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Episode IX: THE SHATTERED SWORD - DETAILED SUMMARY COMPLETE — Page 2

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I have decided to keep Threepio on the Destroyer, necessitating a slight change to a preceding scene. The story continues:

The voice gives them landing coordinates and as they approach the city, they see a throng of people already gathering in the landing area. Chewie growls and Rey responds that their reputation must have preceded them. Ben says that he will need a disguise, since it would be a bad idea to reveal that the Supreme Leader yet survives. There is a scramble as Rey and Ben rummage through the crates in the Falcon’s hold for any sort of costume.

The crowd clamors in the city square, chants in an alien language filling the air. As if making an entrance, the ramp remains in place until the chant grows into a deafening shout. Finally it lowers, revealing Rey flanked by Chewie and Ben. Ben wears a poncho and a training helmet with the blast shield down. Over his shoulder is slung Chewie’s bandolier and on his hips is one of Han’s belts and blasters. The crowd is silent, apparently waiting for some sign from Rey. She hesitates. She sees their eyes on Luke’s saber at her side, its pieces locked together but still quite useless. She takes it from her belt and raises it in what she hopes is an inspiring manner. This is all the crowd needs, and it bursts into cheers and a path opens to allow her passage. Rey asks Chewie to stay with the ship, and he nods, giving Rey a reassuring pat on the shoulder. He tries to do the same to Ben, but he is already following Rey through the crowd. R2 bumps Chewie as he trundles after the duo and Chewie roars at him in annoyance. He moans forlornly as his friends disappear from view, turning away and closing the ramp behind him.

As they make their way through the crowd, Rey remarks that Threepio should have come along so he could translate the alien language. Ben says that the meaning is pretty clear even with his inability to see. Rey notices that there are several words in basic, such as ‘Skywalker’ and ‘Jedi’. As they make their way through the crowd they are joined by a human dressed in official-appearing robes. He introduces himself as the mayor of this town and offers to guide them wherever they need to go. Rey asks where they should be headed for transport to the castle, and Ben says to look for the big skull, she can’t miss it. Rey finally takes in the architecture of the city, noting how many of the buildings have elements that look like massive bones. In the distance a red-painted skull juts above the surrounding buildings, small skiffs issuing from its open jaw. Ben stumbles, almost toppling Rey as he grabs her for support. Helpful hands from the crowd help him to his feet. Any companion of Rey is a friend of theirs. The mayor leads them to a rickshaw and they emerge from the throng.

You probably don’t recognize me because of the red arm.
Episode 9 Rewrite, The Starlight Project (Released!) and ANH Technicolor Project (Released!)

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As they turn a corner they see on a large stone an alien woman crying out and gesticulating to their rickshaw. She has a small following of her own. Rey asks what she is saying, and the mayor says that the woman leads the Church of the Force here, and is saying that Rey is proof of their feeling. Rey inquires further, and the mayor says that a feeling has swept the city recently of heightened awareness. Things are brighter, the sounds clearer, life fuller. The woman has foretold the coming of the Knights of Ren and a new master to lead them. Rey grips her saber as tightly as she smiles.

They arrive at the skull to find it only part of a building shaped as a coiled serpent. It is a colossal structure, stretching into the distance in either direction. Between the multitudes of ribs are doorways in which are docked skiffs and flying devices of a multitude of varieties and sizes. The mayor asks if he should be discussing the selection of their craft with Rey or with her companion, and Rey answers that her servant is sadly blind and mute. Ben nods pitifully. The mayor then suggests that he or an experienced pilot go with them on their journey to the castle, but Rey says that this will not be necessary, only that they want the fastest craft they have. He selects for them a small craft and refuses Rey’s attempt at payment. He bows away, saying that it was an honor to be in the presence of so powerful a Jedi Master.

The small craft, a repulsorlift platform with sails and a weighted water scoop on the front, is carried to the skull and they behold the vast sweep of a cliff wall upon which they are perched. A waterfall cascades from the lower jaw of the skull to the valley below, where it winds its way into the distance. The sun is setting behind the skull, tinging everything orange and red. Rey, Ben, and R2 pile into the craft and the water scoop is cast into the waters of the river. They are pulled above the surface of the water on a ten foot cushion of air to the precipice, and their momentum flings the craft out into the air. Rey fights with the rudder as they swerve and wobble their way towards the river below. Ben pulls up the blast shield to see what is happening. They come in too hot and the bottom of the skiff goes underneath the water before bobbing back into the air. R2 is rattled and Ben is soaked. He removes his helmet and sputters. Rey masters the controls and they lower the water scoop again into the water, to be drawn along at the river’s pace while the wind is low. Rey asks how long it will take to get to the castle and Ben responds that it will be morning of the next day before they arrive.

They coast in silence for a while, then Ben breaks the silence by saying that he can’t stop thinking about what the preacher said. He feels different as well, ever since Rey brought him back. Though for him it’s an absence, not a presence. The terrible destiny that he has felt all his life, the destiny which Luke and even Leia admitted in their moments of darkness, has gone. It has been replaced by this profound absence, and Ben feels like for him it’s a chance for a new start, away from the responsibility and curse of great power. Rey wishes she could feel as he does but all that she feels is deep inadequacy at the loss of her power, and more than anything a sense of guilt that she is deceiving the galaxy in being a false hope. She is placing all her hopes on the Knights of Ren to have answers, and a way to regain that which she lost just as the Jedi of old had to recover from the cataclysm of their sin. This last she says before realizing what she is implying, but Ben understands. He puts the helmet back on and lays down on the deck as if to sleep, pulling down the blast shield once again.

You probably don’t recognize me because of the red arm.
Episode 9 Rewrite, The Starlight Project (Released!) and ANH Technicolor Project (Released!)

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Xindo pulls a small tablet out of his suit pocket and plugs it into a computer terminal in an alcove of the destroyer. With a few taps he has accessed the security system and takes note of the life signs moving about the halls. He unplugs the device and moves down the hall, shifting into a side corridor a moment before a group of technicians turn the far corner. They talk amongst themselves, and Xindo overhears them expressing worry about the reconditioning process. One of them feels like it’s going well, but the other fears that they are headed for a Code Thirteen. Xindo frowns, hearing this unfamiliar term. They pass and he searches the ship schematics for the reconditioning facility. He moves toward the turbolift at the end of the hall.

The turbolift stops and the doors open on a wide hall. He waits in the corner until it is clear, then quickly strolls toward a maintenance tube. He craws through the cramped passage, keeping clear of the large bundle of wires and tubes to the left. Eventually he comes to a junction and turns left. There is a small hatch which he manually rotates open, peering out onto the reconditioning room. It is a vast space situated so far forward on the destroyer that the room tapers to a point at the end. There are no level floors, just gently sloping surfaces studded with reconditioning pods. A few of the pods display green lights on their monitors, but most of them fluctuate yellow and even as he looks one of them turns red and begins beeping. An officer directs a duo of Death Troopers to the disturbance and the pod opens to a hiss of steam. The trooper in the pod emerges shaking and shouting. He sees the approaching Death Troopers and tries to escape, but they quickly subdue him with stun weapons and drag his semi-naked body away with a pair of wrist restraints. The last thing Xindo sees of the trooper is his defiant expression as he is taken away.

You probably don’t recognize me because of the red arm.
Episode 9 Rewrite, The Starlight Project (Released!) and ANH Technicolor Project (Released!)

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Finn stares up at the ceiling from his bunk in the captain’s quarters of the destroyer. The ship is draped in darkness as the night shift goes about their quiet work. There is a beep at the door, and Finn shifts into a sitting position, rubbing his back, and tells the visitor to enter. Poe walks over to the seat near the bed and sits. Finn asks what the problem is, and Poe answers that he can’t sleep. He realizes that he’s keeping Finn up but Finn tells him that he wasn’t asleep. Poe says that he had that feeling before entering Finn’s room. He shifts to sit on the side of the bed with Finn. He says that he can’t get any sleep in his own quarters either. He still has nightmares from his other incident on a destroyer. Finn says that he understands all too well, and reflexively rubs his back again.

With the discussion turned to Ben, Finn wonders what he and Rey are up to. Finn responds that they are probably accomplishing all sorts of miracles in the Force together, what with the strength of their connection. Detecting perhaps some regret, Poe asks if Finn had a connection with Rey. Finn says sure, but then seeing the meaning reverses course and says that they are just friends. He shifts awkwardly, and Poe tries to cover with a jab about how well he gets along with Rose. Finn agrees, but says that he’s now her commanding officer and that wouldn’t be proper. He turns away. Poe says that he hopes Finn doesn’t view him as a commanding officer, at least not here. He places his hand on Finn’s exposed back. Finn turns slowly to look at Poe.

There is another beep at the door. Poe and Finn practically leap off the bed. The door opens to reveal Rose. Breathlessly she informs them of a communication from Arkanis. As her eyes adjust to the darkness, she sees the two of them clearly. She orders them to come quickly. Finn asks if that’s any way to talk to her captain, and she says ‘Oh, and put a shirt on…Captain.’

In the comms office adjoining the bridge, Rose plays back the message. It is an image of Xindo, clearly in the comms office of another destroyer. All three look at each other, with Finn and Poe saying as one ‘The Master Codebreaker!’ He informs them of the mission to recruit the Knights of Ren and the reconditioning effort on Kylo’s fleet. He tells finally of Code Thirteen. Finn is stricken. The message ends. Poe and Rose look to Finn and ask what Code Thirteen means. He takes a moment. Finally he says that it signifies a complete failure in crew programming. Rose says that clearly their sabotage was more successful than they thought. Poe pushes Finn to say the final piece, which he does. He says that all officers and crew of the fleet, over a million enlisted men and women, will be terminated.

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Episode 9 Rewrite, The Starlight Project (Released!) and ANH Technicolor Project (Released!)

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A roar echoes in the darkness of night. Rey starts awake. Their ship still sails on a cushion of air above the river, Ben sitting cross-legged in the bow and R2 at the stern. She asks what that roar was about, and Ben says that he doesn’t know. He is staring up at objects in the sky. As Rey follows his gaze she can see against the darkness the light of morning beginning to glow on the underside of a fleet of Star Destroyers hovering many miles above the forest. They have just arrived, Ben explains. She asks if they will obey the laws of the planet and Ben says that if they broke these laws there would probably be quite a light show, which he hasn’t seen. He says that they can only hope that the First Order will take their path, by which point they will be far away. Rey looks back, worried about Chewie on the Falcon alone.

They arrive at the end of the river where it opens into a large lake. On a hill abutting this lake is the castle, though it looks more like a tower with many spires made of stone and bone. The three suns strike the top of the tower even as they gaze upon it, and it glows starkly white. They move under one of the many buttresses supporting the cathedral-like structure of the lower tower, seeking the center of the structure. In the very center of the space is a looped chain affixed to a small platform. On one side of the space is a waterwheel. An axle connects the chain and wheel. The three assemble on the platform and release the catch, whereupon the power of the flowing water carries them slowly up the interior of the tower to the sound of a mechanical jingle and clank. Rey notes that these people sure are serious about their old-school solutions to problems.

Connix sits in the cockpit of the cloaked reconnaissance craft on the edge of the Arkanis system. Through her instruments she views the shipyards. They seem very quiet. BB-8 chirps worriedly from his socket, and Connix agrees that there doesn’t seem to be any presence from Thrawn’s fleet, only the remnants of Kylo’s fleet which show only flickers of activity from repair crews. The life signs on the ships correspond to the original crew size, most still in the forward section designated as reconditioning. She doesn’t trust it, but the sensors can’t be lying. She patches through to the Admiral.

On the bridge, Finn and Poe stand in full uniform ordering everything to be in readiness. The fleet is assembled in empty space close to the Arkanis system awaiting the reconnaissance. Connix’s image appears on the viewscreen and she reports the situation. Threepio translates BB-8 and says that by his estimate and based on the lack of military presence in the system, their plan has an eighty-seven percent chance of success. He cautions, however, that BB-8 has a bad feeling about it. Finn wasn’t aware that droids had feelings, and Threepio echoes BB-8’s sentiment, surprising everyone. Poe admits that this might be merely a ruse by Thrawn to draw them in, but states that they must act regardless, for the stakes are far too high.

He asks if Finn’s troops are assembled and Finn asks the question into a communicator. In the main hangar, a collection of troopers and officers stands ready to board the transports. He goes over the plan once more. Poe will go in with the fleet and take care of the light TIE defenders guarding the shipyards, then they will storm the operational center of the shipyards and lock down the destroyers from this central location. They shout in assent to Finn’s question and Finn gives the order for boarding. Poe suggests that Finn get to his transport if they are to capture an entire fleet, and Finn goes to the lift. Rose accompanies him. Finn asks why she would, and she responds that they have another chance to retrieve the Master Codebreaker, and this time they can get it right. Finn smiles at this half-jest and the doors close.

The Resistance Fleet jumps into Hyperspace.

As they reach midway up the tower, a large window coincides with the rising suns and almost blinds them in its brilliance. A stained-crystal artwork in the window splits the suns into a multitude of colors which wash over the three. They arrive finally in the underbelly of the castle keep. Moving through servant’s quarters and kitchens, they make their way to the convocation chamber at the highest level. As they walk through what looks to be a main hall, they hear the telltale whine of Kylo’s wide-winged shuttle. Death Troopers quickly file into the hall to secure the area, while armored royal guards file out in stately fashion. The three quickly rush into a side alcove which turns out to be little more than a disused closet. Inside they find a rusting droid long deactivated. R2 burbles in surprise, but Rey and Ben move to shush him as the Death Troopers approach their position. Ben readies his blaster and Rey grabs a broom handle as a makeshift quarterstaff. Ben looks askance at the weapon.

Suddenly the deactivated droid comes to life. R2 retracts his manipulation arm from the droid’s head, and the droid rises to its feet. R2 burbles excitedly and the Death Troopers converge on the closet, drawn by the noise. Ben and Rey are almost frantic, but just as the Death Troopers arrive R2 and the other droid exit the closet. The Troopers pull up their weapons and order the duo to identify themselves. The mystery droid pulls itself up to its full height, a lanky seven feet, and introduces itself as ZE-7, the sparring droid of Luke Skywalker’s New Jedi Order and more recently the misused and forgotten butler of the Knights of Ren. He also introduces R2 as his counterpart, essential in holographic demonstration of Jedi Masters and their training. The Troopers seem exasperated by this spiel and order the droids to lead them to the Knights of Ren. ZE-7 complies happily, saying that they will probably be waiting in the convocation chamber. The group moves away, allowing Rey and Ben a moment to find another way to the chamber. They locate a small spiral staircase that leads outside the tower and wrapping all the way to the chamber and beyond to the very spire of the tower.

You probably don’t recognize me because of the red arm.
Episode 9 Rewrite, The Starlight Project (Released!) and ANH Technicolor Project (Released!)

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Poe’s fleet appears almost within the ring of the shipyards of Arkanis, the Resistance ships already in a protective formation around the central Destroyer and Resistance squadrons deployed. Poe orders the TIE squadrons to launch with the transports and protect them on their mission. Red squadron happily complies. An officer on the bridge reports that the station is at red alert and their TIE defenders are launching from all points. Examining their formation, Poe allows himself a small sigh of relief. Finn’s voice comes onto the comm, asking what Poe thinks, and Poe responds that the TIE’s are launching from their standard ports which are far from the Destroyer’s location, and from what he can tell they are largely uncoordinated, evidence that Hux is in charge and is scrambling a hasty defense.

