EXT. SPACE — VJUN
The seventeen Sith starships come to Vjun.
Aquamarine-and-white in colour, Vjun is a predominantly aquatic world, with about 82% of the surface covered in water. Only two modest continents surrounded by archipelagos rise up from the ocean floor, the western continent the larger of the pair.
EXT. VJUN — BAST CASTLE — DAY
Breaking through the thick cloud cover, the Sith vessels head for Bast Castle. Built on a waterfall, a river running through it, Bast Castle is composed of gray-green granite, with a squat base which gives rise to a tall tower which tapers off at two spires at the top, granting the castle a resemblance to an oversized tuning fork. This is the home base of the Resurrected Brotherhood of the Sith.
EXT. BAST CASTLE — LANDING PLATFORM — DAY
The ships touch down on a landing platform linked to the castle by a short stone causeway. As Anakin, his three acolytes, and the commandos climb out of their ships, they find NEARLY TWO-DOZEN MEMBERS OF THE BROTHERHOOD standing out in the pouring rain in wait for them.
Breaking away from the other twenty-three, DAHLIA KARIN approaches Anakin. Adorned in thigh-high black boots, black leggings, a black crop top, and a black evening glove up her one arm, the sensuous Pantoran woman also wears her long, dark hair up in a French twist.
DAHLIA: Lord Skywalker, your campaign was successful?
ANAKIN: (sweeps out arm) See for yourself, Dahlia.
Following Anakin’s arm, Dahlia watches as the Sith commandos unload the stasis casket from the Slipstream.
DAHLIA: (smiles) This artifact will be granted a special place of honour in our reliquary.
ANAKIN: The casket, yes. The body will receive an honourable burial, along with the armour it wears.
DAHLIA: (frowns) Master?
ANAKIN: The Gray Knights are correct in their assessment of the armour, loath as I am to admit it. Our acolytes may lack the discipline to resist its lure; should one of us succumb, the cost could be catastrophic. No. We will place the armour beyond mortal reach.
DAHLIA: Then why steal the armour from the Taravedran Knights if they’ve successfully contained it these thousands of years?
ANAKIN: I’ll give you the same answer I gave them: They have no claim to it.
INT. BAST CASTLE/SUNROOM — DAY
Having dispensed with his cloak, tabard, and gloves, Anakin enters the sunroom. Though the room isn’t exceedingly wide, it does sport a very high ceiling, allowing the south wall to accommodate a series of slit windows which let in an abundance of natural outdoor light.
Close to the windows, NASHIRA SKYWALKER reclines in a chaise longue. Clad in an off-shoulder dress of carmine velvet which shows off her shapely legs, wearing her long red hair back in a braid, her attention is focused on the screen of a datapad she is reading. She doesn’t seem to be aware of Anakin’s presence behind her.
ANAKIN: Nashira.
Hearing his voice, she finally turns to look upon him.
ANAKIN: (cont’d) I’m home.
NASHIRA: (turns off datapad) Don’t let me get up on your account.
ANAKIN: (grins) I wouldn’t think of it.
Crossing in front of the chaise longue, the Dark Lord of the Sith sits down on the end of it. Setting down her datapad, 'Shira sits up. Husband and wife kiss then hug, happy to be in close company after so long a time spent apart.
EXT. SPACE — ALDERAAN
Emerging from hyperspace, the Dreadnought-class battle cruiser Knight Errant cruises toward the beautiful blue orb that is Alderaan.
INT. KNIGHT ERRANT/BRIDGE
Obi-Wan stands on the bridge, arms held behind him, gazing at the planet through the bridge viewport.
EXT. ALDERAAN — ALDERA — DAY
Unlike Coruscant, where the natural landscape has been wholly supplanted by a global cityscape, Alderaan is a place where technology and nature co-exist in a harmonious balance. Built along the coast of a large sparkling lake, the white marble towers and polished chromium platforms of Alderaan’s capital rise high enough almost to touch the brilliant yellow sun in the clear azure sky. With elevated lanes connecting the towers and platforms, the ground below is allowed to escape urban development; large parks and walking trails exist where paved streets would lie on many other developed worlds.
INT. TAXI/PASSENGER CAB — DAY
The Jedi Knight sits in the back of a taxi airspeeder, leaving the city.
EXT. OBI-WAN’S COTTAGE — DAY
The taxi pulls up to a cottage. Built close to the lakefront, there is naught but crystal clear water, white sand, and long wild grass surrounding it.
Climbing out of the taxi, Obi-Wan pays the driver.
INT. OBI-WAN’S COTTAGE/LIVING AREA — DAY
Opening the front door, Obi-Wan steps inside. A small dwelling, the cottage only houses four rooms: the living area; a kitchen; a bed chamber; and a refresher unit. For Obi-Wan, who lives alone, this space is sufficient.
