STAR WARS: Aphelion
"Outset of an Orbit"
Based on the enthralling galaxy and characters within by
George Lucas
Story and Script by: Silas McCord
I DO NOT OWN ANY COPYRIGHTED CHARACTERS, PLACES, NAMES, IMAGES, OR MUSIC. THIS IS A FAN-FICTION. I MAKE NO PROFIT OFF ANY CONTENT HERE WITHIN.
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...
STAR WARS
APHELION
EPISODE I: OUTSET OF AN ORBIT
50 years ago, legendary Luke Skywalker returned to the original Jedi temple where he gave up his life in defiance of the First Order. When the Neo-Empire finally crumbled and the Emperor slain for good, the galaxy's greatest civilizations remained in shambles.
However, the navigational charts to the unknown regions were made public by the victorious Resistance, allowing the masses to seek refuge in this NEW WORLD.
Hidden away for so long, AHCH-TO now becomes a sanctuary for the lowly fishermen of the galaxy. But with its majestic landscapes and historical significance, tourist companies seized their opportunity and colonized the land. The companies struck a DIABOLICAL DEAL with the growing government that had been forming in the New World, resulting in Ahch-to's induction into the union.
This is where our story begins...
The text fades into the depths of space and we linger on the starscape. We begin to pull back faster and faster until we realize it is no starscape at all. It's a pupil.
INT. CONTAINMENT FACILITY - NIGHT
The emerald green of an iris appears. Pale skin. A monolid eye. A thick, black brow. Unkempt blonde hair and poorly cut bangs.
She is expressionless, but watching something intently. We hear shouts and a commotion. Her room is dark until the sound of a vibrant hum brings a glowing blue light through the corridor, casting the shadows of the cage bars onto her now illuminated body.
The voice of a frantic woman...
WOMAN
She's here. She's here. I can feel her.
...and of a young, unenthusiastic boy.
BOY
(sighs)
Yeah. I believe you.
The young boy, NOLE (14, pale as a vampire, short jet-black hair, in simple all-black clothes) and the woman, IYELA (30, straight blonde hair, thin, tall, in a long brown coat) enter the darkened corridor, stepping over the bodies of armored guards. By the light of Nole's lightsaber, they see the corridor is lined with cells, each one occupied by a ragged-looking child.
NOLE
Woah. What the hell?
Iyela bounces from cell to cell, looking for a particular child.
NOLE
Hey, should we be doing something about these other kids?
She ignores him and continues her search.
NOLE
Okay.
She waves him over.
IYELA
Come here! I need your light.
Nole walks over toward the end of the corridor and lifts his saber up. Iyela stares into the cell at our blonde heroine-about 9 years old in a dirty brown jumpsuit. Above the cell is the number 06. Inside it, behind our heroine, are several small stacks of data-tapes. Iyela's eyes begin to well up with tears.
IYELA
That's her. That's my daughter.
Nole seems surprised.
NOLE
Hoooly-
He's cut off by more blaster fire. He skillfully deflects a few shots back at the guards.
NOLE
You sure? How can you tell?
IYELA
I just know.
NOLE
...Alright. Well, we're gonna get trapped if we stay here any longer.
Iyela grabs hold of the cage, shaking herself back and forth.
IYELA
Free her! Get her out of there! Get her OUT!
NOLE
Okay! Okay! Damn.
Nole slices into the cage, knocking the bars out of the way. He waves for the girl to come forward. But she does not move.
NOLE
Come on!
The girl stays still, crouched on the dirt floor of her cell. She glares at Nole.
IYELA
Ohh, my dear girl.
Iyela sniffs and wipes her eyes. She bends down and strokes the girl's face. The girl does not react. Nole rolls his eyes and takes the girl by her arm. He sheathes his saber onto his belt.
NOLE
We gotta go.
EXT. AHCH-TO - CONTAINMENT FACILITY - NIGHT
The wind blows violently through the bright green grass of Ahch-To. The facility entrance, like a tiny shack, is located on a cliff-side, with the rest of the building underground. The waves crash on the rocks below while the gentle ocean reflects a gibbous moon and a starry sky.
