“Would you have tried to stop your Order if you knew what they were planning?” Melissa spoke from her seat, Christine at her side.
Ben thought about that for a moment before responding. “I knew something big was going to happen. Deep down, I knew that people were going to die — and I didn’t stop it.”
Melissa observed Ben for a moment. “At least you’re being honest.” She didn’t look pleased.
Ern piped up. “I don’t think Ben could have even done anything about it.” The old man looked determined, as if he were ready to defend the younger soldier. “My grandfather was on the losing side during the First World War — although he was just a kid at the time. My father was on the losing side of the Second World War. He was a proud soldier and received medals for all kinds of heroic things he did. But those same heroic things would paint him a villain to the other side.”
“Get to the point, Ern,” Nancy called out. A couple of people couldn’t help snickering.
“Yeah, Nancy. Sorry. I do get distracted sometimes.”
“The point, Ern!” his wife said once more.
“Well, the point is that my grandfather and my father weren’t bad people. They were sure that their side was right. They were doing what they were told. That is not a perfect excuse. But then I think about young Ben here, and he even took it one step further. He followed orders, but he stopped when he was convinced that he was on the wrong side. That’s something even my father did not have the courage to do.” Ern shook his head, dejectedly. “He didn’t really know about everything that was going on, but he still felt responsible after finding out. He was so... ashamed. He lived with that regret for the rest of his life.”
Ern looked up again, a semblance of pride returning to his face.
“But that’s what war is,” he continued. “A bunch of good people thinking they are doing the right thing, misled by a few people in charge. So, I feel that we should be lenient on this man, and not judge him for the sins of his superiors.”
Ben had taken his seat again. “Thanks, Ern,” he said with a sidelong glance at the old man, before looking out at the rest of the room. “I want to help. I’m not sure what else to say.”
The room became abuzz as several conversations started up at once. Shelley noted that not all the sounds were angry or aggressive. It seemed like Ern’s point was well taken.
“OK, folks.” Joe got to his feet. He waited until all side conversations had ceased. “I know that the presence of Ben here has stirred up some emotions. Let me put it plainly: Some of you want to execute him, and some of you are willing to forgive. Although I am not sure what that entails. Maybe that means that we let him walk out of here. Anyway, we’re all here right now, so I suggest we take it to a vote.”
Somebody started arguing, but Joe raised his hand. “I know what you’re going to say. What about the other folks from our group that are still out there?” He took a deep breath. “Well, I thought about it, and we do have the majority right here, in this room. I think most of you just want to get on with it.”
Shelley agreed with that, and from the looks of it, a lot of others did too.
“If the vote is close,” Joe said, “then we don’t do anything yet; we wait for the others to return. I am willing to carry out the judgement of the group. Anyway, does that sound fair?”
The group agreed. It did sound fair.
“All right,” Joe said, a smile lighting up his face. “I knew we could agree on something.”
Joe was just starting to think about how to run the vote when Rosa stood up.
“I’d like to say something first. Before I vote.” She stepped over to stand in front of Ben’s table. Ben looked nervous and unsure. Rosa saw this and gave him the slightest reassuring smile before turning to her audience. “Not everybody here knows me. She looked at Breanne and Q. My name is Rosa, and for now all you need to know is that I’m an ordinary survivor, just like you. I haven’t even figured out why I didn’t get the Syndrome — but here I am.” She looked around. “And here we are.
“I don’t think everybody here knows what they want to do with Ben. I also don’t think that executing him or sending him packing are our only options. I have a vote that is neither of those two things.
“I believe in fate.” She met the eyes of several people. “We have to believe in something. Another thing I believe in is chances. Like second chances. We are here, at this place, and at this moment in time. And we have all been given a chance.”
She took a step forward, holding the attention of the audience.
“For some of us, this is a second chance, or a third. I believe that Ben’s presence here is fate giving us an opportunity to do the right thing and give him another chance.” She continued to move, until she was halfway through the room, her audience still glued to her. She turned to face Ben. “That’s right. I believe that you deserve a chance, Ben. You showed up here looking for punishment for your sins. I talked to you last night and could tell that you sought repentance. But did you not consider that there is another way?”
Rosa waited for a moment before revealing her answer.
“Redemption.
