logo Sign In

Post #1326795

Author
NeverarGreat
Parent topic
Episode IX: THE SHATTERED SWORD - DETAILED SUMMARY COMPLETE
Link to post in topic
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/1326795/action/topic#1326795
Date created
27-Feb-2020, 1:51 AM

I’ve deleted quite a bit and had to start over from the Netherworld scene. I’m very pleased at the new direction, however:

The medical lifter winds its way through the sterile white halls of the Resistance Blockade Runner Tantive IX. Finn, Rose, Rey, and Chewie hurry alongside as Resistance troops rush hither and thither. Threepio rushes belatedly after them. The stumps of Kylo’s arm and leg, hastily cauterized by Finn on the destroyer, still leak blood onto the lifter.

Kylo is set down in the operating suite of the Tantive IX, more of an alcove than a full room with a glass partition opposite the trio of beds. Doctor Harter Kalonia takes over operations as Finn and Chewie exit to the insistence of the Tantive captain, who needs the Falcon to commence operations to rescue and take prisoner the crew that escaped Kylo’s Destroyer. Chewie roars at Rey, and Finn adds his voice in demanding that Rey come with them and help round up the prisoners. Rose goes over to Rey and says that Kalonia is doing all she can. Rey nevertheless feels that she should stay. Threepio finally arrives at the medical suite just as everyone rushes off, and he is visibly flustered and dismayed. He sees Rey standing all alone and deciding that he will probably just get in the other’s way, he traipses over to Rey’s side. They both stare through the glass partition at Kylo and the doctor.

Time passes. Threepio asks if Rey would like to hear the rest of the final chapter of the Jedi Texts, and Rey agrees. He speaks of the impending demise of the first great sage of the Force, and her student’s attempts to reckon with her death. One student vows to save her through a Force technique alluded to previously in the texts, but another student cautions against this.

Before Threepio can continue the tale, Kalonia exits the suite. Rey moves to intercept her. At her query, Kalonia responds that if she had a full Bacta tank she could do more, but with their facilities she gives Kylo even odds of survival. Rey asks if that’s really all that can be done, and Kalonia responds that with galactic medicine, yes, and it’s up to Kylo himself to find the strength to pull through. After Kalonia leaves, Rey moves into the room proper and sits beside Kylo’s bed. Threepio, clearly not programmed for such a scenario, waits timidly outside.

Rey stares across at Kylo for a while, wrestling internally with what to do. Finally she speaks. ‘Kylo…’ Her look softens. ‘…Ben. I don’t know why I’m here. I know you probably can’t hear me, but if you can I want you to know that…’ She looks away, changing her mind. ‘I could really use some help right now.’ She looks over at Threepio as if in judgement. ‘I don’t know how to rebuild the Jedi, not really. Luke is gone, I don’t know where. And now Leia…she was counting on me, Ben.’ Her voice cracks. ‘As crazy as it sounds, you might be the only one who could have understood.’ From her side comes a new voice. ‘Sorry, Rey. I should have come sooner.’ Rey whirls around. Luke sits on the side of the bed beside Kylo’s. She asks why he took so long, he responds that family matters kept him away, and gestures to Kylo. She realizes that Kylo is closer to death than anyone thought, and Luke says that this is the will of the Force. Rey responds that it is too easy, that she refuses to let him escape the full consequences of his actions. Luke gives her his third lesson. He tells her that in using the Force she must accept the consequences of her own actions, lest her balance be broken. A Jedi, he says, understands that some things are beyond their power to peacefully achieve, and when that happens they must be willing to accept the power of the greater Force. Rey nods, and Luke vanishes. Rey turns to Kylo, who’s vital signs are dwindling to nothing.

In the netherworld, Kylo sits outside watching the sunset with Han and Leia. Luke appears before him. Kylo feels himself go cold, his left side going numb, becoming insubstantial. He looks fearfully at Luke. ‘Looks like someone really wants you back, kiddo.’ Han shakes him on the shoulder ‘Say Hi to Chewie and Rey for me, alright? Tell ‘em to take good care of the old girl!’ Leia gives her son a long look, nodding to him as if in acceptance of everything. Kylo vanishes.

Rey collapses beside Ben’s bed, her whole body bathed in sweat and trembling from exertion. Ben’s vitals are stable, his breathing deep and regular. He opens his eyes to see her gripping his remaining hand, her other hand on his chest. He opens his mouth. ‘Why?’ She gasps, short of breath. ‘Because the galaxy isn’t through with you yet, Ben.’ She collapses on the floor, asleep before Ben can utter another word. Threepio trundles in, deciding that he should at least greet his old friend. Ben looks at the droid as if with new eyes. ‘Hi Goldenrod’.

ACT II

The Resistance fleet, now bolstered by the presence of a First Order Star Destroyer, jumps into hyperspace en route to a nebula where they can coordinate their next moves. Finn has transferred back to the Tantive IX to inquire as to Kylo’s condition, but Kalonia informs him that both Rey and Kylo are resting, Kylo seeming to have made a full recovery. Finn hopes that Kylo’s awake when the fleet reaches the nebula, because they will need both Kylo and Rey’s help to convert the crew of their captured destroyer to the Resistance. They head to the bridge.

Rey awakens to a spirited conversation between Ben and Threepio. The droid is recounting the events which have transpired from his point of view since Ben left to train with Luke those years ago. He’s gotten to the part where he has translated the entire body of the Jedi Texts. Rey complains that she feels drained, and Ben echoes this sentiment. Rey remarks that this is reasonable since he basically died, but then realizes that her feelings portend something far more serious than simple tiredness. She tries to lift a medical instrument and fails. She tries again with the smallest object she can find, and still fails. Ben grabs her and holds her against himself as she begins to hyperventilate. Ben tells her to breathe, just breathe. Rey is calmed somewhat by this echo of Luke’s teaching, and he asks her where she learned of bringing people back from death. Threepio announces that it’s from the Jedi Texts, and he excitedly explains that he was just about to finish the story of the resurrection of the great sage by her student. Ben asks for him to finish the story, and Threepio recounts how the student is successful in reviving the sage but that both of them lose their abilities in the Force. Ben tries to lift an object with the Force at this revelation and predictably cannot. Threepio continues, saying that this event triggers a great schism within the students on the island. Most of them vow never to use this practice again, and these become the Jedi. However, a single student believes that this is but a step on the path to immortality, and is branded Sith by the others, meaning selfishness. With these final words, silence falls. The silence of a tomb.

Thrawn’s fleet hovers over Bacrana and the capital city Amma. A reconnaissance team returns to his ship from the crashed destroyer. He asks if they found Kylo Ren, and they inform him that they found pieces of the Supreme Leader. The officer proffers Kylo’s lightsaber, saying they don’t believe anyone could have survived the crash or those injuries. Thrawn advises not to jump to conclusions in the absence of a full body, however there is one other piece of evidence that could convince him. As if in response, an officer alerts Thrawn that Hux’s office has received an urgent communique from the Knights of Ren. They are requesting the presence of Supreme Leader Ren. This appears to be the evidence he has been waiting for. He tells the ships to prepare to leave the system, but first he orders all batteries to fire on the city. The commander is taken aback, saying that their men are still down there, But Thrawn says that they are doubtless contaminated by Resistance propaganda, which was why this planet was able to revolt in the first place. The turbolasers lance through the sky, the images captured by the small hyperspace relay floating in the garbage above the planet.