Finn’s transport group reaches the hangar below the administrative tower and Red squadron lays down fire on the shield generators. As the shields fail the TIE barrage continues into the hangar, peppering the ships of the wealthy financiers of the First Order. The transports land amid the wreckage as the doors of the hangar automatically close behind them. Even as they shut the transports open and waves of soldiers pour out with Finn and Rose in the lead, headed for the lifts and the control center of Arkanis.

You probably don’t recognize me because of the red arm.
Episode 9 Rewrite, The Starlight Project (Released!) and ANH Technicolor Project (Released!)

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What follows is quite a long scene, but hopefully it has action, adventure, and enough really wild things to be a froody time. Enjoy!

From their vantage point near the top of the tower, Rey and Ben look down into the convocation chamber. Below them twelve robed figures sit around a table which curves in a semicircular arc around the room. Death Troopers flank the door as royal guards file into the room, finally making way for Supreme Leader Armitage Hux, resplendent in a gold robe similar to the one worn by Supreme Leader Snoke. Ben shifts a bit of the crystal window so that they can hear what is said below. One of the knights demands to see Supreme Leader Ren, for they have a matter of supreme urgency to discuss with him, not Ren’s rabid lapdog. Hux sweeps back his cloak and activates Kylo’s saber hidden within. He announces that Kylo Ren is dead, and any urgent matter should be taken up with him, if any of the knights deign to follow him. The knights are silent, and he demands to know of this matter. The one which spoke before amends his statement to say that he spoke rashly, and the matter can wait.

Hux demands the loyalty of the knights as their new leader. Ben raises his blaster, aiming it at Hux’s breast. Rey puts her hand on the blaster and lowers it, shaking her head. Ben shrugs. He will do this her way. She asks which one of the knights knows the answers she seeks. He points to one on the far side of the table, a tall alien with bright green skin. Rey slips away from Ben. He whispers a question about what the plan is, and she says that she’s working on it.

In the chamber below, the knights state that their goal is the safekeeping of the people of the twelve systems, a goal which the First Order has respected under Snoke and Ren. Ben notices the design on the floor of twelve planets, each worked in colored tile under the seats of the knights connected by rays of a triple sun where Hux now stands. Ben has never seen the artwork from this angle before. The knights ask if Hux will safeguard these people. Hux says that the knights are in no position to be making demands of the Supreme Leader, especially since he has a fleet of ships ready to rain death on them at a moment’s notice. The knights become stoic and say that they will accept death if it means forestalling their people’s fate. They warn Hux that if he takes action against them he will be taking action against all those who yet believe in the power of the Force. As if to punctuate this, another distant roar echoes in the distance, and again Ben turns and searches for the source of the sound.

Rey hears the roar as well, but she is too busy at the moment to be bothered. She is making her way down the face of the tower by small handholds in the rock and protrusions from the bones. One of the handholds crumbles under her foot and sends shards clattering down one of the windows. The Death Troopers are alerted and return through the doors, heading for the spiral stair with which to search the exterior of the tower. Ben decides that it’s time to make himself scarce. Rey finally reaches the level of the knights, and in a final leap manages to make it to the green-skinned knight’s location. Now only a stained-crystal window separates them. She remains low so as not to be seen by the others, and takes a metal implement out of her satchel. The green-skinned knight hears a scratching noise behind her and turns, but sees nothing at first. Then she sees a crudely drawn symbol etched on the crystal. The knight turns back to the others. The knight beside of her looks to her in question, but she shakes her head as if it was nothing.

The Death Troopers make it to the roof but find no trace of Rey or Ben. The leader tells them to be on the alert. In the chamber, negotiations between Hux and the Knights are wrapping up. The knights agree to follow the Supreme Leader, and he promises to give their planets fair protection under his new regime if they will declare their loyalty in a public ceremony on Coruscant. They clearly don’t trust his words, but having little other choice they rise to follow him.

Rey is in whispered conversation with R2 and ZE-7 in an alcove outside of the convocation chambers. She asks ZE-7 if there are any spaceworthy ships in the castle and he says that when he was first the butler here there was one ship kept in case of emergencies, but that it hasn’t been used for decades. She asks where it is, and he says that it is in a small tower off of the main hall. Ben joins the group and she orders ZE-7 to stay with the guests until they reach the great hall. The other three move to the ship. They split up and not a moment too soon. The royal guards move out of the convocation chamber followed by Hux and the knights. The green-skinned knight is last, and ZE-7 sidles up beside her. She glances at him and she sees scratched onto his dusty patina the symbol from the window.

Rey and Ben lie on their backs beneath the decrepit ship, hastily crosslinking rusted connections. Ben mutters that it would be a miracle if this ship were actually spaceworthy. Rey tells him to shut up and give her the bonding tape. R2 beeps worriedly from inside the ship as he welds bits onto other bits.

As the company of knights marches into the main hall, ZE-7 mutters something to the green-skinned knight, and she speaks up to Hux that the counterpart of ZE-7 has wandered away and if she could go gather it before they leave. Hux motions two Death Troopers to commence a search, and the alien blurts out that it’s really no trouble for her to go instead, that it will just take a moment. Hux dismisses her, but the duo of Death Troopers fall in behind her. They all follow ZE-7 toward the side hangar. The knight looks worriedly at the butler droid and he holds down a button on his carapace.

In the ship R2 suddenly straightens, ceasing his welding, and rolls down the ramp past Ben and Rey. They look at him in confusion, then Rey scrambles out after him, hissing at Ben to finish the crosslinking.

As the alien, droid, and troopers emerge from the main tower onto the thin bridge of bone connecting the main tower to the side hangar, R2 emerges from the darkness of the small tower. The knight asks the butler droid what to do now, and he says that when he gives the word, she should run. A panel slides open on R2’s carapace and he stops. The Death Troopers ask why the droid has stopped, and ZE-7 gives the word. The knight takes off across the bridge, faster than seems physically possible for such a species. The Troopers raise their weapons, but even as one fires a shot R2 shoots something out of his dome and over the knight’s head. It lands in the hand of ZE-7 and he whirls his upper body over 180 degrees to face the Troopers, activating Luke’s saber in a brilliant flash of green. Two blaster muzzles fall useless at the trooper’s feet and they stumble back in shock. Rey stares from the tower at the sight of Luke’s sparring droid deftly driving the two troopers back towards the tower. The knight stumbles on the far side of the bridge and into Rey’s arms. She is bleeding from a blaster wound to her side. Rey helps the knight around the corner and into the ship, R2 following. Rey yells at R2 to begin the startup procedure, and Ben says that they need more time. Rey nods tersely and goes back out to the bridge, where she comes up short.

ZE-7 still holds the bridge, his metal feet planted on the center of the span and holding his arms in fencing readiness. On the balcony of the main tower stands Hux, surrounded by his royal guards, Death Troopers, and the other eleven knights. The Death Troopers have raised their blasters to fire on the droid, but seeing Rey Hux belays the order. ‘The girl who murdered Snoke’ he sneers. Rey takes out her lightsaber and makes as if to ignite it. Hux ignites Kylo’s saber in response. He orders the droid to move aside, as he will destroy this scavenger who dares steal a knight from his order. ZE-7 responds that it is not permitted in his programming for any person under his care to come to harm. Hux responds that he will simply cut his way through the droid first. The Death Troopers look uncertain, one even asks ‘Sir?’ with weapon raised to the exposed droid. Hux waves them back, taking off his golden robe. He clearly relishes a chance to use his skills. He announces that he will prove himself before the knights so that there will be no question of who is their master, Force or not.

Hux whirls in an explosion of energy at the fencing droid. The droid responds with machine precision, matching each thrust with a parry. However, the droid is inexorably forced back, finally stopping at the far side of the bridge where he holds the line. Hux swings expertly, slicing the lightsaber out of the droid’s hand. The lightsaber falls, but as it does ZE-7 catches it with his other hand. He is off balance, and Hux presses in. They switch places on the bridge, with Hux between Rey and ZE-7. Hux executes a lightning fast flurry of attacks, slicing off the droid’s other hand. The lightsaber flies across the span and rattles onto the balcony on the other side. He kicks ZE-7 in a final act of fury and the droid falls from the bridge to the forest far below. He is now exposed to Rey, however, and in an instant she has her hand around his sword hand, forcing it to his throat. Through sheer strength Hux begins to push her arm back, the barbs of the unstable saber inching back from his throat, and she slams the end of her saber into his side.

Hux smiles slowly. The significance of the saber placement is not lost on him, and he taunts Rey, saying that he always had his doubts whether she really did kill Snoke or whether it was actually Kylo Ren. But perhaps, he says, he was wrong. He goads her, telling her to do it and gain the title of Supreme Leader as she could have claimed before. Rey closes her eyes, muttering ‘please’ as she inches her thumb to the activation on the broken saber. With her forehead beading with sweat she finally pushes the activation.

Nothing happens. Her head droops in failure. Hux laughs, vindicated. He forces his arm free of her and slashes cruelly at her exposed body, scarring her face. She falls to the ground, beaten. Hux walks back across the bridge, picking up the green saber and placing it on his belt. He motions his troops forward to take Rey and her compatriots.

At that moment the quiet of the forest is broken by the hum of the ship’s systems as they roar to life. This is followed almost immediately by a more distant yet much louder roar, and the tower shakes and trembles. The troops look around in alarm as a giant beast emerges over the hills in the distance, its great wings beating the air like a hurricane. Rey stumbles and tries to get up, but falters. Ben rushes to her aid, picking her up and moving to carry her to the ship. For a moment, however, Hux sees the face of Ben shadowed in the dark opening of the tower. He squints, unsure of what he has just beheld. Ben pulls out his blaster, aiming it at Hux’s chest. Then he looks down at Rey, remembering her refusal to let him kill, lowering his blaster as Hux spins on his heel. The gravity of the situation becomes very real. The wind has picked up so much that the tower is shaking itself apart. The small tower begins to pull away from the castle, and the bridge breaks asunder.

In the rickety ship, warning lights flash along every console and sparks fly. Ben drops Rey beside the green knight and leaps to the controls with R2. The ship tilts and Rey asks if it’s due to bad repulsors, but Ben shouts that they haven’t taken off yet, the tower is falling. Rey sees that it is true through the front viewscreen as the horizon of the forest falls away to reveal the sky. The ship starts to slide back into the hangar, the sky becoming a hole as the hangar walls blot it out. Ben works the controls but they are unresponsive. The ship’s power dies. With his metal arm he slams the controls in frustration and they come back to life, and the ship’s engines ignite against the back wall of the hangar. They are propelled out of the falling tower like a bullet from a gun. Rey and the green knight are pinned against the back wall of the cabin as the ship rockets into the sky. The tower falls in pieces into the lake below.

Everything is shaking. Controls, seats, bulkheads. Rivets dance and pop from their sockets, the noise is immense. But the noise of the beast rises above it all as it gains in pursuit of the ship. Ben says that he now knows why they didn’t allow ships to fly above this forest, and Rey grimaces. Ben sees something ahead of them, and points it out to Rey, saying that Hux and his escort are ahead of them and making for the fleet. Rey says that they should get clear of the fleet as fast as possible, and Ben says that if they break away from Hux’s shadow they will be sitting ducks for the fleet’s turbolasers. Rey counters that they’re just going to make a bigger meal for the beast which is still gaining on them. As if to settle the argument, a barrage of green death strikes down around them, burning holes in the beast’s wings. It breaks off pursuit and glides back into the forest to lick its wounds.

They break free of the atmosphere. Hux’s ship moves on a beeline for one of the destroyers with Ben piloting close behind. The destroyers hang in space before them, and Ben wonders why they haven’t launched any TIE squadrons yet.

You probably don’t recognize me because of the red arm.
Episode 9 Rewrite, The Starlight Project (Released!) and ANH Technicolor Project (Released!)

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 (Edited)

Finn, Rose, and their team of commandos make their way down the final hall to the turbolifts, encountering only scattered blaster bolts from security hidden around corners. They gain the turbolifts and they divide into three companies to board the three lifts. Rose asks Finn where the rest of the security is, and Finn answers that it must be in the control tower above. He tells her to be ready for a firefight. The doors of Finn’s lift open and they rush out into an empty room. A voice, cold and imperious, fills the air. ‘Welcome to Arkanis, FN-2187’. They whirl around and see Thrawn on a balcony above the lifts. The other two lifts open and troopers pour out, surrounding the commando group. Finn’s communicator crackles as his other leaders report that their lifts are jammed. Thrawn tells them to throw down their weapons, and as if in encouragement two troopers arrive behind Thrawn with Xindo bound in cuffs. In the shadows behind Xindo is a woman petting a small furry creature. Finn throws down his blaster, a snarl on his face, and the rest of his group does likewise. Thrawn and Xindo walk down to the base level and Thrawn steps to the wide windows of the control center. He tells Finn that he would like the trooper to see this operation, as it will be instructive.

From his destroyer Poe monitors the approaching TIE defenders and barks orders at his squadrons. He recalls Red squadron to help mop up the threat, but just as he gives this order he sees that the TIEs are breaking off their attack and are circling around the Resistance fleet in a wide arc. Poe shouts that the TIEs are moving to block their escape and that this is a trap. He opens a channel to Finn and tells him to get back to the transports, but there is only static on the other end. The comm’s officer tells him that there is some sort of jamming signal coming from the control tower. At that moment Connix comes on the comm from her ship still on reconnaissance. She says that there’s a massive surge of activity from below the clouds of Arkanis, and Poe sees dozens of squadrons of TIE fighters, bombers, and interceptors emerge from the stormy planet to converge on his location, the full complement of fighters from Thrawn’s entire battle fleet. Poe orders his ships to attack the control tower to provide cover for Finn’s escape, and the fleet fires engines to engage.

The rickety ship continues following Hux’s shuttle towards the destroyers. Ben says that they will need perfect timing if they are to escape into hyperspace without being shot out of the stars, and tells R2 to plot a course to the nearest inhabited planet. R2 beeps tersely and begins his calculations. He signals that the course is laid in, and Ben counts down to hyperspace. As he punches the lever, the ship shudders and whines in protest, then all power fails. Ben shouts that they’re caught in a tractor beam. Rey asks where it could be coming from, and the bridge of a destroyer rises between them and Hux’s departing shuttle, hidden from their viewscreen and blind to them due to their nonresponsive sensors. Ben is frozen, defeated. They are caught.

Suddenly a flash of light leaps across the darkness before them to impact the shield array of the Destroyer. Then the space is filled with missiles striking their targets, mere gnats against the huge vessel but slowly wearing down the shields. A voice crackles on their radio. It’s the mayor of the city, announcing that they are trying to destroy the ship which was stolen from their sacred castle but that they are having difficulty with their targeting computers. Rey manages a pained smile.

Hux marches onto the bridge of his destroyer. One of Thrawn’s commanders asks if they should destroy the small ship which has followed them, but Hux is adamant that the crew be taken alive. He wants to be sure of what he saw on the tower. He does authorize use of force against the missile batteries assailing them, however.
The fleet opens fire on the planet below. The missile barrage ceases with only minimal damage to the destroyer.

