Merlin's a badass

Right after Shmi sends Anakin to the Jedi, she's suddenly transported over thirty years into the future, onto the bridge of the Executor when Vader is searching for Luke. Vader isn't terribly keen on his mother knowing who he's become, but Shmi figures out fast he's a slave, and she's going to do whatever she can to help him, whether he's her long-lost son or not.