It took Rey a moment to process what she had just heard.

   No... It can't be true... She fought to believe that what Rose had said was just her mind making the worst scenario.

   Yet she knew it was real. The pain in her heart, it felt just too real.

   She felt tears gathering in her eyes as she looked at her friend. In the next moment, her hand gripped the coverlet draped over her bruised body and flung it aside, on the floor.

   "Rey..." Rose reached out to stop her. But she was like an angry storm, unstoppable in her way.

   "No!" she snapped Rose's hand away as she jumped from the bed.

   Half stumbling, half struggling to stay on her feet, the wooden floor slapped her cheek as her knees gave way under her weight. The fall had pulled the air out of her lungs. And for a moment she stood there to regain her breath.
   Her vision was foggy again, and the room kept swaying around her. Hair had fallen in her eyes and mouth, and a thin line of blood was trickling from the left corner of her lips.

   She felt a pair of hands grasp her shoulders and help her back. Her hand in which the perfusion was implanted was aching terribly. Still she clung to Rose as she lifted her to her feet, half dragging, half carrying her to the bed.

   She slumped down on the feather mattress and let herself sink in it. Her desire was to lay there and sleep. But her heart told otherwise.

   Ben was going to be executed. Rose's statement still hammered in her head. Have they given him the chance at a trial at least? Have they even listened?

   Her friend's hand patted her shoulder to remain there, on the bed, and take a rest. But Rey had no mind to do so.

   Once again, she jumped to her feet, taking Rose by surprise.

   "Rey!" she made a grab for her hand, but Rey was faster as she backed to the door.

   The medical instalation had broken with Rey's first trial at escape. A long cable hung from the small support strapped around her arm that measured her pulse, and the hanger in which the vitamins for her perfusion were kept had fallen across the floor, nearly knocking Rose's head.

   Rey didn't care that she was only dressed in a thin white gown. Hands trembling both from the terrible news and from the exhaustion, she got to the door.

   Rose walked to her and reached out a hand. As if she knew there was no other way in summoning Rey to her aside from acting with patience and kindness.

   "Rey," she whispered, though she could see the fear and anger mingled in the girl's haunted eyes circled by dark purple bruises. "Come here."

   But the words faded like dust in the wind. The next thing she knew, Rey was running along the strongly lit corridor.

   Her legs entangled at first, and reeling, she slumped to the wall, her fingers clawing at it for support.

   Tears splashed her face, but she found some strength and hauled herself back to her feet as she heard Rose yell in panic from the doorway.

She had forgotten about the wound, had ignored that she was garbed with only a thin white dress, barefoot. The pulse thing that was strapped across her wrist was still there, but broken as she had ripped the cable when she had stormed out of the room.
Tears were forming in her eyes. Of anger of being cast aside, of anger of her friends not understanding.

   With all the strength left inside her, Rey pushed the heavy door open when she reached the Council Room. Heavy sunlight flashed in her eyes from the large circular quarter where at least ten people were gathered. And she knew what that was for: to discuss Ben's sentence.

   It took them some good moments to acknowledge her standing there, in the threshold. It wasn't until Finn sensed her faint Force presence and turned his head toward her, that a heavy silence fell upon the luminous room as others were acknowledging her, too.

   Confused murmurs arose from the crowd. Some of those people believed that Rey had betrayed them by teaming up with Kylo Ren. Some saw her as a hero, believing with all of their heart she had finally caught and brought him at the base, to be tried and executed. The conclusion was, neither of them knew the truth. And none will understand.
  They have looked at her as a hero the day she returned from Exegol, had cheered her. Now they were regarding her as a woman gone mad.

   And her, she didn't feel tired anymore. For she knew that Ben's fate was weighing on her shoulders now. She was his hope, as he was hers. Would she fail, his acts of change and redemption would have stood for nothing.

   Rey knew when it was time for a confession. Letting her hand go of the wall she was leaning on for support, she tried to steady herself and took a step closer. Her eyes surveyed the people gathered before her, all of whom eagerly awaited the truth from her own mouth. First of all, they landed on Poe.

   Now the First General, everyone seemed to listen to him almost as they had once been listening to Leia. Then, her haunted hazel eyes passed to Kaydel, who stood right next to him, then on Finn. Her first friend still seemed to be quite mad at her. She knew how he would have ran to help her, back in the old days. How he would have yelled out her name. And she knew it was not only the betrayal to the resistance that had turned his feelings for her so much. She could feel he still loved her. Loved her more than anything. But the hurt she had settled in his heart had won.

   "Why?" was all she asked, and her voice was full of hurt as she could feet her chest tightening. She knew why, of course she knew. She was just trying to convince them to give him a chance to talk. And... Maybe a chance that she could see him one more time.

   "One good deed does not erase his past." Poe said cooly, trying to maintain the hard look his face bore. "Whatever you defend him for."

