XVIII An Unexpected Yet Not Entirely Unanticipated Surprise
"Alright, your in," I moved away from one computer and to the next in the mammoth task of getting everyone back into the system. My fault. "Name?" I typed in the man's response. "Okay, change your password every two weeks, the system should send a reminder,"
"Aelin, a word please," Ben tapped me on the shoulder.
"What do you want?"
"You said you, uh, accept briberies so I, uh, got you this," He held out the latest fusion rifle "I thought you might want it for parts. Or use it or something,"
"Thanks, I'll get on it," I pushed myself over to his computer on the office chair. Ben watched over my shoulder as I typed. "You're in," The screen read 'Welcome, Ben Solo. If you need further your system manager: Aelin Solo.'
"You are the system manager?"
"My software,"
"Fair enough. I'm the supreme leader, Why is my username Ben Solo?"
"That's your name isn't it?" Ben realised that resistance was futile and just huffed in response. "You're such an old man,"
"No I'm not,"
"Yes you are, you complain all the time and grump around-"
"Grump around?"
"You're grumpy all the time and you always make people do things for you, but instead of I'm old your excuse is I'm the supreme leader. See? Just like an old man,"
"Exactly how many old men do you know?"
"Apart from dad? Exactly...none. But if dad was anyone to go by, I think I have a pretty good idea,"
"You can't assume all old men are the same,"
"Fine, you're such an old man dad. Happy now?"
"I'm not an old man..."
"Quit acting like one then. How was Rey?"
"Stubborn. Same as earlier,"
"Okay, here's some relationship advice, from someone who's never been in a relationship-"
"Then you're not qualified to give relationship advice are you?"
"I'm a girl aren't I? Rey's a girl? I think I'm expertly qualified. Anyway, the point is, the whole you are nothing thing is not getting you anywhere-"
"How do you know about that?"
"One of the first things I did was hack into the security footage to look for anything interesting, but-"
"Why?"
"I was bored, as I was saying you are nothing but not to me was an interesting move but it's not working. You need to try a different approach,"
"So, you're saying be someone I'm not,"
"No! No, no, no." I waved my arms in his face "You need to look at all the things she likes in a guy...for example Finn, they're best friends right? And she obviously likes him-"
"What? Oh, I'm so screwed,"
"No! Listen to me! All is not lost! Okay, so she likes Finn... Finn hugs people a lot-"
"I don't hug,"
"Okay, well he smiles a lot," Ben smiled at me, but it was more creepy than anything else "Okay, that's not working either. She considers to be brave-"
"She called me a coward,"
"Right. Okay let's scrap that whole idea. Maybe don't constantly threaten her?... Oh, wait I know! So, the reason I joined you guys is because Mum was pushing me into the resistance, you keep pressuring her to join you...so give her some space. Be normal, but stop pushing,"
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The Mechanic
Fanfiction"I thought you thought that you were doing the right thing," "I am," "Then why are you painting yourself as a bad guy?" "Because that's what most of the galaxy thinks," "So? Just because they think it doesn't mean you have to. So how do you know I s...
