Log Date: 8/9, 8/10/97 Log Cast: Ortalis, Shikh Cthon, Paul Nighman, Shenneret Veery, Cirin, Brakiss, Alyndraya, Kuxli Log Intro: Arriving on Tatooine at the urgent request of the Mandalorian Kairne, Paul and Shenner have met with him in secret to arrange the evacuation of V'ez-tcha personnel from the planet before they are caught or killed by the Imperial troops overrunning the planet. Having been ignored by Kairne through their entire meeting, Shenner has been left to deal with the disturbing news that Grathix has been seized by the Imperials -- as well as the equally disturbing news that he apparently lied to her about his intentions regarding their search for Han Solo on Etti IV. Feeling rather useless and overwhelmed, Shen invariably returns to fretting over the situation between herself and Paul... and to her general dismay, Paul realizes rather easily that she'd wanted a different answer when he'd told her he considered them friends. All the more convinced now that she should bury her emotions towards him, Shenner has striven to remain businesslike and collected, as she and Paul head out for a meeting in the city with one of his contacts.... ---------- Ortalis rolls a 14 for his ATHLETICS skill. An Average roll! Shikh_Cthon comes from the south, and as he crests the hill and sees blaster bolts tearing toward him, he ducks to the left and runs off westward Shikh_Cthon heads up Main Street to the west. Shikh_Cthon has left. Paul_Nighman heads up Main Street to the west. Paul_Nighman has left. You continue up Main Street. Main Street -Mos Eisley- Deep in the heart of Mos Eisley, this section of town is worn down and decrepid. The buildings are small domes, with crumbling walls and peeling paint revealing the ugly yellow brown of the earth used to build them. The huge wreckage of the Dowager Queen, the crashed ship of the first setelers on Tatooine, looms to the southwest like a malevolent beast about to consume the entire city. -=-=-=-=-=-=<>=-=-=-=-=-=- => Paul_Nighman => Shikh_Cthon -=-=-=-=-=<>=-=-=-=-=- orth leads to Market Place West -Mos Eisley-. ast leads to Main Street -Mos Eisley-. outh leads to Jawa Traders -Mos Eisley-. est leads to Jawa Salvage Heap -Mos Eisley-. Casting his eyes about, wary but assured, Paul makes his way through the "heart" of Mos Eisley. "Okay Shen, just one more stop off ... and let's hope that this one is more profitable than the last one," he mutters sotte vocce to his redheaded companion. Shikh_Cthon is perched back in the half-shadows, his right foot up on an overturned crate, with some unidentifiable goo spreading from it. His face and expression are hidden, but by the way his arms are crossed over his chest, he's visibly attent to the flow of humanity and non-humanity about him. Shaken, but relieved of eye, Shenner keeps pace with the archaeologist beside her. With one hand, she fidgets with the ocarina pendant at her neck; the other lingers for a moment near the butt of her holstered blaster before she remembers that looking either threatening or frightened is less than advisable. She schools her features back into a more neutral mask, and nods to Paul. "Fun time in town tonight," she mutters back. Shikh_Cthon clears his throat and shifts slightly, seeing nothing particularly unusual as of yet. He lowers his arms and hangs his thumbs through the two frontmost belt-loops of his trousers, relaxing slightly. Casting half a glance back at the abandoned attack, ambush, deal gone sour .... whatever, Paul merely jerks his head lightly. "Guess you can add bleach but you can't take out the permanent stains," he quips, the incident already past history in his opinion. In Tatooine, the focus has to be on the now, and what's coming around the corner. The past only counts if you didn't kill it the first time 'round. Shikh_Cthon looks at you for a moment. Cirin comes up Main Street from the west. Cirin has arrived. Cirin heads down Main Street to the east. Cirin has left. Shikh_Cthon ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ You see a young human male who would generally be considered tall for his species, standing someplace about 6'1". He's well-muscled, though not clumsily huge, with broad shoulders and a torso that generally tapers down as it nears his waist, except for a little extra width put on front to back over his abdomen. He's dressed well, though not richly, in a pair of desert camoflauge BDU trousers and a sandy-hued, form-fitting shirt tucked in at the waist beneath a utility belt made of wide black webbing. He wears dusty black boots that rise to mid calf, and a pocketed vest, the same tawny color as his shirt. Lifting your gaze to his face, you see a gentle yet serious look about him, his eyes somewhat dulled by the hardships of life, though obviously bred with intelligence and visibly alert as they travel to and fro before him. He has the beginning of a beard stubbling his chin which, like his hair, used to be a darker brown, bleached out a bit by exposure to a harsh sun or two for a recent time past. Speaking of his hair, one would note that it is cut fairly short, almost military in style, but a bit longer than that. He's handsome, according to the general standards for human males, but not shockingly so, that is to say, he must rely at least partially on his charm to get by in the galaxy. To say anything more would not do this man justice, as he gives the impression, upon first glance, of being straightforward and simple, a take-me-as-I-am kind of guy. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Shenner flicks a lopsided grin at Paul and accompanies him along the street, sallying, "Big laundry bills around here." That encourages a sardonic smile and rough chuckle from the Corellian. "And the ironing's a bitch," he sallys back. Increasing his pace, he moves surely through the crowds. Paul_Nighman rolls a 11 for his PERCEPTION skill. An Average roll! Paul_Nighman rolls a 13 for his SEARCH skill. An Average roll! Shikh_Cthon stalks away from his post, sidling through the crowd as one well-versed in the fine art of ambulation in Mos Eisley. He makes certain to bump into few people, making eye contact with even less, instead opting for the safety of a stoic yet firm and confident expression. He glides in front of Shen and Paul as they pass by, taking little notice of the pair. A rude Gamorrean cuts him off just as he's about to clear out from in front of the couple, though, and he arches a brow, sneering slightly, enough to set the porcine off on a different path, swinging wide of the possible conflict. Shenner rolls a 14 for her PERCEPTION skill. An Average roll! Gamorreans are hard to miss, and Shenner halts her pace a bit as the annoyed creature stomps off across her course. "Whoa, hey, 'scuse me too, pal," she says, credibly airily. The Gamorrean grunts, before vanishing into the flow of traffic. Paul notes the near collision, glancing at the young man involved briefly. As he moves on, considering the man for a moment longer, he shrugs to himself. "Looks like a picker," he muses softly to Shen, as he too circumvents about the Gamorrean, "... or just arrogant ... hard to tell." Brakiss comes from the south. Brakiss has arrived. Brakiss heads off north, towards the Market Place. Brakiss has left. Shikh_Cthon stops dead in his tracks and glances over his shoulder at Paul, brow still raised 'arrogantly'. "I don't start trouble, buddy... I finish it. If yer smart, you'll mind yer own business, eh?" He