HBWnovel Chapter 16 Guiding Force, Fragile Trust, Omega
Chapter 16 Guiding Force, Fragile Trust, Omega
"It's normal that you don't believe me."
The hunter slowly raised his hands, indicating that he had no intention of attacking.
He sighed softly, his voice lowering:
"We witnessed it firsthand; those clone soldiers killed a Jedi Master."
"Her apprentice was also there... The way that child looked at us was equally hostile."
He paused, then continued:
"But please believe me, we did not carry out the so-called Order No. 66, nor did we harm that boy."
"Later we returned to Camino and saw the remains of Master Shakti."
Lance suddenly interrupted:
"You mean, Master Shakti is dead?"
The technician next to him adjusted his glasses and calmly added:
"To be more precise, we only saw her lightsaber."
Lance frowned slightly and sighed inwardly.
Master Shakti also did not survive.
On second thought, Camino was the headquarters of clone soldiers, and it would be almost impossible to escape from such a place.
He looked at the hunter again, his tone cold:
"Go on."
The hunter nodded and continued:
"We later learned that many Jedi had died at the hands of clone soldiers."
"We understand your hostility towards us."
"But the truth is, we have indeed betrayed the Empire."
His gaze was calm:
"If we were still serving the Empire, it wouldn't be just a few of us standing in front of you now."
Lance used his Force to sense the emotional changes of the group, especially the hunter who was speaking.
The feedback was clear and consistent.
There are no lies.
He lowered his guard slightly and continued to ask:
Why did you defect?
The hunter slowly lowered his hands, his gaze slightly unfocused, as if lost in memories:
"Upon returning to Kamino, we received orders from General Tarkin."
"Head to Ondron and eliminate the so-called rebels."
"But when we got there, we found that things weren't like he described at all."
His voice was deep:
"Those people are not rebels."
"Their leader is So Grilla."
"There is also a group of fighters who fought alongside us against separatism."
"And... a group of civilians oppressed by the empire."
He paused for a moment and then slowly said:
"So Griella is a people's hero who liberated Ongdrun."
"We know him and we know his character."
"He is definitely not a rebel."
"After learning the truth, we chose to refuse to carry out the orders."
"Upon returning to Kamino, Tarkin imprisoned us for treason and sentenced us to death."
So, we escaped.
The hunter chuckled self-deprecatingly.
"I suppose our names are already on the Empire's wanted list by now."
Lance listened quietly.
The Force's response remained unchanged, which he found somewhat unbelievable.
The truth.
It's all the truth.
Just then, a clear, crisp sound came from the fields:
"The hunter wasn't lying."
"What he said is all true."
The hunters immediately turned to look and saw Omega slowly walking out of the fields.
The hunter's expression changed, and he said urgently:
"Omega! Why are you out here? Didn't I tell you to stay inside?"
Upon hearing this, Omega smiled and scratched his head, but did not stop walking and headed straight for the spaceship.
The hunter instinctively reached out to stop him, but stopped abruptly when he met Lance's gaze.
In that instant, his enhanced senses gave him a strong warning of danger.
He knew very well that any slight movement from him would be met with a fierce attack.
Recalling the brief encounter in the cabin, his premonition had been confirmed.
Despite being ambushed by several people working together, they were almost powerless to resist.
If a conflict breaks out now, they will pay a heavy price.
The hunter could only suppress his unease, keeping a close eye on the lightsaber in his opponent's hand, ready to deal with any unexpected situation at any time.
Omega stopped in front of the ladder and looked up at Lance:
Please believe me.
"I escaped from Camino with them."
Lance looked down and stared.
Those brown eyes were bright and clear, full of sincerity.
The Force's feedback was equally clear: the little girl was not lying.
He was startled.
What's going on?
Could it be that not sleeping for several days has caused a distortion in my perception?
It can't be that the Force is deceiving me, right?
Lance immediately rejected the idea.
People can betray.
But the Force can always be trusted.
Thus, a conclusion that even he himself found absurd gradually emerged in his mind.
These people really meant no harm.
Countless images flashed through Lance's mind.
The clone soldiers surged forth like a tidal wave, fearless and even willing to self-destruct to drag the Jedi down with them.
The despair and cries of those fallen warriors before their death seem to still linger in my ears.
He then recalled Obi-Wan Kenobi's and his master's teachings.
Trust in the Force, and it will guide your future path.
The air fell silent for a moment, with only Gu Gu's intermittent sobs remaining.
Omega looked towards the cabin with concern:
"Smoke is bad for your health, so let's get that child out to breathe some fresh air as soon as possible."
"You don't need to worry about it."
As soon as he finished speaking, Lance raised his hand and waved.
The Force flowed, and an invisible force dispelled all the remaining smoke inside the spaceship.
Upon seeing this, the hunters and the others' expressions changed slightly.
Although they had witnessed many Jedi's extraordinary abilities on the battlefield, they were still amazed, but showed no sign of it on their faces.
Omega, however, was seeing such a miraculous ability for the first time.
Her eyes widened, she covered her mouth, her gaze filled with astonishment.
After a moment's hesitation, I couldn't help but ask:
"How...did you do that?"
Lance did not answer.
His gaze returned to the hunter:
"I have my own judgment regarding what you've said."
"However," he tilted his head slightly, looking at the small mound not far away, "shouldn't you let the two hiding there come out?"
Upon hearing this, the expressions of the group changed simultaneously.
A hint of shock flashed in his eyes.
This Jedi is indeed extraordinary.
Without hesitation, the hunter immediately waved towards the small mound.
They had no ill intentions towards the Jedi; having their two friends hide in the shadows to provide support was merely a precaution.
Carter and Sue exchanged a glance, put down their blaster guns, and slowly walked out.
Lance stared at Carter's face for a moment, then slowly spoke:
"Are you a clone?"
Card head:
"That's right."
"For some reason, I left the army several years ago and went into seclusion here with Su."
His tone was calm, but his voice conveyed happiness:
"Right now, I am just a husband to a wife and a father to two children."
Lance nodded slightly; the Force feedback indicated that the other party was not lying.
Just then, a deep engine sound came from afar.
The group looked up almost simultaneously.
A dark shadow swept through the clouds, its outline clearly visible.
The hunter's expression tightened instantly:
"An Imperial reconnaissance plane..."
He looked at Lance, his tone slightly hurried:
"If we continue to linger here, the Empire will soon discover us."
"I know I can't gain your trust yet."
"You can leave now, and we will never reveal any information about you to the Empire."
He paused, then said sincerely:
"If you're willing to trust us, you're welcome to stay."
"You want to leave this planet, and we are planning to do the same."
"Since we share the same goal, we can cooperate for the time being."
Omega also spoke, her voice sincere:
"Come with us."
"They are all good people and won't hurt you."
Lance remained silent, his mind in turmoil.
The Force had been guiding him; these people were kind-hearted and trustworthy.
They can quickly leave Salukamai by simply boarding their starship.
But people's hearts are unpredictable.
What if they betray themselves for profit?
He pondered for a long time before finally making a decision.
Believe in the Force.
"They don't look like enemies."
The blue blade returned to its hilt, but he remained vigilant.
"But that doesn't mean they won't be."