STAR WARS WRITING SAMPLE
Below is a game excerpt I was asked to write by Aspyr for a Star Wars game that was canceled before they finished hiring the full writing team.
SCENE ONE
You are now playing as Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker. Your laughter fills the courtyard as you spar with Captain Rex and your padawan, Ahsoka Tano, in the Jedi Temple Training Grounds on Coruscant.
ANAKIN
Is that all you got, Snips?
AHSOKA
I’m just warming up, Skyguy.
REX
When you invited me to spar with you, I hoped to work up more of a sweat. Clever words don’t stop blaster bolts.
| CHOICE 1: Use the Force to take Rex’s blaster. | CHOICE 2: Wait for them to attack. | CHOICE 3: Attack Ahsoka with your lightsaber. |
| Raising your hand, you use the force to tug Rex’s blaster out of his hand and into yours. You then press down on the trigger, unleashing a steady stream of bolts at Ahsoka. Her blades are a whirl of light as she struggles to block each shot. ANAKIN Tired yet? A familiar face appears behind Ahsoka. OBI-WAN Torturing your padawan again, Anakin? CHOICE 1: I heard training doesn’t count as torture. ANAKIN You’re the one who told me that, Obi-Wan. OBI-WAN I recall you trying to claim that as a way to get out of meditation training. You never did like sitting still. CHOICE 2: Ahsoka can handle herself. ANAKIN A training ground is hardly a match for her proven skills on the battlefield. AHSOKA Thank you, Master. I’ll be sure to remind you of that next time we spar. | You close your eyes and hold your lightsaber out in front of you. Ahsoka lunges with her blade, while Rex fires his blaster. You easily divert Rex’s bolt and parry Ahsoka’s blade. ANAKIN I thought two on one would be more of a challenge. On the other side of the courtyard, Obi-Wan makes his way down the steps toward you. OBI-WAN I should’ve known I’d find you showing off out here, Anakin. CHOICE 1: It isn’t showing off when you’re teaching. ANAKIN Then it’s inspirational. OBI-WAN Hm, yes, I’m sure Ahsoka often witnesses you inspiring her. CHOICE 2: Jealous? ANAKIN You were stuck inside with the Council, while I was out here having fun. OBI-WAN I’m sure the Council would love to know you find them dull. | You lunge at Ahsoka with your lightsaber held high, then change course and aim for her legs. She jumps over your blade just in time! AHSOKA Trying to keep me on my toes, Master? On the other side of the courtyard, Obi-Wan exits the Temple and steps out into the sunlight. OBI-WAN Anakin has always been very good at keeping me on my toes. CHOICE 1: You should thank me. ANAKIN I kept you from getting boring. OBI-WAN Oh, I’m much too busy for that. CHOICE 2: That’s why I win so many battles. ANAKIN I never do what’s expected, and my enemies are always surprised. OBI-WAN Then I’m glad I’m not your enemy. |
As Obi-Wan gets closer, Rex salutes him.
REX
Would you like to spar with us, General Kenobi?
AHSOKA
We could split into Republic and Separatists. I call Rex.
ANAKIN
Then prepare to lose.
OBI-WAN
Actually, I’m here on Council business. We believe the Separatists may be plotting to kill a certain Republic Senator.
ANAKIN
| CHOICE 1: Is Padme alright? | CHOICE 2: Another bodyguard mission? | CHOICE 3: Who exactly? |
| ANAKIN Take me to her now. OBI-WAN Calm down, Anakin. It’s not Senator Amidala. There are other senators you know. ANAKIN Of course I know that. | ANAKIN Jedi are needed on the battlefield. Not babysitting Senators. OBI-WAN We’re not soldiers. We go wherever the Council decides we can do the most good. ANAKIN Sounds like soldiers following orders to me. | ANAKIN Anyone we know? OBI-WAN I don’t think so. At least, no one I’m familiar with. But I try to stay as far away from dealings with politicians as possible. AHSOKA For someone who doesn’t like politicians, you sure are friends with a lot of them. OBI-WAN An unfortunate coincidence. |
REX
You were saying about the mission, General Kenobi?
OBI-WAN
Ah, yes, Senator Kavgari Murcana needs Jedi protection.
ANAKIN
Never heard of her.
