210Description: When a mission goes wrong, Luke Skywalker crashes on an uninhabited planet. While waiting for rescue, he makes an unexpected discovery.
A/N #1: I do not own Star Wars, but I do so enjoy playing in the Galaxy.
A/N #2: Thank you so much to my beta reader. Her help is immeasurable.
A/N #3: I have had several reviewers ask me to divulge exactly what Artoo is saying. I know it is probably frustrating, but I must remain steadfast and cruel. I really feel that it is more fun to 'imagine' Artoo's comments just like we had to do in the movies. That is why I am purposefully remaining silent.
A/N #4: Well, this is it: The final chapter. Thanks to everyone for all the many reviews and bits of encouragement along the way. I am so thrilled that you enjoyed this story.
Chapter 6
It was a new day, and a glorious one at that. One would never imagine the dawn could be this beautiful after the prior days of turbulent storm. The morning sun streamed invitingly into the cave and seemed to beckon Luke to join the day. The young man could not repress his giddy smile.
R2D2 rolled forward chirping a merry greeting as the rebel untangled himself from his bedroll. Despite the late night and fitful sleep, Luke had awakened surprisingly refreshed. He could barely contain a growing excitement stirring deep within him. After being cooped up for far too long, the young man realized he would need to keep his body busy to burn off his excess energy.
Luke wouldn't have the same problem with his mind. Since waking, the rebel's thoughts had been occupied with bringing about his father's rescue. The dreams that followed Vader's revelation had made Luke feel more pressed then ever to rush into action. He still wasn't sure what he was going to do, but he was sure that he would come up with a plan eventually.
He quickly checked on his prisoner. Vader was unresponsive to the rebel's initial inquiry. The young man's concern was growing regarding the Sith, especially after the prior night's episode. The Dark Lord's condition was worsening. Luke could sense his malevolent presence weakening. Unable to do more, and feeling an enticing urge to explore their surroundings, Luke left his captive securely under Artoo's watchful care and ventured out of the cave.
Sunlight danced through a lacy canopy of green leaves sending warming rays to chase away the remaining dew. The verdant forest was engulfed with birdsong, each species seemingly intent to outdo the others in volume as well as complexity of melody. Luke could feel life pulsating around him like never before; the trees surrounding him as well as the creatures that dwelled within their camouflaged depths seemed so much more in focus then they had when he first made his way here two days ago. He pondered the reason for the upsurge of intensity, and realized that the environment had probably not really changed; he was simply more in tune with the vibrations of the Force to notice it.
Luke was sure that the increase in his perceptions was due to his lesson yesterday. It seemed to have opened a door in his mind that he had not known existed. He also realized that it probably would never fully close again. He was grateful for that, although he wasn't ready to thank Darth Vader for the experience. There was too much baggage that accompanied the session for that, but this was a beneficial change.
His mini excursion proved to be a very successful endeavor. It didn't take Luke long to find the focus of his trek. A swift moving stream lay before him. It was just where he somehow knew it would be. While filling his canteens he spotted several fish skittering around him in the shallows.
Grabbing a rather straight branch from the ground, he smartly whittled one end into a spear point with the utility knife that he kept stowed on his belt. Using his quick reflexes, he deftly speared two rather plump fish from the water. He couldn't help but grin at the success of his efforts.
Fish did not exist on Tatooine. Luke remembered the first time he had ever seen such a creature was when he and Han had been stranded on another wild planet; that time due to mechanical problems with the Millennium Falcon. Han had shown him how to both catch and clean them. It was pretty slimy, disgusting work, but no worse than preparing some of the desert creatures he had hunted back home. He washed and filleted them as best he could and re-skewered them securely onto his spear. He then made his way quickly back to the cave. His mouth was already watering in anticipation of a decent meal.
Okay, so Luke was not the best chief in the galaxy, he would freely admit that. Cooking was made especially difficult when dealing with exotic fare. Of course, it wasn't entirely his fault. Han's dubious warnings about the dangers of eating undercooked fish continued to meander though is mind. He wasn't willing to take any chances.
Luke pulled out the speared fish from the campfire flames and frowned. They didn't look quite as enticing as they once had. Maybe it was the fact that they were about a third of their original size. Or, more likely, it may have been their crusty black appearance.
Movement in the back of the cave caught the rebel's eye. He looked over to see Vader shifting slightly as he pulled his head up to lean heavily on the stone wall behind him.
"How are you feeling?" Luke inquired.
