Your Ticket to Premium Products at Pocket-Friendly Prices

Meet the Jedi’s Piratical Foes in This Unique Star Wars E book Excerpt

Star Wars is fascinated with the downfall of the Jedi Order proper now. The High Republic transmedia effort has seen the Jedi’s apex challenged; the twenty fifth anniversary of the prequel period’s beginnings in The Phantom Menace is on the best way; and soon The Acolyte will present the rise of darkness. However one other development in inspecting the Order’s inevitable doom? Pirates. So many house pirates.

Piracy and the Jedi go hand in hand—it’s lengthy been an established part of Star Wars worldbuilding that there was a time Jedi can be often defending the fringes of the Republic from piratical threats, and the way the Republic’s rising corruption noticed its pursuits draw additional and additional inwards to the core techniques, abandoning individuals within the rim worlds to the grip of crime and piracy. Hell, even the principle villains of the Excessive Republic, the Nihil, are pirates! Star Wars, it loves itself a pirate.

Picture: Penguin Random Home

So then, it’s maybe becoming that within the franchise’s newest novel—John Jackson Miller’s The Living Force, set within the few years earlier than the occasions of The Phantom Menace—finds its foes in just a few extra pirates: the mysterious Zilastra and her Riftwalkers. A brand new group shaped out of the myriad factions vying for management of the Outer Rim whereas a recalcitrant Republic pulls again from policing the distant hyperspace routes and worlds at its edge—and a Jedi Order all too prepared to hitch them in retreat—the Riftwalkers and their Nautolan chief are however the newest menace amongst many on the Republic’s fringe… and as you’ll be able to see in our unique preview of The Residing Power under, they imply enterprise.


You possibly can’t have a gathering of the minds if no one attending has one.

Zilastra had coined the saying early in her profession, and it had turn out to be useful far too many instances within the decade since. However this was the primary time she’d considered it in the course of a firefight.

Blaster photographs sizzled by way of the air within the hall of the freighter Morleen, shiny strains by no means to be crossed. Even peeking across the nook was loss of life. All Zilastra may see from her aspect passage was the opening throughout the corridor, the place her second-in-command had simply seen her arrival. A Feeorin, Burlug had head-tendrils like hers; his had been blue, whereas hers had been Nautolan inexperienced. However he was a a lot larger goal. Burlug yelled over the incoming fireplace, “Keep again, Zil!”

“Luggy, what’s the story?”

“Tal and Krins obtained it. Our shock visitor popped ’em as quickly as they began to parlay.”

“Saves me from killing them,” Zilastra replied. A lot for making an attempt for a peaceable assembly. Her anger grew. A boarding motion, in my very own port. What a multitude!

Consumption was one of many easiest duties her crew was anticipated to deal with. Within the security of one in all her personal touchdown amenities on Keldooine, newly captured spaceships obtained the once-over. Helpful cargoes had been positioned and eliminated, whereas one other workforce evaluated the vessel’s situation utilizing a guidelines that will have been the envy of any Republic bureaucrat.

Earlier than all that would occur, nevertheless, the ship needed to be secured. Capturing and rerouting a big vessel was a busy affair, and infrequently was there time to clear all of the occupants whereas in flight. That tended to only be a formality as soon as in port, the place the numbers favored her forces. From there, it progressed because it had because the daybreak of piracy. Most captured crewmembers tended to change sides with out a lot fuss. Becoming a member of up was higher than unemployment—or a violent loss of life. Even presumably loyal captains of economic liners would flip as soon as a little bit stress was utilized.

However house owners of impartial freighters just like the Morleen had been a special breed: protecting of their vessels, and much more in love with their very own tales of themselves. One legend-in-his-own-mind after one other had refused to surrender the ship, some hiding within the ductwork for days, ready their probability to get taken down by her forces.

Or to perform a little injury of their very own.

