Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire
by: James Fehrenbacher

Cenas 31 a 40:

Begin Scene 31.

[INT. Darth Vader’s Super Star Destroyer, the Executor.  Vader steps into his holocam field.  The image of the Emperor appears, and Vader lowers himself to one knee.]

The Emperor. Ah, Lord Vader.  What is your report?

Darth Vader. The Rebel shipyard in the Baji Sector is no more.  We destroyed hundreds of vessels and thousands of the enemy within.

The Emperor. Good.  Very good.

[The Emperor waves his hand, and his end of the holocam adjusts, revealing Xizor standing a few meters away.  Vader inhales involuntarily.  He allows his breather to resume its normal function.]

The Emperor. Prince Xizor was just telling me how happy he was to provide the Empire with the location of the Rebel base.  We owe him much gratitude, don’t we, Lord Vader?

Darth Vader. The Empire owes you much thanks, Prince Xizor.

Xizor. Oh, think nothing of it, Lord Vader.  As you know, I am always willing to provide aid in any ways that I can.

The Emperor. I hope to see you soon, Lord Vader.

Darth Vader. Yes, my master.  We are returning to Imperial Center as we speak.

The Emperor. Good.

[The Emperor ends the transmission.  Vader stands up, and exits.  As he does, a junior officer walks up to him.]

Officer. Lord Vader, we…

[Vader clenches his hand into a fist, and the officer begins to choke.]

Darth Vader. I do not wish to be disturbed.  Is that clear?

Officer. Yes, Lord Vader.

[Vader unclenches his fist, and the officer falls down, clutching his throat.]

End Scene 31.

Begin Scene 32.

[INT. Xizor’s throne room on Imperial Center.]

Xizor. Magnify image.  Full scale.

[The image magnifies six fold.  Standing on his desktop is a holographic image of Leia.]

Xizor. So this is the Princess Leia Organa.

Guri. She approached Avaro in the gambling complex on Rodia, seeking to set up a meeting with a high-ranking member of Black Sun.

Xizor. Now why would she do that?  The Rebellion has never been one to soil their clean, revolutionary hands with common criminal dirt like Black Sun.  Go and find out what she wants.

[Guri doesn’t move, nor does she reply.]

Xizor. A problem?

Guri. The task does seem particularly challenging.

Xizor. Perhaps not.  But if our information is correct, Leia Organa is close to only a small number of people, one of them being Luke Skywalker.  It is a high order of probability that she knows where he is.  She may be the easiest way to locate him.  I may be able to find a…use for her.

[Guri bows, and exits.]

End Scene 32.

Begin Scene 33.

[INT. Ben Kenobi’s house on Tatooine.]

Luke Skywalker. So where *is* Leia?

Dash Rendar. Rodia.  She’s trying to connect up with Black Sun.

[In his surprise, Luke drops a cooler of water.]

Luke Skywalker. Black Sun?  Is she out her mind?

Dash Rendar. So you’re a Black Sun expert, are you?

Luke Skywalker. Well, no.  But Han had dealings with them a number of years ago.  He told me all about it when we were cooped up together on Hoth.  He said they were more dangerous than the Empire.  Why would Leia want to connect up with them?

Dash Rendar. Who can say?  Maybe she thinks they know who’s trying to do you in.

[Luke walks over and fills up a new water container.  He walks back to Dash, and hands it to him, who pours himself a large cup.]

Dash Rendar. So what’s the drill, kid?  You gonna go ask the Hutt why he sent his goons after you?

Luke Skywalker. Jabba’s got no reason to come after me.

[R2 suddenly whistles very frantically.]

Dash Rendar. What is it?

Luke Skywalker. It sounds like someone – or something – is outside.

[Dash checks the charge reading on his blaster, and Luke touches the lightsaber on his belt.  The pair walk over to the doorway, and up in sky, see a rocket zoom through the atmosphere, and begin a braking descent.]

