IV: An Empire Rises

Rebecca sat alone on the swing set while the rest of her class played ball during their recess session. Using a stick she found on the ground nearby, she began drawing small pictures in the sand by her feet. As she finished one of her sand images, she was about to begin another when she happened to look up. Her teacher, several uniformed officers and a small squad of clone troopers were walking onto the playground.

The teacher clapped her hands loudly to get the childrens' attention. "Children, gather around quickly, please," she paused while Rebecca and her other classmates came over. The woman gestured to the higher ranked officer, "This is Commander Desro from base 658 on the other side of town. He and his squad will be escorting you home. School is closing early today."

Rebecca raised her hand, " What's wrong, Miss Saris?"

Her teacher gave a reassuring smile, "It's just a precaution, dear. Nothing to fear." Rebecca gave a puzzled look in return.

Commander Desro spoke up with a very serious tone, "Go inside and gather your things quickly. We are to take you home as soon as possible." Upon hearing this, the children ran back into the school.

Moving together as a group, one by one the children were delivered home. As the commander went to each door, he talked briefly to the kids' mothers, showing an image to each woman. Rebecca and the other remaining children watched from the street, unable to hear the officer and unsure what was going on. Finally, the squad arrived at Rebecca's home, the last stop. The armed troopers waited at the property's front gate while Commander Desro escorted Rebecca to the front door. He rang the bell and waited.

Inside, Cesera was in the kitchen preparing lunch for herself and for Deroh, who usually returns home from the Republic base to eat. Upon hearing the bell, she walked to the front door. Opening it, she was surprised to see the Commander.


"Lady Okins?" The Commander asked.

Cesera nodded. "That's right...May I help you?"

The commander gestured to Rebecca, standing beside him. "I'm here to return your daughter to you, Milady. Circumstances being as they are, all local schools were ordered an emergency shutdown for today."

Cesera moved aside to let Rebecca inside, then turned back to the Commander. "What's wrong? Has something happened? Is...Is Deroh alright?"

"Commander Okins was called to Coruscant, Milady. He is fine. However..." he paused, pulling an image out of his uniform pocket and handing it to her. "Our forces have just this morning raided a nearby traitor's camp. Of the two men in question, this one has eluded us." Cesera studied the picture. "Have you seen this young man? His name is Korban..."

Cesera shook her head. "I haven't, Commander, I'm sorry to say."

Desro shook his head, frustrated. "Very well. As a precaution, I urge you to keep your windows and doors locked and be wary of any strangers that come to your door until we rectify this situation. Keep that image for reference. If you see him, contact base 658 immediately."

Cesera nodded quickly, "Yes, Sir, of course."

Commander Desro nodded. "That will be all. Good day, Milady." He turned and rejoined his troops.

Cesera closed the door and locked it, rejoining her daughter in the kitchen.

"Mommy? What's goin' on?" Rebecca asked, hoping to get an answer.

Cesera stashed the image out of Rebecca's sight and turned to her, "Just some trooper business, my love. They're looking for someone."

"Is Daddy in trouble?"

"No...Daddy is fine, but I doubt he'll be coming home today. Daddy's on Coruscant."

"The Capital place? Cool!" Rebecca grinned. "Maybe he's getting a promotion!"

Cesera smiled, "Yes....maybe..." She looked out the kitchen window, nervous and unsure.

Later that night once Rebecca was tucked into bed, Cesera walked downstairs and made a cup of herbal tea. Taking her cup into the den, she switched on the holo and noticed a broadcast from Coruscant was interrupting every holo channel. She stood listening, suddenly dropping her tea cup and covering her mouth with her hands, shocked with what she was hearing.

The Jedi, and some within our own Senate, had conspired to create the shadow of separatism using one of their own as the enemy's leader… The Jedi hoped to unleash their destructive power against the Republic by assassinating the head of government and usurping control of the clone army. But the aims of would-be tyrants were valiantly opposed by those without elitist, dangerous powers. Our loyal clone troopers contained the insurrection within the Jedi Temple and quelled uprisings on a thousand worlds… The remaining Jedi will be hunted down and defeated. 


She collapsed into a chair, unable to take her eyes from the screen as Palpatine's broadcast continued.


These have been trying times, but we have passed the test. The attempt on my life has left me scarred and deformed, but I assure you my resolve has never been stronger. The war is over. The Separatists have been defeated, and the Jedi rebellion has been foiled. We stand on the threshold of a new beginning. 

In order to ensure our security and continuing stability, the Republic will be reorganized into the first Galactic Empire, for a safe and secure society....

III: Early Birds

Rebecca snapped awake bright and early on a cool August morning. Hopping out of bed, she quickly got dressed, grabbed her stuffed ewok and dashed out of her bedroom down to the end of the hall to her parents' room. Throwing open the door, she bolted over to her sleeping father. She began tugging on his shoulder, trying to wake him.

"DADDY DADDY wake up wake up!!!!"

Deroh yawned and reluctantly rolled over to face his over-excited daughter. "Rebecca, ...what's wrong?"

The girl jumped up and down excitedly, "it's today, it's today!"

"Sweetheart...it's six in the morning...," Cesera mumbled from the other side of the bed.

"Uhuh! Time to get up!!" Rebecca giggled. "C'mon, c'mon!" she insisted, tugging on her father's arm. "You can' sleep in on my birthday! I won't let you!!"

