Full Synopsis (cont.)
WIPE TO…
Had Abbadon, where Anniken arrives at the Jedi Temple and meets with Mace Windu, Yoda, and Kiai Mudi. They assign him to be Chancellor Palpatine’s guardian, but they also have a second, Top Secret mission for him: watch Palpatine, record who he meets and where he goes, and report back to the Council. Anniken is shocked at this unprecedented betrayal of trust in the Chancellor.
“Disturbing trends the Chancellor’s rise has accompanied,” says Yoda. “The Naboo Crisis, the Clone Army, the Separatist Coalition, the assassinations...with every troubling event rise his personal power does.”
“You think he’s with the Sith,” says Anniken.
“Impossible to say, that is. Perhaps only a well-meaning public servant he is, himself manipulated, but to ignore the dangers of his rise we cannot.”
(Image source Ingeniovirtual)
Anniken is hesitant, but relents and agrees to follow the orders. He flies his Starfighter to the Senate Building.
CRANE SHOT of Anniken walking down the platform where Palpatine awaits, cloak billowing in the wind, his Guards and Secretary Tarkin behind him. Anniken approaches with trepidation. Palpatine walks out to him, arms out, welcoming.
“Ah! Sir Anakin!” The Chancellor puts an arm around Anniken. “You are just in time! I was on my way to a luncheon with the Corellian Shipwright’s Guild! And following that is a meeting with Senator Horliss and then on to Senator Mothma...you’ll want to take good notes for the Council on that one!”
“Of course, I...what?!?”
Palpatine laughs. “Oh, don’t be naive, Sir Anakin! I’m well aware the Jedi Council wants you to monitor me. These terrible events have given me enviable authority, one that threatens the authority of the Jedi. Take all the notes you want, my friend...I have nothing to hide.”
WIPE TO Geonisis, where a Worker escorted by Vurqlar-9-B, pushes a hover-gurney with the moaning Man, his face obscured by an oxygen mask, down a long, dirty corridor. It is clear that he is badly burnt.
The Man is placed on an operating table. Several robotic arms descend upon him, sparking and stabbing. He screams through the mask and thrashes in agony.
WIPE TO the forests of Geonosis, where the Corellian Freighter appears through the low cloud cover and lands in a forest field. Obi-Wan and Colonel Max emerge from the hatch. Worflaks howl in the distance. Noting the danger, they head into the woods.
The Castle sits atop its forested mountain. Storm clouds gather around it, lightning crackling. A large bolt hits and illuminates the tallest tower. We PAN and ZOOM to a steep, winding mountain road heading up to the tower. A tired old Klorg drags a battered looking Hover Wagon along the road. Old Clag drives. Obi-Wan and Max huddle in the back. Old Clag notes how “them in the Castle moved in a couple years’ back, made all the changes. Strange lights an’ sounds. Ships fly in at all hours. Worflaks multiply, drag off not just nerfs, but herdsmen too…Worflaks is different. Smarter, meaner, with metal eyes. Them in the Castle sees all, hears all.”
We ZOOM UP to a tree where a crow-like Caalic Bird lands. We ZOOM CLOSER to see its cybernetic eye watching the wagon.
Suddenly Obi-Wan sits up. “Danger. How fast can your Klorg run?”
“She’s not run in years.” A howl cuts the air, frighteningly close. More join it.
“Time for her to remember! GO!!!”
Old Clag whips the reins with a ‘hyah!’ and the old Klorg bellows and starts to run. Several cybernetically-enhanced Worflaks burst from the underbrush and chase the wagon!! One leaps at the wagon. Obi-Wan ignites his laser sword and cuts it, causing it to fall back with a yelp. Max draws a pistol and starts shooting, wounding one. Another leaps, only to be cut down by Obi-Wan. Max shoots and kills another. Two Worflaks start nipping at the Klorg, trying to take it down.
Obi-Wan takes the reins. He closes his eyes and raises a hand. He says to the Klorg, “Remember, old girl. Remember the speed of your youth.”
Suddenly the Klorg picks up speed. She kicks the remaining Worflak biting at her. It yelps and falls.
A Worflak leaps onto the wagon and starts tearing at Max’s cloak. Obi-Wan raises a hand and the creature flies into the woods. The Klorg starts to leave the Worflaks in the dust.
Obi-Wan hands the reins back to Clag. He closes his eyes, reaching out with the Force.
“I need you to put your trust fully in me, Colonel. When I say, jump with all your might.” Obi-Wan , eyes still closed, reaches out with his fingers. “Soon.... Soon.... NOW!!!!”
Obi-Wan and Max jump off the wagon and fly into the woods. They CRASH through a tangle of thin vines growing over a large rock (leaving a hole) and disappear. The Worflaks run and leap into the hole after them as Old Clag and his Klorg escape up the path.
Obi-Wan and Max land in an old tunnel, rolling and returning to their feet. A single beam of light from the hole is the only illumination. The Worflaks leap in after them, growling. OBI-WAN ignites his laser sword and holds them off.
“Max, see that red rock sticking out of the ceiling? Shoot it.”
Max shoots the rock, which causes the ceiling to CAVE IN, burying the Worflaks, but sealing them in. The tunnel goes DARK, illuminated only by Obi-Wan’s laser sword, which he extinguishes, plunging them into total blackness. Obi-Wan turns on a small lantern, dimly illuminating the tunnel. “It’s a secret tunnel, centuries old. It probably leads to the Castle.”
WIPE TO…
Nima-Roona. Storms rage outside the window. In the canopied bed Padmé, in white cotton nightgown, tosses and thrashes in her sleep. This scene is inter-spliced with flashes from other images, so fast as to be almost subliminal: Anniken’s face wracked with anger, a bridge over molten lava, a knife in a feminine hand, a flash of Darth Vader’s mask......Padmé bolts awake, gasping.
“Annniken!!” Padmé looks around, sighs. Suddenly she puts her hand over her mouth and bolts out of bed, running to a trash can where she throws up. “By the Force what is happening to me? Anakin. Anakin, where are you?”
WIPE TO the Opera House on Had Abbadon, where Anniken, in formal robes, drink in hand, follows Chancellor through a group of formally dressed guests. Palpatine works the crowd, thanking various wealthy bankers, industrialists, and politicians, totally in his element.
“Impressive, Chancellor. You really know how to make friends!”
“You’ll find everyone is happy to be your friend when there’s something in it for them.” A light flashes. “Ah! The show is about to begin!”
(Image source swPrequelFrames on Tumbler)
Anniken and Palpatine sit overlooking the stage. Performers in strange outfits sing operatically in a strange alien language. Anniken expresses a disinterest in opera, but Palpatine notes that he specifically requested this performance. “This, for example, is the ‘Tragedy of Emperor Ganthicass’. It tells of the wise and powerful ruler who first united Coruscant. Alas his warriors, jealous of his power, betrayed and murdered him, plunging the planet into three hundred years of war.” He puts a paternal hand on Anniken’s shoulder and leans towards the stage, pointing. “Watch, my son. Watch and learn...”
WIPE TO Geonosis. On the platform of the Castle, the storm still raging in the distance, Workers, watched by Vurqlar-9-B and Kaliss Fett, help a hunched, stumbling Dark Figure in a black hooded cloak try to walk. Occasional flashes of the skeletal robot hands and feet of the Figure are seen as he stumbles towards a waiting transport. The hatch of the transport closes behind him and the ship lifts off and flies into the clouds. ZOOM IN on Kaliss, who speaks into a comm. “The package is on its way.”
PAN DOWN into the forest...into the ground, to blackness, then down to the tunnels beneath the Castle, where Obi-Wan and Colonel Max continue to walk in the dim lantern light. They break through into a dust and cobweb strewn chamber lit by fingers of light. Various torture devices lay around, unused for centuries. We focus on an iron maiden against a wall. It creaks open and Obi-Wan and Max step out.
Max looks at a device. “This chamber appears to be tied into a series of secret passages throughout the Castle.”
“As I had hoped. Now, let us find Kaliss.”
A Worker plods down a stone hallway, eyes glued to a device. An old portrait of a man in medieval-style armor hangs on the wall. The eyes of the portrait slide open, revealing human eyes that watch the Worker as he passes. The portrait opens like a door. A hand reaches out, grabs the Worker, and pulls him inside. The portrait door closes.
Inside the secret passage, Max holds the Worker from behind while Obi-Wan faces him.
“I’ll tell you nothing, Jedi!” says the Worker. He taps his temple with a finger. “I have the mind of a Cerean and the will of a Hutt!!”
Obi-Wan raises his hand. “You will tell me where to find the Mandalorian.”
“He’s in room 2-3-7. Oh!!” The Worker puts a hand over his mouth.
“Thank you for your assistance.” Obi-Wan raises his hand. “Your will fall asleep now and forget you ever saw us.” The Worker falls asleep. “Colonel, drop him back in the hall and then go to the Mandalorian’s room. If it’s empty try to crack his computer systems. I’ll try to find out what the mysterious delivery was. If Sio Dias wants it then it must be critical to his plans.”
“Yes, General,” says Max.
CIRCLE WIPE TO a secret room outside of Vurqlar’s office. Obi-Wan watches Vurqlar through a small two-way mirror on the wall. The cyborg taps at a computer. The Comm. Buzzes. He hits a button and a small hologram of Chane appears, telling him that “the package has cleared atmosphere and is en route.”
