In this episode, our young hero has retired to rest after flying in on
the wailing of a mach storm. He has rested up in his quarters, and has wandered
restlessly about - nervously avoiding the glares of several older Singers
who have been snide and infuriated over Galahad's luck bringing in black
crsytal. He spends some time with a classmate, Amber Malley, who has turned
medic after her adaptation to the symbiont; and later, in the same room, he is
found by a frantic Bernadette Marshall....

Guild Family Den
The main lounge is a very comfortable place. You can almost always find 
  Guild members relaxing in here. Scattered groupings of chairs and sofas 
  create conversational areas. There is a catering unit off to one side and a 
  holovid screen for entertainment. Overhead a crystal chandelier twists and 
  sings almost hypnotically. The walls are painted a shimmering light blue, and 
  a darker blue carpet muffles the sounds of footsteps. There are a few plants 
  scattered about that are cared for by Guild members with a green thumb.
Contents:
DataPad Vendor
Obvious exits:
Lift

Bernadette wanders in from the lift area.
Bernadette comes in with a look of panic on her face.

Kevlan sits with his face pressed into his hands, looking tired, off across 
  the room.

Bernadette looks around the room and spots Kevlan, she hurries over to 
  where he's sitting and waits to be acknowledge, eyes wide.
Bernadette fidgets.

Reef wanders in from the lift area.

Kevlan looks up at the sound of footsteps, and blinks. "Berni...? Whatsa 
  matter?"

Bernadette wrings her hands and says "I just found outhat recruits are to 
  be TESTED on the simulators. You didn't tell me that!" She whines.

Kevlan blinkblinks, and stands, and says earnestly, "Aw, freg... well, they 
  gotta make sure you know how t' fly 'fore they letcha have a sled, y'know?"

Bernadette whirls around agitatedly, spots Reef, nods politely at him, and 
  whirls back towards Kevlan, hair flying. "But...what is going to be on the 
  test? I need to know so I can prepare..."
Bernadette clasps her hands together and looks at the floor as she paces in 
  a circle, muttering "I _never_ do well on tests..." She frets.

Kevlan reaches a tentative hand to Bernadette, and says, "Settle down, now, 
  hon... well, Ah think you should be able t' fly t' a given coordinate 'n' 
  back, and you should prob'ly be ready t' be tested in bad weather settin's."
Kevlan watches the girl's pacing awkwardly, uncertain how to comfort, but 
  offering the information he knows readily.

Bernadette looks up at Kevlan wit wide eyes "But...I've only done MEDIUM 
  weather...and I didn't even do THAT very well..."

Kevlan nods earnestly in greeting to Reef, seeming a little relieved for 
  some reason as he notes him, and says back to Bernadette, "You 'member what 
  Ah said? 'Bout how it comes easy with practice?"

Bernadette shakes her hands in front of her. "I get 
  so...so....PRESSURED...when I'm getting buffetted around and I can't remember 
  which way to turn to get back on course!"

Kevlan grins lopsidedly, and holds up his left hand. "'Sides, Berni, they 
  let lunkheaded ol' me have a sled, it cain't be too hard t' pass."

Bernadette grabs the front of Kevlan's shirt and looks up at him. "But I 
  don't do WELL under pressure!"
Bernadette mutters as she looks to the left at nothing. "I can just see 
  it...the winds pick up and I go careening off into a mountainside..."

Kevlan blinkblinks, glancing uncertainly at the cutter tech as he grows a 
  little more awkward under the recruit's panicked gaze. He pulls in a breath, 
  and puts both hands on Bernadette's shoulders. "Look at me, Berni... "

Bernadette releases Kevlan's shirt with one hand, pantomiming a careening 
  sled with th other.
Bernadette keeps her hand held out as the sled and looks up at Kevlan, 
  obediently.

Reef says "And you'll get smashed to pieces, someone will bring you back, 
  you'll be charged a fortune for the sled, and you'll heal to work long enoguh 
  to pay it off."

Bernadette looks over her shoulder at Reef. "Exactly! *I'LL* get smashed to 
  pieces probably beyond the symbiont's help. Forget about the sled!"

Kevlan, his blue gaze unusually level despite the slight hitch in his 
  voice, addresses the girl, "It's okay t' crash in th' simulator. It don't 
  cost you nothin'. Jes' practice a lot, till you don't git riled. 'Cause 
  Reef's right, you cain't git riled when you're flyin'."

Bernadette presses a hand to her forehead, closing her eyes tight, "That's 
  the problem...I *do* get riled. I can't help it!"

Kevlan ventures awkwardly, "Do... d'you want me t' he'p you out, some more?"

Bernadette wails "I don't know...I don't know that it would do any good." 
  She frowns unhappily.

You say "Ah seen you fly, Berni... Ah know you c'n do it. You jes' hafta 
  know it, too."