nods self-affirmatively, then starts to look away to go back about his business, but his eyes stray momentarily over Shen as he mumbles, "Cute kid..." He takes a step or two away, then stops again, freezing as if he'd just been engulfed in a cloud of carbonite. Shikh_Cthon looks at you for a moment. Paul doesn't even dignify either comment with a verbal response, letting his eyes speak for him, which they do, eloquently. The look has something close to the edge of -grow up- to it. He moves on, catching Shen's arm easily. "Come on, we're gonna be late," he growls smoothly. "Watch who you're callin' _kid_, 'buddy'," Shen retorts easily, beginning to turn to follow Paul. Brakiss arrives from the north. Brakiss has arrived. Brakiss heads south. Brakiss has left. Shikh_Cthon chuckles, but doesn't turn around. Instead he murmurs nostalgically, "Why dontcha sing me a few bars, kid? Or have you given up buskin'?" He settles his hands on his hips, lowering his head, his gaze falling to the ground. His voice has taken on a far away tone, but one much softer and content sounding, one that might be more familiar to one of the pair... Brakiss comes from the south. Brakiss has arrived. Brakiss heads off north, towards the Market Place. Brakiss has left. Shenner freezes, herself, oblivious to Paul's grasp on her arm, now. Her head snapping around in the young man's direction, she suddenly issues a strangled squeal: "Shikh?!" Shikh_Cthon turns his head slightly, allowing a bit of his profile to show over his shoulder. "Um... yeah, 'sme. You're... you're not quite how I remember ya..." he fumbles after a moment of awkward silence. Stopping, because the attachment to his hand forces him to, Paul turns, his glance drifting up from Shenner in puzzlement, to the young man, and then back again. His eyes drift about the crowd again, just to be safe, before he draws fractionally closer to Shen, waiting for whatever drama is about to unfold to do so. "I... I... you were right the first time," Shenner blurts raggedly, still gaping. "Ohmigods... Shikh, what the _kark_ are you doin' here?" Shikh_Cthon turns slowly, his face, in a word, beaming. He shrugs and offers, "You'll never believe it..." A touch of a frown crosses Paul's face and he leans over, touching Shen's shoulder, but his gaze on Shikh's face. "Ah, hate to interupt here ...," and his hazel eyes capture Shen's. "Shen, you want to just catch up with me later? You know where I'm going ....?" He blinks and there is a moment of consideration before he returns his gaze to Shikh. "Unless you care to join us for drinks ... dinner? We're off to Dockside - lousy service, decent food. You two can get, ah, caught up?" he suggests, "in a somewhat more private setting?" Shenner, clearly rather flattened, looks between the two men, from Paul to Shikh and back again. "Oh! Right... yeah. Uhm." She looks back to Shikh again, round-eyed, and chiming in lamely to Paul's suggestion, "You, uh, hungry?" Shikh_Cthon shrugs, "I ate last night, but I guess I could manage another meal... Been livin' off supplements mostly, they're cheaper'n the real stuff." He grins lopsidedly, "Can't say as I've ever been to the Dockside though... and any service is better than Chalmun's... let's go." The Corellian straightens, his eyes dark and thoughtful, but he makes no comment other than to nod and turn, heading toward the place in question. Paul_Nighman heads up Main Street to the west. Paul_Nighman has left. Shikh_Cthon heads up Main Street to the west. Shikh_Cthon has left. [Shenner, Paul, and Shikh continue to...] You continue on your way south. Dockside Cafe -Mos Eisley- This side street winds between Docking Bay 92 to the west, and the back of the Jawa Trader complex to the east. Tucked in amongst several personal dwelings, lies the Dockside Cafe. It is a small covered bar with 12 or so stools along it's length. The place is quite crowded despite it's out of the way location. Spacers from a thousand worlds gather here to trade tales of fame and fortune. OOC Note: Type 'PLACE HELP' for commands. -=-=-=-=-=-=<>=-=-=-=-=-=- => Shikh_Cthon => Paul_Nighman => ML-8 -=-=-=-=-=<>=-=-=-=-=- orth leads to Jawa Salvage Heap -Mos Eisley-. ast leads to Jawa Traders -Mos Eisley-. est leads to Docking Bay 92 -Mos Eisley-. Shikh_Cthon's eyes drift to the hand-holding between Shen and Paul. His brows knit in concern, or perhaps a touch of disappointment, and he licks his lips thoughtfully, trying to ignore the slight annoyance he feels at this image. Once into the Dockside, Shenner seems to lose a bit of tension, though it's entirely unconscious -- no doubt due to being off the streets. Inside, though, she finds herself still staring at the young man that she and her companion have encountered, and she blurts to him, "So what _are_ yah doin' here?" Arriving at the place, Paul's gaze scans the room, but obviously doesn't find what it's looking for. Sighing softly, he finds a seat at a table near to the entrance, but slightly off to the aside, affording a modicum of privacy. He signals for a waiter and settles down for a wait, his eyes on the doorway. Shikh_Cthon speaks dreamily, as if he is still in a haze of shock, "Erm... well, I quit warkin' for the CSA and skipped out of Etti after you disappeared. I caught drift of ya headin' out here to Tat, so I followed. Aside from you, I didn't really have anyone else, so I figgred..." He trails off, eyes darting to Paul, then he clears his throat and begins again, obviously retailoring his diatribe in midstream. "I figgered you might need someone ta look after ya, so I tried to follow. Them the Imps came and sent Tat to a grinding halt, and I've been here ever since... that's it really." He shrugs simply, absentmindedly dragging a seat away from the table for Shen to sit. Settling down into a seat across the table from Paul, Shen stares at Shikh, her brow furrowing at the notion that she might need care, but on which she does not comment. She finally shoves a hand through her hair and says raggedly, "Ah, hell... I guess General Calhoun never found yah... I tried to get word to yah when I went up to the _Alderaan_ with Skywalker..." She half-smiles. "Been havin'... kind of a busy life, pal." Noting the gracious gesture, as well as a few other telling comments, Paul finds his gaze measuring the younger man curiously. A familiarly surly waiter arrives, slapping down the menus and leaving without so much as a word. Paul picks his up thoughtfully, saying nothing. Shikh_Cthon nods fractionally as he heavily finds his seat, prodding Shenner to go on, "Busy how? I've just been tryin' ta make a a buck... ya know, keep out from under the Imps heels, stay alive..." He chuckles and adds, "Even entered a crazy tournament, had to fight a Wookiee, if you can imagine that..." He shrugs, "But tell me more about where you've been... and who's this "Starwalkin" character?" That raises an eyebrow, and Paul gives the boy an incredulous look which dissolves into an amused smirk. "You two know what you want to eat?" he interrupts innocuously. "Skywalker," Shenner corrects in a small voice. "Luke Skywalker." She says this very softly, as though not wanting it to carry past their own table, and then she blows out a breath. "He, uh, I kinda bumped into him having a lightsaber fight on Etti IV, see.... ah, hell..." She rubs a hand across her eyes, looking momentarily very young and very overwhelmed, before she drops the hand and manages to resume looking