by Cavan Scott
CHIEF TANU:
Ambassador Ketas is keen to depart.
RAEL:
I’m sure he’ll stick around if it means we can find his seal.
CHIEF TANU:
I’m not sure how I can help.
RAEL:
You can give us access to the Luster’s security footage.
CHIEF TANU:
I’m not sure that’s possible.
DOOKU:
You have reviewed it?
CHIEF TANU:
(UNSURE) I…Yes. Yes, I have.
RAEL:
Then ya won’t mind if we take a peek. You can use this terminal.
CHIEF TANU:
Very well.
He starts pressing buttons.
CHIEF TANU:
But I don’t see what good it will…(TRAILS OFF)
QUI-GON:
Chief Tanu?
CHIEF TANU:
This isn’t right. The footage. It’s…It’s been deleted.
DOOKU:
By whom?
More beeps.
CHIEF TANU:
It’s not possible.
RAEL:
Chief?
CHIEF TANU:
It was deleted…using my clearance codes. But I would never…I’d have no reason to…
QUI-GON:
Steal the seal yourself?
CHIEF TANU:
Why would I? Ketas is already gunning for me. He told me if I bomb out again…
DOOKU:
An interesting turn of phrase. What do you remember about the robbery, Tanu?
CHIEF TANU:
Nothing. Ketas discovered the seal was gone. He was furious. He…blamed the Plinovians. Said he was going to have it out with them and…
DOOKU:
And you checked the security footage…
CHIEF TANU:
I…I must have. I told the ambassador I had…but…
DOOKU:
But now you’re not so sure.
CHIEF TANU:
I would’ve checked. I…I’m sure I would.
QUI-GON:
His mind is clouded.
RAEL:
But I sense no deceit.
DOOKU:
Not about the seal, anyway.
CHIEF TANU:
I’m not sure I like your tone.
DOOKU:
I mean no disrespect, but tell me—what did you mean by “bombed out.”
CHIEF TANU:
He’s not the easiest man to get on with.
DOOKU:
That much is obvious. But bombed out is a phrase from sabacc, is it not? I assume you play.
CHIEF TANU:
Yes. Yes, I do. There’s nothing wrong with that.
RAEL:
It depends how much ya lose.
CHIEF TANU:
I can’t see how any of this is your business.
DOOKU:
Have you played since arriving on Station Zeta?
CHIEF TANU:
Yes. There’s a casino on level twenty. Chance Encounters.
RAEL:
With anyone we know?
CHIEF TANU:
I…(STRUGGLING) I’m not sure.
DOOKU:
I think we should take that as a yes. Padawan, I think you should pay a visit to the lower levels.
SCENE 85. INT. LEVEL 20. ALLEYWAY.
A metal fist buries itself in a stomach.
ENFORCER DROID:
Where’s the money, Arath?
ARATH:
(WHEEZING) I told you. Your boss will get it. But he has to be patient.
ENFORCER DROID:
No, he doesn’t.
The droid kicks Arath on “doesn’t.”
ARATH:
(CRIES OUT) You don’t understand. I just need for things to die down…
ENFORCER DROID:
Should have thought of that before you cheated!
ARATH:
I didn’t.
The droid hits him again.
ENFORCER DROID:
Liar!
ARATH:
(GRUNTS) Oh, what’s the point.
The enforcer droid smashes into the wall.
ARATH:
I could get into real trouble for doing this.
There’s a crackle of electricity, the enforcer giving out an electronic moan.
ARATH:
But no one cares about droids, do they?
ENFORCER DROID:
(WITH EFFORT) You’re…dead…
ARATH:
Not if your boss wants me to pay up. So why don’t you scuttle off and tell him it’s on its way.
QUI-GON: (OFF-MIC)
Arath?
ARATH:
(UNDER BREATH) Stang!
Qui-Gon runs up.
QUI-GON:
What are you doing?
ARATH:
This droid tried to rob me. I was teaching it a lesson.
ENFORCER DROID:
Li—
His vocabulator sparks and gives out.
QUI-GON:
Sounds like there’s something wrong with his vocabulator.
ARATH:
There is now.
QUI-GON:
Let him go. I think you’ve made your point.
ARATH:
Have I, droid? Have I made my point?
The droid burbles electronically.
ARATH:
Good.
He drops the droid.
ARATH:
And don’t try anything like that again. Go on. Get out of here.
The droid limps away, joints clattering.
QUI-GON:
You showed him.
ARATH:
Yes. Yes, I did. But…we don’t need to mention this to your Master, do we? Or Rael for that matter.
