We return to the interior of the Series Winner. A large viewscreen shows a beautiful planet, populated with reds, blues, blacks, and yellows. Maddon stands before it, pondering, as Jed Hoyer reports.
HOYER
We’ve entered the Central system.
As Hoyer leaves, he passes Rizzo and John Mozeliak, flanked by Imperial stormtroopers, who enter and stand before Maddon.
MOZELIAK
Manager Maddon, I should have expected to see you writing Rizzo into the starting lineup. I saw your foul t-shirts when I was brought on board.
MADDON
Charming to the last. General Manager Mozeliak, I would like you to be my guest at a ceremony that will make this battle station operational.
MOZELIAK
The more you tighten your grip, Maddon, the more postseason success will slip through your fingers.
MADDON
Not after we demonstrate the power of this station. In a way, you have determined the choice of planet that will be destroyed first. Since you are reluctant to provide us the location of the scouting reports, I have chosen to test this station’s destructive power on your home planet of Central.
MOZELIAK
No! Central is peaceful and perfect the way it is. You can’t possibly…..
MADDON
You would prefer another target? A baseball target? Then name the system! I get tired of asking this. For the last time, where are those scouting reports?
Mozeliak looks over Maddon’s shoulder at Central. His shoulders slump.
MOZELIAK
Jupiter. They’re in Jupiter.
MADDON
You see, Lord Rizzo, he can be reasonable. You may fire when ready.
MOZELIAK
WHAT?
MADDON
You are far too trusting. But we will deal with your Republic reports soon enough.
As Mozeliak cringes, we see numerous workers flipping switches, pulling levers, hitting home runs, turning double plays. Finally, a blue-white beam lances out from the Series Winner, striking Central and blowing it into rubble.
Inside the Reyes Arsenal, Carpenter has Weaver going through various exercises, working on getting in touch with Command. Currently, Weaver is throwing orbs at the corners of a constructed frame from the length of the cargo hold.
Suddenly, Carpenter falters, grasping for something to sit down on. His face goes pale.
LUKE
Are you all right?
CARPENTER
I felt a great disturbance, like millions of playoff lives and plans cried out in terror, then were suddenly silenced. I fear something terrible has happened.
Rubbing his forehead, Carpenter looks weary, but turns to Luke.
CARPENTER
You’d better get on with your exercises.
As Luke again focuses on the frame, Reyes strolls into the cargo hold.
REYES
Well, you can forget your troubles with those Imperial cubs. Told you I’d outrun them.
His words get no response, as Carpenter focuses on Luke, who is focusing on his throws.
REYES
Don’t everyone thank me at once. Anyway, we should be at Central about 7:15.
Luke continues to focus on the frame, continually soft-tossing training orbs toward it.
CARPENTER
Remember, an Ace can feel Command flowing through him.
LUKE
You mean it controls your actions?
CARPENTER
Partly. But it also obeys your commands.
Suddenly, one of Luke’s tosses goes awry, bouncing back and clipping him on his backside. As Weaver winces in pain, Reyes guffaws.
REYES
Hokey philosophies and offspeed weapons are no match for a good fastball by your side, kid.
LUKE
You don’t believe in Command, do you?
REYES
Kid, I’ve been from one league to the next, seen a lot of strange stuff. But I’ve never seen anything that makes me believe in some all-powerful Command. There’s no mystical energy field controlling my pitches. It’s all a lot of simple tricks and nonsense.
Carpenter smiles, then decides to up the difficulty. He reaches under a table and pulls out a visored catcher’s mask, placing it on Luke’s head.
CARPENTER
I suggest you try again, but this time, let go of our conscious self and act on instinct.
LUKE
With the visor in this lighting, I can’t even see. How am I supposed to pitch?
CARPENTER
Your eyes can deceive you. Don’t trust them.
Reyes grins as Luke again grabs the training orbs and faces the frame. Luke throws wildly at the frame, which causes the same bounce back issue as before.
CARPENTER
Stretch out with your feelings.
Luke takes a deep breath and pauses. Then, without hesitation, he drills three practice orbs low and away.
CARPENTER
You see, you can do it.
REYES
(unimpressed) I call it luck.
CARPENTER
Luck is the residue of design, my friend.
REYES
Look, good against zone frames is one thing. Good against the living? That’s something else.
Reyes notices a light flashing.
REYES
We’re coming up on Central.
Reyes and Kelly, who has been over observing with the droids, head up to the cockpit. Luke and Carpenter begin to follow as Luke turns to the ace.
LUKE
You know, I did feel something. It was like I could almost put the orb exactly where I wanted it.
CARPENTER
That’s good. You’ve taken your first step into a larger league.
Back inside the Series Winner, Manager Maddon sits at his desk, deciding on the next day’s wardrobe for his troopers. Lord Rizzo lounges on the other side of the room as an Imperial officer comes to make a report.
OFFICER
Our scout ships have reached Jupiter. They found a Republic compound, but they estimate it has been deserted for some weeks. They are now conducting an extensive search of the surrounding facilities.
MADDON
He lied! He lied to us!
RIZZO
I told you he would never consciously betray The Cardinal Way.
MADDON
Terminate him immediately! Start the paperwork.
We shift to the Arsenal, still streaking through hyperspace.
REYES
Stand by, Carsie, here we go. Cut in the sublight engines.
The stars regain their normal appearance, but the Arsenal is buffeted by chunks of playoff hopes and dreams. A smokestack narrowly misses the ship and a yellow slide bumps the undercarriage.
REYES
What the? This isn’t on any of the charts.
LUKE
What’s going on?
REYES
Our position is correct except…no Central.
LUKE
What do you mean? Where is it?
REYES
That’s what I’m telling you kid. It’s been totally blown away.
LUKE
What? How?
Carpenter joins them in the cockpit.
CARPENTER
Destroyed. By the Empire.
REYES
The best couldn’t destroy a planet like that. It’d take a superteam or….
Alarms blare as an Imperial fighter streaks overhead.
LUKE
It sure is leaving in a big hurry. If they identify us, we’re in big trouble.
REYES
Not if I can help it. Carsie, hack its transmissions and change up the signs.
CARPENTER
It’d be as well to let it go. It’s too far out of range.
REYES
Not for long.
As the Arsenal continues to track after the fighter, slowly gaining, a circular object hangs out in space, beginning to fill the viewport.
LUKE
He’s heading for that small moon.
CARPENTER
(with a sense of realization) That’s no moon. That’s a space station.
REYES
It’s too big to be a space station.
LUKE
I have a very bad feeling about this.
CARPENTER
Turn the ship around.
REYES
Yeah, I think you’re right. Carsie, lock in the auxiliary thrusters.
They continue to move forward.
REYES
Lock in the auxiliary thrusters!
LUKE
Why are we still moving towards it?
REYES
We’re caught in a tractor beam! It’s pulling us in. There’s nothing we can do. Can’t you see all those little media ships being sucked in as well? But they aren’t going to take me without a fight!
Carpenter puts his hand on Reyes’s shoulder.
CARPENTER
You can’t win. Haven’t you heard the experts? But there are alternatives to fighting.
(Again, the incredible artwork is from Daniel Winnett. Links to Chapters 1, 2, and 3.)