by Cavan Scott
JENZA: (NARRATION)
His lightsaber found its mark, plasma burying deep into the beast’s skull. The Tirra’Taka let out one last agonized howl before the fire died on its breath and the once mighty head shook the ground as it fell.
We hear the creature’s final roar as its head smacks down.
JENZA: (NARRATION)
Dooku didn’t move. No one did. My brother waited, crouched like a statue on the creature’s crown, his lightsaber lodged in its ancient brain, waiting until its breathing slowed, and stopped, its eyes closing for the final time.
The Tiri’Takka dies. Dooku extinguishes his lightsaber.
DOOKU:
(QUIETLY) I’m sorry.
LENE:
Dooku?
JENZA: (NARRATION)
Dooku looked up, into the eyes of his friend. His face was a mask, although his eyes betrayed the remorse that raged inside. He jumped down from the dead monster’s head, walking not to her, but to me.
DOOKU:
Jenza. Are you—
JENZA:
We’re fine. Thanks to you.
JENZA: (NARRATION)
That at least elicited a flicker of emotion, but I couldn’t tell what—pride or shame. He turned, his hand on my shoulder, and faced the crowd.
DOOKU:
Ramil is dead. The crisis is at an end.
SERGEANT ESON:
At an end? You can’t be serious. Look around you, Dooku. Look at Carannia.
A datapad beeps in Jenza’s pocket. She pulls it out.
JENZA:
The Abyssin have retreated. Ramil’s droids…
DOOKU:
Ramil’s droids are no longer operational.
JENZA:
We can start to rebuild.
SERGEANT ESON:
If we can afford it.
HAGI: (OFF SLIGHTLY)
We can.
JENZA:
Hagi?
JENZA: (NARRATION)
She was kneeling where she had run as Kostana held off the dragon, a lump of black rock in one hand and an industrial scanner in the other.
HAGI:
Do you know what this is?
JENZA: (NARRATION)
She rose, walking toward us, holding out the rock for me to take.
JENZA:
No.
HAGI:
It’s sacanium.
LENE:
Are you sure?
HAGI:
I don’t understand much about what’s happened today, but I know my geology.
DOOKU:
As do I. A rare ore. Stronger than zersium when refined, and rarer than phrik. I’ve seen it before. A long time ago.
HAGI:
It’s scattered all across the plain. That…creature must have brought it up with it when it broke the surface.
LENE:
But that’s incredible. If there’s a seam of sacanium running beneath us, the Senate is bound to send a contingent from the Mining Guild. Dooku—Serenno will receive as much help as it needs.
DOOKU:
No.
LENE:
What?
DOOKU:
No help is required.
HAGI:
I don’t think that’s your choice to make, Master Dooku.
DOOKU:
Not Master. (BEAT) Count.
LENE:
What are you saying?
JENZA: (NARRATION)
Dooku reached into his robes drawing out a holocomm. I recognized it at once. It was the holocomm I’d sent him as a child, still in pristine condition. He’d taken care of it all these years.
Beeps as Dooku enters a code.
LENE:
Dooku. Answer me. What did you mean?
SCENE 130. INT. YODA’S CHAMBERS. JEDI TEMPLE. CORUSCANT.
Far away, in Yoda’s quarters, a holocomm beeps.
YODA:
Hm.
He activates the comm, a hologram of Dooku appearing in the room.
YODA:
Dooku. Late, it is. Meditating, I was.
DOOKU: (OVER COMM)
Master Yoda.
YODA:
Concerned the Council is, about your whereabouts.
DOOKU: (OVER COMM)
I am on Serenno.
YODA:
Surprised, I am not.
DOOKU: (OVER COMM)
The Abyssin have been repelled.
YODA:
Gratifying, that is to hear.
DOOKU: (OVER COMM)
The planet is in disarray. Count Ramil is dead.
YODA:
Hm. Talk to the chancellor, I will. Persuade him to send aid.
DOOKU: (OVER COMM)
There is no need. A new resource has been discovered, one that has the potential to restore Serenno to its rightful state. The Serennians will process it themselves, under the supervision of their new leader.
YODA:
Your sister. Jenza.
DOOKU: (OVER COMM)
No.
YODA:
Much conflict I detect in you, my former Padawan.
DOOKU: (OVER COMM)
You are wrong, Master Yoda.
YODA:
What do you wish to say to me?
DOOKU: (OVER COMM)
The Jedi have been my family since I was a child, the Temple my home. But my future lies here, on Serenno.
YODA:
Leaving the Order, you are.
DOOKU: (OVER COMM)
I have no choice. The House of Serenno brought this planet to its knees. It is my responsibility, my duty, to rebuild it, by whatever means possible.
YODA:
And what of your duty to the Republic?
