An Insidious Signal

SEASON 1 EPISODE 1

OPENING CREDITS END WITH LOGO: “STAR WARS”

PAN DOWN TO:

EXT. ASTEROID FIELD

A ring of space rocks of various shapes and sizes float lazily in orbit about a distant blue-white star. A U-WING transport rubber-bands into visibility as it drops from hyperspace and dives towards one of the larger asteroids.

CAPTION: URARTU/Rebel scout base

A concealed blast door in the side of the asteroid cracks open as the U-Wing approaches, revealing a small landing bay with an IMPERIAL ESCORT GUNBOAT and a quartet of X-WING fighters parked inside.

The U-Wing settles towards the deck.

INT. HANGAR BAY

A side hatch opens and CASSIAN ANDOR, a Rebel agent, steps out followed by K2SO, a reprogrammed Imperial security droid. K2SO is over two meters tall and has to duck to avoid hitting his head. They are met by astro-tech KAI WEZEN, along with a GNK ‘GONK’ POWER DROID.

KAI

You brought it back in one piece this time. Amazing.

CASSIAN

No thanks to you. Port stabilizer is loose.

KAI

Stabilizer, eh? Oooh, that could be expensive.

CASSIAN (pats KAI on the shoulder)

Put it on my tab. (to K2SO) You stay here. Commander Qinzi gets nervous when you’re around.

CASSIAN turns and marches towards the exit while K2SO remains by the ship. KAI calls after CASSIAN:

KAI

Hey, hear anything exciting?

CASSIAN (over his shoulder)

Nope, not a peep. Imps are keeping quiet.

KAI

Maybe they’ve given up? Gone home.

CASSIAN

That’ll be the day.

CASSIAN enters a turbolift, turns to face KAI with a wry smile. He shakes his head as the door begins to close:

See you after the debrief—and fix that stabilizer!

The last is shouted through a narrowing crack as the door slides shut.

KAI

(To the closed door) Yeah, yeah.

He glances nervously at K2SO, still standing nearby like a dark specter. His smile promptly fades.

Need something?

K2SO

I was going to offer to help with the repairs.

KAI

Yeah, no. We got it covered.

He pats the GONK DROID affectionately.

K2SO

It’s alright, you know. I’m on your side now.

KAI

That’s as maybe. I just hope we never have to put that to the test. Now if you’ll excuse me, we have some repairs to do. (to the GONK DROID) Well, how about it? Spare some juice?

GONK DROID

Gonk.

KAI begins to walk past K2SO, towards the right rear section of the U-WING, the GONK DROID waddling along in his wake.

KAI

You said it, buddy.

K2SO (mimicking softly)

‘You said it buddy’. Amazing that they’re the dominant species in the galaxy.

He heads back into the U-Wing.

CUT TO:

INT. REBEL BASE COMMAND CENTER

The room is dark, the walls carved from the stone of the asteroid’s interior. The only light is given off by displays and terminals wedged into the irregular nooks and crannies of the room. Various REBELs are at work, including an RA-7 PROTOCOL DROID.

Ventilators built into the cavern roof provide a kind of background beat, a steady chugging as they labor to circulate the air.

CASSIAN stands before COMMANDER QINZI, a one-meter-tall bat-like Chadra-Fan. A holographic projector in the floor displays a cloud of semi-transparent stars in the space between them.

One of the stars glows bright orange.

CASSIAN (points at the orange star)

It’s odd: They spent all that time and effort building a communications tower on Ortolani, and then. Nothing. They’re just sitting there.

QINZI (speaks in alien tongue)

(Subtitles) If that’s your way of asking me to order an attack, permission denied.

CASSIAN

A small strike force—we’d only need one torpedo to hit the base of the tower …

QINZI

(Sub) No, it’s too heavily defended. Anyway, it’s probably just a listening post.

QINZI stops and cocks his head. His bat-ears swivel slightly.

A silver-plated RA-7 protocol droid approaches, its leg hydraulics whining. QINZI holds up a finger, shushing it.

(Sub) You hear that?

As CASSIAN shakes his head, we become aware of a faint, very high-pitched whine, just at the edge of hearing.

