Chapter 9

'The Encounters PT 3'

'#!* Top Chef'

'Hoth Goddess'

'Venus, make her fair

A lovely girl with sunlight in her hair

and take the brightest stars up in the skies

And place them in her eyes for me'

- E. Marshall

"Would you like to sign the petition to keep them from their choke-hold across the galaxy? Their next move is to control all trade routes. It won't be long before they petition for a tax. They claim to be the victim but they're not."

Dantius hangs onto her every word.

"Are things really that bad?"

"The Sith bastards are behind this you know."

"Really? That can't be true."

"It's a fact. There's a rally next week at the chancellor's residence. Also, we need 40 million signatures to bring this before the Galactic Senate. Want to help us?"

"Totally."

Dantius drapes his academic gown over his shoulder and uses the newly acquired stylus to sign the petition.

"Thanks…." She reads his signature on the 82nd line of the data clipboard. "Dan-ti-us Pal…Palpatine. Oh! Okay. Thanks, Dani!"

Dantius smiles. No one has ever called him 'Dani.' He would normally take offense but he likes it, especially coming from her.

As he looks into her beautiful green eyes, the pretty student moves like a graceful dancer in her formfitting white ski pants. She leans over the table and repositions the data clipboard. She shifts the weight off her left leg showing off the curves of her body. Her nuna suede Sand Lug boots make her look as if she has just completed a ski run and is about to enjoy a warm beverage in a local Hoth ski lodge. The short boots match the over-sized brown Bantha wool tunic top with ancient Tatooine cave designs woven into them.

The blonde angel winks at him. She resembles an ancient Hoth snow goddess. Her academic gown drapes over the back of a folding chair with a satchel that contains her schoolbooks and a bunch of flyers for an upcoming rally. A platinum headband rests on her long blonde tresses. The headband is decorated with Geonosian turquoise stones. Her flawless bisque complexion and pink cheeks makes her a natural beauty. She has a smile with perfect white teeth. She could be a spokes model for a toothpaste ad created by one of the advertising agencies in the Column Commons District on Coruscant.

She does not strike him as the radical type yet she is drawing crowds of students to sign the petition. She must wield some influence. Dantius is oblivious to the fact that everyone waiting in line at her end of the table is young men. Some have only the slightest notion of the severity of the issues on the petition but they are drawn to her. Dantius is too.

Just as Dantius is about to leave the table, he is compelled to speak to her. He weaves his way to the front of the crowded table. He has to yell over the growing crowd of students at the table and the other students who are carrying signs high above their heads barking their mantra: 'Interference No! Communication Now!,' to get the attention of people filing into the dining hall. He squeezes his way between two students who are signing the data clipboard. He finally gets her attention.

"What's your name?"

She leans forward a bit so she can hear him.

"What?"

"What's your name? You already have mine."

"Oh! It's Sigrid…Sigrid Horn. But everyone calls me Sigi."

"Nice to meet you Sigi Horn."

"Nice to meet you too! Hope to see you at the rally!"

"I wouldn't miss it!"

Dantius slowly backs away from the table. He forgets that a big crowd is behind him. He backs into one of the students. The student elbows him.

"Hey, watch it, weirdo."

The guy he bumps into is a jock who plays offence on the Theed University Smashball team as well as captain of the Gravball team. Dantius does not want to get into an altercation.

"Oh! Sorry."

Dantius works his way through the congested entranceway to the dining hall. Just as he is about to walk towards the cafeteria line, someone walks over and kisses Sigrid. She looks happy to see him. The tall handsome young man with the intense blue eyes smiles. It is Finis Valorum.

Dantius steps away then heads inside the dining hall to the hot breakfast bar. A team of middle-added men and women staffs this area. A few students work in the kitchen as part-time staff. If they work 40 hours a month, the school loan is converted into a grant that they need not pay back. Their jobs range from keeping inventory in the pantry, prep work, to refilling the steamer bins.

Dantius sees a new menu posted on the holovid. The selections crawl upward on the screen. He leans closer to the sneeze-guard to look at the variety of hot cereal, breakfast meats, duck eggs and Tatooine potato hash. The food services attendant is a seemingly humorless middle-aged woman who has worked the hot breakfast bar for 25 years. She sighs as she waits impatiently for Dantius to make up his mind. She wields a serving spatula in one hand while the other rests on her small but shapely hip. When she retires, a food services droid will take over her job. The droids will be programmed not to torment the students. Dantius scans the steamer trays before making his choice.

