Log Date: 1/5/97
Log Cast:
	Kesya, Quinn
Log Intro:
	During the general hubbub of her return to duty on Ballybran --
and the pleasurable task of helping Tance refurnish his quarters -- Kesya
receives a message from Quinn, one of the meditechs who had been tending
to Tance during his last long convalescence in the Infirmary. Quinn had,
upon hearing that Kesya was to shepherd Tance back into the Ranges,
requested that she discuss it with him afterwards... and now, at last,
both the Head Trainer and the medic have time to do so. Needing to speak
of Tance for other reasons than just how his shepherding went, Kesya
heads off to Quinn's quarters....

----------
Kesya wanders in, smiling a hello. "Quinn! Good to see you. 
  You wanted to talk with me about Tance's shepherding, is that right?"

Quinn is sitting at his desk, having just shut off the terminal 
  at it. He gets up and smiles, "Yes, I did. And it's good to see you too. 
  Have a seat?"

Kesya flops into the indicated chair, one arm stretched along 
  its back. "You must be horribly busy, with all the recruits going down _and_ 
  all these singers getting seriously hurt."

Quinn absently shrugs his shoulders, plopping back down in his 
  seat at the desk, "Somewhat, yes. Of course, having some of the recruits 
  being worried because they *haven't* dropped yet is even worse. Most 
  Singers, after all, don't get all involved if they're hurt - even if they're 
  hurt badly. But recruits..." Another shrug, "I can understand that, that 
  they worry because they may die in adaption, but still, it's annoying." He 
  grins, "How've you been?"

Kesya snorts softly at that. "No kidding. When I was a recruit, 
  sure, I thought about when I'd adapt, but you just work hard, keep yourself 
  busy until it happens. Because after all, it /will/ happen." She leaves that 
  behind with a shrug of her own. "But, I'm good. Finished up a whole pile of 
  work for the upcoming class on Shankill, and most of them look promising."

Quinn asks, "Oh? How so? Any interesting ones?"

Kesya purses her lips thoughtfully. "Well, for the most part, 
  they seem bright and willing to work to get what they want. Not too many of 
  the type we sometimes get, you know... get-rich-quick-doing-nothing." She 
  winks, an amused smile playing across her face.

Quinn lifts his fingers to one of his lips, worrying it, "Any 
  problematic ones? Like, say, Juliana was in this group?"

The green-skinned woman across from you nods slowly, "One. I 
  haven't seen her enough yet to really tell, but there's a possiblity she 
  could be a difficulty. We'll see what happens though. Still at least a month 
  until the next set of FD's." She yawns, settling back into her chair. "What 
  did you want to know about Tance's shepherding?"

Quinn nods, and shakes his head, "Well, the best way to start 
  is simply to ask how he did - and how he's continued to do. His muscles need 
  to retrain themselves to work with a cutter, and other things like that." He 
  pauses, "Maybe it'd be good to start at the beginning, from when you left 
  for the ranges?"

Kesya's cheeks colour as she stares at you for a moment. "You 
  mean you want me to tell you everything about the trip?"

Quinn raises an eyebrow at this reaction from the green-skinned 
  Singer, as he smooths the hairs on the back of his hand down, "Everything 
  relevant to how Tance is getting along, yes."

Kesya's cheeks don't lose their flushed tone as she settles 
  back to describe the trip. "Okay," she beings. "Well, when we headed out he 
  seemed very attentive, and tended to pay a lot of attention to the sled 
  itself. Commented on how it was clean and didn't bounce around like his 
  does." She chuckles softly, and continues. "We were going to go cut green, 
  but I thought perhaps to begin with, something /not/ of his colour would be 
  better. So we want to an old yellow claim."

Quinn considers thoughtfully, "Did you let him fly, or did you? 
  And, if you let him fly, did he do well? Were his adjustments abrupt? Like 
  abrupt changes in speed or direction? Or were they easy ones?"

Kesya goes on with her story. "It was a claim with a waterfall, 
  and we had to swim underneath to get to the crystal. He wasn't used to that 
  sort of activity, so it took him a bit, but he did fine... we cut together 
  on the yellow, and it seemed as though the old habits were coming back 
  easily for him." She casts you a wry smile, "He flew later. That's... er... 
  later in the trip."

