The New Empire

Chapter 7 - Leaving To Change

When Ben entered, the room was already in a complete mess. This room was a bit smaller, with an oval table in the middle. The loudly arguing officers didn't even notice the arriving General. Leia took the main seat, Ben was on her right side with Liv, while Rey took the seat on the left.

Rey listened into the ongoing arguments. Surprisingly she found some supporters, but mostly she heard complaining. They clearly didn't want to unite, they were too prideful for that. Some threatening suggestions said, that they should strike down the Supreme Leader, while they still can. Ben didn't really mind the mess and sarcastically looked at his mother.

"Pretty Resistance you made."

"It seems you don't understand the importance of your speech. Soon the whole Galaxy will be arguing."

They sat there in silence for several minutes, and when the quarrel still didn't stop Liv managed to ask Leia.

"Are you going to calm them down, or should I?"

"You need to make an impression." Liv saw that Leia was too tired to shout.
She took a deep breath and slammed her fist on the glass table.

"Everybody! Silence!" She really did shout. The room was in silence in an instant. She stood up and looked around the room with a blaming look. "This is serious. We need to make a big decision." She sat down and she knew that the real negotiation would start.

"We'll begin with a simple and direct question." Leia began. "Who is willing to unite?"

She was surprised that no one wanted to speak. It was like something was stopping them. Then Poe was the first one to speak.

"It's just making us a bit worried General, that your son is the only one in the room with a lightsaber." His voice was fiery and passionate as always, with hint of anger in it.

"Liv?" Ben opened his mouth for the first time. All eyes were fixed on him.

"Yes?" That answer was a reflex, she had no idea what he'd want.
Ben took out his lightsaber. "Can you hold this for me?" He didn't wait for the answer and put it into Liv's hand.

"Yeah, sure." Liv hummed unsurely. "But for how long?"

"I don't know, a few days." Liv hooked the saber onto her belt. "Better?" Ben tried to not to look at Poe like he wants to kill him.

And then the long and boring negotiation started. Liv tried her best to learn and even speak, but literally only Leia, Ben and Poe were discussing using words Liv couldn't understand. But a few hours later she deducted the final conclusion. The Resistance and the First Order are going to unite. And yet most of it was still unclear one thing was sure. Leia is going to be the Empress.

The room emptied, and they still couldn't believe what just happened.

"I think we just wrote history." Liv stared in front of her, still a bit shocked.

"Don't be so sure." Rey hummed half sleeping. "The First Order will be harder."

"Don't worry, I'll take care of that." Ben said.

He was starting to get going, when Leia grabbed his arm. She looked deep into his eyes, and suddenly hugged him.

"I always knew you would come home." She sniffed.

"Don't worry. I'm home." This time he knew how to react to a hug. Liv and Rey were mesmerized.

Ben let go off the hug and was heading off to the exit.

"But where are you going?" Rey asked in confusion. She thought he'd stay.

"I don't think it'd be good for me to stay here."