Disclaimer: I am not George Lucas or J.K. Rowling.
Enter Luke, Mara, and Wedge.
Wedge. I'm glad that's over. Strange being, isn't he?
Luke. Yeah, he is. How come you ended up in there, Mara?
Mara. He saw attack Waxarn Kel. You remember that rodder from Surik who was in Yoda's Rebellion? He kept on and on asking about what happened at the Imperial Palace. And in the end he annoyed me so much, I used the Force on him. When Car'das came in, I thought I was going to got detention. But he just thought it was a really good Force trick and invited me to lunch. Mad, eh?
Luke. Better reason for inviting someone than because their mother's famous or because their uncle . . . I'll see you two later.
Luke slips under the cloaking device.
Wedge. What are you . . . ?
Luke. Later.
Exit Mara and Wedge.
Luke follows Tyris into the Kun compartment.
Enter Marek, Cornelius Evazan, Ponda Baba, and Vestara Khai.
As Tyris goes to shut the door, Luke sticks his foot out.
Tyris. [angry] What's wrong with this thing?
Luke pushes the door open, knocking Tyris into Baba's lap.
Luke leaps onto the cloaking device, as Tyris and Baba snarl at each other.
The door shuts.
Marek narrows his eyes suspiciously.
Marek. So, Tyris, what did Car'das want?
Tyris. Just trying to make up to well-connected beings, not that he managed to find many.
Marek. Who else had he invited?
Tyris. Shysa from Revan.
Marek. Oh, yeah, his uncle's big on Coruscant.
Tyris. Someone else called Thul, from Shan.
Vestara. Not him. He's a rodder.
Tyris. And Antilles, Skywalker, and that Jade girl.
Marek. He invited Antilles?
Tyris. I assume so, seeing as he was there.
Marek. What does Antilles got to interest Car'das?
Tyris shrugs.
Skywalker, precious Skywalker. Obviously, he wanted to take a look at the Chosen One. But that Jade girl . . . What's so special about her?
Vestara. A lot of males like her. Even you think she's good-looking, don't you, Nikkos? And we all know how hard you are to please.
Tyris. [cold] I wouldn't touch a filthy little blood traitor like her whatever she looked like.
Marek. Well, I pity Car'das's taste. Maybe he's going a bit senile. Shame, my father always said he was a good Jedi in his day. My father used to be a bit of a favorite of his. Car'das probably hasn't heard I'm on the ship, so . . .
Tyris. I wouldn't bank on an invitation. He asked me about Qel-Droma's father when I first arrived. They used to be old friends, apparently. But when he heard he'd been caught by Republic forces, he didn't look happy. And Qel-Droma didn't get an invitation, did he? I don't think Car'das is interested in Sith.
Marek. [laughs coldly] Well, who cares what he's interested in? What is he, when you come down to it? Just some stupid Master. [scoffs] Tython. What a pathetic excuse for a Temple. I think I'd pitch myself off the Astronomy Tower if I thought I had to continue for another two years.
Vestara. [indignant] What's that supposed to mean?
Marek. Let's just say I don't think you'll be seeing my wasting my time in Force class next season.
Vestara. Do you mean . . . him?
Marek shrugs.
Tyris snorts derisively.
Marek. Amused, Nikkos? We'll see who's laughing in the end. When the Emperor takes over, is he going to care how many J.I.T.s or Jedi Trials anyone's got? Of course, he isn't. It'll be all about the kind of service he received, the level of devotion he was shown.
Tyris. [scathing] And you think you'll be able to do something for him? Sixteen years old and not even fully qualified yet?
Marek. I've just said, haven't I? Maybe he doesn't care if I'm qualified. Maybe the job he wants me to do isn't something that you need to be qualified for.
Vestara stares at Marek with admiration.
I can see the Temple. We had better get our robes on.
As Baba grabs his trunk, it hits Luke in the face. Luke lets out a gasp of pain.
Marek looks up suspiciously.
The ship lands on Tython.
The Kuns rise.
Your four go on. I want to check something.
Exit Vestara, Evazan, Baba, and Tyris.
Marek removes his lightsaber and activates its crimson blade.
Didn't your mother ever it's rude to eavesdrop, Skywalker? Stun.
Luke drops to the ground, instantly paralyzed.
Oh, right, she was dead before you could wipe the drool off your chin.
Marek stamps his foot hard on Luke's nose, breaking it.
That's from my father. Enjoy the ride back to Coruscant.
Marek throws the cloaking device back over Luke.
Exit Marek.