The Requel Trilogy : Star Wars Episode 1 The Phantom Menace

My anticipation for Star Wars: The Force Awakens has brought my obsession with Star Wars to a level it hasn’t been for a long time. I’m watching the movies again, I’m watching different versions of the movies as well. I even started watching Clone Wars, which I missed and never made time for despite hearing about how good the series is. And so far, it is really good! It’s ultimately only reinforcing my disappointment in certain parts of the Prequel Trilogy. So I started thinking about what I would have done differently. So I present the first part of what I’m calling The Requel Trilogy, my version of Episodes 1, 2, and 3. These are works in progress, they’re pretty rough, but I had fun putting it together. I’d love some feedback The surprising thing about this project is how much stuff stayed the same. There are still trade negotiations, there are still Gungans, but there are also changes to characters, new characters, and other characters being introduced at different times for the sake of making the story flow a little better. At times if events mirror the movie close enough I’ll say so for the sake of getting on with things.
Turmoil has engulfed the
Galactic Republic. The taxation
of trade routes to outlying star
systems is in dispute.
Hoping to resolve the matter
with a blockade of deadly
battleships, the greedy Trade
Federation has stopped all
shipping to the small planet
of Naboo.
While the Congress of the
Republic endlessly debates
this alarming chain of events,
the Supreme Chancellor has
secretly dispatched two Jedi
Knights, the guardians of
peace and justice in the
galaxy, to settle the conflict…
Our story opens with Queen Amidala and her daughter Padmé gathering with a few other Naboo dignitaries including Senator Palpatine and Jedi Master Dooku. Yep, Padmé is now the daughter of the Queen, and also much younger, around 8 years old. They debate the blockade over holo-communication with Trade Federation Viceroy Nute Gunray. Naboo sits on the border of the Outer Rim and serves as a major hub between the Rim and the central planets of the Galactic Republic. The Viceroy complains that their senators have been kept out of negotiations that directly relate to their livelihood, and the Queen tells him that the Republic has dispatched two ambassadors to discuss terms with him to come to a peaceful resolution. The communication ceases and Master Dooku opens another hologram to Qui-gon Jinn and his Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi. He asks if they were monitoring the communications and Qui-gon informs his old master that they have the situation well in hand. Padmé asks her mother if sending Jedi instead of ambassadors is deceitful, making their actions no better than the Trade Federation. Senator Palpatine tells her that the Trade Federation’s claims of exclusion are unfounded, that they are attempting to bully Naboo for the sake of better terms from the Senate and that Jedi will discover their treachery more thoroughly than any ambassador could. Dooku concurs, and states that the Jedi are peacekeepers, not warmongers. They will always strive for a peaceful resolution unless there is no other alternative.
In space, Gunray speaks with the hologram of a hooded figure who informs him that the “ambassadors” are actually Jedi, confirming that the core systems have forgotten about the needs of the Outer Rim and justifying the events that are about to be set in motion. He also informs him that his “associate” is en route to handle the situation should Gunray fail. A Republic cruiser docks with the battleship and Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan are directed to a meeting room by a protocol droid. The events here are pretty close to the movie, resulting in the Jedi escaping to the surface on ships belonging to the Trade Federation’s droid army invasion force.
On the surface, the Jedi save the life of Jar Jar Binks. My Jar Jar still has some voice affectation but it is not nearly so pronounced, and while he has some slap-stick in him it’s not nearly as bad as the original. He’s really just smarter, not a genius, but not an imbecile. The key to this is that he is legitimately afraid of the invasion, and offers to take the Jedi as close as he can to the capitol so they can rescue the queen. They commander a submarine much like one in the movie, only this one’s owner has been killed by the droid army, further shaking Jar Jar’s courage.