DOOKU: (OVER COMM)
The Republic is changing, Yoda. Has changed. We all know it, even if we won’t admit it. A moment ago, Master Kostana told me that the Senate would happily send what is needed to process our new resources. I have no doubt that is true. And yet the very same Senate refused to help when my sister begged them to stand against the Abyssin. The Jedi refused to help. It is Protobranch, all over again.
YODA:
Restored, Protobranch was.
DOOKU: (OVER COMM)
Because of its people, or its commodity? The Senate decreed that Serenno’s plight was an internal affair. Its restitution will be likewise. I am the heir of Serenno. I will rebuild this planet, make it stronger. Not for the Republic. And not for the Jedi. But for the people. My people. I ask for you, and the Council, to respect my decision in this matter.
YODA:
Hm. Saddened by your decision we are, but honor it we will.
DOOKU: (OVER COMM)
Thank you. I will surrender my lightsaber to Master Kostana.
YODA:
No. Necessary that will not be.
DOOKU: (OVER COMM)
It is the weapon of a Jedi.
YODA:
Which is why keep it you must. More than a name, a Jedi is. More than a title. Strong in the Force, you are. Guide you, it will. Guide us all, it must.
DOOKU: (OVER COMM)
Until we meet again.
The hologram cuts off. We stay in Yoda’s chamber a moment longer, and hear the Jedi Master sigh.
SCENE 131. EXT. THE BATTLEFIELD.
JENZA: (NARRATION)
Back on Serenno, my brother’s announcement had caused much consternation…
LENE:
Dooku, I…
HAGI:
> I’m sorry. But what just happened?
SERGEANT ESON:
You can’t do this.
HAGI:
If you think we’re just going to stand back while you waltz in…
JENZA:
Hagi. Please.
HAGI:
No, Jenza. He has no right.
DOOKU:
I have every right.
HAGI:
The houses will not stand for this.
SERGEANT ESON:
And neither will the people.
JENZA:
(FIRMLY) No. The people will listen. The houses will listen.
SERGEANT ESON:
My lady…
JENZA:
Don’t you see? This is our chance. Our chance to stand on our own two feet for the first time in our history. No one telling us what to do. No one telling us what our destiny will be. My brother will make Serenno strong again. He will save us. (RALLYING THE CROWD) Doo-ku. Doo-ku. Doo-ku.
JENZA: (NARRATION)
Around me, the refugees picked up the chant, the battleground ringing to my brother’s name.
CROWD:
Doo-ku. Doo-ku. Doo-ku. (AND REPEAT)
SIFO-DYAS: (OFF-MIC)
Chanting his name…They’re chanting his name.
DOOKU:
Sifo.
Dooku rushes to Sifo’s side.
SIFO-DYAS:
I can see you, Dooku. I can see everything.
DOOKU:
Lene. You must take him back to the Temple. Look after him.
LENE:
What do you think I’ve been doing all these years?
DOOKU:
I’ll find you a ship, whatever you need.
LENE:
I will signal the Council. You have enough to do.
SIFO-DYAS:
The futures have become one, Dooku. One path.
DOOKU:
Here. Take this, old friend.
He passes Sifo his holocomm.
SIFO-DYAS:
Take this…take this…
LENE:
Your holocomm?
DOOKU:
I have no need for it anymore. But one day. (TO SIFO, AS IF TALKING TO A CHILD) If you need to talk…
LENE:
Dooku.
DOOKU:
Thank you, Lene for everything. Please, tell Rael and Qui-Gon…
LENE:
Yes?
DOOKU:
Tell them the Force will be with them. Always.
LENE:
You can tell them yourself, when we all meet again. This is not the end, Dooku. Only the beginning.
SIFO-DYAS:
The beginning…
Jenza and Hagi approach.
JENZA:
Brother?
LENE:
You must go. All will be well.
Dooku walks toward them.
DOOKU:
Sister.
JENZA:
We’ve received word.
HAGI:
The houses request a summit.
DOOKU:
Then we shall have one.
HAGI:
Where? Carannia is a disaster.
DOOKU:
We shall meet at the castle. Come, Jenza. We have much to do.
They walk off.
HAGI:
Wait. You mean your castle? Castle Serenno?
DOOKU: (CALLING BACK)
Why not? It is my home, after all.
SCENE 132. INT. HIDDEN ROOM.
JENZA:
(SOBBING) Home, Ventress. He said it was his home.
VENTRESS:
Yes, yes. I heard you the first time.
KY NAREC: (GHOST)
She’s getting worse. Such confusion.
VENTRESS:
Actually, I think she knows exactly what she’s saying.
An alarm sounds. Ventress presses buttons.
VENTRESS:
Damn.
KY NAREC: (GHOST)
What is it?
VENTRESS:
Republic agents in the building. Outside the apartment.
KY NAREC: (GHOST)
Seal the compartment.
VENTRESS:
Don’t tell me what to do.
