Part Eleven: The Dark Vision
Everyone sat around the dinner table enjoying supper as Arnold Skywalker explained to his family the circumstances that led up to this point. Helga sat next to him and Li-la Binks across from Helga.
All of them had nervous and worried looks on their faces as they listened transfixed by Arnold's words. All except for his Grandma Gertie, who served out the food, she listened closely though, especially to the references of the Sith Lords.
Li-la Binks looked down as her plate was filled, hungrily. She opened her mouth to shoot out her tongue, but not before she heard a small cough and looked up to see helga smiling at her slightly, balancing a fork between her fingers. Li-la thought better of it and used a fork herself this time.
Sid 3PO, who as a droid did not require food, was shut down as he preformed a self-diagnostic on his programs.
"And that's when we decided to come here, where Helga would be safe and I can show her how to control the Force." Arnold said, finishing his story.
"Wow, Shortman!" That's quite alot of action you guys have seen!" Grandpa Phil said amazed.
"Indeed," added Girtie thoughtfully. "You're training has saved you, young Padawan. You've grown so strong, Arnold."
"Thanks Grandma," Arnold said, looking at her warmly. "But I know I lost focus on Naboo also, if it hadn't been for Helga I might not be here." He looked over at Helga, who turned slightly red.
"No big deal, Arnold," She said, shrugging.
In her thoughts, Helga added, as Arnold smiled and turned away, I'm lucky you came into my life when you did, football-head.
Arnold blinked just then. For a moment there, he thought he'd heard something in his mind. He thought he'd heard her call him 'football-head'...again. He shrugged it away.
Grandma Gertie noticed this small exchange and read between the lines, she smiled slightly to herself.
"Anyway," Grandpa Phil said, "We'll get you guys fixed up. It'll be good to have you around again for a while, shortman. Your room is the way you left it."
"Thanks Grandpa," Arnold said, smiling.
Gertie walked over to Arnold and whispered in his ear, "When you're finished with your food, I need to speak with you at the smokehouse, alone."
Arnold looked at his Grandma and nodded slightly, confused.
His grandma turned to go into the kitchen, but not before looking at Helga again, who meet her gase and scowled.
"What was that all about?" Helga asked Arnold.
Arnold knew Helga had felt the same thing from his grandma that he had, concern.
"It's probably nothing, don't worry about it. My grandma has her own ways." Arnold said, reassuring her.
Helga shrugged and continued eating.
Arnold looked towards the kitchen again, a thoughtful and confused look on his face.
Twenty minutes later, Arnold meet his grandma outside the smokehouse, a small underground cellar out back of the farm.
"What is it, grandma?" Arnold asked the moment he meet her there.
Arnold's grandma looked over at the twin suns, which here not long from setting, a concerned look on her aged face.
"I sense a great disturbance in the Force, Arnold."
Arnold nodded, "I know, I've been sensing it too, Grandma. It feels so strange...so cold. It's frightening. I mean the whole thing with the kidnapping attempt, and the Sith being involved. Helga can sense it too, I feel it. She isn't used to her powers and it worries her, but she's trying so hard to be brave."
Grandma nodded. "What you both feel is the Dark Side of the Force, young Padawan. It's growing stronger."
Then Gertie turned to Arnold, a small smile on her face. "You're fond of the Senator, I see."
Arnold looked at the ground, as if studying the sand. "Well...she's an okay person I guess. She can be a real pain sometimes, but deep down she just troubled. She can be really nice too."
"I sense much fear in her, and alot of anger..."
"But there's more to her than that, Grandma," Arnold said, looking up at her quickly. "She's really smart, has a very strong will to learn, and alot of feelings. Good feelings!"
Even without the powers of The Force, Gertie could see that there was more there between them, even if both of them hadn't admitted it to themselves yet.
Grandma smiled again, "I sense that too, Arnold. But I sense grave danger in her future. Her future is clouded...as is your own."
Arnold looked at his grandma now, concerned by the way she said that. "What do you mean, Grandma?"
"Arnold," She said, looking down at him and putting an arm around his neck, leading him to the smokehouse. "I think it's time you searched The Force, to look at the future."
A Jedi's control of the Force can cause them to sometimes see glimpses of the future when they are in a state of deep meditation known as the Jedi Vision Quest. But the idea to actually do so made Arnold's stomach tighten into knots.
"I don't know, Grandma," the Padawan said, putting his apprehension into words. "Isn't that dangerous?"
Gertie looked at him very seriously. "I won't lie to you, young one. It can be. Confronting the possibilities can actually drive one mad, but it may be important to you right now...and to your friend."
Arnold thought about it a moment, then finally nodded. Gertie smiled at her grandson's courage.
