INT. FALLING STAR, MESSDECK - CONTINUOUS
The crew sit at the table or lean on counters. Obi Wan paces
before them.
KENOBI
We're headed for the Yorvath system
to rendezvous with an old comrade
of mine -- another Jedi.
ALIEN GUNNER ONE
(to Gunner Two)
Long trip. We've got some time
then.
ALIEN GUNNER THREE
Before the end, you mean?
KENOBI
He's been investigating the dark
fleet, just like I have.
ALDA
(puffing on his pipe)
Who'd he almost get killed?
Kitch gestures for him to stow it for now.
KENOBI
As far as I know, he's been working
alone.
Alda opens his mouth to make another crack, but Manx glares
him into submission.
KENOBI (CONT'D)
He says the enemy has dispatched
only a small force to Yorvath. One
capital ship, a light fighter
escort, and our prize, one of those
hulks.
MANX
(disgust in her voice)
One of the slave ships?
KITCH
I don't think so Manx, Yorvath is
uninhabited.
KENOBI
On the contrary, it's teeming with
life.
KITCH
Beasts and pests, sure -- nothing
of use to a slaver.
KENOBI
I agree. But one of the hulks is
there nonetheless, and according to
my friend, the planet is being
ravaged.
HEPH
So, what's the big ship for?
KENOBI
That's the question, isn't it?
KITCH
You want to get on board.
KENOBI
Yes. And furthermore, I want to
steal it. If only... Kitch old
friend, do you know any pirates?
Heph chuckles. Alda rolls his eyes.
KITCH
All right, you heard him. Rest up
now, because things get serious
when we hit Yorvath. Dismissed.
The crew shove off for some R and R. Kitch, Manx and Kenobi
head for the cockpit.
INT. FALLING STAR, PASSAGEWAY - CONTINUOUS
The trio approach the helm.
KITCH
You may consider a capital ship and
fighter escort to be light
protection...
KENOBI
We handled more than that the last
time we faced them. And this time,
I thought we might try a stealthier
approach.
KITCH
Now you're talking some sense. But
what do we do with the prize once
we've got it?
The hatch to the cockpit hisses open.
INT. FALLING STAR, COCKPIT - CONTINUOUS
Kitch and Manx slide into their seats. Manx starts flipping
switches and punching in data.
KENOBI
One step at a time, old friend. I'm
sure the path will present itself.
KITCH
Because you had mentioned something
about going to the Senate. Capital
ships I can handle, but I'm a
wanted man on Coruscant, Kenobi.
KENOBI
Yes, yes. Let's not get ahead of
ourselves.
MANX
Course set for just off Yorvath.
Kitch's hand pauses over the jump controls.
KITCH
I've got a bad feeling about this.
Despite his reservations Kitch makes the move.
KENOBI
Wait a moment, would you?
KITCH
You're getting cold feet now?
A monitor flashes.
MANX
Ship incoming.
Kitch looks at Kenobi.
KENOBI
We've got room for one more.
EXT. SPACE, OFF TATOOINE - MOMENTS LATER
Anakin's ship floats into the Star's hangar bay, and the Star
shoots off into hyperspace.
WIPE TO:
EXT. SPACE, OFF YORVATH
The lush green planet plays unwilling host to a modest
detachment from the dark fleet, just as Kenobi described: a
massive destroyer with escort, another of the mysterious
hulks, and significant transport traffic.
EXT. YORVATH - CONTINUOUS
A vast landing field has been clear-cut amidst dense jungle.
Transports ascend and descend. Herds of exotic animals are
shepherded aboard the ships by troops of the dark army,
wielding coercive apparatuses.
Atop a distant ridge, still dense with trees and ground
cover, a hooded figure in green camouflage observes the
proceedings with weathered electro-binoculars. His face is
concealed by his cowl, except for the tip of a protruding
beak.
Down in the landing field, a lone creature, of a larger
species than the rest, easily ten feet tall, breaks free of
its restraints and begins terrorizing troops, flinging bodies
this way and that.
The beast's handlers struggle to bring it under control as it
inflicts damage upon a nearby transport.
And then another commotion from a hundred yards away -- an
imposing figure with a bull-like head and crisp officer's
dress stalks toward the fracas, also flinging troops out of
his way, sometimes with his hands and sometimes without them.