"That is still none your concern, young one," the Dark Lord's enunciator clearly conveyed his annoyance.
"Good morning to you too," the rebel shook his head as a small smile escaped his lips. It probably was true that Luke was unable to help him, but to not even be allowed to try was frustrating. Not even Leia was this stubborn.
Vader's body seemed to tense slightly with the chided greeting, but he made no comment. The mechanical rasps of his measured breathing remained constant.
"You sure you don't want any fish?" Luke offered.
"Even if it were possible," Vader growled, "briquettes were never to my liking."
Ignoring the Sith's critique, Luke carefully peeled off a chunk of blackened fish with his fingers and dropped it into his mouth. It was pretty oily, tasted rather bland, and he had to be careful as the sampling was riddled with small bones; but overall, his foraged meal was still a vast improvement over what he had eaten the past few days.
"Well," Luke swallowed, "it still tastes better than those emergency rations."
"Of that I have no doubt," Vader rumbled. "I remember them well from the Clone Wars."
"They're probably some of the same supply," Luke retorted as he took another bite.
The young man made quick work of his breakfast. His hardy meal seemed to only invigorate him more. Feeling like he had too much energy to remain inside, the blond rebel again ventured out of the cave.
He climbed down to the clearing and unhooked his father's lightsaber from his belt. Luke closed his eyes and began going through the familiar series of fight movements and stances that had been taught to him by his Jedi mentor. He had only been shown the exercises once, and although he had tried to practice the movements daily, his schedule had not always allowed for it. He was no longer sure if he had all the positions quite right or not.
Luke figured Vader would know these exercises, but he wasn't about to ask. It would no doubt lead back into another confrontation about the Dark Side, and he wanted no part of it.
With thoughts of Vader, Luke's mind wandered back to their conversation from last night. His father was alive. It was still unbelievable, but deep down; Luke knew it to be true. The young man's inner feelings were also plagued with a growing sensation that he was missing something. Something important. He dismissed that nagging thought for now to concentrate on a plan to rescue his father from the Emperor. When they returned to the Alliance, Luke was determined to press the High Command for help. He was sure he could get Leia's aide in persuading them to his cause. His father was a Jedi Knight after all; it would be in everyone's best interest to liberate him.
Luke realized that his first step would be to acquire the location of where the Emperor had imprisoned his father. The young man knew exactly where look to for that information: Vader. The rebel was confident that Vader would tell him, eventually. After all the Sith hadn't turned him down last night, at least not totally.
He continued with his exercises.
"Drop your elbow, young man." A well-remembered voice carried by the crisp morning air danced lightly around the rebel. Luke wasn't sure if he had actually heard it, or had just imagined that he did. The guiding words had seemed to simply fill his awareness.
"What?" The word quietly escaped the confused blond haired youth's lips.
"Your stance leaves too great an opening for an opponent," the mysterious voice continued.
Luke recognized the owner of the voice, but that was impossible. It couldn't be him, could it? Yet it was so familiar. Luke closed his eyes and with a quick shake tried to clear his head. His mind was obviously playing a trick on him; he was under a lot of stress after all.
"Be mindful of you feet as well," the plaguing delusion continued. "You must equalize your weight between them if you are to keep your balance."
He couldn't ignore the anomalous voice any longer. "Ben?" The young man questioned. Luke slowly turned a full circle trying to locate the source of the mysterious words. He stopped suddenly as a blue mist began to solidify. It became recognizable as the form of his old mentor, Ben Kenobi. Although slightly transparent and shimmering in shades of blue, it was undeniably the old Jedi. The ghostly shape took a few steps to the side and then leaned back against one of the large boulders. Folding his arms across his chest, the old man smiled at the bewildered rebel.
Luke brought a hand up to rub over his sweaty face and clear away his hallucination. However, the cagey Jedi's image remained; it simply refused to fade. Luke stood motionless with his mouth agape.
"Hello, young Luke," the old man greeted.
"Ben!" Luke repeated with greater confidence as switched off his lightsaber. "Is that really you?" Overwhelmed with awe, the youth moved to take a step forward. Unfortunately, in his dazed state, he inadvertently tripped over an exposed root. The rebel ungracefully stumbled and flailed his arms wildly in an attempt to catch his balance.
"Easy, son," Ben appeared unruffled by his young student's very un-Jedi-like move. "You've had a busy few days," the old man turned his shimmering head and glanced to the cave opening above them. "You're fortunate that you're still in one piece." He muttered quietly as he turned back to face the young rebel.