more or less businesslike. "Uh... anything'll do, Paul..." Shenner then grimaces at herself and adds, "I better start telling this a little more organized. And I call myself a bard..." She eyes Shikh and says quietly, "You... remember how I was kinda worried about the job I had on Etti IV?" Shikh_Cthon breathes out slowly, glancing at Paul and nodding, then back to Shenner, "Yeah... didn't tell me much 'bout it, but I recall you bein' nervous." Shenner says, just as softly, quite bluntly, "Grathix and I were lookin' to spring Han Solo out of jail." Shikh_Cthon shakes his head slowly, no recognition showing on his face, "Han Solo?" He shrugs, "Shenner," he uses the young girl's real name, maybe for the first time in his life, "I have no idea who these people are... I was basically a CSA grunt... I wasn't in on anything high-level." The waiter stomps his way back over to the table. Paul informs him, "A number 33 and a pitcher of cider," and leaves it at that. There is an incomprehensible grunt, vaguely in assent, and then sidles off. Paul's gaze moves over the two, having heard this story before. Half of his attention, however, remains on Shenner and Shikh, listening to the nuances more than the words. The rest of his attention is captured by the entrace of a jawa, who scrabbles its way into the cafe, its bright eyes peering about from beneath its cowl. The eyes rest on Paul and stop, and the little jawa's hooded head bobs in recognition. "Solo, the Corellian. The Rebel general," Shen says as lowly as she can, her eyes still fixed on Shikh's face. "We didn't do it -- other things happened. Including one of Solo's friends kinda... uh..." She trails off, and smirks a bit. "Luke Skywalker's a friend of his. A Jedi. I saw him havin' a lightsaber fight outside the cafe I hung out at, and when the creature he was fightin' grabbed me, he, well, Skywalker chased the thing off. He was afraid it'd come back and kill me, so we went up to one of the NR ships and that's why I disappeared." She is silent for a moment before she adds, "I tried to get a message to yah. I'm sorry." Shikh_Cthon rests his elbow on the table, further displaying a dizzying array of ill- and well-mannered habits. He props his head up in interest and peers at Shenner, "So... you've been galavantin' across the galaxy with all these big important folks, and I've been squitin' dust outta my eyes down here on Tat... funny how things evolve themselves, ain't it?" He grins and looks over at Paul, "I'm Shikh, by the by..." he thrusts out his free hand to the archaeologist, "I don't think I caught your name... PAul was it?" Shenner blushes, annoyed at herself as she remembers her manners. "Ah, kark it... Shikh, this is Paul Nighman... Paul, Shikh... I met him on Etti IV...." Shenner adds sheepishly, "Lately, I've just mostly been bein' Paul's assistant..." Distractedly Paul brushes a stray lock of hair from his forehead, nodding to the jawa to hold for a moment. "Yeah," he offers, extending his hand, "Nice to meet a friend of Shen's. We must have missed you the last time we were here ..." Shikh_Cthon glances over at Paul's jawa associate, then nods hurriedly, letting him get back to his affairs, "Musta, yeah..." He turns back to Shen and lifts a brow, "Oh? Assistin' in what?" "Paul's an archaeologist," Shenner explains, grinning a bit. "Gonna go help him look for an artifact... been havin' to bust my brains on lesson holos, but I kinda like it..." She trails off, glancing at Paul to see if he's occupied with the jawa, or whether he plans to chime in. There is another slight frown as Shen once again reveals the particular occupation that he -doesn't- go by publicly, reminding himself to bring that up with her later. Rising, Paul drops a casual hand to the nape of Shen's neck. "My meeting's here," he murmurs softly, "If you leave before I'm done, I'll meet you at the ship?" The Corellian's voice is a deep tenor, his tone warm and personal toward the redhead in question. Shenner looks up and bobs her head. "Gotcha, pal," she answers back. Shikh_Cthon chuckles easily, then his expression sours as Paul and Shen interact more personally. "Um..." his eyes wander toward Paul, then back to Shen again, and drop almost imperceptibly before he goes on, "An artifact?" "Enjoy the food," Paul notes to Shikh lightly in the form of a goodbye, and turning toward the Jawa, he extends a hand. Releasing a roll of squeaks and quacking noises, the dirty creatures hobbles to a nearby table, waving a grimy covered hand to the waiter. "oOooteeneee!" Shenner turns back to Shikh, smiling somewhat awkwardly. "Yeah. We got a fairly big trip planned, but we gotta get all the arrangements made and everything. Papers for the dig, maps, that kinda thing..." Oblivious to any arrived food, she draws random patterns on the tabletop. Shikh_Cthon seems to be suggesting something, and a sense of disappointment surrounds him as if something were bothering him. "Is it alot of work for just the two of you? How big a project is it, I mean?" Blowing out another breath, Shenner admits, "Well... it's been hard for _me_, but I ain't exactly schooled so I been kinda havin' to cram, see...." Shikh_Cthon nods, trying to lead Shenenr on along the topic, "Would it e easier on you if you didn't have so much other stuff to do? If you could leave some of the details aside and just concentrate on yer studyin?" The Jawa seems unwilling to go into any details until it get's it's drink, which Paul pays for. Leaning across the table, Paul's mouth opens, but what comes out isn't basic, but Jawa. It's a peculiar enough language as it is. It seems utterly bizarre coming out of a humans mouth. His inflections are perfect, and his hands gesture in the air as he speaks. Finishing, he leans foward as the Jawa responds. Occasionally he interupts with an "Oooortee?" to which the Jawa frequently nods, delving into greater details. "Well... yeah, I guess. My life's been pretty karkin' confusing lately, I can tell yah, pal..." Shen still is studying the tabletop as the surly waiter shows up with a platter of assorted little samples of food, slapping it down without so much as an 'enjoy the meal'. "I, uh, kinda meant to tell you before about me, uh, bein'..." And she glances down at herself sheepishly. Shikh_Cthon blinks, not catching Shenner's drift right off. A moment later he nods furiously, mumbling, "Salright... I... I, uh... had a pretty good notion of it anyway." He scratches his head for a moment, then sighs, going on to something less controversial, his attention all but tuned in on Paul's impressive display of lingual talent. "So... can ya tell I got my nose broken, or no?" Shenner blinkblinks and peers more closely at Shikh before saying tentatively, "Naw... how'd _that_ happened?" Shikh_Cthon seems a bit embarassed, "Well, I got involved in this tournament thing to try to win some credits... only thing was, my first fight, they put me up against a Wookiee." He chuckles nervously, "I, uh... didn't fare to well, I guess ya could say." "What the hell possessed yah to fight a _Wookiee_?" Shenner demands, staring at the young man in bemusement, her brow furrowed, as though she's trying to figure out what the other fighter must have done to him. Shikh_Cthon laughs, "I actually wasn't doin' too bad, til he hit me..." He grins proudly, "I was actually ahead most of the fight, until he got that lucky punch in... then it was basically over. I gave in after a while, lost my