Disclaimer: In no way at all do I own any of the original character, locations, ships, or anything else mentioned in Star Wars. They are all owned by George Lucas. I only own my OC. Any similarities between this story and another are purely accidental.
Dina: Okay, I forgive you. But next time, STAY AWAY FROM MY ACCOUNT!
elibe: You what? You what? (has an aneurysm)
randomness: Maybe…maybe not (grins evilly)
Valinor's Twilight: Thank you! (takes a bow)
Hoonah: Here's the next chappie, and I think all us Obi-Wan fans wish that! ; )
jedimasterobi-wankenobi: Eh heh heh (embarrassed smile) Guilty as charged, Trish!
---
"You're late," Anakin said accusingly as Lyra entered the practice room, her eyes half-closed from sleepiness.
"Sorry, Ani," said Lyra, stifling a yawn as she shrugged off her robe and dropped it to the ground. "I didn't get much sleep last night." She ignited her lightsaber and joined Anakin in the middle of the room.
"Dreaming of my Master?" asked Anakin cheekily, grinning at Lyra.
She rolled her eyes. "Shut it, poodoo," she snapped.
Anakin ignited his blue one, a mock pout on his face. "Aw, that hurts Lyra. It cuts me right here." He tapped his chest.
For the next fifteen minutes or so, Lyra and Anakin sparred. It had become a ritual of theirs to spar every morning in a practice room before the younglings came in for their lessons.
Strangely, today Lyra seemed more aggressive than usual. "Someone's in a bad mood today," he said, stopping and switching off his lightsaber.
"I'm just irritated from lack of sleep," explained Lyra. "But, Anakin, we need to talk."
Anakin averted his gaze, suddenly feeling uncomfortable. "What is it?"
"Anakin, for fifteen years, you have been something of a brother to me. I can trust you, right?" Lyra asked, folding her arms in front of her chest.
"Of course."
"Can I trust you to tell me the truth?"
"Of course."
"Good." Lyra stepped forward, gripping Anakin's arm. "How long have you been married to Padmé?"
Anakin's eyes widened. "I don't know what you're talking about! I…" He trailed off at Lyra's skeptical gaze. "Ever since I escorted her back to Naboo."
"Anakin," Lyra sighed, pressing her fingertips to her forehead, and Anakin worried that she would be angry, disappointed, or both.
She was neither.
"Why didn't you tell me?" she asked, a small smile forming on her face.
Anakin breathed a sigh of relief. "I thought you might turn me over to the Council."
"Never!"
"So," said Anakin, "how'd you find out?"
"I went to Padmé's apartment once, and she was very sick." She folded her arms over her chest again. "I diagnosed her, and found out she was pregnant. Got busy, hmm?"
Anakin blushed.
"Anyway, I worked out a number of men who could possibly be the father. You were the most plausible one."
Anakin let out a sigh. "I shouldn't have tried to hide it from you, Lyra. I'm sorry."
"It's alright. I wouldn't expect—" She suddenly cut herself off, looking at the chrono mounted on the wall. Her eyes widened.
"Lyra?" asked Anakin. He turned around to face the chrono as well. "What is—?"
"Damn it, damn it, damn it!" shouted Lyra, grabbing her robe and pulling it on again. "The meeting! We missed it! Again, Ani! AGAIN!"
Anakin cursed and grabbed his robe as well. The two Jedi raced out of the training room, down several hallways, and finally reached the briefing room, where several Jedi were already exiting.
"We are in for it," muttered Anakin as he and Lyra entered. The only one left in the briefing room was Obi-Wan, who was shutting off holograms of maps and star charts.
"You missed the report on the Outer Rim sieges," grumbled Obi-Wan.
"I'm sorry. We were held up. We had no excuse."
Lyra snorted. "Don't apologize, Ani. He's just mad that we made him sit through the meetings by himself."
Anakin snickered. His Master hated attending meetings, and hated them more so if neither one of the two would suffer it with him.
Obi-Wan threw them both a dirty look. "In short, they are going well. Saleucami has fallen, and Master Voss has moved his troops to Boz Pity."
"What's wrong then?" Anakin asked, sensing his Master's irritation. Idly, he wondered whether tearing through the Jedi Temple and exhausting himself was worth the trouble of hearing that 'they were going well.'
"The Senate is expected to vote more executive powers to the Chancellor today."
