Koren

This article has a separate continuity. This article is in the Richard Hatch Novelizations separate continuity, which is related to the Original Series. Be sure that your contributions to this article reflect the characters and events specific to this continuity only.

Koren is a twelve-yahren-old boy and the son of Jinkrat, a rebel leader among the Fleet's refugees.

Early Life and Loss

Koren is the son of Jinkrat, an agriculturalist from Gemoni, and has a brother who dies during the last battle for Kobol. The brother is only six yahrens old when he perishes from a fever. Though Koren and his family desperately call for help, they are told there is "no help now for anybody by the order of Commander Apollo"—part of the fleet's triage protocols during the crisis. The boy dies covered in sweat, burning with fever, without access to good water or healers. This tragedy fills Koren with anger and confusion about Apollo, whom he blames for his brother's death.

Jinkrat never touches a rifle or laser pistol until the last battle before the fleet's descent into the Ur cloud. He never thinks he will kill a man, either in battle or in anger, but the death of his son changes him. Koren becomes Jinkrat's only remaining child—the one person he loves more than life itself.

The Rebellion

Fighting on the Rising Star

When his father leads a rebellion aboard Rising Star, Koren participates in the fighting without his father's knowledge. He insists he is twelve yahrens old, not eleven, and proves himself brave despite his youth.

When Athena leads a Colonial team to Rising Star, Koren is injured during the confrontation. Cassiopeia, a healer, stabilizes and treats him. Despite his injuries, Koren remains defiant, telling Athena that Apollo is "history"—that he got them into trouble and has been taking all the food for himself, that he made people die on the transport ship, and that "Apollo killed my brother. As sure as he put a laser blast into him."

However, Koren also shows trust in Cassiopeia, noting that his father trusted her. He reveals that Jinkrat is a good man who does not want anyone to get hurt or anyone else to die. When Athena tells him he has been very brave and that she is proud of him, Koren's certainty wavers—he realizes he is taking a terrible chance trusting Athena when he does not know if he can.

Reunion with His Father

Jinkrat meets Athena's team at the docking bay, bristling with weapons though he does not wear them as a man comfortable or used to them. When he sees Koren, his hard face briefly shows a genuine smile. He tells his son, "You have not been honest," and Koren's face curls up "like a burning leaf," his eyes growing damp and his cheeks flaring. Jinkrat reminds him that "butts are what you sit on," which makes Koren's eyes go wide. Despite his father's stern words, Koren knows he cannot be punished now—he must be sent with the Colonials for medical treatment.

Jinkrat places his son in the custody of Cassiopeia, his fellow Gemonese, and warns Athena that Koren must be returned safely within three days or the hostages will be lost. He reveals that his people have planted a bomb aboard Galactica that will detonate in three sectares, crippling the battlestar. As Jinkrat walks away, Koren softly says "Dad," but his father is already too far away to hear him.

Aboard Galactica

Kidnapping by Aron

In sickbay, Apollo visits Koren to speak with him. Cassiopeia is sitting by the boy, holding his hand and laughing. When Apollo introduces himself and says he hears Koren is very brave, the boy responds with anger and confusion. Koren tells Apollo, "I guess you kill so many people, you don't even know," and accuses him directly: "You killed my brother!" When Apollo insists he never ordered medical help to be withheld, Cassiopeia confirms that the fleet has indeed been under such orders since Kobol, part of the necessary triage during the crisis.

Sire Aron kidnaps Koren from sickbay, claiming he is bringing the boy to his father. Aron takes Koren to his quarters, where the boy quickly becomes bored with the old council member's books and possessions. Koren is watched by an "ugly bald guy" in a black uniform—one of Aron's guards. The boy does not trust anyone except himself and his father, and begins to suspect something is wrong when Aron fails to return as promised.

Escape and Resourcefulness

Koren tricks the guard into demonstrating Colonial restraints, pretending to be fascinated by how they work. When the guard puts the restraints on Koren's wrists, the boy memorizes the code to open them. After the guard refuses to remove them, Koren slips them off easily and attacks the guard, driving the heel of his palm into the man's nose—a technique his father taught him. The guard's eyes roll up and blood gushes everywhere. Koren then restrains the unconscious guard with his own restraints and escapes.

While fleeing through Galactica, Koren encounters an older man wearing a worn cloak and a security device around his ankle. The boy offers to remove the tracking device, boasting he escaped Colonial restraints "in about half a micron." He quickly disables the device and smashes it with his boot. When the man reveals he has killed someone, Koren initially backs off but then realizes the stranger is putting on an act, pretending to be dangerous. The man introduces himself as Baltar.