entrance fee and stuff, but I've still got both arms, so I'm willing to call it a tie." Shenner grins a bit, finally registers the presence of the food, and grabs up a hunk of bread without looking at it. Chewing at it, she says in between swallows, "You're a braver man than me, pal..." And she smirks, correcting herself. "Well, a more anything man than me. But anyway." Shikh_Cthon grins, picking at a bite or two of fresh vegetable. "That's about it for me though... I had my little adventure, and learned my lesson. Luckily, I came out of it eith no permanent effects." "Arms are real good things to have," Shen agrees. She crinkles her nose and ponders. Then she adds, "My turn again?" As the Jawa continues, it's voice and tone indicating something of annoyance and disgust, Paul leans back in his chair, consider the Jawa's words thoughtfully, the shadow that had touched upon his eyes earlier taking grip of all of his features. In a soft somber voice he queries, "Eechuta? Nequar lik teeeoo?" The Jawa takes a sip from it's drink and nods somberly in return. Paul's hands slam on the table and glaring for a moment he slips into Basic. "And you didn't raid the site? Didn't even look? And you call yourself a Jawa!" The Jawa in question shrugs and releases a prattle in explanation. Shikh_Cthon turns his head suddenly toward Paul and the Jawa, his attention captured by the other Corellian's outburst. He stares at them trying to get a inkling of what the discussion is about, but, knowing not a single word of Jawa, he is at a loss, and looks back to Shen, swallowing past the drynessin his throat. He smiles boyishly and pours himself something to drink, lifting the pitcher a bit in a silent question to Shenner. The girl bobs her head. _She_ isn't paying a bit of attention to the man and the Jawa in intent discussion -- at least not that can be noticed. Shikh_Cthon catches up Shenner's glass and pours her a generous drink, sliding it back across the table to her with a warm grin. "It's good ta have you back, Shen... I kinda was by myself here on Tat. I just don't mix well with the locals, I guess." Once again, he uses Shenner's name, something he never did back on Etti. Shenner smiles crookedly, taking up the drink after it's poured, and saying, "You an' me both, pal -- 'specially with there bein' more troopers here now than there were on Etti IV, yah know?" Shikh_Cthon grins, then nods knowingly, "Yeah... what was that back by the Cantina, anyway? Did you see any of it?" "Nanee?" Paul queries, a small wishful tone holding on for dear life. A prattle of Jawanese bursts from the filthy bundle, and when it finishes, Paul pulls out a handful of credits and lays them on the table. The rag covered hand shoots out, grabbing the money greedily. Another spate from the Jawa, but Paul merely nods, a defeated look in his eyes and replies, "Choota - iierati." The Jawa finishes it's drink and wipes at it's mouth, jumping from the high seat awkwardly and giving Paul a cheery wave before it wobbles out the door. Paul Nighman doesn't acknowledge the creature, but leans foward, placing his arms on the table despondantly, his mind racing with the implications. The redheaded head shakes at Shikh; the girl then spies the jawa's exit, and only then does her gaze flick to Paul. She frowns noticeably at his expression, and calls over to him softly, "Yo... Paul?" Shikh_Cthon cocks his head to glance back over at Paul. He sits back in his chair calmly and munches on something from the platter idly as he tries to get more of a feel for what sort of man Paul is. It seems that the Corellian doesn't even notice the hail. He stands up, his hand resting on the tabletop for a moment, his brow furrowed. His eyes distracted, calculating, he walks over to the table where Shenner and Shikh are seated. Reaching into his pocket, he pulls out a handful of credits, dropping them on the table before even looking at Shen. "That should cover the bill ... something's come up ... I have to go ... now .... " Casting a glance toward Shikh, he asks, "Would you mind escorting Shen back to the docking bay? With all the Imps and action going on lately, I'd feel better knowing she wasn't unprotected." Shenner blinks. "Paul... where you goin', pal?" Shikh_Cthon nods dutifully at Paul, his face showing nothing but shared concern. "Sure thing, buddy... er, Paul. I'll make sure she gets back alright..." It is with great effort that Paul returns his gaze to Shenner. It is clear that he is experiencing a great number of different things. His expression reflects a troubled soul, but also hard determination and focus. "I'm just going to the Hawk's Wing ... need to send a transmission." His head swivels to Shikh and he offers the young man a grateful half-smile, an edge of concern easing from his features. "Thanks ... I appreciate it ... sorry 'bout the "picker" comment." With that, the lanky Corellian pivots, heading for the exit, his eyes glinting a touch dangerously. Shikh_Cthon tracks Paul's exit with his eyes, then he looks back to Shenner with concern. "He'll be fine, I'm sure... he seems competent enough to handle 'imself, even in Eisley." He blinks, staring at her for a few moments, then looks back to the barely touched meal, merely sitting quietly. Shenner mumbles, "Yeah, Paul's sharp..." She turns back to look at Shikh and adds dolefully, "I got a bad feeling about this." Shikh_Cthon frowns slightly, and nods fractionally, "Worrying ain't gonna solve nothin'... you might as well get some of this food down, then I'll get ya back to the ship, wherever it is..." He takes a bite and chews it carefully, refusing to let his eyes come up to view Shenner. "Docking Bay 94," the girl replies huskily. Evidently she still has the eating habits of the street rat she used to proclaim herself -- for she does turn her attention almost desperately to the food. Shikh_Cthon nods as he swallows, then comments, "You 'n Paul seem pretty close, huh?" He glances periodically out of the corner of his eye at Shenner, probing for a visible reaction. And Shikh _does_ get a visible reaction, if perhaps a small one. Shenner averts her eyes to the bread on which she's munching, looking awkward for a brief moment, before she says firmly, "He's a good friend." Shikh_Cthon goes to say something, but shakes it off, perhaps not wanting to delve into the topic any further. "Um..." he takes a bite and chews thoughtfully, swallowing a moment later before saying, "Been with 'im since you left Etti, then? Or did you know 'im before that?" "Well, kinda -- I, uh, knew him from before Etti, see? He got me offa Belsavis... and we kinda bumped into one another on Palanhi," the girl says. Shikh_Cthon nods, then questions further, his subconscious forcing him to pry further when he would really be less upset by knowing less for certain. "Oh... okay. The two of ya are close then? I noticed..." His expression contorts the smallest noticeable fraction of an inch, looking for a moment as if he'd been struck, "...you 'n him were holdin' hands back out on the street." Shenner looks up and meets Shikh's gaze, at that, her brow furrowing as she senses something of the tone of his inquiry. "What're you askin' me, pal?" Shikh_Cthon shrugs and shakes his head nervously, his eyes darting to lock with Shenner's, "Uh... nuthin'... nuthin' at all..." He brushes the hair on the nape of his neck and back up toward the crown of his head, then mumbles, "I'm still kinda in shock guess... findin' out