"Excuse me, are the potatoes steamed or fried?"

"They're steamed then fried."

"Oh. Do you have the spinach omelet? I can't find it."

"Do you see spinach omelets on the menu?"

"Uhm…yes, I…."

Just as quickly, the woman, who goes by the name of Viola, unclips a laser pointer from the pocket of her crisp white uniform. She aims it towards the holovid menu board. The image of the spinach omelet disappears from the board.

"Now it's gone."

Dantius tries for his second choice.

"I'll have the Sand Dune pancakes."

"We're out of pancakes…just waffles and Corellian-style pain perdu."

Dantius squints at the insolent woman. It looks like a stand-off with neither budging. The Force in this case is stronger with Viola than the student cum Sith. He settles for two poached eggs and oat bran toast. How does she get away with talking to him this way? The other students, however, do not seem to mind. In fact, they anxiously await their turn for abuse by asking a dumb question. Dantius thinks it is stupid. No self-respecting student would put up with such nonsense by a servant. .Dantius underestimates them. Three students standing behind Dantius anticipate their turn with glee.

"She's great, isn't she?"

"This is the highlight of the morning, eh?"

The third student decides to start a conversation with the woman.

"G'morning, Viola. How are you today?"

Viola responds in a monotone.

"I'm fine. Yourself?"

"I'm doin' okay." Roman Beruss smoothes his uncombed dark blond hair and scratches the stubble on his chin. It is obvious he has just rolled out of bed. His dormitory is located across from the dining hall. He is a handsome young man in spite of his unkempt appearance. His academic gown is draped across his messenger bag. Viola gives him a wary look.

"You flunk any of your exams this semester?"

"I'm holding on. Got a 'C' in my Galactic Poli-Sci exam."

He beams proudly as he checks out the menu board. Viola says what is on her mind. None of these over-privileged students intimidates her. She also has a vocabulary that would make a Mos Eisley smuggling pilot blush.

"That's the best you were able to do after your parents spent good money to send you all the way to Naboo for an education?"

"A 'C' is passing."

"You smoking that Felucia gold mess again, ain't you?"

"It relaxes me."

"You know you smoke too much of that 'sith'; that 'sith' is gonna rob you of your own ambition."

"I've still got plenty of ambition left."

Viola shakes her head displaying her obvious disappointment. Her voice suddenly softens to a motherly tone.

"What are you having for breakfast today, baby?"

"Uhm…I'll try the spinach omelet, please."

"Sure thing, sweetie."

The other two students nod.

'We'll have the same, thanks."

Dantius is still in the line as another server hands him his freshly poached eggs. He turns his head. The fry cook behind the counter fires up the stove and whips up a batch of eggs for the omelets. He opens a refrigerated compartment to his left and pulls out a stainless steel container filled with fresh spinach and another container filled with shredded Jundland cheese.

Dantius realizes the woman has lied to him. He starts to protest.

"Hey!..." He quickly rethinks what he might say and remains quiet. He looks down at the poached eggs on his tray. They are plump steaming globules. Cooked to perfection. He continues on down the line.

One of the three 'omelet customers' takes his turn chatting with Viola.

"So, Miss Viola how's that nephew of yours?" This elicits a wide smile as the woman expresses an apparent joy of her life.

"He's doing just fine. I thought it would be tough on him not having parents and all but, he is learning so much. He's so smart. And that Master Yoda is such a great teacher. Master Yoda says little Mace is already showing great leadership skills."

"They sure know how to roll out young Jedi on Coruscant, don't they?"

"Indeed they do. Indeed they do." She shovels the Tatooine potato hash with a spatula while raising her right hand to the heavens. Praise the Jedi! Hallelujah!"

The fry cook completes the omelet orders.

"Three spin up!"

Viola Windu serves the diner-size plates to her young customers.

"Here you go, boys. Behave now, you here?"

"Yes Miss Windu. Thanks."

Meanwhile, Dantius collects his oat bran toast from the toaster. He locates an empty table and prepares to eat Just as he is about to take a sip of the hot cocoa, which is no way as good as what his mother makes, he hears a voice.

"Hello, Dani."

He almost chokes and a bit of the hot beverage spills from the cup onto his tray. He quickly takes his napkin and dabs his mouth just in case. He looks up from his tray. It is the 'Hoth Snow Goddess.' He could swear that a heavenly aura surrounds her wherever she goes.

Sigrid sets down her tray across from him and sits.

"Are these seats taken?"

"Uhm….no. no."

