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.