Part Twenty One: The Ghostly Visitor
Arnold stood near the window of Big Bob's hut, looking up at the evening sky at the already appearing stars, feeling out with the Force. The Dark Side was growing ever stronger.
He was still doing his best to deal with what Big Bob told him.
Chancellor Olga, one of the most respectful people Arnold had ever known, his mentor...a clone and a Sith Lord. It was almost too much for him to accept.
Big Bob looked over at his daughter and then said, "I had to escape from Olga. So I took a ship and crashed here. I wanted more than anything to tell you and your mother what happened, but I also knew that would put you two in danger. So I let Olga believe that I died in the escape and stayed away."
Helga, who was still sitting at the table, looked at him. "I never knew what happened. I thought you abandoned us because you didn't love me anymore." She looked ready to cry, years of grief and anger evaporating.
Big Bob smiled, "Helga, I was always proud of you. I have still been. I listen to subspace communications and heard about your career in the Galactic Senate. I am proud to have you as my daghter."
Helga looked at him, her lower lip trembling and she hugged him. He hugged back smiling. Arnold watched the display with a small smile on his face, happy for both of them.
Big Bob pulled away and looked at both of them. "Why are both of you here anyway? You couldn't possibly have known where to find me?"
Arnold looked over at Helga who looked back, uncertain as to what to tell him. He decided the truth was the best way.
"Sir, we are here hiding out also, because the Sith are after Helga."
Bob looked at Helga. "What?! B-but why?"
Helga looked at him and said, "Dad, I have the same powers that the Jedi and Olga do." To prove that point she looked over at the table and raised her hand. The bowl on top of it lifted slightly and then moved.
Big Bob looked at it and his jaw dropped.
"She's in danger, sir," Arnold said, speaking up just then. "I told Olga where we are, she'll be coming for her."
Big Bob looked over at Arnold. "You have to protect her, boy! If Olga get her..."
"I know sir, the Jedi know. We wont let that happen..." He looked over at Helga, meeting her gaze. "I wont allow that to happen."
Helga smiled a little and nodded.
Big Bob noticed the look the two young kids had and blinked.
Suddenly, a disembodied, almost ghostly voice spoke up from seemingly all around them. "Arnold."
Everyone heard it and looked up. Helga gave a small gasp of fear.
"Hey Arnold!" The voice said again.
"W-who's there?" Arnold asked, a little nervously.
Then a ghostly figure with a strange white glow appeared in a corner in front of them.
A familiar figure!
Arnold blinked, "Master Stinky?"
The ghostly version of Stinky nodded. "Yes Arnold, it's me."
"Um, is it just me, or are we looking at a ghost?" Big Bob asked aside to Helga.
Helga muttered, still in shock, "I see him too."
Arnold looked at him and asked, "Master Stinky, what happened to you?"
Stinky's ghost looked at Arnold apologetically, then expalined to them how they tracked down the Sith and Darth Curly captured Phoebe. Then about how he saved Gerald at the cost of his own mortal life.
Arnold looked pale, Helga covered her mouth with her hand. Big Bob looked at the ghost in wonder.
"Master, I..I'm sorry that I wasen't there for you." Arnold said, softly. "Maybe I could have..."
Stinky merely shook his head. "There was nothing you could have done. You would have been killed too and Helga would now be in the hands of the Sith. It was all the will of The Force. There is no reason to be sad for me, I will always be here with you."
"Um, excuse me?" Helga said, speaking up just then. "Would someone try explaining to me what the heck is going on here?"
Arnold looked at her. "When a Jedi is defeated or killed, they become one with the Force. That is how Stinky can be here."
"I cannot stay much longer, Arnold." Stinky explained to him. "I came here to warn you. Darth Curly and the Sith Emperor are close. You must face them soon...both of you." The last part he added looking over at a nervous looking Helga.
Arnold suddenly remembered his vision. Helga attacking him, turned to the Dark Side. He shut his eyes not wanting to think about it.
Stinky was looking at Helga. "Remember, young Helga, don't give in to anger or hate. That way leads to the Dark Side." He turned back to Arnold and continued, "Once the Dark Side takes control, it will forever dominate your destiny. But only that which is more powerful than the Dark Side can defeat it, or turn one from its path."
