precious time

Darth Vader stepped out of the long, cylindrical elevator into what had been the DeathStar control room, and now was the Emperor's throne room. Two royal guards stoodeither side of the door, red robes from neck to toe, red helmets covering all buteyeslits that were actually electrically modified view-screens. Their weapons werealways drawn. The room was dim except for the light cables running either side of the elevatorshaft, carrying power and information through the space station. Vader walkedacross the sleek black steel floor, past the humming giant converter engines, up theshort flight of steps to the platform level upon which sat the Emperor's throne.Beneath this platform, off to the right, was the mouth of the shaft that delved deeplyinto the pit of the battle station, down to the very core of the power unit. The chasmwas black, and reeked of ozone, and echoed continuously in a low, hollow rumble