EXT. SPACE
With flickers of pseudo-motion, the Nyax and its escort of dreadnaughts and assault ships drop out of hyperspace. They move forward, heading toward the three primary-coloured suns of the Dania star system in the distance.
Soon, the ships arrive at Dania VII, the seventh planet of the star system. Somewhat larger than Earth, Dania VII is a deep scarlet world criss-crossed with large blue-green lines of water.
Making their descent, the Mandalorian ships enter the atmosphere of the scarlet planet.
EXT. DANIA VII - LANDSCAPE - DAY
The Mandalorian ships fly through the emerald sky of Dania VII, passing over a breathtakingly beautiful landscape of red rainforest. As the roar of the ships' engines passes over the scarlet trees, flocks of exotic birds take to flight in sudden alarm.
As the ships pass over a majestic waterfall, the red forest suddenly gives way to a vast, sprawling metropolis. Though most of the city is of modern construction -- composed out of duracrete and durasteel -- the largest structures consist of towering pyramids and parapets carved from stone in long-forgotten, ancient times; composed of black basalt, the ancient structures stand like ominous sentinels over the smaller Mandalorian buildings.
EXT. METROPOLIS - DOCKYARDS - DAY
Arriving at their destination, the Nyax along with the assault ships and destroyers make their descent, touching down upon the vast dockyards of the Mandalorian metropolis. Standing in wait for them is a large prison transport and an entire platoon of armed Mandalorian warriors.
Once secure upon the ground, the Nyax begins disgorging its crew of prisoners. Each of the prisoners -- all thirty-three of them -- are led out of the dungeon ship at gunpoint and herded toward the prison transport. As the prisoners are directed toward the open hatch of the transport, the members of the platoon standing directly before the vehicle move aside to allow the captives access to it. One-by-one, the prisoners come to the prison transport, slipping past the open, dark hatch and climbing aboard.
Once all are inside, the hatch is sealed shut, and the engines of the transport come to life. And then, without further ado, the vehicle departs, leaving the dockyards for the greater city beyond.
INT. PRISON TRANSPORT/PRISONER COMPARTMENT - DAY
The thirty-three prisoners -- each of various ages, genders, and species -- sit on a pair of benches bolted to the inside of the compartment walls, despondent expressions on many of their faces. While most of them are obviously untrained in the ways of the Force, there are a few who carry an air about them which hints that they are skilled Force practitioners.
Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Siri sit together on one of the benches; while Ben and Siri stare straight ahead, their faces expressionless, Nik can't help but to look about him, turning his head this way and that way like an inquisitive bird. Currently, his attention is grabbed by the sobbing of a child located somewhere inside the large compartment.
ANAKIN: You hear that?
SIRI: It sounds like a young girl.
ANAKIN: I'm going to check it out.
OBI-WAN: Be careful, Anakin. Not all of our fellow prisoners are our friends.
ANAKIN: I'll be careful.
Rising from his spot between the two Jedi, Nik begins making his way up the aisle between the two benches, following the sound of the heavy sobs. Soon he comes to its source -- a YOUNG HUMAN GIRL, no more than eleven years of age, with pretty features and strawberry blonde hair; hunkered down between a seemingly oblivious Talz and whiphid, she cries into her hands, visibly afraid of her surroundings.
ANAKIN: (kneels down before the girl) Hey.
The girl looks up at him, sniffling.
GIRL: Hey.
ANAKIN: I couldn't help but notice you were crying. Seems to me you could use someone to talk to.
GIRL: (wipes her eyes) That'd be nice.
ANAKIN: (smiles) My name's Anakin, or Nik for short. What's yours?
GIRL: Nashira.
ANAKIN: Don't you have anyone with you, Nashira?
NASHIRA (GIRL): (shakes her head) I was returning home from school when we were attacked. (beat) Everyone else -- all my friends -- were killed. I was the only one they took back with them.
ANAKIN: (frowns) Your parents --?
NASHIRA: They're back home, on Orron III.
ANAKIN: I'll bet you miss them, don't you?
NASHIRA: (nods) I haven't seen them since before school started.
ANAKIN: I haven't seen my Mom in a while, either.
NASHIRA: You go to an offworld school, too?
ANAKIN: (laughs) Something like that. (beat) I had to leave my Mom and sister behind on Tatooine to become a Jedi.
At this news, the strawberry blonde girl perks up a bit, her pretty blue eyes sparkling.
NASHIRA: You're a Jedi!? That's so amazing! (beat) Is it true that those midi-chlorian injections hurt?
ANAKIN: (confused) Mido-what?
NASHIRA: Do you have a kyber crystal? For your energy-spear? (beat) No, I guess you don't. They would have taken it from you.
ANAKIN: I've only started my Jedi training, Nashira. I haven't learned what moto-corinthians or kyber crystals are yet.
NASHIRA: (disappointed) Oh ...
ANAKIN: (laughs) Hey, don't give up on me yet. I've already learned how to use the Force a bit.
NASHIRA: It's not that. I just thought you'd be able to save me, save all of us. (beat) No one can beat a Jedi.
ANAKIN: (sighs) Even if I was a fully trained Jedi, I don't think I'd be able to get us out of this jam.
NASHIRA: (astonished) But Jedi are invincible!
ANAKIN: (puts his hand on her shoulder) I'm sorry to disappoint you, 'Shira, but I came here with two Jedi, (looks back over his shoulder toward where Ben and Siri are seated) and they couldn't do much more than you or I could. (turns back to Nashira) It's going to take a little bit more than Jedi powers to get off this planet and get back home.
In reply, Nashira smiles.
ANAKIN: (noticing her smile) I didn't know happiness went hand-in-hand with dashed hopes.
NASHIRA: You called me 'Shira. It's what my mom and dad used to call me when I was little.
ANAKIN: Your parents, eh? Why don't you tell me about them?
NASHIRA: Will you tell me about yours?
ANAKIN: It's a deal. (beat) How about we go back to my friends, Ben and Siri, first? (looks at the whiphid and Talz sitting on either side of Nashira) I think they'd make better company than your babysitters here.
NASHIRA: (grins) Alright!
Climbing off her bench, Nashira takes Anakin by the hand, and he leads her back to where he was seated with Ben and Siri.
OBI-WAN: (to Nashira, smiling) Hello, there. Who might you be, Princess?
NASHIRA: (grins) Nashira DuQuesne.
OBI-WAN: (offers her his hand) I am Obi-Wan Kenobi, at your service.
Nashira takes his hand and give it a loose shake.
NASHIRA: Nice to meet you, Obi-Wan.
The young girl then turns to Siri, who regards her with a half-smile.
SIRI: (offers Nashira her own hand) I'm Siri.
Nashira takes Siri's hand and give it a shake as well.
NASHIRA: Pleased to meet you, too, Siri.
Moving aside, the two Jedi Knights open up enough space for Anakin and Nashira to sit down between them. Nik sits down first, then helps Nashira in beside him. No longer alone, Nashira's face glows with hope and happiness.