The Platform Classic

_Yeager is forced to face a troublesome history he has been keeping secret when famous racer Marcus Speedstar arrives on the Colossus.

The episode begins with a sweeping scenic view of the Colossus platform. Several holographic advertisements featuring members of Ace Squadron are displayed on the Colossus. Team Fireball is shown working on the Fireball racer at Jarek Yeager's repair shop. BB-8 and R1-J5 ("Bucket") are seen arguing and bumping into one another.

Tam Ryvora informs Kazuda Xiono, Neeku Vozo, and the rest of the crew that the Platform Classic race is scheduled for the following day. She emphasizes the need to expedite the repairs if they wish to watch, assuming Yeager permits it. Upon noticing Kaz's smile, she questions its cause. Kaz initially denies any specific reason, but Tam presses him to reveal the truth. Kaz then shares a rumor suggesting the Platform Classic will be the most significant race in the galaxy and will bring joy to Yeager.

Neeku dismisses Kaz's statement as another joke, eliciting laughter. BB-8 responds by shaking his head. Yeager enters the garage, instructing his team to continue their repair work. He announces that Captain Imanuel Doza has requested his presence for an important matter. Kaz eagerly requests to accompany him. Jarek questions Kaz's eagerness and the reason behind his smile. Tam echoes this curiosity. Kaz insists there is no particular reason and suggests they proceed to discover what Doza requires.

Yeager, looking displeased, along with Kaz, Tam, Neeku, and BB-8, who is still grinning, ascend to Doza Tower to meet Captain Doza in his office. Doza expresses his satisfaction at Yeager's prompt arrival and thanks him. Yeager inquires if additional last-minute repairs are needed. Doza admits to frequently relying on Yeager and his team lately. When Yeager asks if the task involves dealing with pirates or saboteurs, Doza smiles and explains that the Platform Classic presents an opportunity to generate much-needed revenue for their economy, mentioning the entry fee of 100,000 credits.

Kaz subtly nudges Tam. Doza mentions that while the Aces will participate, he aims to elevate the event's scale and has reached out to Yeager. Yeager responds by stating that his racing days are behind him. Doza anticipated this response but believes Yeager cannot resist competing against a champion.

At that moment, a voice announces, "it's been a long time." Doza introduces the renowned sky racer Marcus Speedstar, who descends the stairs. Doza highlights Speedstar's achievement as a three-time winner of the [Five Sabers](/article/five_sabers]. Tam, Kaz, and Neeku exhibit visible excitement and happiness. Neeku expresses his disbelief. Jarek, however, displays unhappiness and avoids eye contact with the racing champion.

Marcus remarks on the passage of nearly five years and extends his hand to Yeager, who declines the handshake. Tam realizes that Yeager and Marcus Speedstar have a prior connection. Yeager rises to face Speedstar, revealing to everyone that they are brothers. This revelation shocks Kaz and the other members of Team Fireball.

As Jarek and Speedstar exchange intense stares, Captain Doza declares that this upcoming Platform Classic will be the most spectacular the Galaxy has ever witnessed: Jarek Yeager versus Marcus Speedstar, a brotherly showdown. Yeager declines the racing offer, asserting that his racing career and ties to his brother are over. Marcus suggests they need to talk, but Yeager dismisses him, expressing surprise at his agreement to the event. Jarek departs, telling Speedstar that he expects to see him again in another decade.

Kaz expresses his desire to meet Speedstar, but Tam pulls him away. The remaining members of Team Fireball follow suit. Back at Yeager's repair shop, Neeku inquires why Yeager's brother has a different surname. Yeager expresses disbelief that Neeku considered Speedstar a legitimate surname. Yeager then asks how Kaz knew about the situation. Kaz explains that he had heard rumors of Marcus Speedstar's arrival but was unaware of their familial connection.

Speedstar, accompanied by the Esral'sa'Nikto Oplock and the black astromech droid R4-D12, enters the garage, remarking that he is the more attractive sibling. Speedstar notes that it has been a while since he has seen his older brother and tells his crew that Yeager taught him how to fly in their youth. Yeager refuses to acknowledge his estranged brother and states that he is occupied and that Speedstar should focus on preparing for the race.