Several land speeders are parked, creating a semi-circle around the front. Guards and police troopers all have their sights aimed at the entrance.
Another group of troopers inspect a landed ship-the one Nole and Iyela arrived in.
Nole emerges with the girl in hand, followed by Iyela. Nole lets go of the girl and ignites his saber, ready to fight. Iyela pauses to look at the situation. Then she kneels to get on eye-level with the girl.
IYELA
Look at me. I need you to run.
The girl's eyes widen. She takes the girl's head in between her hands.
IYELA
Please.
For the first time, the girl seems concerned. She shakes her head. Iyela tightens her hold on the girl.
IYELA
Yes. You're free now. Mother freed you. I promise I will come back to find-
The crackle of a magnaphone. Iyela looks to see what it is.
POLICE
We have you surrounded. Put down your weapon.
Iyela turns back to the girl.
IYELA
I love you so very much.
She hugs her daughter and kisses her on the forehead. Nole steals a nervous glance back at Iyela.
NOLE
Hey, I don't know about you... but I'm not so sure I can take all these guys on.
She stands up and walks next to Nole.
IYELA
No, I don't believe that would be a wise decision.
After a deep breath, her hand reaches inside her coat pocket-
POLICE
Put your hands where we can see them.
She freezes. And then begins to move her arm out of her coat-
POLICE
Get on the ground! Get on the ground! Put your hands where we can see them or we WILL shoot you!
Iyela pulls out a smoke detonator and presses a button on it, causing the entire facility entrance and cliffside to be drenched in fog.
HEROINE
Mom?!
A few blaster shots are fired in the ensuing commotion but the one thing heard above all else was:
IYELA
RUN!
And so Our Heroine ran, tears in her eyes.
INTRO: youtube com/embed/ODOZ-gCnIW8?start=196
EXT. AHCH-TO - CLIFFSIDE - DAY
Bare feet run through the dewy grass. The first sun begins to rise above the ocean horizon. The mist of the waves rapping on the cliffside swishes around in the air and gently brushes Our Heroine's face.
She stops running to rub her eyes with the palms of her hands. The wind picks up and whips her hair around. She struggles to keep it out of her face, eventually turning toward the wind, and subsequently toward the sunrise, so her hair blows back.
The second sun begins to rise. She squints at it and attempts to turn her face so the light doesn't pour directly into her pupils. At last, she simply closes her eyes.
She stands on the cliffside, feeling the mist and the wind and the warm light of the suns on her face.
Cut to a wideshot of the entire cliff, glowing with sunlight. Bright blue waves stir at the bottom.
We slowly close on her.
She takes a deep breath.
SQUUUACK!
We stay on our close-up of her as she opens one eye and scans the horizon.
Another SQUACK!
She pinpoints where the sound is coming from and turns around to see a lonesome porg looking up at her. She looks to her left, then to her right, and then back down at the porg. The porg chirps a little more quietly, almost inquisitively. Our Heroine holds one arm up above her head, to keep her hair out of her face.
Her smile stretches into a wide grin. The porg hops backward, but before it can get away, Our Heroine pounces on it, hugging it closely to her chest. The porg struggles, desperately flapping its wings. But there's no hope, and it finally concedes to her love. She smothers it and rubs her cheek on its fuzzy head.
EXT. AHCH-TO - SVARTIFOSS WATERFALL - LATER
Our Heroine walks further inland, still clutching her beloved porg in between crossed arms. The peak of a hill falls away into the cliff of a valley. A water spout spews from the cliff into a pool below that's surrounded by basalt columns. Spread out across the columns stand several Lanai clad in all white robes and hats.
Our Heroine approaches the ledge and the Lanai quickly take notice of her. After a moment, they raise their arms up in praise. Their movements continue in flash-mob fashion, collectively forming various geometric patterns. When their routine finally finishes, they glare at Our Heroine in anticipation. But she is stunned.
HEROINE
Uh... no! I-
She shakes her head.
HEROINE
I don't have anything!
Her eyes dart around, trying to figure out something.
HEROINE
Mmmm.