Together, the two Jedi descended into the smokehouse to begin the Jedi Vision Quest. The smokehouse was empty. except for a small fire in the middle of the floor and a small hatch on the ceiling to release the smoke. The heat inside the underground room was almost unbearable. They sat down cross-legged across from each other, the fire between them.
"Now remember, young Padawan," Gertie began, "What you see is only one possibility. the future itself is not set in stone. But if you are not ready to face your destiny, then you may not like what you find."
Arnold looked at the fire and nodded. "I'm not afraid, Grandma."
Gertie looked up at him, a stern look on her face. "Be mindful, Arnold. I can see through you."
Arnold took a deep breath to calm himself, then said, "Okay, lets do it."
"Close your eyes, Arnold," his Grandma instructed. "Feel the Force flowing through you...concentrate, search out with your feelings..."
Slowly Gertie's voice faded as Arnold slid into deep meditation...
Arnold was no longer in the smokehouse at his Grandparents farm on Tatooine.
He found himself in a fog bank of white clouds surrounded by total blackness. He felt a presence next to him, he turned and saw Helga, still dressed in her pink and purple robes, looking over at him and smiling in that same beautiful way he remembered back aboard The Moave Avenger. He smiled back at her.
Suddenly, he felt something in The Force, something cold...The Dark Side.
Before them, clouded by the white fog was a tall shadowy figure, clad in black robes with a hood covering all but the creature's mouth. The figure smiled unpleasantly at them.
Arnold stood between Helga and the figure and activated his lightsaber, the blue lightbeam casting a glow all around.
Another figure appeared next to the first figure. This one was shorter with red lenses for eyewear and an insane smile on his face, carrying a long-handled lightsaber. The other Sith Lord activated his lightsaber, which glowed a bright red...the color of blood.
The shorter Sith Lord attacked Arnold. They exchanged blows with their lightsabers.
"Helga run!" Arnold heard himself shout as he dueled with the dark Jedi.
The taller figure reached out with an unnaturally long arm and grabbed Helga, dragging her away through the fog and into the darkness.
"NO! HELGA!" Arnold shouted as he lunged at his attacker. With his lightsaber he cut through him. The shorter Sith Lord disapeared like a shadow deprived of sunlight.
Arnold ran strait in the direction that the tall figure took Helga, calling her name over and over.
"HELGA! I'M COMING!" He shouted into the darkness.
He came to a dead stop.
The tall Sith Lord stood ahead of him, that same cold, evil smile on it's face.
"GIVE HER BACK!" Arnold shouted at the evil shadow.
The Sith Lord's evil smile widened slightly and nodded. It jestered and another figure stepped out of the darkness and white fog.
Arnold's heart froze in his chest.
Helga stood before him, dressed entirely in black, her face was blank, as if devoid of all feeling and emotion. She ignited a red lightsaber before her.
"NO!" Arnold shouted.
Helga attacked him. Arnold managed to block her attacks, he knew he should fight back...but he couldn't...he wouldn't...
Instantly, the red lightsaber in Helga's hand cut off Arnold's arm at the shoulder. He fell to the ground holding his bleeding stump as Helga stood over him. Now she smiled evily and brought the red blade down and then...
"NO!"
Arnold awoke from the trance, sweat drenching his brown Jedi robes. His eyes were wide, a sick feeling was left in his stomach. He looked up at his grandma, who sat there, looking at him, a neutral expression on her face.
"I...I saw Helga. The Sith, they took her away...turned her to the Dark Side of The Force..."
Gertie nodded. "The possible future was what you saw, Arnold. The one which will happen, if you fail."
Arnold felt a chill go through him, despite the oppressive heat in the smokehouse.
"No!" Arnold said standing up. "I wont allow that to happen! Helga wont be turned to the dark side, she couldn't be!"
His grandma sighed, shaking her head. "The Dark Side can be tempting to a young, impatient mind. The Sith would turn her, given enough time. There are more than a few ways to break someones spirit and make them..."
"I know that Helga is stronger than that!" Arnold said, interrupting. "I can feel it. I know she's better than that!"
Arnold realized how irrational it was for him to think that, since he hadn't know Helga for more than a few days, but somehow, he knew he was right about her too. "She would never willingly turn to the Dark Side. I won't believe that!"
Gertie stood up and looked at Arnold. "You are the only one who can protect her Arnold, to save her from the Sith. What you do will help her determine which path she chooses. Remember this too, Arnold," Gertie said, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Only that power which is more powerful than the Dark Side can defeat it."
She gave him a hopeful smile and left him alone with his thoughts.
To Be Continued...
That was a creppy chapter, huh? Let me know what you thought. For all of you romantics out there, be sure to check out the next scene. -D.R.
