PILOT, PART I

FADE IN. CORUSCANT. MID-DAY. HIGH-RISE. INT.

<TRAINING AREA. NO LIGHTIN. SUNLIGHT STREAMS THE FLOOR-TO-CEILING WINDOWS, BUT EDGES OF ROOM ARE IN THE SHADOWS. SEVERAL EXERCISE MATS ARE LYING ON THE FLOORIN THE CENTER OF THE ROOM. STANDING ON THEM ARE THREE HUMANS. FIRST IS WADE JARVIS, EARLY FIFTIES, TALL, DARK COMPLEXION, AND DARK BROWN HAIR WITH THE BEGINNINGS OF GRAY. SECOND IS KORYN JAX, SLIGHTLY SHORTER THAN THE OTHER TWO, CASUALLY BUILT, LATE TEENS, DIRTY BLONDE HAIR, AND CLEAN SHAVEN. THIRD IS JARRID LORIAN, ABOUT THE SAME HEIGHT AS WADE, SLIM AND LITHE, FLAMING RED HAIR, AND ALSO LATE TEENS. ALL ARE COVERED IN SWEAT, WEARING ONLY PANTS, AND PRACTICING FIGHTING TECHNIQUES. WADE TRIES TO KICK LORIAN IN THE BAC OF THE LEG, BUT IT IS EASILY BLOCKED. JAX DELIVERS A WELL-PLACED PUNCH TO WADE’S JAW WHICH MAKES HIM FALL TO THE FLOOR.>

JARVIS:

IF I DIDN’T KNOW ANY BETTER, I WOULD SAY YOU TWO WERE TRYING TO KILL ME! (THE OTHER TWO HELP HIM OFF THE FLOOR.) I’M GETTING TOO OLD FOR THIS

LORIAN:

OH COME ON, WADE. YOU KNOW YOU’RE A BETTER FIGHTER THAN BOTH OF US PUT TOGETHER. BESIDES, IF IT WEREN’T AROUND, WHO WOULD BE OUR TEACHER?

JAX:

(SMILING) I GOT A FEW IDEAS ABOUT THAT. WHAT DO YOU SAY "X"? (A CHARCOL-GRAY PROTOCOL DRIOD APPEARS OUT OF THE SHADOWS.)

"X":

I THINK NOT, YOUNG KORYN. MASTER WADE IS FAR BETTER TEACHER THAN I COULD EVER BE. (THEN "X" THROWS WADE A SHIRT, WHICH HE USES TO WIPE HIS FACE AND NECK.) AND THAT’S T-1HX TO YOU. YOU AND YOUNG JARRID SEEM TO FORGET THAT I HAVE A REPECTABLE NAME, AND NOT JUST A SILLY NICKNAME.

JARVIS:

BOY’S, HOW ABOUT WE GO FOR A DRINK? IT WILL HELP ME WASH DOWN SOME HARD DEFEAT. JUST WAIT UNTIL I GET CHANGED. (HE ENTERS ADJOINING ROOM. "X" FOLLOWS.)

EARLY EVENING. NIGHT CLUB. INT.

<NIGHTCLUB IS BUSTLING, FULL OF MEMBERS OF ALL SPECIES. JAX, LORIAN, AND JARVIS ARE SEATED AT THE BAR TOGETHER.>

JAX:

SO WADE. TELL US SOMETHING. WHY DO YOU GET TO CALL OUR HUMBLE DRIOD "X", BUT WE HAVE TO BE RELEGATED TO CALLING HIM MASTER T-1HX?

JARVIS:

OH, I DON’T KNOW. MAYBE HE JUST LIKES ME MORE OR SOMETHING. (THE OTHER TWO FEIGN IN DISBELIEF.) ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT. I GET THE IDEA. I LIKE HIM A LOT TOO. BUT IT IS FUN TO PICKON HIM ONCE IN A WHILE, EH? I PROPOSE YET ANOTHER TOAST. TO "X", THAT HE HAS A GOOD LONG LIFE. (RAISES GLASS AND TAKES A SIP. THE BOYS DO THE SAME.)

JAX:

AND MAY HE NEVER FIND THE STINK POWDERS I PUT IN HIS OIL BATH JUST THIS MORNING. (THEY ALL LAUGH.)

NIGHT. INT. SKYSCRAPER.

<A MASKED MAN, SEEN ONLY FROM BEHIND AND FROM THE KNEES DOWN, DRESSED IN BLACK AND CARRYING A LARGE CASE, ENTERS A BUILDING. A GUARD TRIES TO STOP HIM, BUT A CRACK IS HEARD, AND THE GUARD FALLS TO THE FLOOR. HE OPENS THE DOOR AND HE IS OUT ON THE ROOF OF THE BUILDING. HE OPENS THE CASE AND TAKES OUT SEVERAL PIECES FOR A LONG-RANGE RIFLE. HE ASSEMBLES IT AND SETS UP A POSITION. ONCE HE IS DONE, HE TAKES OUT A COMLINK AND PUSHES THE BUTTON.>

MASKED MAN:

(VOICE MUFFLED) I JUST LEFT THE CLUB. THEY’VE BEEN THERE A FEW HOURS. (LISTENS) YES. LEAVE THE OTHER HALF OF THE PAYMENT WITH THE TRANDOSHAN ON MUUNILINST. WHEN CAN WE GET THIS OVER WITH?

COMLINK VOICE (CYRUS’S VOICE):

WHEN YOU GET A GOOD SHOT, TAKE HIM OUT.

MASKED MAN:

VERY WELL. (TURNS OFF COMLINK.)