Luke Skywalker. It looks like a message droid.

[Dash re-holsters his blaster.]

Dash Rendar. Who knows you’re here, kid?

Luke Skywalker. No one except for Leia, Lando, Chewie, and 3PO.

Dash Rendar. And Jabba the Hutt.  But I doubt he’s spend the money for a message droid when he could drop by for a local call.

Luke Skywalker. It could be for you.

Dash Rendar. I doubt it.  I don’t leave forwarding addresses.  Only your friends know I’m here, and I know they’d have no reason to call me.

Luke Skywalker. Maybe it’s for Ben.  Someone who doesn’t know he’s dead.

Dash Rendar. Let’s go check it out.

[They go out, and bring the droid back inside the house.]

Message droid. I have a message for Princess Leia Organa.

Luke Skywalker. How many times do I have to tell you?  She isn’t here.  R2, can you talk to this thing?

[R2 whistles to the message droid.]

Message droid. I am empowered to deliver the message to an authorized representative of Princess Leia Organa in her absence.

Luke Skywalker. Now we’re getting somewhere.  Tell me, I’m Leia’s…authorized representative.

Message droid. Password?

Luke Skywalker. Uh…Luke Skywalker.

Message droid. That password is incorrect.

[Dash laughs.]

Luke Skywalker. Um…Han Solo.

Message droid. That password is incorrect.

Dash Rendar. Are you going to sit here and list all the people you know?

Luke Skywalker. Be quiet, Dash.  I’m thinking.  Um…Alderaan.

Message droid. Password correct.

[A plate on the droid slides back, revealing a holoprojector.  The projector starts up, showing a hologram of a Bothan spy.]

Koth Melan. Greetings, Princess Leia.  Koth Melan here, speaking from my home planet of Bothawui.  The Bothan spynet has information that is of vital importance to the Alliance.  The data is so significant, it was worth the risk of sending you this message droid.  I cannot emphasize enough the importance of this information, so I beg you to come to Bothawui immediately.  I will be at the Intergalactic Trade Mission for five standard days.  The Alliance must act in that time, or the information may be lost.

[The projector shuts down.]

Luke Skywalker.  It would take too long to go find Leia and bring her back.  We’re going to have to go in her place.

Dash Rendar. Why?  The message droid was for her.

Luke Skywalker. I’m her authorized representative.  I got the password right, so whatever information this Koth Melan has got, he can tell it to me.  And I’m going, whether you like it or not.

Dash Rendar. Well, you’re worth more to me alive than dead.  I’d better protect my fee.  I’ll take one of the swoops back to Mos Eisley and get the Outrider, and then meet you in orbit.

Luke Skywalker. Deal.  Come on, R2, let’s go get the X-Wing ready.  We’re going for a little trip.

End Scene 33.

Begin Scene 34.

[INT. Xizor’s room on Imperial Center.  Guri is preparing to leave for Rodia.]

Xizor. Before you leave, I have another errand for you.  There is a secret document in my personal files under the heading “Route.”  You know what it is.

Guri. Yes.

Xizor. Download it and see that it gets into the hands of our double agent on Bothawui.  Make it known to him that we are responsible for its delivery.

Guri. It does not seem to be in your best interests to do this.

Xizor. Ah, but it is.  By having Black Sun put this piece of information into Rebel hands, they will be much more apt to trust us.  In the unlikely event that the Rebellion should destroy the Empire, the Rebels will remember Black Sun as friends, and not enemies.

Guri. Yes, Prince Xizor.

[Guri bows, and leaves the room.]

End Scene 34.

Begin Scene 35.

[EXT. The surface of Bothawui.  Luke and Dash are headed towards the Intergalactic Trade Mission to meet Koth Melan.]

Luke Skywalker. The whole planet is very cosmopolitan, considering there’s a war going on.

Dash Rendar. Yeah, but a lot of spying goes on here.  And Bothawui is one of the more active hubbubs for intergalactic representatives.  Both the Empire and the Rebellion have spies here, and both of them have decided that the planet is neutral territory.