The Force.
Reaching the raging animal, the bullheaded Jedi raises his
arm and clenches his fist. The creature's knee twists and
buckles. The dark Jedi raises his other hand, and the
creature's second knee breaks.
The escaped beast topples, and the stroke of a red lightsaber
ends its life.
The handlers line up at attention before their commander. He
regards them angrily, and without a second thought, he
executes them with another single swipe of his bright red
weapon.
A row of bodies hit the ground almost simultaneously, but not
before the dark Jedi has already turned his back and begun
walking away.
The figure atop the ridge lowers his binocs.
HOODED FIGURE
(spit out like a curse)
Donzin Faal.
EXT. HYPERSPACE - LATER
The Falling Star barrels through the blue and white of
hyperspace.
INT. FALLING STAR, CAPTAIN'S QUARTERS - LATER
The cabin is tiny but lavishly appointed. Kitch snores
loudly, a mask over his eyes.
INT. FALLING STAR, ENGINE ROOM - CONTINUOUS
Two of Heph's droids play holochess.
INT. FALLING STAR, MESSDECK - CONTINUOUS
Alda and the gunners are playing a drinking game with
battered chrome cards -- Alda and Gunner Three on one team
and the other two gunners on the other.
As Alda gloats over a winning hand, Manx sweeps by and steals
the exotic bottle, pulling on its iridescent contents as she
leaves.
INT. FALLING STAR, HANGAR BAY - CONTINUOUS
Heph, Anakin, and Forbee have opened up various parts of
Anakin's fighter and are working away. Forbee's in the
cockpit.
HEPH
Beautiful bird. Don't make 'em like
this anymore.
(peeling back a panel)
Clever what you've done here --
subbing the capacitor from a P3.
ANAKIN
It was the closest fit I could
find, but it still took some doing.
HEPH
I can see it. Autolaser?
ANAKIN
(with pride)
Arc torch.
HEPH
You did it manual?! That's a real
steady hand there, Skywalker.
Anakin beams.
HEPH (CONT'D)
How're the comms coming along
Forbs?
Forbee flips a switch with a manipulator arm. His ensuing
beeps and bleeps are audible over a PA in the hangar bay.
HEPH (CONT'D)
All right. We can hear you.
(under his breath)
Brat.
Forbee beeps his offense over the PA. Anakin laughs.
ANAKIN
Hey, you think we can get more
output from the canon?
Heph leaves what he's doing and walks over to take a peak.
HEPH
Big gun not big enough for you?
ANAKIN
Not even close. Seems like she's
got more in her, but I can't figure
it out.
HEPH
Let me see here.
(peaking around with a
small penlight)
Ok. Ok. Might just have a couple
ideas ideating.
Obi Wan approaches behind them.
KENOBI
How's the restoration coming?
ANAKIN
Oh hey, Obi Wan. We're just working
on the weapons systems.
KENOBI
Good. You'll be wanting those at
peak performance. But put down your
tools for a moment, grab that
bucket, and come with me -- it's
time for your first lesson.
ANAKIN
What lesson? We're kind of busy
right now.
KENOBI
Oh, I see. I suppose you can always
train to become a Jedi another
time.
Anakin drops his tools. Heph looks only slightly less
surprised.
INT. FALLING STAR, AFT VIEWING DECK - LATER
Silhouetted against the lights of hyperspace, Anakin and Obi
Wan sit facing each other, a few feet between them, legs
crossed.
Anakin has Kitch's sleeping mask over his eyes. Obi Wan has
the bucket in front of him. He pulls a small metal nut out of
the bucket and throws it at Anakin's head.
The nut hits Anakin squarely on the forehead.
ANAKIN
Ow!
KENOBI
Clear your mind. You're not
focusing.
Kenobi throws another one off to the right of Anakin's head.
Anakin ducks directly into it.
ANAKIN
Damn it.
KENOBI
Don't anticipate. Reach out with
your senses. Feel the space around
you. Feel the object move through
it.
ANAKIN
That doesn't make any sense. How
can I feel what I'm not touching?
KENOBI
The Force touches all things at all
times. If you are one with the
Force...
Kenobi throws another nut. Another collision with Anakin's
skull. Anakin tears off the mask.
ANAKIN
I can't do this.
