Log Date: 9/24/98 Log Cast: Maelle, Ozzle Olumpari, Morganna Tazecks, Shenneret Veery, Luke Skywalker, Kor'goth, Bourne, Kaley, Tarlin, Jonathan Webb, Ariana Millikin, Raj, Tracer, Selektah, Ergo, Ariani (NPC) Log Intro: Between the recent resurgence of her nightmares and the unnerving knowledge that there are at least two Dark Jedi on Caspar -- not to mention the fleeting encounter with a _very_ drunk Paul Nighman -- Shenner has been a frazzled young bard as of late, enough that the concerned Ariani has had to lecture the girl about not biting the heads off customers in the Sandbar. It hasn't helped Shenner's temper in the slightest that at least two young men have taken ill to her sour reactions to them, causing her to suspect that she may well have caused a brawl -- and that one of the young men in question seems bent on flirting with her, even if in a dark and arrogant fashion. She has, further, been deeply worried about the welfare of Princess Leia Organa, having witnessed her battle in the square with the alarming individual who'd spat forth lightning from his hands. The only bright spots in her recent days have been her encounters with an intriguing swordsman with whom she's been secretly gratified to have carried out a vigorous musical debate... and with another old friend she's sorely missed, Jessalyn Valios. In this disarrayed state of mind, the troubled young musician heads for the Sandbar, not knowing she's about to find out that there's yet another Jedi on Caspar, and in fact the specific one she's most wanted to see as of late.... ---------- You walk into Fountain Square. Fountain Square - Plaxton City The huge buildings in the background threaten to take over this small patch of green that is the center of Plaxton City. A stone fountain -still in place from another time- sits in the center of the square. It depicts a young woman looking into the sky. water flares around her and bursts into a star pattern ten feet above her head. The inscription at the base of the fountain is written in the aging language of a more romantic time. 'Farewell, for all journeyers that leave this place shall always return to call it home.' Wandering the square throughout the day are Caspar Marines; some off-duty and enjoying their downtime while on-duty commandos in full armor and uniform keep watch over the area. Despite the commandos' aggresive appearance, they are viewed with admiration and respect from most of the citizens, some of them even joking and talking with families. The dusk sky above is cloudy with patches of clear spots allowing you to see the sky behind them. -=-=-=-=-=-=<>=-=-=-=-=-=- => Morganna => Bourne => Maelle => Tarlin => Luke => Kaley => Ozzle => IGNews Terminal - Caspar => Mail Terminal: Caspar -=-=-=-=-=<>=-=-=-=-=- ndbar leads to The Sandbar. outh leads to South Mergansar Ave. - Plaxton City. ast leads to East Blake St. - Plaxton City. orth leads to North Mergansar Ave. - Plaxton City. est leads to West Blake St. - Plaxton City. Maelle pushes her spects up. They pull back her hair and she sighs, glancing at the stoney benches carved into the architecture she places a stack of the flimsey already read on the bench and sits on it; protection from cold one could suppose. She takes a seat and rubs her eyes across the bridge of her nose, with a quick glance toward the center of the square she slides her spects back across her nose and goes back to her reading. Ozzle's expression turns from anger to rage. Insults. Everywhere he turns recently, insults. The last few to do so are either dead or critically wounded. Pitiable that he need to expend the energy again. His gaze never waivers from the blonde-haired being, but they begin to gleam, nearly glow. The scarred Ambassador and a pair of Aides exit the Entertainment district, Morganna appears to be in surprisingly good spirits. One of her aides walks slowly, but he's still alert. Ozzle would recognize that aide as the one Morganna kind of accidentally winded last night. She speaks quietly to the aides and raises her eyebrow as she passes by the large gathering, it takes alot of self control to not stop and see what's going on, but she has business at the embassy. Armed with a guitar case, a scowl, and her tote bag dangling off one slender shoulder, Shenner stalks into the square, heading for the Sandbar. Luke's voice carries a little, ".. so anyway, Han said -Blasters? What blasters?.." Laughter comes from the small crowd as the Jedi, grinning, returns once more to eyeing the tall Sarian amid jokes to the pilots. One of them, an eager 1st Lieutenant amid chuckles chokes out, "What happened then? Man, I wish I could've seen the look on their faces." Kor'goth enters the square from the south. Kor'goth has arrived. Kor'goth leaves the square to the north. Kor'goth has left. Morganna walks down East Blake St. Morganna has left. Kor'goth enters the square from the north. Kor'goth has arrived. Kor'goth heads down West Blake St. Kor'goth has left. Bourne skids to a halt, shouting after the man. "I really think you should at least /consider/..." Letting his voice trail off as the crowds press between the person he's chasing and himself, he sighs, ejects a datadisc from his datapad, and shoves it into a pocket. "Next on the list is ...." Kaley's