Frantic, she holds up her porg who then belches out a loud squawk.
The Lanai jump up and down and squawk in return. In the commotion, Our Heroine slowly backs up from the ledge and runs away.
She holds her porg out in front of her and turns it around to face her.
HEROINE
What was that!?
EXT. AHCH-TO - CLIFFSIDE BEACH - DUSK
Her porg waddles along the sand as she kneels down in front of the crashing waves and rising tide. She scoops up the sea water in her hands and takes a sip. She dramatically spits it out.
HEROINE
Pthew pthew! Nope!
EXT. AHCH-TO - PENINSULA CLIFFSIDE - SUNSET
The setting sun lights up Our Heroine as she sulks along the coast, her porg freely hopping beside her. Her stomach growls and she frowns in response. She stops walking and puts a hand on her stomach.
HEROINE
I'm hungry.
She looks down at her porg. The porg stares back. Her eyes narrow.
HEROINE
I wouldn't.
She keeps walking and then glances at the porg. This time with a smirk.
HEROINE
Not raw, at least...
The porg squacks. Our Heroine laughs.
HEROINE
I'm just kidding! I could never eat such an adorable bird. But seriously, I need water or something.
A gust of wind brings a continual faceful of mist. Our Heroine suddenly stops with determined countenance and sucks the air.
HEROINE
Look, I'm my own moisture vaporator!
After a while of more uncomfortable sucking sounds, she stops and looks down at her porg.
HEROINE
Yeah, that didn't work.
She continues her trek.
EXT. AHCH-TO - PENINSULA INLAND - NIGHT
HEROINE
Do you know how embarrassing it would be to die of dehydration on a water planet!?
The porg ignores her comment, sees something, squacks and flies off! Our Heroine gasps and frowns.
HEROINE
My only friend...
A four-legged, gray, voluptuous creature comes out of the shadows and snatches the porg in it's mouth. Our Heroine lets out a scream before covering her mouth.
She takes an exasperated breath and then she sees something. She squints off into the distance in the direction that the porg flew... -the lights of a village!
She uncovers her mouth, but continues to frown at the loss of her only friend.
EXT. AHCH-TO - PENINSULA MARKET - LATER
Our Heroine walks into the village through the center of the streets. The marketplace is lit up with ground lamps studded along the walkways. Other than the occasional shady street urchin, the marketplace is entirely empty. And... it is entirely quiet-except for a sudden crash in the distance! And then yelling!
MAN
Stop! STOP! Get back here!
YOUNG GIRL
Ah, eat poodoo old man!
We follow Our Heroine over her shoulder as she cautiously approaches the commotion through an alleyway, crouch-walking under the shadows until she peers around the corner. We stay with her as she watches a girl about her age, MOONI (11, dark brown wavy hair, dark skin, in a dirty tank-top and joggers) runs from an older man, Emmy, chasing after her with a mechanical wrench. The girl holds a small, metal canister in hand as she sprints through the streets.
Mooni grabs a hover-bin and slides it into the old man's trajectory. The man collides with the bin and falls over! But another woman comes barreling out the door of a nearby hut and catches her.
WOMAN
I got 'er, Emmy!
(to Mooni)
You really oughtta learn yer lesson by now, hm?
Mooni roles her eyes.
Our Heroine moves to the other side of the alley, still hidden, watching intensely. Emmy gets up and moves toward the young girl. She struggles against the woman's grip... and then raises her leg and back-kicks her shin! The woman yelps and lets go.
WOMAN
Hot DANG it, girl!
Our Heroine chuckles silently. Mooni sprints away from the old man and woman to the nearest clear opening-the alleyway! Our Heroine backs up as Mooni approaches. Mooni does a sharp turn into the alley and immediately crashes into Our Heroine!
MOONI
Oof! What the-
Our Heroine falls into the light and Mooni gets a good look at her. Our Heroine is stunned.
MOONI
Uhh... whaa-
The sound of running footsteps getting closer. Mooni looks over her shoulder and gets up. Then back to Our Heroine.
MOONI
Okay, come on.
