Log Date:
	3/20/97

Log Cast:
	Shenner, Jessalyn, Amylynn, Paul, Luke, Tacra, Tand, Lando

Log Intro:
	Luke Skywalker and Jessalyn Valios have returned safely to the _Black 
Dragon_, though the attempt to rescue Jessalyn cost Luke hs prosthetic hand and 
got Jessalyn a blaster wound to her leg. Shenner and Paul have esctatically 
greeted the returned Jess while Amylynn has tended Luke; Paul has had to 
comfort Jessalyn about her feelings for Luke again, and an impromptu pillow 
and tickle fight between Paul, Shenner, and Jessalyn has somewhat defused the 
tense situation. Shenner has wandered off for a dunk in the refresher, and 
when she returns, she finds Paul playing a lively finger-picked tune for 
Jessalyn on Shenner's own guitar...

----------
You walk into the Crew's Quaters on the ship
Crew's Quarters--Black Dragon
These crew quarters are a place for the crew only. This is where they relax 
  and sleep, as well as other various tasks that may be necessary.
Contents:
Paul_Nighman
Amylynn
Jessalyn
Lelila's Bunk
Obvious exits:
Main Corridor <Port>  

Shenner, looking quite rumpled of clothing but nevertheless quite clean, comes 
  wandering in with a towel around her shoulders.
Shenner pauses at the entryway, grinning as she finds Paul playing her guitar.

Jessalyn glances at the doorway and grins at Shenner. She holds her hand out 
  to her, still listening acutely to Paul's music.

Amylynn slightly sways to the music and smiles happily in her seat.

Paul looks up at Shen's entry and gives her a smile and a look that seems to 
  ask, "This okay?" but he doesn't speak for fear of breaking the spell of the 
  music.

Shenner just bobs her head to Paul, and promptly pads to where she'd left her 
  two flutes on one of the bunks. The kid unbags the silver flute, and, upon 
  plopping down onto the bunk in question, begins to warm it up without making 
  notes yet.

Jessalyn's eyes smile, brightening her features, and she draws her knees up to 
  her chest again, rocking slightly as she listens. Noticing Shenner grabbing 
  her flute, she smiles even more widely, anxious to hear them play together.

Luke stirs amid a shroud of blankets. One leg slips lengthwise down the bed, 
  creating a rippling there, and a soft grunt can be heard emanating from 
  under the mound.

Amylynn listens to the music and checks her Bio-scanner, it beeps quietly some 
  readings from the remote on Lukes arm.
Amylynn turns to Luke and watchs a smile on her face shows she wants to see 
  how he is but wants him to wake up on his own.

Jessalyn glances over, her smile fading somewhat as Luke seems to stir from 
  his sleep. She nods to Amylyn, biting her lip, then turns her attention back 
  to the two musicians.

A birds nest of sandy blonde hair peeks out from the blankets, blue eyes 
  blinking hazily. Luke croaks, "Wha.. what time is it?" he pushes himself up 
  onto an elbow.

Amylynn looks at a chronometer "Ummm 20:31 Luke how ya feel?"

Shenner smiles over at Luke, lowering the flute a bit and saying to him 
  softly, "Hi!"

Jessalyn glances over again as Luke speaks, pushing her tangled her hair from 
  her face. "Luke..."

Paul smiles over at Luke, but keeps playing, "You don't look so bad," he 
  teases lightly.

Luke squints bleary eyed at the faces about the room, "I feel like I ate some 
  bad moonglow." he works his tongue inside his mouth as if it's full of 
  paste, "Ugh.." he moves to a sitting position, placing booted feet upon the 
  floor. The blanket piled up around his shoulders. From within that woolen 
  barracade he groans, then blinks at his lack of hand, "Oh."

Amylynn gently places her hand on Lukes shoulder. 'Sok, I fixed up what i can 
  and you'll have a replacement in no time."

Shenner promises across the flute, "We'll keep it down..." But she does blow a 
  little more lightly, beginning to join the silver flute's voice to the 
  guitar as Paul plays.

Jessalyn's eyes fill with worry as she watches Luke sit up, and she seems 
  anxious to move. But she simply sits with a stony expression, hands clasped 
  tightly in her lap.

Luke glances over at the street rat, "No it's ok Shenner." he says, rubbing 
  the side of his head and patting down a a lock of hair jutting out, "It 
  sounds good." he smiles.

Shenner flashes Luke a bright-eyed grin across the flute and settles down to 
  play in earnest.

Jessalyn finally settles back against the wall again, her long legs crossed on 
  the bunk in front of her, and she pulls the blanket up over her lap as she 
  lets her attention drift back to the music.

Luke stares at a spot on the floor for a long moment before snapping back into 
  reality, "Um.." he peers at the door, "We're going to Coruscant?" he rubs an 
  eye, "Why do I feel funny." he squints at Amylynn.

Amylynn nods slightly. "We should be heading there now. I gave you just a 
  small bit of cordon to numb the pain and help you rest, and the bacta patch 
  may have made you sleepy. Nothing That won't wear off in about thirty 
  minutes.

Something that may be a nod comes from Luke. He pulls the blanket tighter with 
  his left hand and watches Shenner play for a long while, smiling faintly 
  toward Jess while the street rat hits a crescendo. Finally he says, "Will 
  you be staying with us Shenner? What are your plans now that we're out of 
  danger?"

Jessalyn notices Luke's gaze, and returns his smile, then raises her brows at 
  his question and turns an expectant eye on Shenner, obviously eager to hear 
  her reply as well.

Amylynn puts her comlink to her lips and whispers something.

Shenner blinkblinks, and lowers the flute, startled. "Oh... well...." She 
  smiles, perhaps shyly, and shoves a hand through her hair as she considers 
  and says, "I, uh, ain't really _got_ any plans."

Paul's eyes travel over to Shen curiously.

Jessalyn smiles widely and winks at her younger friend. "You know you're 
  welcome to come with us, Shenner." Her voice is welcoming and pleading at 
  the same time.

Luke hmm's softly, glancing at Paul as well, then Amylynn, "You're all welcome 
  to join us. The Republic that is.. If that's what you want." his gaze 
  settles on Paul, "Of course you and I have some work ahead Paul."

Paul finishes the one piece and then begins another one. This song is simpler, 
  not nearly complex as the other two. However, he plays it with great emtion 
  and sensitivity. It is a somewhat sad piece, yet the guitar work is strong 
  and determined sounding.

Luke adds as punctuation to Jess, "Yeah. We'd love to have you around Shenner."

Paul nods at Luke, his eyes moving back between the blonde man and Jessalyn.

Amylynn walks over to Luke and removes a small Bio-scanner remote from Lukes 
  forearm and clips it in her belt. And stops and thinks a second at the 
  offer. "I guess I will Join you Luke. Hmmm Since I seem to patch up all the 
  cute general men in the Republic."

