Part 8

Mos Espa, indeed all of Tatooine, was just as Qui-Gon recalled it. Hot, dry days and colds nights, all adding to the "charm" of the squalid little place where he'd first discovered Anakin Skywalker and his mother. Shmi...

When Queen Amidala had finally allowed him to leave Naboo, he'd remembered about the mysterious package Master Yoda had left for him. It was a data pad, and written upon it were these simple words-- trust in your heart you must; lead you it will to the right path. For the remainder of his brief trip from Naboo to Tatooine, Qui-Gon had sat on his bed, holding the data pad in his large hands and staring at it in utter silence. He couldn't quite comprehend what Master Yoda was trying to tell him.

At the same time, his fantasies of Shmi had returned. At night, as he lie on the small, narrow bed fighting for sleep to come, he dreamt of her. In his dreams, he left the transport and went straight to her hovel. They stood in her doorway facing one another expectantly. Then he told her that he had come for her and was going to take her away from this life. When she heard the words, Shmi stepped backwards into her home, and Qui-Gon followed her. Once inside, his arms wrapped tightly around her waist, pulling her into a near-crushing embrace. His lips found hers, claiming them for his own... and she surrendered to his touch, allowing him to ravish her lovely body. And he did...

Qui-Gon pushed these thoughts from his mind as he stood in the center of the town. He had better things to do than stand there fantasizing about Shmi Skywalker. He needed to find her owner and gain her freedom. And knowing Watto as he thought he did, this would not be an easy task.

********

"Hmmm... you again?" The blue, fly-like Toydarian asked when Qui- Gon walked into the salvaging shop. "Brought the boy back, have you? He was always more trouble than he was worth."

"I have not brought Anakin back here," Qui-Gon said. "I bring you a business proposition, my friend. One that could prove to make you very wealthy."

Watto perked up at the mention of wealth, but instantly his eyes narrowed. "What sort of business?" he asked.

"I am here representing a very wealthy person--the leader of small nation. My employer wishes to purchase a slave," Qui-Gon explained, keeping his true mission as secretive as possible. He hoped Watto would take the money without question and let him leave with Shmi.

"Hmmm...? I have many slaves. Perhaps you'd like to inspect them?" Money glittered in his eyes as he spoke the words.

Qui-Gon nodded. "That would please me greatly," he said. "My employer would be displeased if I returned with less than a perfect specimen." Inwardly, Qui-Gon wanted throttle the buzzing blue fly. He'd been wanting to it so for a year now, but held the emotion in check even now.

"Come back tomorrow at this time," demanded Watto. "and bring the money you speak of, so that I know you are not trying to fool me with some Jedi trickery. NO CREDITS."

"No credits," Qui-Gon echoed, nodding. He left the shop quickly, wishing to rid himself of Watto's stench.

*********

The Jedi gritted his teeth in at attempt to keep from losing control and killing his companion. For the past few hours, Watto had led a parade of slaves, male and female, past him. Each one was forced to strip to his or her undergarments so that Qui-Gon could inspect them for any flaws or deformities. For Qui-Gon, it was maddening. He searched each face--hoping one of them would be Shmi-- but by the time the last slave appeared before him, she had not appeared.

"Need more time to decide?" Watto asked him when he showed no interest in any of the slaves he had been shown.

Qui-Gon nodded hesitantly, trying to phrase his next words diplomatically. "There was another slave... one I saw when I was here last year. The woman, Anakin's mother."

"Not for sale," Watto said curtly.

"Every slave is for sale, my friend," Qui-Gon told him. "Especially if the price is high enough."

Watto's eyes turned to the "wealth" Qui-Gon had brought back with him. It was an amazing sum, none of it credits, and definitely more than any one slave was worth. But if the Jedi who'd taken the Skywalker boy away from him and made him look a fool in front of the Hutt wanted Shmi Skywalker, it wasn't enough.

"Not for that piddling price."

It was exactly what Qui-Gon had been expecting, which was exactly why he had left half of his bargaining pieces back on board the transport. He nodded, leveling his full gaze at Watto. "There is more where that came from... much, much more." He stretched out each word, watching for Watto's reaction. "Think on it. I will return in the morning... for the woman... or for the money, if she is not for sale." He turned on his heel and strode away.

After a few steps, Watto called after him. "No need to take back the money." Qui-Gon stopped, turning back. "There are other slaves, after all."

"No. There is only Shmi."