The Star Wars Page #11

Threepio turns and notices that Starkiller and the princess have disappeared.

He looks all around.

THREEPIO:

Where did they go? They've disappeared.

ARTWO:

Maybe they were attacked! I sense danger!

55. HIDDEN FORTRESS ENTRANCE - DESERT CANYON - AQUILAE [scene number - sic]

Captain Starkiller and Princess Leia hurry through a maze of large boulders,

until they reach a sheer rock face. Starkiller looks around to see if they

were followed. Suddenly, a large section of the rock slides away, revealing a

well-lit corridor carved out of the rock. They enter, and are greeted by two

jubilant guards. Starkiller gives them some orders and points in the

direction of the speeder. The secret rock door silently slides closed.

57. MAIN HALLWAY - UNDERGROUND FORTRESS - AQUILAE

Starkiller and the princess are greeted by General Skywalker and Montross.

They bow before the princess.

PRINCESS (angrily pointing at Starkiller)

General, I want you to do something with this..this barbarian. Where's my

father?

GENERAL:

The king is dead, Your Highness.

All anger suddenly drains from the princess. She almost timidly asks the next

question.

PRINCESS:

My mother?... and brothers?

GENERAL:

She's here. She's safe...so are your brothers. They're in the main chamber.

Leia, now looking more like a frightened young girl than a vindictive

princess, runs down the hallway toward the main chamber. She vainly attempts

to hold back the tears.

58. DESERT CANYON - AQUILAE

The two puzzled androids sit on the landspeeder, pondering the disappearance

of their saviour.

THREEPIO:

Do you suppose we're in danger?

ARTWO:

The logic of this environment escapes me.

As night begins to fall, and the shadows begin to lengthen, the two robots

begin to get a little edgy. The sound of approaching feet startles Artwo, and

he ducks behind his taller friend. Two guards approach the robots.

GUARD:

You will remain calm, and you will remain here.

THREEPIO:

Certainly. I'm Seethreepio, Human-Cyborg Relations. Your kindness is

gratefully appreciated.

Artwo sits rather suspiciously behind his extroverted friend.

59. ROYAL CHAMBER - UNDERGROUND FORTRESS - AQUILAE

General Skywalker bows low before Princess Leia. She sits on a raised

platform, dressed in the royal robes of a planetary ruler. The queen sits off

to one side on a smaller platform. The princess waits for a few moments

before she allows the general to rise.

QUEEN:

The senate has been corrupted.

GENERAL:

They cannot rule without your wish...

QUEEN:

I rule by marriage. With the king dead, I am not strong enough to stop

them... Leia is now the true queen... She must be protected. The line must be

preserved. I am placing the future of our people in your hands. You must

deliver Leia and her brothers to the Ophuchi System. They will be safe there.

General, you must understand, I had no alternative but to condone an end to

the hostilities. I deeply believe your campaign could have been successful,

but there are things that...

GENERAL:

I understand, Your Highness...

QUEEN:

The chrome companies on Ophuchi have offered to supply you with the men and

ships necessary to return Leia to the throne.

GENERAL:

Can the chrome companies be trusted?

QUEEN:

The price for their cooperation is high. It is waiting for you in Med Center

blue. Guard it as you would the princess herself. No-one must know of this

mission. There are those among the trusted who would wish us ill. Take only

two of your best officers with you, the most loyal. May the force of others

be with you.

LEIA:

Mother, you must not stay.

QUEEN:

I am too old for such a journey. The Empire already controls the spaceport

cities. You have a long way to travel. It won't be easy.

GENERAL:

We will have to travel in disguise. I must have full command. No-one can

suspect wealth or royal training. I fear the new queen will not stand for

this.

LEIA (angry)

Do not put words into my mouth. I will stand for what is necessary.

The general simply smiles.

60. SUB-HALLWAY - UNDERGROUND FORTRESS - AQUILAE

The general walks briskly through an isolated hallway, closely followed by

Montross.

GENERAL:

How is Captain Whitsun's recovery?

MONTROSS:

Very good; he's up and around.

GENERAL:

Fine! Have Whitsun and...ah, Starkiller report at zero three hundred. I want

two converted transports: agricultural type, two days' provisions, travel

papers, weapons. Contact Han Solo at the Gordon spaceport...I'll talk to

him... with speed!

Montross turns and rushes down another hallway.

61. MEDICAL CENTER BLUE - UNDERGROUND FORTRESS - AQUILAE

The general enters a stark white waiting area filled with scholarly looking

gentlemen. An attendant greets General Skywalker and takes him into a small

observation chamber overlooking a large operating theatre. An elderly doctor

greets him.

DOCTOR:

Good to see you, General. I'm afraid we're not quite ready yet. Thank God

you'll be the one taking them, though.

An attendant brings in one of the scholars from the waiting area and places

him on a large operating table surrounded by strange looking equipment. An

ominous looking clamp is placed on the man's head.

GENERAL:

How many are going?

DOCTOR:

Thirty-three of the greatest scientific minds in our System...A high price for

freedom.

GENERAL:

Thirty-three scientists! Transporting a group that size, undetected... I

don't...

DOCTOR:

Don't worry, General. All you'll be taking are their minds.

The doctor moves over to a safe-like cabinet guarded by two attendants. The

doctor gingerly picks up a small clear vial filled with grey fluid. It has a

label which reads: Faubun, Astro-dynamics...In the background the scholar on

the operating table is undergoing a form of mechanized brain surgery.

GENERAL:

"Bloodory's distillation?"

DOCTOR:

Yes. It has been greatly perfected. The brain is condensed into five ounces

of fluid. Cloning cell samples are included so that a structural duplicate of

the scientist can be reproduced. When the duplicate child reaches the age of

six, he or she begins a series of injections of the brain fluid. By the age

of ten years, they have received all the knowledge and memory of an

experienced scientist: an old mind in a young body. We have prepared a

special shock-belt to carry the vials.

In the background, the limp body of the scholar on the operating table is

removed and another scientist is escorted into the operating threatre. Dr.

Bloodory, a portly doctor in his forties, enters the room and shakes hands

with the general.

DOCTOR:

General, this is Doctor Bloodory. He'll be making the trip with you.

BLOODORY:

It's an honor to meet you, General. I'm sure I couldn't be in safer hands.

GENERAL:

The chrome companies are exacting a high prince indeed. Politics will be the

ruin of us all.

BLOODORY:

Careful. If we could rid ourselves of the politicians, generals would no

longer be necessary.

DOCTOR:

We should be ready by zero three hundred.

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