EXCERPTS FROM THE AUDIO JOURNAL OF QUI-GON JINN, JEDI KNIGHT

Coruscant, Jedi Temple, 3.4:9 – Late morning

I am in my rooms resting on my bed as I record this journal.

We arrived to Coruscant this morning and found both Supreme Chancellor Valorum and Naboo Senator Palpatine waiting for us on the landing pad. The Senator was there to take care of his Queen, while Valorum wanted to hear a report about the situation on Naboo. He is clearly worried by how the crisis has developed and I sensed his concerns regarding how the Senate will react to it. He is afraid the congress will continue to stall or postpone making a decision, losing precious time over meaningless, bureaucratic details, as they have done more and more frequently in the past years.

Once the meeting with the Supreme Chancellor was over, Obi-Wan and I saluted each other and separated, heading toward our respective Temples to give our reports to our leaders.

My son has been rather subdued today. He made no sarcastic remarks about Jar-Jar's behaviour at breakfast, and let me do all the talking while reporting to Valorum, limiting himself to nodding now and then.

There were dark circles under his eyes, a sure sign he spent a sleepless night, just like me.

My heart longed to offer him my help, but what comfort can you give to the man that is your son but is also a perfect stranger? And not even a common stranger, but a Sith, trained since early age not to show any weakness.

No, I could not ask him how he felt. I could not offer him comfort and risk to alienate him even more. The only thing I can do is to stay close and hope he will decide to come to me and talk.

Once arrived to the Temple, I gave my report to the Council, including the Obi-Wan's opinion regarding the man that attacked us. The masters were not sure it was Dark Lord; they seemed rather sceptical and, I must say it, not very trusting of a Sith's judgement.

I refrained from expressing my opinion about the matter, because, while I tend to agree with Obi-Wan, I did not want Yoda and Ki-Adi Mundi thinking I am siding with a Sith only because he happens to be my son. The two masters, of course, have recognized my son's name, and we have exchanged some accusing glances now and then. I don't think I will ever forgive them for not admitting Obi-Wan to the Temple. How different his life as a child would have been if they would have taken him in!

I also had another reason not to antagonize the Council about the Dark Lords' supposed reappearance: Anakin.

The child is currently in the Council chambers being examined and tested for his Force abilities.

I thought the Councillors would have been more eager to meet the boy I believe to be the Chosen One. Instead, they reacted coldly and rebuked me for my presumption.

I know I am right. I can feel it. Anakin is the Chosen One, the Force is so strong in him, and I am sure our meeting was not casual.

I was meant to land on Tatooine and find him. I will train him and transform him into a great Jedi.

A long time has passed since Xanatos' turn and I am now ready to take another padawan — my last padawan.

Anakin will be my legacy to the Jedi Order as Obi-Wan is my legacy to the galaxy.

ADDENDUM-- Afternoon

I no longer know what goes on in the Council these days. I can no longer understand or share many of their decisions.

I have always been a bit of a rebel, I admit it, but only because I chose to always follow the will of the Force as I understood it.

I have been called defiant, stubborn and presumptuous because of my attitude, but the Council has always known I am absolutely loyal to the Jedi Order. But now, now I cannot help but doubt the Council's decision.

They have denied me the permission of training Anakin.

They say he is too old, too emotionally scarred and too full of fear to start the Jedi training.

The Council is right, but Anakin is not a common child. He already uses the Force in many ways, and just needs to learn how to do it consciously and not be led only by his instinct.

As for his emotional scars and fear, what do they expect?

The boy had been a slave until yesterday and has just left behind his mother and the only life he has known, to be taken to an unknown place. Of course he is scared -- every child of his age, even our initiates would be. But with time he will learn how to control and release these emotions into the Force.

What saddens me most is how the Council ignored Anakin's good qualities and concentrated only on his perceived faults — basically the same thing that happened when they refused to accept Obi-Wan.

They only saw the danger of creating a precedent, and did not think about what a great addition a child as powerful in the Force as my son could have been for the Order.

But this won't happen with Anakin; I will not allow the Council to dismiss him, so that the Sith can take him as they did Obi-Wan.

The Grey Order won't transform this sweet child into a sarcastic, cynical young man as they did with my son.

I will not allow it.

ADDENDUM—Late evening

The Council has ordered me to escort Queen Amidala back to Nabbo and to investigate more about the Dark Lord. The masters are convinced he will return, and so I do.

I have been informed Obi-Wan will travel back with us, no doubt with orders similar to mine, and the Force tells me this time together will help us to reach a better understanding.