INT. DELANTINE – ABIEDS-BRANNRID MEDICAL CENTRE/DR. REYEM’S OFFICE – DAY

Nashira has made it to Delantine and to the Abieds-Brannrid Medical Centre. There, Dr. Reyem has given the young woman the news about Anakin. Bolting up out of her chair, Nashira slams her hands down on the top of Reyem’s desk.

NASHIRA: (outraged) You can’t find him!? What are you saying?!

As the doctor begins explaining the matter, ‘Shira suddenly doubles over. Her outrage is immediately tempered with suddenly confusion.

DR. REYEM: Miss DuQuesne, are you alright?

NASHIRA: (frowns) I … I …. Oh! Ooh!

Taking a step back, Nashira begins breathing heavily.

DR. REYEM: (concerned) Are you okay?

NASHIRA: (hyperventilating) I don’t know!

Nashira spasms suddenly; grabbing onto her chair is the only thing which prevents her from collapsing to the floor. Leaving her seat, Dr. Reyem comes around to the front of the desk to help the girl. Unable to stop herself, Nashira begins panting.

DR. REYEM: Nashira!

NASHIRA: (panicked) What is happening to me?!

Between the panting, Nashira grunts and moans. When her pelvis begins involuntarily thrusting – quickly, mechanically – she starts SCREAMING.

DR. REYEM: Nurse! Anybody!

Leaving Nashira’s side, Reyem bolts from the office to get some help. The doctor gone, Nashira shoves her hands between her thighs and curls into a fetal position.

That is when blessed relief finally washes over her.

INT. DR. REYEM’S HOME/SPARE BEDROOM – SUNSET

Hours later, after getting Nashira checked out, Dr. Reyem has taken the girl to stay at her place.

Guiding her over to the bed, Reyem makes ‘Shira lie down.

DR. REYEM: Listen. I’ll buy you a return ticket home to Orron III. It’ll be my treat, okay?

NASHIRA: Thanks, Doctor.

DR. REYEM: Now don’t worry about what happened at the hospital.

NASHIRA: It was just a panic attack.

DR. REYEM: (nods) Just a panic attack. (smiles) Have yourself a nap. I’ll wake you in time for dinner. How does crab rotoven sound to you?

NASHIRA: Sounds nice.

Reyem then leaves, turning off the lights and closing the door behind her. Nashira lies there atop the mattress, alone, the red light of the departing suns falling upon her face.

Though she isn’t consciously aware of what has transpired, Nashira knows in her heart of hearts that Anakin has betrayed her for another.

INT. GEONOSIS – SANDCRAWLER/PRISON AREA – EVENING

Some time has passed since the Condawni were captured and brought to this place, and their numbers within this compartment have thinned considerably. There are still many of them, but no longer so many that they have no room to sit or lie down.

One of the Condawni sits in a dark corner, apart from the others. Dangerously emaciated, coated in grime, he looks like a resin-soaked mummy which has had its wrappings removed. At some point in the past, he suffered a compound fracture to his left ankle. He cries with great agony, his grievous wound stinking with gangrene.

CONDAWNI WOMAN: (enraged) By the stars, just shut up! Just shut up!

Darth holds his hands down over Mitra’s ears so she doesn’t have to hear any of this.

The hatch into the compartment opens and four Raiders enter.

RAIDER #1: (points at injured man) Him.

RAIDER #2: Him? But he’s already gone half-bad.

RAIDER #1: All the more reason to be done with ‘im. Don’t need ‘im spoilin’ the other meat.

At his command, two of the other Raiders goes over to the injured Condawnian. Picking him up, they proceed to drag him out of the compartment. As his broken ankle is roughly dragged along the floor, he SCREAMS.

RAIDER #3: Ah, jeez!

RAIDER #2: (unslings speargun) This’ll soothe him.

Levelling the speargun at the injured man’s head, he pulls the trigger. The poor man immediately falls silent.

RAIDER #2: (to the Condawni) Now y’all can have some peace and quiet!

The Raider laughs, then he and his comrades leave the prison area, securing the hatch behind them as they go.

The Raiders gone, the moans of pain finally gone, Darth takes his hands away from Mitra’s ears.

MITRA: (sad) Darth?

DARTH: What up?

MITRA: Tell me the rest of The Maverick Moon.

DARTH: I can’t. I lost the datapad.

MITRA: Please.

DARTH: Alright. I’ll try to remember how it goes. (beat) Suddenly Deak Starkiller broke through the magnetic field. He found himself in a shaky orbit around the maverick moon. “Prepare to fire the zukonium rays!” Deak shouted to A-2. “We’ll have to get out of here in a split second!” (beat) The zukonium rays were aimed at the centre of the moon. Deak squeezed down on the firing lever. (beat) It was a direct hit! The impact of the exploding moon sent Deak’s plane reeling out of control. A-2’s lights blinked on and off as his circuits blew. Desperately Deak tried to regain control. But he didn’t have to worry. The Force was with him. The special power he could not explain protected him and steered him free from danger. (beat) When Deak and A-2 returned to the hangar, the entire population of the Academy was there to greet them with yells and cheers. Happiest of all were their good friends Princess Zara and C-3. (beat) Princess Zara placed a medal of honour around Deak’s neck. “Now we can get back to work,” said Deak, feeling a little embarrassed. “I’m glad that you and the Planetary Pioneers will be able to continue your work,” said Zara. “But I’m even happier that you are alive and safe.” (beat) And that’s the end.

MITRA: (smiles) Good ending.

DARTH: Sure was.

MITRA: Do you think there’s a Force protecting us, Darth?

A tear runs from Darth’s eye. He quickly wipes it away.

DARTH: Yes.