Log Date: 8/10/96 Log Cast: Tance, Beth, Selwyn, Liste, Setsuna, assorted NPC sled techs Log Intro: Tance Vokrim has been put on inactive status until he completes a round of recruit training, as the Medical division is concerned about his possible loss of skills due to recent serious injuries. But for all his physical vigor (or at least what for him passes as physical vigor), Tance Vokrim's head has still been mazed by crystal for nearly 200 years, and he forgets things easily. Thus, it's powerful force of habit -- not to mention recurring longing for the green crystal he so frequently insults -- that drives him up to the Hangar, wanting to hit the Ranges.... ---------- Tance(#3209PNOQce) This is a man of just under average height, with a build that might be skinny if not augmented by knots of wiry muscle along his shoulders and limbs. He is deeply tanned, with the look of one who spends a lot of time working outdoors, and his roughly planed face and callused hands show signs of regular weathering. His eyes, a dark and sullen shade of brown, are framed by lines in his skin that suggest that far too often, their owner glares at anything in his sight. His hair, a peppered mix of dark brown, lighter sunstreaks, and myriad strands of grey, has been trimmed to a short but not unattractive style, with even a lock to dangle a little in front and give him a more youthful look. A neat Vandyke beard, closer to grey than his hair, stands out palely against his weathered face, set off by his tan. He is clad in a grubby standard-issue worksuit, the kind that looks as if it were naturally made to be the color of equipment solvents. This particular worksuit is threadbare in places, but still has sturdy pockets. You head purposefully through the doors to the floor. Hangar Floor The immense cavern that serves the guild faces the eastern sky. The blue sky merges with the harsh browns of the long plain of the Joslin Plataeu far to the east. The smoothly tiled floor is scarred by myriad gashes and scratches caused by wind-tossed sleds. The northern and southern walls contain over-large double doors while the western wall is set with observation windows. Looking around (+view), you notice several signs posted. The shadows are complete on the hangar floor as Scoria has passed her zenith. The blocks of the guild complex cast sharp shadows on the great plain. Contents: Tance, over by the wall. Beth, standing by the sled rack. Salador's sled Taylor's sled Rylle's sled Briana's sled Farris's sled Gyles's sled Irlenad's sled Himiko's sled Mikael's sled Scorpion's sled Andreshella's sled Shana's sled Repair Bay Sled Tech Desk Radar Corbin Hangar Terminal A large map, for instructional purposes Sled rack Obvious Commands ("." for list): .wait .sleds .desk .radar .map .hangar door .floor Obvious Exits: WWSF Transport Met Transport Equipment Room Simulators Catwalk Cargo Storage Sorting Ready Room Tance stalks out onto the floor, slowly and warily, as if expecting attack from any corner. Beth eyes Tance warily and makes a wide circle around him as she makes her way towards the ready room. Beth ducks into the ready room, escaping from the swirling wind. Beth has left. Selwyn steps out from the cramped interior of the airsled "Dark Cobra." Selwyn has arrived. Selwyn slips out of the sled, smelling as bad if not worse than the sled he just slipped out of and wrinkles his nose. Tance stomps towards the sleds, only to be stopped by a sled tech with an alert though mild expression. "Want my sled," barks Tance, but the sled shakes his head; this only infuriates the Singer, who demands, "Why the kark not?!" Selwyn gazes up at the hangar status display for a moment. The tech heaves a sigh, and says bluntly, "We recommissioned it, Singer. Your credit balance was too far in the red, and besides, the parts were needed for other sleds." Scorpion's sled has left. Tance stares at the sled tech, frozen in place for several seconds. Only the progressively redder shade of Tance Vokrim's face indicates the man's awareness of his surroundings, until the old man finally explodes, "WHAT?!?!?!" Selwyn blinks watching the singer and the tech, before qiuckly decided possibly another sled needs to be cleaned. Selwyn steps into the airsled "Forever Autumn." Selwyn has left. Liste's sled has arrived. A sled with 'First Light' spelled out in bright paint on the hull slides precariously in for a landing. Liste steps out from the cramped interior of the airsled "First Light." Liste has arrived. "You. Took. _MY_. _SLED_?!?!?!!" Tance roars at the tech near the sled rack. Two more techs, looking up, happen