Quinn nods, "Did he have any problems other than adapting to 
  have to swim? Did he cut well?"

Kesya clears her throat, wrinkling her nose. "Turns out we 
  could only get two crystals out of that vein. What a waste. So we left, and 
  I fell out of the tree that we had to climb up to get to the sled." Here, 
  her expression softens, and she smiles. "He surprised me. Helped me back up 
  the tree, carried the cartons, played 'human crutch'." She nods to your 
  question, shrugging. "Well, only saw him cut one crystal there, so at that 
  point I wasn't sure. Anyway, after that we got cleaned up, had a bite to 
  eat, and he slept while I flew to the green claim." Here she pauses, seeming 
  a little disturbed at what she's about to say.

Quinn remains silent, clearly able to see that you're disturbed.

Kesya's green hair swishes over her shoulder as she leans 
  forward, elbows on her knees, hands clasped. "You know what crystal is like 
  when the morning sunlight hits it. Well, I did what I do on every claim when 
  I'm shepherding. I left the sled with a blanket, and hid on the claim till 
  morning." She smiles sheepishly, "Tends to avoid later complications." She 
  continues, her voice low. "So when the crystal woke, so did he, and he left 
  the sled, and found the crystal. And... got lost in it." Her face twists at 
  the memory, eyes clouding. "I remember sitting there, wondering if I should 
  risk morning song to get him out of it before he lost what memory he had."

Kesya shrugs, "So I went to the crystal, and... he was there, 
  singing to it, the crystal singing right back... and I had to punch him to 
  get him out of it. And then he couldn't remember any of the days previous, 
  or how he got there."

Quinn grimaces, and just closes his eyes. "What happened after that?"

Kesya's troubled blue eyes glance over at you, checking your 
  reaction. "I was... pretty upset at that. Figured it was my fault for not 
  keeping an eye on him." She brushes over that, quickly. "So then we went 
  back to the sled, ate, and... later in the day, I gave it another go."

Quinn nods, just listening. There's some amount of pain on his face, "Did he
  regress?"

Kesya shrugs, her expression carefully blank. "I.. couldn't 
  really tell. He /seemed/ fine, and I didn't want to ask him questions about 
  what he remembered too much.. he seemed upset that /I/ was upset, and I 
  didn't want to make things worse. So we went back and cut, and he thralled 
  here and there, but it was never as bad as that first time. Ended up as 
  though we were singing duo, sing, cut and pack, and we kept going until we 
  noticed that a storm had moved in." She pauses here too, casting you a quick 
  sideways glance. "He had cut very well... it wasn't really like shepherding 
  at that point."

Quinn nods to himself, absently, "That's the important part, at 
  least - making him productive. When I asked if he regressed, I meant to ask 
  if he started talking about his old love. He did a lot of that when he first 
  ended up in the infirmary."

Kesya swallows, eyes dropping. "No, he didn't talk about her at 
  all. He went on as though nothing had happened." Why does she look so 
  embarrassed? "He did on the next trip we went on." She hurriedly continues, 
  "So we got out of the vein, and snow was already piling up outside. I was 
  exhausted, and didn't really realize how much so until I was out there. 
  Tance scooted ahead, and made it to the sled I guess, but I couldn't even 
  see it through the snow. It was /so/ cold. I think I passed out, but the 
  next thing I knew, I was in a warming bed in the Infirmary." She glances at 
  you, watching your face. "Krellin told me that he had gone back out to find 
  me in the snow, bundled me in blankets, and flown us in in the middle of a 
  mach storm. Inanna just found the carton that he'd left back on the claim."
Kesya finishes thoughtfully, "I /think/ she left it in sorting, 
  but she only found it yesterday... I'll have to check."

Quinn frowns thoughtfully, "How much did he talk about his lost 
  love? And how did he talk about her? That gives me an idea of his frame of 
  mind more than anything else." He doesn't mention her injury or passing out 
  - obviously, if she's here, she's OK.

Kesya bites her lip, "Well, he didn't on that trip. He mentioned her when we
  went to cut black."