AHSOKA
I’ve seen her on the HoloNet. Doesn’t she think the Jedi shouldn’t be involved with the Senate?
REX
She isn’t a big fan of us clones either.
OBI-WAN
That could explain why she’s refused the help of the Chancellor and the Jedi Council.
ANAKIN
| CHOICE 1: Did you change her mind, Negotiator? | CHOICE 2: Then order her to accept protection. | CHOICE 3: Anyone who refuses our help doesn’t deserve it. |
| ANAKIN Time to prove you’re as good as they say you are. REX Cody claims he saw you sell sand to a Tusken Raider. AHSOKA Fives said you convinced a Kaminoan that the planet didn’t have enough water. OBI-WAN I did neither of those things. Nor did I convince Senator Murcana to let us aid her. | ANAKIN She can’t refuse an order from the Chancellor. OBI-WAN I’m afraid Palpatine insisted that we drop the matter. He doesn’t want us involved. But the Council disagrees. Ahsoka’s eyes widen. AHSOKA They want us to protect her without Chancellor Palpatine knowing about it? OBI-WAN There’s more going on here. Senator Murcana has an important role to play in all of this. | ANAKIN The Republic wouldn’t be standing without the Jedi and clones! If she wants to take on the Separatists without us, let her. REX I agree with General Skywalker. We can’t force someone to accept our help. AHSOKA We swore to protect the Republic. That includes everyone in it. OBI-WAN Thank you, Ahsoka. I’m sure my former apprentice would agree if he was seeing this clearly. Senator Murcana must not fall to Separatist hands. |
OBI-WAN
Anakin, you and your padawan, along with Captain Rex, will watch over the Senator… But keep a low profile. No storming in or calling attention to yourself. She must not know you’re there. If you’re capable of discretion, now is the time.
ANAKIN
| CHOICE 1: And if she’s attacked? | CHOICE 2: I know how to keep a low profile. | CHOICE 3: I don’t love having to sneak around. |
| ANAKIN Should I remain in the shadows while she’s killed too? OBI-WAN You know that’s not what I meant. | ANAKIN I’m much more subtle than you think. OBI-WAN I’m sure you believe that to be true. | ANAKIN We’re not criminals. OBI-WAN Some situations require sneaking around. I didn’t realize you had such an issue with the concept. |
Obi-Wan shoots you a pointed look before continuing.
OBI-WAN
You’re only to intervene if you sense a threat. Given my last interaction with her, even saving her life may not soften her to your presence.
REX
I’ve seen General Skywalker charm a Senator or two. I’m sure it won’t be a problem.
AHSOKA
He’s great at talking himself out of trouble, unless it involves Master Windu.
ANAKIN
Alright, alright. I think it’s time we get this mission over with.
SCENE TWO
You’ve spent the last few hours crammed in a small speeder with Ahsoka and Captain Rex. You sense your padawan’s increasing restlessness as you continue to follow Senator Kavgari Murcana around Coruscant from a distance.
AHSOKA
Is this what it’s like to be a Senator? She’s done nothing but sit on committees all day.
REX
I’d take a fight with a hundred clankers over this.
ANAKIN
| CHOICE 1: We have to be patient. | CHOICE 2: I’m starting to hope there is an assassin. | CHOICE 3: No wonder Obi-Wan didn’t join us. |
| ANAKIN The assassin will most likely reveal themselves when Senator Murcana is alone. AHSOKA What if she never is? REX Unless she sleeps in the barracks next to a squad of troopers, she’ll be alone by nightfall. | ANAKIN So far, the only thing interesting about Senator Murcana is that someone’s trying to kill her. AHSOKA And she’s even managed to make that boring. REX Makes you wonder why the Seps would bother with her as a target. | ANAKIN He didn’t want to experience the daily life of a politician. AHSOKA I’m starting to understand why he avoids them. REX General Kenobi is very wise. |
You feel a disturbance in the Force as Senator Murcana steps into the shadows of the Senate building and hops into an abandoned airspeeder.
ANAKIN
What’s she doing? That’s not the ship she came in.
AHSOKA
And where’s her pilot?
REX
No sign of him.
