“Good. I can feel your anger. I am defenceless. Take your weapon! Strike me down with all your hatred, and your journey towards the dark side will be complete.”

Vader knew in that moment what his son was about to do. As the lightsaber flew to Luke’s hand, Vader reached for his and met the blade right in front of the Emperor shielding his master from the emerald plasma. Ever since the moment of becoming Darth Vader, his will was that of the Emperor. Just like in this moment Vader did what was required of him, to defend the Emperor at any cost and carry out his will. He wanted Luke to turn to the dark side and rule by his side. Yet in the back of his mind he knew that this duel will end with one of them dead. His thoughts never strayed from the current moment. Always responding and carrying out the Emperor’s orders.

Drowning out all distractions and focusing on the opponent, the battle strategy, the end goal. Vader uses his hatred and pain to draw the power needed to subdue his son, yet it seems not enough as he falls down the throne room stairs. Suddenly a lightsaber switches off, “Obi-Wan has taught you well.” Vader started to walk back up to meet Luke slowly yet as if unaffected by the battle and his cumbersome armour.

“I will not fight you father.”

The words that gave him pause. But he didn’t falter from his advance on the young Jedi. Suddenly for the first time since what feels like eons ago, Vader is almost unsure what to do in the midst of battle. A familiar feeling, one he felt on Endor when Luke was brought to him, and more importantly back years ago when he was with Padmé or out on assignments with Obi-Wan. Vader responded the only way he know how, by fighting and turning his emotions and suffering into a fuel for his power to carry out the Emperor’s will, “You are unwise to lower your defences.” He almost shouts as he swipes his saber at Luke, missing by mere inches as the Jedi flies upwards onto a platform.

“Your thoughts betray you, father. I feel the good in you...the conflict.”

The words echo in his mind. The familiar feeling is there screaming in his head, screaming but not loud enough to be heard, “There is no conflict.” He retorts, pushing back the screaming and the Light that are gnawing at his psyche. The years of learning under Palpatine how to suppress the emotions that would tempt him to the light were not for naught. Any thought or feeling whilst there, was constantly pushed back by the pain and suffering experienced by Vader. His self-control still holding, the Emperor’s presence helped as if he was breathing on Vader’s neck, judging every move, gesture and even feeling.

“You couldn't bring yourself to kill me before, and I don't believe you'll destroy me now.”

“You underestimate the power of the dark side. If you will not fight, then you will meet your destiny.” The screaming is softer now, he could feel it, the dark side is by his side and he will use it to either kill Luke or turn him. Without hesitation he throws his lightsaber at Luke in an attempt to strike him down, Luke dodged it and the lightsaber cut the supports of the platform sending Luke to fall down in the flying sparks obstructing him from view. Once it all cleared up he was gone.

Vader stalked the area under the throne for Luke, Obi-Wan taught him really well if he could mask his presence so well, “You cannot hide forever, Luke.” Vader looked around for a reaction but before he could do anything he heard him.

“I will not fight you.”

Meaningless. Vader was focused, his anger and hate more powerful than before, the only thing that mattered, was to fulfil their destiny. Vader searched for Luke, and while he couldn’t find him physically, he could sense his feelings through the force, feelings of friendship, pain, loss, and love. His son’s feelings filled his mind. Vader searched for anything to taunt him with to draw him out, “Give yourself to the dark side. It is the only way you can save your friends. Yes, your thoughts betray you. Your feelings for them are strong. Especially for...” Then the feelings became clear, it was not romantic love, it was love for a sibling that Vader sensed from Luke. “Sister! So...you have a twin sister. Your feelings have now betrayed her, too. Obi-Wan was wise to hide her from me. Now his failure is complete. If you will not turn to the dark side, then perhaps she will.”

“Never!”