Quinn says "Oh?"

Kesya purses her lips, hands clenched together as she talks -- 
  the only sign of her nervous tension. "When we got back, things went on as 
  normal... and one evening, we went sailing." She looks up at you with a 
  quick grin, "That man can /sail/. Anyway, I got called to Shankill to take 
  care of a little crisis, and I was there for four days, no sleep. I was 
  already low on resonance, and it was pretty bad when I got back. I had to 
  get into the Ranges.. and when I'm that low, I usually get Shana to come 
  with me. Or Andi. Couldn't find Andi, and Shana is still in rough shape, so 
  while I was visiting Tance, I asked him." To answer your question she adds, 
  "I slept in the vein to try to soak up more resonance, but I got cold, and 
  went back for a blanket. And he was having a nightmare about her."

Quinn nods, "What happened?"

Kesya's blue gaze drops again, as she worries at her lip. The 
  indecision she experienced at the time is evident on her face as she talks. 
  "I didn't know whether to wake him. He seemed like he was in a nightmare, 
  but sometimes bad dreams can help sort things out..." she shrugs, "Finally 
  he woke, and he seemed /really/ upset, so I hugged him, tried to get him to 
  calm down.. and we talked. He was okay after a while, and I went back to the 
  vein to sleep for the rest of the night, and he slept in the sled." She 
  pointedly stops short of saying what happened next.

Quinn nods, skipping ahead absently, "And you've continued going out?"

Kesya shakes her head. "That was the last time. His resonance 
  was so high after cutting the black, that he was practically *crackling*. I 
  flew him back and Krellin sent him to Shankill. I went too, took care of 
  some work there."
Kesya adds quietly, "I /would/ duo with him again though."

Quinn cracks a grin at that, "Somehow, I think he'd like that. And that it'd
  be good for him."

Kesya flashes you a hesitant smile. "His room is fixed up 
  now... I think the addition of a working computer will help him. He's 
  frantic about not forgetting... he always asked me, before cutting, that I 
  not let him forget."

Quinn mms, "And how do you feel about that, Kesya?"
Quinn grins, "Or should I call you 'Jade' at the moment?"

Kesya blinks, surprised at the question. "About... about what?" She colours
  at the nickname, crossing her arms.

Quinn mms, "Helping him not forget?"

Kesya struggles to remain objective as she answers the 
  question, arms still crossed over her chest. "I don't mind at all."

Quinn grins, "It sounds like everything is working out all 
  right then. That's all I really wanted to know."

Kesya casts you a sly expression, perhaps wondering what you're 
  thinking behind that self-assured grin.

Quinn's smile just widens, "I'm glad Tance found a friend. I 
  think that, really, is what is best for him." A sly look, "And maybe for you 
  too, Jade."

Kesya blinks as you call her by that name, and she looks 
  apologetically at you. "I know it sounds funny... but could you perhaps not 
  call me that? It sounds... not right, coming from you." She sighs, and then 
  gives you a fond smile. In her mind, you've keyed in to more than what was 
  merely mentioned in this conversation. "Who knows. I worry about him."

Quinn shrugs, "I think that you two together would be a good 
  idea. You'd make sure he was all right in the ranges, and he'd make sure you 
  *get* to the ranges. You and Shana still work too much out of the ranges 
  themselves."

Kesya regards you thoughtfully for a long moment, and nods 
  reluctantly. "I know, it's ages between trips to the Ranges for us." She 
  sighs softly, blue gaze going to yours, "Longer for her, now."

Quinn's worried frown makes a brief appearance, and then he 
  covers it with his professionalism. "So.. you think Tance is ready to be 
  fully active again?"

Kesya immediately nods. "You know Quinn, the transformation 
  he's made has been simply.. remarkable. People stop me and ask who he is." 
  Now a wickedly amused smile crosses her lips. "And they nearly drop their 
  chins on the floor when I tell them."

Quinn waggles his finger, "Y'should stop telling 'em, then. 
  Chin reattachment surgery is expensive." But he winks, playfully.