   Rey felt tears sting her eyes again. She placed her palm flat against the wall, as she felt she was beginning to tremble. Her eyes were hard as she returned Poe back his look. "He wants to fight by our side!" she said through gritted teeth.

   "Poor girl..." she heard Kaydel whisper to the General as she looked at Rey with a pitiful look.

   And how she hated that look! Have they forgotten who had saved them from the Emperor? Who they were celebrating for only five weeks ago?

   "Rey..." Poe held out a hand as if to stop her right where she stood. "You're in no condition now..."

   But it wasn't in Rey's nature to give up so easily. She took a step forward, and the same words tumbled from her lips. "Why?" she asked, this time menacingly as she took a step forward, staggering on her feet.

   The next time he spoke, she could see her old friend instead of the young General. She could see Poe. His voice was gentle as he approached her and tried to place a hand on her shoulder.

   "Rey...You're sick. You shouldn't have left the MedBay." And as his palm landed flat on her white-sleeved shoulder, he began to stroke it soothingly as he smiled at her. But it wasn't the smile he would give her back when they went on quests together. It was rather a pitiful smile.

   Only for a brief moment she had thought that was all it took. He was the friend she had always known, the friend that always stood by her side. All was well...until he spoiled it. "Ren is playing a trick on your mind, Rey." He tried to reason with her, but she snapped his hand away as if it was biting her, not gently stroking her shoulder.

   Her breath was heavy and hitched as she looked full of hurt in his eyes. How wrong she had been! And how foolish.
   Of course Poe would not see ben the way she did. He was only concerned about her. About Ben, he wanted him dead.

   "Rey. You need to stay away from him for a while. Away from his dark influence."

   What? Were they treating her as if she was a mad woman, not their comrade, their part of resistance? Were they saying they would keep her locked somewhere up, under guards, only because they were afraid she had lost her mind to his influence?

   Rey had no master, she had decided that the day she had escaped Unkar and her home-planet, Jakku.

   She narrowed her eyes at the man who now stood before her. And the sensation she felt surging up her veins was exhilarating. Her belly was no longer aching. She did not feel tired, nor did she feel her head spun. It was rather as a new force, a new energy fueled her desire to fight for what she loved. And now the path to that seemed clearer. Still foggy, but clearer.

   The words just slipped out her mouth before her mind had time to process them twice. "He never tried to kill me, he saved me!" she said in a voice strong and clear as her eyes passed to all the members in turn. "That night on Exegol...I was dead." Her eyes snapped to Finn, and they bore into his soul. "For a moment I was dead."

   "I know..." he frowned. "Because I was able to feel your Force-signature fading away..."

   It seemed like a revelation for him. It was like he had never truly known it, until now, that he had finally said it out aloud through his own lips.

   "And I felt sorrow coming from you in return." Rey said back. And could it be...tears that were making her big eyes shine in the light? "And relief when you felt my Force back."

   "Yes. I was overjoyed."

   She nodded. He was almost there, at the core of what she was trying to say. "But would you have still been, if you never felt me again?"

   "Rey..." so after all he was beginning to figure where she wanted to get to.

   "Do you know why am I still here, why am I still alive, among you all? Do you know due to whom is that?" her eyes wandered across the room. When no one spoke, she nodded. "To Ben. To the man you believe there is no way for him to be redeemed. To the man you've sentenced to death, without even trying to reason with. You would have seen it, the change in his heart, in his eyes. You would have understood his act."

   "Rey." Poe held out a hand to silence her. "Maybe we would have understood if you told us from the beginning. Now how can we know this is not some lie to clear his name? Some lie he had manipulated you to tell us?"

   "She's telling the truth." Finn intervened. "I know it. I feel it. I don't like it, but it is true." his eyes moved to Finn, now convinced. And then back to Rey.

   He walked closer to where she stood. Reluctantly, she let him help her to the closest chair at the closest table.

   "And when...?" her voice choked on tears as she couldn't hold back the sorrow anymore. Kaydel gently patted her arm that was rested on the edge of the table, but Rey paid her no mind. Her eyes looked out on the window for a good while, at the sunlight was falling right on her face, the rays that  were rubbing back warmth in her frozen soul.

   And she let her mind wander off for a moment in the land of beautiful dreams. She imagined something different; those rays of sun were not just untouchable warm things anymore, they were solid as the chair she was sitting on. Gentle strokes of a hand were slowly brushing away the constellation of tears that draped her cheeks.

   She moved in after the touch, let it soothe her as she nestled her face in that palm. Rey knew whom it belonged to, knew the only person who could put such love in a single caress.

   Her eyes yearned to flash open, her heart yearned to see the light of his face. She knew just too well what would happen if she did, but she also knew it was just a vision. And what she wouldn't give to see his face at least once...

   So her decision was made. Slowly, as his thumb brushed against her forehead then passed to her cheek, her eyes opened.

   He was there, truly there, with her.

   She looked briefly at his sunlit face and whispered his name. Her mouth widened in a big smile, and he returned it, his fingers gently stroking her face again, eyes locked together.

