Log Date:
	3/15/97

Log Cast:
	Paul Nighman, Leia, Shenner, Tacra, Amylynn

Log Intro:
	Paul Nighman has been wounded in an unexpected confrontation with
a hostile stranger in the starport -- a man that he, Jessalyn, and Shenner
have already individually run into before. As if that encounter hadn't
been enough to disturb them all, Paul has been further rattled by Luke's
calling upon the Force to accelerate the healing of his stab wounds. Having
sensed something of Paul's startled fear of Luke's doing such a thing,
and worried about him, Shenner goes looking for Paul the next morning....

----------
Bridge--Black Dragon
This is the bridge of the Black Dragon. All the instramental pannels are black 
  attoned with silver. The Captains Chair to the Black Dragon has consoles on 
  the arm rests for the captain's personal use.
Contents:
Paul_Nighman
Leia
YT-1300 Black Dragon Datacore
YT-1300 Black Dragon DSURN Terminal
NavComp -- YT-1300 Black Dragon
Obvious exits:
Main Corridor <Aft>  

Paul_Nighman looks up and smiles at the kid. "Hey Shen, morning," he offers 
  pleasantly.

Leia smiles, and shakes her head, "I better go find those two before they 
  manage to get into any more trouble. If you'll excuse me.." She turns 
  towards the main corridor and notices Shenner, to whom she nods a greeting 
  to.

Shenner appears at the aft hatchway, peering into the bridge, her brow 
  furrowed. She looks somewhat relieved to spy Paul here, and she nods a 
  trifle shyly to the Princess.

Paul_Nighman nods to Leia. "Good luck, I think you'll need it with those 
  stubborn two."

Leia nods and passes through the doors with a determined step.
Leia walks into the Main Corridor of the ship.
Leia has left.

Paul_Nighman turns to Shenner. "There goes one seriously brave woman," he 
  notes casually.

Shenner looks after Leia, then frowns to Paul, even as she allows lowly, 
  "Yeah. From everything I know about her... yeah." The kid studies you and 
  your rumpled appearance, gaze critical.

Paul_Nighman looks around the bridge curiously, unaware of Shenner's perusal. 
  "I met the psycho medic this morning ... she woke me up." He shakes his 
  head. "I don't think she and I are gonna get on."

"You ain't leavin', are yah?" Shenner asks abruptly.

Paul_Nighman turns his head to look curiously at the kid. He looks down at his 
  stuff and back up at her. "She drove me out," he answers lightly,"can't say 
  I didn't consider it." Then leans forward, bringing his right leg down from 
  where it was resting atop his bags. "Why, would you miss me?" There is a 
  devilish gleam in his eye.

The girl scowls a bit, shrugs a bit, and pretends to examine a control panel. 
  "I dunno... just kinda nice havin' somebody around that knows about music, 
  yah know?"

Paul_Nighman smirks and leans back, stretching his arms over his head and then 
  tucking them behind the nape of his neck. "Oh so that's it is it? All this 
  time I thought you loved me for my body, when in fact you only love me for 
  my mind." His tone is teasing, his eyes glittering. "I'm hurt" he adds with 
  a seductive grin.

Shenner flicks a sour look at you and retorts, "Your body looks like you ought 
  to stick it in the refresher. And, well, yeah, you know stuff, and you 
  _talk_ to me, I like that, so what?" Her tone turns defiant, or at least 
  perhaps she intends it to; she may just sound grumpy.

Paul_Nighman grins even wider. "That's true," he notes, "I'm not at my finest 
  right now ... here, hold up." and he rises, moving toward Shenner, only to 
  bend down at the last minute and pull his leather jacket on over his naked 
  torso. Once on, it hides pretty much all of the blood stains except for some 
  on the leg of his pants. He leans forward torward Shenner. "And yes," he 
  adds, "I do talk to you," his eyes focusing on Shenner's lips, "and I do 
  know _stuff_" he adds suggestively.

