Star Wars Legends - Page Eight
Star Wars Legends
page 8
EXT HYDROPONICS FARM - DAY
Kin and Keth pound on the door.
KIN
Maybe no one's home.
KETH
They're home. See up there? There's people doing work.
The door opens. Selba Gauntil stands in the door.
SELBA GAUNTIL
Yes?
KETH
Um, yes. Hello. It's us.
SELBA GAUNTIL
Yes?
KIN
You remember that guy we came with a while ago?
SELBA GAUNTIL
Vader Keskar.
KETH
Yeah, that's the guy. Well ... um, he's in trouble.
KIN
Yeah, if he doesn't have us to protect him ... um ... he's in trouble.
SELBA GAUNTIL
And why are you telling me this?
KETH
We want to go to Botham Caruz.
CUT TO:
INT HYDROPONICS FARM - LIVING CHAMBER - CONTINUING
The communicator beeps, and a hologram of Grumble appears.
GRUMBLE
Selba, I don't have time to explain. I need an army. Vader's been captured. We don't have enough weapons to fight them all. This is the last request I make of you, I swear.
The transmission crackles, then disappears.
Selba sighs deeply. She opens a cabinet on the wall. The cabinet is filled with bladed weapons of every description. Blasters of various cultures lie on shelves.
Kin and Keth's mouths drop open. They're obviously impressed.
SELBA GAUNTIL
Carry as much as you can. I'll have the rest brought to my ship.
CUT TO:
INT BOTHAM CARUZ - PRISON - DAY
Vader and Jedi are imprisoned on a high floating platform, surrounded by a force field. They are a public spectacle. Crowds stand by, mocking and taunting them.
Shonna and Elbani cross a narrow bridge to the platform. They enter the force field. Elbani carries her book, THE JOURNAL OF THE WHILLS.
SHONNA MURRIN
You don't look so good.
VADER KESKAR
I can't complain.
JEDI KIZEDEK
What is their plan?
ELBANI
They plan to march you along the main street to a waiting transport. They're going to take you back to Coruscant.
VADER KESKAR
How long do we have?
SHONNA MURRIN
Adrum is appealing to every magistrate in this sector. So he's tied things up legally for a while.
JEDI KIZEDEK
And illegally?
SHONNA MURRIN
Two days.
VADER KESKAR
I see a lot of people from Coruscant.
ELBANI
As soon as they heard you were imprisoned, they came.
VADER KESKAR
Nice to see I have a following.
Shonna leans in very close to Vader. She leans her head on his chest, and speaks softly, so the sensors won't pick it up.
SHONNA MURRIN
Vader ... we're assembling an army. We'll get you out.
VADER KESKAR
Shonna ... I don't want anyone else to die in my name. I am a man. If my death will bring change, I will die happy.
SHONNA MURRIN
I don't want you to die.
Vader rests his hand lightly on Shonna's belly.
VADER KESKAR
So long as this child remembers, I will never die.
Tears fill Shonna's eyes. She buries her head in Vader's chest.
Elbani blinks away tears. She holds out the book to Vader.
ELBANI
There are things in here that can save you.
Elbani opens the book a little bit. Pages are carved out. Vader's energy blade rests inside.
VADER KESKAR
Elbani, you've been a faithful friend and student. Keep it. I can't use it where I'm going.
JEDI KIZEDEK
Vader, take it.
VADER KESKAR
No. I can't change my destiny.
JEDI KIZEDEK
Maybe you can.
CUT TO:
INT BOTHAM CARUZ - SALMA ESTATE - ROYAL HALL - EVENING
Jedi stands in chains in front of Baron Salma. Fez Andae, Jin Bolemar, and Yinto Falshadishh eye him narrowly.
JEDI KIZEDEK
You underestimate his power, Baron Salma.
BARON VEITCH SALMA
Impossible. He is imprisoned. What can one man do from prison?
JEDI KIZEDEK
He has great authority over his people. If you send him back to Coruscant, they will free him.
YINTO FALSHADISHH
Nonsense. We have the utmost security precautions. That man is a criminal. He shall be brought to justice by Chancellor Amon Rama.
JEDI KIZEDEK
The Chancellor is not worthy of that name. King Ahbi'el recognized Vader's right to rule.
BARON VEITCH SALMA
But King Ahbi'el isn't here. Oh, you haven't heard. He was tragically killed yesterday. It seems a hoverbus crashed into his transport. There were no survivors.
JEDI KIZEDEK
The scales will be balanced.
FEZ ANDAE
You have no more authority, Jedi.
JEDI KIZEDEK
Vader said you will be the first.
FEZ ANDAE
He was wrong.
JEDI KIZEDEK
I trust the force.
FEZ ANDAE
Your religion will die with you. Vader will be executed for his heresies, and that will be the end. Your people will be scattered and forgotten.
Jedi says nothing. He sets his jaw and stares unblinking at Baron Salma.
BARON VEITCH SALMA
I have an idea. You, Jedi, you have some influence over the people. You will go tell them not to fight us. I promise that Vader will be given a fair trial.
JEDI KIZEDEK
And what of his public humiliation?
BARON VEITCH SALMA
No harm shall come to him. I give you my word.
CUT TO:
INT BOTHAM CARUZ - PRISON - DAY
Two burly guards shove Jedi back onto the platform. They raise the shields again.
VADER KESKAR
How did it go?
