ORRON III – DUQUESNE HOMESTEAD – MONTAGE

With the rising of a new sun on this side of Orron III, we watch the events of Anakin’s morning unfold from beginning to end.

Following a rude awakening when Nashira, shrieking like a harpy, bursts into his room, jumps on top of his bed, and begins beating him over the head with one of his pillows, Anakin promptly hurries to get ready for the day and joins the rest of the DuQuesne family at the breakfast table. Following a hearty breakfast of green eggs and ham, he then joins them on their farm chores. While 'Shira and Nemec team up to work with the combine and trailer to finish the season’s harvest, Nik helps Corin take inventory and work on repairing broken and malfunctioning equipment.

EXT. DUQUESNE HOMESTEAD – DAY

With the passing of morning into afternoon, Anakin’s chores have come to an end for the day. Tonight is the night Obi-Wan and Siri are to arrive on Orron III after a long voyage from Coruscant, and Nik has to leave to pick them up at the spaceport.

Having promptly showered and dressed in clean, fresh clothes, Anakin guides the DuQuesne family landspeeder out of the garage. As he uses a remote control to close the garage door, Nashira and her parents appear from out of the house, walking all the way around to the right side of the speeder to see him off. 'Shira, for some reason, has a satchel slung across her left shoulder.

ANAKIN: Well, I’m off, guys.

Unslinging her satchel, Nashira dumps it in the back seat of the speeder.

ANAKIN: What’s in there?

NASHIRA: Supplies.

ANAKIN: I already have everything I need.

NASHIRA: Yeah, well, you know me – I hate sharing.

ANAKIN: (frowns) Huh?

CORIN: She’s going with you.

ANAKIN: But it’s a six-hour trip!

NASHIRA: (narrows her eyes) What are you insinuating?

ANAKIN: (stammering) N-n-nothing, 'Shira, but c’mon – it’s six hours!

NASHIRA: (jumps in the passenger seat) Just enough time to get back in time for a late supper.

Reaching around to the back seat, Nashira takes hold of the satchel and unzips it. Reaching inside, she pulls out a small, round, iridescent disc. Hunkering back down into the passenger seat, she holds the disc up before Nik’s eyes.

NASHIRA: (cont’d) Besides, I’ve brought some tunes along.

NEMEC: Nashira rarely gets out except for school.

CORIN: It’s good for her to get off this farm once in awhile, stretch out, take some of that crisp, open air in.

ANAKIN: I … I … (resigned) I guess.

Grinning broadly, Nashira punches Anakin in the arm – hard. Wincing in pain, Nik immediately begins rubbing the tenderized spot. He then kicks the speeder into overdrive, burning repulsorlift as he peels out of the driveway.

Grinning grins as broad as their daughter’s, Nemec and Corin wave after the pair as they move off into the distance.

EXT. HIGHWAY – MONTAGE

Emerging out onto the open highway, 'Shira slides her disc into the landspeeder’s player. Almost automatically, loud instrumental theremin music begins to play over the speakers. As the speeder makes its way along the long highway, the intense music reverberates across the empty grasslands surrounding the duracrete road, seeming to transform the entire landscape into one vast echo chamber.

As the music plays, hours seem to pass by in mere minutes. As the sun moves across the sky and lowers toward the horizon, Nik and 'Shira pass by another small farm, a herd of grazing jackalopes, and eventually an ancient, burned-out ruin of a house with a sinister old woman standing out in its long-overgrown front yard. Nashira spends the time alternating between silently listening to music, chatting with Nik, and taking snapshots of interesting landmarks with a camera while he keeps his eyes out on the open road.

EXT. HIGHWAY – SUNSET

After almost three hours, the music has come to an end and the sun has now begun to set.

As the spaceport appears as a spot on the horizon in the far distance, the radiance of the departing sun bathes Nashira’s face in its warm light. Seemingly transfixed by the Munsell red glow, a wistful expression passes over her features.

NASHIRA: Nik?

ANAKIN: Yes?

