No. 18—Let's Break the Ice
"Just get it over with." | Treading Water | "Take my coat."
Luke jerked abruptly out of his sound sleep to alarms blaring and blinking on his X-wing's control panel.
Shavit. His and Artoo's hasty patches must not have held up after all. The erupting volcano, vicious plants, and even more vicious animals had really done a number on his ship. With all of the Rogues sick except for him (Luke thought it was because of the Force, but Wedge claimed—or promised—that it was only a matter of time before he got sick too), High Command had sent him alone to check on rumors of a Jedi on a sparsely populated planet. But all he'd found was a weird cult that tried to drain him of the Force and a planet that tried to rip his ship to pieces.
[The patches are coming apart!] Artoo said, his words translated on the readout below Luke.
"I know!" Luke scanned the alarms. "We'll have to drop out of hyperspace and find someplace to land."
He pushed a lever on the control panel up. The blue swirls of hyperspace collapsed into stars.
Another alarm blared. A snarled piece of metal floated by his viewport, part of his engine. Probably an important part.
Kriff. He was going down, and he was going down fast. He scanned the galaxy outside his viewport. A blue planet hovered near him. Entirely blue. He pushed the ship towards the planet. At least water was better than his ship falling apart in the vacuum of space.
More pieces broke off as the ship plunged to the glittering ocean blew. Luke pulled the ship to an acceptable speed, but a few hundred yards above the water, it completely died. He strapped his helmet tighter, grabbed his survival kit, and popped the canopy. He jumped just before the ship hit the water, plunging into cold salty waves. Water swamped him, pushing him under. His X-wing sank down into the blue depths, Artoo squealing in his socket.
Pain shot through his heart at his friend sinking, but the burning in his chest outweighed it. He splashed and fought to the surface, his hand automatically releasing his survival kit to better claw his way to the life-giving air.
Cool air hit his face. He gasped in greedily. Thankfully, one of the first things Leia and Han had taught him after joining the rebellion was to tread water, claiming it was an essential survival skill.
His chest heaved. Waves slapped against his face, moving him up and down. His heart hammered. Just five minutes ago, he had been asleep, trying to recover the energy stolen from him by the cult of Force vampires. Now, his ship and his droid were at the bottom of an unfamiliar ocean and he was stranded, alone, on some strange ocean planet, with no way to call for help.
He was going to die here. Alone. It was only a matter of time.
In some way, he felt peeved that the Empire hadn't even been the one to take him out.
After only a couple of minutes, aches threaded through his arms and legs. He shrugged off his flight vest, then kicked off his boots.
He forced himself to take a few deep breaths. He could try the same thing he did at Bespin. Maybe, hopefully, Leia would come help. He closed his eyes and reached out into the Force. Leia…hear me…Leia…
He got a vague, very vague impression of her. She was happy, laughing.
Leia, I need your help.
The happiness dissolved into distraction and a bit of worry.
Leia!
And then she was gone.
Luke growled in frustration. She was so far away. And of course, it would help if he had any idea what he was doing.
Another, heavier presence intruded into his mind as it had been doing for the better part of a year. Luke. Turn to the Dark Side of the Force.
Luke focused on keeping himself above the waves. Vader reminded him continually of his lack of training and knowledge of the Force, of how superior the man's abilities were to him.
Hang on. Vader may be a Sith Lord, but he was also Luke's father, and he might care about him. Getting grabbed by the Empire might be better than a slow, painful death by drowning. Father.
Luke! The dark, cold voice pressed in on him. You are actually listening to me? You will turn to the Dark Side?
Uh…Not exactly, Luke sent. Not interested in the Dark Side. But, um, Father…
So, you have accepted the truth! Vader said.
Yeah, I have. Now, since you're talking to me, would you be willing… I don't know if you could even find me, but…
I will do my best to find you if you open your mind to me, Vader said. What is the problem?
Force vampires, hungry plants, and rabid animals ripped my ship apart and I crashed in the middle of an ocean planet and my ship and my droid are at the bottom of the sea. Along with all my comms. I can't contact the Rebels and it's only a matter of time before I get too tired to keep swimming.
