Log Date:
	4/4/97

Log Cast:
	Jessalyn, Shenner, Paul, Skeezix, Gabrielle

Log Intro:
	Heartbroken over Paul's trying to gently discourage her away from
her feelings for him, Shenner has returned to the NR base on Calamari,
and found herself flinging herself headlong into an explosive, desperate
attempt to distract herself from thoughts of Paul. Her first distraction
has been an all-day guitar session that has left her hands raggedly
blistered and bleeding; her second, a drinking binge that same night with
Tand. Now, the day after, once her hangover goes away, a drained Shenner
decides it's best for her to find something to do to get on with her
life... and the idea of signing on with the NR Army, and thus getting herself
the opportunity to toughen herself against further emotional turmoil,
sounds _extremely_ attractive. Shenner is in the process of studying the
enlistment holos for the NR ground forces when events take an unexpected
turn....

----------
Jessalyn leads you into the barracks, making a straight line for the locker 
  next to her bunk. There is a long box sitting on top of it, and she picks it 
  up, tucking it under her arm as she turns to look at you.

Shenner is on her bunk, her feet actually up on the pillow, her head at the 
  other end; she is casually scanning the screen of her small datapad, and as 
  the door wooshes open, she doesn't immediately move. Only when Jessalyn 
  passes her field of vision does the kid say readily, "Yo, Jess" -- not 
  seeing Paul, yet.

Paul follows along with a happy smile on his face. "What's that?" he asks as 
  he looks around the room for a free bunk. When he sees and hears Shen his 
  smile slips slightly, his eyes growing a touch concerned, but he covers 
  nicely and smiles at Shenner. "Hey Shen," he says a bit more softly, "lookie 
  what I got," and he swings his guitar case.

Jessalyn glances over at the sound of Shenner's voice, and she smiles warmly 
  at her, alert, however, to Paul's reactions and eyeing him warily. "Shen, 
  how are you?" she calls, and picks up another smaller box off the top of the 
  locker.

Shenner, for the briefest of instants, goes very still, and her eyes go wide. 
  She looks up, then, and offers Paul a casual lopsided grin. "Guitar, huh? 
  Good for you. You need one." A beat, then to Jess, she adds laconically, 
  "Lost the hangover. Better now." She remains where she lies, her bandaged 
  hands still holding the datapad, though she is now paying more attention to 
  the adults in the room.

Jessalyn looks a bit concerned at Shenner's bandaged hands, as well as her 
  reference to a hangover, but she manages a smile and chuckles. "Yeah, I had 
  one of those this morning myself," she comments dryly, then adds, "Have you 
  seen Lando?"

The kid shakes her head, and says blandly, "I didn't see nobody when I came 
  back last night. Y'all were still gone." She looks back at the datapad, 
  skimming its display.

Paul's curiousity over Jessalyn's box is lost to Shenner's mention of having a 
  hangover. He smiles at Jessalyn, with a hint of reassurance, and then 
  strides over to Shenner's bunk smiling. "Hangover, huh? I didn't know you 
  drank." He teases lightly. "Yeah, I figured you were getting sick of me 
  borrowing yours and this way we can play together." As he draws nearer he 
  sees the bandages and his face frowns with concern. "Shen! What happened to 
  your hands?"

Shenner, at least, tries to look back at the datapad, but Paul's approach 
  clearly grabs more of her attention for all that her eyes are actually still 
  pointed at the pad's screen. "I forgot to tell yah? I'm workin' on bein' 
  able to drink Wookiees under tables." Another one-sided grin.

Jessalyn eases away from the two chattering, boxes under her arm, and makes 
  her way to the door. "Well, I'm going to see if I can find him," she says 
  just loud enough for them to hear, and disappears out the door.
Jessalyn has left.

Paul places his guitar case and a bag full of stuff down on the floor. He then 
  sits himself down on the side of her cot and reaches for her hands. "Shen," 
  he says in a softer tone, "what happened to your hands?" His face is 
  concerned as well as his voice.

Shenner doesn't quite meet Paul's eyes, and she doesn't let him get both 
  hands, either, as she shifts the datapad into the left one. But he can get 
  the right one. Then she cracks a third one-sided grin and says brightly, 
  "Just tried out for the All-Day Guitar Marathon. Impulse thing, yah know?"

Frowning, Paul takes Shen's right hand, which would be the most damaged of the 
  two and begins to gently remove the bandages. "Well gee, I told you that 
  practice was the key but I didn't think you would take me so literally," and 
  then as he manages to get the bandage off he can't help but take in a sharp 
  breath of shock. "Oh Shen," he murmurs softly as his eyes take in her 
  mangled fingers.

Shenner's casual expression falters, and she stares off at the wall, not 
  looking pleased at Paul's discovery -- though she does not prevent him from 
  removing the bandage. "Hey, they'll be okay in a day or two, no big deal."