<HE FIRES THE BLASTER RIFLE. CAMERA FOLLOWS LASERBOLT TRAJECTORY IN SLOW MOTION. THE LASERBOLT TRAVELS A GREAT DISTANCE IN A SMALL AMOUNT OF TIME, EVENTUALLY COMING IN VIEW OF THE CLUB THAT JARVIS, JAX, AND LORIAN ARE AT. IT THEN BREAKS THROUGH A WINDOW ON THE GROUND FLOOR, LEAVING ONLY A TINY HOLE IN THE GLASS, AND SPEEDS DOWN THE LENGTH OF THE BAR. THOSE IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY OF THE WINDOW, AND ON EITHER SIDE OF THE BAR, MOSTLY ON ONE SIDE, AS THE LASERBOLT PASSES, NOTICE IT AND FALL OVER EACH OTHER TRYING TO GET OUT OF THE WAY. THE LASERBOLT CONTINUES DOWN THE BAR. WADE REACHES ACROSS THE BAR FOR A DRINK RIGHT WHEN HE HEARS THE PEOPLE SCREAMING HE TURNS AND SEES THE LASERBOLT RIGHT BEFORE IT HITS HIM MORTALLY WOUNDS HIM IN THE NECK, BARELY MISSING HIS HEAD. THE FORCE OF THE LASERBOLT MAKES HIM FLIP OVER AND LAND FACE UP ON THE BAR, WITH HIS HEAD AND LEGS HANGING LIMPON EITHERSIDE. INSTANT AND TERRIFIC PANDEMONIUM ENSUES WITHIN THE BAR.>

LORIAN:

IS HE…? NO!!!!!!!!!

JAX:

(SLAMS HIS FIST ON THE TABLE AND DROPS HIS HEAD IN DISMAY. AFTER A FEW MOMENTS, HE RAISES IT. HE HAS ADOPTED A LOOK OF EXTREME RAGE, BUT THERE ARE TEARS RUNNING DOWN HIS CHEEKS. HE QUICKLY BRUSHES THEM AWAY. HE STANDS UP.) ALL RIGHT EVERYONE! WE GOT A DEAD MAN HERE! MOVE OUT OF THE WAY! SOMEBODY CALL THE CSS! (TAKES OFF HIS JACKET AND FOLDS IT TO MAKE A SORT OF PILLOW, AND SET IT DOWN ON THE FLOOR.) JARRID YOU GET HIS LEGS. I’LL GET HIS ARMS. (THEY MOVE JARVIS’ BODY TO THE FLOOR, AND LAY HIS HEAD ON THE MAKESHIFT PILLOW. REMOVES JARVIS’ BLASTER PISTOL FROM HIS HOLSTER AND PUTS IT ON HIS OWN BELT AND ALSO TAKES A GADGET FROM JARVIS’ BELT AND STARTS TO LEAVE.)

LORIAN:

WHERE ARE YOU GOING?

JAX:

I’M GOING TO GET WHOEVER DID THIS.

LORIAN:

WHY ARE YOU LEAVING NOW? HE’S DEAD! DON’T YOU EVEN CARE?

JAX:

OF COURSE I CARE. HE WAS MY BEST FRIEND, TOO. BUT WE CAN’T JUST SIT HERE AND MOURN FOR HIM. I HAVE TO DO SOMETHING. I DON’T CARE WHAT HAPPENS TO ME. WHOEVER MURDERED HIM WILL PAY DEARLY. <SHOULDERS HIS WAY THROUGH THE CROWD AND APPROACHES THE WINDOW THROUGH WHICH THE LASERBOLT ENTERED THE CLUB. HE FINDS THE HOLE, AND PRESSES A BUTTON ON THE GADGET IN HIS HAND THAT REVEALS ITSELF TO BE A LASER POINTER THAT HE SHINES THROUGH THE HOLE OUTSIDE. ZOOM OUT. THE LASER EXTENDS OUT THE WINDOW AT AN ANGLE. TAKES THE SAME PATH THAT THE LASERBOLT TOOK, BUT GOES AWAY FROM THE CLUB, PAST ENDLESS SPEEDERS, BUILDINGS, AND BEINGS, UNTIL ALL THAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE IS REVEALED TO HAVE BEEN SEEN THROUGH THE MICROBINOCULARS OF THE MASKED MAN ON THE ROOFTOP. THE LASER STOPS ITS EXTENSION THERE.>

MAKSED MAN:

DANG IT! I’VE BEEN SPOTTED! (DUCKS DOWN, SLINGS HIS RIFLE, OVER HIS SHOULDER AND THEN CRAWLS ON HIS STOMACH TO THE DOOR. HE ENTERS, GETS UP, WALKS BACK UP THE HALL, AND ENTERS THE TURBOLIFT, WHICH BEGINS TO DESCEND. TAKES OUT HIS COM-LINK AGAIN AND FLICKS IT ON.) IT’S DONE. HE’S DEAD.

COMLINK VOICE:

I HAVE DECIDED THAT YOU WILL NOT GET THE OTHER HALF.

MASKED MAN:

WHAT?!?! YOU DIRTY SWINDLER! I DESERVE EVER BIT OF THAT PAYMENT!!!

COMLINK VOICE:

I BELIEVE IT SHALL BE QUITE THE REVERSE.

<MASKED MAN CRUSHES THE COMLINK BENEATH HIS BOOT IN ANGER. IT BECOMES SPLIT SCREEN OF THE MASKED MAN AND JAX. THE MAKED MAN COLAPSES TO THE FLOOR HIS FACE TWISTED IN GREAT PAIN AND AGONY. HE HOLDS HIS STOMACH IN PAIN, THEN THE TURBO LIFT STOPS WITH A SUDDEN JERK AND MAKES HIM FALL OUT. THE OTHER SCREEN SHOWS JAX LEAVING THE CLUB, GETTING INTO A SPEEDER, GOES TO THE BUILDING THAT THE LASER POINTER SHOWED HIM GETS OUT OF THE SPEEDER GOES INTO THE BUILDING BY THE TIME THAT THE MASKED MAN FALLS OUT OF THE TURBO LIFT AND THE SPIT SCREEN DISOLVES INTO ONE SCREEN WHERE JAX IS LOOKING AT THE MASKED MAN.>

JAX:

(DRAWS JARVIS’ BLASTER PISTOL.) GET UP! NOW!

MASKED MAN:

(GRASPING FOR AIR.) I…CAN’T. IT…HURTS…TOO…MUCH!

JAX:

DON’T GIVE ME THAT. I TOLD YOU TO GET UP!!!