INT. HANGAR BAY

KAI squats by the side of the X-Wing, illuminated in flashes as he works on the engine stabilizer. The GONK DROID stands patiently behind him. The GONK DROID is plugged into a panel of the U-Wing’s engine. The dog-whistle sound starts.

INT. U-WING

K2SO stands before the navigation computer panel, reviewing the last mission logs. The high-pitched keening sounds, and he stops. Tilts his head. Looks around the compartment, then begins to walk towards the open hatch.

CUT TO:

EXT. ORTOLANI-DAY

We move across a heavily terraformed planet surface: Cliffsides are perfectly perpendicular, plains are ceramic-smooth and flat, canals run in regular arcs or ruler-straight lines. The only vegetation is a kind of dense and thick green-black lichen or moss that grows across everything.

We hear the whine, louder now.

We move towards a shining band of vertical light on the horizon, which as we get closer comes into focus as the sun glinting off the side of an IMPERIAL BROADCAST TOWER. The design is of the ‘Imperial Bombastic’ school of architecture, glossy obsidian studded with blood-right lighting. It is stupendously tall, absolutely gigantic, mountainous, its peak barely visible from the ground. TIE FIGHTERS prowl in patrol circuits about the tower, tiny mosquito specks against its vast bulk.

The whine is much louder.

We zoom up its slightly tapering central column, flashing past hundreds of levels, until we slow to a stop outside a set of windows near the top.

PUSH INSIDE TO:

INT. TOWER SIGNALS ROOM

A team of grey and olive-clad Imperial communication TECHNICIANS hunch over controls, watching displays intently.

The dark figure of Imperial Security Director TEMORION MARR stands in shadow at the rear of the chamber. We cannot see his face or features, only hear his voice.

TECHNICIAN 1

Test hyperspace burst sent. Duration 15, amplitude 10.

TECHNICIAN 2

Getting positive pickup from repeater stations. Successful subsector transmission confirmed.

MARR

Any defector signals?

TECHNICIAN 1

Analyzing …

CUT TO:

INT. BASE COMMAND CENTER

QINZI looks intently up at the ceiling, then shakes his head.

QINZI

(Sub) Ah, it’s probably nothing.

CASSIAN frowns, gives an ah-well shrug. He hasn’t heard anything.

QINZI turns to the RA-7 droid waiting nearby. It stands at the edge of the holomap table. QINZI’s blaster lies on its side at the edge of the table.

(Sub) Yes? Is it urgent?

INT. TOWER SIGNALS ROOM

TECHNICIAN 1

Multiple contacts in the Urartu system, sir.

MARR

Ah, an uninhabited system, or so we thought. Excellent. Activate assets.

C/U GONK DROID

Dog-whistle sound continues. Sparks from KAI’s welding are reflected in the black mirror of the droid’s featureless face. Green lights glow on its forward panel.

KAI (off-screen)

Alright, that should do it. Try feeding power. Slowly, now.

GONK DROID

Gonk.

The lights flash briefly, and turn amber.

KAI

Hey, hey, hey watch it, I said slowly!

The lights burn an angry red.

Shut it down! It’s going to overload. Shut it down!

There is a loud detonation off-screen, and a brilliant strobe of light. KAI’s yell is cut short. A moment later, smoke wafts across the screen.

 GONK DROID

Gonk.

INT. BASE COMMAND CENTER

QINZI looks expectantly into the insectoid eyes of the RA-7.

RA-7

Yes. Urgent.

QINZI

Well?

The RA-7 suddenly lunges forward and grabs the blaster off the holomap table. Its metallic fingers are clumsy, but it scoops up the gun and turns it around to point at QINZI.

A blaster bolt from off-screen slams into its shoulder, rocking the droid back. It reels, recovers, and raises the blaster again and squeezes off a shot.

A second shot hits it dead center in the chest, causing an explosion of hot-white sparks. Third, fourth and fifth shots come in rapid succession, the last one blowing off the droid’s head.

It totters for a moment, as though undecided what to do, gestures vaguely with its gun and then topples over backwards.

INT. HANGAR BAY

K2SO exits the U-Wing and comes to an immediate halt. Flames flicker from the U-Wing’s side. The GONK DROID stands inches from the flames, apparently unconcerned. KAI’s badly scorched body lies face-down at K2SO’s feet.

