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Star Wars: Episode I - The Beginning (AKA DuracellEnergizer's Take On TPM) — Page 2

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INT. HYPERSPACE - AKKADIAN - CORRIDOR


Qui-Gon walks past Amidala’s sealed chambers, stopping as he hears muted sobbing from behind the door. The Padawan steps back, pressing a button at the side of the door, activating the intercom system.


QUI-GON : Amidala? Princess?

AMIDALA : (O.S.) Huh? What?

QUI-GON : Is there ... Can I help you with anything?

AMIDALA : (O.S.) No! Go away!


Qui-Gon takes his finger away, and prepares to leave before a rush of static comes through the speaker.


AMIDALA : (O.S.) No ... wait ... come in.


INT. HYPERSPACE - AKKADIAN - AMIDALA’S CHAMBERS


The chamber door swishes open and the Jedi steps inside. Amidala is seated on the floor beside the door, tears running down her face. Qui-Gon closes the door for privacy.


QUI-GON : I’m ... sorry for what I said earlier. You are going through a lot right now, and ... I was ... it was ...

AMIDALA : Never mind. Just forget about it.

QUI-GON : Maybe I ... maybe I should go.

AMIDALA : You wanted to help me, so help me.

QUI-GON : (crouching down beside Amidala) What can I do for you?

AMIDALA : Tell me ... will it always be like this?

QUI-GON : What?

AMIDALA : (angry) This pain! (calming down) The pain ... is it going to stay with me like this? Will ... will it always hurt like this?

QUI-GON : I ... I don’t know what to say. I’ve ... I’ve never had to feel what you feel ... I don’t know what it’s like to lose a family.

AMIDALA : Weren’t you taken from your parents, like all Jedi?

QUI-GON : Yes, but I was so young ... it was so long ago ... I wasn’t with them long enough to form any attachments.

AMIDALA : I see ... and I see there’s nothing you give me but empty platitudes.

QUI-GON : I haven’t -

AMIDALA : No, but you will. You Jedi like to pretend that you know everything, that you know the heart, that you know how it works and how to fix it ... heal it. All-wise, all-knowing philosopher-priests ... (angry) And you don’t know anything! You shut yourselves away in your temples and your academies, away from all human contact, away from all human emotion ... (cont’d) What is it that you can do for me, Jedi? How can you ease my pain when you’ve never felt any of your own?

QUI-GON : I ... I ... I can’t. Force help me, but I can’t.

AMIDALA : No, you can’t ... but maybe you can learn.

QUI-GON : (grinning slightly) Can I? A Jedi?

AMIDALA : With some help ...


Amidala reaches out to Qui-Gon, and pulls him to her. Digging her nails into his back she buries her face into his chest, and begins to sob heavily. The Jedi gingerly returns the hug, his face softened with sympathy as he cradles her like a child.

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EXT. TATOOINE - SPACE


The cruiser drops out of hyperspace. Before the small ship sits the large brown orb of Tatooine.


INT. SPACE - AKKADIAN - COCKPIT


One of Panaka’s men sits in the pilot’s seat, studying several readouts. Obi-Wan stands at his side, hands on his belt.


BODYGUARD : That's it. Tatooine ... There's a settlement - a spaceport, looks like.

OBI-WAN : Land near the outskirts. We don't want to attract any attention.


EXT. TATOOINE - DESERT - DAY


The Akkadian descends from the sky, slowly touching down on barren desert sand. Far in the distance lies the Mos Eisley spaceport - a bright spot on the horizon.


INT. TATOOINE - AKKADIAN - ENGINE ROOM - DAY


Qui-Gon and Major Vaness stand in the guts of the ship, inspecting the damaged hyperdrive. Obi-Wan enters the room, wearing the garb of a Nabu citizen.


QUI-GON : The hyperdrive generator is gone. We will need a new one.


Obi-Wan gestures for Qui-Gon to come to him. The Padawan goes to his elder, who begins to speak with him quietly.


OBI-WAN : Don't let them send any transmissions. Be wary ... I sense a disturbance in the Force.

QUI-GON: I feel it too.


Obi-Wan departs the engine room, leaving Qui-Gon to return to the hyperdrive with Vaness.


EXT. TATOOINE - DESERT - AKKADIAN - DAY


Obi-Wan and Captain Tarpals leave the ship, beginning their trek toward Mos Eisley.


CAPT. TARPALS : This sun does murder toe teh skin.

OBI-WAN : The desert climate is harsh to aquatic species, my friend. You’ll just have to bear with it.


Captain Panaka and Amidala step out of the ship, and begin to sprint after the duo.


CAPT. PANAKA : Wait!


The Gungan and the Jedi stop, allowing the Nabu to catch up to them.


CAPT. PANAKA : (cont'd) Her Highness commands you to take her with you. She wishes to observe the local -

OBI-WAN : There will be no commands from Her Highness today, Captain. This spaceport is unlikely to be pleasant ...

CAPT. PANAKA : The Princess wishes it. She is curious about this planet.

AMIDALA : I've been trained in self-defence. I can take care of myself.

OBI-WAN : I don't have the time to argue, but this is not a good idea. Stay close to me.


The Jedi gives Amidala a stern look. The three of them continue toward Mos Eisley, leaving Panaka behind.


EXT. TATOOINE - MOS EISLEY - STREET - DAY


The trio walks down the town's main street, several exotic creatures passing them by. Amidala examines the sights around her with her eyes, fascinated.


OBI-WAN : ... moisture farms for the most part, but also a few indigenous tribes and scavengers. The few spaceports like this one are havens for those who do not wish to be found ...

CAPT. TARPALS : Like us.


EXT. TATOOINE - MOS EISLEY - JUNK DEALER PLAZA - DAY


They come to a plaza strewn with several junk shops, many of which have dilapidated starships in their back lots.


OBI-WAN : We'll try one of the smaller dealers.


They walk over to one of the shops, entering through the main doorway.


INT. TATOOINE - WATTO'S JUNK SHOP - DAY


Obi-Wan, Amidala, and Tarpals enter the dingy shop, examining the many items of machinery lain in piles on the floor and hung upon the walls.

Moving deeper into the shop they find three individuals at a large desk engaged in a heated argument - brothers Anakin Skywalker and Owen Lars with the flying blue Toydarian Watto. Owen is seventeen years old, slightly chubby with close-cropped brown hair. Anakin is fifteen, leaner and somewhat more handsome than Owen.


WATTO : Whatta's this? This is a payment, you say? Payment!? Bah! I wouldn't have been able to pay for my mother's funeral with this! This isn't enough. But then, thee never have enough.

OWEN : We're giving you all we can, Watto. We’re in a funk right now. Ever since Ash-It Eeyoo Naim set up shop our farming business hasn’t been doing well, and ferrying spice down from Chenini only -

WATTO : (alarmed) Shaddap! Thee want-a have somebody hear you?!

OWEN : (cont'd) We're barely getting by.

WATTO : Thee think I give a Ranat's rear if thee get by? I don't-a. I want what's due to me. I've been more than fair, waiting for thee.

ANAKIN : You're paying interest, you old bird. That's being fair?

WATTO : I was at a low point when I loaned to your father - rest his soul - as thee well know. I took a big loss pitying the fool. That's why there's-a interest. (pushing his face up in front of Anakin's) I'm-a taking your farm - or your momma's flesh, boy. Your choice.

ANAKIN : (enraged) You lousy piece of - !


Anakin strikes out, hands reaching for Watto’s throat. Owen grabs him, wrestling him away from the Toydarian.


OWEN : Anakin, no! Calm down. Your gonna get us in trouble. Stop it!

ANAKIN : (struggling) Stupid rotten - (to Owen) Let me go, dammit!

OWEN : Anakin, stop! Stop it!


Anakin squirms for another several seconds. Finally he stops, letting out a deep breath. Owen slowly releases him.


ANAKIN : Okay ... I'm okay now. (cont’d) Let's get out of here. I don't want to stand in this dump a minute longer.


The brothers leave the Toydarian’s desk, moving past Obi-Wan, Amidala, and Tarpals on their way out the door. Watto follows them with angry eyes.


WATTO : You've made your decision, then ... (to the trio) Whatta thee want?


They step forward up to Watto’s desk.


OBI-WAN : I need parts for a K-type 723 Akkadian.

WATTO : Ah yes, ah yes. Akkadian. We have lots of that. What kinda junk?

OBI-WAN : My sister here has a readout of what we need.

WATTO : (taking a datapad from Amidala and looking it over) Sooo, let me take-a thee out back. In you'll find what you need.


Handing back the datapad, Watto leaves the desk, floating out a back door to the junk yard beyond. The three of them follow after him.


EXT. TATOOINE - WATTO’S JUNK SHOP - BEHIND SHOP - DAY


The Toydarian takes them along a path through several piles of assorted machinery, consulting his own datapad. He soon stops at a large hyperdrive.


WATTO : ... Here it is ... a U-15 hyperdrive generator! Thee in luck. I'm the only one hereabouts who has one ... But thee might as well buy a new ship. It would be cheaper, I think ... Saying of which, how's thee going to pay for all of this?

OBI-WAN : I have 120,000 Republic dataries.

WATTO : Republic credits? I'd prefer something more real ... Eh, I'll just get 'em exchanged. (cont’d) It's-a deal, outlander.

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EXT. TATOOINE - MOS EISLEY - STREET - MARKET - DAY


The Jedi, the Gungan, and the Princess pass by several outdoor cafes and stalls. Amidala’s stomach growls as she takes in the scent of roasting meat and vegetables.


AMIDALA : I'm hungry. I'd like something to eat.

OBI-WAN : Buy us each a little something, Captain.


Tarpals leaves them, going to a stall where a vendor sells several dead frog-like creatures hanging from wires.


VENDOR : Whatcha want?

CAPT. TARPALS : Three of those - three of those f'oggs.

VENDOR : Fog? What?

CAPT. TARPALS : (pronouncing the word with difficulty) F'ogg, ferg ... fer-og. Three fer-ogs.

VENDOR : That'll be seven truguts.


As the vendor takes down three of the frogs and hands them over to Tarpals, an ugly Dug - Sebulba - strides up to the Gungan.


SEBULBA : Chuba! You!

TARPALS : Me?

SEBULBA : Yes, you!

CAPT. TARPALS : What is it u'sa want?

SEBULBA : (pushing his face up to Tarpals's) I don't like you ...

CAPT. TARPALS : That isn't my problem. Be going.

SEBULBA : (poking Tarpals in the chest) I don't like you, you toad-faced worrt! You smell like something's wet underfoot!

CAPT. TARPALS : (pushing away Sebulba's wrist) Leave, barbarian. Your insults will put you down.

SEBULBA : Try me, maggot!


The Dug violently pushes Tarpals, causing the Gungan to fall back and crash into another stall, tipping several trays of fried roach candies over. Tarpals unsheathes a knife, and Sebulba pulls out a blaster.

As Obi-Wan unclips his lightsaber a blaster bolt lances out, hitting the Dug in the hand, knocking the weapon from his grip and burning away several fingers. Everyone looks over to the blaster bolt came from - where they find Owen and the armed Anakin standing at a café. Anakin leaves Owen, walking over to the Dug.


ANAKIN : Better be careful, Dug. This one's connected - to the Hutts, I believe. I wouldn’t mess with him if I were you.

SEBULBA : (nursing his injured hand) Stupid dirt farmer. I'll teach you to meddle with me ...


Sebulba begins to walk towards Anakin. Anakin brings his blaster up, aiming it straight toward the Dug's face. Sebulba freezes.


ANAKIN : I think you'd better get going, Sebulba, seeing as you’ve got more pressing matters to attend to. We’ll tango later.

SEBULBA : I'll be going, twerp. I've got more pressing matters to attend to. (cont’d) I promise you, though, that’ll we’ll tango later. Oh, yes!

ANAKIN : Glad to hear it, Dug, glad to hear it.

SEBULBA : Glad to hear it, dirt farmer, glad to hear it.


Sebulba steps away from Anakin, returning to the stall with the frogs. The Dug swipes the three frogs meant for the trio from the vendor, then leaves fuming. Anakin holsters the blaster as Owen goes to him, scolding him.


OWEN : Anakin. You've gotta stop getting into fights with him. You know Sebulba ...


Obi-Wan and the others approach the two brothers.


OBI-WAN : (clipping his lightsaber to his belt) Tarpals here could have met an unfortunate end if you hadn't gotten involved and helped. Thank you.

ANAKIN : (eyeing the lightsaber) No problem ... (cont’d) You guys aren’t from around here are you?


OBI-WAN : How’d you guess?

ANAKIN : (pointing at his clothes) No one dresses like that here.

OBI-WAN : (looking down at his shirt, then at Owen’s and Anakin’s) No, I suppose not. (cont’d) We were on our way to the Ophuchi system when our ship suffered damage travelling through hyperspace. Once the replacement parts have been delivered and installed we’ll be on our way.

ANAKIN : Do you have any shelter?

OBI-WAN : We'll be heading back to our ship.

ANAKIN : You're welcome to stay the night at our farm. We have an extra room or two we never use.

OBI-WAN : Hmm ...

ANAKIN : You won't be a burden on us or anything. I'm sure it'll be okay.

OBI-WAN : Very well ... we'll gladly accept your invitation. Lead the way.


As the brothers lead the trio to their landspeeder Owen leans close to Anakin, whispering in his ear.


OWEN : We don't know them from Adam, Nik. I don't know if we should let them stay with us.

ANAKIN : Don't be such a worry-worrt. It's not like they're Anzati marauders or something like that.

OWEN : Fine, I’ll go along with it. But don’t think for a second that I'm going to let you get me in trouble for any of this. If Mom asks, I’m telling her it was all your idea.

ANAKIN : (laughing) Sure, Owen, sure.

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EXT. TATOOINE - DESERT - LATE DAY


The speeder races over sand and low dunes. Small animals scurry in the vehicle’s wake.


EXT. TATOOINE - LARS HOMESTEAD - COURTYARD - LATE DAY


As the speeder approaches the farm Anakin pulls back on the controls, slowing the vehicle down. They come to a stop near the house, climbing off as the engines die down.


ANAKIN : Mom! Mom, we're home!


Two women - Shmi Lars and Beru Whitesun - exit the house, meeting the others as they come to the door. Shmi is in her early forties, with long dark hair and sun-weathered skin. Beru is much younger, around the same age as Owen, with sandy blonde hair.


SHMI : Ani - Owen - who's this?

ANAKIN : These are ... (turning to their guests) Man, I don't know any of your names.

OBI-WAN : I'm Obi-Wan Kenobi, (gesturing to the Gungan) this is Tarpals ...

AMIDALA : ... and I'm Amidala Naberrie, ma'am. Pleased to meet you.

SHMI : (to Owen) What are they doing here?

OWEN : His idea, Mom. Ask him.

ANAKIN : They got in a fight with Sebulba. I got involved -

SHMI : Anakin! I've told you to avoid that Dug - !

ANAKIN : (cont'd) It was nothing, Mom. He was the one who lost fingers, not me.

SHMI : What!?

OBI-WAN : Your son was kind enough to offer us shelter.

ANAKIN : They'll be gone in the morning, once they get the parts they need for their ship.

SHMI : Okay ... (to Obi-Wan) I'm sorry if I was abrupt. I'll never get used to Anakin's surprises.


EXT. TATOOINE - LARS HOMESTEAD - DINING AREA - SUNSET


Obi-Wan, Tarpals, and Amidala are seated at the dining table with the Lars family. Beru gives each person at the table a plate piled with food before sitting down and joining them.


SHMI : ... Cliegg was a good man - an honest man - but he had his vices. He was a gambler, and not a very good one. He got in over his head, and ended up in debt to pretty much everyone. (cont’d) He asked Watto for some money, and he gave it, but ended up owing the Toydarian in the process. He worked so hard the last couple of months ... before he ...


Shmi's eyes start to well up with tears. She stops to wipe her eyes. Owen picks up the conversation.


OWEN : With him gone we’ve had to take up the debt. We've been giving the bird as much as we can make from moisture farming ...

ANAKIN : And some other part-time work on the side ...

OWEN : (cont'd) ... But it's not enough. And now he's threatening to take the farm.

SHMI : We'll deal with it when the time comes. We always have.


Anakin turns his attention toward Obi-Wan. The boy’s eyes - filled with barely contained awe - bore into the Jedi.


OBI-WAN : (noticing Anakin’s stare) Something on your mind, Anakin?

ANAKIN : Mr. Kenobi - Obi-Wan - I was wondering something ...

OBI-WAN : What?

ANAKIN : Well, ahhh ... are you a Jedi Knight?

OBI-WAN : Jedi Knight?

ANAKIN : Yes, a Jedi.

OBI-WAN : No, can’t say that I am. (cont’d) What is that, anyway?

ANAKIN : What, the Jedi? You’ve never heard of them?

OBI-WAN : No. What’s gives you the idea that I might be one of them?

ANAKIN : Your laser sword. Only Jedi carry that kind of weapon.

OBI-WAN : My laser sword ...? Ah, you mean my cutting tool. I bought that from a curiosity dealer on Ogana Major. (cont’d) I take it you’ve seen one before?

OWEN : Nebar Foxis ...

OBI-WAN : Nebar Foxis ...?

ANAKIN : Foxis is an old spacer we met in town. He told us all about the Jedi.

OBI-WAN : Tell me what he told you.

ANAKIN : The Jedi are policemen who patrol and protect the Republic. They’re ditheists.

OBI-WAN : Ditheists?

ANAKIN : They believe in two gods.

OBI-WAN : Ah, yes.

ANAKIN : The two gods are Ashla and Bogan. Ashla is the Goddess of Light, and Bogan is the God of Darkness. They used to be married until they created the universe, and then they became enemies.

OBI-WAN : So the Jedi pray to both - to Bogan?

ANAKIN : No, no ... The Jedi worship Ashla, but they oppose Bogan. Bogan is evil and only wants to sow death and destruction. The Jedi are against that.

OBI-WAN : And they carry tools - weapons - like mine?

ANAKIN : Yes. Foxis had one of his own. He showed it to Owen and me. (cont’d) He claims he was apprenticed to a Jedi once when he was young, but the Jedi died in battle. He left the Order after that, but held onto his sword.

