STAR WARS: Aphelion
"Temple Island"
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 III: TEMPLE ISLAND
INTRO: embed/ODOZ-gCnIW8?start=196
EXT. AHCH-TO - TOURIST FERRY - DAY
A ferry, nearly the size of a star destroyer, divides the waters as it lumbers through the ocean. Vertical towers jut from the top, like a vast city. Many of the structures are trimmed with neon lights. Holo-signs hang off several of the buildings for advertising.
Along the side of the ship stretches a vast boardwalk. Lucy and Mooni run through the alien-filled crowd into the side railing with wide smiles stretched wide across their faces. Aug follows right behind them. They look out onto the seas. Aug points to a distant island off to the side.
AUG
I think that's it.
Both girls gasp.
LUCY
Really!?
MOONI
Wow.
Aug nods.
INT. FERRY RESTAURANT - LATER
In a busy restaurant, stories above the ship floor, sits our trio at a table by a window. The view unveils the towering structures of the ferry and through the cracks between buildings-the empty expanse of the ocean.
AUG
I've been several times. A lot has changed but it's never lost it's impact.
LUCY
Impact?
Aug leans forward.
AUG
The place is very strong with Force. The tourist spots are just a bunch of empty huts and a burned down tree. But the life, the history. It has a way of... impacting you-your spirit.
LUCY
Huh.
Mooni takes a napkin and rolls it into a cylinder. She bites it so that it droops down out of her mouth and covers her chin.
MOONI
(muffled)
Hey wook. I a thawa-thiwen.
Aug chuckles. Lucy looks concerned and confused.
AUG
We'll probably see some of those, too.
We linger on the three of them.
EXT. AHCH-TO - TEMPLE ISLAND - LATER
Storm clouds roll over the island turning the skies gray. A thala-siren lies on the side of the rocky coast and moans.
At a distance, the ferry stays at a stand-still. A transport lands at the base of the island. Our trio steps off among the crowd. Immediately, Mooni runs off the designated path to get a closer look at the thala-siren.
MOONI
Sea cow!
The thala-siren moans again before leaning forward and belly-flopping into the ocean. A huge wave spills over and splashes Mooni.
MOONI
Awh!
Lucy laughs.
The island is filled with tourists being led along by tour guides. Security droids buzz all around the surrounding skies. Gift shops are set up all along the different paths, selling stuffed thala-sirens, porgs, toy lightsabers, collector edition figures of Luke, etc. A station of micromech droids draws the attention of most of the people coming off the transport.
LUCY
What's that?
AUG
You can rent a droid to take holographs for you.
MOONI
Can we!?
AUG
No, I'm broke.
LUCY
Can't you do the thing you did to let us on the ferry?
AUG
(laughing)
No, I can't mind trick a droid rental machine.
Lucy points to one of the security droids up above.
LUCY
And what's that?
Aug follows her gaze and sees the droid.
AUG
Ah. That's a security droid. It detects any kind of disturbance and broadcasts it to Ahch-to's global patrol. ...So no 'causing any trouble!
They scale the mountain island, seeing the scorched remains of the uneti tree. They join a nearby tour group.
TOUR GUIDE
We don't know what exactly happened to the tree. But most scholars believe it was likely burned down by Skywalker after resolving that the ancient Jedi Order had to be dissolved.
They pass through the Jedi village. The tour guide stops in front of a particular hut that seems to have exploded.
TOUR GUIDE
This particular hut housed Rey when she came to visit the late Skywalker. When Skywalker discovered the affair between her and his nephew, he destroyed the hut.
MOONI
...What's an affair?
They reach the top of the island, where the entrance to the Jedi temple overlooks the rest of the landscape.
A group of porgs mingle on the hillside. Lucy looks at them sadly.
LUCY
I had a porg once...
AUG
Really?
MOONI
I didn't know that.
Lucy nods. She stops walking.
LUCY
It died.