"Blast it all," Deroh muttered, "I'm up, darling, I'm up!" He pushed away the blankets and sat up, swinging his legs over the side of the bed.

"Hooray!!" Rebecca cheered, then dashed out of the room.

Yawning, Deroh turned to Cesera, "you might as well rise and shine too, hon', since we'll have to leave for the capital in a few hours." He tried not to show the discontent in his voice as he walked into the fresher."Your blasted mother hates it when we're late."

~~~***~~~  

"Mommy can I open a present before we leave for Grandma's??" Rebecca asked, jumping up and down in the kitchen.

Cesera smiled, "Presents? What presents?" she teased. 

"My presents!! It's my birthday!" 

"I know it is! but you know...I don't have any for you. I think your father has something out back. Why don't you head outside and I'll catch up once I finish in the kitchen." 

"OKAY!!" The girl ran out the front door and around to the back yard. Going up to her dad, she saw a huge box leaning up against the back of the house. "Ooh, Daddy what's this???"

Deroh smirked, "How about a swing set for your birthday, hmm?" 

Rebecca's face lit up, "Really?? YAY! I like swings!!" She jumped over and hugged Deroh, "Thanks Daddy!!"

"You're welcome, Becky. If you'd like, we can put it together once we get back...from..." He trailed off as he peered behind him seeing Cesera walk over beside Elsa Everon, her mother. 

"Mother, this is such a surprise! I thought we were going to Coronet City to see you today..." 

Elsa smiled, "Well I thought I'd save you the trip, dearie. I wouldn't want my favorite granddaughter to spend much of her day in a speeder."

Cesera smiled, "That was very thoughtful, Mother...I only wish you called ahead of time..." 

"Yeah, so we could lock the door..." Deroh muttered under his breath.

Elsa knelt down in front of Rebecca, "There's my little angel!" She looked up at Deroh. "And then there's you."

Deroh rolled his eyes. "Nice to see you too, Elsa." 

"Hi Grandma!!" Rebecca giggled. "Did you know it's my birthday today??" 

"I did, little one," Elsa smiled, "And how old are you today?" 

"Six!" Rebecca giggled. 

"That's right!" Elsa grinned, running her fingers through Rebecca's hair, "you're growing up so fast...look at you," she said, "you have your mother's face, her beautiful red hair, even her eyes..." 

"You mean my eyes, Elsa," Deroh interrupted, semi-glaring at her. "They're green, not blue."

"Well...." Elsa said, standing back up. Quickly, she changed the subject, "Lets all go inside, hmm? There's a little something with you name on it, Rebecca." 

Rebecca went wide-eyed, "More presents!!!!!!" She dashed back into the house with Elsa, Deroh and Cesera trailing behind. 

Cesera yanked Deroh aside for a moment. "Can you please act civil?" 

"I will if she does," He responded, nodding his head to Elsa's direction. "I'm telling you right now, Ces. Your mother will no doubt be the death of me. Not this damn war against the Separatists. Her." 

II: Baby Steps

"C'mon, love. Come to daddy..." Deroh said as he kneeled on the floor. A holo cam was strapped to his arm as he recorded Rebecca. Pausing the recording, he put his arm down and looked over to Cesera, who was sitting on the floor behind Rebecca. "Hon? A little help?"

Cesera rubbed Rebecca's back gently. "Go on, sweetheart. It's only a few steps... you can do it," she smiled, " I'll be right here."

Rebecca simply sat on the floor with no motivation to even attempt to move.

"My, she's stubborn today," Cesera said.

Deroh sighed. "She's almost a year old... she's got to learn how to walk."

Cesera shook her head. "I don't want to pressure her... maybe she just isn't ready..."

"Well she can't crawl around the floor for the rest of her life."

Cesera sighed, "I know..."

"Maybe we could persuade her with something."

Cesera looked at him. "With what?"

Deroh quickly glanced around the child's room. He spotted a brown bear laying on a nearby chair. Picking it up, he dangled it in front of him. "C'mon, Rebecca....come get..uh...," he turned to Cesera, "what's this thing's name?"

Cesera shrugged in response. "make something up, I guess. I don't think it has one."

Deroh sighed and continued to dangle the doll. "Rebecca..." Rebecca looked at the doll, then at her father, then back at the doll again. Mumbling baby babble quietly, she starts getting on her hands and knees and crawls her way over to her father. Once she made it over, she slowly got on her knees and tried snatching her doll. "...well, it's a start."

Cesera stood and walked over to Deroh and Rebecca. "You stand over there and I'll try again," she said, kneeling on the floor behind their daughter. Once Deroh made it to the other side of the room, she gently took Rebecca and got her to her feet. "C'mon, babes..." She carefully gets Rebecca to move one foot, then the other, "Just...like...that.... Deroh, you recording this?"

"Mmhm. Come on Becks, you're doing great!"

Rebecca wobbly 'walked' across the carpet while being held up by her mother. About half way across, she felt her mother let go of her arms. Taking an extra few steps, she started to trip and then fell onto the floor. Rubbing her eyes, she began to cry.

Cesera embraced her daughter gently. "Shh... it's alright. Don't cry, my love." She scooped up Rebecca and patted her back gently.

Deroh put away the holo camera and walked over, handing Rebecca her bear. "You'll get better, Becks. It'll be alright."

Cesera looked at him, " It's this hard getting her to take a few steps...imagine what we'll go through just to her to start talking..."

"Oh dear maker..."