skin begins to crawl with energy and an almost paniced look flashes over her face. She tries harder to follow Ozzle's gaze and finally sees the object of the Sarian's wrath. Sitting up straighter she thinks quickly trying to come up with something to stop what might be in the process of happening. The young pilot who just asked Luke the question, is in the middle of another uncontrollable fit of laughing when his eyes bulge a little. His companions don't notice at first, seeing as how he's the laughing type.. Soon enough though, it's evident that he isn't laughing anymore. A sickening gurgle comes from the man's lips as he reaches for his throat. The laughter dies off rather abruptly as the men attempt to figure out what exactly he's doing. "Hey.. you choke on your flight pin or something Geller?" one of them asks, still thinking it's a joke. Luke knows otherwise, turning sternfaced toward Ozzle, "Let him go." he commands in a loud voice, arms dropping to his side. There is no confusion in his voice, he means business. Reaching the door of the bar, having ignored every other sentient in the square in her set determination to reach her goal, Shenner stops in her tracks. She shoots a glance over her shoulder, her face draining of color. Ozzle does so, a grin of pure white evil spearing across his spotted cheeks. He lets the now gasping pawn fall to a heap on the ground, his attention fully turned to the man who must now realize the folly of his ignorance. He doesn't speak... he almost doesn't seem capable. Words could not do the malice in his eyes justice. Kaley claps her hands over her eyes. She can't believe this is happening. Does he realize how embarassing this is? Probably not. If she could get any smaller she would. Trying to blend into the bench she hopes no one notices her sitting next to the demon. Tarlin pulls out a data pad and walks to a shady spot to sit and read. Luke fearlessly leaves his companions and covers the distance between himself and Ozzle with long strides of his booted heels, "Why'd you do that? He wasn't causing you any harm and neither was I." Unconsciously his fists clench in their gloves. The voice is stern, and the Jedi's expression somewhat stoney, but he practically oozes a confident air. Bourne turns aimlessly around the square as he hears a thump of someone hitting the ground. "Oh my." He says, the now-forgotten datapad dangling in one hand. "Erm..." Beginning to edge away as quietly as he can, he keeps his face towards the disturbance. Maelle glances up, glaze eyed. She blinks, glancing over at the group of pilots. She doesn't fail to watch one slump into a heap to the ground. Unmindful of what transpires, she tosses the flimsey's she reads and crosses the distances without much effort and a great deal of speed, she bends over the fallen man and her training takes over. The pilots recover their downed patriot with shocked confused looks. One of them, non-plussed leans agains the doorjamb chomping on an apple and looking like he wants to pick a fight. Shenner's guitar case falls out of her grasp, with a rather weighty _thud_. The girl stumbles back against the wall of the bar behind her, thinking, _Oh karkin' bloody hells... not again..._ Her eyes, round in a face gone white, shoot a gaze straight towards Ozzle, and it's almost as an afterthought that she spies the blond young man approaching him. At that, Shenner simply gapes. Tarlin shakes his head as he speaks on his comlink. Ozzle confidence is a talent of Ozzle's... sometimes a curse. He matches that of the straw-haired Jedi as he stands, lacing his hands behind his back. When he speaks, the voice is like ice given life. "Don't patronize me. If you plan to interlope here, you will do so at my command. You've insulted me, Vriidasca, and I do not appreciate either your insults or your presence here." The apple chomping pilot, chomps happily as Maelle walks over. "Roll up your sleeves boys." he mumbles as he tosses the apple away. "I've been itching for some hand to hand since Crius Seven." The others in the group pale slightly as he says this. Kaley winces even more and hopes she doesn't get pulled into this some how. She had nothing to do with it. As a matter of fact she would have tried to stop it if she knew, but sadly she always discovers what's going on exactly when it becomes too late. Trying to curl into a tighter ball, she attempts to disappear. (If only it were possible.) Tarlin Taps his comunit and speaks into it Maelle glances up at the apple chewing pilot. From the arch in her brow she stands up, coming only to the man's chin. She glances at the miraculously well pilot and says, "Your friend made a miraculous recovery, let me remind you that while I can appreciate a joke as well as the next, if these sorts of jokes continue, I won't be so quick to offer assistance." She sighs, a mild hrmph sending her bangs flying from her forehead into the air. Luke stops a few feet from Ozzle and pauses. Cooly he retorts, "I've insulted no one. If you're so insecure that you need to attack defenseless people. Know this. You'll have to answer to me." His right hand clenches once more striking a contrast to the rest of him which seems quite relaxed if not determined. "I won't stand idly by while you hurt my