Paul begins to sing along with the guitar music. He has a surprisingly nice 
  tenor voice in contrast to his usual deep speaking voice. He sings softly, 
  enough to be heard, but not enough to be intrusive.

Luke smiles and replies amusedly, "Oh I'm not a General."

Amylynn thinks quickly "Well two outa three isn't bad.

Shenner grins at Amylynn lopsidedly, then adds, lowly, "I... was aimin' for 
  New Republic space. When I left Belsavis." Her gaze shifts to Paul as she 
  says this, and she speaks a trifle distantly, watching him sing as she does. 
  Back to Luke and Jess, then, she says: "I-I guess I'm already _with_ yah, 
  what joinin' is there?"

Jessalyn's gaze drifts back towads Paul as his voice rises into a song, and 
  she smiles at him as she leans back onto a pillow, hands folded over her 
  belly.

	Like the dust, that settles all around me
	I must find a new home.
	The ways and hopes that used to give me shelter,
	Are all as one to me now ...
	But I, I would search everywhere, just to hear, your call
	And walk upon stranger roads than this one in a world I used to
	  know before
	I miss you more ....

Paul's voice sings, with a little touch of sadness and a lot of determiniation.

Luke smirks at Amylynn and hunches his shoulders so the blanket nearly 
  envelopes his head. "Well I meant after we get back and all.. I mean you 
  -are- free to go wherever you like, be that helping the Republic in some 
  form or fashion.. or.." he glances at the Corellian, "..other things that 
  interest you."

Amylynn presses a button on her armor and light whirl is head and parts begin 
  to move aside and split the torso,arms and legs. Amy steps out of the suit 
  of power armor in a pitch black bodyglove. "Ahh that feels better"

Paul's voice continues onto the second verse ...

        Than the sun, reflecting off my pillow,
        Bringing the warmth of new life
        And the sounds that echo all around me
        I caught a glimpse of in the night

Shenner trails off into silence as she listens to Paul singing. The kid's eyes 
  widen a little as she takes in the sound of his voice, then, she starts as 
  Luke goes on. She tells him, "Oh... you mean, like, joining the... working 
  for the NR?"

Jessalyn stares down at her hands, frowning as she listens to the song.

Amylynn removes the body glove showing a bodysuit underneathe and flops on her 
  bunk and lets out a sigh of relife.

Luke nods to Shen, although with the blankets up around his shoulder, it's 
  difficult to see, "Yeah, that's what I meant."

As Paul rounds into the next chorus he looks at Jessalyn and Luke alternately, 
  his voice ringing true and pure. 

        Oh but now, well now I've lost everything.
        I give to you, my soul.
        The meaning of all that I believed before escapes me
        In this world of none, no thing, no one ...

Jessalyn's eyes lift slowly as she senses Paul's gaze on her, and she pulls 
  her own blanket up over her chest, suddenly chilled.

Shenner murmurs, "I ain't... sure I'd know what I could do." Her gaze drifts 
  back to Paul, and, slowly, she lifts her flute again, sliding its notes in 
  among the guitar chords once more.

Amylynn looks toward Luke and smiles "Where ya think they'd put a gal like me?

Luke seems caught up in Pauls song momentarily, his expression blank, but his 
  eyes containing some flickering intensity as he watches the man, "We all 
  have our strengths.." he replies distantly to Shenner, his eyes still 
  focused on Paul.

Paul continues singing, his voice growing a touch ragged at times ...

        And I would search everywhere,
        Just to hear, your call.
        And walk upon stranger roads than this one in a world,
        I used to know before.
        But now I've lost everything,
        I give to you, my soul
        The meaning of all that I've believed before
        Escapes me, in this world of none.
        I miss you more.

Paul closes his eyes as he finishes singing and bows his head as if it were 
  weighted. His hands keep playing the melody on the guitar, softer and a 
  touch less defiant now, but he does not sing any more.

Jessalyn bites her lower lip, her eyes intense and shaded as she stares hard 
  at Paul, as if afraid to look elsewhere. When the words fade she closes them 
  and lets out a long sigh.

"That's beautiful.." Luke says softly, "What is it?" to Paul.

Shenner lowers the volume of her flute's pure tones, but keeps playing, as 
  Paul does. She, like Luke and Jessalyn, stares at him, but the girl's gaze 
  is strangely soft and shy.

Paul looks up at Luke his eyes a little haunted, but otherwise normal. "It's 
  the first piece of music I ever wrote," he says softly, his hands still 
  playing the melody over and over again.

Luke breaks his gaze to answer Amylynn, "Oh.." he rubs the side of his head 
  again, "..well you were trained as an Imperial Trooper. I'm sure you'd fit 
  into our military nicely, if that's what you want." he adds quietly, "In our 
  military, people have choices."

Jessalyn looks for a minute as if she might say something, and she lifts a 
  hand to gesture. But she stares in shock at the hand, amazed that it's 
  trembling, and plants it firmly in her lap, moaning soflty as her gaze 
  wanders over toward Luke.

Amylynn grabs her blaster rifle from her belt near by and a small laser 
  scalpel the scalpel blinks to life giving off a dim light and she begins to 
  ettch a small design in the rifle it is three square blocks with a circle on 
  the stacked top block. She then sighs and begins to add detail.

It's odd to see an expression soften and brighten at the same time, but 
  Shenner's does, as Paul confesses to having written that piece of music. The 
  flute almost dies off into silence, but she keeps it going _just_ enough for 
  the tone to linger subliminally in the air.

Paul glances over to Jessalyn and then back to Luke and sighs softly, with the 
  ever so slight hint of frustration.

Tacra picks this perhaps inappropriate time to come loping in, her gaze, as 
  usual, absently on the floor. She stops as she hears the trailing, whispery 
  end to the music, and glances around with a puzzled expression.

"Is there anything you -don't- do Paul Nighman?" Luke says, amusedly with a 
  crooked grin.

Amylynn whispers in Corellian as she laser ettches the symbol on her rifle 
  "Peaceful me peaceful day, Never use in angers way."

Paul looks back to Luke and his eyes crinkle a bit. "Probably, but then I 
  imagine whatever it is probably isn't worth doing."

At Tacra's entrance, Shenner does start out of what appears to have become a 
  rapt dazed. The kid looks round, and upon seeing who's come in, she blinks a 
  time or two, the light in her face abruptly dims down into uncertainty. "Um, 
  hi Tacra, I owe you an apology," she abruptly announces, her tone turned 
  suddenly gruff.

Luke snorts, "You know.." he turns that crooked grin on Shenner, "Shen here 
  made you out to be a sort of.. bandit."

Jessalyn sits with hands trembling in her lap, and finally decides to let her 
  gaze fix on the far wall, lips pursed tightly together.

Luke adds, "I don't get that impression of you at all."

Paul then shifts gears and starts to play a more cheerful piece, quite 
  different to the almost mournful one that he just finished. Paul gives Shen 
  a grin, both at her statement to Tacra and what she must have told Luke. 
  "Well, the rumors of my attitude have been greatly exagerated ... usually by 
  myself."

