Chapter Text
Anakin turns twelve today.
Obi-Wan stared at the newest model he bought for his boy and wondered yet again if he will like it. Would he think it's not good enough? What if he doesn't like the colour? Obi-Wan should have brought the white one but the blue one has a shine to it. What if Anakin isn't impressed with it?
Oh he's overthinking it. Anakin absolutely loves any gifts he's given. Obi-Wan suspects it has less to do with the gift itself or the idea of it and more with the fact that someone thought of him or cared enough to actually get him a gift. Obi-Wan had seen him keep the small tree leaf gifted to him from a very small droid safely away in one of his boxes.
Though he tries to hide it, Anakin is still a sweet innocent child at heart.
Obi-Wan is more excited for Anakin's life day than Anakin himself is. It's almost been a whole year since he last saw his family, and he is more than happy to see them in person and hear all about what they have done in the past year. He had asked Anakin if he wants to invite anyone to his life day but Anakin refused, saying he doesn't want any of his classmates near him.
Obi-Wan agreed of course, what other choice does he have? It's Anakin's life day after all, not his. It makes sense for the boy to invite whomever makes him feel comfortable and not the other way around.
Quinlan and Aayla are visiting early, as they usually do on Anakin's life day and on Obi-Wan's as well. Mostly because when their family visits they don't have time for anything else the whole day. But with the growing tension within the Senate, Obi-Wan doubts his family has much time to spare.
So today he made Anakin skip his classes, as he usually does for the boy. Force help him he knows he's spoiling him way too much for his own good but he can't help it. And together they went with Aayla and Quinlan to Dex's for lunch.
Which is how they found themselves arguing over a piece of Endorian fry and who it belonged to. Both Anakin and Quinlan were insulting each other while Obi-Wan and Aayla were trying to solve the issue peacefully and in a more civilised way.
"Listen kid, I didn't drag myself all the way from the Temple to lose one of my fries." Quinlan said darkly as he leaned over the table.
Anakin didn't look phased at all, instead he leaned forwards as well and raised a challenging brow in the way Obi-Wan himself does whenever he's aiming to put someone down through his words.
"Oh? Is it because you never get a free meal in Dex's Quinlan? Is that why you want to take my last fry so bad?"
Obi-Wan gulped in shock while Aayla burst out laughing. Oh there is no way Anakin just said what he said.
"Anakin!"
"What?! It's the truth!"
"It certainly is not, Padawan-mine, and that was extremely rude of you. Apologise!"
"No! If anything, it's my life day! I should be the one to take this fry!"
"I'm older than you!"
"And? I'm younger! More reason to give it to me!"
"Oh yeah? You gotta show me some respect, kid. Give me this fry!"
"No!"
"Give it to me!"
"No!"
"Give!"
"No!"
"Alright alright!!" Dex appeared out of nowhere and dumped one plate full of fries in front of each Quinlan and Anakin and used his third hand to snatch the fry and eat it himself. "Now, all solved!"
Silence fell over the group as the two ate their plates with greed. Obi-Wan and Aayla shared a look of disgust as the two in front of them chewed loudly. Aayla even pushed her own plate aside.
"Maybe I was too quick in judging who should be my master," the Twi'Lek girl said as she sunk into her chair.
Obi-Wan snorted in amusement, looking away from the very grotesque sight.
"At least he's funny." Obi-Wan said.
"How does this make up for all of... this?" Aayla said unimpressed.
"It doesn't," Obi-Wan said with a smirk. "But it can help you make fun of him."
It was Aayla's turn to snort this time.
In the next few hours, Anakin and Obi-Wan have returned to their quarters and cleaned them as best as they could before their family comes over. Shmi loves to scold them over anything that's slightly messy, even if Obi-Wan himself tidies everything up, he still gets the chills each time he remembers her icy glare around the messy room. Judging from the way Anakin is cleaning as well, then Obi-Wan figures out he is afraid of her judgement as well.
Is Obi-Wan glad for it? Yes. Of course he is. The threat of Shmi makes Anakin shrink away and apologise for any unruly behaviour he does. Perhaps it's her motherly charm, for Anakin never listened to Obi-Wan or any other person whenever he has his mind set on something. Whatever it is, Obi-Wan is grateful for it.
After making sure Anakin and he are both showered and both smell nice, Obi-Wan took the lead towards the hangar they're meeting on. Anakin's accidentally nudged his side with his elbow, making Obi-Wan bend a little in pain.