QUI-GON:
I’m not sure…
ARATH:
You know what a stickler Dooku is for rules and regulation. Although he wasn’t always. The stories I could tell you.
QUI-GON:
Perhaps we could discuss them over a drink? Or maybe a game?
ARATH:
Aren’t you full of surprises? Did you have anything specific in mind?
QUI-GON:
I was thinking…sabacc?
ARATH:
You play?
QUI-GON:
Not exactly. I’ve never had the chance. Not on Coruscant. But I’ve watched all the holos and studied the rules…
ARATH:
And now you want to break some.
QUI-GON:
Can you get me into a casino?
ARATH:
Not in those robes, but what if we set up a little game of our own?
QUI-GON:
That would be great.
ARATH:
Meet me in my quarters in one hour. Don’t be late.
Qui-Gon hurries off.
QUI-GON: (CALLING BACK)
I won’t be. Thank you. This is going to be so great.
ARATH:
“I’ve watched all the holos.” (SNORTS) Like stealing slime from a brain-slug.
SCENE 86. INT. ARATH’S QUARTERS.
The door chime trills.
ARATH:
Come in.
The door swishes open. Qui-Gon enters.
QUI-GON:
Where are the ot
hers?
ARATH:
They will be here, don’t worry. Although I’ve had to ask Tanu.
QUI-GON:
The security chief?
ARATH:
Security risk, more like. But don’t worry. He’s harmless enough.
The door chime trills again.
ARATH:
That’ll be them now. You ready for this, kid?
QUI-GON:
I was born ready.
ARATH:
Heh. Glad to hear it.
The door slides open.
DOOKU:
I hope you didn’t start without us.
ARATH:
Dooku?
DOOKU:
I heard there was a game.
ARATH:
What? Here? No.
RAEL:
Drop the act, Arath. Where is it?
ARATH:
Where’s what?
DOOKU:
The Solodoe seal.
ARATH:
I don’t know what you’re talking about.
RAEL:
Then you won’t mind if we search your room.
ARATH:
You can’t.
RAEL:
And why’s that?
ARATH:
I’ve done nothing wrong.
DOOKU:
Then why is your heart racing? Qui-Gon. Are you ready to have a look around?
RAEL:
He was born ready.
Qui-Gon starts walking around.
QUI-GON:
You heard that then?
RAEL:
And you’re never gonna live it down, kiddo.
ARATH:
You can’t do this.
DOOKU:
Stop there.
QUI-GON:
By the bed?
DOOKU:
That’s where it is, isn’t it?
ARATH:
No. Why won’t you believe me? There’s nothing here.
RAEL:
Then what are we sensing?
DOOKU:
A guilty conscience.
Dooku turns the bed over.
ARATH:
No. Stop.
RAEL:
Will you look at that?
Dooku picks up a box and opens it.
DOOKU:
The seal.
QUI-GON:
Aren’t you full of surprises?
Rael opens a hololink.
RAEL:
We have our culprit, Master Braylon.
BRAYLON: (OVER COMM)
(SIGHS) Arath. Why am I not surprised? What is it? More gambling debts?
DOOKU:
He’s done this before?
BRAYLON: (OVER COMM)
Master Dooku, will you bring Diplomat Arath back to Coruscant?
DOOKU:
Happily.
RAEL:
The Solodoe will demand justice.
BRAYLON: (OVER COMM)
Return the seal and see what you can salvage from the situation. We may have to hand this over to the Republic. I doubt either the Solodoe or the Plinovians will trust us now. Braylon out.
The hologram cuts off.
RAEL:
Well, that’s just great. Six months of negotiations down the refuse chute.
ARATH:
How did you know?
QUI-GON:
The mess you made of Tanu’s memory.
DOOKU:
I assume you had him delete the records so no one could see you using the Force to circumvent the pressure pads. You’re a disgrace.
ARATH:
Here we go. Yoda’s little favorite…
RAEL:
I’d quit while I was ahead if I were you.
ARATH:
Why? It’s not like you’re going to do anything. Not really.
RAEL:
Not unless I hand you over to the casino? How much do you owe, exactly?
ARATH:
You wouldn’t. Would you?
QUI-GON:
He’s joking.
DOOKU:
Probably.
RAEL:
Don’t worry, Arath, I’ll make sure you get what’s comin’ to ya.
SCENE 87. EXT. ROOFTOP. RAIN.
KY NAREC: (GHOST)
And did he?
VENTRESS:
Another gap in your memories?
KY NAREC: (GHOST)
I wasn’t exactly around at the time.
She swipes back and forth.
VENTRESS:
According to this, Arath was assigned to the Archives. Hardly what I’d call a punishment.