Arnold shook his head confused about the last. "Stinky, what do you..."
Stinky began to disappear as his ghostly glow faded.
"Wait! Stinky!"
Stinky's disembodied voice spoke once more. "Remember Arnold, and may the Force be with you, always!"
He was gone.
At almost the same instant, Arnold's short-range Jedi communicator beeped.
"Arnold? Arnold, come it!" Gerald Windu's voice said from the little device.
Arnold acticated it, "Gerald, where are you?"
"Im at your house, man! Is the Senator with you?"
"Yes," Arnold said, "Were both in a house about twenty miles away with Helga's father."
"What?!" Gerald's voice shouted over the communicator.
"Long story, no time to explain. Stinky just appeared to me and told me everything."
There was a long pause on the other side.
"Gerald? Are you still there?" Arnold asked worried.
A weak voice answered, "Yeah, I'm still here. It should have been me instead of Stinky. If only I hadn't..."
Arnold cut him off. "Gerald, it wasen't your fault. What's done is done. Right now we need to keep Helga safe and save Master Phoebe. We have to stop Darth Curly and Olga."
"The Chancellor?" Gerald asked strangely over the device. "What about her?"
"She's the one behind all of this. She's the Sith master." Arnold said, flatly.
"What?! But how do you know that?"
"I'll tell you about it when we get there, ok?" Arnold said to him.
"Okay man, I'll see...wait a minute. GET DOWN! EV-"
There was the sound of an explosion over the communicator. Then the line was cut off by the sound of lazer-fire.
"Gerald?! Gerald, come in!" Arnold shouted over the communicator. No response.
He turned to Helga, a look of conviction on his face. "I have to go!"
"Im coming with you!" Helga said, walking over to him.
"Oh no you're not!" You're going to stay here with your dad where it's safe!" Arnold said, looking over at her.
Helga scowled in determination, "Look Arnold-o, you can't give me orders!"
Arnold grabbed her arms and shook her firmly. "Helga please! You have to stay here! If anything happened to you, I'd never forgive myself!"
Helga blinked at the words. "Hey, I'm not just some helpless little child, football-head! I can take care of myself!"
Arnold calmed down and let her go. Then he looked into her eyes and smiled slightly, "Hey, I know you're not. Believe me, after that little stunt earlier with the the battle droids I certainly don't think that. But you're the one the Sith wants. I couldn't bear the thought of you...(Arnold couldn't even say it). I dont want to lose you. You're too important...to me."
Again, Helga looked into his eyes and blinked at the words he spoke to her. She felt her heart flutter and sensed his feeling for her well being through the Force. She smiled and nodded. "Okay Arnold, I'll stay put."
Arnold nodded, satsifyed and turned to go. Before he could go more than a few paces, Helga grabbed his arm, turned him aroun and kissed him on the mouth passionatly.
Big Bob looked on, his mouth and eyes widened in surprise.
Helga smiled at him, "Be careful Arnold, and may The Force be with you."
Arnold smiled and nodded and ran to his speederbike, practically skipping.
From behind her as Helga watched her beloved mount the speederbike, Big Bob said, "You know, young lady. I think its time we had a little talk about something."
Helga rolled her eyes and thought, Oh Criminey, now he wants to be a father.
Watching the speederbike take off wuickly, her heart went out for the boy riding it. She closed her eyes and whispered, "Come back to me, my Arnold."
On his speederbike, speeding quickly over the rocky desertscape in the light of the setting suns in the background, Arnold smiled widely, still feeling the kiss Helga left on his lips. The way he felt right then, he could have taken on a hundred Sith Lords!
To Be Continued...
Next Chapter, Arnold Skywalker Vs. Darth Curly...Round One! Stay Tuned and Rewiew!
Oh and my thanks to Demile for her drawing of Darth Curly...a great job. Oh and if you ever get the idea for Arnold Skywalker, think Arnold wearing Anikan Skywalker's robes and a blue lightsaber. LOL! DarthRoden (aka. Carl)
Arnold stood near the window of Big Bob's hut, looking up at the evening sky at the already appearing stars, feeling out with the Force. The Dark Side was growing ever stronger.
