Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire
by: James Fehrenbacher

Cenas 81 a 90:

Begin Scene 81.

[EXT. Darth Vader’s castle.  Vader is standing on a balcony, staring out at the skyline of Imperial Center.  After several minutes, one of his agents runs up to him.]

Agent. My Lord Vader, I have information for you.

Darth Vader. What information?

Agent. My team has uncovered a pirated copy of a planetary records from Falleen, thought to be destroyed.

Darth Vader. And why should I find this interesting?

Agent. It contains some materials regarding Prince Xizor’s family.  His father was King of a small nation on that planet.

Darth Vader. I knew he was royalty.  But I was under the impression that Xizor was orphaned when he was very young.

Agent. That was what we thought, too, Lord Vader.  But that is not entirely true.  Do you remember the biological project that took place there, and went awry, a decade or so ago?

Darth Vader. I do.

Agent. During the…sterilization process, a large number of Imperial citizens lost their lives.

Darth Vader. A regrettable incident.

[The agent touches a button on his belt, and a hologram appears between him and Vader, showing a family portrait of eight Falleen.]

Agent. Prince Xizor’s family.  All of them were killed during the destruction of the bacteria that escaped from the lab.

[A light clicks on over Vader’s head.]

Darth Vader. [Voiceover] Of course!  This explains everything.  Xizor holds me responsible for his family’s death, and now he intends to kill mine.  [Out loud] How did these records come to be destroyed?

Agent. We haven’t been able to discern that yet, Lord Vader.  All of the record simply vanished after the city’s destruction.

Darth Vader. Very well.  You have served me well.  After you finish this project, you need not worry about money, such is my gratitude.

Agent. Thank you, Lord Vader.

[The agent bows, and leaves.]

End Scene 81.

Begin Scene 82.

[INT. The sewer pipe.  Luke, et al are preparing to enter Xizor’s castle.  Luke elects to use his lightsaber, Chewie is able to locate a Wookie bowcaster, and Lando and Dash stick to their own blasters.  No one offers Vidkun a weapon, not knowing which way he might be shooting if any should begin.]

Luke Skywalker. When should we start?  Day or night?

Benedict Vidkun. I suggest the daytime.  I’m usually off work, so the chances are that no one will miss me.  And we’re going to be pretty far underground, anyway, so we won’t need the sun.

[Luke shifts the pack on his back.]

Luke Skywalker. Everyone ready?

[The others acknowledge.]

Luke Skywalker. Let’s go.

[They exit.]

End Scene 82.

Begin Scene 83.

[INT. Xizor’s sanctum.  Xizor is receiving an incoming call from Darth Vader.]

Xizor. Lord Vader, what a pleasant surprise.

Darth Vader. Perhaps not so pleasant, Prince Xizor.  I have been made aware of your assassination attempts on Luke Skywalker.  You will cease all attempts to harm the boy, effective immediately.

[Xizor keeps his face neutral, while feeling a surge of anger.]

Xizor. Your information is in error, Lord Vader.  And even if it was correct, I was to understand that the boy is a Rebel officer.  All Rebels are traitors, wanted dead or alive.  Is this sudden change of policy an official Imperial decree?

Darth Vader. If the boy is harmed in any way, shape, or form, I will hold you personally responsible, Prince Xizor.

[Vader breaks the connection.]

End Scene 83.

Begin Scene 84.

[INT. A large sewer pipe, in which Luke and co. are following Vidkun into Xizor’s castle.  The sludge they’re trudging through is a thick, oily, dark green muck.  The pipes are dimly lit overhead by a series of glow sticks, but it is light enough to see their way around.  A few meters ahead of them, something splashes into the sewage, and Chewie moans something in Wookie.]

Benedict Vidkun. What’s with the Wook?

Luke Skywalker. He doesn’t like little swimming or running things.

[Vidkun shrugs.]

Benedict Vidkun. A few hundred more meters.

Dash Rendar. Hey, look out!