She grabs Our Heroine's hand, who blushes and complies.
The merchant and woman run into the alley after them. Huffing and puffing, the woman gains on the two girls and grabs Our Heroine by the shirt. She flails around but the woman is able to put her in a choke-hold. Mooni skids to a stop and turns around, eyeing the woman. Emmy catches up.
MERCHANT
Ok. Either you give me that back ...or... we turn your friend here over to the co-too.
Mooni's eyes widen in fear. Emmy snickers. The fear in her eyes turns to fury. But she resists any more conflict, takes a breath of frustration, and looks at the canister in her hands. After a moment of contemplation, she throws it onto the ground. The woman throws Our Heroine down next to Mooni. She and the old man walk away, talking under their breath.
Mooni takes a deep breath, saddened. She smiles half-heartedly and helps Our Heroine up to her feet. They face each other.
MOONI
Yo. ...I'm Mooni.
Our Heroine stares at her. Mooni waits for a response before waving her hand in front of Our Heroine's face.
MOONI
Hello? What's your name?
HEROINE
I-I uh. I don't have one.
Mooni raises an eyebrow.
MOONI
What?
Our Heroine clears her throat and speaks a little louder.
HEROINE
I don't have one.
Mooni tightens her brow and purses her lips.
MOONI
No... I heard what you said. But what you said doesn't make any sense.
HEROINE
...Sorry.
MOONI
What is up with you? You really don't have a name?
Mooni gasps-an epiphany!
MOONI
Were you in a cage?!
Our Heroine is taken aback. How did she know?
HEROINE
What like with bars? ...And you couldn't go anywhere?
MOONI
Yeah, that's what a cage is.
HEROINE
Mhm. I-
MOONI
So you actually were locked up by the co-too? For how long?
HEROINE
Uh, since forever I think-
MOONI
I can't believe it!
Our heroine, overwhelmed, pauses to try and think through everything.
HEROINE
...Why?
Mooni grabs Our Heroine's hand and takes off, nearly pulling her off balance.
HEROINE
Woah-
MOONI
Come on. Grandpa's gonna love you.
She leads Our Heroine out of the village.
EXT. AHCH-TO - PENINSULA - LATER
Under the bright full moon and field of glittering stars, the two girls walk through the grass, side by side.
MOONI
He always rants on and on about the co-too stealing kids. Everyone thinks he's crazy. But... I don't know. I know he'll take good care of you, though. He can probably give you a name.
Her face lights up.
MOONI
Actually! I'll give you a name.
She stops and runs in front of Our Heroine, turning to face her and taking Our Heroine's hands in her own.
MOONI
How about Rey!
MOONI
(to herself)
No. Too many Reys already.
(to Our Heroine)
...Maybe we could name you after Luke. You know Luke, right?
HEROINE
He died here.
MOONI
Yeah! That's right. Anyway, there's a girl version but I forget...
Our Heroine continues to stare at her new friend, wide-eyed like a deer in headlights.
MOONI
Girluke! Femluke? Uhh... hmm. Luka? There's some name I'm thinking of...
Our Heroine manages to shake her head.
HEROINE
I hate all of those.
MOONI
Oh, geez. Well, they had to call you something at the cage place, right? What did the other kids call you? Wait, were there other kids?
HEROINE
We... weren't really allowed to talk to each other. Um. The people there called me oh-six... or sometimes just little girl.
Her face contorts as dreadful memories rush back.
MOONI
Oh-six? What are you a droid?! They can't name for thala-poo. Anyway...
Mooni nods and smirks.
MOONI
We'll figure it out.
She marches on ahead. Our Heroine follows, dazed and clearly overwhelmed.
EXT. AHCH-TO - PENINSULA TIP - LATER
After walking a while more, Our Heroine finally speaks up.
HEROINE
What is co-too?
MOONI
Uh, it's like the government.
Mooni fidgets with a piece of plucked grass.
MOONI
Stands for... consti-something-of-the-unknown- I don't know.
HEROINE
...Is it like the First Order?
MOONI
Grandpa knows a lot more about that kinda stuff.
She tears the piece of grass in half.