Meanwhile, Colonel Max looks into the rather nondescript room. Kaliss’ armor hangs from a wooden frame. A desk sits in the corner. Across from it is a coffin-like Mandalorian Meditation Pod. The room appears empty, so Max opens the secret door and steps into the room. He walks up to the desk and removes a device and plugs it into the computer. Numbers start to flash on its screen.
We PAN over Max’s shoulder to the Meditation Pod, which starts to silently open, a rolling cloud of steam billowing out from it.
CUT BACK to where one of the flashing numbers on the device goes GREEN. “Almost...”
CUT BACK to the Pod. Slowly, Kaliss Fett sits up in the Pod. Slowly, silently, he stands and steps out. He wears only some loose pants. The tribal tattoos on the left side of his face and neck extend down the whole left side of a body hatched with battle-scars.
CUT BACK to where another number on the device turns GREEN. “Almost there...”
PAN BACK. Kaliss approaches Max, who finally realizes something is amiss. He turns around slowly to see Kaliss.
“Hello, father...”
Max reaches for his pistol, but Kaliss bolts and quickly chops Max in the side of the neck. Max falls to the floor.
“I am NOT your father, you second-rate copy!” says Kaliss.
Suddenly Max’s Comm. beeps quietly. Kaliss picks it up. Pretending to be Max, Kaliss plays along with Obi-Wan saying that “the Mandalorian’s information is ours.” They agree to meet at the tower in ten minutes. Kaliss crushes the Comm. with his bare hands.
WIPE TO…
(Image source Wookiepedia)
Had Abbadon, where we see the Freighter carrying the Dark Figure flying towards the planet below. CUT TO the Senate building and Palpatine’s office, where he is informing Anniken on all of his scheduled meetings. He refers to Anniken as “Master Skywalker” to which Anniken relates that, no, he is not a Master yet. Palpatine replies in shock, noting that he’d specifically requested Anniken’s promotion to the Jedi Council. “I guess I should expect such duplicity from them,” says Palpatine.
Anniken confronts Palpatine about this statement, to which Palpatine asks him to “Look at me, Anniken, with your Jedi eyes. What do you see?”
Anniken looks into Palpatine’s eyes. “I see a man, nothing more. The Force passes you by.”
“What if I told you I once was a Jedi?”
Palpatine tells Anniken about how, years ago, under a different name, he was a Jedi. “They will deny everything, of course. I was powerful, but rebellious. I balked at their silly rules. I saw a new way for the Jedi more in keeping with modern times. And.....I found love. A woman named ‘Shmi’ from a small desert planet.”
Anniken looks at Palpatine in shock and disbelief.
“She was enslaved by the Hutt and taken away. I never found her. For that forbidden love they punished me, stole my powers from me!!”
“I....I can’t believe it! It’s impossible!!”
“It is all too true! Look at me again, Anakin...search your feelings.”
Anniken looks again. “There is...something. The Force doesn’t just pass you, it is
repelled by you!!”
“Yeeesss!!! That is the subtle nature of their deceit!” Palpatine removes a small object from a pocket. “Take this and place it into the main computer of the Jedi Temple. Bring it to me, and all will be made clear to you.”
Anniken reaches for the object...hesitates….
“Anakin...trust your feelings,” says Palpatine with a fierce intensity. “Your instincts will not betray you. This device will reveal every lie! Take it, son, and know the
truth!!”
After a moment’s hesitation, Anniken takes the object.
WIPE TO Geonosis, where Obi-Wan emerges from a secret door into the lower level of the tower. The rotted frame of a long-decayed stairwell lines the walls. He asks for Max, but Kaliss appears. “My copy will not be joining us,” says Kaliss
“You are a fool to trust Lord Dias, Kaliss.”
“Clan Fett grows strong under his patronage.”
“He will never tolerate an army of warriors that he cannot control. If he wins, the clans will be scattered. Your children will be forced into dishonorable service as assassins and bounty hunters!!”
“More Jedi lies! Besides, you owe me a debt of honor, Jedi.”
Suddenly Chane and a swarm of Super Drones run up from the hallways. Chane hisses and points and the Drones charge! Kaliss fires at Obi-Wan, who draws his laser sword and deflects the blasts. Obi-Wan leaps high up into the rotted stair frame, some of which crumbles at the touch. The Drones start to climb and Kaliss rockets up to engage. A running fight emerges as Obi-Wan leaps from beam to beam, the Drones following, Kaliss harassing the Jedi with his rifle.
After several floors Obi-Wan uses the Force to remove a Thermal Detonator hanging from Kaliss’ belt. He pulls it to him, hits the button, and drops it. It EXPLODES in a huge orange-red sphere of pure heat, obliterating the Drones and causing the tower to start to COLLAPSE!! Obi-Wan falls as the tower gives way. A falling rock hits Kaliss, who falls too.
WIPE TO the Jedi Temple. Two Jedi walk along the outer wall of the Jedi Temple. They pass OUT OF FRAME to the RIGHT. Suddenly a Hooded Figure emerges from the shadows, as if melting out from them. It creeps up after the Jedi. There is the sound of a laser sword igniting and the sound of two STRIKES. One of the two Jedi falls dead back into frame. We PAN to see the other dead Jedi and the Hooded Figure sweep with the cloak then fade back into the shadows.
CUT TO inside the Temple in a room full of fancy Computer Equipment. A panel pops off of the wall and a Hooded Figure slips into the room. The Hooded Figure removes the hood and is revealed to be Anniken. He looks nervous, but focused. He approaches a console and removes the Object that Palpatine gave him and plugs it into the computer, which whirs. He watches nervously.
Suddenly the door opens and Ket Falacha steps in. “Oh! Hey, Sir Anakin, I didn’t expect to see you here! When did you get assigned Computer Duty?”
Anniken tries to make small talk when the Object beeps three times.
“What’s that thing doing there?” asks Ket.
Anniken tenses up. Realization dawns as shock on Ket’s face. BUSTED!!! Ket scrambles for a red button on the wall! Anniken panics, draws his laser sword, and strikes down his friend! Ket falls to the ground saying, weakly, “Anniken...why....??” and DIES.
Anniken, at a loss for a second, grabs the object, and slips back through the panel.
Hood up, he runs along the wall. He TRIPS over the bodies of the two slain Jedi, looks at them in surprise, shock and horror, then gets up and LEAPS off of the wall.
WIPE TO Geonisis, where we watch as Obi-Wan falls amid the tumbling rocks and beams of the Tower. He springs from falling object to falling object until emerging from the chaos, just grabbing the edge of the remaining tower walls. Several stones are dislodged and fall into the depth, but Obi-Wan emerges and stands up on the edge. Panting, he pushes some buttons on his wrist.
Inside the Corellian Freighter, an inactive yellow-painted R2 unit (R2-F5) blinks to life. It disengages from its station and rolls up to a console, ejects its probe, and interfaces the console. The Freighter comes to life and lifts off into the night.
ALARMS blare across the Castle. Searchlights cut the sky. Obi-Wan stands atop the ruined wall of the tower. Suddenly Kaliss hovers up on his rocket pack, a new dent in his armor.
“Nowhere to run now, Jedi! At last, I shall have my revenge!!”
Obi-Wan raises hand and closes his eyes as if searching the Force. “Another time, perhaps.”
Obi-Wan LEAPS high into the sky just as the Corellian Freighter flies by.....
...Obi-Wan flies into the open hatch, does a roll on the deck, and steps back up. He walks casually past R2-F5. “Great work, F5.”
R2-F5 beeps. Obi-Wan takes a seat in the cockpit. “I’ll take it from here.”
Kaliss watches as the Freighter flies off into the distance. He hits a button on his wrist and a second later his Mandalorian Landing Craft emerges from the Castle. He rockets to the Craft.
WIPE TO Had Abbadon, where Anniken sits in shock on Palpatine’s couch. Palpatine tries to comfort him. “I killed him. I killed my friend.....” says Anniken.
Palpatine call it “An unavoidable tragedy. He would have exposed you and ruined everything,” asking Anniken “how did it feel when you first struck him down?”
Anniken hesitates, and then says, “I just felt...relief. I was relieved he didn’t get to the alarm.”
Palpatine pats Anniken on the shoulder. “Then trust those feelings, son.”
Tarkin then enters. “Chancellor, I have retrieved some information from the Jedi communications logs you should see.”
They show Anniken a highly edited version of the communications between Obi-Wan and Mace Windu.
“No. Sir Anakin is not yet ready to be a Jedi Master,” says the hologram of Obi-Wan. “He has an...attachment that holds him back from the Force.” There’s a SKIP in the recording. “By your recommendation Sir Anakin will not yet be granted the rank of Jedi Master,” says the hologram of Windu. The fanfare notes of the “Imperial March” play softly in minor key as Anniken stares at the holograms, dumbfounded.
“By the Force, betrayed by your own Sen-nai!!” says Palpatine in seeming shock.
ZOOM IN on Anniken’s face, where the shock turns to confusion, confusion to distress, and finally distress to a deep, burning anger.
CUT TO a raised walkway on Had Abbadon. A Jedi escorts an alien Senator along a walkway. Suddenly a Hooded Figure materializes out of nowhere. A skeletal robotic hand appears from under the robe and ignites a short red laser sword. As the music crescendos he STABS the Jedi and Senator in the back in quick succession and fades back into invisibility, but not before we see a very brief flash of a skull-like mask reminiscent of Darth Vader’s and hear the slightest sound of a single sickly, wheezing robotic breath.