Strangely, Shenner looks up at you, and doesn't look away for all that 
  nervousness continues to tauten her features. Her voice grows gruffer as she 
  says, avoiding your implications, "Your side okay?"

The teasing look in Paul's eyes is replaced with something more intense. He 
  stares at Shenner and takes another step closer to her. "Let's give this a 
  test," he murmurs, his reference somewhat oblique. "Touch it and see, " he 
  rumbles at her, his voice dropping down a pitch and giving off a warm 
  crackle like fire.

Shenner can be seen to swallow a little, her gaze dropping from your face to 
  the place where Vermillion's blades had driven themselves into your side -- 
  the leather jacket's covering of it notwithstanding. She lifts a hand to 
  you, while telling you brashly, "I could shove you over, ya know..."

He doesn't take his eyes off of yours, but his right arm slides up to lean 
  against the edge of the hatch behind you , bringing him a little closer. His 
  breathing seems a little fast, his chest rising and falling slightly with 
  each intake. "Yeah, I know," he murmurs again, his face descending toward 
  yours. "In your presence, I flip over like pages of a book on a windy 
  day." His voice is barely audible, just the softest of predatory growls. His 
  eyes drop from Shenner's eyes to rest upon her lips again, and then they 
  lose focus as his head dips.

"Well, uh, let's just see, huh pal?" Is Shenner's voice a little more shaky? 
  She keeps her gaze down off you, and brings that hand she'd lifted over 
  suddenly to press firmly against your side -- not a shove, but not a 
  delicate touch, either.

Paul_Nighman twists his torso lithely, so Shenner's pressing hand will slip 
  along his side to his back. At the same time he moves forward, his eyes a 
  little more aggressive. "Okay, let's," he growls, responding to the challenge 
  and bringing his left hand up to cup the nape of Shenner's neck, Paul's lips 
  descend and touch hers.

For a fraction of an instant, Shenner pauses there, her mouth very close to 
  yours. But when she remembers to breathe in the next instant, it's on a 
  startled intake of air, and all at once her slender carriage tautens. The 
  hand you'd gotten to slip around to your backside suddenly wheels back -- 
  and arcs up, in a fist, straight for your jaw.

Paul_Nighman pulls his mouth away from Shenner's as her eyes suddenly reflect 
  active fear and anger. He feels her arm slip from his side and out of the 
  corner of his eye, sees it turn into a fist and head for his jaw again. 
  Letting out a soft oath, he turns slightly, trying to dodge the blow, which 
  only catches a corner of his chin. Paul's balance is slightly off from his 
  dodge and he takes a step back to steady himself and face Shenner. His right 
  foot makes contact with his luggage, lying forgotten behind him, and Paul 
  feels himself beginning to topple over backwards, over the pile of stuff. 
  "Oh shit" he grunts, and tries to turn himself around in time to catch 
  himself. He makes an incomplete spin to the right and falls over his stuff 
  and right into the chair where Leia had been sitting. His right side hits 
  the arm rest squarely and Paul lets out a bark of pain, followed by a heavy 
  expulsion of air. He sort of hangs there for a moment, as if he were leaning 
  over the chair, his face blanched white. With another expulsion of air he 
  slips to the left, falling off of the chair and heavily onto the floor.

Shenner stands there frozen for a few moments, then she blurts out anxiously, 
  "Paul? _Paul_?"

Paul_Nighman lays on the floor, completely motionless, his hand gripping his 
  side.

"Ah, _kark_," Shenner breathes out, shakily, scrambling to Paul's side and 
  kneeling there. "Paul? Talk to me? I'm sorry...!"

Paul_Nighman eyes are shut tight, his face clenched in pain. His breath comes 
  in short gasps. "Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit," he growls. His eyes open at 
  Shen's voice and he tries to put on a good front, but it's obviously an 
  effort. "Hey, nope, I was just asking for it ..." he manages to say, his 
  voice strained. "Crap" he whispers to himself. "Just gimmie a sec to catch 
  my breath kid," he adds, struggling to keep his tone light," and I'll be 
  just fine." He lays there just breathing and holding his side for a moment. 
  "Jeez kid, you sure know how to show a fellow a good time," he rasps.

