Chapter 12
'Big Man on Campus'
'Well it's been building up inside of me
For oh I don't know how long
I don't know why
But I keep thinking
Something's bound to go wrong'
- B. Wilson
Dantius could have taken the university shuttle bus back to the campus. His dormitory is a long walk from the medical school campus. He has missed an entire day of classes. He will need to hunker down and study, especially if he intends on passing his mid-year finals. His father will be furious if he screws up again.
Dantius takes his time and arrives at his dorm after the 30-minute walk. The day shift guard is on duty at the front desk. Brutus Howell glances up from his newspaper. No words are exchanged. Brutus notices something different about the brooding loner. The guard figures that the brief holiday break must have done the trick. He continues reading the sports page.
Dantius brushes pass a couple of students on his way up to his room. The two students are heading over to the Magnum Ro Tau Fraternity House as end of semester pledges. He recognizes one of the students. It is Vernu's brother. Neither student speaks. It was not a snub; the student does not immediately recognize Dantius. Dantius decides not to get paranoid about it. Just because he backed out of the engagement to his sister and niece of the king does not mean everyone is giving him the 'hairy eyeball'.
Once upstairs in his room, Dantius settles down to study.
He breezes through his book on. 'Political Thought In the Republic Classic Era.' He had to listen to the professor drone on about "the guardians of peace and justice in the Old Republic" 'The Jedi did this' and 'The Jedi did that.' It was a thousand years of history that did not matter to him…not yet anyway. He complained to the professor during a round-table discussion, in preparation for his report, on the importance of Jedi in history and in the political arena.
"I am fed to the teeth with elevated themes! Old dead legends! Why must we go on forever reading about gods and legends?"
The professor has a solid response to Dantius' complaint.
"Because they do. They go on forever. Or at least what they represent. The eternal in us. The Jedi Order is here to ennoble us. You and me just the same as Her Majesty the Queen."
He stopped arguing about it since it was clear his opinion was not in the majority. If he were going to write a paper on the Jedi then he will need to adjust his views. He needs to think of ways that the Jedi can have a positive impact on him now and in the future. He starts writing. He never opens the book again for references. Dantius possesses an uncanny ability to retain everything he reads. He will have no trouble passing both parts of the Poli-Sci final.
Dantius moves on to his philosophy assignment. He starts to read the required chapters, however this seems to take more time than usual. He is full aware that he has double work because of his absence from class but it seems difficult. His mind wanders. It is clear that his attention is on things that have nothing to do with his academic work. He has a lack of focus as he reads the same paragraph three times. He presses on, working through the remainder of the afternoon. Dantius is not just thinking of forbidden desires. There have been so many distractions today. This distraction is of the most basic. He is hungry.
Dantius looks at the clock. It is a forty-five minutes into dinnertime at the student dining hall. He thinks about making the trip to get something to eat. The whole ordeal causes him great angst. He does not want to wander around searching for a place to sit. However, he does not want to stand out looking lonely with no one to sit with him. He feels foolish even thinking about it.
"Concentrate…Focus!" He reads the last page of his philosophy textbook but his mind drifts again. He thinks back on the days' series of events. That one encounter was a fluke. He reviews the outline for his 'poli-sci' report. The finished result on his computer screen looks perfect. After admiring his work, he decides that he should freshen up. He had not changed his clothes since the morning and then he cut himself with that blasted dagger! He regrets having ever accepted the dagger. The only good that came of it was his chance encounter with Sigrid. He looks at the down-filled parka draped across the bed. He gets up from the desk, removes the dagger from the pocket the coat, and slips it underneath his philosophy textbook. He begins to undress and then takes a shower.
The steady spray from the showerhead wakes him up. As he lathers up a sponge, he notices that the stretchy gauze fabric of the bandage is waterproof and there is no seepage of water into the wound on his hand. Amazing! Who knew? The shower has washed away any dark aura around him.
Dantius exits the shower and dries himself with a blue bath sheet. His mother had sent her son back to school with a care package of bath towels and treats. He puts on a white t-shirt and trousers. Dantius then returns to the mirror. His hair is still damp as he shaves. There is not enough facial growth worth shaving but he feels compelled to do it anyway. You never know whom you might meet during a visit to the dining hall. He pulls his hair back taut. His face appears a bit thinner but not by much. His skin is soft to touch. He is disappointed. The face he sees is not of a handsome young man with chiseled features as he had hoped, but rather resembles an adolescent boy. He wishes he looked more distinguished, or possessed the confidence of a Magnus Rieekan or a Finis Valorum, or that debonair medical student Markus who seemed to have Sigrid smitten
.