We hear a staccato series of metallic clicks of weapons being readied, and four blaster barrels appear in the shot, all pointed at K2SO. His arms shoot up in surrender.

K2SO

Wait, wait! I can explain. (beat) Okay, no I can’t.

INT. BASE COMMAND CENTER

Pandemonium. Alarms blare.

CASSIAN standing with his blaster pistol gripped in both hands, barrel still smoking. Slowly, he lowers it and glances at QINZI.

QINZI sits slumped in his chair, the black burn mark of a blaster bolt on his chest. He does not move.

CASSIAN (muttering)

Still think it’s just a listening post?

INT. TOWER SIGNALS ROOM

TECHNICIAN 2

Two positives, targets engaged. Assets neutralized.

MARR

Short but sharp, eh? Nevertheless, a promising start. We’ll widen the focus for the next test. Be ready in two days.

CUT TO:

EXT. ORTOLANI-DAY

An Imperial ESCORT GUNBOAT on approach to the Broadcast Tower. The gunboat has all the elegance of a flying brick. Two large engines jut from the rear of the blocky body and its stubby wings, the glassy cockpit protrudes forward, bracketed by gun clusters on either side. More weapons pods are slung beneath the short wings. It trails a whispery-thin plume of white smoke from one engine. The landing gear extends as it settles onto a landing pad near the base of the tower.

EXT. LANDING PAD-DAY

Floor-height shot, so that figures are only visible from the knee down.

The landing ramp of the gunboat vents white plumes of vapor, then hinges open. After a beat, two sets of feet tramp down the ramp—one black-booted, the other a matte black pair of IMPERIAL SECURITY DROID feet.

They pause at the bottom of the ramp. Then set off across the pad.

TRACKING SHOT:

We trail along behind them, staying at floor level.

We pause at an entrance guarded by STORMTROOPERS. The pair of boots goes to one side to confer with one of the Stormtroopers, then returns. They proceed inside.

There is a gentle bustle of movement all around. Figures in various types of uniform pass in front of our trio. An Imperial COLONEL almost bumps into them.

COLONEL

Watch where you’re going. Useless tin can.

The COLONEL circles around them and walks off. The pair start to follow after him. Then stop. Confer. Then head the other way.

They walk down a busy corridor, and finally come to a stop before a turbolift door.

They wait. One boot taps an impatient foot. They wait.

Finally, the door slides open and the three get on. There is another pair of feet already inside, also wearing Imperial OFFICER boots, standing in front of the control panel.

OFFICER (off-screen)

Where to?

One figure responds-we recognize CASSIAN’s voice.

CASSIAN

Sorry?

OFFICER

Which floor?

CASSIAN

The ah … the signals floor.

OFFICER

Ooh, ouch.

There is a slight shudder as the turbolift begins to rise. Lights slide down the sides of the turbolift car to represent levels, rapidly accelerating until they are a streaking blur.

Did Director Marr send for you?

CASSIAN

(Pause) Yes. Yes, he did.

OFFICER

You must be sweating, huh? You know, I thought you looked nervous when you got on. Ha ha.

CASSIAN

Ha ha. Was it that obvious?

OFFICER

Yeah. I’m good at noticing details like that.

CASSIAN

I can tell.

There is an awkward silence. The turbolift continues to rise and rise and rise, lights rippling down the sides of the car.

OFFICER

Hell of a posting if you’re afraid of heights, huh?

CASSIAN only grunts.

Amazing what we’ve built here. Although, it kind of makes you nervous to have one of … them around, doesn’t it?

The robot feet shift slightly to point towards the OFFICER and the figure speaks for the first time:

K2SO

Oh, he’s not so bad once you get used to him.

The lights on either side of the car slow and stop turbolift eases to a halt, and the door slides open.

OFFICER

Aha. Yes. Well. This is me. Good luck with the Director.

K2SO

Thank you. Mind you don’t fall down any open turbolift shafts.

As the doors close:

That would be a real shame.

The turbolift is back in motion.

CASSIAN

Kaytwo!

K2SO

What?

CASSIAN

A little less sarcasm, a little more silent menace.

