Chapter Text
The next day of work passed quickly for the new couple. It started with Han sneaking peeks at them as they walked in their building (no doubt taking photos for Leia), before they made it upstairs, to Ben's group.
There were many exclamations and jokes from Finn, Hux, and Phasma on the momentous occasion, and Finn, who had gotten the idea to tell jokes from Han, even had a joke ready for them.
“Hey! You two finally got together! Now Rey can be the solution to your homogeneous system of linear equations.”
Rey groaned, and Ben said acerbically, having grown tired of a new joke every day, “I'd like to plug my fist into the solution for your equations.”
“Ben!” cried Rey, slapping his arm lightly.
“What? He has it coming. You're not the one who has to hear bad jokes everyday. I do,” justified Ben.
Finn just chuckled before shouting, “Hux, you owe me money! I knew you two were a sure bet. Hux didn't think Ben would get the courage to ask Rey out.”
“Wow, your belief in me is staggering,” said Ben to Hux as he and Phasma approached.
“At least I'm better than Phasma. She thought that Rey would have to do it,” said Hux, giving Phasma a look.
“What can I say? Ben is the type to brood and wax poetic by saying something about his love being neverending like pi. Rey is more likely to take charge,” said Phasma with a shrug.
“Can we stop with all the terrible math puns already?” groaned Ben.
“Nope. We got them for days for you two,” said Finn with a wide grin. “Or, I can tell you that Rey will not succumb to your pelvic sorcery, Mr. Lube Man.”
Ben's eyes became black and dangerous.
“No, Ben,” said Rey. “You know I've already succumbed to the power of the lube. Take it easy on him, as I've got systems to learn and supervisors to talk to.”
She gave him a peck for luck, which helped his mood immensely.
Finn was done telling jokes since he still had a little more time with Ben, but the other dynamic duo kept up the jokes all day.
Their last comment as Ben got to work was Phasma saying amid snickering, “They still need to bang already. He's way too tense to be anything else.”
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The day ended with many from design appearing for a mysterious inspection at the end of the day, including Leia.
Ben took that all in stride, even when Poe spoke. The only time he couldn't maintain his composure was when his mother hugged Rey.
“Welcome to the family, Rey. We love having you be a part of it,” said Leia softly as she squeezed Rey.
Rey managed not to cry, but her eyes were a magnet, and Ben was a piece of steel inexplicably drawn to them. He had gone over there to hold Rey's hand, but soon got dragged into the hug by his mother.
“Don't expect me to join that,” said Han, looking on with pride.
It was then Leia's turn to stare at her husband and incline a finger toward him, asking him to silently join.
He joined soon after.
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The car search on Friday was fruitful, and continued into the next week. Rey enjoyed trying out every car she could, all while listening to Ben pick apart each car and its safety ratings and various points of interest.
The next week was one of the better ones that Rey could recall, between daily visits to the plant and lunches with Ben.
At the end of that week, she was called in for a meeting with the site’s vice president, in order to discuss her destiny at the plant.
Rey was only a little nervous, as she was meeting another legend, Maz Kanata. It wasn't until she shook hands with the short, older woman that she realized that it was the same woman she had seen at the softball game.
Apparently, everyone had come to that game.
“Welcome, Rey. Do you know why you've been asked here?” asked Maz kindly.
“Yes, to discuss my last year here at the plant, and to let you know if I have a preference about where I end up,” replied Rey.
“Correct. Let's begin. What was the best and worst experience you had here so far?”
Maz sat comfortably in her office overlooking the lake, her large glasses swallowing up her face. Rey tried to feel at ease.
“My best experience was spending the day in the control room simulator with Obi-wan Kenobi recently. That was the big moment for me, when I saw my career path clearly,” she said excitedly.
“From what I hear of you from others, I think that is an excellent path for you, child. Now, what was the worst?”
