(Untold Told) Vader's Rebellion

The Tantive IV draws closer to the belly of the Star Destroyer for by now they are being pulled in without power to escape.  The crew gather around the airlock as the massive clamps of the engulfing hanger bay take hold.  Worse yet is the silence that follows.

In an instant the airlock evaporates beneath a shape charge.  And the Stormtroopers' stunner fire rings out with harmless little pings against the hallway.  All of the rebels are incapacitated with only a couple of Stormtroopers shot down.

Then Vader enters after them.

VADER:  Remain here.

Vader leaves the Stormtroopers behind at the airlock and marches after the remaining rebels around the corner and down the hall.  He deflects their frantic blaster fire, but avoids sending it directly back to them.  Coming nearer, he rips their blasters from their hands and then disengages his lightsaber.

VADER:  Don't make me kill you.

 I am defecting.

Vader stands before Captain Antilles on the bridge.

ANTILLES:  After all the rebels you killed

why in the galaxy should we believe you?

VADER:  Your lives are mine.  Make no mistake,

         you are at my mercy.  But you are

          fortunate to present an opportunity

           for me.  And that I intend to take it.

ANTILLES:  What kind of opportunity?

Vader turns to one of his Stormtroopers.

VADER:  Now.

He turns back to Antilles.

VADER:  Witness my resolve.

Out the main window the rebels see
scores of imperials jettisoned
out into space.

VADER:  Only the most loyal to me 

                     remain on the Star Destroyer.

                       Therefore, the Empire does not

                              have to be aware that you survived.

                           So the question remains what you

                      shall do with the imperial plans

                               you captured.  When shall you strike?

ANTILLES:  The plans are no longer aboard.

VADER:  What!?!

He reflects a moment.

VADER:  The ambassador.  

           Where is she?

ANTILLES:  Safe.

He takes hold of Captain Antilles.

VADER:  What have you done with those plans?

LEIA:  They are on the planet.

VADER:  Then recall your agents.

LEIA:  No.

VADER:  You will find there are more

           imperials on the surface.

                         Perhaps I should investigate why 

                       you chose this particular planet?

LEIA:  We were trying to evade you.

           This was supposed to be too

   out of the way for you

     to come looking for us.

VADER:  You're lying ambassador.

                    How many more imperials

                         must I sacrifice?  Any of them

                     are a useful resource to you.

                    But none are missed by me.

LEIA:  Are you trying to hold

                      imperial lives hostage to me?

VADER:  Do you mean to tell me

                             that you do not care if they die?

Vader studies her a moment.

VADER:  Perhaps you and I will got

                    along better than I expected.

Her mouth slips to agape shock,
but then Leia forces herself to
purse her lips in defiance.

VADER:  Indeed.  You will remain concealed

                    within the Star Destroyer for the sake

                    of appearances from observers below.

                     And I will attend to the imperial plans.

LEIA:  The great lord Vader is going

        to search through the sand

         for the Empire's lost plans?

ANTILLES:  Ambassador!

VADER:  I will not set foot on the surface.

           But if you cannot recall your

           agents then my Stormtroopers

                        will have to make quick work of them.

LEIA:  Wait.  Send me instead.

VADER:  You are among the last who

               can be permitted to depart.

          Any one of these rebels

      would sell their lives 

 to return the plans 

back safely to you.

   And I need you as an

            ambassador to the rebellion.

LEIA:  Why don't we go to 

          the surface, Vader?

Together.      

Vader gives Organa a surprising
pause at her suggestion.

VADER:  We will go.

The imperial shuttle descends on Tatooine.

LEIA:  How did you come

                            to be on the Emperor's leash?

VADER:  Do you think it wise 

                   to mock me even now?

LEIA:  We might as well

                        get to know one another.

VADER:  I have not come to you

                   for comradery.  You have,

                              however, created an opportunity 

                   the likes of which I did not

        formerly appreciate.

LEIA:  To do what, exactly?

VADER:  Rest the Emperor's grasp.

LEIA:  And take his place, I suppose.

Leia is met with the hiss
of his respirator.

She faces away from the dark figure contemplating
what this reluctant alliance could spell for the
rebellion if there is yet another tyrant who
might step in, in need of being overthrown.

