[NOTE: This log is combined from two smaller logs, one of mine, and one of Elissa's.] Log date: 6/21/94 Log intro: Having received the word that a seriously large storm is brewing, and also being driven by a renewed need to get off the planet, Kevlan Sharr prepares to visit his claim once more, hoping to clear it out before the storm hits and ruins his resonance to that particular face. In the hangar, Kevlan first encounters a smirking Tyron, and then a solicitous Sean. But he does not remain long. In the crystal vein, Kevlan sets to work cutting a D minor scale of dodecahedrons. But the crystal song, combined with his anxiety and depression over Elissa, distract the young Singer enough that he grows careless. As he coaxes the fifth of his dodecs from the vein, his cutter slips, and shears two fingers off his left hand. A dazed and groggy Kevlan makes it back to the Guildhall with his five dodecs, where his friend Tamber, alarmed to see the _Teesa Narie_ returning so quickly, runs out to intercept him.... You step out from the cramped interior of the sled. Hangar Floor The immense cavern that serves the guild faces the eastern sky. The blue sky merges with the harsh browns of the long plain of the Joslin Plataeu far to the east. The smoothly tiled floor is scarred by myriad gashes and scratches caused by wind-tossed sleds. The northern and southern walls contain over-large double doors while the western wall is set with observation windows. The hangar is half hidden in shadows as Scoria graces the sky high above. The horizon merges with the sky in hazy bands of blue. the sled racks are illuminated slightly. Contents: Tamber(#1213Pcr) Kevlan's sled Tyron Sparhawk's sled Radar Corbin Hangar Terminal A large map, for instructional purposes Sled rack Obvious exits: Equipment Room Simulators Catwalk Cargo Storage Sorting Ready Room Tyron looks over at the Sorter and calmly shrugs. Kevlan stumbles out of his sled, teeth clenched, and face pale, clutching his left hand in his right. Tamber's eyes widen. "Galahad!" Kevlan swallows hard, and mumbles, "Ah... Ah sorta wasn't... payin' attention, Tam... " Tyron looks at the Singer's injury and shrugs again. "Not too bad." Tamber strides over to the young Singer, and frowns at Kevlan's hand. "I'll say you weren't. This isn't like you." Kevlan mumbles wanly, "Ah-ah got five dodecs, Tam... " Tamber says briskly, "Medic first. _Then_ we'll store your crystals." Tyron strolls almost leisurely towards Kevlan's sled. "I'll get those crystals for you, Singer." Ruth emerges from the ready room with purpose. Tamber's voice is uncommonly sharp as he looks his young friend up and down, considering: make him walk to the Infirmary, or bring a medic here? Tyron steps into the airsled. From sled 'Teesa Narie', Tyron has arrived. From sled 'Teesa Narie', Tyron picks up the carton, holding it securely to his chest. Tyron steps out from the cramped interior of the airsled. Kevlan leans a little unsteadily against the side of his sled, mumbling, "Ah-Ah'll be okay, Tam... " Ruth wanders in looking to see if her brother's sled is in or out, then blinks. "Kevlan, what have you done to yourself now?" Tyron walks across the noisy bay and into cargo storage. Tyron walks out of the storage area. Kevlan blinkblinks, looking up. Tyron looks closely at Ruth, eyes narrowed. Tamber glances over his shoulder, and smiles in evident relief at the sight of a medic. "Cut off two fingers, that's what he's done. Can you take a look at him?" Elissa walks out of the storage area. Ruth nods to Tamber, totally missing the existence of Tyron; she's working. "Of course. Come here, Kev, let me see." Kevlan stumbles over to Ruth, clutching his left hand in his right, against his chest. He mumbles slurrily, "Cutter kinda slipped... " Ruth shakes her head. "You people ought to watch it with those things. Singers are tough, but not invulnerable." Elissa, pale, walks out on to the hangar floor. SHe stops suddenly at the sight of Kevlan and Tyron and poises on the edge of flight. Tamber spots Elissa, and frowns suddenly, positioning himself so that Kevlan doesn't notice her. Michael emerges from the ready room with purpose. Tamber says "I've just given him the lecture, good medic, worry not." Michael comes down and blinks at the crowd. "Hey, Ruth. What -- all right, you've a patient, I'll talk to you later." Kevlan blushes, glancing around timidly at the sudden flurry of activity. "Mah fault," he whispers. Tyron watches Elissa with more than casual interest, then grins slyly