The set for the Theed Palace generator room was a massive, multi-level construction of sleek floors and deep, blue-screened pits.
It was the final week of shooting. It was time for the climax of the film: the two-on-one lightsaber duel between Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon, and the terrifying Sith apprentice, Darth Maul.
Donovan sat comfortably in a canvas cast chair behind George Lucas. He was sipping a soda, dressed in his dusty Anakin costume, having just finished his own green-screen cockpit scenes.
On the floor, Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor, and Ray Park (the martial artist playing Maul) were taking their starting positions. They had rehearsed this choreography for weeks. It was fast, it was good, but to Donovan's superhuman senses, it still looked like a rehearsed dance. It lacked that lethal, desperate edge of a real fight to the death.
"Alright, gentlemen," George called out, adjusting his glasses. "Give it everything you have. Action!"
Ray Park ignited his double-bladed prop sword and sprinted forward.
From his chair, Donovan took a slow sip of his soda. Beneath his calm exterior, he reached out with his energy. He didn't alter the set; he wrapped his power around the three actors like an invisible, energizing blanket. He subtly enhanced their spatial awareness, reduced the air resistance around their limbs, and gave their fast-twitch muscles a massive, magical boost.
Ray Park leaped into the air for a standard acrobatic flip. But with Donovan's invisible push, Ray flew fifteen feet high, clearing an impossible distance with the grace of a floating feather, before slamming into the ground in a perfect fighting stance.
Ray's eyes went wide under his red and black makeup. He felt incredibly light. He just assumed the pre-workout energy drink he had that morning was finally kicking in.
Then, Liam and Ewan engaged him.
The wooden blades clashed. *Crack! Crack! Crack!* They were supposed to go at normal speed, but with Donovan secretly sharpening their reflexes, the choreography instantly accelerated to a blistering, terrifying pace. It was a blur of motion. Ewan ducked a strike that was genuinely inches from his nose, his body moving completely on instinct. Liam's heavy strikes carried the momentum of a runaway train. They weren't thinking about their next steps anymore; they were just surviving.
Behind the monitors, George Lucas gripped the edges of his chair, completely mesmerized. "Look at the speed... They look like actual superhumans."
"I told the VFX team to prepare for some heavy lifting," Donovan casually mentioned from his chair, pointing at the monitors. "If they're fighting this fast, the Force pushes need to be bigger. More destructive."
George nodded rapidly, not taking his eyes off the fight. "Yes. The audience needs to see raw power."
On the set, Ray Park spun and kicked Ewan squarely in the chest. It was a choreographed hit, but Ewan flew backward a little too perfectly.
"Now," Donovan whispered to himself.
Ray Park turned to Liam, raised his empty hand, and mimed a Force push toward a massive, heavy fiberglass pillar that was rigged to explode with compressed air.
But Donovan didn't wait for the special effects crew to press the detonator.
He focused his power directly on the pillar. With a brutal, invisible yank, Donovan literally tore the heavy structure from its steel mounts. The thick fiberglass groaned, cracked, and ripped violently through the air, completely shattering against the wall right behind Liam Neeson.
Dust and debris rained down on the set. It wasn't a little puff of air; it looked like a bomb had gone off.
Liam didn't even break character. Fueled by the magical adrenaline pumping through his veins, the veteran actor rolled through the dust and swung his sword with absolute ferocity.
They fought for two straight minutes without missing a single block, parry, or spin. When they finally separated and struck their final poses, the entire crew in the soundstage erupted into a deafening applause.
"Cut! Cut! Incredible!" George yelled, standing up and clapping.
On the floor, the three actors collapsed, completely drenched in sweat and gasping for air.
"Did you see that jump, Liam?" Ray Park panted, leaning on his prop sword. "I swear I hung in the air for a solid three seconds. I hit the absolute zone."
"I've never moved that fast in my life," Ewan laughed, wiping his forehead, his heart hammering against his ribs. "The adrenaline on this set is insane. And that pillar explosion? Terrifying."
Donovan smiled, finishing his soda and throwing the empty can perfectly into a trash bin ten feet away without looking.
Thanks to his new VFX company, *Rogue Entertainment*, they were going to replace that shattered pillar with a massive, bending steel pipe, making it look like Darth Maul was casually crushing the architecture of the room with his mind.
He didn't need to swing a lightsaber to be the most powerful being on the set. The prequels were about to change cinema forever, and Donovan was pulling all the strings.