With photographs persevering with to crackle previous, Zilastra adjusted her gloves first, after which drew her blasters. Thermal detonators can be of no use—they’d injury the freighter. And a gasoline bomb would merely imply an excellent longer delay earlier than consumption may start. No, this must be achieved the laborious means, earlier than—

The photographs stopped.

Burlug seemed again at her. “Don’t. It’s a entice.”

“You suppose?”

She heard the cockpit door shut—and seconds later the low thrum of the freighter’s engines beginning. The proprietor’s nonetheless making an attempt to save lots of the rattling ship!

Happily, there was an choice Zilastra had ignored whereas all of the taking pictures was occurring: the intercom, on the wall beside her. She holstered one in all her blasters and activated the communications system. “Hey, hear. Up within the cockpit.”

Static. Then a husky voice. “I’m not speaking to you. Get off my ship!”

“Yeah, I hear that quite a bit. I’m Zilastra.”

A pause. Then the speaker sounded. “You’re Zilastra? Of the Riftwalkers?”

“I’m glad you’ve heard of me. Meaning you already know what I’ll do.”

Silence adopted. Burlug shook his head. “I don’t suppose—”

Wait, Zilastra mouthed. It normally took ten seconds.

The freighter proprietor was prepared in 5. “Let me maintain the Morleen.

“The what?”

“This ship. It’s mine. Simply take the cargo.”

Zilastra had heard that one earlier than, too. “What are you carrying?”

“Tanks of business acid. 4 million liters, certain for Introsphere on Gorse.”

Ehh. Zilastra’s inexperienced mouth crinkled.

Nonetheless, the engines had been actually beginning to rev. She toggled the intercom. “Okay, you’re in luck. We occur to have a purchaser for that proper right here on Keldooine.”

“And?”

“I’ll provide you with one of many tanks. You promote it, you’ll find your means offworld.”

What?” The proprietor was clearly caught off guard. “No! I would like my ship!”

“The supply stands. The Morleen is mine. You need to negotiate, subsequent time get caught by a used starship vendor.” She listened to the engines. “In case your ship clears the power, my individuals will shoot it down, with me in it.”

“What? You’d actually order that?”

“I believed you’d heard of me earlier than. You’ve obtained ten seconds.” Zilastra snapped off the system and redrew her different blaster.

It took the proprietor all ten seconds to see purpose. The engines died. And when the door to the cockpit slid open, the proprietor died, too—shot as soon as by every of Zilastra’s blasters set to kill.

Burlug stepped out and stared on the corpse, which now rested beside the our bodies of Zilastra’s two former henchmen. “Good outdated Zilastra. Smile and shoot.”

“She was losing time.” Zilastra holstered her weapons. “Get her out of right here.”

Practically twice Zilastra’s weight, Burlug had no bother in any respect choosing up the pilot’s limp physique. “The place to?”

Zilastra pointed a thumb aft. “She owns a kind of acid vats within the maintain. A deal’s a deal.” She glanced on the corpses of her fallen henchmen. “Them, too.”

“Bought it.”

Zilastra wished a shower, herself—if in one thing quite a bit much less harmful. Nautolans had been at residence close to water, and whereas her job stored her in house, Zilastra favored a superb soak. However there was extra but to do. “Luggy, the place was she hiding?”

“Underneath the warmth trade manifold. Snuck into the cockpit previous everybody.”

“Simply nice.” This wasn’t alleged to occur. Zilastra seemed backward and forward. “The place’s the child?”

She began to achieve for her comlink—and determined as a substitute on the ship’s public handle system. Her voice boomed by way of the halls. “Kylah Lohmata! Present your self!

A steel bulkhead panel behind Zilastra shot outward, touchdown on the deck with a clang. A dark-haired human lady of twelve slipped out of an area barely a meter tall. Her face and clothes had been fully coated in grease smudges—and her large brown eyes beamed as she saluted. “Reporting, Your Majesty!”

Zilastra waved a gloved hand. “I’m not within the temper. I’ve obtained two lifeless due to a pilot we missed. Checking crawl areas is your job!”