as Michael walks in. His gaze flips to Ruth with a hint of understtanding dawning. Elissa folds her arms over her chest, swallows hard, then turns and nearly runs right into Michael. Ruth bandages Kevlan's hand with quick expertise. "I'll not try to tell you when you can use it; you won't be able to hold a cutter until those grow back anyhow. It ought to be two weeks or so." Tamber glances sidelong at Elissa and Michael, and then pays attention as his young friend's hand is attended. Kevlan's face falls. "Ah-Ah gotta finish mah cut... " Michael steadies Elissa with a smile. "Hey, careful there." Tamber eyes Kevlan steadily, and remarks dryly, "What, and take off the rest of your fingers, Galahad?" He adds to Ruth, "Personally, medic, I think our young Singer here requires a vacation." Ruth looks exasperated. "Kevlan, you can't finish your cut. This has nothing to do with medical effects; it's a matter of basic topology. Put aside what you've got and finish it when your hand's better." Elissa looks frantically from Kevlan to Michael to Tyron, on the edge of tears. She pulls back from Michael slightly and flees. "I'm sorry, I've got to go." Ruth grins thanks to Kevlan's friend for the backup. Elissa ducks into the ready room, escaping from the swirling wind. Kevlan blinks, and drops his gaze embarrassedly. "Cain't even play mah gitar... " Michael looks bewildered for a moment, then glances sharply at Tyron, suspecting him of being the cause of Elissa's distress. Tyron watches the exchange between Michael and Elissa with undenyable amusement, then watches the medic. He begins whistling softly one of her tunes, grinning. Tamber sighs and pats Kevlan on the shoulder, while glancing sidelong at the others gathered nearby. He tells Ruth smoothly, "Thank you for the assistance, good lady. I'll make sure the boy gets some rest." Ruth says dryly, "Take up a capella singing. It's --" she breaks off and turns to Tyron, confused. Kevlan mumbles something that sounds like thanks in Ruth's general direction. Michael snaps to his sister, "At least they're getting wide play, aren't they?" Tyron's eyes narrow and his grin of triumph is unmistakable. "By the gods, I thought that was you...Two Conlon in one place, how pleasant." Ruth studies Tyron for a moment and her face grows cold. "That they are. And being heard where I'd hoped, too." Kevlan blinks, becoming foggily aware of the sudden exchange between Michael, Ruth, and Tyron. Michael's wrist unit beeps and he looks to Ruth. "Letter. I'll get it... no. Tamber: keep an eye on her, please? I'll be back momentarily." Tamber begins, "Kevlan, come on... " And then eyes the exchange himself, and says to Michael blandly, "Certainly, Singer." Tyron stides a little closer to Ruth, sneering faintly. "Oh of course they are...we like to listen to them on the way out to shoot more rebels." Ruth shrugs. "I've handled his kind before, Michael. You needn't worry about me." Michael watches the exchange with his sister, controlling himself with an effort, and simply nods his thanks to Tamber and departs swiftly for his letter. Michael ducks into the ready room, escaping from the swirling wind. Tyron places his hands on his hips and laughs at Michael's back. "There's a perfect Conlon soldier, leavin the frail women to fend for themselves." Tamber, having fetched Kevlan's belongings from his sled, returns to the young Singer's side, while gesturing at one of the hangar techs to come check in the _Teesa Narie_. Kevlan frowns at Tyron and suddenly snaps, "Ain't you got nothin' better t' do than talk nasty t' people, recruit?" Ruth smiles her sweetest. "Some of the women are soldiers ourselves. How many of your people have died before my rifle or my sisters'?" You check your sled in, and it is lifted in to the racks above for storage. Kevlan's sled has left. Michael emerges from the ready room with purpose. Michael returns with a wide and malicious grin, swinging Ruth around cheerfully and saying something to her in a language incomprehensible to anyone else. Tyron spins on Kevlan, about to snap back when Michael returns. Ruth's eyes widen and she begins to laugh. "Oh, Dan, you're amazing... insane to try it, but amazing." Michael smiles. "If it's crazy and it works, it isnae crazy..." Tamber, as Michael returns, goes over to Kevlan, lithely interposing himself between the Singer and the recruit. He smiles coquettishly at Tyron, and says charmingly, "Now, a big strong fellow like you doesn't want to bully a wounded man, do you? Come along, Galahad, we