WIPE TO…
(Image source StarWars.com)
Alderaan, where a Nimoida Yacht banks gracefully towards the beautiful planet.
In the Yacht’s sick bay, Padmé sits on an examination table, attended to by Medical Droid 2-1B4. R2-D2 stands by. “Are you sure?” asks Padmé.
2-1B4 whirs and burbles. There’s a buzz at the door and Prana enters.
“Your Majesty, we are approaching Alderaan.”
The Yacht lands amid the beautiful mansion and grounds of the stunning Organa Estate sits amid gorgeous white-capped mountains, green forests and fields, and blue lakes.
We enter a spacious country manor reminiscent of a French chateau. Bail Organa, Senator Naiyadah, C‑3PO and Kiai Mudi await Padmé, Nassai Baza, Moog, Ba Ba, and R2-D2. Prana heads off to train with Mudi while Moog and Ba Ba wait in the parlor.
The four Senators sit around comfortable chairs and couches. C-3PO serves drinks.
“Senator Talfrin of Glibbian and his Jedi Escort were assassinated by a Jedi weapon. Rumors blame the Jedi,” says Naiyadah.
“Impossible....the rogue Jedi that attacked us on Ttaz was captured!”
“I’m afraid there are...other dark Jedi,” says Padmé.
“If we, beh, keep losing Senators that support us, beh,” says Nasaai, “we will never see our reforms passed!!”
“Then we will need more allies,” says Padmé, who grabs a Comm. “Senator, if you please?”
The door opens and Senator Mon Mothma enters.
“Her?!? She has supported Palpatine’s rise from the beginning!!”
“Senator Organa, I was...mistaken in my support of the Chancellor and his army,” says Mothma. “I’m a centralist, not an authoritarian. Several other Senators quietly support you as well. What can we do to return democracy to the republic?”
Organa says, quietly, to Padmé, “How do you know we can trust her?”
“I just...know.”
WIPE TO Space, where the Corellian Freighter flies off, the Mandalorian Craft in pursuit.
The Mandalorian Ship fires into the Freighter. There is a large EXPLOSION. The cockpit SHAKES. The lights flicker. “Severe damage! We’ve lost hyperdrive!!” says Obi-Wan to F5. R2-F5 beeps and rolls off.
The Mandalorian Ship lands on the Freighter. An EXPLOSION blows a hole in the ceiling of the Freighter and Kaliss Fett drops through. Obi-Wan awaits him, laser sword drawn.
“Long have I pursued you, Jedi, and now I will avenge the dishonor you visited upon me on Kamino!”
“I admire your persistence, Warrior Kaliss, if not your obsession. You cannot win against a Jedi Master.”
“I have near bested you and your Padawan, Jedi. My armor and its capabilities make me your equal.”
“Yet you forget one thing...in these narrow confines your gadgets do you little good.”
Kaliss shoots his grapple line, which Obi-Wan dodges and cuts in half. Obi-Wan runs, cuts Kaliss’ blaster in half, and slashes at him. Kaliss rockets back, but only hits the far wall. With a running spin Obi-Wan dodges Kaliss’ wrist lasers and IMPALES him against the bulkhead.
Gasping and laughing, Kaliss says, “My death will not prevent my revenge, Jedi! My nephew will...carry on with my mission......” and slumps, dead.
Obi-Wan bolts upright. “PADMÉ!!!”
The Mandalorian Ship detaches from the dead Freighter and flies off TOWARDS CAMERA. As it passes, we see Obi-Wan in the pilot’s seat.
(Image source Yahoo)
WIPE TO Duprali, where a Mandalorian Carrier can be seen in orbit around the gas giant planet. “Master to Slaves, Master to Slaves, return to the Carrier,” says a voice over. The various “Slaves” Two through Four report their casualties and success or failure of their objectives. Boba Fett, flying “Slave One”, reports light casualties, all Objectives complete.
There is a beeping at the control. Boba Fett hits a button. A hologram of Kaliss Fett appears.
“Boba Fett, this is your uncle Kaliss. If you are receiving this message then I am dead. I am passing my mission to Lord Dias on to you. I also formally request that you avenge my debts of honor. Details are included.”
Boba Fett turns off the hologram and banks off.
WIPE TO Had Abbadon, and Palpatine’s office. Anniken sits on the floor in meditation. Palpatine walks around him. Storms rage in the background through a window.
“My powers may have been wrongfully stolen, but I remember a few tricks! Focus on the very emotions that the Jedi forced you to repress. Feel the joy, the sorrow, the fear, the anger. Find that which you value the most in this Galaxy, and concentrate....”
We ZOOM IN on Anniken’s eyes, which dart under their lids.
“Focusssss....seeee...... feeeeeeeeel.....”
Flashes of Oxon’s waterfall, the marriage, Padmé’s smile.....fire, falling black rock, Padmé in fear.....Padmé’s face, on a white bed, screaming in pain....crying ‘Noooooo!!’ and reaching towards a Blurry Figure.
“See what has been hidden from you!!!”
The Blurry Figure focuses into....Obi-Wan Kenobi!! Anniken bolts alert.
“Obi-Wan!! He was hurting Padmé!!!”
“Now you can see...the TRUTH.”
“How do I stop it? How do I save her?”
“You must trust in me explicitly, without question, and know that I have your best interests at heart. Can you do this? Can you swear your loyalty and faith to me?”
“I can do this, father.”
“Good......now, it is time for you to confront your greatest fears and angers. Search your emotions...they will tell you where to go.”
WIPE TO the streets of Had Abbadon. Anniken throws a dark hood up over himself and heads off into the driving rain.
The dark, brutalist form of the giant Murchalar Prison Complex looms in the rain. A Hooded Figure passes the two Clone Troopers guards, who salute the Figure as he enters.
We follow the Hooded Figure past the high security checkpoint with four Clone Guards and into the stone detainment area. The Sophisticated Alien Prisoner raises an eyebrow as he passes. Finally, the Figure reaches the cell with Mauk Shivtor, who looks up and smiles evilly.
“Jedi!! Such a pleasure to see you!”
“Mauk.”
“Forget it, Jedi, I will never betray my Master!!”
“It is not your Master I seek, Mauk, it is you. A friend tells me I must face my fear and anger. At one time you were the principle focus of both.”
Mauk slams into the Force Field barrier, snarling. “And fear me you should, whelk!! Lower this field and I will carve out your heart as I did to the old Jedi and your tired old mother!!!”
Anniken quietly seethes, but maintains his focus.
“She screamed and begged me not to kill her! It was sweet music to my.....hack!!!” Mauk grabs his neck, choking, as Anniken raises a grasping hand.
“It turns out, I need no longer fear or even hate you, Mauk, for I have found power the like of which you can never know.”
Mauk falls, choking to his knees, a look of fear in his red eyes.
“I can take your pathetic life whenever I so choose.”
Suddenly the Guards run in. Seeing them, Anniken releases Mauk, who falls, gasping, to the floor.
“This prisoner was choking and I used my powers to help dislodge it. See to it that he is more careful with what’s in his mouth.”
With a last, mocking glance Anniken leaves.
WIPE TO the Jedi Temple, where Mace Windu walks the walls of the Jedi compound. Suddenly we see – barely – the cloaked shape of a Figure outlined by the rain that runs off of it. The Dark Figure, the Sith Assassin, fades into visibility. Windu looks up, suddenly alert. The Sith ignites his short laser sword and thrusts!! A millisecond before being impaled Windu ignites his and blocks the thrust. Mace stares into the skeletal mask of the Sith.
“Who are you, Sith?!?
“Your doom, Windu!” says a deep, robotic, raspy voice.
The two begin to fight with their laser swords, the half-robotic Sith leaping around in a crouch, as if unable to stand fully erect. He leaps and darts around Mace, avoiding any attack by the Jedi, seeking any gaps to exploit. They fight to a standstill. ALARMS blare. Finally, Mace uses the Force to fling the Sith up and over the wall. He flies off into the night.
“Next time, old friend!!!”
Two Jedi run up to Mace, laser swords drawn. “What was that?!?” asks one
“A new complication.”
WIPE TO Alderaan, where Slave One and another Mandalorian Landing Ship fly low near the Organa Estate. The hatch opens on one and several Mandalorian Warriors rocket out from it. We follow the Mandalorians as they fly towards a field, where in the ever-nearing distance Kiai Mudi, Bav Myorta, and Prana Ashla practice with their laser swords. The Mandalroians attack and engage them while the Ships fly on.
The ships land at the Organa Estate, the Mandalorian warriors easily overcoming the small squad of guards, and captures the Senators. “Gather all but the Queen and take them to the ships,” says Boba Fett. “My uncle has a debt of honor with her.” He turns his blaster towards Padmé.
Suddenly R2-D2 rolls, beeping, in front of her. C-3PO runs to join him.
“Wait! Wait! Stop!!” says C-3PO. “The Astromech says that the Queen is with child!!” he turns to R2. “Is this true?”
R2-D2 beeps.
“My uncle’s honor debt is with the Queen, not with the child. Take her to the ships!”
He grabs Padmé by the shoulder and pushes her along.
WIPE TO Had Abbadon. Palpatine and Anniken walk along a platform towards the Senate Chambers.
