Post #980797

TITLE CARD: A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away …

A vast sea of stars serves as the main backdrop for the main title, followed by a roll up, which crawls up into infinity.

STAR WARS

KNIGHT OF THE EMPIRE

Five years have passed since Anakin Skywalker was discovered on the desert world of Tatooine by Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi and taken on as his apprentice. In that time under Obi-Wan’s tutelage Anakin has learned much, emerging as an acolyte for the light side of the Force.

United under the banner of the Galactic Empire, Obi-Wan and Anakin have fought against the genetic hordes of the malevolent Clonemasters, defending the Known Galaxy from the insidious White Peril.

But as the power of the Clonemasters slowly wanes, another force for evil – a darkness out of the ancient past – stirs, threatening to re-emerge and take the Galaxy for itself.

PAN UP

To reveal the head and shoulders of a man hung upside down, his eyes open and glazed over in death.

ZOOM OUT

To reveal that the man is a dead Imperial trooper strung upside down from a gnarled, dead tree. Beyond the tree, in a field situated between the tree and a large duracrete fortress, a fierce battle is underway.

EXT. OPHUCHI – BATTLEFIELD – EVENING

The TROOPERS OF THE IMPERIAL ARMY are engaged in pitched, deadly battle with the GEN-TEMPLARS OF THE OPHUCHI ARMY. Attired in dark gray armour and open-faced helmets, the Imperials are easily distinguished from the Gen-Templars, who wear gleaming black armour and face-concealing helmets with mirrored visors.

Like a living wave, the Imperial troopers press against the Templars, mowing down those they can catch in their sights with green blasterfire. The Templars counterattack, reciprocating with their own yellow plasmafire. Many soldiers on both sides go down with screams of agony, but those who remain press on, using sheer force of will to continue against their opponents.

Moving out from the star-studded night sky, two Nu-class attack shuttles descend over the battlefield. As the Imperial ships approach the epicentre of the warzone, Gen-Templars train their plasma cannons on the craft and begin opening fire. Making a series of twists and turns, the first shuttle manages to evade the plasmafire, but the second is not so lucky; caught in a crossfire, it erupts into a vibrant fireball and then plummets like an ungainly phoenix to the ground below.

Coming to a stop amongst the Imperial troops, the sides of the attack shuttle slide open, allowing a new squad of troopers to pour out. Standing side-by-side at the head of the squad, adorned in gray trooper armour and burgundy cloaks identifying them as Jedi non-coms, are the knights OBI-WAN KENOBI and his apprentice ANAKIN SKYWALKER. The two Jedi have changed much in the years since we saw them last; Obi-Wan sports long hair and a slight beard while Anakin has grown taller and honed with lean musculature.

As one, the two Jedi draw their lightsabers, pressing the activation studs of their weapons; two blades – one azure, the other cyan – ignite with a pair of sharp SNAP-HISSES. Bringing their weapons to bear, the sergeant and corporal lead their squad into the fray against the armoured Gen-Templars. Though the pinnacle of Ophuchi eugenic science, the black-armoured soldiers prove to be little match against two Jedi. One-by-one, they fall to the glowing plasma blades of the two mystical warriors.

ANAKIN: (blocks a blaster bolt with his lightsaber) These guys are supposed to be the end result of five centuries of controlled, selective breeding, right?

OBI-WAN: (literally disarms a Templar) That’s correct.

ANAKIN: (kicks a Templar in the face) So why do they fight like Hutts coming from an all-you-can-eat buffet?

OBI-WAN: Pride and perfection go hand-in-hand. The greater the perfection, the greater the pride.

ANAKIN: And pride comes before a fall.

OBI-WAN: Though I detest cliches, you’re correct again.

ANAKIN: (grins) This isn’t going to be on the pop quiz tomorrow, is it?

Working together, Nik and Obi-Wan cut a swath through the Templars, working their way closer towards their final destination: the towering fortress beyond.

EXT. FORTRESS/BALCONY – EVENING

Standing on a balcony that overlooks the fierce battle beyond, his face twisted in a scowl, is LORD-COMMANDANT YAJUJ JUKASSA, the despot of Ophuchi. A beefy man with a short beard and perfect hair, he wears a black cloak over a dark blue military uniform.

