Disclaimer: Star Wars as is the Watcher is property of the Walt Disney Company and is not associated with this fan fiction.

Summary: Time. Space. Reality. It's more than a linear path. It's a prism of endless possibility, where a single choice can branch out into infinite realities, creating alternate worlds from the ones you know. I am the Watcher. I have been your guide though the vast infinities of what you would refer to as the Marvel Universe. Now let me become your guide through these vast new realities in a galaxy far far away. Follow me and ponder the question..."What if?"

Obi-wan's mind raced with turmoil and heartbreak as he laid eyes upon the hallow shadow that was once Anakin Skywalker, the man he called brother. How could things have come to this? Where did things go wrong? Where did he go wrong? What could he have done differently? The Jedi master looked at his scorched clothes before looking back at Anakin. Tears in his eyes, he couldn't help but scream, one of the few times he ever did so.

"You were the chosen one! It was said that you would destroy the Sith, not join them! Bring balance to the force... not leave it in darkness!"

"Anakin" looked at his former master. Writhing in pain, he howled out the words "I hate you!" Obi-Wan felt his heart sink. The Anakin Skywalker he knew was truly gone, or so it seemed.

"You were my brother Anakin. I loved you."

Conflict churned within Obi-Wan. Anakin was vulnerable. All it would take is one small force push into the lava river and it would be over. This was perhaps the only opportunity Obi-Wan would have to finish this newly christened Darth Vader, worse if he didn't, it could spell disaster for the galaxy. Yet….he couldn't bare to summon the will to do the dead. Was it because such an act was not the Jedi way? No, it was because it was not Obi-wan's way.

It would seem as though The Force would relieve Kenobi of such a choice, as less than a second later, hellish flame began to engulf Vader. Obi-Wan looked away in dread feeling as if he could vomit. Even being several feet up the hill the foul odor of cooking human flesh hit Obi-Wan's senses with the force of an oncoming train. He forced his body to turn away only to feel himself stopping dead in his tracks. He felt cold, as if a shadow thicker than the ash and smog of the planet suddenly covered the planet. He looked up to see a black ship landing on the planet. The ship opened with a loud his as a shadowy black figure and two clone troopers slowly walked down the ramp Obi-Wan's face turned pale. The Master had come for his apprentice. Still Obi-Wan did not hesitate to get into form II stance.

"Hello there Chancellor…or should I call you Darth Sidious?"

Sidious looked up and began to cackle. Only his ember glowing eyes showed themselves to Kenobi.

"General Kenobi," Sidious growled with a voice like ash. "You survived."

"You'll find I can't die so easily." Obi-Wan felt himself wincing as he fell to his knee. The injuries of his duel with Vader had caught up with him as the last of the adrenaline finally war off. His legs felt like jelly. The Jedi master couldn't get into a standing position even if he wanted to. This caused Sidious to cackle even more.

"Yet, look how beaten you truly are. Tell me Jedi. How does it feel knowing everything you ever cared about is gone. Your master, your lover, your apprentice, even your very order and Republic all taken by me."

Obi-Wan gritted his teeth. "Neither of your apprentices could provoke me, and you won't either. If you're going to kill me, you might as well do it now."

Sidious laughed. "Kill you, now why would I do such a petty thing like that when letting you live in your own failure would be so much more satisfying."

he then looked over to see the burnt and unconscious body of Vader. He knew he had to act fast. "Still, I can't let you get in my way so…Sleep!"

A wave of lightning shot from Sidious's fingertips. The Force of the lightning caused Obi-Wan to slam hard against the rock wall, knocking him out instantly. Sidious then rushed over to Vader.

"Shall we exterminate Kenobi for you my lord?" One of the clones asked.

"No, leave him be. I want him to live a long life stewing in his failure. Search the planet. I sense senator Amidala is here as well."

"Yes sir." The clones acknowledged.

As the clones patrolled the area, Sidious attended to Vader. The force could be used to heal some of the wounds but he wouldn't last long without some form of temporary life support.

"Don't die on me now Lord Vader." Sidious said with an overly stretched out grin. I still have great plans for you."

As Sidious partially healed Vader, a holographic image of a clone flashed before him. "We found Senator Amidala and her ship my lord. She's alive but she needs immediate medical attention."

Sidious nodded. "Do what you can and take her and her ship to my destroyer. We have not a moment to waste. "

As the hologram faded, Sidious went over to the unconscious form of Obi-Wan. The Dark Lord couldn't help but be amused. What a pathetic and fitting image for the now fallen Jedi order. "I do not envy you for the headache you will have when you awake."

Noticing that the Jedi master had Anakin's saber in his belt, he soon summoned the blade to his own hand letting out another chuckle before taking Vader to his ship.

The dark lord watched with his arms crossed as medical droids looked over Padme's condition, one of said droids turned to give Sidious a report.

"What is her condition?" Sidious asked.

The medical droid tilted its head. "Medically speaking she's perfectly healthy, but for reasons we can't explain we are losing her. It appears as if she's lost the will to live."