The Jedi and Jar Jar make their way with minimal effort to the capital, blasting up out of the water and onto the dock fighting battle droids on their way to the Queen. Dooku and the Naboo security forces have kept the droids at bay, but their forces are dwindling. When they meet the Queen they discuss what to do. The Queen is surprised a Gungan would do anything to assist the human population of Naboo, and some of the security forces seem visibly bothered by his presence in the first place. Qui-gon reminds her that the invasion affects both their people. Since Naboo is a peaceful port planet they have little in the name of a standing army, but they do maintain a small but significant space force. Jar Jar reminds them that the Gungans have an army, but it’s going to be difficult to convince their leader to help the humans. It is decided that Jar Jar and Dooku will escort the Queen to Boss Nass in the underwater Gungan capitol while Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan attempt to get Palpatine back to Coruscant to try to rally any support they can from allied planets. The Queen begs Qui-gon to take her daughter with them because she won’t be safe in the capitol.
Royal pilot Ric Olié meets the Jedi in the Naboo Palace hangar. The royal starship is ready, as are a small crew of starfighter pilots. Qui-gon has Obi-wan take the place of one of the pilots as a learning experience for his padawan who “hates flying.” They take off and engage droid starfighters in space. On board they discover the ship’s protocol droid C-3PO has been left on board to the annoyance of everyone. Our heroes lose a few friendly pilots but Obi-wan is able to keep the starship clear of most damage. Suddenly a new ship comes out of lightspeed. The Jedi both suddenly sense the presence of a powerful dark side force user. Darth Maul in his Sith Interceptor begins his attack, destroying the remaining Naboo pilots and damaging the hyperdrive of the royal starship. With Qui-gon and Olié making repairs, Palpatine comforts Padmé and assures her that the Jedi will take care of them. With quick thinking, Obi-wan docks with the starship and links the hyperdrive of his starfighter to it (with the help of his assigned droid R2-D2). They jump to lightspeed and escape, but due to the hastily assembled nature of their in-combat repairs they cannot make it all the way to Coruscant. They end up close to an out of the way desert planet called Tatooine. They land in Mos Espa and take stock of what they need to get off world to Coruscant. Since Qui-gon is a Jedi Master, Palpatine insists that he take young Padmé with him to search for parts. He also claims it will be a learning experience for her to see the world outside her relative comfort of royal birth on Naboo. Gui-gon reluctantly agrees.
They head to Watto’s junk shop where they meet the Toydarian and his young slave Anakin Skywalker. Qui-gon immediately feels his strength in the force, but his mind is on the more pressing matters of repairing the ship. Mind tricks don’t work on Toydarians, of course. And Republic Credits are no good, but the two are certain they can come to some arrangement or trading of goods. While they argue and discuss, Padmé and Anakin start talking. She was unaware that slavery still existed in the Republic. He tells her that Tatooine is an Outer Rim world, run by the Hutts. The only sand she’s ever seen is on a warm beach. He tells her it gets everywhere. Their conversation continues playfully until there is a sudden commotion across the street from the junk shop. A small group of ruffians is accosting a woman. Anakin leaps into the fray to defend the woman, his mother Shmi Skywalker. Qui-gon and Watto emerge from the shop in response to the commotion. He notices that Anakin’s strikes against his opponents are hitting harder than an 8 year old boy normally could. The Jedi Master ignites his lightsaber and the fight quickly disperses. He shares a look with Anakin, as he realizes the child has naturally started using his connection to the force, but the moment is quickly lost as they turn around to see Watto unconscious and Padmé gone. They race over to Watto and take him inside. He regains consciousness, and tells the Jedi he recognized one of the attackers. He’s Sebulba, a local thug trying to break into Jabba’s circle. He probably took her to his safe house in Beggar’s Canyon to plan a ransom demand, but that it’s getting late. Beggar’s Canyon is difficult enough to travel in the day, let alone in the pitch black Tatooine night. It is decided that they will begin their search in the morning, Qui-gon can sense that Padmé has not been killed. Shmi makes a simple dinner and they discuss the force and Anakin’s connection to it, planting the seeds for Qui-gon to take him to the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. Anakin is interested in being a Jedi. If he had been trained his new friend wouldn’t have been kidnapped. He’s guilty for his role in distracting everyone from her capture. The group retires for the night and Qui-gon meditates. Suddenly he hears a creaking garage door open and an old swoop speeder activate and zoom away. Anakin is heading towards Beggar’s Canyon to save Padmé. Qui-gon jumps up and luckily discovers another swoop so he can go after him. Watto appears worried that someone else is robbing him and tells the Jedi to take the boy, he’s his. He’s going to caused too much trouble with the crime syndicates and he’d have to kill him if Qui-gon brings him back. Qui-gon briefly makes eye contact with Shmi before he zooms away, she gives him a sad but approving nod to take the boy and keep him safe.