yer a she and all." He grins lopsidedly, but the expression is blatantly fored, his eyes telling a more somber tale. Shenner's green eyes look rather somber as well, and she says awkwardly, "I... did mean to tell yah. If it helps... it wasn't because of you or nothin'... I'd been..." She looks away for a moment, then finishes, "... pretendin' to be a boy for a while." Shikh_Cthon just shrugs, "It's alright... sure ya had yer reasons. None of my business anyway, right?" He grins awkwardly, " Shikh_Cthon says, "I'm just tryin' ta think back and remember if I said anything I shouldn't have to a lady..." Shenner snorts. "Don't worry yourself on that account." She rips off another chunk of the bread and starts gnawing it out, her manner decidedly unladylike. Alyndraya comes north from Main Street. Alyndraya has arrived. Alyndraya heads west through the blast doors to Docking Bay 92 Alyndraya has left. Alyndraya comes west from Docking Bay 92. Alyndraya has arrived. Alyndraya heads north to Main Street. Alyndraya has left. Shikh_Cthon blinks distractedly, munching on whatever random tidbit he plucked off the tray. He's still very unsettled, totally unhorsed by the bombshell dropped on him this evening. Then again, certain questions he'd had regarding his inexplicable attachment to Shenner have been answered by the meeting, however the unexpected answers only add to his confusion. The redheaded... well, okay, _girl_ across the table pecks and picks at the food herself, clearly not possessing much of an appetite. Her brow is crinkled worriedly, and every so often she glances off in the direction Paul had vanished, but she makes no move to go after him quite yet. She finally says quietly, "Yeah, I had my reasons. They kinda got blown out of the water lately, though. So." Shikh_Cthon peers at Shen, as if the answer were written somewhere on her face. He refrains from digging any farther beyond what Shen offers though, instead devoting his energy to eating. His eyes repeatedly pan upward to glance at Shen though as he feeds generously, being that Paul picked up the tab and all. Perhaps the redhead feels guilty for having vanished so precipitously off Etti IV; perhaps she feels upset now at perceived awkwardness from the young man before her. In any event, she goes on quietly, "I started gettin'... well, a bit, uh, non-boyish to pass myself off as a boy any longer. And Skywalker blew it out of the water anyway. _He_ could tell. Some Force thing or other, I think." Shikh_Cthon arches a brow incredulously, "You buy into that Force stuff? I mean sure, I get feelings and deja vu 'n stuff, but come on..." Shenner lowers the bit of bread she's using, and says seriously, "I saw Skywalker use it." Shikh_Cthon shrugs, "Maybe if I see it, I'll believe it... 'til then..." He grins, "Anyway... let's talk about somethin' more cheerful, huh?" The girl smirk-smiles, crookedly, rolling a shoulder in a shrug, her mannerisms and gestures not altered by her revealed true gender. "Whatever," she answers amiably enough. "Whatcha wanna talk about?" Shikh_Cthon's cheerful exterior is overshadowed a bit, "Well... I dunno. Tell me bout your adventures since I saw you last... I've just been collecting dust here on Tat, sounds as if you've been meeting people and having a good ole time though." Alyndraya arrives from the east. Alyndraya has arrived. Shenner blows out a small breathy burst of laughter. "Ah, hells. Well, let's see..." She leans back in her seat, chewing on a stalk of something green, and considers. "Went up to the _Alderaan_ with Skywalker... from there, Grath and I followed him to Palanhi, 'cause we heard Solo was supposed to be there... and, well, I wanted to help." She keeps her voice pitched very low, still, clearly not intending to be overheard. "Palanhi's where I bumped into Paul again. We were there a while.... got Solo back, but only 'cause a stormtrooper helped break him away from the Imps..." Alyndraya shuffles into the tavern coughing and makes her way to the bar. Sliding delicately onto a stool. Alyndraya takes a seat at the Dockside Cafe bar. Alyndraya's tentacles swish slighly at something Shenner says, her attention drawn subtly her way. Alyndraya rolls a 21 for her PERCEPTION skill. An Excellent roll! ML-8 fixes a Water and hands it to Alyndraya. Alyndraya mmms softly to herself, taking up her drink she moves unobtrusively across the room to eavesdrop on Shenner. Alyndraya rolls a 11 for her HIDE skill. An Average roll! Shikh_Cthon nods interestedly, prodding Shen to go on. Alyndraya comes from the bar at the Docksie Cafe. The redheaded girl downs the veggie stalk she'd been nibbling on, then waves a hand. "We went to Calamari after that, and, uh, well, didn't do too much there, but then Paul asked me if I wanted to go with him on this hunt he's gonna do, so. We been kinda hoppin' around since then, we were here for a bit and then on Corellia and then on Caspar, then we came back here." Alyndraya hacks a ragged cough into a sleeve, she winces heavily then takes a large swallow of water. Alyndraya looks at you for a moment. Shikh_Cthon rolls a 7 for his PERCEPTION skill. A Poor roll! Shikh_Cthon ,oblvious to Alyndraya's presence, continues, "Grathix was that character I met on Etti, right? The one payin' for yer music lessons?" Shenner grabs up a sliver of cheese to nibble on, and nods, eyes darkening for a moment. "Yeah. That'd be him." Alyndraya furrows her brow thoughtfully at Shikh's words, she brings her glass to her lips, all the while regarding him casually. "So that's about it, really... been flyin' around with Paul for a bit, and studyin', mostly," says Shenner. Shikh_Cthon nods thoughtfully, then peers at Shen anxiously, "Kid... er, Shenner." He grins abashedly, "Can I ask you for a favor?" Shenner's dark red eyebrows climb. "Yeah?" Alyndraya looks back to regard the woman, a hand coming up to stroke a tentacle pensively. Shenner rolls a 12 for her PERCEPTION skill. An Average roll! Shikh_Cthon's voice falters momentarily, "..." He blushes and clears his throat, "Um... can you convince Paul to let me come with you guys?" His gaze flippantly brushes about the room, and he shakes his head loosely, "I can't stay here any longer... I need a change at least. Just to get off this planet. Think you can do that for me? I just need a ride to someplace... anyplace else. I'll stay way out of the way, I promise..." Shenner blinks a time or two, then half-smiles. "Yeah. I'll ask him. We bumped into Kuxli on Caspar, you 'member him?" Alyndraya turns to the side and coughs softly into a balled fist, she turns back taking a heavy gulp of her water. Shikh_Cthon's eyes fade into remoteness for a moment, then he grins and nods, "Sure... the Horansi kid... I remember him. How's he doin? LAsttime ya seen him, I mean..." Shikh_Cthon rolls a 11 for his PERCEPTION skill. An Average roll! Shenner grins lopsidedly. "Last time I saw him was last night. He's with us." Shikh_Cthon chuckles, his brown eyes shining cheerfully, "He is?!!? One thing's for certain... wherever you guys drop me off, it's gona be a fun trip." Alyndraya squints a moment, looking over the pair of you appraisingly. Shenner smiles a little more in earnest, now. "Yeah. I promised him a drum lesson..." She stretches, sits forward, and sighs to the young man sitting across from her. "Better get back." Shikh_Cthon nods, "Well, when are ya leavin Tat, you know yet?" "Soon. We gotta make the final arrangements, but