Jessalyn can't help but chuckle, and she gives Luke a sidelong glance across 
  the room. "Shenner also described you as 'tall', Luke."

Amylynn turns off the small scalpel and accually leaves a artistic design in 
  the rifles stock and she places it in her holster. With a quick motion she 
  replaces the scalpel in it's pocket and looks to the group silent and 
  thinking.
Amylynn holds up a finger "And Han said you were less trouble than he was." 
  She grins at Luke.

Luke laughs, for probably the first time in a long while, "Me? Tall?" he 
  laughs again.

Shenner protests, distracted all at once, "You're taller 'n' _me_, Luke!"

Amylynn looks at you for a moment.

Jessalyn giggles, her eyes shining as she sees Luke laughing. "It brought me a 
  good chuckle, too, Skywalker."

Luke peers at Amylynn, "Oh he had that right. I'm nowhere near Solo's status 
  of troublemaker." he grins wryly, hunkering down into the blanket.

Paul continues playing, a soft happy look coming into his eyes.

Amylynn sighs a bit "Blah, Either way it's Starr who's gotta patch ya up when 
  ya get tore to pieces.

If Tacra's expression turned somewhat shocked at Shenner's statement, it turns 
  even more flabbergased at what Luke said next. "A /bandit/?" An amused smile 
  creeps across her lips, and she casts a grin at Shenner. "I dunno whether to 
  consider that a compliment or not." She bobs her head at the girl, cheeks 
  now colouring a bit. "No 'pology necessary."

Luke smiles faintly, "And I appreciate that too. I can hardly feel the hand 
  now, but.." he shrugs under the mound, "I wouldn't have asked for the 
  painkillers. I had it under control.. sort of.." he grins sheepishly toward 
  Jess.

Shenner smiles wanly to Tacra, then mutters, "He's okay, for a Corellian," 
  stealing a look at Paul.

Paul grins at Tacra's confusion, his gaze then settling on Shenner. He looks 
  at her with affection and a certain amount of pride.

Amylynn gives Luke one of her trade marked BLAHS "Blah, I figured ya would , 
  it's the weakest stuff i had. You should be over it about now."

Jessalyn pushes herself off the bunk and walks barefoot across the deck to 
  settle down next to Luke. She touches his arm, looking calm but worried. 
  "You always have everything under control," she says with amusement. "Are 
  you okay?"

Tacra takes the few steps to her bunk, flopping into it with a slight sigh. 
  "So what, you were all singing campfire songs or something?" She glances at 
  Luke, brows furrowing. "Arm's okay?"

Amylynn turns over and sighs, and mutters "Does no one listen to the doctor? 
  His arms gonna be fine but will they listen? No... don't trust the Impie 
  chick I guess."

Luke lets the blanket slip off his shoulder slightly as he turns to Jess, 
  "Never been better." he replies.

Shenner, having gotten her burst of apology off her chest, settles down once 
  more with the flute and blows through it very softly, listening to the 
  others.

Amylynn kicks her feet up on her bunk and stares at the ceiling.

Paul gives Amylynn a wide grin. "Amylynn, I've watched you work with quiet and 
  impressive efficiency. I never doubted that his arm would be fine ... that's 
  why I never even asked."

Jessalyn smiles, looking more relieved than even she expected. "Good," she 
  murmurs, and squeezes Luke's arm again. "I'd hate to feel even guiltier than 
  I already do."

Amylynn smiles and awnsers Paul "Of course, I had some of the best training to 
  be had. I was surpised myself, Cybernetics was normal my weak area."

Luke sighs toward Jess, "You don't have to feel guilty." he looks down, "I've 
  forgiven you for endangering yourself by coming along. I.." then looks back 
  up at her, considering his words, "..it's alright." he finally says, with a 
  nod.

Paul catches Luke's words and his expression drops slightly.

Jessalyn frowns as she watches Luke speak, and swallows hard. "But I do feel 
  guilty." Her gaze drops down to his ruined arm, the shadowed look coming 
  over her eyes again.

Luke places his left hand on her arm and squeezes gently, "Don't be." his 
  words soft and bright.

Jessalyn looks up and glares at Amylynn briefly, but then her cheeks flush and 
  she gazes down at her lap, removing her hand from Luke's arm.

Amylynn looks to Jess nicely and smiles.

Tand steps into the quarters area giving everyone a brief nod as he walks to 
  his bunk.

Paul lets the current piece of music end and then puts the guitar down and 
  crawls out from the bunk, stretching his arms. He looks at Jessalyn and 
  Luke, his eyes a little sad and frustrated and then he seems to reach a 
  decision. "Well, I'm sure you guys need some peace and quiet, so I'll get 
  out of your hair."

Shenner's gaze follows Paul as he gets up, but she keeps playing her silver 
  flute, very softly.

Jessalyn frowns at Paul as he rises, and she shakes her head slowly. "Don't 
  go..."

Amylynn jumps out of her bunk and back into her armor and it closes around her 
  small frame with its light whirl.

Paul looks down at Jessalyn's words, torn between what he thinks is the right 
  thing to do, and the power that her soft request has over him. He leans 
  against the bunk casually and smiles down at her. "Okay."

Tand glances at Shenner as he passes by, smiling a little at her lite tune. 
  Upon reaching his bunk he grabs the top part and hops up.

Amylynn grabs her comterminal and walks to the door. "Excuse me gonna make a 
  transmission to My father."
Amylynn disaapear into the hallway.
Amylynn walks into the Main Corridor of the ship
Amylynn has left.

Jessalyn frowns, perplexed, as she watches Amylynn leave, and then she looks 
  at Luke.
Jessalyn says, "Did I miss something?"

Luke just shrugs, "I dunno."

Tand glances at the others as he reclines back, letting out a restful sigh.

Paul leans under the bunk and picks up the guitar and then sits back down and 
  starts to retune it idly.

Shenner trails off the flute as Paul begins to retune the guitar, and she says 
  musingly into her resulting silence, "What's Coruscant like?"

Luke sheds the blanket he had been wrapped in and rubs the back of his neck 
  with his left hand. He notices Tand and quirks a brow at him, as if he is 
  about to ask a question, then answers Shenner after a moment of thought, 
  "Coruscant?" he purses a lip thoughtfully and lets half a breath out. "I 
  hate it." he replies simply, with a touch of a smile.

Shenner blinks. "Why?"

Paul starts to play the guitar again and his voice sings in soft and husky 
  tones. The guitar reflects the tone of his voice, sweet and plaintive ...

Tand mumbles, "Too much city."

Tacra rolls over on her cot, propping herself up on her elbows as she listens 
  to the conversation between Shenner and Luke.

Luke um's, continuing to rub his neck, "I don't know really. It's so overbuilt 
  I guess.." he fumbles with the words. "Most people think it's beautiful, but 
  all I see are buildings.. very little grass.. It's just.." he shrugs, 
  "Encroaching to me." he doesn't seem satisfied with his answer.

