The strangest feelings have been mine of late.To know my son exists confounds my witsAs I did ne’er imagine. What is thisConfusion that doth obfuscate my mind?For evil I am made, for punishmentOf foes, for conquering of peoples, andTo do the perfect will of my great lordAnd Emperor. Of these I certain am,For this hath been my role full many years.Yet where within this surety is roomFor offspring? For a son? What can a lifeLiv’d on the dark side of the Force have stillTo do with heirs, with flesh and bone that sprangFrom me and that sweet life that once I led?How can this Sith, this man of pain and death,Be father to the fruit of far-gone love?It seems well nigh impossible when oneConsiders what I’ve been. For, verily,I may not hide the man I truly am:A warrior devoted to the causeOf Emperor and Empire both. ’Tis whoI am: I must be mad when I have causeAnd smile at no one’s jests. No humor dothGive pleasure to my mouth or stir my heart,Nor would I dare to ever love again,If e’en this mess of tangl’d wires could love.I am a Sith, most surely to be fear’d.Yet that perplexing thing remains: a son.EnterEMPEROR PALPATINEand royal guards.
What is thy bidding, master?Emperor—Send the fleetUnto the farthest side of Endor. ThereLet it remain, until ’tis callèd for.VaderWhat of the recent news that rebels areAmassing near to Sullust? Is it so?EmperorIt is of little consequence, for soonThis vile Rebellion shall be crushèd andYoung Skywalker shall know the dark side’s pow’r.Thy work upon the Death Star is complete.Thou shalt go hence to the command ship, andAwait my orders there.Vader—My master: aye.[Exit Darth Vader.
EmperorNow all the players and the scenes are setTo bring about our greatest triumph yet.[Exeunt.
Act III
Scene 1.
On the Imperial shuttle Tydirium and the Super Star Destroyer.
EnterLUKE SKYWALKER, HAN SOLO, CHEWBACCA, PRINCESS LEIA, C-3PO, and R2-D2. Enter ADMIRAL PIETT and IMPERIAL CONTROLLER on balcony, on the Super Star Destroyer.
HanNow if the Empire is not by our ruseDeceiv’d, we must fly quickly, Chewie.Chewbac.—Auugh.Control.We have you on our screens; identifyYourselves.Han—The shuttle of TydiriumRequests deactivation of the shieldOf energy.Control.— Tydirium, transmitYour clearance code for passage through the shield.HanTransmission doth commence.Leia—Now shall we learnIf all these codes were worth the price we paidFor them—the loss of friends, the loss of life.HanAye, it shall work, ’twas sacrifice well made.Chewbac.Egh!Luke—Vader is aboard that giant ship.Han