friends." Tarlin Places the data pad into his pocket as he stands and walks toward the fountain with a very unhappy look on his face. The apple chewing pilot looks hurt. He stares at Maelle with his best puppy dog eyes, as if he was just swatted with a newspaper, "Jokes? But.." He gestures wildly toward Ozzle, "This ain't no joke sweetheart." Bourne continues to edge towards apparent safety, nervously nearly dropping his datapad, then catching it with his other hand. "Don't think this is quite why they pay me the big bucks.." He says in a nervous tone, taking another step towards the edge, then stopping and watching the situation develop. Ozzle chuckles softly, the sound grating and without mirth. "Your friends, perhaps, have backed the wrong mastot. No great loss to the Galaxy there. But make no mistake, Vriidasca, I answer to no one but Olum himself, and even he knows when to show respect. If you feel up to challenging him, I pity you for a fool." Through viscious teeth he spits the last phrase. Maelle glances over her shoulder, she looks at Ozzle's expression and the posture of the man confronting him. She narrows her eyes and frowns deeply, she turns back toward the Pilot with the apple and says after a rather impressive pause, and a glance at the newly well pilot she looks up at the apple chewing pilot, blatant skepticism etched in her frown, she responds with perhaps is the only thing that makes sense to her at this point, "....don't...call me sweetheart." Webb enters the square from the south. Webb has arrived. The Jedi's blue eyes glimmer momentarily as he lets out a ragged sigh. Turning he murmurs, "Just don't attack anymore of my friends. You've been warned." His last comment is not hissed, or spitted or otherwise pushed out of his mouth with fear and hatred. His last words come out with peaceful dignity, and firm resolve. He walks away at a normal stride, squaring his shoulders as he moves to check on his friend. Tarlin is walking to the fountain where a small groupe seams to be having an argument Shenner remains plastered against the wall of the Sandbar, near the door; her totebag has slid off her shoulder to join the guitar case that has fallen unheeded beside her. Her gaze vacillates between Skywalker and Ozzle, lingering with something like dread on the latter before tearing away to follow the blond young man mutely. Tension is released from Kaley's body as the blond Jedi walks away. Maybe it was over now. She could only hope. Looking to the Sarian, she wonders what he is thinking. Ozzle growls as the fool turns his back to him. Jedi or not, he plans to make quick work of this one. Unlacing his fingers, he retracts one hand into his cloak, grasping a thin black metallic cylander hanging at his belt. He removes it slowly, holding it at his waist, still galring at the man. Ariana has arrived. Luke calls over his shoulder but continues walking away, "Don't try it Sarian. You know better than I what the outcome would be." Kaley reaches her hand out to Ozzle but doesn't touch him. Faintly she says, "Don't. You've made your point." Ozzle considers that for a moment. He remembers the look of sheer terror in the Jedi woman's eyes, the fear she felt days ago as he pursued her. Too much confidence in this one. But then, he doesn't yet know what Ozzle is capable of. Let him find out. He lets his finger slide up the shaft, and a thin, cerulean blue trail of light slithers toward the ground, crackling with intensity. Maelle clears her throat. Her fists planted in her hips, a ridicules stance really in relation to the group of pilots. She tries to recover something of her dignity, she points toward a spot just left of her mouth, "You some of your apple...right here." She continues to point for the Apple eating pilot, she smiles, knowing full well there is nothing there all at all. She walks back to her flimseys, unconcerned for the moment with anything else. Stoping about 10 feet behinde ozzle Tarlin places his hand on his holsterd side arm. and calmly says "Put the weapon away" Luke turns calmly, un-hooking the saber from his belt. He doesn't ignite the weapon, "I'll ask you again." He breathes out softly, "Put the weapon away before someone gets hurt." Bourne winces slightly as Tarlin puts a hand on his weapon, his head moving to and fro. "Oh. This is bad ..." He says to himself unecessarily, beginning to edge away once more, hands drifting upwards to unbutton his jacke, then falling back to his sides. Not even taking steps, he's more shuffling than anything else. The pilot dumbly brushes at his mouth, frowning. Kaley tries to back away then realizes she is still sitting on the bench. Some how managing to back up on it, she is now sitting on the back of the bench with her feet on the seat. Again she asks, "Please don't," even though she knew there was no talking any sense into him now. _Oh kark. Oh kark. Oh kark..._ Shenner swallows hard as Ozzle's blade flares up. She opens her mouth, croaking, but not very loudly, "Luke." And she flashes a near-black gaze between Ozzle and Skywalker, once more. Webb steps out of a small military utility vehicle at the south end of the square, and begins to approach at a quick, yet fairly relaxed looking pace. He mutters something quietly to himself... something