KY NAREC: (GHOST)
You’ve never been there. Besides, you know the Jedi. Always ready with a second chance.
VENTRESS:
More fool them.
She finds something in the datapad case.
KY NAREC: (GHOST)
What’s that?
VENTRESS:
Another data disk.
KY NAREC: (GHOST)
In the pad’s case? That doesn’t make any sense.
VENTRESS:
Perhaps Dooku found it, when he returned to Serenno. Where’s that reader?
She slides the disk into a reader. A hologram appears.
KY NAREC: (GHOST)
That’s definitely Dooku.
VENTRESS:
Nearer the age he is now.
KY NAREC: (GHOST)
Go on then.
She presses play.
DOOKU: (HOLO-NARRATION)
Jenza. I realize it’s been a while since we communicated, but you have a right to know what really happened over the last few days, and my part in it.
VENTRESS:
Sounds promising.
DOOKU: (HOLO-NARRATION)
If I could change what happened I would, but events were in motion long before I discovered Ramil was on Coruscant…
SCENE 88. INT. DOOKU’S CHAMBERS.
Dooku is binding his arm, as Lene once showed him.
DOOKU:
For the Force is strong.
For the Force is strong.
There’s a knock on the door.
DOOKU:
Come.
The door slides open and Qui-Gon enters. He, too, is older, almost a Jedi Knight in his own right.
QUI-GON:
Master Dooku. I…Oh, I’m sorry.
DOOKU:
Don’t be. I was just meditating.
QUI-GON:
Are you injured?
DOOKU:
Hmm?
QUI-GON:
Your arm. The bandages.
DOOKU:
(A SHARP LAUGH) Ah, no. It’s an old habit. Nothing more.
Calleen trills nearby as Dooku pulls on his tunic.
DOOKU:
Would you mind feeding Calleen?
QUI-GON:
Of course. How long has it been since Master Kostana last saw her?
DOOKU:
I dread to think.
He ties his belt.
DOOKU: (CONT.)
Forgive me, Qui-Gon, but I thought you were assisting Master Oorallon with the Katarr adumbrature this morning.
QUI-GON:
I thought you would be happy that I’m not.
DOOKU:
You know my feelings on seers.
QUI-GON:
And yet you allow me to continue to work with Oorallon, for which I am grateful.
DOOKU:
As with the holocron of prophecy, I would rather you studied such texts with my blessing than behind my back. Is Oorallon sick?
QUI-GON:
No. We’ve been summoned by the Council. Master Oorallon said he would manage alone.
DOOKU:
From within his tank? Now, that’s something I’d like to see.
QUI-GON:
Another time maybe. The Council was quite insistent.
DOOKU:
Do you know why?
QUI-GON:
No. I’m afraid not.
DOOKU:
Then we shouldn’t keep them waiting.
SCENE 89. INT. JEDI COUNCIL CHAMBER.
Dooku and Qui-Gon enter the chamber.
BRAYLON:
Ah, Dooku, there you are.
DOOKU:
Master Braylon. Master Aerith. And Jedi Droom, too.
QUI-GON:
Congratulations on your elevation, Gretz.
GRETZ:
Thank you, Qui-Gon.
DOOKU:
You must be very proud, Jor.
JOR:
I don’t think so. Pride is a dangerous emotion. We would do well to remember that.
She goes to take her seat.
QUI-GON:
Aerith never changes, does she?
GRETZ:
I honestly thought I’d be able to stop apologizing for her once I was Knighted.
DOOKU:
There is no need. Jor speaks her mind. I, for one, find that refreshing in a Council member.
Nearby, Yoda raps his stick on the floor.
YODA: (OFF-MIC)
Come. Come.
DOOKU:
Shall we?
The Council members take their seats, Dooku, Droom, and Qui-Gon standing before them.
BRAYLON:
Thank you for joining us, Master Dooku. You must be wondering why we called you here.
DOOKU:
I am naturally curious.
JOR:
Well, I’ll get to the point. You are to join me in representing the Jedi at the Coruscant air rally, Dooku.
DOOKU:
I am?
JOR:
Unless you have someplace better to be. Gretz and Qui-Gon will accompany us.
GRETZ:
We would be honored, but can I ask—
DOOKU:
Why?
JOR:
You know how popular these races are. The eyes of the galaxy will be on Coruscant. It will not hurt the Jedi to be seen at such an event.
YODA:
Invited by the Candovant ambassador, Jor was.
DOOKU:
Then why am I required?
JOR:
It’s quite simple. The place will be teeming with politicians and celebrities. You have a natural affinity for such…people.