NASHIRA: You never did say why Siri and Obi chose to visit us now, after all this time.

ANAKIN: Can’t say I know myself, exactly. I guess they just felt enough time had passed since they’d seen you last, that now’d be a good time to catch up.

NASHIRA: Anakin ….

ANAKIN: Yeah?

NASHIRA: They’re really here because of the baby, aren’t they? (beat) She lost it. She lost her baby.

Anakin doesn’t know what to say, so he doesn’t say anything. Turning to face him, Nashira regards him, her blue eyes almost glowing with intensity.

NASHIRA: Have you … have you ever thought about us, Nik? About our future, if we stay together?

ANAKIN: Sure – of course I have.

NASHIRA: Have you … have you thought about us having children, and I mean really thought about it?

ANAKIN: Well, I guess I … I mean …. (sighs) No, I guess I haven’t – not really. (beat) I figured it’d be something to think about later, when we’re both older.

NASHIRA: Do you think we could – if we choose to – do you think we could have children?

ANAKIN: (uncomfortable) Nashira, I – I don’t – neither of us have been tested ….

'Shira begins to say something more, but seeing how uncomfortable Anakin is with the conversation, she cuts herself off. Turning away from him, she refocuses her gaze on the setting sun, allowing herself to be immersed spiritually and well as physically in its deep crimson radiance.

INT. SPACEPORT/TERMINAL – SUNSET

Having disembarked from their ship, Obi-Wan and Siri have made their way inside the spaceport terminal, joining the other new arrivals in a line as they proceed through a security checkpoint. Standing at guard at the checkpoint, clad in their brown uniforms and riot armour, are several ESPOS, officers of the Corporate Sector Authority’s Security Police. While they make no overt motions of hostility toward the offworlders, they radiate pure, undiluted menace, their stun batons deliberately held out in the open as a warning to any and all not to cross them.

As Siri and Obi-Wan’s turn comes to cross the checkpoint, an Espo with a weapon detector walks up to them and runs the detector over the length of their bodies. Almost immediately, the detector’s warning light begins to flash.

ESPO #1: (to the other Espos) I’m getting readings!

Five other Espos immediately step forward, activating their stun batons. Taking a collective step back, Siri and Obi-Wan raise their hands, showing that they are willing to comply with the Espos. Approaching them, one of the Espos begins frisking them. It takes only a moment for him to uncover and procure their lightsabers.

ESPO #2: What are these?

SIRI: Lightsabers.

ESPO #1: Jedi?

OBI-WAN: Yes.

ESPO #1: Do you have authorization to carry these weapons inside the Corporate Sector?

Slowly and silently, Obi-Wan and Siri reach inside their coats and pull out their wallets. Opening them up, they each withdraw a pair of identical cards. Stepping up to them, a third Espo takes their cards. Pulling out a card reader, he runs each of the cards through in turn. When the green LED lights up for both, he nods to Espo #1.

ESPO #1 (to Espo #2) Give them back their weapons.

Espo #2 hands the lightsabers back to the Jedi. Silently, they clip the weapons back on their belts, their eyes focused on Espo #1.

EPSO #1: (grins) Enjoy your stay on Orron III.

Passing through the checkpoint, Obi-Wan and Siri make their way towards the exit that’ll take them out of the terminal. Once they are out of earshot of the Espos, they turn to regard one another.

OBI-WAN: It’s nice to see that Espo security is still as tight as ever.

Siri responds with a silent shrug.

EXT. SPACEPORT – SUNSET

As Obi-Wan and Siri step out of the terminal into the open air of Orron III, they spot Anakin and Nashira already there just beyond the front doors, waiting for them.

As the two parties converge, Siri breaks away from Obi-Wan and walks up to Nashira. As the two women embrace, Siri – overcome with emotion – smiles and weeps in unison.

INT. DUQUESNE HOMESTEAD/DINING AREA – EVENING

Another three hours pass, and Anakin and Nashira have returned home with Obi-Wan and Siri. They have all joined Nemec and Corin at the dinner table, where they are currently engaged in light conversation over a supper of roast beast and hewhash.