“Today, Sir Anakin, I will announce to the Senate the final offensive, ending this war, and set in motion events allowing us to reshape a New Galactic Order!”
“And what will become of the Jedi?”
“They will be heroes, but their days ruling from the shadows are past. Soon we will retire the Jedi Council and absorb the Jedi into the New Galactic Army, a corps I want you, Master Anakin, to personally lead. Can you do this for me?”
“Of...of course!! Perhaps we can restore your powers, too!”
Palpatine stops, smiles warmly, and places a hand on Anniken’s shoulder. “That will not be necessary, my son.”
At the Jedi Temple, Yoda and Mace Windu stand on a balcony overlooking assembled Jedi, many in hologram form. “The Supreme Chancellor has ordered a final offensive against the Separatist forces at Mustafar, to begin immediately,” says Mace. “All Jedi are hereby recalled from their protector duties. This is our moment to end this war and restore peace to the galaxy! Dismissed!!”
The two Jedi Masters walk back inside from the balcony. “Clouded, the future remains. Portentous this day is, but know why I cannot.”
“Despite our suspicions we must follow the Chancellor’s orders. He retains the support of the Senate.”
“And what word from Skywalker do we have?”
“Several reports. Meetings, events...little substantial. Also, we lost communications with Master Kenobi outside of Geonosis. We have also been unable to contact Alderaan. The fates of Masters Mudi and Myorta remain unknown.”
“Unfortunate, this is.”
WIPE TO Alderaan, where Obi-Wan lands in the Mandalorian ship. A group of Guards rushes out and surrounds it, guns drawn. The hatch lowers and Obi-Wan emerges. A nervous Guard shoots. Obi-Wan casually draws his laser sword and harmlessly deflects the blast, then puts the sword away. He discovers that Padmé and the other Senators have been captured and the communications array damaged. He leaves R2F5 with them to repair their destroyed communications and flies off to Had Abbadon.
WIPE TO a Starbase on Had Abbadon. “The Imperial March” plays. Anniken and Palpatine look out over a fleet of Clone Landing Craft. Armies of Jedi Knights and Clone Troopers load into the many ships, which take off into the blood red sky.
“It is a thing of beauty, Chancellor!” says Anniken.
“Yes. Soon this rebellion will be crushed and a new order brought to the Galaxy! And you, Master Anakin, will be my right-hand!”
Anniken smiles. CUT TO Yoda and Mace Windu, who stand among the assembling forces. “There is no reason for you to go on this mission, Master Yoda.”
“No, my friend. Go on this mission I must. The will of the Force draws me to it. You,” Yoda points with his staff, “must here on Had Abbadon remain. Defenseless the Temple is to this Sith Assassin.”
“If that is your order, Master Yoda.”
“My order, it is. Old, I am. Able to protect the temple I am not. Only you, Master Windu, the strength to protect it have.”
Kiai Mudi, Bav Myorta, and Prana Ashla walk up. They apologize for failing to protect the Senators.
“No...failed you have I. So much have I not foreseen. Master Mudi, Master Myorta, with me to Mustafar you will come. Padawan Prana, your Sen-nai with the Chancellor awaits. Meet him at the Jedi Temple you will. Come, Masters...”
Yoda turns and walks towards the waiting landing, the other two Jedi Masters behind. Mace Windu and Prana watch as they walk up the ramp.
WIPE TO…
(Image source IGN)
The molten planet of Mustafar. Slave 1 and the other Mandalorian fly towards the molten red planet below. They fly on towards the Separatist base land on a platform. Two Sha’anar, one of them the corpulent Gunray Pabucan, escorted by X-9 Super Drones and Battle Droids, await them. CUT TO the Mandalorians, Boba Fett in the lead, escorting the Senators, Droids, and Roona captured on Aldreaan, all in chains or with restraining bolts.
“Well, well. Queen Amidala in my clutches at last!!” says Pabucan.
“Enjoy your fleeting moment, Gunray,” says Padmé. “The Jedi will find you soon enough.”
“Insolent as ever. Take them away!!!”
The Mandalorians return to the ships while the Droids escort the prisoners into the stronghold. Boba Fett stays behind. “I have delivered the prisoners per Lord Dias’ contract to the letter. My service to him ends with this delivery.”
“Don’t be too hasty, Warrior. We can pay well......”
“I don’t perform suicide missions.” Boba Fett turns and marches back to Slave One as Pabucan looks on, alarmed.
WIPE TO the Jedi Temple. Mace Windu Chancellor Palpatine, Anniken, and Prana stand on a balcony. A squad of Chancellor’s Guards stand on a balcony overlooking the streets beyond the Temple grounds, which are lined by a small army of Clone Troopers. Anniken seems preoccupied. Prana seems nervous next to him. Palpatine smiles and waves to a host of Camera Drones that hover just off the balcony. Mace scowls.
“Sen-nai, again my apologies for not......” Prana starts.
“Enough!” says Anniken, cutting her off. “You’ve explained yourself enough, Padawan. Now, go check on the Younglings.”
“I am sure Master Shalti is more than capable of.......”
“Do as I say!!!”
Prana bows. “Sen-nai.” She exits.
CUT TO Mace and Palpatine. The former scowls, scanning every corner. Palpatine pats Mace on the shoulder. “Relax, Master Windu! The Troopers have the entire perimeter secured! No one can get into the Temple!”
“....Or out.”
Palpatine laughs. “Such a suspicious mind you have for a Jedi!”
WIPE TO Murchalar Prison, where a hunched, Hooded Figure limps up to the high security checkpoint with the four Clone Guards.
“Sir, I will need to see some...gack!” The Four Guards grab their throats and fall, choking, to the ground. The Hooded Figure walks into the stone detainment area. The prisoners cower in the corners of their cells as the Figure passes. The Sophisticated Alien Prisoner stops his reading, looks up, smiles, and raises his cup in salute. The Figure reaches the cell with Mauk Shivtor, who looks up and snarls.
“YOU!!!” he shrieks.
“Master calls, Mauk. It is time.” The Sith Assassin pulls out a laser sword in Mauk’s twin-blade style from his cloak and holds it out as the force field blinks out. Mauk smiles evilly, grabbing the laser sword.
“At long last! Our revenge!!!”
(Image source StarWars.com)
WIPE TO Mustafar. The Republic Forces land on the black lava stone plains in front of the fortified complex. Lava lakes give off a macabre red glow. Marching out, the Jedi, led by Kiai Mudi, form up in the center, flanked and reinforced by armies of Clone Troopers. Across from them a force of Battle Droids and Super Drones opposes them.
In the far back of the Republic lines Master Yoda awaits with the Clone Generals.
“Field Marshal Yoda, we await your orders.”
Yoda sighs and looks away. “The attack commence, General.”
CUT TO Kiai Mudi at the head of the Jedi force. He raises his laser sword and points forward with it. With a roar the Jedi forces charge the robot armies. The Super Drones charge. Lasers fly from the Clones and Droids. The two forces CLASH, leaping high into the air at each other in a multi-level melee.
WIPE TO the Jedi Temple. A smiling Palpatine talks to Mace Windu. “A new day dawns, Master Windu. One founded on technology with little need of warrior-monks.”
“I’m concerned with this line of thought, Chancellor.”
“Prepare yourself, Jedi.”
Suddenly the lights flicker and go out. “Sir Anakin!” calls Mace.
“On it!” says Anniken, who leaves.
Inside the temple Prana walks through the tower when the lights go out. She comes very alert and starts to run.
CUT TO two Jedi Guards, who stand by a door, laser spears in their hands. Suddenly the lights flicker and go out, plunging the room into darkness. They ignite their laser spears and come to a ready stance. From BEHIND SCREEN Mauk Shivtor emerges and ignites the double-bladed laser sword.
“Stand down, Sith!”
Mauk laughs and charges the two Jedi. The three clash, Mauk aggressively driving against the Jedi, trying to get past their long spears. The two surround him, putting him on the defensive. One thrusts aggressively. Mauk deflects the laser spear up, giving an opening. He rushes in, slicing off the Jedi’s legs. He turns to parry a thrust by the other Jedi, stabs back to finish off the injured Jedi and, laughing maniacally, attacks the remaining one. The furious assault becomes a game for the Sith.
The Sith Assassin fades into visibility from the shadows and casually stabs the Jedi in the back.
“He was mine!!!” roars Mauk.
“Quit playing, Mauk,” says the Sith Assassin. “We have a mission.”
The music takes a somber turn. On the balcony, Mace and Palpatine look out upon the city.
“Something has been bothering me about you, Chancellor,” says Mace. “The Force touches us all in its own way. To some it is a slight breeze. To others a tempest.”
Palpatine smiles. “And what does your ‘Force’ have to do with me, Master Windu?”
CUT TO Mustafar. SILENT. SLOW MOTION. The battle continues to rage. We see Jedi and Drones fall left and right in the melee. Mace Windu’s voice is heard in voiceover.
Mace (voiceover): “A Jedi is the eye at the center of a noble hurricane, a Sith the funnel of a devastating tornado. It was said that a Jedi Master could sense a Sith Master from across the galaxy, that his evil bent the fabric of space itself.”
Inside the Jedi Temple. Prana silently runs across the Courtyard, laser sword-staff at the ready.
CUT TO Anniken, who silently walks the halls in a dark-hooded cloak.