The rickety ship is still being dragged towards the First Order vessel. Suddenly a growl explodes on the comm, and missiles from the Falcon impact on the bridge of the destroyer. Rey shouts ‘Chewie!’ as the Falcon flies past. The fleet redirects its fire to focus on the small freighter, and they land hit after expert hit. Ben tells Chewie to get out of there, life debt or not. Chewie roars a negative and continues his beeline to the bridge, blasting away with all he’s got.

Thrawn surveys Poe’s advancing fleet and says that this is a curious move. He has studied Poe’s military history and would have expected him to cut his losses in this situation. He looks to Finn, re-evaluating his importance.

Poe encounters the first wave of Thrawn’s ace pilots. The Interceptors engage Red and Black squadrons, breaking their formations and detonating ship after ship. Poe sees red marks splash across the viewscreen and clenches his fist. He orders the squadrons to pin the Interceptors between their capital ships in order to even the terms, but even as he orders it the battle changes as the basic TIEs enter the fray.

Thrawn shakes his head. He concedes that he expected better from Poe Dameron, but says that perhaps he makes a better pilot than a commander. He gives the comm to Finn, suggesting that perhaps he can get Poe to surrender before the entire Resistance fleet is gone. Finn takes it and opens the channel. He says that he is captured by Thrawn and the Grand Admiral wishes them to surrender. Poe shouts a negative, continuing his advance even as the TIE bombers begin their assault and begin to detonate the Resistance support ships.

The bridge crew looks to the captain as the Falcon approaches. They report shields are failing and say that the Falcon looks to be preparing to ram them. The captain orders an evacuation of the bridge.

Ben and Rey plead with Chewie to turn back, that their lives are not worth his sacrifice. But it is too late. The Falcon smashes into the bridge, blasting a gout of flame and debris out the back. The small ship breaks free of the tractor beam as the destroyer lists in a shattered pirouette. Through her tears, Rey sees the destruction. Twisted bits of metal, a quad-laser battery, the broken canopy of the Falcon cockpit floating in the burning space. Nothing could have survived. Ben fights the controls, bringing the ship into a space between two rapidly approaching destroyers, and slams the hyperdrive lever. The stars turn to starlines.

Finn stares helplessly as the Resistance fleet is ravaged by wave after wave of fighters. Poe recalls what’s left of his squadrons in preparation for surrender. Unnoticed by Thrawn or the troopers, Xindo works a slicer key into his cuffs and they click open. He slides a hidden blaster into his hand from his sleeve. Finn and Rose, standing on either side of Xindo, notice. Rose nods at Finn. Finn speaks quickly into the comm, relaying a series of coordinates to Poe. Poe sees that at these coordinates a hole has formed in the enemy formation, and orders the ship to jump to hyperspace through this gap.

Thrawn surveys the scene of devastation before him. Few of his ships are gone, while space is littered with the flaming hulks of the Resistance fleet. Thrawn turns to Finn. He commends Finn for his quick thinking and taking the best of a bad option. He says that in another life perhaps Finn could have risen far in the First Order, and it is a shame that it has to end this way. Finn says that it’s not over, and leaps away from Thrawn to make way for Xindo. The Master Codebreaker brings his weapon up in a blur of motion but Thrawn is quicker. His blaster cuts a smoking hole directly through the red Plom bloom before Xindo can open fire, and the man falls dead at the Grand Admiral’s feet.

Troopers come and take the body away. The woman approaches Finn and Rose, disgust on her face. She blames them for killing her son, and turning to leave, gives Rose an evil look. An officer reports to Thrawn that the devices he requested have been installed on all of Kylo’s ships, and hands him a small datapad. Thrawn considers this. He asks how many crews are in danger of a Code Thirteen, and the officer reports that none have yet cleared that benchmark. Thrawn nods as if expecting this, and says that the officer may commence the operation. Across the great arc of the shipyards, Kylo’s destroyers come to life. Engines fire in succession, and the ships loose their moorings. Thrawn views the operation, datapad in hand, as the ships go to hyperspace one by one, each in a different direction.

He tells Finn and Rose that they are lucky, as they will be alive to witness the final victory of the First Order and the end of the mystical Force. Finn and Rose stare at this pronouncement as Thrawn walks calmly to the turbolifts and the doors close behind him.

You probably don’t recognize me because of the red arm.
Episode 9 Rewrite, The Starlight Project (Released!) and ANH Technicolor Project (Released!)

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 (Edited)

If you couldn’t tell from the previous entry, we have well and truly entered the belly of the beast. Enjoy!

The rusted ship flies through hyperspace. Ben reports that they have just enough fuel left to make it to Tinis. Rey repeats this information to the green knight as she tends to her wound. She asks the knight’s name, she says it is Denya. Rey says that they will soon be able to get good help for her, but at that moment the ship falls out of hyperspace. Rey goes to the cockpit where she beholds that Tinis lies broken, the mantle of the planet seeping through great rents in the crust and out into space. They stare, and Ben asks what happened here. R2 burbles mournfully, and Rey says that this must be the doing of the First Order, or the Empire, or some evil war. It doesn’t really matter. R2’s maps of pirate space are decades out of date and the point is that they are out of fuel around a dead planet in pirate space.

Rey returns to the crew compartment and tries to apologize for leading Denya into such ruin, but she shakes her head and says that this was her choice. Her home of Higara is well worth dying for. Rey asks Denya what her home is like, and Denya responds that it is a lush, green planet of rolling hills and verdant fields where many things grow and seasons are mild. Rey says that she would like to see it someday. Denya says that if she doesn’t survive, its people will need a new protector. Rey admits that she has lost all her powers and can’t protect anyone, not even her. Denya says she knows, that this has been the fate of all the Knights of the Twelve Systems. She murmurs that the Force has prevailed even as she drifts into unconsciousness.

The ship drifts, life support failing, through the wastes of space.

You probably don’t recognize me because of the red arm.
Episode 9 Rewrite, The Starlight Project (Released!) and ANH Technicolor Project (Released!)

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 (Edited)

Perhaps below we will find the real answer to the loss of Rey and Kylo’s power. Enjoy!

ACT III

The spires of the Jedi Temple still reach into the Coruscant night sky, illumined by the lights of workers far below in the city square. From the council chamber Hux, flanked by his royal guards and the eleven knights, surveys the work taking place thousands of feet below. The doors open and Thrawn steps into the chamber. A group of darkened figures moves behind him, and Thrawn bids them wait. Hux shows Thrawn the preparations for the ceremony where the Knights of Ren officially pledge loyalty to him, observed by all the planets in the galaxy.

Thrawn asks why he was summoned and Hux relates his odd experience on Gramelon. He says that he could have sworn that for a moment he saw the face of one Kylo Ren, but surely Thrawn made sure that the supreme leader was dead. Thrawn says that nobody could have survived the injuries sustained by his ‘accident’, but more than this he knows of a simple test to prove that Kylo Ren is no more. He suggests that the knights demonstrate their mastery of the Force in a simple act, say, raising up this fruit. He holds up a small piece of fruit before him, and stands at the very center of the council chamber floor. Surely the great Knights of Ren…Hux…could do such a thing. Hux sneers in derision, saying that Thrawn insults them. Thrawn then says for him to humor his hunch. Hux rolls his eyes and asks one of the knights to do this. The knight says that such party tricks are beneath them, but Hux’s suspicion is raised and he orders them on pain of death to obey and activates Luke’s green saber in warning. The knight raises his hand toward the fruit and closes his eyes, but after a full ten seconds he lowers his hand. Hux demands to know the meaning of this, and Thrawn goes to the window, eating the fruit.

He says that during his long exile in the unknown reaches, defeated by a boy trained as a Jedi, he was consumed by the question of how the Jedi and their powers came to be. He says that records exist from before the time of the Jedi and no such powers are there documented. He found it curious that, on a galactic timescale, the Jedi and the Sith arose in opposition to each other at exactly the same time on a mysterious island on a lonely planet in the unknown regions of space. When he retook Coruscant he searched the bowels of this temple as well as the palace of the Sith Emperor and found that the first Jedi was secretly a Sith, who was excommunicated along with one of his followers. He says that the powers of the Jedi arose in response to the Sith, who took this mystical power by force.

Hux responds that the last Sith was Palpatine, who died thirty years ago. Thrawn counters that if this were so, the Force would have returned to balance and the Jedi would be no more. That the power of the Jedi remained was proof that the Sith remained. He says that the Sith have gained immortality of a kind through transferring their collective spirit into a willing apprentice, and this has continued unbroken for a thousand generations. Some believe that the apprentice must strike down the master in hatred, but it is merely enough that the master has a willing apprentice filled with the dark side into which their spirit can enter.

‘Snoke, a secret apprentice?’, Hux says, understanding. Thrawn nods, adding that when Snoke was murdered the power of the Sith went into Kylo Ren. Snoke believed that by cultivating a number of apprentices for Ren that the legacy of the Sith would endure even in the event of Ren’s death, but it is clear that these knights are true students of the Jedi. Noble, even. A knight intones the name of Luke Skywalker and how his order has achieved victory merely by remaining passive, which is the true spirit of the Jedi.

Hux grimaces in disgust. He rounds on Thrawn, accusing him of orchestrating the Supreme Leader’s demise to further his own ends. Thrawn points out that it has given Hux control of the galaxy and the most noble Knights therein. Thrawn affirms that Kylo Ren cannot possibly have survived because after a thousand generations the Force has finally returned to balance. It exists again only as an impersonal energy field beyond the reach and manipulation of mortals.

Hux seems to age many years in a single moment. He turns back to the window, judging again the lights and activity below. He grips the saber tightly, as if he will fly into a rage like Kylo Ren, then relaxes his grip and stands straight, turning to the knights and Thrawn. He declares that there will still be a ceremony, but the knights will demonstrate their impotence in the Force for all to see and upon the steps of the Jedi temple they will bequeath to the First Order all control of their planets and people. Hux asks if Thrawn’s ships are in position, and Thrawn says that by the time of the ceremony tomorrow they will be. Hux then declares that tomorrow will be the first day of this new galaxy, more momentous than he could ever have hoped for. He asks if Thrawn has brought the traitor FN-2187 as requested and Thrawn nods. The doors open again and Finn is brought into the room. Hux turns the saber onto Finn, saying how long he has waited to do this. He lowers the saber almost unwillingly, musing that Finn’s public execution is his only fitting end.

You probably don’t recognize me because of the red arm.
Episode 9 Rewrite, The Starlight Project (Released!) and ANH Technicolor Project (Released!)

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Thanks! I was kinda wondering if anyone at all was still reading it actually, but it’s nice to know you’re still here RL. 😃

I had edited the Thrawn scene yesterday to go the ‘Sith collective consciousness’ route instead of the ‘Skywalkers as Sith Legacy’ because the former feels more simple and in line with TROS, as well as having more potential for drama with Kylo and the knights. The death of the green knight has also been edited to more clearly reflect this.

Also, personal note for a future edit: Introduce ZE-7 when the Falcon first arrives at Gramelon as a guide to the castle.

You probably don’t recognize me because of the red arm.
Episode 9 Rewrite, The Starlight Project (Released!) and ANH Technicolor Project (Released!)

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 (Edited)

I have moved the Poe and BB-8 reunion down two scenes for structuring reasons. Otherwise things are unchanged.

The ship floats powerless in orbit around the desolate waste of Tinis. In the low oxygen of the lifeless ship Ben sits immobile beside the body of Denya. The light of a distant sun shining through the viewport and into the hold is all that illuminates them. From the cockpit R2 beeps sadly as he sends a pathetically weak distress signal into the void. His power source is the only thing powering the signal, and it’s fading.

Rey frantically digs through wires under the console beside R2, raging at her lack of any proper tools. Ben calls to Rey, tells her to conserve air. She shouts hoarsely back that they’ll die anyway if they can’t get the power back. Ben says that the fuel is gone, and there’s nothing else to be done. Rey cuts her hand on a panel trying to wrench it open and screams. She sits on the floor, blood oozing from her hand and from the unclosed wound on her forehead, struggling to draw breath. Ben says for her to just come into the hold and rest. She crawls past Denya’s corpse and onto the seat opposite Ben. She tells Ben that she’ll be back up in a minute, that she refuses to let them die here. Ben simply looks down at his father’s blaster on his lap, the only weapon they have left.

A battered Star Destroyer drifts in the blue and pink clouds of a nebula, its engines dead. From the socket of the reconnaissance ship, BB-8 whirrs and whistles as he takes in the battle damage. The ship docks in the back of the Destroyer’s bridge.

Repair crews shuffle through the halls, scuffing the floors with tubing and welding torches. Connix looks around the partially disassembled bridge and asks Threepio where Poe has gone. The droid points to Finn’s quarters but says that she may not want to enter. She goes anyway. Poe is sitting on the side of the bed, an unreadable expression on his face. She says that she has the final report of the battle. He doesn’t respond. She asks about the Falcon, and Poe answers tonelessly that its signal has been lost. Connix bows her head. She holds the report in her hands, and after a moment of hesitation she decides to place it on the desk next to the bed and leave. As she reaches the door BB-8 rolls into the room and leans his head against Poe’s legs. Connix closes the door on the pair and Poe completely breaks down, falling onto his knees and hugging BB-8 as if the droid is the last stable thing in the universe.

R2’s lights dim. He struggles to keep the signal on but he’s out of power. With a final whine he powers off and the last living part of the ship goes dark.

Rey shivers in the darkness, seeing R2 sitting dead. She and Ben are lying huddled together for warmth in the corner of the hold. Rey lifts her head, struggles to speak. She hoarsely utters the name ‘Leia’. Her eyes plead to the darkness around them. Ben opens his eyes, watching her levelly. She begs to Leia, to Luke, to anyone to listen. Ben finally speaks. He says it’s no use. A tear runs down Rey’s bloody face and she puts her head back down on the floor. Han’s blaster lies before them on the cold grating, a final and terrible choice.

Ben reaches out for it. Rey stays his hand. Ben chokes out that he shouldn’t be alive and doesn’t deserve to live regardless, after what he’s done. Rey should get the chance to live, for she is the hope of the galaxy. Rey can hardly speak. She finally whispers ‘Ben…you were right…’ Ben shakes his head. ‘No…the Force chose you.’ She turns to look at him. ‘The Force? It’s gone, Ben. It’s all gone. You ruled the galaxy, the knights of Ren, it’s your destiny to live. To survive.’ She pulls the blaster to her breast. ‘Chewie gave his life so you could live. You were right…I am nobody.’ They struggle with the blaster, Ben pleading with her not to do it, but she forces the handle out of Ben’s grasp and pulls the trigger.

Nothing happens. Ben smiles tiredly. ‘Safety’ he says, his thumb still on the side of the blaster. He wrenches it from her and it skitters across the floor to the other end of the compartment. ‘We’re even.’ Ben manages. Rey drops her head into his chest, heaving gasps which are less like sobs than a struggle for air.