Closing the door, Obi-Wan walks up to the fireplace mantel. Atop the mantel rest two decorations: the hilt of Anakin’s former lightsaber, retired from active duty since the wayward apprentice’s departure, and a holograph of himself with his wife SIRI TACHI and eleven-year-old son DARTH VADER. Picking up the holograph, Obi-Wan examines it. All three figures are looking at the unseen holographer, bright smiles on their faces. Returning the hologram to its place, Obi-Wan takes a seat at a small round table. Setting his chin down on his closed fist, he stares ahead at nothing.
Obi-Wan Kenobi — Jedi Knight; veteran of the Third Clone War; decorated war hero; former sergeant in the Imperial Army and present General of the Alderaanian Fleet — leads a sad and lonely existence.
EXT. CORUSCANT — SENATE BUILDING — DAY
The large mushroom-shaped Senate Building stands dark against the electric blue sky of Coruscant.
INT. CORUSCANT — SENATE BUILDING/JEDI COUNCIL BOX — DAY
JEDI MISTRESS ADI GALLIA, member of the Jedi council of the Order of Coruscant, enters the private box reserved for council members. Sitting down with her husband, GRAND MASTER MACE WINDU, she joins him in observing the proceedings currently underway in the Convocation Chamber beyond.
INT. SENATE BUILDING/GRAND CONVOCATION BUILDING — DAY
Atop the tall podium situated in the centre of the chamber stands DANTIUS PALPATINE with his vice chair and aide, MAS AMEDDA and SLY MOORE. A Human male in his early thirties, Palpatine appears at least five years younger than his age. Clad in a crimson robe, he is regally handsome, with slicked-back platinum blond hair, high cheekbones, and clear, blue eyes. Amedda and Moore are Twi’lek and Umbaran, respectively.
A large hologram comes to life over the trio’s heads. It is a full-colour projection of EMPEROR SON HHAT’S FACE. Hhat, the successor to the Imperial throne following the untimely death of Cos Dashit some years back, has a large round face and beady eyes. Clad in a hood of gold shimmersilk, we can instinctively tell his pomposity exceeds his competence.
MAS AMEDDA: His Imperial Majesty Emperor Son Hhat!
The amassed senators declare in one voice “Hail the emperor!”
SON HHAT: In light of the suspicions of corruption circling this body, I have appointed Senator Dantius Palpatine of Nabu your new supreme chancellor. When he speaks, take heart that he speaks for me.
The emperor, having spoke his piece, allows the supreme chancellor to speak his.
DANTIUS PALPATINE: It is with great reluctance that I have agreed to this calling. Beyond representing my home planet, I have no ambitions. But the fact that this crisis is demanding I be given control over the Senate is evident. (beat) I make my solemn promise to you as supreme chancellor: Those elements responsible for compromising the integrity of this once-august body will be found; they will be revealed for the treacherous serpents they are; they will be delivered unto justice for their crimes.
A CHORUS OF APPLAUSE rings out. How many of the senators are genuinely applauding as opposed to masking their true sentiments remains to be uncovered.
INT. CORUSCANT — SENATE BUILDING/JEDI COUNCIL BOX — DAY
MACE WINDU: (smiles) It is done, then.
INT. SENATE BUILDING/HALLWAY — DAY
Windu and Gallia cross paths with Palpatine and his retinue of BLUE-GARBED SENATE GUARDS.
MACE WINDU: Congratulations on your appointment, Chancellor Palpatine.
DANTIUS PALPATINE: Your congratulations are appreciated, Master Windu. (beat) The job ahead of me is a great one indeed. It will not be easy purging the Senate of corruption.
MACE WINDU: You will see the task through to completion, Chancellor. I’m certain of that.
DANTIUS PALPATINE: I must admit your faith in my capabilities is greater than my own, Master Jedi.
MACE WINDU: If you are ever in need of aid, the Order of Coruscant will be there to provide it.
DANTIUS PALPATINE: (smiles) I’ll be sure to remember that. Thank you, Master Jedi.
The chancellor and Jedi continue on their respective ways. Gallia gives Windu a strange look. He notices.
MACE WINDU: What?
ADI GALLIA: Your pledge to the chancellor. Wasn’t it a bit …
MACE WINDU: What?
ADI GALLIA: (cont’d) A bit bold?
MACE WINDU: How so?
ADI GALLIA: The order submits to the will of the people through the Senate. One man isn’t the Senate, Mace.
MACE WINDU: So long as there remain senators with ties to Black Sun, the Hutt Cartel, any illicit enterprise, I will consider that one man the Senate.