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Nathaniel Reed's
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:: An ongoing episodic story of fan-fic set after Episode VI Return of the Jedi, and inspired by George Lucas' historical draft concepts ::
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| May 2023 |
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Visions 2 continues to promote global animation studios
31st May 2023 |
'Visions 2' premiered on May the 4th, and this was a refreshing enhancement on the first series. The sequel called on nine animation studios around the world to lend their own culturally distinctive styles to a non-canonical story set in the Star Wars universe. Fan site SWNN gave their review here.
Of especial note was the UK's Aardman Studios entry, 'I am Your Mother', a wryly humorous take on the motifs of rebel pilots and pod racing with a mother-daughter dynamic, in the style of 'Wallace and Gromit' and 'Shawn the Sheep', with many well-observed 'easter eggs' for fans to spot. Other stand-out episodes were the Spanish 'Sith' describing an avenging Sith Lord catching up with a former apprentice turned exiled artist ; the Irish 'Screecher's Reach', a ghost story of sorts culminating in a Sith Lord finding their new apprentice ; the Chilean 'In the Stars', a sisterly revenge-adventure, revealing budding Force powers ; and the South African 'Aau's Song', with a fuzzy-felt cloth-like aesthetic, and blending inspiring singing with the power of kyber crystals.
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The latest artwork for the illustrated virtual edition of Episode VII : Plague of Doom shows the Second Emperor, Mas Amedda, and his Sith deputy, Sly Moore, also known as Darth Kayos, gazing down upon the angry crowds gathering outside the Imperial Palace.
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| You can see the VE artwork in the 'Coruscant' art gallery as well as in the online illustrated story, and you can discuss this in the forum here ! |
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| As I did with the progression of the Virtual Edition Episode X, I will post below sections of the prose for Episode XI as I draft it.... |
Night-time on Coruscant was never truly nocturnal or dark. Life teemed on the central capital city-planet, and sky traffic endlessly zipped to and fro. For any one citizen asleep, there would be an equal number awake and alert, bathed in the coloured hues of the ever-present artificial lighting.
The elderly Mon Mothma, erstwhile political leader of the Rebellion that toppled the tyrannical Empire, and subsequent populist President of the Pan-Alliance, stood at a vast window overlooking the cityscape from her personal apartments. She sighed. It was indeed time to hand over the reins over power. She felt a little bereft at the thought, but equally pleased that she had been witness to a stable and democratic election that had determined her successor.
A door chime sounded, and a moment later she could hear the soft shuffling of a hospitality droid making its way to meet her guest.
She regarded the view of the Senate Rotunda one more time, and memories flickered through her mind. Her public denouncing of Emperor Palpatine following the Ghorman Massacre, and subsequent flight into exile and the life of a rebel fugitive ; witnessing the destruction of the Second Death Star and the demise of the Emperor ; disclosing the nefarious plans of the puppet Emperor, Mas Amedda ; negotiating peace treaties and trade deals with the Imperial Remnant led by Governor Tagge.
From behind, the bipedal protocol droid, KK-ND3, announced her arrival, and introduced Mothma’s guest.
“Madame Mothma, here is President Mellek at your invitation.” The droid bowed to both parties, and then shuffled to one side.
Mon Mothma smiled warmly, and extended her arms in welcome.
“Grannus Mellek ! Welcome, thankyou for coming ! Congratulations on securing the Presidency.”
Mellek smiled and bowed.
“Mon Mothma, thankyou for the invite,” the tall bearded human replied.
“Well, I simply wanted to wish you well ahead of your term,” smiled Mon. “Your aide had spoken to me earlier, and she had confided in me that you had felt a little overwhelmed by the magnitude of the result. You, of all people !”
Grannus chuckled, and dipped his chin.
“Ahh, Mon, it’s true. There is a world of difference between a general strategising battlefield tactics and a President managing the concerns of a galaxy !”
Mon cocked her head to one side, and gave a wry smile. “Is there, though ? I think you will discover the political battlefield can be far more slippery than the military one.”
Mon’s old blue-grey eyes flashed with the hard-won insight of her many years of service to the people, a detail that did not go unnoticed by Mellek. The President gave a slight cough, and glanced away.
Clearing his throat, he held aloft a bottle. “Please accept this gift, so that we may drink to your legacy ! Yours is the foundation from all that I hope to achieve as President !”
“Oh, you’re too kind,” Mon replied warmly. She turned and gestured to the droid waiting nearby.
KK gave a discreet bow and stepped to a small hospitality cabinet. The droid collected two tumbler glasses and returned to the host and guest.
“Thankyou, Kay-Kay”, said Mothma, taking the glasses from the droid, before presenting them to Grannus.
Mellek twisted open the bottle’s cap and poured the amber liquid into both glasses. He passed the bottle to the waiting droid, and then received one glass from Mon.
The two took a sip from the warming drink.