They drift into unconsciousness. The compartment grows dark, a shape obscuring the distant sun. The small pirate vessel draws them into its docking bay in a clanking and grinding of metal. The hatch is forced open. Two pirates enter with pistols drawn, coming up short when they see the three bodies already on the floor. They look around, one announcing that there’s nothing here worth stealing with even the droid being over fifty years old. He suggests that they dump the whole ship for scrap. The other examines Kylo and says that this one is quite valuable owing to the bounty on his head. The first turns Rey’s face towards the light and asks whether they could get a price for this one as well, but the second pirate says she’s probably not worth saving, considering the scar.

Rey floats in the abyss of oblivion, images and sounds of her scavenger life gathering around her. Every abuse, every sleepless night seems to invade her mind. Helplessness, death, despair. She finds herself falling, finally landing on her side in the throne room of Snoke’s command ship. Ben stands there, looking as he did on the derelict ship. He turns, confused. He asks if this is a dream. Suddenly the voice of Snoke emanates from everywhere and nowhere, bidding him to join the Sith. The voice of Palpatine joins the two, entreating Ben to use his power. One after another, the Sith beckon to Ben, dozens, hundreds, a thousand. It rises to a deafening roar and Ben quails beneath the onslaught. Cloaked shapes converge on Ben, and Rey shouts at them to leave him alone. Their eyes turn to her as if beholding her for the first time. They move towards her. Rey turns in terror and begins to flee.

Rey comes to in the brig, bathed in sweat and shackled to Ben. The only other items in the cell are a couple of slicer keys and what looks like the remains of a hat. She shakes Ben into wakefulness and they take stock of their situation. Ben looks as haggard as Rey feels. They lock eyes, but quickly look away, remembering the dream.

They are both in irons. Ben says that based on the fact that they are in pirate space, this is most likely a pirate vessel on patrol. Rey deduces that it could be a Hutt ship based on the lingering smell of Gammorean on her clothing and the grimy nature of the cell. Rey goes to the bars and looks down the hall. Sure enough, one of the guards has remained. She yells at him to take them to the captain. He bangs on the bars in response to her shouts, grunting in a language Rey doesn’t understand.

A group of spikily clad figures approaches from down the hall, opening the door and dragging the prisoners out. She asks if they are going to see the captain, and a particularly spiky alien spokesman replies that they are, and that the so-called Supreme Leader will pay for his crimes. They are taken into a large hallway with many branching corridors and crew milling around and they see that this must be a massive pirate vessel.

The two prisoners are taken to the bridge where a panoramic view of a gas giant appears out of the viewscreen before them. In the center of this cavernous space a throne sits adorned with the bones of many alien and human victims. The throne faces away from them, but they are thrown down on the floor behind it. Ben asks what crimes the First Order has committed against these pirates, and the spokesman says that they are multitudinous. From ordering the harvest of innocent planets, slaughtering pilgrims of the Force, destroying and occupying the free worlds of the galaxy, and most importantly, of destroying the captain’s castle in an act of wanton barbarity. Ben looks confused, trying to recall when that might have been. Rey is quicker on the draw. ‘Maz!’ She almost shouts in relief. The chair swivels to reveal the wizened alien smiling wryly amid the carnage of her bloody decorations.

By Maz’s side is a fierce avian creature much like an oversized hawk, except with too many eyes. It stares the duo down and shrieks with displeasure. Maz pets it, and oddly enough it purrs. She motions them forward. She asks what her boyfriend is up to, and Rey starts ‘Chewie…’ She falls silent, unable to say it. Ben takes up her statement ‘He’s gone.’ Maz looks grieved. Rey says that he sacrificed himself to save Ben from the First Order. Maz says that she has known Chewbacca for over a hundred years and says that Ben must be special indeed to give his life. She says that this changes her pronouncement. Maz tells the duo to kneel before her, and they obey. She gazes levelly into Ben’s eyes, and then into Rey’s. She stands on the seat of the throne and bids the duo to follow her. The bird follows her first, and then the two prisoners. They make their way down the main hall and into the captain’s quarters.

You probably don’t recognize me because of the red arm.
Episode 9 Rewrite, The Starlight Project (Released!) and ANH Technicolor Project (Released!)

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Updated the previous entry to include a bit of scary dream. Let’s see what Maz has to say about all this:

They behold a room with a domed ceiling open to the stars. The gas giant and its moons hang above them. The room is richly furnished with the spoils of many plunderings and artifacts from across the galaxy. The bird flies to the domed ceiling where it perches on a realistically rendered metal sculpture of a fruit tree. The chest from Maz’s castle sits unobtrusively in a corner beside the bed clearly meant for a creature much larger than the current captain. A semicircular couch wraps around the lowered center of the room, and to this Maz goes to sit on a stack of pillows. She ushers them to the couch before her and they sit. She asks them if they would like refreshment and Rey shakes her head, but Ben nods that he’s actually quite thirsty. She rings a bell and a droid with three replacement limbs enters the room with a tray of drinks. Ben takes one and drains it without stopping. Maz sips daintily at hers. Rey asks what she will do with them. Maz lowers her drink, clearly not in a hurry to answer. Finally she speaks. ‘I have seen your eyes.’ She looks at both of them in turn, settling on Ben. She says that these eyes are not those of an evil man. She sees eyes that are changed, that see beyond this world. But, she cautions, she also sees the Sith. With this word Maz turns to Rey. Rey averts her eyes as if Maz were gazing into her soul. Ben frowns, looking to Rey as well.

Maz changes the subject somewhat. She says that she has felt what has been happening in the Force, this return to balance. She is reminded of such a time in her youth before the rise of the Jedi and the Sith. Rey stares. She asks how old Maz really is, and Maz demurs, tsk tsk’ing Rey for asking a woman her age. She continues that the Force has begun a return to balance after a thousand generations of the Sith, but this balance is not complete. She says that in Ben there remains a way for the spirit of the Sith to return. Ben says that perhaps it would be better if Rey had not brought him back, and Maz says that what’s done is done. There is a connection between the two of them, a symbiosis. What happens to one affects the other, the abilities of one become the abilities of both, and this can either be a terrible weakness or the greatest of strengths.

The serving droid enters the room again and informs Maz that the delegation has arrived. Maz says that this is the delegation from Higara. Rey makes as if to rise saying that she should be there, but Ben says that as the former master of the Knights of Ren he can give them a proper greeting. Maz agrees to this and Ben excuses himself.

With Ben gone, Maz focuses all her attention on Rey. She says that she sees true helplessness in Rey’s eyes and Rey breaks down before the wizened alien for the second time. Maz comes to the couch and sits beside her, laying a hand on her lap. Through her tears Rey says that Han, Luke, Leia, Denya, Chewie…they all died because of her. They all saw something in her that she no longer has. She has failed them. She has failed the galaxy. She pulls out the broken pieces of the saber, apologizing for breaking the heirloom that she gave to her. Maz says that the Force coming into balance is not to be mourned, but instead should be celebrated. Rey says that the victory of the First Order doesn’t feel like a victory at all. Maz informs her that Denya has survived. The group from Higara is simply here to take her home to recover.

Maz says that perhaps it’s time to tell Rey the story of Luke’s saber. She says that she’s always been able to find things thought lost, which is why Luke came to her before he founded his Jedi order. ‘He came to you?’ Rey asks. Maz nods, saying that she helped him find many artifacts of the Jedi through her centuries of contacts.

She says that Han Solo also helped her in the effort to find these artifacts. Based on a lead provided by an old friend, Han and Chewie went to investigate a family of scavengers who had found Luke’s saber on Bespin. They found the scavengers and eventually negotiated a price for the legendary weapon, but Han and Chewie had grown concerned at the treatment of the parent’s infant daughter. They were abusers in deep with unsavory people, and Han was so concerned for the child’s safety that they stayed for weeks trying to help the entire family. Eventually however, he realized that the family had no interest of changing their ways, and so was willing to let the man and his wife have the Falcon in exchange for the girl. They agreed, but at the last moment they absconded with ship, girl, money and saber, leaving Han and Chewie stranded. Solo tracked them to a man called Ducain, who said the parents pulled a similar con on him. After that the trail ran cold, and they went back emptyhanded. Chewie in particular was devastated by this loss.

Maz says that she tracked down the saber much later, after Luke’s new order had fallen apart, presumably sold to the highest bidder for drinking money. She was at first unsure that Rey was in fact the same girl from Bespin, and Han was adamant that this sort of luck just didn’t happen, but when the saber called out to Rey Maz was convinced, as was Leia when Maz told her. For, Maz reveals, it was the infant girl who found the saber on Bespin. Rey sits in amazement. She can’t believe that she knew Han and Chewie once upon a time, and Maz asks if Rey can understand Wookiee, a notoriously difficult language to simply pick up on one’s own. ‘Not a lot of Wookiees on Jakku’ she adds. She connects the two halves of the saber, saying that the saber is Rey’s by right. Maz continues that Han and Chewie didn’t die for the promise of Rey’s great power, but because of who she was as a person, a child who deserved better than what the galaxy had in store. Force or not, Rey always had family who cared for her, always searching the frequencies for the Falcon and the child.

You probably don’t recognize me because of the red arm.
Episode 9 Rewrite, The Starlight Project (Released!) and ANH Technicolor Project (Released!)

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 (Edited)

The delegation stands solemnly as Denya floats in a medical capsule onboard the consular ship from Higara. Arrayed in the main hangar stand the crew of Maz’s ship in whatever finery they have stolen. The delegation comes to stand before Rey. She goes on bended knee before them and they look bemused. The leader bids her rise, and she stands awkwardly before them. He asks what she will do, what with the rest of the twelve taken. She doesn’t know but vows to fight to her last breath for their planet and the galaxy. He informs her that the People of Higara are with her in this fight, and until the ceremony of succession the People of the Peaceful Twelve Systems are with Ben, but again she declines their aid. Ben looks at her quizzically. The leader bows and the delegation return to their vessel. Maz and Ben stand to either side of Rey, and Ben asks her what exactly they are planning to do, take up a life of piracy? Maz says that with their scars they both look the part already. She leaves to return to the bridge, dismissing the gathered crew.

Standing in the emptying hangar, Ben says that this is their last chance to take action against the First Order. Rey argues that she’s gotten enough people killed for her and if she faces the First Order it will be alone. Ben shakes his head. He says that she’s a damn fool if she thinks he isn’t going to be with her. The consular ship takes to the air and the heavy blast doors of the hangar groan as the mechanism engages to open them to space. Ben moves towards the opening doors and says that she is also a damn fool if she thinks the people of Higara are helpless. They may be peaceful, he says, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t prepared. The doors open fully to reveal the massed battle fleet of Higara, dozens of fighters and support craft flying alongside the pirate vessel in strict military formation. He says that each system is so prepared. Rey’s eyes grow wide and she takes off toward the bridge, yelling at Ben to follow. He asks what the deal is and she shouts back something about transmission coordinates.

On the battered destroyer, Poe sits on a pile of debris in the middle of his bridge with BB-8 at his side, examining the good dozen images before him. Connix is on one of the viewscreens, feeding them reconnaissance images from Coruscant. She relays that Thrawn’s command ship seems to be in orbit around Coruscant, supplemented by Kylo’s fleet of Renegade soldiers. Poe asks if she is sure the other ships are of Kylo’s fleet and she says that the life signs are still clustered in the reconditioning areas.

The other images are taken by their satellites around the rebellious worlds Kylo sought to quell. Lying in wait in the darkness around each one is a Star Destroyer, their markings indicating that they are the rest of Thrawn’s battle fleet. Poe says that with all their strength they might just have a chance against Coruscant. Connix notes that even if they manage to defeat Thrawn on Coruscant, the dozen rebel worlds will be at his mercy. Poe sinks into his pile of debris, consumed with despair.

Suddenly a shout goes up at a console. They are receiving a signal from pirate space near to Gramelon. Poe says to place it on the viewscreen where it obscures one of the previous images of a destroyer. It is the image of the leader of the Higarans. He says that his squadrons stand ready to aid the Resistance. Before Poe can respond there is another ping and another image obscures a destroyer, this time of the planet Y’janis of the twelve systems reporting in. Another transmission and another follow until the board is filled with their images awaiting Poe’s response. Finally one appears from the bridge of Maz’s ship and he sees a very out of breath Rey and Ben standing too close to the camera with Maz on her throne in the background. A cheer goes up from the destroyer’s bridge and Poe shouts joyously that they’re alive. He asks them where they are and if that’s a giant bird in the background, and they say that Maz has come through again. Poe orders tactical maps of Coruscant and the rebel systems and BB-8 projects them across the bridge. He orders his men to get to work on putting together a battle plan. The bridge becomes a flurry of activity while he approaches the image of Ben and Rey. He asks ‘Where’s Chewie?’ Rey responds ‘Where’s Finn?’

You probably don’t recognize me because of the red arm.
Episode 9 Rewrite, The Starlight Project (Released!) and ANH Technicolor Project (Released!)

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 (Edited)

Thrawn sits in the apartment office of Hux, holographic images of the Rebel worlds arrayed above the surface of his desk. Around each one is the image of a Star Destroyer. He zooms into one of the images and there is resolved a Resistance satellite in orbit. He marvels at the ingenuity of the Resistance operation to monitor these worlds while sabotaging Kylo’s battle fleet and commends Finn and Rose for their work. They sit before the desk. He goes on that the fruits of their long labor are about to be harvested, as these renegade ships are now delivered back to their worlds complete with their rebellious soldiers. All that the Resistance has accomplished is give the First Order a fleet full of hostages, which the Resistance falsely believes are part of Thrawn’s battle fleet.

He tells the duo that if the Resistance dares to interfere with the ceremony today that these hostages will be the first casualties they will incur. Rose says that the Resistance won’t throw their lives away on useless attacks, and Thrawn responds that they already did when they attacked the shipyards. He examines Rose’s medallion between his fingers, saying that it’s only half of a medallion from the Otomok system, a system blasted by the First Order. He knows that she, and many in the Resistance, are defined by those they’ve lost and would give their lives for even a chance of saving those they love. Finn bites back that Poe is smarter than that, and he will not only see through this deception, he will have a plan to save these crews. Thrawn says that he has given Poe a plan already, which he believes Poe will follow. Finn looks confused.

Thrawn seemingly changes the subject, pacing behind the table and musing about who will be sent to rescue Finn and Rose and the Knights of Ren. Surely they would send a few handpicked elites led by their champion in the Force, Rey. He half-turns, reconsidering. He says that perhaps this will not be so since their champion has lost all ability in the Force. Finn can’t help but look shocked, and Rose glances at him fearfully. It is too late. Thrawn smiles. He sees that this is news to Finn. He sees that if Rey didn’t deign to share this information with her closest friend, she would certainly not choose to share it with the rest of the Resistance. He thanks Finn for his help in this matter.

Finn demands to know what Rey’s abilities have to do with Thrawn’s little plan and the Grand Admiral responds that the Resistance is still caught up in the delusion of the Force. Those that cling to superstition and magic will see numerology as destiny, coincidence as fate. The Knights of the Twelve Systems will be lending their aid to the Resistance in their final hour, and with twelve rebellious planets at risk they will take the bait, dispersing these twelve fleets and shattering their strength before it is formed. These fleets may do the work of Thrawn for him, destroying the renegade soldiers in a devastating act of friendly fire. Furthermore, with the bulk of their strength wasted on these fronts, the Resistance will have only a single battered Star Destroyer and whatever squadrons they have managed to salvage with which to launch an attack on Thrawn’s entire battle fleet.