Shenner says guiltily, "Didn't mean to hurt yah." He voice has dropped. "Can, 
  uh, can you get up?"

Paul_Nighman lets his face relax deliberately, hiding the amount of effort it 
  is taking him to do so. He nods at Shenner and plasters a smile on his face. 
  "Hey kid, like I said, my mistake. Gimmie a sec here, alright?" He bolsters 
  his voice up, making it sound easy and cheerful. The only hint that escapes 
  is slight, just a sharp edge to the humor. Even though he has absolutely no 
  desire to move, he forces himself to sit up, looking away casually so that 
  Shenner cannot see the grimace that grips his features. He leans heavily on 
  the chair that he had been sitting in and uses it to lift him up. He lands 
  on it heavily, trying to make it look like he is just flopping into it 
  casually.

Shenner sits back on her haunches as you rise, and as you make it into the 
  chair, she gets slowly to her feet. "You sure 'bout this?" the kid asks, 
  brow crinkled.

Paul_Nighman uses a gasp and turns it into a sharp snort. "Oh hell, yeah, 
  sure," he replies gruffly. "I always knew that someday my work would trip me 
  up, but I never thought it would happen literally," he jokes. Paul eases his 
  right leg onto the bag, resting it there casually, as if punctuating his 
  words.

Shenner frowns. "Okay... if you're sure you're alright." The kid starts to 
  turn away, but it's not a very fast or eager motion, and she keeps almost 
  looking at your face without ever quite making it.

Paul_Nighman drops his eyes to the ground, uncertain how much longer he can 
  keep up this facade. "Look, I'm fine, REALLY. No big deal. You go ahead and 
  do whatever it was you were gonna do before you came in here. Don't let me 
  stand in your way." He cracks a rather ironic smile after saying that, 
  wondering if he even _can_ stand in Shenner's way right now.

The girl, however, just frowns, nods, and looks away, murmuring, "Yeah. 
  Whatever." With that, her head bowed, Shenner sneaks off through the 
  hatchway.

[Deeply unsettled, Shenner goes to the crews' quarters to look for her
  guitar... and not seeing, as she goes, that Paul breathes a sigh of relief 
  and sags against the chair weakly, his hand going to his side and holding 
  it. He closes his eyes and concentrates on just breathing and trying to 
  control the pain for the moment. His face is still somewhat ashen.]
 
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:
Lelila's Bunk
Obvious exits:
Main Corridor <Port>  

[Later...]

Paul_Nighman walks in from the Main Corridor of the ship.
Paul_Nighman has arrived.
Paul enters the room, dragging, not carrying his stuff. He is 
  freshly washed up, wearing a differnet pair of tan breeches. He has on a 
  differnet tan shirt which is unbuttoned and hanging loosely around his 
  frame. His feet are bare and his hair wet and touseled. He seems to be 
  breathing a little rapidly, as if he'd been in a hurry. He stops when he 
  notices Shenner, stiffening slightly. He pushes his things into a corner 
  murmuring, "I'm sorry, didn't mean to disturb you."

Shenner is sitting on one of the bunks, her wooden flute in her hands; she 
  cuts off from playing it when you enter the room, and then says, equally 
  low, "Don't worry about it, it's a public room...."

Paul_Nighman nods and squats down by his bags. He reaches out a hand to steady 
  himself and pauses for a moment before opening up the largest bag. He pulls 
  out a short pair of boots, his computer terminal case, and one book. He sits 
  down, his back to Shenner, and puts on the boots. He closes that bag and 
  kneels for a moment, buttoning up his shirt to mid chest. He leans over and 
  picks up the other bag, swinging that around so that it hangs on his left 
  side. He places the computer and the book into it. He stands up, and his 
  left hand grasps the bunk as he goes still for a moment. He then turns 
  around and says, "No no, I'm disturbing you, I'll leave."