Paul stares at the damage and then looks into Shenner's eyes. "How did you do 
  this?" he asks in confusion. "Your hands must have been killing you long 
  before they got this bad." He reaches for her left hand, removing the 
  datapad from her grip. "They need to be rebandaged," he murmurs in 
  explanation.

Shenner refuses to meet your gaze; her own is evasive, hard, at odds with her 
  attempt at a laid-back air. "Eh, well. You know us devoted musicians. 
  Completely lose track of time, hunger, or bloody fingertips," she tells you, 
  with a brittle kind of brightness.

Removing the rest of the bandages from her left hand he sighs as the damage 
  there is not as extreme. He gives Shenner a look that says that he doesn't 
  buy that story, but he doesn't press her. "Stay right there," he admonishes 
  lightly before getting the first aid kit off the wall. He rummages though 
  some of the various salves available and finally chooses one and returns 
  with fresh guaze. Sitting back down he eyes you worriedly. "Shen, really, 
  you can't play for at least a week or you might permanently injure your 
  hands," he cautions gently and he begins to gently massage the salve into 
  her right hand first, applying it thickly and rubbing it into her fingertips 
  with careful strokes.

"That long, huh? Tand said a day or two. Ah well." Shenner shrugs a little, 
  and still refuses to look at you as you begin to tend her hands, though 
  again, she doesn't stop you.

Shenner might be seen to swallow, once, as the salve's components begin to 
  seep into her injured flesh -- the only sign she gives you that her hands 
  are indeed paining her.

"Two days for regular use, but I wouldn't try playing the guitar for at least 
  a week. You'll need to let the muscles relax and heal as well as your 
  fingers," and as if trying to prove a point, his hands move to massage your 
  palms and the muscles in your hand. As the salve begins to take effect 
  Shen's fingertips begin to feel cooler and the pain dramatically lessens.

Paul's eyes are intent on Shenner's hands and he doesn't notice her painful 
  swallow, but his hands remain tender and gentle on hers.

Shenner tries again for that light tone. "Ah well. Gives me time to finish 
  checking out the base, I guess. And I wasn't gettin' that song right anyway, 
  no big loss...." Her fingers twitch once at the massaging; you've clearly 
  found stiff muscles there.

Paul notes the reaction and continues to massage, using the gently 
  numbing power of the salve as a means to relaxing the muscles to the point 
  where he can work the knots out of them painlessly. He frowns in 
  concentration but a small smile graces his lips. "You can go catch some rays 
  or something," he teases lightly. "Go for a swimm in the ocean ... the salt 
  water will be good for your hands too," he mentions idly. "You've got plenty 
  of time for music," he notes. "We'll just work on those voice lessons I was 
  telling you about ... not like you need my help with the guitar anymore," he 
  teases her.

"Nah, I'll pass," Shenner says airily. "Ocean, that is. Probably ain't got 
  time to learn how to swim anyhow." She casts a glance at the datapad. 
  "Unless they have swimmin' lessons in basic training around here. Hafta ask, 
  I guess...."

"Basic training?" Paul asks idly, finishing up with the right hand and 
  wrapping it carefully in guaze. He reaches for the left hand and begins to 
  repeat the process.

"Yeah. Thought I'd start workin' for my food and water around here." Shenner 
  grins crookedly, but doesn't look at you.
Shenner shrugs, and finishes, "General Calhoun suggested I enlist. I figure, 
  what the hell, soldier probably beats the hell outta street rat."

At first Paul doesn't get the reference to working, but when Shen mentions the 
  word soldier, Paul goes stiff and stops in the middle of his ministrations, 
  his eyes rising to catch Shenners. "You're joining the army?" he asks in 
  astonishment, his voice a little gruff.

The girl has yet to look at you as she tells you, half-smiling, "Guess I 
  always dreamt about runnin' off and joinin' the Rebellion when I was a kid. 
  Bit late now, but if they wanna let me in, what the hell."

Paul begins to protest her decision, feeling an unexpected panic rising within 
  him. He manages to choke it back, realizing that by releasing her, he has no 
  say over anything she might choose to do with her life. The surprise is how 
  much he resents that now. Clenching his teeth his looks back down at her 
  left hand and continues to stroke it tenderly, the massage becoming more 
  personal and intimate as he unconciously begins to fret. "Ah, you'll be 
  careful right? I mean, there isn't much fighting going on any more, is 
  there?" He can't help but let a little worry escape into his question.

"Dunno. Guess it depends on whether the fleet left Etti IV... they were gonna 
  shoot it out with the Imperials, when I was there..." Shenner trails off a 
  bit, and swallows again, at the renewed message to her hands. But she still 
  doesn't look at you.

