Alternate Universe - Qui-Gon lives! No OT!

Discussions in other threads have lead me to this...

In an alternate universe, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan defeat Darth Maul. Qui-Gon lives to train Anakin, perhaps without the approval of the Council. Anakin receives better training than he would have from Obi-Wan, just as Obi-Wan benefits from continued association with Qui-Gon.

If Qui-Gon breaks from the Council to train Anakin, perhaps Obi-Wan follows him. The Council fears that the three of them will turn dark or even Sith, and eventually, with Chancellor/Emperor Palpatine's assistance, begins to hunt for the Three.

Other events orchestrated by Sidious/Palpatine in TPM and AOTC unfold, as Sid/Palpy still strives for control of the galaxy. Most of the Jedi are eventually destroyed and this is blamed on the Three.

There is still a struggle between Qui-Gon and Sidious for Anakin's allegiance (wherein we learn that - gasp! - Sidious is Anakin's father) but Anakin eventually rejects the dark side and remains good. After Qui-Gon and/or Obi-Wan dies, maybe at the end of EP2, Anakin defeats Sidious, the Force is balanced, the Republic is reborn, etc.

(Maybe Obi-Wan was torn between following Qui-Gon and staying with the Jedi, but he stayed with the Jedi. In a climactic EP2 battle, after the Jedi have all but been eliminated, he kills his old master Qui-Gon. He is immediately overwhelmed by the realization of what he's done and throws down his light saber, vowing never to use the force again, etc. He returns mid-EP3 in a most unexpected way and assists Anakin, again in a most unexpected way, possibly dying in the effort and redeeming himself.)

Anakin stands as the only Jedi, swearing not to rebuild the order because of his struggle with the dark side (he doesn't want to risk passing that on) but as EP3 ends, he vows to train his newborn son and daughter in the Jedi ways and guide them to the rebuilding of the Jedi order.

This is completely off the top of my head with no development whatsoever. Granted, this completely negates the OT, and I know it's a load of crap, but it's a good story.

not bad. i dig these 'what if?' ideas. i've always been partial to luke joining vader and overthrowing the emperor, and with the ds1 not being destroyed.

chris

Great story idea! You really should flesh it out some more, it's got potential. (Qui-Gon was by far the best character in TPM, and unless his ghost shows up in Ep. III like we've been hearing, it was a real waste killing him off.)

Thanks for the feedback guys. It's fun to think about anyway. I think I will try to flesh it out some in my spare time (whenever that is) so look for some high-quality fanfic in 2015 or so.

Strictly from a storytelling standpoint, I think a single, tight trilogy is better than two trilogies. The idea of keeping Qui-Gon around is what spurred this whole thing. And speaking of keeping interesting characters around, it's also occurred to me that if we can keep Darth Maul alive through Ep2, that would be A Good Thing. I believe we can still have a climactic battle in Ep1 without killing him.

OT what-ifs are pretty common, but staying with Anakin's story and ditching the OT is an interesting idea. Intriguing, anyway. Anakin is a much deeper character than Luke, IMO. This would allow more to be done with Obi-Wan also, and I feel that his character is rich with possibilities but used mostly to move plot along - first he got buried (and maligned) in the OT and now he's the interlude between Anakin's scenes, galactic intrigue notwithstanding.