OWEN : Foxis is full of it. He probably bought or stole the thing from somebody else.

OBI-WAN : Well, it seems I got a good deal on mine. The poor fool would have charged extra if he had known it was a weapon once owned by a mystical warrior.

ANAKIN : (cont’d) So ... you’re not a Jedi.

OBI-WAN : No, I’m afraid not.

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EXT. TATOOINE - LARS HOMESTEAD - COURTYARD - TWILIGHT


Obi-Wan stands outside the house, leaning again the wall beside the entrance, communicating with Qui-Gon through his comlink.


OBI-WAN : ... secured the hyperdrive. Tomorrow we’ll pick it up and bring it to the ship.

QUI-GON : (O.S.) What of you? You're not coming back to the ship?

OBI-WAN : We're staying the night with some moisture farmers.

QUI-GON : (O.S.) Well then ... goodnight.

OBI-WAN : Goodnight Qui-Gon.


The communication ends, and Obi-Wan returns the comlink to his belt as Anakin steps out of the house. Anakin leans back against the wall beside Obi-Wan, crossing his arms across his chest.


OBI-WAN : It must be peaceful here as a moisture farmer. A bit hot, I suppose, but peaceful. Nothing to worry about - other than your debt to Watto, I suppose.

ANAKIN : Other than the debt and the odd Tusken, yeah. It's peaceful, but ...

OBI-WAN : But?

ANAKIN : Dull. It’s dull. Day in, day out - nothing ever really changes. I don't feel I'm getting anything out of my life or doing anything important with it. (cont’d) It's funny, really. I’ve been a farmer all my life, just like my dad and his dad, but it all feels ... I don’t know ... ephemeral. I don’t feel like I'm me, if that makes any sense. I feel like I’m in someone else's shoes - someone else's body - and am just going along for the ride. Has that ever happened to you?

OBI-WAN : With me? No, I can't say it has.

ANAKIN : You'd think Owen would feel the same way - same parents, same upbringing and all - but he doesn’t. Thing about Owen is that he’s no dreamer. I think his prospects end just before the horizon. Tatooine, and this farm, will always be his home - and I think he's fine with that, and always will be.

OBI-WAN : You don’t always see eye-to-eye, do you?

ANAKIN : Not always, no. (laughing) He thinks I’m a damn fool romantic with my head in the clouds.

OBI-WAN : What of your mother?

ANAKIN : I ... I don’t really know. She encouraged me a lot growing up. She was my rock ... (cont’d) That was a long time ago.

OBI-WAN : Why should she feel any differently now?

ANAKIN : I ... I feel that I've disappointed her.

OBI-WAN : Disappointed her?

ANAKIN : She's a great mother - I'm not saying she isn't - and it isn't as if she's ever said she isn't proud of me. It's just that I feel ...

OBI-WAN : Yes?

ANAKIN : I feel I should have done more for her - more to show her that I appreciate everything she's done for me.

OBI-WAN : Anakin, believe me when I say this -

ANAKIN : Yes?

OBI-WAN : I believe that she realizes you appreciate her and that you love her. I also believe that she appreciates that.

ANAKIN : Even though I’m reckless, impatient, and often do stupid, impulsive things on a whim?

OBI-WAN : Yes ... even though you are reckless, impatient, and often do stupid, impulsive things on a whim.


The Jedi’s answer causes Anakin to laugh. Obi-Wan smiles as the tension leaves the young man.


OBI-WAN : What about your father? Were you close?

ANAKIN : Not as close, but close enough. He was my father in every way that mattered.

OBI-WAN : That mattered?

ANAKIN : (cont’d) Cliegg Lars was the only father I've ever had, and may as well have been my true father ... but he wasn't. (cont’d) Mom had gone out one morning to pick the mushrooms that grow on the vaporators, just as she always does. She found Nellith there, barely alive, with me in her arms.

OBI-WAN : Your biological mother?

ANAKIN : (nodding) Nellith was the name she gave us, anyway. (cont’d) With Dad’s help Mom brought her inside. It was too late by then, though - she’d been out in the desert for too long without any water. She’d kept me safe, though. Don’t know how, but I was just fine.(cont’d) She didn’t last long - she died soon after we were found. But before she did she was able to give my name: Anakin Skywalker. (cont’d) It’s the only thing I have from her - the name she gave me.

OBI-WAN : And you know nothing of your father? No clue as to who he is or was?

ANAKIN : Nothing.

OBI-WAN : Hmm ...

ANAKIN : The Lars took me in, cared for me, made me one of their own ... (to himself) Mom loved me like a son ... I am her son ... (cont’d) Obi-Wan, I wish you were a Jedi. You could take me off Tatooine. I could join the Jedi Order and become a Knight like you. I could make Mom proud of me.

OBI-WAN : I'm afraid I couldn’t do that even if I were a Jedi.

ANAKIN : You couldn’t? Why not?

OBI-WAN : Had you been born in the Republic they would have identified you early, and you would have been accepted into their ranks. But now ... (cont’d) You’re too old. The Jedi do not recruit anyone your age.

ANAKIN : Is that so?

OBI-WAN : I’m sorry.

ANAKIN : Funny you should say that, seeing as you’ve never heard of the Jedi Order before tonight.

OBI-WAN : Well, now ... how about that! It seems I was wrong. I guess I have heard of the Jedi before and simply forgot. (grinning) It happens to all of us at one time or another, I suppose.

ANAKIN : (suspicious) Yes ...

OBI-WAN : Your story must have jogged my memory.

ANAKIN : I guess so.


Without another word Obi-Wan leaves Anakin, going into the house. Anakin remains motionless, watching the Jedi Knight leave. He then turns toward the horizon, watching the last rays of the day's light disappear over the skyline as he ponders his future.

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INT. TATOOINE - LARS HOMESTEAD - GUEST ROOM - EVENING


Amidala lies in the Spartan room’s only bed, her eyes closed peacefully in sleep.


ANAKIN : (O.S.) Amidala ...


The soft voice registers on Amidala’s ears, and her brow slightly creases with a small frown.


ANAKIN : (O.S.) Amidala ... Amidala!


Amidala’s eyes crack up, and she sees a shadowy figure standing in the open doorway of her room. She pushes herself up on her elbows, squinting to get a better look at the figure.


AMIDALA : Who is that? Anakin? Anakin Skywalker? What time is it?


The figure takes one step forward, allowing the sparse light in the room to fall upon his face. A slight smile creeps upon Anakin’s face.


ANAKIN : Come ...


AMIDALA : What? What is it?


Anakin says nothing more, gestures for her to follow, then steps out and disappears from view.


AMIDALA : Of all the ungodly ... (cont’d) I’m coming, I’m coming.


Pulling the covers back, the Princess climbs out of bed and starts after the boy.


INT. TATOOINE - LARS HOMESTEAD - ANAKIN'S ROOM - EVENING


Anakin lays prone upon his bed, his hands behind his head. He is sound asleep, snoring lightly.


AMIDALA : (entering the room) All right! What is it?

Anakin springs up in sudden surprise, awakened by her loud voice. He looks around the room and spots Amidala, who is standing in the open doorframe, her arms crossed over her chest with one foot tapping with impatience.


ANAKIN : Hi.

ANAKIN : (exasperated) Hi. Now what is it?

ANAKIN : What?

AMIDALA : I’m not in the mood for games, Skywalker. You called me over here for something, so what is it?

ANAKIN : I don’t know what you’re talking about.

AMIDALA : Yeah, right. (cont’d) Look, you’d better have a good reason for disturbing me in the middle of the night ...

ANAKIN : Hey, c’mon! I’ve been here asleep! I didn’t wake you up! You must have imagined it - dreamed it up or something! I haven’t moved from this spot since I went to bed!

AMIDALA : (Nonplussed) Just dreamed it up ... or something.

ANAKIN : Yeah.

AMIDALA : Or maybe you’re a sleepwalker.


Amidala shakes her head slowly, then walks over to a chair. She drops down into it, releasing a heavy sigh as she brushes her hair back from her eyes.


AMIDALA : Well, I can’t go back to sleep. I’m wide awake now.

ANAKIN : (checking his chronometer) It’s after midnight. There’s not much you can really do ...

AMIDALA : Would you like to talk?

ANAKIN : Talk?

AMIDALA : Yes, talk.

ANAKIN : What about?

AMIDALA : About anything, anything at all. (pointing toward the wall opposite to her) Why don’t you tell me what’s with your droid?


Anakin looks over to where she’s pointing. In the far corner of his room stands an inactive protocol droid. The droid is incomplete, missing plating.


ANAKIN : You mean Scrappy? He's just a protocol droid I'm putting together out of some scrap I stole from behind Watto's shop.

AMIDALA : (astonished) You stole him?!

ANAKIN : I stole the parts he’s made of. (cont’d) It’s not like the bird was going to put them to any good use. Half his junk just sits there until it rusts, anyway, then he throws it out.

AMIDALA : Well, I don’t condone it.

ANAKIN : I’m not asking you to, sister.

AMIDALA : (cont’d) What’s he for?

ANAKIN : I’ve been meaning to give him to Mom to help her with chores around the house, but I haven't found the right parts to get him working good yet. (cont’d) He doesn’t even have a vocoder.

AMIDALA : He works though?

ANAKIN : A little bit. Moves and everything. But he can’t do any labour - nothing with his hands. (cont’d) They’re corroded pieces of junk.

AMIDALA : Let me see him work. Go ahead - turn him on.

ANAKIN : I’m not sure -

AMIDALA : He’s not dangerous, is he?

ANAKIN : Not really, no ...

AMIDALA : So go for it.


Anakin sighs, then gets out of bed. Amidala climbs up out of her chair to follow him across the room to the motionless droid. Anakin reaches behind the automaton, pressing a button set into it’s body.

Suddenly the droid’s photoreceptors light up, and the machine explodes to life, spasming violently. Anakin moves to restrain the agitated robot. Before the droid can damage itself Anakin deactivates it, making it motionless once again.


AMIDALA : He's a jittery thing, isn't he?

ANAKIN : He's afraid of us. I've tried communicating with him, tried calming him down, but he never responds. I suppose there’s something wrong with his circuitry or programming. Once I learn more about VerboBrains I’ll figure it out.

AMIDALA : I think he's wonderful, Anakin.

ANAKIN : Really? Thanks ... it's Amidala, right?

AMIDALA : That's right. Amidala Naberrie.


Anakin leaves Amidala and the droid, jumping back onto his bed, putting an arm behind his head.


ANAKIN : Nice name - cute. Makes me think of the name of some queen or princess in a story book or something. “Queen Amidala Naberrie - Empress of the Moons of Iego”!

AMIDALA : I actually get told that quite a lot.

ANAKIN : Really?

AMIDALA : Well, not really. (cont’d) Maybe sometimes.


The two giggle at that. Anakin then spots the aquamarine pendant clasped around her neck.


ANAKIN : That’s a nice stone you have there.

AMIDALA : (looking down at the pendant) My pendant?

ANAKIN : Yeah. Is it genuine?

AMIDALA : Yes. It’s been in my family for generations. (cont’d) We have a tradition - the stone must always be handed down to the firstborn of each new generation. It was my mother’s until she gave it to my sister Sola.

ANAKIN : Your sister? Then why ...?

AMIDALA : They ... She died.

ANAKIN : I'm sorry ... I ...

AMIDALA : It's a long story, and I ... I don't want to talk about it.

ANAKIN : That's okay ... I don't need to know the details ... (cont’d) It’s a very beautiful pendant.

AMIDALA : I see you have a pendant of your own.

ANAKIN : (looking down at a small wooden pendant secured around his neck) This? I carved it from a japor snippet. It’s nothing special, really.

AMIDALA : (yawning) I - I think my sleepiness has finally caught up to me. How about we call it a night?

ANAKIN : Sure. I’ve got to get up early, anyway.

AMIDALA : Goodnight, Anakin.


Amidala turns to leave, stepping through the doorway.


ANAKIN : Goodnight ... Queen of Iego.


Amidala stops, turning to face him, and gives him a silent grin. Anakin gives her one final wave, then puts his arms behind his head, and within moments is asleep.

Amidala leaves the doorway, moving on her way back toward her bedroom.

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EXT. TATOOINE - SPACE


A dark starship, the Scimitar, drops out of hyperspace. The arrow-shaped craft approaches the desert planet.


EXT. TATOOINE - DESERT - DAWN


The Scimitar drops down, landing on a low hill overlooking three distant settlements. The dark ship's hatch opens, and the Sith Lord Maul steps out. Maul is quickly followed by three hovering probe droids. The droids disperse, moving out to survey the cities, as Maul begins to examine the horizon through a pair of electrobinoculars.


EXT. TATOOINE - LARS HOMESTEAD - COURTYARD - DAWN


Five swoop bikes shoot across the landscape, coming to a stop at the Lars homestead. On the swoops are five of Watto's hired henchmen, including the Dug Sebulba.


INT. TATOOINE - LARS HOMESTEAD - OWEN & BERU'S ROOM - DAWN


The whine of the swoop bikes wake Owen and Beru from their sleep. Owen quickly throws the covers off, jumping up and walking over to the doorway.


BERU : Whu - ? Owen ... what is it?


Without saying a word Owen exits the room, leaving his bewildered girlfriend behind.


EXT. TATOOINE - LARS HOMESTEAD - COURTYARD - DAWN


Watto's men climb off their swoops as Owen steps out the front door. Their leader, a disfigured Zeltron, unholsters his blaster as they walk toward him.


OWEN : What do you want?

ZELTRON THUG : Watto's come to collect his due.


The Zeltron pulls the trigger, blasting Owen in the shoulder. The moisture farmer collapses to the ground with a cry. The thugs ignore Owen as they step over him, entering the house.

An invisible force then suddenly hits them, pushing them all back, hurling them across the courtyard. Obi-Wan steps out of the house, unlit lightsaber ready in his hand.


OBI-WAN : You will be leaving, regardless of any business you may have with the Lars.


The thugs cautiously get back up. Their eyes focus on the Jedi, their fingers eager to pull out their weapons.


ZELTRON THUG : The Lars owe a debt to Watto. They've been loose with their payments, so now he's gonna take the farm - the farm and the ladies, too.

OBI-WAN : The women are not yours to take.

ZELTRON THUG: Now that ain't true, is it? See, Watto's got the influence to do whatever he wants, so he gets whatever he wants. Girls have a way of making money, and Watto can take advantage of that. (cont’d) The girlfriend's gonna do some hard, sweaty work to put some peggats in the old bird's account. The mother too, probably. She's going to seed, sure, but she's still got some bounce left in her.

OBI-WAN : I see that there's little point trying to dissuade you. You are obviously set in your ways.

ZELTRON THUG : Quite right, stranger ...


The Zeltron pulls a second blaster, pointing the barrel toward Obi-Wan's face. The Jedi's blade blazes into life, and the Zeltron's arm and throat are slashed away in one swift spin. Sebulba opens fire on him, and the Jedi deflects the bolt back at the Dug, cutting him down.

Obi-Wan uses the Force to wrench the blasters away from the remaining thugs, tossing the weapons far across the courtyard. In fear they retreat to their swoops. The vehicles roar to life, and they quickly move off, zooming off across the landscape.

The Jedi's lightsaber is deactivated and returned to his belt as Anakin, Beru, and Shmi exit the house, attracted by the commotion.


BERU : Owen! Owen ... are you all right? You're not hurt too badly?


Beru crouches down beside her injured boyfriend, examining his wound. Ignoring her Owen gets back on his feet. He approaches Obi-Wan, astonished and enraged.


OWEN : What have you done!? You'll bring disaster on us all! We're going to be in so much trouble!

OBI-WAN : You were in trouble to begin with.

OWEN : Damn fool ... you're gonna kill us! We're all gonna die because of you!


Anakin slowly approaches the two fallen adversaries, peering down at their dead bodies.


ANAKIN : Kenobi ... Watto's not going to be happy about this.

OWEN : That's it Anakin! Tell him! Tell this ... tell him what he's done to us!

OBI-WAN : I will deal with the Toydarian.

OWEN : (taken aback) You will?


Without further explanation Obi-Wan leaves the brothers, walking off towards the parked landspeeder.


OWEN : What's the fool up to now?


Owen and Anakin quickly follow after the Jedi Knight.

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INT. TATOOINE - WATTO'S SHOP - DAY


Watto is taking inventory of the parts in his shop as Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Owen enter the shop.


WATTO : So, you’ve finally come for your - (seeing Anakin and Owen) You! You killed Sebulba and Craetorius! (to Obi-Wan) It was you who helped them!

OBI-WAN : I protected them, yes.

WATTO : (angry) Yeah? Thee wanna get on my bad side too?!

OBI-WAN : It has come to my attention that these two young men owe you a large sum of money. I am willing to settle their debt for them.

WATTO: Ha! Why thee getting yourself involved with them? They're strangers to you.

OBI-WAN : Anakin will be leaving with me once my ship is fixed. I'd prefer his family be secure once he's gone.


Anakin is perplexed by the news.


OWEN : (to Anakin) What's he talking about?

ANAKIN : I don’t know.

OBI-WAN : (cont'd) Well, Watto? Is it a deal?

WATTO : I'll take your credits outlander. (cont'd) Can't see why thee'd want a low-rate farmer tagging along at your heels, though.


EXT. TATOOINE - MOS EISLEY - JUNK DEALER PLAZA - DAY


The three men leave Watto's shop. Behind them follow four droids carrying the heavy hyperdrive.


OWEN : I want to know what you were talking about in there, Kenobi! What were you saying about Nik going with you?

ANAKIN : What were you talking about, Obi-Wan?

OBI-WAN : There’s no point in deceiving you any longer ... (cont’d) You were right about me, Anakin. I am a Jedi Knight of the Republic. I have decided to take you with me, like you asked, if that is still your wish.

OWEN : What!? What is this nonsense?! (to Anakin) What is this all about?!

ANAKIN : Last night we were talking ... talking about how I wanted to join the Jedi.