"What?!" Sidious growled. He felt the fury inside him build as he tried to comprehend such an ignorant statement.

"We have to operate quickly if we are to…are to…are to…" the droid's modulator began to stutter as it began to collapse into itself like an aluminum can being crushed. Sidious pushed what remained against the walk causing the room to echo with a loud clank. "Idiot droid…"

Sidious walked into the room with a great fury, the remaining medical droid attempted to protest. "My lord I don't think it's a good…"

"Silence!" Sidious hissed. The droid did not protest. Sidious put a hand over Padme's heart as he reached out to the force. The dark lord could not help but whimper as he felt himself be forced back by darkside energy. It was just as he thought she had been poisoned by a severe excess of dark side energy . Anakin must have accidentally done so in his anger. Sidious was both impressed and concerned. If Anakin was this consumed by the dark side during his fight with Kenobi, it was of little wonder the duel ended the way he did. In truth Palpatine would be surprised if Vader remembered the encounter.

"You have a natural ability Lord Vader, Sidious whispered to himself. "But it must be honed."

He then bit his lip upon sensing something else. She was pregnant, not just with one child, but twins. They two were being poisoned. Sidious knew he could save one or the other, but not both. He quickly he weighed his options. If he saved the children, he would have to powerful force users he could use as potential apprentices and heirs, on the cost however it would very likely mean that Vader would place the blame on Sidious would most likely do everything he could to undo everything Sidious had built, It would be a failure similar to Maul, one which Sidious had no intention of repeating.

On the other hand if Sidious saved Padme, then while the loss of the children would wound Vader and Padme for a time, it was a wound that would most likely heal. There was also the fact that if Sidious kept the promise he made to Anakin and saved his wife from death then it would guarantee Vader's loyalty and perhaps with certain…behavioral adjustments Senator…no Duchess Amidala's as well. Besides once Vader's injuries were fully healed, they could always have more.

"Prepare to operate, but only once I give the order. Is that understood?"

"Yes my lord." the droid droned.

Sidious put his hand over Padme's heart and began to chant in the ancient Sith tongue. He could feel the dark side energy dissipating from her like poison being drawing like a wound. As he felt her life force strengthen, he felt the life force of the twins fade until it was completely gone.

"She appears to be stabilizing, but I regret to inform we have lost the infants. Shall I operate?"

"Not yet." Sidious said. Now that she was stable he was going to do a little operation of his own. He couldn't control her to the point of making her an outright puppet. Anakin would be able to see the strings and be none too pleased.

He could however take the "Dark" that was already there and simply amplify it. Probing further into her mind Sidious found himself amused. A Bold Socialite who'd throw her weight around, a Jovial hedonist who would unapologetically consume large amount of the finest food and wine, a lustful seductress constantly craving her husband, all of these mischievous traits were indeed present within her, though locked behind a deep facade of discipline. Sidious couldn't help but chuckle. Perhaps under different circumstances she and Senator Orn Free Taa.

"So, the Republic's sweetheart has a bit of a dark side after all. Good. You will to learn how to learn the richer things in life."

Palpatine began to chant once again. Once he finished the ritual, he nodded to the medical droid. "You may operate."

The droid operated delivering the stillborn children. Sidious lips curled just slightly as the sight of the lifeless soundless infants sent a chill down his spine. It was an odd feeling normally the sight of dead children would not have bothered him, but for some reason this was different. Perhaps it was because these were the children of a couple whom even in his own twisted way, he cared about. In any instance, he welcomed the feeling's passing.

"Shall I bring her to consciousness?" The medical droid asked.

"Proceed." Sidious commanded.

Padme began to flutter her eyes and come to as the droid injected her with a reversal agent. Letting out an involuntary moan her eyes widened. She opened her mouth to scream.

"Easy, I'm not here to hurt you." Sidious spoke. "You were injured. I brought you here to get medical attention. Had we not reacted quickly I don't think you would have survived. I made a promise to your husband to keep you safe. Think of me what you will, but I am a keeper of my word."

"Anakin?" She asked though her voice was little more than a whisper.

"He's alive, barely. Both his arms and legs have been amputated and he has 4th degree burns throughout his body. He has to be put into a life support system until he heals. It seems as though your friend Obi-Wan Kenobi left him to burn to death on the lava bank."

"H-he wouldn't..."

Sidious had to hold back a smile. "my dear, there is so much about the Jedi you don't know. You may question why I executed order 66 or declared the Jedi order to be traitors, but all that I have done is not without reason."

Sidious pulled out a hologram recording and put it into Padme's hand. In the hologram, were images of Mace Windu, Ki-Adi-Mundi, and grandmaster Yoda.

"I sense a plot to destroy the Jedi." Mace Windu declared. "The dark side of the Force surrounds the Chancellor."

"If he does not give up his emergency powers after the destruction of Grievous, then he should be removed from office."

"That could be a dangerous move ... the Jedi Council would have to take control of the Senate in order to secure a peaceful transition . . ."

". . . and replace the Congress with Senators who are not filled with greed and corruption."