Kesya chuckles softly, the tension in her face easing. "You 
  haven't seen him in a while, hmm?" She returns your wink, "You'd probably 
  even be surprised, too." Sitting up, she gives a half shrug, gaze going to 
  the far side of the room. "But, there are still lots of... difficulties to 
  surpass. Dealing with alternative ways to make up for what crystal does to 
  memory, for one."
Kesya arches a brow curiously at you, "Any suggestions in that area?"

Quinn sighs, "I don't think any of us will live long enough to 
  see that one solved. I think your best bet is to make sure you're in well 
  before a storm starts, but that may not be involved in memory loss."
Quinn mms, "If he has a problem with thralling... then the only thing I
  can suggest is not letting him Sing alone."

Kesya nods decisively. "I'm usually in long before the storm 
  warnings start... it's odd that I didn't feel that one coming the time Tance 
  dragged me back."

Quinn considers, "One time could be a fluke. Just watch out for 
  yourself when you're out. Don't take any chances with a storm coming in,
  and all."

Kesya seems agreeable to that. "I think perhaps it was because 
  I was so exhausted, and had all my concentration on watching Tance. Didn't 
  even think of a storm."

Quinn nods, "If this becomes a regular thing for you, it'll 
  become easier with practice." He frowns, "You want to know what I'm the most 
  glad about?"

Kesya casts you a cautious glance. "No... what?"

Quinn sighs, "That we didn't have to prepare a bed in LTC for 
  him. Er, Long Term Care, I mean. People usually don't come out of there." He 
  rubs the back of his neck, smoothing the hairs there.

Kesya stops dead, dread written all over her face for the 
  briefest of moments before she drops her gaze. "That would've been awful," 
  she says quietly. "But... he came out of that recovery period all right."

Quinn nods, "He did. But it was a close thing, for awhile. 
  Though I did kinda like that Tance. He wasn't at all grumpy, as he usually 
  was. Or so I was told."
Quinn says "Especially around a certain flavor of ice cream."

Kesya holds back a giggle as she grins at you, "He did used to 
  be grumpy. And worse, I'm told. But remember how he was in the infirmary? 
  He's more like that now." And here she does laugh, eyes shining. "I mean 
  heck, we had a snowball fight on that second trip I told you about."

Quinn smiles, "I'm glad to hear it. And maybe, just maybe, he's now got a
  reason to be happy."
Quinn watches Kesya closely during this statement.

Kesya shoots you a quick look at that, and vaguely replies, 
  "Well... good health and a few friends can do that to a person." A flush 
  creeps up her cheeks, and she mutters quietly, "But... maybe."

Quinn is obviously enjoying teasing the co-Chief of Training, "Yes. Maybe."

Kesya's arms find their way to warp about her again, and she 
  sneaks you a tentative look. "People... people have been saying stuff about 
  that to me. Do you think -- do you think it's possible, after singing for so 
  long, to... care for someone like that?" The green-skinned woman seems
  nervously self-concious, her gaze lifted to yours.

Quinn cocks his head to one side, obviously taking some time to 
  think about this, consider it. "Kesya, you once told me that you thought 
  that Shana might well be your best friend here on Ballybran. You also once 
  said that you considered me a friend - that last time you came by here, 
  remember? If you're asking if you think you could love Tance, I don't see 
  why not. Love is a deep friendship. Hell, they're pretty much the same 
  thing, really. The real question is... do *you* think that you can, Kesya? 
  When you ask yourself that question, what is your gut reaction?"
Kesya bites her lip, her words a low murmur. "I was asking 
  about Tance... but I s'pose that's just as valid a question."

Quinn lifts his shoulders, "Can't hurt to give it a go. Well, it 
  can, but... well, if it doesn't work out, you've got friends to offer
  shoulders to cry on."

Kesya snorts softly at you. "Hrmph. I feel like I'm in my sled, 
  going full speed, without any breaks. I don't think I have a say in the 
  matter anymore." She winks at you, and then adds, "He did kind of sneak up 
  on me. One day I was just helping him get back on his feet, and then 
  next..." Her voice trails off, as she thinks back to the black claim.

Quinn waits quietly, to allow Kesya to talk. It's clear he has 
  something to say, but he's letting the Singer get her emotions out.