OWEN : What!? We're not little kids anymore. We`ve got no time to play games or fantasize about stars and battles and all that crap, Anakin! We've got a farm to run! (cont'd) I told you! I told you it was a kriffing mistake to get involved with this - this goddamn lunatic!

OBI-WAN : Anakin has great potential, Owen. I will do what I can to get Anakin accepted for training.


Enraged, Owen attacks Obi-Wan, grabbing him and pushing him up against the speeder. The four droids carry the hyperdrive to the backside of the vehicle, where a flatbed is attached to the rear. The droids load the hyperdrive onto the flatbed and begin to secure it down.


OWEN : Kriffing freak! You did this! You put these damn fool ideas in his head!

ANAKIN : Owen, stop it!

OWEN : (to Anakin) You're not leaving with him, dammit! You're not!

ANAKIN : That's not your choice to make! Owen, let him go!

OWEN : (exasperated) Fine!


Owen releases Obi-Wan. Muttering to himself he jumps into the speeder's cockpit, bringing the engines to life. Obi-Wan and Anakin exchange glances, then enter the vehicle themselves. Owen pulls back the throttle, and the speeder zooms off down the street.


EXT. TATOOINE - LARS HOMESTEAD - COURTYARD - MORNING


The speeder pulls up to the house's entrance. There, in the door, stand Shmi and Beru. They climb out of the vehicle.

Beru goes to greet Owen, but he brushes past her, entering the house without acknowledging her.


OWEN : (incredulous) Anakin's going to be a Jedi!


INT. TATOOINE - LARS HOMESTEAD - LIVING AREA - MORNING


Owen, Shmi, and Beru enter the room, where Tarpals and Amidala sit at a table playing a game. They both look up as Owen begins to rant.


OWEN : I can’t believe this. I can’t kriffing believe this! Dammit!

BERU : What?

OWEN : Remember that talk last night about Jedi? Turns out Anakin is right - Kenobi’s one of them! And now he’s put ideas into his head! Anakin wants to leave, leave and go on a crusade and swing a laser sword around and get himself killed!

Anakin and Obi-Wan enter the room. Shmi turns to her other son.


SHMI : Is this true?

OBI-WAN : It is, Mrs. Lars. (cont’d) Anakin has something ... a quality that makes him a prime candidate for training. I promise you I will do everything in my power to convince the Jedi Council to induct him into the Order.

OWEN : There's a war going on out there, Anakin ... don't get yourself caught up in it. It has nothing to do with us ... (shaking his head) I can't believe you're doing this.

ANAKIN : I'm no farmer, Owen ... I have to move on.

OWEN : The farm won't work itself.

ANAKIN : Our debt to Watto is paid. You can earn enough money to get back on top again. With me gone there'll be one less mouth to feed anyway.

BERU : Wait - You paid Watto off?

OWEN : The one good thing the wizard's done for us.


Shmi puts her hand gently on Anakin's shoulder. He turns to her.


SHMI : Anakin ... is this what you want?

ANAKIN : Yes, Mom ... it is.


The room goes silent. Wordlessly, Owen storms off, pushing Obi-Wan out of his way as he leaves the room. Anakin sits down with Tarpals and Amidala, joining them in their game.

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EXT. TATOOINE - LARS HOMESTEAD - COURTYARD - AFTERNOON


Anakin, Obi-Wan, Shmi and Beru stand together outside the dwelling giving their farewells. Owen sits with Amidala and Tarpals in the landspeeder before them, a dour expression on his face.


BERU : The life of a moisture farmer isn’t much, but we wish you could stay, Nik. (cont’d) It’s your decision, however, and I want you to know I’ll support you all the way.

ANAKIN : I ... (looking at Shmi) I have to go.

BERU : It’ll be hard getting used to you not being around. You’ve become like a brother to me, Anakin.


Anakin and Beru embrace, drawing together in a tight hug.


ANAKIN : You take care of Owen, now, you hear? Without me around you’ll be the only one around to keep that anger of his in check.

BERU : (laughs) But who’ll be there to keep yours?


They separate. Anakin turns to face Shmi.


ANAKIN : Well ...

SHMI : Well ...?

ANAKIN : Mom, will I ever see you again?

SHMI : What does your heart tell you?

ANAKIN : I hope so ... yes ... I guess.

SHMI : Then we will see each other again.

ANAKIN : I ... will become a Jedi and will come back and show you everything. I’ll make you proud of me.

SHMI : Anakin, I’m already proud of you. You’re my son.


Shmi puts her hand on Anakin’s shoulder and plants a kiss on his cheek. Tears begin to run down his face.


SHMI : No matter where you are, my love will be with you. Now be brave, and don’t look back.

ANAKIN : I love you so much.


Anakin turns and walks off, leaving for the parked landspeeder. Shmi and Obi-Wan exchange glances as he follows after him. They climb in the speeder as it roars to life.

The vehicle races off, leaving Beru and Shmi to watch as it disappears into the horizon.


EXT. TATOOINE - DESERT MESA - AFTERNOON


A probe droid races out of the desert sands up to the Sith Lord Maul, who stands beside a hovering speeder bike under the hot suns. The machine makes a series of beeps and whistles before departing, taking off in a new direction.

Maul climbs atop his speeder bike, revving the engine as he follows after the droid.


EXT. TATOOINE - DESERT - AFTERNOON


Panaka’s men unload the hyperdrive from the landspeeder’s flatbed and carry it along toward the open hatch of the Akkadian, with Qui-Gon using the Force to take most of the tremendous weight off the device. Amidala walks alongside the Jedi apprentice.


QUI-GON : Welcome back, Princess.

AMIDALA : It’s good to be back.

QUI-GON : I trust you had a good night?

AMIDALA : A wonderful night, Qui-Gon. I slept like a baby.

QUI-GON : (smiling) Good, that’s good.

AMIDALA : And you? Did you sleep well?

QUI-GON : I slept the sleep of the ancients.

AMIDALA : (grinning) And that’s even better.


Anakin and Obi-Wan climb out of the vehicle. Owen looks up at both of them, his face expressionless.


OWEN : (to Anakin) He’ll ruin you.

ANAKIN : You know me, Owen. If you can’t trust Obi-Wan then you can at least trust me.

OWEN : I know you all too well, Anakin. That’s how I know you’re making a mistake.

ANAKIN : (angry) What’s that supposed to mean?

OWEN : There’s a trillion Wattoes and Sebulbas out there, and each one of them are worse than the genuine articles. (cont’d) You’ve always been impatient and you always will be, and your damned impatience is going to get you in a fix you won’t be able to get out of. You’re reckless.

ANAKIN : You’re wrong Owen, and I’ll prove it to you. I’ll show you how wrong you are.


Anakin turns away from the Jedi and his brother, following Qui-Gon, Amidala, and the bodyguards to the ship. Owen turns his sights on Obi-Wan, his eyes burning with cold fire.


OWEN : Kenobi ...

OBI-WAN : Yes?

OWEN : If my brother dies because of you ... I swear I’ll kill you myself.


Without further words Owen starts the speeder back up and makes a U-turn around the Jedi, heading through the sand back toward the moisture farm. Obi-Wan watches the speeder go, then turns and begins walking toward the ship after Anakin.

The Jedi then notices a movement out of the corner of his eye, and out of instinct draws his lightsaber and, activating the weapon, slashes downward. A probe droid flashes with an explosion of sparks, and its severed halves fall to the ground.

Anakin notices the disturbance and stops as he steps into the ship, turning to the Jedi.


ANAKIN : What is it?

OBI-WAN : Probe droid. Very unusual. Not like anything I’ve seen before.


A dark figure on a speeder bike suddenly appears from out of the desert sands, bearing down on the Jedi. Maul springs from the seat of his bike, somersaulting over Obi-Wan’s head as a red lightsaber blazes to life. Obi-Wan spins around, blocking the crimson blade as Maul attempts a killing blow.

Anakin freezes, staring transfixed as the battle grows heated, the two combatants striking at one another with their lightsabers.


OBI-WAN : Anakin, get inside! Take off! Go! Go!


Obi-Wan parries one of Maul’s blows as Anakin comes to his senses and disappears aboard the Akkadian.


INT. TATOOINE - AKKADIAN - CORRIDOR - AFTERNOON


Anakin races down the corridor of the ship until he comes to the hatch to the cockpit. He opens the door, where he finds Captain Panaka with Amidala sitting at the controls.

ANAKIN : Obi-Wan’s in trouble. He says to take off. Now!

CAPT. PANAKA : Who the hell are you?

AMIDALA : A friend ... (cont’d) We’d better listen to him.


Panaka activates the Akkadian’s systems, and begins to take the ship up off the ground.


INT. TATOOINE - AKKADIAN - COCKPIT - AFTERNOON


CAPT. PANAKA : Where is he? I don’t see him.

ANAKIN : Turn around!


Panaka swivels the craft around, until the sight of two figures duelling with lightsabers in a cloud of sand enters the viewport.


ANAKIN : Over there! Fly low!


EXT. TATOOINE - DESERT - AFTERNOON


Obi-Wan parries a blow from Maul’s lightsaber, and makes a quick riposte. The Sith blocks the Jedi’s blade. Maul locks their blades together, using all his strength to then force Obi-Wan back.

The Sith Lord kicks Obi-Wan’s legs out from under him, and the Jedi Knight collapses to the ground on his back. Using the Force, Maul calls Obi-Wan’s lightsaber to his hand, bringing his own blade to the Jedi’s throat. With a malicious grin, the Sith raises the crimson lightsaber over his head.

The shadow of the Akkadian then falls over them, distracting the Sith. Obi-Wan uses the Force to push Maul back away from him, retrieving his lightsaber as he leaps to his feet. The Jedi springs upward once the ship moves close enough, leaping up onto the open hatch. Maul recovers, and leaps up after Obi-Wan, catching hold of the edge of the hatch. Obi-Wan quickly kicks the Sith in the jaw, causing him to fall back to the ground below.

The hatch slowly closes, and the Akkadian rises upward. Maul climbs back up onto his feet, retrieving his lightsaber, staring after the Akkadian as it shrinks to a point in the sky and disappears.


INT. TATOOINE - AKKADIAN - CORRIDOR - AFTERNOON


Obi-Wan collapses, exhausted and dripping with sweat. Anakin, followed by Qui-Gon, come out and find him propped up against the hatch.


ANAKIN : You okay?

OBI-WAN : I think so ...

QUI-GON : What is it? Why did we take off early? What happened?

ANAKIN : He was attacked.

QUI-GON : (shocked) Attacked? Attacked by whom?

OBI-WAN : I don’t know ... but he was trained in the Jedi arts. My guess is he was after the Princess.

ANAKIN : Do you think he’ll follow us?

OBI-WAN : We’ll be safe once the hyperdrive is installed and we’re away, but I have no doubt he knows our destination.

QUI-GON : (to Anakin) Who are you?

OBI-WAN : Qui-Gon Jinn, meet Anakin Skywalker.

ANAKIN : Nice to meet you. (cont’d) You’re a Jedi too, right?


Qui-Gon exchanges glances with Obi-Wan.

Author
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INT. SPACE - NUTE GUNRAY’S PERSONAL FLAGSHIP - CORRIDOR


Gunray runs down the passage, panicked with sweat running down his forehead. He stumbles as he reaches the door to his chambers, falling to his knees. He scrambles back up to his feet, opening the door with a low cry before slipping inside.


INT. SPACE - NUTE GUNRAY’S PERSONAL FLAGSHIP - NUTE GUNRAY’S PERSONAL CHAMBERS


Gunray runs into the room, collapsing against the holographic projector. Maul’s image is already being projected, his larger-than-life eyes burning down on the Neimoidian.


MAUL : You’re late!

NUTE GUNRAY : I ... came as fast as I could ... My Lord. I ... am no athlete.

MAUL : (enraged) Do not speak up to me! Never speak up to me!

NUTE GUNRAY : My - My Lord ...! Forgive me!

MAUL : (cont’d) Send a message to the Senate on Coruscant. Do it right away!

NUTE GUNRAY : Message? What message?

MAUL : Until Naberrie returns to Nabu and surrenders to our custody, her people will suffer and die. Tell them!

NUTE GUNRAY : Suffer ...?

MAUL : As of now food is forbidden to the Nabu populace. You will have their homes and marketplaces raided, leaving them nothing.

NUTE GUNRAY : Raid ...?

MAUL : And have Theed destroyed.

NUTE GUNRAY : Destroyed!?

MAUL : A warning of what will come to the rest of her people on every day she is away from home.

NUTE GUNRAY : It is such a drastic move ...

MAUL : You will obey me! You will obey, or I will kill you where you stand!

NUTE GUNRAY : I will obey! I never said I wouldn’t! Please, pity me!

MAUL : (disgusted) You are beneath pity. Now stand up and do your duty.


The hologram fades away, and the Neimoidian collapses completely, fainted.


INT. NABU - THEED PRISON - PALPATINE’S CELL - DAWN


Dantius Palpatine lies sleeping upon his bunk when a contingent of Federation B1 battle droids lead by an orange EV supervisor droid deactivate the destructive holding beams of his cell and storm in, pulling him down and forcing him awake.


PALPATINE : What - what’s going on?

ORANGE DROID : Political prisoners are to be transferred. You will be coming with us.


A pair of droids grab hold of the Vizier’s shoulders, hauling him to his feet. As they pull him out into the cell block, Palpatine sees other palace servants being herded out of their cells with him.


EXT. NABU - THEED - DAWN


Contingents of battle droids and Neimoidian soldiers march through the streets, making their way from their posts to waiting carriers and platforms. Once every trooper has climbed aboard, the Neimoidian craft lift off and depart Theed, leaving for farther regions.

Soon, all the Federation troops are gone, leaving the city silent. Soon, the silence is broken by the sound of a sole bird tweeting.

The townspeople tentatively poke their heads out their doors and windows. Cautiously, they step out of their homes, and begin to explore. They find no trace of the Neimoidian forces.


EXT. NABU - THEED - TOWN SQUARE - DAWN


Several citizens begin to fill the marketplace. They look around, exploring their surroundings. Slowly, smiles break out over their faces.


CITIZEN #1 : They’re gone ... the Federation is gone ... the Neimoidians have left!


The people erupt with cheering. They sing and dance as the revelry grows stronger. Some begin to cry with laughter and happiness.


CITIZEN #2 : We’re free, we’re free, we’re free! Nabu is free!


The celebration is broken, however, when a low droning begins to fill the air. The laughter and singing dies down as the droning moves closer and grows loud. They freeze in terror as a bomber appears over the horizon, and passes over, throwing its shadow over the city below. The townspeople scream as a weapon is released from the bomber.

The ship pulls up and away to safety as the bomb detonates, and Theed disappears in a bright flash. The powerful shockwave plows over the buildings and uproots the earth, turning everything into a churning fiery mass.

A mushroom cloud billows upward into the air, blocking out the rising sun and turning the blue sky black.

Author
Time

DuracellEnergizer said:

RIC OLIÉ : I’m ... I’m dying.

Well, at least he dies doing what he does best...

<span style=“font-weight: bold;”>The Most Handsomest Guy on OT.com</span>

Author
Time
 (Edited)

EXT. CORUSCANT - SPACE


The Akkadian drops drop from the ink black of space into the world’s atmosphere, plowing through the clouds in a steady descent.


EXT. CORUSCANT - CITYSCAPE - DAY


The starship flies over the massive lanes, bridges, and towers of Coruscant. Countless teeming people can be seen below in the distance.


INT. CORUSCANT - AKKADIAN - COCKPIT - DAY


Anakin looks out the viewport, examining the city beyond with his eyes.


ANAKIN : Coruscant ... the capital of the Republic ... it’s one big city! Wow!


EXT. CORUSCANT - SENATE LANDING PLATFORM - DAY


Supreme Chancellor Valorum, with several guards and the Jedi Master Jard Dooku, stands waiting on the platform. Dooku is a towering man in his sixties, with trim beard and black hair turning grey at the temples.

The decrepit Nabu spacecraft lands on the platform, and the hatch pops open and lowers. Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon, Colonel Organa and Amidala descend the ramp, followed by Organa’s men and the Princess’s bodyguards, as well as Anakin and Tarpals.

The Jedi bow before Valorum and his entourage. Obi-Wan greets Dooku, embracing him.


JARD DOOKU : It is good to see you alive and well, my friend. I feared the worst for you and Qui-Gon.

QUI-GON : It is good to see you again, Master.

JARD DOOKU : (turning to Qui-Gon) Qui-Gon ... Obi-Wan has kept you safe. I couldn’t be more pleased.


Obi-Wan turns to Amidala, and brings her forward, presenting her to the Supreme Chancellor.

OBI-WAN : Chancellor, this is Princess Amidala Naberrie of Nabu. I am sorry to say neither her parents nor her siblings could make the trip with us.

VALORUM : It is a great gift to see you alive, Your Majesty. Accept my condolences in regard to your poor loved ones. It is indeed a great loss.

AMIDALA : Your words are appreciated, Chancellor Valorum.

VALORUM : I am sorry to say, however, that there is more bad news to bear.

OBI-WAN : More?

VALORUM : (to Obi-Wan) We received word from Federation emissaries ... Theed has been destroyed.

AMIDALA : What!?

VALORUM : A global restriction on food has also been put into effect. (cont’d) They have said that unless the Princess returns to Nabu and gives herself up her people will die.

AMIDALA : No ... no ...


In utter horror Amidala sinks to her knees, and begins to sob silently. Tears roll down her eyes, and she begins to pound the ground below her in quiet rage. Her bodyguards hurry to help her.


VALORUM : We must get her inside - quickly.


Amidala utters a heartbreaking cry as her bodyguards pull her to her feet. The group quickly leaves the area, walking briskly over toward a waiting transport.


EXT. CORUSCANT - JEDI TEMPLE - DAY


A grand, unique building towers over the surrounding buildings in the neighbourhood, its spires reaching up to touch the Coruscant sky.

A taxi cruises up to the Temple, slowing to a stop. Three Jedi - Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon, and Dooku - climb out of the vehicle and it zooms off, leaving them standing before a series of stone steps. The Jedi begin to walk up the steps toward the main entrance.


