Heroes and Hotshots

"Heroes and Hotshots" is the first part of the first episode of the second season the animated series Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures. It was released on Disney+ on August 14, 2024.
==Official description==
A new Padawan arrives on Tenoo.
==Plot summary==
===The new Padawan===
The episode opens with Kai Brightstar, Lys Solay and Nubs taking part in a training exercise which involves climbing a rotating structure to reach a tower and activate a beacon. Solay helps Nubs up and together the trio activate the beacon. On the ground, Nash Durango and RJ-83 cheer. As the Jedi Initiates cheer, Jedi Master Zia Zaldor Zanna and her new Padawan fly past in their Jedi Vector starfighters. 
When Durango asks what is a Padawan, Brightstar explains that a Padawan is a Jedi who is an apprentice to a Master. Solay explains that when she and the other younglings are old enough, they will get paired to a Jedi Master and train to become Jedi Knights. The younglings rush to the landing field to meet Master Zia and her new Padawan Wes Vinik. Vinik also introduces his astromech droid R0-M1 ("Romi"). Zanna explains that Vinik will be assisting her in running the Tenoo Jedi Temple and sometimes leading the younglings on missions. 
Vinik tells the younglings that Master Zanna has assigned him on a mission today and invites the younglings to come along. Brightstar introduces himself, Solay, Nubs and their friend Durango. Nubs shakes Vinik's hand, prompting him to remark about the Poobian's strong grip. Vinik doesn't understand Poobian but promises to learn. Solay translates for Nubs, explaining that he was asking if Vinik had been on missions before. Vinik says that he has traveled on missions across the galaxy including chasing thieves through the Moons of Iego. 
===A new mission===
A humanoid droid arrives and passes Zanna three sets of new robes. Zanna tells the younglings that she will be issuing them with new gear as they take on new challenges for the Jedi Order. The younglings don their new Jedi robes, which Durango describes as "sharp." Vinik tells the younglings that they will be heading to the planet Deppani whose inhabitants build starships for explorers. Zanna explains that Deppani's village and factory was recently hit by a big storm and that their mission is to investigate if the locals need help. Before leaving, Zanna reminds Vinik and the younglings that they are a team and to ask for help if they need.
Since Vinik's Jedi Vector is not big enough to carry the younglings, Durango offers the services of her starship Crimson Firehawk. Vinik notices that the ship has undergone several modifications, which Durango attributes to the numerous missions she has undertaken with the younglings. Durango explains that she, her mother and RJ-83 have installed several upgrades including new engines, rotating wings for quicker steering and a new paint job.
The group travel to Deppani, which is a terrestrial world covered with oceans and landmasses. Upon arriving over the village and factory, they discover a large "unfriendly" starship, which turns out to be the Ganguls' new cruiser Rathtar's Revenge. Vinik asks Durango to land the ship so that he and the Jedi can investigate. Durango and RJ-83 stay behind while the Jedi search the village.
===The Ganguls strike again===
Shortly later, the Gangul pirates Sellaccc Orryak, Jooro Jarrot and Toda-Joh attempt to steal from the parked starships but find them locked. Brightstar recognizes the Ganguls from a distance while Solay briefs Vinik about the pirates. Brightstar is surprised that the Ganguls have ventured this far into Tenoo's sector and wonders if the giant starship above belongs to them. The Jedi soon encounter locals including a female Twi'lek and a male Sullustan who explains that their village was hit by a storm. While they were cleaning up, the Ganguls arrived. 
The Sullustan tells the Jedi that the starships are a valuable source of income for the villagers. Vinik decides to confront the Ganguls and tells the villages to stay hidden. Vinik and the younglings confront Orryak and her defiant associates, who reply that they take what they want. Orryak also introduces their new flagship Rathtar's Revenge, which Jarrot explains that the Ganguls stole from some friends recently. Joh adds that these friends are not enemies while Orryak boasts that the Ganguls will be the greatest pirates in the sector with their new starship. Orryak plans to steal the starships on Deppani for their new fleet. 
After hearing a beep, Orryak tells the droid NX-88, who is worried, to keep their flagship floating above. Vinik vows to stop the pirates, prompting Orryak to attack him with a doubled-bladed beskar spear. Joh attacks the younglings with a vibro-ax while Jarrot fires an blaster that shoots energy nets. After Solay deflects his net with her lightsaber, he attacks them with a vibro-ax. Vinik is unable to penetrate Orryak's spear since it is made of beskar. Despite the situation, he declines Brightstar's offer of help.
Jarrot traps Vinik in an energy net while Orryak orders NX-88 to fire the claws. The droid deploys a pair of grappling claws. The first snares a starship while the second misses and crashes into the dir. Orryak orders Joh and Jarrot to free the second claw and attach it to another ship. The younglings free Vinik, who blames the setback on himself and regrets not asking for help. Vink says that their mission is to recover the stolen starship and prevent the other pirates from stealing a second one. 
Solay comes up with plan which involves Vinik and Brightstar flying aboard the Firehawk and recovering the first ship from the Rathtar's Revenge. Nubs and Solay distract Jarrot and Toda-John while Durango and the droids cut through the cables holding the claws. Durango tells RJ-83 to hold onto Romi while the droid cuts through the cables. Putting their plans into action, Vinik fights with Orryak while Brightstar attempts to unlock the claw's controls. 
On the ground, Solay and Nubs dodge Jarrot's nets while Joh attempts to free the claw. Brightstar unlocks the claw trapping the first starship while Orryak corners Vinik and knocks his lightsaber out of his hand. Vinik asks Brightstar for help and the youngling uses the Force to topple several crates. This distraction allows Vinik to escape. Vinik then uses the Force to release several yellow canisters. The two Jedi escape in the stolen starship while R0-M1 and RJ-83 disable the cables holding up the second claw. Facing opposition, Orryak retreats and flies the Rathtar's Revenge out of the village. Jarrot and Joh flee the village to catch up with their boss. 
The villagers cheer following the pirates' damage. The Twi'lek woman thanks the Jedi for their help. Solay volunteers the services of the Jedi in cleaning up the town. Vinik thanks Brightstar and his friends for helping and says that he has learnt about the importance of teamwork. As they walk together, Brightstar asks Vinik to recount the story of his adventure on the Moons of Iego. Vinik says that a swoop gang on Ayoh 7 had stolen a Galactic Republic starship when the Jedi responded.
==Appearances==
==Notes and references==
2011