"Sorry," Anakin whispered through gritted teeth, obviously trying to keep himself from laughing.
"You don't look it." Obi-Wan said shortly, standing back up straight with his hands folded together at his chest.
From the corner of his eyes, he noticed Anakin eyeing his folded hands and doing the same, the sleeves of his own robe hiding his hands just like Obi-Wan's. Obi-Wan pursed his lips to stop himself from smiling. It's a gesture Anakin has been doing ever since he was assigned as his Padawan; mimicking him. Whatever Obi-Wan did, ate or drank will be followed by Anakin doing the same exact thing. It's an adorable thing, one that made Obi-Wan smile each time he saw it.
Both of them waited together in silence for a few moments. No sounds echoed through the air other than the hums of the speeders' engines and the people of Coruscant going about their daily routines. As strange as it was, Obi-Wan found comfort and familiarity in the bustling city of metal and polluted air. It's expected from someone who grew up in such environment.
Then, the familiar sound of a ship landing reach their ears. Obi-Wan looked up hopefully at the sky, allowing his lips to lift a little at the sight of the suite he knew so well. Anakin gave his own smile as well, giddily bouncing a little on his feet but would later deny it with everything within him if confronted about it. Obi-Wan resisted the urge to shake his head at Anakin's urges.
Finally, the suite landed, the hot air blowing from it reaching the Master Padawan duo, making them both huff in the same way. Anakin anxiously shifted his weight from one leg to another before the cockpit of the ship finally opened. As usual, Shmi Skywalker was the first to get out.
Anakin's whole face lit up and Obi-Wan was reminded of just how young Anakin is. Just a small boy separated from his mother. A child. His heart ached as he thought of Anakin's lonely hours at the Temple without anyone paying much attention to him all the time like he was used to.
"Mum!" Anakin yelled, sprinting to meet her.
Shmi ran as fast as she could with the heavy dress on her body. Obi-Wan still doubts if she's wearing any heels but he is pretty sure she isn't. He remembers a time where Shmi was foreign to the concept of basic and daily needs and wants. Showering or using any other hygienic products seemed to be a luxury to her. Even to Anakin as well sometimes.
Obi-Wan tried his best not to let it get to him sometimes but it always hurt to see the child of his heart struggle in such a way. He hoped to find a way to make sure Anakin won't be feeling like that any longer. That someday with excessive care and nurturing Anakin will be able to live his life without any sadness of what his past holds.
"Oh Ani," Shmi squeezed the boy close to her chest the moment she got her hands on him. "How I missed you!"
"I missed you too Mum!" Anakin laughed, squeezing her just as tight.
Obi-Wan managed to give a soft smile at the scene before he was tackled to the ground by Jenza. He laughed despite himself, hugged her back with much more ease than her chokehold on him. Her familiar rich perfume reached his nose, mixed with the expensive soaps and other hair products she puts on her hair. She had once given him a thorough explanation of what she does to her hair in the shower and it gave Obi-Wan a headache to think about.
"There's my big boy!" Jenza said in a baby voice, even though Obi-Wan is going to be twenty-eight soon. "I missed you so so so so much!"
"And I missed you as well, Aunt Jenza," Obi-Wan said with a smile, standing up and helping her stand up as well.
"Oh! Your hair has gotten longer!" Jenza gasped, her smile lighting her face.
Obi-Wan flushed a little as she played with it, commenting on how much he has grown and how handsome he looks. Though his aunt just reminded him to cut off his hair.
Jenza gushed all about that changed in him before turning to Anakin, squealing even louder and noting how much he has grown and changed. Obi-Wan, for his part, looked at Anakin in confusion. To him, Anakin remained the same as he did every day, but he can guess that's only because he's seen him every single day of the past year or so.
But the change in Anakin's height hit Obi-Wan right when he and his boy hugged their grandfather. When they first started hugging each other as a trio, Anakin was always squished between them, his small hands barely making a difference on their robes, his head just reaching Obi-Wan's belly and Yan's torso. Now, however, Anakin's arms wrap around them both, his head nestled on Obi-Wan's chest. Obi-Wan was left speechless at the fact that he didn't even realise that when he and Anakin hugged before in the past year or so.