"But that can only mean deliberating and more action. Is that bad?" asked Anakin. "It will make it easier for us to end this war."
Obi-Wan paused for a moment, before sighing deeply. "Be careful of your friend, Palpatine."
"Be careful of what?" demanded Anakin.
"He has requested your presence."
"What for?"
"He didn't say."
"He didn't inform the Council?" asked Lyra. "That's unusual isn't it?"
"All of this is unusual," said Obi-Wan grimly, "and it's making me uneasy. You're probably aware that relations between the Council and the Chancellor are stressed."
"I know the Council has grown wary of the Chancellor's power, mine also for that matter," replied Anakin. "Aren't we all working together to save the Republic? Why all this distrust?"
"The Force grows dark, Anakin, and we are all affected by it," warned Obi-Wan. "Be wary of your feelings."
---
Lyra and Obi-Wan were at a balcony overlooking the city-planet, careful to keep an appropriate distance in the event that someone else would see them.
"You're worried," stated Obi-Wan, looking carefully at Lyra. "Is it Anakin?"
She sighed. "Yes," she answered, crossing her arms over her chest (she does that a lot). "I don't trust the Chancellor, no matter what Anakin says."
"I don't trust him either," said Obi-Wan, "but he has been a great help to Anakin over the years. And who knows? Maybe Palpatine is just giving him a report to be given to the Council."
"Somehow I get the feeling it's more than that."
Obi-Wan took her hand in his, discreetly pressing a small kiss to it. "I'm worried too, but until Anakin comes out of the Chancellor's office, there's nothing we can do but to wait."
---
Later on that day, Lyra oversaw a group of younglings during their saber practice. She stood at the front of the training room, watching the dozen or so five-year-olds block the slow shots from their training droids.
Her eyes roved the room, catching sight of a little girl with a mischievous smirk on her face. She followed the young Padawan's gaze to a little boy who was alertly watching his droid.
Suddenly, the droid's shot began to get faster and faster, and the flustered male Padawan could no longer block them. One struck his arm, and he fell back on the floor, crying.
Lyra moved through the younglings crowded around him, kneeling until they were eye-to-eye.
"Hold out your arm," she instructed in a gentle voice.
The Padawan held out his arm, sniffling. She pushed back the sleeve, seeing a nasty burn on his arm. She looked back up at him, smiling.
"This won't take long to heal," she assured him, pulling a small tube of bacta from the back pocket of her pants (she always kept one with her when overseeing Padawan training sessions).
Lyra squirted a little onto her finger, spreading it over the burn. She blew over the wound, soothing it. "There," she said satisfactorily, holding out his arm. "Good as new."
The young boy smiled. "Thank you, Master Sanome," he said.
"You're welcome," replied Lyra, smiling back.
She then stood up and turned to the younglings, her expression becoming severe. "Aria Rouen," she said warningly, addressing the young girl who had smirked. "What have you done to Yue's training droid?"
Aria looked shame-facedly at the ground, her hands clasped behind her back. "I snuck into the room where the droids are kept and rewired Yue's droid to speed up," she explained, her story punctuated by sniffling sobs. "I'm really sorry!"
Lyra sighed deeply, getting to her knees again in front of the girl. "It's alright," she said, "but you need to apologize to Yue too."
"I'm sorry Yue," said Aria quietly.
Yue graciously forgave her, but before practice could resume, Anakin walked into the room.
"Is this a bad time?" he asked, seeing Yue and Aria's tear-streaked faces.
"Hello, Master Skywalker," the younglings greeted, and Lyra smirked when the girls' faces became considerably redder.
"Hello," greeted Anakin, before looking at Lyra.
"What is it?"
"I need to speak with you." He looked at all the younglings apprehensively. "Ah, in private. And the Council has a meeting scheduled."
"Alright." Lyra turned to look back at the younglings. "Get on with your exercises, and I'll get someone to substitute."
She exited the room with Anakin, the door sliding shut behind her. "So, what did you need to talk to me about?"
Anakin grinned from ear to ear. "I'm in! I'm in! I'm on the Council!"
"Anakin!" said Lyra, happily shocked. "This is wonderful! I'm so proud of you! When did you get put on the Council?"
"This morning," responded Anakin happily, "by Chancellor Palpatine. He made me his personal representative with them."
Lyra struggled to keep the smile on her face after hearing that. "That's wonderful Ani," she said. "But I believe you said the Council has a meeting scheduled."
"Oh. Right."