“The worst moment was performing my first engineering change in Ackbar’s group,” said Rey. “I never saw such a waste of time and paper. But really, it wasn't horrible overall or anything. It was just the least enjoyable experience I can recall. I don't think the amount of computerized training can count.”
Maz chuckled.
“Oh, child, there is still so much for you to learn. But never fear. We all have had our moments. Now, I'd ask you if you have a preference, but I can see your eyes. You already know the truth of where you're going, I suspect.”
“I hope so,” said Rey. “I want to end up working in Holdo's group, as that work seems more satisfying, and I love the group dynamic there far more than in plant engineering. I really enjoy systems engineering, so it’d be my second choice.”
“Many who enter operations start in systems. It is the most traditional route as you'll spend more time in the plant, learning it. And yet, you don't want it. Why?” asked Maz.
“Because I'm an independent learner who will happily study the drawings and ask questions in my free time while doing design work. Plus, Rose has her heart set on systems. I don't want to take that from her. She's perfect there,” explained Rey.
“She is a good candidate for there,” said Maz, having interviewed Rose the day before, “but you'd be just as good. And we want to help you succeed, just as much as we do her. As the first woman at this plant to go into management, I know your road ahead won't be easy.”
“I realize that from talking to Leia,” said Rey, remembering many stories.
“That's good. You need a support network to lift you up and help you. Many people, when they come here new, know nothing of nuclear power and have trouble finding community, finding a sense of belonging. Have you found that here?”
“Yes, I have,” said Rey confidently. “I always felt alone growing up and in college, but since joining this plant, and especially joining design engineering, I've found the belonging I always sought.”
“Good. Then I believe we've discussed everything we need to. Enjoy your time left as a rotational engineer, and thank you for all your hard work so far, as well as your quick reflexes in saving Ben Solo.”
Rey blushed and thanked Maz as well before hurrying out of the room.
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The following week on Monday, all four new engineers gathered around Han one last time before he told them their destiny at the plant.
“The four of you have been a special class for me,” said Han, a little choked up. “I haven't told this to anyone besides my family or upper management yet, but I'm retiring around the same time as my wife, in the upcoming months. You're my last class.”
All gasped and began talking at once until Han shushed them.
“It's high time I retired from the post and let someone else take the reins. I've enjoyed guiding all of you through your journeys here at the plant, and I'll come back and visit occasionally with Leia to see how you're doing.”
All smiled until his next comment, making all but Rey laugh.
“Unless your name is Rey. Then I'm going to see you at family dinners where I'll consistently needle you about your taste in men.”
Rey just rolled her eyes, perfectly aware of how much Han liked her.
“Hey, it could be worse,” continued Han. “At least I won't be bugging you nonstop for grandchildren, unlike my wife.”
Somehow, somewhere, Rey was certain that both Leia and Ben were groaning at such a comment. Call it a spidey sense, or what have you, but they knew, and Han didn't care.
“Now that I've gotten that out of the way, let's move on to the moment you've all been waiting for: your final assignment in engineering that will determine your destiny. I think you'll all be very pleased and not surprised.”
All held their breath, except Rose, who took Finn's hand and whispered excitedly that she could eat three bowls of rice.
“First is Matt. You'll be joining my son's group, learning his job permanently after this, until you're ready to take over,” said Han.
“Yes! Score,” said Matt with a fist pump.
“Finn, you'll be going to Ackbar's group, working with Poe.”
“Right on! We're going to be the best science bros, just like Tony Stark and Bruce Banner.”
Rey was initially relieved that Matt got the position he deserved, but she was still concerned about where she would go, since systems hadn't been announced. Rose looked across from her with a sympathetic face.
“Next is Rose. You're going to systems engineering, who demanded you outright after your rotation there,” said Han with pleasure.
Rose let out a sigh of relief, and Rey's face lit up. All was as it should be.
“Finally, there's Rey. You're going to Holdo's group, where you'll do some procurement work, but also learn more about reactor engineering.”