[An eyeball on a tall stalk pops out of the sewage, and looks around.  Luke recognizes it as a dianoga.  Dash pulls his blaster.]

Luke Skywalker. No, don’t shoot!

[Luke ducks into a crouch, and ignites his saber, and swings, severing the eye from the stalk.  Another quick movement chops the dianoga’s body in half.  The cut pieces continue to thrash around in the sewage, but the movements quickly subside.  Dash returns his blaster to its holster.]

Dash Rendar. Nice going, kid.

Luke Skywalker. I’ve seen one of those before, in the trash compactor on the Death Star.

[The group continues on.  After several minutes, Vidkun brings them to a halt.]

Benedict Vidkun. Just ahead there.

[Ahead of them are two large, circular holes, covered with very thick metal mesh gates.]

Lando Calrissian. Let’s see if those codes you have work, Vidkun.

[With a plastic card, Vidkun fiddles with the gate.  After several seconds, it opens up.]

Benedict Vidkun. See?  Just like I said.  We want the one on the right.

[He gestures to said tunnel.  He enters, and the others follow.  Chewie has some trouble climbing the enclosed tunnel, and he falls into the sewage.  His hands gets covered with the sticky muck.]

Lando Calrissian. Be careful, Chewie, you big clumsy…yow!

[Lando takes his turn falling into the sewage.  He jumps back up, but not in time to prevent his backside from getting soaked.]

Dash Rendar. You should have worn some old clothes, Calrissian.

Lando Calrissian. I don’t *have* any old clothes, Dash.

Dash Rendar. You do now.  I doubt you’ll ever be able to get those clean enough to wear in public again.

Benedict Vidkun. We’re coming onto the zap field.  Let me run the deactivator.

[Vidkun pulls a small, black box from his coveralls, and fiddles with it.  A purple flash shimmers in front of them.]

Benedict Vidkun. It should be okay now.

Lando Calrissian. Fine.  You first.

[Vidkun glowers at Lando, then moves to the front of the line, and walks forward.  After he walks several feet, Luke and co. follow him.]

Luke Skywalker. You’d think you would get used to the smell.  But it seems to be going from bad to worse the closer we get.

Benedict Vidkun. Don’t worry, we’re almost there.

Lando Calrissian. Good.  As Luke said, this is getting pretty bad.

[Vidkun stops, and gestures in front of him.]

Benedict Vidkun. There’s the entrance to the building.  There shouldn’t be any guards in the recycler, but there will probably be a few in the sub-subbasement.  Here’s the key to the rat grate.

[He presses a plastic card into Lando’s hand, then turns to leave.  Dash steps in his way.]

Dash Rendar. Where do you think you’re going?

Benedict Vidkun. Hey, I’m done.  I got you into the building, I got you the floor plans.  That was the deal.

Dash Rendar. Well, I guess you have us there.  That was the deal.  However, we’ve had a small change of plans.

Lando Calrissian. We’d like you to come with us until we get to a place where you can safely…wait for us.

Benedict Vidkun. Oh, yeah?  Well, what if you guys get killed?  I’ll be there a long time!

Lando Calrissian. Well, that’s a risk you’re just going to have to take.  We insist…

[He pats his blaster.]

Benedict Vidkun. Well, since you put it that way…

[Before anyone can react, he pulls a small blaster out of his coveralls, and begins firing wildly.  The first shot misses everyone.  The second hits Dash in the hip.  Lying on the ground, Dash pulls his blaster out, and puts a bolt between Vidkun’s eyes.  Lando and Luke run over to Dash.]

Luke Skywalker. Dash?

Dash Rendar. I’m okay.  He just scorched me a little bit.

[He lifts his shirt to reveal a small blister.  Luke hands him a gauze pad, and he slaps it onto his burn.]

Luke Skywalker. Where did he get the blaster from?

Lando Calrissian. He must have had it all along.  I’m just wondering why he did it; we weren’t going to hurt him.

Dash Rendar. Hey, if he figures if he sold out, why shouldn’t we?

Luke Skywalker. Let’s hope the guards didn’t hear the shooting.  Now come on.