[Luke and Dash arrive at the Mission.  As they enter the building, they are stopped by a Bothan guard.]

Bothan guard. Do you have a pass?

Luke Skywalker. Um, no.  We had to get here on pretty short notice.  We have a meeting in one of the building’s offices.

Bothan guard. I’m sorry, sir.  I can’t let you in without a pass.

[Luke decides to try and use the Force.  However, before he is able, Dash pulls the guard aside.  After a few minutes of silent conversation, Luke sees Dash push something into the guard’s hand.  Dash then walks back, and the guard waves them in.]

Luke Skywalker. What did you say to him?

Dash Rendar. Nothing of importance.  But that hundred-credit coin said to him, “These are pretty good guys, so why don’t you let them in?”

Luke Skywalker. You bribed him?

Dash Rendar. Don’t get out much, do you?  That’s how things work in the real world.  You count your blessings in cash, kid.  With enough of it, you can go as far and as fast as you want.  We’re inside the building, so no harm, no foul.  And in case anyone asks, the guard never saw us.

Luke Skywalker. Dash, I just want you to know that even the universe itself is curved.  If you run far enough and fast enough, you end up right where you began.

[Luke and Dash approach a protocol droid.]

Luke Skywalker. Excuse me.  Where would we find Koth Melan?

Droid. Level sixteen, room number seven.

Luke Skywalker. Thank you.

[Luke and Dash enter one of the nearby turbolifts.  When they get off, they notice another protocol droid, this one gold, and looks remarkably like C-3PO.]

R04. Good morning.  How may I assist you?

Luke Skywalker. Leia Organa is supposed to see Koth Melan.

R04. You are Leia Organa?

Luke Skywalker. No, I’m not Leia.  I’m her…representative.  Luke Skywalker.  We don’t have an appointment, but since he wanted to see Leia, he’ll want to see us.

R04. That does not seem very logical.

Luke Skywalker. Can you just tell him we’re here, please?

R04. I’m sorry, but Master Melan is very busy.  I do believe he will be able to see you in a standard week.  What are your names, please?

[Luke pulls Dash aside.]

Luke Skywalker. What are we going to do?  We can’t bribe him, and the Force won’t work.  How are we going to get in?

Dash Rendar. Not a problem.

[Dash pulls out his blaster, then walks back up to the droid.]

Dash Rendar. Okay, Goldie.  My name is Man With a Blaster About to Cook You.  Now either you open that door, or else your busy Bothan is going to have to find himself a new receptionist.  Capiche?

R04. Oh, dear!

Dash Rendar. And no security alarms, either.  Go open the door manually.

R04. Very well, Man With a Blaster About to Cook You.

Luke Skywalker. Droids can be too literal sometimes.

[R04 opens the door, and leads Luke and Dash inside.]

R04. I’m terribly sorry to interrupt, Master Melan, but…

Koth Melan. It’s all right, R04.  I’ll see them.

[The droid nods, and exits.]

Luke Skywalker. Excuse the way we came in, Mr. Melan, but we had to see you.

Koth Melan. I know.  You’re Luke Skywalker, and you’re Dash Rendar.  Please, take a seat.  I’ve been expecting you.  And put away the hardware, Mr. Rendar.  You won’t need it.

[Luke and Dash exchange surprised looks, but take seats in front of Melan’s desk, Dash holstering his blaster.]

Koth Melan. Perhaps I should explain.  Not long ago, I discovered that Princess Leia was no longer on Tatooine.  It was too late to recall the message droid I sent.  And because you’re here, I assume you knew the password Princess Leia and I agreed upon.  And Mr. Skywalker, I know your reputation and your work for the Alliance.  Very commendable.  And Mr. Rendar, I also know of your reputation.  I am surprised, however, to see you working for the Alliance.