YAJUJ JUKASSA: (angry) This isn’t right! This is wrong – all wrong!

With a flashy toss of his cloak, Jukassa turns around to regard his companion, a COLDLY BEAUTIFUL RATTATAKI WOMAN dressed in white cloak, robes, and veil.

YAJUJ JUKASSA: (approaches the woman) The Imperials are overwhelming my troops – troops that are supposed to be faster, more intense, than mere Imperial soldiers! (beat) You promised us victory!

JOY-1017: (half-smiles) Am I to blame for the complete failure of your eugenics program?

YAJUJ JUKASSA: (points his finger at her) Don’t take that tone with me! You’re only here by my blessing!

JOY-1017: (grins evilly) Are you threatening me, Lord-Commandant?

Seeing that shark-like grin, Jukassa goes silent, his expression of anger replaced with one of fear.

YAJUJ JUKASSA: They’re going to spoil everything we’ve worked towards. They’re going to capture this fortress and Project Overman is going to fall into their hands.

JOY-1017: Our failure doesn’t guarantee their success, Lord-Commandant.

YAJUJ JUKASSA: What do you mean? (beat) Are you saying …?

She nods.

YAJUJ JUKASSA: (sighs) Will you cover me?

JOY-1017: I will keep them from flaying your hide long enough for you to get the job done.

Running a hand through his immaculate hair, Jukassa leaves the balcony. JOY-1017, like a graceful swan, moves along after him.

EXT. FORTRESS – EVENING

Breaking through to face the last line of Gen-Templars, Obi-Wan and Anakin come across an awesome sight. Engaged in battle against six armoured Templars, a double-bladed vibrostaff in her hands, is a FEMALE MANDALORIAN WARRIOR encased in violet-blue armour.

As two of the Templars attack the female Mandalorian, slashing their wrist-mounted vibroblades through the air, she pivots on her heels, turning to the side to simultaneously decapitate one warrior while running the other through. Pulling her blade free, she twists it around as another Templar attacks. As the ebon-armoured soldier throws his bladed gauntlet forward, she locks their blades together, twisting hers fiercely until she causes his wrist to dislocate. As he howls with pain, she throws her leg up, kicking him squarely in the head and ending his part in the fight.

Before she can dislodge her vibrostaff blade, two of the remaining three Gen-Templars pounce, tackling her to the ground. As they pin her to the ground, the third Templar retrieves her vibrostaff. As she struggles to free herself from the Templars’ combined grip, the black-armoured warrior with her weapon positions himself over her, raising the staff high above his head as he prepares to run her through.

Unsheathing a vibroblade, Anakin activates it, pulls back his arm, then sends the weapon hurtling through the air toward the vibrostaff-equipped Templar at tremendous velocity. As the blade of vibrating durasteel plunges into the Gen-Templar’s back, he screams, dropping the vibrostaff.

Having moved her legs into a better position, the Mandalorian pushes up with her legs, somersaulting herself free of the two Templars’ grasp. With a heavy punch and kick, she lays the two warriors down before they can even take a breath. Retrieving her vibrostaff and Anakin’s own vibroblade, she turns toward the two Jedi. Lifting both weapons up, she points them at the knight and apprentice.

KANNEN DOOM: It’s about time you hauled ass over here.

Deactivating the vibroblade, she tosses it back to Anakin. Throwing his hand up, he catches it effortlessly.

KANNEN DOOM: (cont’d) I figured you were going to leave me to take the fortress all by my lonesome.

ANAKIN: (grins) Lady, someday they’re going to put together history records on this battle. I don’t know about Obi-Wan, but I’m not content being relegated to the footnotes.

KANNEN DOOM: If history’s to be made, then let’s make it.

Leaving the Imperial troopers to take on what remains of the Ophuchi Army, the two Jedi and their Mandalorian escort enter the duracrete fortress.

INT. FORTRESS/SUBTERRANEAN TUNNELS – EVENING

A squad of ebon-armoured Gen-Templars stands before the closed doors of a turbolift, watching the numbers on the readout change as the cab within descends.

As the turbolift reaches its destination, the doors slide open. Wasting no time the Templars open fire, unloading a hail of yellow blasterfire into the turbolift. Several seconds pass and then they lower their weapons.

