by Cavan Scott
PIRA:
Okay. But how are we going to get them up there?
DOOKU:
Get them beneath the hole.
PIRA:
But…
DOOKU:
Just trust me.
PIRA:
Fine. Rralla, help me with Apina.
RRALLA:
(RUMBLES HIS AGREEMENT)
DOOKU: (HOLO-NARRATION)
With bacta slopping around their knees, the bedraggled Wookiee guided his friend into position.
PIRA:
That’s it. You’re doing great.
DOOKU:
(STILL CALLING DOWN) All right. Apina, was it? Don’t be scared. I’m going to pull you up, okay?
PIRA:
Pull her up. How?
DOOKU:
I’m going to use the Force.
PIRA:
You’re going to what?
DOOKU:
Just relax. That’s it, Apina. One. Two. Three!
DOOKU: (HOLO-NARRATION)
The child let out a frightened squeak as she shot up like a homing missile.
On three, he pulls her out of the bacta.
RRALLA:
(SHYRIIWOOK)
DOOKU:
I’ve got you. I’ve got you.
PIRA:
I don’t believe it.
DOOKU:
Now the next one.
DOOKU: (HOLO-NARRATION)
Pira glanced worriedly at a Fluggrian slouched in a diagnostic hovercot.
PIRA:
He can’t walk.
DOOKU:
Then we’ll take the bed with us.
DOOKU: (HOLO-NARRATION)
The doctor helped drag the cot beneath me.
PIRA:
Will you be able to take the weight?
SIFO-DYAS:
I can help. What’s his name?
RRALLA:
(SHYRIIWOOK)
SIFO-DYAS:
Sorry, my Shyriiwook’s a little rusty.
PIRA:
Cuhoon.
SIFO-DYAS:
Okay, Cuhoon, you’re gonna need to hold on as tightly as you can. Are you ready? Yeah?
DOOKU:
Here we go. One. Two. (WITH EFFORT) Three!
DOOKU: (HOLO-NARRATION)
I visualized the boy floating toward me, and the cot wobbled before rising unsteadily…
PIRA:
Careful.
RRALLA:
(SHYRIIWOOK)
SIFO-DYAS:
I’ve got it.
PIRA:
Let me help.
DOOKU: (HOLO-NARRATION)
Pira clambered onto the table to support the heavy bed. She may have not been able to use the Force, but as the stars were her witness, she wasn’t about let her patient fall.
She climbs onto the table.
DOOKU:
(EFFORT) That’s it. Just a little higher.
PIRA:
Have you got him?
The cot is pulled through.
DOOKU:
Yes. Yes, I have. Good to meet you, Cuhoon.
SIFO-DYAS:
Who’s left?
PIRA:
Only Rralla.
DOOKU:
Are you ready?
DOOKU: (HOLO-NARRATION)
The Wookiee loped forward, eagerly holding his thin arms up toward me.
RRALLA:
(SHYRIIWOOK) [Yes.]
DOOKU:
Good. On three. One. Two. Three!
RRALLA:
(SHYRIIWOOK—COUNTING WITH HIM) [One. Two. Three!]
DOOKU: (HOLO-NARRATION)
I almost laughed at the Wookiee’s delight as he was yanked into the air, bacta dripping from his fur. I grabbed his arms, swinging him to safety.
DOOKU:
Can you look after the others, Rralla? That’s it. (CALLING BACK DOWN) Time for you, Doctor.
The door creaks.
SIFO-DYAS:
Take her now, Dooku!
DOOKU: (HOLO-NARRATION)
The door buckled, liters of thick bacta flooding into the ward.
The door gives way, bacta rushing in.
PIRA:
(SCREAMS)
SCENE 49. INT. DELIVERY SUITE. (CONT.)
DOOKU: (HOLO-NARRATION)
I pulled Pira toward me before the deluge could take her.
RRALLA:
(SHYRIIWOOK) [Dr. Pira!]
DOOKU:
It’s all right. I have her. That’s it. Up you come.
PIRA:
What about your friend?
DOOKU:
I don’t know. (CALLING DOWN) Sifo-Dyas!
DOOKU: (HOLO-NARRATION)
There was no reply. My friend was nowhere to be seen.
DOOKU:
Stay here.
PIRA:
Why? What are you…
DOOKU: (HOLO-NARRATION)
Holding my breath, I plunged into the churning bacta.
RRALLA:
(SHYRIIWOOK)
PIRA:
I don’t know. I can’t see him. The bacta’s too thick.
The bacta slops around below them, time ticking by far too slowly.
PIRA:
Come on. Come on.
Dooku breaks the surface, carrying Sifo-Dyas.
DOOKU:
(SPLUTTERING) I’ve got him!
RRALLA:
(SHYRIIWOOK)
PIRA:
Thank the stars.
DOOKU:
Help me get him up.
PIRA:
What happened to him?