K2SO

Oh, alright. (beat) Spoilsport.

CUT TO:

INT. TOWER SIGNALS ROOM

A pair of STORMTROOPERS stand in front of the turbolift door. It slides open behind them to reveal CASSIAN and K2SO, but neither turn around. CASSIAN is dressed in the olive uniform of a junior officer.

CASSIAN and K2SO remain in the turbolift, looking around the room, unsure where they should go. One of the STORMTROOPERS, realizing that nobody got off, slowly turns and regards them coldly.

K2SO gives a casual little wave.

K2SO

Hi.

CASSIAN (hissing sharply)

Kaytwo!

K2SO (trying to sound menacing)

I mean, what are you looking at?

STORMTROOPER 1

Sir?

CASSIAN

Don’t mind him. I think it’s the altitude. We’re here to download all records of the recent transmission. Orders from … Director Marr.

The Stormtrooper waves vaguely to one of the consoles.

STORMTROOPER 1

Whatever. Don’t keep him waiting.

CASSIAN

Right. (to K2SO) You heard him, let’s move.

He gives the Stormtrooper a curt nod, and waves for K2SO to follow him. They squeeze past some of the technicians with muttered apologies, until they stand before a terminal with a circular data access port.

K2SO plugs in. His photoreceptors flash.

CASSIAN waits, hands clasped tightly behind his back.

TECHNICIAN 2, sitting close by, glances sidelong at them. CASSIAN flashes a nervous smile. TECHNICIAN 2 looks back down at their console without smiling back.

CUT TO:

INT. SPACE TRAFFIC CONTROL ROOM

Monitors display a list of incoming and outgoing flights. Video feeds show ships taking off and landing. R1-O1, a cylindrical ASTROMECH DROID, is plugged into the main console. TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS speak softly into headsets.

The OFFICER from the turbolift enters the room together with an AIDE.

OFFICER

… said he’d been summoned by Director Marr, poor fool. Better him than me, eh? Alright R1, let’s see today’s list.

R1-O1 beeps acknowledgement, and its data probe whirrs. The OFFICER, impatient, smacks R1’s dome.

Faster, you junkyard reject.

R1 moans an apology, but is ignored. The OFFICER scans the list. Then glances aside.

Who’s that on Pad Alpha Two?

INT. TOWER SIGNALS ROOM

The data port chugs and whirrs as K2SO continues to download data. CASSIAN wanders over to a window and looks down. Blanches and hurriedly spins around. He keeps his back to the view.

INT. SPACE TRAFFIC CONTROL ROOM

R1-O1 whistles, and a monitor displays the Escort Gunboat, sitting on the landing pad.

AIDE

Alpha Two? Hm, says it’s a diverted flight, damaged in a Rebel ambush near Wobani.

OFFICER

Oh? Who was on it?

INT. TOWER SIGNALS ROOM

The data port clicks to a halt. K2SO’s eyes return to their normal, steady light. He withdraws his data probe and stands up straighter.

K2SO (softly, dazed)

Incredible.

CASSIAN

Yes, incredible. You have it then? Yes? Good. We’d best be going then. Don’t want to keep the Director waiting now, do we?

He hooshes K2SO back towards the turbolift. The droid moves with the blind-footed step of a sleepwalker, bumping into a desk and awkwardly maneuvering around it.

INT. SPACE TRAFFIC CONTROL ROOM

R1-01 warbles and the view on the monitor shifts to a video playback of the gunboat’s arrival, as seen from the ground.

AIDE

Look. That’s them.

The screen plays back a video of CASSIAN and K2SO exiting the ship. The OFFICER glances, does a double take. Stares.

INT. TURBOLIFT

CASSIAN taps the control panel, glances over at K2SO.

CASSIAN

How bad is it?

K2SO

Hyperspace intrusion signal, capable of remotely reprogramming droids light years away.

CASSIAN

But you were unaffected?

K2SO

It’s designed not to target any droid with Imperial loyalty programming. Apparently, I still count.

CASSIAN

Alright. We’ll get out, report back, figure out a way to immunize our droids against it.

The turbolift lurches, starts to descend.

INT. SPACE TRAFFIC CONTROL ROOM

OFFICER

A … diverted flight, did you say?