Palpatine (v.o.): “A fascinating thought.”
Mustafar. More silent, slow-motion battle. Master D’Naal cuts a Drone in half, before two more stab and kill her.
Mace (v.o.): “But you the Force doesn’t even touch. It bends around you...as if afraid of you.”
CUT TO Yoda, who flinches with every death.
Mace (Cont’d - v.o.): “Yoda believes you are a normal man. He is a gentle being. One who trusts his senses.”
Back to the Temple. Mace is standing now, facing Palpatine. Camera Drones hover by, watching.
“I, however, am NOT a trusting man, Chancellor,” continues Mace. “I see the worst in men where Yoda sees only the best. I look in suspicion upon those he gives the benefit of doubt.
“And what do your suspicions tell you now, Jedi?”
“If a Sith Master stood beside me, then I should know it. Unless he had discovered a way to hide from the Force. How else could the Sith have remained hidden?”
Inside the Temple, a snarling Mauk walks up to the door and stabs the lock as the Assassin stands with his back to the wall next to it. He is revealed to be very tall when fully erect. Suddenly Master Sha’ak Shalti runs screaming out the door, laser swords flying, towards Mauk. The Assassin stabs her in the back too. Smiling evilly, Mauk enters the door.
(Image source The Imperial Talker)
It is the Younglings’ Chamber. We see the gathered Jedi Younglings, terrified as a Dark Figure steps out from BEHIND CAMERA, filling the left half of the screen. Mauk’s hand appears and ignites his laser sword. The Younglings flinch in terror.
Up on the balcony, Mace suddenly grabs the railing and winces, as if in extreme pain. “The Younglings!!!”
Palpatine smiles evilly. His voice takes on an evil, malign tone. “Every...single...one! You were wise to trust your suspicions, Jedi. Now, feel the true power of the Dark Side!!”
Something unseen changes the atmosphere. Mace falls back as if in shock and revulsion, igniting his laser sword.
Inside the temple, Prana falls to her knees as if in pain. CUT TO Anniken, who stops and looks back, shock and terror in his eyes.
Inside the commandeered Mandalorian Ship. Stars stream by the cockpit. Obi-Wan bolts up in shock
On Mustafar Yoda raises his head, a look of shocked revelation on his wizened face.
Back at the Temple Mace Windu recovers and faces Sith Master Sidious Morg, no longer pretending to be Palpatine, smiling evilly. The Chancellor’s Guards come alert and move to engage Mace, but Sidious hold up a hand. The Camera Drones look on.
“Go ahead, Jedi,” says Palpatine/Sidious, “strike me down. An unarmed old man. The freely elected Chancellor of the Galactic Republic! Reveal the treachery of the Jedi!” He motions to the Camera Drones. “...The Galaxy watches.”
In the Temple, Prana runs into the Younglings’ chamber. She gasps seeing the little bodies, still, scattered across the floor.
Prana exits the Younglings’ Chamber in a daze of shock. Mauk Shivtor steps out of the shadows and lights his laser sword.
“Hello, little Padawan!!”
Prana ignites her laser sword-staff. “You killed them!!”
“Yes. And now I will kill you!!!”
Mauk charges Prana, aggressively attacking in spinning slashes. Prana falls back, deftly blocking the attacks.
(Image source Wookiepedia)
Elsewhere in the dark Temple, Anniken runs back up through the Tower. The Sith Assassin fades in from the shadows, standing at his full height. Anniken draws his laser sword and turns to face him. They are of equivalent height and Anniken looks upon him as if looking into a dark mirror.
The Sith draws his laser sword. “Hello again, Anniken.”
“Who are you?!?”
“An old friend.”
The Sith attacks in a leaping stab! Anniken parries and slashes. They enter a deadly dance, the Sith leaping around, beastlike, on hands and feet, stinging thrusts with his short laser sword. Anniken strains to block the wild, stinging assaults.
Up on the Balcony, Mace hesitates. Sidious, eyes closed, head tilted back, stands in front of him. “Yes...I feel your anger, Jedi, the HATE. It burns in you, Windu. Such an excellent Sith you would have made.”
“Never!!!”
“YEESSSSSS!!! The Dark Side touches you, Windu, I can feel it!! Now watch as the whole Jedi Order is torn down!!”
“NOOOOO!!!”
Mace charges Sidious, and swings, screaming. The strike is blocked inches away by the shielded staff of a Guard. Sidious laughs.
Inside the Temple Prana and Mauk continue their clash. Prana’s spinning parries hold off Mauk’s twin blades. Snarling, his assaults push her back. Suddenly she changes he grip, deflects Mauk’s blade up and slips under, thrusting. Mauk barely manages to turn and block it. Now HE is on the defensive!
Her thrusts and strikes drive him back. In desperation he uses the Force to push her. Prana flies back, sliding to a halt on her feet and left hand. Swinging her laser sword-staff back behind her and pushing a button, the sword-staff TELESCOPES out into a full-length laser spear or naginata. Prana stands and spins the blade around in a ready stance.
Elsewhere in the Temple, Anniken continues to battle the Sith Assassin. He manages to deflect three quick thrusts then uses the Force to push away the Sith, who slides, stands, and applauds, laughing.
“Superb, Anakin!! Obi-Wan taught you well!”
“WHO ARE YOU!?!?”
“What, Anakin, don’t you recognize....” The Sith reaches up and removes the Vader-like mask with a hiss of steam to reveal the burn-scarred face of.......Baron Cetu Thorpe!! “.....your own Great Grand Sen-nai?”
“Master Thorpe!”
“In the flesh....as it were.”
On the balcony, Mace battles the Guards in a running fight. They are skilled and disciplined, but little match for a Jedi Master, and several are quickly killed. Two Guards escort Sidious Morg towards the door. Sidious, as Chancellor Palpatine, turns to the Camera Drones. “The Jedi are in open revolt against the government!!!”
He is ushered through the doorway, where the panicked face twists into a dark smile. He removes a Comm. from his robe. “Secretary Tarkin, execute Order 6-6.”
Back on Mustafar, the battle continues. More Jedi, Clone Troopers, Droids, and Drones fall.
The Clone Troopers stop and touch the sides of their helmets, receiving a message. They suddenly fall back, allowing the Battle Droids to surround the Jedi on three sides. The Clones then take aim at the Jedi from the fourth side and start to fire. Caught in the crossfire numerous Jedi start to fall.
“No....” says Yoda.
The Clone Generals around Yoda turn their guns on him. They fire, but Yoda has flipped away.
(Image source Twitter)
CUT BACK TO the battle, where, despite their defensive circle, Jedi after Jedi falls. The music turns tragic and things enter SLOW MOTION as several important Jedi: Bav Myorta, Vrema Melovrius, and finally Kiai Mudi are cut down.
On the Temple Balcony, Mace Windu battles the Guards, killing the last of them as the Camera Drones watch. He storms into the doorway.
Inside the Council Chambers, laser sword drawn, Mace enters, where Sidious awaits, seated casually in Master Yoda’s high seat, a hood over his head, shadowing his eyes. The two remaining Guards flank him.
“Ah, Master Windu. I was expecting you.”
The Guards charge Mace, who quickly cuts them down.
Mace points his laser sword. “Sidious Morg, you are under arrest in the name of the Jedi Council and the Galactic Republic.”
Sidious laughs. “Fool, I AM the Republic!!”
“Stand down, or be put down.”
Sidious floats specter-like down from chair. “I prefer to do this...the hard way...”
Suddenly LIGHTNING shoots from Sidious’ fingers and engulfs Mace Windu.
Inside the temple, Prana assaults Mauk with her telescoped laser naginata. Mauk retreats under the relentless thrusts and cuts, unable to slip past the ever-moving blade. He leaps over a cut towards his foot and tries to flip over Prana, but only just avoids being stabbed and falls back to the floor to her side, still held back by the blade.
“Having trouble, Mauk?” Prana attacks again, pushing him back. Suddenly Mauk does a spinning move that deflects the thrust past him, grabs the pole of the laser naginata, and pulls. Prana screams as she’s pulled into his grasp. He lifts her by the neck with his right hand, the blade of his laser sword holding her weapon down.
“And now, my little Padawan, I drink of your blood!!!” He pulls her towards him, mouth open......
“No, my apprentice, not yet!” says the disembodied voice of Sidious. “I foresee a use for her!”
“She is mine!!!!”
“NOT. YET.”
Snarling, Mauk throws Prana across the room. She rolls over, gasping, as Mauk EXITS. After a moment she gets up and pursues him.
Elsewhere, Anniken confronts Cetu Thorpe, who reaches out. “Come, grandson, join me! Together we will destroy Yoda, Windu, and Sidious and rule the Galaxy!”
Anniken is confused, divided. “No, I....”
“The Thorpe-Skywalker Dynasty shall rule for a thousand years!!!” He is suddenly alert. “Ah, but this will have to wait. Mauk Shivtor approaches!! Strike him down, Anniken, with all your anger, fear, and hate!!! Avenge Quigon! Avenge your MOTHER!!!
There is the sound of footfalls quickly approaching.
“Strike, Anniken, STRIKE NOW!!!!”
Anniken, screaming, rage in his eyes, thrusts as a figure enters the doorway. Anniken, in horror, sees that he has impaled PRANA ASHLA, his own Padawan!!!
“Sen-nai......why....??” asks Prana. She slumps to the floor. Anniken looks on her in a strange mix of horror and exhilaration.