Dash Rendar. I’m not. I’m on loan at the moment.

Koth Melan. Well, at least you’re here and we can get to business.

Luke Skywalker. How did you know we weren’t disguised Imperial assassins?

Koth Melan. Because when you arrived in the building, you were scanned by the guard you bribed, and again on the turbolift, and positively identified.  If you had been assassins, you would have arrived on a level with a dozen armed guards pointing their weapons at you when the lift doors opened.

Luke Skywalker. Really?

Koth Melan. I have many enemies, so I have learned to be cautious.  And one can never be too cautious.

Luke Skywalker. What’s so important that you sent a message droid to Leia?

Koth Melan. The Empire has begun a large, very secret construction project.  We don’t know what or where this project is, but we do know it is very large.  The Empire has diverted a large sum of money, materials, and personnel for this project.

Luke Skywalker. How do you know all of this?

Koth Melan. The Bothan spynet is second to none, Mr. Skywalker.  As you and Mr. Rendar did with the guard downstairs, we bribed a high-ranking Imperial officer.  Given what he gave us, we tried to infiltrate a slicer droid into Imperial Center’s main computer complex.  Unfortunately, the Empire found out, and that part of our plan failed.  However, we were able to find out that the plans the Empire is holding are kept closely guarded in special computers with no outside lines.  Therefore, there is no way to access this information from a large distance, and no way to access it by direct hands-on contact.  And from what all we’ve learned, this project doesn’t bode well for the Rebellion.

Luke Skywalker. So what are we supposed to do about it?

Koth Melan. Our Bothan operatives have collected intel that indicates one of these computers is being sent from Imperial Center to Bothawui.  Our beliefs are that the Alliance would benefit from the acquisition of this computer as well as the information stored in it, to gain a sense of what the Empire is up to.

Luke Skywalker. That sounds reasonable.  How do we get our hands on it?

Koth Melan. We have learned that the Empire intends to send the computer to Bothawui on a ship posing as a simple freighter carrying fertilizer, their reasoning being it won’t draw the attention of the Rebellion as a heavily armed convoy would.

Dash Rendar. A freighter full of fertilizer; that is devious.  Who’d hijack that?

Koth Melan. Our intel tells us that the computer should be here in a day or two.  There are Bothans who have Alliance sympathies willing to help secure the freighter, but are relatively unskilled in these sort of matters.  It would help if they had a commander with some experience in space battles to lead them.

Luke Skywalker. That’s me. [Turning to Dash.] What about you?  You in?

Dash Rendar. Risk my ship and neck?  For what?

Luke Skywalker. I thought you wanted to keep me alive, Dash.

[Dash scoffs.]

Dash Rendar. You ain’t worth that much, kid.

Luke Skywalker. If the information is as valuable as the Bothans make it out to be, I might be able to sway Leia into giving you a little something extra.

Dash Rendar. All right.  I’ve got nothing else to do.

End Scene 35.

Begin Scene 36.

[INT. A hanger in the mountains of Bothawui, where Luke, Dash, and Koth Melan are meeting the Bothan pilots.]

Luke Skywalker. The BTL-S3.  Two seated Y-Wing fighters.  They’re not as fast as TIE fighters or X-Wings, but they can take a lot of punishment.

Dash Rendar. Antiques.  They’d probably have to get out and push if they wanted to go faster than a broken-leg droid.

[Ignoring Dash’s comment, Luke waves over the squad leader.]

Luke Skywalker. You have astromech droids for all of these?

Squad Leader. Yes, sir.  The ships have Taim & Bak IX-Four laser cannons, which run off of the standard Novaldex generators.  Unfortunately, we don’t have proton torpedoes for the Arakyrd launchers.

Luke Skywalker. Not a problem.  We don’t want to blow the freighter apart, anyway.  We want it all in one piece.  How much flying time does your squad have?

Squad Leader. Not much, I’m afraid.  A hundred hours or less.  But the boys are pretty quick and the gunners are fair shots.  Not much practice, though.