“I'm ready for it,” she said.
“Good. Now you all have your assignments, and you're not expected at your new departments until tomorrow. Get out of here, and enjoy the rest of your day. Celebrate. You've made me proud.”
Rose ran up to Han and squeezed the life out of him. He did his best to reciprocate, despite not being able to breathe well.
The four went back to the hive of scum and villainy known as Mos Eisley Cantina for drinks, a tradition for all new engineers, started by Luke and Leia Skywalker back in the day. The four were joined later by people from all the different groups.
Some, like Ben, just bought drinks for everyone. Others, like Hux and Poe, wanted the new people to perform feats similar to hazing, but nowhere near as dangerous.
Poe insisted on having them all sing embarrassing songs, while Phasma told everyone to play darts by throwing from behind. Hux forced them all to show their prowess with math and angles by having them play billiards with their non-dominant hand.
By the end of the night, a number of older people also joined the party, including Han and Leia. Han proved he could still outdrink anyone, besides his wife and son. Leia proved she was still the best, seeing as her son was a little out of practice.
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At the end of the month, the big announcements finally came.
It started on Wednesday with Snoke announcing his retirement, and Leia announced hers on Thursday, her party in a week. No new successors were announced either day. Instead, all of engineering was invited to a meeting on Friday.
Rey was visibly agitated by the chain of events, even though she was glad that Snoke was leaving. She was surprised that Ben was so calm about his mother's leaving, whereas she didn't want Leia to go yet.
On Friday, however, there was an air of expectation. No one really knew what was happening, so all came with questions.
Rey saw a number of older faces in the back of the crowd, including Obi-wan and the janitor. Toward the front sat Leia, Snoke, Maz, and the unknown man from outage, still in white clothes.
It was in that moment that she realized just what he was going to be doing. He wasn't just leading any particular group; he was leading her group.
She turned to Ben and decided to take a chance since he seemed to know everyone.
“Who's that older guy up front in the flowy white clothes?” she asked. “I saw him once during outage.”
“That's Qui-Gon Jinn,” he said without feeling.
She knew something was wrong. He was trying too hard to remain calm and impassive.
“Ben, what's wrong? Does all this have to do with him? With your mom?”
“Yes,” he said tersely.
That was all she got out of him before Maz came to the front stage.
“Welcome, everyone. Thanks for staying on a Friday. As you know, our two engineering directors recently announced their intention to retire. While we are very sad to lose them both, we are happy for them as they embark upon the new adventure of retirement. May your time be quiet and not require you to ever wear a yellow suit again,” said Maz, earning laughter from the crowd.
“This, of course, leaves our plant without any director. The reason why replacements haven't been announced is because of two reasons. The first is that, in an effort to keep nuclear power more cost-effective, we are following trends at other plants by reducing where we can, starting with management.”
This set off a large number of whispers, which Maz stopped quickly.
“Second, it has been the strategy for many years at our beloved plant to separate plant and design engineering. This, however, wasn't always the case. Since then, the difference in leadership has led to….great barriers and a lack of communication between the two sides of engineering, which can no longer be tolerated.”
If the whispering had been loud before, it was deafening at that point. Maz had a much harder time quieting the people down.
“Which leads all of us in management to come to this decision. We shall be combining the director jobs into one. The new replacement will be an old friend of the plant, fresh off many talks about cost-effectiveness with other plants.”
Rey saw that Ben's face didn't change throughout Maz’s talk.
“How long have you known about this?”
“Since right before we officially started dating,” he said. “I'm still not happy about it. Mother shouldn't have been pressured to leave at all.”
“They probably just want all remnants of the two sides gone in order to properly make this new transition work,” she said, thinking of Qui-Gon.
“I realize that, but it doesn't mean I have to like it,” he retorted, his hate of change shining through.
Rey shook her head and focused on Maz.
“Please help me welcome our newest engineering director, Qui-Gon Jinn,” said Maz, waving him onto the stage.