There is an alert from Hux telling Thrawn that they are bringing the Temple’s broadcast system online. He closes the holograms and moves to the door, Finn and Rose being taken by a squad of Death Troopers to their holding cells at the Temple. He says that he will eagerly await the final attack of the Resistance on board his ship, expressing sadness that he will not be present in Finn and Rose’s final moments. He returns the amulet to Rose, stating his sincere regret at her loss.

The interior of the Jedi Temple Archives has been turned into a massive communications hub, with satellite dishes and antennas welded to the graceful spires of the structure. People begin to gather on the colossal platform in front of the temple and to fill the stadium seats on the edges of the structure, ushered into place by legions of Stormtroopers in riot gear. At Hux’s command the generators rev into action and the broadcast system goes online, transmitting test signals to every civilized planet in the galaxy.

You probably don’t recognize me because of the red arm.
Episode 9 Rewrite, The Starlight Project (Released!) and ANH Technicolor Project (Released!)

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Time
 (Edited)

I had a lot of fun writing this section, since it’s a whole bundle of scenes full of Pirate Politics and Jawa Jedi. Enjoy!

Connix relays this latest development from Coruscant to Poe and Maz. Poe muses that they have the ships to challenge Thrawn, but if Hux goes through with the broadcast their attack will be in vain since he will have gained a propaganda victory even Palpatine never had; the First Order will have a Dark Jedi Order. They need to take control of the broadcast and transmit their own message to the galaxy. He asks Ben if he could do this, since he is still technically the Supreme Leader by right. Ben refuses to be known by this title any longer, instead saying Rey should do it. He says that he would rather aid in the attack on Thrawn. Poe asks why and he says it’s personal. Connix says that they will need some sort of master codebreaker to hack into the holonet relay at the Jedi Temple, and Poe says that it sounds like a job for a certain pirate captain.

From the bridge of the pirate vessel Maz announces the change of leadership. She is stepping down and promoting her first officer to captain so that she can accompany Rey on her mission. The crew loudly disagrees, saying that only trial by combat decides the leadership. Maz narrows her eyes, asking if anyone dares question her ability to deal death and they all shrink back. The first officer, a massive alien who looks like he has a skull for a head, takes the throne. Rey entreats the new captain to help them in their attack but the new captain glowers at them, saying that pirates do not fight for lost causes. He points to Ben, saying that they will take him as crew however. Ben merely turns away. Maz has already left for the hangar, and Ben and Rey follow.

In the lift with Rey and R2, Ben says that Rey should really tell Poe and the Resistance about their problem with the Force, but Rey says that she can’t, it’s all that is keeping the spark of hope alive in the galaxy. She tells R2 to keep an eye on Ben for her. Ben stares, saying that he’s with Rey to the end. She says that it’s too dangerous, especially with the danger of the Sith. She says for him to wait on the pirate ship until her return. R2 objects to being left behind, and Rey says that they don’t need a mechanic. R2 trills and Rey says that no, she doesn’t even need Jedi lessons from Yoda.

The lift opens onto the hangar and Rey rejoins Maz beside the rusty ship. Maz makes for it and Rey says that surely they aren’t going to take this marked ship to the Jedi Temple. Maz walks around it, saying that of course they aren’t taking it. She says that she has another ship which she captured and was holding for a friend, but now that the owner is no longer around she doesn’t feel too bad commandeering it. It’s Xindo’s ship, formerly stolen by DJ. Maz says that an upshot of this ship is that it’s already got code clearance for the First Order so they should have no problem infiltrating the planet.

Ben and R2 stand before the sea of stars watching the ship disappear into Hyperspace. Ben turns towards the rusted ship and opens the hatch. R2 follows, burbling a question. Ben sits in the pilot’s seat and says that he doesn’t speak droid. R2 plugs himself into the ship and scrolls some helpful text onto the screen. Ben says that he’s following Rey to Coruscant. R2 notes that the ship is marked, and furthermore doesn’t even know if this rust bucket can get them all the way to the core. Ben turns off the startup sequence and sits in silence. A voice seems to echo through the ship and Ben turns in his seat, asking who is there. R2 looks around confusedly. Ben searches the empty compartment with his eyes, seeing nothing. He storms out of the ship.

On the bridge, the captain is discussing their next move with his mates. They note that this period of unrest has turned many worlds into ripe targets, with rebellious worlds in particular devastated and defenseless. Just as they decide to set course for one of them Ben storms in. He asks to be made a member of the crew, and after sizing him up the captain consents. He tells him that there’s a spare bunk in the crew galley and a weapons locker he can choose from. The captain turns back to his mates to give the order for hyperspace when Ben challenges the captain to single combat. The captain turns slowly in his chair and stands to his full height, at least a head taller than Ben. He smiles, mates bringing forth a chest containing two swords seemingly made of metal and bone. They both take up a sword and the battle commences.

They activate the blades of the swords, blue energy crackling down the side of the bones. They circle each other, then in a swift flurry of action Ben attacks. The large alien is faster than he looks, parrying each blow. Ben becomes winded as the captain goes on the offensive, driving him up to the throne. A sound like laughter in a vast room fills Ben’s ears. Ben explodes with anger and rage, driving the captain back. The sword flies from his hand and it lands in Ben’s own hand. He crosses the swords before the captain, who has his head bowed. He hears a voice. ‘Why do you hesitate? Finish it!’ He obeys, decapitating the alien. The searches the crowd for the source of the voice, but no face matches that elderly rasp. He collapses onto the throne.

Ben makes his first pronouncement as captain. He says they will capture a new vessel for the pirates, a First Order Star Destroyer. He asks if there are any who will oppose him on this, raising his sword in menace. The first mate doffs his cap, saying that he is the captain.

Poe walks the hallways of the destroyer, officers handing him inventory lists and fuel calculations. Threepio reports that most of the guns are not functional and they lack the crew to man them anyway. Their fuel is almost gone, and supplies of any kind are running dangerously low since they haven’t had access to First Order supply lines.

A voice crackles on the radio, informing him of a transmission from Ben. He says to put it through down here. Ben reports on becoming captain of the pirates in exchange for a Star Destroyer. Poe says that they probably don’t want this one, since it’s about ready to fall apart. Poe says that they might be able to get a better one, and Ben says he has a bad feeling about their plan. Poe says that it’s almost like fate, these twelve fleets, and he says he has a good feeling about it. Ben says that this is why he mistrusts it. He says that whatever plan they have, Thrawn will have thought of it. The transmission ends.

Red leader joins them, saying that her squadron will be fighting exposed above Coruscant and won’t last long against Thrawn without cover. Poe looks out a window at the nebula, considering Ben’s misgivings. He sees the swirling gas beyond them and notes that it’s a shame they can’t bring some of it with them, since this is where they have trained. He stops and stares, as if an idea has just occurred to him. He snaps back into action, ordering everyone to main hangar for a new briefing, that there’s been a change of plan. Threepio and Red leader ask about the men making repairs and the flight crews but Poe just repeats ‘Everyone!’

Maz asks Rey to go over the plan one final time. Rey explains that they will infiltrate the Jedi Temple and they will free the Knights, Finn, and Rose. Together they will all take the broadcast center and hold it while Poe’s destroyer engages with Thrawn’s ship and the fleets of the twelve systems battle Thrawn’s fleet across the galaxy. While Poe is engaged with Thrawn, the last of their ground soldiers will board Kylo’s vessels over Coruscant and liberate the captive fleet. The battle should turn quickly with the recapture of this fleet and they will win Coruscant. The proximity indicator beeps.

Xindo’s ship falls out of Hyperspace above the ecumenopolis, sliding into a line of traffic entering the planet’s atmosphere. The voice on the comm asks for their clearance and Maz transmits DJ’s code. She is all self-confidence while Rey stares out the window at the sight of the city planet, wondering at how many trillions of people must live there. Maz says that she remembers when Coruscant still had green places, and Rey can’t imagine that.

As they get closer to the administrative sector of the planet, Rey sees the fleet of Star Destroyers massed in space. She notes how small they look next to the vastness of the planet and Maz says that this is the true scope of the First Order’s power; they need only be stronger than any with the will to oppose them.

They move into another line of traffic cutting closer to the temple, but Maz notes that it is being diverted long before they get near. A perimeter of First Order support ships and local police craft surrounds the temple complex. Rey says that there’s no way to get near the Temple now. Maz counters that they merely need to use the old roads.

Xindo’s mother stands in one of the temple spires overseeing the preparations down below. A flash of white catches her eye from the police perimeter, a familiar spaceship. She follows its progress as it descends beneath the building level on a beeline to the temple. She leaves the spire, suspicion etched on her features.

Maz takes the ship down between two massive apartment complexes, descending hundreds of stories to the older sections of the city. Here there are still checkpoints for the local traffic and Maz dives again. The sun seems to dim as they pass more industrial building fronts and areas that seem only partially lit by artificial light. Maz continues her descent. The sun disappears almost entirely and they turn on the exterior lights.

Around them lie massive empty shells of buildings riven through with the durasteel supports necessary to support thousands of levels of habitation above. Rust and dirt surround them, vehicles and trash from all eras lie scattered in mountainous heaps around the durasteel supports and through the gaps in these trash piles Rey can see that the true street level lies beyond her sight in the darkness below. Maz says that it certainly doesn’t look like she remembers, but Rey says that it feels like home. Dark figures scurry in the shadows, avoiding the ship’s light.

They pass into a vast durasteel shell of a building and Maz brings the ship to rest, saying they should be directly under the temple but they will need to climb thousands of stories to the top or find some smaller vehicle. Rey says she has plenty of experience with this. Maz warns that there will be no quick way of escape if their complicated plan doesn’t work, and Rey says that it must work.

They exit the ship wielding searchlights, Rey looking around for a way up. A shape moves in the beam of light, causing a clatter of metal around them. The two shift into a battle-ready stance back to back and move back toward the hatch. Rey asks what that could be, Maz says that it could be one of a thousand species from across the galaxy. There are more rustlings and clatters of metal in the darkness. Suddenly a burst of blue light blinds them and knocks them both out cold.

Rey comes to beside Maz. They are lying on the bed of a massive repulsorlift which also contains their ship. It is being pulled deeper into the vast structure. All around them are dim lights and flickers of movement, sparks and arc lights from welders glancing around the beams. A cloaked figure sits next to them, its ion blaster aimed menacingly at Rey’s heart. Maz gets up groggily, complaining about her head. ‘Jawas!’ She exclaims.

They reach a point where the industrial activity seems to stop. Before them is a set of steps made of scrap metal leading up to a doorway many stories high but clearly made by the creatures. The Jawa with the gun motions them off the repulsorlift and they follow it up the steps. As Rey looks back already they see the ship being stripped for parts. She shouts at them to knock it off but they ignore her. The gun-toting Jawa waves it menacingly at her again and she follows it into the great space.

Rey marvels at the space inside, for once appreciably illuminated. She says that the Jawas must be mimicking something, since they have never on Jakku shown a sense of architectural grandeur. Maz sees it first, and says ‘The Jedi Temple’. Indeed there are columns and buttresses and stained-glass windows made of plastic. The Jawas populating this temple also seem different, but she can’t at first identify why. Then she sees that below their ragged robes they are wearing what look like the cream-colored undergarments of the Jedi Knights, perhaps even the same ones only cut and ripped to size. Many also carry what look like lightsabers at their belts and in their hands, but crudely made of metal tubing.

They are taken up a turbolift into a tower within this structure, exiting out into a wide circular room in a rough imitation of the real Jedi council chambers. Sitting in plush vehicle seats and couch cushions are the most serene Jawas that Rey has ever seen. Their lightsabers look more convincing than the others, though Rey doubts that any of them actually work. Their leader, a Jawa even smaller than the rest, stands on his pillows and pronounces that there is a Jedi in their midst. Rey can understand enough Jawa to get by and plays along. She bows to the leader and thanks her fellow Jedi Masters for allowing them into their Temple. The Jawas seem to get a kick out of this, chittering screeching. Some even fall off their pillows. The leader says that she makes a good joke but they are clearly not Jedi. He shows her his cobbled-together lightsaber hilt, then throws it on the floor where it lands with a hollow clank. The others again roar with laughter. He says that a real Jedi doesn’t belong here, but rather belongs in the real Temple above. Rey replies that they must not get out much because there haven’t been Jedi in that temple for going on sixty years.

The demeanor of the Jawas becomes serious. The leader says that this is why Rey was brought before them. He says that for many power cycles the Jedi were the leaders of the big scrap heap, but now there are no Jedi. He says this is a problem for Jawas because without Jedi above to lead, the Jawdi below will not lead either. He says there’s talk that the Jedi are never coming back, especially now. This is a crisis for him. He asks if Rey is a Jedi, and if she will protect the Jawdi.

Rey takes the saber from her belt and breaks it, casting the pieces to the floor. The collected Jawdi stare. She says that she once believed that she was a Jedi, tasked with returning the galaxy to order, but now she is again nobody. She is merely a scavenger as they are. She has fallen, as have the Jedi. However, she says that the Jawdi might be able to help save the last of the Jedi Knights who are at this moment in the temple above. The Jawdi declare that they do not help, they merely replicate the existing order. Rey says in that case they had better redecorate down here. She says they can keep the saber, if they would but point them in the fastest way to the Jedi Temple basement.

Rose and Finn sit in the makeshift cell in the Jedi Temple awaiting the ceremony. Rose asks if Finn is afraid, and Finn says that he isn’t afraid of death. Rose says that it isn’t death she’s afraid of either, but of never getting to see the ones she loves ever again. She looks meaningfully at Finn and Finn draws her into a close embrace. He says that it’s been an honor to fight with her and says she taught him the value of his own life, something he wouldn’t trade for anything. Rose says she hopes that somehow Finn sees Rey again. Finn looks at Rose as if to confess something, but Rose continues that she could never measure up to Rey’s greatness and speculates that Rey could surely break them out of this prison single-handed without breaking a sweat.

The ventilation duct behind them swings open and Rey’s head appears, motioning at them to follow her.

Inside the maintenance room off the ventilation ducts the group is reunited. Finn asks how she managed their escape and she says she had a little help. He then asks about Rey’s scar and she introduces Rose to Maz. Rose says that they’ve met, sort of. Rey says the scar is from Hux, and Finn snarls in anger at that bastard. The wizened alien looks at Rose and Finn and tells Finn that she sees in his eyes a man who is far braver than the one she met those months ago in her castle, but even so there’s still something he fears. Rey looks at Finn, questioning. Before he can answer Rose remembers Thrawn’s plan and tells Rey that the fleet above them presents deadly peril for Poe. Rey looks stricken and Finn says that he has to warn him. Rey says that the only way to do that is by way of the communication center, but she has to free the knights first, and Finn’s commando unit. Finn says he doesn’t know where they are, and could still be on Thrawn’s ship. Rose says that they should split up, that she can help Maz and Finn can help Rey. Finn asks why he can’t help Maz with Rose helping Rey, and Rose looks at him as if trying to solve a trigonometry problem in her head. Light dawns and she laughs. She says for Finn to trust her, they will contact his boyfriend in time. Maz says they need to hurry. She and Rose take off for the comm center.

