Disclaimer: I am not J.K. Rowling or George Lucas.
Enter Luke, Han, and Leia, outside Darth Vader's classroom.
Enter Marek, Evazan, Baba, and Vestara.
Marek. Yeah, Daala gave the Kun smashball team permission to continue playing straightaway. I went to ask her first thing this morning. Well, it was pretty much automatic, I mean, she knows my father really well. He's always popping in and out of the Imperial Palace. . . . It will be interesting to see whether Revan are allowed to keep playing, won't it?
Leia. [to Luke and Han] Don't rise. That's just what he wants.
Marek. I mean, if it's a question of influence with the Republic, I don't think they've got much chance. From what Father says, they've been looking for an excuse to discharge Jonash Solo for years. And as for Skywalker . . . well, I expect there's a ward in Coruscant Medical with his name on it. Apparently they have got a special one for beings whose brains have been addled by the dark side. . . .
Marek, Evazan, Baba, and Vestara laugh.
Enter Wedge, who charges for Marek.
Luke. Wedge, no!
Luke holds back Wedge, who struggles to get to Marek, who looks very shocked.
[to Han] Help me.
Luke and Han restrain Wedge.
Wedge. Not . . . funny . . . don't . . . Coruscant . . . show . . . him . . .
Enter Vader.
Vader. Fighting, Skywalker, Solo, Antilles? Ten points from Revan. Release Antilles, Skywalker, or it will be detention. Inside, all of you.
Luke releases Wedge, who glares at him.
Luke. I had to stop you. Evazan and Baba would have torn you apart.
Wedge walks away wordlessly.
All enter Vader's classroom.
Han. What in the name of the Core was that about?
Luke. [aside] I know exactly what that was about. Wedge's own parents were tortured into insanity by the Sith. But I swore to Yoda never to divulge Wedge's secret to anyone. Even Wedge doesn't know I know.
Enter Daala.
Vader. [indicates Daala] You will notice that we have a guest with us today. We are continuing with our strength enhancers today. You will find your mixtures as you left them last lesson. If correctly made, they should have matured well over the weekend. Instructions [waves his lightsaber] on the board. Carry on.
Watching Vader and Daala, Luke is distracted from his potion.
Leia. Woolamander blood, Luke, not shuura juice.
Luke. Right.
Daala stands and approaches Vader.
Daala. Well, the class seem fairly advanced for their level. Though I would question whether it is advisable to teach them a potion like the strength enhancer. I think the Republic would prefer it if that was removed from the syllabus.
Vader stares at Daala.
Now . . . how long have you been teaching at the Jedi Temple?
Vader. Fourteen years.
Daala. You applied first for the Defense Against the Dark Side post. Is that correct?
Vader. Yes.
Daala. But you were unsuccessful?
Vader. [sneers] Obviously.
Daala. [makes a note] And you have applied regularly for the Defense Against the Dark Side post since you first joined the Temple, I believe?
Vader. [looking angry] Yes.
Daala. Do you have any idea why Yoda has consistently refused to appoint you?
Vader. [cold] I suggest you ask him.
Daala. [smiles] Oh, I shall.
Vader. [narrows his eyes] I suppose this is relevant?
Daala. Oh yes. Yes, the Republic wants a thorough understanding of the Masters' . . . er . . . backgrounds.
Daala turns away to question Vestara.
Vader approaches Luke.
Vader. No marks again, then, Skywalker. You will write me an essay on the correct composition of this potion, indicating how and why you went wrong, to be handed in next lesson. Do you understand?
Luke. [angry] Yes.
Luke, Han, and Leia leave Vader's classroom.
Exit all but Luke, Han, and Leia.
Maybe I'll skip Farseeing. I'll pretend to be ill and do Vader's essay instead, then I won't have to stay up half the night.
Leia. You can't skip Farseeing.
Han. [indignant] Look who's talking. You walked out of Farseeing. You hate Shryne.
Leia. I don't hate him. I just think he's an absolutely appalling Master and a real old fraud. But Luke's already missed Galactic History, and I don't think he ought to miss anything else today.
Exit Leia.
Luke and Han enter the Spire of Tranquility.
Enter Shryne, who angrily tosses the textbooks at his students.
Shryne. [hysterical] Well, carry on! You know what to do. Or am I such a sub-standard Master that you have never learned how to open a book?
Shryne collapses into a chair, looking defeated.
Han. I think he's gotten the results of his inspection back.
Winter. Master. Is there anything . . . wrong?
Shryne. [voice shaking with emotion] Wrong? Certainly not! I have been insulted, certainly. . . . Insinuations have been made against me . . . unfounded accusations leveled. . . . But no, there is nothing wrong. Certainly not! [takes a shuddering breath] I say nothing of sixteen years of devoted service. . . . It has passed, apparently, unnoticed. . . . But I shall not be insulted. No, I shall not!
Winter. But, Master, who's insulting you?
Shryne. The establishment! Yes, those with eyes too clouded by the mundane to see as I see, to know as I know. . . . Of course, we seers have always been feared, always persecuted. . . . It is, alas, our fate.
Shryne gulps and blows his nose.
Han laughs. Bria shoots him a disgusted look.
Winter. Master. Do you mean . . . is it something Admiral Daala?
Shryne. [leaping to his feet] Do not speak to me about that woman. Kindly continue with your work.
Shryne spends the whole class, muttering under his breath.
. . . may well choose to leave. . . . the indignity of it . . . on probation . . . We shall see. . . . How she dares . . .
Exit Shryne.
Luke and Han enter Daala's classroom.
Enter Leia.
Luke. You and Daala have got something in common. She obviously thinks Shryne's an old fraud, too. . . . It looks like she's put him on probation.
Enter Daala.
Daala. Good afternoon, class.
All. Good afternoon, Admiral Daala.
Daala. Lightsabers away, please. Please turn to page thirty-four of The Essential Guide to Warfare and read the third chapter, entitled "The Case for Non-Offensive Responses to Force Attacks." There will be . . .
Luke/Han/Leia. . . . no need to talk.
Exit all.