should return your things to your quarters." Tyron narrows his eyes at Ruth and Michael, listening. Michael grins wickedly at Tamber. "Of course he does; he can't handle the healthy ones. Don't let it bother you. Take care, Kevlan." Kevlan scowls, but allows Tamber to escort him off. You escape the swirling wind of the hangar. Hangar Observation Area The hangar ready room functions as an observation area for the hangar activities. Several ergonomic chairs ring a display console which debriefs the pilots before they leave the Joslin Plateau Facility. As you gaze into the hangar, you can see the dust swirling as the wind whips by the hangar entrance. Soft lights glow brighter as the shadows grow deeper. You may view the activity of the hangar floor by asking the computer to relay the activity to you. Type or . Contents: Elissa Obvious exits: Hangar Floor Lifts Tamber escapes from the swirling wind of the hangar floor. On the hangar floor, Ruth hugs her brother again, exuberant. She's forgotten Tyron is there. On the hangar floor, Tyron flexes his hands slowly and takes a step towards Michael. "Care to find out, Conlon dog?" Tamber blinks, startled, as Kevlan nearly spots Elissa in passing. On the hangar floor, Sean smiles and looks mildly surprised to find this many people here. "What's up, kids?" Elissa looks at Kevlan and Tamber in startlement, too surprised to make a quick getaway. On the hangar floor, Michael turns to Tyron and just laughs. "You'd best go home, Tyron; you'll be needed to pick up the ruins of your prison. It's got nobody in it now, of course, but don't let that stop you." On the hangar floor, Sean uhhs. "Folks?" On the hangar floor, Ruth looks to the recruit blankly. "Yes? What is it?" On the hangar floor, Sean smiles disarmingly. "I can't help but notice how tense it is in here. We're a long way from Zevi. Let the fight end, maybe?" On the hangar floor, Tyron walks easily towards the door, hand sliding slowly towards a pocket of his pants as he slips out a small item, flicking it beside his leg to extend the weapon out to it's fullest. On the hangar floor, Michael looks at Sean with the total irritation of an adult with a complicated task and a small child tugging on his sleeve at the wrong moment. "Stay out of it, Recruit. Not your problem. Elissa claps her hands to her mouth and nearly screams, then runs flat out for the door. Elissa strides purposefully to the active hangar floor. On the hangar floor, Ruth whirls. "Michael!!" On the hangar floor, Sean smiles. "Maybe not. But maybe I think continuing all of this, this far away is stupid." On the hangar floor, Sean looks at the Singer as she enters. On the hangar floor, Michael turns to watch Tyron, instinctively reaching for a weapon at his side -- that isn't there. On the hangar floor, Sean steps between the two men. "Enough!" On the hangar floor, Michael drops Sean forcibly to the ground, with a Singer's easy strength, "Get *down*, you fool!" On the hangar floor, Elissa races in, skidding to a halt in front of Tyron and making him pull his shot as he aims the club at Michael's neck. On the hangar floor, Sean rolls back up, seemingly easier than expected. 'Just because I hate fighting, doesn't mean I can't." On the hangar floor, Michael closes in, trying to reach Tyron's weapon hand before he hurts somebody noninvolved. On the hangar floor, Tyron shoves Elissa hard off to the side and tightens his grip on the PR-24. "There you go, Conlon scum, got the women fighting for you again." On the hangar floor, Sean holds Michael's shoulders. "Stop! He won't hurt Elissa." On the hangar floor, Sean imposes himself again, looking at Tyron. "Enough, Tyron. At least drop the weapon." On the hangar floor, Ruth whirls and backhands Sean clean across the room, the symbiont strength outstripping anything a nonadapted human could manage. On the hangar floor, Ruth says "Stop it, you fool, or you'll be the one hurt. I'm not even a Singer; *I* wouldn't try to stop Michael; I'd not have a chance. And Tyron's armed."" On the hangar floor, Elissa falls hard onto her still injured elbow and chokes back a curse as she stands up. She looks at Michael over Tyron's shoulder, wordless, as she pulls a small pistol out of her sling. On the hangar floor, Sean wipes the blood from his mouth, and looking *very* surprised. "Ouch." On the hangar floor, Sean stands, leaning against the wall, and nods, watching Ruth carefully. And respectfully. On the hangar floor, Tyron doesn't even notice Elissa behind him as he moves in a