Thorpe looms just over Anniken’s shoulder. “It felt good, did it not? The rage? The hate?”
Screaming Anniken strikes at Thorpe, who deflects the blows before pushing Anniken away with the Force. “Remember, Anniken...remember that feeling of power!” Thorpe puts the mask back on and fades back into the shadows.
WIPE TO the Council Room, there Sidious continues to blast Mace with the lightning from his hands. Mace screams and thrashes in pain. Sidious laughs. Slowly, Mace pushes through the pain, stands, and blocks the lightning with his laser sword. Slowly, he redirects the lightning into Sidious!! The tables are turned as Sidious’ own lightning attack is attacking him!! We watch as his face twists and contorts under the lightning, becoming twisted and deformed.
“You cannot win, Sith!”
“It’s not over yet, Jedi!!!”
(Image source Quora)
Suddenly Anniken, laser sword drawn, bursts into the room!
“Anniken!!! Son!! Help me!!!!”
“Don’t believe his lies, Sir Anakin!!! He is the Sith Master!”
“He’s killing me, Anakin!!!”
Anniken looks on, confused, trying to choose between the two.
“Anniken! PLEASE!!!!”
“FATHER!!!”
Suddenly Anniken’s laser sword flashes, cutting off Mace Windu’s hands. Mace falls back as Sidious’ lightning pours into him. Mace falls back to the railing on the balcony, then over it, plummeting.
“You have done well, my son,” says Sidious. He puts a hood on over his scarred head.
“Thank you........father.”
Sidious laughs. “I am
not you father, Anakin.”
“.....But...you said......”
“...That I loved a woman named Shmi? A small lie.......to help you see the greater truth!”
Suddenly Mauk Shivtor and Baron Thorpe enter, and gather next to Sidious. Thorpe removes his mask, smiling. Mauk scowls hatefully.
“Join us, Anakin! Join the ancient order of the Sith!! Reject the LIES of the Jedi.”
“Come, Grandson!!”
“I...I’m not sure.”
“Did not Master Windu oppose you at every opportunity? Did not the Council reject your advancement? Did not your own Sen-nai betray you?!? Always
they have lied...always
I have had your best interests at heart.”
“Wait!! I sense someone...” says Mauk, who rips open a console on the wall to reveal a young, scared alien Padawan.
The Padawan draws his laser sword. “Get back!!”
Mauk draws his laser sword. “This won’t take long, Master!!”
“No!! Sir Anniken. This one is yours to kill.”
“He’s a child!”
“He is a Jedi!!! Indoctrinated from infancy by their lies!!! There is no way to save him but to free him from this life! Strike him down! Prove your loyalty!!”
“Do it, Anniken, kill him!” says Thorpe.
“He’s too afraid! He is a coward!!!” snarls Mauk.
The Padawan points his laser sword at Anniken. “Get back, traitor!!!”
Anniken draws his laser sword...hesitates...and strikes the Padawan down. Sidious laughs. “Excellent!! Baron, take our newest Sith to Mustafar. Mauk, stay here and kill any Jedi who return.”
Thorpe places a hand on Anniken’s shoulder. “Welcome to the family!!”
CIRCLE WIPE TO…
Obi-Wan’s commandeered Mandalorian Ship on the eerily silent grounds of the Jedi Temple. Obi-Wan exits and walks along the quiet courtyard.
(Image source Facebook)
He visits the Youngling Chambers and stares in horror at the fallen Younglings.
He sadly walks, hand to his head, through the empty halls of the Jedi Temple.
He passes where Prana fell, but sees no body, somehow sensing that something important happened at this spot.
Suddenly he comes alert. Mauk Shivtor walks out, double-bladed laser sword drawn. “I’ve been waiting a long time for this, Jedi!”
“You killed the Younglings.” Obi-Wan calmly draws his laser sword.
“YES!! And I savored every...last... kill...! But this kill I will savor the most of all!!!”
(Image source Reddit)
As “Duel of the Fates” plays, Mauk attacks Obi-Wan in a screaming, spinning assault, a tempest of fury and aggression. Obi-Wan remains calm and focused, efficiently deflecting each blow. Mauk spins, kicks, and strikes from many angles, becoming increasingly frustrated as he is unable to penetrate the Jedi’s calm defenses. Their laser swords lock.
“HOW?!?!”
“Your style of fighting is old, Mauk, but I understand it now.”
Mauk pushes off and attacks again, twirling the double-bladed laser sword, striking again and again. Obi-Wan, devoid of anger or emotion, calmly deflects them all. Mauk kicks at Obi-Wan, who raises a hand, sending Mauk flying away, spinning. Mauk rolls up on his feet and snarls.
“You’ve learned.”
“You didn't bother to learn.”
Mauk grins evilly. “I don't have to, Jedi.”
Mauk raises the laser sword like a spear and runs, screaming with rage, at Obi-Wan. Kenobi calmly lashes out, ducking under Mauk’s blade and, in a spinning slash, cuts the Sith warrior in half.
Obi-Wan casually walks away from his fallen enemy without a trace of emotion or vengeance, a man who has performed a distasteful but necessary task.
“Learn not...live not, my master always said.”[2]
WIPE TO…
Mustafar. Two spaceships, one a Jedi Starfighter, the other a Solar Sail of the type Baron Thorpe prefers, fly towards the volcanic planet.
“Grandson, you are to lead the final destruction of the Separatist Armies. Their services are no longer required. I....have a special mission to accomplish.”
The two spacecraft break off and fly towards different parts of the planet.
Anniken’s ship lands amid a squad of Clone Troopers. CUT TO Anniken walking among the Clones.
“Field Marshal Skywalker, the Droid Army is crushed and the majority of the Jedi traitors have been eliminated. A few, including Yoda, have escaped.”
“....Send five squads to find them and kill them. The rest of you to the front. We begin bombardment of the Compound in twenty minutes. I will get you inside.”
The Clone General salutes. “Yes, Field Marshal.”
WIPE TO the hills overlooking the battle. Master Yoda walks along a ridgeline with two Jedi. In the distance the Clone Army starts to bombard the Headquarters, explosions lighting up the watchtowers. Yoda frowns and continues walking along the ridge.
In the dingy, dungeon of a Prison inside the Separatist headquarters we see Padmé, Nassai, Bail Organa, Mon Mothma, Naiyadah, Moog, and Ba Ba locked in rusty cells. C-3PO and R2-D2 sit outside, held back by Restraining Bolts. A fat Ghurran Guard kicks back at a desk, watching a hologram of Pod Races. R2-D2 beeps and starts to roll. The Guard hits a button on a handheld device causing R2 to freeze.
“It’s no use, Astromech, we have restraining bolts.”
R2-D2 makes a sad sound. Suddenly a BOOMING sound can be heard. The walls shake, dislodging dirt and rocks.
“They have begun bombardment,” says Mothma. “We must escape soon.”
“In an adjacent cell Ba Ba gets an idea. He starts to push his head between the bars. His cartilaginous skull starts to squish as his head starts sliding through the bars. “Hey!! Roona! Cut it out!” says the guard, who throws something, which bounces off of Ba Ba’s head.
Ba Ba then takes a look, licks a finger and tests the air, puts his nose between the bars again and.....his tongue shoots out and grabs the restraining bolt off of R2-D2!! R2 comes to life with a beep and rolls towards the Guard.
“Hey!!” The Guard clicks the Device – nothing happens. R2-D2 opens a small hatch and shoots out Taser Wires that hit the Guard and shock him. The Guard falls, stunned. R2 interfaces the computer and all the cell doors open. ALL cheer!!
“Ba Ba, beh, you, beh did it!!!” says Moog, who gives Ba Ba a bear hug, causing Ba Ba to cough up the restraining bolt. It shoots out, bounces off the wall, and smacks Moog in the head. Moog gives an angry look to Ba Ba, who smiles meekly. Moog suddenly smiles warmly and gives Ba Ba another hug. “Ba Ba, beh!!”
The room shakes with another near explosion. Padmé runs to a weapons locker and starts pulling weapons from it and hands them out. “Quickly! Let’s go!”
CUT TO the council of Separatist leaders sit around the table. Many flinch as a near explosion rocks the room. “The Republic Armies are about to breach the gates!! We must surrender!!” says Gunray Pabucan.
A Battle Droid says, “Masters...a man claiming to be a representative of Lord Dias has arrived at the secret entrance!!”
The doors slide open and a tall Hooded Figure enters. “Lord Dias thanks you for your loyalty and service, gentlemen,” says Anniken.
“I hope he sent an army with you, then.”
“Indeed he did. However, I regret to inform you that he has sent me to terminate your employment.”
Suddenly Anniken raises a hand and all the doors close. He ignites his laser sword and starts to brutally cut down the Separatist leaders in cold blood. One by one they are all slaughtered.
(Image source CSW wiki)
As he decapitates Pabucan, the blue laser sword flickers red for a second and his eyes glow orange.
WIPE TO where Obi-Wan flies towards the volcanic planet. Yoda watches the Mandalorian fly towards the embattled headquarters. “May the Force be with you, Master Kenobi.”
WIPE TO the hallways of the Separatist headquarters. Padmé leads the Senators, Droids, and Roona down the hallways of the buildings, shooting the scattered groups of Battle Droids they come across. A very close hit shakes the hallways, dislodging lots of debris. The Senators duck for cover. R2 beeps alarmed. “We’re not going to make it!’ Says Threepio.
