Chapter 39

'Run'

'The Meeting Place'

'Falling'

'Slow Decent Into Hell - Part II'

It is a beautiful crisp morning. Magnus, Sigrid, Roman, and Boone prepare to set out on their trek to Lnteel Glacier. They have just finished a hearty breakfast and their trekking poles and other equipment is secured on the roof of their landspeeder. Magnus is about to start the vehicle. Boone closes the rear passenger door when his phone rings.

"Yeah? You are? When? Really? Uhm…we were about to leave but I'll wait…hold on." Boone calls out to Magnus. "Mags! Hold up…"

"What now?" He puts the speeder in neutral and looks into the rearview mirror at Boone.

"Son'ya's coming and she's bringing Fern."

"Those two wait until the last minute to decide that they're coming? They're going to throw us off schedule."

"It's okay; they're already at the Lnteel Spaceport Terminal. I'll take the tram and pick them up. We'll meet you at the base of GaldHothbreen."

"Any word from Dantius?"

"No. Perhaps he changed his mind." Boone opens the door and steps out of the speeder.

Magnus looks at his watch. He prefers to stick to the agreed upon schedule and is not pleased with this change. Roman zips his blue down jacket and steps out of the speeder.

"I'll go with you, Boone."

"No, go on ahead. We'll catch up. I'll rent a speeder at the terminal."

Sigrid remains inside the landspeeder. She looks out the window and flashes her beautiful smile.

"We'll wait. We won't start without you."

"Better not. You mother packed a great lunch for us."

"Don't worry; we'll save enough for you."

Roman gets back in the vehicle and sits behind Sigrid. Boone waves as Magnus, Roman, and Sigrid drive off to the glacier. He grabs a land shuttle just down the hill from the Horn house. The shuttle is an express and he arrives at the terminal sooner than expected. Son'ya and Fern are sitting in the waiting area.

Boone starts to smile at his two forlorn friends.

"Hello, ladies. What is with the sad faces? Disappointed it wasn't Magnus picking you up? You're traveling light. No trekking poles? No skis?"

He notices that they do not laugh at his joke. Son'ya does something he never expected. She stands and immediately gives him a hug.

"I'm so glad to see you. Boone, we need to talk."

Boone is puzzled by this unexpected display of affection.

"Uhm…okay…We'll talk in the speeder."

Son'ya has never hugged him with such emotion. Boone is usually inciting her wrath over something inappropriate he has said or done. His smile turns to concern as he senses a great fear in her. He glances over her shoulder at Fern. He has never seen Fern in such a vulnerable state. Son'ya pulls away and looks into his eyes.

"Where are the others?"

"They've gone ahead. We're meeting them at the base of the glacier."

"Is he with them?"

"Who? Dani? He never showed. I don't think he's coming."

"We have to hurry and warn the others."

"Son'ya, you're not making any sense. You're acting weirder that usual. Dani's not here. Don't worry about it."

"Please!"

"Alright, alright…we'll go. I'm going to rent a speeder or we'll never get there in time. "

It is not until the trio get into a rental speeder that Son'ya tells Boone what she knows from Kiri. He tries to allay her fears until tells him about Fern. Boone is at a loss for words. The most he says is 'Wow' in a quiet voice. They sit in the vehicle silent. Son'ya touches his hand as he rests it on the steering wheel.

"Boone. What are you thinking?"

"He's my friend. He would never do some of the things you're accusing him of doing. It sounds crazy…and you are the queen of crazy."

"And Fern? You don't believe that he would abandon her? Well he has! There is a child, Boone, and he doesn't care."

"What do you want to do, Fern? I haven't heard a peep out of you since you got here. I can tell him not to come."

Son'ya interrupts.

"Forget about him, Fern. Boone, we have to do something."

"Shut up, woman! Let me think. "Son'ya is not offended by Boone's remarks. He always speaks to her this way. In, fact, it is almost funny. Boone usually has to listen to both Fern and Son'ya talking. This time is different.

"Boone, we need to warn the others."

"About what? That he might show up and tell us he hates us? Big whoop! If he's coming all this way for that, we could save him the time and tell him not to come."

"But what if he does?"

"I don't think he's coming."

Just as he utters these words, his phone lights up. He stares at the pulsing display. He lifts the phone to his ear.

"Hey, man, how did you get this number? My parents just got me this phone." He laughs nervously.

"I'm on my way. Where are the others?"

"They're on their way…Wasn't enough room in that compact landspeeder Magnus rented. I'm heading up separately. ..You need a lift?"

"I would like that... Thanks."

"Give me about half an hour. I need to turn back around."

Son'ya gestures an emphatic "No!" but Boone waves at her to be quiet. There is a brief silence from all parties. Suddenly Dantius speaks.

"Are you with someone?"

"It's okay. I can pick you up." Boone obviously tries to hide the fact that Fern and Son'ya are with him. Dantius does not push. He is surprisingly calm.