NEMEC: So, Obi-Wan, how was the trip?

OBI-WAN: Oh, it was the typical twelve-day flight – long, tedious, dreadfully boring, but blissfully uneventful.

SIRI: They’ve added a third stop-over on the trip since we were out here last.

CORIN: Where?

SIRI: In an asteroid belt somewhere in the Abdju system, on one of the larger asteroids. (to Obi-Wan) You recall the name of the station?

OBI-WAN: Asteroid M.

SIRI: I think it was Asteroid Mern.

OBI-WAN: I’m sure it was “M”.

SIRI: (to Corin) Anyway, it was just a small station, capable of holding a half dozen ships at a time.

OBI-WAN: And we just happened to get stuck there when a particularly nasty solar storm started blazing right through the hyperroute out of the system. We were laid over for five hours.

ANAKIN: You managed to get here on time.

OBI-WAN: You can thank Otto for that.

ANAKIN: Otto?

SIRI: The hot-shot pilot of the ship that took us the rest of the way here.

OBI-WAN: He knew of a shortcut through hyperspace that’d shave five hours off the remainder of our flight.

SIRI: Oh, it was a shortcut all right – a shortcut directly through the stratosphere of a gas giant.

Two minutes pass.

CORIN: Siri, I haven’t complimented you on your hair yet, have I?

SIRI: I don’t think so, no.

CORIN: Well, it’s just a gorgeous hairstyle. It looks absolutely stunning on you.

SIRI: (smiles) Thank you.

CORIN: Does it have a name? The style, I mean.

SIRI: It’s called a vaddul chignon.

CORIN: Strange name – curious.

SIRI: It’s named after its creator, Vaddul Aiisio Huiun.

CORIN: Sounds like a Hutt name.

SIRI: He is a Hutt.

Four minutes pass.

NEMEC: (to Obi-Wan) How about those PDRs, huh? Great team, great team. You follow the ecometrics, right?

OBI-WAN: Well, I ….

Six minutes pass. By this time, everyone has about finished their dinner.

SIRI: (cont’d) … we could help you with the harvest. It’s no trouble, really.

NEMEC: But that’s just it – we finished work today. The harvest’s over.

CORIN: We start planting again in two weeks. We have lots of free time on our hands ‘til then.

NASHIRA: Hey, I’ve got an idea!

Everyone at the table regards the young lady with open ears.

NASHIRA: (cont’d) That old amusement park in town’s having its grand reopening in two days. We can take the trip out there any time before the new season starts and have a day of fun for ourselves!

CORIN: You mean Zorqo’s Zoo of Zaniness?

NASHIRA: Yeah!

CORIN: (frowns) I don’t know ….

NEMEC: Isn’t the new owner some shady character who was run outta the Tion Hegemony?

NASHIRA: (waves her hand dismissively) That’s just idle gossip without any basis in objective fact.

A moment of silence passes between them all.

NEMEC: In that case ….

CORIN: I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to check the old place out ….

NASHIRA: (grins) Excellent! (to Siri and Obi-Wan) Obi, Siri – you’re about to have the time of your lives!

INT. NAR SHADDAA – KORBEE TOWER/PENTHOUSE/LIVING AREA – DAY

Within the living area of Korbee Tower’s penthouse suite, we find MAHTTOH THE WOOKIEE decked out asleep upon a large sofa. Judging by the litter strewn about the room – along with the two naked female wookoids asleep in Mahttoh’s arms – a rather rowdy party was hosted here the night before.

INT. KORBEE TOWER/PENTHOUSE/LLOMON’S BEDROOM – DAY

Just like with the living area, this bedroom, too, is a mess, with a pair of female trandoids curled up under the covers with LLOMON THE TRANDOSHAN.

As he wakes from his booze-induced slumber, Llomon sits up with a reptilian YAWN. Caring not one bit if he disturbs his two companions, the Trandoshan kicks the covers off himself and rises out of bed.