Kesya comes back to the present with a shake of her head. 
  "Well, let's just say that my crystal helped me realize what's really been 
  going on." That slow flush creeps up her cheeks again.

Quinn grins teasingly, "Morning song?" It's clear he knows 
  exactly what morning song does - probably from personal experience. "It 
  seems to me, Kesya, that you've already made your decision on how you feel. 
  That flying at 40 with no brakes? Sounds like you've given your heart away 
  and are just unsure of the result, of whether you're going to get your 
  feelings returned. All I can suggest is that you try to find out - or you'll 
  always wonder, memory or not." He snaps his fingers, then winks at you, "And 
  here I was hoping to be the one to capture your heart, too." A definite 
  tease (especially since Shana'd probably kill him if he went through with 
  it). "In other words, go for it, Kesya. We'll be here to support you."

Kesya presses her lips together, fists clenching as she's 
  obviously torn over the matter. "Thanks Quinn," she says lightly, "But we'll 
  see what happens. I don't know that he's even /ready/ for that sort of thing 
  right now... I get the sense that he needs a friend's support more than 
  anything more turmultuous. He's too new to this life he's stumbled upon."

Quinn stands up and walks over to the Singer, leaning down to 
  hug her. He winces at the contact, due to the fact that the green-skinned 
  woman is resonating, but says, "Then be a friend, Kesya. Don't go too fast. 
  Just let things develop naturally. No one says that you've got to get 
  married, after all. I mean, you have close to 50 decades left, and, if Tance 
  takes care of himself - or is taken care of - he has 30. That's more than 
  enough time to explore your relationship with him, and he with you."

Kesya returns the hug, moisture appearing at the corners of her 
  eyes. "Thanks Quinn. I really needed someone to talk that out with. I 
  'preciate it."

Quinn crouches on the balls of his feet, almost catlike, in 
  front of Kesya, so he can look into her eyes, "What are friends for, if not 
  this?"

Kesya takes your hands in hers, squeezing them as she talks. "I 
  know... but you know me. I feel weird asking favours or time of anyone."

Quinn grins at Kesya, and gives a slow wink, "Hey, you know if 
  you really needed me, I'd be there. And if I wasn't, you could order me 
  there, Chief."

Kesya snorts softly, giving you another tight hug. "Well, 
  thanks. It does mean a lot." She withdraws, hands on your shoulders, to look 
  at you closely. "I've been so busy, I haven't been able to visit Shana in a 
  few days. Is she still the same?"

Quinn nods, "Her breathing is easier - I think her lung has 
  reset itself. Her arm and leg are all right, and she seems to be able to 
  follow motions with her unbandaged eye more easily now. Her other eye is 
  regenerating nicely. All in all, it was a scary couple weeks, but... she 
  seems better now."

Kesya breathes a sigh of relief. "Any indication yet of how she 
  /got/ that way?"

Quinn grimaces, "I've been getting the run-around on that one. 
  But the mental difficulties are very resonant, pun intended, with being in 
  the ranges during the beginnings of the sonics from a storm."

Kesya seems disappointed. "Ah," she says softly. "So it's hard 
  to say what really happened, and what was the storm?"

Quinn grimaces, "I suspect I'm purposely getting the 
  run-around, actually. With her as badly injured as she is, they might be 
  worried about how I will react too."

Kesya agrees candidly, "That's entirely possible. But if she's 
  healing as well as she is... then when she's better, you two can talk it out 
  and you can find out what really happened. Her mind would be clearer then, 
  I'd imagine."

Quinn grins, "She *is* still somewhat doped up, yes. The pain 
  was bad." He sighs. "You know, I worry about her a lot. More than I probably 
  should."

Kesya shrugs, a slight smile on her face. "When you care for 
  someone, you worry about them. It's part of the contract."

Quinn grins, "And is there someone else in this room who is 
  learning that, hm?" He winks.

Kesya gives your arm a playful swat.
Kesya waggles her finger at you, "Enjoy your teasing now, 
  medic, but remember, you're a trainer too, and I can make your life 
  difficult!" She arches her brows threateningly, but her eyes have an amused, 
  teasing light to them, and she grins widely.