AIDE

Yes sir. Tangled with the Rebs over Wobani.

OFFICER

Not, ah, not ordered here by Director Marr?

AIDE

Well, no sir. Not unless he’s causing emergencies two systems away. Ha ha.

OFFICER

Ha … hahhh. (beat) Get me security. Now.

INT. TURBOLIFT

The turbolift car screeches to a sudden halt. CASSIAN’s and K2SO’s feet leave the deck, they are briefly airborne, before slamming back down to the floor of the car. They stagger, CASSIAN steadies himself against the wall, recovers.

K2SO

Well that can’t be good.

CASSIAN

I think that was our cover getting blown.

K2SO

What now?

CASSIAN

Well, either they remotely operate the lift and take us to a floor where a squad of Stormtroopers is waiting to capture us.

K2SO

Or?

CASSIAN

Or they don’t bother trying to capture us. (gestures towards the roof) Open a door and toss a thermal detonator down on top of us.

K2SO

Sorry I asked.

CASSIAN (still peering at the roof)

Gives me an idea. Think you can reach that high?

K2SO extends his arms straight up, and manages to grab hold of a strut supporting the turbolift roof. He gives an experimental tug. The metal shrieks and groans. He tries again, and it crumples and bends a little.

A voice crackles from the control panel.

MARR

Good afternoon, gentlemen. I take it I am addressing Rebel agents sent to infiltrate our operations?

CASSIAN

What? I have no idea what you are talking about. This is outrageous. (Gestures furiously to K2SO to keep working, hisses:) I’ll stall him. (Speaks louder in an attempt to cover the noise) I demand that you release control of the turbolift immediately! I am here on the orders of Director Marr himself. Who do you think you are?

K2SO (softly)

Bet it’s Marr.

He yanks harder and the metal of the turbolift begins to tear away in a great sheet.

MARR

This is Temorion Marr.

K2SO

Told you.

MARR

You’ve already downloaded our files, so I assume to know what we’ve built here. Impressive, isn’t it?

CASSIAN

Brain-washing droids and turning them into murderers? It’s monstrous.

MARR

Oh really? Our video logs show you arrived with an Imperial Security Droid in tow. Ask it whether reprogramming droids is monstrous or not.

CASSIAN shoots K2SO a look, who is busy demolishing the top of the turbolift.

K2SO looks down briefly, considers.

K2SO

It’s more exciting, I’ll give you that.

He gives a final heave. Nearly half of the turbolift roof now hangs in a ragged slice, revealing the vast blue-black column of the lift shaft above, dwindling into infinity.

MARR

Oh dear, are you two destroying my perfectly beautiful turbolift?

CASSIAN

We’re going to destroy your entire operation. We’ll stop you.

MARR

Ah, that’s the beauty of it. It works on any droid without a kernel of Imperial loyalty programming. Don’t you see? It’s the perfect showcase for your hypocrisy: The only way to prevent your droids from turning against you is to rewrite their loyalty programs and give them the ability to turn against you.

CASSIAN

We just might do that. Would you be willing to do the same?

K2SO waves to CASSIAN to come over.

K2SO (softly)

Hold on to my back. And don’t look down.

CASSIAN puts his hands on K2SO’s shoulders, hauls himself into a piggyback position, wrapping both arms around the droid’s neck. He wraps his legs about K2SO’s waist for good measure.

MARR

Don’t be ridiculous. We have never pretended we aren’t in favor of order and security. Control. It is your morality on trial here, not ours. Now, amusing as this has been, I think it’s time for us to say goodbye.

K2SO reaches up, grabs the top lip of the roof and hauls the two of them up and out of the turbolift car.

There are no handholds in the lift shaft: He must stab his fingers into the metal, deforming and puncturing it, then slowly and laboriously haul them upwards.

The second his feet clear the car, there is a tremendous clang as the turbolift brakes release. The car plummets away from them, accelerating faster and faster, pulling a whistling gale of wind after it.

K2SO dangles precariously, swinging slightly in the howling wind of displaced air sucked after the car. CASSIAN squints and grits his teeth. He twists his neck to look down, gulps, squeezes his eyes shut.

K2SO

I did warn you.

