It’s taken me a little while to get my thoughts on a PT reboot in order. Here’s my vision of a remade Episode I:
A thousand years have passed since the Great Sith War. The Galactic Republic has fallen under the dominion of megacorporations and crime syndicates, which wage countless proxy wars with one another. The Jedi Knights — once decentralized, anarchist warrior-monks who served the peoples of the Republic irrespective of the state — have become a hierarchical police force answerable to the Senate and its corporate masters.
The Galactic Republic chancery election is underway. The two primary nominees are Finis Valorum, the incumbent supreme chancellor, and Ethril Palpatine, Senator of Alderaan. Palpatine is a youthful, androgynous man of stunning physical beauty, with platinum blond hair and intense yellow eyes. He is a populist candidate, quite vocal about his goal to reform the Senate and place sanctions on the megacorporations.
Alderaan is one of the few planets which has managed to remain autonomous from corporate control. It is inhabited by two races: Human colonists and the native Gunga. Though the Alderaanians and Gunga have managed to avoid armed conflict for centuries, they share a mutual contempt and distrust.
Sido-Dyas, the Dark Lord of the Sith, enlists the aid of Nute Gunray, viceroy of the Trade Federation, to obtain control of Alderaan. Sido-Dyas, garbed in white raiment, face hidden beneath a hooded cloak, voice mechanically distorted, is the last of the Sith; he has no apprentices. Gunray, along with his aide, Rune Haako, are tall, gaunt near-Humans.
Hiring the Mandalorian Death Watch, Gunray establishes a blockade around Alderaan, demanding the Royal House cede control of the system to the Trade Federation. When the Royal House fails to acquiesce, Gunray orders the Mandalorians to invade, intent on deposing the Royal House and installing their own puppet government.
Stationed on Alderaan when the Mandalorians invade are Obi-Wan Kenobi and Amidala Skywalker, the Jedi watchmen of the system. Obi-Wan, in a polyamorous relationship with Siri’s biological parents Anakin Skywalker and Siri Tachi, is the 14-year-old Amidala’s second father and instructor. As with most Jedi, they wear militaristic black uniforms and carry blue lightsabers.
Living on Alderaan is 13-year-old Darth Vader. He is the only child of the widowed Shmi Vader.
As the Mandalorians invade Theed, the Jedi flee with 9-year-old Prince Bail Organa and his bodyguards. The spaceport is captured before they can steal a ship, forcing them to make the long detour to Otoh Gunga to obtain help from the Gunga. Along the way they meet Darth, whose mother was murdered by the Mandalorians, and take him under their wing. Travelling together, Obi-Wan and Amidala grow aware of Darth’s strong connection to the Force. A friendship is kindled between Obi-Wan and Darth, and the seeds of something more between Darth and Amidala.
The Alderaanians and Jedi arrive in Otoh Gunga. Supplicating himself before Governor Nass, Bail earns the generosity of the Gunga; they give the Humans access to their fastest, most heavily shielded starship. Obi-Wan commands Amidala to take Bail and Darth and escape to the nearest friendly world, while he will remain behind to aid the Gunga when the Mandalorians finally attack their city. Darth adamantly refuses to leave; he will stay with Obi-Wan on Alderaan to do what he can. Amidala takes the ship into space, meeting the heavily armed Mandalorian warships orbiting. The small ship takes heavy damage, but Amidala’s unmatched skill enables her to evade annihilation and break the blockade.
Back on Coruscant, the counting of votes is finalized. Ethril Palpatine is sworn in as the new Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic.
The Mandalorian forces come upon the vast lake containing Otoh Gunga. In wait for them is the Gungan army. The two sides meet in battle. Though formidable, the Gunga are outnumbered and outgunned; they fall before the Mandalorians, leaving Otoh Gunga open to invasion.
Amidala makes it to Chandrila, where she meets with the Chandrillan leaders; they agree to dispatch their fleet to drive the Trade Federation from Alderaan.
The Mandalorians invade Otoh Gunga. Thousands of Gungan citizens are slain. The battle ends in a pyrrhic victory for the Gunga.
Engaged in battle with Death Watchmen, Obi-Wan is very nearly slain by the Mandalorians. This, in combination with anger over Shmi’s death, drives Darth into a berserker rage; empowered by the dark side, he slaughters each and every one of the Mandalorians, using undreamt-of telekinetic abilities to literally tear them limb from limb. Witness to this massacre, Obi-Wan is astonished and frightened by the boy’s raw power.
The fleet from Chandrila arrives. The Trade Federation is beaten back and driven off. Alderaan is free once again.
Several weeks later, Obi-Wan, Amidala, and Darth arrive on Coruscant. There they are greeted warmly by Anakin and Siri.
Obi-Wan takes Darth before the Jedi Council, seeking permission to train the boy as a Jedi. They test the boy, but decide further deliberation is in order before a final verdict can be given.
Later, Obi-Wan meets with the Jedi master Yoda in his private chambers. Obi-Wan tells the wizened master of Darth’s incredible feat with the Force and the deep rage which fueled it, of his fear at what may happen if the boy is left to his own devices. Yoda, sharing Obi-Wan’s trepidation, grants him his permission to train Darth.
After his induction into the Jedi Order, Darth is taken to meet Chancellor Palpatine. Quite friendly, Palpatine remarks he will watch Darth’s career with great interest.