JARD DOOKU : There is little chance the Senate will allow a second armada to be organized and sent to Nabu. The Republic is not what it once was. The Senate is full of greedy, squabbling delegates who are only looking out for themselves, their own home systems, and the systems that bring them profit. There is no interest in the common good. No civility, only politics. It’s disgusting.

OBI-WAN : Chancellor Valorum seems to think there is hope.

JARD DOOKU : The Chancellor has little real power. He is mired down by baseless accusations of corruption. A manufactured scandal surrounds him. The bureaucrats are in charge now.

OBI-WAN : What options do we have?

JARD DOOKU : Only a hand from above can help us now.


INT. CORUSCANT - JEDI TEMPLE - COUNCIL CHAMBERS - DAY


Obi-Wan stands in the centre of a stately room, Qui-Gon beside him and a semi-circle of twelve Jedi Masters sitting around him. Mace Windu is the senior Jedi, with Yoda on his right and Micah Giiett to his left.


OBI-WAN : ... He wielded a lightsaber and was undoubtedly a skilled Force user - a dark side user.

MACE WINDU : A fallen Jedi.

OBI-WAN : That we encountered each other on Tatooine is no coincidence. He is involved with the Nabu crisis in some way.

MICAH GIIETT : Possibly an assassin on the Federation’s payroll.

YODA : Mercenaries the Neimoidians are. Employed by this darksider, perhaps?

MACE WINDU : Possibly. This wouldn’t be the first time a Dark Jedi has tried to seize control for himself during these hard times.

YODA : Hard to see, is the dark side. (cont’d) We must discover who this assassin is.

MICAH GIIETT : I sense he will reveal himself again.

MACE WINDU : This attack was with purpose, that is clear, and I agree the Princess was the target.

YODA : You must stay with this Nabu Princess, Obi-Wan. Protect her.

MACE WINDU : We will use all our resources here to unravel this mystery and discover the identity of your attacker ... May the Force be with you.


Qui-Gon turns to leave, but stops when he sees Obi-Wan remaining in place.


YODA : Obi-Wan, more to say have you?

OBI-WAN : With your permission, my Master. I have discovered an anomaly.

YODA : An anomaly, you say?

MACE WINDU : In the form of an individual?

OBI-WAN : A boy ... unusually strong in the Force. His features match those of the statue’s exactly.

MICAH GIIETT : The statue ...?

MACE WINDU : You’re referring to the prophecy of the one who will restore order to the galaxy ... You believe it’s this boy?

OBI-WAN : I don’t presume ...

YODA : But you do! Revealed your opinion is.

OBI-WAN : I request he be tested.


The Jedi Masters look to one another, nodding before turning their attention back to Obi-Wan.


YODA : Your request is that he be trained as a Jedi?

OBI-WAN : Finding him was the will of the Force. I have no doubt of that. There is too much happening here ...

MACE WINDU : Bring him before us then.

YODA : Tested he will be.

Author
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INT. CORUSCANT - HOTEL - AMIDALA’S QUARTERS - AFTERNOON


Anakin walks down a long hallway in a grand, regal hotel. He stops before the door to Amidala’s chambers, which is flanked by two guards.


GUARD : May I help you, son?

ANAKIN : I’m Anakin Skywalker, a friend of Amidala’s. Can I speak with her?

GUARD : I’m sorry, but she will see no one at this time.

ANAKIN : But you can give her a message, right?

GUARD : Of course.

ANAKIN : I’m going to the Jedi Temple to start my training, I hope ... and I might not see her again ... and ... I just wanted to say goodbye ... and that I’m sorry for her loss.

GUARD : I’ll be sure to deliver the message to her.


Anakin thanks the guard, then turns around, leaving through the way he came. As he does so he comes close to bumping into Qui-Gon.


ANAKIN : Qui-Gon!

QUI-GON : Anakin ...

ANAKIN : What are you ...?

QUI-GON : I ... (looking over Anakin’s shoulder at the guards standing beyond) came to ... to pay my respects to the Princess.

ANAKIN : She’s ... she’s not taking any visitors.

QUI-GON : I see ... What about messages?


ANAKIN : Messages?

QUI-GON : Messages.

ANAKIN : (looking back at the guards) Yes, yes, she’ll take a message.

QUI-GON : Alright then. (cont’d) See you later, Skywalker?

ANAKIN : Yes ... see you later.


Without further word Qui-Gon walks past Anakin and over to the guards to deliver his condolences. Anakin looks after him a moment, his brow creased with thought, then he turns and continues on his way.


EXT. CORUSCANT - JEDI TEMPLE - ARCHIVE LIBRARY - AFTERNOON


Obi-Wan and Anakin enter the Jedi archives of the Temple. Throughout the grand room stand countless shelves and computer terminals. A number of Jedi Knights and Padawans browse through the archives, looking for information.

Obi-Wan leads Anakin through the chamber, who tries to shrink and make himself inconspicious.


ANAKIN : Is it okay for me to be here?

OBI-WAN : The archives are restricted to non-Jedi. However, I have made an exception for you this one time.

ANAKIN : Why did you bring me here?

OBI-WAN : I have something to show you.


Obi-Wan and Anakin make their way past the terminals, where they find two Jedi having a conversation. One of the Jedi is named Jocasta Nu - a middle aged woman dressed in gold-and-grey robes, with her hair tied up in a tight bun. She is the Chief Librarian of the archives.

The Jedi turns to the new arrivals.


JOCASTA NU : So, Obi-Wan Kenobi ... this is the guest I was told about.

OBI-WAN : Yes, Master.

JOCASTA NU : To see the Statue of the Chosen One?

OBI-WAN : Yes.

JOCASTA NU : Go right on ahead. I believe you know the way?

OBI-WAN : I do, Master.

JOCASTA NU : (studying Anakin) There is a resemblance, isn’t there?


Her statement perplexes Anakin, but Obi-Wan leads him away before the young man can ask her what she meant.

The Jedi Knight leads Anakin down an aisle, eventually coming to a far wall. There - standing over them - is a massive metal statue. On the base are engraved strange hieroglyphs. The figure itself is human, garbed in armour, robes, and cloak, holding over its head an ignited lightsaber.

The features of the statue’s face match those of Anakin’s exactly.


OBI-WAN : It was shaped by a Jedi prophet in the earliest days of the Order. It is made out of Mandalorian iron, which is how it has been able to remain intact all these countless millennia.

ANAKIN : It looks - it looks like me!

OBI-WAN : Yes, it does indeed, Anakin.

ANAKIN : Who is it?

OBI-WAN : The writings on the base speak of a time when a period of peace would give way to a period of war, when a great darkness would settle over the galaxy. It says that a son with no parents would be found under the light of two stars and chosen to combat the darkness. With his brother - which could be interpreted to mean his ally - he would confront the evil and conquer it. Doing so he would become one with the Force and restore order, bringing balance. (turning to Anakin) You never met your biological parents, and Tatooine is located in a binary star system.

ANAKIN : You think ... you think I’m this guy? You think I’m this Chosen One?

OBI-WAN : I do.

ANAKIN : C’mon ... that prophecy is so vague anyone could meet its criteria. I’m only a kid.

OBI-WAN : A kid unusually strong with the Force.

ANAKIN : The Force - what is that anyway?

OBI-WAN : A living energy field which gives us our power.

ANAKIN : I thought Ashla -

OBI-WAN : I’m afraid the information your friend Nebar Foxis gave you on our Order wasn’t quite accurate.

ANAKIN : (cont’d) Okay, so I have this Force ... So do a million other beings then. How do you know one of them isn’t this Chosen One?

OBI-WAN : Look at the statue, Anakin.

ANAKIN : So what? In this galaxy there’s bound to be someone who looks a lot like me - and this statue - a lot of someones, actually. How can you know I’m the one?

OBI-WAN : It’s a feeling I have. I can’t explain it to you in any other way that you’ll understand.

ANAKIN : It’s not smart to always trust your feelings, you know.

OBI-WAN : It is the way of the Force to trust our feelings. We’re taught that from the very beginning.

ANAKIN : Well ... I’ll admit you know more about this than I do.

OBI-WAN : Already open to receiving wisdom, are you? That’s good. Very good. Work on that.

ANAKIN : Sure ... you’re the Master.

OBI-WAN : (cont’d) The darkness mentioned in the prophecy ... it may have nothing at all to do with the Cloners. This darkness may in fact centre around the Jedi assassin.

ANAKIN : You think he could be a threat to the galaxy at large?

OBI-WAN : Possibly - especially if he is only one of many.

ANAKIN : You mean like an organization of evil Jedi?

OBI-WAN : Precisely.

ANAKIN : But wouldn’t you Jedi have noticed them? Wouldn’t the Force send you a vision or something?

OBI-WAN : Darksiders are shrewd. They very well could have escaped our notice. (cont’d) If this Jedi is in allegiance with a dark side organization, then the Force be with us. Not since the days of the Sith have we faced such a threat.

ANAKIN : The Sith?

OBI-WAN : The Sith were the enemies of the Jedi Order at one point thousands of years in the past ... (cont’d) They were once noble Jedi, brothers in the Force. But they chose to explore the mysteries of the dark side of the Force. They were corrupted.

ANAKIN : Were they - ?

OBI-WAN : They were expelled from the Order, and eventually had to be exiled, forced from the Republic. They were sent out into the unknown, where it was believed they perished. They didn’t. They found their way to the homeworld of a primitive race - the Sith, from whom they took their name. (cont’d) The fallen Jedi conquered the Sith and in time interbred with them, creating an empire, an empire of Sith. This Sith Empire found its way back to the Republic. (cont’d) The Sith brought nothing but death and disaster, corrupting anything they didn’t destroy.

ANAKIN : But they’re gone now?

OBI-WAN : Exterminated. In the last days of the Sith Wars. Suicide.

ANAKIN : You must be thankful.

OBI-WAN : Indeed I am.


They both take one final look at the statue, then leave.

Author
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EXT. CORUSCANT - JEDI TEMPLE - BALCONY - SUNSET


Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon stand out on the balcony, looking out at the city lights beyond.


QUI-GON : Skywalker will not pass the Council’s tests, and you know it. He is far too old.

OBI-WAN : Anakin will become a Jedi. I promise you.

QUI-GON : Don’t defy the Council, Obi-Wan.

OBI-WAN : I will do what I must.

QUI-GON : They will not go along with you this time.

OBI-WAN : There is still much for you to learn, Qui-Gon.


INT. CORUSCANT - HOTEL - AMIDALA’S CHAMBERS - SUNSET


Amidala is sitting in a grand chair, facing the window, watching the sunset. Her face is expressionless, her eyes sunken and dark. Silently, her door opens, and a guard steps in.


GUARD : Your Highness, you have a visitor. He wishes to speak with you.

AMIDALA : I told you I don’t want to be disturbed.

GUARD : It is a Colonel Bail Organa that wishes to speak with you, milady. He says he has news on the Senate’s decision regarding the situation on Nabu.


Amidala stands up, turning to face the guard.


AMIDALA : Send him in.


The guard moves aside, allowing Bail to step inside. The guard leaves the room, closing the door to allow them privacy.


AMIDALA : Well, what has happened? Will the Senate send a second fleet to liberate Nabu?

COL. ORGANA : The Senate debated the issue ... and many good arguments in favour of the mission were put on the table ...

AMIDALA : And?

COL. ORGANA : They decided that the crisis on Nabu is too much a burden to deal with at this time. They voted not to send another fleet.

AMIDALA : (enraged) No! Dammit! Damn them all!


Amidala races over to her night stand, picking up a solid metal statuette. With a scream of pure rage she heaves the piece at her window, cracking it in several places. The door to the room is quickly opened and the guard pounces in, levelling his blaster at Organa.

GUARD : What is it?! What’s going on?!

AMIDALA : It’s ... there’s no problem. I just reacted to some very bad news.

GUARD : (lowering his blaster) You’re okay?

AMIDALA : I’m fine ... You can leave, now.


The guard retreats back through the door and closes it. The Colonel and Princess turn their attention back on each other.


AMIDALA : So there’s no hope for my people. There’s nothing.

COL. ORGANA : The Senate won’t sanction a second liberation mission, no.

AMIDALA : In other words, “No, there isn’t”.

COL. ORGANA : I said the Senate wouldn’t. I can.

AMIDALA : What are you talking about?

COL. ORGANA : I’m a member of the Royal House of Alderaan, remember? I can use the influence on my homeworld to arrange the formation of another fleet. It’ll take some time, but I’m sure -


Amidala embraces Organa, wrapping him in a big, tight hug.


AMIDALA : Oh, thank you! Thank you, Colonel! I’ll never forget this!

COL. ORGANA : Princess ... you’re hurting me ...

AMIDALA : Oh ...!


Amidala releases the Colonel. He rubs his shoulder.


COL. ORGANA : Has anyone ever told you’ve got a strong grip?

AMIDALA : Only all the time. (cont’d) Thank you again, Colonel. I can’t thank you enough.

COL. ORGANA : Think nothing of it. You just stay here on Coruscant and relax, and I’ll have everything taken care of on Nabu.

AMIDALA : No, Colonel. I’m returning to Nabu.

COL. ORGANA : What!? No! There’s no way -

AMIDALA : Nothing you say or do is going to keep me from going back. (con’t) My brother needs me. I’m going back for him.

Author
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INT. CORUSCANT - JEDI TEMPLE - COUNCIL CHAMBERS - SUNSET


Anakin stands before the twelve Jedi. Mace Windu holds a small hand-held viewing screen. Images flash across the screen in rapid succession.


ANAKIN : A ship ... a cup ... a speeder.


Windu turns the viewing screen off, nodding to Yoda.


YODA : Good, good, young man. How do you feel?

ANAKIN : Cold.

YODA : Afraid are you?

ANAKIN : No, sir.

MACE WINDU : Afraid of what life might hold in store for you?


Anakin hesitates a moment.


YODA : See through you, we can.

MACE WINDU : Be mindful of your feelings ...

MICAH GIIETT : Your thoughts dwell on your mother - your family.

ANAKIN : I miss them. I can’t help that.

YODA : Afraid to lose them, I think.

ANAKIN : (annoyed) What’s that got to do with anything?

YODA : Everything. Fear is the path to the dark side ... Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate ... hate leads to suffering.

ANAKIN : (angry) I’m not afraid!

YODA : A Jedi must have the deepest commitment, the most serious mind. I sense much fear in you.

ANAKIN : I am not afraid.

YODA : Then continue, we will.


INT. CORUSCANT - JEDI TEMPLE - TWILIGHT


Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon, and Anakin stand before the members of the Jedi Council.


YODA : You were correct, Obi-Wan.

MICAH GIIETT : The Force is strong with him.

OBI-WAN : He is to be trained, then.


The Jedi Masters look to one another.


MACE WINDU : No. He will not be trained.


A fleeting expression of anger passes over Anakin’s face.


OBI-WAN : No?!

MACE WINDU : He is too old. There is already too much anger in him.

OBI-WAN : You have seen the statue! You know there is a resemblance! You must see that he is the Chosen One!

MICAH GIIETT : I sympathize with you, Obi-Wan. But the resemblance is just that - a resemblance. An uncanny resemblance perhaps, but a resemblance nonetheless.

YODA : Clouded this boy’s future is.

OBI-WAN : I will train him, then. I will take Anakin as my apprentice.


YODA : A ward you have, Obi-Wan.

OBI-WAN : Qui-Gon is not my apprentice. Once Master Dooku has fully recuperated Qui-Gon will go back to him. (cont’d) I am ready to take on my own Padawan.

YODA : Ready are you? What know you of ready? A Knight you may be, but headstrong you are and much have you to learn about the living Force. (cont’d) Our own council we will keep on who is ready.

MACE WINDU : Now is not the time for this ... Princess Amidala will be returning home, possibly with Alderaan’s royal navy with her.

MICAH GIIETT : The Princess’s attacker may be drawn out.

YODA : Events are moving fast ... too fast.

MACE WINDU : Go with the Princess to Nabu and discover the identity of this dark warrior. He may be the key to unravelling the mystery of who is behind this invasion.

YODA : Young Skywalker’s fate will be decided later.

OBI-WAN : I brought Anakin here. He has nowhere else to go.

MACE WINDU : He is under your care, Obi-Wan. We will not dispute that.

YODA : Protect the Princess, and may the Force be with you.


Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon, and Anakin leave.

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EXT. CORUSCANT - SENATE LANDING PLATFORM - EVENING


Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon, and Anakin stand on the platform. The two Jedi are close together, arguing. Anakin stands off to the side, watching them.


QUI-GON : ... It is not disrespect, Obi-Wan. It is the truth.

OBI-WAN : From your point of view ...

QUI-GON : Anakin is dangerous. They all sense it. Why can’t you?

OBI-WAN : His fate is uncertain, not dangerous. The Council will decide Anakin’s future. That should be enough for you.


Organa, Vaness, Tarpals, Amidala and her bodyguards arrive. Obi-Wan greets them, then walks over to Anakin.


ANAKIN : Obi-Wan, I don’t want to be a problem.

OBI-WAN : You won’t be. Qui-Gon is simply employing caution. Too much caution perhaps, but he will come to understand in time.

ANAKIN : (cont’d) You’re not taking me with you, are you?

OBI-WAN : No. Nabu will be a dangerous place to be. It is no place for you.

ANAKIN : But I can fight! I can fly!

OBI-WAN : Can you now?

ANAKIN : I’ve got the skills. Me and my friends Kitster and Wald had a refurbished skyhopper back home. The controls aren’t that different from the ones on Headhunter starfighters. (cont’d) C’mon, don’t leave me here!

OBI-WAN : I have no doubt in your skills, but without training -

ANAKIN : I’ll enlist! They’ll have to let me -

OBI-WAN : (cont’d) You are too young. The military will never accept a fifteen-year-old.

ANAKIN : But -

OBI-WAN : No buts, Anakin. You will remain here on Coruscant.

Obi-Wan reaches into his tunic and pulls out a datapad. He hands it to Anakin who tentatively accepts it.

ANAKIN : (sarcastic) I can play games to pass the time - yay!

OBI-WAN : (cont’d) I’ve created an account for you. You’ll have access to enough money to pay for temporary housing, food, and other essentials. It will last until I return.

