Kender

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.

Kender is a juvenile delinquent recruited into the Colonial Warrior ranks during the Fleet's journey through hyperspace. A member of a youth gang alongside Hass, Kender becomes one of the first successful recruits in an experimental program to train troubled young people as pilots.

Biography

Recruitment

Kender is part of a youth gang operating within the Fleet, using gang terminology such as calling girls "swins." When the Colonial military faces severe pilot shortages due to personnel losses from the lottery mission, Bojay, Troy, Dalton, Rhaya, and Trays develop an unconventional recruitment strategy targeting troubled youth.

The recruitment approach becomes a friendly competition between Dalton and Rhaya, who take opposing philosophical approaches. Dalton advocates patience and understanding given the difficult backgrounds of gang members who lack parental guidance, while Rhaya argues for firm discipline. When Trays suggests testing both methods, Dalton takes Hass as her trainee while Rhaya takes Kender. The competition involves physical confrontation, with both young warriors using force to gain the recruits' respect.

Kender responds positively to Rhaya's training methods, suffering significant physical discipline that leaves his face covered in welts and bruises. Despite the harsh treatment, Kender expresses satisfaction with the outcome, noting that Rhaya at least let him keep all his teeth. When asked about his motivation for wanting to become a Warrior, Kender states that Rhaya impressed him with her attractive appearance and forceful approach. When asked about recruiting other gang members, Kender notes that some gang members are female and suggests male warriors might be needed to recruit them using similar methods.

Training Program

Following initial recruitment, Kender and Hass face the reality of warrior training requirements. Bojay and Troy explain that becoming pilots requires extensive academic work including astrogation mathematics, strategic thinking, understanding plasma streams and force fields, and mastering space suit operations. When Troy lectures about the demands of training, Kender is the first to vocally express reluctance, wailing "I give up" before Hass joins him in capitulation. However, both recruits ultimately commit to the program.

Kender shows interest in flight simulators and receives assurance from Bojay that simulator training will precede actual Viper flight time, with the possibility of participating in real missions. The training group prepares to take the recruits to simulators when the ship experiences a significant shudder, similar to exiting hyperspace but more intense.

Landing Bay Fire

During a catastrophic fire in a landing bay caused by rocket fuel ignition, Kender demonstrates unexpected courage. While other cadets flee the scene, Kender attempts to save Hass, who has been overcome by smoke and flame. Kender remains in the dangerous area trying to help his fellow gang member despite the spreading fire and closing emergency doors.

Bojay enters the inferno to rescue both cadets, managing to get Hass through the closing doors first. When Bojay returns for Kender, he finds the young recruit still attempting to save himself despite severe smoke inhalation. Bojay pushes Kender toward the exit, but a rocket fuel explosion creates a fireball that strikes Bojay from behind. Kender proves game to give anything a try and does his best to move forward despite stumbling and having difficulty breathing. The blast's shockwave propels Bojay through the narrowing door opening, allowing him to push Kender to safety just before the emergency doors seal shut. The incident leaves Bojay with severe burns and broken bones, though he takes satisfaction in saving both young recruits.

Kender's willingness to risk his life for Hass demonstrates the loyalty bonds formed within the gang structure and validates the recruitment program's potential. Troy later points out to Rhaya that both Kender and Hass distinguished themselves by not acting as cowards during the crisis, unlike other cadets who fled without looking back. Rhaya concedes that while she remains angry at other recruits who showed cowardice, Kender and Hass were merely "stupid" rather than cowardly—a distinction she considers far more acceptable.

Notes

• The character is identified as "Kender" throughout most of the source material, though he is referred to as "Render" in dialogue on pages 120-121 and during the fire rescue sequence on pages 134-135 of Destiny. This appears to be an editorial inconsistency, as the character is consistently named "Kender" when identified alongside Hass in the training competition setup and aftermath.