MASKED MAN:

NO…I’M N-NOT TRYING…TO TRICK YOU. I’M SERIOUS.

JAX:

ALL RIGHT. LYING OR NOT, YOU’RE STILL GOING TO DO WHAT I SAY. SLIDE THAT RIFLE ACROSS THE FLOOR TO ME. AND DON’T TRY ANYTHING FOOLISH.

MASKED MAN:

(REMOVES RIFLE FROM SHOULDER.) DON’T…WORRY. I’M…NOT…THE…FOOL…ISH…TYPE.

<HE HOLDS THE RIFLE BY THE TRIGGER IS AND THEN HE CONVULSED IN PAIN AND MADE THE RIFLE TO ACCIDENTLY FIRE TOWARDS JAX AND JAX DUCKS AND ACTS ON INSTINCT, THINKING HE FIRED ON PURPOSE, AND FIRES ONE SHOT HIMSELF.>

JAX:

THAT WAS FOR WADE! (RISES FROM HIS COVER. MASKED MAN IS DEAD.) WELL THEN. I’M SATISFIED. (PUTS BLASTER PISTOL BACK ON HIS BELT AND WALKS OVER TO THE BODY AND WITH THE CAMERA FACING JAX FROM THE WAIST UP, REMOVES THE MASKED MAN’S MASK.)

CUT TO – NIGHT. HIGH RISE (THE TRIANDINNINE.) INT.

<MEDICAL EXAMINATION LAB. JARVIS’ BODY IS LYING ON THE TABLE WITH LORIAN MOURNING NEXT TO IT AND "X" IS TRYING TO COMFORT HIM.>

"X":

HE WAS A GOOD FRIEND. AND THAT’S NOT JUST FOR A HUMAN. ONE OF THE FEW HUMANS WHO WAS EVER GOOD TO ME. MASTER JARRID, YOU MUST LEARN TO FORGET ABOUT THIS. I HAVE LOST MANY OF THOSE THAT WERE CLOSE TO ME DURING MY EXISTANCE, AND THE BEST WAY TO DEAL WITH DEATH IS TO JUST WALK AWAY FROM IT.

LORIAN:

(LOOKS UP AT HIM.) WHAT DO YOU MEAN? (BECOMES ANGRY.) THIS IS WADE WE’RE TALKING ABOUT! IT’S NOT LIKE THOSE OTHER DEAD BODIES THAT PASS OVER THIS TABLE! (RISES UP FROM THE TABLE AND STORMS TOWARDS THE TURBOLIFT.)

"X":

MASTER JARRID, I WAS JUST TRYING TO- (LORIAN CUTS HIM OFF IN MIDSENTENCE

LORIAN:

IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT YOU WERE TRYING TO DO. (STOPS, TURNS BACK TO "X.") YOU’RE JUST LIKE KORYN. YOU DON’T CARE ABOUT WADE OR ME. ALL YOU CARE ABOUT IS TWISTING THIS WHOLE THING INTO SOME KIND OF SICK PERSONAL GLORY SHOT. (TURNS BACK TO THE TURBOLIFT, BUT UNKNOWN TO HIM, TO FIND JAX HAD COME UP THE TURBOLIFT AND WAS STANDING JUST INSIDE THE DOOR.)

JAX:

(COMES THE REST OF THE WAY IN AND DROPS THE MASKED MAN’S BODY, HORRIBLY DISFIGURED BY THIS TIME BECAUSE IT WAS ALREADY GOING THROUGH THE EARLY STAGES OF DECOMPOSTION DUE TO THE NANOSHELL.) I GOT HIM. I GOT THE MAN WHO KILLED WADE.

LORIAN:

PERFECT EXAMPLE OF WHAT I WAS SAYING. (ENTERS TURBOLIFT AND PUSHES THE BUTTON. THE DOORS CLOSE AND HE DESCENDS)

"X":

I SEE THAT YOU DIDN’T WASTE ANYTIME. MASTER JARRID IS TERRIBLY DISTRESSED AND ANGRY WITH ALL THIS. YOU SHOULD TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HE IS FEELING NOW.

JAX:

I KNOW. I THOUGHT THAT THE BEST WAY TO HELP HIM WAS TO GET JUSTICE FOR WADE. AND I DID.

"X":

WHAT YOU DID WAS NOT JUSTICE. IT WAS PURE REVENGE. WADE WOULDN’T HAVE WANTED IT THIS WAY. HE WOULD RATHER HAVE HAD YOU AND MASTER JARRID REMEMBER THE GOOD TIMES THE THREE OF YOU HAD TOGETHER.

JAX:

WHY DOES IT MATTER? I MISS WADE, TOO. WE CAN’T BRING HIM OR THOSE GOOD TIMES BACK. HE’S DEAD. BUT IT DOES MATTER THAT I KILLED HIS MURDERER.

"X":

I GIVE UP. IT’S POINTLESS TO ARGUE WITH YOU. I KNOW IT’S AGAINST MY BETTER JUDGEMENT, BUT I’LL DO THE AUTOPSY. PUT THE BODY UP HERE ON THE TABLE. (JAX COMES OVER AND PUTS THE MASKED MAN’S BODY ONTO ANOTHER TABLE.) YOU DO REALIZE THAT BY BRINGING THE BODY TO ME INSTEAD OF ME GOING TO THE BODY, THAT YOU HAVE COMPLETELY COMPROMISED IT?

JAX:

ACTUALLY, I DIDN’T. I SPRAYED SELF-CONTAINMENT SEAL ON HIM BEFORE I BROUGHT HIM OVER HERE.

