Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire
by: James Fehrenbacher

Cenas 101 a 118:

Begin Scene 101.

[INT. The Executor, Darth Vader’s Super Star Destroyer.]

Officer. Lord Vader, you asked to see anything regarding this name.

[The officer hands Vader a plastic sheet full of information.]

Darth Vader. Where did this originate?

Officer. An encoded transmission from the ship Virago, en route to the skyhook Falleen’s Fist in high orbit.  The ship is registered to…

Darth Vader. I know who it is registered to.

[Vader crumples the sheet in his fist.]

Darth Vader. Prepare my shuttle.  [V.O.] I told Xizor to stay away from Skywalker.  Xizor ignored that order.  That was a very grievous error.

[The officer bows, and hurries off, Vader walking slowly behind him.]

End Scene 101.

Begin Scene 102.

[INT. The Millennium Falcon.]

Dash Rendar. Take over, will you, Luke?

Luke Skywalker. Sure.

[Dash stands up, and Luke switches from the co-pilot’s seat to the pilot’s seat.

Luke Skywalker. Where are you going?

Dash Rendar. Nowhere.  I just need to whistle up my steed.

Luke Skywalker. What?

[Dash pulls out a small box from his coverall.]

Dash Rendar. Long range shielded single-channel comlink.  I need to call Leebo and have him rendezvous with us.  This old crate still carries vac-suits doesn’t it?

Luke Skywalker. Yeah, I think so.  You’ll need to ask Lando where they are, though.

Dash Rendar. And after all of this, you go your way, and I go mine.

Luke Skywalker. You know, you really ought to consider signing on with the Rebel Alliance.  You’re a good man, and we could use you.

Dash Rendar. I don’t think so.  I’m not much of a joiner.

[Dash ambles out of the cockpit.]

End Scene 102.

Begin Scene 103.

[INT. The command center of Xizor’s skyhook.  The whole room is simply a command deck with a transparisteel plate that allows Xizor a 360º view of space around the skyhook.  Xizor is talking to the captain of his Navy over his com unit.]

Xizor. Have your vessels been deployed yet, Captain?

Captain. Yes, Prince Xizor.  Our sensors have been set to detect any vessel matching the description you provided.  If it comes this way, we’ll spot it.

Xizor. Very good.  Keep me informed.

[Xizor shuts off the communication channel.]

End Scene 103.

Begin Scene 104.

[INT. The Millennium Falcon.  Dash is talking to Luke and co. over the Falcon’s intercom.]

Dash Rendar. Thanks for the ride, Luke.

Luke Skywalker. No problem, Dash.  You want to race to the jump spot?

[Dash laughs.]

Dash Rendar. You want a parsec head start?

Luke Skywalker. No, I just…

[Suddenly, a green blaster bolt flashes between the Falcon and the Outrider, which is hanging off of the Falcon’s port bow.]

Luke Skywalker. Uh oh.  It looks as if we’ve got company.

[Luke punches the controls, and moves the Falcon out of the line of fire.]

Lando Calrissian. We’ve got an unmarked corvette coming in a two-seventy!  Those aren’t TIE Fighters.  Who are these guys?

Luke Skywalker. Who cares?  We’ve got to move – Leia, Chewie, get to the guns.

Leia. You heard the man, fur ball.  Do you want dorsal or ventral?

[Chewie moans something in Wookie.  He and Leia hurry off.]

Luke Skywalker. Good luck, Dash.

Dash Rendar. You too, Luke,

[Luke and Dash turn their respective ships, and await for any more of the unmarked attackers.]

End Scene 104.

Begin Scene 105.

[INT. Falleen’s Fist.  Xizor is talking to the captain of his Navy.]

Captain. Prince Xizor, we have found the Corellian freighter.  We’re engaging it now, and it should be destroyed momentarily.

Xizor. Don’t be so sure, Captain.  They have been extremely lucky today.

Captain. They’ll need more than luck, Prince Xizor; they’ll need a miracle.  We have them completely surrounded.

[Xizor nods, then turns off the communication.]

End Scene 105.

Begin Scene 106.

[INT. The Millennium Falcon.]

Luke Skywalker. There’s a wall between us and where we need to go.

Lando Calrissian. So find another way.  You want me to fly?

Luke Skywalker. No, I can do it.

[A blaster bolt rocks the Falcon, as the shields are hit.]

Luke Skywalker. I thought you two were supposed to be shooting back!

[Chewie and Leia both yell something over the comlink, but Luke is paying too much attention to flying.]

