Anakin's Point of View

Anakin Skywalker sat at the back of the plane.

Have I shown weakness? He wondered mildly. I am not Anakin Skywalker.

I am Darth Vader.

Anakin was completely numb; strength could not find him. He had not slept for weeks, being driven only with the full power of the dark side, which Anakin exerted to the absolute extent in the last day.

I gave myself to the dark side. The moment I cut off Mace Windu's arm. I needed... Palpatine to save the one I love. Can he truly do that? Padme cannot die. I lost my mother.

In the past day I have slaughtered all at the temple. Even children. I could feel the dark side pull to me, "They are orphans. They will have nowhere to go to, no one to take care of them. They are better off dead." I have cut myself off from the Jedi – I can never go back.

When Sidious finds out I have left… he should soon be on Mustafar; how will he react to this departure? Where are we all going now?

Can he foresee it all? Where I have gone? And who I am going with? Or does he merely think there has been a complication with wiping out the Separatist leadership? I have cut myself off from the force. He should not know. But he cannot be left in the dark completely.

Does Sidious truly know how to save Padme?

Is her death inevitable…?

NO! I WILL SAVE HER. But can he?

"Use my knowledge, I beg you. And you will be able to save your wife from certain death."

"I have the power… to save the one you love…"

"The power to cheat death, only one has achieved. But if we work together, I am sure we can find the secret."

He lied.

Plagueis? Darth Plagueis?

Sidious said he knew.

But Sidious himself does not know… if we work together…

But he is the only way to that power. My only hope.

And I have gone too far from the Jedi…

The Jedi way!

Overthrowing the lawfully elected Chancellor of the Republic?

He is an Emperor now.

I have done more for the Republic and the Order than any of the Jedi. Yet they treated me with scorn and humiliation. They would not give me me all the accolades I deserved, including the rank of master. They used me for their ends. To spy on the Chancellor and to seed through the Senate and the Republic. They deserved to end.

And I assisted in that. I destroyed the order in the temple. I commanded the clones to end every Jedi they see. And now they are gone… almost.

Where are we going? I was compromised, to be so easily swayed.

Padme spoke of Obi-Wan, Anakin thought scornfully. He was trying to turn her against him. He won't be successful in that!

Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan lived by the code and by the rule of the corrupt, arrogant and evil Council. He could never be with me. He will never understand.

He was my friend. We saved each other's life in the war... we respected each other's choices... I saved his... far more times... Anakin brings out a smile to his face, nearly. What am I thinking?

Ahsoka seems to think that there can be some form of peace or reconciliation! There will never be! And I have to be with the Emperor - My Master, Darth Sidious. I have chosen this path. To save Padme.

She said she cannot be with me, if I continue down this path. I cannot lose her. It would all have been for nothing.

But what is she thinking? She is foolish! This is the only way to save her. My visions always come through. Only the Force can save her.

The Dark Side of the Force.

I was weak; Palpatine is my only hope to save Padme. But, she will leave me. I won't allow that! I will keep her!

Anakin felt the dark side consume him.

Is she not mine to control? Does she not have her own agency?

She hated these measures by Palpatine. She believes in democracy. She believed in negotiating with the separatists. She must hate the formation of the Empire.

Now. There is only one thing to do.

I must return to Palpatine; soon. But first; I need to talk to Padme. I showed weakness before; I will not now. I will hear what she has to say. I will keep her with me. I will be understanding towards her reasons. I will not lash out. I will not hit her. She is all I have. Now.

But also – Ahsoka?

How is Ahsoka with Padme? It's been … not that many months… since I stood at the temple gates watching her leave the order. And... only a few weeks since I saw her before I rescued the Chancellor and she went to Mandalore... Is the siege over? How did she even come to be with Padme?

I do not feel like asking. Such details are irrelevant.

But why is Ahsoka here? Why does she care for me?… After all I've done… She loved the Jedi order, even though they betrayed her.

Anakin did not know what to think or where to go. He could only engross with what was on his mind right now. All the questions and answers in his head.

When is Padme expecting? All will be found out then. She has to be kept safe. The delivery has to be done securely… with love? Am I capable of showing love and tenderness? Now? I have become a cold-blooded killing machine? Have not I?

Padme and Ahsoka are talking right now. About me? Yes. Let them. I need to be with myself. I am not in the same world as I once was.

Anakin found no choice but to live through his thoughts. An enormous, raging, crushing flow that could not be stopped...

If Palpatine is lying, he must be overthrown. I could not have been used. I cannot be.

But can I do that? Am I that powerful? I thought I was; I defeated the Jedi at the temple singlehandedly!

And... Overthrow them with the Jedi? Does Ahsoka think that is possible?

No, Ahsoka is wrong. We cannot work with the Jedi. Obi-Wan and Yoda. They will never understand. And they are not capable of defeating the Emperor.

And even so, what life will be made after that? What about Padme and our child?

What rule does the Jedi wish to impose on the galaxy? Where do I fit in that? Where does Padme? Where does our child?

Nowhere.

I am stuck at nowhere right now. Will I always be?

I thought there was strength in my life, comfort, a place. Padme is that place. But where is she now? She may not live. No. SHE WILL. I WILL MAKE SURE OF IT!

But does she not agree with me? Will she not be with me? Support me in my actions? How will I live with her then? Where will our child stay? Where will… she? I always thought it will be a girl. This time Anakin does smile. Ever so slightly. Where will she be? I do not know.

Will I ever know?

I cut off the hand of Mace Windu… and then… things have spiraled down to this level… Anakin shook his head grimly.

I think it is time to check on Padme. I don't know about Ahsoka.

They are talking.

Anakin walked up the ship. He stood transfixed. The hologram was on. But he could not be seen. Obi-Wan? "Ahsoka, you are safe, thank heavens… Can you rendezvous with the Tantive IV?" "Things are going to be a little more complicated than that."

Suddenly the hologram went out. The lights went out. They were being followed. Republic ships. What would they want?

Padme cannot be hurt.