about /not/ signing on to babysit a bunch of squabbling mystics. Still, he makes a point to compose himself a little more before he draws near the scene, and steps up beside Tarlin, asking in deadpan calm tones, "Are these the two you referred to, sir?" Tarlin Draws his weapon with a click as the safty is is tuned off "Yes" Ariana is weaponless, companionless, expressionless. Her presence in that flare of blood red silk is a stain on the background, nothing more. Maelle resolutely ignores the goings on, she hums quietly to herself, a nervous habit perhaps. She flips through her flimseys, paying them less than complete attention and waits for whomever is planning to do something to do whatever it is they'll do, she remains mutely passive to pick up whatever is left. The slithering whip of light in Ozzle's hand continues to illuminate the fountain as his growled words continue to darken the air. He doesn't seem to notice the crowd that has gathered, or anything else, for that matter, save for this death-starved newcomer. And in Ozzle's eyes, it's clear he plans to satisfy that appetite. Tarlin Brings his weapon to bear on Ozzle cupping it in both his hands as he aims. "I sead Put the weapon away" "Look." Luke intones reassuringly, "Just put it away and you won't get hurt." His tone may come off condescending, but it's obvious he feels that it's his place to speak this way to the man, "You've caused enough trouble as it is earlier. Don't make me hurt you." Now he breathes out the last with a sigh, as if he's burdened by the fact that he must injure the man before this will end peacefully. Kaley stands on the bench and shouts. "I've had enough! Ozzle, do you really think you are honoring Olum by making a fool of yourself in front of everyone. They don't see your strength, they see a fool." Where that came from, she doesn't know and she wished she could take it all back. Kaley jumps down from the bench and grabs the Sarian's arm, shaking it slightly. "Do you hear me? Quit being a fool!" The figure in brilliantly hued silk presses closer to the two squared-off men, as Luke's voice - and Ozzle's, for that matter - is something she knows very well. Head tilted toward her right shoulder, expression easing toward the curious, Ariana steps closer without any intent of inserting herself in the fray. An interested bypasser she is, like spacers who slow their ships in sublight to stare at a wrecked freighter. Ozzle doesn't advance, and the reasons for that are anyone's guesses, save for the Jedi who can probably sense the shadow of uncertainty clinging to the Sarian's reason. But the lightwhip remains retracted, blowing just slightly in the evening breeze. Ozzle doesn't move at all. He merely watches, and senses, and waits. Perhaps it's Kaley's closing in on Ozzle that gives Shenner the ability to find her breath; perhaps it's simply remembering what happened the last time she saw a confrontration of this nature in the square. Regardless, Shenner calls out hoarsely, "Luke? _Luke_, don't..." Maelle peers over the top of her sheet, her expression keenly presenting a true indication of what she thinks and what she sees, and perhaps a bit of what she thinks she sees, which from the arch of her brow, the squint of her eyes and the way her mouth dangles open, is absolutely nothing. Kaley doesn't let go of Ozzle's arm. She might just be getting through to the wool-headed nerf. "No one here is impressed by your display. Quit while you're ahead." Her voice has dropped so that only those close can hear her. "It's time to make our leave." Luke stares at Ozzle for several full seconds, the wind tousling his hair lightly. Finally he clips his own weapon back to his belt in an outward expression of his desire to end this without shedding blood. He blows out a breath, nodding succintly to the man before hearing a cracked voice shout his name. He squints and turns looking for the voice which is oddly familiar. It's source is unknown to him, a woman it seems.. does he know her? Recognition lights up the Jedi's face, "Shh..Shenner?" he asks cautiously, trying not to identify it incorrectly. "What are you doing? Get out of here before you get hurt." He cringes a little, knowing that might be taken wrong. Maelle looks at you for a moment. Tarlin flicks a switch turning on his weapons laser sight wich brings a small red dot onto the back of Ozzels head "Last chance, drop the WEAPON NOW!!" And just like that, the filament of crystal blue light recedes back into its cylindrical sheath, and the crimson-eyes Sarian replaces it at his belt. He doesn't make a sound, but his expression goes blank, empty, even the eyes widening and losing their fire. He begins walking to the south, and fortunately for them, those in his way make a clear path for him. Luke holds out a hand toward Tarlin and calmly commands, "It's alright.. don't worry." He makes a gesture for Tarlin to put his own weapon down as well. Still looking decidedly shaken, perhaps just as much by the diversion of Luke's attention to her as anything else, Shenner doesn't budge. Her gaze flashes to Ozzle and lingers there, dark and wary, until he strides away. Bourne finally manages to find a tree, somewhere near Maelle. "Uh, ma'am? Don't you think you should get behind something? Last