Chapter 4: The Great Padawan Swap

Somehow Lyyr managed to beat the men back to the Jedi Temple. She was waiting for them outside the Council Chambers, Anakin's cloak folded in her arms. Obi-Wan noticed with a strange twinge of regret that she had changed back into the formal attire of a padawan learner.

"I hope you don't mind a little dirt," she said with an apologetic smile to her brother.

"That's not a problem Lyyr," Anakin reassured her taking the cloak back.

"Why are you here Lyyr?" Obi-Wan asked once again putting his foot in his mouth. The look she gave him was chilling. Even Anakin looked at Obi-Wan like he was out of line.

"I have a report to make as well Master Kenobi." With that response Lyyr waltzed into the chamber leaving the men to follow her. Anakin gave his master a puzzled look before following his sister.

Obi-Wan listened to Lyyr's report his thoughts far away from what she was saying. They were turned inward; he did not understand why he was acting so unlike himself around the girl. There was just something about her that automatically got under his skin and shattered his Jedi calm. Perhaps he was just being overly sensitive; after all he did not really know the girl. The few conversations they had during the Droid Blockade of Naboo had proved stimulating enough, but they did not progress much past current events. He had blindly agreed to Qui-Gon's request that he should come to treat the girl like family thinking that Qui-Gon would be around to encourage such feelings. Unfortunately such was not the case and now Obi-Wan was uncertain of how to act around the girl. That, he decided, was the source of his strange behavior. He did not think to consider that there could be any other reason.

By now Lyyr had finished giving her report and she turned to leave. She had almost left the council chamber before Master Windu's call stopped her.

"Remain here yet a while my padawan." Lyyr turned and gave her master a sketchy bow before making her way to stand behind Mace's chair. With a nod Windu motioned for Obi-Wan to begin his own report. Obi-Wan started to reiterate the disastrous events of the previous night trying his best to ignore Lyyr's presence. Admitting his mistakes would be easier to do without those violet eyes upon him.

"Track down this bounty hunter, you must," was the response he expected from Master Yoda.

"Most importantly," Mace added, "find out who he's working for."

"What about Senator Amidala?" Obi-Wan asked a plan forming in his mind. If he could convince the Council to let Lyyr take over watching the Senator then he would have two problems solved at once. "She will still need protecting."

"Handle that, your Padawan will." Yoda decided and Obi-Wan nodded his agreement – that is until he realized that Yoda met his padawan and not Master Windu's. He opened his mouth to protest but Mace cut him off.

"Anakin, escort the Senator back to her home planet of Naboo. She'll be safer there," Mace told the young man while Obi-Wan did his best not to blurt out his misgivings. "Don't use registered transport, travel as refugees."

To Obi-Wan's further dismay Anakin was nodding in agreement. Perfect, Obi-Wan thought with resignation, if he's nodding than that means he has ideas and when Anakin has ideas that usually means I should be standing by ready to douse the flames.

"As the leader of the opposition, it will be difficult to get Senator Amidala to leave."

"Until caught this killer is, our judgment she must respect." Yoda informed him.

"Anakin, go to the Senate and ask Chancellor Palpatine to speak with her." Mace directed him. It was clearly a dismissal and both bowed before the Council. Obi-Wan was about to take his leave but was stopped by Master Yoda.

"A moment, remain Master Kenobi." With a silent single Obi-Wan urged Anakin to get started on his mission. Anakin bowed to the Council once more before taking his leave.

"Obi-Wan," Mace began not giving him enough time wonder what they wanted. "I wish to ask something of you."

"Yes Master Windu?"

"I wish for you to take Lyyr as your padawan for the time being." Mace told him. Obi-Wan's eyes flicked up to Lyyr's and he was nearly relieved to see surprise in those violet eyes.

"I am not sure that I understand Master," Obi-Wan temporized.

"I do not often have occasion to leave the capital, and although Lyyr has gotten plenty experience in diplomacy she has not had much chance at field work."

"Such is not the case," Lyyr interrupted moving to stand before her Master.

"Yes it is my padawan," Mace responded with not as much bite as Obi-Wan would have expected to hear. "You handled yourself quite well last night but such events do not occur often."

"Does not occur often?" Lyyr asked incredulously her voice rising slightly. "Crime occurs every day on the lower levels; don't tell me you do not sense that."

"We have discussed this before Lyyr; a Jedi cannot right every wrong. The local law enforcement must be trusted to do their job." Mace told her. "Truthfully Lyyr you need the experience that working with Obi-Wan would provide."

"Know you that needed this is," Master Yoda piped in. "Surprising it is that protest you do."

Lyyr bowed her head in apparent submission at Yoda's chastisement.

"My apologies Masters, I meant no disrespect. If it is the will of the Council and Master Kenobi has no objection than I shall go."

They turned to him then and Obi-Wan wanted to protest. Force did he ever want to protest this decision. But he decided that he should make the best out of this situation and accept the will of the Council. He should have known that that was the quickest way to alienate Lyyr. He nodded his assent feeling scorched by the fire in those violet eyes.