to catch CS Vokrim's apocalyptic expression and start edging closer. Liste wipes her grimy forehead on her equally grimy jumsuit sleeve. "WHuff." Tance lunges for the nearest of the techs, his hands curling into fists, and he storms, "How the _KARK_ am I supposed to make that debt back without a sled, you miserable anal-orifice-headed excuse for a hamhanded -- aigh!" The second and third sledtechs nimbly intercept Vokrim en route to the first tech, and the Singer writhes, infuriated, in their grasps. Liste looks over, mostly because all the attention in the hangar seems to be on Vokrim and co. Liste shrugs, and moves in that direction. "Hey?! What's the trouble?" The second tech, a lean young woman with close-cropped hair, says tersely, "Had to recommision his sled, ma'am..." Tance's voice carries across the Hangar with enough volume to shatter half the drive crystals in the bay: "HOW DARE YOU TAKE MY SLED!" Still incensed, he struggles between the two techs who have hold of him, but they're both younger and stronger than he, it would seem, for their grip is sure. Liste frowns faintly. "Recommission? Why?" The first tech smirks and says, as if reciting items off a list, "Outmoded parts; he hasn't been able to afford upgrades for three decades now. He's nearly 10K in the red and the Chief said we start reassigning his equipment as long as he's inactive --" Tance bellows, "I'M NOT INACTIVE, YOU IDIOT! I'M RIGHT HERE! DO I LOOK INACTIVE TO YOU?!" The third tech, hanging on stoically, puts in, "Medical says he's on Inactive status till he passes the next round of recruit training." Tance snarls, "I'm no recruit, you wet-eared son of a karking -- lemme go!" Liste jerks her thumb in the direction of the ready room. "Here, take him in there, maybe I can talk some sense into him? I'm tired of yelling.. then you mob can get back to work." "Sorry, CS Vokrim" -- is that a glint of humor in the third tech's gaze, as he delivers the title? His tone is almost TOO bland, though no discourtesy can be construed from it -- "we've got our orders. Your sled's already been dismantled." Liste looks at you for a moment. Selwyn steps out from the cramped interior of the airsled "Forever Autumn." Selwyn has arrived. Liste reaches out for the breast of Tance's suit. "Here, let's get out of the noise!" Tance bursts out with another explosion of sound, but this one wordless, incoherent. He thrashes out of the techs' hands, lunging again -- the first tech, eyes widening, darts out of the way. But, oddly, the Singer throws himself at the sled rack, and slams it, hard, with his fists, uttering a bizarre sound somewhere between scream, groan, and sob. Selwyn slips out of the sled and closes it carefully, and blinks several times at Tance, despite how Selwyn loosk from cleaning another sled, he just stands there for a moment. Liste reaches out for the excited Singer's arms, then... "Here, here.. calm down! Let's get out of the noise!"" Shana's sled has left. Selwyn gazes up at the hangar status display for a moment. The second and third techs exhale softly, perfectly willing to let the younger Singer risk twisting her arms if she wants. The first tech gulps, then very carefully creeps off the other way. Tance starts to whirl, fists lashing up again. "Outta my way!" he bellows -- somewhat less loudly than before, but still, his voice is raw with fury. Selwyn steps back from the singers, despite he isn't that close to them and quickly decides possibly, another sled and he can come back out and go on his way. Selwyn steps into the airsled "Ahina." Selwyn has left. Liste steps back a step or two, hands automagically coming up to guard. She barks. "Singer! DOn't make me hurt you. We can talk about this.. come back to a lounge.." Tance snarls sardonically, "Why? So you can be next in line to try to make me the oldest karking recruit in the Guild? Kark you, woman, I don't need mocking!" With another furious blow he slams the sled rack again, as if intent on breaking the bones in his own hand now that the techs are out of his grasp; Singer hearing can catch one or two muttered whispers at the very edge of earshot. Liste says "No, but in a few minutes, there'll be a team of Security in here.. then you'll be right back in the Infirmry.. if you'l come with me, I mightbe able to help you."" Brown eyes hot with resentment, Tance Vokrim snaps a look up to the various entrance points of the Hangar. No Security yet. But the old Singer's face whitens. Shoulders tense, his entire wiry frame almost vibrating, he grinds out, "You wanna help me? Get me another karking sled." And with that, he