A Silverback's Discovery

Han pulled up to Central High School in Orion's Tesla, which he was borrowing for the time being. Actually, he was pretty sure he was never going to give it back. It was both luxurious and good for the environment. 

Han grabbed his backpack, an act that made him feel suddenly six years younger. Never mind that he had only been out of high school for a little over a year. And never mind that he often used packs during missions for the Collective. Something about this particular school backpack, in this particular way, made him feel like a freshman.

Han got out of the car and eyed the students milling about the parking lot and the entrance. Some of them stared at him as he started walking down the path to the doors. School was already a few weeks into the second semester. That made Han, definitively, the "new kid."

It felt strange to be walking back into the halls of a high school. Han thought that part of his life was over. Not for the first time since he had agreed to this mission, he hoped it wouldn't be too long. He didn't want to be stuck there for any longer than he had to be. At least it had a clear expiration date - his cast was scheduled to come off in just over two weeks. No way the Collective would let him sit useless, babysitting some girl who they didn't even know was a threat, when he could be doing more important work. He'd be reassigned if the mission carried on past that point, he was sure of it.

After much wandering and refusing to ask for help, Han found his locker and threw his book bag inside. He took out some notebooks and shoved a pen in his pocket. He really only needed to look busy. He wouldn't actually have to put too much effort into the schoolwork, just enough to not warrant any unwanted attention from the teachers or principal.

The Collective had arranged his schedule so that Han had several classes with his target. They had given him an extensive amount of pictures. Han would know her when he saw her.

His first class of the day was Spanish. Han didn't remember much of it, even though he had taken it all four years of high school. The Collective had entered him into the third level, so he hoped he knew enough for that at least. He understood maybe every other word the teacher said. 

Spanish wasn't one of the classes he shared with his target, so he didn't pay very much attention to the teacher or other students. His next class however, pre-calculus, he did share with her.

Upon walking into the classroom, Han could tell immediately that she was somewhat of a loner. Either that, or nobody else wanted anything to do with her. The class was half-filled, but she was sitting alone, apart from everyone else, and not chatting like the rest of them. Of course, she had only been going to the school for two weeks, so she may have just not had the opportunity to make very many friends yet. 

She sat at her desk, doodling something in her notebook. She seemed fairly concentrated on it. Her straight, choppy, dark hair hung over her face so Han could barely see her. He didn't want to get too close too quickly, so he sat a few seats away from her.

"You new?" the girl Han had sat next to asked with a smile.

"Yep. I'm Han." He extended his hand to her.

"Beverly," she said as she shook it. "Nice to meet you. Han, you said?"

"Yep. As in, Solo."

Beverly laughed, flipping her hair back. "Funny. That's an interesting name. How'd you get it?"

"Secret," Han said with a wink.

Before class even started, Han had been introduced to a bunch of other students and was chatting animatedly with all of them. He wanted to be more open in front of the target, and it made a huge difference to how people respond to him. After class, the other students even invited him to lunch with them. They were all fun enough people, so Han gladly accepted. Acting normal and making friends was all a part of the cover, after all.