Rebirth of the Fallen

A short story by B. James Hunter

Chapter 1.

The boy ducked just in time. A second later and the lightsaber would surely have made contact with his head.

"Nice move Jerel, but you'll have to be quicker than that".

The sabres clashed twice in quick succession.

"You know you can't beat me – just admit it," the boy said with the calm assurance of someone sure of his own skill. In frustration, Jerel again slashed his saber at Nakwon but missed his intended target. What he didn't miss however, was the carefully stacked pile of books assembled in the corner of the room. The books tumbled to the floor in what seemed like slow motion, each one making a louder noise than the last. There was, however, no smell of burning paper; indeed the books were not damaged in any way.

"I don't believe it. I've broken it! This thing cost me six month's pocket money and it's ruined!" That was the last thought Jerel gave to his broken toy.

"Jerel Norak, come here this instant!" Came a loud penetrating voice from the doorway of the classroom. "Just what do you think you are doing, young man?" Asked the woman at the door. Jerel knew better than to lie. Not that he wasn't an especially good liar – he was, he just couldn't lie to Miss Serrano. No-one could.

"I brought my lightsaber in to show my friends and I..."

"And you thought you'd give the class a demonstration?" interjected the teacher before he could finish. "Yes miss." Jerel hung his head. He'd been caught red handed and he knew it.

"Give it to me" Miss Serrano said and held out her hand. Without looking up, the boy handed over his toy. "This is dangerous, Jerel." There was a hint of compassion in her voice. "Even if it's not real, you could still hurt someone. God only knows why you boys play with these things". Another entirely predictable "Yes miss" came from Jerel. But there wasn't a problem here. Miss Serrano knew this. Jerel was highly strung and impressionable, but there wasn't a hint of malice in the boy. "Well, seeing as you're so keen to give the class a demonstration, I wonder if you might consider helping Mr. Mozaal clean the exhaust manifolds on the school shuttle after classes this afternoon." Jerel knew this wasn't a suggestion.

"Yes miss," came the now automatic response.

"I'll inform Mr. Mozaal of your impending attendance Jerel; now take your seat young man."

The young teacher made her way purposefully to the front of the class and began programming the wall mounted holo-emitter. Throughout the conversation between his friend and Miss Serrano, Nakwon had said nothing, and with the teacher now pre-occupied with starting her lesson, he edged towards the door. Just as he got to the exit, he stopped in his tracks.

"You didn't think I'd forgotten you, did you Nakwon?" As one, the whole class turned to look at the now visibly deflated figure at the door. The boy turned to face the source of his not inconsiderable anxiety. Miss Serrano was not looking at him as she was still working furiously on the holo-emitter with her back to the boy. 'How DOES she do that?' Nakwon thought to himself. 'It's creepy.' "We're already running late so I'll make this brief. Put the toy on the table and get to your class". 'Not bad,' thought Nakwon. 'I'm getting out of this lightly.' Nakwon put the lightsaber on the table next to Jerel's and made to leave. As before, he had just made it to the door when she caught him again. "Do I need to tell you where you're going to be this afternoon after class?" Nakwon sighed. 'So close.' he thought.

"No miss."

"Sorry for the delay class. Please open your data pads and run program 'Taris Ecological History, chapter 19'. Now who can tell me the name of the author of the 'The Origins of Life'?"

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The auditorium was full. In truth, it had been full long before the last of the parents and dignitaries had arrived and taken every spare space available. No-one cared about the cramped conditions. Just five years earlier, nobody in that room would have imagined the scene before them even taking place at all. The room was alive with noise, the anticipation made for an electric atmosphere and the excitement was tangible. A huge black curtain, over fifty feet in length, crossed the stage. From the wings, a man made his way to the small glass podium that was setup at the centre of the stage. At sixty nine years old, Mayor Gadon Bek looked much younger than he was. He was well dressed and instantly recognisable from the advanced Vantek ocular visor he always wore that allowed him to see. The crowd fell silent as he reached the podium.

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. It's so nice to see so many friends here tonight even if I can't actually see all of you all that well." A ripple of laughter spread through the crowd. Gadon was a popular man and he knew how to play to an audience.

"When I was asked to come here and present tonight's concert, I was delighted to accept. I was delighted firstly because my son Gredon is among those playing for us this evening." Again, applause broke out. "But there is also another reason I wanted to come. I wanted to say something I should have said a long time ago." That got everyone's attention.

"Ten years ago, there was nothing here. Those of you who lived here when the Sith destroyed Taris city know only too well what I mean." The mood of the crowd changed in an instant. There was no-one in the room that had not been affected by the events Gadon was talking about. Eighty percent of the population of Taris had died that day and those who remained, struggled to survive against seemingly insurmountable odds. "We might all have died, and all that Taris was would have been lost forever." It was a sombre thought but entirely plausible. "But we didn't. We survived. And help came." Murmurs of agreement could be heard around the room. "The construction workers came and helped, are helping us rebuild our towns and cities. The medical teams came and nursed our sick, healing our wounded, making us strong again." More applause and shouts of 'Yeah!' from the crowd. "And the teachers came. They brought their knowledge and taught our children how to live again, how to carry on." The crowd had come full circle and were now once more applauding loudly the emotive words of their Mayor.

