Star Wars: Tempest Runner (The High Republic)

About the Book

Delve into the cutthroat world of one of the High Republic’s greatest foes, the merciless Lourna Dee, in this full script for the Star Wars audio original Tempest Runner.
 
The Nihil storm has raged through the galaxy, leaving chaos and grief in its wake. Few of its raiders are as vicious as the Tempest Runner Lourna Dee. She stays one step ahead of the Jedi Order at the helm of a vessel named after one of the deadliest monsters in the galaxy: herself. But no one can outrun the defenders of the High Republic forever.
 
After the defeat of her crew, Lourna falls into the hands of the Jedi—but not before she hides her identity, becoming just another Nihil convict. Her captors fail to understand the beast they have cornered. Just like every fool she’s ever buried, their first mistake was keeping her alive.
 
Lourna is determined to make underestimating her their last.
 
Locked up on a Republic correctional ship, she’s dragged across the galaxy to repair the very damage she and her fellow Tempest Runners inflicted. But as Lourna plans her glorious escape, she makes alliances that grow dangerously close to friendships. Outside the Nihil—separated from her infamous ship, her terrifying arsenal, and her feared name—Lourna must carve her own path. But will it lead to redemption? Or will she emerge as a deadlier threat than ever before?
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Excerpt

Star Wars: Tempest Runner (The High Republic)

SCENE 1. INT. CANTINA. SRAN—NIGHT.

A cantina on a blasted rock of a planet in the area of galaxy known as the Ash Worlds. The place is empty, save for the serving droid and a hulking figure, who is sitting at the bar. We can hear the hiss and wheeze of the ventilator strapped to his massive body, and when he speaks, his voice has a slight electronic distortion from the mask he wears.

Some kind of cantina-type music plays in the background, tinny as if through slightly broken speakers. Cutting back to this will be a good indicator that we’ve switched scenes or times.

FX: Doors slide open. Wind rushes in from outside, bringing dirt and grit with it. There’s a storm outside. Footsteps as an Er’Kit stumbles in—Andrik. The door shuts with a hiss.


ANDRIK:
Woo-ee! That’s quite a storm you have blowing up out there. Dust gets everywhere, eh?

SERVING DROID:
Welcome to Sran, buddy. They don’t call them the Ash Worlds for nothing. What can I get you?

ANDRIK:
Got any Tovash?

SERVING DROID:
No.

ANDRIK:
Juma juice?

SERVING DROID:
No.

ANDRIK:
What have you got?

HULKING FIGURE: (MASKED)
Nothing good.

ANDRIK:
I hear you, pal.

SERVING DROID:
Enough of that talk, or I’ll cut you off.

HULKING FIGURE: (MASKED)
Promises. Promises.

SERVING DROID:
How about a glass of utoz or vematoid.

ANDRIK:
Which is better?

HULKING FIGURE: (MASKED)
Neither.

ANDRIK:
I’ll go for the vematoid. Neat.

HULKING FIGURE: (MASKED)
You’ll regret it.

ANDRIK:
I’ll take my chances.

FX: A drink is poured and placed in front of Andrik, clunking on the bar.

SERVING DROID:
Enjoy.

ANDRIK:
Thanks.

FX: Scrape as Andrik picks up the glass and takes a drink.

ANDRIK: (CONT)
(RECOILS) Ugh! What in void’s name?

HULKING FIGURE: (MASKED)
Told ya.

ANDRIK:
(COUGHING) It’s disgusting. Pure gutrot.

SERVING DROID:
Another?

ANDRIK:
You bet.

HULKING FIGURE: (MASKED)
(LAUGHS) I like you.

ANDRIK:
Good to know. And a . . . a welcome change. The name’s Andrik.

HULKING FIGURE: (MASKED)
You’re an Er’Kit.

ANDRIK:
Yeah.

HULKING FIGURE: (MASKED)
Don’t see many of you around here.

ANDRIK:
I can believe it.