"Super! It'll be nice to site with one of our ardent supporters."

Dantius tries to appear less awkward than he is feeling right now. He responds.

"I'm glad that my support matters."

Dantius realizes says sounds meaningless and dumb. Had he known that she would come over to sit at his table, he would have come up with something more profound to say. He immediately stops talking before he makes a complete idiot of himself. He watches as she butters a toasted seven-grain roll. She makes casual conversation as she does this.

"So, what's your major?"

"Uhm…philosophy…but I'm thinking of switching to political science or something to evoke the social consciousness of the intergalactic community."

"So you want to be a social activist like us?"

"Sure. I believe I can make a difference."

"You should think about hanging out with us. It would be fantastic if you could come to our meetings to see what we're all about."

"Really?"

He slices his spoon into one of the poached eggs. Soon, others join him and Sigrid at the table. Two males and one female who were outside the dining hall at the petition station prepare to sit with them. One of the female students starts to complain.

"Do you believe Biff Tagge? He is such a d*head." She takes the empty seat to Dantius' right. Her name is Fern. She flips her straight brunette hair off her face as she prepares to eat her breakfast. She is attractive in her own right but nowhere near the flawless beauty of Sigrid. Fern is smart, tenacious and has a cutting wit. Dantius looks from the corner of his eye as the table fills up. He hears one of the male voices move in closer.

A.J. 'Boone' Antilles is a short, scruffy-looking student from Corellia. His thick mane of black hair falls in his face almost hiding his beautiful blue eyes and dimpled cheeks. His oft worn Theed University hooded sweatshirt is layered over a maroon wool sweater. He carries an orange ski parka tucked under his arm along with his academic gown that is stuffed inside the sleeve. The gowns are supposed to be treated with the greatest respect but few students hold on to these traditions anymore. His trousers are military surplus fatigues. Boone plops his parka and grungy rucksack on top of Dantius' down coat and neatly folded academic gown on the seat to his right. Dantius turns to see his neatly folded garments crushed under the dingy rucksack. He tries to remain calm.

Boone sets his tray at the empty space directly to the left of his gear. He wastes no time biting into an overstuffed breakfast sandwich of fried duck eggs, Eopie bacon, tomato, cheese, onion, and butter. The contents ooze out the sides. He realizes that he forgot to get napkins. He sees two extra napkins on the tray Dantius is using. Boone reaches over and helps himself.

"Dude, mind if I…"

Dantius does not have the chance to say 'No." The napkin is snatched up before there is a protest.

Another male student arrives at the table. He sits across from Fern but one seat away from Sigrid. Dantius glances up. The student recognizes him immediately. Dantius remembers him too. It is the student at the petition signup table. He looks across the table at Dantius and makes a flip comment.

"Oh, it's the 'stylus' guy." He also distracted by something else as he surveys the people at the table. "Hey, everyone can't take a break at the same time. There are only two people manning the petition table out there."

Sigrid speaks for everyone.

"It's breakfast. Some of us have class later; besides, we have more volunteers coming in half an hour."

"Oh, well. That makes a big difference."

Eyes roll as he speaks. They sense his sarcasm. Of the group, he seems to be the most passionate about their cause. His name is Magnus Rieekan. He keeps the group in line. He is tall and handsome with light brown hair.

Fern turns to Boone and wrinkles her nose in disgust.

"That sandwich is disgusting. Just because you work in the cafeteria doesn't mean you have to eat everything they make.

"Hey! Yeah, I eat everything; so if the other students ask if I eat this food...I can say, "Yeah, I eat this food. I'm providing a service."

Magnus looks back at Dantius who is keeping very quiet now.

"Oh, it's you. Can I interest you in a stylus?"

Sigrid watches as Dantius blushes. She does not get the joke.

"What?"

Magnus rolls his eyes and explains.

"Our table guest here thought we were giving out free writing implements.'"

Sigrid's eyes widen. She pauses from cutting her grapefruit.

"Hey…you know what? That may not be such a bad idea. We could have some printed with our slogan. Dani, you've just helped us with a fantastic idea to get our message out to the masses."

"I did?" He is about to eat the poached egg from the spoon he is holding. Sigrid smiles.

"Of course! It's Genius!"

He did not intend to do such a thing. However, when Sigrid smiles at him, he changes his mind. His smile suddenly fades however when someone walks up behind her. Dantius watches as a man gently runs his fingers through her long flaxen hair and sweeps a lock of it from her face. The man kisses Sigrid on her forehead. Dantius stares at them. The piece of poached eggs slides off his spoon as he holds it to his mouth.