stalks off the floor, picking a direction at random. You climb the metal stairs to the catwalk. Catwalk The catwalk extends along the western wall of the hangar. It is constructed of plasteel and able to endure the wind and particulate matter which invade the hangar over the baffles at the approach of a Mach storm. Obvious exits: Stairs Control On the hangar floor, Liste follows. On the hangar floor, Liste climbs the metal stairs to the catwalk on the western wall. Liste climbs up from the hangar floor. Liste has arrived. You head out of the hangar space and into the flight control area. Flight Control This is flight control for the guild complex. Several banks of computers line one entire wall showing the various satellite pictures of Ballybran and its weather patterns. Controllers, sitting at the main consoles overlooking the hangar area, direct the vehicle traffic in and out of the complex. Other computers show the vehicle activity on the plateau cutting off at the crystal ranges. The shadows deepen outside the hangar and the soft lights of the flight control area brighten. Computer screens reflect on their operators faces. Obvious exits: Catwalk Lifts Outside on the catwalk, Liste says "Exactly what I'm trying to do!" Outside on the catwalk, Liste steps into the flight control office. Liste steps in from the windy catwalk. Liste has arrived. Liste lowers her voice. "Look.. I'm willing to make you a deal." Tance smirks, though as he's en route to... well, wherever... this can't be seen, yet. "Yeah, right," the man mutters, stalking out further, lest he risk alarming any of the techs in _here_, too. You walk to the circular area. Lift Area - A1 Levels that are above ground level are not desired locations among guild members because the sonics from even faint breezes vibrate the facility. Accordingly, recruits are given accomodations since they are not affected...yet. However, Flight control and meteorology must have access to the atmosphere in order to function. The big Bay window catches your eye. It overlooks the reception area. You can look through it . This well carpeted area circumscribes a circle with the center being filled by a shiny lift tube. On the doors to the tube are the letters A1. There is a button set into the wall, you may summon a 'lift.' Contents: Setsuna Lift 1 Obvious exits: Bay Window Meteorology Control Recruits Liste emerges from the muted activity of flight control. Liste has arrived. Setsuna wanders into the recruit lounge. Setsuna has left. Liste says "I am.. really.. I have no reason to lie to you." Lift 1 leaves with a soft *whoosh*. Lift 1 has left. Tance whirls, and bursts out, "What karking reason do you have to _help_ me? Didn't you hear those techs on the floor, woman? I'm so karking useless they have to throw me back to recruit class to teach me how to cut again! I'm a fardling drain on the Guild's precious resources and breathing air better inhaled by Singers who actually still remember what the hells to do with their cutters!" Liste raises her hands. "Hey, hey, hey! Calm down. Getting all worked up isn't goign to help you out of this!" Liste says "_DO_ you remember how to cut.. everyone needs refresher courses now and again. It never hurts." Tance makes an incoherent snarling noise, whirls again, and stalks on out, evidently intending to leave the complex. [And leave the complex he does, looking for the one spot from which he can actually see the Ranges currently denied him. But Liste follows...] You follow the path around the corner to the eastern side of the Facility. Path Around Complex, Eastern Side The view of the Ranges here is quite spectacular. As you look far to the east, the sharp ridges and deep crevices that give birth to the Crystal break and fall in the scape before you. You can see the green-gray ground cover that hides the precious substance from view, although you feel the slight thrumming of its life as it is stroked by strong winds. The spicy scent of the low bushes that are scattered here clears your head. A breeze whispers by, and your symbiont tests the weather. The slope you stand on rises to the west, so you are safe below the hangar mouth. An occasional sled speeds out, carrying its Singer deep into the Ranges, to his coveted claim. You feel appropriately humble before the rising Shankill, his mass slowly appearing over the horizon. It's not until the largest moon is high before you notice the small, greenish face of Shilmore high above his looming brother. Shanganagh slowly follows the other, honey-colored at first, but eventually silvering as he climbs the dark, starry