Stepping forward, the leader of the squad looks inside the blaster-scored interior of the turbolift; there are no bodies to be found – living or dead – inside.

GEN-TEMPLAR: (turns toward his men) There’s no one inside!

As he steps back out of the turbolift, the top hatch of the cab is blown inward, allowing the Mandalorian and two Jedi to leap down from above. Spinning around, the Gen-Templar only has time to bring his blaster up before Anakin engages his lightsaber and slices the soldier’s arm off at the elbow. Kicking the ebon-armoured Templar in the gut, Nik knocks him out of the way. Then, with Obi-Wan and Kannen at his side, he makes short work of the remaining Gen-Templars.

ANAKIN: These guys are just too easy.

KANNEN: (points down a specific tunnel) The chamber’s down that way.

Wasting no more time, the trio heads down the tunnel.

INT. FORTRESS/SUBTERRANEAN TUNNELS/ANTECHAMBER – EVENING

Entering an antechamber at the end of the tunnel, the three compatriots find themselves facing a large vault door.

KANNEN DOOM: As sharp as my staff is, it isn’t quite up to the task of cutting through durasteel. You boys wouldn’t mind giving me an assist?

Engaging his lightsaber, Obi-Wan steps up to the door, thrusting his blade deep into the durasteel plating. With minimal effort, he begins carving through the thick door. Activating his own lightsaber, Anakin moves in to assist him. Once they complete the circuit, they disengage their lightsabers and kick the freed metal out of the way.

OBI-WAN: (points at the hole) Ladies first.

KANNEN DOOM: Much obliged.

Ducking down, Kannen slips through the hole into the chamber beyond. Ducking down, the two Jedi follow after.

INT. FORTRESS/CLONING CHAMBER – EVENING

Stepping through the makeshift doorway, the trio finds itself within a vast cloning chamber. Cylindrical in shape, the chamber stretches down farther than the eye can see. Spaced along the walls of the chamber, all containing identical Human figures, are thousands upon thousands of Spaarti cloning cylinders. Catwalks lead from the walls to a platform surrounding a large power conduit situated in the centre of the chamber. Standing on the platform, busy at work on a computer console, is Yajuj Jukassa with the white-clad JOY-1017 by his side.

YAJUJ JUKASSA: (to JOY-1017) They’re here already! You said we’d have more time!

JOY-1017: (sighs) Just continue working on the computer. I’ll deal with our party-crashers.

As Jukassa continues working on the console, JOY-1017 turns and walks down the catwalk toward the three new arrivals.

JOY-1017: Welcome, Jedi, to our humble cloning chamber. (stops midway on the catwalk, gesturing to the Spaarti cylinders) As you can see, over four-thousand clones of Ophuchi warrior stock are in utero. Within four months, they will reach maturity and emerge to serve the Supremacy. (beat) Of course, that was the goal before you came here, overwhelmed Jukassa’s pitiful forces, and foiled our plans.

OBI-WAN: Do us both a favour and surrender peaceably.

JOY-1017: Surrender? (smiles) Perhaps at the end, after Jukassa takes the cylinders off-line, killing every clone and leaving your Imperial Starfleet one conscript battalion short.

OBI-WAN: (frowns) That’s just not going to happen.

JOY-1017: (grins) Try to stop me.

OBI-WAN: We won’t try.

Bringing their weapons to bear, the Jedi and Mandalorian begin moving down the ramp towards the Rattataki. Grinning like a shark, she unclasps her cloak, allowing it to fall away from her shoulders, then causes a pair of short black lightsaber hilts to slip down from hidden sheathes under her sleeves into her hands. Pressing the activation studs, she engages two short, pure white blades and moves to attack the Imperial agents.

With the reflexes of a darting snake, JOY-1017 engages the three others, using the blades of her twin shotos to intercept their blows. Without enough room on the catwalk to fan out, the two Jedi and the Mandalorian find themselves unable to properly assault the insidious Force-wielder.

JOY-1017: (laughs) The Athas hold you in such high esteem!

As Anakin moves to run his lightsaber through JOY-1017, she side-steps the blade and counterattacks. Throwing himself backward, Nik barely manages to avoid losing his throat to one of her white blades.

