Love never dies

Chapter 10

We all perch in the cockpit, me, Dorme and Han, listening to Panaka negotiating a way into the Nubian spaceport.

"State your name and business" a voice on the other end says.

"Jacen Roffen, I'm in Naboo on business, that which is my own.

"Sir, you must state your business, even if it is your own."

"Are you intent on prying into my personal details or something?"

"Umm...no sir...it's just protocol..."

"Say sir, are you a clone?"

"N-No! What makes you think that?"

"Well, clones have a tendency to strictly follow protocol without objecting or feeling emotion. However, clones are highly intelligent, which you are not, so I am assuming now that you are not a clone, just an overly underpaid officer hoping to get a higher rank in the Nubian Military Forces, correct?"

"Umm..."

"Listen, I have a few...useful contacts who could...ah...deal with your incompetence. So, what do you say? Can I land or not."

There is silence on the other end of the line for a minute. Then the officer speaks up.

"Docking bay 32 sir. Have a good day."

"Thank you."

Panaka then flies the ship down to the docking bay marked 32. "Seriously Panaka?" I say, glaring at him "Blackmailing a security officer?"
He shrugs innocently "What? He was asking too many questions. Besides, we've landed now, which is what matters."
I sigh and do not press the matter further. Instead, we all leave the freighter, rent out a speeder, and head to Theed, the capital city of Naboo.

When we arrive, I am shocked at the transformation the city has undertaken since I was last here, several months ago. Instead of the bright, cheerful colours that once dominated the city's attire, the shops and buildings are draped with drab, grey banners, each with the Empire's insignia embellished onto it in blood red. The people, who once were happy and joyful, running around and happily rambling animatedly to each other, now walk together in tight groups, occasionally muttering quietly to each other. Even Theed Palace, once an icon of beauty and wonderment in Naboo, now has an air of sadness and decay about it, like an old ruin. The whole city is a ruin of its former life. "Woah." is all I can say.

"Oh force..." mutters Dorme.

We all stand there, dumbfounded for a moment.

Panaka then clears his throat "Guys, we're not going to help ourselves by just standing here gawping all day. The burial grounds are on the other side of the city, so we'd better get going."

I sigh, and turn away from the miserable shell of a city. "You're right." I mutter "We should go."

We all tear ourselves away from our thoughts and jump into the speeder once more. We speed through the city, until we reach the towering gates of the Theed Cemetery. "Here goes nothing." I whisper to no-one in particular, as we all cautiously walk through the great stone arch, with  the inscription Mors non est finis, Principium, inscribed on it. Death is not the end, it is the beginning.

"Does anyone have any idea how to find...um...Padme's tomb?" Han asks, glancing around nervously.

"Well, I think the most recent tombs are towards the east of the Cemetery, so we should split up and  have a look over there." Dorme replied.

"Good idea," Panaka said, smiling.

For the first time, I wonder if there is something going on between Panaka and Dorme. Or maybe being imprisoned and having to work together to escape had an impact on how they think of each other. Whatever it is, they're relationship definitely isn't strictly professional anymore.