188 Agnomenon escape pod bay 188

The ship is quaking. Plenty of troopers are flooding in for an escape pod. They are chopped out of the way by Kylo Ren, who takes a pod and launches out of the ship. He looks on as the Agnomenon explodes.

Kylo Punches in a few keys and enters a channel with Zaltan and Hux.

HUX No! The Jedi was apprehended before, this I swear—

ZALTAN Yours is the only ship to fall internally. The greater treachery must have come from yours.

KYLO It did, your grace.

HUX Kylo! You're alive! Thank the stars. What is going on?

ZALTAN Yes, Kylo. Report.

KYLO The two I captured could never gotten as far as they did without the work of a second Jedi. This Jedi had a working knowledge of the ship and its layout. He allowed them to board, he let them into the comm. room, and he sabotaged the engine room. He ambushed me and took the prisoners with my now absconded personal ship.

ZALTAN Impossible!

KYLO It should have been. The second Jedi was the traitor Hux let escape: FN-2187.

HUX No, that's...

KYLO His latent Force skill led him to a Jedi master. In even this short time, his progress is immeasurable.

ZALTAN Hux, this is the same Jedi you threatened Kylo to let go?

HUX ...It is.

ZALTAN An incompetent is the greatest traitor. Kylo, kill the Vice Admiral.

HUX Wait, Zaltan, Kylo?

Kylo grabs the House Hux Sigil off his robe and holds it in his fingers. Kylo snaps the pin —Hux screams as his pod implodes.

ZALTAN You have done well, Kylo, despite your circumstances. You will take a position under me from here.

KYLO At your request, your grace.

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189 Space Chase scene 189

The Eagle soars at high speed, Poe's evasive flying dodging Republic blasters bound for Imperial warships behind them.

POE Finn, you getting through?

FINN Working on it.

POE Yeah, see that you do.

A red laser shoots from behind The Eagle.

REY Woah, what was that?

POE What you need to be shooting down!

The craft is a Pulsar.9, just the same Poe flies.

POE Wait, don't hit that one! I'll shake him off.

Finn shoots a look at Poe.

Poe flies with erratic moves, diving, the Pulsar.9 struggles to match him, making a valiant effort. But in vain, as three Imperial TIE-I.N.s rip it apart. Finished on the Pulsar, the swarm The Eagle.

POE Ah, now that's better! Let 'em loose.

The lasers start firing at the TIE-I.N.s, who spread wide but stay on their target. Poe dashes and swerves. A shot lands, dropping a TIE-I.N. into a Star Destroyer.

POE Nice shot, Jedi!

VILPUS Nice flying, Poe!

The two on them are joined by three more. They rain hell upon our heroes.

POE Finn, show me progress!

FINN All codes are getting rejected, are these old?

POE Ahh, I don't know. Keep trying, it's our best shot.

Rey shoots one down!

POE Beautiful Rey! Keep it coming!

Poe sees a tattered Republic Battleship, breaking apart and soon to explode in cold space. Poe risks it and dives into her body, trusting his dying ally. This scares off all but two TIE-I.N.s who follow through the narrow rupture.

Inside, the plasma veins have spilled out, the spray burning their surroundings then hanging hazardously in space. Cavities rapidly decompress, hurling shrapnel at the ships, their shields crackling static with every collision. The disruptions overwhelm a TIE-I.N., his entire canopy covered in a web of static; he rams into a steel girder with a fiery explosion. One left.

The collapsing ship gives no straightaway; turn after sharp turn, up, left, hard down left, faster, faster —the fighter matching every motion. Poe's knowledge gives him the edge, making his way to the spot. They arrive in a hangar; fuel tanks scattered without gravity.

POE Our shields are better! Hit the tanks!

REY Got it!

One hit is all it takes, setting off the domino minefield and engulfing the entire hangar in flame. The TIE-I.N. smothered and smoked by the blast. The Eagle springs out from the discharge, alive.

Now inside Republic space, Poe rockets along. Three TIE-I.N.s race behind him. The turret of a Republic Battleship strikes. Poe spirals The Eagle downward. Vilpus nails two TIE-I.N.s. Poe stabilizes.

FINN I can't get in Poe!

POE Oh common! We need this.

VILPUS No... we don't.

Vilpus jumps over to Poe. She searches out the viewport. She scans for a bit more, then points out a tiny dot in space.

VILPUS There, that's the station.

Finn checks it out.

FINN It's real. No assignment to either side. Why is it out here?

POE Fine, taking it! Hold on!

Poe rockets forward, the remaining TIE-I.N. keeps on a relentless onslaught. But once in range, the Organa station turrets pick off the stickler. Poe docks The Eagle next to an X-Wing.

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190 Hallway to Leia's Meadow 190

The hallway is white and gold. A cyborg guides them.

POE Now it feels like vacation.

FINN Vilpus, how did you know this place was here?

VILPUS A familiar presence. You may recognize him too, Rey.

REY Me?

The cyborg opens the door to Luke Skywalker, watching the battle from afar.

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191 Leia's Meadow 191

REY ...Luke Skywalker!

Her recent deal now dirties the experience of her life. Luke turns around to see our new heroes, all badly scuffed up from this long day.

LUKE SKYWALKER Ah, what have we here, Vilpus? Recruits?

VILPUS I would hope so.

REY I... have wanted to meet you my ever since I was a youngling... I wanted to be just like you.

LUKE SKYWALKER Haha, I have become a part of so many people's lives. It feels like I have joined the galaxy's family. I am always stunned at how the little I have done has had an effect and continues to affect so many amazing people... and I can sense it in all of you —that you have ventured into the fantastic today…

Luke eyes Finn.

LUKE SKYWALKER Though you, child, seem lost for where to venture next.

FINN Oh, I...

VILPUS You don't have to join the Order Finn. Your feats can end here.

REY If you leave... you'll still visit, right? I don't know when... I may never see you again.

Finn looks down at his lightsaber. He smiles.

FINN Can I keep this if I stay?

LUKE SKYWALKER Haha, you can keep it no matter what. Stay if you want to learn to use it! Oh!

Luke notices Poe has wandered off, away from the crowd, hollow eyes gazing at the battle. Luke walks over. He rests a hand on Poe.

LUKE SKYWALKER There is still hope, I assure you.

POE Heh! No offense Luke but it doesn't even matter who wins this battle anymore. I'm just sticking around to see who the next overlord will be...

LUKE SKYWALKER No, this battle will not end here. Despite many efforts, no victory will be decided today.

Poe looks back to Luke.

LUKE SKYWALKER There was a timeline where a victor was decided. Then the universe would genuinely be lost... at least for a time. You have prevented this. In some small, terrific way... and now, soon enough, both sides will retreat. Regroup. Amass more power and fear than any war the galaxy has faced. We have entered a new tremendous & terrible era —one requiring heroes and change. We have entered the age of A War Between Stars.

TO BE CONTINUED

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