Speedstar clarifies that he did not travel all this way solely to race his brother but to see him. Yeager dismisses this, saying his trip was a waste. Yeager moves further into the garage, with Speedstar following. Oplock greets his fellow Nikto Neeku with a howl. Tam and Kaz are startled, but Neeku assures them that it is a friendly gesture. Neeku explains that it is a traditional Esral'sa'Nikto greeting of friendship. Neeku introduces himself, Kaz, and Tam to Oplock. Oplock embraces Neeku, who then introduces Oplock and the astromech R4-D12. The droids exchange greetings.

Inside the repair shop, Yeager expresses his surprise at his younger brother's presence and questions their agreement to avoid racing each other. Speedstar clarifies that Doza is unaware of this agreement and admits that he did not come solely for the race. He states that he came to talk, but Yeager insists that he knows Speedstar has no desire to converse with him and that his feelings remain unchanged.

Speedstar counters that Yeager is the only family he has left. He expresses his desire to reconcile. Yeager retorts that Oplock doesn't speak to him. Speedstar says that Oplock forgave him and judges him by his present character. He adds that Oplock, unlike Yeager, offered him assistance. Yeager replies that Speedstar has Oplock and his fame. Yeager accuses Speedstar of being obsessed with fame and willing to do anything to achieve it.

Speedstar responds that it was easier to win after Yeager quit and gambles that he will win before telling his brother that he will see him around. Yeager counters that Speedstar knows he will never defeat him. Speedstar acknowledges that only they both know that. Speedstar instructs Oplock and D12 to leave.

After Speedstar and his crew depart, Yeager warns Kaz that any further actions behind his back will result in his dismissal. Kaz remarks that he didn't realize Yeager was afraid to race again, with Neeku adding that it is his own brother. Yeager explains that he taught Marcus everything he knows and that he couldn't touch him. He reiterates their agreement to avoid racing each other.

When Tam suggests that the agreement is likely due to Marcus being considered one of the greatest racers in the galaxy, Yeager dismisses their understanding. Kaz and Tam infer that if he refuses to race, they must assume Marcus is the superior pilot. This irritates Yeager, who declares that he will challenge Marcus to force him to back down.

At Aunt Z's Tavern, several patrons, including Egdir, Al, Narb, Nod, and Jooks, offer to buy Marcus drinks, but he insists on paying himself. Al dismisses this, stating that it is an honor to have a celebrity racer like him present. Shortly after, two Guavian Death Gang enforcers enter the cantina. Speedstar attempts to remain inconspicuous while his crew hides.

The two Guavians approach Speedstar, who attempts to flatter them. When one of the Guavians confronts him about a ship on Rishi, Marcus claims ignorance of its ownership and states that he would not have lingered had he known. The Guavian knocks his cup over with his blaster. Marcus promises to repay his 20,000 credits debt by winning the Platform Classic. However, the Guavians seize Oplock as collateral. Marcus instructs Oplock to accompany the "nice red guys" and asserts that no pilot present can defeat him.

At that moment, Yeager enters the cantina with his crew and BB-8. Jarek announces that he has reconsidered and will race Speedstar in the Platform Classic. He adds that he hopes Speedstar doesn't mind the competition. Speedstar replies that Jarek knows he doesn't want to do that. Yeager mocks Marcus as a quitter and walks away. Speedstar tells his brother that he will see him tomorrow at the big race. When Yeager asks what he is doing, Speedstar says that he came here hoping things have changed. But since Yeager is not willing to forgive him, he asks what is the point. Speedstar says he needs that money.

Overhearing their conversation, Aunt Z announces that bets for the Platform Classic are now open, encouraging patrons to place their credits. Yeager states that he will not race, but Kaz reminds him that he cannot withdraw now. As the bets accumulate, D12 beeps, and Speedstar appears nervous.

While exiting the cantina, Kaz asks if he was trying to prove that Marcus wouldn't race him. Speedstar approaches and explains that the Guavian Death Gang has taken his mechanic hostage. Jarek dismisses this, stating that he doesn't want to know and loans Kaz as his "best" mechanic. As they walk away, Tam expresses surprise, but Yeager quips that he didn't specify what Kaz was best at.

While Kaz is working on Marcus's ship Galaxy's Glory, Speedstar tells Kaz to reorient that "camslate." Kaz, who isn't a real mechanic, is unfamiliar with the technology. BB-8 watches from under the fighter. When Marcus asks Kaz if he is Yeager's best mechanic, he says that he is the top three. Kaz tells him that he is mainly a pilot and expresses admiration that the racing celebrity is Yeager's brother.

