Star Wars: The Fallen Ones

by Rich Richardson

An original story set in the Star Wars Universe, The Fallen Ones is the story of Teller Vonn, a young man who has lost his family and wound up on the backwater planet of Centrallis. However, though he travels there hoping to find peace, he can't help but be pulled into the conflicts plaguing the planet and lending himself to the fight against oppression.

98. Chapter 98

There was no glory to be had in cleaning up after a battle, but it was an equally necessary act.

It actually reminded Thayla of being back in the offworlder camp, keeping things tidy whenever she could. Kinnie had always told her, "For someone at the end of their rope, a clean place to lay down their head could be the difference between pulling themselves up and falling back into the gutter." With that in mind, Thayla had always tried to take joy in those little moments.

Shilrakaen was a place certainly in need of that attitude. Its formerly pristine streets were pockmarked, the once gleaming buildings were scorched and everything in sight was covered in rubble.

Jamie wiped the sweat off of her brow as Teller hummed a tune, both of them following in Thayla's footsteps. Today they were not Jedi, just workers with brooms and shovels, doing necessary work.

A hundred other people were doing the same, not counting the droids whose blaster rifles had been traded in for hammers, screwdrivers and welding torches.

"Goodday, Jedi," said one, in its bare, mechanical voice. She turned as it walked past and noticed something interesting on Teller's broom.

"You're bleeding!" she cried out. "Let me help you."

"I'm fine," he said, adjusting the bandage over his right hand. He grimaced as he did, still clearly in pain, but then gripped the handle just as tightly and got right back to work. He didn't even stop to wipe the trail of red off of the handle.

"You should take a break, if you need it."

"I don't need a break," the young Jedi said, with a smile on his face. "I want to finish what we started."

"Ok, just let me know if you-"

"I know."

"And I'm sorry that I wasn't-"

"I know."

She shook her head, amazed that her student had come so far in such a short time, both in maturity and in his deeds.

However, she looked over to her daughter and was concerned. Jamie stared off in the distance, and though she didn't say anything Thayla knew she had to be looking for Jon.

"Are you ok, sweetheart?" Thayla leaned down to be at her daughter's eye level, and somehow her answer was both reassuring and troubling.

"I can handle it."