Paul continues his massage, swallowing a little at the mention of a shoot out. 
  "What about Jessalyn? I thought you were going to Yavin with her?" he asks a 
  trifle desperately, fishing around for a better option than what the girl 
  seems to be suggesting.

Shenner shifts slightly where she lies, allowing her head to turn in your 
  direction although she doesn't meet your eyes. "Well, it's like this, see... 
  General Calhoun said I oughtta play music for the NR or somethin', but I 
  figure, can't know if they want me to sing till they get to hear me, so in 
  the meantime, might as well do somethin' to pay my room and board, and I can 
  shoot. I can run. Get in and outta places fast. Must count for soemthin' for 
  a soldier."
Shenner glances down at the datapad. "Anyhow, been readin' up on their 
  enlistment material."

Paul bites his lip, unable to look Shenner in the eyes. He abrupty stops his 
  massage and begins to wrap the gauze around her injured hand, feeling the 
  urge to flee growing stronger by the second. "But what about Yavin?" he 
  repeats again, sounding like a broken holodisc recording.

Shenner releases a slow sigh, and then tells you, looking away, "I gotta have 
  somethin' to do, Paul, and heck, the General says if I played music for 'em 
  Jess'd wind up my superior officer anyhow... but like I said, I figure I 
  better not count on that till I know the NR actually likes my music."
Shenner adds with a smirk, "It'd stink if I signed up for a job and my 
  prospective audience turned out to hate me. Or laugh me off the base. Or 
  somethin'."

With both of Shen's hands now rebandaged up, Paul doesn't have anything to 
  concentrate on any longer. He nods somewhat brusquely in response, but 
  doesn't have anything to say in response. He stands up and begins to rummage 
  through his bag. "Well, I better pick myself a bunk," he mutters softly and 
  then pulling out a box he thrusts it out ingraciously to Shenner. "Ah, I saw 
  this and it made me think of you," he mutters uncomfortably. He was actually 
  quite delighted with it when he first found the object, but now, in the face 
  of what he has just been told, he finds it hard to drum up much enthusiasm.
As a last minute thought he replies, "Well, I guess I better give you a voice 
  lesson, just in case, huh?"

Shenner blinks at you, as you jab the box in her direction. Actually blinks in 
  the direction of your face, at least for a moment. Taking the box awkwardly 
  in her newly bandaged hands, she sits up, and asks, "What is this?"

Paul doesn't seem to be able to look at you, and as you take the box he 
  mumbles, "Open it." and then begins to pick up his purchases and look about 
  for a bunk.

Shenner's casual mask slips a little further. The kid flicks you a brief 
  uneasy glance, then, as best she can, opens up the container. As she does -- 
  it takes her a few moments to wrestle with it -- she says gruffly, "I, uh... 
  if you wanna gimme a lesson, sure. Could probably use the help."

As you open the box, and rummage inside your fingers awkwardly find a roundish 
  object on a silk cord. When you draw it out of the box, it looks like a 
  rather large necklace of a shell - only upon closer examination there are 
  several holes carved into in a sort of circle like pattern on one side of it 
  and a hole at the top. "No expert myself, but I can give you some pointers," 
  he grunts. " Be right back," Paul manages to sort of strangle out and then 
  with a cough, he is off at a fair clip for a bunk that he espies across the 
  room a ways. In fact, it is quite aways away.

"What.... what is this?" Shenner murmurs out, something of that brittle 
  cheerfulness having left her voice. "It's pretty...." She holds the shell in 
  her bandaged hands, peering at it, and at the holes.

Paul tosses down his stuff and then whirls back, using the bit of exercise to 
  clear his mind ... or at least he tries to. As he draws near to Shen again 
  and sees her looking at the necklace with her bandaged hands he has to 
  surpress the strong urge to protect her and keep her from joining the army, 
  no matter in what capacity she chooses to serve. He stands next to her bunk, 
  twitching slightly from side to side. "It's an ocarina," he rasps at her. 
  Clearing his throat he continues. "See, you can wear it around your neck and 
  then you blow through the hole on the end and play it with your fingers over 
  the holes." He frowns as he realizes that she won't be able to play it with 
  her bandaged hands and he reaches out with one palm. "Here, I'll show you."

Shenner looks at your hand as you lift it to her, then lifts her gaze up to 
  you, tentatively. Only now, with her veneer of amiability starting to crack, 
  might it be seen that there's a slight bruised and hollow look about her 
  eyes, as though she's gone without rest the last day or two. Still, perhaps 
  stubbornly, a grin tries to curl one end of her mouth. "Okay... lemme see..."

Paul takes the tiny instrument from her hand, brushing against her thick 
  bandages. He drops his gaze to hers, but her shadowed face and the dark 
  circles beneath her eyes only further illustrate her fragility to Paul. He 
  does his best to give her a warm smile, but it doesn't quite reach his eyes. 
  "Now, I'm no expert you understand," he murmurs, and lifts the little shell 
  to his lips and blows through the opening, his fingers covering and opening 
  holes in a pattern so that he plays an octave, and then he just plays a 
  series of notes, not exactly a song, but musical sounding.