it won't be long," says the redheaded, picking up a couple more tidbits of meat and inhaling them down. Shikh_Cthon nods, "Well... I'll be around someplace, I'm not /too/ hard to find if you're keepin' an eye out. Let me know what Paul decides..." He stands and leans heavily on the back of his chair, "I guess I'll be walkin' ya back then. right?" Shenner promises, "I'll keep that eye out..." She glances at the pile of money, scoots it a bit more out of the way on the table but not so obvious that the resident surly waiter won't find it, and gets to her feet. "Let's blow this snowsicle stand." Alyndraya sets her water down carefully and prepares to follow the pair out. Shikh_Cthon nods and walks over to the exit, his longer stride taking him apart from Shenner in the aisleway. When he reaches the door, he turns and looks back int othe room, waiting for Shen to catch up. Shikh_Cthon rolls a 13 for his PERCEPTION skill. An Average roll! Alyndraya rolls a 21 for her HIDE skill. An Excellent roll! Shenner jams her hands into her pockets, and doesn't take long to match paces with the tall young man. You continue on your way. Jawa Salvage Heap -Mos Eisley- The streets are lined with small buildings and shops. There is always lots of traffic here, with beings passing from the hotels to the spacepots and back. like all sections of Mos Eisley, the atmosphere is that of a beaten sand covered enviornment. Spaceport Speeders sits on the northern end of the block, while the hotel complex towers over you from the west. -=-=-=-=-=<>=-=-=-=-=- orth leads to Spaceport Customs Station 1 -Mos Eisley-. ast leads to Main Street -Mos Eisley-. outh leads to Dockside Cafe -Mos Eisley-. est leads to Hotel Complex -Mos Eisley-. Shikh_Cthon comes south from the Dockside Cafe. Shikh_Cthon has arrived. Alyndraya comes south from the Dockside Cafe. Alyndraya has arrived. Shenner sets out through the streets of Mos Eisley with the assurance of, if not a native, then at least someone well familiar with where she's going. Her stance and walk are both casual, though she glances around her every so often, sizing up everything she passes. The wind kicks up and sand swirls around you as you head north. Spaceport Customs Station 1 -Mos Eisley- Unlike most of the galaxy, Mos Eisley customs has only a weathered looking dome and a connecting garage. The large blast doors leading from customs into the city are decorated with blaster scars, some old, but most still smoking. Behind the checkin counter sits a crusty, dust-covered humanoid who carries an old style data pad and a blaster pistol. Several crates lay outside the office entrance, all marked with labels reading "CHECK". The noise of the Mos Eisley streets can be heard in the distance. -=-=-=-=-=-=<>=-=-=-=-=-=- => The Gathering -=-=-=-=-=<>=-=-=-=-=- ast leads to Market Place West -Mos Eisley-. outh leads to Jawa Salvage Heap -Mos Eisley-. est leads to Docking Bay 94 -Mos Eisley-. Alyndraya comes into view, heading up the street from the south. Alyndraya has arrived. Shikh_Cthon comes into view, heading up the street from the south. Shikh_Cthon has arrived. Shenner rolls a 16 for her PERCEPTION skill. A Good roll! Shikh_Cthon allows himself to hang back a bit, slowly plodding along just behind Shenner and to her left. His face now resembles a scowl of sorts as he silently wards off any potential troublemakers. Alyndraya mills among the passing crowds, following the pair as discreetly as possible. Alyndraya rolls a 34 for her HIDE skill. A Heroic roll! The redheaded girl casts a glance over her shoulder, sensing something without quite knowing what it is. Her gaze sweeps the street behind her, ostensibly simply to mark Shikh's presence behind her; she frowns, though, vaguely, and then shakes her head and proceeds on her course. The blast doors slide open as you enter Docking Bay 94. Docking Bay 94 -Mos Eisley- Docking Bay 94 is no more than a run-down, beaten patch of steel gouged out of the rocky soil. Ship parts, tools, fuel tanks, and droids lay scattered about the massive spaceport. Despite the high steel carbon scored wall that surrounds the bay, sand still blows in covering anything that remains stationary for too long. Stairs lead up into the city, while an entrance ramp provides access for larger vehicles. -=-=-=-=-=-=<>=-=-=-=-=-=- => Rimnar => STARFIGHTER: Synapsid StarAlloys Chameleon -- Crystal Lady => STARFIGHTER: SubPro Ilyrian Gnat -- Quasar Bolt => STARFIGHTER: Corellian YT-1300 -- Clean Rip => STARFIGHTER: SubPro Ilyrian Gnat -- CCS Caledonia => STARFIGHTER: Sienar Guardian-Class Light Cruiser -- Regulator => STARFIGHTER: Corellian YT-1300 -- Fortune => starport computer => SIGN: AEC Ships => Trade Panel: Tatooine -=-=-=-=-=<>=-=-=-=-=- ast leads to Spaceport Customs Station 1 -Mos Eisley-. Alyndraya comes east from Spaceport Customs Station 1 Alyndraya has arrived. Shikh_Cthon comes east from Spaceport Customs Station 1 Shikh_Cthon has arrived. Alyndraya slips nimbly into the hangar, dissapearing in and out of pockets of pedestrians, he gaze roaming almost randomly ahead of her. Shikh_Cthon looks at the line of ships in the Bay, brows lifted in search of Paul's vessel. Course he doesn't find it, being as he knows neither the model or even name of the vessel. Shenner enters the Docking Bay with a more or less casual gaze, her stride steady, relaxed. She's got her hands jammed into her vest pockets, and as she comes into view, she angles her course towards one of the ships berthed here; behind her and slightly to one side, Shikh follows. "Just about there," she says lowly to her companion. Shenner rolls a 14 for her PERCEPTION skill. An Average roll! Alyndraya rolls a 21 for her HIDE skill. An Excellent roll! Shikh_Cthon nods his understanding, keeping pace with Shen. Shenner leads her companion to the _Hawk's Wing_, a small SubPro Gnat, and once she's within the shadow of the vessel she turns to the young man, her brows quirked. "So...." Alyndraya continues past the bay without pause, glancing up slightly to take note of the exact hangar. Shikh_Cthon echoes, "So..." his mouth twisted into a content smile, eyes shadowed by the bulk of the ship overhead. "I guess you're safe, right?" He chuckles, half to himself, "Maybe that'll win me some points with Paul, eh?" He shrugs somewhat awkwardly, unsure how to say goodbye again, "I'll be around then..." he gestures vaguely back out of the hangar, "...not too hard to miss. See ya round." "I'll look for yah," the girl promises, smiling a little. "See yah, pal..." Shikh_Cthon nods dutifully, "Yup... soon. Buh-bye." He waves a little and turns, loping back out of the docking bay, his hands finding their way to his pockets as he slips out under the suns and in among the crowds. Shenner glances after Shikh a bit as he goes, her gaze uncertain, but then she simply turns to the ship she's approached. Keying in the appropriate security code, she slips onto the vessel, the hatch shutting securely behind her. Shenner enters in a code and enters STARFIGHTER: SubPro Ilyrian Gnat -- Quasar Bolt Main Ring -- Quasar Bolt(#6524RVat) This is the main area of the ship and obviously serves multiple purposes. The entrance is open and airy, with several couches and a table. It is designed to be an area for passengers and the occasional crew to lounge in. There is a computer terminal available in one corner. To the right, sectioned off slightly, is a kitchen area, well stocked with the latest in cooking