Rey and Finn stand in the hallway for a moment at a loss for what to do. Rey asks if Finn was really going to desert her for Poe and Finn starts to answer, but Rey interrupts him saying that this is a very important mission. He snaps back to the moment and they take off in the opposite direction to free the knights. Above them, sitting on the decorative molding of the temple hallway, sits the furry creature. It scurries off in pursuit of Maz and Rose.

You probably don’t recognize me because of the red arm.
Episode 9 Rewrite, The Starlight Project (Released!) and ANH Technicolor Project (Released!)

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 (Edited)

We are very near the end now, as we dive headfirst into the final battle. Enjoy!

Hux stands in the Jedi council chamber on the tallest spire, surrounded by a mass of technicians and equipment monitoring the gathering below. He asks about the weather, a tech says that it might rain later but for now the sky is clear and conditions are good for the ceremony. The mother of Xindo arrives and whispers something in his ear. He perks up, looking pleased. ‘Just as Thrawn predicted’ he says. He announces that it’s time to begin, exiting into the turbolift followed by his flanking Death Troopers.

Rey and Finn sneak down the hallways, avoiding patrols. In the final hallway there is a captain in full silver armor on patrol. Rey grabs a tall metal pipe from an exposed access panel and knocks him unconscious. Finn asks Rey if she knew that he and Poe were a thing and she says everyone in the Resistance suspected it, adding that Finn seems to be the last to know.

At the end of the hall is the room with the cells holding the Knights of the Twelve Systems. They are guarded by half a dozen officers and troopers. Finn says they need a distraction. He says a mind trick would have been nice here, or any Force powers at all. Rey asks why, and he says that to the First Order, this Temple is basically one of the most sinister places in the galaxy, and the troopers constantly talk about how many Jedi ghosts must still haunt it. Rey looks back at the unconscious trooper, and Finn seems to get the same idea. They go over to the trooper and start to remove his armor. Finn takes a pouch from the trooper’s belt and pours the powder into a small thermos of liquid. Rey asks what he’s doing, and he says it’s a concentrated energy drink. He pours the liquid back into the pouch.

Hux and his entourage exits the turbolift on the way to the cells. Rose and Maz quickly hide themselves in a corner as the group passes. Rose points a blaster at Hux, but Maz shakes her head. It’s not in the mission. The troopers pass and the duo make for the turbolift.

Finn, dressed in the captain’s armor, stumbles into the room screaming and clutching at his throat. The other troopers leap to attention, weapons drawn. He shouts that the spirits of the Jedi are attacking him and tries to flee through the opposite doorway but collapses on the floor. The officers look around unsure of what to do. The lights start to flicker and Finn gasps, grabbing at his throat and rising back up to his feet as if being dragged by an invisible form. Horrible crunching sounds emanate from around his throat and a red liquid starts to trickle down his armor from his neck. His helmet twists 180 degrees with a resounding crack and he falls to the floor in a mangled heap. The troopers flee the scene, as well as one of the officers. The other officer shouts at them to come back or be executed for disobedience. Then the lights go off completely. There are several metallic thwacks and when the lights come on the knights see Rey standing over the officer, metal pole in hand. She congratulates Finn on that performance and he bows, throwing his backwards helmet to the floor. Several of the knights even clap quietly, and one says that they should probably get going.

Maz and Rose exit the turbolift using a small hatch and make their way through the ventilation tube above the main room. Maz sees that there are too many troops to take on her own. Rose asks if they can hack the broadcast from where they are and Maz sees the jumble of cables hanging down from the ceiling right before them. She says it might be possible, and they keep moving through the ducts. The furry creature looks up from its perch on the woman’s shoulder. She pets it absently.

Finn says nervously that this seems almost too easy. Rey says that she’s blind without the Force and doesn’t know whether or not to have a bad feeling about it. Just then they turn a corner on the way to the spire and run directly into Hux and his troops. Rey swings her pole at the Death Trooper in front of her and knocks him senseless. The others quickly surround her and cast away her weapon. Troops from all directions converge on their location, trapping the entire group.

Hux crows that this is all as Thrawn predicted. He scans the group, wondering where Rose has gone. He orders some of his men to search the temple until she is found. He says that regardless of her disappearance, he is more than happy to have Rey as a replacement. The group move through the main hallway of the Jedi Temple and its many columns into the light beyond.

The crowd roars as they emerge into the sunlight. Before them is the vast arena that Hux’s people have built, supported by colossal pillars resting on the administrative buildings below. The steps of the temple lead right to the start of this arena, and ranged around the perimeter are the siege weapons of the First Order. AT-AT’s, AT-ST’s, anti-personnel speeders, and thousands of troops in armor wielding blasters. A cage near the front of the arena holds Finn’s commando unit. There are what look like two stockades at the top of the stairs, and two troopers on either side wielding axes.

Hux strides out onto the platform at the top of the stairs, flanked by four of his Death Troopers. He greets the crowd, people from all across the city massed in the arena, and announces that this is a momentous day for the First Order, the galaxy, and the Force.

In the crawlspace above the comm center Maz taps a line from the main hub, saying that she’s almost through. They hear noises below them, the scraping of equipment and the whirring of motors. The floor collapses under them and they fall to the ground in the middle of the comm center. Two troopers advance on them with blasters while the Techs gather uncertainly in a circle. Xindo’s mother enters the circle with her pet and she orders the troopers to keep them alive. She wants them to watch as their friends are executed below, just as her son was killed for treason. Rose makes an impassioned plea, saying that the First Order isn’t just trying to rule the galaxy but to destroy the Force itself. One of the techs, a young man perhaps just out of training, looks particularly concerned. Rose directs her words directly at the young people in the room and Xindo’s mother, who says that this is impossible.

Hux proclaims the Force has disappeared from the galaxy with the end of the Jedi and the Sith. The cameras broadcast this message to a thousand astonished worlds. Hux brings forth the Knights of the Twelve systems, demanding that they swear fealty to him and the First Order, and that henceforth their worlds and people will work for the glory of this new order.

Poe’s destroyer emerges from Hyperspace, Red squadron emerging from underneath in practiced efficiency. Thrawn stands at the bridge of his command ship, flanked by a dozen Star Destroyers in formation. An officer informs the Grand Admiral that he is being hailed. He accepts the hail, opening conversation. “I don’t expect you are calling to surrender, Admiral.” Poe’s voice comes through, quipping that he will accept Thrawn’s surrender. Thrawn politely declines. Poe responds that he then has no choice. Thrawn reminds him that if Poe dares attack then he will have no choice but to sacrifice the hostage crews of Kylo’s fleet arrayed around him. He asks if Poe is willing to have that blood on his hands. As if in response Poe’s destroyer starts its approach, accelerating to full speed.

On the steps of the Jedi Temple, the knights of the Twelve Systems decline to swear to Hux. The Supreme Leader bristles with anger as they announce that their worlds follow Rey and the Force, and they will fight to the last against those who commit atrocities in the name of preserving order. Hux brings Finn and Rey out to the stockades, asking if these are the traitors whom the Knights serve. They assent, and he locks them in the stockades. The executioners activate their axes in preparation but Hux says for them to put their weapons away, he will do it himself, first killing Finn, then Rey. He activates Kylo’s saber and stands over Finn. Finn asks Rey that if she manages to escape, to tell Poe…She agrees, not needing to hear the rest.

Thrawn pulls the datapad out of his vest pocket, activating it. He informs Poe that this is his last chance before he commits the crews to their deaths. Poe says that this is a sacrifice he is willing to make for freedom.

In the comm center, Maz glances at the time and shakes her head at Rose. They have to act now if they are to save a million souls. But they are helpless to do anything now, and Rose’s plea doesn’t convince Xindo’s mother. Maz’s timer zeroes out.

Hux raises Kylo’s weapon, saying that here ends the original stain on the purity of the First Order.

Thrawn says that Poe has again defied his expectations. He presses the fatal button on his datapad.

Hux swings the saber at Finn’s neck with all his fury.

Nothing happens. Finn’s neck sizzles where the blade has shorted out a millimeter from his flesh and bone. Hux stares at the smoking hilt, then around at the gathering. All around the arena the electronic equipment has shorted out, including the weapons of his soldiers. AT-ST’s settle down onto their legs as the crews scramble to figure out what has just happened, and soldiers everywhere fuss uselessly with their blasters and their drained power cores.

In the comm center a tech shouts that there has been a massive ionic surge from below the complex which has knocked out their communications and in fact all equipment in the vicinity of the temple. Xindo’s mother rushes over to the window and looks down, eyes wide as she beholds what is emerging from all sides of the arena. Massive insectoid machines are clawing their way onto the platform, cobbled together from rusted machinery of bygone eras. Magnetic grips and mechanical claws clamp onto the legs of the First Order siege equipment, dragging it to the ground. The crews of the machines leap and struggle free as their vehicles are dragged inexorably off the side of the arena down into the bottomless alleys of the city below.

Thrawn eyes the nonfunctional datapad, asking for an update on the situation below. An officer says that all interplanetary communication has been knocked out and they are having trouble getting any information from the Temple area. Their scans reveal a massive EMP. The officer says that there is another hail from Poe, which Thrawn says to allow. Poe asks what has happened to Thrawn’s hostages, that surely interplanetary communication wasn’t necessary for his plan. Poe continues that he’s glad that the Grand Admiral has called his personal crews off of their stations into the forward sections of the destroyers, since this will give him at least two minutes of time with which to rip his fleet to shreds. Thrawn orders the crews to return to their posts immediately, but at that moment the fleets of the twelve systems fall out of Hyperspace around Poe’s destroyer. The comms crackle with activity as the fleets pick their targets.

The steps of the Jedi Temple are a scene of madness. Hux orders his men to bring fresh weapons to bear, but even as they struggle to regain order a massive jointed contraption lumbers up the steps, Jawas emerging from orifices in the behemoth with ion cannons to stun any troopers who come near. The Jawdi emerge from the contraption with their cobbled lightsaber replicas and offer them to the Knights of the Twelve Systems. They activate these weapons and a metal wand shoots from each which begins to spin and generate a strong energy field. They are improvised sabers, but functional. The knights thank the Jawdi for their help and move to Rey. She is already free however, the electronic restraints falling away.

Hux casts Kylo’s nonfunctional saber down the steps and activates Luke’s green saber. Finn scrambles down toward the enclosure holding the commando unit but Hux is in pursuit. Finn shouts for Rey’s help and she reaches into her pouch, throwing something at him. He catches it, wondering what it is. He sees Kylo’s saber on the ground and realizes that it must be a new power cell. Hux strikes at him again and again with Luke’s saber but Finn launches himself from the steps and rolls across the pavement, snatching up the saber as he rolls. Slamming the new power cell in place, he gets up and slashes the padlock on the gate, releasing his men and women. Roaring with newfound hope they charge Hux and his men. The First Order troops retreat up the steps and into the shaded safety of the Temple, Finn’s forces hot on their heels.

Poe’s destroyer moves at ramming speed toward the Grand Admiral’s ship as the fleets target the rest of his fleet. An officer reports on Poe’s destroyer, saying that life readings indicate that their crew is massed near the back of the ship. Thrawn narrows his eyes, saying that they must have planned a suicidal ramming maneuver while the fleets deal with his other ships. Foolish, he says. He launches TIE Interceptors from his main hangar, the full complement of his entire fleet. He orders them to concentrate their fire on a line down the center of Poe’s destroyer. Poe orders Red squadron not to engage as the barrage of missiles and blaster bolts eats through the metal of the destroyer. The fighters curve away to prepare for another run and Thrawn unleashes his ship’s full firepower on this same line. Poe’s destroyer begins to crack apart like an egg, explosions rippling along the surface of the tear.

Poe orders all ships to evacuate the doomed destroyer. Fighters and transports lift off of the engines and crevices where they have been hiding in the aft of the destroyer and fall back. Gasses begin to escape and engulf the ship in a giant fireball as it splits completely apart. The gas within the ship expands and Thrawn sees that it is gas from the nebula which has been stored within every cubic inch of the ship. It now covers a large area of space and approaches Thrawn’s ship due to momentum, filled with the twisted remnants of Poe’s destroyer. Thrawn finds it interesting that Poe has seen through his deception and wonders how he could have been this well prepared. The comm crackles to life. It is Ben, who asks if Thrawn remembers him. An officer says that there is a large pirate vessel on an intercept course from below.

Poe announces phase two. His ships disappear inside the ersatz nebula as it intersects Thrawn’s ship and they begin to rake his vessel, taking out weapons emplacements and shield generators. Poe’s X-wing blasts a hole in the garbage collection doors and the landing vessels make their way inside. Thrawn orders all vents open to clear the nebula’s gasses from around the ship. Poe leads Red squadron in their circuit of the destroyer, fighting off TIE fighters so that the invasion can continue. The vents start making clearings in the gas and Poe flies through them followed by several TIE Intercepters closing fast. Red leader follows the Intercepters, saying she can’t get a clean shot. Poe orders her to fire on him, and when she questions this he says ‘Just do it!’. She does it, the blasters igniting the oxygen-rich air exiting the destroyer and detonating the Interceptors as they fly through the superheated cloud of gas.

Ben orders his first mate to pull the pirate ship alongside Thrawn’s vessel and open the docking bay doors. The ship enters the nebula and finds the side of Thrawn’s ship, the doors opening directly into the side of the destroyer. Ben goes to the embarkation point and leads his crew through the opening torn in the side of Thrawn’s ship. The pirates roar a motley battle cry as they invade the ship. R2 follows, unfazed by the blaster fire. Outside the nebula, the fleets of the Twelve systems engage the rest of Thrawn’s fleet which is only now returning to battle-ready status.

You probably don’t recognize me because of the red arm.
Episode 9 Rewrite, The Starlight Project (Released!) and ANH Technicolor Project (Released!)

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 (Edited)

I have changed a minor point above so that Rey and Finn subdue the new First Order captain in his silver armor.

Inside the Temple, Hux and his troops face off against Finn and his soldiers. Only the Death Troopers and a few of Finn’s soldiers have regained working blasters, the rest taking any piece of metal they can find to hand. Riot shields, construction poles, banners. Hux and his Death Troopers fall back from the rest of their troops, heading up a spiral staircase to the higher levels. Finn follows doggedly, the silver armor he wears deflecting any blaster shots his sword doesn’t parry.

In the arena, Rey leads the Knights into a defensive formation around the entrance to the Temple. The Jawa’s machine smokes in ruin, blocking much of the massive archway and forming a bottleneck for any assault. The Jawdi form a ring around Rey and the Knights, swords and stun weapons helping keep the assault in check. Rey asks the leader why the Jawas decided to help them. He replies that Hux’s words convinced him that Rey was telling the truth, that the Jedi had truly lost their power, and this would spell the end of the Jawdi as well. They are interrupted by the arrival of First Order reinforcements on the ground. They leap out of the transports wielding fully functional weapons and advance in formation on the beleaguered defenders. Other troops corral the crowds of people trying to escape the arena down its narrow ramps, ordering them to remain in the arena under pain of death.

Thrawn is issuing orders rapid-fire as the situation degenerates before his eyes. An officer reports hull breaches along the port equator and the waste disposal area under the bridge. Thrawn orders the bulk of his troops to the port equator and a smaller contingent to the compactor. He orders the area magnetically sealed and the compactors across the ship to cycle.