Vader turns toward her.

VADER:  Who is here?

LEIA:  I'm sorry?

VADER:  Why did you come to

                   this planet?  Who were

            you hoping to find 

 on Tatooine?

LEIA:  I don't know 

                 what you mean.

VADER:  You conceal your mind well

                        for one who has had no training.

LEIA:  Training in what?

VADER:  I believe that is the first honest

              question you have asked me.

             Your father should have told

         something of the ways in

              the Force.  At the very least,

                   what he saw with his own eyes.

LEIA:  My father told me enough.

VADER:  Let us hope so, for your sake.

We shall soon see.  

The imperial shuttle touches down.
Leia pauses behind Vader at the
base of the ramp.

LEIA:  Where will you begin?

VADER:  With whomever you sent 

        your agents to meet.

               You have only to tell me.

LEIA:  You were right when you said that

              imperial lives mean nothing to you.

              What if this is all an elaborate trick?

VADER:  I still hold your crew in orbit.

LEIA:  One ship is not worth 

                 the rebellion.  We either 

                    come to an understanding 

            here or go no further.

            This is where it ends.

                     All the threats, the murder,

                           you no longer have your terror

                          to hold us hostage to.  Is this a

        new day or isn't it?

VADER:  I am your best hope for destroying

                  the Emperor.  You only hold the key

                 to one of his machinations.  Do not 

                  test me again, ambassador.  Lead on.

She stands firm.

Vader raises his hand and has a flash
before his eyes of Padme's collapse.

VADER:  Who are you?

LEIA:  What do you mean?

VADER:  That came from your mind.

LEIA:  What did?

VADER:  You do not see it?  Strange.

            I'm beginning to see how

             the Force surrounds you, 

                 ambassador.  Though it may

                   be difficult for you to believe,

     I do not resist destiny.

LEIA:  What does that mean

       for the rebellion?

VADER:  I see the Emperor's demise

                  at the hands of the rebellion.

                     It has proved far more than the

                    mere diversion I once thought.

LEIA:  A diversion?

VADER:  Come.  I now sense where we

      might find your agents.
                    You sent them to the wasteland.

The two of them board a speeder bike and zoom off.

Silhouetted by the setting suns, Vader sees a sand crawler cresting a dune.  He zooms toward it and the vehicle creates a sand storm coming to a halt.  Leia coughs away the dust and inquires of Vader.

LEIA:  Why are we stopping?

VADER:  Wait here.

The steps lower and some Jawas disembark.

Vader turns back from speaking with the Jawas.

VADER:  You may search for your droids.

                   They are presenting today's catch.

After a moment, Leia has R2 and C-3PO standing before her in a line of other droids.  In a rare moment of grace, C-3PO discerns the danger and looks back and forth between Vader and Leia with concerned silence.

VADER:  Select them, so we may return

                          to the Star Destroyer with the plans.

C-3PO:  What plans?

Leia winces.  She knew his composure couldn't last.

VADER:  Are you the property of this 

                             Alderaan Ambassador, Leia Organa?

C-3PO thinks a moment.

C-3PO:  Well, sir, I currently appear to be

       the property of these Jawas.

       I imagine they would sell us

 to you for a real bargain.

Leia can't resist a smile.

VADER:  Enough of this.  It is a pale evasion.

     Claim your droids and I will

cover the Jawa's price.   

Go to your mistress.       

C-3PO:  Yes, sir.

C-3PO scurries on over to Leia's side, but R2-D2 stays put.

C-3PO:  Come on.

Leia restrains his arm and
puts a hand to his mouth.

VADER:  Which one is your

                  companion, droid?

C-3PO:  I'm not sure if I...

VADER:  Who arrived on this

             planet with you?

C-3PO:  That one there.

He points out a gonk droid.

VADER:  Impressive.

He walks up to C-3PO to study him.

VADER:  You are capable of deception; a necessity 

     in the service of rebels, I suppose.

He turns back to the line of droids.

VADER:  Ambassador, if all I desired was to secure

                  these plans away from the rebellion I could

                      do worse than slaughter every droid and Jawa

                       I find in this sand crawler before I was certain

                      that the sensitive information was destroyed.  

                             Instead, I wish to return it intact in your company.

