INT. BATTLEMOON/INTERROGATION CENTRE
Standing in the centre of the chamber, trapped within a magnetic containment field, is IAM PUSHMAN. A lean Human male of average height, with sandy brown hair and an aquiline chin and nose, his would be described as handsome features. Judging by the clothes he wears, it would appear that he is one of the Sojourner’s crewmen.
As the doors leading into the room slide open, Pushman looks up to regard his visitor. It is Sigeu. Resolving to stand firm, Pushman makes direct eye contact with the veiled woman in a show of defiance. Upon doing so, however, her eyes – bright beneath her niqab – bore into him, slicing through his confidence like a blue-hot laser. Unable to withstand her gaze, he recoils, turning his head away.
SGW-0027: Why do you turn away?
When the man refuses to respond, the clone walks up to him. Bringing forth her gloved right hand, she gently takes hold of his chin, turning his face to hers.
SGW-0027: Again – why do you turn away?
Squeezing his eyes firmly shut, he violently wrenches his head out from her grasp.
SGW-0027: (angry) You’re not answering my question!
Throwing all gentility to the wind, Sigeu seizes Pushman’s throat in a choke hold and squeezes, pinching his windpipe instantly shut. She holds him there for several seconds, tightening his grasp until he starts wheezing. As soon as he begins to thrash against his bonds, though, she releases him, allowing him to breathe again.
SGW-0027: Now … are you going to give me an answer?
IAM PUSHMAN: (coughing) I-I couldn’t … couldn’t look at you. Your eyes … your eyes … I couldn’t stand them.
Hearing this answer, the clone returns her hand to his face. Afraid that he’s earned her displeasure once more, he draws his head back in a vain, straining against his bonds for escape. She merely begins running her fingers through his hair, though, stroking it as a pet owner would the fur of a beloved animal companion.
SGW-0027: What’s your name?
IAM PUSHMAN: (petrified) Iam, ma’am. Iam Pushman.
SGW-0027: Iam, you’re a handsome man. A handsome man with a handsome face. You know that, don’t you?
When he fails to reply, she pulls his hair back, forcing a pained YELP from his lips.
SGW-0027: Don’t you?
IAM PUSHMAN: (grimacing) Yes – yes!
SGW-0027: The women back home must like it, your handsome face.
IAM PUSHMAN: Yes….
Releasing his hair, she moves over to a rack. On the rack are cruel instruments of torture – each one more terrible than the last. Removing her cloak, she drapes it over the rack. Picking up a metal gauntlet, she slips it down over her right hand. With the turn of a small dial, the filaments embedded in the palm and along the fingers crackle with angry red energy.
SGW-0027: Do you like your face?
Moving up close to Pushman’s face, she brushes a finger against his cheek. Where the filaments touch, red energy is discharged, burning the flesh, causing the poor man to winch with sharp pain.
IAM PUSHMAN: (voice breaking) Yes! I like my face! I like it!
SGW-0027: (lowers her hand) I like it, too.
The clone then seizes the front of Pushman’s shirt with her free hand. With one strong pull, she tears it off him, exposing his naked torso with its sparse hair and lean musculature.
SGW-0027: (cont’d) I’m going to leave the face….
Deactivating and removing the gauntlet, she replaces it on the rack and takes up another instrument: a metallic whip. Unwinding the lash, the clone admiral walks around and behind Pushman. As she does so, she presses a stud set in the handle; immediately a white energy field is generated around the metal lash.
IAM PUSHMAN: (desperate) Please! I just work the hand truck! I don’t know anything! I don’t have anything! What do you want from me?!
SGW-0027: What do I want?
Raising the lightwhip, she draws it back.
SGW-0027: I want to hear you whimper. I want to hear you moan.
Violently, Sigeu swings the lightwhip. The lash slides across Pushman’s back, cutting into it and leaving a bright red line of cauterized flesh behind. As we can judge from his scream, the agony Pushman suddenly feels is beyond excruciating.
SGW-0027: (cont’d) But most of all, I want to hear you scream.
