Mandalorian Menace

Chapter 13 - Naboo

Author's Note: In which Din and his aliit travel to Naboo. :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

Night on Coruscant is only different from the daytime in that the sky is dark. There's just as much activity in the skies as usual, not that Din is surprised. He's already gearing up mentally for what is bound to be one of the most difficult jobs ever. He's done many difficult things, but helping a mostly untrained, under-armed force try to fight off a corporation with a seemingly endless supply of battle droids is... probably the hardest yet.

He hovers in the background, Shmi at his side as they follow the Queen onto the landing platform. The Jetii are already waiting there, and so is... Anakin? Din blinks, confused, but yes, that is definitely Anakin. Concern instantly rises in place of confusion. Did something happen? Grogu coos softly at his side, peering up at him from the satchel, and Din knows that the kid senses Anakin as well. But he seems completely unconcerned about it, so maybe Din doesn't need to worry.

The Jetii approach the Queen, bowing their heads to her respectfully. "Your Majesty, it is our pleasure to continue to serve and protect you," Qui-Gon states.

"I welcome your help," Amidala answers, "Senator Palpatine fears that the Federation means to destroy me." Even though this is her life they're discussing, she doesn't sound fearful.

"I assure you I will not allow that to happen," Qui-Gon promises, and he steps aside to let the Queen pass to her starship, her handmaids and guards following. Then, he approaches Din. "The Council made its decision clear regarding Anakin," he tells him quietly. "They refuse to let him be trained as a Jedi."

Din frowns. "Why not?"

Qui-Gon sighs. "It's complicated. I can explain once we depart."

Din silently intends to hold the Jetii to that, so he reluctantly agreed to wait to get answers until after they leave. But that doesn't stop him from going to greet his foundling. Despite everything, Din is glad that he's here... even if he would be far safer with the Jetii in their Temple. "You'll have to tell me what happened," Din says quietly to Anakin, squeezing his shoulder before guiding him up the ramp.

He gives Shmi a moment with Anakin while he ensures that everything is secure before going to the room which they shared on the way to Coruscant. Now that they're going to Naboo, there's no way of knowing what will happen next. Qui-Gon comes to the room not long after Din feels the starship make the jump to hyperspace, interrupting Anakin explaining the situation to Jar Jar, who stopped by to say 'hi' to his newest friend.

"– they said I was too old and attached to Mom and Buir to be trained as a Jedi, which is stupid," Anakin announces, "And they wouldn't even listen when Qui-Gon insisted I was the Chosen One, which is something from some old prophecy or something, according to Obi-Wan."

Din looks at Qui-Gon, raising an eyebrow. "Is that true?" he questions, while Jar Jar gives Anakin a hug of sympathy in the background before wandering away out of the room, possibly to go find Padme and appraise her of what happened.

"It is," the Jetii replies, perfectly calm, "But I would like to see to Anakin's training regardless. I can train him even without the Council's approval."

Din... isn't so sure that he likes that idea, especially since it could cause problems with the Jetii. That's the last thing he needs, and he needs to think about the good of his family. "No," he replies flatly. "I will not let you train him after your Council said no." Grogu starts trying to clammer out of the satchel at his side, so Din lifts him out, handing him to Anakin. The toddler coos, snuggling in Anakin's arms and looking delighted, and that evaporates any unease which Din had been experiencing. Grogu has a way of doing that.