You start to follow the airspeeder at a distance, but it speeds up and zooms into an alleyway!
| CHOICE 1: Dart into the alleyway! | CHOICE 2: Cut her off on the other side! | CHOICE 3: Try to find a shortcut! |
| Punching it, you veer into the alleyway behind the Senator! But the space is smaller than you anticipated and you scrape the side of your speeder against the building! ANAKIN Whoops. That’ll leave a mark. AHSOKA We’ll have to fix that before Master Kenobi notices. | Instead of following the Senator, you take off into a parallel alleyway, racing through the streets until you pop out next to her speeder! ANAKIN Duck! Ahsoka and Rex lean down just in time to avoid Murcana spotting them. REX That was too close. | Worried she’ll spot you, you take a moment to look around for another way to follow her. Your eyes land on the top of the building, and you arch the speeder up into the sky, attempting to spot Senator Murcana from above. ANAKIN Do you see her? AHSOKA She’s on the far side of that balcony! |
You watch as a hangar door opens and Senator Murcana glides her ship inside.
Parking your speeder, you and the others slip into the hangar on foot just before the door closes.
REX
This is a private hangar. These things cost a lot of credits. They’re mostly used for getting cargo offworld… the kind you don’t want anybody to know about.
AHSOKA
Why would the Senator come here?
ANAKIN
Either she’s hiding from someone or she’s hiding something.
Rex draws his blaster and lowers himself behind a cargo container out of sight. You and Ahsoka join him, pulling out your macrobinoculars.
You zoom in just in time to see…
…Known Separatist Commander and Dathomir Nightsister, Asajj Ventress, descending the ramp of a large cargo ship on the other side of the hangar.
You sneer.
ANAKIN
Ventress!
She saunters over to the Senator with a smirk. Murcana opens one of the cargo containers, revealing a shipment of DC-17s.
Ahsoka gasps.
AHSOKA
Those blasters are meant for Republic troops!
ANAKIN
No wonder Murcana didn’t want our protection. She’s working with the Separatists.
REX
What’s the plan, General?
ANAKIN
| CHOICE 1: Cut them off from the cargo ship. | CHOICE 2: We’ve wasted enough time. Attack! | CHOICE 3: Split up. I’ll distract Ventress. |
| ANAKIN Follow me. Staying hidden, you make your way through the maze of containers toward the cargo ship. Once you’ve reached the ship, you step out onto the landing ramp, cutting off Murcana and Ventress from boarding. Ahsoka and Rex move to flank you on either side. ANAKIN Ventress. I didn’t expect to see you here. | ANAKIN Now! You leap over the cargo container concealing you, igniting your lightsaber as you somersault through the air to land in front of Ventress. But before your strike can land, Ventress throws up her blades to meet yours. VENTRESS Anakin Skywalker. If you’re here, that must mean your little pet isn’t far behind. ANAKIN Watch it, Ventress. Or I may decide you’re too dangerous to keep alive. VENTRESS Don’t make promises you can’t keep. Behind you, you hear Ahsoka unclip her lightsabers and Rex ready his blaster. Senator Murcana looks between them and you with a panicked expression. MURCANA I don’t understand. I told the Jedi to leave me alone! AHSOKA It’s a good thing we didn’t. Or we’d never have discovered the truth. | ANAKIN Rex, you go for the cargo. Ahsoka, you go for Senator Murcana. REX Yes, Sir. Ahsoka nods, crouching further down as she rounds the cargo containers to sneak up on the Senator. Rex goes the other way, heading straight for the ship. You step out into the light, in full view of Ventress and Murcana. ANAKIN Ventress. I thought you knew you weren’t welcome on Coruscant. |
VENTRESS
Anakin Skywalker. What an unpleasant surprise.
ANAKIN
The feeling is mutual.
Senator Murcana looks between you and Ventress with fear in her eyes. She turns to Ventress.
MURCANA
I thought you said you weren’t followed!
VENTRESS
I wasn’t.
MURCANA
You said I’d be protected!
VENTRESS
I lied.
Shaking her head violently, the Senator turns and races toward her speeder, narrowly dodging Ahsoka as your padawan lunges for her.
Ventress backflips onto the ship, Force-pulling the last of the stolen cargo containers with her.
Rex fires his blaster at Ventress, but she bats the bolts aside like harmless Felucian fireflies.
Ahsoka reaches for Senator Murcana’s ship a second too late as it launches out of the hangar.
AHSOKA
Master, what should we do?
