We Meet Again - Kylo Ren and Rey

Plotting and Judging

Luke led Leia and Rey into a building in the Resistance Base that Rey had come to learn was the meeting room. There stood a uniformed guard waiting for them. He observed the two women who accompanied Luke and pressed a button that slid open the metal doors with a hiss.

They entered a large, white, circular room in which sat a group of people, both human and alien. The people were reclined on a circular couch that wrapped around the room. A tall woman stood up, beckoning the newcomers. She had her black hair pulled back in a tight bun and wore a long, ice-blue dress that was fastened with a silver belt around her waist. Rey followed closely behind Luke and Leia. Leia turned to Rey and motioned for her to come.

"Rey, meet Commander Laina. She recently returned from a Senate meeting, serving as an ambassador for the Resistance," Leia informed.

"I am very pleased to meet you, Rey," said the Commander, without warmth. She bowed her head to Rey in greeting. Laina looked down at the scavenger's clothing, her smile faltering slightly in disgust. Rey realized she was still wearing her blood-stained clothes. She rocked back and forth slightly on her feet in discomfort.

Leia nudged Rey in the arm. Rey looked back at her, sitting on the couch. The flustered girl sat down between her and Luke. Commander Laina clasped her hands together with a jangle of her bracelets and sat down on the other side of Leia.

After a few seconds, a man in the circle coughed and stood up. He began to walk around the center of the circle.
"As most of you must know by now, Kylo Ren of the First Order is currently being held in our base." He paused. "And due to his...controversial past, it is time for us to decide what will be done with him."

Rey felt her palms turn sweaty and she gulped, a lump in her throat.

"Now," the man continued, "the current idea stands that we hold him here as a prisoner, however, there are some who believe worse punishments are to be administered."

Rey glanced over at Leia, eyes wide. Her eyes were instead drawn to the Commander, who was nodding in agreement. Rey felt a surge of anger rising in her chest.

"For the crimes he has committed, there are people in this room who believe that a swift end to Ren's villainy is necessary."

They would kill him...?
Rey's eyebrows furrowed.

"I know he is no innocent man," Leia began, standing up, "but he is not as far gone as you may believe." She directed this to everyone in the room. Several people began murmuring to one another, and Commander Laina snorted.

Both Leia and Rey shot her a nasty look. She stood up to meet Leia.

"You honestly think this monster can be saved?" She snarled with disbelief.

"He not only killed Supreme Leader Snoke, but most recently saved Rey from the wrath of General Hux of the First Order." She turned around to face Rey, holding out her hand. Rey took it and stood next to Leia.

"But he has also kidnapped her and taken her to his base, not to mention many innocent Resistance members over the years, am I not wrong?" Laina retorted.

Rey clenched her fists. "He did nothing to hurt me then, nor has he ever since. He saved my life! Is one good deed not enough to redeem a lost and hurt man?"

"No! Not with the severity and number of crimes he has committed against the galaxy and the Resistance! Justice will be brought to the people!" Laina was nearly flaming.

Rey stared at the Commander, her lips parted in disbelief.

"I believe a vote is in order," Laina suggested, lowering her voice condescendingly. She moved to stand in the middle of the circle beside the man. "The three fates for Kylo Ren include: firstly, exiling him from the galaxy and placing a bounty on him if he dares return, holding him captive here on the base as a prisoner, or lastly, execution."

Rey looked at Leia, but she just stared directly ahead at Laina.

"Those in favor of exile?"

Less than a quarter of the people raised their hand. An alien tallied the votes on a pad. He nodded to Laina. The people lowered their hands.

"Those in favor of imprisonment...?"

Around half of the remaining people raised their hands warily. A few people looked around at the others. When the alien was done counting, he again nodded to the Commander.

"...Those in favor of execution."

The remaining voters raised their hands. The alien handed the results to Laina. She took it from him and scanned through it. She took a deep breath.

"There were 12 votes for exile," She began, "25 votes for imprisonment...and 23...for execution." Her shoulders drooped.
Rey exhaled with relief. She hadn't realized she was holding her breath. She and Leia turned and embraced one another. Leia's eyes were glistening with tears. She stroked the back of Rey's hair with a sniffle.

Ben Solo will live.