EXCERPTS FROM THE AUDIO JOURNAL OF QUI-GON JINN, JEDI KNIGHT
Coruscant, Jedi Temple, 13:5:7
This morning we were given a new assignment.
Obi-Wan, Anakin and I will have to protect a senator who has been victim of several life-attempts, the last one only yesterday. The ramp of her shuttle exploded just after it had been lowered, causing the death of her bodyguard and decoy.
The senator in question is Padmé Amidala Naberrie, the former queen of Naboo we knew during the Trade Federation crisis. She is one of the founding members of the Loyalist Committee and one of the most adamant opponents of the Military Creation Act.
According to our intelligence, the attacks against her person were ordered by the disgruntled spice miners on the moons of Naboo, but the senator thinks there is Dooku's hand behind them.
Obi-Wan tends to agree with her while I, despite all the doubts and concerns I harbour regarding my former master, hope they are wrong.
Whatever the case, we are scheduled to meet with Senator Amidala within an hour, to decide with her and her security forces how to best protect her.
Coruscant, Senator Amidala's Apartments, 13:5:7- late evening
We are in Senator's Amidala apartments, guarding the place as she rests. Obi-Wan, Anakin and I have decided to takes turns, and I should have been sleeping, but there is too much going trough my mind to allow me to slumber.
First of all there is the attraction Anakin feels for the senator.
I knew that Anakin had been smitten by Padmé when he saw her as a child, but I have always thought that juvenile crush had died along the years, or, at least that his childish dreams would disappear once confronted with reality.
It was not so. Senator Amidala has changed very little since the last time we saw her, and now the age gap between them is not as evident as it was ten years ago.
I cannot deny she is a very beautiful young woman, intelligent, charming and strong willed, and I can understand why Anakin is so taken by her—but I cannot approve of it.
However, I might be worrying for nothing. I trust Anakin. He has always been a dedicated Padawan and I am confident he will do the right thing should the time to make a choice come. He has never let me down before, and I know one day he will make a fine knight. He will be as wise as he is powerful, and then he will really be our Chosen One.
No, Anakin's infatuation is not that worrying, now that I ponder the matter more. Much more disturbing is the strain between him and Obi-Wan.
Their relationship has been deteriorating for the past year, and they have started clashing more and more frequently.
My son claims Anakin is too impulsive and arrogant, too sure of his powers and unwilling to listen to his teachings. My Padawan, instead, accuses Obi-Wan to be too unbending, strict and that he is trying to hold him back for he is envious of his powers.
It seems they are no longer able to agree on anything nowadays, and Anakin is constantly questioning Obi-Wan's decisions or instructions. He did it today too—in front of Senator Amidala and the chief of her security – causing embarrassment in all the onlookers.
Anakin should know better than contradicts his elders, especially in front of other people, but Obi-Wan was very hard when he claimed "Anakin must learn his place".
Anakin knows his place…it is just that he is still too impulsive and passionate. Obi-Wan was very much like him when we first met, even if he was far more disciplined.
I shake my head. It is somehow amusing that is it me, the Jedi master, the one who condones Anakin's too emotional behaviour, while my Sith son frowns upon it.
But maybe there is nothing amusing here. Maybe Obi-Wan is just doing his duty as the Grey Warrior of the prophecy. Maybe he senses danger in Anakin's impulsivity and he is trying to correct it. If this is the case, I will have to follow his lead and do my best to support him for, no matter the role my son has always had in Anakin's training, I am the boy's master.
Obi-Wan still does not know about the role the Chosen One's prophecy attributes to him. The Council and I decided long ago it was best not to say anything to him, lest this knowledge might influence him and his behaviour toward Anakin. Obi-Wan is led only by the Force in his duty of guardian, and not by a prophecy, as has had happened in Anakin's case.
I think we – I—might have committed a mistake by letting Anakin know he is the Chosen One. Not only the boy grew too confident of his powers, but it also led the others to behave differently with him. That's why it is so important Obi-Wan and I work closely together.
I heard voices coming from the living rooms. My son must have returned from his round of inspection in the lower floors.
I tense my ears to hear what they are saying, in the hope they don't start arguing again.
"What's going on?" This is Obi-Wan talking.
"She covered that camera. I don't think she liked me watching her." This is Anakin.
"What is she thinking?"
"She programmed Artoo to warn us if there is an intruder."
Ah yes Artoo, the small astrodroid that saved us when our ship was hit when we forced the blockade around Naboo…
"It's not an intruder I am worried about. There are many other ways to kill a Senator." Obi-Wan is talking again.
"I know, but we also want to catch this assassin. Don't we, Obi-Wan?"
"You are using her as bait?"
There is shock in my son's voice and I cannot but feel the same. What was the boy thinking?
"It was her idea... No harm will come to her. I can sense everything going on in that room.
Trust me."
"It is too risky... and your senses are not that attuned, young one."
"And yours are?"
Oh Force-- this is just the kind of insolent reply that drives Obi-Wan mad!
However it seems my son decided to let it pass, for the voices are now silent. Perhaps I can now relax and get some sleep before my shift begins…One moment…they are talking again.
"You look tired."
"I don't sleep well, anymore."
"Because of your mother?"
"I don't know why I keep dreaming about her now. I have not seen her since I was little."
So Obi-Wan knows about these dreams too. I was not sure Anakin would tell him giving their strained relationship. I wonder if my Padawan told him exactly what his nightmares are about.
"Dreams pass in time."
"I would rather dream of Padmé. Just being around her again is...intoxicating."
"Mind your thoughts, Anakin, they betray you. You have made a commitment to the Jedi order... a commitment not easily broken...and don't forget she is a politician. They are not to be trusted."
I cannot help but smile. Obi-Wan truly does not like politicians. He cannot stand their false smiles and words.
"She is not like the others in the Senate, Obi-Wan."
"It is been my experience that senators are only focused on pleasing those who fund their
campaigns... and they are more than willing to forget the niceties of democracy to get those
funds."
"Don't start again, Obi-Wan. I am not in the mood for another lecture... and besides, you are generalising. The Chancellor does not appear to be corrupt."
"Palpatine is a politician, I have observed that he is very clever at following the passions and
prejudices of the Senators."
Obi-Wan's low, growling voice is betraying what he feels for the Chancellor.
My son does not like Palpatine; he never has. He does not trust the man and has told me more than once I should not allow Anakin to spend time with him as the boy often does. Obi-Wan says Palpatine does not do anything without a reason and that there must be something we don't see behind his interest in my Padawan.
As for myself, I don't know what to think. I sense no danger in the Chancellor; he threats Anakin as a kind uncle would do, and I don't believe there are any serious reasons for forbidding my Padawan too see him—
I know the end sounds abrupt…but it is done on purpose. Qui-Gon has just been interrupted by what is going on in Padmé's rooms.