"I can find my way. I'll catch up with you. We have a lot to talk about."

After the call, Son'ya looks at Boone. She feels he has betrayed the group.

"That's it? Boone, how could you?" She exhales an exasperated sigh. The vapor from her mouth billows up and disappears into the air. Well, it looks like I'm going to have to warn the others since you refuse to."

"Let me speak to Dani. I think I can reason with him. Well hash it out. I'm sure this is all a big misunderstanding. Soni, come back! You crazy chick! You'll freeze on the way up there! Geez!" He turns to Fern. "So, you choose this time to stop talking? This business between you and Dano is just that, your business. I'll try to reason with him but you two need to talk. It would also help if you called your crazy friend back to the speeder." He waits a moment. Fern does not respond. He rolls his eyes and starts the speeder again.

"Okay…fine. We'll drive in silence. This should be interesting."

Meanwhile, Roman, Magnus, and Sigrid arrive at Lnteel Glacier. A soft, powdery layer of new fallen snow covers the icy surface. They set their trekking poles against a nearby ice boulder and spend time taking humorous holographs of themselves while they await the arrival of the others.

They were as if children again, before their eyes opened to the harsh realities of the changing galaxy, before the protests and campus demonstrations stirred their political awareness of individual responsibility. Magnus' laugh is something rarely heard. Roman remarks that he did not know that Magnus could laugh so loud. This is after Magnus hurls a snowball at Roman. Magnus almost tumbles backwards after the wild pitch.

"Whoa! That was a close one." He looks behind at the jagged glacier edge. It is a long drop to the frigid blue water of the Nev Fjord.

"Careful, Mags!" Roman wipes the snow from his cheek and laughs. He teases Magnus. "You don't have good luck when you come to Hoth. You broke your leg last time…"

Magnus is quick to correct Roman. He steadies himself and brushes the crusted snow from his gloves.

"First of all, that was several semesters ago and it was on Mt. Ison at the North Ridge Challenge… and Stig Childsen clipped me. So there!"

"I stand corrected. You have 'so-so' luck when you come to Hoth. Hah!"

"I'll remember that. Thanks."

"I wonder what's taking Boone so long."

"He's driving Son'ya and Fern. They're probably telling him how to drive. Could you imagine having to listen to those two yakking non-stop? He'll probably hand them the ignition data card and start walking."

"Hah! Yep! I can see that happening or he'll kill himself so he won't have to hear them!"

Meanwhile, Boone is driving with Fern. Son'ya has already walked off to meet the Magnus and the others. Boone sees someone in the distance walking along a hiking trail.

"Is that…how the hell did he make it up here so fast."

"Who?"

"Dani."

"Keep driving."

""No. This is as good a time as any. Come on."

"Are you crazy? I don't want to talk to him."

"Fern, I'll be there to support you. If he is going to be a jerk the way Son'ya says, I want to see it for myself."

"No!"

Boone leaves the speeder and crosses the road to the hiking path. Fern remains in the vehicle then darts out after him. Relax, I can handle this."

Boone heads up the trail. The path is bordered by snow-covered hedges and rocky terrain. A fresh wave of snow begins to fall. The soft flakes land on Boone's dark curls. It is quiet as he reaches a small hill along the trail. Everything is silent. Dantius is on the hill between sparse vegetation. He stops and turns as Boone catches up to him. He does not appear surprised.

"Hello Boone."

"Dani, why didn't you wait for us? We were going to pick you up."

"We?"

"I brought someone along."

Boone steps aside to reveal Fern. She does not move but wants to. She can feel the anger building up inside Dantius.

"Surely you didn't bring her here to elicit sympathy from me."

"Dani, come on…have a heart."

Fern speaks up.

"It's okay, Boone. I've humiliated myself already by coming up here. He's a despicable human being and I want nothing to do with him."

Fern runs off so neither will see her cry. Boone starts after her.

"Fern! Wait!"

Dantius appears calm as Boone tries to stop her.

"Let her go. I will deal with her later. I want to speak to you alone anyway."

Meanwhile, Son'ya sees Roman at the meeting place at the base of the glacier. Roman smiles and waves as he walks down the snowy path to greet her.

"Why are you alone? Where's everyone?"

"Boone decided to meet Dantius."

"Oh, so he is coming."

"He should have never been invited."

"Well, it's too late now. Let's just make the best of it."

"Roman, something doesn't feel right."

"Son'ya, don't get all dramatic on me. It's just a daytrip to the glacier. If he doesn't want to hang out with us, we'll tell him to leave."

"It just feels bad all around. You know what? I'm going to head back down the hill and tell Boone not to wait for him."

"Wait, I'll go with you."

"No, I'll do it myself. If I leave these matters up to you and Boone, you'll probably throw a party."

"What's the sudden change? You and Fern were totally crushing on Dani when you first met him."

Son'ya turns and retreats down the path. Roman calls to her.