Inside the garbage pit, Resistance troops pour out of the transports and get to work on breaking through the inner door. Their blasters ricochet uselessly off of it and they bring the heavy equipment to bear. Threepio stands at the back of the transport with Doctor Kalonia and tells her that he believes it should be noted that he went on this mission despite the low survival rate. Kalonia rolls her eyes, telling him that he must be very brave. She asks if he will be leaving the transport and he says he feels quite safe here, thank you very much. The walls begin to close in and he revises that statement, exiting the transport with Kalonia.

At the Pirate Ship incursion point, the pirates are doing poorly against Thrawn’s troops except where Ben stands his ground. He moves forward, skewering troops to his left and blasting them to his right. The pirates form up around him and they act as a wedge moving through the ship. R2 moves with Ben and they pass a trash compactor which has been ripped halfway apart due to the decompression of the destroyer. The walls are moving in and R2 points this out to Ben with his retractable arm. Ben is too focused on killing to answer.

The walls continue to close on Threepio and the troops. Threepio points out that their transports are of excellent First Order manufacture and will undoubtedly withstand the force of the walls. As the walls encounter the ships they immediately buckle and break. Threepio starts, wondering how such poor manufacture could withstand the vacuum of space.

The nebula is beginning to clear from around Thrawn’s ship and he can now see the state of the battle. The fleets of the Twelve Systems have managed to take out one of Thrawn’s destroyers, but the others have formed two defensive rings with guns facing outward. The fleets try to fly into the circular area of low weapon coverage to target the ships’ engines, but wave after wave of TIE fighters follow them in like lines of a magnetic field.

Thrawn receives an update on the situation on the ground, that the First Order are requesting air support due to a subterranean menace which has moved to the surface. He suggests giving Poe another battle to worry about, and sends the TIE Interceptors to the arena.

Poe sees the Interceptors breaking off and is torn between helping the fleets of the Twelve and intervening in the ground battle. Both desperately need his help. Red squadron says that they will follow Poe down to the planet surface to deal with the Interceptors, but Poe says to wait. He mutters under his breath an apology to Finn, then says that he trusts Red squadron to take care of the Interceptors without him. He takes his remaining Resistance fighters to join the battle with the fleets and Red squadron peels away toward the planet. Poe asks for Connix’s help in giving them some plan for this battle. She says that BB-8 is preparing a plan and wants to be part of the attack. Connix says that she’s relying on the little droid to do the piloting since she’s not exactly a combat pilot. BB-8 chirps fiercely as her X-wing heads into battle.

Thrawn watches as Red squadron flies past his bridge on their way to the planet, smiling at this turn. Poe has become a commander worthy of his respect.

You probably don’t recognize me because of the red arm.
Episode 9 Rewrite, The Starlight Project (Released!) and ANH Technicolor Project (Released!)

Author
Time
 (Edited)

In this entry I chronicle the end of the battle. All that remains is the denouement. Enjoy!

Finn and Hux battle up the spiral staircase and onto the roof of the Temple, with just two Death Troopers remaining for Hux. They are on a narrow walkway along the front edge of the building, thirty stories from the ground. Below them Rey and the Knights hold off the ground assault. Although Hux has the edge in skill, Finn drives Hux back through raw fury. Hux manages to land a blow on Finn’s chest, burning through the armor and biting into flesh. Finn staggers back.

A swarm of TIE Interceptors converge on the temple, blasting apart the Jawa’s remaining machines. One Interceptor notices the Death Troopers on the wall who are calling for an evac for the Supreme leader, and it lands beside them. The pilot climbs out with blaster drawn and they all advance on Finn. Hux says that his escape route has arrived, and after he kills Finn he will rain death on this site from above. Hux drives Finn to the edge of the wall, their sabers locked. Suddenly the Interceptor explodes, throwing the pilot into Hux. Both sabers are knocked from the combatant’s hands. The pilot tumbles off the wall and Finn leaps free. Red leader rushes by in a scream of TIE fighter engines. Finn shouts with joy at the turnabout and the leader of Red squadron salutes Finn. The fighters fire at Hux and the Death Troopers, blasting the Troopers from the wall. Hux screams in rage and grabs Kylo’s saber, swinging it at the bolt aimed at him and sending it back at the fighter which detonates in a fiery explosion. Red squadron high tails it, pursued by over a dozen Interceptors, and Finn picks up Luke’s green saber. The combatants face each other again with the odds now even.

BB-8 sends his collected battle data to Connix. She notes that he’s sending over a huge amount of data, and BB-8 directs her to the relevant pieces. She forwards this to Poe and he immediately sees what needs to be done. He orders the fleets to congregate below the Destroyer rings and move into tight formation, hoping that this is the key to defeating Thrawn’s forces.

Thrawn notes their maneuver and orders his Destroyers into Vortex formation while his fighters go into Hunter formation. The two groups converge, Thrawn’s fighters staying in close formation while Poe’s confederacy of ships struggles to maintain any shape. The enemy fighters rip through Poe’s weak formation and circle around for another run. Connix’s ship is hit and she ejects toward the planet. BB-8 and the rest of the fighter disappears into a cloud of debris. Clearly outgunned, Poe orders their ships to regroup out of range.

In the halls of Thrawn’s destroyer, Ben and his crew are surrounded by Stormtroopers. The pirates drop their weapons and Ben is led up alone to the bridge. Thrawn welcomes Ben and asks how he survived his terrible accident, suggesting that perhaps the Force had some part to play. He says that the Force will not avail him this time. He asks if Ben would like to see the end of the Resistance.

From the comms Ben can hear Poe’s anguish as he attempts to form the fleets into formation against the overwhelming force of Thrawn’s attack group. This fails almost as quickly as it occurs and Poe orders all ships to break off and surround Thrawn’s vessel. Thrawn opens a channel to Poe and tells him in the interest of fair play that he has quelled the incursion. Poe says that he’s lying, but Ben speaks up saying it’s true. Poe is silent for a second or two, then orders the fleets to make their way to the Temple airspace for their last stand. Thrawn orders the ship to turn about to face the planet.

At the Temple entrance one of the Knights takes a blaster bolt to the chest, falling dead. Another bolt strikes the small Jawdi leader and he falls back into Rey as the troops advance. She cradles the dying creature. She asks why he would sacrifice so much for her. He pulls her lightsaber out of his cloak and returns it to her, saying that the Jawdi have never felt the Force…until this day. It is the first time he has ever believed in a thing rather than merely imitating the works of others. He believes that she truly can heal the crystal and create the Jedi anew.

In the compactor it’s getting unbearable. Threepio says that if only R2 were here he could save them.

In a corner near the compactor R2 extends his arm into a wall terminal. The walls stop moving and the door opens. With a cheer the Resistance fighters pile out and make their way to the bridge. Threepio meets the little droid and says that R2 cut this far too close, that he was almost smashed into who knows what.

There is fierce fighting in the halls. The Resistance troops fight their way to the bridge and order Thrawn’s men to drop their weapons. He tells them to comply. Ben orders Thrawn to call back his fighters and stand down his ships. He holds out his hands to take Thrawn’s datapad. The Grand Admiral turns to him, an impassive look on his face.

In the spire above the Temple, Rose and Maz stand uselessly by as the techs complete repairs to the shorted broadcast system. The techs look unsure of whether or not to re-establish the broadcast and Rose pleads with them not to do it, that millions of lives hang in the balance. The lead tech seems convinced, and the others in the room stand with him in solidarity against the mother of Xindo and her two troopers. She berates them for their treason and they inform her that the First Order is not what they were programmed to believe. ‘Fine’ spits the mother of Xindo, taking a blaster from one of the troops and shooting the tech in the leg. He stumbles and falls to the floor hard. Before anyone can stop her she leaps to the console and activates the system.

Thrawn notices that the datapad is working once more. He presses the fatal button on the datapad.

Across the galaxy, the hostage ships of Kylo’s fleet begin their descent towards the Rebel worlds.

Thrawn declares that he is a willing servant, both of the True Emperor and of any who will follow in his footsteps. He motions to his captain, two guns held to his head. Thrawn orders his fleet to wipe out the Resistance. The captain slams his fist onto the console before him, activating the engines in a predetermined burn. The acceleration knocks people to the deck. Thrawn pulls a blaster from his coat and shoots Ben in the chest. Ben falls to the ground. Thrawn escapes the bridge. Kalonia rushes to Ben’s side and turns him over, inspecting the blaster hole. Ben takes a sharp breath, asking what happened. Kalonia opens his shirt and sees that the blaster has only impacted on the metal stretching partway across his chest. She says that it’s a good thing he’s more machine now than man. Threepio walks unsteadily up and says that he always knew mechanicals were superior.

Thrawn’s fleet re-engages with Poe’s forces, grimly following the last orders of their Grand Admiral. The destroyers are now in a double ring where they can defend from all sides. Every attempt to attack the formation fails, and what is worse, many of Poe’s fighters are now trapped within the formation unable to escape. Poe asks for any suggestions as to how they will be able to break through, and a burble breaks the chatter. ‘BB-8!’ Poe shouts, ‘You’re alive!’ The little droid is still piloting the shell of the reconnaissance fighter despite heavy damage. A readout scrolls down Poe’s screen and Poe says that it’s suicide. A chirp later and Poe says that BB-8 is more than a droid. However, he agrees.

Poe orders the rest of their forces to concentrate fire on one of the destroyers, punching a hole through its armor just like Thrawn did with their destroyer. Poe stays with the droid as long as he can, saying that it’s too difficult even for his computer. BB-8 chirps that he must try, and Poe peels off at the last second. BB-8 flies into the hole, navigating the insane course through the interior of the damaged destroyer toward the volatile generators located aft in the engine rooms. The guns are ripped from the sides of the craft as he squeezes through a narrow corridor, finally emerging into the cavernous engine room. There’s nothing for it but to crash into the generator.

The ship erupts in a flash of brilliant light, knocking out the destroyers beside it in formation. Seeing the opening, the trapped fighters escape the formation. The acting Admiral calls for the ships to break formation and advance directly on Poe’s fleet. Poe realizes that they are still wildly outgunned.

From the console a Resistance fighter says that they can’t stop the ship’s engines, that it’s been pre-programmed to target the Temple area. Ben says that the same thing is happening across the galaxy and they will need to get that datapad. He moves in the direction of Thrawn’s escape, back to the small hangar behind the bridge.

At the Temple entrance, First Order troops have advanced almost to Rey’s position. Many of the Knights have fallen, and most of the Jawdi. Rey prepares for the end. Suddenly the blaster fire stops. She looks at the troops. They have received some communication and are rapidly pulling back. The remaining Knights ask what has happened, if they have won. There is an eerie silence across the arena as troops flee and the crowd looks around in confusion. One of the Knights finds a First Order headset and puts it on, then offers it to Rey. She stares up into the sky in horror.

In the hangar behind the bridge, all lighting has failed. Ben stumbles blindly around the space. Laughter emanates from elsewhere in space, filling his head. A voice says that he is paying the price for his lack of vision, and his help is available if he would use it. Ben shakes his head, finding the contours of a ship. He pulls himself into the cockpit and thumbs the startup sequence. Landing lights flash on, illuminating the space with ghostly shadows. He sees Thrawn in another fighter, also engaging the startup sequence. He revs the engine, the ship leaping from the deck and swerving drunkenly in the enclosed space. He fires weapons at the opening hatchway and it slams closed again. He detonates one ship after another and Thrawn swerves his own ship into firing position. He rakes Ben’s fighter with blaster shots and a wing falls off Ben’s ship. The contents of the hangar begin sliding toward the bridge as the destroyer enters the atmosphere. Ben fires as Thrawn’s ship slides towards him, blowing holes in the canopy and wings. Both ships smash into the wall and Ben struggles free, ripping the broken canopy off of Thrawn’s fighter. He lies unconscious in the seat with no trace of the datapad.

In space, Poe’s fleet is being torn apart by reckless attacks from Thrawn’s fleet. Suddenly his comm erupts with a roar. Poe asks what that was, and the roar comes again. A pilot says ‘Chewie!’ and Poe repeats it, unbelieving. An officer reports a massive group of old Rebellion fighters emerging from Hyperspace. The voice of Lando joins the roar of Chewie and says that the Lady Luck and her fleet offers their services to Admiral Poe Dameron of the Resistance. Cheers fill the comm traffic. Poe says that it’s most helpful, but they have another problem as well, a rogue Star Destroyer.

Ben returns to the bridge, a strange look in his eyes. He says that there is no way to stop the ship now. The Resistance fighters begin fleeing the bridge along with Thrawn’s men, seeking any escape pod still functional. R2 rolls toward the aft hangar where Ben emerged. Threepio asks if they are going to find an escape pod before they are blown to atoms, and R2 emits a flat negative. Threepio follows, saying that if Ben couldn’t find the datapad then surely R2 would have no better luck.

Kalonia shouts at Ben to follow them to an escape pod. He doesn’t answer. The voice in his head entreats him. ‘Use my power, it is the only way to save the ones you love.’ His eyes glow yellow and his fingertips crackle with eldritch power. The voice cackles with glee ‘The power of the Sith is yours, my son.’ A vast chorus of voices rises in his mind, a thousand generations of evil lending their power to him.

Rey gazes into the sky, feeling the presence of something she has not felt since…
‘Ben’ she whispers. Bits of gravel and waste shudder and rise around her. The dying Jawdi look to her in awe. ‘Ben, please don’t do this. Don’t go this way’ she whispers into the sky.

On the bridge, Ben rises to his feet even as everyone else slides down the tilting floor. Clouds rush past out the windows and heat starts to ripple on the surface of the ship.

Rey is with him, connected once again. ‘Ben, it’s time to let it go. The Jedi, the Sith, let it go.’

‘No. I won’t let you go. I can’t.’

Ben hears other voices join the throng. ‘Ben, it’s okay. You’ve done all you can. Let us help you.’ The voices of Luke and Leia are there, and echoes of other voices as well, other Jedi long dead. The voice of Anakin emerges. ‘Your love makes you stronger than the Sith. Defeat them.’

Poe orders the Lady Luck and many of the Rebellion bombers to follow Thrawn’s ship into the atmosphere. He says that almost everyone has evacuated and it needs to be destroyed before it crashes into the Temple and levels the whole district. Chewie barks a question and Lando echoes it, asking about Ben. Poe says he thinks Ben is still on board. Chewie roars with displeasure but Lando commits his vessels to the attack. Red squadron gets the message as well, and Red leader pulls away from their dogfight among the buildings to intercept the Destroyer. She says that the Temple will surely be destroyed even if the ship is in pieces, but Poe says that it’s better than the alternative.

In the aft hangar, R2 searches the pile of ruined ships for the datapad. Threepio follows him on the pile demanding that they get to an escape pod. R2 tells him to go himself and Threepio says he will not leave his friend. The ship shakes with their descent and Threepio loses his balance, falling into a dark corner of the pit. R2 rolls over to help. Threepio shouts that he sees the datapad. It is lying just out of reach further down in the rubble.