Dantius runs his fingers through his hair and shakes it back in place. He lets out a sigh of disappointed acceptance. This is the best he is going be as far as looks are concerned. His sudden preoccupation with his appearance causes him to forget how much time he has spent in the bathroom mirror. The flashing red light on the intercom pulses wildly in the background. He swipes the blade of the razor across his left cheek when he hears a knock on the door.
That 'lubdub' feeling is back. The razor falls into the sink as his backs away from the mirror. The knocking is loud and determined. He panics. 'Why now? Why here? Are there no boundaries? After all that has happened in the past few weeks and especially today, he had time to rethink his life. Perhaps he should have taken that call earlier on his phone. He would have met his visitor on neutral turf, not in his dorm. He stares at the door and imagines it rumbling with the force by the loud banging. His hand is shaking nervously as he reaches for the door handle. He feels his life flashing before his eyes. Where is his light saber? The door swings open.
"Geez! What took you so long? We thought you died in here."
"He probably thought we were Trade Federation Officials here to warn him to steer clear of us ravel rousers."
Dantius clears his throat. He is not sure if he should be relieved that the two young women are at his door instead of whom he was expecting to see. He finally answers their question.
"Not exactly."
"Boy, you're a jumpy one. You should have seen your face."
Dantius self-consciously tucks his shirt inside his trousers and wipes his face with the towel still draped around his neck. This adrenaline-filled moment leaves him stunned.
Fern tries to look inside as he holds the door ajar.
"Well? A gentleman invites a lady inside."
Dantius is obviously flustered to the point of stammering. If he had his wits about him, he would have had a clever response about the 'lady' claim. His brain was not working fast enough and he might get a slap in the face.
"Wh—wha-how did you get up here?"
The girls invite themselves inside before he can react. Fern pushes her way pass him. Sigrid surveys the room.
"Dani, you should know by now we are not shy; plus…a bit of charm usually opens lots of doors."
Dantius discreetly pokes his head outside and looks once each way down the hall. He closes the door.
Sigrid is already across the room opening the drapes. She takes in the view of Naboo Palace at dusk. Tiny lights from the palace square windows flicker in the distance. Fern pokes around too.
"Why is it so dark in here?" She searches for a light switch. The room is suddenly awash with light. Dantius blinks uncontrollably as he adjusts his eyes to the brightness.
"I was studying at my desk. I use the desk lamp. It's all the light I need." He follows behind Fern and switches off the ceiling light.
Sigrid turns away from the window. She is facing Dantius then points to his face. There is a streak of shaving cream on his chin. Dantius touches his chin and grabs the end of his towel to wipe it away. Sigrid immediately takes over.
"Allow me. There! All done." Sigrid touches his face then turns to Fern. "Fern, his skin is so soft. Feel it."
Fern touches him.
"Why are you shaving, 'stylus-boy'? Your face is like a baby's behind."
"Uhm…" Dantius is embarrassed.
"So, stylus-boy, are you coming to dinner with us or are you fasting?"
"I-I was about to go anyway."
"Well, get a move-on, we don't have all night."
"I have to get dressed."
"Snap-to!" The girls, especially Fern look around his room touching things. Fern surveys the desk and flips through his books. She is about to lift one of the textbooks. Dantius panics.
"Don't touch that!" He places his hand on the book that conceals the dagger and then attempts to straighten the other items on his desk. The girls ignore his pleas. Dantius feels as if Jawas or curious Ewoks have just invaded his room. In either case, the girls are uncontrollable. Fern sits on the foot of his bed and bounces on it.
"Nice mattress. Is this an elitist private dorm room perk or did you bring it from home?"
"What difference does it make?"
The girls nod to one another smiling.
"Perk!" They notice that Dantius not laughing. Fern checks out other items in the room.
"Relax, will you? You're getting cranky. An empty belly makes a grumpy student…hey! What's this?"
She sees the clock on the nightstand near his bed. "Whoa, man! How cool is this?"
Sigrid turns to look.
"What? Oh, sweet!"
Fern presses the buttons before Dantius can stop her
"Can I have this?"
"Of course not! Don't touch please."
The female computer-generated voice on the clock radio echoes his command.
'Don't touch please…Attention…two female guests in room. This is highly unusual, sir.'
The girls giggle. Dantius is embarrassed. Sigrid cannot resist a joke as she mimics the computer-generated voice from the clock radio.
"Warning…warning! Girls in dorm room…" She cannot contain herself as she speaks to him. "Dani, your radio sounds jealous. Are we the first women in your room, Dani? Huh? How cute."
Dantius blushes as she nudges him and pinches his cheek. He tries to remain professional.
"I am abiding by the school code of ethics."
"That old pamphlet they give every student since this place was built? No one takes that handbook seriously!"