time this happened, there were fireballs ... just thought you should know, ma'am." He ducks behind the tree, pressing up against the bark, peering through the branches at the ignited weapons. Raj enters the square from the south. Raj has arrived. Tracer enters the square from the south. Tracer has arrived. Selektah enters the square from the south. Selektah has arrived. Maelle releases a breath she was unaware she held, and with the departure of one of hte potential combatants, she disppears behind what she reads, as a voice reaches her she looks over the top of it, the same looks of confused annoyance clearly displayed there, she says quietly, "Go...away." Kaley drops Ozzle's arm as he walks away and suddenly realizes what she did. He'll never forgive her for interferring. To follow or not to follow, was what she wondered now. Faith his anger now, or later is what it really boils down to. Raj heads out and northward with seven men. He is in full combat dress and totes a KXC-23. All the other men do too, along with the regular Kylan's. The men's visors are closed. There rifles look ready enough. They walk quickly to the place of the disturbance. Tracer is in tow. Tarlin Looks at luke with a grin but does not place his weapon away "I suggest you rember where you are. You are not in my chain of command. now you and your freinds go into the bar and have a drink or something" Bourne raises his hands in a defensive motion. "Sorry, ma'am." He says, moving towards another tree and hiding behind that one. Ariana sidesteps in a swirl of cloth to permit Ozzle's passage, though her flint-hued eyes seek his gaze with some futility. The Sarian is plainly self-involved, and who can blame him? Luke visibly relaxes with an audible outtake of breath. He looks relieved as he watches Ozzle move away. Fastening his saber more tightly to his belt, he turns and peers at Shenner with amazement. Relief, blatant relief, makes the redheaded girl by the bar sag against the wall behind her. Now that the disturbance appears to be abating, her gaze flicks back to Skywalker, and if anything, the relief in her face grows even stronger. Tracer stops short of Raj and his battalion, allowing Selecktah to catch up with her. Her eyes focus on Tarlin and the men he speaks to. Maelle lifts her sheets in front of her face, a faint gumbling can be heard from behind them, her posture however is calm, but upon closer inspection the knuckles on the hand that holds the sheets, is nearly pure white. Luke smiles at Shenner as he walks over to her, murmuring he says, "You know, you could've picked a better time. What are you a magnet for trouble?" The irony loses all sense on him. Ozzle walks to the south. Ozzle has left. Raj continues towards Tarlin. He finally reaches behind him and taps him on the back. He says through his mask, with the help of some audio enhancement, "Sir, is everything under control here?" He looks at the group. The seven men still behind him in a formation somewhat like a V. Shenner smiles, but it's a wan effort at best, and as soon as Luke draws near to her, she fixes a now plaintive gaze on him. "Can I... talk to you?" she mumbles. Ariana follows Ozzle southward, leaving Luke in her wake without so much as a backward glance. The redhead is still further below her regard. Ariana walks to the south. Ariana has left. Tarlin walks over to luke "Listen. I suggest you do as you are told"Turning to the marine behinde him for a second before looking again at luke :Stand by" Luke blinks at her for a second before letting his eyes wander over the quickly formating troops, "Uh.. I think it might be good if we got outta here." Grabbing her by the arm he tosses his head toward the Sandbar, "C'mon, before they start arresting people for disturbing the peace." He says this with some sarcasm and moves with her toward the tavern. Shenner nods weakly, and fumbles to grab her belongings and accompany Luke into the bar. Kaley makes her way to the Sandbar as well. Now probably isn't the best time to talk to the red eyed Sarian. Besides, she needs a place to sit and think, out of everyone's watchful gaze. Raj nods to Tarlin, his helmet visibly shifting. He focuses his gaze on Luke. Through the black helmet nothing is visible, no emotion, but it is there. He then glances at Shenner. Tracer jerks her head to the side, motioning for Ensign Selektah to follow her. She makes a quick path around Raj's men and joins Ensign Tarlin at the front, pausing as he speaks to the blonde man who is with Shenner. Ergo makes his way through the crowds to the fountain where he sits on the ground and leans against the hard stone. Watching the area full of activity he pulls a datapad from within his vest and flips it on. A soft green glow rushes from the LCD screen drowning his face in the erie green. Feeling comfortable with the area he starts punching buttons but is careful to keep a watchful eye on the dark surroundings. Selektah walks into the square and notices almost immediately a large group of marines in formation near the bar. He heads over. You enter the Sandbar. The Sandbar A large circular room creates the main part of Caspar's infamous SandBar. Dark wood paneled walls adorned with all sorts of paraphanalia set the relaxed athmosphere of the