sky. The air is chilly, and if you exhale, you can see a white plume rising from your mouth. The grass cover is dead, and scruffy brown; the bushes are merely dry and brittle, their leaves a dull color. There is some majesty in this starkness though, and you know that life will return, with the spring. Obvious exits: Path to Southern Side Quiet Spot Path to Northern Side Liste appears from around the northern corner of the Facility. Liste has arrived. Far ahead in the darkness, Vokrim's voice can be heard, leaving a clear trail by which he can be followed. The man apparently has no mind for stealth, at the moment. Liste moves quickly after. "Hey! Look here, Singer! I left my crystal, and my cutter to the whims of the sled techs to try and help you, the least you could do is listen to me! Tance screeches in irritation, and perhaps surprise, before he whirls back to you. He's got one hand thrust into a grimy pocket, and that hand stays there even as he catches himself with the other on the near wall of the building. "Leave an old man be, curse you!" It's practically a despairing wail. Liste shakes her head. "Stop it! Just stop.. maybe I can help you? I can at least _try_." Liste clenches her fists. "Ahh! THis is the wrong time for me to do this." Tance backs up against the wall, stance very much like that of a cornered beast. Then he cackles bitterly. "So go away," he snaps, huddling down to the ground, hand in his pocket clenching whatever it is he's got in there. Liste stamps her foot. "No. No, you're going to listen to me, and let me help you." "Dung," retorts the old Singer, pungently, from where he's huddled. Liste says "Fine, don't listen, but I'll talk." "Won't listen, can't help anyway, karking crazy old man, forget everything I need to remember, remember what I need to forget..." Liste says "I'd be willing to loan you my sled, while you get out of debt.. I'm in debt too, but not so badly.. in exchange though, you'll give me ten percent of your haul over time." Liste says "But! If they make you take recruit classes again, that'll give me time to work my claims and be back in time for you to go out again." Tance gives another bitter cackle. "You weren't listening back there, girlie. I _can't_ cut. I'm _in_ACT_ive!" He drawls the word out, dripping with sarcasm. "Wouldn't wanna turn your precious up-to-date equipment to a crazy old karker who can't remember how to fly straight, would you? Hah!" Liste shakes her head. "Then what will it take to get the Guild to make you active again?" Liste lowers her voice. "Besides, can you truthfully say that you can use all this equipment, that you don' Liste lowers her voice. "Besides, can you truthfully say that you can use all this equipment, that you don't need refresher courses?" Tance avoids the question as well as your gaze, wrapping his free arm around himself, with the other hand still jammed into his pocket. "Karkers. Techs won't let me out till I'm clear... fardling make an old man crawl... to the nine Hells with 'em...." His voice drops abruptly, dramatically, falling from a harsh rasp almost to a whimper. "Just karking break it again... won't fix my head..." Liste sighs. "Hey, look.. I'm trying to cut you a break. If they'll certify you, you can use my sled." Liste says "If it was big enough, I'd go along with you.. but, it's not." Liste says "DO we have a deal, or are you going to prove them right.. if they think you're old and useless?" Tance smirks. "_Am_ old and useless. I find crap crystal, woman. Don't care how many classes they send me through, won't change that it's the green I sing, and nobody wants the green." The man's voice keeps dropping till he's barely whispering, and his tone turns miserable. "Green, and I can't forget... can't...." Tance turns away, along the wall. Liste laughs. "All I find is rose, or maybe blue now and again.. hey, I know what you're going through." Tance gives no answer, but there comes from the other side of him a sound rather like the crumpling of paper. Liste turns to go.. "Look, I can see that you're upset, so if you change your mind, send me a message or something. I live down in the blue hall.. name's Liste." The old man's voice is toneless as he finally says, "I won't remember it." Liste stops. "Get a datapad, or something. Get some gadget that'll remind you what you need to remember." Liste says "If you can't remember, get something that'll remember it for you." Liste moves off. "Be well." Tance still doesn't look up, mumbling something about "No good anyway." Liste disappears around the southern corner of the Facility. Liste has left. [End log.]