Fern winks. "He does. 'Stylus boy,' that handbook must be at least a hundred years old or something. What millennium are you living in? You've already broke one of the by-laws… 'Thou shall not steal,' you plan on returning that stylus you stole this morning?" Fern is distracted by an oblong box on his shelf. It is the antique lightsaber case. "What's in here?"
Dantius hurries over and places his hand firmly over the lid.
"Could you not touch that?"
"What is it?"
"It's personal."
Fern mugs for Sigrid. "It's 'personal." The girls giggle again.
"Dani, you're so funny. You should see how serious you look. Hurry up and get dressed; we're starving. You're not even wearing any socks."
"Would you ladies mind waiting outside while I put on some clothes?"
Sigrid is not moving.
"Why can't we stay in here? We've seen boys before."
Dantius gently pushes them towards the door.
"I bet you have. Would you wait outside…please?"
"What if one of those big ol' jocks makes a pass at us? Who will defend our honor?"
Dantius is bemused by her remark.
"Honor? Who barged into the men's dorm unannounced?"
Sigrid smiles at his comeback.
"Touché! Dani, I am impressed.
Fern agrees.
"Sigi, I'm starting to develop a new-found respect for this 'stylus-stealing' geek. Okay, we'll wait outside; but if you don't come out, we're going to make a scene in the hallway in front of your door."
Dantius believes them somehow. He is certain that this is not the first time these two girls have raided an all-male dorm, and he is sure they have trespassed other secure areas before.
Sigrid notices a beautiful teal box with the burgundy grosgrain ribbon on the back of his desk.
"What's that? Is that what I think it is? Paonga Delights! Ooh, I love those…"
Dantius quickly grabs the unopened box of sweets and shoves it into her hands. He pushes the girls towards the door.
The girls file out the door but leave it ajar. They can turn to face him but Dantius force-closes the door with a loud bang. He hears the 'tenacious duo' outside jiggling the handle. He can hear their muffled voices from the other side.
"Dani, the door is locked…you accidentally locked us out." There is giggling.
Dantius rolls his eyes and tries to ignore them. He examines his injured hand. His limited Force powers can still make an impact. He was told that his powers would become stronger over time. He will need to practice.
Now that the room is quiet again, Dantius pulls open a dresser drawer and selects a burgundy pullover with a high collar. He walks over to his closet to get a new coat. He pulls out a navy blue down parka. He slips on a clean pair of winter socks and his short boots. Just as he fastens the remaining bootstrap, the windows begin to rattle violently. The drapes sway as if urged on by a strong breeze. He hurries over to secure the window but the handle is in the locked position. The 'lubdub' feeling starts again. He takes a tentative step backward. The room shakes. Books fall from the shelf. He covers his head as the book on his desk flies off the desk and the dagger sails across the floor. He covers his head cowering in a corner. Suddenly there is silence then a loud knock on the door. He stumbles to his feet and hurries to the door. When he opens it, Fern and Sigrid stare at him.
"Are you alright?"
"I'm fine." He is visibly shaken as he attempts to smooth his hair. He grabs his parka and the vial from the apothecary. Fern is a bit suspicious.
"We thought you fell or something."
"I'm okay."
"Thanks for leaving us out in the hall for so long. We were almost accosted by barbarians, or as you call them, jocks."
"I was only a couple of minutes."
Sigrid's eyes widen.
"A couple of minutes?" Are you joking? We've been waiting for half an hour."
Two jocks who have been trying to talk to the girls pass by on their way to the elevator. One of them chuckles as Dantius slips on his blue parka.
"Way to go, Ladies man! Heh…heh!"
The second jock agrees.
"Real smooth, Papman." He grins lasciviously as he looks at the girls. "If you ladies want to get to know a reliable guy…" He glances over at Dantius. "…who won't keep you waiting…"
Sigrid cuts him off without making eye contact with the hulking athlete.
"Come on, Dani, let's go." She takes Dantius by the hand as if her were a little boy. The three take the first open elevator and command the elevator computer to close its doors. The two jocks watch as the doors close on them.
Dantius emerges from the elevator with a girl on each arm. Sigrid smiles at the security guard.
"Thanks, Mr. Howell."
Brutus Howell looks up from his paper. He is finishing a double shift while another guard takes a holiday. Officer Frank Jarman is just arriving to relieve him. Brutus nods and smiles as the girls leave the lobby.
"Good evening, ladies. Behave yourselves."
The two jocks emerge from the second elevator bank. They see Dantius outside with Sigrid and Fern. This infuriates them.
"I don't get it. No one hears a peep out of him all semester then suddenly he winds up with two hot chicks. This has to be a joke."
"Little jerk. I would love to teach him a lesson."
He snaps his hulking neck clenches his gloved fist. The two students exit the building.