What if Anakin FLED Instead of Jumping to the High Ground? Let’s explore the depths of it in the video.
Part of Anakin wants to do just that, try it and strike down Obi-Wan. But despite his anger, he knows it is a huge gamble. Obi-Wan holds the high ground and as he feels the heat of the lava below, one touch could be disastrous.
Instead, the Sith Apprentice does a saber throw at Obi-Wan. His former master’s eyes widen as he parries the attack. While he’s distracted, Anakin takes the opportunity to leap down and towards the side and runs off. Obi-Wan tries to chase after him, but Anakin is too far away. He retrieves his lightsaber and rushes towards his ship.
He hurries to the landing pad and barely notices the second ship there until Palpatine steps forward, looking ready to fight. He glares down at his apprentice and orders him to halt with a wave of his hand. Surprisingly, it works as Anakin pauses and bows before him.
Palpatine: Lord Vader, you return to me broken and defeated. Where is Kenobi?”
Anakin: He escaped.
Palpatine: Escaped? You were sent to destroy him. You were sent to eliminate the Jedi threat.”
Anakin: I don’t care about Kenobi! Padmé is dying. You promised me the power to save her!
Palpatine’s expression twists into something almost amused, but his tone drips with mockery. Suddenly, he flicks his wrist and Anakin flies back against the wall. Snarling, he pushes back against this power. He nearly breaks free before Palpatine waves his hand and shards of metal fly towards them. Rather than kill Anakin, they form makeshift bounds, holding him in place as they lock onto his legs and wrists.
Palpatine: And why should I grant you such power? You have failed me, Lord Vader. You have proven unworthy of the gift I offered you. Weakness must be punished.
The words are a dagger to Anakin’s chest, sharper than any lightsaber. His rage surges uncontrollably, a raw, primal force that bursts outward, cracking the durasteel floor beneath him.
Anakin: You will not take her from me!
However, Palpatine casually strolls forward and taps his forehead. Suddenly, Anakin finds himself in the medical center where Padme is. He watches in horror as she fights for her life just as she did in his dreams. Only this time, Anakin knows that it isn’t a dream.
This is reality and she is truly dying. His screams are nearly drowned out by Palpatine’s laughter. By her side are Obi-Wan and the medical droids who do their best to tend to her. However, Palpatine cuts the link off before he can see the end of the process.
Anakin drops to his knees and rushes towards Palpatine, his eyes burning with rage. He ignites his lightsaber and rushes at him, but the emperor is ready. A torrent of Force lightning explodes from his fingertips. It strikes Anakin head-on, sending him hurtling backward. He crashes to the ground, his body wracked with pain, his vision swimming.
Palpatine: Pathetic. You are no Sith. You are a sniveling, lovesick fool.”
Anakin struggles to rise, his fury burning brighter but Palpatine strikes him again and again until he stays on his hands and knees.
Palpatine: I should end you here and now, but death would be a mercy. No, you will live with your failure. You will serve me where your incompetence can still be useful—on the front lines. Perhaps there, you can finally prove yourself… or die forgotten.”
With that, Palpatine walks back to his ship, leaving Anakin to find his way home. Just as the emperor promises, Anakin finds himself on the war-torn battlefields of the Outer Rim, far from the corridors of power, far from Padmé.
He isn’t even sent to any major frontlines. Palpatine humiliates him further by having him sent to the desolate frontiers, where he faces off against a handful of CIS holdouts or some Republic troops who refused to pledge allegiance to the Empire.
He commands legions of loyal clone troopers, the remnants of the 501st, who still call him general. But despite all his failings and all the heartbreak he suffered, his men remain loyal to him. They follow him without question, their trust is unshaken, even as he doubts himself.
Commander Appo remains by his side and while he doesn’t pry into Anakin’s struggles, he makes it a point to stay by his general’s side, providing support. His silent presence is appreciated by Anakin who comes to rely on him just as he did to Rex.
In a way, it helps drown out the whispers of the dark side and the unrelenting guilt that gnaws at his soul. Palpatine’s promises, mockery, and insults seem to deafen with his clones. Instead, he sees more clearly what he truly desires now. Revenge.
For the first few weeks, Anakin does Palpatine’s bidding, ridding the galaxy of the rebels who challenge the Empire. It gives him no joy or even gets his blood boiling. It is something that simply must be done. Through this information, Anakin hears
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