You look back and forth between Murcana and Ventress.
ANAKIN
| CHOICE 1: Stop Ventress from stealing the weapons! | CHOICE 2: Stay on Murcana! Find out how deep this goes! |
| [SET VARIABLE 1: CAPTURE WEAPONS] | [SET VARIABLE 2: STOP MURCANA] |
[START VARIABLE 1: CAPTURE WEAPONS]
ANAKIN
We can’t risk those blasters getting into Separatist hands.
REX
Couldn’t agree more, General.
ANAKIN
Rex, disable the ship. Ahsoka, you’re with me.
AHSOKA
Ready when you are, Master.
The three of you charge at Ventress, Rex firing his blaster while you and Ahsoka launch yourselves toward her with your lightsabers raised.
Ventress is forced to stop her ascent further into the ship in order to block your blades with her own.
With her distracted, Rex is able to race inside the ship.
VENTRESS
I’m on a tight schedule. Do you think we could skip to the part where I send you crawling back to Kenobi?
ANAKIN
What was that? I couldn’t hear you over the sound of Dooku tightening his leash.
Seething, Ventress doubles her attack, launching several cargo containers at you and Ahsoka!
| CHOICE 1: Halt the containers in their tracks! | CHOICE 2: Launch the containers back at Ventress! | CHOICE 3: Protect Ahsoka from the containers! |
| You reach out with your free hand to stop the containers, holding them steady in front of you before letting them crash to the ground. While you’re distracted, Ventress backs Ahsoka down the landing ramp and onto the platform. Their blades are a whirl of flashing light. Ventress jumps up and kicks Ahsoka in the chest, sending her flailing backward. ANAKIN Ahsoka! You sprint toward Ventress, but before she can charge at Ahsoka again, a steady stream of red bolts emerges from the cargo ship. | Raising your hands, you use the Force to toss the containers back at Ventress! With a surprised expression, she flings herself out of the way, smacking her shoulder against the wall of the corridor. VENTRESS You’ll pay for that. Before she can follow up on her threat, you throw the containers at her again. This time, she anticipates the attack and gracefully flips through the air out of harm’s way and off the ship. The moment she lands on the hangar floor, a steady stream of red bolts emerges from the cargo ship. | Instinct takes over and you reach for Ahsoka! You fling the two of you out of harm’s way, letting the containers crash against the walls of the corridor… but the force of the movement sends you tumbling down the ramp! Unable to resist the sight of you and your padawan lying there on the hangar floor, Ventress leaps out of the ship with her blades held high over her head, poised to strike. VENTRESS Now you die! Before she can reach you or Ahsoka, a steady stream of red bolts emerges from the cargo ship. |
Inside the cockpit, Rex grins and continues firing at Ventress, sending her fleeing out of the hangar.
AHSOKA
Should we go after her, Master?
You shake your head.
ANAKIN
We’ve got to get this weapon shipment back on schedule. There are Republic soldiers on the frontlines counting on these weapons getting to them on time.
[END VARIABLE 1: CAPTURE WEAPONS]
[START VARIABLE 2: STOP MURCANA]
ANAKIN
Murcana will know who else is involved. Once we have their names, we can stop this from happening to any other shipments.
REX
I like the sound of that, General.
You nod at two speeder bikes hovering on the far side of the hangar.
ANAKIN
Rex, you and Ahsoka are on one speeder. I’ll take the other.
AHSOKA
I’ll pilot!
Together, the three of you race to the speeders, taking your designated positions.
Once you’re on the bike, you zoom out into the sky, loving the sound the bike makes as you soar through traffic.
Ahsoka and Rex follow close behind.
Soon, you’ve caught up to Murcana’s ship.