Finn strikes Hux down on the top of the wall, slicing through the hilt of Kylo’s saber. The pieces fall from Hux’s grasp over the wall. Even as he goes for the killing blow Finn pauses, something stirring within him. Hux tells him to finish it. ‘No’ He says. ‘This is the blade of Luke Skywalker.’ He deactivates it. ‘You’re not worth it.’ He walks to the staircase to be with Rey.

Rey says that it’s okay, she’s ready to let go. She offers Ben her hand, and finally Ben seems to come to himself again. He takes her hand and the Sith scream in anguish as the ghosts of the Jedi close in. A mystical wind fills the bridge, whipping everything into a maelstrom of energy. Light streams out of the windows of the bridge as if a star itself is being born inside, then as soon as it appears it is gone. A noise like a thousand tons of rock crashes through Ben’s consciousness, burying the Sith forever. Ben falls to his knees and is swept forward into a bulkhead.

Rey lowers her hand, their connection severed. Through a hole in the clouds above she can now see the small shape of the Destroyer as it falls toward the Temple.

From the top of the spire, Xindo’s mother stares at the doom now upon her. She tries to flee but Maz trips her, saying that perhaps she should stay since she was so insistent on these proceedings.

Rey stands alone on the steps of the temple, the Knights behind her in the entrance. A wind is blowing through the arena as the people try in vain to escape, but their cries are distant, the warning sirens blocked out by the wind and the distance of her mind.

Finn emerges from the entrance, runs to Rey, they embrace. They both turn to stare into the sky. Rey holds up her hand as if to block out the sun. It seems as if the destroyer could fit between her thumb and forefinger, it is so small. ‘The Force’ Finn says, feeling it in the air. ‘It’s always been there.’ Rey says, as if to herself. She turns her palm outward as if to push the ship away. Finn does the same. The surviving Jawdi walk up behind her, extending their hands as well. The Knights follow suit

The cameras broadcast their actions to the entire arena, and to planets across the galaxy. Those in the doomed crowd fall silent, one by one and then by the hundreds they raise their hands, palm outward, to stop the ship’s destined descent.

The Lady Luck and the bombers are alongside the destroyer, Lando saying they need to do this now if they are to succeed. Chewie roars in protest, but Lando overrules him. He orders the bombers to fire on the ship, and they line up their shot. They fire, but their missiles impact in front of the ship. Lando asks what’s wrong with their targeting computers and they say that the ship must be slowing down. Lando says that’s impossible, but sees for himself that it is true.

Threepio tries to reach the datapad, missing with each swipe of his arm. R2 burbles impatiently, finally rolling over the edge into the pit with Threepio. His weight crushes the golden droid further into the wreckage, breaking one of his arms and a leg. However, this works to bring Threepio close enough to grab the datapad.

The destroyer is visibly slowing as it descends toward the temple. Across the galaxy, the ships of Kylo’s fleet hurtle through the atmospheres of the Rebel worlds, slowing as those on the planets call upon the Force as their ally.

The panels of the destroyer buckle as if from an invisible hand, the ship now almost directly over the Temple complex. It slows to a crawl, bits of superheated metal rolling off its surface and bouncing on the pavement below. The bridge falls level with the spire of the Temple, and Rose can almost see through the cracked windows of the bridge itself.

Threepio raises the datapad with his remaining arm, and R2 extends his mandible and presses the shutoff for the engines. They flame out, as do the engines of Kylo’s fleet across the galaxy.

The destroyer comes to a stop. Rey and Finn stand with arms upraised. Rey can almost reach out and touch the surface of the destroyer, its steaming superheated metal is so close. Slowly, she lowers her arm. Finn, the Jawdi, the Knights, all follow, and the ship is lowered onto the cleared section of the arena, coming to rest slightly tilted on its side due to the geometry of its hull. Across the galaxy the result is the same – Star Destroyers resting peacefully amid cities and towns surrounded by the incredulous, the astonished, and the faithful.

There is silence. Rey holds out the pieces of her saber and they rise into the air, connecting to themselves and glowing with an inner light. With a clink of crystal the saber is healed. Rey reaches out and takes it from the air, grasping it with both hands. She ignites the blade and raises it above her head in a single fluid motion and across the galaxy the people roar and cheer in exuberance and vindication.

Ben is jolted awake at the sound of the roaring crowd and gazes around the shattered remains of the bridge. Thrawn is standing at a window, looking out in befuddlement. He turns to Ben. ‘How?’ he asks. Ben shrugs. ‘The Force’ he replies. Thrawn narrows his eyes at him. ‘The Force and its miserable legacy shall end here, Skywalker.’ In the blink of an eye he draws his blaster, this time aimed at Ben’s head. A single shot rings out in the enclosed space and Ben peers through the hole in Thrawn’s chest. He holsters his father’s blaster. ‘It’s Solo, actually’.

You probably don’t recognize me because of the red arm.
Episode 9 Rewrite, The Starlight Project (Released!) and ANH Technicolor Project (Released!)

Author
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This is it, the end. I hope it hasn’t been too long-winded. There has been one alteration: Denya, the Knight of the Twelve who had died, is now no longer dead but merely wounded. This means that Rey is not technically a Knight of the Twelve and so not a Jedi until the saber is remade. So, enjoy the rest of the story!

The Lady Luck lands near the destroyer, Lando and Chewie running down the exit ramp. Rey sees Chewie and can hardly believe her eyes. She races toward him and they collide in a pile of limbs and fur. Lando walks up to the pair from one side and Finn from the other. They shake hands, Finn introducing himself and Lando himself. Finn asks ‘Lando…the Rebellion General?’ Rey says ‘I thought you were a smuggler.’ Chewie throws his head back noncommittally. Lando laughs, saying that whatever they’ve heard about him is surely all a terrible lie. He looks at Rey, saying that they have some catching up to do.

A battle-scarred X-wing lands beside them, the canopy opening with a hiss. Poe leaps out and Finn disengages from the group to tackle the ace pilot. Poe says that it seems that Finn made captain while he was gone, pointing to the shiny armor. Finn seems to just now notice that it’s still on, and makes to remove it. Poe stops him, saying it looks good on him. Finn looks at him expectantly, Poe glances down. He says he has something he’s wanted to say to Finn for a long time, but he doesn’t know how it will go. Finn says he does too. ‘Yeah?’ Poe asks. ‘Yeah.’ Finn answers. What this information is they never discover since their mouths are suddenly otherwise occupied. Rose and Maz arrive, Rose supporting the young Technician with the wounded leg, and Rose spies the two. She starts to say how the galaxy is rising up against the remnants of the First Order but then sees how the two are otherwise engaged. The Tech asks if that’s Finn…THE Finn. Rose says that it is, and Finn started out just like him. She gives the Tech a meaningful look, and Maz whispers to the young man that he should run. Kalonia walks up to the group and together they head off to find a medical suite.

It begins to rain. All around the arena, people are celebrating and cheering and reuniting. Rey casts a line over the still steaming destroyer and climbs up to the bridge. Ben stands on the surface of the ship alone, drenched to the bone and looking out over the sea of people through the haze. She comes up to him and takes his hand. ‘It’s gone’ he says to her, through his tears. ‘The Sith are gone.’ He pulls her close and words fail them. Finally he speaks again. ‘I hope you don’t mind, I promised this ship to the pirates.’ Rey says she doesn’t mind at all, but says that scavengers will take it first.

Even as Kylo looks around, the machines of the Jawas are moving to the ship and unfastening sections of plating. He shrugs, saying that there are plenty more ships in the galaxy. Emerging out of a hatch some way back of Kylo R2 trundles toward them. Threepio emerges holding one of his own arms, shouting about R2 forgetting about him again.

Hux is escorted from the Temple complex, guarded by Rose and many Resistance troops. He shouts that he is still Supreme Leader and doesn’t deserve this kind of treatment when he sees Rey and Ben moving away from the Destroyer. He stares at Ben as if he’s seen a ghost as he’s unceremoniously dragged away.

Poe and Finn are discussing the battle under Poe’s X-wing. Finn asks about BB-8, saying that he and Connix must have a story to tell. Poe looks downcast, saying that BB-8 didn’t make it. Finn sits down heavily. A figure moves toward them out of the mist. It is Connix, battle-worn but unbeaten. The three of them stand together and Connix removes a string from around her neck. On the string is a simple data drive. She says it contains all of BB-8’s battle information. They thank her and she starts to move off. She turns and says that there might be something else on the drive that they may want to see.

A red BB unit sits immobile in the production bay. Poe inserts the data drive and the droid comes to life, lights flashing and audio channels testing. It focuses on Poe, dressed in Admiral finery, the iris of its mechanical eye opening wide. It explodes in a cascade of beeps and burbles, racing around Poe in a tight circle. It sees Finn, dressed in smart General attire with Luke’s green lightsaber at his belt, and does the same to him. The two comrades laugh and Poe says that they’d better hurry if they are going to make it to the ceremony.

The ancient temple lies in semi-ruin from Thrawn’s bombardment, but much of it still stands. Outside is the new flagship of the Republic, a vessel painted in bright colors and sporting the flags of many worlds. A Star Destroyer has landed beside it, heavily modified and covered with pirate insignia.

In the throne room the casket is lowered into the ground. The roof has been partially blown away, leaving the ancient structure open to the elements. Vines and flowers now grow between the flagstones and up the aged walls. The hall is filled with the members of the Resistance, Knights of the Twelve Systems, pirates, the Jawdi. Chewie lays a medal on top of the casket and covers it with an inscribed flagstone. The friends all gather around in a circle. Poe, Finn, Chewie, Rey, Rose, Maz, Threepio, R2, BB-8. They place their hands onto the flagstone one by one. Finally Ben places his hand upon the stone and the ceremony is complete.

The Jedi Temple remains, surrounded now by a large public park where the arena used to be. Gardens festoon the upper roofs of the temple and ships come and go from all corners of the galaxy.

Inside the Temple, a reconstructed ZE-7 shows a class of would-be Jedi the methods of Jedi dueling techniques with R2 providing helpful holographic instruction from Luke’s Jedi school. In the adjoining room, Threepio instructs other students on the history of the Jedi. He says that once the Jedi lived here in the temple but now they live as Jedi of old, as protectors of the planets throughout the galaxy. One student asks if it’s true that BB-8 became the first droid to be named a Jedi. Threepio says that indeed the little droid is now the official protector of Jakku. Another student laughs at the joke, but Threepio turns and says that nobody has contested this claim. Another student, one with a Resistance ring, asks where Rey is, if not Jakku. Threepio answers that she protects her home, of course.

Ben and Rey sit by the light of the dying fire, drowsing beside each other. Ben shakes himself, saying that he must get back to his ship. Rey asks if he really must and he replies that pirates can’t be trusted to not kill themselves. She tells him to liberate another world for her and he says he has a whole system in mind this time. They kiss goodbye with a ‘May the Force be with you’. He grins, replies ‘Always’. He leaps into his ship, the same rust bucket that they took from Gramelon, now modified to within an inch of its life. The ship rises through the trees and Rey takes off running. She leaps off a ledge and swings on a vine to a platform which takes her into the upper canopy. Racing along the branching paths above the ground she arrives at a large treehouse. Chewie emerges from inside, stretching and growling, followed by another Wookiee and two little ones. Rey hugs the furry beast and leaps onto the railing of the deck, igniting her saber as Ben’s ship flies off into Kashyyyk’s early morning sky. She gazes up to where the stars still shine as one takes off across the heavens and disappears into the endless sparkling sea.

FIN

You probably don’t recognize me because of the red arm.
Episode 9 Rewrite, The Starlight Project (Released!) and ANH Technicolor Project (Released!)

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So now that this summary is complete (is fifty pages a summary?) I now have a chance to go back through and really hone the story.

First up: Kylo being the vessel for the Sith was actually a later addition to the plot, so the first act would really need to give more substantial Sith haunting. I imagine that Kylo will continue to grow in power as the hold of the Sith becomes stronger, to the point where he feels like he can stop a Star Destroyer falling out of the sky. Rey will need to grow in power in Act 1 as well to match Kylo.

Second: The more I think about it, the more I feel that giving Rey any backstory of importance is fundamentally at odds with what makes her character compelling. So Maz’s lightsaber story will need to be cut or substantially changed.

Thrid: The final act is, I will admit, a bit of a mess. In attempting to give every character a meaningful conclusion the story jumps around too much and Rey is almost forgotten. I will need to give more thought to streamlining the final battle.

Those are my first thoughts at a second draft anyway.

You probably don’t recognize me because of the red arm.
Episode 9 Rewrite, The Starlight Project (Released!) and ANH Technicolor Project (Released!)

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I finished reading this when you posted the last part of the story, but I’ve been putting off my reply because there is so much to talk about! Wasn’t sure where to even start.

How do you feel about getting it all out? I know this has been bouncing around in your head for sometime.

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First of all, thanks for reading it all! I’m actually surprised you managed to keep up with my scatterbrained third act 😉

But it’s been great, really rewarding to finish a story and give some real closure to these characters. The work’s not done of course, I want to do a final novel-style version with quite a few changes, but even if this is what I saw onscreen in December I would have been quite happy.

The biggest issue I still have with the story is that Ben’s death and redemption has never felt quite right, especially in light of my later decision to have him be the vessel for the Sith spirit. If he were to die and the Sith with him, the Force should return to balance and the Sith should not return. However, being vanquished in the first act without Rey even knowing about them is a massive miss, so I brought them back in the final act. On a related note, if Ben were to die then Rey should lose her power before she could bring him back.

As you can see, although it’s an interesting and crucial set of scenes they are fraught with complication and contradiction. After a lot of thought I have an idea for fixing them though: The mission of the Resistance is to capture the Supreme Leader and win the war. When this goes wrong, Rey tries to save Kylo after his attempted assassination but she cannot as he is already too weak. She makes the decision to put him into some sort of carbon freeze while she goes to the Knights of Ren to plead for their help in reviving him. The doctors are horrified at this as carbon freeze will keep him suffering as he slowly dies, but Rey knows that if his power dies hers will as well. So it is done. Kylo can still commune with Rey through the Force while his body is in stasis, and over the course of act 2 their power will weaken until he finally ‘dies’ at the end of act 2. It is at this point that he has the reunion with the Force ghosts and the spirit of the Sith flees from his mind.

Rey awakens in a pirate brig, a sinister voice inside her head…

That’s one of the new ideas I’m playing with right now.

Other ideas include turning Gramelon from a primordial fantasy forest into a primordial fantasy hellscape to better match the look of the Knights of Ren in Rey’s TFA Force vision.

Speaking of the Knights of Ren, I plan to have her actually beseech the gathered knights in their castle before the arrival of Hux since the knights are definitely underwritten right now.

The Jedi texts disappear from the story after act 1, so that feels like it should be more important going forward.

Thrawn’s master plan is still not worthy of a military genius, but this is a good time to plan something better, though I don’t know what right now.

There are a good dozen other things but you get the idea 😃 What I’m really interested in knowing is what you think of it in its broad strokes. Is there some big aspect of plot or character that is off base for you? If you were to write an Episode 9, what would you have done? What is the one thing that you would have really liked to see happen in a Star Wars saga episode?

You probably don’t recognize me because of the red arm.
Episode 9 Rewrite, The Starlight Project (Released!) and ANH Technicolor Project (Released!)