EXT. METROPOLIS - HIGHWAY - DAY
The prison transport threads its way along the wide duracrete highway, making its way past the ultra-modern edifices and the teeming throngs of passersby.
Passing through the heart of the city, the transport then emerges into the suburban areas and then, passing through those, out onto the open highway, which is surrounded by wide open vermilion plains where no buildings can be seen.
INT. PRISON TRANSPORT/PRISONER COMPARTMENT - DAY
Having moved out from between Siri and Ben, Nik and 'Shira are now seated together on Siri's right; the two kids are asleep, with Nashira's head resting peacefully on Anakin's shoulder, allowing the two Jedi Knights to focus their attention on one another without distractions.
OBI-WAN: Where do you think we are, Siri? What luxurious pleasure world do you suppose our hosts have generously taken us to?
SIRI: (smirks) Impossible to tell without knowing more about the environment and terrain. What little we saw of the spaceport when we were unloaded isn't enough to figure out where we are. For all we know, we could be deep inside the Unknown Regions.
OBI-WAN: (regards the walls of the transport) They've incorporated Mandalorian iron into the walls.
SIRI: Looks like an alloy with Mandalorian iron as a component. Not as tough as the pure thing, but still incredibly strong.
OBI-WAN: Making an escape far more difficult.
SIRI: The framework is probably the same, making the armour even stronger.
OBI-WAN: But if we all could establish a rapport, pool our collective power in the Force --
SIRI: (shakes her head) It's not going to happen. Were everyone aboard fully trained adepts, it'd be possible, but most of the prisoners lack experience. There simply isn't enough time to teach them how to coordinate like that.
OBI-WAN: (sighs) I suppose it wouldn't be an advisable course of action, anyway, without knowing more about the world outside. The air could be unbreathable, toxic, or the surface bathed in intense radiation. We could be high up in the sky or deep under an ocean. Breaching the walls of this transport could mean certain death for us.
SIRI: All melodrama aside, you're correct. (beat) Even if we were to make a clean getaway, there's no guarantee the Mandalorians wouldn't be able to track us all down and round us all back up.
OBI-WAN: This is their home ground, they have the advantage. (beat) Perhaps our horizons will broaden once we reach our destination.
EXT. HIGHWAY - SUNSET
After a short number of hours have passed, the transport finally arrives at its destination. Ahead, where the duracrete highway comes to an end, are massive closed doors set into an immense wall that stretches out for kilometres at both ends; this is the entrance into the Mandalorian stronghold which houses the nascent Death Watch army.
As the transport slows down to stop outside the walls of the stronghold, the massive front doors slide open, allowing the minute transport access into the complex within. Its repulsors revving back to life, the prison transport moves forward, passing through the doors into the stronghold.
With the vehicle inside, the doors slide closed and the stronghold becomes impenetrable once again.
EXT. MANDALORIAN COMPLEX - SUNSET
Now past the entrance, it can now be clearly seen that the Mandalorian complex is massive -- the size of a large town -- consisting of numerous hangers and bunkers, all of which have been built around several ancient ruins, including the converted amphitheatre -- with kilometre-long walls enclosing the entire area. Countless Mandalorian warriors and workers can be seeing moving to-and-fro about their business throughout the stronghold.
INT. PRISON TRANSPORT/PRISONER COMPARTMENT - SUNSET
The transport comes to a complete stop, and the prisoners inside immediately take notice of that fact.
SIRI: We've stopped.
EXT. BUNKER 13 - SUNSET
The prison transport has arrived at its final destination -- the entrance leading down into Bunker #13. Waiting for them are fifty armed Mandalorian Knights.
INT. PRISON TRANSPORT/PRISONER COMPARTMENT - SUNSET
The hatch leading out of the vehicle opens, spilling bright light into the dim interior of the compartment. The prisoners all turn towards the light, instantly aware of the Mandalorian Knights who await them beyond.
SIRI: (shaking the sleeping forms of Anakin and Nashira) It's time to wake up.
Groggily, the two children rise from their slumber, and with their Jedi guardians, proceed to join the other prisoners in filing out of the transport.
EXT. BUNKER 13 - SUNSET
The prisoners file out of the transport in single file, taking care to walk at a cautious pace so as not to attract any undue attention from the Mandalorians flanking them on all sides, and proceed to walk towards Bunker 13's entrance, which is merely a large, enclosed turbolift platform.
Once all thirty-three prisoners have been loaded onto the platform, it begins to descend, taking them down into the main complex of the bunker below.
INT. BUNKER 13/ENTRANCE CHAMBER - SUNSET
Moving out from a dark tunnel, the prisoners step into the entrance chamber of the bunker, where even more Mandalorians await them. Octagonal in shape, the walls are close together yet very tall, leading far up to a balcony that encircles the top near the ceiling; standing atop the balcony, looking down upon the prisoners, is the armoured form of Pre Vizsla.
PRE VIZSLA: Welcome, friends, to Dania VII, your new home. All the basic necessities and comforts of life will be provided to you, and you are allowed free reign throughout the complex -- you are not prisoners here, but honoured new arrivals.
ANAKIN: (rolls his eyes) Oh, I'm sure that's the case.
PRE VIZSLA: (cont'd) However, you will have to work hard in service to the Mandalorian cause, and as such, you will have to adhere to the strict schedules and curfews we have put into effect. Any violation of these schedules and curfews will result in severe punishment, so take care not to breach them. (beat) As you all show varying proficiency for the Force, you will all be subdivided and assigned to different levels of the bunker. There you will be among others with power levels equal to your own, making your training easier and reducing the chance of abuse between you. (beat) You all received an injection while in captivity aboard the Nyax, an injection containing a radioactive isotope tailored to mark the level of proficiency you each were identified as having. Please step forward and present yourselves to our doctors so that you may be scanned and assigned to your level. (beat) I trust that in time, you will all come to welcome your place here and join with us in mind and soul as well as in body.
Vizsla turns and leaves the balcony, and the prisoners begin stepping forward to be scanned by their captives for the identifying markers flowing through their veins.
ANAKIN: (turns to Ben) Ben ...
OBI-WAN: We can't fight it, Anakin. We have to do as they say.
ANAKIN: But --
OBI-WAN: Just remember what I've taught you. Don't let them break you down.
NASHIRA: (panicking) No, no, no, no, no! I don't want to leave you! Don't let them take me away from you! Please, Ben, Nik, Siri -- please!
ANAKIN: (grabbing Nashira in a tight hug) I'm not going anywhere, 'Shira. You and me are stuck together like glue.
As that is said, one of the Mandalorians with a scanner steps up to the pair of children.
MANDALORIAN #11: Alright, break it up -- I need to scan you individually.
ANAKIN: (brings Nashira closer to him) Go to hell.
One of the other Mandalorians -- a hardened warrior, not a doctor -- joins the Mandalorian with the scanner, unsheathing a sword and pointing it with threatening malice Anakin's way.
SIRI: Let her go, Anakin. You can't protect her if you're dead.
Reluctantly, Anakin releases Nashira and allows the less menacing Mandalorian to scan them both individually.
MANDALORIAN #11: You both have the same marker. You'll be going to Level 9.
With that, the Mandalorian lowers his scanner and pulls out some sort of sticker gun. Placing it against the front of their shirts, he pulls the trigger, slapping them both with identical white stickers bearing the number "9".
ANAKIN: (turns to Ben) Be seeing you.
The Mandalorians lead Nik and 'Shira off, and the Mandalorian with the scanner refocuses his attention on Siri.