| CHOICE 1: Jump off your bike and into her ship! | CHOICE 2: Bump into her ship with your bike! | CHOICE 3: Coordinate with Ahsoka to cut Murcana off! |
| Launching yourself into the air, you leave the bike behind and grab hold of the back of Senator Murcana’s speeder! You nearly slip off the edge, then quickly tug yourself up into the passenger’s seat. Murcana lets out a shocked screech as you reach over to rip her hands off the controls! She struggles against you, managing to knock her elbow into your jaw before you can block it. ANAKIN Well, that was uncalled for. Ignoring the pain, you tug her hands from the controls just in time to see Rex release a bolt into the cockpit! | Zooming closer, you slow down to knock into the back of her speeder just enough to jostle her. The impact causes Senator Murcana to shriek. She gives her vehicle a burst of speed in an attempt to get away. You angle your bike down, hitting the front up against the side of her ship this time. It swerves violently to one side, on a collision course with Ahsoka! ANAKIN Ahsoka, watch out! She reverses the speeder just in time, narrowly avoiding a crash. Behind your padawan, Rex levels his blaster at Murcana’s ship and fires a bolt into the cockpit! | Reaching out to Ahsoka through the Force, you let yourselves sync up the moment you each fly straight in front of the Senator’s speeder. ANAKIN Now! In perfect unison, your speeders leap into the empty space before her, blocking her path. Murcana lets out a horrified gasp and tries to avoid crashing into you and Ahsoka, but she can’t seem to stop! Twisting in his seat, Rex levels his blaster at Murcana’s ship and fires a bolt into the cockpit! |
Dazzling blue electricity overtakes the controls of the Senator’s speeder, causing it to short circuit and come to a slow stop.
You meet Murcana’s eyes, and she slowly raises her hands above her head.
ANAKIN
It’s time we discuss the terms of your surrender.
[END VARIABLE 2: STOP MURCANA]
SCENE THREE
You and Ahsoka meet Obi-Wan onboard his starship, The Negotiator. It hovers above the Senate building, overlooking the Coruscant skyline.
OBI-WAN
Anakin, I didn’t expect to see you back so soon. I trust the mission was eventful?
Beside you, Ahsoka mutters under her breath.
AHSOKA
You could say that.
You meet your former Master’s eyes.
ANAKIN
| CHOICE 1: You knew Murcana was a Separatist, didn’t you? | CHOICE 2: We ran into an old friend. Ventress. | CHOICE 3: Well, there was no assassin. |
| ANAKIN You should’ve warned us! You sent us in blind! OBI-WAN Calm down, Anakin. I knew you could handle it. ANAKIN That’s not the point, Obi-Wan. I can’t lead a mission if I don’t have all the facts. I thought you trusted me. OBI-WAN I trust you with my life. But I know how strongly you feel about dealing with Separatists. If I’d told you my suspicions, you would’ve wanted to confront Senator Murcana instead of waiting to draw her out. | ANAKIN She tried to hide it, but she was obviously disappointed you weren’t there. Obi-Wan chuckles. OBI-WAN She does hate missing out on an opportunity to try to kill me. AHSOKA I’ll never understand the dynamic the two of you have. ANAKIN No one does. | ANAKIN And if someone did try to kill Murcana, I wouldn’t have tried too hard to stop them. She’s working with the Separatists. OBI-WAN That doesn’t mean she deserves to die, Anakin. ANAKIN We’re at war, Obi-Wan. The less of them there are, the greater our chance is of defeating them. OBI-WAN There are better ways to achieve peace. |
Just then, Rex enters the bridge. He salutes Obi-Wan, then you.
REX
General Kenobi. General Skywalker.
[CALL TO VARIABLES]
| [CONT. VARIABLE 1: CAPTURE WEAPONS] | [CONT. VARIABLE 2: STOP MURCANA] |
[CONT. VARIABLE 1: CAPTURE WEAPONS]
ANAKIN
Rex, have your men bring in the shipment.
REX
Right away, sir.
Rex gives the signal and several clones wheel in the collection of cargo containers. You nod your thanks, then turn back to Obi-Wan.
ANAKIN
These are the Republic weapons that Murcana was trying to hand over to the Separatists.
AHSOKA
We tried to stop Ventress… but she got away.
Obi-Wan puts a thoughtful hand to his chin, stroking his beard.