Skeezix arrives from the corridor.
Skeezix has arrived.

Gabrielle arrives from the corridor.
Gabrielle has arrived.

Skeezix walks into the barracks, his left hand wrapped around Gabrielle's.

Shenner can be seen sitting on her bunk, with Paul Nighman standing before 
  her; the girl seems slightly strained about her eyes, and her hands are 
  bandaged. The man is playing an ocarina, as Shenner watches him.
Shenner murmurs awkwardly, "That's... pretty--" She cuts off, though, as the 
  doors woosh open to herald the arrival of the two officers.

Gabrielle looks around the barracks, eyes falling on the pair as she catches 
  the sound from the intstrument.

Paul stops playing and hands the ocarina back to Shen, turning to observe the 
  two officers entering. "Well, yeah, like I said, it made me think of you," 
  he replies distractedly.

Skeezix smiles slightly as the music plays, then averts his gaze as he looks 
  over towards Gabrielle. He squeezes her hand once and says quietly, "I 
  enjoyed the evening, Gabby."

Shenner blinks once at the sight of the General making such overtures at a 
  woman, then her gaze quickly drops to the ocarina pendant. Her hands 
  awkward, she lifts the silk cord to loop around her neck, and whispers, 
  "Thanks, Paul..."

Gabrielle nods, turning emerald eyes back to Skeezix "As did I...." she smiles 
  "I wouldn't mind repeating it."

A smile creeps it's way upon the Generals face, forcing him to delay his reply 
  until it's made it's way from end to end. "Well, I don't see why we can't," 
  he comments, taking her other hand in his as well.

Paul shrugs awkwardly. "Your welcome," he murmurs back softly. Then he looks 
  at her face again and reaches out with one hand to brush at a loose sprig of 
  her hair. "Well, it looks like you could use a little sleep now, huh?"

"Ain't been sleepin' too good last coupla days," the kid mutters, still 
  looking down at the ocarina.

Paul nods in understanding. "Yeah, me neither," he hints softly. He takes a 
  few steps away from her side, not wanting to abandon her, but at the same 
  time thinking that he should.

Gabrielle smiles looking down at her hands, both resting in Skeezix's. She 
  remains quiet a few moments the looks back up at him "Get some sleep General"

Skeezix chuckles lightly, "Don't worry, I'll be out in ten seconds." He 
  releases both hands, yet brushes one across her back and whispers 
  something with a smirk before turning and walking over towards his cot.

Shenner, hearing what can be heard of the soft exchange between the two 
  officers, doesn't say anything, but she does flick Paul a brief wary.... shy 
  glance.

A light rush of color rises to her cheeks as Gabrielle watches Skeezix walk 
  across to his bunk. After a moment she looks down, reaching up to her neck 
  and unfastening the cloak, pulling it from her shoulders.

Skeezix sits down on his cot and begins to change into his evening sweats and 
  t-shirt, looking back up towards Gabrielle only when he's dressed. "Night, 
  Gabby," he calls out quietly before lying back on his cot.

Paul stands there for a moment, uncertainly. "Well, uh, g'night Shenner?" he 
  finally mumbles softly, his tone just ever so slightly questioning, as if 
  inviting her to stop him if she wanted to.

With the ocarina's cord about her neck and the shell itself still resting in 
  her bandaged fingers, Shenner looks up at Paul, the most direct look she's 
  given him since he arrived. Her eyes still look strained and hollowed, and 
  the attempt at a grin only flickers momentarily at the corner of her mouth; 
  she swallows, and says shyly, "'Night Paul.... glad you're back... Jessalyn 
  missed yah."

Gabrielle lays the cloak over her bunk, looking over at Skeezix "Good night..."

Skeezix gives Gabrielle one last smile before his eyelids slam shut. Within 
  moments he has drug his blanket up to cover him and turned to one side, fast 
  asleep.

Paul takes in Shen's gaze somberly, with no idea what to do now. He manages to 
  nod and a small smile cracks his lips at her last comment. "Well, it was 
  hard to tell with all the grief she was giving me," he teases lightly. 
  "Sleep will Shen, I'll see you tomorrow," he adds reassuringly. And with 
  that he turns and heads for his bunk.

Gabrielle smiles faintly as she watches him for a few moments then turns, 
  opening the small chest at the foot of her bunk.

Shenner looks down again as Paul moves off to the other end of the room. 
  Without a word, the girl sinks down to lay with her face to the wall on her 
  bunk; whether she drops asleep immediately is impossible to tell, with her 
  face thusly obscured. But she does not say another word, so perhaps she 
  drops asleep immediately after all.

[End log.]