Death Star
Orbiting Ender
4 ABY
Darth Vader was dying. As he lay crumpled on the floor he knew that the last blast of force lighting had been the fatal blow. Already he felt his suit shutting down and he was using the force to prolong his body shutting down. He was taking the pain, embracing it and using it to feed the dark side of the force.
Next to him, Luke Skywalker kneeled. "Father, the Death Star is about to explode. The reactor is overloading."
Indeed, the rebels plan had worked out perfectly. Luke could feel the Death Star shaking apart around him. "We need to go."
"Leave me, son," Vader bid Luke.
Luke shook his head. "That isn't going to happen. I will not allow you to die. I have to save you."
Vader reached up and pulled off his mask. He locked eyes with Luke. "My son. You have already saved me." He began to cough as he tried to speak more. "Because of you, I have returned to the light. Tell your sister...tell her that I love her."
Luke began to speak again but he felt a danger approaching him through the force. A squad of Stormtroopers were headed his way blasters drawn. Luke raised his hand thrusting forward and the Stormtroopers went flying backwards to slam against the bulkhead. None of them moved after that. It was quite possible that he had killed them, Luke knew, but none of that mattered right now. All that mattered was getting his father to safety before the Death Star exploded.
Calling upon the Force he levitated his father behind him. His other hand ignited his lightsaber and he made his way towards the shuttle bay. A couple of times some Stormtroopers made to stop him, but they saw his lightsaber and thought better of it.
Thus, Luke was able to reach the shuttle bay with enough time to flee before the Death Star exploded.
Once on the shuttle he strapped Vader in next to him as he took the pilot seat. "Hold on father, I will get you help," Luke pleaded. He flew the shuttle out of the bay at top speed, giving himself over entirely to the Force as he set a course for the nearest rebel ship with a major medical bay.
"My son, please there is nothing you can do. Allow me to die redeemed," Vader told Luke.
"No. You have too much knowledge to pass on to me, and to the next generation of Jedi. I won't be the last, and training them would be a lot easier with you around. And I won't let you die now that I am finally getting to know you," Luke told him.
"Luke, I have much to answer for. Yoda and Obi-Wan are waiting for me in the realm beyond death. Even now I can sense them watching me," Vader explained.
"They can watch you redeem yourself through your actions," Luke told him.
"It's too late for that even if I wanted to," Vader coughed weakly as he spoke. "I am only still alive through the use of the Force. I am hanging on to have my final moments with you. There is so much I wish I had time to tell you. "
He coughed up blood this time. "I can't live without the support system of the suit. I will become a Force Ghost when I pass on, just as Masters Yoda and Obi-Wan did. I can communicate with you then and I will pass on what I am able to. "
"Your suit can be repaired and I will lend you my strength in the Force if you begin to falter. Just a little bit longer please," Luke pleaded again. He yanked the controls hard to left to avoid an incoming flight of X-Wings that were tracking the flight of his shuttle. Trusting in the Force he weaved a path through the fire, taking no damage as the X-Wings shot past him and turned to try again.