The girl doesn't look up. She simply twiddles her fingers a moment or two 
  along the flute, and murmurs, "Yeah, pal, whatever." Shen sounds listless, 
  or perhaps depressed.

Paul_Nighman rubs his head, looking at the kid. "Shit," he mutters softly, and 
  walks over to Shen slowly and sits down in front of her. "Talk to me, 
  willya?" he asks in a gentle coaxing voice.

Shenner lifts a wary glance towards you, though not quite all the way to your 
  face; then she lowers her eyes again, focusing on the flute she's holding. 
  "Whaddya want me to say?" she mumbles.

Paul_Nighman traces a pattern in the blanket in front of Shen. "I don't want 
  you to say anything that isn't what's on your mind." he replies honestly. "I 
  can tell that you're upset, and I'm sure it's cause of me, and that makes me 
  feel like shit." He shifts his position uncomfortably, leaning slightly to 
  the left. "I was hoping you'd want to yell at me or something and get this 
  off your chest."

"Don't wanna yell atcha." This, too, comes out in a mumble. Shenner still 
  doesn't look up.

"Well then what do you want? What do you want, right now, more than anything 
  else?" His tone is gentle and probing.

"I..." Shenner lifts her head a little, and her eyes have turned liquid, her 
  replying tone hoarsened, as if coming through a lump in her throat. "I 
  just..."

Paul_Nighman remains completely still, waiting for her response, his eyes 
  encouraging.
"What do you want? What do you _need_?" he queries softly.

The girl eventually finishes, "I just... been havin' a-a lot happen lately, 
  y'know? Little bit... much for a street rat to hafta sort out..." Her grip 
  tightens on the flute, as if she's clutching it for assurance, and her eyes 
  squeeze shut.

Paul_Nighman grimaces and looks down at his hands. "Yeah, you've had a lot of 
  shit to deal with your whole life I bet," he murmurs softly. He looks up. 
  "And I certainly haven't been making it much easier." He sighs. "Shen, I 
  want you to know that I like you and that I care about you. The other day I 
  offered Jessalyn a hug, with no strings attached, no expectations or 
  demands, no pressure - just a supportive hug. The offer stands open to you 
  whenever you may need it, at any time." His eyes drop back to his hands. 
  "Okay?"

Shenner mumbles, "I-I could use a hug." She doesn't look up at you, still. But 
  her words come out of her very small, and for once, without her veneer of 
  defiance, as if she were striving hard to sound ten years older than she 
  really is.

Paul_Nighman opens his arms to Shenner, "Then here's one ready and waiting for 
  you."

Shenner does shift her gaze to you, then, her expression part wariness, and 
  part, perhaps, need for comfort. Her eyes hold a suspicious glimmer -- 
  proto-tears -- as she takes in the set of your features, as if trying to 
  divine your intent.

Paul's arms are open to his sides in invitation, but not in demand. His face 
  is serious, but his expression is a mix of affection and concern. He makes 
  no move whatsoever, but seems content for you to take him at his word or 
  not, as you will.

The kid nibbles at her lower lip, then, awkwardly, leans over into your arms.

Paul wraps his arms around Shenner gently, tenderly. He holds her firmly, 
  rocking ever so slightly in a soothing gesture. His head touches the side of 
  hers, out of the way enough so that she could tuck her head under his chin
  or against his neck if she choose to. It is a simple hug, 
  affectionate and supportive.

Shenner's head does, indeed, press her head against the offered shoulder; she 
  can be noted to tremble, and her face, hidden, to grow wet.

Paul_Nighman lets out a pent up sigh, sounding like a mixture of relief and 
  regret. He pulls Shenner closer, hugging her to him and rocking a little 
  more, his head allowing her access to his shoulder and then leaning against 
  hers tenderly. He says nothing, but holds her and rocks her the way a mother 
  might comfort a small child.

