The Star Wars Page #12

The doctors exit, leaving the general alone to watch the huge machine extract

another brain.

62. SPACEPORT - OBSERVATION DECK - AQUILAE

Governor Hoedaack, General Vader walk down a boarding ramp to an observation

deck overlooking the conquered city of Gordon. They are followed by a number

of aides and officers from the Imperial fleet. Below them air tanks and other

military equipment and supplies are being unloaded.

VADER:

Not much of a planet.

HOEDAACK:

Darth, you've done well. Do you think you will have the Royal Family by

nightfall?

VADER:

An advance expedition is already on its way to their underground hideaway.

They should reach it by nightfall... but only if this Count Sandage can be

trusted.

HOEDAACK:

A man hungry for power can always be trusted... to betray those in power. I'm

sure his information is correct.

63. HIDDEN FORTRESS CANYON

The huge rock face of the canyon opens, and two shabby agricultural

landspeeders are pushed into the late afternoon sun. Artwo and Threepio stand

on the far side of the canyon with their guards, watching in amazement. The

general and Captain Starkiller walk behind the men pushing the landspeeders.

GENERAL:

We'll take them with us. They know more about that fortress than any ten men.

They will be very useful.

STARKILLER:

Can they be trusted?

GENERAL:

Loyalty can't be programmed. They can be trusted never to harm a living

creature, and to always give accurate information...as they know it, to anyone

who asks. You just have to remember not to tell them anything that you don't

want to fall into the wrong hands.

The general approaches the two robots. Artwo shyly moves around his taller

companion.

GENERAL:

Greetings. I'm Luke: Agricultural Engineering. We're going to be travelling

together. You're going with us to help set up a hortastation on Banth.

Threepio shakes hands with the general.

THREEPIO:

I'm Seethreepio:
Human Cyborg relations. Your kindness is greatly

appreciated.

Threepio and the general both look down at Artwo. Threepio gives the smaller

android a little kick.

ARTWO:

Artwo Detwo:
Fusion Repair.

GENERAL (to Starkiller)

Load them into one of the speeders.

Captain Whitsun, walking with a slight limp, emerges from the underground

fortress with the Royal Family. A small group of guards and aides are lined

up, standing at attention. The two young princes, Biggs and Windy, hug and

kiss their mother good-bye, then jump into the back of the larger four-man

speeder. The princess bows before her mother, then embraces her. Tears roll

down her cheeks. Her mother wipes them away.

QUEEN:

You must learn strength.

The princess turns and moves to the larger speeder where she is helped aboard

by Captain Starkiller.

PRINCESS (fuming)

I don't need your help, thank you.

She gives the general an angry look.

GENERAL:

I'm afraid he's necessary.

A commotion erupts at the mouth of the underground fortress. Count Sandage,

several senators and ten to twelve troopers rush into the canyon and block the

speeders.

SANDAGE:

Where are you going? What is this?

In one quick movement the general moves between Sandage and the queen.

Whitsun and Starkiller assume defensive positions in front of the princess and

her brothers.

QUEEN:

Leia and the boys are being taken to safety. It is my wish.

SANDAGE:

The Empire has assured their safety. They must stay.

QUEEN:

It is not my wish....

SANDAGE:

General, you've gone too far this time. (to the troops) Arrest him.

Five troops start to move on the general, as Sandage draws his laserpistol.

Before anyone can complete his action, the general ignites his lasersword and

cuts the senator in two. He drops to the ground in a heap, and the

approaching troops stop in their tracks.

QUEEN:

Stop this!

The general, Starkiller, and Whitsun replace their swords, and bow low to the

queen. All of the troops, senators, and aides do the same. The formalness of

the occasion is broken when the queen embraces the general. She then turns

and embraces each of the captains. They are both flustered, and somewhat

embarrassed.

QUEEN:

May the force of others be with you.

The general and his captains head for the speeders, while the queen and all

the others return to the underground fortress.

64. DESERT BLUFF - AQUILAE

The two speeders edge their way onto a bluff overlooking the hidden fortress

canyon. They stop for one last reflective moment. Forced to leave their

closest friends and relatives, the group is deeply moved. The two robots, for

the most part, are puzzled. Suddenly, there is a huge atomic flash, followed

by a loud rumble, and the entire canyon collapses into a large crater. The

group quietly watches the dust settle. The hidden fortress and all its

inhabitants have been destroyed. The general watches the princess, who

appears to take it well.

GENERAL:

It was the only way we could be safe from treachery.

65. DUNE SEA - AQUILAE

The two sleek landspeeders glide effortlessly through the vast hills and

valleys of the dune sea. At the base of the towering dune ridge, the four-man

speeder stops. The smaller speeder, with Starkiller and the two robots, makes

its way to the top of the ridge. Captain Starkiller stops the speeder just

short of the top of the ridge. He gets out and continues the rest of the way

on foot. The young captain peeks over the dune ridge into the canyon below.

Muted sounds and large dust clouds rise from the canyon floor. Starkiller

immediately ducks back behind the ridge with an amazed look on his face. He

quickly returns to the speeder, and picks up the intercom.

STARKILLER:

Sir, you'd better take a look at this. But come easy.

The four-man speeder starts with a crack, and slowly moves up the side of the

imposing dune. It stops next to the smaller speeder. The general and Whitsun

get out and make their way to the top of the ridge, where they join

Starkiller. Far in the distance, crossing the endless dune sea, is the

Imperial invasion army. It is immense. A convoy of giant tanks, troop

carriers, and supply ships stretch from horizon to horizon. Cavalry, mounted

on giant dune birds, ride the line from one end of the convoy to the other.

Hundreds of troops ride one-man jet-sticks in precision formation. Their

lances form a giant pin-cushion. It is an awesome sight.

GENERAL SKYWALKER

They're heading toward the fortress.

WHITSUN:

What will they do when they find it destroyed?

GENERAL:

They won't stop looking for us...They're coming from the spaceport at

Anchorhead, which means they control everything between here and the spaceport

at Gordon.

STARKILLER:

Can we go around them?

GENERAL:

No. We'll have to wait for them to pass. Starkiller, see if you can monitor

any of their communications on the com-link in the big speeder.

Starkiller returns to the speeder. He collapses in the large speeder next to

the princess, and flips on the com-link radio, moving back and forth across

the dial.

PRINCESS:

Must you do that?

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