Sigeu strikes with the lightwhip again, cutting another red line across Pushman’s back. His second scream makes the first sound like a cry of pleasure.
INT. BATTLEMOON/CORRIDOR OUTSIDE INTERROGATION CENTRE
In the corridor directly outside the interrogation centre stands OFFICER UIY-2249, clone captain and SGW-0027’s second-in-command. A slender Mirialan male, he wears an expression of utmost serenity on his olive green face. Reaching for the doors’ controls, he opens them and steps inside.
INT. BATTLEMOON/INTERROGATION CENTRE
As the Mirialan clone enters the room, he finds his commanding officer there in the aftermath of her session with Iam Pushman. Pushman, shrouded in shadow, is held limp within the containment field, grisly in death. Sigeu, turned away from Uwe, stands over the corpse.
SGW-0027: I didn’t call for you.
UIY-2249: Shall I summon the cleaning staff to take care of your – um – latest sparring partner?
The admiral turns to face the commander. She radiates silent, lurking menace. He gives her his laid-back smile in return.
INT. GEONOSIS – GENERIC FAMILY HUT/LIVING AREA – DAY
The members of a typical Condawni family sit on their living area sofa, watching a news telecast on the holovid display.
The newscaster reveals that all contact and communication with the larger galactic community has been lost; ships from offworld haven’t been coming in; access to the HoloNet and other interstellar communication systems has been cut off; and all outgoing hyperwave transmissions have gone unanswered. All evidence indicates that, for reasons unknown, a hostile force has established a complete blockade around the Geonosis system.
EXT. CONDAWN CITY – STREET – CONTINUOUS
Few people walk the streets and even fewer vehicles drive along the roads. Before the blockade, there would’ve been more activity going on in a city this size at this time of day, but with all valuable resources now finite, everyone strives to conserve what they have for as long as they can.
One landspeeder – an old, green, closed-canopy speeder – is en-route to the Capitol House.
INT. LANDSPEEDER/CAB – DAY
At the controls of the speeder is Shmi Warka. Taking her eyes off the road for a moment, she looks to Darth, who sits in the seat beside her. The boy, sulky and silent, refuses to reciprocate.
EXT. CONDAWN CITY – CONDAWN CAPITOL CENTRE – FRONT GATE – DAY
The green speeder arrives at the front gate to the grounds of Capitol Centre. Already gathered there are HUNDREDS OF PROTESTERS. As Shmi rolls down her window and leans out to enter her passcode into the access terminal, they all begin shouting at her, demanding to know who is behind the blockade and what her bosses are doing to lift it.
Once the terminal accepts the code, the gate begins to slide open. Rolling up the window to dampen the onslaught of curses and threats, she pulls on through.
INT. CONDAWN CAPITOL HOUSE/ENTRANCE HALL – DAY
Entering the building, Shmi and Darth make their way to the end of the hall. Chlorian is already there waiting for them. Clad in a simple brown Imperial uniform stripped of any and all rank insignia, he keeps his hands held behind him, a none-too-genuine half-smile worn upon his face.
SHMI WARKA: Darth, this is Governor Vader.
CHLORIAN VADER: (holds out his hand) Darth, it’s a pleasure to finally meet you. Your mother talks the world of you.
DARTH: (ignores his hand) Yeah, I’m sure.
SHMI WARKA: (sighs) Please, Darth, be polite.
DARTH: (smirks) Okay.
Spitting into his hand, he clasps Chlorian’s.
DARTH: (grins broadly) Pleased to meet ya!
SHMI WARKA: (facepalms) Don’t do this. Not now.
DARTH: (angry) What does it matter to you anymore? You finally got me out of your hair.
Getting down on one knee, Shmi puts her hands on the boy’s shoulders. She is emotional, on the verge of tears, but she keeps her composure – barely.
SHMI WARKA: I don’t want to do this. I don’t want to hand you off to someone else. But Governor Vader can give you the care and attention you need – all the care and attention I can’t give you. Can’t you understand?
Darth’s mood remains as dark as ever.