Quinn shifts slightly, moving his weight to the opposite foot, 
  "Do you mind if I ask you a personal question, Kesya?"
Quinn lifts an arm to his forehead, "Oh no! Not difficulties! I 
  don't need any more of those! Oh dear, oh dear! Can you ever forgive me?"
Quinn's smile couldn't be any wider.

Kesya swats you teasingly again, wrinkling her nose. "Oh, stop. 
  You're horrid." She then sobers, cocking her head to one side. "What sort of 
  personal question?"

Quinn cocks his head to one side, "A simple one, though it may 
  not be simple to answer - just tell me to back off if you don't want to talk 
  about it."

Kesya nods mutely. "Go ahead."

Quinn asks, simply, "Why did you come to Ballybran?"

Kesya starts, expecting any question but that one. "Ummm," she 
  thinks back, "Hrm. That was only five years ago.. but it seems a lifetime 
  away." She smiles sheepishly, and shrugs. "I'd grown up on Taal'en, and went 
  to school on Hesperia... some visual arts, a mix of core sciences and 
  geology.. and when I was done, went back to Taal'en, and couldn't find 
  anything I wanted to do. Nothing that I could do outside, anyway, and that 
  still involved what I thought were my strengths. Worked at a few odd jobs, 
  and got frustrated." She pauses, thinking back. "Then I met a Singer, spent 
  a lot of time talking to him.. and it looked good. I didn't really have 
  anything to lose." Her blue eyes focus on you again. "Nothing extravagant. 
  Why do you ask?"

Quinn lifts his shoulders, "Curiousity, mostly. If you knew 
  then what you know now, do you think you'd still come down?" He shrugs, "I 
  was just thinking about someone else who really hates it here, is all. I 
  don't know why."

Kesya nods emphatically. "Are you kidding? I've really got 
  nothing to complain about, when I look back on it. Got everything I hoped 
  for. Sure, there's been problems here and there, but everyone has problems." 
  She looks curiously at you, "Who hates it here?"

Quinn hitches a thumb downwards, "Ibena. No news there, though. 
  She's lost a lot. I think, mostly, she's lonely. She latches on to whoever 
  is there to talk to her. And I do mean 'latches'. Desperately. I feel sorry 
  for her sometimes."

Kesya nods slowly. "I can imagine. It's too easy here to get so 
  caught up in singing crystal... or your work, that nothing else intrudes, 
  and then you look up and there's nothing else /but/ the work."

Quinn grimaces, "That's the problem - she DOES have more, but 
  he's not around much. You know Elrick? He's the medic who does not use 
  anesthetic? Elrick's her husband."

Kesya arches a brow. "You know, I think I remember that now. He 
  seems so unfeeling though."

Quinn nods, "That's him. But 'bena must have gotten to him 
  somehow, so there must be more there."

Kesya cocks her head to one side, relenting. "You're right," 
  she agrees. "Heck, I hear what people say about Tance and I have trouble 
  believing it. But they're not often together, you said?"

Quinn nods, "Apparently not. I mean, it's not easy for a Singer 
  and a non-Singer to get together. I know *that* all too well."

Kesya says pointedly, "Sure, but usually it's the Singer who's 
  scarce right? From being in the Ranges, or being injured from being in the 
  Ranges." She smiles a little, shrugging.

Quinn nods, "Sometimes. Even when the Singer is available, the 
  other might not be, though thier schedule is a bit more regular, yes."
Quinn glances towards his computer at this point, and notes the 
  blinking light, "Excuse me for a moment."
Quinn frowns at the message, "Some of the readings on one of 
  the ICU patients have changed. I'm on call for those. I need to get down 
  there."
Quinn grimaces, "Can we continue our conversation later?"

Kesya nods, rising. "Of course. Thanks for the conversation."

Quinn offers his arm, "May I walk you out?"

Kesya smiles amiably at you, taking your arm. "Thanks, Quinn." 
  She blinks as her own wristunit beeps. "It seems the recruits have started 
  to come up," she says, at the message she reads. "More work for both of us." 
  She chats idly as she walks out with you.
Kesya steps out into the hallway.
Kesya has left.

[End log.]