Almost Canon Star Wars Scenes

This an original scene I came up with when listening to the trending audio "Sand Drawing" by Judah Earl. I paired it with this beautiful piece from @lornaka. I feel like Rex toeing the line of happy nostalgia and straight sadness for people and places you used to know is so human. - AC

Rex sat on a drifted outcropping of salt overlooking the vast expanse of Seelos’ dusty, sunset landscape. He walked alone in the desert when he needed to think. A lot had happened after meeting Kanan and Ezra. He hadn’t encountered another Jedi since he and Ahsoka parted ways many years ago. He wondered where she was. A knot of bittersweet longing for old days of the Republic sat in his chest. He sighed and looked into the soft pink and orange sky streaked with wispy clouds.

“I met a Jedi,” he began slowly. “Two actually. It was just like when it was you, me, and General Skywalker against the galaxy…I miss those days. It was all so easy.” 

He rested his forearms on his knees gazed into the dying sunlight. 

“I can’t tell if this war is getting harder because it is or because I’m getting older,” He chuckled lightly to himself, “Probably a little of both.”

A gust of wind blew salt crystals into the air. They shimmered like flecks of gold against the skies. It almost sounded like a whisper floating in the air. Rex smiled.

“Ezra reminds me of you when you were his age. He’s independent, headstrong and won’t listen to an old man like me.” 

He stared up as the stars crept into the purple edges of the sunset.

“Wherever you are I hope you’re safe and have become everything you were meant to be….I miss you, kid.”

He sat for a moment. A part of him hoped that if he said it out loud Ahsoka would somehow hear him through the Force. He knew it probably didn’t work like that but it made him feel better.

As the final rays of golden light sparkled across the salt flats, visions of his younger self, Anakin and Ahsoka ran through his mind. Those were the best days of his life and he would give anything to go back just one more time.

I was inspired by @naberrie-skywalkerr and their reblog comment.

HUNTER: Ford F-150 with custom paint. Reliable, classic, gets the job done.

WRECKER: Ram 2500 with a lift kit and off road tires. Big, loud and not fuel efficient.

CROSSHAIR: Nissan Frontier with custom rims but mostly stock. Subtle, drives well, doesn't hold a lot of passengers

ECHO: Stock Chevy Silverado EV. Plugs in, newest of the bunch, futuristic cyborg-esque?

HUNTER: Lineman - Highly skilled, focused, intuition for safety and proper planning, likes fixing things, rugged overall appearance.

TECH: Electrician - Technically savvy, likes anything that is powered, best at wiring, will let you electrocute yourself because you didn't listen to him.

WRECKER: Heavy Equipment Operator - Likes to destroy things, big boys with big toys, always eating snacks in the dozer.

CROSSHAIR: HVAC Technician - Likes working alone or with minimal people, will 100% be snarky to customers who aren't maintaining their system, won't get his hands too dirty, will swear under his breath at every job site.

I shouldn't be - I like Ziro's character in the Clone Wars and having other species speak Basic cuts down on subtitles which most people seem to hate (I don't) but I had a visceral reaction of ick when he spoke. Couple it with the dude bro inflection and I just couldn't get past it. At least Ziro has a unique voice.

AND don't get me started on seeing a shredded Hutt. Not super comfortable with that either. I'm not about to ask how and where Hutts tone muscle or if they are even supposed to but all I'm saying is Rotta was not it for me.

It was sweet how he came to relate with Grogu and it was an interesting choice to tie in a known character but I just didn't love it.

I'm so sorry but I feel like starting a literal riot in the streets...2 rounds of FMK...

FUCK, MARRY, KILL:

Hunter

Captain Rex

Commander Cody

(Me: fuck Hunter, marry Rex, kill Cody.)

Hunter puts the daddy in Dad Batch...I would literally let Hunter obliterate me in any way he wants. Rex is structured and clean cut with a logical kind of thinking and a strong sense of protection/providing. Rex was my first clone obsession and I love a man with a plan <3. Sorry Cody....execute Order 66...as you were..

