Chapter 12

Mace ran on through the Imperial facility, drawing ever closer to the core. Once there he would only have the simple task of overloading the core to reach critical mass. Then he would merely need to escape before the building exploded.

He continued on, masking his presence to any stromtroopers that neared him. He had already had some close calls but had evaded them. Suddenly, in mid run he felt a sensation in the Force and froze. It was a call of despair and regret; of pain and even anger. Mace knew exactly who the call was coming from.

"Trent." Mace said, worried about his former apprentice. He had no idea what could make Trent feel this way, but he had no time to waste. He had to get to the core. He could only hope that Trent recovered from his pain and anguish.

Mace started moving again and, after a quick evasion of a large group of stormtroopers, finally reached the core. Mace realized that once he overloaded it the stormtroopers would be swarming this place. Fortunately he knew of another way back to the entrance, this way he could bypass any stormtroopers coming through.

Mace walked over to the control panel and started to slice inside. It was easy enough and, to give him some extra time before he would be discovered, he set the core overload on a timer for five minutes. It would be plenty of time for him to escape. He only hoped it would be plenty of time for Trent as well.

"Good luck, Trent," Mace said. "I hope you make it." Mace turned and ran back to the entrance and the exit.

-

"General," a stormtrooper said. "We have just detected the other Jedi intruder in the core room."

"Really?" General Grund said.

"I'll send a squad to intercept him and-"

"No," The General cut him off. "Send all available personnel to the entrance. And I want bombs placed all along the ventilation shafts."
"Sir?" The stormtrooper asked.

"Do as I say!" The General said. "Have the bombs set for five minutes."

"Yes, sir." The stormtrooper said. "What about the other Jedi intruder?"

"The two squads sent should take care of him," Grund said. "But should he escape he will have no place to go except for the entrance."

"Very good, sir." The stormtrooper said and contacted the other troopers.