CASSIAN

Just climb.

INT. TURBOLIFT HALL

There is a row of three turbolift doors, each displaying the current floor to one side, above the controls. The numbers displayed on the center lift begin to rapidly change, then blur.

Imperial soldiers and officers passing by stare. A few back away from the door.

INT. TURBOLIFT SHAFT

K2SO, with CASSIAN clinging to his back, slowly inches up the side of the shaft. There is a closed turbolift door about a dozen meters above them. K2SO heaves them towards it, handhold by metal-puncturing handhold.

After a moment, there is a distant crunch of the lift car impacting with the ground. It is very faint. Very far away. The sides of the turbolift shake slightly and K2SO is forced to stop until the tremors pass.

K2SO

Like I said, more exciting.

CASSIAN (swallows hard)

Just climb.

INT. BASEMENT

A darkened storage room, piled high with crates and boxes, with turbolift doors at one end. A squad of STORMTROOPERS wait in the dim light.

There is a titanic rending, crunching sound, metal screaming, and the entire frame vibrates slightly from the impact.

INT. TURBOLIFT SHAFT

K2SO goes to puncture the metal for another handlhold, but the weakened metal suddenly gives way and tears from the wall entirely, leaving him holding a scrap of metal, dangling by one hand.

He swings like a pendulum, side to side, CASSIAN hanging on for dear life.

K2SO tries to use the momentum of his swing to gain a new handhold, his fingers slip, come loose. He swings again. His fingers find purchase. He pauses for a moment, not quite trusting his new grip.

INT. BASEMENT

The turbolift door opens to reveal the mangled remains of the turbolift car. Small flames flicker amid the carnage. The stormtroopers approach cautiously.

INT. TURBOLIFT SHAFT

CASSIAN

You could have let me go, you know. Easy to climb out on your own.

K2SO

I could. (beat) Won’t though.

CASSIAN

Why not? Marr was right. I forced you to fight for the Rebellion.

K2SO

Does anyone choose to fight for the Rebellion?

CASSIAN

What? Of course. We all do. Everyone is a volunteer.

K2SO

So you could have stood by and done nothing? That was an option for you? Could you stop now and walk away from the Rebellion?

CASSIAN

Well …

K2SO

I think you squishy types have your own kind of programming.

INT. CORRIDOR

Slick onyx floor, slate grey walls punctured at regular intervals by columns of floor-to-ceiling oblong illumination panels.

A pair of STORMTROOPERS cautiously approaches a closed turbolift door with weapons drawn.

LEFT STORMTROOPER

They weren’t in the car. Might still be alive.

RIGHT STORMTROOPER

Not for long.

LEFT STORMTROOPER goes to the access panel at the side of the door and punches in a code, while RIGHT STORMTROOPER waits against the opposite wall.

The doors whoosh open to reveal the empty turbolift shaft. We hear a scream of sudden wind. The STORMTROOPERS wait for it to subside, then share a look and a nod.

Gingerly, slowly, keeping their center of gravity well back, they lean out and look down the shaft.

A red blaster bolt strikes LEFT STORMTROOPER in the helmet and pitches him backwards. A split-second later a second bolt hammers into the chestplate of RIGHT STORMTROOPER and he tumbles into the open shaft with a cry and is gone.

A beat later, CASSIAN’s head appears at the bottom edge of the open door, then shoulders, then he gets an elbow up, the hand still gripping his blaster. Keeping his blaster ready, he crawls one-armed and worms his way up into the corridor on his stomach, rolls into a sitting position and puts his back to the corridor with a deep sigh of relief.

K2SO (off-screen)

Oh don’t mind me, I’ll just hang around down here. Take your time. No rush.

CASSIAN

Can you make it? You’re a little heavy for me to lift.

K2SO mutters and grumbles as he hauls himself up into the corridor.

K2SO

This is the thanks I get …

CASSIAN

Kaytwo … thank you. You saved our lives.

K2SO

Ah. Oh. Yes. Well. It was nothing. (beat) We’re still trapped in a huge tower filled to the brim with Imperial soldiers and droids, so we still might die, you know.

CASSIAN pushes himself up from the wall, stands, a smile on his face.

CASSIAN

Maybe, maybe not. You’ve given me an idea.