Vader didn't say anything, but Luke could feel a mix of emotions he couldn't quite interpret. You…encountered Force vampires. And sentient plants and rabid animals. And they ripped your ship apart. And somehow you wound up on a different planet made entirely of ocean without your ship or your astromech droid? Despite the fact that your ship was clearly not in good enough shape to fly?
…Yes? I had to get away from the Force vampires, and I thought the patches would hold. Look, can you help me or not?
A small thought from Vader slipped through. I regret every time I made fun of Obi-Wan for saying I aged him before his time.
A wave smacked Luke in the face. He coughed, saltwater coating his tongue and stinging his eyes. You think I'm aging you before your time?
Vader shuttered his mind. Do you know the name of the planet you're on?
No, I don't even know if it has a name.
If I am to save you, I must at least know the trajectory of the hyperspace lane you were in when your ship failed.
Well, I was leaving Hoflissa, Luke said. But he couldn't exactly share his destination because it was the current location of the Rebel fleet.
And… Vader prompted.
Unless you're willing to join the Rebels, I don't think I can do better than that, Luke said.
Fear and anger pressed in on his mind. You don't have a choice, young one! If you do not, you will die!
I know. Pain shot up Luke's legs as he furiously pedaled them to keep himself afloat. I would rather sacrifice my life to save the fleet from the Empire's wrath than sacrifice the fleet to save my life.
I see. Vader's voice was heavy. Is there no way I could change your mind?
Not a chance.
I cannot let you die, Vader said. That is not an option.
You could join the Rebellion, Luke said. I'm perfectly willing to share the fleet location with a defector.
I cannot, Vader said, his voice even heavier. It is too late for me, son.
Why? Luke asked. How could it be too late? Can't you just jump in a ship and leave before they realize you're gone? You're Darth Vader! And if you haven't been able to find the Rebels for years, don't you think the Emperor would have trouble finding you if you were with us? His heart hammered. He'd barely even formulated the idea that had sparked in him some months ago of "make Darth Vader my father again," but now, it seems, that idea was his only hope unless either he or Leia learned how to initiate a Force conversation in the next couple of hours.
I suppose that is true, but I am on the Dark Side, Vader said.
You don't have to be, Luke said.
It is not that simple.
Why not? Don't use it if you don't want to, Luke said. Let go of your anger and hate and come with me. It's either that or I drown here. And I don't want to drown here.
Vader fell silent. And he stayed silent.
Luke was already completely soaked, but he could feel the hot tears slip down his cheeks. The Dark Side truly was more important to Vader than his own son.
Pain spread through his arms and legs. He forced himself to take slow, calming breaths and drew on the Force. Yoda had taught him how to supplement his endurance with the Force, commenting that if Luke was anything like his father or Obi-Wan that he would desperately need the skill.
Vader's voice pressed into Luke's mind. Very well. If that is the only way you will let me help you and you truly believe we can escape and successfully combat the Emperor this way, I will…defect. And we will see if rejecting the Dark Side is as easy as you make it sound. Now, where were you headed when you dropped out of hyperspace?
Luke's heart leapt, but then he froze. How do I know you're sincere?
Vader dropped his shields. A wave of emotions and impressions washed over Luke, fear, desperation, resignation, and a growing hope. But over it all was a determination, certainty, and honesty. He was telling the truth.
All right then. Luke shoved the coordinates he was heading towards at Vader.
Keep your mind completely open to me, Vader said. I believe that with the Force guiding me, I will be able to find you. I will be there as fast as I can. Do not die!
I'll do my best. Luke dismantled his shields and clung to his father's presence, focusing all his energy on keeping his legs moving.
The sun dropped in the sky until Luke was swimming under a starry sky. He could barely move his arms and legs. He had tried to float on his back, but apparently he wasn't very naturally buoyant, because despite the salt water, he kept being swamped by waves and dragged under. Even peeling off his jumpsuit and only swimming in his tank top and cargo pants didn't do much good. Heaviness weighed down his head and his eyelids.
Salt water filled Luke's lungs. He jerked awake, thrashing. He was sinking in pitch black water. He kicked and flailed, sucking water in involuntarily and coughing the burning water back out. His head broke the surface. He shuddered, gasping and coughing harshly.