He was still doing his best to deal with what Big Bob told him.
Chancellor Olga, one of the most respectful people Arnold had ever known, his mentor...a clone and a Sith Lord. It was almost too much for him to accept.
Big Bob looked over at his daughter and then said, "I had to escape from Olga. So I took a ship and crashed here. I wanted more than anything to tell you and your mother what happened, but I also knew that would put you two in danger. So I let Olga believe that I died in the escape and stayed away."
Helga, who was still sitting at the table, looked at him. "I never knew what happened. I thought you abandoned us because you didn't love me anymore." She looked ready to cry, years of grief and anger evaporating.
Big Bob smiled, "Helga, I was always proud of you. I have still been. I listen to subspace communications and heard about your career in the Galactic Senate. I am proud to have you as my daghter."
Helga looked at him, her lower lip trembling and she hugged him. He hugged back smiling. Arnold watched the display with a small smile on his face, happy for both of them.
Big Bob pulled away and looked at both of them. "Why are both of you here anyway? You couldn't possibly have known where to find me?"
Arnold looked over at Helga who looked back, uncertain as to what to tell him. He decided the truth was the best way.
"Sir, we are here hiding out also, because the Sith are after Helga."
Bob looked at Helga. "What?! B-but why?"
Helga looked at him and said, "Dad, I have the same powers that the Jedi and Olga do." To prove that point she looked over at the table and raised her hand. The bowl on top of it lifted slightly and then moved.
Big Bob looked at it and his jaw dropped.
"She's in danger, sir," Arnold said, speaking up just then. "I told Olga where we are, she'll be coming for her."
Big Bob looked over at Arnold. "You have to protect her, boy! If Olga get her..."
"I know sir, the Jedi know. We wont let that happen..." He looked over at Helga, meeting her gaze. "I wont allow that to happen."
Helga smiled a little and nodded.
Big Bob noticed the look the two young kids had and blinked.
Suddenly, a disembodied, almost ghostly voice spoke up from seemingly all around them. "Arnold."
Everyone heard it and looked up. Helga gave a small gasp of fear.
"Hey Arnold!" The voice said again.
"W-who's there?" Arnold asked, a little nervously.
Then a ghostly figure with a strange white glow appeared in a corner in front of them.
A familiar figure!
Arnold blinked, "Master Stinky?"
The ghostly version of Stinky nodded. "Yes Arnold, it's me."
"Um, is it just me, or are we looking at a ghost?" Big Bob asked aside to Helga.
Helga muttered, still in shock, "I see him too."
Arnold looked at him and asked, "Master Stinky, what happened to you?"
Stinky's ghost looked at Arnold apologetically, then expalined to them how they tracked down the Sith and Darth Curly captured Phoebe. Then about how he saved Gerald at the cost of his own mortal life.
Arnold looked pale, Helga covered her mouth with her hand. Big Bob looked at the ghost in wonder.
"Master, I..I'm sorry that I wasen't there for you." Arnold said, softly. "Maybe I could have..."
Stinky merely shook his head. "There was nothing you could have done. You would have been killed too and Helga would now be in the hands of the Sith. It was all the will of The Force. There is no reason to be sad for me, I will always be here with you."
"Um, excuse me?" Helga said, speaking up just then. "Would someone try explaining to me what the heck is going on here?"
Arnold looked at her. "When a Jedi is defeated or killed, they become one with the Force. That is how Stinky can be here."
"I cannot stay much longer, Arnold." Stinky explained to him. "I came here to warn you. Darth Curly and the Sith Emperor are close. You must face them soon...both of you." The last part he added looking over at a nervous looking Helga.
Arnold suddenly remembered his vision. Helga attacking him, turned to the Dark Side. He shut his eyes not wanting to think about it.
Stinky was looking at Helga. "Remember, young Helga, don't give in to anger or hate. That way leads to the Dark Side." He turned back to Arnold and continued, "Once the Dark Side takes control, it will forever dominate your destiny. But only that which is more powerful than the Dark Side can defeat it, or turn one from its path."