ANAKIN : If you return.


Before Obi-Wan can respond a starship drops down from the sky and touches down on the platform.


OBI-WAN : This is our ride. (cont’d) May the Force be with you, Anakin Skywalker.

ANAKIN : And with you, Obi-Wan Kenobi.


The retinue begins to board the transport, leaving Anakin to watch as they climb aboard. Once all passengers are on-ship, the hatch closes, and the craft lifts off and climbs into the air.

As the craft shrinks to a point in the sky Anakin turns to leave, and bumps into something in his way. Looking down he spots a blue R2 unit droid sitting in his path. The droid’s dome swivels and a series of beeps and whistles are released.


ANAKIN : Sorry, little guy. I wasn’t watching where I was going.


The R2 unit issues a few good-natured beeps, then continues on its way. Once the droid is past Anakin starts forward, leaving the platform for the city beyond.


EXT. NABU - HALES - CITYSCAPE - MORNING


Within the heart of the city several construction droids are hard at work building a towering mechanical pyramid. A trio of Federation cruisers fly overhead.


INT. NABU - NEIMOIDIAN CRUISER - PASSENGER DECK - MORNING


Nute Gunray looks out the side window at the construction going on down below. Beside him sits Rune Haako. A serving droid - TC-14 - approaches the two Neimoidians carrying a tray loaded with two glasses.


TC-14 : Your drinks, sirs.


Haako takes the two drinks, and the droid returns to its serving area. Haako sips on his drink, then holds Gunray’s out to him.


RUNE HAAKO : Your drink.


Gunray snaps to attention, drawn out of his deep thoughts.


NUTE GUNRAY : Ah - yes - my drink! Thank you.


Gunray takes the glass, taking a deep gulp.


RUNE HAAKO : Go easy! That’s a strong drink!

NUTE GUNRAY : I need it ... to calm my nerves.

RUNE HAAKO : You’ve been overly agitated these past few days. I think you should see a medic before you have a nervous breakdown.

NUTE GUNRAY : We shouldn’t have taken this assignment, Rune. It was a bad mistake.

RUNE HAAKO : Mistake?

NUTE GUNRAY : We are in danger. Grave, grave danger!

RUNE HAAKO : We are a federation of mercenaries, My Lord. We make our profits off the backs of hungry despots and squabbling factions. There’s very little difference between this contract and any others we’ve taken on before.

NUTE GUNRAY : Oh, no. This time is different - very, very different. We’re facing destruction from three opposing fronts. The Republic on one, our own Directorate on another, with Ma -


Gunray goes silent, refusing to say anymore. He downs the last of his drink.


RUNE HAAKO : With? With what?

NUTE GUNRAY : Never mind.


Gunray then steals Haako’s drink, putting the glass to his lips.


RUNE HAAKO : Hey!

NUTE GUNRAY : Go order another one.

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EXT. CORUSCANT - COCO TOWN - NOMANSINBOTZ MOTEL - EVENING


Two landspeeders pass over the road, crossing each others’ path as they move past a motel. The motel is inconspicuous and small, tucked in between two larger buildings; it is an older, somewhat-ramshackle building, with a large neon sign plastered above the front entrance.

A taxi races down the road, comes to the front of the motel and jerks to a suddenly stop. The side door opens, and Anakin quickly climbs out.


CABBIE : That’ll be 15.50, kid.

ANAKIN : (handing him the credits) Keep the change.


The cabbie nods his head once, grunting in acknowledgement, and closes the door before Anakin can do so. The taxi then takes off, roaring off down the road, leaving Anakin standing there alone.

The former moisture farmer turns around, looking at the motel.


ANAKIN : Nomansinbotz Motel ... Pleased to make your acquaintance, Mr. Nomansinbotz.


Anakin walks forward toward the Nomansinbotz Motel.


INT. CORUSCANT - NOMANSINBOTZ MOTEL - LOBBY - EVENING


The door opens, and Anakin steps inside, closing the door behind him. The lobby is small, dimly-lit by flickering florescent lights set in the ceiling, with countless black gnats flying about in the air. In the left corner of the room stands a false wood counter, and in the right a corridor leads off into darkness. The counter is unoccupied.

Anakin walks up to the counter, and sees a button set into the top. He presses it, and a loud buzzer goes off; he jumps, startled by the unexpectedly loud sound.

A sealed door behind the counter opens, and a gangly, four-armed, two-headed Troig with three insect swatters in his hands walks in. The left head is Noman, and the right Botz; together, they are Nomansinbotz.


NOMAN : Hi.

BOTZ : There.


As Nomansinbotz closes the door, the gnats in the lobby move in around him, visibly annoying the Troig.


ANAKIN : Hi. Do you have any rooms?


The Troig doesn’t respond. He’s too busy swatting at the flying insects moving around about him.


NOMAN : Stupid little -

ANAKIN : (coughs)

BOTZ : (noticing Anakin) Oh, sorry. Didn’t hear you. Distracted
by the gnats.

NOMAN : Damn things - always come out on dirty nights like these.

ANAKIN : Do you have any rooms?

BOTZ : Sure ... twelve vacancies, twelve rooms.

NOMAN : We don’t get much clientele, as you can see.

BOTZ : But we keep lighting the lights and following the formalities.

NOMAN : It’s business as usual.

ANAKIN : How much for a room?

BOTZ : It’s twelve credits a night.


Anakin pulls a pouch out from one of his pants’ pockets, empties some credits into his hand, counts the money, then hands it over to Nomansinbotz. The Troig looks the credits over.


NOMAN : Staying a week?

ANAKIN : Shouldn’t be any longer than that. I hope, anyway. (cont’d) Say, you don’t happen to have a vending machine around here do you? I’m kinda hungry, and I could use a bite.

BOTZ : Ah, no ... Sorry.

NOMAN : We took the last one out after we found out it attracted the wrong kind of clientele (eyeing the gnats) If you catch my meaning.

ANAKIN : So there’s no place -

BOTZ : Well, there’s a diner -

NOMAN : Dex’s Diner -

BOTZ : about two kilometres up the road.

ANAKIN : That close, huh?

NOMAN : It’s nothing special, but it’s awful homey.

BOTZ : Their ardees is to die for.

NOMAN : (smirking) You can say that again.


Botz sees three gnats land on one of Noman’s arms. He swats the insects, leaving a welt and drawing Noman’s ire.


NOMAN : Watch it, Botz!


At that moment another Troig - a female shorter than Nomansinbotz - comes walking out from the corridor, passing by Anakin towards the door.


BOTZ : Hey! Where do you think you’re going, Mahrsinycan?

MAHR : Out, Father!

NOMAN : Out where?

YCAN : Just for a walk.

BOTZ : A walk, huh? Does the basket need some exercise?

MAHR : (looking down at the basket of food in her lower left hand, then back up at the elder Troig) I was just -

NOMAN : Just going out to have a quiet, romantic dinner under the stars with that Semsinlumsis boy?

YCAN : We’re grown women, Father! We can do -

BOTZ : And after dinner, what then, girl? Music? Whispers?

MAHR : Father -

NOMAN : I’ll not have them appease their ugly appetite with my food ... or my daughters!

YCAN : (angry) This isn’t fair!


Mahrsinycan throws the basket down on the floor in rage, spilling its contents. The young teenaged Troig then retreats back down the corridor, slipping into her room and slamming the door behind her.


BOTZ : (turning back to Anakin, an embarrassed grin on his face) Kids.

ANAKIN : Yeah, kids ... (cont’d) Listen, thanks for telling me about the diner. I think I’ll go for some of that ardees you told me about. See you later.


As Anakin moves toward the door the Troig holds up a hand. Anakin stops.


NOMAN : (pulls a large datapad out from under the counter top) Would you mind signing the register first?

ANAKIN : (going back to the desk, taking the datapad) Okay, sure.

Author
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 (Edited)

INT. HYPERSPACE - STARSHIP - PASSENGER DECK


Two rows of seats take up space on either side of the deck’s narrow aisle, packed tight with individuals of various species. Amidala sits in one of the small seats, Bail Organa seated to her right, a small window set into the hull on her left.


COL. ORGANA : ... The Castle Lands are full of these amazing mounds.

AMIDALA : (disinterested) Are they really that impressive?

COL. ORGANA : Yes, they are. Maybe you’ll get to see them.

AMIDALA : That would be nice.

COL. ORGANA : (cont’d) I’m hungry. I’m going to go and see if I can’t get the stewards to whip something up for me. You want anything for yourself, Princess?

AMIDALA : No, not really. I’m not really hungry.

COL. ORGANA : Okay. I’ll just be a minute.


Bail gets up, and makes his way up to the hatch in the back of the aisle. Amidala turns to the window at her side, at lets her gaze fall upon the opaque surface of the small transparisteel square. In moments her eyes begin to droop, then finally close.


INT. HYPERSPACE - STARSHIP - PASSENGER DECK (DREAM SEQUENCE)


Suddenly the ship begins to shake violently. Amidala’s eyes pop open, and she straightens up in alarm as her fellow passengers begin to panic. Bail comes hurrying back down the aisle, gripping the seats along the way as the craft trembles to keep himself upright.


COL. ORGANA : Hey, what’s going on?!?

AMIDALA : Colonel?


At that moment the ship’s intercom system comes to life, and everyone in the passenger’s deck looks up toward the speaker set in the ceiling as the ship captain’s voice pipes in.


STARSHIP CAPTAIN : (O.S.) Passengers, this is your captain speaking. We’re currently passing through the outskirts of the Dania Nebula. The turbulence we’re experiencing is just a natural accoutrement of the route we’re taking, and is nothing to worry about. I advise you all to keep yourselves seated and to strap in. As I said, there’s nothing to worry about. Don’t worry. We’ll be through this in no time.

COL. ORGANA : (turning to Amidala) Amidala -


A loud bang echoes through the deck, and the ship jerks violently as it suddenly drops out of hyperspace. Colonel Organa goes flying down the aisle as the ship windows shatter inward, sending transparisteel shards flying into passengers’ faces.


AMIDALA : (shards cutting into the left side of her face) AGGHHH!


The hideous sound of rending metal cuts through the air, and the entire ship begins to fall apart, rattling to pieces. The passengers begin to scream in hysterical terror.

Bail crawls up the aisle towards Amidala, reaching outward towards her, as the hull caves in. A wicked shard of metal falls onto the Colonel’s neck, decapitating him instantly. The head flies forward onto Amidala’s lap. Her eyes widen in shock as Organa’s glassy gaze fixes upon her.

The entire front of the ship breaks away. Out there, looming before Amidala, is a large, red-brown planet. The remnants of the craft go into a spin, and Amidala screams as she starts her descent to the planet’s surface below.


INT. NABU - STARSHIP - PASSENGERS DECK - DAY (DREAM SEQUENCE)


Amidala regains consciousness within the demolished remnants of the downed spacecraft, which lies under an oppressive red sky in a large field of dead, brown grass. She groans, but other than some slight bruising and the ugly cuts in her face she is relatively unharmed. She unfastens her restraints, and drops down onto the ground. Before her stretches nothing other than plains of grass and the battered and burned bodies - and body parts - of dead passengers.


AMIDALA : (looking at the dead) Oh, no ... Lord ... Lord ...


Amidala bends over and throws up violently. The vomiting continues until nothing remains in her stomach. Once the retching comes to an end, she straightens up, wiping her mouth.


AMIDALA : Where ... where am I?


The young Princess looks all about her. Except for the sound of the slight breeze moving over the grass, the world is eerily silent.


VOICE : (O.S.) Princess ...

AMIDALA : (looking around) Who - who said that? Who’s there?

VOICE : (O.S.) Princess Amidala ... of the House of Naberrie ...

AMIDALA : Where are you?!? Show yourself!

VOICE : (O.S.) Princess Amidala Naberrie ... follow ...

AMIDALA : Follow what?!? Who are you?!?

VOICE : Follow, Princess Amidala ... follow ...

AMIDALA : (angry) Stop playing games with me!!!

VOICE : (O.S.) The path, Amidala ... follow the path ...

AMIDALA : What path? (cont’d) Why won’t you show yourself?

VOICE : (O.S.) The path ... before you ... The path ...


Amidala looks in front of her, searching for some hidden path, finding nothing other than grass and the dead.


AMIDALA : There’s nothing -


She stops, noticing for the first time that the dead bodies and parts scattered across the landscape in front of her are actually lain close together, forming a broad line that leads to a point ahead of her on the horizon.


AMIDALA : The bodies ...


Amidala waits for the voice to say something more, but it remains silent. Deciding that it has nothing more to say, the Princess begins to follow the path of damaged corpses.

Some time passes. Eventually Amidala reaches the end of the path - and the end of the grasslands. Before her stretches a barren landscape with a cobblestone path laid through it. She takes a step forward onto the paved path.


VOICE : (O.S.) Princess Amidala ...


Amidala spins around. There, behind her, stands a tall, gaunt, humanoid figure. He is clothed in a dark brown robe, his face completely hidden in the depths of a hood.


AMIDALA : You! You’re the one who -


The hooded figure brings one, gnarled arm out from the voluminous folds of his robe, and with a gesture she freezes, unable to move. He then beings to move towards her, gliding over the ground, opening his robes, exposing her to the black emptiness within as he approaches; her eyes widen in terror as he comes to her, and wraps his robe around her.


EXT. NABU - WASTELANDS - DAY (DREAM SEQUENCE)


The hooded figure spins around once, then opens his robes; Amidala is once again free to move. The figure closes his robes, and takes a step back from the Princess. Afraid, Amidala begins to run from him, leaving the path. As she does so an oppressive heat and stench falls on her, and she falters. Losing her footing, she stumbles, and crashes into a wooden post, breaking her nose and knocking her to the ground in the process.


AMIDALA : (holding her crushed, bleeding nose) My nose ... ohhh ...


The Princess rises up into a sitting position, and tears a strip of fabric from her outfit. She brings the rag to her nose and tilts her head back, trying to staunch the flow of blood. She then finally sees that the post she bumped into is actually a cross - and upon the cross lies her mother, secured to the X-shaped torture device with metal spikes driven through her hands; the former Queen is clothed in rags, her skin loose and gray-green with decay.


AMIDALA : M-Mommy?


The cadaverous Queen then turns her head down towards her daughter, and her eyelids fly open, exposing completely blank, yellowish orbs.


QUEEN JOBAL : Ahhhh ... mi ... da ... laaaaaaa.


A torrent of maggots begins raining down from her open mouth, and Amidala scoots back from the cross in disgust. Turning her head away from the cross, she notices other crosses dotting the landscape, each with a figure crucified to it. Amidala scurries to her feet, hoping to make it back onto the path, only to find the path vanished and crosses surrounding her at every turn.


AMIDALA : Nooo ... nooo ...


Each of the crosses towering over her bears someone she knows - her father, sister, brother, Panaka, Anakin, Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, etc. Buzzards swarm them all, pecking at their decaying flesh.


AMIDALA : You’re not real ... not real ... none of this is real.


With those words the corpses open all their eyes, and in unison begin to wail in pain and despair.


Amidala : (covering her ears and shutting her eyes tight as she collapses to her knees) Not real ... not real ... not real ...


The cadavers’ wailing grows louder, too loud for Amidala to cancel out. Taking her hands away from her ears she begins to scream, joining the dead in their lamentation.

The ground begins to shake, then, and the crosses begin to vibrate. One-by-one the corpses fall from their crosses, the rotting flesh and crumbling bone in their limbs giving way. They fall in upon Amidala in a heap, and she shrieks in terror.

The now-empty crosses begin to fall apart, raining planks to the ground, leaving only empty posts behind. The ground around the posts split open, and the beams shoot up into the air like launching rockets, disappearing into the blood red sky.

The cracks in the earth grow wider, opening into massive chasms. The dead all around fall into the open pits, and are consumed by subterranean fire.

The Princess screams on as the earthquake rages around her, the chasms disappearing as the shattered ground begins to push upward, forming jagged peaks. Eventually the cataclysm comes to an end, and Amidala finds herself on a towering mountain.


AMIDALA : (climbing to her feet) Wha - wha - wha -


She looks upward toward the summit of the mountain, where she spots a palace silhouetted against roiling storm clouds. Amidala cannot make out the details of the palace, as it is too far up.


B&W MONSTER : (O.S.) Enough of this!


Startled by the loud, unfriendly voice, the Princess spins around.

There, standing metres away from her, is a hideous monster; he is a vague cross between humanoid and insectoid, over three metres tall, with mottled black-and-white skin colouring, four arms, and a noseless, mouthless skull-like face with yellow reptilian eyes set in deep black sockets.

The monster begins to walk toward the scared Princess.


B&W MONSTER : You ... are mine!


The black-and-white horror snatches her before she can flee, pulling her up under his two left arms. He then begins to walk on, climbing a natural path up the mountain to the palace on the summit. A bolt of lightning flashes from the overcast sky above.


EXT. NABU - MOUNTAIN PALACE - COURTYARD - DAY (DREAM SEQUENCE)


The monster and Amidala arrive at the palace grounds. As Amidala sees the palace she recognizes it as a twisted, decaying, sharp-angled twin to the Theed Palace.

The monster moves forward, climbing over a warped drawbridge spanning a yellow acid-filled moat. They come to the barred entrance of the castle, which is guarded by a second monster - similar to the first, but with a horn-crowned humanoid head and black-and-red colouring.


B&R MONSTER : What is your business here?


The black-and-white monster brings out Amidala, holding her before him by her hair.


B&W MONSTER : For the Master.


The black-and-red monster steps forward, lowering his face down to Amidala’s. He takes two sniffs, then nods once. He returns to his post by the palace entrance, grabbing hold of a wheel set into the wall, and begins to turn it. The bars in the entrance begin to lift, allowing entrance.


B&R MONSTER : Go forward.


The black-and-white monster tucks Amidala back under his arm, and together with the black-and-red monster they step into the castle.


INT. NABU - MOUNTAIN PALACE - ENTRANCE HALL - DAY (DREAM SEQUENCE)


The three make their way through the entrance hall. It is a sharp-angled, nightmarish version of the original at Theed. Large torches burn upon the Gothic walls, and what isn’t bathed in cold blue light is cloaked in deep shadow. Vermin scurry across the bone-littered stone floor.


