Rule 26

Fanfiction
Title:	Rule 26
Author(s):	Fleshflutter
Date(s):	2010-?
Length:	? (WIP)
Genre(s):	slash, RPF, AU
Fandom(s):	Supernatural RPF
Relationship(s):
External Links:	the fic on LJ
Click here for related articles on Fanlore.

Rule 26 is an RPS J2 AU written by fleshflutter. As of October 2011, it is a WIP. Even so, the story is highly recommended among Supernatural fandom.

The title is a nod to The Evil Overlord List and rule 26 states: "Rule 26: No matter how attractive certain members of the rebellion are, there is probably someone just as attractive who is not desperate to kill me. Therefore, I will think twice before ordering a prisoner sent to my bedchamber."

Author's summary: "A mash-up of Star Wars, Flash Gordon and a few other sci-fi stalwarts. In which there is a galaxy-spanning evil empire, a mission to kidnap a henchman of the aforementioned evil empire, and Jared is a resistance fighter on the aforementioned kidnapping mission."

Reader reactions

I know I don't normally rec WIP's but Rule 26 is the exception that makes the rule or something. [Fleshflutter] has posted 6 chapters so far and each one fills in a little more detail without giving away too much. Jared is the perfect POV because he is as clueless as the reader. And Jensen as Doctor Nekrotic is creepy and evil and yet there are glimpses of someone else entirely! .... How can it NOT be awesome, folks?

If you're not reading (and rereading and re-rereading) this fic yet, I don't know what rock you're living under (A ROCK IN SPACE YES I KNOW). It is TEETH-GNASHINGLY GOOD. It's a perfect combination of awesome crack and a total mindfuck, in the best Flesh!horror sense. There aren't a lot of people in this fandom (or any other fandom I've been in tbh) who can write horror as well as fleshflutter can, and combined with her OH SO FUN tendency to write epic J2 schmoopy angst, I'm just sitting on my damn HANDS waiting for new installments. I mean, it's a crack harlequin J2 IN SPACE. What more do you need?

Upon hearing that Fleshflutter had deleted her LJ: "I have been stalking rule 26 for fucking years. Damn it. this sucks so hard. I really really wanted to know what happens next. How is Jensen the doctor is it a splintered psyche or a completely different personality. do they both love jared?

I love "Rule 26" like whoa, yet fought long and hard with myself whether to rec it here. Not because of the story or the quality of the writing – both are bloody phenomenal. No, the problem is that the fic is an unfinished WIP and, according to fleshflutter herself, will remain unfinished, forevermore. Not only unfinished, but with the last chapter ending on a cliffhanger that just about had me in tears once I discovered that the story had been abandoned. It's a damned shame, too, because this really is one of the very best J2 fics I've ever read.

So, for quality of writing and level of brilliance alone, I enthusiastically recommend it. But yeah. Unfinished WIP, so read at your own risk.

"Rule 26" is a beautifully written and utterly fantastic read. Jared is a scrappy and determined Rebel Alliance-style freedom fighter who accidentally becomes a prisoner of the person he's after -- the most notorious, terrifying, evil genius in the galaxy. Jensen is the not-entirely-human, Darth Vader-esque (and extremely bi-polar) evil genius in question. When he's "Jensen," he's a charming scientist who can't even get his coffee-maker to work, but when his alter-ego "Doctor Nekrotik" (LOVE this play on words!) emerges, entire star systems meet their fiery demise. Other notable characterizations are Jensen/Doctor Nekrotik's closest, most-trusted crew: Jeff Morgan, Nekrotik's snarky-but-soft-hearted security chief; Robert Wisdom, his snarky-but-caring physician; and Chris Kane, his just-plain-snarky chief pilot. The characterization of these three men is nothing short of brilliant, and even though the story never really explains why they've remained so loyal and protective to the terrifying "Doctor Nekrotik" for all this time, well, their interaction with the not-so-good Doctor when he's wearing his "Jensen" persona goes a long way towards explaining the matter. Even the evilest evil geniuses have their good days, I suppose.

The story itself is a fun romp, with a spectacular instance of planetary destruction, numerous attempts upon Nekrotik's life by Jared, numerous rescues of Jared by Jensen, a bit of backstory explaining how "Jensen" became "Doctor Nekrotik," a slowly unfolding love story, and an incident in the icy vacuum of space which demonstrates exactly how powerful Nekrotik really is -- and conversely, how vulnerable. I admit it, I've fallen -- hard -- for these characters and this universe. "Rule 26" is brilliant and wonderful, even as it breaks my heart to know that this awesome story will never be finished.

We can only hope for fleshflutter's promised synopsis of the ending

Artwork

• 

  drawing by Rin. "Jared attended the dinner wearing strange clothes."

• 

  "Space kiss (Jensen kissed Jared in order to save him." Artist: Rin.

• 

  Story banner designed by cookiemonsta.

• 

  "When I was re-reading fleshflutter’s Rule 26, I got the violent urge to draw her slaver characters. The outcome much resembled what happens to potatoes when you keep them in dark, moist places for extended periods of time and they grow and form their own shape (see also: Jared Padalecki’s forehead.)" Artist:wincestforbeginners.