Chae'la loved meditating. She was able to centre her mind and get ready for the mission ahead. She was able to have visions without the pain in meditation. She could concentrate on opening her mind to the force and it wouldn't have to barge in painfully. After settling into a comfortable position Chae'la started to work through her meditation tequniques. She saw familiar outcomes play through her mind. Hundreds of dead Jedi strewed through the temple halls, Anakin the chosen one now Darth Vader a hated and feared sith lord. Chae'la was determined to make sure this future did not come to pass. She was convinced that if Anakin were brought to the temple before he could learn to form attachments then he would not turn to the dark side.
Soon the ship was landing and Chae'la breathed in the hot dry air as the ramp was lowered. Qui-Gon led them to the palace where he knew Gardulla was. The hot air of the planet was intoxicating. Chae'la hated sand and heat. She enjoyed the trees and moderate climate of her home world. Eeth went up to the guard and requested an audience with the Hutt, telling him that they had business to discuss with him.
The guard let them in where they were greeted by a protocol droid who took them to Gardulla. A hutt's hovel was always disgusting, but this one was particularly rank. Chae'la stepped around a pile of what she could only assume was dead Gorg. Gardulla was lounging on a massive couch in a huge hall. The Hutt had many slaves ferrying food back and forth between her many guests. Upon seeing the four prospective clients Gardulla spoke to her droid in Huttese.
"Gardulla the great would like to know what sort of business four strangers have with her?" The droid translated for the Hutt.
"We are looking to buy a slave from the great Hutt," Qui-Gon spoke for the Jedi.
"I have many slaves, which in particular are you looking for?" the droid translated for the Hutt.
"A mother and her young son," Qui-Gon hoped there weren't too many slaves' here abouts with new babies.
"I have one of those. Mother and baby. But why do you want that?"
"Our purchase is our business. Now shall we speak of terms? We would like to see the slaves before we buy them," the Hutt agreed and told her foreman to show the strangers to the slaves quarters.
Chae'la could barely hold her excitement as they went into a small hut near the back of the complex. Shmi was fixing dinner over the small fire with a tiny baby strapped to her back.
"Shmi, these people are here to buy you and Ani. Look presentable," the foreman said quietly to Shmi. Shmi tried her best to keep the worried expression from her face and smiled.
"This is Shmi Skywalker and her son Anakin. Shmi is a very hard worker and Anakin is a very smart baby. Can even talk a little and already walk," the foreman boasted.
"We would like to talk to her alone please," Eeth said to the foreman. He looked at Shmi then took his leave.
"Hello Shmi, my name is Chae'la Sretep. This is Master's Koth and Jinn, and Qui-Gon's padawan Obi-Wan. It is my great honor to meet you," Chae'la said with a huge smile. Her genuine kindness shown through to Shmi and she relaxed somewhat.
"Shmi, would you like to have a seat, we have some things to discuss," Qui-Gon said quietly.
"Don't worry bout the soup, Obi-Wan will take care of it," Chae'la volunteered the very unhappy Obi-Wan.
Shmi put the baby down in a cradle near the table and the four of them had a seat, while Obi-Wan stayed in the kitchen with orders from Shmi on how to prepare the soup.
"Shmi, we are here about your son. We believe that he may be force sensitive," Qui-Gon spoke softly to Shmi trying to keep her from being frightened.
"Why? What if he is force sensitive?" Shmi questioned.
"If he is we would like to take him to the Jedi temple on Coruscant to be trained as a Jedi," Eeth explained.
Shmi thought for a minute and then got up and picked her son from the cradle. He was only nine months. He was bright, could already say three or four words and knew what he wanted. After a moment she gently handed the baby to Qui-Gon and then went to help Obi-Wan with the soup.
"I could feel his force presence from across the room. This one is certainly powerful," Eeth commented and Qui-Gon nodded. The baby cooed to him and Qui-Gon gave him his finger to suck on. Chae'la walked around the table and sat beside Qui-Gon. She couldn't believe that this bright-eyed baby would one day become one of the most feared men in the Universe. Chae'la accessed her force vision and nearly gasped at the beautiful image the baby was to behold. Shinning in tumultuous gold light the baby was remarkably strong in the force. Qui-Gon holding the infant was a calm brown green, while Eeth was stormy amber with blue. Chae'la reverted back to her normal vision and explained to the Jedi what she had seen and about her vision.
"My mother's people, the Miralukas, are born without eyes. They have force vision to make up for this physical setback. Though I was born with eyes, I was still gifted with this vision. Anakin is amazing to behold, I've never seen a force presence so pure and so strong."
After several minutes with Anakin and Chae'la's explanation of his aura, both Eeth and Qui-Gon were convinced of the child's extraordinary force presence. Shmi came back into the room with Obi-Wan and they handed out the soup. It had been watered down to make enough for everyone but it was still quite tasty. With Anakin safe in his crib once more, Shmi sat with the Jedi once more with an expectant look on her face.
"Your son is indeed very special. Very strong in the force," Qui-Gon told Shmi.
"So you will take him then?"
"Only if you want us to," Chae'la assured the young mother.
"You can offer him so much more than I ever could. I don't want my boy to grow up a slave. You have my permission to take Anakin and train him as a Jedi," Shmi said with strong conviction.
The rest of the meal was spent talking about what Anakin would be trained in and Shmi explained to the Jedi Anakin's origins.
"No father? That is quite the oddity," Eeth commented dryly.
"Understatement of the century," Obi-Wan said under his breath to Chae'la who giggled into her hands, trying to cover.
The foreman came in a few minutes later and told them that Gardulla wanted them. Qui-Gon and Eeth followed the foreman and told Obi-Wan and Chae'la to stay with Shmi and Anakin. The Jedi could feel a quiet unease in the force.