"X":

I SEE. (REMOVES THE SEAL FROM THE BODY. THE SEAL IMMEDIATELY CURLS UP INTO A USELESS BALL.) A DISGUSTING AND IMPRACTICAL INVENTION. (TOSSES THE USELESS BALL OVER HIS SHOULDER INTO AN INCINERATOR, WHICH IGNITES A HUGE COLORFUL FLAME THAT REACHES ALMOST TO THE CEILING. "X" IS UNFAZED BY THE FLAME, BUT IT MAKES JAX JUMP. "X" BEGINS TO EXAMIN THE BODY.) SORRY THE INCINERATOR IS MORE EAGER THAN USUAL. AS FOR THE SEAL ITSELF, I SUPPOSE THAT IT’LL BE ALRIGHT THIS TIME. BUT FOR YOUR INFORMATION, THE NEXT TIME YOU RUN ACROSS A DEAD BODY OR IF YOU KILL SOMEONE AGAIN, ONLY IF YOU HAVE TO, TELL ME BEFORE YOU DO ANYTHING ELSE. BUT MOST OF ALL DON’T TOUCH ANYTHING!

JAX:

(SUPPRESSES A GRIN.) TELL YOU FIRST IF I COME ACROSS A DEAD BODY OR IF I KILL SOMEONE, ONLY IF I HAVE TO, AND DON’T TOUCH ANYTHING. CHECK.

"X":

(MUTTERING.) THOSE IDIOT R-95 MODELS OVER AT THE CSS USE THOSE STUPID SEALS, BUT MY MODEL, THE GREAT L-23, CAN’T STAND THEM. (BEGINS SPEAKING IN A NORMAL TONE.) WELL I’LL INFORM YOU OF ONE THING. YOU DIDN’T KILL HIM.

JAX:

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? THAT’S GREAT, JUST GREAT. NOW WADE CAN’T EVEN REST IN PEACE.

"X":

OH, I WOULDN’T WORRY ABOUT THAT. HE’S DEAD, ALRIGHT. JUST NOT BY YOUR HAND. IT APPEARS HE SOMEHOW INGESTED A NANOSHELL. SEE THESE TINY MOLECULES ON HIS TONGUE AND LIPS? THE NANOSHELL LEFT THEM BEHIND.

JAX:

IS THAT WHAT KILLED HIM?

"X":

WE SHALL SOON FIND OUT. (PLACES THE MOLECULES ON A COMPUTER’S SAMPLE TRAY AND PUNCHES A FEW BUTTONS.) NOT EXACTLY. AS A MATTER OF FACT, BOTH YOU AND THE NANOSHELL ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS DEATH. DID YOU SHOOT HIM AT ALL?

JAX:

JUST ONCE.

"X":

EXACTLY WHAT I FIGURED. THE NANOSHELL HE INGESTED SAT IN HIS STOMACH FOR A WHILE. THEN IT WAS ACTIVATED BY REMOTE CONTROL, MAKING HIM TERRIBLY SICK.

JAX:

SO THAT’S WHY HE SAID THAT HE COULDN’T GET UP. AND THAT MEANS THAT HE WASN’T LYING.

"X":

YES, EXACTLY. HE WOULD HAVE EVENTUALLY DIED OF IMMENSE PAIN IF YOU HADN’T SHOWN UP. WHEN YOU FIRED YOUR SHOT, YOU MISSED HIM ENTIRELY. THE ENERGY OF THE LASERBOLT DISRUPTED THE TRANSMISSIONS THAT WERE BEING SENT TO THE NANOSHELL. THEN THE NANOSHELL STARTED TO DO ITS THING ON ITS OWN. THAT’S THE REASON FOR HIS EARLY DECOMPOSITION. IT BASICALLY TRIED TO EAT HIM ALIVE FROM THE INSIDE OUT.

JAX:

WHY DIDN’T IT FINISH THE JOB?

"X":

IT WASN’T ABLE TO. THE DISRUPTIONS FROM THE LASERBOLT WERE TOO STRONG FOR THE NANOSHELL TO GO THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCESS, SO IT BURNT ITSELF OUT BEFORE IT GOT VERY FAR.

JAX:

(YAWNS) LET’S PUT HIM AND WADE AWAY BEFORE I FLL ASLEEP ON ONE OF THESE TABLES. (THEY CARRY BOTH JARVIS’ AND THE MASKED MAN’S BODIES ONE AT A TIME OVER TO A WALL FILLED WITH HUGE DRAWERS THEY OPEN TWO DRAWERS, ONE FOR EACH BODY, AND SET THE BODIES IN THEM AND CLOSES THEM.) GOOD NIGHT, "X". (EXITS)

"X":

GOOD NIGHT, MASTER KORYN.

LATE NIGHT. TRIADININE. INT. JARRID’S BEDROOM.

<THE ROOM IS COMPRISED OF A SLEEP COUCH, TABLE, WARDROBE, AND TWO CHAIRS. JARRID IS ASLEEP ON THE COUCH. HE IS HAVING A NIGHTMARE. THE CAMERA IS ZOOMING IN ON HIS FACE. AT THE SAME TIME, EVERYTHING AROUND HIM FADES AND THEN IT BECOMES CLEAR, BUT NOT AS HIS ROOM, BUT AS THE VERY NIGHTCLUB THAT LORIAN, JARVIS, AND JAX WERE AT EARLIER. EVERYTHING IN BAR, INCLUDING THE BEINGS, ARE SLIGHTLY OUT OF FOCUS, MAKING EVERTHING SEEM TOO CLOSE AND TOO FAR AWAY AT THE SAME TIME. ALL THE SOUNDS, EVEN THE VOICES GIVE OFF THEIR OWN UNNATURAL ECHO. JAX LEAVES THE BUILDING TO GO AFTER JARVIS’S MURDERER. LORIAN IS STILL INSIDE, KNEELING ON THE FLOOR BESIDE JARVIS’ BODY. HE IS MOURNING HEAVILY.>

LORIAN:

DON’T LEAVE ME LIKE THIS. I DIDN’T EVEN GET TO TELL YOU GOODBYE.

<JARVIS BEGINS TO STIR AND GROAN, AND THEN FINALLY HIS EYES OPEN. HE LOOKS AROUND HIM CONFUSEDLY, AND THEN HE NOTICES LORIAN.>

JARVIS:

(WEAKLY.) JARRID? IS THAT YOU?

LORIAN:

WADE? YOU’RE STILL ALIVE?! I THOUGHT YOU WERE GONE FOR GOOD! NOW, YOU JUST STAY RIGHT THERE. I’LL GET A MEDIC DRIOD. (BEGINS TO GET UP.)