Jessalyn chuckles at Luke and Tand, nodding her agreement. "There are fewer 
  trees on Coruscant than there are on Tatooine."

Luke grins at Jess.

Jessalyn blushes a little and grins back at him. "But at least Tatooine is 
  natural. Beautiful, too, in its own way..."

Luke snorts, "Some say.." he mumbles amusedly.

Shenner smirks and murmurs, "Probably beats all the mist and the heat in 
  Plawal." She trails off again, looking thoughtful, her attention drifting 
  back to Paul.

Tand folds his pillow in half to allow a better angle to watch the group as he 
  lays there quietly, listening.

Paul sings softly ... 

Everybody loves you, and they want to know your story,
I remember how I spent all my energy and time with affected  
  conversation,

Luke clenches his jaw, placing his right arm under his left in a gingerly 
  folded manner, "I dunno.." he says distantly, "I hate living there. If I had 
  a say in the matter, I would have asked the government to locate somewhere 
  else." he looks over at Shenner, then Jess, "Just bad things there at one 
  time. It's unsettling to me. Not so much that it's overpowering but.." he 
  blinks, "..keeps me up at nights sometimes."

Tand idly listens to Luke and then asks, almost unconciously, "What's the 
  Palace like?"

Luke raises his eyebrows, as if he didn't expect this question, "Oh.. well 
  it's big." he smiles.

Shenner looks back to Luke as he speaks on, and takes all this in, 
  ponderingly. The kid's nose wrinkles at the word 'Palace', and she abruptly 
  looks slightly uncomfortable.

Tand smirks, "Made to suit an ego just as big." he comments dryly, obviously 
  about the former Emperor.

Jessalyn rests her chin in her hand, looking thoughtful as she listens to the 
  conversation.

Paul's voice trails off as he seems to lose the lyrics. The music plays on, 
  but he frowns slightly at his lack of memory for the words.

Luke adds as an afterthought, "..good restaurants though."

Tand grins slyly, "As good as that place on Palahni?" he says to Luke.

Tacra seems a bit bored, but then, she often does. She does seem to be 
  listening closely though, as much as she's fiddling with a loose thread on 
  her mattress. "Many markets though, touristy areas?" It's almost obvious by 
  the question what sort of environment this skinny pickpocket grew up in.

Luke grins as recollection dawns, "Not quite as good." he answers with a half 
  smirk.

Tand smiles over at Luke, "Thanks again, for everything." his eyes flicker 
  towards the ceiling, staring at it dreamily.

Luke glances over at Tacra, "Um.. yeah, well.. there is just too much of 
  everything it seems. I'm not much of an architect, so the beauty is lost on 
  me." he shrugs marginally, once again looking like he's not pleased with his 
  answer.

Jessalyn looks worriedly at Paul, a question in her eyes, and she beckons him 
  closer to her with one hand.

Tacra chuckles under her breath, her slender fingers tugging at the loose 
  thread on the mattress. "Yeah, we still have a towel or two from that place."

Luke grins, "So they treated you well?" he answers Tacra, then glances over at 
  Tand.

A thin smile spreads across Tand's face as he listens to Tacra. He remains 
  quiet, allowing Tac to do the explaining.

Paul stops playing and looks over at Jessalyn. He stands up slowly and ambles 
  closer to her, a question in his eyes.

Tacra nods emphatically, allowing herself a cocky smile as she returns Luke's 
  gaze. "Oh /yeah/. We got a room that night, actually slept in a real bed, 
  the whole shebang."

Jessalyn leans up to touch Paul's shoulder as she whispers to him.

Tacra looks rather like the cat that ate the canary as she speaks. "Couldn't 
  leave without a few 'souvenirs' to mark the occassion."

Luke chuckles lightly, "Well I'm glad." he says succintly.

Paul looks back at Jessalyn, his expression a touch confused and bemused. He 
  leans back to her, whispering.

Jessalyn just shrugs, and manages to toss Paul that bittersweet smile again. 
  "It's nothing, I'm sorry."

Tacra's eyes narrow, and she casts Luke a suspicious glance, though she still 
  holds a bit of that cocky smile. "What'd you tell that guy, anyway?"

Luke allows a smile then rubs his mouth, like he's trying to get rid of it, 
  "Uh.. just that you two were visiting Royalty who had lost your luggage. I 
  made a vague reference that you.." he says, nodding toward Tacra, "Were a 
  silent owner in the hotel, and Tand was your brother the Duke of.." he 
  shrugs, "..somewhere.."

Paul leans away from Jessalyn, his expression thoughtful and still a touch 
  bewildered. He looks at Luke, a stray comment from earlier coming into his 
  head. "Hey Luke," he starts...

Luke turns to Paul, "Yeah?"

Tand quirks and eyebrow as he looks down at Luke, mouthing quietly, "Duke?" he 
  asks in a curious tone, "He actually bought that?"

"If you guys are off to Coruscant, then where did you want me to start .. with 
  Grathix? And on Mandolore, or someplace else?" asks Paul.

Luke grins, "Well I.. did some other things that made it seem more believable 
  to him."

Paul thinks for a moment. "And how do you want me to get there?"

Tacra can be heard cackling softly to herself at that, her chuckles muffled as 
  she rolls onto her back again. "Ah, that's rich!" Putting her feet up on the 
  bottom of the bunk atop her, she gives Tand's mattress a little push. "Hey, 
  you realize I'm going to have to call you 'Duke' from now on."

Luke considers Pauls question, "Hmm.. I haven't thought about this much. 
  Getting a ship isn't a problem. I can ask, and as a last resort, Lando has 
  some friends.. Um. I guess we go to Mandalore first and try and meet up with 
  Grathix."
Luke turns wryly toward Tacra, "And he'll have to call you Duchess."

Paul stands up and nods. "So when is this going to happen? When do you want me 
  to leave?" he asks softly.

Shenner trails the flute off into silence once more, and turns her full 
  attention to Paul and Luke; her brow furrows.

"I can't go anywhere until I have another prosthetic fabricated." Luke 
  answers, "If you like, you can wait for me, or go on ahead, once we reach 
  Coruscant."

Tacra points her index finger at the young Jedi. "Hey. You never said they 
  thought I was a Duchess, just some royal-type co-owner. Duchess sounds 
  gastly."

Tand glances down at the bunk, as if eyeing Tacra through the mattress. He 
  considers for a moment then looks to Luke once more, about to ask something 
  but stops, watching Paul and Luke.

Luke smirks at Tacra's seeming outrage at the title, "Get used to it your 
  highness." he replies.

Paul leans against the bunk, seeming to decide to punt this conversation for 
  perhaps another time. He nods somewhat distractedly.

Tacra snorts to herself, rolling her eyes. "Gawds, that's almost as bad as 
  Pr--nevermind."