Lando Calrissian. Chewie was asking how he’s supposed to shoot anything with you looping around like this.

Luke Skywalker. What do you mean?  We’re surrounded!  He should hit anything no matter where he shoots!

[Looking out of the cockpit, Luke and Lando see the Outrider blast past, its cannons firing.  Luke sees one of the Outrider’s bolts destroy a fighter.]

Luke Skywalker. You see how it’s done, Chewie?

[Chewie moans something in Wookie over the comlink.]

End Scene 106.

Begin Scene 107.

[INT. Falleen’s Fist.  The captain has called back.]

Xizor. Have you stopped that ship yet, Captain?

Captain. Not yet, Prince Xizor.  They are…quite skilled.  And there are two ships firing back at us.  We don’t have transponder signal for the second ship, but it is heavily armed.

Xizor. If my own Navy cannot disable two ships, then perhaps it needs a new commander.

Captain. We will destroy them, Prince Xizor.  Our net is closing.  They are running out of room.

End Scene 107.

Begin Scene 108.

[INT. The Millennium Falcon.  Luke is still flying through the number of ships, while trying to give Leia and Chewie good set-up shots.]

Lando Calrissian. Boy these guys stink.  They don’t care who they hit.

[Luke nods, then glances out of the cockpit.  He notices one of the fighters coming right at him.  However, within a meter of the Falcon, the ship explodes.  The Falcon flies through the debris.]

Luke Skywalker. Good shot!  Who got it?  Was that you, Leia?

Leia. It wasn’t me; it must have been Chewie!

[Chewie moans something in Wookie.]

Lando Calrissian. Well if it wasn’t Leia and it wasn’t Chewie, then who was it?

[Suddenly, the Falcon’s comlink crackles, and a recognizable voice comes through.]

Wedge Antilles. Hey, Luke!  Okay if we join your little party?

Luke Skywalker. Wedge!  What are you doing here?

Wedge Antilles. Waiting for you.  Dash’s droid sent us a distress signal.  Sorry it took us so long to get here.

[Another unmarked attacker blows up.]

Luke Skywalker. Well, just don’t let it happen again!  [To Lando.]  Now that Rogue Squad is here, our odds look a little bit better.

Lando Calrissian. Yeah, but not by much.

End Scene 108.

Begin Scene 109.

[INT. Falleen’s Fist.  Xizor is again talking to his Navy commander.]

Captain. There seems to be a slight problem, Prince Xizor.

Xizor. So I noticed.  Why are your ships being blown up, commander?

Captain. A squadron of X-Wing fighters has joined the fray, Prince Xizor.  No more than a dozen of them.  But they will not be a problem; they will simply…delay the inevitable.

Xizor. Are your sure, commander?

Captain. We still outnumber them twenty to one, Prince Xizor.  And our frigates are standing by in case they are able to get past the corvettes and fighters.  There is no escape.

Xizor. Hope that you are right, commander.

End Scene 109.

Begin Scene 110.

[INT. The Millennium Falcon.  Luke is still flying the ship, while trying to give Leia and Chewie set-up shots.]

Leia. [Over comlink.] Have you figured out who these guys are?

Luke Skywalker. No, not yet.

Leia. Bet you a credit they’re Xizor’s.

[Luke and Lando glance at each other.]

Luke Skywalker. Makes sense.  Not that it makes much difference.

Lando Calrissian. Two coming in one-fifty!

[The Falcon rockets away in a steep climb.]

Leia. What are you doing, Luke?

Luke Skywalker. Giving you a perfect set-up shot.  Fire!

End Scene 110.

Begin Scene 111.

[INT. The Executor.]

Darth Vader. Once we circle around the planet, establish contact with the skyhook Falleen’s Fist.  I wish to talk to Prince Xizor.

Technician. Yes, Lord Vader.

End Scene 111.

Begin Scene 112.

[INT. The Millennium Falcon.  Dash is talking through the comlink.]

Dash Rendar. I think we’ve got trouble, buddy.

Luke Skywalker. Wedge?

Wedge Antilles. I’m afraid he’s right, Luke.  These guys are only so-so pilots, but there are a lot of them.  We’re still outnumbered at least fifteen to one.  We don’t have room to run or room to maneuver.  They’re closing in, and they don’t care if they kill innocent civilians.

Luke Skywalker. I guess we’ll just have to take as many of them with us as we can.  Unless anyone wants to surrender?

[Both Dash and Wedge laugh.]