Anakin was shocked and pleased that the Council decided to finally give him an assignment of his own. It pleased him even more to hear Chancellor Palpatine acknowledge his growing powers. Perhaps he should have been a little more suspicious of the Chancellor's praise, but he was too grateful to have heard it in the first place. Although he knew Obi-Wan was proud of him, the older man had a tendency not to express it.

Well Obi-Wan must have thought Anakin was up to the task given to him. After all, although Anakin had sensed his Master's surprise at the Council's decision Obi-Wan did not protest it. Surely that meant he trusted Anakin to fulfill his mandate and protect Padmé.

Now all he had to do was convince the Senator that this was for the best. Luckily Palpatine had agreed to help him with that. He hoped that their meeting had gone smoothly and whatever distress Padmé may have felt at being told to leave would dissipate by the time Anakin arrived at her apartment. Apparently that was a vain hope.

She made her displeasure known to him from the very moment he arrived. He allowed her to vent her frustrations, saying as little as possible. He remembered how Lyyr use to get when she was aggravated. It was best to just let her vent and he decided to use that tactic with Padmé. Although at one point he felt moved to reassure her that she would not have to hide for long, especially now that Obi-Wan had been ordered to investigate. Anakin knew his Master, and when Obi-Wan decided that he wanted to know something it was not long before he knew everything he needed and then some.

In allowing her to vent Anakin never would have imagine that he would need to as well. He listened to himself complain about Obi-Wan, astonished by what he had to say. He was truly happy to have Obi-Wan as his mentor but he also did not want to feel as if he was deliberately being held back either. Despite all of his Master's best intentions Anakin often felt that way.

"That must be frustrating," Padmé offered sympathetically.

"Its worse," Anakin blurted more coming out that he intended, "he's overly critical, he never listens, he just doesn't understand. It's not fair!"

He looked her in the eyes then and in his core he felt a jolt at what he saw there. There was a depth to her brown eyes that Anakin had not noticed before. He was mesmerized by them and he found himself wanting to know and see everything through those warm brown eyes. He wondered if there was anything those eyes missed. Anakin was so taken by them that he did not really hear what she was saying to them and he only gave her a half thought out response. That is until she said:

"It makes me feel uncomfortable."

That was the last thing he wanted and he apologized immediately. Although he knew that it was not as sincere as it should have been. Somehow he couldn't bring himself to be completely remorseful.

Lyyr walked respectfully behind her Master a step or two as he talked with Obi-Wan and Master Yoda. Apparently Obi-Wan was not as accepting of the Council's plan as he had appeared to be earlier. Lyyr did not know if she should be relieved or insulted by the revelation of his true feelings. Currently he was expressing more concern for Anakin and Lyyr could not blame him for that. She was well aware of the potential for disaster there was in letting Anakin and Padmé travel without any supervision.

"The boy has exceptional skills," Mace pointed out, trying to defend his decision.

"He still has much to learn," Obi-Wan countered, "Master. His abilities have made him…well arrogant."

"Yes, yes," Yoda agreed, "a fault more and more common among Jedi. Too sure of themselves they are. Even the older, more experienced ones."

Lyyr knew that for the dig that it was and chuckled. All three of them turned to look at her and she quickly tried to mask her chuckle with a cough. Yoda caught her eye long enough to give her a wink. They continued with their conversation and Lyyr did her best to remain respectfully discreet. Before leaving Mace clasped her on the shoulder in a gesture of farewell, she did not expect anything more from him.

"Well I guess you are my concern now," Obi-Wan began.

"If you are so concerned than why did you agree to have me tag along?"

"None of your cheek my padawan," Obi-Wan scolded turning to leave the temple. He was anxious to see Anakin and Padmé off, Lyyr could sense that. She stayed routed to the spot and watched him as he made it half way down the stairs before noticing that she was not following him.

He turned to look back up at her and Lyyr slowly descended the stairs stopping just a few steps before the one he was standing on. That way Lyyr stood at eye level with him and the differences in their height was moot.

"I am not your padawan Obi-Wan," Lyyr informed him. "Nor do you have to be concerned about me; I will not hinder your investigation."

"You will do as I tell you when I tell you?" Obi-Wan asked. Lyyr's eyes narrowed, she knew what he was doing but she also knew that she could work around any restrictions he felt were necessary if she had to. Therefore, biting her lip she nodded her agreement. He studied her eyes for a moment or two – just long enough for Lyyr to wonder what it would be like to drown in his enchanting blue-green eyes.

"Very well," Obi-Wan said interrupting her train of thought, "then perhaps this will work." He turned then and continued walking down the stairs trusting that she would follow him this time. She stood there like a moron for a moment, flabbergasted by her thoughts. Shaking her head she spurred herself into action.

Lyyr had a sudden feeling that working with Obi-Wan was going to be more eventful than Mace could have imagined.