Marcus corrects him that Jarek was the amazing one and that he could have become one of the greatest racers in the galaxy. Kaz says that he knew that Yeager was at the Battle of Jakku and asks why Yeager left the New Republic Defense Fleet. Speedstar is surprised that Yeager never told him. Kaz says that Yeager is not exactly open.

Speedstar explains that after the war with the Galactic Empire, the New Republic downsized its military. He and Yeager raced for a living. Speedstar says that he raced for fame and glory but that Yeager was racing for his family. Kaz confirms that he knows that Yeager once had a wife and daughter but that he never talks about them.

Speedstar explains that they competed in some big races together but that he could never beat him. He yearned to be the best to the point where he juiced up his racer with some [hyperfuel](/article/hyperfuel]. Kaz says how dangerous that fuel is. Speedstar explains that they were neck in neck approaching the last hoop when he opened up the throttle but underestimated the power of the ship. He clipped his brother's racer, sending the racer out of control. He remarks that he thought that the hyperfuel would give him victory but laments that it ruined everything.

Back at Yeager's repair ship, Tam and Neeku find him repairing his own racer with the help of Bucket. Tam is in awe of the ship. Yeager says the ship will need a little fine tuning and asks Tam to bring him a fresh generator ring from his office. While Tam is away, Neeku asks why Yeager stopped speaking with Marcus. He explains that his people would offer their own hearts or multiple internal organs if requested. Yeager understands that brothers are supposed to be there when you need them most. He says that mine wasn't.

Meanwhile, Kaz asks Speedstar how he got into trouble with the Guavian Death Gang. He says he had to borrow a few Credits after he fell into some hard times when he lost a couple of races. When Kaz asks Marcus if he came to the Colossus just for the money, Speedstar responds that there are plenty of races across the galaxy but that he wanted to see his brother again and couldn't pass it up.

The following day, Bucket beeps in the cockpit of Yeager's racer. Yeager says that he knows it has been a while and asks the droid if he knows how to co-pilot the ship. Just then, Kaz enters the garage and tells Yeager that he should forgive his brother for whatever he did. Yeager tells him that he doesn't know what he is asking of him.

Kaz points out that Speedstar is Yeager's brother. Yeager asks if Speedstar told him that he once had a family, a wife, and a kid. Kaz says that Speedstar loves Yeager as a brother and just wanted to be like him. Yeager responds that Marcus doesn't care about anyone but himself. Kaz replies that is not true and that his mechanic is in trouble with Guavian Death Gang and that he needs that prize money to pay them off. Yeager climbs into the cockpit of his racer.

Yeager responds that is not my concern just as the race announcer Jak Sivrak announces that the Platform Classic about to begin. Yeager, Speedstar, Torra Doza, and Griff Halloran don their helmets and close their cockpits. The racers are lowered below the Colossus. Neeku waves to Kaz on the platform and points at the horizon.

As Yeager prepares for the race, he tells Speedstar over the intercom that his droid looks a little worried. R4-D12 waves his head. Speedstar is cocky and boasts that D12 will come out fine unlike Bucket out there. He jokes that Bucket will blow a fuse before the race even starts, prompting a beeped protest from Bucket. Speedstar tells Yeager that he has to win this race. Yeager says that Speedstar has been singing that song since they were kids and says that is never going happen.

Speedstar replies that he didn't come here just to race. Yeager retorts that his brother is here to lose and that he lost him a long time ago. Speedstar bows his head and starts the engine. Yeager also fires up his engine. When the lights turn green, the racers race over the ocean and fly through the hoops.

Jak Sivrak announces that the racers have entered phase one as a holoprojector displays images of Speedstar, Yeager, Torra Doza, Hype Fazon, and Bo Keevil. As the fighters enter the obstacle course, Speedstar tells D12 to give it his best shot. Speedstar flies through three hoops. Flying beside Speedstar's racer, Yeager tells him that he always had respect for D12 and says he can't believe that the old droid stood by him, showing that droids are not different from their pilots. Speedstar asks what that is supposed to mean as the two fighters race through the obstacle-course hoops.

As Sivrak reports that Jarek Yeager and his brother are racing neck to neck, Kaz accidentally knocks a pit droid sitting in the balcony off the platform into the ocean below. Lower down the deck, a few Chelidae are also watching the race. During the race, Griff Halloran fires stun bolts at Bo Keevil's fighter, causing it to crash into the sea. Halloran moves up to the top five. Sivrak then announces phase two which involves the racers doing an atmospheric climb to the very edge of space.