Maybe because we don't really hug anymore. Obi-Wan felt a pang of sadness explode inside of him, but he quickly squished these feelings away. Anakin is on his way to be a man, Quinlan said it's natrual for children his age to act like they are embarrassed of their parents. Lady Kenda and Lord Keren said so as well, so why did it still bother him this much?
"It's good to see you again, Grandpa!" Anakin said happily, squeezing them both again for one last time before he pulled away, childish grin on his face.
"Good to see you as well, Anakin," Yan replied easily, a smile drawn on his face. "Your teeth are still changing, I see?"
At the mention of the few gaps in between his teeth, Anakin quickly shut his mouth, giving a closed lip smile. Obi-Wan laughed, throwing his head back. Anakin's teeth gave him much trouble, though he thankfully isn't in need for braces, he still has lots of issues regarding them due to his poor upbringing. Obi-Wan does not fault him or see it as a flaw of his, rather as something he would tease any other child about. At Anakin's age, he should be done with his transition of baby teeth to normal ones any time soon.
The dentist he visits every week has told him that while there isn't anything terribly wrong within Anakin's teeth, he will have to clean about five of them and also gave Anakin clear instructions on how to clean his teeth. Anakin, being the twelve years old boy he is, often times neglects to do it by himself and has Obi-Wan on his tails to do it. It always ended in a fight since Anakin wanted to just go to bed but as long as Obi-Wan lives, he will not allow such unhygienic, barbaric behaviour under his roof.
"The dentist said all is good!" Anakin protested, pronouncing the 's' more like a 'th' since he lost some of his teeth.
"I'm sure he did." Yan replied with an amused smile, shaking his head. "Did he say you were allowed to eat sugar?"
"He didn't forbid me from eating anything!" Anakin argued, crossing his arms.
But Yan already had his head turned towards Obi-Wan, who shook his head in exasperation and answered instead.
"The dentist said he can eat whatever he desires, as long as he makes sure to brush his teeth every night and morning." Obi-Wan replied, giving Anakin a pointed look.
"And is Anakin following these instructions?" Yan still had his attention on Obi-Wan, ignoring the indignat look Anakin gave him.
"Oh yes," Obi-Wan replied lightly. "He follows them as well as he follows any other instructions he's given."
The two men exchanged laughs at this while Anakin humphed and looked away, his nose scrunching in annoyance. How can they be so annoying? He's just seen his grandfather and he's already making fun of him? Not oh Anakin I'm incredibly happy to see you? Whatever, at least Mum and Auntie Jenza appreciate how much he has grown.
"Happy life day, Anakin," Yan said as an apology, moving towards him to wrap an arm around his shoulders.
Anakin appraised him with a long look before deflating and leaning into the hug, noticing the smirks Obi-Wan and Yan are giving him. He turned his glare towards them, leaning away from the hug. Yan looked surprised at him for a moment before a knowing gleam sparkled his eyes.
"Ah, you're at that age." He concluded, looking at Obi-Wan.
Obi-Wan, for his part, looked tired and done.
"If by that age you mean unbearable in a suffocating way then you were absolutely correct in that assumption." Obi-Wan tsked.
"Using big words doesn't mean you're smart." Anakin bit back at him.
He felt more than saw his grandfather's surprise at his words, probably since he has his head turned away from them. Obi-Wan, on the other hand, looked mildly amused.
"Excellent choice of words, Padawan-mine. Your immense knowledge in vocabulary has left me astonished." Obi-Wan replied in a fake respectful tone.
"You're a show-off you know that?" Anakin snapped. "You're using these long and.. unpopular words so you can look truer in a fight, but you're not!"
"The correct term is so you are able to appear far more smarter than me in an argument-"
"Oh shut up!" Anakin scowled, this time walking away from Obi-Wan instead of continuing the conversation.
Obi-Wan watched him walk away in amusement, quietly laughing at him before turning to see Yan's shocked expression. Obi-Wan laughed louder then, but not completely since Anakin may be in range and will certainly fight him for thinking he may be laughing at him. Force forbids Obi-Wan ever does that.
"Does that happen often?" Yan asked after he recovered from his astonishment.
"Often enough for me to learn how to handle it." Obi-Wan shrugged with a smile.
"And here I was foolishly hoping you and him could be living with me at the Castle still."
"Oh believe you've dodged a blaster shot with that one."
"I can see that clear as day."
"Best not to be late, it will make him more agitated."
"Ah yes, the impatience of teenagers."