DOOKU:
He hit his head. (WITH EFFORT AS HE LIFTS HIM UP) Only Sifo-Dyas could hurt himself in a sea of bacta. Have you got him?
PIRA:
Yes.
SIFO-DYAS:
(GROANS)
DOOKU:
Careful.
PIRA:
That wound doesn’t look good.
DOOKU: (HOLO-NARRATION)
I leapt up to rejoin them, running a hand through my damp hair.
DOOKU:
Just another crisis to add to the list.
The building creaks, dust falling down.
PIRA:
What was that?
DOOKU:
The building isn’t safe. We need to get out as soon as possible.
PIRA:
There’s a repulsorlift in the next section.
DOOKU:
I doubt it’ll be working. We’ll have to do it the old-fashioned way.
PIRA:
What do you mean?
DOOKU:
I was hoping you wouldn’t ask that. Out a window?
PIRA:
You’re joking.
More creaking.
RRALLA:
(WHIMPERS)
DOOKU:
The floor’s giving way.
PIRA:
Actually, a window will be fine. I’ll carry Apina. Rralla, can you push Cuhoon?
RRALLA:
(SHYRIIWOOK) [Yes.]
PIRA:
You take your friend.
DOOKU:
Yes, ma’am.
Another creak, but this time accompanied by a monstrous roar.
DOOKU: (HOLO-NARRATION)
I froze, staring into t
he gloom ahead.
PIRA:
What was that?
DOOKU:
It appears we’re not alone.
Another roar, which makes Rralla whimper in fear.
PIRA:
It’s right outside. What are we going to do?
DOOKU: (HOLO-NARRATION)
There was really only one choice; the floor was finally collapsing under its own weight.
DOOKU:
Run!
Rralla whines as they run, the floor collapsing.
SCENE 50. EXT. THE PLANTATION.
Flames crackle all around.
DOOKU: (HOLO-NARRATION)
Outside, a crowd of survivors had gathered around Yoda and Lene…
PRIME MINISTER:
The heat. It’s unbearable.
LENE:
Master Yoda. Dooku and Sifo-Dyas? Can you still sense them?
YODA:
No. Only the blaze.
PRIME MINISTER:
You must hold it back.
LENE:
(WITH EFFORT) A task, Prime Minister, that will be a lot easier if you’d stop talking!
PRIME MINISTER:
I’m sorry. I only thought—
There’s a rumble from behind as the hospital collapses in on itself.
DOOKU: (HOLO-NARRATION)
With a final groan, the hospital’s structure collapsed, the sudden rush of air fanning the flames.
PRIME MINISTER:
Oh no.
LENE:
Do you think they got out?
A monster roars.
PRIME MINISTER:
What’s that?
A giant beast is charging toward them.
LENE:
Something very big!
PRIME MINISTER:
It’s a monster!
YODA:
No. On its back.
LENE:
Dooku!
DOOKU: (HOLO-NARRATION)
My mount skid to a halt within the protective circle, snorting superheated air from four expansive nostrils.
DOOKU:
(CALLING DOWN) Masters! Meet Rolettan. He was giving birth when the pulse hit.
LENE:
Where’s the baby?
DOOKU:
(CALLING) Bringing our friends.
DOOKU: (HOLO-NARRATION)
A smaller and yet equally commanding creature carried the doctor and her young charges into the enclosure. You should have seen them, Jenza. Thick scarlet scales, clubbed tails, and six legs apiece.
PIRA:
(CALLING) Look at the flames.
RRALLA:
(WHIMPERS)
DOOKU:
(CALLING) Get the younglings down to the ground.
PIRA:
(CALLING) How’s your friend?
DOOKU:
(CALLING) Still unconscious.
DOOKU: (HOLO-NARRATION)
Rolettan bayed as I dropped from his back, Sifo-Dyas cradled in my arms.
LENE:
What happened?
DOOKU:
He got knocked out, that’s all. He’ll be all right.
LENE:
Half an hour in a hospital and he thinks he’s a doctor.
DOOKU:
A hospital that nearly killed us.
YODA:
Grateful I am that it did not. Help us, my Padawan.
DOOKU:
(WITH EFFORT) How long will we be able to hold them back?
LENE:
As long as we need to.
DOOKU:
And how long is that?
There’s the thunder of a spaceship overhead.
PRIME MINISTER:
(JOYFUL) I don’t believe it. The distress call. It must have gotten through.
Pira runs up.
PIRA:
Is that a Republic ship?
AMPLIFIED VOICE:
Please remain calm. We are deploying flame suppressant. We will begin evacuation procedures once the fire is under control.
DOOKU:
That could be some time.
Water starts gushing from the ship.
RRALLA:
(SHYRIIWOOK)
PIRA:
Don’t worry, Rralla. It’s putting out the fire. See?
YODA:
(RELAXING) The Force has protected us.
