Fifteen armed soldiers, one intense trip in a Resistance transportation ship and three hours later…
"Execution!?" Lea scoffed, sitting forward in her seat next to Major Caluan Ematt at the head of the table surrounded by the other thirteen members of the Resistance Council, "Surely this can't be your decision! He's just a boy—"
Major Ematt placed his hand immediately on Leia's arm to steady her as Shairk Conn, former Senator and elected speaker of the Resistance council, interjected from the other end of the table.
"General Organa, we all know that you have a personal interest in this matter and, therefore, you will remember that it is a courtesy for the respect that we all have for you that you are even allowed in these chambers to hear this council's decision. I would advise you to keep outbursts to yourself."
Leia narrowed her eyes as they locked intensely with Conn's for a long moment, before she removed her arm pointedly out of Major Ematt's grasp and sat back in her chair with a small, defeated sigh.
When he was sure he had the General's silence, Shairk Conn looked around the table to the other council members as he continued, but kept his tone directed toward Leia.
"Despite what you may believe, please know that the council's decision was not made in haste, General Organa, or in malice or cruelty. Many of us here at this very table remember the 'boy' that you speak of, before he called himself Kylo Ren. But, he is no longer a boy, General, but a grown man and a man who has made decisions that have caused the deaths of thousands of soldiers and innocents at the hands of the First Order in the thirteen years he has served Imperial Leader Snoke. Ren is cunning and dangerous—possessing powers that we cannot possibly control or turn. We cannot keep him locked up forever…and we certainly cannot let him walk free."
"Conn is right," a voice chimed in and everyone's eyes shifted to former Rebellion pilot and one of Leia's oldest friends, Evann Verlaine, on the left side of the table as she addressed the council, "If we are to build a new Republic we must be able to assure our peoples that there is a purpose to Democracy, law and order and that the atrocities committed by the First Order, when this is all over, will not go unpunished."
Her eyes moved sympathetically toward Leia, "We have considered Ben's case and you can be assured that he has been judged fairly by this council in place of our destroyed Republic judicial system and in lieu of a military tribunal, and when he is executed his death will not be in vain—we will have driven a decisive blow against the First Order. I am sorry, General, but for the good of the Republic, he must die."
Leia visibly flinched at those last words. She immediately felt nauseous. She couldn't let this happen.
It was just as she was about to protest that she felt Major Ematt's reassuring hand on her knee, steadying her for a moment, before he, himself, sat forward and folded his hands on the table, calmly staring down Shairk Conn and the rest of the council.
"I believe I speak for General Organa and myself, your elected leaders, when I say, first of all, that we have always and will always trust and support any decision this council makes when it comes to law, order and the welfare of the longed for new Republic."
At these words, Conn and some of the other council members straightened, seemingly vindicated
"However…" Ematt continued, "I think that, in this case, I do not feel that we, as members of a interregnum justice system, have the right to be so black and white in our judgement of this young man. It is true that Kylo Ren was a Knight of Ren, a servant of the First Order who has slaughtered in its name,. But, before that, he was chosen and trained as a powerful Jedi knight in defense of this Republic. And I don't believe that part of his history should not be ignored. Therefore, given the circumstances, before we go through with the execution of the accused, I would like to propose a new course of action..."
There was a long pause, then Major Ematt said, "That is, to stay execution until such a time as this council can find an individual to invoke Old Order Justice."
Shairk Conn's eyes immediately widened and the table spontaneously broke out into hushed and urgent whispers as the other council members leaned over and consulted one another, most still in shock at the mention of such a long forgotten practice.
Finally, Conn angrily slammed his hand on the table with authority and the room instantly fell silent.
He eyed General Organa and Major Ematt before he said in a harsh tone, "Forgive me when I speak freely and say that this proposal is preposterous! Old Order Justice is an ancient custom, based on nothing but superstition! Besides, there are no wielders left—they are practically extinct, much like this absurd custom of which you speak!"
"Yes, practically extinct—not completely extinct, Speaker Conn," was Major Ematt's calm reply, "We shall find a wielder. And that 'ancient custom' you speak of was good enough for the Old Republic, why should it not be good enough for the new one?"
