Chapter 6

While Luke was still sleeping, Darth Vader made his way to the medical center to have his hand replaced. He was cautious and apprehensive as to how he would be accepted now that Palpatine was gone and his government had fallen. Was Vader not second in command, and therefor representative of the brutal regime? While surely there would be those on both sides, he feared that those who did not support the Empire would not accept him as the new ruler. Yet, he would have to be challenged. At this time, he felt his well known black suit to be a burden. It was always a burden. He hated it, and could never wait to get back to his chamber and remove it. But he had to wear it everywhere else in the universe, or he would die. He wondered if this new time needed a new image for the new times. He would gladly give up the suit, but not the power and prestige. Ever.

He managed to make it inside the medical center without being spotted. The droids in there would not think enough to question anything but his condition. He found one that rememered him, and had done his repairs and tune ups over the years. XC-454. He seemed almost human. Vader showed him his hand and he said that would be easily replaced. Then he asked him about having his suit replaced. He stood in silence for a moment. He informed Vader that in the time since being put in the suit, medical technology had advanced very far, and it was actually very outdated. Vader was furious! WHY then, was he still having to use it? Vader had to use the force on the droid to get him to be truthful. The droid, knowing Palpatine was gone, admitted to Vader that Palpatine had asked everyone in the medical center not to tell him of improvements, because he was afraid Vader would ask to have them, and if he were free of the suit, he may become stronger and more powerful than the Emperor! Palpatine liked Vader in the black suit, he was intimidating to everyone in the galaxy, but still on his short leash. Vader's rage almost drove him to break things, but he had to stay calm if he wanted XC-454's help. So, the old codger lied to me to keep me down! He thought. Ohh, if he weren't already dead I swear I'd kill him! He was more glad than ever that Luke had killed him.

Vader asked the droid and his assistants what he would be able to have in the way of improvements. The droid informed him there would be quite a bit of change. Vader's heart pounded with anticipation, and his mouth smiled beneath the mask.

"Let me ask you something, Lord Vader. What is it that you need this mask for, besides breathing?"

Stunned, he thought about it, then shook his head. "Nothing, really."

"Does it not control your voice, you sight, your hearing?" one of the assistant droids inquired.

"No, not at all. There are devices inside it that help me to see and hear out of this huge heavy mask and helmet, and there is the voice changer, and amplifier because of the suit, and my breathing, but I can see, hear and talk just fine with the thing off. The only reason I have that stuff in there is because of the helmet itself, not because there's anything wrong with my faculties. I only need it for my breathing."

Making sure Vader was still hooked up to a breathing mechanism, he removed the helmet, and mask. He set it aside. "Then, it is gone. Forever. You will not be needing it anymore." Vader's scarred face smiled and tears of joy welled in his eyes as he looked up. "You mean, I will no longer be needing the mask, ever?" The droid nodded. Vader was beside himself with happiness. He was so happy, he could not even feel the dark side within him. He looked over at the imposing black helmet, his prison for nearly 25 years. He couldn't believe it. He was FREE!

But then he wondered about his life support. "What of the suit, is there anything that can be done to replace its function?" Vader asked, holding his hope inside in case the answer was negative. The droid did not disappoint. "Lord Vader, for many years we have had the technology to spare you from this suit. It was only on the Emperor's orders that you were not informed." Again, he tried his best to control his rage, for his own good. The droid continued: "We are now able to replace your damaged lungs through surgery. We can either replace them with donated human lungs, of unfortunate people who were killed in the war, or with synthetic parts. If we use the human ones, you will still be prone to infection, and dependant upon rejection medicine for life. If we use the synthetic ones, they may not work as well, and may need frequent replacing. Or...there is one more option, one that would perhaps leave you all but cured." Hearing this, Vader sat up and stared at the droid. "Tell me"

Deep in space, Han was having a hard time controlling the Falcon. Strange lights flashed in front of them as they flew backward. It seemed like they weren't even really traveling, but in another dimension. At times, things didn't seem real. Things faded in and out. They would scream, but not hear the noise. This was like nothing else any of them had ever experienced. Finally, things slowed and settled. The Falcon was steady. Cautiously, they all looked around and walked back to the front viewport. All they saw were stars, and a planet. Han read the coordiantes. It was Kashyyyk, Chewie's home planet! They decided to land their wobbly ship there, for assistence. But as they entered the atmosphere, things were strange, very strange. Chewy began to bellow out of control. Han could not believe what he was telling him. Chewy saw things he had not seen in years. In over 20 years. They had traveled back in time!