Episode II: The Blood of Heroes (Sequel to Episode I: Duel of the Fates)

EXT. SPACE

The Last Chance coasts through empty void.

INT. LAST CHANCE - BRIDGE

Jenner Agravaine sits in the captain's seat, receiving a HOLOGRAPHIC MESSAGE
from a stoic Cygnus.

CYGNUS
There were too many Jedi. We couldn't get
to him.

JENNER
Return home, Cygnus. Out.

He cuts the transmission, and raises a hand to his chin with a regretful sigh.

JENNER
New plan.

EXT. JEDI CITADEL - KNIGHTS' QUARTERS - NIGHT

Traffic is light at this time of the pre-dawn morning.

INT. KNIGHTS' QUARTERS - CADE'S DORMITORY - NIGHT

An angry Cade storms into his room, his arm in a sling. Without turning on the
lights, he flops onto his bed and jabs his finger at a holo-recorder,
telekinetically pressing a button.

The HOLOGRAPHIC IMAGE of his drunken friend BRILD appears, behind which we see a
loud party.

BRILD
Cade! Where are you? Party can't start
without you-

Cade jabs his finger again, cueing the next message. The image of Sage Deross
appears, sitting on her bed in her dormitory.

SAGE
Hey, Cade. Just wanted to make sure
you're okay. Call me.

He flips through several more similar messages, cutting each one off before the
first word. Finally, he shuts the recorder off. Immediately, it turns itself
back on, displaying the hooded face of DARTH SIDIOUS.

SIDIOUS
Cade Saliere.

The young Jedi sits upright, curious but not afraid. Through the image of
Sidious, we see Cade's face.

SIDIOUS
I am called Sidious, a disciple of the
True Force.

CADE
"True Force?"

SIDIOUS
What those in power call the Dark Side.

Cade backs away, reaching for his saber.

SIDIOUS
Peace, Jedi. No need to show your strength.
I know it well, as I know whose strength you
envy. Young Skywalker.

The young Jedi lowers the unlit saber.

SIDIOUS
I offer you friendship, and counsel. I
can make you a greater man than he will
ever become.

Cade's breathing turns heavy.

EXT. CORUSCANT - SENATE CHAMBER - DAY

SHIPS of all kinds buzz around the mushroom-shaped building. Alien anchorman GOL
THE INFORMER fills us in.

GOL (V.O.)
The senate has banned all journalists
from the chamber; however, we suspect
they may be discussing Jenner Agravaine,
and how to...

His voice fades out.

INT. SENATE CHAMBER - DAY

Palpatine stands at the Chancellor's podium, presiding over a full house. He
presses a button, sounding a bell and calling for order. The surrounding
SENATORS fall silent.

PALPATINE
As many of you know, a band of terrorists
attacked a Jedi gathering last night, killing
and wounding many of our best defenders. Clearly,
these were Agravaine's men! How shall we defend
ourselves?

VARIOUS SENATORS
War! War!

PALPATINE
Order! The first to speak will be Bail Organa
of Alderaan.

BAIL ORGANA, a young man slightly older than Amidala, moves his platform
forward. Compassionate and rational, he presents his case.

BAIL
To those who call for war: Tell us how to fight
a war against one man! Jenner has no homeworld;
mine has renounced him. If we chase him, he will
hide. If we attack where he may be hidden, we
risk a thousand times the death he deals now.

Three-eyed delegate AINLEE TEEM speaks up.

AINLEE TEEM
What would you do instead? Stand by, and
await his next attack?

AMIDALA (O.S.)
I suggest another way.

The chamber falls into a hush.

PALPATINE
The chair recognizes Senator Amidala of Naboo.

AMIDALA
Jenner may flee an armada, but a smaller group
may take him by surprise. A handful of Jedi
could track him and bring him to justice, without
war, and without bloodshed.

Palpatine raises a brow, impressed.

PALPATINE
A novel approach, Senator. What say you?

BAIL
I second the motion!

PALPATINE
Well spoken! Senators, cast your votes!

 

Out of respect for what happened, I'm going to put this on hiatus for a week or two (for the record, I wrote the previous installment the day before the attack).

MTFBWY

 

I'm seeing an eerie similarity between Agravaine and Bin Laden.

Good posts... I will be waiting when you get back

 

In light of Tuesday's tragedy, I thought you might be interested in this. PM me with comments, please.

This is the article Scott and I wrote about the World Trade Center

 

Looking forward to the next update, Geist. BTW, your sensitivity is appreciated. A lot of us lost friends on 9/11.

 

I'll be getting back to work on this soon. In the meantime, I'd like to invite everyone to join the Tournament of Fools, a game where sixteen of the worst films in history battle it out for the title of Worst Movie Ever Made.

 

Up!

 

...up

 

I'd like to get back to work on this soon.

 

Hope you do. I'll be reading!