"How can I be seeing you?" Luke questioned.
"Through the Force," the old Jedi answered.
"I've been hearing that answer a lot lately," Luke quipped.
The apparition nodded. His amused expression grew with the young man's acceptance of his specter.
"Why are you here?" the rebel asked stiffly. If Luke wasn't imagining all this, he wanted answers.
"I'm afraid the reckless zeal you displayed on your recent mission has caused some rather unexpected developments," Ben smiled at the young man.
"I don't understand."
"Your encounter with Darth Vader has come far earlier than had been foreseen," the old Jedi face took a more serious expression. "Consider my intervention an attempt at damage control."
"It's what Vader said, isn't it?" Luke warily inquired. "Because he told me about my father."
"Vader wants you for his own reasons, Luke," the old Jedi's voice was both hard and cold. "He will use every tactic available to him to achieve his goal."
"But I can feel the truth in his words," Luke stubbornly objected. He narrowed his eyes as he looked at the phantom. "My father is alive, isn't he?"
Ben frowned. "That depends on your point of view."
Frustration bloomed in the young man as he spun and took several steps away. He felt a sharp stab of betrayal from his old mentor. The young man gritted his teeth trying to regain control of his emotions. When he reached the edge of the clearing, he again turned back accusingly.
"You lied to me, Ben?" Luke's voice barely masked the exasperation he was trying to contain.
"I am sorry, Luke," the old Jedi dropped his head, no longer able to look the hurt young man in the eye. "I wanted to spare you the pain of this burden."
"By not telling me the truth?" Luke questioned.
"I wanted to protect you," the phantom raised his eyes to meet the indignant youth's glare. "When you were born, I was entrusted with your safely. It was imperative that I hid your existence from Vader and the Emperor."
"But what about my father?" Passion filled the young rebel's words. "Ben, he was your friend. You said you were like brothers. Didn't you ever think about what happened to him?"
The old man rubbed his forehead with his heavily wrinkled hand. "I have never stopped thinking about your father," he answered quietly as he let out a long measured breath. "Anakin's fate was of his own doing," Ben's voice was low and sad. "I do not believe he can ever be recovered. It is far too late."
"I can't accept that," Luke protested. "You told me yourself that no one can predict the future. The reason that you've given me for coming here is proof of that." The distraught young man began to pace around the clearing. "How can you be so sure that he is gone?"
"Luke," Ben tried to ease the boy's pain. "There is so much that you have yet to learn. Time is simply too precious to waste on lost causes. You must focus your mind on the here and now."
"I can't," Luke argued. "You've always told me that I'm supposed to listen to the Force. Well, right now it's telling me I can't just ignore the truth." Luke paused for a moment and raked his fingers through his disheveled hair as he tried to collect his thoughts. "I have to find him, Ben. I have to try to save him."
"That is exactly why you were told that your father had died," Ben looked sternly into the young man's eyes. "Luke, you are already a great asset to your friends in the Rebellion, but you have the potential to be so much more. You, my boy, are the last hope for the Jedi Order."
Luke stood stunned. He was taken aback by his old mentor's words. How could he possibly be all that important? He was a kid from Tatooine after all.
"A great destiny awaits you, Luke," Ben continued. "But you must have patience. The stakes are far too high to be compromised by rash actions. You will face many difficult trials along your path. You must be steadfast and devote yourself completely to your training so that you will be prepared to meet them."
"I don't understand," the young man bemoaned. "How can I devote myself to anything when I don't have anyone to teach me what I need to know? Well, no one who I'm willing to follow."
"That is where you're wrong, Luke," the old Jedi bolstered. "I have been with you since we left Tatooine, and I will continue to help you as I can. But there is no room for distraction or misstep. You must concentrate on strengthening your own skills before you can ever hope to use them to help others."
"Like my father," the young man acknowledged grudgingly. "How long will it take?"
"I don't know," Ben nodded his head and exhaled heavily. "Your father was nine when he came to the attention of the Jedi Order." Ben smiled sadly as he remembered. "Even though he was far older than the acceptable age to begin his training, an exception was made for him. It still took over ten years to complete his trials and become a Jedi Knight. You have gained awareness of the Force less than a year ago."
The young man's face dropped as he stepped forward indignantly. "But I can't wait that long," Luke argued. "My father needs me now. I don't have ten years to devote to training."
