Palpatine (short story)


"Palpatine" is a short story in the anthology From a Certain Point of View. The story, written by Ian Doescher, tells the point of view of Emperor Palpatine, and is written in rhyming iambic pentameter, similar to Doescher's William Shakespeare's Star Wars book series.

After receiving news from Darth Vader about the death of Obi-Wan Kenobi, Emperor Palpatine gloats over the death of Kenobi at the hands of his apprentice and tool. The Emperor ponders on why Kenobi would hide on Tatooine and wonders if he was designing his own instrument. While Kenobi's death should bring joy, the Emperor is plagued with several questions. He recalls that Vader had mentioned that Kenobi's body had vanished and that Kenobi had warned Vader that "if he struck him down, he would become more powerful."

The Emperor wonders whether this is a Jedi trick. Despite Kenobi's death, the Emperor is still troubled that Jedi Master Yoda is still at large and wonders where he is hiding in the galaxy. He also wonders if any other Jedi survived the Great Jedi Purge. Despite his worries, the Emperor resolves that Kenobi's death will mark a new moment where the Empire's power will never waver and vows to destroy the Rebellion once and for all.

He takes joy in the fact that Lord Vader's cunning has found the rebel base on Yavin 4. He hopes to add Yavin 4 to the list of the Death Star's massacres on Jedha, Scarif, and Alderaan. The Emperor vows to bring the galaxy to its knees with the Galactic Empire as his horse, empowered by the dark side of the Force. Spurred on by the death of Kenobi, the Emperor vows to conquer the rebels and the entire galaxy.

Plot summary


After receiving news from Darth Vader about the death of Obi-Wan Kenobi, Emperor Palpatine gloats over the death of Kenobi at the hands of his apprentice and tool. The Emperor ponders on why Kenobi would hide on Tatooine and wonders if he was designing his own instrument. While Kenobi's death should bring joy, the Emperor is plagued with several questions. He recalls that Vader had mentioned that Kenobi's body had vanished and that Kenobi had warned Vader that "if he struck him down, he would become more powerful."

The Emperor wonders whether this is a Jedi trick. Despite Kenobi's death, the Emperor is still troubled that Jedi Master Yoda is still at large and wonders where he is hiding in the galaxy. He also wonders if any other Jedi survived the Great Jedi Purge. Despite his worries, the Emperor resolves that Kenobi's death will mark a new moment where the Empire's power will never waver and vows to destroy the Rebellion once and for all.

He takes joy in the fact that Lord Vader's cunning has found the rebel base on Yavin 4. He hopes to add Yavin 4 to the list of the Death Star's massacres on Jedha, Scarif, and Alderaan. The Emperor vows to bring the galaxy to its knees with the Galactic Empire as his horse, empowered by the dark side of the Force. Spurred on by the death of Kenobi, the Emperor vows to conquer the rebels and the entire galaxy.

Appearances