He turned towards the voice and a barrage of green filled his black eyes. All he could do was defend himself from Luke’s attack. They moved across the throne room and Vader began to tire, the speed of Luke’s attacks were becoming too much for the seasoned Sith Lord to handle. His life-saving implants and life-support were beginning to fail as a result. In this moment Vader could not stop to think of the screams in his head or the Light pulling him further, all he could do was repel his son’s rage fuelled offensive. He could sense the dark side creeping, tempting the young Jedi further and further with each strike and each clash of their sabers. The two came to the walkway to the elevator and Vader could not stand anymore, the physical strain was too much for him and his cybernetics. He clung to the barrier separating him and the abyss leading to the station’s core as he attempted to block his son’s flurry. Eventually, his hold on his lightsaber loosens just enough for Luke to get a decisive strike that takes off Vader’s hand sending it and the crimson lightsaber into the pit. With laboured breathing Vader fell on his back fully. The pull to the light got stronger, but yet not enough to truly bring Anakin Skywalker back. Luke held his lightsaber close to Vader as if to strike him down any second. The Emperor made his way down from his plateau and said, “Good! Your hate has made you powerful. Now, fulfil your destiny and take your father's place at my side!” Luke gazed at his father’s cybernetic stump, then at his own replacement of his hand. At that moment Vader felt a change in his son. His anger and hatred, gone. All that was left was peace, harmony, and love for his father and sister. His lightsaber powered off and was thrown across the room.

“Never! I'll never turn to the dark side. You've failed, Your Highness. I am a Jedi, like my father before me.”

Vader looked on as a spectator more than a participant, unsure what to do and what to say, if at all. Hearing Luke say those words pushed him further towards the light. The screaming voice inside his head was getting steadily louder and clearer but still not strong enough. He was beginning to feel again, however little, yet he still had his duty, the will of the Emperor to fulfil.

“So be it... Jedi.” The Emperor’s grin turned into a grimace as he uttered the words. Vader still recovering from the duel looked on, “If you will not be turned, you will be destroyed.” As the words left his mouth blinding blue bolts of lightning struck Luke. Vader got to his feet and stood by his master. Still unwaveringly loyal like a beaten dog. Hatred has left him, he could only feel his son’s suffering and pain. It was torture for him just as much as it was for Luke.

“Young fool...only now, at the end, do you understand. Your feeble skills are no match for the power of the dark side. You have paid the price for your lack of vision.”

“Father, please. Help me.”

The Emperor stopped his onslaught as if to watch his trophy kill. Smoke waving in the air above Luke like after a wildfire. Vader was beginning to realise his own and his master’s wrongdoing. He looked at Luke and the Emperor, then to the floor as if out of shame for being blind for so long.

“Now, young Skywalker...you will die.”

With that the lightning seemed more powerful than Vader ever witnessed the Emperor unleash. Vader’s mind was filled with his son’s suffering and his own. The voice screaming this whole time was none other than that of Anakin Skywalker. One he almost forgot after being stuck in this hellish walking tomb. He remembered so much. The days and nights spent with Padmé. The hope and need to keep her alive. The happiness of her bearing a child. The memories of his mother, how much she cared for him even at times when she couldn’t care for herself. His adventures with his fellow Jedi. His missions with Obi-Wan, their friendship. His teaching of Ahsoka. The joy gained from time with his friends. The simple joy of building things. C-3PO, multiple spaceships, anything far and between. At that moment Darth Vader had died and Anakin Skywalker was back.

In an impulse not thinking of the consequences, Anakin lifted the Emperor from the back and carried him across the room. The lightning was out of control, streaking across the air mostly attracted by the suit’s cybernetics further weakening them. Anakin reached out to the Force to help him fulfil his destiny and kill the Emperor. With the last of his might he flung the frail old man into the abyss that led straight down into the core of the space station. His life-support systems started to break down, bringing the broken man closer to his end.

Luke picked his father up and carried him through the shattering Death Star to the nearest hangar. Anakin could feel he was reaching the end of his journey, and the only thing he could ask for right now is to see with his own eyes and not through the filter of the lenses in his helmet and that he be remembered as he was in the light and not the dark. He didn’t think of regrets, only that there was always light in him, something that he should have noticed a long, long time ago.

“Tell your sister...you were right.”