"Only a Jedi Knight secure in the Force will have the strength to face the Emperor. If you do not have patience and rush to meet him, you could very well meet your father's fate." The old Jedi moved away from the boulder to stand next to the boy. The ethereal form placed his hand on Luke's shoulder; the young man flinched slightly at the cool solid touch. "I do not believe it will take that long for you to gain such knowledge," Ben attempted to comfort, "but it will require time."
Luke dropped his head defeated. Ben was right. He could do more harm then good for the Alliance as well as his father if he simply followed his heart. He felt weak and fragile as he realized that he was currently ill equipped and unprepared.
"Vader said that the Emperor still doesn't know that I exist." Luke mumbled.
"For your sake, I hope that is true." The old man nodded. "You will need as much time as is possible."
"What must I do?" The young man raised his head to look at the serene face of his mentor.
"For now, work on improving you skills as you are doing," Ben instructed. "You have already come so very far over these past few months."
"But what's next?" Luke questioned impatiently.
"When you are ready," the old Jedi continued. "I will send you to a great Jedi Master. He will complete your training."
"Another Jedi?" The rebel's face lit up. "Who is he? Where can I find him?"
Ben raised his hands as he stepped back. "Patience, Luke," the blue image began to fade and the old man's voice grew faint. "It is not time yet. He will remain hidden until you are ready. When the moment is right, you will know."
After the mist dispersed, Luke stood alone in the clearing. He quietly contemplated the eerie discussion. He was not quite ready to believe that he had just been talking to a ghost, but he didn't know how else to explain it. He was also not sure he had gained much sage advice from the conversation, at least nothing that he was overly thrilled about following.
He didn't want to wait, nor be patient. He wanted to jump into action now, but if he failed he would cause more harm than good. With thoughts of his father, threatening tears of frustration began to form. Luke tightly closed his eyes and grimaced as he willed them away.
With sullen resignation, the young man acknowledged that old Ben was correct. It made sense. He wasn't ready; he didn't yet have the ability to save his father. But that did not mean that he never would. All it would take was time.
Someday, he would be ready. He would face the Emperor and fight for his father's freedom. He would win the battle. Of that, he had no doubt. It was what his heart told him.
The young man raked his fingers through his blond hair in consternation. Maybe everything that had happened these past few days was just a bad dream, maybe he was simply hallucinating and still sitting unconscious in the cockpit of his crashed fighter, or maybe he was just going crazy.
A captive Sith Lord tied up in the cave above him, an elusively hidden Jedi Master waiting to train him, an imprisoned father that he wasn't able to save, and a befuddling exchange with a dead man. Yeah, he was crazy.
With a heavy exhale, Luke turned and climbed back over the boulders to make his way to his temporary quarters. As he entered, he noticed that the little astromech droid was busily gathering his survival gear and placing the items next to the empty backpack that lay near the cooling ashes of the campfire.
"Artoo," Luke questioned suspiciously, "What are you doing?"
The blue and white astromech sputtered a blast of shrill whistles as he continued unabated with his chore.
"He is packing your supplies," Vader mechanical voice echoed against the cold stone walls. "It should be obvious, even to you, young one."
Luke stared warily at the Dark Lord sitting against the back wall of the cave. The rebel figured the Sith must be feeling somewhat better as his mood had certainly darkened once again.
"Okay," Luke's curiosity could not let the droid's actions go unchallenged. "I see what he's doing, but I still don't know why?"
"Your friends have entered the system," Vader answered coolly. "They will be arriving shortly."
Artoo whistled excitedly as if in conformation. He added a few hooting beeps for good measure.
"Really?" Luke bent down on his knees to help the little droid with his task. "When will they get here?" The young rebel eagerly began shoving the gathered items into the pack.
"Soon," the Sith answered. Vader pulled his head away from the wall and observed the boy enthusiastically fill his pack. After a few minutes of silence, Vader turned his focus to the droid. "Artoo," he rumbled. "Go back to your ship. Luke's friend will start their search from there."
The little droid whistled his affirmation sharply. The blond haired rebel watches as Artoo rolled out to the mouth of the cave leaving his bewildered young master kneeling on the ground.
"Wait," Luke called after the droid. The blond haired man hesitated speechlessly as he watched compartments open on each side of the droid's mechanical legs deploying small booster rockets. With an excited whistle, stout blue flame flared from the bottom of the rockets and the little droid gently lifted off the cave floor. Luke rose and followed the droid's previous path to the entrance. He continued to observe the astromech gracefully float over the boulders and land softly onto the mossy ground at the forest edge. Artoo turned his domed head toward the dazed young man's and hooted ecstatically.
