ben is offered liquor and cocaine. Ben accepts the liquor only, not recognizing what the cocaine is. They reach the city of Great Bridge, and Ben and Peter share a tearful goodbye with each other. Ben is worried he will never see his grandfather again, but Peter promises one day they will reunite. After their goodbyes, Ben boards the King's Hill Limited, and admires the amazing architecture of the Cathedral on the Hill, before they enter the tunnel beneath Zenzele's manor. They disembark, and Ben is overwhelmed by the applause when he enters the Great Hall. It is here that he is reunited with his bandmates. Though, his joy is overwhelmed by the sense of time slowing to a crawl. Sal and Brian flicker between seats at the table, and Ben is confused when his friends describe meeting his grandfather, despite arriving on the Afterlife before Ben did. Everything freezes, but Ben doesn't seem aware that anything is frozen at all.

## Notes on Benjamin

1. Benjamin is the authors choice of a loose "self insert," using many events and characteristics of Dorsey's real life, though it is heavily fictionalized. Dorsey views Ben Reynolds as a "past version of myself" as opposed to a true to life vision of how Dorsey sees himself today. Though, Ben Reynolds plays trumpet, bass, and sings bass vocal parts, similarly to the author, though the authors primary instrument is the trumpet, and not the bass guitar.
2. Ben is gifted the wisp blade, and is the only one of the Chosen Five thus far to never intentionally use it offensively in combat. A running joke regarding the first novel among fans is; "Kid gets magic sword... doesn't use it."
3. As of the first novel, it is unknown what Ben's wisp blade powers are. Teal blue (or sky blue) represents a Child of Water. Cyan represents a Child of Ice. Navy blue represents a Child of Telekinesis. Ben's sword color of sapphire blue is unique so far only to him, and the power has not been revealed as of 2023.