INT. NABU - PALACE - THRONE ROOM - DAY


The two monsters with their human captive enter the throne room.

The throne room is a massive chamber, with rough-hewn stone walls rising in a triangular formation to a flat ceiling above. From the walls hang midnight blue velvet tapestries, with skeletons and cadavers chained to the walls between them.

The creatures stop when they see the hooded figure seated upon a throne of bones in the centre of the chamber - their Dark Master.


DARK MASTER : My servants ...

B&R MONSTER : Our Master ...

DARK MASTER : This is she? She whom I sought?

B&W MONSTER : It is her, Master.

DARK MASTER : Come forth.


Their heads bowed in reverence, the two creatures step forward toward the throne. As they move closer Amidala sees the Dark Master clearly for the first time; he is a pale human figure, all but his mouth and chin hidden in the shadows of a hooded, blue robe embroidered with turquoise patterning.


DARK MASTER : Release her.


The black-and-white monster unceremoniously throws Amidala down to the floor.


DARK MASTER : You have done well, my servants. (to Amidala) As for you ...


The hooded man rises from his throne, and begins to walk toward her. Amidala, along with the two monsters, back away as he approaches.


DARK MASTER : You, my dear, you are the final obstacle in my path, the last barrier to be crossed.


The Dark Master raises his hands. Cyan electricity begins to dance across his fingertips.


AMIDALA : (Backing away) Please, no ...

DARK MASTER : The King is dead. Love live the King!

AMIDALA : No!!!


From within the depths of the hood eyes open, exposing bright yellow irises. The hooded figure throws his hands forward, and a barrage of cyan lightning flashes outward, falling upon Amidala. She collapses to the floor, screaming in agony as the tendrils of dark side energy seep into her bones.


INT. HYPERSPACE - STARSHIP - PASSENGER DECK


AMIDALA : (awakening) Nooooooo!!!!!!


The Princess’s loud scream startles the other passengers. Amidala rockets forward, her eyes wide open in terror, her nails digging into the seat in front of her.

Qui-Gon, who has been sitting in the seat behind her, stands up quickly, putting his hand on her shoulder.


QUI-GON : Amidala, what is it?!


Bail Organa comes racing down the hall, coming back to Amidala’s side.


COL. ORGANA : What is it?! What’s happening?!

OBI-WAN : (rising to his feet beside Qui-Gon) I think she fell asleep - a bad dream.


A stewardess comes walking down the aisle briskly, coming to the Colonel.


STEWARDESS : Is everything alright here?

COL. ORGANA : Yes, it’s fine. She just had a nightmare. (to Amidala) You okay, Princess?


Amidala refuses to respond, hers nails locked into the back of the seat before her, eyes wide with terror.


QUI-GON : Amidala, are you alright? Princess?


STEWARDESS : Miss, I can get you a drink. Would you like that? Miss?

AMIDALA : What is it -

OBI-WAN : Princess?

AMIDALA : What are we dealing with?

Author
Time
 (Edited)

INT. CORUSCANT - DEX’S DINER - EVENING


The front entrance opens, and Anakin steps inside the diner. As soon as the door closes behind him he freezes, awestruck at his surrounds.


ANAKIN : What is this place?


All around Anakin a number of customers - mostly blue collar labourers and freighter drivers - sit at booths and a long counter situated in the centre of the room, eating their meals and drinking their drinks. Waitress droid WA-7, carrying plates of half-eaten food, walks past a young waitress, Hermione Bagwa, who is finishing up a cleanup job at one of the booths. The entire atmosphere is unnaturally clean and bright, and almost painful to look upon.

Her job done, Hermione looks up, and notices Anakin standing there.


HERMIONE BAGWA : Can I help you?

ANAKIN : Help? Oh, yeah ... I’d like a table. (cont’d) I don’t need a reservation, do I?

HERMIONE BAGWA : (laughs) This isn’t the Clarendox, kid. Find a free booth or take a seat at the counter. (cont’d) I’ll be with you in a minute.


Anakin nods once in acknowledgement, then takes a seat in one of the booths. He picks up a menu sitting on the tabletop, and begins to read through it. In a few minutes Hermione walks over to him, ready to take his order.


HERMIONE BAGWA : (pulling a stylus from her garter belt) Anything catch your interest?


ANAKIN : How about a slice of Stenness pie?

HERMIONE : Sure. Comin’ right up.


The waitress dictates Anakin’s order into her stylus, then departs. Anakin pulls the datapad Obi-Wan gave him out of his pocket, and begins to check the amount of money he has sitting in his account.

At that moment the diner door is pushed violently open, and a figure staggers in. The figure is humanoid, encased head-to-toe in gleaming blue armour, with a locked metal briefcase in its left hand. WA-7 notices the armoured figure, and moves up to it.


WA-7 : Can I help ya?

KANNEN DOOM : (anxious) I need to see Dexster.

WA-7 : Waddaya want him for?

KANNEN DOOM : (angry) I don’t have time for this! Move!!


Before the waitress droid can respond, the figure violently slams its briefcase against the robot, sending her crashing into an occupied booth. The armoured warrior runs past Hermione, who is carrying a slice of Stenness pies back to Anakin, and up to the counter.


KANNEN DOOM : Dex!!!


Hermione comes to Anakin, and hands the plate of pie to him. Anakin picks up a fork and breaks off a piece of the pie, stuffing it into his mouth. Both of them have their eyes transfixed on the armoured humanoid.


KANNEN DOOM : Dex! I need you here right now!!!


At that moment Dexster Jettster, a large, whiskered, four-armed Besalisk comes walking out of the kitchen. He freezes when he sees the armoured humanoid.


DEXSTER JETTSTER : Kannen!


The armoured figure goes up to Dex, and seizes him by the front of the shirt.


KANNEN DOOM : They’re after me, Dex! They know I have the case! I need the key!

DEXSTER JETTSTER : The key ...?

KANNEN DOOM : Yes, the key! Do you have it?

DEXSTER JETTSTER : Y-yes! Right here!


The Besalisk puts one of his hands down the front of his shirt, and he pulls out a chain; on the end of the chain is a triangular shard of circuitry-inlaid crystal.


KANNEN : (grabbing the chain and pulling it free of Dex’s neck) Good! There’s no time to lose!

Kannen takes the key and, dropping her briefcase up on top of the counter, quickly slides it into a slot in the case’s side. The armoured humanoid then begins to enter a code into the keypad set into the top of the case.

At that moment an explosion goes off at the entrance to the diner. The door, and its surrounding frame, disappears in a flash of intense light and dark smoke. Clientele cry out in fear as debris is hurtled inward, and dive for cover; only Anakin remains seated in place, captivated by the action going on around him.


KANNEN : No! He’s here!


Kannen hurries to finish typing in the code. As she moves to press the ENTER key a blaster bolt lances out from beyond the diner’s threshold, and strike’s the figure in the side of the head. Without a sound Kannen collapses, a rather nasty blaster mark burned into the helmet.

A tall, muscular Devaronian then appears in the demolished doorway, and enters the diner with a pair of large blasters in both hands. A confident grin sits upon the devilish face of Vilmarh Grahk.


VILMARH GRAHK : Now you seeing what you made me do? You had to try and destroy merchandise, to cheat Villie. And Villie had to shoot you. (cont’d) If only you had been letting go, I would have let you go.


As the Devaronian approaches the fallen form of Kannen Doom and her briefcase, Dex moves threateningly towards him.


DEXSTER JETTSTER : You lousy murdering ...


Vilmarh Grahk sets the twin blasters upon Dexster, and the Besalisk freezes.


VILMARH GRAHK : Allo’ Dex! Long time no eats, hey? (cont’d) You be backing up now, hokay?


Dex narrows his eyes, but begins to slowly back away.


DEXSTER JETTSTER : You’re not going to get away with this.

VILMARH GRAHK : (rolling eyes) Yes, yes. Always I am being told this.


Vilmarh comes up to the counter and the prone form of Kannen Doom. Holstering his guns, he grabs hold of the briefcase, pulls the key from the slot, and picks the case up. The Devaronian then crouches down over the armoured warrior.


VILMARH GRAHK : Poor, poor Mandy. And was such a tasty yum yum, too.


Grahk grabs hold of Kannen’s helmet, and pulls it off, exposing a beautiful female face framed in blond hair; her eyes are open, alive and full of anger.


KANNEN DOOM : Don’t worry, Villie. I won’t hold it against you.


She then brings her knee up into the Devaronian’s groin. He cries out in pain, and falls over onto his side. Kannen scrambles to her feet, and picks up the case. She then breaks off into a run for the door. The Devaronian quickly unholsters one of his blasters and, taking quick aim, opens fire on the fleeing Doom; the blaster bolt strikes Kannen in the back of the thigh, and she goes down. Laughing, Vilmarh rises to his feet, and walks over to the groaning woman.


VILMARH GRAHK : Silly Mandy. Would have maybe let you go before.


The Devaronian comes to Kannen, and he plants one foot down on her back, pinning her in place.


VILMARH GRAHK : Now I be killing you for good. Bye bye, Mandy.


Vilmarh Grahk brings the blaster down, aiming it at her head. His grin grows wider as he begins to squeeze the trigger.

At that point Anakin bolts up from his seat. He takes the plate of Stenness pie, and hurls it at the Devaronian; the plate makes contact with the Devaronian’s head and shatters, throwing shards and bits of pie into his face.


VILMARH GRAHK : (bringing his hand up to his face) Ahhk!


Taking advantage of this opportunity, Kannen Doom twists around and sends a powerful kick into Villie’s midsection. The Devaronian staggers back, grunting in pain, as Kannen leaps to her feet and unsheathes a vibrostaff.

She presses a button, and twin blades sprout from both ends of the shaft, vibrating fiercely. She swings the weapon once, knocking the blaster out of Grahk’s hand, and swings it again, slamming the flat side of one of the blade’s against his face, knocking the Devaronian to the ground. She then steps over him, pointing the blade threateningly down toward his chest.


VILMARH GRAHK : Hokay! Hokay! I be giving up! Truce! Truce!

KANNEN DOOM : Truce?

VILMARH : Yes, truce! (cont’d) I just be taking case, and going on my way, hokay?

KANNEN DOOM : You’re a true waste of life, Grahk.


She deactivates the vibroblade, and takes a step back from the Devaronian. He sits up, holding out a hand for assistance.


VILMARH GRAHK : Little help?


Without further words Kannen kicks Villie in the head, and he falls back to the floor, out cold. She then walks over to her fallen briefcase, and picks it up. With the showdown over, the others in the diner begin to rise from their hiding places.

Dexster Jettster comes walking up to Kannen as she slips the vibrostaff back into its sheath. He hands the key of crystal to her.


DEXSTER JETTSTER : You lost your copy, I take it. Here, take mine. I’ll be happy to be rid of the damn thing once and for all.

KANNEN DOOM : (taking the key) I shouldn’t have mixed you up in this.

DEXSTER JETTSTER : Circumstances brought us together. There was no way of avoiding it. Let’s just be glad no one got hurt.


Dex leaves Kannen’s side. Kannen then walks up to Anakin.


KANNEN DOOM : Thanks for the assistance. I appreciate it.

ANAKIN : No problem.

KANNEN DOOM : The name’s Kannen Doom. If you ever need me for anything just look me up.

ANAKIN : Sure.


Kannen turns away from Anakin, and with her case leaves the diner. As Anakin stands there, his brow creases with thought. His eyes widen as an idea then comes to him.


ANAKIN : Hey, Kannen, wait!


Anakin sprints out of the diner, and spots Doom heading down the street.


ANAKIN : Hey, Kannen! Wait up!


Kannen freezes, turning to face the boy. He jogs up to her.


ANAKIN : That debt you owe me? I’d like to collect on it now. (cont’d) You know the way to a world called Nabu?

Author
Time

EXT. ALDERAAN - ALDERA - SPACEPORT - DAY


The transport drops down from the sky, weaving in and out of incoming and outgoing traffic. The craft reaches the ground, touching down on the tarmac and powering down.

The hatch lowers, and out steps the Colonel, followed by the Princess and her bodyguards, the Jedi, and Tarpals and Vaness. Waiting for them is Bail’s father, the Viceroy of Alderaan.

The two Organa men embrace, greeting one another.


VICEROY ORGANA : It is good to see you, son. I received word of

your mission and its outcome. I’m glad you made

it out of there.

COL. ORGANA : It is good to see you again as well, Father.

I’ll be returning to Naboo soon, though - with your

blessing, hopefully.

VICEROY ORGANA : My blessing?

COL. ORGANA : The Senate refuses to send another armada to Naboo.

I’ve promised the Princess of Naboo herself that

I would have our fleet assist her. I need your

approval to ready the ships.

VICEROY ORGANA : If I allowed you to do this Alderaan would be

rendered defenceless. We would be at the mercy

of our enemies.

COL. ORGANA : Please, Father ... I made this promise to her.

She’s been through so much ...

VICEROY ORGANA : Let me see this girl.

COL. ORGANA : She’s right here. (to Amidala) Come, Amidala. I`d

like you to meet my father, the Viceroy of the

Royal House of Alderaan.

Amidala steps forward. She looks up into the elder Organa’s eyes, making contact.


AMIDALA : You will give your son those ships, to let him create

this fleet. You’ll gladly give him your blessing.

VICEROY ORGANA : Oh, Princess, and how do you know this?

AMIDALA : Call it destiny, fate, the will of the gods.

Whichever it is, it's going to happen.

VICEROY ORGANA : (laughing) She’s strong-willed, Bail. There’s

much spirit in her. (to Amidala) You’ll get

those ships, my dear. There’s a matter of

procedure, but I’m sure we can overcome it.

AMIDALA : Thank you, Your Majesty. You’ve made a friend of

the House of Naberrie.

FATHER ORGANA : The House of Organa accepts your offer of

friendship, Princess. (cont’d) Come now, Bail,

lets get you and your guests away to the palace.


The group departs, leaving the standing transport behind and passing through the teeming numbers of people crawling over the spaceport.

?

EXT. NABOO - LANDSCAPE - TWILIGHT


Viceroy Nute Gunray’s personal battleship cruises slowly over the ground, casting gale-force winds over the grass below. Several animals scurry, seeking shelter from the metallic behemoth.


INT. NABOO - NUTE GUNRAY’S PERSONAL FLAGSHIP - NUTE GUNRAY’S PERSONAL CHAMBERS - TWILIGHT


Gunray stands before Maul’s projected image. His eyes are unfocused and his skin extremely pale.

NUTE GUNRAY : In a matter of days the landing platform will be

complete, and we will be able to bring the command

ship down and secure it into place. Our hold on

Naboo will be complete, and you may then do

whatever it is you wish with the people of this

world.

MAUL : Good ... You are finally doing your job right, Viceroy.

NUTE GUNRAY : I only ask one thing in return ...

MAUL : You needn’t worry. You will receive your full payment.

NUTE GUNRAY : That’s not what I’m talking about.

MAUL : What then?

NUTE GUNRAY : Once Naboo is yours, we are finished. The

Federation Neimoidia will have no further business

with you or your Order.

MAUL : That’s where you’re wrong, Neimoidian. You sold your soul

when you agreed to the plan - you created a pact that can

never be broken. You are in our pocket forever.

NUTE GUNRAY : Whatever ... Just let us rest for a while.

MAUL : When this is over, you may rest for however long you wish.

NUTE GUNRAY : Many thanks ...

MAUL : Now, let us talk of preparations for my arrival.

NUTE GUNRAY: What?

MAUL : I will pay you a visit when construction of the command

centre nears completion. I want the final stages of this

conquest to go smoothly. I will be there personally to

make sure it does.

NUTE GUNRAY : Of all the gods that must exist, no!

MAUL : You have a new god now. (cont’d) Farewell, Nute Gunray.

The holographic man dies away. Gunray collapses upon the derelict projector with a moan, and begins to sob.

Author
Time
 (Edited)

EXT. ALDERAAN - ALDERA - SPACEPORT - DAY


The transport drops down from the sky, weaving in and out of incoming and outgoing traffic. The craft reaches the ground, touching down on the tarmac and powering down.

The hatch lowers, and out steps the Colonel, followed by the Princess and her bodyguards, the Jedi, and Tarpals and Vaness. Waiting for them is Bail’s father, the Viceroy of Alderaan.

The two Organa men embrace, greeting one another.


VICEROY ORGANA : It is good to see you, son. I received word of your mission and its outcome. I’m glad you made it out of there.

COL. ORGANA : It is good to see you again as well, Father. I’ll be returning to Nabu soon, though - with your blessing, hopefully.

VICEROY ORGANA : My blessing?

COL. ORGANA : The Senate refuses to send another armada to Nabu. I’ve promised the Princess of Nabu herself that I would have our fleet assist her. I need your approval to ready the ships.

VICEROY ORGANA : If I allowed you to do this Alderaan would be rendered defenceless. We would be at the mercy of our enemies.

COL. ORGANA : Please, Father ... I made this promise to her. She’s been through so much ...

VICEROY ORGANA : Let me see this girl.

COL. ORGANA : She’s right here. (to Amidala) Come, Amidala. I'd like you to meet my father, the Viceroy of the Royal House of Alderaan.


Amidala steps forward. She looks up into the elder Organa’s eyes, making contact.


AMIDALA : You will give your son those ships, to let him create this fleet. You’ll gladly give him your blessing.

VICEROY ORGANA : Oh, Princess, and how do you know this?

AMIDALA : Call it destiny, fate, the will of the gods. Whichever it is, it’s going to happen.

VICEROY ORGANA : (laughing) She’s strong-willed, Bail. There’s much spirit in her. (to Amidala) You’ll get those ships, my dear. There’s a matter of procedure, but I’m sure we can overcome it.

AMIDALA : Thank you, Your Majesty. You’ve made a friend of the House of Naberrie.

FATHER ORGANA : The House of Organa accepts your offer of friendship, Princess. (cont’d) Come now, Bail, lets get you and your guests away to the palace.


The group departs, leaving the standing transport behind and passing through the teeming numbers of people crawling over the spaceport.