Luke stands, placing his left hand at the center of his back and turning to 
  over do a flourish toward Tand and Tacra's bunk, "I dub thee Duke and 
  Duchess of Palanhi." he chortles lightly.

Tand leans over his bunk to shoot Tacra a glance, he chuckles, "You a 
  Dutchess? What-ever." he looks back at Luke, nodding slightly with an open 
  hand, "Ah, thank you good sir." he imitates one of those neat british accent 
  Imp officers have.

Paul nods again and straightens himself, his eyes looking a touch 
  uncomfortable. "Yeah, well we don't have to decide right now, I'll check in 
  with you later when you're feeling a little more like yourself." He gives 
  Luke a strange sort of crooked smile.

Tacra's eyes widen, and she shoots Luke a scandalized glance. "Of /that/ 
  mudheap? Urcgh!" She falls back onto her cot with a comical sigh, but 
  promptly gives Tand's matress another foot-shove as she hears his snooty 
  voice from above her.

Luke turns to place the same left hand on Pauls shoulder, "Plenty of time to 
  plan it." he murmurs toward him, then smiles to the group, "I think I'll go 
  check on Lando and get our ETA."

Paul nods at Luke and says "Yeah, later is fine." Paul gives everyone in the 
  room a vague sort of smile and then starts to head for the door, this time 
  with intention of leaving.

Luke follows Paul out.

Paul_Nighman walks into the Main Corridor of the ship
Paul_Nighman has left.

Tand frowns as his mattress is unkindly pushed up by Tacra's foot. He waves 
  over to Luke, "See ya later."

Shenner looks after Paul herself, but stays where she's sitting, at least for 
  now, her forehead crinkled in bemusement.

Luke walks into the Main Corridor of the ship
Luke has left.

Tand rests his head back upon the pillow then punches the mattress below him, 
  he mutters to Tacra, "Quit the foolin around silly, I'm going to /try/ and 
  rest."

Tacra casts the bunk above her a puzzled look. "I wasn't doing anything. 
  Must've been the fleas in your pyjamas acting up again."

Tand curls his lip into a snarl, but can't help resisting to laugh at the 
  joke. Frantically he covers his mouth, mumbling, "Real funny, Tac the 
  Dewbac."

A sleepy mumble comes from Tacra's bunk in response to Tand's joking. "Yeah, 
  you only wish I'd carry you about, Your Laziness."

Tand smirks, "Shaddup." he offers back, lightly. "Nite Tac." he says after a 
  brief pause.

Jessalyn limps over to her bunk and sinks down on it, looking tired and pale. 
  She rubs her wrists and glances over at the others bantering lightly at each 
  other.

Shenner rises off the bunk she's on, and, after a moment's thought, pads with 
  flute in hand over towards Jessalyn.

Jessalyn smiles wanly at Shenner. "Hey, there, kiddo." She ruffles her hair 
  playfully. "You okay?"

The room is silent for a few long moments, nothing heard but soft breathing. 
  But then, a soft mumble out of the jumble of blankets on Tacra's bunk: 
  "G'night Duke."

Shenner smiles gamely enough. "I missed yah," she murmurs to Jessalyn.

Tand's eyes shift down, he shakes his head with a grin.
Tand glances down at the others, then rolls over and drifts off to sleep.

Jessalyn smiles back at Shenner, scratching the back of her head. "I missed 
  you guys, too," she says ruefully. "Did you survive without me?"

Shenner, as everyone either leaves or drops off to sleep, keeps her voice 
  down, but still grins a bit. "It's been... tense... but now you're back, you 
  and Luke, and that's better."

Jessalyn sinks back on her elbows, sighing. "Yeah," she mumbles. "I wonder 
  what will happen to us all now." She swallows hard, glancing across the room.

Shenner sits beside you on the bunk, and offers, "Won't... you and Luke and 
  the Princess and Winter and General Calrissian... um, well, do NR things?" 
  She considers. "Or find General Solo, maybe."

Jessalyn touches your arm, frowning. "I don't know," she says honestly. "Luke 
  is no longer in the military... and I..." Panic flashes in her eyes for a 
  moment. "I don't know where he'll go after this." The tone of her voice 
  betrays her fear of separation, and Jessalyn stares hard at the opposite 
  wall.

Shenner wraps a bit more of her own arms about your own, and asks earnestly, 
  "You gonna go with him anyway?"

Jessalyn tightens her grip on your arms and looks at you. Pausing 
  thoughtfully, she finally sighs and shakes her head. "I.. I don't know. I'm 
  not sure how I could.. -not- go with him." She frowns. "I suppose that if he 
  doesn't want me to... I won't."

The girl considers this, looking both interested and unnerved, as if the ideas 
  you're discussing are somewhat frighteningly new to her. "You should, uh, 
  ask him, maybe?"

The lashes lower over Jessa's eyes, as if to hide the emotions there. But she 
  looks at you forthrightly, reaching a hand to brush the lock of hair from 
  your forehead. "I'm afraid to ask him," she admits.

Shenner loops her arm around you, and murmurs sheepishly, "I think I'm 
  startin' to know how that feels," she says, very softly.

"Oh?" Jessalyn pulls you closer against her, resting her cheek against your 
  hair. "It's not easy caring for people, is it? I mean... it hurts sometimes. 
  I wonder if it would be easier at times simply not to care."

The girl lets herself be hugged, and it's almost as if she's eight years 
  younger than she really is, the way she leans against you. "Not easier," she 
  murmurs. "Different."

Amylynn walks in from the Main Corridor of the ship.
Amylynn has arrived.
Amylynn jumps outa her arm and passes out on her bunk

Shenner and Jessalyn are sitting quietly, the younger redhead being gently 
  hugged by the older, and they murmur to one another.

Jessalyn rocks Shenner gently in her arms, and she manages a chuckle. 
  "Different, I suppose." She shifts her weight to a more comfortable 
  position, but keeps her arms around you. "I've never regretted caring about 
  you, y'know."

Shenner looks up, and smiles, wonderingly. "I... still ain't sure about the 
  'why' of that, yah know..."

Jessalyn smiles broadly, and reaches to stroke your cheek. "Does there have to 
  be a why? "

Shenner half-smiles. "You tell me. I ain't never... well, like I told Paul, I 
  ain't never had nobody, at least... not since Mom died."

Jessalyn nods slowly. "I understand. I was an orphan too, you know." She looks 
  at you contemplatively. "I made some mistakes when I tried to fill that part 
  of my life. I think I was trying too hard. I wanted those things I had never 
  had, and didn't think about what I was giving up in the process."

Paul_Nighman walks in from the Main Corridor of the ship.
Paul_Nighman has arrived.

Shenner blows out a breath. "Don't really much... miss what I had before," she 
  murmurs to Jessalyn softly.

Paul wanders in, his face a little strange and looks around the room to see 
  who all is still about.

Jessalyn is leaning back on the bunk with her arms around Shenner, looking 
  thoughtful and talking to her quietly.