This time, Shenner's arms creep around you without artful twists to get them 
  there, and she hugs you in return. After a moment, though, she sniffles, and 
  mutters, "Gettin' your shirt all wet..."

Paul_Nighman chuckles deeply, the sound reverberating pleasantly in his chest, 
  the vibrations echoing against Shenner's form. "It's okay," he murmurs 
  softly, gathering you close, "they won't stain and I won't melt. Cry all you 
  want." He gives a small satisfied sigh.

"Don't exactly... wanna cry," Shenner protests huskily. She huddles against 
  you, though, nevertheless -- and still sniffles. "I-it ain't exactly fun..."

He chuckles again, this time a rich but gentler sound and feeling. "No it 
  isn't," he agrees, "but it is frequently helpful in washing away pains. In 
  general, you feel much better afterwards too." he adds helpfully. His grip 
  on Shen remains firm and soothing.

"I, I just..." Shenner croaks out, and a fresh wetness resoaks your shoulder.

Paul bends his head lower, his right hand reaching up to gently caress 
  Shenner's head against his shoulder. His touch is warm and caring, not 
  sexual. His lips to Shenner's ear, he whispers softly, "You just what? It's 
  okay, you can tell me." he coaxes gently.
Paul_Nighman looks at you for a moment.

"I'm... all mixed up, and, well, you..." Shenner sniffles anew.

Paul_Nighman continues to rock Shenner gently, his hand stroking her hair in a 
  soothing gesture. "Me?" he asks softly, a hint of wonderment in his tone. 
  "What's got you all mixed up," he queries, his voice returning to its 
  previous comforting rumble.

Shenner mumbles, "E-everything....!"

Another chuckle rumbles up from the depths and Paul gives Shen a quick hard 
  squeeze, not letting go his hold on her. "Everything, eh? That's an awful 
  lot. Care to narrow it down just a tad?"

"I dunno what I'm doin' here," replies the girl, tearily.

Paul_Nighman nods. "Well, I can certainly relate to that. What else?"

Shenner whispers, "And... e-everybody knows I'm..." She trails off.

"Knows you're a what," he asks, "a smart tough cookie?"

".... a girl," comes Shenner's gruff little reply.

Paul_Nighman says, "Oh _that_ ... what's the problem there?""

Shenner lifts her head a bit, letting you get a better look at her face -- 
  which crinkles in disgruntlement at your question. "Ain't... used to it, 
  'sall," she mutters.

Paul eases his grip slightly, giving Shenner an out should she need it. 
  "Hmmm-mmm, yeah I guess it must be a bit odd, although I doubt anyone treats 
  you any differently, do they?" He cocks his head to one side. "About how old 
  are you anyway?"

Shenner's eyes are reddened as she looks at you, and she begins peevishly, 
  "I'm old en--" But she cuts off, then sniffles again and mutters, "I'm 
  seventeen."

Paul's eyes widen just slightly, and a small shudder passes through his frame, 
  which he disguise by shifting his position slightly. He presses his forehead 
  against Shen's with a smile that curls just the corners of his mouth. "Well," 
  he notes, "not to freak you out any further or anything, but seventeen 
  means that you're a woman, not a girl." He is careful to keep his smile 
  innocent, but it has a slightly teasing edge nonetheless.

Shenner lifts a hand to scrub across her eyes, then grumbles, "Well, _you're_ 
  treatin' me different now that you know I ain't a boy."

Paul_Nighman looks at Shenner and almost cracks up. "Am I now? Lemme see, 
  before I took on board and taught you to pilot some, and recently I came on 
  board and taught you some guitar. Before I would sometimes treat you nicely 
  and other times be a complete jerk, and recently I've been both nice and a 
  complete jerk. Before, I assaulted you in the cockpit, and _very_ recently I 
  assaulted you in the cockpit." He shrugs. "Gee, sounds identical to me."

