EXT. PHOENIX - NIGHT
At the far end of the hanger, Obi-wan approaches the spice freighter known as THE PHONIEX. The ship is sleek and impressive in all respects. CAPTAIN CHORUS, the commanding officer approaches him. He is tall man, middle aged, well built and proud. He has tanned skin and a moustache.
OBI-WAN
Your ship looks impressive for a freighter.
CHORUS
Thanks, you must be Kenobi. I’m Captain Chorus. This is the Phoenix.
OBI-WAN
Yes I know, your manoeuvres at the battle of Ryloth are well documented
The captain gives a humble smile.
CHORUS
Greatly exaggerated, I assure you.
The two men turn and walk towards the ships landing ramp.
CHORUS
Captain Antilles has already brought over that damaged droid you requested. We can leave as soon as you like.
OBI-WAN
Thank you Captain, time is against us.
Obi-wan turns and enters the ship.
EXT. PLANET ALDERAAN - NIGHT
THE PHOENIX zooms away from ALDERAAN into space.
INT. PHOENIX NAVIGATION ROOM - NIGHT
Obi-wan enters the navigation room. It is dark except for many blinking lights and computer read outs.
Anakin is slumped in a chair nearby. He turns as he hears Obi-wan enter the room.
OBI-WAN
Oh, I’m sorry I didn’t mean to disturb you. I’m looking for the ships navigator.
ANAKIN
You're looking at him.
Obi-wan is a bit surprised, given Anakin’s age.
Anakin stands up to shake his hand.
ANAKIN
I’m Anakin.
OBI-WAN
Obi-wan Kenobi.
ANAKIN
I suppose you have some co-ordinates for me.
Obi-wan retrieves the tracking device from his cloak.
OBI-WAN
I’ve been tracking the movements of another ship with this.
He hands it to Anakin, who plugs the device into his computer. The two stand over the monitor, their faces illuminated by it.
OBI-WAN
I need you to chart a course that will allow us to intercept them before they reach this planet.
He points to the monitor.
ANAKIN
Tatooine?
OBI-WAN
Yes. Can it be done?
ANAKIN
I’ll figure something out.
EXT. SPACE - NIGHT
The Phoenix soars through space.
INT. PHOENIX NAVIGATION ROOM - NIGHT
Anakin punches a few keys on his computer then leans back in his chair, grinning with pride.
ANAKIN
There.
Obi-wan gets up from his chair and moves to join Anakin.
ANAKIN
It’ll be tight, but we’ll get there with a few minutes to spare.
OBI-WAN
Are you sure? You calculated that rather fast.
ANAKIN
Trust me, I’m never wrong about this stuff.
Obi-wan smiles.
OBI-WAN
You must be strong with the force. I’ve never seen anyone calculate navigation that quickly, much less someone your age.
Anakin smiles back knowingly, then leans forward to an intercom, to speak with Captain Corrus.
ANAKIN
All the co-ordinates are set Captain.
CORRUS
[VOICE OVER]
Alright, strap yourselves in.
EXT. SPACE - NIGHT
The ship zooms away into space.
INT. PHOENIX MESS HALL - NIGHT
Obi-wan sits in the cramped mess hall, which only has two tables, and sips some tea, lost in thought.
Anakin enters, a mischievous grin on his face.
ANAKIN
I’m not bothering you am I?
OBI-WAN
Not at all.
ANAKIN
I wanted to show you something.
He unrolls a piece of cloth, Obi-wan’s eyes widen as Anakin reveals its contents: a lightsaber.
ANAKIN
I’ve been working on it for a while now. It’s a Jedi laser sword.
Obi-wan is awestruck.
OBI-WAN
You constructed this yourself?
Anakin nods.
ANAKIN
Its not finished yet, I’m not sure why, but the crystal keeps overloading the plasma resonator.
He picks it up.
ANAKIN
Watch.
Obi-wan watches with amazement as Anakin activates his lightsaber. The blade glows a brilliant green. The hum growing louder and louder. The blade of light begins to crackle and destabilize. Sparks fly out of it, and electric current shoots off of the blade hitting the metallic tables and walls. The energy is growing more and more out of control, then its fizzles out, a few sparks fly from the handle and it goes silent.
Anakin looks down with dismay.
ANAKIN
I’m not sure what I’m doing wrong, It does that every time.
OBI-WAN
Well no wonder, you’re trying to make it far too powerful.
He chuckles, as he stands up. Anakin hands him the lightsaber and he begins to examine its inner workings.
OBI-WAN
Here…
Obi-wan’s excitement gets the better of him and he takes out his own lightsaber and ignites it.
The blade hums quietly as it cuts through the air, the blade glows blue, but does not overload like Anakin’s.
OBI-WAN
I’m only utilizing a fraction of the power you were attempting, yet my blade is balanced, stable, and more then adequate against any adversary I might face.
He swipes the saber through the air, he smiles then shuts it off. He picks up Anakin’s saber and makes some quick adjustments.
OBI-WAN
Still it’s remarkable that you were able to construct one at all. It’s an ancient technique that even many fully trained Jedi knights have difficulty mastering.
Anakin completes the modifications.
He hands it back to Anakin.
OBI-WAN
Here, try this instead.
Anakin holds out the saber, and activates it. It hums, blue and stable like Obi-wan’s.
Anakin waves it through the air grinning.
OBI-WAN
Less is often more. Sometimes too much strength is actually a weakness.
Suddenly Obi-wan gets an idea, and reaching into his bag retrieves a white spherical remote used for training Jedis.
OBI-WAN
Here. You can use this remote for practice if you like.
Anakin’s eyes light up as he takes the remote from Obi-wan.
ANAKIN
Thanks.
EXT. HYPERSPACE CORRIDOR - DAY
The SLAVE MASTER soars beyond space and time.
INT. SLAVEMASTER - DAY
Uzi approaches Jango.
JANGO
What is it?
UZI
We’ve detected a foreign device on our hull. It appears to be emitting a long-range signal.
Jango grits his teeth.
JANGO
A homing beacon.
UZI
Yes sir.
JANGO
Did you reverse the signal to its source?
UZI
Yes Colonel, they’ve tracked us from Alderaan, and it appears they’ll be waiting for us when we get to Tatooine.
Jango leans in close to Uzi.
JANGO
Engage the cloaking device.
UZI
Yes sir.
EXT. HYPERSPACE CORRIDOR - DAY
The Phoenix soars through the kaleidoscope of time and space.
INT. BRIDGE OF THE PHOENIX - DAY
Obi-wan enters the darkened bridge as Chorus turns in his captain’s chair to speak with him.
CHORUS
We’ll be coming up on Tatooine soon, thanks to our trusty navigator.
Obi-wan grins.
OBI-WAN
He’s a remarkable boy.
CHORUS
He is indeed. Skywalker has brought us great fortune.
At this Obi-wan goes pale.
OBI-WAN
Skywalker?
He steadies himself sitting down in a nearby chair, looking faint.
OBI-WAN
You say Anakin’s last name is Skywalker?
CORRUS
Yeah. Why, what’s wrong, you look like you’ve seen a ghost.
Chorus looks confused as Obi-wan shakes off his puzzlement.
OBI-WAN
Well there’s no such thing as ghosts.
(beat)
But sometimes the past does comeback to haunt us.
Obi-wan is lost in thought for a moment. As a signal sounds, Chorus turns in his chair and speaks to his first officer.
CHORUS
Prepare to drop out of hyperspace.
From the bridge window, the stars streak back to normal as the ship slows, the golden brown orb of Tatooine is in the distances.
EXT. SPACE - DAY
The Phoenix looms to