JARVIS:

(GRABS LORIAN’S ARM) NO. IT’S TOO LATE FOR ME. NOONE CAN SAVE ME NOW. WILL YOU KEEP YOUR PROMISE – TO PROTECT AND STAND BY THEM NO MATTER WHAT? (LORIAN SLOWLY AND RELUCTANTLY NODS HIS HEAD.) DON’T THINK OF THIS AS A PUNISHMENT. THERE’S ONLY THE THREE OF YOU LEFT NOW.

LORIAN:

(CRYING.) I KNOW. BUT…I WISH…I WISH…

JARVIS:

YOU WISH WHAT?

LORIAN:

(TAKES HOLD OF JARVIS’ HAND) I WISH THAT IT WAS THE FOUR OF US.

JARVIS:

I KNOW. SO DO I. BUT THINGS DON’T ALWAYS HAPPEN THE WAY WE WANT THEM TO. MY TIME TO LEAVE THIS LIF IS NOW, AND YOU MUST CONTINUE WHAT I HAVE ALREADY STARTED.

<THEN HE COUGHS HORRIBLY. TRIES TO SPEAK AGAIN, BUT YHE WORDS WON’T COME OUT. HE MOTIONS FOR LORIAN TO COME CLOSER, AND JARRID LEANS FORWARD.>

LORIAN:

WHAT IS IT?

JARVIS:

(HE WHISPERS.) WHERE IS SHE?

LORIAN:

SH-SHE…SHE’S NOT HERE RIGHT NOW.

JARVIS:

(STILL WHISPERING) TELL HER I LOVE HER.

LORIAN:

SHE KNOWS THAT.

JARVIS:

(STILL IN WHISPERS) I’LL DRINK TO THAT. (HE GESTURES TOWARDS THE BAR, SMILING) THE USUAL, IF YOU DON’T MIND.

LORIAN:

SURE. (HE GETS UP, POURS A DRINK AND TURNS BACK TO WADE ONLY TO FIND THAT HE’S ALREADY DEAD.) NO! (HE THROWS THE DRINK AT A FAR WALL WHERE NOONE IS AT AND REPEATEDLY SLAMS HIS FISTS ON THE TABLE FOR A MINUTE OR TWO.) NO! NO! NO!

<THE CROWD PARTS AND A MALE HARUUN KAL APPROACHES THE SCENE WITH SQUADRON. HE IS IN HIS MID-30’S, THIN, RATHER SLIGHT FIGURE, HIS HEAD IS SHAVEN.>

HARUUN KAL:

MAJOR FESLI OF THE CORUSCANT SECURITY SQUADRON. WHAT HAPPENED HERE?

LORIAN:

(FALTERS.) HE WAS SHOT JUST A FEW MOMENTS AGO.

FESLI:

THAT’S TOO BAD. (SAYS A NAME IN GEONOSIAN OVER HIS SHOULDER.) CHECK HIM FOR VITALS. (THEN A GEONOSIAN IMMEDIATELY OBEYS, BUT SAYS SOMETHING IN HIS OWN LANGUAGE.) FINE. TAKE HIM DOWN TO HQ AND PROCESS IT.

LORIAN:

(IMMEDIATELY ANGRY) NO! TAKE HIM TO THE SKYSCRAPER TRIANDININE.

FESLI:

(SLIGHTLY ANNOYED) FINE DO WHAT THE KID SAYS. (THEN THE SQUADRON PICKS UP JARVIS’ BODY AND TAKES IT  AWAY.)

LORIAN:

HE WAS MY BEST FRIEND.

FESLI:

DON’T WIMP ON ME NOW, KID. WHY DIDN’T YOU GET AHOLD OF US WHEN IT HAPPENED? WHY DIDN’T YOU DO SOMETHING?

LORIAN:

I…DON’T KNOW. HE…JUST NEEDED ME. I…HAD TO STAY.

FESLI:

THAT’S FOOLISNESS, KID. IF THERE’S ANYTHING I HAVE LEARNED IN MY FIVE YEARS IN THE SQUAD, IT’S THAT YOU DON’T WAIT AROUND. HOW ELSE IS ANYTHING GOING TO GET DONE? YOU SHOULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING FOR HIM.

<THOSE LAST WORDS COULD STILL BE HEARD, BUT STEADILY SOFTER AND AS THE CLUB BEGINS TO FADE, THE WORDS STOP ALTOGETHER. THEN THEN IMAGE BECOMES CLEAR AGAIN AS LORIANS ROOM. IT IS NOW EARLY MORNING AND HE IS STILL HAVING THE NIGHTMARE ON THE SLEEP COUCH, SWEATING, TOSSING AND TURNING, AND MUMBLING UNINTELLIGIBILY. A LOUD BANGING WAKES LORIAN UP WITH THE LAST WORDS THAT FESLI SAID IN THE NIGHTMARE SUDDENLY REPEATING THEMSELVES LOUDLY IN HIS EARS, WITH A PARTICULAR EMPASIS ON THE “FOR HIM”, BUT ARE SILENCED ALL AT ONCE WHEN HE OPENS THE DOOR. JAX IS STANDING THERE.>

LORIAN:

WELL, WHAT IS IT?

JAX:

I WAS WONDERING IF I COULD TALK TO YOU.

LORIAN:

(TURNS TO THE SIDE AND WAVES HIS HAND.) I’M NOT STOPPING YOU. (JAX ENTERS) WHAT DO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT?

JAX:

I WANTED TO APOLOIZE FOR LEAVING YOU BEHIND AT THE BAR LAST NIGHT. IT WAS SELFISH OF ME TO. I SHOULD OF STAY AND HELPED WITH WADE. BUT I WAS TOO CONCERNED WITH GETTING THE MURDERER.

LORIAN:

(SITS DOWN ON THE SLEEP COUCH.) I HSD THIS SAME DREAM OVER AND OVER AGAIN ALL NIGHT LONG. IT’S GOT ME FEELING GUILTY. ESPECIALLY WHAT FESLI SAID – THAT I SHOULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING FOR WADE. HE’S RIGHT YOU KNOW.

