MASTER WINDU reconvenes the meeting of JEDI MASTERS.
MACE
We have received a request from the Senate to dispatch Jedi forces on all fronts. Republic soldiers and local militias are being overrun by the Separatist Clone Army.
KI-ADI
The time to act is now.
SHAAK
I agree.
MACE
Then it is settled. The Knights will be sent to the Republic border.
KI-ADI
It seems that Sifo-Dyas’ warnings have come to fruition.
MACE
We shall see. I will lead the Jedi Knights on Onderon and face Grievous.
MACE WINDU rises from his seat and makes his way towards the door.
SHAAK
Very well. May the Force be with you, Master Windu.
51 INT CORUSCANT – JEDI TEMPLE – CORRIDOR/DOCKING BAY – NIGHT
A SIREN sounds as the JEDI KNIGHTS run down the Temple corridors to the docking bay. They board dropships en masse. Dropships filled to capacity close their hangars and make the jump into HYPERSPACE.
52 INT CORUSCANT – GALACTIC SENATE
SUPREME CHANCELLOR PALPATINE calls an emergency meeting of the Senate. A RABBLE rouses. MAS AMEDDA calls the Senate to order.
MAS AMEDDA
Order! Order!
PALPATINE
I have called this emergency meeting to bring you some disturbing news. The Separatist clone armies are overwhelming Republic soldiers and local militias. It will not be long before these systems fall. The Jedi Knights have been dispatched to aid our soldiers on the battlefront, but the Jedi alone will not be enough to defend the Republic against the ever-growing Separatist threat. I have done all I can to counter this threat, but any further action on my part is limited by Republic law.
A RABBLE rouses again. SENATOR TARKIN rises.
TARKIN
I love and respect the law. It is designed to make our society thrive. But we must follow the spirit of the law, not the letter of the law if we are to survive. And the spirit of the law is that our society should thrive. Chancellor Palpatine is a wartime Chancellor. He has proven trustworthy and diligent in his responsibilities, and it is my firm belief that he can be trusted with more. I move that Chancellor Palpatine be granted Emergency Powers.
QUARREN SENATOR
I second this motion!
MAS AMEDDA
The motion has been seconded. This bill will be put to a vote.
The SENATORS cast their votes as PROBE DROIDS scurry around to collect and tabulate them. A PROBE DROID returns to MAS AMEDDA to inform him of the result.
MAS AMEDDA
The bill has been passed by a majority.
CHANCELLOR PALPATINE rises to give a speech.
PALPATINE
Thank you for the great amount of trust you have placed in me. I love democracy, but in times of war decisions need to be made swiftly. The power I have been given I will lay down once this crisis has abated…
The SENATORS rise to give the Chancellor a standing ovation.
PALPATINE
(continuing)
And with no further adieu, I move for the construction of a new Army for the Republic!
53 EXT/INT SPACE – SEPARATIST CRUISER – CONTROL TOWER
OBI-WAN KENOBI regains consciousness aboard a Separatist Cruiser. He looks down at his hands and realises that he is bound. DARTH TYRANUS stands before him.
OBI-WAN
You won’t get away with this, Darth!
TYRANUS
Ah, you have spirit…You could use it to fuel your power.
OBI-WAN
I will not turn.
TYRANUS
Ha ha ha ha ha! You Jedi are all the same. Slaves to your own Code. You had your chance, Master Kenobi, but no…you have to do it the hard way, don’t you?
TYRANUS uses the Force to torture Obi-wan, sending shockwaves through his body.
OBI-WAN
ARGH!!
TYRANUS
You could be free. If only you’d embrace your anger…Pathetic.
TYRANUS shakes his head in disappointment and walks away. He turns around at the last second and shocks him one last time.
OBI-WAN
ARGH!!
54 EXT/INT SPACE – REPUBLIC TRANSPORT – COCKPIT
ANAKIN approaches the cruiser in remote space. A group of SEPARATIST FIGHTERS patrol the vicinity of the cruiser. ANAKIN takes out the leader with his cannons, and the TWO WINGMEN double back to counter-attack. ANAKIN maximises shield output to the rear and brilliantly evades their cannon fire. The ENEMY FIGHTERS fire proton torpedoes at him. ANAKIN performs a barrel-roll, and then releases the garbage chute. The torpedoes lock onto the space garbage and EXPLODE. The WINGMEN stop and wait for the smoke to clear.
PILOT #1
(into comlink)
Did you get him?
PILOT #2
(into comlink)
Yeah, we got him.
The WINGMEN are about to turn around and fly back when ANAKIN comes flying back through the smoke towards them, firing rapidly upon them. PILOT #1 is taken out.
PILOT #1
(into comlink)
I’ve been hit!
ANAKIN then shoots down PILOT #2 and quickly flies the transport into the cruiser’s hangar.
55 INT SEPARATIST CRUISER – CONTROL TOWER
A SEPARATIST OFFICER marches up to DARTH TYRANUS and salutes him.
OFFICER
A hostile transport has boarded the cruiser, milord!
TYRANUS
Offer them no resistance. I will deal with this intrusion myself.
TYRANUS
Fûr’nas, Sen’djiari!
TWO of Tyranus’ followers, DARTH FÛR’NAS and DARTH SEN’DJIARI, come and kneel before their master.
FÛR’NAS/SEN’DJIARI
Yes, Lord Tyranus.
TYRANUS
Find the intruder and silence him!
FÛR’NAS/SEN’DJIARI
Yes, Master.
The DARK JEDI are about to leave when they realise their master has something else to say. DARTH TYRANUS turns back around.
TYRANUS
And do not underestimate him. The Force is strong with this one.
FÛR’NAS and SEN’DJIARI run down the corridor to find the intruder.