Everyone sat around the dinner table enjoying supper as Arnold Skywalker explained to his family the circumstances that led up to this point. Helga sat next to him and Li-la Binks across from Helga.
All of them had nervous and worried looks on their faces as they listened transfixed by Arnold's words. All except for his Grandma Gertie, who served out the food, she listened closely though, especially to the references of the Sith Lords.
Li-la Binks looked down as her plate was filled, hungrily. She opened her mouth to shoot out her tongue, but not before she heard a small cough and looked up to see helga smiling at her slightly, balancing a fork between her fingers. Li-la thought better of it and used a fork herself this time.
Sid 3PO, who as a droid did not require food, was shut down as he preformed a self-diagnostic on his programs.
"And that's when we decided to come here, where Helga would be safe and I can show her how to control the Force." Arnold said, finishing his story.
"Wow, Shortman!" That's quite alot of action you guys have seen!" Grandpa Phil said amazed.
"Indeed," added Girtie thoughtfully. "You're training has saved you, young Padawan. You've grown so strong, Arnold."
"Thanks Grandma," Arnold said, looking at her warmly. "But I know I lost focus on Naboo also, if it hadn't been for Helga I might not be here." He looked over at Helga, who turned slightly red.
"No big deal, Arnold," She said, shrugging.
In her thoughts, Helga added, as Arnold smiled and turned away, I'm lucky you came into my life when you did, football-head.
Arnold blinked just then. For a moment there, he thought he'd heard something in his mind. He thought he'd heard her call him 'football-head'...again. He shrugged it away.
Grandma Gertie noticed this small exchange and read between the lines, she smiled slightly to herself.
"Anyway," Grandpa Phil said, "We'll get you guys fixed up. It'll be good to have you around again for a while, shortman. Your room is the way you left it."
"Thanks Grandpa," Arnold said, smiling.
Gertie walked over to Arnold and whispered in his ear, "When you're finished with your food, I need to speak with you at the smokehouse, alone."
Arnold looked at his Grandma and nodded slightly, confused.
His grandma turned to go into the kitchen, but not before looking at Helga again, who meet her gase and scowled.
"What was that all about?" Helga asked Arnold.
Arnold knew Helga had felt the same thing from his grandma that he had, concern.
"It's probably nothing, don't worry about it. My grandma has her own ways." Arnold said, reassuring her.
Helga shrugged and continued eating.
Arnold looked towards the kitchen again, a thoughtful and confused look on his face.
Twenty minutes later, Arnold meet his grandma outside the smokehouse, a small underground cellar out back of the farm.
"What is it, grandma?" Arnold asked the moment he meet her there.
Arnold's grandma looked over at the twin suns, which here not long from setting, a concerned look on her aged face.
"I sense a great disturbance in the Force, Arnold."
Arnold nodded, "I know, I've been sensing it too, Grandma. It feels so strange...so cold. It's frightening. I mean the whole thing with the kidnapping attempt, and the Sith being involved. Helga can sense it too, I feel it. She isn't used to her powers and it worries her, but she's trying so hard to be brave."
Grandma nodded. "What you both feel is the Dark Side of the Force, young Padawan. It's growing stronger."
Then Gertie turned to Arnold, a small smile on her face. "You're fond of the Senator, I see."
Arnold looked at the ground, as if studying the sand. "Well...she's an okay person I guess. She can be a real pain sometimes, but deep down she just troubled. She can be really nice too."
"I sense much fear in her, and alot of anger..."
"But there's more to her than that, Grandma," Arnold said, looking up at her quickly. "She's really smart, has a very strong will to learn, and alot of feelings. Good feelings!"
Even without the powers of The Force, Gertie could see that there was more there between them, even if both of them hadn't admitted it to themselves yet.
Grandma smiled again, "I sense that too, Arnold. But I sense grave danger in her future. Her future is clouded...as is your own."
Arnold looked at his grandma now, concerned by the way she said that. "What do you mean, Grandma?"
"Arnold," She said, looking down at him and putting an arm around his neck, leading him to the smokehouse. "I think it's time you searched The Force, to look at the future."
A Jedi's control of the Force can cause them to sometimes see glimpses of the future when they are in a state of deep meditation known as the Jedi Vision Quest. But the idea to actually do so made Arnold's stomach tighten into knots.
"I don't know, Grandma," the Padawan said, putting his apprehension into words. "Isn't that dangerous?"
Gertie looked at him very seriously. "I won't lie to you, young one. It can be. Confronting the possibilities can actually drive one mad, but it may be important to you right now...and to your friend."
Arnold thought about it a moment, then finally nodded. Gertie smiled at her grandson's courage.