Witnessing the Assassination

Apollo searches for Koren throughout Galactica and eventually finds him with Baltar. Together, they escort Koren to the Council Chambers to reunite him with his father. When they arrive, Koren runs to Jinkrat crying "Dad! Dad!" and buries his face in his father's tunic. Apollo feels an unexpected pang watching the boy's enthusiastic reaction—Koren is not part of Apollo's world or family, yet it hurts to see the bond between father and son. Apollo realizes that no matter what he has and Jinkrat lacks, the rebel leader still has this: his son.

During the confrontation between Apollo and Jinkrat in the Council Chambers, Koren sits in a chair watching with an agonized expression, his hands balled tight and gripping the chair arms. When the two men begin fighting, Koren puts his small body between them—"a very small thing, only twelve yahrens old, his head barely up to Apollo's chest"—which is all that keeps Apollo from tearing Jinkrat apart. When Apollo continues beating Jinkrat, Koren desperately tries to keep them apart but is too small. He falls to the floor and Apollo leaps over him to continue the fight.

A small voice cries "Stop! Stop!" and something grabs Apollo's shoulders. Apollo turns with his fist raised, his knuckles split and bloody, stopping bare inches from Koren's tearstained face. The boy pleads, "Apollo, stop! You're killing my dad!" This breaks Apollo out of his rage.

When Apollo and Jinkrat make peace and shake hands, Apollo says they should have let Koren speak first, since the boy promised to tell what happened once he saw his father. Koren proudly declares, "I may only be twelve yahrens, but I'm not dumb!" Both men laugh, and Apollo ruffles Koren's hair.

Moments later, one of Jinkrat's guards—secretly working for Aron—assassinates the rebel leader. Apollo feels Koren's small body hitting his as the boy is caught in the chaos. When the guards' lasers flash and the assassin falls, Koren is wounded. Apollo grabs the boy, trying to protect him, but guards rip Koren from his arms. Apollo hears someone say that Koren is still breathing and cries out for him to be taken to sickbay.

In Sickbay

After the assassination, Koren recovers in sickbay under Dr. Salik's care. When Cassiopeia collapses from stress, hunger, and pregnancy, Salik asks Koren to make sure she is all right while he treats Sheba's critical injuries. Koren reports that Cassie is breathing fine, and Salik thanks him, calling him "son."

Becoming a Warrior

When a Cylon centurion strides into sickbay declaring "I come for the woman" and advancing toward Cassiopeia's limp form, Koren springs into action. He has a gun in his hand—the same pistol Apollo placed in Baltar's hand after the Council chamber melee, which Koren took surreptitiously. Before the Cylon can react, Koren aims the pistol and blows the centurion away. Dr. Salik later notes matter-of-factly that "the creature was coming in, menacing Cassi, and this boy just picked up that pistol and—boom!"

When Apollo and Starbuck arrive at sickbay, Koren runs out from the corner where he has been waiting with his pistol for more Cylons. He holds the weapon awkwardly against his chest. When Apollo asks where he got it, Koren points at Baltar's body. Apollo realizes it is the same pistol he left in Baltar's hand and marvels at fate and miracles.

Apollo and Starbuck praise Koren in unison, making the boy blush and hang his head. Apollo grabs his shoulder, draws him close, and touches his cheek, telling him, "Don't be ashamed, Koren, be proud. You were very brave. Somesectare you'll make a fine warrior." Starbuck adds that "shooting tin cans is the number one qualification." Koren's young face shines with pride as he looks up at them. Sheba tells him, "You were great. My father will be proud of you, too, when he's better."

After ensuring Sheba is stable, Koren hugs her around the waist and she bends down, stroking his hair.

Testimony Against Aron

During Apollo's trial before the Council, Baltar appears with Koren and demands the Council listen to the boy. Baltar kneels beside Koren and encourages him to speak. In a small, thin voice, Koren testifies: "Apollo didn't kill my father. My dad died to save me and Apollo." He explains that Apollo and his father made peace after their fight, and that when the assassin shot Jinkrat, his father jumped in front of Apollo to protect him.

When Aron tries to dismiss Koren's testimony by claiming the boy is confused from his injuries, Baltar urges Koren to continue. The boy reveals that when he was in sickbay, Aron came and took him, claiming he was bringing Koren to his father. He points directly at Aron, exposing the council member's deception.

When Aron grapples with Baltar and aims a laser pistol at Apollo, chaos erupts. Apollo guides Koren to safety behind one of the large, sturdy Council seats during the firefight.

Apollo later reflects that Jinkrat is now gone, Koren orphaned, and the fleet in disarray—all because of one man's greed and manipulation. However, unlike Baltar, Apollo will not destroy Aron but will put him on trial, with Koren as the unanswerable accusing witness.

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Subject: Characters