INT. KORBEE TOWER/PENTHOUSE/KITCHEN – DAY

Passing through the living area and by the sleeping simians, Llomon steps into the kitchen. Crossing over to the refrigeration unit, he opens it, reaches inside, and pulls out a single mauve egg the size of a football. Smacking his lizard lips hungrily, he closes the refrigerator door then takes a seat at the small kitchen table. Placing the egg in a large egg cup already waiting for him on the table, Llomon takes his pinky claw and punches a hole through the shell of the egg. Then, with a great big Trandoshan smile, he inserts a straw through the hole and begins to suck the glop up with intense gusto.

INT. KORBEE TOWER/PENTHOUSE/LIVING AREA – DAY

Awake now themselves, Llomon’s two reptilian lady friends saunter into the living area wearily, nursing strong hangovers. As they pass within range of Mahttoh and his girls, they draw back their muzzles with disgust as the strong odour of the mammalians’ lingering love musk washes over them.

At that very moment, a comm unit on the wall begins to wail with an incoming transmission.

Hearing the comm, Llomon immediately leaves his half-finished egg and re-enters the living area. Uttering curses in Dosh, he strides up to the sleeping wookoids and violently shakes them awake. As they come up from their slumber, the Trandoshan then turns to his trandoid companions, walks up to them, then rudely pulls them to him. Finally, as the comm continues to wail, he herds all four women to the front door, opens it, then kicks them out, slamming the door shut as they start hurling curses back at him.

Racing over to the unit, Llomon activates an illegally owned-and-installed jammer to prevent any unwelcome eavesdroppers from listening in on the conversation, then picks up the line. Almost immediately, the Human face of one of Yajuj Jukassa’s loyalist guards appears on-screen.

GUARD #2: I trust this is Llomon the Trandoshan I am speaking to?

Llomon responds in the affirmative but the Human clearly fails to understand Dosh. Realizing for the first time that he doesn’t have his translator on him, the Trandoshan holds his finger up in a gesture for the Human to wait then leaves to find his translator.

Moments later Llomon returns, the translator apparati affixed to his neck and wrist. Making an adjustment, he sets the device to transmit in Basic.

LLOMON: (in Basic) I am Llomon.

GUARD #2: I trust this is a secure line?

LLOMON: (annoyed) Do you think me incompetent? Of course it’s secure. Now what is it you want?

GUARD #2: After arriving on Nar Shaddaa several weeks ago, my employer set me to the task of finding a bounty hunter or hunters who would be adequate for an endeavour which he has determined to be of the utmost importance. After making a series of inquiries, we have come to the conclusion that you along with your partner are the most qualified candidates.

LLOMON: Has anyone ever told you you use too many words to say so little?

GUARD #2: (sighs) My employer has a job for you and Mahttoh.

LLOMON: I gathered that. What is it?

GUARD #2: He wishes me to tell you no more. Agree to meet with him in person and he will reveal the details to you himself.

LLOMON: Very well. Where and when would he like to meet?

GUARD #2: In his room at Chance Castle, at 6100 tonight.

LLOMON: Room number?

GUARD #2: You’ll find me waiting at the main entrance. I’ll give you the number then.

LLOMON: So be it.

The guard nods once. The comm display then goes dark.

Deactivating his translator, Llomon steps away from the comm unit and walks on over to the sofa, where Mahttoh – in spite of all the commotion caused by the comm and the ladies’ departure – is still asleep. Placing a clawed foot on the Wookiee’s shoulder, the Trandoshan pushes the Wookiee off the sofa. Hitting the floor with a THUD, Mahttoh wakes with a Wookiee wail.

MAHTTOH: (in Shyriiwook, subtitled) Hey, what the hell!? (looks about the room) Where are Suroow and Ghueew?

LLOMON: (in Dosh, subtitled) A potential client just called. He wants to meet with us tonight.

MAHTTOH: (subtitled) What time?

LLOMON: (subtitled) 6100 at Chance Castle. So get up, go to the 'fresher, and have a shower. He won’t hire us if you come stinking of Wookiee love musk.