"Vader's Vacation" is a non-canon animated LEGO short released on July 11, 2023 as part of the LEGO STAR WARS: Celebrate the Season series.
With Darth Vader determined to find the location of Rebel bases, the Emperor desperately tries to get his workaholic Sith apprentice to relax and enjoy a much-needed vacation.
Emperor Palpatine and Darth Vader enter a hotel lobby. While Palpatine is looking forward to his long-awaited holiday, Vader is fixated on decrypting a data card containing a list of rebel bases. Palpatine is annoyed that Vader has brought work to the hotel and wants to relax in a pool. Vader reluctantly follows and drags his trolley bag through the terminal.
The two Sith Lords are being watched by R2-D2 who contacts Princess Leia Organa via holoprojector. After R2-D2 confirms that the Imperials have the data card, Organa tells the astromech droid that they need to get the data card back before it can be decrypted. Organa tells R2-D2 to proceed with "Operation Bomb a Vacation." R2-D2 rolls along.
Emperor Palpatine is annoyed that the swimming pool is crowded with stormtroopers and Imperial officers. Vader reminds him that he gave these people a vacation. An annoyed Palpatine uses Force lightning to drive away the other Imperials. Palaptine then climbs into a yellow duck float and invites a reluctant Vader to join him. Vader climbs onto a pink float and begins decrypting the data card. Palpatine grumbles that Vader is "Lord of the Buzz Kid." R2-2 hides behind a beach chair.
While boarding a shuttle to the beach planet Niamos, Vader continues trying to decrypt the data card. R2-D2 follows them there. Vader dislikes the beach planet since it is covered in sand and retreats under a sheltered bench. Palpatine implores Vader to forget work and relax. Vader is hit on the head by a football and begins spinning the ball. Palpatine is pleased that Vader is relaxing. The two of them spend time together lifting weights, giving Palpatine a foot massage, getting drinks from a KX-series security droid, and surf racing.
After several attempts, R2-D2 manages to retrieve the data card while Vader and Palpatine are sitting by the beach. He stores the data card in his dome and plugs onto a network terminal on a starship. A relaxed Palpatine and Vader depart on a shuttle. Later, R2-D2 informs a pleased Organa about his successful recovery of the data card. Organa tells him that he deserves a vacation. R2-D2 also tells Organa that he reprogrammed their travel route to icy Hoth.
Palpatine is incensed that they are on Hoth. When Vader discovers that the data card is gone, Palpatine blames him for ruining the vacation and losing the data card. To make matters worse, the two Sith Lords are chased by a mother wampa and her child.