Padmé dusts herself off. “Then we die trying. Move!!!”
Elsewhere in the headquarters, a group of Battle Droids and Ghurrans stand by at the main doors. Suddenly the doors start to slide open. “Who authorized opening the doors?!?” asks a Droid.
Suddenly scores of Clone Troopers rush in, shooting. PAN BACK to a balcony where Anniken looks on, coldly, arms crossed.
WIPE TO a cavernous room with a stone bridge that spans a massive lake of molten lava. Tooth-like stalactites hang from above. A laser sword cuts a hole in a wall and Obi-Wan steps in. On one side is a train sitting silent on some track. Obi-Wan starts running along the bridge in the opposite direction from the train. CUT TO behind him as we see him run along the bridge, which appears to run on into infinity.
CUT TO a large room. A Sha’anar egg hatches and the Grub that hatched from it starts to scream. A Sha’anar Nanny picks it up and leads a team of Nursemaids as they shuffle eggs and Grubs between different resin chambers. Suddenly a door opens and Padmé and the rest rush in, pistols ready. A Nursemaid shrieks, nearly dropping an egg. Padmé holds up a hand and lowers her gun.
“Hold your fire! It’s a nursery.”
“What are you doing here!?!” demands the Nanny.
“Trying to escape. I advise you take your young and do the same!” The room shakes with an explosion.
“There is no leaving the Hatchery until they are ready!” The Nanny casually drops the Grub into a slimy pool full of others. It immediately starts to push smaller ones out of the way to get to the food in the middle. “This one is strong! He will survive and grow.”
Bail Organa points to a small Grub at the edge of the pool who shrieks helplessly. “That little one is getting pushed away! It’ll starve!!”
“He is weak. The individual dies, but the swarm grows stronger.”
“The Trade Guild’s not just run by simple greed...it’s how your people survive!”
“It has served us for millennia! Grow fat or starve!”
WIPE TO the Hills, where Master Yoda watches the Headquarters burn. “So many deaths. So needless.”
“Master Yoda, the patrols grow near. We must go,” says a Jedi.
Yoda sighs and starts hobbling along TOWARDS CAMERA. Suddenly, as his face FILLS the FRAME, he comes alert. In the background the hooded figure of Baron Thorpe fades into visibility. With a flashing stab he lunges at Yoda, who leaps up out of the way. The remaining two Jedi engage Thorpe, who kills one Jedi with a lightning-fast stab and gets in a quick duel with the second, overwhelming and killing him. Thorpe walks up to Yoda, wheezing mechanical breathing heavy.
“Hello, Sen-nai.”
“Thorpe. A disappointment, you are. Such a great Jedi you were.”
“You underestimate the power of the Dark Side.”
“Yes, underestimated it I did. Not anymore.”
“And not for much longer!”
Thorpe leaps at Yoda, who deftly slips out of the way of the strike. Slashing again and again, Thorpe tries in vain to kill the ever-moving Yoda.
(Image source Quora)
WIPE TO the headquarters hallways, where Anniken leads a force of Clones through the corridors of the Headquarters, mercilessly slaying all whom they encounter, combatant or non-combatant.
“Fan out. Kill them all. This rebellion ends today!!!”
WIPE TO the Hatchery, where Padmé is talking with the Nanny when the sounds of blaster fire can be heard beyond the door.
“Your Majesty; armies approach!! We must move quickly!” says Mon Mothma.
The Nanny points. “There is a small hidden door over there. Beyond it is a bridge. It will take you to the train, which will take you to starships.”
“Thank you. May the Force be with you.” Padmé opens the small back door and the rest start crawling out through it.
Suddenly the front doors blast open and Clone Troopers burst thorough. They start shooting the Nursemaids and Nanny in cold blood. Padmé ducks. She watches the carnage, appalled.
Suddenly she sees Anniken walk in. She almost calls out.
“Kill them all,” says Anniken. “The Chancellors’ orders are to leave no witnesses.”
“Yes, Field Marshal. What about the Grubs and Eggs?”
“They are insects. Burn them.”
The Clones start to burn the Grubs and Eggs with flame throwers. The Grubs shriek and scream. Padmé looks on in horror as Anniken coldly watches this extermination, his eyes glowing orange. Ba Ba quietly slips back in through the small door. He suddenly raises his head and starts to look over in Padmé’s direction. “Baza’a, quick!!”
They slip through and shut the door just as Anniken turns to see it close.
WIPE TO the hills, where Yoda ducks under three thrusts and uses the Force to fling the screaming Thorpe across the hillside. “Kill you I will not, old friend, but kill me you cannot either.”
“Then it is an impasse that must be ended!!”
Thorpe attacks again and again, leaping, twisting, stabbing, slashing, but always striking air. Yoda flings him away again, and again. Finally, Yoda throws Thorpe hard against a rock. Thorpe falls, struggling to climb back up. “Win you cannot, Baron Thorpe.”
Thorpe wheezes mechanically. “You....would do...better...not to...underestimate me!!!” Thorpe fires lightning bolts from his fingers. Yoda closes his eyes and holds up his hand and the lightning passes harmlessly around him.
“I am sorry, old friend. Left me with little choice you have.” With a sudden shove into the air Thorpe is sent flying far away, over the edge of a cliff, where he plummets, screaming, into the blackness.
Falling to his knees, exhausted, Yoda sighs.
WIPE TO the bridge over the lava flows, where Obi-Wan runs across the bridge. He comes across the Senators. C-3PO and R2-D2 are close behind. Obi-Wan directs them to the train he passed and runs off down the bridge.
CUT TO Padmé. Moog, and Ba Ba, who are at the far end of the bridge. Padmé is in shock. “....He is evil. He turned evil....”
“Padmé, baza-ah!!!”
She comes alert. “Yes. Yes. We must move quickly before he....”
Anniken appears at the far end of the room. “Padmé? Is that you? Padmé!! I thought I’d lost you!!”
Padmé dismisses the Roona and pulls something from her belt and palms it. The Roona start to hesitantly walk away. Padmé turns towards Anniken and walks up to him as if in a trance. Anniken grasps her in an embrace. “Oh, Padmé, my love! They told me you’d been taken by Mandalorians!”
Padmé, still in a trance, says, “They brought me here.”
“The Force brought us back together. Great news, the war is over! We can return to Had Abbadon! Chancellor Palpatine is placing me in charge of the Galactic Army! Finally, this can all be over.”
Concept Art of Padmé with the dagger (abandoned idea in our timeline; Image source Padmé Amidala Defense Funs on Tumbler)
ZOOM IN on Padmé’s hand, which is revealed to be holding a dagger. “Yes...this can all be over.” She clutches the dagger, turns it towards ANAKIN, and........
......she can’t. Despite it all she loves him. The dagger falls from her fingers.
“What are we going to do, Anakin?”
“Whatever we wish, my love.”
Obi-Wan runs up. “PADMÉ!!”
A shocked and suspicious look crosses Anniken’s eyes. He pushes Padmé away. “You are with him!!! You betrayed me!!!”
“NO! I swear to you, Ani, I....”
Anniken holds up his hand and Padmé starts to choke. “Betrayers!! All of you!!!”
“Anakin, stop!!” screams Obi-Wan. Padmé falls to her knees, gasping. “You’re killing her!!!”
Obi-Wan draws his laser sword. Anniken tosses Padmé aside with the Force and draws his laser sword. She hits a wall and falls still on the floor. The Roona run up to her. “You killed her!!” says Ba Ba.
“Anakin, what have you done?!?” says Obi-Wan.
Moog grabs her body and throws it over his shoulder. The Roona run off down the bridge with Padmé. Anniken stares at Obi-Wan, then at Padmé, and back at Obi-Wan, a complex stream of emotions crossing his face. “You! YOU killed her! You turned her against me!! Her death is on YOUR hands!!!”
He raises his hand and Obi-Wan starts to choke.
Obi-Wan fights the choke. “That’s not true!!”
“Always it has been YOU who held me back! You were ALWAYS jealous of me!!! Ever since you first freed me!!
Obi-Wan falls to one knee. “No, Anakin....I....loved you...like a brother.”
“LIES!!”
Obi-Wan closes his eyes and PUSHES the air in front of him. Anniken flies back. He lands on his feet and charges, screaming. He attacks Obi-Wan in a berserk rage, pure hate and fury driving him. Obi-Wan is taken aback by the onslaught and struggles to avoid the furious strikes. He backs up onto the bridge.
CUT TO Moog and Ba Ba as they carry Padmé up to the train. They discover that she is still breathing and board the train.
“What about Sir Obi-Wan?”
“He is a Jedi,” says Mothma. “He will want us to get her away from here.”
CUT BACK TO Anniken and Obi-Wan. A wild swing by Anniken cuts away a floor-to-ceiling pillar holding up the bridge. The pillar falls, causing the ceiling and wall to cave in and causing the bridge to topple, cutting then off from Padmé and the rest. The collapsing wall reveals the outside. A small “waterfall” of lava starts to pour in. Obi-Wan attacks Anniken from the side, diverting his attention. Anniken fights back, all rage. Their laser swords lock. Anniken’s blade flickers red again.
“You are falling to the Dark side, Anakin!! The kyber crystal in your light saber is resisting you!”
