Chapter Thirty Two: Introspect

Disclaimer: I own nothing here, and you don't have to do this to impress me.

AN: Sorry for the long wait you guys, writing has been super slow for some reason. I plan to post chapter 33 on 7-6-19, but for now, enjoy chapter thirty two!

tried

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Finallyages

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Ben was drawn out of his attempted healing trance when the medbay doors whisked open to admit Maz, who purposefully strode across the chamber to examine the bacta tank's terminal. They shared a nod of acknowledgment before the old alien sounded out a curious hum. "Her vitals look much better and her wound is almost eighty percent healed already." She quirked an eyebrow at him. "Your doing, I suppose?"

Ben shrugged indifferently. "Perhaps."

"Hmm," Maz hummed again, skeptical though satisfied enough with his answer. With her knowledge of the Force, she was much less surprised by their abilities to heal each other than Sarla had been. She tipped her head and gave him a pointed look. "What now?"

"What do you mean?" Ben narrowed his gaze. He had an idea at what she was getting at but he wasn't fond of answering loaded questions.

"Don't play dumb with me, boy," Maz spat and made a gesture towards Rey's unconscious form in the tank. "Now that your beloved is out of danger, what kind of plans do you have in mind for that monstrous machine you call the First Order?"

Ben glanced up to Rey before refocusing on Maz. Even though he knew the comment was meant to be a dig at his overprotective tendencies, he idly decided that he rather liked the idea of Rey being his princess. "Once she's recovered I intend to return to the fleet, confront Hux, and take back what's mine."

"Yes, yes," Maz replied with a bored tone and a bothered wave of her hand before pinning him with another hard look. " what?"

Ben frowned, realizing what it was she was really asking. After reclaiming his rule, did he intend to continue with the Order's galactic conquest? His honest answer was that he wasn't sure anymore. He still envisioned himself ruling successfully with Rey at his side, allowing her more reasonable governing methods to temper his own... Only, he was beginning to feel less inclined towards his dreams if it meant putting her in constant danger.

His brooding silence was met by another, more direct question as Maz moved a little closer to peer up into his face. "What is it that you want, young Solo?"

Again, Ben didn't voice his answer but returned his gaze to Rey's unconscious form. He knew that essentially, she was asking, what is most important to you ? If she had asked him a few weeks ago, his answer would have been completely different, revolving around his own arrogant dominance. Now though... Now it was just Rey.

"Ahah, you're eyes betray you," Maz murmured with a knowing smirk. She waved another gesture. "And what does want?"

Ben released a breath, a partially amused though mostly derisive scoff. "She would have me send the whole of the Order on a prolonged paid leave."

Maz nodded thoughtfully and tipped her head with a contrary expression. "The lot that returns to you afterward would prove fiercely loyal, while you're better off without the ones that don't. I don't see the problem."

"The problem," Ben repeated with a withered sigh. It didn't surprise him that she would take Rey's side. "Is that the treasury would be completely depleted, not to mention that withdrawing troops from all currently controlled systems would mean all planetary resources would cease circulation. The Order would be bankrupt in days."

"And what if it wasn't?" Maz replied through a serious curiosity. "Would you do it?"

"What?" Ben blinked at her. Of all the things he expected her to say, that was not one of them.

Maz carried on, as if she had anticipated him to balk. "If I offered to fund the Order, would you agree to reform it with Rey's ideals? Make it into something... truly special?"

Ben considered her words for a long moment. On one hand, he was skeptical that a smuggler could even make such an offer, pirate queen or not. On the other hand, he had already agreed to Rey's terms to pledge himself to a new cause if they were to survive Hux's coup. He pinned Maz with a new scrutiny. "How do you intend to fund something of this scale? Do you even realize how much that would cost?"

"Oh, I am aware of the cost," Maz replied with a trivial flap of her hand. "Let's just say I've come into a vast fortune due to a particularly successful venture." She returned his scrutiny. "Your answer, young Solo?"

Ben took another glance up at Rey but she slept on, unable to offer her opinion. Not that it mattered that much; he knew what her answer would be. He nodded back to the ancient female. "I'll agree to reforming the First Order."

" that much needed vacation," Maz replied. It wasn't a question. "Your troops will be much more malleable towards change if given the opportunity to rest properly."

Ben still didn't agree with that theory completely, but he wasn't about to argue the matter, especially when she was willing to foot the bill for it. He was also still curious about her suspicious fortune schemes but chose not to pursue any further explanations. He decided it didn't matter where the money came from if it meant furthering the galaxy's progress. He nodded his assent.