(whispering to herself)
Just a bunch of empty huts and a burned down tree. It all comes to an end.
She starts to tear up, causing a few nearby tourists to glare. Mostly, they give Aug dirty looks.
AUG
Lucy, come on. Don't cry. What happened?
LUCY
My mother's dead isn't she. Just like Mooni's grandpa. Just like the porg.
She looks up at Aug.
LUCY
Why does everything die?
AUG
Oh dear, Lucy... I'm sure-
A few security droids hover down and swirl around the commotion. Tears start streaming down.
LUCY
I'm sorry.
Mooni and Aug both take notice of the droids. Resolving that something must be done, Mooni takes a breath and punches Lucy in the face.
LUCY
Ow!
MOONI
No crying, Lucy.
Lucy's countenance shifts from morose to anger. She stops crying. Mooni looks excitedly to Aug.
MOONI
It worked!
Lucy scowls.
INT. THE FIRST JEDI TEMPLE - DUSK
They enter the temple with a red-faced and glossy eyed Lucy. Inside, a crowd of people examine the design of the interior and a mannequin behind glass, donning the tattered cloak of Luke. Our trio moves through the crowd until they reach the roped-off meditation ledge.
AUG
This is it.
MOONI
This is where he died?
Aug nods.
AUG
It is.
Mooni looks bittersweetly at the ledge. Lucy glares at the floor, frustrated. She anxiously taps her finger against her leg.
The storm outside brews, grumbling with thunder.
Lucy balls her fists, hits herself in the thigh, and runs under the rope, onto the meditation ledge. Immediately, a siren goes off and security droids come down from the sky to record her. An arm comes out of one of them and apprehends her.
Mooni scoffs.
MOONI
You idiot! What are you doing?
AUG
Lucy!
EXT. AHCH-TO - JEDI TEMPLE MEDITATION LEDGE - CONTINUOUS
Lucy, held captive by one droid, stares directly into the camera of another.
LUCY
Mom! Mooom! If you're alive- if you can see me, please do something! Plea-he-heaase. Come back.
She shakes her head in desperation.
INT. THE FIRST JEDI TEMPLE - CONTINUOUS
MOONI
Why would you do that!?
Mooni looks up at Aug, frustrated.
MOONI
Do something!
Aug shrugs at a lost.
AUG
I-
Mooni grunts and takes Aug's lightsaber off his belt and ignites it.
AUG
Mooni!
She moves forward and destroys the droid holding Lucy, immediately unigniting the saber and grabbing Lucy by the wrist, pulling her back. She gives the saber back to Aug.
Mooni throws Lucy to the ground.
Several screams come from the crowd-
SOMEONE IN THE CROWD
It's the Chiss! Everybody run!
-and they begin to scatter. Aug scoffs.
Lucy struggles to get up, distraught at what she's just done and what's happened as an effect.
LUCY
I just wanted her back.
Mooni shakes her head but before anyone can react further, a security guard rushes in and sticks a small, square device into Lucy's neck.
AUG
Hey! What are you doing!?
The guard takes it out and reads the tiny display. He radios into his comm. device.
SECURITY GUARD
Positive. This is the girl.
He puts Lucy in a choke-hold and takes his blaster out to put it to her head. Lucy screams and the guard puts a muffler device around her mouth. She starts to cry.
AUG
(intense)
You put that gun down right now!
A ship arrives outside the meditation ledge. A ramp lowers onto the ledge, letting several police troopers invade the room, surrounding our trio with blasters. The security guard begins to move Lucy past Aug and Mooni, and toward the ship.
Aug grits his teeth. He ignites his saber. The police tense up and as soon as one of them fires, they all follow suit. But the shots don't reach him-he freezes them in mid-air! Aug takes his saber and spins, hitting every frozen blast back at each of the troopers. They fall to the floor, dead.
Mooni pumps her first.
MOONI
Yes!