SERVING DROID:
Here you go.

FX: Another glass is slammed down in front of Andrik.

ANDRIK:
Thanks.

HULKING FIGURE: (MASKED)
You running from trouble?

ANDRIK:
No.

HULKING FIGURE: (MASKED)
Then you must be looking to cause it. Those are the only reasons anyone comes to Sran.

ANDRIK:
What about you?

HULKING FIGURE: (MASKED)
I’m still working that out.

FX: Andrik’s stool scrapes as he looks around at the empty bar.

ANDRIK:
Pretty dead in here. Pity.

HULKING FIGURE: (MASKED)
If you’re looking to party, you’ve come to the wrong place, friend.

ANDRIK:
I’m not looking for a party, but you might be able to help me.

HULKING FIGURE: (MASKED)
How so?

ANDRIK:
(LEANS IN, CONSPIRATORIALLY) I’m looking for . . . muscle.

HULKING FIGURE: (MASKED)
(LAUGHS) Are you now?

ANDRIK:
Mercs. Bounty hunters, even.

HULKING FIGURE: (MASKED)
Must be desperate. You got credits?

ANDRIK:
Sure.

HULKING FIGURE: (MASKED)
Don’t look like you got credits.

ANDRIK:
Appearances can be deceptive.

HULKING FIGURE: (MASKED)
You’re telling me.

ANDRIK:
Okay, okay. I admit it. I’m not exactly . . . flush right now.

HULKING FIGURE: (MASKED)
(NOT SURPRISED) Is that right?

ANDRIK:
But there’s this job . . . a good job . . .

HULKING FIGURE: (MASKED)
With riches beyond my wildest dreams, I’ll be bound.

ANDRIK:
Not just riches. Power. Real power.

HULKING FIGURE: (MASKED)
You don’t say.

ANDRIK:
So what d’ya think?

HULKING FIGURE: (MASKED)
I’m not interested.

ANDRIK:
Oh. I didn’t mean you. I mean . . . you’re a big guy, but no offense or anything, you . . . you don’t sound like you’re in the best shape.

HULKING FIGURE: (MASKED)
There’s a reason for that.

ANDRIK:
I bet. All I need is pointing in the right direction.

HULKING FIGURE: (MASKED)
To the muscle.

ANDRIK:
It’ll be worth their while.

HULKING FIGURE: (MASKED)
What’ve you got in mind? A hit job? Protection?

ANDRIK:
A rescue. Well, more of a breakout, I guess. It’s not gonna be easy.

HULKING FIGURE: (MASKED)
Things never are. And who exactly are you breaking out?

ANDRIK:
(BEAT, AND THEN LOWERS VOICE AS IF THERE WERE SOMEONE ELSE IN THE BAR WHO COULD HEAR)

Have you ever heard of a woman called Lourna Dee?

Star Wars: The High Republic Series

Star Wars: Tempest Breaker (The High Republic)
Star Wars: Temptation of the Force (The High Republic)
Star Wars: The Eye of Darkness (The High Republic)
Star Wars: Tempest Runner (The High Republic)
Star Wars: The Fallen Star (The High Republic)
Star Wars: The Rising Storm (The High Republic)
Star Wars: Tempest Runner (The High Republic)
Star Wars: Light of the Jedi (The High Republic)

About the Author

Cavan Scott
Cavan Scott is the New York Times bestselling author of Star Wars: The High Republic: The Rising Storm, Star Wars: Dooku: Jedi Lost, The Patchwork Devil and the hit supernatural comic book series Shadow Service. One of the five story architects for Lucasfilm’s bestselling multimedia initiative, Star Wars: The High Republic, Cavan has written comics for Marvel, DC Comics, Dark Horse, IDW, 2000AD and more. A former magazine editor, he lives in the United Kingdom with his wife and daughters. His lifelong passions include folklore, audio drama, the music of David Bowie and scary movies. He owns far too much LEGO. More by Cavan Scott
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