bar. Photographs and holovids are pinned randomly around, seemingly with no order at all. Posters from years past hang proudly, displaying obscure bits of Plaxton's recent history. Several windows made from a deep blue glass allow light in from outside, while still keeping the appearance of the bar rather dark. Along one curved wall a marble bar stands proudly, where Ariani busies herself making drinks and cleaning occational spots of the bar. There is an abundant amount of seating in here. You notice quite a few booths and tables, as well as a loft which protrudes out over the bar. A popular local band plays smooth jazz in the background. ----For help with tables, type "PLACE HELP" ----For help with drinks, type "BAR HELP" -=-=-=-=-=-=<>=-=-=-=-=-=- => Ariani => Emma -=-=-=-=-=<>=-=-=-=-=- leads to Fountain Square - Plaxton City. Luke enters the Sandbar. Luke has arrived. Kaley enters the Sandbar. Kaley has arrived. Ariani says, "Welcome to the SandBar, what can I get ya?" Once inside the Sandbar, Shenner gets a rather startled look from Ariani, as the young musician stumbles to the bar and thrusts her guitar case and totebag at her. "Watch these for me?" she entreats, and on the tail end of that she appends, "Brandy?" There's an unspoken 'please' in the single word, and the bartender nods in bemusement, then peers at Luke and Kaley to ask them, "How about you folks?" Luke steps inside, running a hand through his hair. He follows Shenner, curiously wondering why she seems to know these people so well, "Uh.. the same." he answers self-consciously. Kaley pushes through the crowded and makes her way behind the pair to the bar. She blinks at Ariani's words, "Oh, just some juice. Whatever's handy." Moving away from the Jedi and his friend she takes a seat toward the end of the bar. After learning what she did tonight, she had to have time to think. Shenner glances at Luke, and then mumbles gruffly to the bartender, "Just gimme a bottle, we'll, uh, share it, I gotta talk to him, see....?" Ariani nods, gathering up a bottle of Corellian brandy and a pair of clean glasses to turn them over to the girl. "Rekkie was lookin' for ya, kid," she advises. "Yeah... okay," Shenner acknowledges, and then she turns to Luke. Brandy and glasses in hand, she looks abruptly and utterly stricken with shyness. To Kaley, then, Ariani nods evenly and moves to fulfill her order as well. Luke smiles confidently at Shenner, giving her a reassuring gaze. "Wanna have a seat?" he asks gently. Shenner swallows hard, then nods as evenly as she can manage, off towards a nearby unoccupied table. "Yeah... sure... here?" She drops into a chair with a speed that suggests she's not entirely steady on her feet, and as soon as she's sitting, she's pouring brandy into one of the glasses. Luke takes a seat across from her, becoming curiously silent. He watches her pour the drinks and takes his gingerly. His expression is mixed. For the most part he seems happy to see her and concerned for her well being. But there is something else there mixed into the line of his mouth and evident in the focus of his eyes on her. He says nothing, sipping at his brandy and peering at her across the table. Ariana brings Kaley a glass of a opaque blue liquid. Forcing a smile, Kaley nods, "Thanks." She takes a sip from the glass then set it on the bar. Her gaze becomes distant as her thoughts move back into the day's events. A furrowed brow gives her a troubled expression. Shenner tosses back a full shot of brandy, and waits for it to hit her system, her eyes closed, before she finally lets off a long and ragged breath. "I... been... lookin' for you for weeks now," she begins, eyeing her own glass rather than meeting Luke's blue regard. "Captain Calrissian, he, uh, told me 'bout you bein'..." She pauses. Then goes on uncomfortably, "Occupied, and I-I didn't wanna bother ya..." And again she pauses. Luke answers quietly over the rim of his glass, between short sips, "What are you so nervous about?" He swallows uneasily, settling his glass down on the table and breaking his gaze from her, "I was detained for awhile yes." Collecting his thoughts and absently moving the glass on the tabletop he murmurs, "You've been looking for me? What's on your mind?" Shen looks up then, her expression steadier, though that might be the brandy getting into her blood. "Do... ya know a Horansi named Sinjon?" she asks, by way of roundabout reply. "Uh... Sinjon Teague?" Luke just about chokes on his brandy, but covers well, "Yeah I met him not too long ago. He's a Mashi Priest." He says proudly. "Well, see, I met him on Calamari," Shenner mutters, pouring herself more of the brandy. She stares at it, her gaze dark, as she goes on, "See... I... uh... somethin' happened to me, and Sinjon, he tried to fix it, and uh... he said he couldn't fix it all the way, and..." Her voice gets progressively softer and hoarser until she concludes, "... he thought I oughtta talk to you." And abruptly, she gulps down another swallow of the alcohol. Every so often, at the bar, Ariani peers over in Shenner's direction, but makes no move to intrude upon the girl while she goes about her own business of attending to the customers. Luke reaches a hand across the table to touch hers, "I spoke to Paul. Does this