equipment as well as a fine assortment of food. Off to the back of the entrance space is a walled off crew quarters section. To save space, the bunks are folded up into the wall space and can be pulled down at will. There is a storage unit available for personal belongings next to each bunk compartment. There is a door visible, leading off to the right next to the kitchen, but it is locked. -=-=-=-=-=-=<>=-=-=-=-=-=- => Kuxli(#3872PLACF) => Duffle Bag => Captain's Quarters -=-=-=-=-=<>=-=-=-=-=- leads to Docking Bay 94 -Mos Eisley-. ft leads to Cargo Hold -- Quasar Bolt. ore leads to Cockpit -- Quasar Bolt. Shenner enters Main Ring -- Quasar Bolt Shenner comes onto the ship, the hatch shutting securely behind her, her brow furrowed awkwardly. Kuxli looks at you for a moment. The now unarmoured form of Kuxli rests on a catch, having perked up at the sound of the hatch opening. He waves one paw in greeting, "Hey Shen.." Shenner looks up and brightens a little. "Kux... hiya, pal...." She pauses, shoving a hand through her hair, and she says raggedly, "You won't believe who I just bumped into." Kuxli perks a single ear at that, the other at an odd angle. "Who?" he asks. "Shikh's here," Shen says, exhaling the name on a blown-out breath. Kuxli's other ear perks at that, casting a glance towards the hatch. "Oh.. heh, was he uh... surprised?" Shenner stumbles over to a couch and flops down on it, shoving both hands through her hair, now. "Yeah. Yeah, that's a good word. Flattened is another good word, if the look on his face was any sign.... ah, hells...." Kuxli's head turns to track as you move to the couch, a grin now along his muzzle. "Ooh.. bet you," he pauses as if in thought, "'confused' him back on Etti. Didn't go good?" "Corellians..." murmurs the girl, tiredly. "One of 'em's enough to deal with..." She turns her head, then, towards the Horansi, and half-smiles. "It... well, it went okay, I dunno, I think he was pretty damned stunned. Saw me with Paul, and... ah, hells..." She trails off and shakes her head, evidently dazed. Kuxli lets out a quiet growl of a chuckle, having quite a picture in his head. "Corellians, ah... I know what you need." he says as if having some sudden insight, "A nice, tall handsome... wookiee!" Paul_Nighman exits from the Captain's quarters. Paul_Nighman has arrived. Paul_Nighman enters Main Ring -- Quasar Bolt Shenner splutters, completely taken aback; she can't help but burst into brief laughter. Emerging from his cabin, Paul stops, completely taken off guard by the burst of laughter from Shen. Blinking, he offers a weak smile to the two of them and murmurs, "Hey there." Kuxli laughs also, enjoying his own joke. Though as the door to the Captain's quarter's opens his quiets to turn and look there, "Hey Paul.." Shenner sits up and blinks in return at Paul, and answers back shyly, "Uh, hiya..." You say, "Shikh dropped me off... like you asked, Paul..." The girl pauses a moment, uncertain whether to smile, and then she adds, "He wants to know if he can come with us." Kuxli flicks one of his ears as he lapses into thought for a moment. "Hey, did you tell him I was on board?" Pausing once again, obviously focused on reaching the cockpit, Paul turns to Shen, a small frown crinkling his brow. "He wants to go to Corellia?" Paul queries, wondering what the young man's true interest here is. Shenner glances at Kuxli and grins. "Actually, yeah, Kux..." Her grin slips back to a more uncertain look, though, as she returns her gaze to Paul. "Uh... he just asked for a ride off the planet, mostly," she says sheepishly. Nodding tersely, Paul mutters, "Well, if he doesn't mind a crowded ship ... cause we're gonna be pretty packed." He heads for the cockpit again as a thought strikes him, causing the Corellian to turn once again. "It ain't gonna be a free ride," he cautions, his finger jabbing the air firmly. Kuxli glances over towards the bunk he's been sleeping on, ears remaining perked to the conversation. "No one better take my bunk.." he mutters to himself. Shen's face crumples a little, and she nods, slowly. "I'll let him know," she murmurs absently, getting up to head for the kitchenette and her stash of cider. Something must be up, because Paul just jabs the air lightly again with a soft "hmm", and with that, turns and enters the cockpit. There is absolutely no reaction to Shenner's clearly hurt expression. Paul_Nighman heads fore to the Cockpit, the blast door shutting behind him. Paul_Nighman has left. Shenner glances after Paul unsurely, then steels herself and digs into the fridge, pulling out another of her ciders. "You want one of these, Kux?" Kuxli after a moment of silence, shakes his head to Shenner. "Nah, I'm fine." he replies with a forced smile. "Okay," the girl replies simply. She flips open the top of the cider bottle, slugs down a good portion of it, then pauses to wait for it to hit her system before letting out a breath. Slightly steadier of expression, now, she glances after Paul and murmurs, "Excuse me... I'll be right back..." The blast door slides open as you pass through, headed towards the cockpit. Cockpit -- Quasar Bolt The archway leading into the cockpit is set with monitors and switches that keep information on the rest of the ship available at a moments glance, as well as rudimentary information as to the ship's position and status. Looking forward, the cockpit is made up almost entirely of equipment - fine tuned scanners, highly detailed schematic display systems, and of course the navigational computer and the controls of the ship, all of which are interspersed with a multitude of lights, switches, monitors, and dials. One unusual touch is the additional informational computer systems that have been meticulously constructed next to the pilot's seat, off slightly to the back and one side, so as to be out of the way of the navigation controls. Although this is a solitary pilot ship, there is a co-pilot seat available, off slightly to one side. -=-=-=-=-=-=<>=-=-=-=-=-=- => Paul_Nighman => NavComp -=-=-=-=-=<>=-=-=-=-=- ft leads to Main Ring -- Quasar Bolt. Shenner enters Cockpit -- Quasar Bolt The door wooshes open on Shen's entrance, and the girl lingers there at the hatch, asking lowly, "Paul.... everything alright?" Sitting in the pilot's seat, Paul has obviously just finished reading a transmission, which he stares at for a little while. He turns to look at Shen, but his gaze touches on her only briefly before it focuses back forward again. "Nothing is ever fine on Tatooine Shen," he replies tersely, giving her no answer at all really. Shenner has her opened cider bottle in her hand, though she appears to ignore it. Her expression is carefully composed, and she replies quietly, "Okay, right, dumb question. Do I get to know what's even less fine than usual?" There is a frustrated sigh and Paul mutters, his tone definitely darker and impatient now, "Look, I don't need a guilt trip from you ... everything is the same as it was before ... crap. I've got a lot on my mind right now Shen ... I'm sorry I can't be my charming Corellian self right now ... why don't you spend some more time with your friend? He's probably much better company." Shenner physically jerks as if slapped, her eyes widening, startled, stunned. Then her face goes white, and her mouth works for a moment before she gets out, "What the _kark_ are you talkin' about? Paul... I was _askin'_ about whatever the hell that jawa told you that made you come