“Mmm, that’s nice,” murmured Mon appreciatively. “Chandrillan,” she noted.
“Of course,” answered Mellek. “In your honour.”
Mothma smiled and took her cue to gesture to the large window and the cityscape beyond. She led the way to the view.
“I was just recalling some moments from my political life,” she began. “How we had been beguiled by Palpatine, and trusted him completely, until it was too late.”
“Yes,” agreed Mellek. “We had all been taken in by his earnest passion for democratic order.”
They gazed without looking upon the incessant sky traffic.
“And our democracy turned into his tyranny.”
“Tyranny, yes, of course, without a doubt,” agreed the President. “But one can’t argue that the galaxy was without firm law and order, particularly in the Empire’s early years.”
“I trust you’re only referring to those very early years.... ?”
“Of course, Mon, before the brutalism and the self-interest warlords,” he replied smoothly. “But I imagine not even a single Emperor could have had complete personal oversight across the Galaxy from its Core to the Far Colonies or to the Outer Rim.”
“Hmm, don’t be so sure, Grannus,” warned Mon softly. “I’ve had it on good authority that the spider at the centre of its web knew exactly which string was being tugged and, equally, which string to tug.”
“You refer to our new Jedi Order ? But how can Skywalker know ? He was but a boy growing up through Palpatine’s two decades in power.”
“You’re right,” Mon conceded. “But I trust his insight.”
“Still, the Galaxy is a big place, and Palpatine’s old Empire has not fully gone.”
Mothma turned to regard President Mellek.
“The trade and re-colonisation treaties I was able to put in place will hopefully allow for the creation of a new and stable galaxy, a positive sharing of interests for a mutual benefit.” Mon took another sip from the tumbler.
Mellek raised his own glass and dipped his head in salute. He too took a sip, and then said with a broad smile, “To mutual benefit, Mon !”
Mellek paused, and his face became determined and unyielding.
“I intend to review our borders and re-deploy our defences,” announced the President. “The interests of the Pan-Alliance, while supporting our new friends, must be protected !”
“Now you’re sounding like the old tactician you once were, Grannus. Surely you can see that we are at a nascent time, a moment ripe for re-birth and growth ?”
“I do, I do, Mon, but we must not under-estimate Tagge.”
“I don’t,” answered Mon firmly. “But I yearn for peace, and even Governor Tagge deserves a chance to re-align his long-term interests with those of the Alliance of Free Worlds.”
President Mellek smiled and dipped his chin in deference.
“Perhaps I should listen to sage experience and wisdom. Perhaps I should not be so prejudiced and rash ?”
Mothma mirrored his smile. “You’re too kind. But even at this age I am not going soft, before you make any suggestions !”
Mellek chuckled, and raised his free hand. “No, no, forgive me, Mon, I would never do such a thing.” He took another sip of the warming drink, and Mon did the same. “My tongue got away with me, I was being hasty. I should take heed and offer the green leaf of peace to Tagge.”
“At least see where that leads you. After all, we are at a crossroads. And it’s now your judgement whether that leads to peace and prosperity for all... or something much darker and worse...”
Mellek rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
“Yes, when I first stood for the role of President, I did not do so blindly, but now it seems all too real.” His eyes shone as he regarded her. “I truly don’t know how you managed it, from the dark times of Empire to the brighter new hope that we have today.”
The elderly lady’s cheeks flushed red. “Oh, shush, Grannus, flattery will get you everywhere.”
But Mon then tilted her head, and fixed him with a steely gaze.
“Be cautious with Tagge, for sure. But don’t rule out a peaceful future with him. After all,” she said, gesturing to herself and her guest, “it’s what we both fought for... wasn’t it ?”
Grannus narrowed his eyes thoughtfully, and then his face softened, and he nodded. “It was, Mon, it was. We must replace tyranny with peace. I will remember your wise counsel !”
He raised his glass in salute, and downed the remaining liquor. Mon smiled, and continued sipping her drink.
“Thankyou for your time. It has been most valuable, and I will embark on my next adventure knowing I have your soul at my shoulder whispering clear guidance in my ear !”
Mon gave a small bow with her head. “I wish you well, President Mellek !”
She turned to the hospitality droid.
“Kay-Kay, will you show the President to the door, please ?”
The two statesmen bowed to each other, and then Mellek followed the droid out of the lounge.
Once enclosed in his private air speeder, and the sprawling cityscape was flickering by, Mellek took a small blue bottle from a hidden compartment next to his seat. He unscrewed the cap, and took a swig, flecks of indigo colouring his lips and moustache. He wiped them away with the back of his hand. Fastening the bottle, he replaced it in its pocket, and then leaned back and sighed.
“I wish you well, too, Mon,” he muttered. “A quick and painless death. I can’t have you becoming my moral counterpart. You still hold too much sway.”
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| Nathaniel Reed, 31st May 2023 |
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