SHMI WARKA: (voice breaking) Darth, I love you.
DARTH: Frak you and your frakking love.
Rising to her full height, Shmi takes a step back.
SHMI WARKA: (wipes tears from her eyes; to Chlorian) Do what you have to do.
At that, Shmi turns on her heel and leaves for the door as quickly as her feet can carry her there.
INT. CORUSCANT – JEDI TEMPLE/WINDU APARTMENT/LIVING AREA – DAY
Mistress Gallia stands with her son Uzochi, her hand over the hilt of her lightsaber to prevent the child from plucking it from her belt, when a KNOCK is heard at the door.
ADI GALLIA: It’s open.
Opening the door, Siri enters the apartment of the Windu family. Approaching her teacher, Siri bows in greeting. Mistress Gallia responds in kind.
ADI GALLIA: You didn’t get stuck in traffic, I hope.
SIRI: I cut it close, but I managed to avoid the rush hour. (beat) Where is Master Windu?
ADI GALLIA: Mace couldn’t be here. He’s been in conference with the emperor and chancellor since 0800. (to Uzochi) 'Chi, darling, this is Siri. She’s a good friend of mine. You remember her, don’t you?
Siri looks upon the child and smiles. Uzochi, a small child in spite of his age, looks almost cherub-like under the simple white tunic and pants he wears.
SIRI: (crouches down) Hi there, 'Chi. I’m gonna be your new caretaker from now on. You know what that means, don’t you? It means I’ll be spending a couple hours with you everyday for awhile. We’ll play games, go out for treats, stuff like that. Does that sound like fun to you?
A shy child, 'Chi grabs hold of his mother’s leg and clings close, gazing upon Siri warily with his brown-and-indigo eyes.
ADI GALLIA: (places her hand on Uzochi’s head) It’s alright, 'Chi. Siri’s my friend, remember? She’ll take good care of you while Mommy and Daddy are at work.
UZOCHI: Nan takes care of me.
ADI GALLIA: Nan’s a machine, 'Chi. You need to be with living, breathing people once in awhile.
Pulling her boy off of her, Gallia walks on over to the front door.
ADI GALLIA: (turns to Siri) I don’t know when Mace will be back, but I should be here around 1915. (waves to 'Chi) See you tonight, honey. Have a good time with Siri, okay? Love you.
UZOCHI: Bye, Mommy.
At that, the Jedi mistress leaves the apartment. Once she has left, Siri turns to Uzochi.
SIRI: So, 'Chi, what do you want to do? What do you and Nan usually do this time of day?
Wordlessly, Uzochi turns his back on the knight and runs off for a place to hide. Sighing, Siri sets off after him.
INT. CONDAWN CAPITOL HOUSE/DARTH’S QUARTERS/MAIN ROOM – DAY
Opening the door, Chlorian lets Darth inside. Stepping inside, Darth takes a gander at his new dwellings.
DARTH: (nods with approval) Swell digs.
Crossing over to a plush armchair, Darth throws himself onto it.
DARTH: When do I get my stuff?
Closing the door, Chlorian strides up to Darth. His face is as harsh and as cold as rough-hewn stone.
CHLORIAN VADER: Listen to me. That sithspit you pulled in the hall? Your mother may cave to it, but I won’t. I am not temperamental, not emotional. Cross me, and I won’t break down and cry; I will make you break down and cry. I am quite the uncompromising, unforgiving bastard, and each of my eight children can attest to that. Are we clear on this?
If Darth could disappear into the folds of the chair he is sitting in, he would.
DARTH: Crystal.
Satisfied with Darth’s response, Chlorian turns to leave.
CHLORIAN VADER: (opens the door) A servant will bring your belongings to you shortly.
Stepping out, the governor closes the door behind him.
INT. CORUSCANT – JEDI TEMPLE/WINDU APARTMENT/UZOCHI’S BEDROOM – DAY
Cautiously, Siri enters Uzochi’s bedroom. A small room, it doesn’t contain much; a bed, a closet, a dresser, two small chairs, and a couple toys are all that take up space within it. 'Chi has hidden himself somewhere in here, but it’s only a matter of time before Siri finds him.
