81.  SLUM DWELLING - LIVING AREA - AQUILAE

 

The seedy dwelling is dark and dingy.  The group is greeted by three

underground leaders, and the old Jedi, Kane Starkiller.  Captain Starkiller

embraces his father as the underground leaders bow before the princess.

 

82.  SLUM DWELLING - DINING AREA - AQUILAE

 

The princess walks through the dining area followed by Whitsun and Starkiller,

who carry the two sleeping princes.  The general sits at a large table

finishing dinner with Han, Kane and the three underground leaders.  Whitsun

returns from the bedroom.

 

GENERAL (to Whitsun)

Captain, why don't you take the androids into the other room for a game of

chess? ... I'm sure they'd enjoy it.

 

THREEPIO

A wonderful idea.  Your kindness is greatly appreciated.

 

Whitsun escorts the two robots into the next room.  Datos, a thin, wizened old

man, seems greatly relieved.

 

DATOS

You're taking a great risk travelling with them.  This whole operation sounds

bad to me.  I don't trust the chrome companies.  Time is growing short.  The

Empire's attempts at control have already caused a great deal of suffering to

our people.

 

Occo, a brash young rebel, about the same age as Captain Starkiller, slams his

fist on the table.

 

OCCO

It must happen now!  We are ready!  Each day the Imperial S.B.T. finds and

destroys a few more in the organization.  We cannot wait any longer.

 

GENERAL

Any uprising without a coordinated attack on the death star is out of the

question.

 

HAN

He's right.  As long as it's operational, any action down here would be

meaningless.  We must proceed as planned.  Are the arrangements secure?

 

Quist, the third member of the underground, sparks to life, and places several

discs and badges on the table.

 

QUIST

All passenger transport has been suspended, so we've arranged for you to

travel as the crew of a Baltarian freighter.  The boys will have to be placed

in suspended animation and hidden in shielded micro-packs.  It's the only way

we will be able to get them past the scanners.

 

DATOS

Were you able to acquire the necessary power packs?

 

QUIST

It's become a serious problem.  All power supplies have been restricted.  S-4

units are impossible to come by.

 

HAN

I know an agent who might be able to acquire them for us.  I'll check with

him.  It will be risky, but we've no other choice.

 

83.  SPACEPORT OBSERVATION DECK - AQUILAE

 

The dark figure of Valorum stands overlooking a group of Aquilaean partisans

who are being tortured in the plaza below.  Two Imperial officers are

finishing a report to the black knight.  They salute smartly, then leave the

observation balcony, passing Kuro, one of General Vader's aides, who

approaches Valorum, and bows low before him.  Kuro and the black knight carry

on an animated conversation; it is inaudible over the screams of the tortured

partisans.

 

84.  SLUM DWELLING - ALLEYWAY - AQUILAE

 

Residents glance fearfully from their windows as six Imperial stormtroopers

make their way through the crowded slum alleyway.  Han Solo and Captain

Starkiller move cautiously past the Imperial patrol, and disappear into the

shabby hideout of the partisan underground.

 

85.  SLUM DWELLING - MAIN AREA - AQUILAE

 

The two men enter the dingy main room of the slum dwelling, and are

immediately attacked by Biggs, wielding a toy sword.  Starkiller good-

naturedly fends off the young prince, as Han in a more serious mood, goes into

the other room.  Artwo and Threepio are helping Windy put together a block-

like puzzle.  Princess Leia comes in to see what all the commotion is about,

just as the young captain grabs Biggs by the foot and holds him upside-down.

Starkiller and Biggs are laughing uproariously.  Leia gives the captain a

stern, disapproving look, then returns to the other room.

 

86.  SLUM DWELLING - DINING AREA - AQUILAE

 

General Skywalker, Captain Whitsun, and Datos are in the process of assembling

two micro-packs on the kitchen table.  Han pulls a small silver powerpack from

his pocket, and places it on the table.  The old Jedi, Kane Starkiller,

reaches over with his one good arm and takes it.  He inspects it carefully.

Princess Leia sits quietly behind the general.

 

HAN

We could only get one unit.  The Empire's methods are proving to be very

effective.

 

Kane places the power-pack back on the table.  The pain from those simple

movements shows on his face.

 

KANE

This will work fine.

 

HAN

One of the boys will have to stay.

 

DATOS

We can't hide him for very long....The risk is too great!  Whichever boy

doesn't go must be destroyed.

 

The princess is alarmed, and looks to the general for support.  He gives her

an understanding look.

 

GENERAL

Not while they're in my charge.  Find another way to get him through.

 

DATOS

There's no other way.  We've analyzed every possible alternative.  You can't

jeopardize the enitre...

 

Captain Starkiller enters the room.

 

HAN

We have no time for discussion.  The freighters leave at zero three hundred.

We must get started.

 

Through a break in the door, Whitsun watches Artwo and Threepio play with the

two young princes.

 

WHITSUN

What about Artwo?  Could we lobotomize him, and use his energy pack?