OBI-WAN
If Ventress was involved…
ANAKIN
| CHOICE 1: Then this isn’t over. | CHOICE 2: Dooku must be too. | CHOICE 3: She might still be here. |
| ANAKIN She wouldn’t have come to Coruscant for one shipment of weapons. There’s something else going on here. OBI-WAN My thoughts exactly. AHSOKA She seemed surprised to see us. Whatever it is, she doesn’t think we know about it. ANAKIN Her opinion of us isn’t exactly high, but you’re right, Snips. It was more than her usual arrogance. OBI-WAN You are a master on the subject. ANAKIN Very funny. Lost in thought, Ahsoka furrows her eyebrows. AHSOKA What’s Ventress up to then? You gaze out the window of The Negotiator, taking in the view of Coruscant below as the sun slowly sets and paints the city in shadows. ANAKIN I don’t know. But we’re going to find out. | ANAKIN He must be getting desperate if he’s trying to cut off our weapon supply. OBI-WAN Don’t be so sure. He may have a larger plan here. AHSOKA I don’t know how he keeps track of all his schemes. OBI-WAN That’s what minions are for. ANAKIN And you wonder why Ventress hates you so much. OBI-WAN I blame my charm. She despises anything she can’t have. Ahsoka shakes her head and looks skyward for a moment. AHSOKA So, how do we figure out what Count Dooku is up to? You take a moment to gaze out the window of The Negotiator. The sun is setting on Coruscant, casting your face in a mixture of light and shadows. ANAKIN We could wait for him to reveal himself and risk it being too late to stop him. You turn back from the view with a smirk. ANAKIN Or we draw him out. | ANAKIN She wouldn’t slink her way back to Dooku empty handed. And since she couldn’t complete her original mission, she’d have to try something else. OBI-WAN No doubt it’d be much more rash. AHSOKA Should we tell the Council? You nod. ANAKIN Chancellor Palpatine needs to know about this too. OBI-WAN I say we wait. We don’t have anything but a hunch. ANAKIN Since when have the Jedi needed more than that? You taught me to trust my instincts, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do. You clasp your hands behind your back as you look out at the view of Coruscant below. The sun is setting, taking with it the last of the day’s light. ANAKIN I’ll tell the Chancellor to station troopers at every port. Once everything’s locked down, it won’t take long to put an end to whatever Ventress is planning. |
[END VARIABLE 1: CAPTURE WEAPONS]
[CONT. VARIABLE 2: STOP MURCANA]
ANAKIN
Rex, bring in Senator Murcana.
REX
Yes, sir.
He signals to his men and the Senator is led onto the bridge in stun cuffs.
AHSOKA
The Senator has been surprisingly… forthcoming.
MURCANA
It’s true. I’ll tell you anything you want to know.
OBI-WAN
Well, that certainly makes our jobs easier.
You narrow your eyes at the Senator.
ANAKIN
Tell Obi-Wan what you told us about the other shipments.
MURCANA
There are at least a dozen more Republic cargo ships now under Separatist control. Some Senators were bribed, a few threatened, whatever it took. They promised my nephew safe passage out of the Duro system if I altered a couple of ship manifests. I had no choice.
ANAKIN
| CHOICE 1: A trial will decide your fate. | CHOICE 2: You’ll pay for your crimes. | CHOICE 3: There’s always a choice. |
ANAKIN We’re not the ones you have to convince of your innocence. Ahsoka turns to the Senator with sympathy in her eyes. AHSOKA Maybe if you tell them about your nephew, they’ll understand. MURCANA Spare me your pity, Jedi. You have more blood on your hands than I ever could. | ANAKIN You took an oath to protect the Republic. Now hundreds might die because of you. AHSOKA Master, she did this out of fear. Maybe if we can rescue her nephew… ANAKIN She lost the right to ask for the Jedi’s help when she betrayed the Republic. MURCANA I wouldn’t want the Jedi involved. All you know how to do is take lives, not save them. | ANAKIN Now you have to live with the consequences of what you’ve done. AHSOKA Senator Murcana, why didn’t you ask the Jedi for help with your nephew? MURCANA Wherever the Jedi go, violence follows. There can be no peace if you come with armed with laser swords. |
ANAKIN
That’s enough. Take her away.
Rex poses his hand on the Senator’s elbow.
REX
Let’s go, Senator.
As he leads her away, Obi-Wan puts his hand on your shoulder.
OBI-WAN
You and your padawan did well, Anakin.
You sigh and look out the window of The Negotiator, taking in the view of Coruscant below. As the sun slowly sets, you shake your head and turn back to face him.
ANAKIN
It’s not over yet. I won’t stop until I reclaim every single one of those stolen shipments.
[END VARIABLE 2: STOP MURCANA]
END OF LEVEL.
ariel giacobbe 