EPISODE II: TEST RUN

 

 

 

 

 

 

“STAR WARS: HEROES OF DESTINY
EPISODE II: TEST RUN”

by

JIM COOK

BASED ON A STORY BY MICHAEL ROMANOWSKI & CO.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JAMESJCOOK3RD@GMAIL.COM

HTTP://STAR-WARS-HEROES-OF-DESTINY.BLOGSPOT.COM

TWITTER: @JIMCOOKJIMCOOK

FADE IN

EXT. SPACE

We see a field of stars. As the theme music plays, words CRAWL across the blackness.

CRAWL

The crew of the Dancing Star, having defeated an unknown assailant aboard their vessel, settles in to take care of a more pressing matter: making money.

 

INT. DANCING STAR COMM STATION

KOYI’UNA SEROOL keys on the comm. Equipment and punches in an address that had been given to her by the moisture farmers the night before.

In moments HIRAM, the leader of the farmers, appears in holographic form. He looks tired and forlorn.

 

HIRAM

I almost didn’t expect to hear from you again.

 

Koyi’una offers him a dazzling smile, via her holo pickup.

 

KOYI'UNA SEROOL

I always keep my promises, friend. The word I bring is good. We’ll take the contract. One thousand credits for Old Fang… dead or alive.

 

INT. DANCING STAR BRIDGE

RENEE MARKOV, DELOR SEROOL, and TOVI ZAHN sit at their places on the DANCING STAR’s small bridge/cockpit. They are running the ship through her pre-flight routine. It’s been several months since she’s moved, and getting all systems up and running is taking some effort.

MYKAR ROSHENK (O.S)

(via ship’s intercom)

Pre-flight checks are green. Ready to lift off.

 

RENEE MARKOV

Understood! Seal all hatches. Man your stations.

 

Markov watches the indicators on his panel change to “ready” one-by-one.

He nods to Delor.

RENEE MARKOV

Lift us off.

 

The young Twi’lek gives a lopsided grin at Markov’s overly formal tone.

 

DELOR SEROOL

Stand by.

 

EXT. DOCKING BAY 327

For the first time in months the Dancing Star’s propulsion systems come to life. The repulsorlifts HUM, and slowly lift the ship out of the rented docking bay. The ion engines flash as the main drive is engaged, driving the ship skyward.

 

INT. DANCING STAR BRIDGE

Delor opens up the throttle, angling the ship higher into the clear desert sky, visible through the viewports. The last of Mos Eisley’s tumbledown buildings flash by far below, leaving only the empty sands of the Dune Sea from horizon to horizon.

The comm system chirps for attention, and Markov turns to the annunciator.

TOVI ZAHN

Who is it?

 

RENEE MARKOV

Fortuna. I’d better talk to him. This may be bad news.

Markov hits the “accept” key on the comm unit.

 

BIB FORTUNA (O.S.)

Trying to run out on me, Markov? Trying to run out on Jabba?

 

RENEE MARKOV

(soothing tone of voice)

Now, Fortuna, there’s no need for that. We’re taking the ‘Star for a test run; nothing more.

 

BIB FORTUNA (O.S.)

You play games with me, you die, Markov.

 

RENEE MARKOV

We’ll be back to haul your cargo, Fortuna. I give you my word on that.

 

BIB FORTUNA (O.S.)

That, or you will be up to your necks in bantha poodoo, Markov, that I promise you!

 

Fortuna’s transmission ends abruptly with a CLICK, leaving the comm speakers emitting STATIC.

MSBD 14-ALPHA enters the cockpit.

 

MSDB 14-ALPHA

Master Renee, there is something I need to tell you.

 

RENEE MARKOV

What is it, Fourteen-Alpha?

 

The droid produces a small holo-projector. He activates it, producing a rotating image. It appears to be a stylized image of a Krayt Dragon. Informational text is displayed, scrolling alongside the image.

 

MSDB 14-ALPHA

I recorded this image last night, during my encounter with those two strange fellows who were lurking about observing the ship. This logo was on both of the swoops they used to make their escape. I have done some research via the planet’s information system, and have discovered it to be the logo of…

 

TOVI ZAHN

(interrupting)

The Kolibri Star Dragons! They’re bad news, Markov. Hired thugs who work for the highest bidder. If they are on our trail, nothing good can come of it.

 

RENEE MARKOV

I know, Tovi, I know.

 

Markov regards the rotating symbol for a time, then heads aft out of the bridge, alone with his thoughts.

 

INT. DANCING STAR VENTRAL AIRLOCK

MYKAR ROSHENK hits a control, and watches the ship’s belly hatch open with a HISS. The hot desert air blasts through, buffeting him. R4-K17 stands beside him, and a long, lumpy bundle bound with poly binders and synth mesh lies on the deck nearby.

Roshenk watches the desert landscape flash by far below for a moment.

MYKAR ROSHENK

Alright, Kay-Seventeen, do it.

 

R4-K17

Tweet! Woo! Burble!

 

The droid extends a servo grip. It grabs the cloth covered bundle, and drags it to the hatch. The bundle catches momentarily on the rim of the hatch, then drops through

 

EXT. DUNE SEA

The bundle falls through the sky, tumbling slowly. After several seconds, and several hundred meters, the bundle hits the sand with a THUMP. The noise attracts the attention of a nearby group of WOMP RATS, that scurries over with a chorus of inquisitive SQUEEKS to investigate this gift from the sky.

 

INT. DANCING STAR BRIDGE

MSDB 14-Alpha scans the surrounding terrain, projecting a map for the crew. The area known as “The Needles” is displayed. Red icons mark the Tusken villages. The map shows the villages to be widely scattered, separated by steep rocky defiles and large stretches of open desert.

RENEE MARKOV

Blasting them from the sky may not be the best idea. Any random attack will just stir them up, maybe start a new range war. I’d rather not get anyone else killed if I can help it.

 

DELOR SEROOL

WE certainly can’t bribe them. Tuskens don’t like to treat with outsiders if they don’t have to. Likely as not we’d be strung up the moment we showed our faces.

 

KOYI'UNA SEROOL

Another thing we should consider is if we land, they will gather in great numbers. There is nothing the Sand People love more than looting and burning an alien “sky-ship.” We had best be very cautious from here on in.

 

INT. DANCING STAR STARBOARD CREW BERTH

Tovi Zahn sits crosslegged on his bunk, an expression of deep meditation on his face. Superimposed over his calm, peaceful face we see the image of OLD FANG, as provided by the moisture farmers.

BEGIN FORCE SEARCH MONTAGE

-Flashes of desert landscape

-The bright twin suns in the sky

-The Dancing Star, slowly crossing the air above the sands

-Tovi’s crewmates on the bridge, examining the map

-A group of Sand People around a fire

-Old Fang, standing before the group, gesturing forcefully at a crudely drawn map in the sand

-Fighting between Sand People and Humans.

END FORCE SEARCH MONTAGE

Tovi climbs to his feet and quickly leaves the cabin.

 

INT. DANCING STAR BRIDGE

Tovi Zahn breathlessly arrives on the bridge.

 

TOVI ZAHN

I’ve found him. I know where Old Fang is, and I know that he’s trying to convince the Sand People to go to war with the farmers.

 

FADE OUT