JOY-1017: (cont’d) Surely you can do better!

ANAKIN: Better?

Springing up into the air, Nik somersaults over the woman’s head and lands behind her.

ANAKIN: (cont’d) How’s this for better?

Now less encumbered, Anakin swings his cyan blade, aiming to connect it with the Rattataki’s throat. Bringing up a shoto, she blocks it.

As the four duel on, Jukassa continues working at the console. With a press of a button, the main red light on the console turns to white.

YAJUJ JUKASSA: I’m in!

RATTATAKI WOMAN: How far along are you, Jukassa?!

YAJUJ JUKASSA: I’ve broken the encryption! I’m entering the commands to shut the cylinders down now!

KANNEN DOOM: Hell with that!

Pushing Obi-Wan back out of her way, Kannen moves to bring all the power she can bear against the white-robed woman. Swinging her double-bladed Mandalorian iron vibrostaff with the ferocity of a gundark, she makes the Rattataki work hard to intercept both her blows and Anakin’s.

OBI-WAN: Anakin, stop him!

ANAKIN: (parries one of JOY-1017’s strikes) But Obi –

OBI-WAN: We can take her! Deal with Jukassa!

With a moment’s hesitation, Nik turns his back on the white-robed woman and races down the catwalk toward Jukassa.

Throwing herself forward, Kannen cartwheels across the catwalk, kicking JOY-1017 in the back as she passes her. JOY-1017 stumbles forward but manages to right herself before she can topple into Obi-Wan. Grinning, she locks blades with both the Mandalorian and the Jedi Knight.

JOY-1017: You’re an excellent fighter, Mandalorian. We could use your stock. Why don’t you join us? The Mandalorian civilization can live again.

KANNEN DOOM: I’d sooner see every remaining Mandalorian in the grave.

JOY-1017: Pity.

Pushing downward, JOY-1017 forces the blades of her combatants down against the catwalk.

As Anakin reaches Jukassa, the lord-commandant turns to face him, contempt evident on his face.

YAJUJ JUKASSA: You think you can stop me, boy?! My mother was of the soldier class! Warrior’s blood flows through my veins!

Reaching to his side, Jukassa unsheathes a vibrosword. Activating it, he brings the blade around to cleave Anakin’s skull in twain. Casually, Anakin brings up his lightsaber, slicing through the metal blade effortlessly as it connects with the shaft of cyan plasma.

YAJUJ JUKASSA: (stammering) B-b-but –

Balling his hand into a fist, Anakin punches Jukassa in the face. The man’s glass jaw breaks easily and he collapses to the platform out cold.

Back on the catwalk, JOY-1017 witnesses Jukassa’s defeat. Outraged, she feeds on the dark side of the Force, using it to amplify the ferocity of her attacks on Obi-Wan and Kannen. Kicking Obi-Wan back, she turns on Kannen and locks the shaft of the vibrostaff between the blades of her shotos. With a twist, she wrests the weapon out of the Mandalorian’s hands, sending it over the side to plummet straight into oblivion. Before Kannen can compensate for the loss of her weapon, the Rattataki stabs her through the left kidney.

OBI-WAN: Kannen!

Springing back up, Obi-Wan rushes JOY-1017. Pulling her blade free from Kannen’s side, the Rattataki pushes the Mandalorian woman down as she turns to engage Obi-Wan. As he brings his azure blade arcing downward, she intercepts it with her left-hand shoto. Forcing his saber down, she then brings her right-hand shoto up, slamming the pommel of the weapon into his temple. With a groan, he collapses to the catwalk in a stupor.

Refocusing her attention of Anakin, JOY-1017 leaps over Obi-Wan’s form and comes racing down the catwalk towards the Jedi apprentice. As she reaches him, he spins around, catching her twin white blades with his single cyan one.

JOY-1017: You should have stayed home, little boy, curled up in the covers of your soft, warm bed. War isn’t the place for teeny tiny little younglings such as yourself.

ANAKIN: (cocks an eyebrow) Youngling?

Knocking her blades out of the way, Anakin headbutts JOY-1017, forcing her to reel back.

ANAKIN: I can’t stomach being called a youngling. Kid? Child? Sure. Youngling? (shakes his head) I’m a sapient being, for crying out loud!