JEDI KIZEDEK
He offered me my freedom.
VADER KESKAR
And?
JEDI KIZEDEK
I told him exactly what he could do with that scepter of his.
VADER KESKAR
Why? Why did you choose to come back here?
JEDI KIZEDEK
I cannot tell our people what to do. They follow you. I am but a servant.
VADER KESKAR
You have as much influence over them as I do.
JEDI KIZEDEK
Not by any stretch of the imagination. Vader, you are their prophet. They look to you. And so do I.
VADER KESKAR
Thank you.
CUT TO:
EXT BOTHAM CARUZ PLANET - NIGHT
A huge VENDAG WARSHIP, The EBON VALKYRIE, drops out of hyperspace and into orbit around the planet. Dozens of smaller ships drop out of hyperspace next to it.
INT EBON VALKYRIE - BRIDGE - CONTINUING
Selba Gauntil paces slowly to the observation window. Sentients of all races man the various posts on the bridge.
SELBA GAUNTIL
Get me Baron Veitch Salma.
CUT TO:
INT BOTHAM CARUZ - ADRUM'S SUITE - NIGHT
Adrum's penthouse suite rises high above the surrounding buildings. Shonna looks out toward the prison, starkly lit, in the distance.
SHONNA MURRIN
Hold on. We're coming.
Adrum Keskar gets off the communicator and turns to the group.
ADRUM KESKAR
That's it. We're on our own until this is over. Nobody wants to get involved.
GRUMBLE
So they would let an innocent man die?
ADRUM KESKAR
If it keeps their lobbyists happy - yes.
GRUMBLE
What kind of government do you have here? On Vendag, the government serves the people. It protects them through the law. There is no bureaucracy to question right from wrong.
ADRUM KESKAR
It's complicated.
SHONNA MURRIN
Because you make it so.
ADRUM KESKAR
Yes. And that isn't going to change.
NIGUS ELE'AGAR
So when do we break in?
Everyone turns to Shonna for an answer.
SHONNA MURRIN
We don't.
NIGUS ELE'AGAR
What? That is your husband in there.
SHONNA MURRIN
I know.
NIGUS ELE'AGAR
You would let them kill him and not lift a finger?
Shonna whirls, righteous indignation flashing in her eyes.
SHONNA MURRIN
I have more to lose than any of you! You have no idea what I have been through these last fifteen years. I've gone through the depths of Sheol to support him and his dream. I've been there with him every moment. And you, you have the gall to question me? Nigus Ele'agar, if you were half the man Vader is ...
Nigus snaps out his energy blade and brandishes it in front of Shonna. She faces him boldly.
NIGUS ELE'AGAR
You go too far, woman.
SHONNA MURRIN
What do you hope to accomplish, Nigus?
Grumble moves into a position to attack Nigus. Nigus senses this and speaks without turning.
NIGUS ELE'AGAR
One more step, Grumble, and Shonna becomes one with the force.
GRUMBLE
What has taken hold of your soul?
Elbani steps next to Shonna.
ELBANI
Don't do this, Nigus.
NIGUS ELE'AGAR
You don't know what you're doing. None of you! He was my teacher. Both of them were. I'm going to save them. And you're going to help me.
SHONNA MURRIN
We wait until I give the word.
NIGUS ELE'AGAR
You are not the next to lead. I am!
SHONNA MURRIN
They all look to me.
NIGUS ELE'AGAR
They will look over your dead body!
Nigus slashes downward. Elbani whips out Vader's energy blade and blocks the blow. Nigus steps back, stunned.
NIGUS ELE'AGAR
What are you doing? Don't do this, Elbani.
ELBANI
I have to. It's the right thing to do.
NIGUS ELE'AGAR
I'm going to save him.
Nigus turns off his energy blade and stalks out of the room.
Elbani starts after him. Grumble steps in her way.
GRUMBLE
Let him go.
A comlink beeps. Adrum answers. A hologram of Selba Gauntil appears.
GRUMBLE
She's here.
CUT TO:
EXT BOTHAM CARUZ PLANET - DAY
Shuttle after shuttle drops from Selba's armada toward the planet. Troops join the masses of sentients to watch Vader's "public humiliation".
A new armada appears - AMON RAMA'S REPUBLIC ARMADA. It drops out of hyperspace next to Selba's armada. A royal transport drops from the capital ship and streaks toward the planet.
CUT TO:
INT BOTHAM CARUZ - PRISON - CONTINUING
Guards roughly pull Vader and Jedi to their feet. They march them across the narrow bridge toward the main street.
INT BOTHAM CARUZ - ADRUM'S SUITE - CONTINUING
Grumble pulls a heavy cloak over his battle armor. He checks his weapons and turns to Shonna.
GRUMBLE
If this doesn't work ...
SHONNA MURRIN
Make it work.
GRUMBLE
Will you be all right?
SHONNA MURRIN
Elbani is going to take me to Ganthrocil. I'll be safe there.
GRUMBLE
I'll bring him to you.
Shonna smiles through the rising tears.
SHONNA MURRIN
May the force be with you.
Shonna turns and exits.
CUT TO:
EXT BOTHAM CARUZ - ADRUM'S SUITE -ROOFTOP - CONTINUING
Nigus Ele'agar checks the charge on his blaster. He pulls his black cloak tightly around him in the stiff wind.
NIGUS ELE'AGAR
I swear, Vader. On my life.
CUT TO: