The Secret Purpose of Vader's Suit

Darth Vader awakens in a new suit keeping him alive, but did Palpatine build it with other purposes in mind?

The platform rotated, bringing Darth Vader upright. He couldn’t quite understand what was happening, but he heard a hideous breathing sound. He soon realized that was him.

“Lord Vader, can you hear me?” asked a familiar voice. Palpatine. Vader could see his face through the eyes of what now covered his head.

“Yes, Master,” Vader answered in a voice he couldn’t recognize. He had one question, but he feared to ask it. But fear is supposed to be an ally of the Sith, not an obstacle, so he spoke. “Where is Padme? Is she safe? Is she all right?”

“It seems in your anger,” Palpatine said slowly, “you killed her.”

This was a wound to him greater than the fires of Mustafar. “I... I couldn’t have. She was alive!” he stammered. “I felt it!” Vader ripped off the shackles from the table. He felt himself losing control — all his rage spreading out in a violent force, attacking everything in the room as he howled, “Nooooooooo!”

After Vader’s howl, there was nothing but an oppressive, empty silence, finally broken by Palpatine saying, “Anyway, moving on, it’s time to talk about the features of your new suit.”

“It’s a symbol of how I have no humanity left!” Vader moaned.

“Sure. Sure. But it has a lot of other great aspects to it too... other than just keeping you alive.”

Vader tried to walk but kept stumbling. Something was off. “Am I taller now?”