SIRI: 'Chi, I know you’re in here. There’s no point hiding from me – I know where you are.
Treading softly, the Jedi Knight makes her way over to the closet door. Pulling it open, she finds it stuffed bottom-to-top with various stuffed toys. There, wedged between a plush Kreevaki and paddle-footed sapient from the Brodo Asogi system, is Uzochi’s young head.
SIRI: (grins) Gotcha!
Unfortunately for Siri, Uzochi doesn’t share her good humour. Discovered, the young boy shrieks in terror and bursts through the pile of stuffed creatures, dashing past Siri and out the open door as stuffed animals bombard the poor woman like soft meteoroids.
SIRI: (sighs) Ancients preserve me ….
EXT. WESTPORT – DOCKING BAY 77 – DAY
At the Westport spaceport, right outside the entrance into Docking Bay 77, Capt. Bail Organa waits. Leaning against the wall, he checks his wrist chronometre for what must be the fiftieth time that afternoon.
As if materializing from the shadows of Westport itself, Obi-Wan and Anakin suddenly appear.
BAIL: It’s about time you two got here. We were about ready to take off without you.
ANAKIN: Sorry. We had some business to take care of first.
BAIL: Let’s go.
The three men proceed to enter the docking bay.
INT. WESTPORT – DOCKING BAY 77 – DAY
Within the dim interior of the docking bay, Bail leads the two Jedi toward the ship they will be making the trip to Townowi on.
BAIL: Gentlemen, may I present you the Wayward Son.
Standing before them, like a great big cheeseburger with a great big bite taken out of it, an olive stuck in its side, is the Wayward Son. A YT-1300 light freighter which came off the assembly line twenty-five years ago, it is as old as Obi-Wan. As such, the ship’s surface bears the tell-tale signs of weathering, patching, and scoring that come with almost three decades of constant action.
ANAKIN: (snickers) What a piece of junk.
BAIL: You ever hear of not judging a book by it’s cover, son?
ANAKIN: I wouldn’t know. I haven’t ever seen a book.
BAIL: (to Obi-Wan) You’ve never taken him to a museum?
The Jedi Knight merely shrugs.
BAIL: (sighs) Let’s go on inside.
INT. WAYWARD SON/MAIN HOLD – DAY
Bail, Obi-Wan, and Nik enter the main hold, where they find six individuals – CMDR. RAIA VANESS; CMDR. JANGO CODY; MSC. KATHE NAAD; DR. ZOSIME MOULIN; SPACEMAN PETRA ANDUE; and SN. MAL’AKHI – waiting for them. The officers and scholars all stop whatever it is they’re doing to momentarily focus their attention on the Jedi.
BAIL: (to Obi-Wan and Nik) You met these folks at the briefing, but I don’t believe you were formally introduced.
OBI-WAN: Other than Cmdr. Vaness, I haven’t had the pleasure, no.
CMDR. VANESS: (salutes Obi-Wan) Greetings, Knight Kenobi. It’s good to see you again.
OBI-WAN: And you as well, Commander.
CMDR. VANESS: (nods to Nik) I don’t believe I’ve met your handsome companion before.
ANAKIN: (bows) Anakin Tan Skywalker at your service, madame.
CMDR. VANESS: (grins) Handsome and genteel. You must do some lucky girl proud, Knight Skywalker.
ANAKIN: (grins) I try my best.
BAIL: As for the rest of the team …. (points at a lanky Gungan female) That’s Dr. Zosime Moulin, our resident astrocartographer.
ZOSIME MOULIN: (gives the two Jedi a short wave) Salutations.
BAIL: (points at a willowy Human woman with pale skin and long, brown hair) That’s Kathe Naad.
KATHE NAAD: (smiles) Cryptographer.
BAIL: (points at a Human male, a muscular Falleen woman, and a black-scaled Barabel) And that’s Cmdr. Jango Cody and Spacemen Petra Andue and Mal’Akhi, the muscle of the group.
