The Rise of the Empire

Chapter 24

At the end of the first day, I still hadn't found them. I tried listening to the message again looking for a hidden clue. Nothing.

I gave up and called Hera. Maybe she would have some idea.

"Hera, it's fulcrum. I need to talk to your whole crew."

"Of course, Fulcrum. Here"

"I now speak to each person on this ship. I have a friend who has been kidnapped by the Empire. I need to know if you have any other information about the wherabouts of Emperial bases. Ones that aren't as common or big."

"There's a place here on Lothal." Someome said.

"Anywhere else?"

"Yes. Mustafar. I heard something about it while eavesdropping on an Imperial conversation."

My heart stopped. That was the place.

"Thanks. I need you all to stay hidden for about a week. Nobody is to attack any Imperial targets. Understood?"

"Yes, Fulcrum. We will stay here until notified. Spector 1 out."

Mustafar. Anakin had bad memories of that planet. It was strong with the dark side. What a great place to make a Jedi extermination prison. I got in my fighter and flew there right away.

On the way, I tried to get a plan. I had one crazy idea. The only way to be taken directly to Lux is to surrender myself to them. Once I am put in a cell, they will sentence me to death. It is Imperial law that prisoners get a small final request before being killed. I can use that to find Lux. Since Imperial buildings are modeled after those of the Republic, I know how to get into a ventilation system, and I can help Lux escape once inside.

That's plan B. Plan A is to sneak in and hope I'm not noticed. Either way, I'm counting on the vents to help me out.

I came out of hyperspace and landed on a hill on the planet below. I pulled on a cape and walked over towards the base.

It looked just like the Citadel prison. The layout was almost exactly the same. The only problem with that is that the vents are incredibly small. I have grown since my visit to the Citadel, and the vents were tight for me even then.

I decided to find a way in through the bigger vents that Obi-Wan had gone through with half the troops. It was dangerous, but the only way.

I krept up towards the side of the building. There was one entrance to the large vents. I lept up inside amd crawled around. The key to the operation was to not be seen or heard.

I reached out into the force to find Lux. My senses were clouded. I could find Lux, but his aura was fading quickly. He was being killed slowly.

I crawled as fast as I could towards his cell block. When I reached the hall, it was empty except for 2 stormtroopers guading the door. I heard screams from behind the door. I winced.

I had to move fast. My two optoons were to either attempt the small vents into the prison cell or to get in using a mind trick. Since a mind trick isn't as effective, I switched over into the small vents.

When I saw small, I mean really small. It took me a few minutes to go just a foot.

There was an exit point to the shaft right next to an emergency lock down pad. I used the force to hack into it and set off a disturbance on the upper levels.

The alarms went off. I heard someone come out of the prison cell and take the two guards to investigate. It seemed that the need to remain in the small vents was irrelevent.

I jumped out and cracked my back. Then, I opened the door using the control pad. Lux was suspended by an electric thing. I walked inside, amd the doors shut behind me.