He had fallen asleep in the water.
It was only a matter of time before it happened again. And he wouldn't be able to keep pushing himself to the surface.
His head dropped, his eyes closing without his say so. He forced his head upright and blinked hard.
A ship's whine broke through the sloshing of the water. Father.
Luke tugged on the bond. I'm here.
Do not worry. I can feel you. I am lowering the ship to hover over you now.
The dark outline of a sleek modified Imperial shuttle dropped down to hover over Luke. The ramp opened and a tall figure walked down, the respirator confirming his identity.
"Father," Luke choked out, his voice rasping.
"Luke." Vader dropped to his knees at the end of the ramp and held out his hands. "Come to me."
Luke struck out for the ramp, his shoulders screaming in pain. His hand slapped Vader's leather glove.
Vader seized his hand, grabbing his forearm with his other hand, and pulled him onto the ramp. Luke collapsed onto the cold metal, coughing and shivering.
Vader draped heavy cloth over Luke. "Here, take my cloak."
The cape warmed Luke. "Thank…y…you," he stammered.
"We must go," Vader said.
"No, wait," Luke said. "Is there any way you can get my droid?"
"Your droid is at the bottom of the ocean," Vader said. "I am afraid there is not much I can do."
"But you have the F…f…force!" Shivering wracked Luke's body. "I won't leave Artoo!"
"Artoo? Artoo-Detoo?" Vader demanded.
"Yes!" Luke said.
"You are right, it would be criminal to leave him behind," Vader said. "Let me see." He rushed into the ship, then ran back out about a minute later. "I activated a magnet on the bottom. I am not sure if it will be strong enough, but perhaps I can pull him up with the Force as well." He sat down beside Luke and stretched his hand out over the ocean.
For long minutes, they hovered over the ocean, Luke coughing and shivering and Father sitting still with one hand out and one on Luke's back. Then, Artoo's electronic squeal broke the night air. The droid rocketed above their heads to crash in the ship.
Luke laughed. That squeal had never been more beautiful. "You did it!"
Father patted his back. "I did!" he said, almost sounding surprised himself. "Come. We must leave. Can you walk?"
"Maybe." Luke pushed himself up. His legs stabbed with every movement and almost collapsed under him, but he managed to stay upright. The cape fell to the ramp. "Yeah. I can walk." He hobbled into the ship.
Father followed behind him, grabbing his cape, and closed the ramp. He led Luke to the cockpit. Artoo simply sat where he had landed, beeping to himself.
Luke collapsed into the empty copilot's chair, too tired and sore to strap himself in or search for a blanket to wrap around his wet clothing. "Thank you for coming for me."
"How could I not?" Father tucked his cape around Luke and buckled Luke's straps. "You are my son."
Luke smiled. "So, off to join the Rebellion?"
Father dropped into the pilot's seat and nodded. "I suppose so. I still do not think this is a good idea. Palpatine will find us and kill us both."
"No, he won't," Luke said. "Have a little faith, Father."
"I have not had faith in a very long time," Father said. "Its presence will take some getting used to." He punched coordinates into the navicomputer.
Luke smiled. "Good. Now, do I have to introduce you to Artoo as Darth Vader, or can I use your real name?"
"You do not have to introduce me to him at all," Father said. "We knew each other long before you were born. But, if you are asking whether or not I still wish to be referred to as Darth Vader…" He was silent for a moment. "No. I do not think so. If I am to abandon Palpatine and join the Rebellion, I suppose I should go all the way." He pulled back on a lever and sent them into hyperspace.
Luke's smile widened as he finally let himself drop off to sleep.
A/N: I just want to be clear that I did not make up Force vampires. They're an actual thing in Legends canon and it's beautiful. Also, the whole "Vader constantly mentally harassing Luke" thing is from a deleted scene of Return of the Jedi that makes me cackle every time I watch it. Vader's sitting in his little pod harassing Luke about the Dark Side while Luke's just calmly building his lightsaber. It's no wonder he became so patient between movies, having Vader in his head for a year.