OBI-WAN: Hello.
ANAKIN: Hey.
A stocky man of average height, Cmdr. Cody has close-cropped black hair, a swarthy complexion, and a face so stern it could have been chiselled from granite. Cocking an eyebrow, he issues one low GRUNT.
OBI-WAN: (under his breath) Not the talkative type, is he?
BAIL: Jango’s a man of action, not words.
OBI-WAN: Worked with him before?
BAIL: (nods) Last year, in the Battle of Concord Dawn.
OBI-WAN: Not Imperial, is he?
BAIL: No.
OBI-WAN: Journeyman Protector?
BAIL: Yes.
OBI-WAN: I’ve heard they’re excellent warriors.
BAIL: You heard correctly.
Their conversation ends there.
INT. JEDI TEMPLE/WINDU APARTMENT/MACE & ADI’S BEDROOM – DAY
Uzochi, having fled his bedroom for that of his parents, is now in hiding under their large bed.
Having surmised 'Chi’s probable location, Siri enters the bedroom doorway, a food tray held in her arms. Reticent to scare the child any more than she already has, she remains motionless in the doorframe.
SIRI: 'Chi, is it alright if I come in? (beat) I prepared a snack for us. (beat) I’m going to come inside now, okay?
Tentatively, Siri walks inside. Taking small steps, she makes her way to the end of the bed.
SIRI: I made two sandwiches, 'Chi, one for you and one for me. I’m just going to set this tray down now and have one. You don’t have to join me if you don’t want to, but it’d be sad if the sandwich I made for you goes to waste.
Slowly, she lowers the tray onto the carpeted floor, right in front of Uzochi’s eyes. Just as slowly, she sits down, crossing her legs before her. Then, picking up a sandwich, she begins to eat.
Moments pass. His hunger overpowering his fear, 'Chi crawls out from under the bed and cautiously sits down across from Siri.
SIRI: (smiles) Would you like your sandwich?
UZOCHI: (reserved) Yes, please.
Her smile broadening into a grin, Siri hands the boy his sandwich.
EXT. SPACE – CORUSCANT
Leaving the bronze surface of Coruscant, the Wayward Son heads toward the star-spangled fabric of darkness that is deep space.
INT. WAYWARD SON/COCKPIT
Raia Vaness sits in the pilot’s seat, hands on the controls, while Bail stands over her.
BAIL: Course laid in?
CMDR. VANESS: Course laid in.
BAIL: Then engage hyperdrive whenever you’re ready, Commander.
CMDR. VANESS: Aye, Captain.
Vaness pulls back on the hyperdrive levers, engaging the drive.
BAIL: Townowi, here we come.
CMDR. VANESS: That’s the plan, at any rate.
EXT. SPACE
Carried forward on pseudo-motion, the Son is catapulted into the depthless fathoms of hyperspace.
INT. SCOREKEEPER’S RYYK/COCKPIT
Llomon enters the cockpit, two large and meaty drumsticks in his hands. Crossing over to the pilot’s seat, he finds Mahttoh there, fast asleep, snoring.
LLOMON: (in Dosh, subtitled) Wake up, Mahttoh. We’re almost there.
When the Wookiee refuses to stir, the Trandoshan whacks him in the side of the head with one of the drumsticks.
LLOMON: (subtitled) Wake up!
Jolted out of his sleep, the Wookiee looks up at his partner and notices the drumsticks.
MAHTTOH: (in Shyriiwook, subtitled) It’s dinner already?
LLOMON: (subtitled) Breakfast. You’ve been asleep since yesterday afternoon. (hands the Wookiee a drumstick) Now here, take it and get ready to drop out of hyperspace. We’re coming up on our destination.
Taking the drumstick, the Wookiee takes a ravenous bite. Reaching for the hyperspace levers, he pulls them back, allowing them to drop into realspace.
LLOMON: (subtitled) And there’s the great big ball of cheese herself.
Situated out beyond the viewport, massive even from this distance, is the ecumenopolis of Coruscant.