Shenner considers, then adds, "Well... in a way, at least, it was less scary 
  and safer pretendin' to be a boy--" She cuts off, as the door whishes open, 
  and looks up; at the sight of Paul, she blinks a bit, suddenly shy of eye.

Paul ducks his head slightly, stepping into the room. "Sorry, don't mean to 
  interrupt," he mutters softly, as he walks across the room toward the bunk 
  where the guitar is resting. Pointing at it he asks, "Shen, mind if I borrow 
  your guitar some more?"

Jessalyn strokes the girl's hair absently, and glances over at Paul as he 
  speaks.

"Sure," Shen answers promptly, then frowns at herself. "I mean... naw, I don't 
  mind."

Lando walks in from the Main Corridor of the ship.
Lando has arrived.

Paul nods his thanks and picks up the guitar. "Well, I'll get out of your hair 
  now," he murmurs softly, and turns around, almost colliding with Lando.

Jessalyn sits up a bit more in the bed, arm still about Shenner's shoulders. 
  She chuckles as Paul and Lando nearly collide. "Don't be in such a rush to 
  leave us, Paul. We don't bite."

Paul flushes slightly, his expression uncertain. "Well I didn't want to 
  intrude on your personal conversation." he mumbles.

Lando grabs Paul's arms to avoid falling and chuckles softly at Jessa's, 
  "Sorry about that Paul. I was just looking for Amylynn is she around?"

Paul blinks and looks around, pointing at bunk where the woman is lying.

Shenner smiles hesitantly, but doesn't say anything, yet.

Jessalyn eyes Paul for a moment, then she narrows her eyes suspiciously. 
  "Paul.. tell me something... I saw that look in your eye when you sang that 
  song earlier... what were you up to?"

Lando gazes over at the bunk and nods. He walks over towards Jessalyn and 
  Shenner and states in a soft voice, "Could you tell her when she wakes up 
  that all arrangements have been made and that the medtechs will be waiting 
  for her father as soon as he touches down?"

Paul turns to look at Jessalyn and a slight blush seems to creep up from his 
  neck. He shakes his head, as if to deny her suggestion that he was up to 
  anything. "I just wanted to play that song," he mutters softly.

Shenner blinkblinks, looking between the General and Jessalyn, to see whether 
  the Major will respond first. Paul's voice distracts the kid's gaze, though, 
  and she suddenly speaks up with, "Hey, Paul... you sing good."

Paul's gaze shift to Shen and he smiles a little at her compliment. "Thanks 
  Shen, I don't get to do it much these days."

Jessalyn nods in response to Lando's request. "Of course, I'll be glad to tell 
  her." She looks back at Paul, disappointment clear in her eyes, and she 
  shrugs nervously.

Lando smiles warmly at Jessalyn and nods, "Thanks Jess."

Hopefully, Shenner asks, "Think... we could play together, more? Before, uhm, 
  well, you go to work for Luke?"

Paul nods and sits himself next to the kid. "Oh sure, that doesn't look like 
  it's going to be happening any time really soon ... I'll probably be around 
  for at least a few more days," he ponders absently as he checks the tuning 
  on the guitar.

Jessalyn cranes her neck, trying to peer past Lando and Paul to eye the door 
  expectantly. After a minute she sinks back again, adjusting her embrace 
  around Shenner. "No problem, Lando," she murmurs softly, then glances at 
  Paul. "You just wanted to play that song, huh?" she says to him.

Paul glances up at Jessalyn and then quickly back again. "Well, it's a very 
  special song to me, and so I thought it would be appropriate to share it," 
  he replies, but there is something odd about how he uses the word "special" 
  ... as it were not a good thing really.

Shenner says, in a tone rather far too enthusiastic for Paul's declaration of 
  delayed employment, "So you're not going?" Then, after a beat, "Oh, well, 
  uhm...." She trails off, then, looking between Paul on her one side and Jess 
  on her other.

Jessalyn's eyes cloud over again, and she frowns. "Share it with.. whom, Paul?"

Lando looks about the three awake people, "Maybe I should go check in on the 
  Lady Luck, see how she's holding up." He says in an apologetic tone to no 
  one in particular.

Paul looks up again first to Shen and then to Jessalyn. "Nope," he replies to 
  Shen, "yer stuck with me for at least a little bit longer." To Jessalyn he 
  eyes her for a moment before replying, "Do I really have to spell it out?" 
  obliquely.
Paul glances at Lando, and seems almost relieved that the man might be heading 
  out, as if he were trying to keep up a good front to Lando. "Ah well, sure 
  Lando, if you wanna."

Shenner starts to beam at Paul's reply to her, but then, as the conversation 
  Paul's started with Jessalyn starts up around her, the kid shrinks a bit, 
  uncomfortable.

Jessalyn looks over at Lando, trying to get his attention with her eyes. 
  "Don't leave because of us," she says in a light tone, which abruptly 
  changing into a mocking one as she looks back at Paul, "And yes, Paul, it 
  would be nice if you could be straightforward for once."

Paul gives Jessalyn a pained look, his eyes flicking sideways to Lando and 
  then he pulls himself together and looks at her boldly. "Alright, then I'll 
  be direct ... I played it for you and Luke. There, you satisfied?"

Lando hesitates a moment, unsure of what to do. After a moment of looking 
  between Jessalyn and Paul he turns towards Jessalyn giving her a reassuring 
  grin, "I really have to go make sure that nothing got jostled up too badly 
  on the Lady. I'll be back shortly."

Paul doesn't look at Lando but echo's Jessalyn's earlier words, "Please Lando, 
  don't feel you have to leave on my account ... have a seat." he offers 
  pleasantly, but his eyes never leave Jessalyn's.

Jessalyn seems to shrink back into the pillows. She doesn't say anything but 
  her eyes grow bright with sudden tears as she returns Paul's level stare. 
  Breathing erratically, she tightens her hold around Shenner, and finally 
  blurts out, "Why? What good does it do, Paul?" She turns her pleading glance 
  at Lando, cheeks flushing with shame.

Shenner blinks, and blurts, "Ah, hells... Jess... he meant well, honest! Don't 
  cry..." Awkwardly, the kid hugs the older redhead.

Paul continues to stare at her, his face betraying no emotion. "Obviously it 
  didn't do any good at all," he replies evenly. "Obviously it was a mistake."

Jessalyn clings to Shenner's shoulders, glaring past her at Paul. "Obviously 
  my very presence on this ship is a mistake. You all should have just left me 
  with that Sithlord bastard."

Lando blinks a few times and nods towards Paul. He backs into the nearest bunk 
  and sits gingerly by it's edge, glancing at Jessalyn looking a bit worried.

Shenner flicks a glance at Paul, and visibly winces at his response as well as 
  Jessalyn's. Abruptly disengaging from Jess's hug, the kid backs off from the 
  bunk, and, white-faced, whirls and flees the room.