MOONI
How do you know about all that?
HEROINE
They gave us old holo-books.
MOONI
Woooah, so you must be like super big brained?
Our heroine smiles.
HEROINE
(shaking her head)
Nooo, not really...
Mooni jogs forward and drops her piece of grass. Near the cliff-side, she drags up a hovering diamond-shaped lift up the slope. Once she has it settled on level land, she hops in over the side and waves Our Heroine over.
MOONI
Hop in!
Our Heroine slowly walks toward the lift.
A strong coastal wind sweeps through.
She crosses her arms and rubs them, shivering. Mooni notices and ducks down into the lift to grab something.
HEROINE
It's really cold.
MOONI
Yeah I- hold on-
She rummages around a couple seconds more and then comes back up holding a blanket.
MOONI
Here.
She holds the blanket up and waves again.
MOONI
Come on.
Our Heroine climbs into the lift and Mooni drapes the blanket over her shoulders. She lets out a brief smile of gratitude before sitting down and hugging her knees. Mooni moves to the opposite side and clutches a control stick, shifting the lift over the edge of the cliff and slowly down toward the beach below. Mooni grabs the edge of the lift and looks out across the ocean. Then she slams her hands down with a sudden smile.
MOONI
Lucy! That's the name I was thinking of.
She turns around and points at Our Heroine.
MOONI
...Do you like it?
Our Heroine smiles and nods.
HEROINE
Yeah... I do!
MOONI
Me too.
Mooni turns back around to watch the ocean, her portrait silhouetted by the moon.
Lucy takes it all in. She watches Mooni closely as her hair blows back in the wind.
The lift hits the beach with a thud. Embedded into the cliffside is a wooden house, almost like a barn, nearly in shambles. Connected to the house is a small dock going out into the ocean.
Mooni and Lucy both climb out of the lift. Mooni reaches back in and presses a couple of buttons, causing the lift to move over to the dock and settle into the water.
LUCY
Oh. ...It's a boat.
MOONI
Nope! It's a lift. But we use it as a boat!
Lucy stares at the moonlit dock and house as if she's in a dream. She's broken out of her trance by her stomach grumbling. Mooni, she sees, has already almost made it to the house.
MOONI
(whisper-yelling)
Lucy! Come on!
Lucy walks over to her.
LUCY
Hey, do you have any food?
MOONI
(whispering)
Oh... yeah! Of course!
Mooni thinks about it for a second.
MOONI
(whispering)
I think so.
She carefully opens the door to the house.
MOONI
(whispering)
Ok.
She huddles up with Lucy.
MOONI
(whispering)
You gotta be quiet. Grandpa can't know I left.
LUCY
Alright.
Mooni puts a finger up to her mouth.
MOONI
Shhh!
LUCY
I don't know what that means.
MOONI
(whisper-yelling)
Be quiet!
LUCY
(whispering)
Oh! Right! Sorry.
INT. MOONI'S HOMESTEAD - CONTINUOUS
Moonlight shines through cracks in the walls and ceiling. Several leaks fall into buckets set out across the hallway. The two girls carefully walk all the way to the back, until they reach the very last door. Mooni stops in front of it and opens it to reveal several empty pantries, and a small grey freezer. She opens up the lid.
MOONI
Hmm.
Lucy peers in to see a single needlegawp fish. Mooni quickly grabs it and shuts the lid. Clutching the frozen fish, she grins at Lucy.
Lucy looks surprised.
EXT. AHCH-TO - MOONI'S HOMESTEAD - LATER
A small pile of firewood sits on the sand where Mooni crouches with a lighter in hand. She flicks it several times until finally it lights. She puts the small flame up against the bottom log but it doesn't catch. After a while, she gets frustrated and caps the lighter.
MOONI
It won't work.
LUCY
...You have to start with tinder.
Mooni squints, confused.
LUCY
Here.
Lucy gets up and grabs some broken splinters off the side of the house. She then crouches right next to Mooni, shoulder to shoulder, and places the little pieces of wood over and around the fire wood. She holds out her hand, and nods toward the lighter. Mooni understands and puts the lighter into her palm. Lucy opens the cap but can't quite understand how to get it started. Mooni takes the lighter, lights it, and then gives it back to Lucy. She sets the tinder aflame and it begins to spread to the rest of the firewood.