But Lucy and the guard have already made it inside the ship. The ramp rises and closes shut with a puff of steam. The ship begins to take off.
Aug sprints after the ship and force-jumps onto the side of it, grabbing hold of the greebling. Mooni runs after him but stops at the ledge.
MOONI
Oh, this is insane!
Rain begins to drizzle down.
INT. POLICE TRANSPORT - CONTINUOUS
Lucy is quickly bound by the troopers inside. The captain of the ship looks back. The white noise of the engine and air resistance create an ambiance of tension.
CAPTAIN
Lapis scum, right?
The troopers remain uncomfortably silent.
Lucy looks around the cabin, terrified and confused and disoriented. Her breaths are quick and shallow.
TROOPER #1
Any word on findin' the other kid that was with her mom?
Lucy's frightened eyes widen with hope.
TROOPER #2
Nope.
Another silent moment, filling Lucy with anxiety.
Then a lightsaber pierces through the wall of the ship and into the trooper's chest! He falls down dead. The saber moves through the wall, making a complete circle which subsequently bursts inward, revealing Aug. His robes blow violently in the wind and downpour of rain. The captian looks over his shoulder.
CAPTAIN
Kill it!
The two troopers left in the room quickly get up and stand guard. They fire on him. Aug, in one quick motion, reflects the blasts-killing one of the troopers-and swipes his blade across the last one's chest. He sheathes his saber.
The captain slowly picks up a blaster beside him. As soon he grabs hold, he stands up and points the gun at Aug.
CAPTAIN
Die, you-!
But before he can even pull the trigger, Aug uses the Force to swing him out of the opening he made in the wall.
CAPTAIN
AAAAHHH!
The captain's body, in the midst of the storm, is struck by lightning. Aug bends down to Lucy's level and starts unbinding her.
AUG
Are you alright?
Lucy, although now free to speak, cannot bring herself to say anything. All she can manage to do is shake her head.
An alarm blares. The lights in the ship turn from bright white to flashing crimson. Aug looks outside the opening in the wall to see the ocean rapidly growing closer. He and Lucy begin to lose contact with the floor of the ship. They're plummeting toward the roaring water.
Aug picks up Lucy and jumps out of the opening. He hits the water as the ship plunges into the ocean behind him.
EXT. AHCH-TO - JEDI TEMPLE MEDITATION LEDGE - NIGHT
Mooni watches the ship explode as she stands in the pouring rain. Thunder bellows, almost drowning out her painful screams.
MOONI
NO!
She brushes her soaking hair out of her face and wipes the rain off her brow. In shock, she starts to turn and go back inside. But she turns again and walks to the very end of the ledge, staring at the protruding rocks below.
Transports full of panicking tourists take off toward the distant ferry.
Then everything around her grows silent. She continues to stare below her.
A figure appears on the coast of the island.
Breathing heavily, she turns and sprints back through the temple.
INT. THE FIRST JEDI TEMPLE - CONTINUOUS
She jumps over the mosaic pool and out the entrance, nearly slipping on the slick ground.
EXT. AHCH-TO - TEMPLE ISLAND - CONTINUOUS
She slides down the muddy slope, tiptoeing down where she can, as the waves become more and more vicious. Lightning strikes as she finally reaches the outcrop where the two figures landed. Aug is on all fours, coughing. He loses his strength and falls, badly scraping his shoulder. Lucy lies strewn across the rock, her arm and leg drooping into the pounding tide. She's unconscious.
MOONI
Aug! ...AUG!
AUG
...Lucy...
Aug gives in and falls on his chest. Mooni looks around, helpless.
MOONI
SOMEBODY HELP! Aaahh...
She takes Lucy by the arm and drags her further inland, away from the waves. Then she goes back to Aug and tries to drag him back, too, but she doesn't have the strength. His body won't budge.
MOONI
Come OOONN! Come on. Come on. Come ON.