BONUS ROUND 501st:

Echo (ARC Era)

Fives (ARC Era)

Jesse

An extension of the final scene in the finale episode. There is really too much implication to explain but I like the idea of Maul waiting for Devon to call him "Master" before he officially recognizes her as his apprentice. The whole verbal "Master/Apprentice" almost feels like a platonic kind of "I love you" in a way. She is submitting to him because she has nowhere else to turn but likes the idea of being able build her strength as he promises. Maul needs someone who he can have authority over but he also sees a bit of himself in her. - AC

Devon sat in the passenger compartment of Dryden Vos' ship. She turned half of Maul’s duel-ended lightsaber in her hand. The hilt was smooth to the touch and created a warm, lightly pulsing sensation that spread through her hand and up her arm when she held it. As she stared a whisper sounded faintly in her mind “Devon…Devon…”

“Devon.” 

Maul’s smooth, low tone broke her trance. He hissed in pain as he slumped against the wall and slid to the floor next to her. The wound on his leg sparked occasionally. He sat for a moment watching her stare at the weapon in her hand. He could feel her conviction and apprehension swirling together in the space between them. He held out his hand.

“I’m going to need that back.”

Devon’s fingers closed around the silver hilt almost protectively. 

“Alright, I’m ready.” She said in almost a whisper. Maul glanced at her and a smile twitched at the corners of his mouth. He nodded.

“Put it down.” He told her.

She placed the saber on the floor in front of her.

“Close your eyes.” He instructed.

Devon complied. Maul took a breath and folded his hands. 

“Free your mind.” He breathed. “You have such potential, Devon. You are a survivor whose strength has been restricted. You have been through so much and are allowed to have emotion. Use that emotion to make you stronger with the Force.”

He watched his lightsaber as it made a twitch toward Devon. He smiled.

“Feel…Feel the passion for your friends who no longer have a home.” He continued.

Devon’s brow furrowed and she grimaced but kept her eyes closed. She felt her mind screaming at her that this wasn’t right. 

“Feel the pain as your old master was slaughtered.” Maul rasped.

In her mind she watched Vader’s red saber go through Daki’s heart. She watched him fall to the stone. The last shred of her old life had died before her. She groaned as a white-hot feeling bubbled up inside her. Her mind kept screaming.

“Feel the rage toward the Empire that took everything from you!” Maul growled.

“Aghhhh!” Devon yelled as her eyes flew open. Maul’s saber ignited and flew across the room in a wide arc. His hand shot out and he deactivated the blade. The hilt stopped midair and jumped back into his outstretched palm. He clipped it onto his belt. He sighed and shook his head.

“You’re not ready yet. I feel it. You have not fully given in.”

His breath hitched in pain as he struggled to his feet.

Devon shook her head, “No! I am ready!.......Master.”

He stopped and clasped his hands behind his back. The smile from before slowly crept across his full features. That’s what he was waiting to hear; “Master”. He missed it. He missed knowing there was one other life form in the entire galaxy who was truly loyal to him – at least for a brief moment. She wasn’t as physically intimidating as Savage, but he felt her mind could become more dangerous than he ever was. She had spent most of her life surviving in the shadows and navigating the perils of an unforgiving galaxy – just like him.

He turned to her over his shoulder. “We’ll try again later…...my young Apprentice.”

He unclipped the saber from his belt and tossed it to her as he exited the hold.

When Maul faces the inquisitors It's like he's watching the power he had drain away before his eyes. It used to be just him and his master and then him and Savage. Now there are these "mass produced" Inquisitors and the decorum of the old ways has been shattered. He used to be the feral wildcard that no one dared to challenge but now he's living in a world that no longer fears him.

Everything he's known has been taken from him and - we saw this shift in the last episodes - his hate has shifted from Kenobi and the Republic to Sidious and even himself. The character building is so multifaceted because he's a character who was built around hate but now that vivid external "in the now" hate has changed into a deeper internal hate and almost a form of regret. In some aspects it almost seems like he is trying to retroactively build a family unit with his band of misfits and criminals to replace the family/brothers he once had.