JAX:

NO. HE’S WRONG. YOU DID EVERYTHING YOU COULD.

LORIAN:

HOW WOULD YOU KNOW? YOU WEREN’T EVEN THERE.

JAX:

"X" TOLD ME.

LORIAN:

SO? THAT DOESN’T CHANGE THE FACT THAT I REALLY NEEDED YOU TO BACK ME UP WITH FESLI. I’M SURPRISED THAT HE EVEN ALLOWED WADE’S BODY TO COME HERE INSTEAD OF AT THE CSS HQ, WHERE THEY WAS GOING TO TAKE HIM.

JAX:

I KNOW. AND I’M SORRY. BUT CAN’T WE JUST FORGET ABOUT IT AND KEEP BEING FRIENDS?

LORIAN:

(STANDS UP.) FORGET ABOUT IT? ARE YOU CRAZY? OUR BEST FRIEND WAS MURDERED LAST NIGHT AND YOU ACT LIKE NOTHING EVEN HAPPENED! AND ABOUT US STILL BEING FRIENDS – I…DON’T KNOW. YOU LEFT ME ALONE BACK THER.

JAX:

WELL, AT LEAST THERE’S A CHANCE. IT’S BETTE THAN NOTHING.I APOLOGIZED, AND MABE YOU CAN LEARN TO ACCEPT IT, THAT’S UP TO YOU. OH! BY THE WAY, "X" WANTS US TO COME INTO THE TRAINING AREA. (HE EXITS, AND LORIAN RELUCTANTLY FOLLOWS HIM.)

SAME DAY. TRIADININE. INT. TRAINING AREA.

<JAX AND LORIAN ARE SITTING ON THE FLOOR, AGAINST THE WALL. "X" IS STANDING IN FRONT OF THEM.>

"X":

I HAVE CALLED YOU IN HERE THIS MORNING TO TELL YOU SOMETHING YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT MASTER WADE. HE HAD BEEN A PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR, IN THIS BUILDING, EVERSCINE HE WAS YOUR AGE. IT WAS HIS DREAM TO FIGHT THE GALAXY HIS OWN WAY. SEVERAL YEARS AGO, HE, HIS CHIEF, AND THE CHIEF OF THE CSS, BEFORE FESLI, WERE THE BEST OF FRIENDS. THEY WORKED ON CASES TOGETHER AND COULD ALWAYS RELY ON EACH OTHER. BUT THE WERE WORKING ON THIS ONE CASE WHEN THE WERE AMBUSED AND LEFT FOR DEAD. MASTER WADE WAS THE ONLY SURVIVER. HIS TWO FRIENDS WERE TAKEN TO THE MEDICAL WARD, AND STRANGELY DIED AT THE SAME TIME. AND WHEN FESLI TOOK OVER, MASTER WADE MET WITH HIM TO DISCUSS ONE CASE AND ONLY ONE CASE. THEY DIDN’T AGREE WITH EACH OTHER AT ALL AND NEVER TALKED TO EACH OTHER AFTER THAT. FESLI WAS ALWAYS TRYING TO BRING MASTER WADE AND THIS AGENCY DOWN, BUT HE NEVER DID.

LORIAN:

HE DIDN’T EVEN SHOW ANY EMOTION WHEN HE FOUND OUT WHAT HAPPENED TO WADE, OR HAVE ENOUGH DECENCY TO TELL ME THEY KNEW EACH OTHER.

"X":

I WOULDN’T HAVE EXPECTED HIM TO. HE ONLY CARES ABOUT HIMSELF. THE POINT I’M TRYING TO MAKE HERE IS THAT WADE IS GANE NOW, AND NOTHING CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT.

LORIAN:

NO THANKS AT ALL TO OUR FRIEND KORYN HERE, EITHER.

JAX:

ARE YOU TRYING TO BLAME ME FOR HIS DEATH? YOU WERE THERE. I HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT!

"X":

NOW MASTER JARRID, DON’T PASS YOUR GREIF TO SMEONE NOT RESPONSIBLE. AND YOU MASTER KORYN, MUST HAVE SYMPATHY FOR MASTER JARRID. THIS IS AN EXTRA HARD TIME FOR HIM. (JAX LOOKS CONFUSED BUT SAYS NOTHING. LORIAN FLASHES A GRIM SMILE AT JAX;S EXPRESSION.) I MAY CALL YOU BOTH MASTER, AND I MAY BE JUST A DRIOD, BUT I STILL KOW THAT THER’S NO POINT IN BICKERING AMONG YOURSELVES. MASTER WADE WANTED TO PASS ON THIS AGENCY TO YOU.

JAX:

WE KNOW THAT. BUT WADE SAID WE CAN’T BECOME FULL-FLEDGED DETECTIVES UNTILL WE RECEIVED TWO MORE YEARS OF OUR TRAINING.

"X":

THINGS HAVE CHANGED. FESLI IS A FOOL. THERE’S NO ONE ELSE TO RIGHTLY PROTECT THE GALAXY. YOU WILL RECEIVE THE REST OF THE TRAINING OVER THE NEXT WEEK.

LORIAN:

WE CAN’T POSSIBLY FINISH OUR TRAINING IN A WEEK!

"X":

SURE YOU CAN. MASTER WADE ALWAYS SAID THAT HE LEARNED MORE HERE, AT THE GREAT SKYSCRAPER TRAIDININE, THAN HE EVER LEARNED WHILE WORKING ON HIS FARM ON HIS HOME PLANET. ALL THAT’S LEFT IS SOME HAND-TO-HAND COMBAT, WEAPONS PRACTICE, AND PLUS SOME FLIGHT TRAINING. YOU ALREADY KNOW HOW TO PROCESS EVIDENCE AND HOW TO QUESTION A SUSPECT. AS FOR DEALING WITH BEINGS INVOLVED WITH A CASE, IT WOULD BE MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE TO LEARN “ON-THE-JOB”, AS THEY SAY, THAN FOR ME TO TEACH YOU. THAT LAST PART IS WHAT MASTER WADE WOULD HAVE TAKEN THE MOST TWO YEARS TO TRAIN YOU IN. BUT SINCEHE’S GONE NOW, YOU NEED TO GET STARTED RIGHT AWAY. THIS IS THE WAY IT HAS TO BE. SO, LET’S GET STARTED.