"To a dark place this line of thought will carry us. Hmmmmm. . . ." Master Yoda said. "Great care we must take."

Padme couldn't believe what she seeing and hearing. "Executing the chancellor outright, forcefully supplanting senators and dismantling the Republic without so much as a trial, All because the Jedi "sensed the dark side within him?" Even agreeing with them on the idea that Palpatine has overstepped his bounds as supreme chancellor, what right did the Jedi order have to destabilize the republic by force and take it over?

The recording switched to another image. This time the image was of Yoda and Kenobi.

"Destroy the Sith, we must." Yoda declared.

"Send me to kill the Emperor. I will not kill Anakin."

"To fight this Lord Sidious, strong enough, you are not."

"He is like my brother ... I cannot do it."

"Twisted by the dark side, young Skywalker has become. The boy you trained, gone he is . . . Consumed by Darth Vader."

"How could it have come to this?"

"To question, no time there is."

"I do not know where the Emperor has sent him. I don't know where to look."

"Use your feelings, Obi-Wan, and find him, you will. Visit the new Emperor, my task is. May the Force be with you."

"May the Force be with you, Master Yoda."

As the hologram faded, Padme begin to seethe. Thoughts raced through her head. It was if she was seeing everything and understanding things for the first time. Obi-Wan wasn't trying to save Anakin from himself, he chose the Order over Anakin, over the people. Thoughts started to run through her mind. How many senators were corrupted like the Jedi? Suddenly, everything started to make sense. The Clone army, the decrees, even the declaration of the empire, Palpatine wasn't trying to subvert the republic OR save it. He was trying to amputate the rotting parts of a broken body and make what was left of it stronger.

"I'm sorry I ever doubted you. I think I understand now."

Palpatine put a hand on Padme's arm. "I can see it in your eyes. You see it as I do. The Republic was in shambles long before the clone wars. the unity of the galaxy has been undermined by corruption, incompetence, we grew so weak and compliant we relied on a bunch of stoic monks who wouldn't even allow themselves to know the simple pleasures of life to be our police, and if we did not submit to their "Just" decisions. We would pay by force.

Do you want to know the truth? I am a sith, I do not hide this fact. In times past we were locked in conflict, but long after we accepted defeat and tried to live quietly, neither the Jedi nor their supreme chancellor would not rest until we were gone. Under their "guidance" the republic invaded our planet and destroyed our kind. The republic came to regret the decision, but the Jedi continued to send shadows destroying the Sith's empire and culture. This is what the Jedi order was my lady, self-absorbed, sociopathic, and narcissistic. The galaxy deserves something better. I want to give them something better but I need your help to do it. Please…will you help me?"

Padme nodded but her eyes widened as something finally hits her.

"My babies…?

Sidious's face turns into a frown.

"Where are my babies?" Padme asks again, her voice spoke in a stronger tone.

"A choice had to be made. We could not save both your children and you."

Padme felt her heart shatter like Ice has streams of tears fell down her face, this couldn't be real. This was all some sort of nightmare. She'd wake up to find her belly still swollen with children; she'd look over to see her husband sleeping peacefully and perfectly fine. Reality however soon put its full weight on the senator. This wasn't a nightmare this was the unshakable reality she was a part of.

"Please…can I hold them?"

"I'm not sure that would be the best id…"

"Palpatine I must!" Padme begged.

After a moment, Palpatine gave the medical droid a nod of approval, which in turn placed the two stillborn children in her hands. As she held the babies in her arms she kissed their foreheads but felt no warmth.

"Luke…Leia…"

Padme began to breath heavily between sobs. She wasn't hyperventilating; rather she was desperately trying to contain a rage that burned within her. In her mind's eye she saw the image of Kenobi and as of now she could not think of a person she hated more. He stood by as the Jedi council conspired against the republic. He betrayed her by following her when she begged him not to sparking a misunderstand and a fight that resulted in her getting injured. He mutilated her husband and left him to burn alive. Had he just not gotten involved like she asked, none of it would have happened. She would have talked Anakin down and they would have ran away together and lived the rest of the life with their children…children that were now dead because of his meddling.

She looked at Sidious and gritted her teeth, eyes enflamed with rage.

"Get out, I wish to be alone for now."

Sidious gave a small bow. "I will go check on Anakin."

As Sidious walked down the hall, an almost bestially howl echoed throughout the facility the voice belonged to Padme though one would be forgiven for not recognizing howled as such for the sound rang with a fury and a rage one would not have thought she was capable of. The word or rather the name she screamed was as clear as crystal.

"KENOBI!"

Under his cloak Sidious smiled. "Things have gone even better than I originally foresaw."

A/N: It looks like Padme got in touch with her inner maul. It's been a while since I've been here. Jeez have things changed in the past few years. I don't know if I will update any old stories. Apologies in advance. I'm writing this out of a moment of inspiration. I apologize if Obi-wan got knocked out by Sidious too quickly. I just figured that after a long bloody fight, he'd be too exhausted to really fight another opponent.