She tugs and tugs, getting his body to move only inch by inch. The waters rise. The waves come up and splash over his body. And again. And again. Mooni nearly loses her balance and is thrown back. She regains her composure and continues to tug and tug. As she does so, she looks back at Lucy's near-lifeless body. She stops tugging and looks back at Aug. Then back to Lucy.
She lets Aug go and runs back to Lucy, skidding on her knees to kneel over her. Immediately, she begins compressions on Lucy's chest.
MOONI
LUCY! GET UP!
Pushing over and over again, but nothing happens. She puts her hand over Lucy's mouth to feel for breathing.
MOONI
Aaaahh, no. NO. No no no. Come on.
She keeps doing chest compressions. She gives up, laying her head on Lucy's chest. Lifting her head up, she beats her thighs in frustration.
MOONI
Aghhh!
Without even thinking, she puts her mouth over Lucy's, creating a seal, and blows as hard she can. Lucy jerks awake, coughing water up into Mooni's mouth. Mooni spits it out. Lucy continues to cough a horrible cough. Mooni sighs as tears flow.
MOONI
Lucy.
She gets up and then helps the dazed and confused Lucy up to her feet.
Then Mooni notices lights in the sky coming toward the island-two more ships! She looks back down at Aug, then at the ships.
MOONI
Agh!
She leads Lucy up the side of the island and into the ancient Jedi village. She knocks over the ropes preventing tourists from entering and they enter the nearest hut, shutting the iron door behind them.
INT. JEDI VILLAGE HUT - CONTINUOUS
Calm.
Lucy sits down on the bench in shock.
LUCY
I...
MOONI
(frustrated)
Shh!
Mooni puts a finger to her mouth, telling her to be quiet, but immediately regrets it.
MOONI
(whispering)
Sorry.
She goes over and briefly hugs Lucy and then goes back to check the window and sees two ships land on a nearby plain. Five troopers come out of each, all shining beams around in the nighttime downpour.
TROOPER #3
This is so pointless.
TROOPER #4
Yeah, they're gettin' their fuzz all in a knot over this one kid.
TROOPER #3
Gotta "feed the hunger."
TROOPER #4
Whatever the hell that means.
TROOPER #5 (O.S.)
...Hey, I think I see something!
The troopers' attention quickly turns down the island's slope. Lightning flashes, briefly revealing the figure of a robed man. And as the thunder booms, an amethyst saber ignites.
TROOPER #4
Oh sh-
TROOPER #5
Fire!
Shots are fired into the dark, all missing. The beaming blade gracefully swishes around the air, taking out each trooper one by one!
Mooni watches until every trooper in view has been taken out.
MOONI
Aug! Over here!
The lightsaber unignites. The sloshing footsteps grow louder as Aug comes nearer to the hut. But then the iron door bursts open. A trooper comes in, pointing his blaster at the two girls, shining his bright light in their eyes.
TROOPER #6
Don't move!
Mooni sidles over next to Lucy as Lucy slides off the side of the bench and cowers against the wall. Mooni clutches her, staring in fear at the trooper.
Then a lightsaber comes spinning through the window! It slices through the rock and decapitates the trooper. The spinning saber boomerangs back out the window and into Aug's hand. Aug rushes up and swings the door open.
He carries the body of the dead trooper out the door. He reenters and crouches down, hugging the two girls. Blood pours down his arm. Mooni sobs. Lucy stares at the ground, still in shock.
MOONI
Your arm.
Aug looks down to see the blood blotting his rain-soaked robe.
AUG
Agh. OK, here.
He takes his outer robe off and hands it to Mooni. She lets go of Lucy for a second and takes the robe.
AUG
Just tie the arms around the wound. As tight as you can.
Mooni wraps the arms of the robe around his bleeding bicep and ties the ends as tight as she can.
AUG
That's good. Thank you.
He wraps the rest of the robe around the wound. Mooni goes back to clutching Lucy.
MOONI
Wha-hat just happened?
Aug takes a deep breath.