"Soni, come on, don't be mad."

Roman throws up his arms and lets her go.

Meanwhile Boone and Dantius stand in the snow covered field among the sparse dried shoots of the tall grasses. Boone looks out on the horizon. The snowflakes are falling in greater abundance now.

"You want to speak to me?"

"I respect you, Boone. I've known you long enough to see your potential to be great."

"Great at what? You're not making any sense."

"If I told you about an opportunity that would make you rich and powerful, you would embrace it, wouldn't you?"

"You should know me better than that. I don't expect much. I got a decent gig, lots of free time to goof off and a comfortable place to crash. It's a sweet deal all around. What can be better than that?"

"Boone, why settle for a mediocre life when you can have a great life?"

"I can do mediocre; corporate and political life doesn't appeal to me."

"Boone, I worry about you. There are changes coming. I want you to be on the right side when they happen."

Boone laughs.

"What are you talking about?"

"Do you really think that all of the campus demonstrations, the frivolous rhetoric against the republic will bring about change? You're wasting your time and talents.

Boone seems unconvinced by Dantius' speech and smiles. He is calm.

"Dano, it's obvious we have differing view of the galaxy."

"I'm only telling you this as a friend. Believe me when I tell you, there will be a new order across the galaxy. "

"Hmmm…what sort of friend tells you your life sucks?"

"Boone, you're like a brother to me...closer than any true sibling I have. You have powers that, put to good use, will make you stronger than you can ever imagine. I've seen it. You loved it when those bullies got their comeuppance. That wasn't all me that night. Search your feelings. You know it to be true."

"I regret everything that happened that night. I confessed my sins. I made my peace. You should make your peace too."

"They deserved to die!"

"But they didn't. I don't know who you are anymore. Are you cracked? What's come over you?"

"I am the future. I have the power of the Sith on my side. Join me and I will show you what you can become."

The smile on Boone's face disappears.

"A Sith? You're the one who is lost."

"You were rejected by the Jedi Order."

"I may not be a Jedi but I believe in the laws of the Jedi."

Dantius sneers in disgust.

"You respect an order that does not respect you. They hold themselves higher than anyone with their disingenuous and self-righteous claims of serving others and vows of poverty! I laugh at their belief in acceptance of all beings. It disgusts me! The Jedi are a joke! They did not accept you. You should be angry. You should be filled with hate and resentment-"

"I hold no bitterness towards the Jedi Order. I am content with my life. I have the spirit of the Jedi on my side."

"And I have the truth of the Sith on my side. Join me, Boone and I will help you become more powerful than any Jedi. You can destroy those who rejected you."

"You're talking about a darkness that I cannot accept."

"It's not an option, Boone. You will join me or you will die alongside all the other non-believers."

Boone sees for the first time the dark side in his college friend.

"Son'ya was right, you're not on the side of good. You've changed."

"I have not changed, Boone. You just refuse to open your eyes."

"Then I guess we were never friends."

Dantius becomes incensed as he clenches his pale fists and glares at Boone. He cannot believe his friend is turning away from him.

"Boone, I am warning you. Come willingly before I destroy you. Display your power. I can feel it rising from within you."

"I won't betray my friends. My loyalty is with them and the rebellion. Whatever powers I may have possessed will never be used against them."

"Your friends!" Dantius sneers in disgust. "Magnus thinks you're a buffoon. He only tolerates you because Sigrid likes you so much. You make her laugh. You're her jester. Roman needed you for one thing, to make sure he graduated. You were too stupid and blind to see. The least you could have done was to demand more money out of him. He will work for his father and never have to worry about money. You are here for their amusement."

"I know who I am. I know they find me amusing. They never lied to me. You betrayed us. You pretended to be our friend. You ruined Fern. She loved you."

"Yes…she is the biggest fool of all."

"I think you should leave this place. No one will want you here once they find out what you've become."

"I cannot leave without you. I promised to bring you back with me."

"Who has turned you into this ungodly 'thing'? What sort of hold does this dark force have on you to turn you against people who only wanted to help you?"

"Boone, I implore you. Join me before it's too late."

"I'll never join you."

"Then you have chosen death." Dantius thrusts his hand forward. Boone gasps for air. He struggles to release himself from Dantius' grasp. His hands grab at his down jacket to release the invisible grasp around his throat. He utters the most gruesome gurgling sounds as his face contorts he gasps for air. Flickers of dark lightning pierce through Boone's body. Son'ya returns to the hill to witness Boone collapsing onto the snowy ground. Large snowflakes cover his dark hair. A stream of blood pours down his right nostril. Son'ya covers her mouth to keep from screaming. Her hat falls off her head and into the snow. She is too frightened to notice as she hurries back up the path to Roman, Magnus, Sigrid, and Fern. The soft snow muffles her steps as she runs to the meeting place at Lnteel Glacier.

Dantius turns and listens. He hears the wind whistle across the valley. He drops to his knees and screams.