Luke Skywalker. That’s what I thought.  May the Force be with you.

[Glancing out of the cockpit, Luke sees a squad of TIE Fighters closing in.]

Lando Calrissian. Uh oh.

Luke Skywalker. Yeah, I was wondering what was keeping them.  [He glances at Lando.]  Thanks for everything, Lando.  You’ve been a good friend.

Lando Calrissian. I don’t want to hear that kind of talk; I still *am* a good friend.

[Luke nods, and glances out of the cockpit again.  He sees two TIE Fighters flash past and, to his surprise, take out two of the unknown attackers.]

Lando Calrissian. What was that?

Leia. Luke, I just saw…

Luke Skywalker. I know, I saw it, too.  What’s going on?

End Scene 112.

Begin Scene 113.

[INT. Falleen’s Fist.]

Captain. Prince Xizor, we’re being attacked by the Imperial Navy!

[Xizor glances to his right, and sees a tech waving at him.]

Xizor. This better be good; your life hangs in the balance.

Tech. It’s Lord Vader!  He wishes to speak to you!

Xizor. Put him on.

[Vader’s image swirls into life in front of Xizor.]

Xizor. Lord Vader, why is the Imperial Navy attacking my ships?

Darth Vader. Because the ships under your command are engaging in criminal activities.

Xizor. Rubbish!  My Navy is trying to stop a Rebel traitor who destroyed my castle!

Darth Vader. You have two standard minutes to recall your vessels and surrender yourself into my custody.

Xizor. I will do no such thing.  I will take this up with the Emperor.

Darth Vader. The Emperor is not here.  I speak for the Empire, Xizor.

Xizor. *Prince* Xizor.

Darth Vader. You may keep the title for another two minutes.

Xizor. Really, Lord Vader, what are you going to do?  Destroy my skyhook?

Darth Vader. I warned you to stay away from Luke Skywalker; you did not.  Recall your ships and surrender into my custody or pay the consequences.  I shall deal with the Emperor’s displeasure.  Unfortunately, *you* will not be there to witness it.

[Vader’s image vanishes.]

Xizor. [V.O.] Would Vader really fire on the skyhook?  I doubt it.

End Scene 113.

Begin Scene 114.

[INT. The Millennium Falcon.]

Lando Calrissian. Look out, Luke!

Luke Skywalker. I see him!

[Luke moves the Falcon out of the way of a blaster bolt fired by a TIE Fighter at one of Xizor’s ships.]

Luke Skywalker. Why is the Navy firing on Xizor’s ships?  They’re on the same side, aren’t they?

Lando Calrissian. Thank your lucky stars for small miracles.  If they’re shooting at each other, then they aren’t shooting at us.  Look out!

[Luke moves the Falcon out of the path of an incoming TIE.]

End Scene 114.

Begin Scene 115.

[INT. The Executor.  Darth Vader is listening to a decoded transmission from Xizor’s captain to Xizor’s skyhook.]

Captain. Prince Xizor, we’re being destroyed by the Imperial Navy!  We’re outnumbered and being slaughtered!  I need your permission to offer our surrender!

[Vader glances at a nearby chronometer.]

Darth Vader. Not much left for the Dark Prince now.

[The sand falls away.  Seven seconds…six seconds…five seconds…]

Captain. Prince Xizor, please respond!  We must surrender or we’ll be blown to rubble!

[Four seconds…three seconds…

Captain. Highness, I…

[The captain’s transmission is cut off.  A TIE Fighter has obviously destroyed his ship.  Two seconds…one second…]

Darth Vader. Commander, destroy that skyhook.

Commander. Yes, Lord Vader.

[Vader breathes deeply.]

Darth Vader. Goodbye, Xizor.  And good riddance.

End Scene 115.

Begin Scene 115.

[INT. The Millennium Falcon.  The ship is facing Xizor’s skyhook when suddenly, the Executor charges up its guns and destroys the skyhook.]

Lando Calrissian. Oh man.  They must have made someone *real* mad.

[The Falcon’s comlink crackles.]

Dash Rendar. Heads up, boys!  Somebody just opened us up an escape hatch!  Follow me!

Luke Skywalker. Dash, we can’t fly through that wreckage, are you crazy?

Dash Rendar. We don’t have a choice, farm boy.  There are ships everywhere!  What’s the matter, kid?  Don’t think you can do it?

Luke Skywalker. All right.  Guests first; go ahead, Dash.

[The Outrider flashes past the Falcon, when Luke and Lando notice a large piece of debris headed towards Dash.]

