Obi-wan stands shackled and chained in the center of the dark circular room. The door opens and Assadi enters.
He eyes her angrily. Even with her true allegiance revealed she is as lovely and seductive as she was before.
ASSADI
Ah good you’re awake.
OBI-WAN
Assadi whatever master Grievous has told you it’s a lie. He is about to declare war on the republic.
ASSADI
You should know me better by now Obi-wan. General Grievous didn’t try to convince of anything, quite the opposite actually.
Obi-wan looks at Assadi with new eyes, seeing her the first time for the monster she truly is.
OBI-WAN
You set this plan in motion.
She smiles evilly.
ASSADI
Yes.
OBI-WAN
But why?
ASSADI
I have my reasons.
OBI-WAN
And the Mandalorian army, was that your idea as well?
ASSADI
They made ideal candidates for the cloning process. Humans would have been too difficult, after all nobody has ever cloned one successfully. General Grievous’ people on the other hand are not mammals, their race evolved out of insects, which made their genetic material far easier to replicate.
She smiles with pride at her machinations.
ASSADI
And they are a dying people, their entire race on the brink of extinction. Grievous may have served the Jedi order for many years, but he is a Mandalorian first and foremost. All I did was suggest a means for him to revitalize his culture, and he was quick to cast aside his loyalties to the Republic. Once we acquired the viceroy’s allegiance, we had all the means to make our war.
OBI-WAN
And to what end do you make this war?
ASSADI
As I said before, I have my reasons.
She turns to leave the chamber.
OBI-WAN
Assadi if you think by telling me all this you will turn me to your cause, then you’re wrong.
She turns to look at him, only her yellow eyes visible within the shadows of the arched doorway.
OBI-WAN
I will never join you.
ASSADI
It’s not you that I’m trying to turn.
And with that cryptic remark she turns and exits, leaving Obi-wan very confused.
EXT. ANNARASIS CLIFF FACE – DAY
Anakin walks along a ledge over the bubbling lake.
FIRST MANDALORIAN
Halt!
Anakin stops in his tracks, there are two Mandalorian soldiers behind him with their guns raised.
SECOND MANDALORIAN
Put down your weapons.
Suddenly the first soldier is shot from above, a yellow laser blast piercing his helmet on the left side. The second soldier turns to retaliate but is shot in the next and his body falls along side his comrades.
Anakin turns around, it is Boba who has shot the two menacing aliens, he points his pistol cautiously at Anakin.
BOBA
Who are you?
ANAKIN
My name is Anakin. Who are you?
BOBA
You can call me Boba.
The two young men stare at each other a bit uneasy.
All of a sudden Anakin’s eyes widen.
ANAKIN
Look out!
Boba drops to the ground as Anakin draws his blaster and fires. A third Mandalorian about fifty meters behind Boba is struck by the blast and falls over the ledge into the acid.
Boba stands up.
BOBA
I guess that makes us even.
Anakin looks around.
ANAKIN
I was looking for a way inside.
BOBA
There’s a door up there.
He points to the ledge he has been climbing up to.
INT. CORRIDOR – DAY
The rusty door opens and Anakin and Boba enter, both are now wearing the armour, cloaks and helmets of the dead Mandalorians over their close to conceal their identities.
They walk through the corridor passing several Mandalorian clones and a few Nemodian henchmen as well.
INT. UNDERGROUND COMPLEX – DAY
They enter a new room with several staircases leading in various directions.
Anakin overhears RUNE HAAKO the viceroy’s second in command talking to two clones.
RUNE
Where did they take the prisoner?
THIRD MANDALORIAN
He’s in the interrogation room on level three.
RUNE
Good. Proceed with his mind probe I want to know if there are more Jedi lurking about.
THIRD MANDALORIAN
Yes sir.
Anakin turns to follow the soldier up one of the staircases, but notices Boba is headed in another direction following Rune deeper into the complex.
BOBA
This is where you and I go our separate ways.
Anakin nods under his grey helmet, and watches as his mysterious ally disappears around a corner.
INT. INTEROGATION ROOM – DAY
The door opens and Obi-wan sees a Mandalorian guard in the archway.
Obi-wan glares at him, employing his mind trick yet again.
OBI-WAN
I think it should unlock these chains and binders right away.
THIRD MANDALORIAN
Nice try Jedi.
Obi-wan looks shocked.
THIRD MANDALORIAN
Didn’t you know that my species is immune to mind tricks?
OBI-WAN
Yes but it was worth a try, you are just a clone after all.
The clone guard draws a jagged knife from his belt and steps forward in anger, but before he can do Obi-wan any harm the luminescent blue blade of Anakin’s saber strikes the guard across his shoulder blades, and he falls to the ground dead.
Anakin steps into the room looking rather proud of himself.
OBI-WAN
Anakin? What are you doing here? I thought I told you to leave at sunrise.
ANAKIN
Would you rather I left you here?
OBI-WAN
No.
Anakin chuckles as he cuts Obi-wan loose, he rubs his sore wrists, nods towards Anakin’s lightsaber.
OBI-WAN
Given the circumstances I think it would be best if I borrowed that until we got out of here.
Anakin hands the saber to Obi-wan then picks up the blaster of the slain guard.
OBI-WAN
We have no time to lose, we must warn the senate before these fiends are able to set their plan in motion.
ANAKIN
Don’t worry we transmitted the message just like you said.
They walk towards the door to leave.
INT. HALLWAY – DAY
ANAKIN
Then I decided to come and rescue you.
As they walk out the doorway the two friends are stopped in their tracks as they see general Grievous standing at the other end of the hall, his lightsaber activated it glows a bring yellow. Behind him are over fifty of his clone soldiers.
Replies to Anakin coyly.
OBI-WAN
Good job.
Anakin raises his blaster and Obi-wan ignites the blue saber.
Grievous points his yellow blade at the two heroes.
GRIEVOUS
Kill them!
The clone battalion charges forward at Kenobi and Skywalker who quickly realize that retreat is their best option.
They run down the long corridor laser blasts flying past them.
Grievous watches the pursuit then turns down the hall the way he came, a second later he is approached by Assadi, Nute, Rune and Boba.
ASSADI
My liege I think you should hear this.
Boba steps forward, removing his helmet.
GRIEVOUS
Who is this?
RUNE
He says that Colonel Fett is here, and has rigged the fuel cells of our battleships with explosives.
NUTE
If this is true, then we must evacuate at once!
BOBA
That’ll just trigger the bombs. But for the right price I can give you the deactivation codes.
Grievous turns to Nute.
GRIEVOUS
We don’t have time for this. Pay him whatever he wants.
He points a threatening finger at Boba.
GRIEVOUS
But if I ever see you again…
BOBA
You won’t.
The mighty general eyes him for a moment, then turns to leave.
GRIEVOUS
Evacuate the troops to their ships. Our war begins today.
Assadi follows him down the corridor, leaving the two Nemodians who turn and look at Boba. Jango’s clone smiles with sinister satisfac