<LORIAN ROLLS HIS EYES AND GETS UP. JAX HEAVES A HUGE SIGH AND FOLLOWS SUIT.)

CUT TO: SPLIT SCREEN– "X" TRAINING JAX AND LORIAN – FIGHTING TECHNIQUES, WEAPONS COMBAT, TARGET PRACTICE, AND FLIGHT SIULATORS. FADE OUT.

FADE IN. WHITE LETTERS ON BLACK SCREEN THAT READS “ONE WEEK LATER”. FADE OUT.

FADE IN DAWN TRIADININE. INT. JAX AND LORIAN’S SHARED BEDROOM.

<ROOM THAT LORIAN WAS SLEEPING IN EARLER IS NOW REVEALED AS A ROOM WITHIN A ROOM, WITH JAX’S ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE MIDLE ROOM, THAT SERVES MORE LIKE A LIVING ROOM. IT HAS THREE TABLES, TWO SMALL, ROUND ONES AND ONE LONG, RECTANGLE ONE. THERE’S A FRIDGE FOR EACH. AND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROOM IS A THREE SIDED COUCH WITH A TABLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE THREE SIDES AND A HOLOGRAM PROJECTOR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TABLE, PLUSSOME ITEMS THAT "X" HAS LAID ON THE TABLE. JAX AND LORIAN IS SITTING ON THE COUCH OPPOSITE OF WHERE "X" IS STANDING.>

"X":

NOW THAT YOU HAVE COMPLETED YOUR TRAINING, THERE ARE ONLY A FEW THINGS TO DO. FIRST, YOU NEED TO BE SWORN IN, LET ME TELL YOU THAT I AM GLAD YOU HAVE AGREED TO TAKE OVER THE AGENCY. I KNOW MASTER WADE WOULD BE EXTREMELY PROUD OF YOU.

JAX:

WE AR VERY PROUD THAT WE CAN BE KEEPERS OF THE PEACE AS WELL AS DEFENDERS OF THIS GALAXY AND THOSE WHO LIVE IN IT.

"X":

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WORKING ON THAT SPEECH? (LORIAN CHUCKLES, JAX LOOKS EMBARRASED.) BUT I GET THE IDEA THAT YOUR’RE VERY EXCITED. HOWEVER, YOU’RE NOT KEEPERS OF THE PEACE OR DEFENDERS OF THE GALAXY UNTILL YOU’RE SWORN IN. RAISE YOUR RIGHT HANDS. AND FOR GOODNESS SAKE, STAND UP. (THEY BOTH STAND UP AND RAISE THEIR RIGHT HANDS.) DO YOU, SO, SOLEMNLY SWEAR TO UPHOLD THE LAWS, RULES, RIGHTS, AND RUGULATIONS OF THE NEW REPUBLIC?

JAX AND LORIAN (SIMULTANEOUSLY):

I DO.

"X":

DO YOU PROMISE ON PAIN OF DEATH TO GIVE AID TO ANYONE OR ANYTHING THAT IS IN NEED OF AID?

JAX AND LORIAN (SIMULTANEOUSLY):

I DO.

"X":

DO YOU PROMISE TO INVESTIGATE CRIMES AND SUPICIOUS OCCURRANCES TO THE BEST OF YOU ABILITY, UTILIZING WHATEVER RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO YOU?

JAX AND LORIAN (SIMULTANEOUSLY):

I DO.

"X":

PERFECT. HERE ARE YOUR BADGES. YOU’RE GOING TO NEED THEM. ("X" TOSSES THEM BOTH A BADGE FROM THE TABLE.). (JAX AND LORIAN BOTH INSPECT THEM, WHICH ARE EMBLAZONED WITH A LARGE SYMBOL AND THE LETTERS IDA, AND PUT THEM IN THEIR POCKETS.) OH, AND BY THE WAY, THOSE LETTERS STAND FOR INTERPLANETARY DETECTIVE AGENCY. NEVER FORGET TO IDENTIFY YOURSELVES – AS JUST DETECTIVES JAX AND LORIAN. THERE ARE NO RANKS HERE. THIS IS A DETECTIVE AGENCY, NOT A NEW REPUBLIC MILITARY REGIMENT. MASTER WADE HAD NO OTHER DREAM BUT FOR THIS DAY. IF DRIODS COULD SHOW PHYSICAL EMOTION, I WOULD BE CRYING NOW.

LORIAN:

IT’S A GOOD THING YOU’RE A DRIOD, THEN. ANYTHING ELSE?

"X":

DON’T BE SO EAGER, MASTER JARRID. NOBODY EVER GETS ANYWHERE BY RUSHING THINGS. OF COURSE THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE. YOUR CLOTHING.

JAX:

NOW HE’S CRITICIZING OUR CLOTHES. WHAT’S WRONG WITH THEM?

"X":

CLOTHING IS MUCH MORE ESSENTIAL TO THIS CAREER THAN YOU THINK. YOUR CLOTHES MUST BE EXEMPLARY OF YOUR JOB. ("X" GIVES THEM BOTH A LARGE BUNDLE OF CLOTHES.) I HAD THOUGHT OF GIVING YOU BOTH SOMETHING MORE INCOSPICUOUS.

LORIAN:

(HE INSPECTS HIS BUNDLE OF CLOTHES.) THEN WHY ARE THE OUTFITS SO COLORFUL?