We now have a night time chase scene with Qui-gon catching up to Anakin as they both zoom through Beggar’s Canyon. Lit by the stars they make sharp banks and turns and zoom under and over natural rock outcroppings. Anakin is a natural pilot, but as they make their final approach to Sebulba’s safe house he doesn’t notice a trap that’s been set. Luckily Qui-gon does and leaps from his swoop, grabs Anakin just before they hit the trap and with a flourish land on their feet safely as the trap destroys their swoops behind them. They are attacked by a group of Sebulba’s men but they are quickly dispatched by the Jedi. They move inside to search for Padmé, dispatching more guards as they make their way through the building. They find Padmé being held by Sebulba with his blaster to her head. One step closer and she gets it! But Qui-gon in his Jedi ways says that this doesn’t have to end in violence. Sebulba repeats. “You can put your blaster away.” Sebulba repeats and puts his blaster down. “You’ll let the girl go.” Sebulba repeats and lets Padmé go, who runs to the Jedi and Annakin. Qui-gon explains that a Jedi only takes a life when he has to, and that they strive for peaceful resolution whenever they can. They walk outside and leave Sebulba in his confused stupor. Outside they are surprised to find Obi-wan and the royal starship ready to pick them up. Apparently Watto had a change of heart and wanted them gone as soon as possible. He traded the hyperdrive parts for their starfighter, he even let them keep the droid. He also gives Anakin a small device. When he activates it it plays a holographic message from his mother, telling him to go out into the galaxy and do great things. While Qui-gon was attempting to get the parts to repair the ship, Senator Palpatine was able to get in contact with the Senate. They have refused to offer any assistance and are leaving the personal planetary matters of Naboo and the Trade Federation to be sorted out between themselves. They decide to head back to Naboo in hopes that Dooku and the Queen have made progress in allying with the Gungans to repel the droid army.
Shortly after the royal starship takes off, Darth Maul’s Sith Interceptor lands. The dark lord enters Sebulba’s safe house to find him lying on the floor begging for his life. Darth Maul executes the wretch for his failure. He pulls out a small holocommunicator and his hooded master appears. “The plans have changed, return.” Darth Maul nods, “Yes, my master. Will we finally reveal ourselves to the Jedi?” “Yes,” his master responds and closes communications.
Our scene shifts to a bubbled docking bay in the underwater city of Otoh Gunga as a mini-sub emerges from the water. Jar Jar, the Queen, and Master Dooku emerge to find themselves surrounded by Gungan security forces. They are escorted to Boss Nass, who takes great pleasure in the high and mighty Queen Amidala of Naboo coming to beg for their help. With Dooku as mediator they come to an agreement. The Gungans will be ceded some land on the surface and the Queen must choose a Gungan representative to serve on her royal council. She reluctantly agrees, and chooses Jar Jar, since without him none of this would be possible. They begin preparations for war against the droid army.
While at lightspeed on the royal starship, the Jedi discuss Anakin and how powerful he already seems to be. He could be the chosen one, they must take him to the Jedi Temple when their current crisis is over. The discussion shifts to how they plan to break through the blockade to meet back up with Dooku. Anakin brings up how he used to break into Watto’s secret workshop back on Tatooine. He programed one of the shop droids to imitate his voice ID and got right it. It was decided that they could use 3PO and his linguistic database to fake their way past the automated defenses. The droid forces are large but they aren’t very smart, they won’t notice their mistake until after it’s too late. They are successful despite 3PO’s protestations and land with the massing forces of the Gungan army. It is decided that Dooku and Jar Jar will remain with the Gungan forces and help them fight the droid army, this will serve as a distraction as the rest of our crew sneak into the palace through a secret waterfall entrance, free the starfighter pilots, and being the assault on the droids in space. If they can cripple or destroy the command ship they can stop the droids on the planet. Palpatine says that as a Senator he’s no use in any battle. Dooku tells them he’s seen plenty of “battles” in the Senate chambers and that words can do as much as a blaster in the right circumstances. He determines to go with a team of Naboo security to end the communications blackout and tell the galaxy what is happening on the planet and expose the Senate for their inaction.
