Star Wars: Escape from the Jedi Temple Begins

Chapter 40 Disguise, Naboo, Funeral

The spaceport is garrisoned by a large number of clone soldiers, and every passenger must have a chain code to board the ship.

Lance certainly doesn't have chaincode.

Moreover, he doesn't need it if he's alone.

Chaincode is no challenge for him.

He followed the crowd into the airport and found an opportunity to sneak into the cargo area.

He found a greasy work uniform in the workers' dormitory, changed into it, and headed towards the cargo spaceship's docking location.

A dozen minutes later, he arrived at the cargo ship's docking area.

Dozens of dilapidated cargo ships were parked not far away, with large amounts of cargo being loaded and unloaded, creating a bustling scene.

Several squads of soldiers patrolled back and forth, checking the chain codes.

Lance crouched in a dark corner, observing one of the medium-sized cargo ships.

The ship bears the logo of the Naboo Trade Association.

Two- to three-meter-tall cubes of cargo are placed on suspended pallets and are being pushed into the ship's hold by workers one by one.

At the entrance, two dummy soldiers were standing, checking goods and employee identification information.

Lance calculated the time in his mind, patiently waiting for his opportunity.

Soon, a transport worker pushing a long string of suspended pallets passed by.

He emerged silently from the shadows, patted the worker on the shoulder, and unleashed his full power of Jedi Mind Control.

"I am your coworker."

The man was dazed for a moment, then in the blink of an eye he mistook him for a long-time colleague.

The two of them pushed the tray together to the entrance of the cargo ship.

The R2 followed behind, still painted in black, so there was no need for it to hide.

To the average person, it would just look like an imperial robot.

At the entrance, Lance flicked his wrist, his voice calm and low:

"You've already checked, there's no problem with your identity."

The soldier paused for a moment, repeated himself, and then let him in.

Lance only breathed a slight sigh of relief after entering the cargo ship.

The hatch behind him slowly closed.

A murky, pungent odor gradually filled the air.

Just as the worker was about to leave, Lance used mind control again to make him forget him.

He and R2 then found a secluded place to hide.

There was more than one employee on the cargo ship, and he couldn't possibly use mind control on everyone.

Running around aimlessly, they are very likely to be exposed.

Mind control is the use of the Force to create illusions that confuse a target, thereby making them obey commands.

However, the skill's effect can be easily interrupted by external forces, as he did in Kosher.

This skill is also ineffective against those with strong willpower, and some races even have a natural resistance to it.

Shortly after, the broadcast began.

"Cargo ship TK-271 is about to take off, destination—Naboo."

The spaceship vibrated slightly inside.

The engine starts.

soon.

The cargo spacecraft slowly ascended, leaving the spaceport and plunging into outer space.

With a hum of the engine, it suddenly disappeared into the void.

......

"Approaching Naboo orbit, all personnel please prepare to unload."

The broadcast started again.

Lance awoke from his meditation.

Time flies, and before we know it, we are about to arrive at Naboo.

After a slight tremor, cargo spacecraft TK-271 landed safely in a spaceport.

The hatch slowly opened, and Lance and R2, hidden among a pile of cargo boxes, arrived at the pick-up area.

The cargo containers were piled up like mountains, and people were coming and going.

They mingled in the crowd and swaggered out of the spaceport.

Lance took a few deep breaths, as if to expel the stale air accumulated in his lungs and inhale the fresh air of Naboo.

A feeling of being in another world suddenly welled up in his heart.

He had come to Nabu with his master.

They were discussing the battle situation aboard a Jedi cruiser when they suddenly received a request for help from Anakin.

It turns out that Ahsoka discovered the secret laboratory of the separatist Newo Wendy in Naboo. In order to prevent the Blue Shadow virus from spreading out of the laboratory and endangering countless lives in Naboo, she and Padmé resolutely chose to sacrifice themselves and completely seal the laboratory.

Anakin was on a mission at the time, and the journey was long, while Lance and his group were closer, so they were the first to arrive in Naboo to provide assistance.

Thank goodness.

The Blue Shadow virus was handled properly.

Thanks to timely rescue efforts, most of the victims, including Asoka and Padme, survived.

Once his thoughts had calmed down, Lance led R2 to a driver on the roadside who was driving a black landship and told him their destination.

The man sized up Lance and the robot behind him, then held up two fingers:

"200 credits."

It's really dark...

Lance couldn't help but complain in his mind.

He also held up two fingers:

"20".

The driver immediately bristled, his face contorted with rage:

"Is this how you haggle? Do you even want to stay in this business?"

He paused, then withdrew one finger:

"100 credits, this is the lowest price."

Lance held up three fingers again:

"50".

The man hesitated for a moment, then sighed softly:

"Alright, 50 it is."

"Pay first, then get on the bus."

Lance boarded the landship and paid 30 credits:

"I'll give you the rest when we get there."

The driver grumbled as he took the three white, finger-width metal pieces, but still started the engine.

As the sun began to set, the landship arrived at Sid City—the capital of Naboo.

The city, which should have been bustling with activity, was deserted.

The driver's mood suddenly dropped, and he slowed down a bit.

"Are you here for Representative Amidala's funeral?"

Lance nodded slightly:

"Yes."

The air fell silent again, broken only by the low hum of the thrusters.

A moment later, the driver seemed to be talking to himself:

"Tell me, how could Representative Amidala, so young, suddenly abandon us?"

Lance was slightly taken aback.

He knew the reason, but couldn't bring himself to say it.

A question suddenly popped into my mind.

If fate is predetermined and cannot be changed, then what is the point of all the efforts one makes?

If fate is uncertain, is Padmé destined to die in childbirth?

He shook his head slightly, burying his doubts in his heart.

"arrive."

Lance looked up and saw that the street ahead was full of people, making it impossible to go any further.

"Give."

He tossed the remaining 20 credits to the driver and jumped off the landship.

Upon reaching the back of the crowd, one could see a funeral procession stretching as far as the eye could see, slowly making its way through the streets of Sid City.

The crowd stood silently on both sides of the road, while the royal guards maintaining order bowed their heads, their faces unable to hide their sorrow.

Padme is their beloved Senator Amidala.

She is not a politician who is high and mighty.

He was a kind-hearted member of parliament who always spoke up for them.

Lance sensed their emotions and was filled with a myriad of feelings.

On the same land, idealists like Padme were born who loved their people dearly, while evil Sith Lords like Palpatine were also born.

Nabu is truly a blessed land.

He took R2 and walked along the street toward the palace.

Nearly an hour later, he finally arrived at the palace gate.

Lance's eyes lit up when he saw several familiar faces in the crowd.

Members of Parliament Bel Organa, Mon Mosma, Lieu Church, and Gaja Binks of Gangan.

"Since Representative Organa is here, there's no need to trouble Representative Church any further."

"After the funeral, find an opportunity to talk to him and inquire about the whereabouts of Masters Yoda and Obi-Wan."

He made up his mind and continued to scan the crowd.

Within the Force, he sensed a very familiar aura.