Luke Skywalker.  Ooh, that’s not good.  But we do have a few days before our target arrives.  Let’s try and find a place out of the way to practice a few maneuvers.

Squad Leader. That would be fantastic, Commander Skywalker.  The whole squad is at your disposal.

[Luke pats the Bothan on the back, and the scene fades.]

End Scene 36.

Begin Scene 37.

[INT. Avaro’s gambling complex on Rodia.]

Avaro. I just got a com from off-planet.  Black Sun’s representative is  en route.  She will be here in three days

Leia. Pardon me, but did you just say “she”?

Avaro. Yes.

Leia. Thank you.  [As Avaro waddles off.]  She?  Well, why not?  It’s not set in stone that a woman can’t be a criminal.

End Scene 37.

Begin Scene 38.

[INT. The mountain hanger on Bothawui.]

Bothan. Okay, here are the coordinates for the freighter’s flight plan.

Koth Melan. Any ideas what it could be?

Bothan. Not even rumors.  This thing is closed tighter than a Corellian clam.

Koth Melan. And you’re sure these coordinates are accurate?

Bothan. Positive.  I received the intel from our underworld contact.  She’s never delivered false information before.

Luke Skywalker. “Underworld contact”?

Bothan. Black Sun.

[Luke and Dash exchange glances.]

Luke Skywalker. Black Sun?

Koth Melan. They’ve provided valuable information before.  It appears they believe the Rebellion will win the war against the Empire.

Dash Rendar. They must be the only ones.

Luke Skywalker. War makes strange bedfellows, Dash.

Koth Melan. Indeed.  And one must use the tools one has.

Dash Rendar. It sounds pretty fishy.  They’re probably going to expect something in return for something this valuable.

Luke Skywalker. We’ll deal with that when it arises.

Bothan. They haven’t asked for anything.

Dash Rendar. Not yet they haven’t.  But they will.

Luke Skywalker. As I said, we’ll deal with that later.  How long does the squad need to prepare?

Koth Melan. They’ve been put on alert already.  We’ll need to be in position in three standard hours.

Luke Skywalker. “We”?

Dash Rendar. Mr. Melan here will be coming with me on the Outrider.  Hope you can cook, though.  You might get hungry waiting for this freighter.

Luke Skywalker. I doubt we’ll have time to eat, Dash.

Dash Rendar. Maybe not you, kid, but I can fly and eat at the same time.

Luke Skywalker. You’re really very full of yourself, did you know that?  It’s a wonder you don’t explode and spew ego all over the place.  Come on, let’s get to our ships.

Dash Rendar. Aye aye, Commander.

[The group all head to their respective ships.]

End Scene 38.

Begin Scene 39.

[EXT. Space.  Luke’s X-Wing leads the dozen Bothan pilots in their Y-Wings, followed by Dash and Koth Melan in the Outrider.]

Luke Skywalker. Keep tight, boys.  Blue Squad count off.

[Blue Squad acknowledges.]

Luke Skywalker. Copy.  Stall them in position.  The freighter should be emerging a hundred meters away.

[The freighter emerges, but only fifty klicks away.  It is a Corellian freighter, a long oval with the ends squared off.]

Luke Skywalker. Heads up, Blue Squad.  There’s our target!  Attack formation!

[Luke switches his com to an open channel.]

Luke Skywalker. Attention, freighter Suprosa.  This is Commander Skywalker of the Rebel Alliance.  Shut down your engines and prepare to be boarded.

Captain. This is the captain.  Are you crazy?  We’re carrying fertilizer here!  What kind of pirates are you?

Luke Skywalker. We are not pirates.  We are with the Rebel Alliance.  And maybe we have a big garden, sir.  Pull it up and no one gets hurt.

[A pause.]

Captain. Listen, kid, I’m under contract to XTS.  And I’m going to deliver my shipment of fertilizer whether you like it or not.  Go bother a gun or spice smuggler, why don’t you.

