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