Disclaimer: Don't own Star Wars!
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Saved By the… ?
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A tornado of emotions ripped through Anakin's mind – fear, love, guilt, anger, sorrow, and confusion.
Yet they were all subservient to the overwhelming knowledge that he was about to be too late.
Again.
He put on a new burst of speed and ran for Padmé's life.
He burst into the room just in time to see the two occupants silhouetted against the shattered window. One cowered back against the empty frame; the other towered over him, a beam of violet light extending from his hand.
"You see, Anakin? Didn't I warn you? The Jedi are taking over!" quavered the figure on the ground, his voice high with fear.
He did see.
He saw what Palpatine wanted him to see – Jedi Master Windu brandishing his lightsaber at the helpless, weak, weaponless Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic.
But it was only an illusion, and he knew it.
He had also seen the remains of three more Jedi Masters in the other room. No, Palpatine was not powerless.
"It's over!" thundered Mace Windu, pointing his amethyst blade at Palpatine. "You have lost!"
The beaten Sith Lord snarled. "No! No, you will die!"
Forks of blue lightning like the writhing, flickering tongues of many snakes ripped through the air from Palpatine's fingers and crashed against Mace's lightsaber, raised only just in time to block the deadly assault. The Sith flung all of his hate at Mace Windu –
And Mace Windu flung it right back. Already, Anakin could see the effects of it beginning to take its toll on Palpatine's once-kindly features.
He averted his eyes.
If only it would all just stop for a moment, so he could figure this out! If only he had some time to untangle the jumbled mess of thoughts and feelings and logic and truth and lies that cluttered the inside of his head!
But the conflict only grew more intense.
"Help me, Anakin!" wailed Palpatine. "Destroy this traitor! Don't let him kill me!"
It was not a complete sham; Palpatine was indeed weakening.
But not as fast as Master Windu.
And yet, Anakin stood, unable to move, as though he were simply another one of Palpatine's many statues.
He wished he were; statues didn't have to make decisions like this.
He dared another glance at the two enemies; over the tumult of emotions in his soul, he managed to become aware that Palpatine's attacks of lightning actually were tapering off. The electricity quickly faded away, and Palpatine was left, looking frail and pathetic under the weary but stern and determined gaze of the Jedi Master.
"I – I can't hold on any longer… I'm too weak… Don't kill me… Please!"
Could it be? Had Palpatine really expended all his energy so quickly?
No. Anakin could feel him in the Force, and he still hummed with hidden dark power. This was an act to gain sympathy.
And Anakin was falling for it.
And he knew it.
But he couldn't help it. So he walked slowly forward.
"You Sith disease…" Master Windu was saying, drawing back his lightsaber.
"Wait!" cried Anakin. "You can't just kill him! He must stand trial!"
The look Mace Windu flashed at him held incredulity as well as determination. "Anakin, he owns the courts and the Senate!"
"He must live!" Anakin insisted. "I need him!"
Mace Windu ignored him and turned back to Palpatine, raising his arm for the killing stroke.
And all the thoughts and emotions and logic and truth and lies whirling around in Anakin's head suddenly twisted and materialized into one idea.
Padmé.
Faster than thought, his hand went to his lightsaber.
And then something strange happened.
Time slowed down. Or maybe it was his thoughts that sped up.
There was a tickle in the back of his nose –
Oh, no!
– And in the one moment he could have acted to save Palpatine's life…
"Achoo!"
…the sneeze exploded from him, his head snapping forward, his lightsaber flying from his hand.
When he recovered enough to look up, Mace Windu was standing over Palpatine's body, panting, his lightsaber now held at his side. Anakin stood in shock and pain and disbelief, watching as the purple blade was reclaimed by its handle.
And at that moment, every being in the galaxy felt the dark burden they had not known they were carrying lift from their shoulders.
Most of them would never know they were saved by a sneeze.