Anakin stands and looks out at hyperspace.
KENOBI
What's troubling you?
ANAKIN
I... I just found out that my
parents aren't who I thought they
were...
KENOBI
You wouldn't be the first Jedi to
have been born to farmers, but I'm
not surprised to hear it.
ANAKIN
I have no idea who they are. Who I
am. And now...
KENOBI
And now you are being introduced to
a world you didn't even know
existed.
ANAKIN
Yeah, I mean the Force? I know it's
real -- I've seen it. But...
KENOBI
Anakin, I am only teaching you to
control and strengthen a connection
you already have. You use the Force
every time you sit behind the
controls of a ship. You just don't
know it.
ANAKIN
Maybe. I don't know.
KENOBI
I wish I could tell you who your
parents were -- perhaps with a
little digging...
But, I can help you discover who
your are. No, not discover exactly.
Become.
Anakin looks at Obi Wan.
KENOBI (CONT'D)
Come, let's try again.
Anakin takes a seat.
KENOBI (CONT'D)
When you fought those gunships, how
were able to dodge their laser
fire?
ANAKIN
I had my eyes open, that's for
sure.
KENOBI
So you saw all those blasts with
your eyes, and then told your hands
to tell your fighter to roll this
way and then that?
ANAKIN
No. No, it wasn't like that. It was
more like... instinct.
KENOBI
Yes. Instinct. Intuition. Feeling.
That is the way of the Force. Now
put your blindfold back on and try
again.
Anakin does. Kenobi throws a nut. Anakin tilts his head out
of the way.
KENOBI (CONT'D)
Good.
Kenobi throws another. Anakin dodges again.
KENOBI (CONT'D)
Yes, Anakin.
Kenobi grabs a few more nuts in his hand and throws three in
rapid succession. Anakin tilts his head side to side,
avoiding the first two, but then the third stops in mid air
and hovers right in front of him.
KENOBI (CONT'D)
(taken aback)
Goodness, that was fast.
Anakin slowly peels off the mask and watches the nut hover in
front of him with wonder. Am I doing that?
An alarm sounds, less urgent than the signal for an incoming
attack, but more pressing than an alarm clock. The nut
clatters to the floor.
INT. FALLING STAR, CAPTAIN'S QUARTERS - CONTINUOUS
Kitch snaps awake and bumps his head on a shelf. He reaches
for his mask, but to his confusion, finds it has already been
removed.
Kitch splashes water on his face from a tiny sink and walks
directly through a hatch to the ship's passageway, the hatch
irising open at his approach and closing behind him.
INT. FALLING STAR, PASSAGEWAY - CONTINUOUS
A mere five steps take Kitch to the cockpit. Never far from
the helm, this one.
INT. FALLING STAR, COCKPIT - CONTINUOUS
Kitch slides into the captain's seat and pops off the alarm,
then eases the ship out of lightspeed. The planet Yorvath
hangs in the distance, the size of a tea saucer.
Manx walks in and sits beside him, offering the bottle she
grabbed from Alda. Kitch waves it off. Manx raises an
eyebrow. Kitch reconsiders, grabs a tin mug off a console,
and extends it. Manx pours.
MANX
Kenobi's intelligence was good.
Scanners are showing a much smaller
force than we ran up against at
Jatari II.
KITCH
That's one potential disaster
averted.
Kenobi enters the cockpit.
KITCH (CONT'D)
Speak of the devil. Manx says your
intel checks out. So far.
Kenobi hands a baffled Kitch his sleeping mask.
KENOBI
Of course it does. I've alerted my
friend to our arrival. He should be
sending coordinates shortly.
KITCH
Does his telepathy work on ships'
computers, because how...?
A series of beeps.
MANX
Coordinates received. He's on the
surface, well clear of those ships'
visual range. With our jammers, we
should be able to get to him
undetected.
Kitch looks at Kenobi suspiciously.
KENOBI
It wasn't the Force, old boy -- he
has a transponder.
Kitch blinks.
KENOBI (CONT'D)
What? He ran recon on the area, and
located a position suitable for a
covert rendezvous. We're Jedi
Knights, Renzo -- do you think we
know nothing of combat tactics?
KITCH
Well, I've only ever met you. I'm
sure your friend will forgive me
for jumping to conclusions.
KENOBI
Oh please.