56 INT SEPARATIST CRUISER – MAIN HANGAR BAY/CORRIDOR
ANAKIN jumps down from his transport, cloaks himself and bolts down the corridor.
57 EXT ONDERON – PLAINS – SUNSET
The JEDI KNIGHTS on Onderon deflect barrages of blaster fire from SEPARATIST CLONE SOLDIERS, using the Force to push them over. A strong wind blows above the Jedi Knights. MACE WINDU turns around and looks up to see a SQUADRON of REPUBLIC DROPSHIPS hovering above the surface of Onderon. Their hangars open up, and cables lower down, as THOUSANDS upon THOUSANDS of REPUBLIC CLONE TROOPERS slide down. Reinforcements have arrived.
REPUBLIC SOLDIERS
(raising their blaster rifles in celebration)
For the Republic!
BEAST-RIDERS
(taking flight)
Al-la-la-la-la-la-la-la!
REPUBLIC SOLDIERS and native BEAST-RIDERS rally into battle once more. The tide has turned…
58 INT SEPARATIST CRUISER – CORRIDOR
ANAKIN stops, lowers his head, and ignites his lightsaber, as he senses the presence of DARTH FÛR’NAS and DARTH SEN’DJIARI. They too, ignite their lightsabers as they drop down from the ceiling. A frenetic melee ensues. ANAKIN holds his own against his opponents.
ANAKIN
(crossing blades with SEN’DJIARI)
What have you done with my Master?
SEN’DJIARI
He is being instructed in the true nature of the Force…
ANAKIN pushes SEN’DJIARI back with his lightsaber.
ANAKIN
He has nothing to learn from traitors like you.
FÛR’NAS stretches out his hand, using the Force to lift and choke Anakin. ANAKIN grips his throat with his other hand, desperately trying to counter its effects. SEN’DJIARI stands back and watches.
FÛR’NAS
You have much to learn, Jedi…Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.
Anakin’s eyes widen as his enemy laughs. Suddenly, ANAKIN throws his lightsaber like a boomerang, cutting his laughing opponent in half. SEN’DJIARI somersaults towards Skywalker, who is unarmed. At the last second, ANAKIN uses the Force to pull both lightsabers towards him and fights on. Finally, ANAKIN disarms his opponent, and without thought of remorse, beheads him with both lightsabers. ANAKIN continues running down the corridor.
59 INT SEPARATIST CRUISER – CONTROL TOWER
ANAKIN finds Obi-wan bound in the control tower of the Cruiser.
OBI-WAN
(struggling)
Run, Anakin! It’s a trap!
ANAKIN ignores Obi-wan and runs over to free him. He uses the Force to break the energy binders on Obi-wan’s hands and feet.
OBI-WAN
You shouldn’t have come.
ANAKIN
I had to. Here, take my lightsaber.
ANAKIN throws his lightsaber hilt to OBI-WAN. OBI-WAN is taken aback, then puzzled by Anakin’s abundance of lightsabers.
OBI-WAN
Okay…
OBI-WAN ignites the lightsaber and inspects it for a moment. DARTH TYRANUS laughs evilly as he enters the room.
TYRANUS
Young Skywalker! I see you disposed of my students. Impressive.
ANAKIN
You’re going to pay for all the Jedi you’ve killed.
ANAKIN ignites the Sith lightsaber.
TYRANUS
You shouldn’t have come. But it is no matter. Now I will have two new apprentices instead of one.
OBI-WAN
Don’t listen to his Sith lies!
ANAKIN
I’ll never join you!
TYRANUS
Jedi beliefs always have been self-destructive, but very well. I’ll have to kill you instead.
TYRANUS ignites his lightsaber. OBI-WAN and ANAKIN take on DARTH TYRANUS in a stunning lightsaber battle. TYRANUS holds his own against the two Jedi, ripping objects off the walls to hurl at them. ANAKIN swings his lightsaber at the foreign objects while OBI-WAN uses the Force to put them to rest. TYRANUS unbolts a platform above Obi-wan, which crumbles and falls.
ANAKIN
Obi-wan!
Obi-wan’s legs are trapped underneath the debris, but he manages to pass the lightsaber back to Anakin.
OBI-WAN
Anakin, here!
TYRANUS laughs mockingly again.
TYRANUS
Your master cannot save you now!
ANAKIN stands tall and lowers his lightsabers.
ANAKIN
Then I will defeat you alone.
TYRANUS stops laughing, somewhat shocked by Anakin’s response.
TYRANUS
Such arrogance! The downfall of every Jedi…
ANAKIN runs towards him and continues fighting furiously with dual lightsabers. He performs stunning feats of swordsmanship, but ultimately, Tyranus is his better. TYRANUS takes out Anakin’s Sith lightsaber, but ANAKIN keeps fighting.
TYRANUS
Is that all you can do?
ANAKIN
You’ll find I’m full of surprises.
ANAKIN uses the Force to throw his lightsaber at him and misses. Then he leaps at Tyranus, stretching out his hand. He tries to push him back with the Force, but TYRANUS flings Anakin into the wall. ANAKIN raises his arms, using the Force to pull objects off the wall and throw them at him at incredible speed. TYRANUS stops them in mid-air, and then sends them back at Anakin. Anakin’s body is pounded by a barrage of foreign objects. He falls to his knees.
TYRANUS
It is finished. Give in while you still can.
ANAKIN
(in between breaths)
Do not…underestimate me…for my ally is the Force!
ANAKIN musters up all the strength left in his body, uses the Force to pick up his lightsaber, ignites it, and rushes at his opponent. ANAKIN performs a furious flurry, but leaves himself open to attack. TYRANUS cuts Anakin’s hand off, and his body is thrown back, sliding across the floor.
ANAKIN
ARGH!!
ANAKIN holds his wound.