Recollecting herself, JOY-1017 sneers.

JOY-1017: What you are is food for the maggots!

Lunging forward, the Rattataki begins making a series of strikes against Anakin. In little time, she begins to drive him back. Locking his blade in hers, she pins him against the power conduit. As she looks upon him, she grins with salacious desire.

JOY-1017: I’m going to kill you, but not right away.

Leaning forward, she licks Anakin across the face.

JOY-1017: (cont’d) First, I’m going to have some fun.

ANAKIN: Fun, huh? I thought your kind couldn’t experience that type of fun.

JOY-1017: We can’t, but we find ways to compensate.

ANAKIN: I see. Put on some synth-leather, strap me into some energy-binders, and power up the lightwhip. Am I anywhere near the bullseye?

JOY-1017: You’re dead centre.

ANAKIN: Well, that’s not exactly my scene, but I’ll try anything once.

At that moment, Obi-Wan moves in up behind the Rattataki. Grabbing her by the shoulder with his left hand, he brings the emitter of his inactive lightsaber up against her throat with his right.

ANAKIN: (cont’d) Just not today.

Sighing with resignation, JOY-1017 lowers her shotos and deactivates them.

OBI-WAN: (takes his hand off her shoulder) Now step back and drop your sabers.

Backing away from Anakin, JOY-1017 steps away from them both. Downcast, she lets her left-hand shoto fall to the platform.

OBI-WAN: Now the other one.

JOY-1017: (grins) I’m not taken so easily.

Laughing, the Rattataki raises her remaining shoto. Before the two Jedi can bring up their sabers, she turns the emitter of her weapon inward and engages it, running herself through on the white plasma blade. Collapsing to her knees, she releases an almost sexual sigh. She then falls face-forward onto the platform.

Crouching over her, Obi-Wan grabs JOY-1017 by the shoulder and turns her over. As he reaches for her throat to take her pulse, the veil encasing her head slips back, exposing a barcode tattooed on her forehead.

OBI-WAN: (looks up at Anakin) She’s dead.

ANAKIN: (looks down at JOY-1017 dispassionately) Clones. They never change.

EXT. SPACE – OPHUCHI

Leaving the orbit of Ophuchi, the Victor-class Star Destroyer Lancer cruises over to join the other ships of the fleet amassing outside the planet’s gravity well.

INT. LANCER/CORRIDOR #1

Obi-Wan and Anakin make their way down the corridor, their expressions unreadable. Having discarded their battlefield cloaks and armour, they are now dressed in the burgundy uniforms of Imperial Jedi personnel.

As they near the door into the sick bay, it slides open, allowing a Caamasi officer to step out. Once she is past, the two Jedi enter the sick bay.

INT. LANCER/SICK BAY

Obi-Wan and Nik walk through the sick bay, passing by a number of beds containing patients, before they finally come to the bed of Kannen Doom. Stripped of her armour, we can now see that Kannen is a very handsome Human woman with thick, voluminous blond hair. Though visibly weary from her severe injury, she is conscious and alert.

KANNEN DOOM: (weary) Greetings, Jedi.

ANAKIN: (puts his hands on his belt, smiling) Hello yourself. (beat) How are you doing?

KANNEN DOOM: The 'droid says I’ll be in tip-top shape within two weeks. A few more immersions in a bacta tank and I’ll be good as gold. (chuckles) Two more weeks like this. Gods, I’ll go stir crazy.

OBI-WAN: (grins) You never could stand to sit still in any one place for too long.

KANNEN DOOM: No more than you could resist my wiles, Kenobi. (winks)

ANAKIN: I’m sure the weeks’ll just fly by, Kannen. Don’t worry about it.

KANNEN DOOM: (sighs) I guess I’ll have to try, won’t I? (beat) Your leave’s coming up, isn’t it?

OBI-WAN: Yes. Five weeks for both of us.

KANNEN DOOM: Going home, spending time with friends and family, all that jizz?

OBI-WAN: Anakin’ll be returning to Orron III and I’ll be returning to my wife on Coruscant.

KANNEN DOOM: Wife? You got married?

ANAKIN: (elbows Obi-Wan in the arm) Three months ago.