[Aghast by the argument between Jessalyn and Paul - for it has, for Shenner, 
ruined the joyful attitude of the day - Shenner flees through the ship till she 
gets to the engine room, the best place she can think of to hide in so that no 
one will find here. There she stays, angry and upset, until Paul finally does 
locate her...]

You release the catches on the access panel, set it aside, and squeeze 
  yourself into the narrow confines of the engine room.
        
 
The Engine Room--Black Dragon
This section contains the hyper and ion drives, repulsorlifts, and the 
  variousshield and power generators used on the ship. Although designed for 
  more ease ofaccess than previous models, space is still very limited and you 
  find yourselfsqueezing your way past the bulkheads as you examine the 
  machinery. 
Obvious exits:
Entry Area <Fore>  

Paul_Nighman walks in from the Entry Area of the ship.
Paul_Nighman has arrived.
Paul's face breaks into an expression of relief when he finally finds Shenner, 
  and he pauses at the doorway uncertain how he should approach her.

Scowling vociferously, Shenner might be spotted inspecting one of the control 
  panels as if trying to sear its details into her brain.

Paul walks up to Shen slowly, not wanting to startle her. He comes up behind 
  her and then softly asks, "Shen? Why did you bolt?"

The kid looks up, not startledly; perhaps she heard you come through the 
  hatch. Still scowling, she says tautly, "Because I didn't want to listen to 
  a fight."

Paul pauses behind her, his hands hovering near her shoulders, uncertain 
  whether or not to touch her. "Oh" He looks at the back of her head. "That's 
  it? You just didn't want to hear me and Jessalyn disagree? Why are you so 
  upset then?"

"That wasn't a disagreement," Shenner tells you, not looking around. "That was 
  Jess startin' to cry, and you..." She pauses, and still doesn't look around, 
  before continuing, "You gettin' all closed off again."
Shenner lifts a slim hand, tracking her fingertip around a readout on the 
  panel, and avoiding buttons.

Paul lets his hands fall to the panel next to him. "Well, Jessalyn wasn't 
  crying because we were fighting ... she was crying because she's got a 
  broken heart. And me?" He pauses, struggling for the right words, "well, I 
  put a lot on the line and it was all for naught, and I couldn't stand it, 
  her pushing me like that with Lando right there, like I was gonna pour my 
  guts out in front of him." His voice cracks a little, with strain or 
  emotion, it's hard to tell.

"Well," mutters Shenner lowly, "I didn't want to watch that, either. Not like 
  I can help, anyway." She flicks a look at you, over her shoulder; her brow 
  has crinkled at the sound of your voice.

Paul's face looks strange, like he was holding himself in very carefully, only 
  small chinks in his armour showing the emotions boiling under the surface. 
  "No, I suppose I don't blame you." he croaks in a low voice.

Shenner frowns, and turns round to face you, studying the cast of your 
  features. "Ah, hells, Paul... if it means anything, I really liked hearing 
  you sing..."

Paul's face eases slightly, the pressure removed for the moment. He smiles at 
  Shen a little crookedly. "Well, thanks, I really like to sing, but don't get 
  much opportunity really ..."

Shenner's mouth curves in an answering one-sided quirk of a smile. "You got a 
  real... nice voice," she says softly.

Paul looks at Shen and his lips quirk up a bit. "Yeah, you said that," he 
  teases her. "It's okay I guess."

"You do!" the girl insists. "And... you _wrote_ that..." Her face softens 
  somehow, and there's a slight confused quirk to her head now, as she gazes 
  up at you searchingly. "I never met anybody who writes music before."

Paul smiles at her enthusiastic impression of his decent enough singing 
  abilities. When she refers to the song though, he takes a deep breath, 
  pulling a few internal strings tight, closing up the gaps, and says, "Well, 
  yeah, that was something I wrote when I was pretty young ... practically a 
  kid." He looks around the engine room, his eyes not settling anywhere. "I 
  haven't written anything in a long time," he mutters, almost to himself.

Shenner chews on her lower lip a moment, then, asks simply, "Do _you_ wanna 
  talk about it?" There's a slight emphasis on the pronoun, as if the kid's 
  perhaps aware that the phrase usually comes from you to her rather than this 
  way around.

Paul seems to be getting himself under control until you ask that. He jerks 
  slightly and looks at Shenner's face, scowling slightly, but not at her. He 
  faces one of the panels and places his hands against it, leaning slightly. 
  "I, I don't think that's a good idea," he says diplomatically, staring at 
  the random controls in front of him.

'Oh,' Shenner thinks, and it's clearly visible in her expression, along with a 
  touch of disappointment. Shen then offers, timidly, "I got an extra hug 
  lyin' around, if you need one..."

Paul continues to stare at the controls not seeing Shenners face. "It's fine," 
  he murmurs softly, "Really, it's nothing ... ancient history, not worth 
  dredging up ... but thanks for the offer kid." His voice sounds pretty light 
  and dismissive until he reaches the end. Then the tone gets a little tight 
  and distorted.

Fingertips lightly brush between your shoulderblades, and, a moment after, 
  Shenner's slender young arms try to wrap around you, to offer a gentle hug. 
  "You sound like you need a hug anyway," she remarks quietly.

At Shen's touch Paul stiffens and a slight tremor runs through his system. He 
  abruptly spins around slamming his back against the panel and staring down 
  into Shenner's face. His eyes look almost panicked. "Shen, wait, no! I can't 
  do this!" He remains pressed against the control board behind him, his hands 
  bent at the elbows and pressing backward as well.

The kid's face falls, and she pulls back from you a little, protesting 
  uncomprehendingly, "What, you can give out hugs, but you can't take 'em?" 
  Disappointment starts creeping across her eyes. But she doesn't quite 
  retreat from you completely.

Paul blinks in the darkness, his eyes looking nearly black in the dim light. 
  With his teeth slightly clenched he replies very carefully, as if were 
  trying to measure the weight of each word ... or as if each word might 
  accidentally cut him. "I'm sorry Shen but I -can't- do this ... not now ... 
  not ... I," he falters, and breaks eye contact. "I need some air," he rasps 
  as if he were actually thinking of taking a step outside the ship. He 
  struggles to pull himself under control, furious at his lack of discipine.

Shenner's face falls further, and at that, she _does_ pull completely away 
  from you, averting her gaze. "I just wanted to help," she mumbles, 
  crestfallen. "Like you do me. Sorry if I ain't wanted." She turns, and moves 
  ahead of you out of the hatchway.

[Shenner does not stay away from the engine room long; she starts to go back to 
the cargo bay, to get her blanket and pillow and go to crash in the crews' 
quarters, but the same impulse that led her to try to hug Paul leads her to 
return to the engine room to check on him...]

The reopening of the access hatch heralds the return of... well, Shenner, as 
  the kid's voice reaches ahead of her into the engine room, meekly. "Paul... 
  if you're still in here... I'll go sleep in the crews' quarters if you'd 
  rather be alone... I just thought I'd say... if you wanna talk, I listen 
  pretty good."