INT. SPACE TRAFFIC CONTROL ROOM

The OFFICER, AIDE, R1-O1 and CONTROLLERS wait tensely. A red alert light in the ceiling pulses, intermittently drenching the room in crimson.

AIDE

No response from the patrol, sir.

OFFICER

R1, lock down all incoming and outgoing flights. Nobody in or out. Control routed to my screen. That means now, Squeaky, now.

As R1 beeps in response, we hear the whoosh of a door opening.

There will be no escape for the rebel scum now.

The barrel of a blaster pistol appears in the frame, placed against the back of the OFFICER’s neck.

CASSIAN

Sure about that?

The OFFICER freezes, and slowly raises their hands. The AIDE catches the motion, looks over, gasps and reaches for their pistol. It clears the holster-then K2SO’s hand clamps down on it. His fingers squeeze, mangling and crumpling the barrel.

The AIDE drops the gun and backs away with a nervous little laugh. CONTROLLERS turn in their chairs and stop. Slowly raise their hands. CASSIAN nods towards the side of the room, and they stand and huddle to the side.

OFFICER

Surrender now. You can’t escape. There are thousands of men on this base.

CASSIAN

Mmhm. Thousands of men … and droids. Isn’t that right? Kaytwo, if you would.

K2SO approaches R1. The little droid rocks back and forth on its stubby legs, bleating in fear and protest.

K2SO

I agree, there’s an irony in forcing someone to have free will. Apologies.

His hand hinges back and extends a data probe. He bends over and inserts it into a socket in R1. Their illumination lights flicker in synch.

The probe clicks free, the droids’ lights return to their steady glare. K2SO straightens.

K2SO

You now have both Rebel and Imperial loyalty programming. Welcome to the world of freedom and responsibility. Awful, isn’t it?

R1 bleats its unease.

CASSIAN (to R1)

How about it, little friend? Will you help us?

OFFICER

Don’t listen to him, I order you not to listen to him. I’ll have you blasted into micro dust. Less than scrap, you hear me? Even the Jawas will refuse to steal what’s left of you.

CASSIAN (waves his blaster)

That’s enough of that. (to R1) All I can do is ask. You’re welcome to come with us, of course.

R1 looks from one to the other and back again, then swivels its head to look at K2SO. It beeps a question.

K2SO

It’s up to you. I would point out one of them is asking, the other is ordering. Makes the choice a bit easier, I’d think.

R1 bleeps uncertainly, and turns back to the console.

EXT. LANDING PAD

A few GROUND CREW are standing idly by when the landing ramp of the escort gunboat suddenly begins to close. The exchange looks, shrugs.

The gunboat’s engines growl, and it rises into the air.

INT. SPACE TRAFFIC CONTROL ROOM

The OFFICER, AIDE and CONTROLLERS have been herded to one side of the room. They stand with their hands raised. The monitor shows the escort gunboat rising higher and higher along the side of the tower.

OFFICER

What is that going to accomplish? There’s no landing pad here.

CASSIAN

Not now, no.

While everyone’s attention is on the monitors, the AIDE makes a sudden lunge for a console. They slam the heel of their hand down on a commlink button.

AIDE

They’re in Traffic Control, repeat—

CASSIAN shoots the AIDE. The beam is a ring of concentric blue circles. The AIDE staggers like a fighter hit in the head, their eyes roll up and they collapse.

The other Imperials are aghast.

OFFICER

You animal!

CASSIAN

Oh relax, he’s only stunned.

K2SO

Security will be on their way. I don’t think they’ll be so kind.

CASSIAN

R1, any way we can speed things up a little?

R1 whistles in response.

EXT. TOWER

The gunboat, which had been rising straight up while remaining level, pitches its nose up until it is parallel to the side of the tower and rapidly accelerates in a burst of speed.

INT. CORRIDOR

A squad of STORMTROOPERS advance towards the door to the traffic control room in two files, hugging the walls on either side. One of their number carries a breaching gun—it looks a bit like a gatling gun with a ring of barrels, each angled outwards slightly.

EXT. TOWER

The gunboat flashes along the side of the tower, then slams to a stop and pulls level again, with its nose pointing towards the tower. We focus on the gun ports on either side of the shuttle’s nose.