Many of the older council members around the table nod slightly in approval at Ematt's words—some murmur in the affirmative.
Defeated, Conn's nostrils flared and he straightened in his chair with a huff before he turned to the other council members, "Very well…The new Republic honors all proposals put forth by our elected leaders, therefore, we shall vote again, considering this new proposal supported by Major Ematt. And, for reasons stated before, General Organa and the Major shall abstain."
Major Ematt nodded and Leia glared
"All those in favor of the execution of Kylo Ren, vote by the usual sign of the council," Conn stated, then immediately raised his hand and slowly, four other hands around the table, followed.
Leia closed her eyes in relief then opened them and turned them gratefully toward Major Ematt
Shairk Conn grit his teeth, "All those in favor of honoring the proposal of Major Caluan Ematt and staying execution until such a time as Old Order Justice can be invoked, vote by the usual sign of the council."
Eight hands raised high above the table.
"General Organa," Conne related, turning toward the head of the table, his eyes hard, "It seems that it is will of the council that execution of the prisoner, Kylo Ren, be stayed…until such a time as Old Order Justice can be invoked."
# # # # # # #
The guards saluted and stepped aside as Leia passed through the threshold of the Resistance prisoner containment area.
She paused for a moment at the door, looking through the virtually indestructible viewing glass into the holding cell where her only child lay still as death on a cot, staring at the ceiling.
"Well?" Kylo Ren stated in a heavy voice, sensing her presence, but still looking up at the ceiling.
"The will of the council was that you be executed," Leia stated, stepping forward, "But—"
Kylo immediately sat up, swinging his legs over the side of the cot as he straightened and looked toward his mother with hard eyes.
"When?" he asked impatiently
Silence.
Leia narrowed her eyes as she studied Ben's placid face staring back at her.
It was then that she realized that her son wasn't surprised by the council's decision, he welcomed it.
"You knew they would come all along…" she suddenly whispered, her eyes widening, "That they would capture you. You could have killed all of them and yet, you didn't resist. You let them take you."
"Yes," Kylo replied, solemnly, "In fact, I was the one who pressed the panic button on the lead guard's weapon belt and alerted the Resistance. He was far too slow. And this 'prison'?" he waved a hand around himself nonchalantly, "This could not contain me under any normal circumstances…it's insulting, really. I stay here only because it suits me to do so—"
"You wanted this?" Leia gasped, stunned, "That's why you came home…you expected them to capture you there and execute you. You want to die—"
Kylo's eyes narrowed, "Why else would I possibly want to come home?"
"Ben…" Leia whispered, hurt by his words
Kylo Ren's face flinched slightly at the sound of his real name before he said softly, but resolutely, "I wish to die because l have nothing left to live for."
There was a long silence, as she contemplated her son's words, before Leia opened her mouth to speak, but Ben interrupted her.
"What were you going to say before?" he asked coolly, "You said that the council decided upon execution and then there was something you were going to add. What was it? Tell me."
Leia sucked in a breath, preparing herself, "The will of the council was that you be executed, but for my sake and for the sake of your father's memory, perhaps, Major Ematt asked that the council reconsider execution in lieu of another path. There was a vote and the council has stayed your execution for such a time until…"
Leia suddenly stopped, lowering her eyes as her thoughts trailed off to a far away place...
An island. Where she knew the only surviving wielder of which Major Ematt spoke, could be found.
"Until such a time until what?" Ben insisted, leaning forward and breaking his mother's thoughts
Leia lifted her eyes to meet Ben's, "Until such a time as they can invoke Old Order Justice."
At her words, Ben came immediately to his feet, walking quickly toward the window until it was inches from his face and his breathe left an angry fog cloud on the glass that separated him from his mother on the other side.
Leia flinched, her eyes widening as she studied Ben's face, so close to her now that, as the fog cleared, she could see a sinister smirk begin to cross his lips.
It was the first emotion he had shown since they had pried him from her arms and taken him away on the Resistance transport in chains.
"So..." he said in a steady voice, his dark eyes never leaving hers, "It seems a Jedi is to decide my fate."