have something to do with Mandalore? He mentioned some trouble." He sort of rolls his eyes adding, "Well.. I sensed more than he let on." At the mention of Paul, Shenner goes very still; at the mention of Mandalore, she goes white. She looks up sharply, then, and with more than a little fear. "Y-you talked to Paul?" she blurts. Luke nods silently, not retracting his hand. His eyes focused on her face. No doubt about it, that's fright in Shenner's face. "Yeah," she rasps tinily after a moment, "it's... gotta do with Mandalore..." Luke pulls the hand away slowly and downs his glass. He rasps wetly, "I can't help you." shaking his head marginally. He seems aloof. Two seconds pass; then, Shenner drops her gaze, a sharp and painful tangle of emotions sprawling across her features. There's uncomprehension there, fear, and something that looks uneasily like crushed hope. All she's able to think is _Oh,_ and only after several more seconds, spent on struggling to regain her composure, does she mutter dully, "Sorry I bothered ya then. Okay... no problem." Luke leans toward her a little replying gently, "I can't help you.. because you're -afraid-." he enunciates every syllable of those words in a dark whisper. Once again reaching his hand to hers he lowers his head and looks 'up' at her from the other side of the table, "Shenner." he beckons, "Do you trust me? This won't work unless you're willing to let go of your fear and just.. trust me." Wha...? Shenner's green eyes blink a few times, and she blurts huskily, "'Course I trust ya..." Luke reaches for the bottle and pours himself another glass. "No you don't. You think I'm going to hurt you like that Sith ghost did." He muses casually as he settles the bottle back to the table and raises the glass to his nose. "You're afraid of what's been done to you, and you're afraid of yourself." Sipping quickly he adds in a reassuring tone, "Maybe you don't realize it, but you are.. You're clinging to something in your mind that is still peaceful, some inner sanctuary." He lets out a shallow breath, looking at her for a few moments, "You're afraid of your own.. fears. And I can't pull you out of that place to face those fears without harming you. That's why I can't help you." Shenner blinks, seven or eight times, at Luke's words, surprise welling up to wrestle with the other edgy emotions already occupying her expression. Her mouth opens and closes a few times, and when she finally manages a reply, it's half to herself. "Ghost?" she croaks, her brow wrinkling in confusion. And then, quite abruptly, she starts shaking. "You don't even remember." Luke says without missing a beat, "It will be painful I can assure you, but it's necessary." He stares placidly at her, cradling the glass in one gloved hand. "Maybe we should continue this later.." he ponders. Shenner seizes her glass, tosses down the rest of its contents, and then drops her elbows onto the tabletop, her head dropping forward into her hands. "I... I ain't... too sure on what I remember," she mumbles. "A-and yeah, pal, I been scared outta my head, I been real karked up..." The girl looks up again, her expression now reflecting pleading. "Don't tell Paul I'm talkin' to ya... w-will ya? Please?" Luke squints partly from the brandy which is beginning to go to his head, and partly in confusion at her statement, "Why? What's going on between you and Paul?" Just like Skywalker to just blurt out the silliest old questions. Shenner's features tauten up, but somehow, she manages to keep hold of her composure this time. "Nothin'... no more," she mutters. "And... he _can't_ know about any o' this... so... don't tell him I been talkin' to ya... please?" "You sure he doesn't know already?" Luke answers blatantly. Shenner freezes at that question, as it strikes her cold in the gut. But only after a moment, her gaze turning darkly resigned, she answers in a low and hoarse tone, "No... I don't... I... ain't seen him for months, except once, here, th'other night, and he was drunk so I bet he don't remember." Her grammar's slipping, but her voice is otherwise steady, perhaps the only sign yet of the brandy in her system. Luke leans back in his chair and frowns, "I'm concerned about you. I want to help you, you know that." He somehow inwardly decides that maybe she isn't ready to be helped, frowns deeper at that thought. "I do." he adds, looking for some commitment on her part. To this, the girl looks squarely at the Jedi before her, her expression bleak, but determined nevertheless. "I wanna stop bein' karked up in the head," she states roughly, "and I don't ever want Paul Nighman knowin' what I been goin' through the last nine months. If..." Her throat ripples once, as she swallows, and it's obvious that admitting this is causing her much discomfort. But she nevertheless goes on, "If you can... help me get a grip again, I'll do anythin' you want. Anytime. Anywhere." She doesn't voice the 'please', but it's there in her haggard eyes, punctuating her husky declaration. "That's better." Luke soothes, "But you won't owe me anything. Don't be silly." He tries a consoling expression, "Shen, when you go to sleep tonight do something for me. I want you to try to -make- yourself scared. I want you to let all those thoughts and experiences