"He's not even a teenager yet. He's a preteen."
"... Dear Force."
"Couldn't have said it better myself."
Anakin's life day this time wasn't spent with the joyous laughs or a wide smile of a child, rather that awkward half smile Anakin now wears instead of his usual smile, hands under his thighs as everyone sang and clapped around him. Obi-Wan missed someone who wasn't there anymore.
It's not by any means wrong to feel this way but it still feels like he's betraying Anakin in somewhat. His current Anakin, anyway. He feels that by missing an Anakin who is younger, happier and far chipper he is loving the new version of Anakin less. He feels like he is dismissing the special bond he and small Ani had, back before this new personality of his boy took over.
Or is it his real personality that shown through? Obi-Wan has never seen him look so gloomy and dull before. He doesn't even seem to enjoy the things he once enjoyed.
Would he even like Obi-Wan's gift?
"We've brought you gifts!" Jenza announced with her ever present smile on her face, probably hoping to elect a true one from the boy in the middle.
Obi-Wan, along with everyone else, waited for him to giggle in delight and pester them about what it is, but all they got was a shy smile and a duck of his head. Everyone seemed taken aback by it. Everyone but Shmi, somehow, which is weird since she's the only one with a biological relation to him.
"I've been doing a research on the rates of the homeless and the poor lately, Ani, and I've come across several reports regarding slavery. I've seen some good news!" Shmi grabbed a square shaped object wrapped in blue wrappings with starships on it. Anakin stared at it in awe, making Obi-Wan internally relax at his gift.
"The slave trafficking of all kinds of creatures in the Core has been stopped!" Shmi said with a bright smile.
Anakin's face lit up, one of his true smiles finally appearing on his face. "That's amazing! How did they figure it out?"
"Well, a few slaves have killed their owners and started a little revolution of their own," Shmi told him, not at all deterred by the topic, despite the quickly souring mood of the others. "They have managed to put a stop to it and the story is writing in here."
She pointed to the gift, making Anakin stare at it in shock before he looked back at his mother with a wide smile. Anakin hugged her quickly, kissing her cheek before letting out a loud thanks Mum! to let her know just how much he appreciates her gift.
Obi-Wan couldn't believe his eyes. Shmi had managed to connect and get a smile out of Anakin in just the half hour she spent with them. Had even known the right words to say to get herself a hug! Obi-Wan has been struggling for months.
"Ready for your other gifts?" Shmi nudged him a little, making him nod eagerly.
Jenza quickly took her own wrapped gift and walked to his seat, handing it to him with a wide smile on her face. The smile - if possible - widened even more when Anakin returned it. Obi-Wan honestly found their energy unbelievably adorable.
"I've brought you something you'll definitely love!" Jenza said happily, kneeling down by his chair.
Anakin returned the smile, still in a good mood from Shmi's words to him. Obi-Wan would definitely ask her about her secret later, there's no way anyone is able to calm Anakin this quickly and this easy. She must have super powers that he doesn't.
Anakin pulled the wrappings off as gently as he did to the one he got from his mother, making something within Obi-Wan's heart melt. It hasn't been long since Anakin started this habit; whichever gift he received was safely put away from harm's reach. He had a whole drawer full of wrappings, neatly stacked above each other so they won't wrinkle.
The gift from Jenza was comics about the new superhero all the Coruscant kids seem to admire and look up to. Anakin's eyes sparkled immediately at the sight of all the series, his eyes expressing what his voice couldn't. It is a feature Obi-Wan selfishly hopes he never loses in his lifetime as a Jedi. Something that makes Anakin Anakin.
"Dear Force.. Thank you Auntie Jenza!" Anakin gently pushed the comics off of his lap and held the woman tightly, electing a large grin from her.
"No problem darling!" Jenza replied, squeezing him tightly.
Anakin pulled back, looking down at the comics with something akin to infinite joy. Obi-Wan had to keep himself from laughing outloud at the awed face of his Padawan.
"Time for mine, don't you think?" Obi-Wan asked, taking his own gift from behind him.
Anakin took the black starry wrapped gift from his hands, looking at it as if he already knows what it is inside. From their bond, Obi-Wan could feel anticipation and hope for it to be what he wanted. Obi-Wan had to purse his lips to keep from grinning, paying more attention to make sure his side of the bond is not revealing any details. After all, he doesn't want to be the reason to ruin Anakin's surprise.