semi-crouch towards Michael. "The kid is right...let's end it now." He chuckles deeply. You head purposefully through the doors to the floor. Michael slides in, snake-quick, trying to catch Tyron's weapon arm before he can reach for something deadlier than a club. He doesn't believe for an instant that's all Tyron has, or all he intends to use. Kevlan comes skidding out across the floor, watching the conflict with a horrified and transfixed look. Tamber emerges from the ready room with purpose. Tamber frowns, coming after his friend, and pausing long enough at a communit to slam a button and yell into the speaker grill, "Emergency on the hangar floor! Get security down here!" Elissa takes the chance to throw Michael the pistol, calling his name as she darts to the other side of Tyron to try to distract him. Michael catches the weapon out of the air, but the movement makes him lose one hand's grip on Tyron's wrist. Tyron's eyes follow the movement automatically, but he curses and swings a backhand at Michael's temple. Ruth stays back flat, halfway behind a sled for cover. Sean walks into the sorting area. Elissa ducks quickly and gets flat against the wall. Sean has arrived. Michael winces grimly as the hand strikes home; shakes his head hard, trying to clear it. No one notices Sean's return until he yells and lifts the carton above his head. "STOP!" Sean continues to yell. "ENOUGH or these are shards!" There's a flurry of running footsteps as uniformed figures wearing security badges come charging into view. There's the snick of several pistols being aimed, and the lead guard snaps out coldly at Tyron, "Desist or we'll make you, recruit. Drop it. Now." Sean, at the guards' arrival, lowers the carton, and hold it tight. Tamber scowls, and comes up behind Kevlan, grabbing the young Singer and hauling him out of the way. Tyron grins wickedly and takes the opportunity to grab Michael's head. His knee is half-raised towards Michael's face when he freezes, glaring at the cops. He flings Michael to the ground. Michael rolls, taking the worst of the fall on a shoulder, but loses his pistol in the process. It clatters across the floor toward Tyron's feet. Elissa slowly walks over to Sean taking the carton out of his hands and sets it on the floor. Sean looks at Elissa, and sits down on the floor, blood still on his mouth. "Thanks." One of the other guards, already on the comm to the Guildmaster, snaps a terse report into the speaker. The lead guard keeps his weapon trained on Tyron as he says in a tone that brooks no argument, "You're coming with us." Elissa swings around and nails Sean in the jaw with her fist. Her voice is quiet though. "Don't ever threaten to do that again. If the Singer who cut that doesn't kill you, I will." Sean looks at Elissa. "I figured you Singers are so damn concerned about the stuff maybe everyone would wait a minute." Michael remains where he fell, stunned and barely conscious. Tyron toes the pistol a moment, eyeing the guards, then reaches down to pick it up casually. "Sure officers, whatever you say." He looks at Michael and grins. "Another time." The lead guard suggests dryly, "Leave the gun, recruit." Sean, once again gets up off the floor, more blood streaming from his mouth. "I keep forgetting you guys are faster and stronger. I won't forget again." With that he walks slowly toward the door. Adriana has arrived. Sean walks into the sorting area. Ruth moves quickly to examine Michael, once the guards have Tyron securely in hand. Adriana ducks into the ready room, escaping from the swirling wind. Elissa shakes her hand painfully as she kneels down at Michael's side. She looks up at Ruth, eyes damp. "Is he going to be ok?" Tyron casually hands the weapon over to the guards and follows them off, almost cheerfully. Tyron ducks into the ready room, escaping from the swirling wind. Kevlan, standing transfixed at Tamber's side, watches Elissa hasten to Michael's. Ruth checks Michael's eyes with a light quickly, then probes the shoulder carefully, with gentle fingers. "I'm not sure. With a Singer's metabolism, probably. He took a knock on the head that might well have killed anyone else; it was in exactly the wrong place. And this shoulder dislocated with the fall, but that will recover with time." Michael blinks a few times, disoriented, trying to clear his head. Ruth pushes him down gently, speaking a few sharp words in their own language. Tamber tugs at Kevlan's sleeve, murmuring solemnly, "Come on, Galahad." Kevlan, looking defeated, lets