“Thank you, thank you,” he said as he walked onto the stage. “I didn't expect to ever come back to work here, but under the circumstances, I decided it best to help my home for so many years once more.”
He looked out at the audience and smiled brightly, a determined glint in his eyes.
“I won't be here very long, perhaps two or three years. Just long enough to get the transition done smoothly and train someone else to take my place. I'm but a tool in the grand scheme of things, trying to bring unity to this divided group of people.”
He looked around the room until his eyes fell on Holdo.
“One of my main goals in coming here is to unite the two sides of engineering. To achieve that, we will be moving all engineering into the plant, so that there's less distance and excuses.”
Everyone in design began talking excitedly.
“Second, to further help the integration of these groups, there will be some reorganization where possible to force all of you to work more with one another.”
Now all the engineers were talking, some very unhappy. Ben was among that number, not at all ready for forced integration.
“The first way I'll be bringing that about is with Amilyn Holdo’s group. While many knew that Leia was leaving, it was less known that Holdo is being transferred to chemistry, to an open supervisor position there in two months. When she leaves, I'd like to have someone experienced from the plant side take her spot. As more openings come, we'll continue this trend, mixing the two.”
For a moment, Rey panicked that Ben could be chosen to come in and take Holdo's spot. Then, she realized that Ben was not experienced, and so would not be chosen. She was relieved again.
At the same time, Ben realized how it was possible that he would finally be chosen for a supervisor, as Snoke had indicated previously. It also meant that he had two months to train Matt.
Challenge accepted.
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The fallout from the meeting extended all the way to the retirement parties for Snoke and Leia.
The parties started at the office, and extended to the cantina afterward, at least for Leia.
Everyone came to the cantina, mostly because of who else was expected to be there, her parents.
The whole Skywalker family made an appearance for her retirement, where Rey was introduced to Anakin and Padme at long last.
“Rey, it's good to meet at last. We've been rooting for you since we saw you at the annual softball game,” said Padme.
“My grandson is a lucky boy. You'll keep him on his toes, and you've already taught him one of my favorite things, compassion,” said Anakin with a wink to his wife.
Rey also finally met Yoda officially, who was as cryptic as ever.
“Yoda, it's nice to finally learn your name,” said Rey. “I've heard so much about you. It's so weird to think you've been here the whole time, cleaning.”
“Always pass on what you have learned. Believe this I do,” he said, shaking her outstretched hand.
“I hope I can learn more from you over time,” she said earnestly. “I understand you were an engineer for many years, as well an operator. I'm ready to become an operator when I've been here long enough,” she said.
“Ready are you? What know you of ready?” asked Yoda. “Young still you are. Learn much you must.”
“I'm patient and willing. Will you help me?” she asked in return.
With a twinkle in his eye, he replied, “An operator must have the deepest commitment, a most serious mind. Impulsive you are. Curb it you must, in order to learn the ways of the operator. You will know when you are calm, at peace. Help you I will.”
“Thank you,” she said gratefully before he went over to a corner, where Luke was waiting with a drink.
She spent the first half of the night talking to Obi-wan and Qui-Gon, as Leia was swarmed by everyone wanting to congratulate her.
In those moments, she learned to admire Obi-wan more, and heard more of what Qui-Gon and Anakin had been involved with the last ten years or so.
The second half of the night was spent next to Leia, now that the crowd had thinned, who told story after story of how she started out. She told horror stories of her first boss, Jabba, and how she felt like a slave the way he overworked her.
She told fun stories of what happened when she got to work under Obi-wan, and many others after her. Then, she told more adventures as she worked to become a supervisor and later a director.
Han and Luke sat beside her, giving little tidbits here and there, and Ben and Rey sat and listened in awe. Ben hadn't heard half of those stories, making him respect his mother even more, and making him regret not talking to her a little more.