Kylah obtained to her toes. “I discovered one thing else. I knew you’d need to see it.”

“And also you thought the best way to achieve me was to crawl right here?”

“Folks had been taking pictures.” Kylah lifted the panel she’d simply knocked out. Like a lot of the hall, it was pocked with rating marks from the pilot’s blaster. The child smiled large. “Come on! Comply with me all the way down to the maintain!”

The wiry lady dived again into the upkeep tunnel earlier than Zilastra may seize her. Kneeling, she noticed Kylah clambering like a rodent by way of the tunnel. Unable to suit, Zilastra shouted inside. “What’s the matter with taking the steps?”

“Shortcut!”

Seething, Zilastra heard a remark from above. “Good child.” The pilot’s physique over his huge shoulder, Burlug snickered at his boss. “Saves her from getting chewed out. I’d comply with if I may match!”

“Get to the maintain earlier than I liquidate the lot of you.” Zilastra watched him move and turned to comply with. The lengthy approach to the maintain, down the halls.

There was no place in Zilastra’s life for youngsters of her personal. It had been laborious sufficient beginning the Riftwalkers from the castoffs of the 4 different gangs working this sector of the Slice. But in some way she had develop into a sort of surrogate mother or father for Kylah. The foundling had been a stowaway on a service provider ship Zilastra had grabbed; with nowhere to go, she’d stayed on. The thin child’s expertise at stepping into locations nobody else may and discovering issues nobody knew to search for had made her useful to have round.

Nonetheless, given all of the would-be lieutenants eager to impress her on a regular basis, an incorrigible orphan made for a change of tempo. Kylah was all striving, with not one of the conniving. Zilastra wasn’t precisely alike in that, however she definitely knew what it was to be on her personal—and she or he revered efficiency. She’d currently entrusted the stowaway with a really particular challenge, in truth.

She was starting to doubt the knowledge of that when she arrived within the maintain. True to the late captain’s phrase, freestanding tanks stood within the large space. They had been bolted to the deck, and the one approach to drain them was at a reservoir facility, utilizing the correct gear. That was why Zilastra immediately had identified the prize was lower than helpful.

“No child,” Burlug mentioned. “I used to be positive she’d beat us right here.”

Zilastra’s blood boiled. “Stowaway!

“I’m up right here!” got here a voice from excessive above.

Zilastra seemed to the highest of one of many tanks. By some means, Kylah had gotten up there and was perched subsequent to a gap within the huge container. “What’s the concept?” Zilastra requested.

“You’re going to need to see this,” Kylah mentioned. “I’m not the one stowaway on this ship!

Reprinted from Star Wars: The Residing Power by John Jackson Miller. © 2024 by Lucasfilm Ltd. Revealed by Random Home Worlds, an imprint of Random Home, a division of Penguin Random Home LLC.


Star Wars: The Residing Power releases subsequent week on April 9, and is available for pre-order now.


Need extra io9 information? Take a look at when to anticipate the newest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s subsequent for the DC Universe on film and TV, and every part you have to find out about the way forward for Doctor Who.

Trending Merchandise

0
Add to compare
Corsair 5000D Airflow Tempered Glass Mid-Tower ATX PC Case – Black

Corsair 5000D Airflow Tempered Glass Mid-Tower ATX PC Case – Black

$168.05
0
Add to compare
CORSAIR 7000D AIRFLOW Full-Tower ATX PC Case, Black

CORSAIR 7000D AIRFLOW Full-Tower ATX PC Case, Black

$269.99
0
Add to compare
Corsair iCUE 4000X RGB Mid-Tower ATX PC Case – White (CC-9011205-WW)

Corsair iCUE 4000X RGB Mid-Tower ATX PC Case – White (CC-9011205-WW)

$144.99
.

We will be happy to hear your thoughts

Leave a reply

QuickPicksStore
Logo
Register New Account
Compare items
  • Total (0)
Compare
0
Shopping cart