INT. DANIA VII - MESS HALL - DAY
Anakin, Obi-Wan, Siri, and Nashira all sit together in the mess hall, quietly going over the details of the conversation with the crew of the Deliverer from the night before over lunch.
ANAKIN: So how long is it going to take them to get here?
OBI-WAN: Depending on how fast they can assemble a fleet together, on which hyperlanes they choose, and how many stops they make, it could take them two-to-three weeks, perhaps longer. (beat) Once they get here, they'll bombard the dockyard from orbit and take out as many capital ships as they can before sending fighters down to the surface to finish the job.
SIRI: We're assuming this world's defenses are all tied up in the same general location as the spaceport. Take it out and this world will fall into Imperial hands within hours.
ANAKIN: There's just one thing I don't understand.
OBI-WAN: What?
ANAKIN: For the past couple months we've all been training to pool our energies together in the Force. If the Imperials are just going to swoop in and liberate us, then what was the whole point of it all?
OBI-WAN: You're unaware of how closely Mandalorians guard their possessions and acquisitions.
ANAKIN: What are you talking about?
SIRI: The Mandalorians of the past were infamous for how poorly they accepted defeat. If there was a danger that something they had would fall into enemy hands, they'd see it destroyed than lost to them. (beat) If the Death Watchmen stay true to form, they'll slaughter every sentient within these walls once it becomes apparent to them that they can't win against Organa's forces.
ANAKIN: (horrified) My God!
OBI-WAN: If we want to survive, we'll have to act in concert with Bail.
NASHIRA: How do we do that?
SIRI: Once the fleet arrives, they're going to send a message down to us informing us of their arrival. They'll give us an hour to inform the others, and then they'll attack. When that happens, we make our own move.
NASHIRA: What about Zull?
SIRI: What about Zull?
NASHIRA: Do we tell her all this?
SIRI: I wouldn't advise it.
NASHIRA: Why not?
SIRI: Primeday told me Zull wouldn't interfere with us before the revolt, but she also said she didn't know what Zull would do once the revolt took place. There's no telling how she'd react to this news; it could be the very thing that turns her against us.
NASHIRA: Or turns her to us.
SIRI: (sighs) If you want Zull to learn about this, I won't be the one to tell her. You'll have to tell her yourself.
NASHIRA: Me? Why me?
SIRI: You're the only one of us she knows all that well and the only one she's displayed affection for. If she ever takes the news well, it'll be because she heard it from your lips, not ours.
Troubled by this revelation, 'Shira turns her gaze downward at her lunch and begins to haphazardly stab at it with her fork.
EXT. CENTRAL TOWER/GARDEN - DAY
Zull walks through the well-maintained garden with Nashira by her side; dressed in a beautiful ultramarine gown with her hair elaborately held by finely-crafted silver mesh, she looks positively stunning.
NASHIRA: I'm glad you could see me, Zull.
ZULL: (smiles down at Nashira) I've always got time for you, Nahira.
As they approach a strange cyan-and-aquamarine mottled tree-like plant with huge pods, Zull comes to a stop, regarding it reverently.
ZULL: This is a vinz clortho, a plant from my homeworld. Knowing how homesick I've been, Pre had it brought here so that I'd feel closer to home.
NASHIRA: (smiles) It's beautiful.
ZULL: The vinz clortho is a most unusual plant. Its evolved so that it can only be fertilized by the zuul.
NASHIRA: What's a zuul?
ZULL: A zuul is a large, flying insect. The poison it secretes is fatally toxic to most species.
Reaching into her gown, Zull withdraws a medium-sized vial. Holding it up to the light, an iridescent liquid can be seen resting within.
ZULL: (cont'd) But to the vinz clortho, it is the seed of life itself. Without it, the plants cannot reproduce and release its spores. Without the zuul, the vinz clortho would die out.
Zull unsheathes a thin dagger and, uncapping the vial, dips the blade into the iridescent poison.
NASHIRA: How does the zuul, you know, fertilize the plant?
ZULL: (resealing and repocketing the vial) How else?
Moving up close to the trunk of the vinz clortho, Zull draws back her dagger and then, grimacing, proceeds to stab the plant over-and-over again; semi-self aware, the vinz clortho shudders with each stab into its waxy flesh.
ZULL: It stabs into the vinz clortho with its stinger, again and again, until all its poison has been emptied into the plant.
Withdrawing her blade, Zull resheathes it. As blue-black sap runs from ten cuts, the vinz clortho begins to shimmer with a slight radiance.
ZULL: From the violence of the zuul comes the beauty of the vinz clortho, and the beauty is worth the violence. (turns and walks back to 'Shira) What was it you wanted to talk with me about?
NASHIRA: Zull, we got a reply.
ZULL: (stoney) A reply?
NASHIRA: An Imperial star defender picked up the transmission. A fleet should be here within three weeks, give-or-take.
ZULL: I see ...
NASHIRA: Zull, I wanted to tell you 'cause I wanted you to be ready when they got here.
ZULL: Of course ...
NASHIRA: (takes Zull's hand) Zull ...
Zull looks down on the human girl.
NASHIRA: (cont'd) I want you to help us. Fight with us, please.
Smiling sadly, Zull puts her hand on 'Shira's cheek.
ZULL: I can't, Nashira. I'm a Mandalorian now, and Pre's my master. I can't betray him after all he's done for me.
NASHIRA: Zull, please ...
ZULL: (removes her hand) I'm sorry.
NASHIRA: (crying) Zull, you told me you were homesick. Well, I'm homesick, too. I miss my friends, I miss my family. I want to see my mom and dad again! I want to go home!
Sobbing, Nashira grabs the fabric of Zull's gown and weeps into it. Unable to tolerate the young girl's horrible crying, Zull immediately gets down on one knee and hugs the trembling child to her.