EXT. NABU - LANDSCAPE - TWILIGHT


Viceroy Nute Gunray’s personal battleship cruises slowly over the ground, casting gale-force winds over the grass below. Several animals scurry, seeking shelter from the metallic behemoth.


INT. NABU - NUTE GUNRAY’S PERSONAL FLAGSHIP - NUTE GUNRAY’S PERSONAL CHAMBERS - TWILIGHT


Gunray stands before Maul’s projected image. His eyes are unfocused and his skin extremely pale.


NUTE GUNRAY : In a matter of days the landing platform will be complete, and we will be able to bring the command ship down and secure it into place. Our hold on Nabu will be complete, and you may then do whatever it is you wish with the people of this world.

MAUL : Good ... You are finally doing your job right, Viceroy.

NUTE GUNRAY : I only ask one thing in return ...

MAUL : You needn’t worry. You will receive your full payment.

NUTE GUNRAY : That’s not what I’m talking about.

MAUL : What then?

NUTE GUNRAY : Once Nabu is yours, we are finished. The Federation Neimoidia will have no further business with you or your Order.

MAUL : That’s where you’re wrong, Neimoidian. You sold your soul when you agreed to the plan - you created a pact that can never be broken. You are in our pocket forever.

NUTE GUNRAY : Whatever ... Just let us rest for a while.

MAUL : When this is over, you may rest for however long you wish.

NUTE GUNRAY : Many thanks ...

MAUL : Now, let us talk of preparations for my arrival.

NUTE GUNRAY: What?

MAUL : I will pay you a visit when construction of the command centre nears completion. I want the final stages of this conquest to go smoothly. I will be there personally to make sure it does.

NUTE GUNRAY : Of all the gods that must exist, no!

MAUL : You have a new god now. (cont’d) Farewell, Nute Gunray.


The holographic man dies away. Gunray collapses upon the derelict projector with a moan, and begins to sob.


INT. ALDERAAN - ALDERA - ROYAL PALACE - WAR ROOM - MORNING


The war room, a theatre converted for military purposes, has high walls and a massive stage. Several thousand Alderaanian soldiers take their places in their seats. With them are Organa and the Jedi. On the stage stands the General Noums.

The lights in the room go dark, and the schematics of three Neimoidian Federation droids - a standard battle droid, a destroyer droid, and a droid fighter - are projected on the stage screen. The images are enlarged, providing details on the inner workings of the machines.


GEN. NOUMS : Take a good look, gentlemen. The B1 battle droid, the droideka, and The Vulture-class droid starfighter. Armed with a simple blaster rifle, the B1 is a cheap model, and it shows in it’s flimsy design. It is a moderate threat at best individually, posing a real threat only in great numbers. The droideka and droid fighter, however, are both very formidable. (cont’d) The starfighter carries four blaster cannons, two energy torpedo launchers, with a compact body that can reach speeds of 1200 kilometres per hour in a planet’s atmosphere. The droideka can adopt a wheel configuration, allowing rapid movement. It carries twin blaster cannons, which can unleash a torrent of laserfire, and is equipped with a deflector shield generator capable of projecting a shield capable of deflecting weapons fire as powerful as a light artillery bolt. Each of these droids are different, with their own strengths and weaknesses - the B1 more so than the others, of course.


A series of laughter rings out throughout the chamber.


GEN. NOUMS : (cont’d) But these droids are all built and utilized by the Neimoidian Federation, and all are slaved to a central control computer. A central computer usually located onboard the command ship.


The image of the droids are replaced with an image of a pyramid-shaped starship.


GEN. NOUMS : This is the command ship. A pyramid-shaped starcraft twice the size of a Lucrehulk. The Federation droids are all controlled en masse from here. (cont’d) Now, when Neimoidian begin occupation of a captured world, they bring their command ships down onto the surface of that world to offer them better protection from an enemy force.


The holographic ship is shown descending to a planet’s surface, where it lands upon a pyramid-shaped landing platform.


GEN. NOUMS : Take out the command ship, you take out the droids. The majority of the Federation army falls to pieces right then and there, leaving only the larger capital ships to deal with. (cont’d) Unfortunately, when grounded on the surface the pyramid will be surrounded by a powerful shield. A conventional bombardment from space just won’t work. you’ll have to get up close and personal to take it out.

An image depicting the inner workings of a command ship is shown.


GEN. NOUMS : The pyramid is a massive battery, housing a reactor which constantly generates energy to power the personal shields, coordinate the droid armies, etc. This process creates large amounts of waste energy as a by-product. This excess energy has to be discarded in order to keep everything in running order, which it is. It is channelled through massive conduits, and ejected from the ship. (cont’d) Accessing the command ship’s computer, one can take control of the systems which control these conduits and seal them off.


An enlarged image of the reactor core is shown, with a large computer console situated atop a catwalk.


GEN. NOUMS : The Neimoidians design these pyramid ships so that their mainframes can only be accessed from a solitary console, a console installed within the guts of the reactor core itself. It is from this console where all commands are entered. (cont’d) Once the conduits are sealed off, the excess energy generated by the reactors will have nowhere to go. A chain reaction will begin, and then ...


The image of the entire command centre is restored. The image of the pyramid glows bright, then explodes in a shower of light. The projector then turns off, and the lights in the theatre return.


GEN. NOUMS : The Jedi Knights Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi have graciously offered to infiltrate the Federation command ship. They will fly a captured enemy craft and dock with the pyramid, then make their way to the core to complete the sabotage.

ALDERAANIAN SOLDIER : General Noums, is it true that the ships of the Neimoidian fleet are equipped with double-blind cloaking devices?

GEN. NOUMS : Ah, yes, the cloaking devices. Thank you for reminding me. (cont’d) It is true, the Federation seems to have figured out the Kaminoan cloaking technology and backward engineered it. You won’t have anything to worry about. All ships in the fleet will have Jedi on staff to help detect these invisible ships. Nothing can beat the senses of a Jedi. (cont’d) Now you know what you have to do. Keep your wits about you and don’t screw up. Luck be with you all.


The soldiers get up out of their seats, and begin to file out of the chamber.

Author
Time

I've come to the end of this series of updates, folks. My script is currently unfinished/in the middle of a rewrite. It may be some time before I'm done, so don't except any significant updates for awhile; but who knows - I may get lucky =D

To make up for this snag, I'll be posting some "special features" - some behind-the-scenes kind of stuff. I'll start with a rough timeline I've adapted from the Wookieepedia "Timeline of galactic history" article, the Star Wars Timeline Gold, and my own imagination ;-)

Author
Time

Timeline of DuracellEnergizer’s Star Wars Universe

7,500,000,000+ BBY

The Universe is created via the Big Bang.

The Star Wars galaxy is formed.

7,500,000,000 BBY

The Yavin System is formed.

2,000,000 BBY

Wookiees begin to evolve of Kashyyyk.

1,000,000+ BBY

Humans settle on Coruscant.

1,000,000 BBY

The Hutts evolve on Varl.

200,000 BBY

After a climactic battle, the near-human Taungs take over the planet Coruscant. In the battle, a volcano wipes out the major human city and ash covers the sky.

199,998 BBY

The sky over Coruscant is finally free of ash.

100,000 BBY

The Sith species, which will eventually be ruled by the Dark Jedi known as the Dark Lords of the Sith, begins to develop.

On Coruscant, Galactic City (later Republic City and then Imperial City) is built.

95,000 BBY

This is the last time the lower fifty levels of Coruscant see the sun.

36,500 BBY

Around this time, the energy field created by all living things, the Force, is "discovered" on the planet Tython.

28,300 BBY

Around this time, the future Sith ruler Adas is born.

28,000 BBY

The Sith warlord Adas becomes the first (and only) monarch of the entire Sith species (until the arrival of the Dark Jedi from the Second Great Schism) when he uses his military prowess to unite the various Sith nations on Korriban into one society.

27,500 BBY

Humans colonize Alderaan.

27,000 BBY

The first energy weapons, beam tubes, are created.

25,800 BBY

Around this time, Force-users on Tython who have learned to harness a positive energy (the light side) that they call "Ashla" engage in the Force Wars against those who would use the Force to attain personal power. In the wake of the Force Wars on Tython, the followers of the light side will form the monastic warrior society known as the Jedi Order. Its warriors, as they spread throughout the galaxy to aid other cultures, will become known as Jedi Knights.

25,100 BBY

According to some accounts, a heretofore unknown alien race, the original inventors of hyperdrive technology, enters the Corellian system and sells the hyperdrive technology to the Corellians.

25,000 BBY

The Old Republic is formed.

Basic becomes the galactic standard language.

Alderaan becomes an early member of the Old Republic.

Ancient Taung Shadow Warriors relocate from Coruscant to the planet Roon.

25,000-24,000 BBY

The Jedi begin receiving funds from the Republic Senate in return for their rather autonomous services.

24,500 BBY

A single Jedi, Xendor, falls to the dark side. He gathers like-minded Jedi, followers of the dark side of the Force (known in Tython lore as the "Bogan") and creates the Legions of Lettow. The Lettow legions wage war against the Jedi Order in a conflict that will come to be called the First Great Schism.

In the wake of the First Great Schism, those Jedi who delve into the dark side or otherwise defy the Jedi Council are persecuted for their beliefs. Instead, these "fallen" Jedi begin studying their darker arts in secret. This will last for approximately seventeen millennia until the outbreak of the Second Great Schism.

15,000 BBY

The Hutts take over Evocar and rename it Nal Hutta. This move takes place after their original homeworld, Varl, is devastated.

7,032 BBY

The Gungans on Naboo, after a fierce struggle for land with another race, are driven underwater, where they begin to create their legendary underwater habitats.

7,003 BBY

A group of fallen Jedi (Dark Jedi) declare themselves free of the control of the Jedi Council, breaking away from the Jedi Order. They will spend the next three years in hiding, studying the dark side. This event comes to be known as the Second Great Schism.

7,000 BBY

The ancient Taung Shadow Warriors who relocated from Coruscant to the planet Roon now relocate again to the planet Mandalore, which they name as such in honour of their first great leader, Mandalore the First. This culture will come to be known as the Mandalorian culture, and all future leaders will bear the title of "Mandalore" or "Lord Mandalore".

The group of Dark Jedi, who have been hiding their delving into the dark side and studying in secret since the Second Great Schism three years earlier, discover that the Force can be used to bend and manipulate life itself in twisted ways. This pioneers the science of dark side mutations. They finally dare to emerge en masse. This erupts into a conflict between the light side Jedi and the dark side Jedi that comes to be known as the Hundred-Year Darkness.

6,913 BBY

The first archaic lightsabers are created, one of which will come into the possession of the Dark Jedi Karness Muur.

6,900 BBY

The Hundred-Year Darkness ends with a climactic battle on Cobros, where the Dark Jedi are nearly all wiped out, along with most of the life on the planet. Those who survive are exiled from the Republic. Many of the Dark Jedi who were exiled after the Second Great Schism discover the Sith species. The exiles are accepted as gods and rulers by the primitive Sith. They come to rule the species as the "Dark Lords of the Sith", and create the vast Sith Empire far from the Republic. Among the dark side exiles that survived Corbos are Ajunta Pall (whom some believe may have been the first to earn the title of Dark Lord) and Karness Muur.

6,000 BBY

Around this time, the Sith Empire finally begins the cycle of infighting that has become the hallmark of Sith Orders. Having expanded as far as it can without venturing close enough to Old Republic space to be noticed and repelled, the Sith Empire stops expanding, and power struggles begin amongst the Sith Lords and their followers. This cycle will continue for one thousand years, as the Sith Lords drive the Sith Empire toward internal collapse.

5,689 BBY

The lightsaber replaces Force-augmented swords as the weapon of choice among the Jedi.

5,100 BBY

Marka Ragnos is declared Dark Lord of the Sith. He will come to force the other Sith to focus their anger and machinations on him instead of upon expansion, which he fears will only lead to the downfall of the Sith Empire.

5,032 BBY

On Naboo, the Ankura and Otolla Gungans unite.

As a symbol of their new unity, the Gungans build the city of Spearhead (later renamed Otoh Gunga) in Lake Paonga.

At about the same time that the Gungans unite, the civilization that forced them underwater dies out, leaving numerous ruins above and below the surface of Naboo.

5,020 BBY

Gav and Jori Daragon are born on Cinnagar.

5,002 BBY

Gav and Jori Daragon decline Jedi training, preferring instead to continue working with their parents as hyperspace navigators.

5,000 BBY

The Great Hyperspace War occurs.

Dark Lord of the Sith Naga Sadow escapes to Yavin 4 with his followers.

In the wake of the Great Hyperspace War, the Sith Empire quickly begins to collapse, fragmenting into several warring factions.

The Jedi Order is given land on Coruscant. They are expected to create a fortress there in case invaders ever reach Coruscant again. A simple training centre which will one day grow into the great Jedi Temple is constructed over a Force nexus.

The planet Tatooine is discovered by the Republic.

Outside the Republic, Son Hhat comes to power on his homeworld of Perdonis, establishing a tyrannical regime which will last for almost a thousand years.

4,988-4,954 BBY

Fugitive Dark Jedi and other darksiders flee to Sith space, establishing themselves as warlords and lieutenants within the various Sith factions.

4,966 BBY

Perdonis begins waging a war of conquest on other worlds in neighbouring systems.

4,943 BBY

Perdonis conquers several worlds, including Natisular, Utarius, Nibon, Yetis, and Sevara. This new mini-empire is christened the Perdoni Coalition.

4,904 BBY

The remnants of the Sith Empire, compromised by struggles with the Republic, infighting, and the invasion of outside criminal enterprises, is reconfigured into the Sith Order. The Sith embrace the life of piracy in order to survive, abandoning their former worlds to plunder the regions in between Sith and Republic space.

A sole Sith Lord takes his faction into the Unknown Regions. They begin to rebuilding their civilization and plotting revenge against the Jedi.

4,900-4,861 BBY

The Perdoni Coalition expands, assimilating dozens of inhabited worlds.

4,800 BBY

Lightsaber technology is refined; external power packs and cords are replaced with small internal power cells.

Facing persecution from the Republic, the Sith seek to improve their public image by abandoning piracy and become mercenaries.

4,677 BBY

The Perdoni Coalition reaches its ultimate size, and begins to encroach on Republic territories.

4,677-4,672 BBY

A series of small borderline skirmishes are fought between the Coalition and Republic forces.

4,672 BBY

Tensions between the Perdoni Coalition and Galactic Republic escalate to all-out war. The Coalition-Republic Crisis begins.

4,671 BBY

The Quadrumvirate, the ruling body of the Coalition, makes an offer to the Sith; in exchange for their services, they will grant the Sith citizenship in the Coalition, giving them new worlds to call their own. The Dark Lord Detori Raje accepts their proposal, officially siding with them against the Republic.

4,666 BBY

Three fourths of the Sith fleet is destroyed at the Battle of Nefeyi, nearly crippling the Sith war machine.

4,663 BBY

The Sith pull out of their contract with the Quadrumvirate and set about blockading their worlds, hoping to obtain sovereignty. The Perdoni Coalition strikes back by obliterating their meager fleet and bombarding the Sith worlds. Most of the Sith, including their Dark Lord Raje, are exterminated in the massacre that will come to be known as the Great Sith Purge.

4,662-4,658 BBY

The few surviving Sith scatter throughout the Galaxy, setting up shop on a number of backwater planets.

4,661 BBY

A joint team of Jedi and Sith infiltrate the Overtower on Perdonis, a massive power plant connected directly to the radioactive core of the world itself. The Sith and Jedi sabotage the coolant systems of the Overtower, transforming the tower into a massive atomic bomb. The Overtower explodes, blasting the planet into radioactive dust with one massive explosion.

With the Quadrumvirate dead and their capital world destroyed, the Perdoni Coalition falls into chaos.

4,660 BBY

Delegates of the Republic and Coalition meet on the neutral world of Grentarik, where a peace treaty is signed. The Coalition-Republic Crisis comes to a close.

4,599-4,588 BBY

The worlds of the former Perdoni Coalition are annexed into the Republic.

4,470 BBY

Freedon Nadd, a Jedi apprentice of unequaled enthusiasm and dedication, approaches what he believes to be the end of his apprenticeship and promotion to Jedi Knight. But when the time comes, the Jedi Masters refuse to grant him the title. Stunned at this contradictory action, he seeks the advice of Master Matta Tremayne, who tells him "some things you must find in yourself". She won’t tell him what’s keeping him from Knighthood. Enraged, he murders Tremayne, steals a ship, and flies toward the worlds of the former Sith Empire.

4,400 BBY

Freedon Nadd, a Dark Jedi bearing Sith magic, goes to Yavin 4, where he battles the Massassi and forces them to remember their heritage of service under Naga Sadow. The Massassi then lead Nadd to Sadow’s resting place, where Sadow’s spirit awakens and teaches Nadd the ways of the Sith. After learning an amazing amount of Sith magic, Nadd destroys Sadow and then goes to Onderon, where he comes to rule through his Sith powers as the new Dark Lord of the Sith.

4,250 BBY

A brief civil war between the Jedi occurs on Coruscant, bringing about the Third Great Schism. These Dark Jedi find refuge in the Vultar system, where they discover strange alien technology. When they try to use this technology, they find that they cannot control it and end up destroying themselves in what comes to be known as the Vultar Cataclysm.

4,200 BBY

Miners come to Tatooine, establishing Anchorhead. The mining operations only last a few years, with very few people remaining on the world. Within a few hundred years, humans are once again absent from the world.

4,000-3,951 BBY

The Old Sith Wars occur.

3,996 BBY

Around this time, the remains of Freedon Nadd, left on the Dxun moon of Onderon by the Jedi Master Arca Jeth, begin to taint the entire moon, which over the next four millennia will become an entire dark side moon.

The Senate approves funding for an expansion of the Jedi Temple on Coruscant.

3,980 BBY

Better navicomputers leave no need for hyperspace beacons.

3,900 BBY

The planet Naboo is colonized by settlers from Grizmallt.

3,681-3,653 BBY

The Great Galactic War occurs.

3,653-3,641 BBY

The Cold War occurs.

