Tatooine Orbit: The desolate yellow planet fills the screen. A moment later, the Falcon appears as a dot and grows huge, to roar directly over the camera. Luke's X-wing is right behind the Falcon and peels off to the left.
X-wing Cockpit: Luke is at the controls, with Artoo attached behind him outside the canopy. Luke speaks into his comlink to the others, in the Millennium Falcon.
LUKE: I'll meet you back at the fleet.
LEIA (over comlink): Hurry. The Alliance should be assembled by now.
LUKE: I will.
HAN (over comlink): Hey, Luke, thanks. Thanks for comin' after me. Now I owe you one.
A message from Artoo appears on the small monitor screen in front of Luke. He smiles at the monitor and speaks to Artoo, as he pulls a black glove on to cover his wounded mechanical hand.
LUKE: That's right, Artoo. We're going to the Dagobah system. I have a promise to keep... to an old friend.
Death Star: A Super Star Destroyer and several ships of the Imperial Fleet rest in space above the half-completed Death Star and its green neighbor, Endor. Four squads of TIE fighters escort an Imperial shuttle toward the Death Star. Lord Vader strides down the hallway, accompanied by a very nervous Death Star commander.
Docking Bay: Thousands of Imperial troops in tight formation fill the mammoth docking bay. Vader and the officer walk to the landing platform, where the shuttle is coming to rest. The shuttle's ramp lowers and the Emperor's Royal Guards come out and create a lethal perimeter.
The assembled troops move to rigid attention with a momentous snap. Commander Jerjerrod and Darth Vader kneel. Then, in the huge silence which follows, the Emperor appears. He is a rather small, shriveled old man.
His bent frame slowly makes its way down the ramp with the aid of a gnarled cane. He wears a hooded cloak similar to the one Ben wears, except that it is black.
The Emperor's face is shrouded and difficult to see, except for his piercing yellow eyes. The Supreme Ruler of the galaxy beckons to the Dark Lord.
EMPEROR (to Vader): Rise, my friend.
Vader rises and falls in next to the Emperor as he slowly makes his way along the rows of troops. Jerjerrod and the other commanders stay at attention until the Supreme Ruler and Vader, followed by several Imperial dignitaries, pass by; only then do they join in the procession.
VADER: The Death Star will be completed on schedule.
EMPEROR: You have done well, Lord Vader. And now I sense you wish to continue your search for young Skywalker.
VADER: Yes, my Master.
EMPEROR: Patience, my friend. In time he will seek you out. And when he does, you must bring him before me. He has grown strong. Only together can we turn him to the dark side of the Force.
VADER: As you wish.
EMPEROR: Everything is proceeding as I have foreseen.
He laughs to himself as they pass along the vast line of Imperial troops.
|