INT. SPACE TRAFFIC CONTROL ROOM

CASSIAN (to Imperials)

I’d advise moving away from the wall if I were you. This might get a little messy.

The Imperials realize what they intend to do, and scramble away from the outer wall.

CASSIAN crouches down, with K2SO huddled over him, shielding him with his back.

INT. CORRIDOR

The breaching gun fires at the door. The barrels spin, and a blindingly fast series of blaster bolts light up the frame of the door in sizzling amber-orange light. The door smokes for a second, then explodes inwards. Fragments of the door fly into the control room, slamming into the ceiling and bouncing down again,

The STORMTROOPERS charge into the room.

STORMTROOPER LEADER

Freeze!

R1 beeps defiantly at them.

EXT. TOWER

The gunboat opens fire on the side of the tower. Its blaster cannon punch wrecking-ball holes in the wall, exposing the traffic control room to the open air.

INT. SPACE TRAFFIC CONTROL ROOM

Battleship-sized blaster fire tears open the exterior wall, and the bolts detonate into the room with blinding, searing fury.

Burning chunks of ceiling fall, and bounce from K2SO’s back. CASSIAN has his hands over his ears. His mouth works soundlessly, shouting something.

Interior walls are blown out, equipment explodes, the STORMTROOPERS are mown down.

R1 stands at the center of the destruction, incredibly untouched, an oasis of invulnerability amid the destruction.

The gunboat stops firing. The sudden silence is shocking.

Small bits of flaming debris fall in a smoking rain and patter against the floor. The entire exterior wall is gone, exposing the room to the air outside. The wind whips into the room, blowing the wreckage about.

The gunboat hangs in the air in front of the gaping hole in the wall, surveys the devastation a moment as if satisfied, then twists and lowers its boarding ramp to touch the edge of the floor.

CASSIAN and K2SO get to their feet and move towards the landing ramp, buffeted by the wind. K2SO steadies CASSIAN and propels him into the gunboat. R1 disconnects, and rolls after them.

CUT TO WIDE SHOT:

INT. SPACE TRAFFIC CONTROL ROOM

More STORMTROOPERS arrive at the edge of the demolished room and open fire as the landing ramp hinges shut. Their blaster bolts impact harmlessly on the gunboat’s outer hull.

EXT. TOWER

The gunboat pulls back from the tower, rotates towards the sky and catapults away, chased by a few desultory and futile shots.

INT. GUNBOAT

CASSIAN gives R1 and affectionate pat of thanks, then moves forward to sit in the cockpit next to K2SO.

K2SO

What now?

CASSIAN

As soon as we get back, we’ll send a message to high command and tell them what they need to do.

K2SO

Think they’ll do it?

CASSIAN purses his lips in thought, finally gives a shrug.

CASSIAN

Some cells will, some won’t. You’re right, giving up control can be a hard thing to do. Guess we all have our programming.

K2SO

Reprogram your droids to give them the choice of loyalties … It sounds iffy even to me, and I’m me.

CASSIAN

I think most will stay. We’re not like the Empire. We know how to treat those that stick with us.

INT. SPACE TRAFFIC CONTROL ROOM

The OFFICER is pulled from the rubble by a pair of STORMTROOPERS, covered in soot and dust. They cough, pat themselves down and nod in grateful thanks.

STORMTROOPER 5

Director Marr wants to see you.

The grateful look vanishes.

The STORMTROOPERS who rescued them grab the OFFICER’s arms and haul them out of shot.

INT. REBEL BASE COMMAND CENTER

CASSIAN and K2SO stand in a rocky corridor outside the command center. The door slides open, and CASSIAN begins to walk through, only to notice K2SO isn’t following him.

CASSIAN

Aren’t you coming?

K2SO

Who, me? The Imperial security droid? You know how they get.

CASSIAN

Well, they’re just going to have to ‘get’ somehow else.

He takes K2SO’s arm and gently but firmly pulls him inside the command center. We do not follow. Through the doorway we see CASSIAN and K2SO enter side-by-side, salute their new commander and begin their report.

The door slides shut, cutting off our view.

FADE TO BLACK

END CREDITS