3,653 BBY

In the wake of the Great Galactic War, the Republic experiences an economic depression.

3,500 BBY

An expansion to the Jedi Temple on Coruscant is made.

3,032 BBY

The War of the Gungan Tribes occurs.

2,519 BBY

An expansion to the Jedi Temple on Coruscant is made, including the addition of the Jedi Archives.

2,000 BBY

Jedi Master Phanius absconds from the Order, taking fifty followers with him and forming the New Sith Empire. This departure comes known as the Fourth Great Schism.

2,000-1,000 BBY

The New Sith Wars occur.

1,989 BBY

The planet of Bespin is first colonized.

Coruscant’s lower levels are taken over by the criminal elements of the population.

1,980 BBY

Lord Ecclessis Figg builds Cloud City on Bespin.

1,100 BBY

Tatooine is rediscovered by the Galactic Republic.

1,026 BBY

Darth Bane is born to Hurst Bane and his wife, who dies in childbirth, on Apatros.

1,020 BBY

Hetton begins studying the dark side under Gula Dwan, at his mother’s urging. Very soon, Hetton loses faith in Dwan’s knowledge and the family begins collecting various Sith and Force-related artifacts to use in later training.

1,013 BBY

At the age of thirteen, Darth Bane begins working the cortosis mines of Apatros.

1,010 BBY

Zannah (the future Darth Zannah) is born on Somov Rit.

1,008 BBY

At the age of eighteen, Darth Bane is savagely beaten by his abusive father, Hurst. While in bed that night, Darth wishes for his father to die. This hate-fueled thought process unknowingly leads to Hurst’s heart attack, Darth’s first kill using the dark side.

1,006 BBY

The Brotherhood of Darkness, under Lord Kaan, conquers the ancient Sith world of Korriban, slaying thousands of Republic troops and nearly one hundred Jedi in the process. The Sith Lords Qordis and Kopecz immediately set about resurrecting the Sith Academy on the world.

1,005 BBY

Around this time, word of Kaan’s Brotherhood of Darkness becomes more widespread. Hetton’s mother urges him to join them, but he refuses to join any political faction. When she persists, he kills her.

1,003 BBY

Darth Bane is recruited into the Sith army and placed in the Gloom Walkers unit under the command of Lieutenant Ulabore. He eventually works his way up to the rank of sergeant.

1,002 BBY

Darth Bane is taken to the Sith academy on Korriban, where he begins his training under Lord Qordis.

1,000 BBY

Jedi initiates begin using training lightsabers, low-powered variants of the real weapons, in their training exercises.

Most of the Sith are exterminated in the Battle of Ruusan.

Having escaped the extermination of the Sith on Ruusan, Darth Bane finds his way to the Dxun moon of Onderon, where he hopes to find ancient knowledge that will allow him to rebuild the Brotherhood of Darkness. It is there, in Freedon Nadd’s tomb, where he finds an ancient Sith holocron. Bane spends several days studying the holocron, and there formulates the Rule of Two, a rule which limits the possible number of Sith down to two - one master and one apprentice.

Darth Bane travels to Onderon, where he finds Zannah and makes her his apprentice.

In the wake of the Battle of Ruusan, Supreme Chancellor Tarsus Valorum initiates the Ruusan Reformations. This initiates a new era for the Republic, wherein the standing Republic Army is dismantled, power is transferred in many cases from the Chancellor to the Senate, and the Jedi Order becomes a branch of the Judicial Department and thus answerable to the Senate.

The Jedi initiate reformations of their own. Training must begin in early childhood, romantic and familial relationships are prohibited, and offworld Jedi councils are disbanded, centralizing Jedi leadership on Coruscant.

Six months after the Battle of Ruusan, the Republic pardons any non-Sith who had served in the Brotherhood of Darkness’ army.

With the new prohibitions against marriage, the Nabooan Jedi Lord Kayos dissolves the relationship with his wife Lady Zara. This move will lead to war between their two city-states, eventually bringing about the Time of Suffering.

990 BBY

His body weakening and Zannah as yet unwilling or unable to challenge him for his position, Darth Bane chooses to seek out the ancient holocron of Lord Andeddu in order to preserve his spirit in a new body, which will give him enough time for Zannah to make her move or allow him to train a new apprentice. Zannah discovers this and, believing Bane has abandoned the Rule of Two so that he can continue on indefinitely as the sole Sith Lord, leaves to continue the Sith Order on her own.

Zannah takes Hetton on as her apprentice.

990-980 BBY

To prepare herself for her inevitable confrontation with Darth Bane, Zannah masters Sith magic and begins experimenting with creating a lightsaber crystal capable of generating a blade that can cut through other lightsabers; her experiments will bear fruit with the blood-red penari crystal.

985 BBY

Darth Bane takes the assassin Huntress (the future Darth Cognus) on as his new apprentice.

980 BBY

Bane contacts Zannah, and the two with their apprentices meet up for a final confrontation on Ambria. In the resulting battle Hetton is killed and Zannah bests Bane when his lightsaber shorts out under hers and she uses her dark side powers against him. Bane unsuccessfully tries to transfer his spirit into her body, and is lost. Zannah then becomes Dark Lady of the Sith, taking the Huntress on as her new apprentice.

Zannah, having acquired several personality traits from Bane after his possession attempt, begins to call herself "Darth" Zannah. This will eventually lead to the tradition of using Darth as a Sith title until the time of Palpatine.

The bloodshine crystal - a much weaker form of the penari crystal - is created and becomes the standard lightsaber crystal used in Sith lightsabers.

900 BBY

Centuries before the development of their cloning technology and their instigation of the Clone Wars, the Kaminoans of the satellite galaxy Companion Grek live on a world trapped in an ice age. At some point, this ice age begins to fade, and the icebergs and other glacial formations begin to melt, flooding the planet.

896 BBY

Minch Yoda is born on an unknown planet.

In the wake of the Great Flood, the Kaminoans emerge as a species on the brink of extinction. To repopulate, the Kaminoans develop and utilize new cloning technologies.

869 BBY

The Solath Sar, a fascistic political party of eugenicists, comes to power on the Kaminoan homeworld. The party quickly passes a series of laws which enforce selective breeding and outlaw miscegenation.

868-845 BBY

The First Eugenic War - known as the Great Purification among the Kaminoans - occurs on the Kaminoan homeworld.

800 BBY

Yoda begins to train Jedi in the ways of the Force.

King Jafan unites the people of Naboo and ends the Time of Suffering, bring about the Great Time of Peace.

Theed becomes the capital of Naboo.

800-600 BBY

The Kaminoans begin establishing colonies on other worlds, conquering countless species and forcing them to adopt their eugenic ways. This period of expansion and conquest would come to be known as the Second Eugenic War.

796 BBY

Yoda is granted the title of Jedi Master.

700 BBY

B’omarr Monks construct the monastery on Tatooine that will eventually become Jabba’s Palace.

600 BBY

Jabba Desilijic Tiure is born on Nal Hutta.

532 BBY

Theed Palace is built on Naboo.

500 BBY

The Jedi start using synthetic crystals - particularly skyshine crystals, which produce azure blades - over natural ones in the construction of their lightsabers. Within a few hundred years 90% of all Jedi would utilize these crystals.

350 BBY

The Trade Federation is founded with the mission of ensuring that mercantile interests have a voice in the Galactic Senate and to protect members from piracy and other unfair practices. Among the major members is the Neimoidian race.

200 BBY

Chewbacca is born on Kashyyyk to Attichitcuk and his mate.

The Kaminoans begin to exhaust the resources of their galaxy.

150-121 BBY

The Gungan-Naboo War occurs.

150 BBY

The Jafan Dynasty on Naboo comes to an end and the Naberrie Dynasty begins.

112 BBY

The 3PO-series protocol droid line begins production by Cybot Galactica.

103 BBY

Dantius Palpatine is born on Naboo.

The Kaminoans exhaust all the resources in their galaxy, forcing them to set their sights on extragalactic colonization.

102 BBY

Jard Dooku is born to an aristocratic family on Serenno. He is discovered by the Jedi, and begins his training in infancy.

100 BBY

The Dowager Queen crashes on Tatooine, which is subsequently colonized by miners and farmers.

Dreadnaught

-class heavy cruisers are first deployed.

99 BBY

The Kaminoans chart a route into the greater galaxy. They begin sending unmanned exploration probes into Wild Space.

Iain Atha, future CEO of ATHA Biotechnics, is born on Arkania.

98 BBY

Cliegg Lars is born on Tatooine.

96 BBY

Fort Tusken is founded on Tatooine.

95 BBY

Fort Tusken on Tatooine is attacked by Sand People, earning them the name Tusken Raiders.

Ruwee Naberrie is born on Naboo.

94 BBY

The Kaminoans begins colonizing uninhabited and primitive worlds in Wild Space.

93 BBY

A second group of colonists re-establish Anchorhead on Tatooine.

The Kaminoans establish a colony on the water world of Kamino, from whence they take their names.

91 BBY

Jobal Naberrie is born.

89 BBY

Dooku is apprenticed to Jedi Master Yoda.

87 BBY

The first clone production facility is built on Kamino.

85 BBY

Mos Eisley is founded around the wreck of the Dowager Queen.

82 BBY

Dooku passes the trials and is made a Jedi Knight.

The Neimoidians become the leaders of the Trade Federation, reorganizing it into the militaristic Federation Neimoidia.

Dark Lord of the Sith Darth Plagueis becomes obsessed with the secrets behind Force-sensitivity, and vows to uncover them.

81 BBY

A Coruscanti prostitute becomes the first unlucky guinea pig in Darth Plagueis’ experiments to graft Force-sensitivity onto non-sensitives.

80 BBY

Rune Haako is born on Neimoidia.

Shmi Warka is born on Tatooine.

Mace Windu is born on Haruun Kal.

Mysha Dashit is born on Naboo.

75 BBY

Qymaen jai Sheelal is born on the planet Kalee.

72 BBY

Raia Vaness is born on Alderaan.

Iain Atha founds the biotech firm ATHA Biotechnics, which will be one of the first firms to grow flawless clones for the Republic during the Clone Wars.

68 BBY

Bail Organa of Alderaan is born.

67 BBY

Cliegg Lars marries Shmi Warka.

66 BBY

Dantius Palpatine marries Mysha Dashit.

65 BBY

Nute Gunray is born on Neimoidia.

The Hutts take control of Tatooine.

The Kaminoans have established a firm foothold in Wild Space at this time.

64 BBY

Darth Plagueis takes Dantius Palpatine on as his apprentice.

Wilhuff Tarkin is born on Eriadu.

The Kaminoans begin invading worlds on the outskirts of Republic space.

62 BBY

A Republic recon team is sent out to Kamino to gather intel. They are subsequently captured, killed, and "harvested" by the Cloners.

61 BBY

With the threat of a Kaminoan invasion looming over the horizon, the Republic Army is reformed.

On a trip to Mos Espa, Cliegg Lars gets drunk at the local cantina and has sex with spice addict Aika Kenobi, conceiving future Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi.

60-35 BBY

The Clone Wars occur.

60 BBY

Obi-Wan Kenobi is born on Tatooine to Aika Kenobi. When Cliegg Lars refuses to help her raise the child, Aika gives him up to the Jedi Thame Cerulian, who takes him to the Jedi Temple on Coruscant for training.

Khameir Sarin is born on Iridonia. Very soon after his birth, Darth Plagueis arrives on Iridonia and takes the child to raise as his own. He gives the child the name "Maul", and begins subjecting him to the first of many cruel experiments which will grant him Force-sensitivity.

Corellian Engineering Corporation in partnership with Narro Sienar launches the YT-1300 freighter series.

Tosche Station is constructed on Tatooine.

A peace delegate is sent to Kamino to negotiate a peace treaty between the Republic and the Kaminoans. They are - as with the recon team before them - killed and their genetic material harvested.

58 BBY

Jabba the Hutt takes control of the B’omarr temple on Tatooine.

Sola Naberrie is born on Naboo.

57 BBY

Owen Lars in born.

56 BBY

Qui-Gon Jinn is born. Shortly thereafter, he is taken to the Jedi Temple for training.

The first Force-sensitive clones are grown by the Kaminoans.

55 BBY

Qui-Gon begins his Jedi training.

Beru Whitesun is born on Tatooine.

Anakin Skywalker is born to Nellith Skywalker and the mysterious Kane on Taris.

To boost the size of their fledgling Army, the Republic begins growing their own clones. Most of these clones are improperly grown, leading to many of them going rogue.

54 BBY

Amidala Naberrie is born to Ruwee and Jobal Naberrie on Naboo.

52 BBY

Darth Plagueis is killed, and his apprentice Dantius Palpatine becomes the new Dark Lord of the Sith. Use of the Darth title is abandoned, and the Rule of Two discontinued in favour of the Rule of Few, which allows the Sith Order to have up to twelve members at a time.

Palpatine takes Maul as his apprentice.

The Mandalorians enter the Clone Wars with the Invasion of Sullust.

51 BBY

Cos Palpatine is born to Dantius and Mysha Palpatine on Naboo.

50 BBY

ATHA Biotechnics begins producing clones for the Republic Army. These clones, which will come to be known as ATHAs, equal - and in some ways outmatch - Kaminoan clones.

49 BBY

Breha Organa is born on Alderaan.

48 BBY

Mon Mothma is born on Chandrila.

47 BBY

Obi-Wan Kenobi begins training in the Jedi Temple under Master Yoda.

45 BBY

Oeta Naberrie is born on Naboo.

44 BBY

Ackbar is born on Dac.

Anakin Skywalker begins to build Scrappy out of the pieces of several broken protocol droids.

42 BBY

The Mandalorians invade Alderaan and are repelled by Obi-Wan Kenobi and Bail Organa.

40 BBY

Cliegg Lars has a massive heart attack. Later, on his death bed, he tells his son Owen about his one-night stand with Aika Kenobi, the son they had together, and the shame he’s lived through all those years for abandoning them.

Star Wars: Episode I - The Beginning.

37 BBY

To replenish their dwindling numbers, the Mandalorians purchase cloning technology from an organization of renegade clone masters and begin growing their own clones.

35 BBY

The last of the Mandalorians are defeated in the Battle of Concord Dawn.

Star Wars: Episode II - Knights of the Republic.

33 BBY

A motion making non-procreational cloning illegal is passed by the Senate. All cloning facilities are subsequently shut down.

Anakin Skywalker and Amidala Naberrie are married on Naboo.

32 BBY

Jard Dooku leaves the Jedi Order and goes into seclusion.

31 BBY

Lando Calrissian is born.

30-25 BBY

A dark period of corruption and social injustice sweeps through the Republic, paving the way for Palpatine’s rise to power.

29 BBY

Han Solo is born on Corellia.

Palpatine is elected to the Galactic Senate as Senator of Naboo and the Chommell Sector.

27 BBY

Mon Mothma is elected Senator of Chandrila.

25 BBY

Senator Palpatine becomes Supreme Chancellor of the Republic.

Iain Atha illegally reopens his cloning facilities and begins growing an army of ATHAs for the secessionist government on Abdju.

24 BBY

With their ATHAs reaching maturity, the Abdjunians send the clone army to blockade the Republic-aligned world of Affa, demanding autonomy on their own world in exchange for Affa’s freedom. Ignoring the Abdjunians’ demands, Chancellor Palpatine approves the motion to send a liberation fleet to Affa, which breaks the blockade and defeats the formidable ATHAs. In the aftermath the Abdjunian government is dissolved and their world placed under martial law.

For his part in the Abdjunian Blockade, Iain Atha is arrested and imprisoned. Believing Atha’s knowledge on cloning to be too invaluable to dispose of, Palpatine has him spared and sent to the old Sith world of Ziost. On Ziost Atha is sealed within a stasis pod and placed under the guard of a stormtrooper garrison to await the day when the Supreme Chancellor may need his services.

The remnants of the Abdjunian ATHA army are assimilated into the Republic Army.

Chancellor Palpatine secretly, and illegality, continues ATHA production on Abdju for his own uses.

Jard Dooku, former Jedi Master, emerges from seclusion and begins to form a cohesive separatist faction within the Republic.

23 BBY

Chancellor Palpatine has a derelict cloning facility on Kamino repaired and reopened.

22 BBY

A renegade Sith reveals Palpatine’s identity as Dark Lord of the Sith to Jard Dooku.

21 BBY

Republic spies are captured and imprisoned on the Separatist world of Geonosis. A rescue party led by the Jedi are sent to extract the spies, leading to the Battle of Geonosis, which sparks off the Separatist Conflict.

Anakin Skywalker takes the job as Chancellor Palpatine’s bodyguard. He and Amidala Naberrie-Skywalker move from Naboo to Coruscant.

21-19 BBY

The Separatist Conflict occurs.

19 BBY

Star Wars: Episode III - A Lost Hope

19-15 BBY

The Great Jedi Purge occurs.

18 BBY

Chancellor Palpatine declares himself Emperor and reorganizes the Galactic Republic into the Galactic Empire.

Anakin Skywalker resurrects the old Sith title of Darth for his own use and dubs himself Darth Vader.

Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa are born on Alderaan.

Emperor Palpatine begins delving deep into the secrets of the dark side of the Force, leading to the eventual wasting away and premature aging of his body.

15 BBY

Amidala Naberrie-Skywalker is killed by a stormtrooper on Alderaan.

Imperial Inquisitor Visivious Drakarn discovers Yoda living on Dagobah. Before he can report his find to Darth Vader, he is killed by rival Inquisitor Fluvian Destu.

Construction of the first Death Star prototype begins.

14 BBY

Emperor Palpatine declares Darth Vader’s training finished, and, believing himself to have surpassed the Sith, passes the title of Dark Lord on to him.

13 BBY

Construction of the first two complete Death Stars begin.

Author
Time
 (Edited)

Lightsaber Colours I Plan On Using throughout My PT and The Respective Affiliations Thereof

Azure: Jedi and Dark Jedi.

Cyan: Anakin.

White: Jedi initiates.

Crimson: Sith.

Green: Asajj Ventress.

Blue: Asajj Ventress.

Purple: Mace Windu clone.

Yellow: Kaminoan clone troopers (Force-sensitive variety).