"But I want to talk about one person in particular." Once more, all fell silent. "Now I know she'd kill me if she'd known I was going to do this but I'm here now and she can't do anything about it." Gadon turned his head and smiled at the woman watching him from the wings. "Nine years ago there wasn't much of a town here, and what there was wasn't pretty. I'm not too proud to admit that we had more than our fair share of problems." Several of those in the crowd nodded their heads. "Crime was bad, food and water were in short supply and our school, as it was, was an old warehouse with more bugs than books!" Laughter echoed around the auditorium.

"But that's all changed thanks, in no small part, to a young woman who I'm sure needs no introduction." The crowd broke into spontaneous applause. They all now knew who the Mayor was talking about. "When Catherine Serrano arrived here nine years ago to teach our children and help rebuild our school, no-one could have imagined the impact she would have on our town." The crowd continued to applaud. To say Miss Serrano was popular was something of an understatement. Almost every single person in the room had been helped in some way by her, either directly or through their children.

"Now I'm not one to carry on all night listening to the sound of my own voice," continued Gadon, "so I'll get to the point. Catherine Serrano, my friend and yours, has transformed this school into the centre of academic excellence it is today. And, as mayor of this fine town, I would simply ask you to join me in thanking this wonderful woman for all the good she has brought into our lives. Ladies and gentleman, I give you, our children's headmistress, Catherine Serrano." At once, every member of the crowd rose to their feet, cheering and applauding for all their worth. Gadon once more turned to the wings and gestured for Catherine to join him on stage.

The young woman strode confidently across the stage, smiling and waving to the cheering crowd. Upon reaching the podium, she warmly took Gadon's hand and kissed him on the cheek before turning to face the audience.

"Ladies and gentleman, Mayor Bek." The applause continued as Gadon raised his hand in appreciation. When, eventually, the crowd fell silent, Catherine began to speak. "I have to say I really didn't see this coming at all. And Gadon, you're right; I would have killed you if I'd known." Laughter broke out around the room. "And I still might". Catherine shot Gadon a look a mock menace. He had known her longer than anyone on Taris and she regarded him as her closest friend. The faux threat was strictly for the crowd. "Anyway, I'd just like to say that these past nine years have truly been the happiest of my life and that I could not have found a more decent and kind spirited group of people had I travelled the galaxy for a millennia." Once again, the crowd rose to its feet, cheering and applauding the young woman.

Finally, some semblance of order was restored and when everyone had retaken their seats, Catherine spoke again.

"As nice as that was, this evening isn't about me. It's about the children of this school. Your children. When we first decided to put on this concert, my fellow teachers and I weren't sure of the response we would get from the children. Well, needless to say, we needn't have worried. I don't think there is a child in the school who didn't want to be a part of tonight." As she spoke, Catherine turned to see the production manager in the wings who gave her the signal that everything was set and ready to go. "So without any further ado, I give you the children of the New Taris Republic School."

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The school's main reception suite bustled with families all discussing the concert. Every parent seemed to be at once praising the group as a whole whilst at the same time extolling the performing virtues of their own child. It was only natural Catherine thought. Pride, in moderation, was a good thing.

From the balcony overlooking the suite, Catherine stood; drink in hand, observing the throng below. She had done her duty after the concert and mingled with the parents, every one of them wanting her opinion of their own child's performance. It had been hard to think of something original to say for each and every one of them and she was tired.

"I was wondering where you'd got to." Catherine said, continuing to watch the crowd below.

"I was talking to Gredon. You've got to admit, that boy can play." Catherine could hear the smile on his face as he spoke. "He's not bad I suppose" Catherine responded, nudging shoulders with her friend as he came to rest on the balcony. She turned to look at Gadon; if he was as tired as she was, he certainly didn't show it.

"Thank you for what you said tonight, old friend. It was totally unnecessary but I appreciate it all the same."

"You look exhausted my dear, you should get some rest" Gadon replied. In addition to their friendship, Gadon had always felt protective of her in much the same way as a father would for his daughter. Catherine knew this but didn't object. She never knew her real parents and Gadon made a comforting surrogate. It was nice to be cared for.

"I know, and I will, I promise. I just have a few things to........"

In an instant, she was back. Back then. Her mind filled with images of death and violence, of combat and brutal bloodshed. She hadn't felt this way for a long time and for a second, just a second, there was panic.

Her old instincts came alive and the panic was gone. Gadon sensed something was wrong immediately.

"What is it?" he asked. There was no response. Catherine was too busy scanning the crowd below. Looking for someone. For someone who didn't belong there. "Catherine, what's wrong?" Gadon spoke again, like his friend, now scanning the crowd, although for what he didn't know. And then she saw him. Standing at the entrance to the suite was a figure in robes. A hood, covering his face. He stood out but somehow no-one in the crowd seemed to notice him. And he was looking for someone.

For nine years Catherine Serrano had strived to leave her past where, she knew, it belonged. She had created a new life, totally separate from anything she had been or done before. And yet now, after all this time, standing in her school, looking for her, was a Jedi Knight.