Mandalorian Menace

Chapter 10 - Enroute

Author's Note: How time flies... This chapter marks the halfway point in this fic. Ten more chapters to go! :)

I am blown away by y'all's support. I mean it. Y'all are the best! :D

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

Padme retreats to the Queen's chambers after speaking to Mando. She had wanted to, temporarily, take Sabe's place so she could manage the situation. But until they safely arrive on Coruscant, Sabe will be the one who continues to wear the Queen's face. It's for Padme's safety, even if she'll always hate putting her friends at risk like this.

"So?" she questions as Eirtae removes the headdress, letting down her hair. "What do you think about him?" As always, her handmaids had been watching the Mandalorian, assessing him.

"He's hard to read," Rabe admits, "But I think he's genuine in his offer."

"They believe in honor," Sabe chimes in. "He wouldn't back down. They're warriors."

"Something, probably in his past, has made him very distrustful of droids," Rabe adds.

"Maybe he's had encounters with battle droids before?" Eirtae suggests, helping Padme slip out of the Queen's gown. It's a heavy fabric, and Padme is glad to be out of it, as much because it's uncomfortable as because of the burden it provides. Briefly, her thoughts turn to Sache and Yane who are still on Naboo. They're alive, but she doesn't know what condition they're in. She doesn't know what condition anyone is in, and it worries her. She doesn't believe the transmission from Governor Bibble is the truth, but she still fears for her people.

Padme is admittedly curious about Mando. She has never met a Mandalorian before, but she has heard stories. They are fearsome warriors, and she doesn't doubt for a moment that Mando is as well. But he has a weak spot for Grogu and for Anakin and Shmi, though she would tentatively guess that he's been with Grogu for far longer. They seem... close.

"I don't think we need to worry about him betraying us, even if he is a bounty hunter," Padme agrees, watching as Rabe and Eirtae begin to dress Sabe as the Queen once more. "I just don't know how much good his help will do. He's only one person, and he's a warrior. If we need help, it'll be because we're going to war." I don't want that, she doesn't say.

The Republic will help. The Senate will help. Surely, they'll see the grave injustice of the situation and intercede on Naboo's behalf. Because if they don't, Padme has no idea what she can do, and she refuses to fail her people. One way or another, Naboo will be freed from the Trade Federation. She has to cling to that hope because she has nothing else. She will not fail her people who have entrusted her with their future. She will not yield.

***

Din has long since noticed that Anakin doesn't like to stay still for long, so he's not really surprised when the boy requests to go out and explore the ship. Din gets permission from the guards, just to be certain, before accompanying him. Even if Din doubts that anyone here would hurt Anakin, he doesn't want to leave his son alone in a strange environment. Besides, Grogu seems just as eager to explore, and knowing him, he'll get into trouble unless Din is there to keep an eye on him.

Shmi also leaves the room where they were staying, and though she's not really the type to explore, Din can tell that she is, nevertheless, curious to know more about the Nubians, especially since they agreed to let them leave Tatooine with them. The last he saw her, she was talking to some of the Queen's handmaids.

Anakin is currently crouched in a tiny crawlspace, studying the interior of the ship with great interest, a random pilot – or mechanic or whatever he is – pointing some things out to him. He's good with ships, and Din is answering his many questions – as best he can – while holding Grogu, and what he doesn't know, the other pilot/mechanic does. Grogu nearly got injured by trying to poke at something, or worse yet, he might have somehow damaged the ship, so Din's been holding him ever since. That hasn't stopped him from squirming around and staring at the technology with wide eyes.