   "I will shield you..."

   But as she spoke again, his features began to fade, to blend in back with the luminous room.

   "No..." she pleaded desperately as her fingers reached for his face. And they passed right through it, as if he was no more than ghost, a projection. Tears formed behind her eyes again as she was beginning to realize.

   It has been but a sign, something to remind her how badly she wanted to fight, and what for; that it was not over yet. The apparent touch of love and light and safety now felt like salt in the wound.

   "Rey!" she heard a voice calling her, from a world distance. And her eyes met Finn as they gained back focus.

   "Rey, who were you talking to?"

   Yet her friend was no longer angry. Instead the back of his hand brushed the tears mingled with sweat away from her face. She leaned her head in his palm as he sat on his knees next to her chair.

   His face came closer to hers, and so dizzy she was, she didn't even realize when it happened. His nose brushed against her forehead before he placed a kiss on it.

   "Hand me that glass of water." He held out a hand to Poe.

   "Immediately."

   Rey wanted to squirm away, to get the words she wanted so badly to say out of her mouth. But in spite of her desires, Finn was right. As he received the water, he tilted the glass up to her mouth.

   "Here, don't worry, I'm here..."

   Her throat was raw and parched again from the tears. And the softness in his voice made her want to bury her head in his chest, yet her mind had remained sharp.

   Rey's eyes snapped open as if she has just woken up, and left Finn's arm. The question that had been nagging at her insides since leaving the MedBay finally stumbled out of her mouth.

   "When will the sentence take place?"

   She looked at Poe. He had to know. There was a moment of silence, of trembling peace.

   "I will not be the one to swing the sword. I will not be in charge of his death, but the New Republic."

   And she couldn't contain her anger anymore. "What!?"

   He answered her again, the same coldness grazing his voice. "We'll send him to those above us, to be charged and executed. We can't do it here; the galaxy must know about the freedom that will finally come once his head rolls down the steps of the Court."

   "I..." she muttered as she kept shaking her head. "I don't believe you."

   He rolled his eyes, before settling them on her again. "There is not only the Resistance that has suffered at his hands, Rey!" he almost growled.

   "Poe..." Finn tried to reason with him as his hand went on Rey's shoulder, protectively.

   "There is the Galaxy we are speaking about!" Poe ignored him briefly. "All those poor people who had a home, who were living a peaceful life... He had blown their planets away, with cold blood." Then he turned brusquely to Rey. "Try to convince me otherwise, Rey." And he inhaled deeply as he took a break from his heated speech. "You can't deny that." she saw next that he struggled hard to say more. Yet it seemed that it was hard for him to choose the words.

   Eventually, he spoke, "You can't deprive those oppressed people who have died for his fun...just for what you feel for him." and those last words were filled with disgust.

   The girl should have been frightened by his stance. Yet she was not. Instead what she had heard had fueled her strength rather that reasoning it.

   "Am I not with you? Am I not part of the Resistance? Did I not help you win the war?" she looked at him, defiantly. "Don't you think I deserved an opinion on this? Why did you avoid me, Poe? Were you afraid of me? Were you afraid that I wohld have done some trick to lur those people here into believing and agreeing with me? Because I wouldn't have done that. And it pains me that you trust me so little. "

   "He is to stand trial for murder there." he went on, mercilessly hammering her heart. "If you have come to sway my choice, I must tell you that it will not work." he barked before he turned with his back on her.

   "I have come to ask to see him." She said as clearly as possible, lips drawn in a thin line as she closed her mouth.

   "Let her see him."

   When Rey turned her head at the different voice that had just spoken, she noticed Rose there, in the doorway. And there was nothing gentle in her eyes as she pinned Poe right where he stood.

   "She has been sick, give her this little happiness. Please, Poe. Let her see him. Let her say what she has to say. And I think he has certain things to tell us, too. Just give him a chance. Maybe he deserves it."

   Poe made a brusque turn. His eyes were aimed at the tiled floor, as if suddenly the stain on the white surface had caught all of his attention.
Eventually, he rose his gaze to the girl that was fiercely defending Rey.

  "Fine." his voice was a sharp blade. "Bring him in here."

   No one has thought he would change his mind. Yet Rose had swayed him. She nodded as she turned around and strode out of the room, followed closely by two men.
  

~*~

A/N: Thanks for staying with me until now, I hope this story is quite a good illustration of this alternative universe for a star wars episode X.
   Actually, when watching the movie, it's quite easy to judge and to say how easy and clear the path for it was. Yet when it comes to write down the scenery and one to be solid and fair and not only to please the fans, when you try to follow every narrative string, you realize it's not that simple. Well, tros was not handled well, yet we have to try to reimagine it all to see how it really feels.

   For example, I really had difficulties in writing this atonement of Ben, and how the Resistance perceives his turn.

  And it took me some time to plot this story out, and to make it seem realistic, reasonable, easy to identify with.

   The next chapter will hit different! And it will contain VERY important stuff ^^