The fire burns bright in Mooni's eyes. She looks at Lucy, impressed. Lucy shrugs.
LUCY
(whispering)
It's just books.
MOONI
(whispering)
I think you're just pretty amazing.
A far away wide shot of the cliffside. The bright stars shine as the moon nears the horizon. The silhouetted cliff. The dilapidated wooden house. And the two girls, side by side, next to a crackling fire.
MOONI
Oh! Hehe.
We stay on the far away wide shot. Mooni lifts up a stick with the needlegawp on the end of it and puts it over the fire.
MOONI
(whispering)
I almost forgot the fish.
A close-up of the two girls' faces, side by side. They turn their heads to look at each other.
MOONI
(whispering)
Can I ask what was it like? The cage place.
Lucy looks down to think about it, and then back up to Mooni. She shakes her head.
LUCY
(whispering)
I just know... that this is so much better.
Mooni smiles.
MOONI
(whispering)
Cool.
They both look into the fire.
LUCY
(whispering)
I'm really confused about a lot of things.
MOONI
(whispering)
...Like what?
LUCY
(whispering)
Like... I don't know. How I got out? Why I was there?
After a moment.
LUCY
(whispering)
Do you have parents?
Mooni shakes her head.
MOONI
(whispering)
I'm an orphan. Grandpa's not even my real grandpa. ...Why?
LUCY
(whispering)
I just found out I have a mother.
MOONI
(whispering)
Woah. That's big, right?
LUCY
(whispering)
Yeah, but I don't know where she is. She's the one who broke me out but I don't know what happened to her.
Mooni considers what to say.
MOONI
(whispering)
Well... I'm here. For whatever that's worth.
Mooni puts her arm around Lucy and looks off to the side.
MOONI
I think-
(whispering)
I think... you're gonna be my best friend.
Lucy gives Mooni an inquisitive look. We linger on the moment.
EXT. SPACE
We see the young planet of Ahch-to, one million millennia ago, get hit by an astronomically-sized asteroid.
INT. UNKNOWN CORELLIAN FREIGHTER - NIGHT
100 years ago, a horribly frightened man sprints through the corridors of his ship. A mysterious, dark aura creeps behind him, making the noises of nightmares. The man hits an emergency button, opening the airlock. Alarms blare and lights flash red as he is sucked into the vacuum of space.
EXT. SPACE - VOLIK SYSTEM
The freighter is left abandoned, drifting through the depths of the unknown.
EXT. AHCH-TO - MOONI'S HOMESTEAD - MORNING
Lucy wakes with a start to a shrill shriek coming from inside the house. She gets up with sandy hair, brushes her arms off, and hurries by the still burning embers into the house to see what's happened.
MOONI (O.S.)
NO!
She opens up the door and hears sobbing coming from one of the bedrooms. Her hand grabs the edge of the door frame and she peers in to see Mooni on her knees, tears flowing from her eyes. Her arms are limp, fallen by her side. She looks up at Lucy with a runny nose and shaky breath.
MOONI
(sobbing)
Grandpa's... dead...
Lucy looks up to the bed in the room to see Mooni's grandpa-no rising and falling of the chest, no snoring.
He was still. He was dead.
Lucy falls onto her knees beside the sobbing Mooni.
We slowly back away from the scene. Through the walls, through the ramshackle windows. Further back still as our outro plays.
FADE TO BLACK.
OUTRO: youtube com/embed/9zNS-YD-zso?start=28&end=163
Based on story and characters by George Lucas
Written by Silas McCord
MUSIC:
"Win" by Disasterpeace, arranged by David Peacock, and performed by Augustine Mayuga Gonzales
"Requiem - Instrumental" by Shey Baba
COVER ART:
"Cliffs of Mohar 2" by Conor McGuire
All copyrighted characters, terms, and phrases are owned by Lucasfilm LTD. and Walt Disney Studios.
END.