She presses a button anyway. The fake wall slides back.
We hear movement in the outer room. Agents moving about.
KY NAREC: (GHOST)
There’re two of them. They’re armed.
VENTRESS:
So am I.
She draws her lightsabers.
KY NAREC: (GHOST)
No. The sound will give you away.
VENTRESS:
(HISSING) I know.
We hear footsteps in the next room, the following lines muffled by the wall.
Through it all we hear Ventress’s breathing, close to the microphone.
AGENT #1:
(MUFFLED) It has to be here somewhere.
AGENT #2:
(MUFFLED) Over here. Behind the picture.
AGENT #1:
(MUFFLED) Glee Anselm? Always dreaming, that one.
The picture is pushed aside and the access code entered.
VENTRESS:
(HISSED) Get ready.
KY NAREC: (GHOST)
For what? I can’t do anything to help.
VENTRESS:
Then why are you here?
AGENT #2:
(MUFFLED) Well?
AGENT #1:
(MUFFLED) He must have changed the code.
AGENT #2:
(MUFFLED) Try the over— (GAGS) Can’t…breathe.
VENTRESS:
(MUTTERED) It’s about time.
BOTH AGENTS:
(CHOKING)
Muffled boots are heard walking into the room.
KY NAREC: (GHOST)
That presence…
VENTRESS:
You might not be able to help, but he can.
BOTH AGENTS:
(DIE)
Two bodies thump to the floor.
KY NAREC: (GHOST)
It’s him.
The door slides open.
VENTRESS:
Master.
DOOKU:
Jenza. Look what they did to you.
VENTRESS: (NARRATION)
He barely looks at me, making straight for his sister.
JENZA:
They wanted me to betray you. But I wouldn’t. I want to help, Dooku. You’ve lost your way.
KY NAREC: (GHOST)
That’s an understatement.
VENTRESS: (NARRATION)
Dooku freezes. Can he sense Ky? He turns to me, his eyes cold.
DOOKU:
Did they transfer any data?
VENTRESS:
I…I didn’t check.
DOOKU:
Don’t you think you should?
VENTRESS:
Yes, Master.
She presses buttons.
VENTRESS:
The only transmissions were to Fellidrone’s handler, here on Serenno. No data parcels, only short-range comms.
DOOKU:
Good.
VENTRESS: (NARRATION)
He glances around the room, seeing the rocket pack. He raises an open palm, the Zim-Jumper lifting steadily from the floor. Then his hand becomes a fist, and the f
uel tank ruptures.
The metal buckles, fuel pouring from the machine. Fuel splashes as the pack clatters back to the ground.
KY NAREC: (GHOST)
Ventress. Listen to me. This is your last chance. I know what he’s about to ask you to do. If you do, that’ll be it. You’ll be his forever.
VENTRESS: (NARRATION)
Shut up, I think as Dooku walks back toward his sister. Shut up. Shut up. Shut up. The count raises her head toward him.
DOOKU:
My darling sister.
JENZA:
Please. If you would just come with me to Coruscant. The Jedi will know what to do. They’ll be able to help.
DOOKU:
I have all the help I need.
JENZA:
The hooded man? He isn’t helping you. He’s corrupting you.
VENTRESS: (NARRATION)
Hooded man? What is she talking about?
KY NAREC: (GHOST)
He’s not who you think he is, Ventress. Why can’t I make you see? You need to see.
SCENE 133. INT. VISION. CASTLE SERENNO. DOOKU’S GREAT HALL.
Atmosphere: We cut into a vision. Everything bar Ventress’s narration is dreamlike, the voices and sound effects reverberating, the music discordant and eerie.
VENTRESS: (NARRATION)
Everything changes. I’m back in the castle, in Dooku’s great hall, but the light is wrong, the room stretched beyond its usual dimensions. The count is hunched over his table, papers and data slates scattered in front of him. This is not the ordered desk of the Windrunner, Dooku not the man I know.
KY NAREC: (GHOST)
The affairs of state weigh heavy.
VENTRESS:
This isn’t real.
KY NAREC:
(SUDDENLY NEXT TO HER)
VENTRESS:
(JUMPS)
VENTRESS: (NARRATION)
Ky Narec is standing beside me. He is exactly how I remember him. The strip of graying beard, the tattoo creasing on his chin, those warm blue eyes fixed, not on me, but on my new master.
KY NAREC:
You can speak, little one. He can’t hear you.
VENTRESS:
Is this you? Are you doing this?
KY NAREC:
You need to see who he is. Who you are.
VENTRESS: (NARRATION)
He nods at the count. Dooku’s arms shake as he supports himself. He is tired, his usually immaculate hair hanging lank in front of bloodshot eyes. His cracked lips move. He is muttering beneath his breath.
VENTRESS:
I can’t hear.
KY NAREC:
Then move closer.