[He leads them towards the recycler door.]

End Scene 84.

Begin Scene 85.

[INT. The recycler.  Luke is peeking out from under a trapdoor into the sub-subbasement.]

Luke Skywalker. Uh oh.

Lando Calrissian. That is something I do not need to hear.  What is it?

Luke Skywalker. Guards.  Six of them.

Lando Calrissian. Six?  To guard a sewage plant?

Dash Rendar. So what?  That’s only one and a half each.  How fast can you pull that trigger, Calrissian?

Luke Skywalker. Okay, here’s the setup.  Four of the guards are sitting at a table, playing cards.  Their blasters are stacked against the wall.  The other two are hovering in the background, and it looks like they’re offering advice.  They have their blasters slung over their shoulders.  And Dash is right – if we move fast enough, we can disarm the guards, tie them up, and be on our way with no one else the wiser.  But the tough part is doing it before one of them calls for any help.

[Luke drops down next to the other three.]

Luke Skywalker. Okay, here’s the deal – Dash, you pop the hatch.  I’ll go first, Chewie is behind me, then Lando.  Dash, you come last.

Dash Rendar. Whoa, whoa, whoa.  Why that order?

Luke Skywalker. I can stop blaster bolts with my lightsaber, in case any of the guards is a quick-draw expert.  Chewie is pretty impressive with his bowcaster, so they’ll pay more attention to him than either you or Lando.

Dash Rendar. Yeah, but it would be much easier to just jump out and mow all of them down.  We hit them hard, and we hit them fast, and they’re history.

Luke Skywalker. That’s the difference between the Alliance and the Empire.  The Empire wouldn’t hesitate to do it that way.  The Alliance doesn’t shoot unless they have to.

Dash Rendar. Fine.  Get us all killed playing the nice guy.

Luke Skywalker. Dash, “warrior” and “killer” aren’t the same word.  Now, is everyone ready?

[Everyone acknowledges.  Luke nods at Dash, who pops the hatch open.  Luke jumps out and ignites his saber.]

Luke Skywalker. Nobody move!

[Chewie jumps out behind Luke, but slips on the floor, and falls with a crash.  The four sitting guards jump up, and run over to the stacked blasters, spin around, and start shooting.  The two standing guards raise their blasters and also start shooting.  Luke blocks a bolt with his saber, shifts in the Force, and blocks a second.  Lando jumps out of the hatch, but trips over Chewie, and lands facedown on the floor.  Dash jumps out, shoulder-rolls over Chewie and Lando, and fires his blaster.  Two of the guards go down, but more bolts spew at the foursome.  Chewie sits up, and fires several bolts from his bowcaster.  Dash fires off several bolts, as does Lando.  The rest of the guards, save one, go down.  The last guard is yelling into his comlink.  The guard is shot by Lando, and his comlink flies across the room, and lands at Luke’s feet.  Luke smashes the comlink with his boot heel.  Chewie has risen to his feet, looking embarrassed.]

Lando Calrissian. So much for sneaking in quietly.

Luke Skywalker. Come on, let’s go.

[Luke leads the others towards a door to the sub-subbasement.]

End Scene 85.

Begin Scene 86.

[INT. Xizor’s sanctum.  Guri has just entered.]

Guri. We have a problem in the sub-subbasement.

Xizor. What kind of problem?

Guri. We don’t know.  That area has still not been wired for surveillance, and the guards are not answering our communications.

Xizor. Another com failure.  It is either a com glitch, or else Skywalker is faster and smarter than we thought.  Have the drain sensors picked up any armies marching in under the building?

Guri. No, Prince Xizor.

Xizor. Good.  Then it is Skywalker.  He’s probably alone, or else the Wookie is with him.  Send a unit to check it out.

Guri. Two squads are already on the way.

Xizor. Good.  And send in the Moff on your way out.  We have nothing to worry about.

[Guri bows, and exits.]

End Scene 86.

Begin Scene 87.