                  You waste precious time with your inability

                  to trust my ambition to unseat the Emperor.

                    Identify the droid which is carrying the plans

 so that we may depart this planet.

She watches him awhile.

VADER:  Please.

In justifiable shock she indicates R2-D2.

VADER:  Droid, come.  Join your master.

                         She will walk with you from here on

                             and return you to your place in the sky.

The droids are made to walk as they leave together.

The Star Destroyer holds orbit over Dantooine.  Vader notes the overgrowth of the ruins.  The rebels had not occupied this place for some time, yet it crawled with command personnel who had moved right in as if they had always been.

VADER:  This is not your true base of operations.

GENERAL DODONNA:  And you shall not see it any time soon,

lord Vader.

VADER:  You have done well to evade capture, general,

      for being among the few known rebels

of prominence.  Will Mon Mothma 

not being joining us?                       

GENERAL DODONNA:  Mon Mothma is a member of the 

                                         imperial senate and holds no ties

              to the rebellion.

VADER:  That was no probe, general.

                       You fail to appreciate how well

                          the Emperor knows his enemies.

                     And Mon Mothma's pretense 

                 is soon to be brushed aside.

LEIA:  What do you mean?

VADER:  The imperial senate 

             will be dissolved.

GENERAL DODONNA:  Impossible.  Who will govern the people?

VADER:  The Emperor already has his governors.

They will simply do without 

the oversight of the senate.   

And the instrument of control

lies in the plans before you.   

LEIA:  Is it true this weapon

              can destroy a planet?

He turns his head to her, but doesn't answer.

LEIA:  Is it true?

VADER:  I have yet to witness it.

               But the weapon shows

                 promise for penetrating

                         the Emperor's own defenses.

GENERAL DODONNA:  So you don't want to destroy

                                                             the Death Star.  You want to capture it?

VADER:  Unfortunately, there will be many who

                       are loyal to the Emperor.  You must devise

a plan to overwhelm them.

GENERAL DODONNA:  What, over one Star Destroyer?

VADER:  One Star Destroyer will not be enough
                       to command the interior of the Death Star
                      let alone attack it from without.  You will
                               need to supply a crew to man the battle station.

LEIA:  And how shall we deliver them?

VADER:  I have come to you for ingenuity.
       I pray you shall not prove
superfluous to the plan
before you.  Is this not
the greatest victory the
rebellion could ever  
hope to achieve?      

LEIA:  I wonder.

VADER:  If you doubt your ability to capitalize
     on this opportunity then I will
  simply look elsewhere for a
  body far more powerful and
capable of standing before
 the might of the Emperor.

GENERAL DODONNA:  We are capable, Vader.
                                                     The question remains of our
                                                                 standing once the task is complete.
                                                                   In what galaxy should we trade the
                                       Emperor for you?

VADER:  I seek the Emperor's power.
           But in the course of the
        changing regime there
      will be chaos for you
to operate within.
Perhaps you will
        achieve the advantage
over me.          

LEIA:  No promises of friendship, Vader?

VADER:  I would not insult your
                  intelligence so gravely.

GENERAL DODONNA:  I will take your proposal
                                          before the other leaders.

VADER:  As you wish... general.

The Star Destroyer exits out of hyperspace near the Death Star with three rebel corvettes in tow.
Moff Tarkin addresses Vader on the view screen.

TARKIN:  You surprise me Vader.

                                 Have you taken undo prisoners?

VADER:  I was in pursuit of the rebels

           all the way to Dantooine.

                  There was a stronghold there.

     And I am delivering 

    rebellion leadership.

TARKIN:  Indeed.  We shall await your arrival.

The channel closes.

LEIA:  Governor Tarkin?

                      He's on the Death Star?

VADER:  He shall be given the choice to join us.

But in the end the Death Star

will change hands this day.   

It is the will of the Force.      

LEIA:  I didn't know that you cared

      for the will of the Force.

Vader regards her with the goggled eyes
burning with a ferocity narrowly contained
yet the whole of the demeanor remains
constantly cool and serene; metallic air
drifting to her tongue in his presence.

VADER:  To claim the Force is to claim

                   the destiny of your birthright,

 Senator... Organa. 