that you're so afraid of come bubbling to the surface. Just let them sit there and make you scared for as long as you can handle it." He rubs his chin, considering that this request may seem foreign to her. It certainly seems to strike Shenner oddly; the girl's dark red brows draw together, while she peers at Luke long enough to make sure he's serious. Then she shoves a hand up through her hair, before lowering it again to fidget unconsciously with the silver-and-brass pendant dangling on its chain around her throat. "That won't be too hard," she mutters sheepishly. "The nightmares've been startin' again, since..." Luke quirks a single sandy brow at the unfinished sentence. Shenner finishes, her gaze lowering a little, but still pointed in Luke's direction. Perhaps aware that she needs to keep talking, to get this out of her system if the Jedi is to do anything with it at all, she goes on hesitantly, "I... well, Sinjon, ya know, he... I think he musta done something to my memory. I was... sick, see? And he found me, and got me goin' again, but then, I-I got here. And..." Her grip on the pendant tightens up. "I-I saw the Princess get fried out there, and it hurt like bloody hell, and, well, I... now my memory's comin' back, and... the dreams, too." She's stiffening up again there in her chair, as she speaks. Luke answers lowly, almost in monotone, "Did Sinjon close your memory?" His expression doesn't falter, even at the unusual phrase. Still fiddling with the pendant in one hand, Shen reaches for the bottle with the other, pouring amber liquid into the glass, watching it fixedly as she does. "I guess so," she mutters. "A lotta stuff's been comin' back, but I'm still... missin' some other stuff." Luke slowly reaches for his own glass. Simultaneously he makes a small unobtrusive hand gesture, his voice becoming lyrical and distant, "You'll remember everything. It won't scare you." He finishes this be picking up the glass and sipping as if nothing had happened. Shenner's features crinkle up strangely for a moment, and her breath catches in her throat. Apparently not noticing the movement of Luke's hand, she winces, her own fingers lifting up to pinch the bridge of her nose. Luke snaps for a waiter, "Could we get some water please?" he asks then returns his attention on Shenner, "I want to tell you something. No person or experience can harm you up here.." he taps his temple, "Without ultimately your own permission. Granted, sometimes it's coerced, but in the end it still requires your own permission. You're going to remember some things you might not like. But you have to confront them." "... shit," Shen mutters thickly after a moment. Picking up her refilled glass, she lifts it and presses it to her brow -- a perhaps unconventional headache remedy. In the last week, though, the young musician has had plenty of opportunity to apply it. As Luke begins to speak again, she gulps down a swallow of the alcohol, and then looks up again to meet his gaze. "I... already remember some of it," she admits. "Weirdest damn things." Another slight hand movement. Luke pushes a sense of peace toward her as he calmly sips his drink. He doesn't say a word, but his expression says 'tell me about it.' He looks genuinely interested as the water arrives. There's another odd little wince, but it doesn't live in Shenner's expression as long as the first one; her features smooth out, her gaze going a little absent. _Tell him about it,_ she advises herself, and she begins to do just that, venturing tentatively, "Weird shit... like... I kept havin' these... I dunno... fits? I got scared... I mean, _really_ flat out scared... and then it'd go away, real fast, and I'd be fine. And there was the statue that changed shape on us. And..." Shenner frowns, deeply, darkly. "I started seein' things. Hearin' things." Luke nods silently. His outline sinks into the shadows on the wall, perhaps on purpose, or a trick of the lighting. Another wave of reassurance wafts over her, "What else?" he asks dreamily. Tarlin enters the Sandbar. Tarlin has arrived. Tarlin walks into room and moves to the bar as he scans the area around him before taking a seat. Luke is at a small table with Shenner. Shenner considers. She has two and a half shots of Corellian brandy in her, but with a startled satisfaction, she finds herself quite profoundly clear-headed. The sensation is so satisfying that she can't help but revel in it for an instant before she hears herself continuing, "We got the crypt, and I coulda sworn for a minute when I looked at Urio -- he was a real _asshole_, ya know, Luke? -- that he looked different... and then we got _into_ the crypt, and I just kept hearin' more things, and finally they sedated me." Shenner, to this, can be seen to scowl, but mildly. Tarlin orders a beer and pulls out a small data pad as its set on the bar in front of him. Leaning on one elbo he begins to tap on some keys and reads some files. ---------- [Luke and Shen paused the RP here, as Luke's player was tired and needed to get to bed. We assume that Luke, not wanting to try too much too soon, encouraged Shen to go home and sleep, and that Shenner strove to do as he asked, to bring up to the front of her mind all that has been causing her fear. To be continued....]