Tamber escort him off. [Tamber escorts Kevlan to his room, and meanwhile... Michael and Tyron have gotten into their fight and the errant recruit has been swept away by the security forces.] Elissa gently smoothes Michael's hair away from his face, shaking her head. "gods that was stupid..." Kevlan ducks into the ready room, escaping from the swirling wind.am Tamber ducks into the ready room, escaping from the swirling wind. Ruth looks at the Singer sharply. "What was? Michael? He didn't exactly have a choice; *somebody* was going to get hurt from the second Tyron pulled out a club. He was the best one to handle it." Ruth shakes her head. "I just don't understand why he went unarmed himself. It's not like Michael to take that kind of chance." Elissa chokes slightly, tears welling up as she continues to stroke Michael's forehead gently. "Oh Ruth, no, it was me....I was stupid." Ruth looks at Elissa, confused. "What was you?" Ruth lifts Michael's shoulders gently, making certain not to jolt the head, and slides a wide strip of bandage under the left. "That'll do until I can get a real sling on it," she says as she pulls it around the elbow and ties the ends, strapping Michael's arm to his side. Michael murmurs a confused protest as his arm is bound. Elissa swallows hard, but manages to look Ruth in the face. "I asked him to stop going around armed." She stops, taking a deep broken breath. "I told him I felt like he was an armed guard walking around with me." She looks back down into Michael's face and continues softly. "The only reason I had that pistol was because I thought it would be good to at least learn how to use one....I was going to tell him that it was ok." Ruth looks at Elissa for a moment, too startled to say anything, then turns quickly back to Michael for a second. "Shah, it's safe now," she tells him firmly but almost absently, then goes back to studying Elissa again, as though searching for words. Ruth says finally, "Aye, I see. If you were going around with an armed guard, it was for a reason." Her voice is quiet, a trace of Michael's accent creeping into the normally precise speech. Elissa swallows hard again, looking pale and sick. She doesn't seem to be able to meet Ruth's gaze again as she shakes her head slowly. "Ruth, try as I might, I can't think like that....it just didn't make any sense to me." Tamber comes out quietly into view. Ruth nods, her face controlled. "You never learned to think like that. But Tyron does. So Michael and I have to." She is silent for a long moment. "Elissa... Michael's one of our best. Even General Devlin didn't argue with him on a military question -- policy, yes, but not tactics. If he says something's necessary he knows what he's doing." Tamber stops a discreet distance away, green eyes solemn. Ruth looks calmly up at Tamber. "Would you help me get him back to his room? There's no point in keeping him in the infirmary; the only thing I could do for him now is keep him from moving, and I can do that as well where he's used to being." Tamber says softly, "Certainly, good lady. Do you require a stretcher?" Elissa sits back on her heels and runs her hand through her hair, face clearly showing the emotions fighting within her. She watches Ruth and Tamber help Michael away silently. Ruth shakes her head with a rueful smile. "I doubt he'd take one. He ought to be able to walk, with steadying." She looks back at Elissa, neither precisely cold nor warm. "Come along or stay, as you like." Tamber glances at Elissa, himself, but his expression is surprisingly restrained. He simply leans over and murmurs to Michael, "Come on, now, big fellow, let's get you someplace quieter." Michael gains his feet with a lot of assistance, submitting quietly to Ruth's admonitions to keep his head from jolting. Elissa stands up slowly, watching no one but Michael. She shakes her head at Ruth. "No, I'll....I'll wait until he wants to see me." Tamber drapes the taller man's arm about his shoulders, and glances once more at Elissa as he slips out. Tamber, Ruth, & Michael duck into the ready room, escaping from the swirling wind. Tamber, after a time, returns, shaking his head quietly. "Get about your business!" he calls briskly to several curious-looking hangar techs. Tamber mutters imprecations under his breath as he sees Diamond's cut back to storage. Elissa folds her arms around herslef and leans against the huge hangar doors, staring out to the Ranges, oblivious to the sounds of sleds overhead or the odd looks from the sled techs. [End log.]