The next moment the imperial shuttle departs
from the Star Destroyer and the corvettes
follow close behind driving ahead of
the Star Destroyer to the Death Star.

The shuttle comes to rest in the hanger bay
amidst constant klaxons announcing them.

Moff Tarkin appears down two columns of Stormtroopers
and his eyes twitch at the city of Leia Organa.

TARKIN:  Quite the prize, Vader.

                         But I wonder at how many

                      you must have captured 

                          to require additional ships.

VADER:  There is a matter of great importance

that we must discuss.        

TARKIN:  Indeed, my dear friend.

                      I'll have my men take the 

               princess to detention.

VADER:  She will attend.

TARKIN:  Whatever for, Vader?

VADER:  It concerns the Empire's survival.

Tarkin turns with an indicating hand and lets Vader and Leia pass.
He takes the ear of one of the officers.

TARKIN:  Tell those captured corvettes to hold.

                 I don't want them docking as of yet.

He follows after Vader and the princess.

TARKIN:  You're taking an awful risk, Vader.

VADER:  I trust I don't have to give

                           you an appraisal of the situation.

TARKIN:  Oh, yes.  I understand quite well.

                                  The Emperor is the reason for my position.

                               And I can only suspect that you want me

                           to answer his generosity with betrayal.

             What did you think I will do?

                  The Emperor is powerful, Vader.

                     And should you elect to wield the 

                         Force against me it still won't change

                                        that fact.  This is quite the impossible position.

VADER:  So I take it your are decided?

Stormtroopers flood the conference room.

TARKIN:  You should not have come back.

He strides out as Vader ignites his lightsaber.

Leia pings her coms and the corvette thrusters
roar to life for each to ram headlong into
one of the Death Stars hanger bays.

While Vader cuts through the conference room,
rebel troops pour into the Death Star from their
three breach points, and the Star Destroyer's Ties
are a minute out having launched them out of range
of the Death Star's main weapon.

Tarkin is just closing the blast doors down the hall
when Vader emerges from the conference room.

And Tarkin only glances at the door in his periphery
when the crimson tip pierces through the other side.

Leia watches Vader from behind.

Vader continues cutting while addressing her.

VADER:  Dispel your doubts, Senator.

                  The Force is strong with you.

                       I doubt you shall be abandoned 

               so soon after discovering it.

LEIA:  What do you mean?

VADER:  You have aligned yourself with

                       your destiny and shall be rewarded.

          Today spells the end of the 

Emperor's reign.       

And with that the slab falls away
and Vader steps through the opening.

Leia mumbles.

LEIA:  And what shall we call you?

Three Stormtroopers round the corner
fleeing under a hail of blaster fire.

TROOPER:  Lord Vader, we're being overwhelmed!

VADER:  Leave that to me.

He proceeds to cut the three down.

The pursuing rebels appear.

VADER:  Secure the Senator.

                                   See that no harm comes to her.

LEIA:  If you're just going to smash everything in sight
then why did you bring me in there?  
Why am I here, Vader?                          

VADER:  The Force is strong with you.

LEIA:  What does that mean?

VADER:  That there will be a place
      for you at my side.
          But not yet.  Not yet.

Vader leaves the rebels in his wake and continues on to the control room.  The blast doors have already closed and two dozen stormtroopers stand in front of it.  Vader returns his lightsaber to his belt and stands before them.

The troopers glance at each other and divide in two columns with precision as an honor guard.
Vader marches forward and places a hand to the blast doors.  The hallway tremors, the door dents and crumples in several places before finally flying inward.  Vader strides in amidst the smoke, uncontested.  He kicks the bottom of Tarkin's boot as that is the only part sticking out from beneath the dislodged hulk.

VADER:  End all your hostilities and

                    swear loyalty to my rebellion.

In the next moment the Death Star appears in orbit over Coruscant.  Leia steps away from speaking to a rebel technician at a control station and joins Darth Vader at his side to look out the main observation window.

VADER:  Deliver the order, Senator.

Leia appears from every holographic
emitter all across the planet.

LEIA:  People of the Empire, you will surrender

        the world of Coruscant to us forthwith

               and turn over the former Galactic Emperor

by order of the Rebel Alliance...  

     or you will be destroyed.