STAR BALLS
EPISODE IV: A New Pace
Opening Scroll:
After a period of Rebuilding, it is a time of optimism for the Pacer Alliance. Buoyed by mercenaries, they have already won their first victory towards reaching their Goal of conquering the mighty Association.
After the battle, opposing spies managed to poison the stomach of the Pacers ultimate weapon, Tyrese Skyballer, who has rapidly grown in his Power to destroy all defenses.
As the poison restrains his true Power, Lord Skyballer must find a way to awaken It in time to save a victory from slipping away on Planet Cleveland against the Cavalier Squadron with a hostile crowd looking on.
WIPE UP
EXT. Hyperdrive Mortgage Fieldhouse – NIGHT
WE OPEN on a futuristic basketball arena with bright flashing lights. A large rotating banner tells us the Cavalier Squadron is hosting the Pacer Alliance We see skyspeeders fly by in the background of a starry night. A landspeeder drives directly through a gate guarded by a parking droid who sounds off an alarm.
WIPE LEFT
INT. Hyperdrive Mortgage Fieldhouse — NIGHT
The arena is filled with a variety of species with the majority wearing the colors of the Cavalier Squadron, growing louder as organ music plays.
The scoreboard shows the Pacer Alliance lead is down to just two points with four minutes left as our hero brings the ball down the floor as we immediate see the talent on display as he “dribbles” down the floor without touching the ball at times as the ball goes around a defender with the twist of his hand.
As he floats into the paint he force pushes the ball to AN-2, a starbasket droid, and hears a voice in his mind.
PACE WINDU (V.O.)
Sometimes you must have the presence of mind to take two steps back to make a great leap forward.
A puzzled look comes across Skyballer’s face but then he quickly relocates two steps back behind the 3-point line and AN-2 finds him so open they could measure the distance in parsecs. He takes his time and drains the shot to put the Pacer Alliance up by 5.
AN-2 (Andrew Nembhard, a blue and gold metallic ball droid)
*Unintelligible droid noises*
TYRESE SKYBALLER (With relief in his voice)
I know, AN, finally. Good pass.
The Cavalier Squadron take their time on the following possession and pass the ball around until Evan Mobleyes, a tall slender red alien with three eyes draws a whistle from the ref droid.
Skyballer walks over to the droid as Mobleyes attempts his first free throw.
TYRESE SKYBALLER (Calmly)
What do I have to do to get to the foul line tonight, RF-17?
RF-17 (head of droid ref crew, very literal)
In order to shoot free throws, you must first be fouled while attempting a shot or if the opposing team has already committed more than four fouls in the current period.
TYRESE SKYBALLER (growing frustrated)
You know what I mean, RF. I—
HECKLER (Maroon species with large mouths and tiny brains, loudly)
Stop whining like a Ewok! I’d rather listen to a podcast hosted by a Gungan than keep hearing you complain!
TYRESE SKYBALLER
What did you just say to me? You aren’t…
Skyballer suddenly realizes everything is is frozen in time. Next to him appears a shimmering being, Pace Windu, a Pacer Alliance legend, standing inside a doorway-shaped portal.
PACE WINDU (Reggie Miller)
Tyrese, come with me. There is something you must see.
TYRESE SKYBALLER
Pace? You don’t think there’s a better time for this? I’m trying to win this game right now.
PACE WINDU
The time is now.
Tyrese looks around the arena. Noticing that everything is still frozen. Popcorn hitting a youngling in the face, a Wookie trying to wipe nacho cheese out of his fur, Mobleyes free throw hanging in the air. He sighs and walks through the doorway.
WIPE DOWN
INT. Arena Between Arenas
The doorway leads to a strange world with a shining starbasket court with the lines of the court a bright white and the rest of the floor a solid black. The court seems to be floating in space as it is surrounded in all directions (above and below) by a night sky illuminated with countless stars. There are different doorways exactly like they one they walked through at different positions on the floor.
TYRESE SKYBALLER (amazed)
What is this place?
PACE WINDU (measured, steady)
This is the Arena Between Arenas. It’s a place that can connect you to events across time and space in specific moments. For you, at this time, it can connect you to moments where Starbasket Gladiators drew motivation and grew in their Power thanks to spectators with big mouths.
TYRESE SKYBALLER
Wait, so that means…
Tyrese begins running down the court to one of the doorways. As he moves you can see his each step leaves a temporary white imprint onto the court that fade away after a few seconds. He walks past one portal where you can see Darth Wade yelling at a large turtle creature pointing back at him. Another shows a young Donovan Mitchell getting animated in the direction of a fan in Factory Planet of Detroit. He comes to the one he’s been searching for.
Through this doorway, you see Pace Windu staring down a courtside celebrity fan of the New Empire Knicktroopers. He hits long-range attempts over and over again as he looks back at the fan after each one. He gestures toward him with a choke sign.
TYRESE (slightly out of breath)
It’s you. The legends are true. You did fight during the Jordan Wars. How did you sap so much Power from such a tiny being?
PACE
This moment in particular was actually in between the two Jordan Wars during the period he tried to become a Master of the Skybase Arts. But that’s neither here nor there, to answer your question, you must learn how to give in to the Petty. Let it fuel you. Let in run through your veins. Your true Power can only reach these levels when you’ve done these things.
TYRESE
Bet. You don’t have to tell me twice. I am ready for petty. Just ask Wally Szczerbiak. That Maroon moron is going to learn something about me today.
PACE
I knew you’d understand. Now, go. Take the Alliance to places I never could.
TYRESE
You aren’t coming with me?
PACE
There are still things that I must do here. May the Pace Be With You.
As Skyballer runs back to his doorway, he sees Pace slowly walking towards where the scorer’s table would be. He goes ahead and runs through his doorway. The camera zooms in towards Pace Windu as he waves his hand to make another portal appear. He looks intently at a muscular panda species laying on a scorer’s table.
PACE WINDU (first quietly then a forceful yell)
Ron, I need you to hear me this time. Ron!
WIPE RIGHT
INT – Hyperdrive Mortgage Fieldhouse
Everything continues from the exact moment where Skyballer entered the doorway. Mobleyes free throw bounces off the rim.
HECKLER (dumbly)
What’s the matter? Lothcat got your tongue?
TYRESE (with a smirk on his face)
You’re going to regret this.
Mobleyes second free throw goes in and cuts the Pacer Alliance’s lead to four. Racing quickly down the court, Skyballer calls for AN-2 to screen his man and quickly rises up and pushes a 3-pointer straight through the net. He immediately turns toward the Heckler who shakes his head in disbelief.
TYRESE SKYBALLER (eyes burning red)
Still got something to say?
HECKLER
Tries to avoid making eye contact.
The Cavalier Squadron brings the ball down the floor and gives it to Mobleyes once again. This time, however, Darth Myles blocks his attempt near the rim and the Pacer Alliance recovers the rebound and moves down the floor.
In a repeat of the previous play, AN-2 sets another screen and Skyballer walks into a second consecutive 3-pointer to put the Pacers up by 10. The crowd goes silent. The Cavaliers call timeout.
TYRESE (with intensity, first gesturing to the entire crowd before pointing the specific fan)
Y’all know what time it is. That’s your fault. You did this.
MITCHELL (injured, on the bench)
Son of a bitch, he stole my line.
The Heckler looks around him as the entire arena turns on him. He pleads with them to no effect as a pair of large creatures draw their blasters and force him down the hallway.
Pacers Head Master Carlisle (with a sly grin)
Gooooooooood.
TO BE CONTINUED
Characters that may appear in future chapters:
- Obi-One
- Cad Brown
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