It wasn't until the end of the night, though, that Leia finally became sentimental. Her first reaction was always to give a clever retort, rather than dwell in self-pity or extreme emotions.
“I've accomplished so much while working here. Anyone would be proud, I think. But all of these things pale in comparison to my greatest accomplishment,” she said, a warm smile on her face before pointing across the table. “My son, Ben. He will grow to be even more than me, and carry on this family legacy in ways I can't even begin to imagine. He'll take the best of me and those before him, and follow his own path.”
“Mother, stop,” said Ben, turning red. “This isn't about me; it's about you.”
“But you're an important part of me, son,” she replied. “You're my greatest source of hope that all my hard work will be worth it, because you'll protect and run the plant with my integrity and the heart of your father.”
“Leia,” warned Han.
“Oh hush. You know it's true, just like I do, pilot,” said Leia, patting Han.
Ben continued to be speechless as his parents argued amongst themselves until Rey touched his arm.
He turned to see her bright smile showing proudly.
“Your mother's right. You'll do right by all because you do care so much,” she said. “I believe in you, just as she does.”
“As long as I've got you, then that's all that matters to me,” he said, stealing a kiss.
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Two months later, it was announced that Mitaka would replace Holdo, and Ben would succeed Mitaka. Matt took to his new job with such zeal as to make everyone fear him.
Ben's first year as a supervisor was very hard, but with much commentary from Hux, helpful feedback from Rey and Mitaka, and mentoring from Qui-Gon, he made slow progress.
Qui-Gon’s advice was heeded by Rey, and her legacy would long be remembered in engineering for the way she asked the hard questions while also appearing innocent and polite.
But more importantly, she taught Finn and others within design the value of going into the plant, earning the respect of everyone else. Finn and Rose were the lasting bridge for the two groups to learning how to work together.
By the time that Rey Solo was accepted into the senior reactor operator program five years into her career at Starpoint Woods, she had spent many hours under Obi-wan’s tutelage and in Yoda’s wise company, up until both retired permanently, just as Han and Luke had done.
Two years after that, when she graduated from the program and became an officially licensed operator, her husband was well on his way to becoming a director as always hoped.
When Ben Solo finally accomplished his dream and fulfilled the great dream of his grandfather, he was proud to make the announcement surrounded by family, especially two newborn fraternal twins that he loved. He and his mother were wrapped around his daughter’s little fingers, while Rey and Han loved the little boy more than life itself.
After the announcement party, Ben and Rey went to bed with the little ones snuggled between them on the bed, their hands entwined at their hips.
“I promise to you, Rey, that I will not abandon you and these two for my job. If I do, tell me. I will not allow them to grow up with absent parents, like I did.”
“I never doubted that, Ben,” she said. “Together, we’ll make this work. Honestly, I'm more worried about what will happen when I go back to work. I'm afraid of abandoning you.”
“You won't. You love me and this family we've created too much to deny these two what you didn't have,” he said.
Rey was too quiet. Ben lifted his head from the pillow to see Rey staring at the sleeping infants with tears in her eyes.
“Rey, why-"
“You're right. Family is too precious. I won't give up my dream job, but I'm definitely going to use this work-life balance initiative to make sure that we can have the time together we need,” she said. “These two deserve so much more than I had.”
It was a common enough thing said, first by Anakin and Padme, and then by Leia and Han: the desire to give their children a better life. Rey fit in well in the family for that reason alone. Ben came from that line, with just as strong a desire, if not more of one.
“They'll have it. We'll make sure of it together. Even if we don't rule the world together, we’ll at least take care of our own little world here, and the plant we call home. Together, we can do anything.”
With another kiss, the two went to bed, both full of emotion.
As Rey fell asleep, she reflected back on her life and the decisions that led to this moment, this life she'd never give up.
One thing was clear: never had she been more glad that she had taken a chance on Starpoint Woods Power Station. It really was her destiny. It had become her dream job, her home, and her extended family. And through it, she found the family she had always wanted.