back here! I was _worried_! But if you wanna get on my ass about Shikh, well, _fine_, be that way, see if I care!" Her eyes hot and hard, the girl whirls and stalks out the way she came. The blast door slides open and you pass through. Main Ring -- Quasar Bolt(#6524RVat) -=-=-=-=-=-=<>=-=-=-=-=-=- => Duffle Bag => Captain's Quarters -=-=-=-=-=<>=-=-=-=-=- leads to Docking Bay 94 -Mos Eisley-. ft leads to Cargo Hold -- Quasar Bolt. ore leads to Cockpit -- Quasar Bolt. Shenner enters Main Ring -- Quasar Bolt Paul_Nighman enters the room from the blast door leading to the cockpit. Paul_Nighman has arrived. Paul_Nighman enters Main Ring -- Quasar Bolt It would seem that Kuxli has already curled up for the evening, for the Horansi has claimed his bunk. Shenner, too, however, has claimed a bunk, lying upon it with her back turned out towards the rest of the room. Her boots lie across the room as though she'd flung them angrily at the far wall; her now empty cider bottle is resting against one of them, and it's probably because the bottle is made of plasticine that it didn't shatter upon impact with the deck. Emerging from the cockpit, Paul spares Shen only a quick glance, with a shadow of what might be tired irritation or might be discomfort. _Fine .... you want to play the brat, you can play that game alone_ Paul growls internally. He makes no effort to be quiet as he moves about, nor does he make a concerted effort to make noise. There is some rustling in the kitchen briefly before his footfalls turn about the corner, making for the captain's quarters. The girl on the bunk doesn't budge. Her breathing is too shallow to be that of slumber, however. Placing his palm against the door's activation panel, Paul waits for the doors to slip open and then steps inside the room, hitting the lights on. The doors shut behind him silently, and he never looks back even once. Paul_Nighman has left. Paul_Nighman enters into the Captain's quarters Shedding his clothes, Paul settles himself onto the large bed, shoving all of the papers, files, datapad and chips over and off the edge without a second thought. The materials scatter cross the floor randomly, some with deadened thuds against the carpet. He glowers at the remains, but merely slips beneath the covers, palming the lights. The anger in him froths - anger at not knowing, at being helpless to help Luke or Jessa, at feeling constantly trapped in a web of cause and effect with Shenner, at the overwhelming sense that he is constantly being taken advantage of by others ... Kairne, Kuxli, Elomin, and now this Shikh person. _Damnit, there was a reason I lived alone and -liked- it_ he reminds himself sharply. _I'm sick of riding this damn seesaw - having myself be jerked up and down and going nowhere!_ He pulls the blankets up tight, nearly seething and trying as best he can to just let the anger run from his pores like sweat. Shenner can't pretend she didn't hear Paul's passage. Tears stinging her eyes, she forces herself to lie still as she listens to the noises he makes, and the sound of his tread. Hurt and shocked by the accusation of laying down a guilt trip -- _all I meant was to ask him what was wrong!_ she wails at herself -- she listens, too, to her heart thudding erratically in her chest, and orders herself viciously, _Grow up, you stupid street rat. Stop sobbing just because he ain't gonna get down on one knee and ask to spend the rest of his life with yah!_ Shenner obstinately tries to pace her breathing with Kuxli's, and only after fifteen minutes or so does her flush of wounded fury begin to subside. She begins to wonder whether she should stay where she is... and finally, she thinks, _Guess he answered the question for me._ Sucking in a breath, she rolls off the bunk and pads towards the captain's quarters, clamping down on the sharp little pain in her gut and stoically refusing to let it dissolve her again. You enter into the Captain's quarters. Captain's Quarters Unlike the rest of the ship, this room is extremely cluttered with books, papers, computer equipment, and many artifacts and pieces of art from different cultures. In the corner stands a Viol, and a guitar rests in it's case not too far from it. The rest of the ship is clean and efficient looking, but this room is somehow cosier for all it's mess and confusion. -=-=-=-=-=-=<>=-=-=-=-=-=- => Paul_Nighman The door into this room slides open for Shenner's entry just as obligingly as the door into the cockpit had done. Pausing long enough for her eyes to adjust to the darkened room, the girl casts a plaintive glance to the blanketed figure on the bed, but she says nothing. She simply pads quietly on her sock feet to where she'd tossed her tote bag into the corner, reaches down to pick it up, and turns to pad out again. The room is dark and silent, although from the light casting in from the open doorway, Shen can see that the floor is littered with research. The figure on the bed is hidden beneath the covers, and makes no movement or sound whatsoever. Shenner reaches the door, then closes her eyes, struggling not to wince. She is not successful. Finally she says huskily, "Please don't stay up all night, Paul." There is a soft explosion of air, as if Paul had been holding his breath until she had left again. Sitting upright, hidden entirely in the darkness and shadows of the room, Paul stares at the girl halo'ed by the light streaming in from the doorway. The covers pool at his waist and after a moment he says simply, in a voice weary and raspy, "I'm not mad at you Shen ... I'm just mad. Maybe tomorrow I can explain it to you." Shenner's brow and mouth both crinkle, as though she doesn't quite believe that she hasn't somehow caused this, but she uneasily nods. Looking down sideways at the deck near her feet, she asks in reply, "You want me out of your face tonight?" "Shen, forget about me, alright?" he mutters with a familiar tinge of impatience. "Do whatever it is that -you- want to do ... I'm fine either way ... all I plan on doing now is sleeping in oblivion." Shenner's face screws up in another wince that she fails to suppress, and for a moment she leans against the doorjamb beside her. For once without hesitation, though hoarsely, and in a defeated tone, she retorts, "Dammit, Paul Nighman, I care about you and can't exactly not worry about you, okay? But if I'm just gonna piss you off, and if you don't want me around, fine, I'll sleep out with Kux." Frowning, Paul staves off a nasty retort before it manages to leave his lips. "Fine," is what he finally settles for, "do what you want," and with that he lowers himself back down on the bed, pulling the pillows up to his torso and determinedly closing his eyes. "It ain't what I want," the girl snaps, hurt, "but it don't sound like I have much of a choice in the matter. Please don't stay up all night. I couldn't deal too well if you got yourself sick again." Shenner whirls and stalks out, shouldering her tote bag, her face white and set. There is no response from the bed, since it seems abundantly clear, by his words as well as his deeds, that staying up all night is the farthest thing from his mind. _Well Shen,_ he growls sullenly, _now you get the whole picture of Paul Nighman ... and I can see by your nature that you don't like it ... and who would?_ Mashing the pillows roughly, the Corellian closes his eyes firmly once again. _I am going to Sleep and not Dream_ he intones firmly ..... _please?_ [End log.]