Luke Skywalker. Either shut down your engines, or we’ll shut them down for you.  These gunners can pick flies off a wall with their laser cannons.

[The freighter drops its cargo, turns to starboard, and fires its thrust.  Luke notices this, and switches his com back to Blue Squad.]

Luke Skywalker. We’ve gotta do it the hard way, Blue Squad.  Target the engines only; we don’t want to blow this baby up.  It should only take a couple hits to knock them out, assuming they have standard shields.

[R2 whistles something to Luke.]

Luke Skywalker. Put it onscreen, R2.

[An image shows up on Luke’s screen.  A number of red lights blink, and another two lights flash blue.  On the freighter, plates slide back revealing hidden weapons.]

Luke Skywalker. Heads up, Blue Squad.  This baby has got teeth!  It’s not going to be that easy after all.  It’s got laser cannons on the fore and aft, and it looks like missile launchers on the ventral and dorsal.  Be careful!

[Luke swings his X-Wing around as a laser bolt flies whizzes past.  He sees Blue Four dive at the freighter, targeting the engines.  The beam strokes the compartment, but as the bolt hits, a blue splash reveals to Luke that the ship has augmented shields.]

Luke Skywalker. Oh, drat.  This baby has got augmented shields; it’s not going to be as easy as we thought, Blue Squad.

[The freighter fires its laser cannon and blows Blue Four into scrap.]

Luke Skywalker. Blue Squad, break off and regroup!  That ship has got some major wattage behind those guns!

[Blue Two, who was flying in for an attack, breaks off, but too late; he ends up shattered history.  The other four members of Blue Squad loop around the ship, as does the Outrider.  Luke sees the ship blow a cloud of gas into space.]

Luke Skywalker. He’s got a missile off!

Dash Rendar. I’ve got it!  I’ll hammer that spike into scrap!

[The Outrider swoops in, Dash firing the laser cannons, which have no effect.]

Dash Rendar. I’ve got to be hitting it!  Why doesn’t it stop?

Luke Skywalker. Dash, break off!

Dash Rendar. I’m going to get this thing, Luke!  Stop, you piece of junk, stop!

Blue Six. Watch out, Blue Leader!  Scatter!

[The missile detonates, destroying four of the Y-Wings.]

Dash Rendar. I can’t have missed!  I can’t!

[Luke, anger filling him, turns his X-Wing around, and without using the Force, ignoring R2’s whistles etc., fires at the ship’s engines.  After a number of blasts, the shields collapse, and the engines burn out.  Luke breathes a sigh of relief, then switches his com channel.]

Luke Skywalker. Attention, freighter Suprosa.  Your engines are dead, captain.  And that’s what you and your crew will be if you fire another laser or missile.  Do you copy?

Captain. [After a brief pause.] We copy.

Luke Skywalker. You are hereby considered prisoners of war.  Stand by to be boarded.

End Scene 39.

Begin Scene 40.

[INT. Avaro’s gambling complex on Rodia.]

Rodian. [In Huttese.] Black Sun’s representative has arrived.

Leia. Tell her to meet us at the Next Chance hotel.

[The Rodian bows, and exits.]

]Leia walks over to Chewbacca and C-3PO, who are playing a holographic game.]

Leia. Let’s go, boys.  We have company.

[They walk to their hotel, two casinos away.  When they arrive, they are met by Lando at the door.]

Leia. Everything all set?

Lando Calrissian. Yes.  I’ll be behind the bedroom door.  In case our guest needs to use the refresher.

Leia. Good.  Chewie, you’ve got the hall.

[Chewie nods, and exits.]

Leia. 3PO, go stand by the bar.

C-3PO. Yes, Princess Leia.

[As 3PO moves to the bar, Leia moves behind a desk and sits down.]

[Chewie calls from O.S.]

Leia. Send her in.

End Scene 40.

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