Magnus glances over to Fern and nods in the general direction of Dantius. They chuckle silently. Boone waves his hand in his face to get a response. The three are amused.

"Hey, Dude, are you with us?"

Magnus snaps his fingers in Dantius' face.

"Hey…'stylus guy'…snap out of it."

Dantius drops the spoon then blinks. He is a bit embarrassed but Sigrid and her male friend barely notice. Fern sighs as she watches Finis much like a teen girl looks at her idol. Only Boone and Magnus are aware of her crush on the handsome doctorate student. For a tough, socially active person, she glances starry-eyed across the table. She whispers but only Boone, Magnus and Dantius can hear her.

"He is so…"

Magnus leans across the table.

"Not you too? Fernie, keep it together. Don't say it. You're one of the few people on this campus I still respect."

"Kill joy."

Boone plays instigator and blurts out what Fern is thinking.

"'Dreamy.' Is that the word you were looking for, Ms. Fern?"

Fern turns her head so no one can see her blushing.

Sigrid finally remembers that her friends are still at the table.

Oh, Dani, you haven't officially met everyone, have you?"

Dantius wipes his mouth.

"Uhm...no…not altogether…"

Sigrid goes around the table starting with Magnus

"That's Magnus, Fern, Boone…" Boone is busy eating but winks at Dantius and gives him a 'thumbs-up with his free hand.

"Hey."

She looks up at the person standing behind her stroking her hair. He appears quite sure of himself.

"Oh, and this is Finis…we call him 'Fin'." She laces her delicate hands with Finis' strong hand. Finis does not sit at the table. "Are you joining us?"

"No, I've been invited to a breakfast meeting in the faculty dining room."

"Oh, okay."

Dantius rises halfway from his seat to greet Finis.

"Hello."

Finis nods. He seems polite but disinterested in this new addition to the group. Dantius senses this and decides he is finished with his breakfast. He puts down his napkin.

"Well…uhm…I should be going. I'll be late for class." He reaches for his down coat, shoving Boone's parka and rucksack aside. Boone does not notice.

He slips his right hand inside his coat pocket in an effort to locate his student datacard. He feels a sharp sting and quickly pulls out his hand. He suddenly notices the look of concern and horror on the faces at the table. Fern is the first to notice since she is sitting directly beside him.

"Oh, my god!"

Magnus points. " Dude, you know you're bleeding?"

Dantius looks at his right hand. There is an 8-centemeter incision in his palm. The wound runs along the 'life line'. Fern reaches across the table and grabs unused napkins from everyone's tray. Magnus complains.

"Hey! I was about to use that."

"He's just about bleeding to death, okay?"

Boone continues eating his sandwich. He watches as the blood seeps through the napkins on Dantius' hand.

"You should go to the infirmary, dude."

Dantius stares at his had as the blood continues to each napkin red. He is unusually calm.

"I'll be fine."

Sigrid expresses her own concern.

"Dani, that cut looks really bad. I'm walking in the direction of the infirmary. It's on my way to class. I'll take you there."

"No…I can go myself."

Finis whispers something in her ear. He then helps her with her coat. Sigi turns to him.

"You'll do that?"

"Yes, Go. I'll hang around at the table until you come back. You'll only be gone for what... half an hour?"

"I can't just leave him alone there."

Finis checks his PDA. I can stay a short time after my breakfast meeting."

Fern quickly gathers her things then rises from her chair.

"Fin, I'll join you. You have a lecture to prepare for. I'll take up the slack at the petition table."

Magnus calls out to Sigrid.

"Don't order any promotional products like stylus's or holo-posters without consulting me. We're on a budget you know!"

Sigrid hears him but does not respond. She walks around the table to where Dantius is standing. She takes over for Fern who has been applying pressure on his wound to stop the bleeding. Sigrid jams a wad of new napkins into his palm to absorb the blood.

"Clench your fist tightly to slow down the bleeding."

Dantius agrees. Sigrid carries her bag and his rucksack and their academic gowns. They head out of the dining hall. Dantius is grateful.

"Thanks for doing this."

"It's okay. That's weird how you injured your hand. How did you do that?"

"Uhm ...must be a sharp edge underneath the table."

"I'll make mention of that to the student union. They'll have to inspect the tables."

"You are an activist, aren't you?"

"Hah!"

"You must cause a lot of headaches for the Galactic Republic."

"You better believe it!"

"You're fearless."

"What's to be afraid of, eh?"