EXCERPTS FROM THE AUDIO JOURNAL OF QUI-GON JINN, JEDI MASTER
Nubian Cruiser on route to Tatooine, 3:4:6
"I have no bad feelings, which leads me to be optimistic about the outcome of today's negotiations."
As somebody would say, these were the proverbial famous last words.
Nothing has gone as hoped during the day, and Obi-Wan and I are lucky to still be alive, for certainly they have done their best to have us killed.
"They" are the Trade Federation Viceroy, Nute Gunray and his droid army.
In a truly unpredictable move, they have invaded Naboo and now have control of the planet.
This leaves me puzzled, for it seems so out-of-character for the Federation. They are cowards, more used to bribing their way with money and promises, than to fight. There is really something I cannot grasp…
What bothers me most is that Obi-Wan has felt it coming from the beginning, but I have refused to listen to him. Worse, I have been patronizing and so certain of my convictions, I have paid little attention to his concerns.
We were on the Viceroy's battleship, alone in an empty conference room, when Obi-Wan made his unease known.
"I have a bad feeling about this," he had said, pacing back and forth as I sat down at the table.
"I don't sense anything," had been my matter-of-fact answer.
"It's not just about here. It's not only this mission, Master Jinn, it's something ...elsewhere ...elusive."
He had given me a confused glance, as if he was not able to put in words what he was feeling.
I had barely refrained from smiling and commented, "It is better not to centre on our anxieties, Knight Kenobi, but to keep our concentration here and now, where it belongs."
Be mindful of the Living Force, I would have wished to add, but the way he looked at me reminded me I was not dealing with a padawan… and it was a good thing, because only a few moments later it became clear he was right and I wrong.
First they tried to kill us with a poisonous gas, then they sent against us battle droids, and when we finally managed to reach the hangar we discovered our ship had been destroyed.
Our only way to escape was to hide on board one of the ships that were transferring the invasion army of battle droids to Naboo, the irrefutable proof diplomacy had failed and that the situation had degenerated even worse than any of us could predict.
Once on Naboo, I did my best to avoid being crushed by STAPs as I waited for Obi-Wan to find me.
It was frustrating not to be able to locate him using some kind of mental link, such as the bond between two Jedi used to working together, or between master and apprentice.
As I escaped the invasion army, I managed to save Jar-Jar Binks, a young Gungan, one of the two sentient species inhabiting Naboo.
The creature was clearly scared by the devastation caused by the SWAPs and refused to leave my side, claiming he owed me a debt of life.
It annoyed me at first, but as soon as I managed to locate Obi-Wan, the Gungan turned to be a precious help, for he offered us a safe shelter from the droid army.
Jar-Jar took us to the under-water city where his people live, but he needed some persuasion to lead us there. Obi-Wan did much to convince him, but I cannot say I approve the almost perverse light in my son's eyes as he described in details the "thousand terrible things" the droids would do to Jar-Jar if he did not help us.
I felt a sense of uneasiness as Obi-Wan talked, probably because I was reminded once more I don't know the man my son has turned out to be.
He is a great fighter, a swordsman of first class that could easily compete against Master Windu, and he is very powerful in the Force, but I know nothing of his personality.
He seems to be duty-bound like me, and for the whole day he has worked and fought at my side without ever discussing my instructions. We form a good team and thanks to this collaboration we have been able to free Queen Amidala and her entourage and take them away from Naboo.
Our final destination is Coruscant, where the Queen will illustrate her planet's situation in front of the Senate, but first we will have to stop on Tatooine to repair our hyperdrive, which was damaged when we forced the blockade.
It was Obi-Wan's idea to stop on Tatooine, and I supported him fully, even if Captain Panaka was not pleased at all.