Mandalorian Menace

Chapter 9 - Departure

Author's Note:  Y'all... don't jump to conclusions. I never said Anakin would be a Jedi... ;)

PS. There is Mando'a in here, and I put all the translations at the end. Let me know if I missed anything! ^-^

~ Amina Gila

After giving Qui-Gon the parts he needs and helping him find an eopie to load them up on, Din makes his way back to the hovel where he – and his aliit – have been living. This will be the last time they'll be here, and they need to move out to the starship. While he doesn't know what the situation is for the Nubians, he knows it's better for them to be together at the ship. He doesn't doubt his ability to protect them, of course, but the Jetii certainly seemed to. The prospect of going to the ship alone, without any of the others, had worried him, but Din promised him that he would protect them. He will, with his life, if need be because this is the Way.

When Din gets back, everyone is ready to leave. Shmi and Anakin finished packing their meager belongings, leaving whatever they didn't want for their friends, while Anakin stopped to bid his friends farewell. Probably with a promise that he'll someday return to help them, but Din doesn't ask. A part of him can't believe that this is really happening, though he'll be glad to be off Tatooine. If Naboo doesn't work out, hopefully they can at least get a starship there.

They walk to the starship, getting plenty of attention on the way, but no one bothers them; Din hadn't expected they would, because again, he's a Mandalorian. The sight of him is more than enough to keep everyone away. The walk is long but uneventful, and they arrive just around noon, when the suns are almost straight overhead. Qui-Gon greets them outside the ship, looking relieved to see everyone there and unharmed.

"I need to update the Queen," Padme tells them once they're all onboard. "I'm sure she'll wish to speak with you afterwards."

Din watches as she leaves, Jar Jar and Artoo wandering off as well, before turning towards where Qui-Gon is, only to realize that he's not alone anymore. Huh. A second Jetii, apparently, though this one is much younger. He also has a small braid, which is quite long, and Din decides not to comment or ask. Some strange Jetii custom he assumes.

"Anakin and Shmi Skywalker, meet Obi-Wan Kenobi," Qui-Gon announces.

"You're a Jedi too?" Anakin exclaims, looking intrigued. "Pleased to meet you."

Qui-Gon laughs quietly, before giving the younger man a look. "Escort them to a room. I'll contact you when – and if – the Queen wishes to meet them."

There's an awkward pause, before Obi-Wan sighs. "Follow me," he says, leading them to a small hold-like area. "It should be big enough for all of you here."

"This will be fine. Thank you," Shmi replies before giving Threepio permission to shut down. The protocol droid does so, standing idly in the corner. It might be more unnerving for Din to see it there if he didn't know that it was Anakin who built and programmed it.

"Qui-Gon never told me why you're here," Obi-Wan states in what is obviously an attempt to get them to talk and probably to break the slightly awkward silence.

Din lifts Grogu from the satchel and sets him down on a cushioned couch, handing him the shiny metal ball to keep him occupied before sitting next to him. "You didn't have credits to pay for the parts you need, so we made a deal: the parts in exchange for passage off-world to Naboo," he explains.

"We're going to Coruscant now though," Obi-Wan responds, frowning.

"So I heard. What is Coruscant like? I don't think any of us have been there before," Din remarks. Grogu looks up at him and makes a noise, obviously a contradiction, but Din doesn't bother correcting himself. The less anyone knows about the kid, the better.