"You were drunk the last time," the kid says, low-voiced, wary. "Why now?"

Paul_Nighman tenses up, not expecting that question. He thinks hard and he 
  thinks fast. Very carefully he replies, "In both cases I got carried away by 
  something beyond my control." He waits, hoping that she will not probe any 
  further.

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

Tacra
Tall and lithe, this woman has an athletic figure that seems even too wirey to 
  be healthy. Her tanned skin and lean frame tell you she spends much of her 
  time outdoors rather than aboard ship, and she has a watchful, calculating 
  look to her pale blue eyes. Long dark hair probably would fall to her 
  shoulder blades, but is currently caught up in a tight knot at the nape of 
  her neck to keep it out of her way. She moves with a silent agility, giving 
  a confident air despite looking like the next strong breeze could blow her 
  over. She looks to be around twenty-two years old.
Tac wears a slim-fitting pair of brown slacks that cling to her in such a way 
  as to make her appear even more thin and shadow-like than she really is. 
  Draped from her shoulders is a blue tunic, off-setting the colour of her 
  eyes. A holster at her waist holds a blaster, and several small knives are 
  tucked into her belt. One might suspect more are stowed out of sight, too.

Tacra ambles in, heading directly for her bunk. As she takes a seat gingerly, 
  she surveys the room and blinks at what she sees.

Shenner can be spotted sitting with Paul's arms around her, but as soon as the 
  stranger enters, Shenner's red head snaps around.
Shenner blurts, "Who the hark are you?"

Paul_Nighman jerks sharply at Tacra's entrance and Shenner's subsequent 
  reaction.

Tacra crosses her arms over her chest, arching a brow at what seems to her to 
  be the young man she saw earlier, embraced with another young man. "Tacra," 
  she says smoothly, eyes narrowing at the rude outburst. "And who the 'hark' 
  are you?"

Paul_Nighman jerks away from Shenner as if he'd just been caught with 
  jailbait. He blinks and gives Shenner and aplogetic face, then turns to the 
  woman, his eyes frowning.

Shenner rises, scowling. "Are you supposed to be here?"

Paul_Nighman looks Tacra over. "I remember you ... talking in the lobby the 
  other night ..." He frowns, his hand reaching for a blaster that isn't 
  there. He covers the move by rubbing his thigh. "What are you doing here." 
  he asks in a voice more polite than Shenners but still tinged with suspicion.

Tacra is obviously on the defensive, and she rises as well. Leaning 
  semi-casually against the upper bunk behind her, she gives the young person 
  a brisk nod. "As much as you are. Skywalker invited me aboard ship, with 
  Tand." She jerks her head at the bunk above hers, where a bedroll lies 
  unobtrusively. With mock-politeness she asks the bristling Shenner, "That 
  okay with you?"

Paul_Nighman relaxes slightly. "This place is getting to be a regular three 
  ring circus," he comments lightly.

Tacra arches a brow then, cocking her head to one side as a wry smile touches 
  her lips. "Perhaps he should've asked you before offering us jobs."

Shenner glowers, then growls, "Well, hell, it ain't like I got any say on this 
  boat anyway. Don't mind me, I'm just cargo!" Scowling, the kid moves to grab 
  a guitar that's lying propped against one of the bunks, as well as a pair of 
  flute-bags. And, without another word, the kid stalks out.

[Infuriated, Shenner stalks off to what has become her personal refuge,
 the _Dragon_'s cargo hold. And not too long after....]

Paul_Nighman walks in from the Entry Area of the ship.
Paul_Nighman has arrived.
Paul_Nighman bursts in, breathing a little hard. He stops and leans weakly 
  against a wall, looking at you. "There you are," he breathes with a sigh of 
  relief.

Shenner has taken over a corner of the cargo bay, where she's plunked her 
  guitar case, and a pillow and blanket filched out of the crews' quarters. As 
  you clamber down into the hold, the kid startles from where she'd curled up 
  there with the pillow, and she blinkblinks, sitting up a bit. "Yeah... I, 
  uh, promised not to run off on Jess..." Her tone is uncomfortable, as she 
  looks down.