Paul is sitting on the floor of the engine room, his knees drawn up to his 
  chest and his arms laying utop them. His head his hunched forward resting on 
  the combination. His eyes are narrowed and he is obviously doing some hard 
  thinking.

Shenner pauses a beat, then adds, even more quietly, "I got my pillow and my 
  blanket if you wanna get some sleep you can have the cargo hold to 
  yourself... I, uh, I just thought I'd ask." Another pause, then.

Paul looks up at the girls voice and he just sits there for long while. 
  Finally his voice breaks out of the darkness of the room. "Don't move on my 
  account," he says, his voice more normal and even, "unless of course you 
  would prefer to sleep elsewhere, which I would completely understand." He 
  doesn't even touch her offer of a bent ear.

"I'd prefer," the kid says softly, a measure of ragged tension entering her 
  tone, "knowin' I ain't makin' you unhappy. I didn't like seein' you unhappy 
  at Jess and it's even worse seein' you unhappy at me."

Paul doesn't move from the floor but you can tell that his gaze is sharply 
  fixed upon you through the shadows of the room. "You don't make me unhappy 
  Shen," Paul replies a little raggedly. "I do a good enough job of that all 
  on my own." He pauses. "It's not your fault," he says firmly, "it's me .... 
  I just couldn't break for you, and I was afraid that I was going to."

Shenner sighs, and is silent for a few moments after you speak. At last she 
  says, "Funny. All this time I been pretendin' to be a boy, and I ain't sure 
  whether men cry... they sure as hells don't in Spaceport Row and Mos Eisley, 
  unless they're drunk." She gives a low hoarse laugh. "Dunno whether I seem 
  to be good at it just 'cause I'm a mixed-up kid or just 'cause I'm a girl." 
  A pause. "I ain't... askin' you to cry for me, Paul, I mean... ah hells, you 
  been tryin' so hard to make me feel better, I just thought, it's about time 
  somebody tried to make you feel better, y'know?"

Paul swallows a lump in his throat that he thought he had just tamed. His 
  voice is raspy as he speaks. "Where I come from, men don't cry ... not so 
  anyone sees." His voice betrays the strain of his admission. "I did it once 
  in front of someone else," he adds, his voice cracking, "and I can't ever do 
  it again." He takes a deep breath and lets it out on a ragged sigh. "I know 
  that's not what you're asking for, but you have to understand ... no one, 
  well no one has ever cared ... ah," he growls, fumbling over his words, "no 
  one has ever tried to make me feel better, so I really don't know how to 
  respond."

"Well," Shenner offers, "I ain't exactly thinkin' there's a reference manual 
  for this kinda thing... but maybe you can start by tellin' me whether you 
  need some company or whether I should just get outta yer face?" She leavens 
  her last few words with a little roughly gentle humor.

Paul leans his head back against the circuits. He finally manages, "I don't 
  even know if I can answer that ... I don't consider myself to be fit company 
  right now, nor do I want to be alone." The latter part of his answer costs 
  him, uncomfortable in admitting even that much vulnerability.

Shen murmurs, "Didn't ask yah if you were fit company, pal, asked yah if you 
  needed some." And she adds, "I'll... stay in here with yah, if you like. Or 
  we can get some sleep?"

Paul nods, but it is uncertain what it is in reference to. After a long moment 
  he slowly gets to his knees and then rises and walks torward the door, the 
  light of the hall illuminating is gradually emerging form. "You tired?" he 
  asks her.

Shenner nods her head, but her gaze is level and clear. "Yeah. You?"

Paul_Nighman says, "Kinda ... I dunno, more burnt out feeling than actually 
  sleepy.""

Shenner abruptly smiles up at you as she sees you separate from the shadows. 
  "Well, c'mon, then. Get some rest. It's hard work havin' redheads bawlin' on 
  yer shoulders all the time, I bet."
Shenner, still holding onto her pillow and blanket, smiles again, then steps 
  out through the hatch.

You pull yourself through the access hatch and out into the entry area.  You
quickly replace the panel and latch it into place.
Rear Corridor - Black Dragon
You gaze into the Entry Area for the YT-1300 Black Dragon. This is a nexus to 
  the various areas of the ship. The Cargo Bay to the port, Engineering to the 
  aft, and the Main Corridor to the fore.
Obvious exits:
Airlock <Starboard>  Cargo Bay <Port>  Engine Room <Aft>  Main Corridor <Fore> 
   
Paul_Nighman walks in from the Engine Room of the ship
Paul_Nighman has arrived.
Paul shuffles his way toward the cargo bay, giving Shen a quick side glance. 
  Maybe it's just your imagination, but you could of sworn he just grinned at 
  you a little. "Yeah, I should remember to bill Luke for my services as 
  ship's morale officer."

Shenner brightens at you, as she turns to open up the hatch into the hold. 
  Once this has been done she tosses the pillow and blanket down before her, 
  and waves you down. "There you go."

Paul watches the pillow and blanket fall and grins slightly as he remembers 
  the pillow fight earlier. On a spontaneous impulse he suddenly feels himself 
  wheel around and grab Shen up in a bear hug. "Thanks," he manages to rasp 
  softly.

Shenner is startled, but only for a moment, and she hugs you back tightly even 
  as her feet come a bit up off the deck. "Any time, Paul," she answers back, 
  equally soft.

Paul holds Shen to him tightly for a moment, revelling in this unexpected 
  opportunity. A slight shudder runs through his frame before he releases his 
  grip. He merely smiles at her for a moment, his face tired and worn, but 
  less strained that it had been mere moments before. He then climbs over to 
  the hatch and lowers himself dowm the ladder before her.
Paul_Nighman walks into the Cargo Bay of the ship
Paul_Nighman has left.

You grab ahold of the access handles on the floor panel and lift it away,
setting it carefully to the side.  You lower yourself into the cargo bay.
Cargo Bay--Black Dragon
This is the main cargo bay. All ship's cargo is kept here.
Contents:
Paul_Nighman
Obvious exits:
Entry Area <Starboard>  

Shenner clambers lithely down the ladder behind you, and stoops to retrieve 
  her dropped bedding. She smiles, and offers, "Rest well, hey?"

Paul gestures to her guitar and flute, "I brought them back earlier," he notes 
  randomly and then begins to mess around with his stuff, putting books and 
  papers away and rearranging his "bed". He looks up and smiles crookedly. 
  "You too."

The girl smiles... and settles down in a curl of gawky limbs under her 
  blanket, and red head on her pillow, positioning herself so she can see you, 
  or at least the side of the nook you've made among the packing crates. 
  "Goodnight," she murmurs softly, and falls into silence... and into the 
  beginnings of slumber.

Paul stops his rustling for a moment and leans against the boxes and wondering 
  what the hell he has gotten himself into now? He shakes his head and softly 
  replies, "Sweet dreams," before undressing and settling down for the night 
  himself.

[End log.]