"X":

BECAUSE BEING INCONSPICUOUS STRUCK ME AS BORING. ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT THIS JOB IS BEING ABLE TO HANDLE WHATEVER YOU COME ACROSS, AND IF YOUR STAND OUT ENOUGH TO MAKE THE BADDIES COME AFTER YOU, THEN SO BE IT. SO, YOU GET THESE. THEY ARE YOUR NEW AND PERMANENT OUTFITS. I FIGURE THAT YOU WON’T ATTRACT AS MUCH ATTENTION AS YOU THINK WITH THESE CLOTHES. EACH AND EVERY ARTICLE OF CLOTHING IS MADE FROM MATERIAL THAT IS BOTH BLASTPROOF AND REPELS TRANSMISSIONS FROM ANY DEVICE. YOU WILL FIND FIVE DUPLICATE SETS IN YOUR ROOMS. WHEN ONE SET IS DIRTY, WEAR ANOTHER. GIVE ME THE DIRTY SET AND I WILL GIVE IT TO THE CLEANING DROID. THEY ARE ALL EXACTLY IDENTICAL. GO TO YOUR ROOMS AND PUT THEM ON, AND THEN I’LL PERSONALLY SEND YOU OUT ON YOUR FIRST ASSIGNMENT.

JAX:

BADDIES? ARE YOU SERIOUS?

"X":

(CONFUSED FOR A MOMENT, AND THEN UNDERSTANDS.) JUST GO. AND HURRY UP. GO!

<JAX, WHO IS SMILING, AND LORIAN EXITS.>

LATE AFTERNOON, EARLY EVENING. TRIADININE. INT. HANGER.

<THE HANGAR HAS OBVIOUSLY BEEN USED A LOT. OIL STAINS MARK THE FLOOR, ASTROMECH DROIDS SCURRY AROUND, TENDING TO THE VARIOUS CRAFT. ONE HUGE SHIP RESTS IN THE FAR CORNER OF THE MASSIVE ROOM. TWO DIFFERENT COLORED SPEEDERS – ONE BLACK AND ONE WHITE, BOTH HAVING THE IDA SYMBOL DISPLAYED THE SIDES – SIT NEAR THE WALL. A BLUE STRIPED X-WING IS ALL BY ITSELF IN ANOTHER CORNER. "X", JAX, AND LORIAN ARE NOW STANDING BY THE BLACK SPEEDER. JAX AND LORIAN ARE NOW IN THEIR NEW CLOTHES. Jax is wearing a pair of dark red pants, brown boots, a dark blue short-sleeve shirt, and a black jacket. Lorian is wearing a dark green trenchcoat, black pants, dark red belt, black boots, and a white shirt.>

"X":

i don’t have time to explain the meaning of everything in this hangar. basically, these speeders are exclusively used for assignments on coruscant. the X-wing was a personal project master wade was working on, so don’t touch it. and that big ship over there is called the silver shadow. it’s meant for off-planet assignments. i’ll pilot it for the first few assignments. until both of you learn for yourselves. all you need to know now is that you will go on patrol tonight in this speeder. but put these on before you leave. takes out two utility belts from the speeder, both with a holster and a blaster pistol.) only use the blaster when absolutely needed. especially you, master koryn.

jax:

alright, alright.

<jax puts his belt on his waist and lorian puts his on his left sholder to right hip across hi chest. they both climb in to the speeder. jax drives the speeder and lorian is in the passenger seat.>

"X":

be safe and keep you wits about you.

("X" then pushes a few buttons on a control panel and the entire far wall of the hanger retracts into the adjoining wall, leaving a huge opening to the city,)

jax:

wow! that was awesome! did you think of that, "X"?

lorian:

just shut-up and drive.

<jax starts up the speeder and drives the speeder out into the busy city.>

"X":

ah, dear me. they grow up and leave home much too quickly. well, i guess it’s time for my oil bath. (exits.)

night. ext. coruscant cityscape.

<trillions of speeders dot the pathways through buidings. camera zooms in on the ida speeder, with jax and lorian inside, making their way through traffic.>

jax:

why do you think that "X" gets to boss us around even though he calls us both “master”?

lorian:

why can’t we just have a quiet ride without any interuptions?

<jax cast an annoyed glance at lorian.>

jax:

all this patrolling makes me thirsty. let’s find some place to get a drink.

lorian:

stop here. (and then points at a small club off to their right.)

<they exit the speeder and enter the club. it’s a rather quit place, with not many customers. they sit down at the bar and orders drinks.)

jax:

(whispering to lorian.) don’t look now, but i think i recognize several of these patrons from wade’s discriptions of the galaxy’s most wanted criminals. what do you think we should do?

<the bartender notices jax whispering, becomes instantly suspicious, enters a back room. almost immediately after a man steps out – cyrus – followed by the bartender. cyrus is taller than both of the boys, and slightly older, dressed in very nice clothes, with a well kept but small beard, and waist length, black, greasy-looking hair, the man comes around the end of the bar, still followed by the bartender, and approaches jax and lorian.>

man:

my name’s cyrus, the owner of this establishment. you two look familiar to me. you wouldn’t happen to know a man named wade jarvis, would you?

lorian:

yes, sir. i…that is, he was our friend.

cyrus:

i see. as a matter of fact, i was kind of hoping i would meet two people like yourselves during my visit to coruscant. (pulls out a compact blaster pistol from behind his back.) this little weapon may be small, but at this close range, i could kill you both very easily. unbuckle your utility belts. slowly.

<jax and lorian both remove their belts and let them fall to the floor.)

cyrus:

search them.

<the bartender quickly searches jax and lorian, but finds nothing.>

lorian:

what is this? a joke?

cyrus:

yes. we’ll all laugh when you’re dead. (kicks lorian in the gut and punches him in the face, knocking him out.)

jax:

(angrily.) your under arrest. (tries to twist cyrus’ arm behind his back, but cyrus pins him around and puts him in a choke hold.)

cyrus:

is that the best you got? (hurls jax against the bar, hitting his head, knocks him out also. he falls to the floor next to lorian. cyrus then turns back to the patrons and the bartender.) well? what are you gaping at? lock up these two in the storage room and pack up the stuff we’ve got to get out of here before someone comes looking for them.

<everyone begins to rush around, obeying his orders. cyrus picks up the utility belts and tosses them to the bartender, who returns to his place behind the bar and places the belts under the bar. cyrus  steps over to the bar, pours a drink, downs it in one gulp and sets the shot glass upside down on the bar.>

cut to – white letters appear in the center of the black screen: “to be continued…”fades out.