Over the intercom, Yeager tells Speedstar that he can never forgive him for what he did. Speedstar responds that he tried to talk to him many times but that he disappeared. Over the holovideo, Sivrak announces that the racers are reaching phase three of the race, which involves doing a powerless plummet. The ring is equipped with an ion charge that temporarily disables the ships. A nervous Oplock and his Guavian captors watch the race.

In the high atmosphere, Yeager says that he left because he lost everything, which he blames on Speedstar. As Speedstar and Yeager race to the ring, Speedstar says that he has been trying to tell him all this time. Just then, Yeager's racer enters the ring and the ion charge fries his ship's engines. Yeager adjusts the steering vanes into descent mode.

As the ships re-enter Castilon's atmosphere with Yeager in the lead, Neeku says he cannot bear to watch the plummeting. Kaz points out they are just gliding but Neeku says that if the miss the reigniting hoop, their engines won't come back on and that they will crash. Yeager, Speedstar, and Griff's racers glide together. D12 beeps and Speedstar says that he sees him. Just then, Griff Halloran tries to ram Speedstar's racer. Yeager's racer drops through the hood and the ship's engines reignite.

Meanwhile, Griff ties to ram Speedstar's ship but he also makes it through the hoop and fires up his engines. A frustrated Griff then ejects from his fighter into the sea. The departure of Griff allows Freya Fenris to move up the ranks into the top five. Torra and the other racers clear through the reactivating hoop.

As the race continues, Yeager boasts that Speedstar can't beat him and asks why his younger brother even tries. Speedstar says that this time it matters and that he has to win. Yeager retorts that Speedstar only wants fame and glory. As the two race neck in neck, Speedstar admits that he cheated in the past but that is not him anymore. He says he has people that depend on him and that if he doesn't win this race, they are going to die.

Yeager counters that his family died during the crash caused by Speedstar's race years ago. When Yeager accuses Speedstar of only caring for himself, Speedstar says not anymore and says that he has been hunting him down to say how sorry he is and how he loves his brother. Speedstar admits he was initially too ashamed to apologize and says that he regrets the deaths of Yeager's family.

Speedstar pleads for Jarek to believe him when he says that he is racing for more than himself this time. This causes Yeager to think. Meanwhile, a nervous Oplock watches the final leg of the race with his Guavian captors. Speedstar says Yeager deserves to win but Yeager accepts his brother's apology and tells him he deserves to win.

Yeager flies his ship away from the hoop, allowing Speedstar to fly through the final hoop first. Speedstar's racer is followed by the remaining racers. The crowd cheers as Sivrak announces that the winner is Marcus Speedstar.

Following the race, Speedstar pays the 100,000 credit price money to the Guavian enforcers at Aunt Z's Cantina while Yeager watches. The other Guavian brings out Oplock and pushes him into Speedstar's arms. Speedstar is delighted to see Oplock and tells him that it is good to have him back. He asks if they treated him okay. After a brief exchange between Oplock and the Guavians, Speedstar tells Oplock that they got a bit of extra money thanks to Yeager. Yeager then walks away.

Later, Team Fireball are gathered around Speedstar's racer. There, Speedstar extends a hand and Yeager reluctantly shakes his hand. The two brothers then embrace and hug each other. Yeager says it is good to have him back. Speedstar says that he was just about to say the same thing. He asks if they are good. Yeager says no but we will be one day. Speedstar says that it is better than where we were. Neeku, Kaz, and Tam watch as Speedstar and Oplock depart on their racer for space. Yeager and his crew watch as Speedstar's racer flies out of the hangar.

Kaz tells Yeager he was amazing out there and says that he would have had an incredible racing career. Yeager says maybe and maybe not. Yeager tells Kaz that he was right when he said it was important to forgive people. When you don't, nobody wins. When Kaz asks if he said there, Yeager said not in so many ways. Kaz tells BB-8 that he and Yeager are becoming friends. BB-8 disagrees and takes offense at Kaz's perceived slight. Kaz asks if they can be allies or help, but BB-8 rolls away.

The initial script for the episode featured Han Solo, but the decision was made to concentrate on Jarek Yeager's character, leading to the creation of Marcus Speedstar instead.