There I was, watching The Empire Strikes Back last night because the spousal overunit is wanting to watch ALL the movies in their intended order, because only lately is she "getting" Star Wars. Good to know she's got a lifetime of education awaiting her. Good to know that this series hasn't run out of secrets to yield yet either.

Ever wonder why it is that Darth Vader subjected Han Solo to that combination torture rack/toaster oven/arc welder? And why Chewie was made to go nuts from that loud racket and why Leia was subject to who knows what? And why it is that Han said that the Imperials didn't even bother to ask any questions? Purpose of torture is to make someone sing like a bird lest their skin gets flayed off of raw muscle or something. Not here. But it wasn't without purpose at all, ya see.

Vader had to make sure that Han and Leia and Chewie were in pain, for no other reason than because he wanted Luke to know of their suffering through the Force. The catch is, Luke was on Dagobah when he had the vision well into the immediate PAST! Yoda told Luke that it was the future he saw... but for there to be a future for Luke to have seen then, Vader had to put Han, Leia and Chewie through torture now. Vader was laying bait out retroactively into the past for Luke to find.

Obviously it worked.