Together, the two Jedi descended into the smokehouse to begin the Jedi Vision Quest. The smokehouse was empty. except for a small fire in the middle of the floor and a small hatch on the ceiling to release the smoke. The heat inside the underground room was almost unbearable. They sat down cross-legged across from each other, the fire between them.
"Now remember, young Padawan," Gertie began, "What you see is only one possibility. the future itself is not set in stone. But if you are not ready to face your destiny, then you may not like what you find."
Arnold looked at the fire and nodded. "I'm not afraid, Grandma."
Gertie looked up at him, a stern look on her face. "Be mindful, Arnold. I can see through you."
Arnold took a deep breath to calm himself, then said, "Okay, lets do it."
"Close your eyes, Arnold," his Grandma instructed. "Feel the Force flowing through you...concentrate, search out with your feelings..."
Slowly Gertie's voice faded as Arnold slid into deep meditation...
Arnold was no longer in the smokehouse at his Grandparents farm on Tatooine.
He found himself in a fog bank of white clouds surrounded by total blackness. He felt a presence next to him, he turned and saw Helga, still dressed in her pink and purple robes, looking over at him and smiling in that same beautiful way he remembered back aboard The Moave Avenger. He smiled back at her.
Suddenly, he felt something in The Force, something cold...The Dark Side.
Before them, clouded by the white fog was a tall shadowy figure, clad in black robes with a hood covering all but the creature's mouth. The figure smiled unpleasantly at them.
Arnold stood between Helga and the figure and activated his lightsaber, the blue lightbeam casting a glow all around.
Another figure appeared next to the first figure. This one was shorter with red lenses for eyewear and an insane smile on his face, carrying a long-handled lightsaber. The other Sith Lord activated his lightsaber, which glowed a bright red...the color of blood.
The shorter Sith Lord attacked Arnold. They exchanged blows with their lightsabers.
"Helga run!" Arnold heard himself shout as he dueled with the dark Jedi.
The taller figure reached out with an unnaturally long arm and grabbed Helga, dragging her away through the fog and into the darkness.
"NO! HELGA!" Arnold shouted as he lunged at his attacker. With his lightsaber he cut through him. The shorter Sith Lord disapeared like a shadow deprived of sunlight.
Arnold ran strait in the direction that the tall figure took Helga, calling her name over and over.
"HELGA! I'M COMING!" He shouted into the darkness.
He came to a dead stop.
The tall Sith Lord stood ahead of him, that same cold, evil smile on it's face.
"GIVE HER BACK!" Arnold shouted at the evil shadow.
The Sith Lord's evil smile widened slightly and nodded. It jestered and another figure stepped out of the darkness and white fog.
Arnold's heart froze in his chest.
Helga stood before him, dressed entirely in black, her face was blank, as if devoid of all feeling and emotion. She ignited a red lightsaber before her.
"NO!" Arnold shouted.
Helga attacked him. Arnold managed to block her attacks, he knew he should fight back...but he couldn't...he wouldn't...
Instantly, the red lightsaber in Helga's hand cut off Arnold's arm at the shoulder. He fell to the ground holding his bleeding stump as Helga stood over him. Now she smiled evily and brought the red blade down and then...
"NO!"
Arnold awoke from the trance, sweat drenching his brown Jedi robes. His eyes were wide, a sick feeling was left in his stomach. He looked up at his grandma, who sat there, looking at him, a neutral expression on her face.
"I...I saw Helga. The Sith, they took her away...turned her to the Dark Side of The Force..."
Gertie nodded. "The possible future was what you saw, Arnold. The one which will happen, if you fail."
Arnold felt a chill go through him, despite the oppressive heat in the smokehouse.
"No!" Arnold said standing up. "I wont allow that to happen! Helga wont be turned to the dark side, she couldn't be!"
His grandma sighed, shaking her head. "The Dark Side can be tempting to a young, impatient mind. The Sith would turn her, given enough time. There are more than a few ways to break someones spirit and make them..."
"I know that Helga is stronger than that!" Arnold said, interrupting. "I can feel it. I know she's better than that!"
Arnold realized how irrational it was for him to think that, since he hadn't know Helga for more than a few days, but somehow, he knew he was right about her too. "She would never willingly turn to the Dark Side. I won't believe that!"
Gertie stood up and looked at Arnold. "You are the only one who can protect her Arnold, to save her from the Sith. What you do will help her determine which path she chooses. Remember this too, Arnold," Gertie said, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Only that power which is more powerful than the Dark Side can defeat it."
She gave him a hopeful smile and left him alone with his thoughts.
To Be Continued...
That was a creppy chapter, huh? Let me know what you thought. For all of you romantics out there, be sure to check out the next scene. -D.R.