When he interacts with Devon he's reprising his role of a teacher as he did with Savage but also he speaks to Devon with the same level of respect that he used to do with Ahsoka (Lady Tano). This could be the fact he was raised in a matriarchal society but he seems to really understand the psychological and emotional nature of females; and that's what makes him really dangerous. He has given Devon all the physical freedom she wants but psychologically she really can't escape him.

BUT can we just talk about the general attention to detail in Maul Shadow Lord!?

Maul's psychology when interacting with Devon or him thinking back on his life is just another facet of him that we really haven't seen.

the sound engineering for Maul's lightsaber and the voices that haunt him is just genius. The subtle themes there...

The general animation is spectacular! The water and haze in the underground looks real and the detail/wrinkles in Maul's face is amazing!

A cloaked figure appeared on the holotable. Rex stared at him intently. He felt a sudden and unnerving tension in his gut but couldn’t explain why. The figure spoke three words in a low and deliberate gravel tone, 

“Execute Order 66”.

The words hung heavily in the air and rang in Rex’s ears like someone had screamed them. His head began to tingle like thousands of microscopic Krykna were crawling through his brain. The emotion drained from his face, and he nodded,

“Yes, Lord Sidious.” He replied in a low, monotone voice. 

As the transmission faded so did the spark in his eyes. The bridge doors opened behind him and Ahsoka ran in, 

“Rex! It’s Anakin. I feel like something terrible has happened.” She said urgently.

Rex kept his back to her. The sound of her voice, which he usually enjoyed and looked forward to hearing, now sounded like two pieces of metal scraping together. He gritted his teeth, the urge to hurt her – no kill her welled up inside him.

Something in his mind stopped. This wasn’t right. This wasn’t him. Ahsoka was his commander and one of his closest friends. He swore an oath to protect her with his own life if necessary. The crawling in his head intensified like a dark thing growing and snaking through every recess of his mind. His hands began to shake with a mixture of rage and fear. He felt like his mind was being pulled in two opposite directions; like he was losing control. His helmet slipped from his fingers and hit the floor with a hollow thud. 

“Rex?” Ahsoka asked uncertainly.

The other troopers around them turned. A symphony of clicks sounded against the drone of hyperspace as they cocked and trained their blasters on Ahsoka. Rex knew he had to do something to save her. 

“No! I’ll do it.” Rex snarled as he hit his fist on the holotable. 

“Rex? What’s happening?” she asked again as their gaze met. 

He saw the look of pain and betrayal flash in her eyes. She put up her hands and made a motion toward him.

“Stay back!” he yelled as he pointed his blasters at her. 

His mind began turning over the same phrase quietly at first but then louder and louder in a monotone voice that wasn’t his own – 

Good soldiers follow orders…good soldiers follow orders…good soldiers follow orders! – 

His hands trembled and single tear ran down his cheek. 

No! I won’t hurt her! he silently screamed into the growing void of darkness.

Good soldiers follow orders…good soldiers follow orders…good soldiers follow orders! – 

The crawling in his head a rose to static drone echoing in his skull. Every fiber of his being was telling him to pull the trigger of his pistols, but he couldn’t tear his eyes from the almost fearful look on Ahsoka’s face. 

“Find him…..find him….” He gasped. His heart pounded in his chest. All he could hear was the sound of his own blood pumping and the phrase that had become a murderous chant among the static din,

Good soldiers follow orders!

The last shred of his conscious mind finally put everything together and screamed out,

The chip! -

“Fives…..FIND HIM!” He bellowed as his vision dissolved into a red haze and he fired his pistols at his closest friend. His last conscious act was tilting his pistols a hairsbreadth downward to aim away from her heart.

She didn’t miss a beat and ran towards Rex, deflecting blaster bolts and knocking him down against the holotable. She had trained with the 501st firing at her, but she never believed it would really happen.