Luke turned surprised blue eyes back to face the Sith. "You fixed him?"
"It was an easy repair," Vader offhandedly replied. "If you knew where to look."
Artoo's anxious span of beeps and twitters reminded Luke that the droid was becoming inpatient. He turned back to address the little friend. "Go ahead Artoo, I'll catch up."
Luke returned to finish his task of stuffing the supplies into the pack. There would be no need to take the now disintegrated power generator. Due to that, there was a lot more room to work with. Luke also made the decision to leave the container of emergency rations behind. No sense giving the Alliance the opportunity to stash the ghastly supply into his next fighter. Not that he planned to go missing again any time soon.
"Luke," Vader's deep baritone broke the young man's reverie. "You must be prepared for what is to come."
The rebel stiffened at the foreboding implication of Vader's warning. "You need medical attention," Luke stated as a mater of fact. "I will see that you get it."
"Medical aide will not come from your Alliance, young one." The Dark Lord's mechanical voice grew ominous.
The rebel brushed off the accusation. "You're wrong, they won't…"
"I am your rebellion's greatest enemy," Vader interrupted. "If I am not executed immediately, it will be soon to happen. There will be no point in providing me treatment."
"You don't know that…"
"Search your feelings, Luke," the Sith's words echoed haughtily through the cave. "You know what I say is true."
Luke couldn't deny it. Whether they went through the formalities of putting him on trial for war crimes or not, it was common knowledge that the Alliance wanted Darth Vader dead. They had even offered a bounty on the Dark Lord, though no hunter had been fool enough to pursue it, or at least none had survived to collect.
Even worse, the rebel was sensing something much darker, as well as more pressing. "You're planning to resist aren't you?" The young man realized.
"I will do what I must," Vader threatened.
"You promised that you wouldn't try to escape," Luke contended.
"That vow was made only to you, young one." Vader's words were even, but no less dark.
Images of the snapping log flashed in the rebels mind as he glanced over at the broken pieces of the power generator. "I won't let you hurt my friends," Luke averred.
"That is your decision to make."
"I can't just leave you here," the rebel began stubbornly. "You'll die."
"No, child," Vader answered patiently. "That will not happen. I am too valuable an asset for my Master to lose. The Empire will soon find me."
Luke looked away. He brought his hands up and scrubbed his face. There was so much to consider.
"Be mindful, Luke," Vader warned menacingly. "If you choose to leave me, we become enemies once more."
Luke dropped his hands and snorted. "Did we ever stop?"
"There is more for you to consider, young one," the Sith continued unrelentingly. "The Emperor will not remain unaware much longer. When he discovers you, he will order me to bring you before him."
Luke looked back at the Sith. "You'd have to catch me first," there was a defiant glint in the young rebel's eyes.
Vader shifted. "Will that be difficult?"
"I think you'll find I'm full of surprises," Luke slowly stood up and smiled wryly.
Vader nodded acceptance at the young man's feigned challenge.
Luke turned his back to his prisoner. He clamped his arms tightly across his chest and began to pace around the front of the cave. His head was starting to throb from the pressure of his impending decision.
"You must make your choice, Luke," Vader's mechanical voice once again broke the boy's thoughts. "Your friends are waiting."
Luke winced and raked his fingers through his blond hair. Although Vader was insisting that he had a choice, Luke knew he really only had one option.
For some strange reason, the current situation reminded him of when Han had first taught him to play Sabacc. He had been pretty easy picking back then. It had cost the young man more that a few months wages before he figured out a better strategy. Thanks to Han, if he had learned nothing else, he knew enough to never fold without at least one bluff.
The young man suddenly stopped his pacing as a familiar tingling skittered down his spine. He looked over at Vader. A devious grin began to form on his lips as a plan began to develop in his mind. Maybe he could gain an advantage out of this situation after all.
Luke squared his shoulders and jutted his chin forward. "You must know," he started with more confidence then he felt, "it is my duty to bring you back to the Alliance. When I get to the Falcon, I could just call for reinforcements," the rebel began pacing again. "In your condition, I don't think you could get far from this cave before they would arrive." Luke turned his penetrating blue eyes back to the Dark Lord. "You may be able to resist my friends, but I doubt you could defy an entire squadron."
Vader nodded his helmet but said nothing.
It wasn't much of a bluff, but it would have to do. Luke hesitated for a moment longer as he mentally prepared to lay down his hand. If he had ever needed a touch of that famed Corellian luck, this would be the time for it to shine. He stood ramrod straight in front of his adversary and narrowed his eyes as he addressed the Sith. "Do you ever see my father?"