KANNEN DOOM: To that Coruscanti Jedi, Sara, right?

OBI-WAN: Siri, and yes.

KANNEN DOOM: (smiles) My belated congratulations, Kenobi. You should have invited me. I would have loved to have been at the wedding. (grins salaciously) Or the bachelor party.

OBI-WAN: (groans) Don’t remind me.

KANNEN DOOM: (frowns) Huh?

ANAKIN: (smirks) The bachelor party wasn’t exactly what you’d call the last great hurrah for single living.

OBI-WAN: It would’ve been the last great hurrah for living, period.

KANNEN DOOM: I’m intrigued. Tell me more.

OBI-WAN: (waves his hand) No, no more!

ANAKIN: (to Kannen, grinning) I’ll tell you later.

KANNEN DOOM: You’d better not skip over any of the juicy details.

ANAKIN: Don’t worry about that. I’ve got a holographic memory for juicy details; these are no exception.

OBI-WAN: (facepalms) Lord, have mercy ….

KANNEN DOOM: (yawns) It’s been nice catching up, gents, but I think it’s about time we called it a night. The drugs are kicking in and I’m getting sleepy. See you in transit, okay?

OBI-WAN: Alright.

ANAKIN: See you.

With that, Kannen closes her eyes to rest. Turning around, Anakin and Obi-Wan leave her and exit the sick bay.

INT. LANCER/CORRIDOR

Stepping out of the sick bay, the Jedi Knights make their way back along the corridor.

OBI-WAN: Well, that certainly was a robust conversation.

ANAKIN: (grins) You’re not sore over me bringing up the party again, are you, Obi-Wan?

OBI-WAN: Yes, yes I am. I wish for the life of me that I could erase the memories of that party from my mind forever. Your bringing it up doesn’t help me to do that.

ANAKIN: From what I recall, you enjoyed the party at first.

OBI-WAN: I did – until the Felacatian had a panic attack, shifted into her animal form, and tried to kill us all.

ANAKIN: (puts up his hands) Hey, I hadn’t ever heard of Felacatians before that night. The catalogue listed Aigria’s measurements, attributes, and one fine portfolio of sexy snapshots, but it didn’t give any background details on her race. Blame them, not me.

OBI-WAN: (sighs) At least the ordeal taught you a valuable lesson.

ANAKIN: Yes, yes, yes. Always do background checks on individuals or groups you plan on hiring in advance of hiring them.

OBI-WAN: Right. Now never bring this matter up again – ever.

ANAKIN: Of course, of course. (smirks) Right after I tell Kannen.

OBI-WAN: (rolls eyes) You’re going to be the death of me.

ANAKIN: Not in this life. (beat) It’s funny, you know, about Kannen. I like her – I wouldn’t change a thing about her – but I still find it strange that she’s a Mandalorian. She’s nothing like the Death Watchmen.

OBI-WAN: Not all Mandalorians are like Vizsla and his group, Anakin – you have to remember that. There is as much diversity among them as there is amongst the Jedi.

ANAKIN: I know. Still, it’s hard to forget what they put us through.

OBI-WAN: Don’t forget it, Anakin. Just remember to keep it in perspective.

Reaching the end of the corridor, the two Jedi make a turn to the left and enter another.

INT. LANCER/CORRIDOR #2

ANAKIN: Nashira would like to see you and Siri again, you know. It’s been two years since the last visit.

OBI-WAN: I know, and she and I’d both like to take a trip to Orron III ….

ANAKIN: It’s the baby, isn’t it?

OBI-WAN: (nods) This is the first successful pregnancy we’ve had, but the doctors say that the danger she could miscarry is still great. Neither of us want to take the chance of a long-distance trip right now.

ANAKIN: I understand. (beat) Maybe we could visit you.

OBI-WAN: I thought the DuQuesnes didn’t have enough money to charter a flight to Coruscant.

ANAKIN: I’m sure I could pull a few strings. (grins) I am a Jedi corporal, after all.

OBI-WAN: An enlisted rank. Jedi or not, I don’t think it carries much weight among the top brass.

ANAKIN: It wouldn’t hurt to try.

EXT. SPACE

All ships lined up in formation, the Imperial fleet makes the jump to hyperspace.