AUG
I think Lucy's got a bit more going on than we thought.
Lucy stares, dead-eyed. Mooni rests her chin on Lucy's wet hair.
MOONI
Why did the co-too have you in the cage place?
Lucy shakes her head.
LUCY
I don't know. ...I don't know.
Then she snaps out of her daze and stares into Aug's eyes.
LUCY
The b-boy who was with her. He's out there...
AUG
Who?
LUCY
There was a boy with my mom. I-I don't know who...
AUG
But he might know if your mother is still alive?
Lucy nods.
Aug takes her head in his hands, keeping direct eye contact.
AUG
Then we'll find him.
Lucy cries.
AUG
OK? We'll find him. We're with you.
We linger on this moment. All of them in soaked clothes. Mooni resting her head on Lucy's, clutching her tightly-both with tear soaked faces. Aug kneels in front of them, holding Lucy's head in his hands. He puts his forehead to hers.
Lightning strikes and thunder follows it.
Aug looks up and lets his hands down to rest on his knee.
AUG
We should probably go... there could be more coming.
Mooni shakes her head, pouting.
MOONI
No. ...You need to sleep. And so does Lucy.
She hugs Lucy tighter. Aug thinks about it for a minute.
AUG
...Okay. But I'll keep watch. You two should sleep.
LUCY
I-I don't think I can.
She bursts into sudden sobs.
LUCY
(sobbing)
This was all my fault- I'm so sorry.
Mooni moves her head so she can look Lucy right in the eyes. Aug's countenance turns sympathetic.
AUG
No-
MOONI
No. Stop it. Stop. Lucy-
LUCY
It is! I shouldn-
MOONI
Stop! I said stop!
Lucy shuts her trembling mouth and wipes her tears away.
AUG
We're OK. We're gonna be OK. ...And we'll be stronger for it!
He can't help but smile. Lucy furrows her brow and frowns.
INT. JEDI VILLAGE HUT - MORNING
Dust and dirt particles fly among the dewy mist in the morning light. Lucy lay hunched over the bench, Mooni sprawled atop her. Aug lay flat on his back across the floor. They are all sound asleep.
Voices come from outside. Aug opens an eye and listens.
LANAI CARETAKER (O.S.)
Meek choot'ro bin!
MAN (O.S.)
Yes. Yes. I know it was not in the contract-
LANAI CARETAKER (O.S.)
Bada! Bada!
MAN (O.S.)
Ma'am. I know. But no one expected to have the island attacked. We-
LANAI CARETAKER (O.S.)
Bada! Nogwonaaa!
MAN (O.S.)
-we were in no way involved with it. Nor do we condone it. Please just wait while I-
A crackle of static.
Aug peeps up through the window to view the situation. On the upper section of the village, a man lifts up a holographic comm. device depicting some high-ranking police trooper.
The sun has just began to rise and the rain has stopped.
MAN
(to the trooper)
Look, no you cannot land yet. Just please wait until I get this sorted out with the Lanai or else they-
TROOPER #8
Stop talking. Send a search party looking for the girl or we land in 10 minutes.
MAN
What!? A search party? It's juts me! It's not like you don't have other kids! I know! Because I've sent you two of them from my island! But I might not have this island anymore if you lan-
The hologram dissipates.
MAN
(to himself)
Agh, what a nightmare.
He looks down at the Lanai in all her sass, her hands now on her hips.
Aug twists back around from the window, his back now facing the wall. He hesitates for a moment.
AUG
(whispering)
Ten minutes...
He carefully crosses the hut and shakes the two girls. Mooni wakes up, yawning and stretching, then wiping her eyes. Lucy stays asleep.
MOONI
Wha-
AUG
(whispering)
We've got to get moving.
A surge of anxiety dissolves her grogginess, making her alert and active.
MOONI
(whispering)
Are there more of them?
AUG
(whispering)
Not yet but they're coming.
Mooni gives a single nod.
