10 October 2021

The First Jedi: A Star Wars Story (A Fragment)

TFJ was another attempt at writing a nonlinear 9-in-1 retelling of the Skywalker Saga that ended up going nowhere.

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EXT. SPACE

TITLE CARD: A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away….

THE FIRST JEDI

A STAR WARS STORY

PAN DOWN

To Ahch-To, a predominately aquatic world.

A saucer-shaped vessel emerges from hyperspace. This is the Millennium Falcon, a modified YT-1300 light freighter which has seen 88 years of active service and wears her age as a badge of honour.

EXT. AHCH-TO — OCEAN — DAY

Breaking through the clouds, the Millennium Falcon emerges over a pristine and mighty ocean. Dotting the endless blue are islands of black rock.

INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON/COCKPIT — DAY

Inside we meet KIRA and her co-pilot, CHEWBACCA THE WOOKIEE. At nineteen years old, Kira is a beautiful young brunette, her eyes large and brown, radiant with youthful innocence. Chewbacca, 228 years old, 2.3 metres tall, covered head-to-foot in brown fur, glances at his Human companion, thoughtful.

EXT. OCEAN — ISLAND — DAY

The Falcon banks toward one of the more mountainous islands.

EXT. ISLAND — MILLENNIUM FALCON — DAY

Slinging a pack across her back, Kira turns to her companion, 23-year-old FINN. The two couldn't be more different. Skin as dusky as her's is fair, physique as stocky as her's is lean, an aura of world-weariness about him, there remains a kindness in his dark eyes. Hanging from his belt is a chrome bar, 606 mm in length, with ivory inlay and a round guard at one end. It greatly resembles a katana hilt.

As they begin their hike up the considerable hill, they glance back at the Falcon. Watching them from the bottom of the ramp are Chewie and ARTOO-DETOO. A Cyborg, Artoo's brain is encased within a spherical blue-&-white body, his "head" a separate hemisphere containing computer lights and a radar eye. Kira takes a deep breath, then she and Finn continue their journey.

EXT. ISLAND — STONE STAIRS — DAY

Set within the rock and foliage of this idyllic landscape are seemingly endless ancient stone steps. Finn and Kira continue climbing them, determined despite their fatigue.

EXT. OCEAN — ISLAND — DAY

Another vessel closes in on the island. Smaller than the Falcon, it consists of a semi-rectangular cockit, with angular wings sporting heat radiator panels and weapons batteries. A TIE silencer of the First Order.

EXT. ISLAND — STONE STRUCTURES — DAY

Kira and Finn arrive at a clearing. Surrounding them are severals small, modest, primitive stone structures, but there are no signs of present habitation. The pair continue past the dwellings, watchful, but spy no one.

A deep thrum sounds out behind them. They spin around. Standing there is DARTH CAEDUS. The most recent inductee into the Knights of Sith, Caedus wears the black bodyglove and red-trimmed black tabard of their Seventh Knight. With his longish black hair, big nose, and small chin, he's a rather unremarkable-looking fellow — or would be, were it not for the long scar running down the right side of his face. In his right gauntlet is a black steel hilt reminiscent of a longsword's; from it pulsates a red-white energy blade a metre long and 0.1 mm thick.

Kira moves forward with her blaster pistol, opening fire. With preternatural agility, the Sith Knight dodges and deflects the plasma bolts with his sword. One bolt is sent back to sender, sprawling Kira upon the ground.

FINN

Kira! Oh no. Kira! Kira….

Finn drops down beside her, afraid, concerned. Caedus cuts a figure eight through the air with his fiery blade.

DARTH CAEDUS

Traitor!

Finn turns back to Caedus. He unclips the chrome hilt from his belt, raising it. With a sharp snap-hiss, a particle beam shoots out, forming a crimson blade identical to Caedus'. Releasing a battle cry, Finn charges, lunging at Caedus. Caedus deflects his opponent's blade, counter-attacking with his own sweeping cut.

Kira recovers. Getting her bearings, her eyes focus on the two men fighting. Both combatants attack with a primal savagery. Finn blocks, turning defensive moves into offensive ones, and gets a hit in, slashing through Darth Caedus' upper arm. Caedus moves back — wounded, blood freely flowing from the deep slash, but more enraged than weakened — then strikes again.

Weapons clash, blades lock, the two men lit by the red lightsabers, and Darth Caedus pushes Finn back. Attacking with pure ferocity, the Sith unleashes a merciless series of blows, pushing Finn further and further back. Interlocking their blades, Caedus sends Finn's flying from his grasp, unbalancing him. Caedus punches Finn across the face, then lands a blow to Finn's back, opening a nasty gash through cloth and flesh, felling him.

His rival defeated, Caedus turns upon the defenseless Kira. He extinguishes his lightsaber.

DARTH CAEDUS

It's just us now. Yun can't save you.

Caedus strides forward. Kira scuttles back, but there's no escape for her.

An invisible force hits the Seventh Knight with the impact of a battering ram. Lifted clear off his feet, he is sent flying into one of the stone huts, hitting with a sickening crunch.

Kira turns. Standing fifteen metres behind her is a man in a tattered gray jumpsuit and synthleather overcoat. Bearded, dark blond hair shaggy, he meets Kira's gaze. There is suspicion in his blue eyes.