[INT. A corridor in Xizor’s castle.  Luke and co. are four levels above the sub-subbasement.  Chewie, knowing where Leia is being held, is leading the way.  The four round a corner, and nearly run into four more of Xizor’s guards.  Everyone with a blaster starts shooting, and Luke blocks a number of bolts with his saber.  Then, 3PO’s voice begins calling over Luke’s comlink.]

C-3PO. Master Luke!  Master Luke!

Luke Skywalker. We’re a little busy, 3PO!

C-3PO. But Master Luke, there are men coming towards the ship!  Men with guns!

Luke Skywalker. Great.  Just what we need.

[Luke deflects a number of bolts with his saber, and the other three shoot down the rest of the guards.  The foursome head the way the guards had come from, and Luke pulls his comlink off of his belt.]

Luke Skywalker. 3PO?

C-3PO. Oh, Master Luke!  What should we do?

Luke Skywalker. Take the ship out of there, now!  Just like we talked about.  Call me back when you’re in the air.  Keep the ship suborbital and under the stratospheric security sensors.

C-3PO. Yes, Master Luke.

Luke Skywalker. Go!

[He leads the other three onwards.]

End Scene 87.

Begin Scene 88.

[INT. Xizor’s sanctum.  Guri has entered the room.]

Guri. We’ve lost contact with the second unit of guards.

Xizor. In the same area?

Guri. No, Prince Xizor.  Four levels up.

Xizor. That’s well beyond the normal area of com problems.  Put security on full alert.

Guri. Already done.

Xizor. Good.  Cancel all of my appointments.  Go and fetch Princess Leia, and bring her to my strong room.

[Guri bows, and exits.]

End Scene 88.

Begin Scene 89.

[INT. Leia’s room.  She is sitting at the computer desk, when she feels someone approaching.  She stands up, and carries her chair over to the door, and stands on it.  She grabs the bounty hunter helmet that had been part of her disguise clutched in her hands.  The door opens, and Guri steps in.  Leia jumps off, and smashes the helmet onto the back of Guri’s head.  The blow knocks her forward, but not off her feet.  Leia scoots out of the room, and shuts the door.  She jams the lock, but Guri’s hammers against the door spider webs the door with tiny cracks.  Leia turns and runs.]

End Scene 89.

Begin Scene 90.

[INT. Xizor’s castle.  Luke and co. are in a stairwell, still searching for Leia.  Luke’s comlink then crackles.]

C-3PO. Master Luke, we have successfully left the building.

Luke Skywalker. 3PO, where are you?

C-3PO. Somewhere in the sky, Master Luke.  I…what?  I’m flying it correctly, R2!  I’m…ahh!

[A crunching noise exits the comlink.]

C-3PO. You blithering ash can!  If you hadn’t distracted me, I would have turned in time!

Luke Skywalker. 3PO, what’s going on?

[R2’s whistles exit the comlink.]

C-3PO. Oh be quiet, R2!

Luke Skywalker. 3PO!

[A sound of breaking glass is heard.]

C-3PO. I’m sorry, Master Luke.  Due to R2’s woefully inadequate instructions, we accidentally destroyed an advertising billboard and a broadcasting tower.

Luke Skywalker. 3PO, listen up.  Bring the ship to the coordinates I gave you, okay?  And take the ship high enough so you can’t hit anything.

C-3PO. Yes, Master Luke, we’re on the way.

[Luke breaks the connection as the group comes to a heavy, locked fireproof door.  Lando raises his blaster, but Luke stops him.]

Luke Skywalker. Wait, don’t shoot.  That’s magnetically shielded.  The bolt will probably bounce off and hit one of us.

Lando Calrissian. How are we supposed to get through, then?

Luke Skywalker. Stand back.  Let’s see of this will block a lightsaber.

[Luke pulls his saber from his belt, and ignites it .  Lando moves back, and Luke moves forward.  Luke slashes at the door, which the saber cuts through.]

Luke Skywalker. Let’s go.

[The four hurry through, and continue on their way.]

End Scene 90.  

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