"Is that..?" Anakin trailed off, his voice quiet.
Obi-Wan gestured to the gift. "Why don't you see for yourself?"
Anakin looked at him with a new light in his eyes. A light Obi-Wan has never seen before. Despite the three years they have spent together, Anakin still has trouble in trusting anyone around him other than his mother. Including Obi-Wan. But the shine in Anakin's eyes - one that has never been there before, but one Obi-Wan had just realised just how beautiful it is - made him feel like he was missing something he never thought of in the first place.
Gently, even gentler than before, Anakin removed the wrappings patiently, a behaviour no one would expect to see from him. He paid extra attention to make sure nothing ever happens to any of the wrappings, softly placing them aside when he was done. Inside the box Obi-Wan has given him, lay the newest starship fleet model of the Republic's military fleets.
The colour was dark blue. Obi-Wan was worried about the colour, he'd thought that Anakin would see the colour as too childish or say he isn't a kid anymore, but Anakin's wide eyed stare at the model, his mouth open in awe, told Obi-Wan that he brought the right colour. Especially with the way the model is shinning.
"I take it you like it?" Obi-Wan gave a hopeful smile.
Anakin slowly turned his gaze away from the model to Obi-Wan, swallowing a bit. Obi-Wan opened his arms, Anakin almost throwing himself into them, making Obi-Wan let out a loud oof! as they almost fell back. Obi-Wan allowed himself to feel triumphant at the way Anakin felt safe and sound from his side of the bond.
So Anakin did enjoy his gift.
Obi-Wan squeezed him for an extra measure, surprised when Anakin squeezed him as well without whining or fighting to pull back. Oh Obi-Wan is never letting him go again.
Sadly, he had to a few seconds later, making Obi-Wan look at him with a sad parting gaze. He felt Shmi's eyes on him and turned to look at her, not at all surprised to see her staring at him with those knowing clever eyes of hers. He knows they will talk about this later.
"My gift to you is a bit different." Yan said as he handed Anakin a plain black box, devoid of any colours or drawings.
Obi-Wan had to stop himself from rolling his eyes at the fancy expensive box his twelve years old Padawan had received because their grandfather is a dramatic count with an outrageous obsession with high class.
Anakin gave the count a smile, treating the box with as much preciousness as the other gifts he has received. Carefully, he opened the box, his eyes staring at something Obi-Wan cannot see.
"This is the lightsaber of Yoda's last Jedi Master." Yan explained, smiling a little as Anakin looked at the inside of the box with more interest. "Yoda chose me from all of his Padawans to give this to, because he saw that my kyber has the same aura of his."
Yan took the lightsaber in one hand then one of Anakin's hands in another, he then pressed the lightsaber into it. Now that it's out of the box, Obi-Wan could see it has a dark handle instead of the usual grey the Jedi possess, looking far older than any lightsaber he has ever seen before but he is sure with a brilliant mind like Anakin's, the handle would be sparkling brighter than any lightsaber in the Temple.
"It is the same aura of your kyber." Yan pointed to the lightsaber clipped to Anakin's belt. "Therefore, you are the official owner of this ancient lightsaber now."
Anakin looked between the lightsaber and his grandfather quickly about five times, as if wanting to make sure what he just heard was true. Obi-Wan allowed himself a smile at that, feeling Jenza's and Shmi's amusement clear next to him.
Finally, a slow grin rose over Anakin's lips and he jumped on Yan, clinging to his neck in a way he hasn't done since two years ago. Obi-Wan chuckled at the surprised yelp of the count, the sound mixing with the laughter of the women near him.
"Thanks!" Anakin said enthusiastically, more enthusiastic than he had been in a long time. "Thank you all! So much!"
"Aww Ani," Jenza said as she joined the hug from the other side. "You know we'd do anything for you."
Obi-Wan felt his cheeks hurt from smiling, but he honestly could care less for the pain when he's this happy. He felt Shmi move closer to him and before he knew it, he was dragged by his wrist to join the hug, Shmi closing her arms around him too.
He felt the others wrap their arms around him as well, tackling him into their embrace, each no longer knowing which limb is who's. But that's alright, because at that moment, despite everything, they are standing together as a family.
"How did you manage to make him-" Obi-Wan paused to think of the right word, his mind not giving him quite the right definition.
"At ease." Jenza answered instead of him, making Obi-Wan nod his head in agreement.