Paul walks toward Shen and leans against a nearby wall, sliding down the 
  length of it until he is sitting on the floor next to her. "Amylynn came in, 
  and that was the end of that," he comments. "I don't know if I am going to 
  be able to handle traveling with this many people," he groans. "I'm just not 
  accustomed to it."

Shenner sits up in wary motions, hugging the pillow to her, and she agrees in 
  a mutter, "Me neither. Ain't... never travelled with anybody, before now... 
  I mean, before, uhm, all this." She waves a hand around. "'Cept you."

Paul_Nighman looks up, startled and grins. "Yeah, except for the occasional 
  passenger, whom I never really see, the only person I've done much 
  travelling with is you." His grin slips a bit, as if he realizes something 
  uncomfortable. He touches his side idly and then carefully draws his hand 
  away. "Are you okay?" he asks instead of speaking his mind.

Shenner begins, "Yeah, I'm..." Then she lowers her head towards the pillow, 
  and admits after a beat, "I... dunno."

"There's just a bit too much going on right now, huh?" He pauses, his 
  expression fretful. "Shen," he asks a little wistfully, "uh, I'd like to ask 
  you a small favor if I may?"

Shenner looks up bemusedly. "Yeah?"

Paul_Nighman stares at the floor for a moment and then back to Shen. "Would it 
  be alright if I brought my stuff and crashed down here with you?"

Shenner blinks at you, then nods, slowly. "Yeah.. uh... there's room, I 
  guess... and it's kinda crowded in the crews' room now..."

Paul's face breaks into a grateful smile and he releases a pent up breath. 
  "Thanks," he breathes gratefully. "It's gonna be a long trip and there is no 
  way I can get any work done in there, let alone deal with the eternal tide 
  of lifeforms." He lays a hand on Shenner's arm, his touch surprisingly cold. 
  "Thanks again." He begins to get up, pausing and touching the wall for a 
  moment before heading toward the ladder, which he begins to climb with 
  careful deliberation.

Shenner frowns up at you, and asks, "Paul... you okay?"

Paul_Nighman pauses on the ladder for a moment, his breathing evident. He 
  cracks a casual smile, "Yeah, sure, why not?" he asks back, "just a little 
  tired, that's all." he adds before turning his concentration back to the 
  ladder at hand.
Paul_Nighman walks Starboard into the Entry Area of the ship.
Paul_Nighman has left.

[Shenner finds herself worried about Paul -- still suspecting, somehow,
 that she'd caused him to be hurt anew when her blow to his jaw made
 him trip and ram his wounded side into the chair on the bridge. But the
 thought of bumping into the strangers on the vessel is still daunting,
 and thus, grudgingly, she remains in the cargo bay.]

Paul_Nighman walks in from the Entry Area of the ship.
Paul_Nighman has arrived.
You hear Paul's grunts from above as he seems to be trying to move stuff 
  around. Then there is a long pause and some mumbled curses. "Shen?"

Shenner has picked up her guitar, and is strumming a bit at it, but she looks 
  up again as you call. "Yeah, Paul?"

Paul_Nighman says, "Can you lend me a hand here?" His voice sounds oddly 
  strained, as if he were really upset. "I can't carry my stuff down.""

There is a pause, before Shenner's red head heralds her ascent of the ladder, 
  and her green gaze peers up out of the access hatch, looking for you.

Amylynn walks in from the Entry Area of the ship.
Amylynn has arrived.

Paul_Nighman looks down at Shenner, his expression a little upset, but 
  grateful. "Thanks." He passes her his big bag. "Careful," he warns, "it's 
  kinda heavy and fragile."

Amylynn peeks in and check on Shenner but doesn't jump down
Amylynn walks Starboard into the Entry Area of the ship.
Amylynn has left.