DOOKU:
I’m just sorry we weren’t able to get more people out.
LENE:
You did your best.
YODA:
All any of us can ask, that is.
DOOKU: (HOLO-NARRATION)
A hatch opened in the belly of the ship, and an aid worker in protective clothing jetpacked down to us.
AID COMMANDER:
Master Yoda.
YODA:
For your timely arrival we thank you, Commander.
The aid commander lands.
AID COMMANDER:
More ships are on the way.
LENE:
Best news I’ve heard all day.
AID COMMANDER:
Prime Minister, are you hurt?
PRIME MINISTER:
No. The Jedi kept me safe. Unfortunately, I fear the same cannot be said for much of the population.
AID COMMANDER:
Senator Tavetti wishes to know how much bacta you will be able to salvage.
PRIME MINISTER:
T-there is no way of knowing. Not yet. The loss of life must be—
AID COMMANDER:
He will need a full report as soon as possible.
His comm beeps.
AID COMMANDER:
Excuse me.
PRIME MINISTER:
Yes. Yes, of course.
AID COMMANDER:
(IN BACKGROUND, QUIET, BENEATH EVERYONE ELSE)
Yes. I have located the prime minister. There are a handful of survivors here. When will the rest of the fleet arrive? (BEAT) Very well. Are the Jedi sending any support? (BEAT) Then we will have to make do until we hear. I will ask the Grand Master. Focus on the main fires and protect any surviving bacta.
PIRA:
Is that all they care about?
PRIME MINISTER:
(TRYING TO MAKE SENSE OF IT) I…er…I can understand his concern.
PIRA:
But what about the people? What about survivors?
YODA:
Do all we can, we will. This I promise.
SIFO-DYAS:
(GROANS)
Dooku moves to him.
DOOKU:
Sifo.
SIFO-DYAS:
What hit me?
Rolettan roars nearby.
SIFO-DYAS:
And what is that?
DOOKU:
A friend.
SIFO-DYAS:
The children…did we…?
LENE:
You saved them.
Rolettan roars again, indignant.
LENE:
(HURRIEDLY) With a little help.
DOOKU:
It’s not enough.
LENE:
Dooku?
Dooku stands.
DOOKU:
If we had acted sooner…when Sifo-Dyas first had his vision…
LENE:
What’s done is done. We must now concentrate on making sure Protobranch receives as much aid as possible.
DOOKU:<
br />
(BITTERLY) Because of the bacta?
LENE:
No. Because of the people.
DOOKU: (HOLO-NARRATION)
I moved in closer to Lene, lowering my voice…
DOOKU:
(SOTTO) And what about next time? What happens when Sifo-Dyas receives another premonition?
LENE:
Then maybe the Council will listen. Maybe they’ll act.
DOOKU:
Do you honestly believe that?
LENE:
(AVOIDING THE QUESTION) Your compassion does you credit, Dooku. Focus on that.
SCENE 51. EXT. ROOFTOP. NIGHT. RAIN.
VENTRESS: (NARRATION)
I pause the hologram, scanning the street for any sign of the Crolute.
VENTRESS:
Dooku had compassion. Who would have thought?
KY NAREC: (GHOST)
If he did, it was lost the day he turned to the dark side.
VENTRESS:
Are you sure? The way he talked about his sister. Maybe the heart of that young Padawan is still there…
KY NAREC: (GHOST)
Underneath the surface.
VENTRESS:
It’s possible. Isn’t it?
KY NAREC: (GHOST)
Anything is possible, little one.
VENTRESS:
I’ve told you not to call me that. I’m not your little one. I’m not your anything. You’re not even real.
KY NAREC: (GHOST)
Are you sure about that?
VENTRESS:
Please. Next you’ll be telling me you can see the future like poor deranged Sifo-Dyas.
KY NAREC: (GHOST)
What if I can?
VENTRESS:
Go on then. Tell me. What will I become?
KY NAREC: (GHOST)
You will become lost.
VENTRESS:
(LAUGHS) That happened a long time ago.
KY NAREC: (GHOST)
When you were taken by Hal’Sted?
VENTRESS:
Leave him out of this.
KY NAREC: (GHOST)
Why? He stole you from Dathomir. You were just a child.
VENTRESS:
He protected me. Gave me a home.
KY NAREC: (GHOST)
A home on Rattatak? He made you his slave, Ventress…he used you. You never told me, did you? Not really. Never explained what he forced you to do.
VENTRESS:
He never forced me to do anything.
KY NAREC: (GHOST)
No? Never used you as a living torture device? I told you. I see things now. Like the day he dragged you in front of a Weequay who refused to pay his dues…
VENTRESS:
Don’t.
KY NAREC: (GHOST)
Why? Is it painful to remember? The crack of the Weequay’s skull as you applied the pressure? Or the blaster shot as Hal’Sted put him out of his misery?