MOONI
(whispering)
Lucy...
She puts her mouth to Lucy's ear.
MOONI
(whisper-yelling)
LUCY!
Her eyes finally open.
LUCY
Wha-
MOONI
(whispering)
We gotta go!
Aug crouch-walks over to the iron door and carefully opens it without making a sound. He peeks through the crack and then looks back, nodding and waving the girls over. Lucy, still a bit befuddled, follows Mooni's lead over to the door. Aug opens it wide for the two girls to stealthily run out.
EXT. AHCH-TO - TEMPLE ISLAND - DAY
He follows after them, making sure the door doesn't close too hard. They travel down the side of the island, undetected. That is, until a Lanai spots them from a distance.
LANAI #1
Ututh'ka.
The Lanai sits next to the water across a table from another Lanai, both sipping their own steamy drink. The other Lanai shrugs his shoulders.
LANAI #2
Sana moth.
The first one takes a sip and sets his mug down. He scoots his chair back and gets up. He saunters down toward our frantic trio, still trying to figure out a way to get off the island.
They notice the approaching Lanai and freeze.
LANAI #1
Gobo kros. Kros kros.
The Lanai coolly waves them over and then starts walking along the coast of the island.
Our trio stares at each other, baffled.
AUG
(whispering)
I think he said to follow him.
The Lanai stops, turns around, and waits for them. He waves again.
LANAI #1
Kros!
Aug walks toward the Lanai. The two girls follow behind.
EXT. AHCH-TO - CARETAKER VILLAGE - LATER
The Lanai takes them into a village quadruple the size of the Jedi village. Large round wooden huts fill the inlet. Massive fish skeletons decorate the village square. A large fire pit sits in the center surrounded by monstrous sized teeth. Skewered by the teeth are several different types of fish, roasting round a flame burning high.
As they enter, the bustling village stops suddenly to look at the foreigners. A low murmur ensues. One nearby Lanai notices the lightsaber hanging on Aug's belt. They run up to him and point to it.
LANAI #3
Ogoba... swish swish!
Aug takes his saber off his belt. The murmur turns to dead silence. And then he ignites it.
The murmur returns, louder. Several Lanai begin to crowd around Aug. One particular Lanai, clad in white robes and a white hat sprints down the hill and rushes through the crowd.
LANAI CULT MEMBER
Pris'kha! Gas ona'gro bo!
The Lanai cult member comes front and center facing Aug, gaining dirty looks from the other Lanai. Lucy's eyes widen. She's seen those clothes before.
MOONI
(distracted)
Hm?
LANAI CULT MEMBER
Gas ona'gro bo. Ogoba sa bath'k. Froma smith'an bo suka. Sni sni!
Aug tries hard to understand what it's saying.
AUG
Sorry... my Lanai is a little rusty-
The Lanai shakes its head and grabs Aug by the hand, making him lift the saber up higher.
LANAI CULT MEMBER
Ogoba!
AUG
Ok...
Then the Lanai points to Mooni.
LANAI CULT MEMBER
Bath'k!
MOONI
What?
Aug shakes his head.
AUG
I-
The Lanai points to Mooni again, then to Lucy, and then to a small, child Lanai.
LANAI CULT MEMBER
Bath'k.
LUCY
A kid...
The Lanai points to the lightsaber and then behind it, somewhere off the island.
LANAI CULT MEMBER
Ogoba sa bath'k.
LUCY
A kid with a lightsaber.
The Lanai nods.
LANAI CULT MEMBER
Froma smith'an bo suka!
LUCY
He's near a waterfall.
The Lanai nods again.
MOONI
Hey that must be him, right? The boy who was with your mom!
Lucy breathes deeply, filled with so much shame and shock and fear. But she looks at Mooni who displays an admirable amount of genuine excitement, clasping her hands together and smiling... and through all that shame and shock and fear, Lucy smiles back at her.
OUTRO: 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.