Shenner lifts a hand off the ladder, accepting the bag, and nodding evenly. "I 
  got it." Holding the bag steady on her shoulder, the kid descends agilely, 
  and only after a moment or two comes up again. "Now what?"

Paul_Nighman hands Shen his smaller bag. "Just this, I already packed all of 
  the bedding I need in the big bag."

Shenner nods, taking it, and scurrying down again. "Just pick a corner, I 
  guess," the kid calls up.

Paul_Nighman gingerly climbs down and rests his head for a moment on one of 
  the rungs before looking around for a good spot.

Shenner is standing there, having just set your second bag down with the first 
  by the wall, and she peers at you consideringly. "Guess you better crash," 
  she remarks. "You look kinda wiped."

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>  

Paul_Nighman nods at Shenner in agreement, without even thinking. "Yeah, I 
  thought I'd just do a little research for a bit," he says distractedly. He 
  leans over, pausing for a bit before moving his bags to an area a little 
  aways from Shenner, but not too far. Between the two areas are some large 
  boxes which affords each of them some privacy. Strangely enough, he does not 
  carry his bags, but instead drags them over.

Shenner watches the man, still frowning a bit. Then she asks, "Uh... will it 
  bug yah, if I practice?"

Paul_Nighman peers at Shenner from around all the boxes and gives her a weak 
  smile. "No, not at all," he assures her.

Shenner half-grins, then settles down to pick up her guitar again, and slide 
  it into her lap.

Paul_Nighman moves back behind the boxes and out of sight. Once there he very 
  gingerly strips off his shirt, examining the puncture area, which is now a 
  rich eggplant purple and quite swollen. He tentatively touches it and hisses 
  lightly at the pain. He pulls a bottle of cold water out of his bag and 
  pours some onto a cloth, gingerly holding it against his side. He lifts the 
  bottle to his lips and drains it in seconds, his eyes surprised at how 
  thirsty he was ... and still is. He growls in annoyance and opens up his 
  bag, pulling out books and papers and his computer. He carefully slips the 
  shirt back on, leaving it unbuttoned, and flips his glasses out and open 
  with one hand, slipping them onto his face, using one finger to push them 
  along the ridge of his nose. He holds the cold compress to his side with his 
  right hand, choking back a small oath at the pain.

In the meantime, Shenner's guitar can be heard from around the boxes, as the 
  kid practices scales, varying her keys, her rhythms, and the actual chords 
  strummed with each pass through.

After what Paul considers to be a least half an hour, he shuts his computer 
  shut with a loud click. Shen's music can still be heard reverberating 
  nicely in the cargo hold. Paul looks at the injury, which seems worse than 
  before and licks his lips thirstily. Carefully buttoning his shirt and 
  pulling on his jacket, he knows that he is definitely not okay, but there 
  is no way in hell he is going to distress Shenner further this day. He 
  struggles to keep his voice light and normal. "Hey Shen?"

The girl's voice comes over the soft guitar music. "Yeah?"

'Keep it light,' he reminds himself, 'keep it light.' Paul stands up slowly, 
  leaning heavily against the crates as his head spins. He waits till it 
  settles to stand up straight. Peeking his head over the boxes he tosses Shen 
  a cheery wave. "I'm just gonna go stretch my legs a bit, maybe get a bite to 
  eat. Won't be too terribly long." He looks away taking a deep breath and 
  walks out torward the ladder, determination allowing him to do so and make 
  it look normal.

Shenner looks up from where she sits with her big guitar cradled on her 
  crossed legs, and nods, gravely. "Tell the others, I guess... shouldn't run 
  off too far."

Reaching the ladder, Paul looks back at Shenner with a smile. "Of course ... I 
  won't go far," he reassures her and begins to climb the ladder, clenching 
  his teeth at the oncoming wave of vertigo.
Paul_Nighman walks Starboard into the Entry Area of the ship.
Paul_Nighman has left.

[End log.]