"Yes, yes that's it!" Obi-Wan told Jenza, briefly meeting her eyes in thanks before turning back to Shmi. "How did you manage to make him feel at ease?"
Shmi gave one of her cunning smiles, another trait of hers that made Obi-Wan just realise where Anakin got his clever mind from. She gently brushed her brown hair behind her ears, surprising Obi-Wan by meeting his eyes when talking to him.
Perhaps there is much healing progress he's missed while he's away from the Castle.
"Anakin is only twelve, but he's no youngling." Shmi told them, her eyes drifting to where Anakin insisted to show Yan his new lightsaber forms in the small training area they have in their quarters.
"He's only twelve!" Obi-Wan said in exasperation.
Jenza, however, looked lost. She doesn't have much experience around children, so she knows nothing of their behaviour or how to treat them based on their different ages. Obi-Wan seemed to treat Anakin like he usually did when Anakin was nine.
"But his mind is sharpening," Shmi reminded. "He's growing. He's no longer a youngling, he will soon form opinions and traits of his own. Will soon find his personality. His mind is at the changing point."
Obi-Wan deflated, looking more lost than anything as the wheels turned in his head. He's never seen it that way, all the time he's seen Anakin's defiance as the rebellious streak of teenagers. He is just as clueless as Jenza when it comes to dealing with children. Shmi seemed the best out of all of them to interact with them.
Surprisingly but not so surprisingly, Yan is the second best. Obi-Wan doesn't know why he was shocked when he saw the man discipline Anakin when he's being unbearable while also knowing how to calm him down from a panic attack. That man has raised three Padawans.
"So what do I do?" Obi-Wan asked her. Almost begged.
"Obi-Wan," Shmi said patiently. "Anakin is at the age where he will start doing things out of impulse and emotions, he needs to be guided and needs a parental figure in his life."
She glanced at Anakin, who was busy watching what Yan is doing then mimicking him. Obi-Wan noticed it as well, Anakin copying his own moves too often now.
"Telling him what to do will only make him do the opposite." Shmi told him, turning back to him.
Obi-Wan rolled his eyes. "Tell me something I don't already know."
"Don't tell him, do whatever you want him to do." Shmi suggested. "I'm sure he copies your every move by now."
"And if that doesn't work?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Then a punishment shall be put in place." Shmi said.
"I'm not really good at this." Obi-Wan admitted, gesturing to all around him.
Shmi gave him a comforting smile. "Well, no one is. You're bound to make mistakes too, that's okay. You can't perfect being a parent from the first time."
"And what if I mess it up to the point we grow apart?" Obi-Wan asked the question that's been weighting on his mind.
"You'll never do that." Shmi reassured. "Anakin loves you. He never leaves those he loves, even if he thinks they don't love him in return."
Obi-Wan didn't reply to that, looking back at his small Padawan who had failed at doing a maneuver that Yan did so easily. The boy remained on the ground instead of getting up, making the older man bend to his level to comfort him.
"Talk to him as if you're talking to an adult," Shmi advised. "But keep in mind he's twelve, and he is bound to always do some stupid and irrational things that will make you want to rip your hair out."
Obi-Wan laughed at that, hearing Jenza laugh too. He and Shmi startled, having forgotten she is there. The woman in question smiled excitedly and waved.
"I didn't want to interrupt, it was too intriguing." She said in her defense.
Obi-Wan shook his head while Shmi chuckled. Jenza sometimes reminds him of Anakin.
"Just do as I said, you will be fine." Shmi put a comforting hand on his arm before leaving along with Jenza to chat.
Yan's return to Serenno was very important for him. Not only does he have lots of papers to sign on, he also has several meetings with politicians from all across the Republic and some of them take place here instead of the holocalls. He has also been doing a little bit of a side quest.
He had assigned Theodar with a mission a few months back, one important enough to be a terrifying secret. Kind of illegal even. Theodar has copied the records of Palpatine's whole private past, without anyone knowing or getting suspicious.
The copies have been handed to him just upon his arrival by Theodar himself, who is on Serenno for his monthly family visit. It had taken him lots of time, effort and one might even say; manipulation to get the Naboolians to trust him enough for him to get his own card for getting in and out of their records.
The Naboo aren't that bright, Yan concluded.
The operation took months, but now the precious records lay right in Yan's hand. To him, it's far more expensive than gold.
Time to see who that Palpatine truly is.