We shift to a massive field, beautiful and green. The massive droid army emerges over the horizon. On the opposite side, the Gungan army, ready to defend their people. Standing front and center, as if a general in the days of old, Jedi Master Dooku. He ignites his green lightsaber and signals the attack. The battle begins.
Meanwhile, the other Jedi, the Queen, Padmé, Anakin, and the droids sneak back in to the palace. They fight through a few droid patrols, but they heavier defenses have been called to the battle against the Gungans as planned. They move deeper into the palace to where the droids are keeping the pilots prisoners. Fighting gets more and more intense. We flash back over to the battle to see much the same. Dozens of Gungans lie destroyed on the field, dozens more battle droids do as well. Dooku moves with Jedi speed and reflexes destroying droids and tanks and flying STAP cannons. The Gungan forces are not fairing as well as he is. They are not well trained. They are barely a militia, let alone an army. But he continues to fight with them, willing to die to save their people. Back in the palace they free the pilots and some security forces. They make their way to the hangar destroying more droids along the way. Pilots begin suiting up and taking off to head to battle in orbit. There is motion everywhere as the Naboo forces start to join the fight. Even Qui-gon and Obi-wan prepare to take fighters as trained Jedi pilots. Suddenly two large doors in the hangar open. Darth Maul, dark lord of the Sith emerges, unignited lightsaber in hand. He reaches out with the force and lifts the Queen, choking the life from her. The Jedi spring into action and draw their sabers to fight him. Maul hurls the Queen with all the power he can against a hangar wall and lets her fall to the ground as he ignites his saber to do battle with the hated Jedi. Anger in his eyes, he has waited for this moment his entire life. The Jedi follow him through the doors he entered through and they close behind them. Back in the hangar Padmé is devastated. She shares a final moment with her mother and promises to save their people. Queen Amidala dies in her daughters arms. Anakin watches. Knowing he was too weak to help, knowing that he was too weak to save his mother from being a slave and too weak to save Padmé from getting kidnapped. Too weak to save her by himself. He decides to be strong, to stop these droids and to save Padmé. He runs to the closest starfighter, knocking the ground crewman aside with strength an 8 year old should not have. The fighter he chose was the one that was being prepped for Obi-wan, R2-D2 had already been loaded, and he takes off to join the fight in space.
We now flash between the battle on the field, the battle in space, and the battle between Jedi and Sith. The starfighters are flying well, but there are so many droid fighters that they can barely keep up. The same is true on the ground, the Gungan forces are dwindling and their lines are falling apart. The Jedi are pushing Maul back, but he ignites the other side of his saber. Jedi and Sith do battle much like happens in the original film. Obi-wan is cut off from helping Qui-gon, who dies in the process. However when the energy field goes down he is able to overpower Maul and rends him in two with his master’s saber. Meanwhile, in space Anakin’s natural piloting ability is on full display. He’s destroying droid fighters with anger in his eyes. He finds his way to the droid launch bay and flies inside, blasters firing, setting a cascade reaction that he barely escapes from. The control ship has been destroyed and suddenly all droids on the surface and in orbit deactivate. Suddenly, every communicator in orbit and on the planet activates. Palpatine’s face and voice comes through to announce their victory and to call for the removal of the Chancellor of the Senate for his lack of action to help the people of Naboo. As the Gungans celebrate, Jar Jar watches the Jedi Master rise to his feet and look around, solemn at all the destruction. As Anakin lands in the palace hangar, Padmé is still mourning over her mother’s body. The double doors open and Obi-wan emerges carrying the body of his fallen master. He places his body next to the fallen Queen as Anakin races over. As the pilots and crew surrounding them cheer for their victory, and celebrate a hard fought victory, Obi-wan, Padmé, and Anakin gather together to mourn their fallen.

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