"Luke," Vader stiffened. "You must forget about what I told you."
"I can't," the rebel shook his head stubbornly. Luke began to pace again as he thought of how best to voice his offer. "I will leave you here, but you must promise me something."
The Sith's helmet tracked the young man as he traversed across the cave. Several measured breaths rasped through his respirator before he broke his silence. "What is that, young one?"
"I want you to promise me that you will give my father a message," Luke stopped directly in front of Vader. He looked down squarely into the opaque eyepieces of the Sith's hideous mask.
Vader sat unmoving under the young man's intense glare.
"Tell him," Luke's voice caught with emotion. "Tell him that I know he's out there, and that I will find him someday," he cleared his throat and continued. "Tell him that I will save him."
There was a lengthy pause. Luke was slowly beginning to think that Vader was going to rebuke his offer. The young man outwardly held his ground but his inner resolve was starting to waiver.
"He will hear your message, young one," Vader slowly answered.
'Sabacc!' Luke thought triumphantly as a smile widened across his lips. He silently watched as Vader turned his helmet away. It may have appeared to only be a small victory, but it was an important one. Luke was confident that the Sith would keep his word.
"I better get going," the young rebel stated as turned and walked toward the front of the cave. He grabbed his pack as he passed by the remnants of the campfire. Luke paused at the entrance and turned back hesitantly.
After a few moments, he dropped the bag to the ground and leaned down to riffle through it. The rebel reached deep into one of the side compartments and pulled out the Dark Lord's lightsaber. He held it up considering whether he really wanted to return such a dangerous weapon to his enemy. Luke glanced once more at the metal shaft and frowned as he examined it. He hadn't paid close attention before, but now he noticed something familiar about the design. He felt that same vague nagging sense of missing something hovering just at the edge of his consciousness.
Luke shook himself out of his musings. His friends had arrived, and he needed to concentrate on his rescue for now. He would have time later to decipher this peculiar feeling. He glanced over at the Dark Lord as he placed the lightsaber against the cave wall. He noticed that Vader's mask was again locked onto his movements. Luke stood back up and swung the pack over his shoulder. He was about to take a step out the entrance when he paused once again. The young rebel turned back one last time to glance at Vader.
"May the Force be with you," Luke asserted. He did not wait for a reply. The young rebel quickly turned and left the cave. He had been stuck on this planet for nearly three days. That had been long enough. His friends were here, and it was now time to leave. Luke didn't want to delay any more than necessary.
Darth Vader watched silently as Luke hurriedly picked his way down the boulders to the forest floor and disappeared into the trees. After several long moments, the Sith slowly shook his helmet and pulled himself out of his reverie.
"Foolish boy," Vader rumbled. "Save his father….Indeed!"
The Dark Lord glanced down at his bound his wrists and watched impassively as the intertwined bindings instantly snapped and fell away. Lifting a prosthetic arm, his lightsaber flew across the cave and snapped sharply into the leather glove of his outstretched hand. With a grimace of pain he quickly reattached the hilt to its well worn clip, and then reached to his other side to retrieve his comlink from the hidden compartment on his utility belt. He held the small device in his massive mechanical hand, but did not activate it.
Vader knew with certainty that his orders to wait for his signal would be followed without question. The lives of his officers depended on it. His rescue was imminent, but not quite urgent. Not yet. He would give the rebels the time they would need to escape orbit before his Star Destroyer returned. This time.
The Sith was used to physical pain, though he had not tolerated the extreme level his injuries now inflicted for quite some time. Still, it commanded little of his attention. What disturbed the armored man more was the unexpected assault of chaotic emotions that unrelentingly churned within him. Long dormant feelings that he could no longer name, nor believed were possible for him to produce, gnawed away at the scarred tattered remains of his heart. Vader purposefully pushed aside these odd sensations. He would examine them further in the solitude of his meditation chamber. There would be time to do so; he would make sure of it.
Vader closed his eyes and stretched out with his mind to once more to touch Luke's distinctive Force presence. The boy was unaware that they now shared such a strong mental bond between them. The link would remain open and unguarded until Luke discovered its existence. He would deal with the young man's ire later. For now, it was enough to just feel the boy's bright essence swirling within him.
Vader leaned his helmet back once more against the back wall. A smile stretched tightly over the Dark Lord's scarred lips.
"May the Force be with you," Vader's mechanical baritone echoed against the cold stone of the empty cave. "My son."