Star Wars: Escape from the Jedi Temple Begins

"There's no one inside."

Several kilometers away, Lance and Master Dutch used the Force to sense the situation inside the house.

Brand was startled by this, his face showing urgency: "Has the Empire already captured him?"

Lance slowly opened his eyes, pondered for a moment, and said, "I think the situation isn't as bad as it seems. There were indeed many Imperial soldiers lying in ambush near your house, but the house was empty. Perhaps Riley left before the Empire arrived?"

"Master Dutch, have you sensed anything unusual?"

Dutch stroked his short beard and shook his head. "I haven't sensed any resistance. Besides... if Riley were in the Empire's hands and they wanted to use him as bait, they would have let us know. So far there's been no movement. I think Lance's guess is closer to the truth."

"Master, you mean Riley wasn't captured by the Empire?" Brand's heart eased slightly, then he asked doubtfully, "Then where is Riley now?"

"Sheriff, it's also possible that your friend picked Riley up beforehand?" Double Boots suggested a possibility.

"A friend?" Brand muttered to himself, names flashing through his mind. "Could it... be her?"

Brand quickly reached into his pocket, only to find it empty. He then realized that he had left his communicator at the police station.

He looked at the boots: "Do you have the communicator on you?"

"Yes, I'm here." Shuangxue took out a communicator and handed it over.

Brand quickly dialed the woman's communication channel.

"Brand, it's rare that you would remember me."

"Lena, now's not the time." Brand's face flashed with embarrassment as he turned away, avoiding the gossipy gazes of the crowd. "Is Riley with you?"

"you guess?"

Lena possesses a large and unique underground intelligence network, so naturally, nothing that happens in Janix can escape her notice.

She knew how troublesome the empire was and didn't intend to interfere, but what could she do when they dared to touch her old flame's son?

So, before the Imperial soldiers arrived at Brand's house, she sent her most trusted men to secretly bring Riley to her casino.

"Let's see how he refuses me now!"

Lena smiled and waited by the communicator for Brand to come to her.

"Lena..." Brand knew he had to resort to some tricks at this point.

Everything was for Riley.

He kept reassuring himself.

A moment later,

Brand took a deep breath, closed his eyes in despair, and slowly spoke, "My dear Lena..."

Hold on, you absolutely must hold on.

Lance was surprised to see this side of the mature and composed Brand, and he pursed his lips tightly, trying his best not to laugh out loud.

A few minutes later, the communication ended.

Brand looked relaxed and at ease; nothing could have put him at ease than knowing his son was safe.

The next moment, his face froze, and he thought to himself, "It's over! My image is completely ruined."

Brand turned around and looked at everyone with a normal expression: "Riri is fine. He's with a friend of mine. We'll go get him now."

"A friend? Lena?" Klein crossed his arms, scrutinizing him suspiciously. "Is it that casino owner, the middleman who operates in the gray area, Lena Sue?"

"Yes," Brand said awkwardly, scratching the back of his head, and tried to explain guiltily, "It's all for work."

Klein shook his head helplessly: "Forget it, we're not police officers anymore, there's no need to follow those rules anymore."

......

Police station.

"Lieutenant, we've retrieved surveillance footage from near Brand's house. The target disappeared after entering the lower city," the commander reported to Blake.

"Any movement from the Brand family?"

"Not at the moment."

"Send more soldiers; we must find that boy."

Blake stared at Riley's photograph with a grim expression.

Brand and Clyde's escape from the police station was a dereliction of duty on his part.

If he fails to complete the mission, he will be eliminated by the Empire at any time.

Now, he can only pin his hopes on that Imperial Inquisitor.

......

Top-floor casino.

The lavishly decorated hall was less lively than usual, with only a few scattered guests playing Sabak at the gambling tables, looking somewhat listless.

"Boss, we've lost 90% of our customers, what are we going to do?" The supervisor reported on revenue using a tablet.

Lena glanced at the door every now and then, and casually said, "Business will pick up after the Empire leaves. It's getting late, you should go home and rest. I'll give you a few days of paid leave to spend more time with your family."

"Really?!" The supervisor was overjoyed. "I mean, you're the best boss in the world, and I'd work for you forever."

"Enough with the nonsense, go back now." Lena waved her hand absentmindedly.

"Yes, sir."

Lena waited for nearly half an hour, and just as she was about to lose patience, a familiar figure appeared in her field of vision.

Immediately, her eyes lit up, and she felt delighted.

Lena walked out of the casino: "Come with me."

She led her group into the casino through the back door and took the elevator to the office.

Brand did indeed find his long-awaited son here.

"I really don't know how to thank you, Lena."

"No, you know what I want." Lena reached out and gently rubbed his chest with her fingers.

"Lena, I..." Brand was very grateful and knew that she wanted to have a home with him.

But now he's wanted by the empire and can't give Lena a stable life.

"I understand." Lena's eyes revealed her understanding. "I've waited for you for so many years, I don't mind waiting a little longer. After the storm passes, we can start over somewhere else."

"Lena!" Brand's heart was filled with complex emotions: guilt, worry, and gratitude.

For a moment they were speechless and could only hug each other tightly.

The warm atmosphere didn't last long before Lance and Master Dutch both frowned.

The enemy has come knocking.

"Imperial Sith?"

Lance stared at the monitor screen, where a large number of Imperial soldiers appeared, led by the Imperial Inquisitor.

He could sense a dense aura of darkness surrounding that person.

"Gentlemen, you can be intimate later, we need to leave."

Brand and Rena quickly separated, both of them showing a hint of shyness on their faces.

Lena quickly composed herself and pressed the button on the wall: "You guys leave from the underground parking garage, I'll go and hold them off."

"It's too late." Lance stopped her from throwing her life away. "I'll take care of the one in black. Master Dutch, Davin, you cover everyone's retreat."

Lena parted her lips slightly, wanting to object to his arrangement.

"Listen to him," Brand said, grabbing her arm and shaking his head.

Seeing that her sweetheart had said that, Lena immediately changed her mind: "Everyone, follow me. The underground parking garage connects to the rail station platform; you can leave from there."

The group took the elevator to the underground parking garage.

Before long, Imperial soldiers appeared at the entrances to the passageways, raising their guns and firing as they saw the group.

"careful."

Lance activated his lightsaber and deflected the incoming energy beam.

"Target spotted! Requesting backup!"