Lando Calrissian. Look out, Dash!

[The ship and the piece of debris are too close for comfort.  As the debris hits the Outrider’s hull, a bright light forces Luke to look away, and Lando to hold up a hand to his forehead to block the glare.  When everything settles down, the Outrider is gone.]

Lando Calrissian. Oh man.  He’s…gone.

Luke Skywalker. We can’t worry about that now.  Brace yourselves, this is going to be rough!

[The Falcon safely navigates through the debris, and enters hyperspace.]

End Scene 115.

Begin Scene 116.

[INT. A secret moon base of the Rebellion, several light-years away from Imperial Center.  Luke is standing with Lando, Leia, Chewie, R2-D2, and C-3PO inside the building, glancing out of a viewport into space.]

Lando Calrissian. So if Xizor was on that skyhook as our intel reports say, I’d say Black Sun’s reps will stop looking for you, Luke.

Leia. There’s still Vader.

Luke Skywalker. I don’t think Vader wants me dead.  At least not yet.  But we’ll deal with that when the time comes.

[Wedge comes running over.]

Wedge Antilles. Luke, I’ve got some a message for you, from the Bothans.  It was for Dash, but under the circumstances…anyway, that missile that Dash supposedly missed during that fracas off Bothawui?  Turns out he didn’t miss.

Luke Skywalker. What?

Wedge Antilles. It was one of the Empire’s new diamond-boron armored jobs.  Nothing he had to throw at it could have stopped it.

Luke Skywalker. Oh man.  He didn’t screw up.  But now he’ll never know.

Wedge Antilles. What are you going to do now?

Luke Skywalker. We’re going to get Han.  If he isn’t on Tatooine yet, he will be soon.

Wedge Antilles. You’re just going to dance into the Hutt’s palace and grab him, just like that?

Luke Skywalker. I have a plan.  And it should work.

[Luke turns back to the viewscreen, and stares out at the stars.]

End Scene 116.

Begin Scene 117.

[INT. The Emperor’s chamber on Imperial Center.  Darth Vader is in front of the Emperor, bent on one knee.]

The Emperor. You defied my orders, Lord Vader.

Darth Vader. Yes, my master.  But I hope I have not failed you.

The Emperor. Rise.

[Vader does so.]

The Emperor. I am not unaware that Xizor served his own ends, and that you were shrewd to have uncovered his plot.  I knew about it, of course.  Are we certain he is dead?

Darth Vader. I do not see how he could have survived.  I watched as his skyhook was disintegrated into pieces.

The Emperor. Just as well.  Black Sun is useful, but it is like a chirru – you cut off its head, and another appears to replace it.

Darth Vader. Perhaps the next leader will be equally dangerous.

The Emperor. No leader of Black Sun could ever be as powerful as the Dark Side of the Force.

Darth Vader. But what about the plot to ensnare the Rebel leaders?

The Emperor. The new Death Star will draw them in.  And this time, both you and I will be there to finish this pitiful Rebel Alliance.  Young Skywalker will be there, too.  It is all going exactly as I have foreseen it.

[Under his mask, Vader smiles.]

End Scene 117.

Begin Scene 118.

[INT. Obi-Wan Kenobi’s home on Tatooine.  Luke is standing in the middle of the living room, with R2 in front of him.]

Luke Skywalker. Okay, R2, start recording.

[R2 whistles, and starts his recording projector.]

Luke Skywalker. Greetings, Exalted One.  Allow me to introduce myself.  I am Luke Skywalker, Jedi Knight, and friend to Captain Solo.  I know you are powerful, mighty Jabba, and that your anger with Solo must be equally powerful.  I seek an audience with Your Greatness to bargain for Solo’s life.  With your wisdom, I’m sure we can work out an arrangement that will be mutually beneficial and enable us to avoid any unpleasant confrontation.  As a token of my goodwill, I present you a gift – these two droids.  [He fights a grin.]  Both are hardworking, and will serve you well.

[Luke glances at R2, and raises an eyebrow.  R2 shuts off his recorder.]

Leia. [Standing behind R2.]  You think that will do it?

Luke Skywalker. I hope so.  Only one way to find out, though.

[Leia walks over, and hugs Luke.]

Luke Skywalker. Hey, after all we went through, rescuing one beat up old pirate ought to be easy, right?

[Leia smiles.]

Leia. Right.

[Luke returns her smile.]

Leia. Hold on, Han.  We’re coming for you.

[FADE OUT.]

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