Arnold shook his head confused about the last. "Stinky, what do you..."
Stinky began to disappear as his ghostly glow faded.
"Wait! Stinky!"
Stinky's disembodied voice spoke once more. "Remember Arnold, and may the Force be with you, always!"
He was gone.
At almost the same instant, Arnold's short-range Jedi communicator beeped.
"Arnold? Arnold, come it!" Gerald Windu's voice said from the little device.
Arnold acticated it, "Gerald, where are you?"
"Im at your house, man! Is the Senator with you?"
"Yes," Arnold said, "Were both in a house about twenty miles away with Helga's father."
"What?!" Gerald's voice shouted over the communicator.
"Long story, no time to explain. Stinky just appeared to me and told me everything."
There was a long pause on the other side.
"Gerald? Are you still there?" Arnold asked worried.
A weak voice answered, "Yeah, I'm still here. It should have been me instead of Stinky. If only I hadn't..."
Arnold cut him off. "Gerald, it wasen't your fault. What's done is done. Right now we need to keep Helga safe and save Master Phoebe. We have to stop Darth Curly and Olga."
"The Chancellor?" Gerald asked strangely over the device. "What about her?"
"She's the one behind all of this. She's the Sith master." Arnold said, flatly.
"What?! But how do you know that?"
"I'll tell you about it when we get there, ok?" Arnold said to him.
"Okay man, I'll see...wait a minute. GET DOWN! EV-"
There was the sound of an explosion over the communicator. Then the line was cut off by the sound of lazer-fire.
"Gerald?! Gerald, come in!" Arnold shouted over the communicator. No response.
He turned to Helga, a look of conviction on his face. "I have to go!"
"Im coming with you!" Helga said, walking over to him.
"Oh no you're not!" You're going to stay here with your dad where it's safe!" Arnold said, looking over at her.
Helga scowled in determination, "Look Arnold-o, you can't give me orders!"
Arnold grabbed her arms and shook her firmly. "Helga please! You have to stay here! If anything happened to you, I'd never forgive myself!"
Helga blinked at the words. "Hey, I'm not just some helpless little child, football-head! I can take care of myself!"
Arnold calmed down and let her go. Then he looked into her eyes and smiled slightly, "Hey, I know you're not. Believe me, after that little stunt earlier with the the battle droids I certainly don't think that. But you're the one the Sith wants. I couldn't bear the thought of you...(Arnold couldn't even say it). I dont want to lose you. You're too important...to me."
Again, Helga looked into his eyes and blinked at the words he spoke to her. She felt her heart flutter and sensed his feeling for her well being through the Force. She smiled and nodded. "Okay Arnold, I'll stay put."
Arnold nodded, satsifyed and turned to go. Before he could go more than a few paces, Helga grabbed his arm, turned him aroun and kissed him on the mouth passionatly.
Big Bob looked on, his mouth and eyes widened in surprise.
Helga smiled at him, "Be careful Arnold, and may The Force be with you."
Arnold smiled and nodded and ran to his speederbike, practically skipping.
From behind her as Helga watched her beloved mount the speederbike, Big Bob said, "You know, young lady. I think its time we had a little talk about something."
Helga rolled her eyes and thought, Oh Criminey, now he wants to be a father.
Watching the speederbike take off wuickly, her heart went out for the boy riding it. She closed her eyes and whispered, "Come back to me, my Arnold."
On his speederbike, speeding quickly over the rocky desertscape in the light of the setting suns in the background, Arnold smiled widely, still feeling the kiss Helga left on his lips. The way he felt right then, he could have taken on a hundred Sith Lords!
To Be Continued...
Next Chapter, Arnold Skywalker Vs. Darth Curly...Round One! Stay Tuned and Rewiew!
Oh and my thanks to Demile for her drawing of Darth Curly...a great job. Oh and if you ever get the idea for Arnold Skywalker, think Arnold wearing Anikan Skywalker's robes and a blue lightsaber. LOL! DarthRoden (aka. Carl)