“Then I will force it to obey me!!!”
Anniken breaks off and attacks again, forcing Obi-Wan back. Obi-Wan jumps away, onto the fallen pillar, which bridges the lava. Obi-Wan retreats up the bridge, into the outside. Anniken, face awash in rage, sees his laser sword flicker red, then flicker out for just a second. He shakes it, returning the blue blade, and pursues Obi-Wan.
WIPE TO the Train as it flies quickly through the tunnel. Bail organa looks out the window and then turns to check on Padmé. Nassai administering to her, she coughs and comes awake.
“Anakin....” she says, weakly.
“Save your strength, beh.”
(Image source EW)
CUT TO where, furiously, the Sen-nai and his former Padawan clash amid the lava flows of Mustafar. Streams of lava pour around them, melting the surrounding rock. Rocks break loose and fall into the seething hot flows. Vents of scalding steam shoot out from cracks. Flames erupt. The broken landscape serves as symbol of their broken friendship. Anniken chases Obi-Wan up a ridgeline between two flows. Obi-Wan leaps across a flow onto another ridge, dislodging some rocks. Anniken’s laser sword flickers red and out again. He shakes it back on and leaps across.
“Anakin!! Resist the Dark side! I have faith in you!”
“You, like all Jedi, are faithless liars!!”
“It is the Sith who are the liars!”
“They have shown me the
truth!!!”
Again they clash, Obi-Wan trying to retain his composure in the face of Anniken’s onslaught. They leap and flip from rocky outcropping to rocky outcropping. They clash and separate. Anniken stumbles and almost slips into the lava.
“Anakin! Take care! Your anger makes you powerful, but careless!”
“If it gives me the power to kill you, betrayer, then that is enough!!” Anniken runs, screaming, attacking. Obi-Wan blocks three reckless blows then leaps high up onto an outcropping above as Anniken’s laser sword flickers out again.
“Stand down, Anakin!! You cannot win!! You will die!”
“Then I will take you with me!!” Anniken forces the laser sword back on and leaps up at Obi-Wan, screaming, putting all of his hate and anger into this strike.
Obi-Wan closes his eyes, holding the laser sword to his forehead. Reaching out with the Force, Obi-Wan deflects the blow and slices twice. Anniken’s right hand and both legs are severed from his body. Screaming, Anniken falls, legless, down to the edge of the lava. Anniken screams, and, despite the injury, starts to climb. The rocks start to slide and he slips towards the lava. Obi-Wan puts away his laser sword and starts to walk carefully down the slope, hand out.
“Reach for me, Anakin! I can save you!”
“Fear for yourself, traitor!!” Anniken reaches out with his remaining hand. His fallen laser sword starts to shake. Seeing this, Obi-Wan uses the Force to pull Anniken’s laser sword to himself and clips it to his belt.
Obi-Wan reaches out “ANNIKEN!!!”
Anniken grabs Obi-Wan’s hand and starts to pull him towards the lava. Obi-Wan fights to avoid being pulled in.
“I WILL DRAG YOU TO HELL WITH ME!!!!”
Obi-Wan realizes that Anniken is lost to him and pushes Aanniken away with the Force. Anniken slides to the edge of the lava. Flames ignite on him and start to engulf his body.
“Goodbye, Anakin,” Obi-Wan says, regretfully.
(Image Source CinemaBlend)
As Anniken, burning, screams, Obi-Wan regretfully walks away, not turning back.
Obi-Wan reaches the top of a ridge, the lava flowing far below him. Yoda is waiting for him. Anniken’s screaming is still audible.
“A pity it is, a Padawan to lose. Reminded of this today I was.”
“The Jedi are gone, Master Yoda. Palpatine is the Sith Master.”
“Know this, I do,” Yoda says, sadly.
“How do we stop the Sith?”
“As of now, we cannot. We wait until the Force a way provides. Until then I sense that a child of Skywalker within the Queen grows. Hide him from the Sith you must.”
“.....I know where I must take him. What will happen to you, Master Yoda?”
“The Force will provide a way. When right the time is know where to find me you will. Farewell, Master Obi-Wan Kenobi. May the Force be with you.”
Yoda turns around and walks off over a ridge.
Back below, Anniken, badly burnt, struggles to get up the hill. Suddenly the wheezy, gasping breath of Baron Thorpe can be heard. Suddenly the skeletal robotic legs of Thorpe appear before Anniken, who looks up. We PAN UP with Anniken’s gaze to see Thorpe standing above him. Thorpe holds his laser sword, ignited. He stares down with his Vader-like mask.
“Hello, my grandchild.....or should I say.....my
son!”
Thorpe, laser sword still drawn, kneels down by Anniken, putting a hand to his throat.
CUT BACK TO Obi-Wan, who watches from a distance as Thorpe kneels aggressively over Anniken. Obi-Wan sees a large force of Clone Troopers swarming up from below around the hills, cutting off any escape.
A Ghurran Shuttle flies through the red skies, Bail Organa and Mon Mothma look out from a window, deep in thought.
“Your plan is dangerous. We will need to wipe the memory of the droids as a precaution.”
“The Protocol Droid only. The Astromech’s memory will be a useful resource.”
Organa nods.
PAN TO Padmé, who lies on the deck, flailing. The Roona and the Droids administer to her.
“ANNIKEN!!! NO, ANNIKEN!!!” she thrashes.
“She’s delirious!”
“No....she, beh, sees what is,” says Nassai.
Padmé suddenly becomes alert. “Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan needs us.” Pushing away Nassai’s hands she gets up and walks to the cockpit, where Naiyadah pilots. She points out the windscreen. “Down there!”
We see Obi-Wan atop a hill, Clone Troopers streaming in from all sides. A last stand seems inevitable. Suddenly the shuttle flies up and hovers beside him. Ba Ba gives Obi-Wan a hand, pulling him up into the shuttle. The Clones start to swarm up the hillsides and fire at the shuttle as it flies away.
Obi-Wan watches from the window as the hills of Mustafar fade off into the background. Padmé walks up and puts a sisterly arm around him. They can be seen through the window of the shuttle as it banks away into the distance. Their faces betray a galaxy of worries. As the music fades, the shuttle shrinks to a distant point on the horizon.
In orbit around Mustafar, the shuttle flies off into the distance as a Clone Star Destroyer appears from BEHIND CAMERA, shooting at the shuttle. The shuttle disappears into hyperspace.
CIRCLE WIPE TO...
An “Imperial Montage”. “The Imperial March” plays as we step through a silent montage:
A fleet of Star Destroyers fly up through space at a rising angle, like stabbing spearheads.
The Roona being silently strafed from above by Clone Gunships.
Clone Troopers silently devastating a force of White Legionnaires.
Protestors in Had Abbadon getting silently gunned down by Clone Troopers.
A giant screen on a building clicks off from a news show to display an idealized image of Emperor Palpatine. Two scarlet banners with the Imperial Logo cascade to either side of it.
Finally, a dark Surgical Room. As the Imperial March crescendos we see a badly burnt Man (face obscured) on a dark, grey table. Robot Arms silently stab at the flailing figure. Black leg plates are clamped over burnt leg stumps. Strange equipment is sewn into a chest cavity.
CUT TO POV shot, where a black mask descends TOWARDS CAMERA, eclipsing the view.
As the mask eclipses the view and the last bar of the March starts, the iconic breathing of Darth Vader begins to be heard over the music. The surgical table rises slowly and silently with a black armored Figure on it as the breathing and music continues.
(Image source YouTube)
Finally, we ZOOM IN on the iconic mask of Darth Vader as he rises and the music comes to an end.
FADE TO BLACK as the breathing continues for four more cycles, the only sound filling the empty blackness.
Then....SILENCE.
FADE TO WHITE. A “Hope Montage” starts. “The Force Theme” plays as we enter a second silent montage:
A clean, white Delivery Room. Padmé silently screams in pain on a delivery table, attended to by a nurse droid. Obi-Wan looks on stoically. As the droid extends a Newborn over towards the waiting hands of Padmé, Obi-Wan steps in and takes the Newborn. Padmé silently screams in emotional pain at Obi-Wan as he walks out with the baby (observant viewers will recognize this scene from Anniken’s vision in Palpatine’s office).
(Image source AminoApps)
A Hooded Figure slips silently through a rowdy Bar Crowd into a back room. The Figure removes his hood to reveal Bail Organa. Mon Mothma and Naiyadah wait for him. Mothma holds up a device that projects a hologram of an X-Wing Fighter.
Master Yoda stands silently amid the swamps of Dagobah. A Spaceship lifts off in the background.
C-3PO pushes a hover chair down a hallway in Organa. In the chair sits a sad looking Padmé. R2-D2 trundles alongside.
As The Force Theme crescendos, full orchestra, we see a familiar Moisture Farm on Tatooine. A young man (Owen Lars) opens a door, a woman (Beru) behind him. A Hooded Figure hands the surprised man a bundled Baby.
CUT TO Owen, holding the Baby, now looking out upon the iconic twin suns of Tatooine.
(Image source Moviegasm)
PAN BACK as the music finishes its last bars to reveal Obi-Wan Kenobi watching from afar. The orchestra fades to a single flute playing the last notes of the Force Theme. Obi-Wan puts up the hood of a Moisture Farmer’s Robe and walks silently away as the music ends.
IRIS OUT
Star Wars Theme plays.
ROLL CREDITS
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