Bernadette shakes her head. "Good weather...okay. No problem. But when the 
  WINDS come up and push me around...I can't think fast enough to correct my 
  position. I'm going to fail the test...I just know it."
Bernadette holds on to Kevlan's shirt again with both hands and puts her 
  forehead against his chest and sighs in distress.
Bernadette mutters "This is awful."

Kevlan blinks, and blushes, and awkwardly puts an arm around the recruit. 
  "Aw, now, hon, it's okay... "

Bernadette's head pops up as she thinks of something else. "And what 
  if...what if I get SICK while I'm taking the test?"

Kevlan meets Bernadette's gaze and says as comfortingly as he can manage, 
  "Well, if they need to, they'll make you take it over, after you're better." 
  He frowns a little, thoughtfully, and suddenly blurts, "Flyin' th' 
  sleds're... kinda like dancin', in a way... "

Bernadette looks up at Kevlan with confused eyes. "Dancing?"

Kevlan asks, "You been dancin', before?"
Kevlan nods forthrightly. "Uh-huh. See... Ballybran... she's got her own 
  music, you know? Not only with th' Ranges singin'... but the storms, too. 
  It's real wild 'n' powerful, but it's music, see?"

Bernadette says meekly "No, not really. My brothers don't count."

Kevlan grins a little, as he sits you down on the nearest chair and scoots 
  one over to settle down upon himself. "'Sokay, Ah ain't danced much lately 
  neither. But see, Ballybran's got music. An' flyin' a sled... it's like, 
  dancin' with th' wildest partner you ever had."

Bernadette sits with her hands on her knees, looking at Kevlan 
  uncomprehending. "I don't get it...is this another one of those things you 
  need to be adapted to hear?" She looks skeptical.

Reef says "I don't hear it. It's one of those things that make people think 
  Singers are mad."
Reef says "Forgive my intrusion on Privacy, but you're not being very 
  quiet."

Bernadette looks at Reef and smiles, giggling a little at the comment.

Kevlan blinks, and looks up at Reef. "Oh... " he says blankly. "Should we 
  go somewhere else?"

Reef says "If you wish Privacy, you should look for a secure room. Your 
  conversation doesn't bother me, but my listening might bother you."

Bernadette trades glances between the two men, waiting to hear whether they 
  need to vacate.
Bernadette shrugs noncommittally. "Does it bother you, Kevlan?"

Kevlan blinkblinks, as if the thought really hadn't occurred to him. But 
  his uncommon burst of eloquence seems to have retreated again as he smiles 
  half-heartedly at Bernadette. "'Sa public room.... Ah weren't plannin' on 
  doin' nothin' non-public."

Bernadette blinks at Kevlan and smiles back. "Me either...unless getting 
  hysterical is a non-public thing to do..." She still has a slightly wild look 
  to her eyes, but seems a bit calmer.

Kevlan looks the girl up and down hesitantly. "You want some cocoa, or 
  somethin'?"

Amber wanders in from the lift area.

Bernadette shakes her head, eyes wide, "Nothing with caffeine, thanks. I 
  think I'm hyper enough."

Amber waves and curls up in a chair.

Reef says "Greetings."

Bernadette turns and smiles, as she nods a greeting to Amber.

Kevlan nods consideringly, and ambles over to the catering unit. He dials 
  up a mug of some juice, and brings it back over to Bernadette.

Bernadette looks back to Kevlan, smiles at the juice and accepts it with a 
  mutter of thanks, then frowns as she notices how wrinkled she made his shirt.
Bernadette reaches out with her free hand and smoothes his shirt down. 
  "Sorry about that..."

Amber nods and smiles to everyone and folds her legs under her in a chair, 
  settling her bundle in her lap.

Bernadette takes a sip of her juice.

Kevlan blinks, and looks down, and says dismissively, "Aw, it's jes' an' 
  old shirt, don't worry... " Politely, he nods to Amber as the medic returns.

Bernadette looks over at Reef and Amber. "Oh, I'm Bernadette, by the way. 
  Sorry I didn't introduce myself sooner."

Kevlan returns to the catering unit to dial up something himself.

Amber extends her free hand. "Amber Malley. Nice to meet you, Bernadette."

Bernadette smiles and reaches out for the offered hand, shaking it firmly. 
  "Hello, Amber."

Amber smiles warmly and fiddles with her bundle, folding and unfolding the 
  wrapping.

Bernadette offers her last name as she remembers its omission. "Marshall. 
  Berni Marshall."

Amber smiles.

Bernadette smiles again and settles back in her seat, sipping her juice.

Reef says "Reef Hannet. Call me Reef."

Kevlan dials up a mug of the same fruit juice, and settles his lanky frame 
  into a chair again. As more conversation starts up, he seems to grow a little 
  shyer, but he blurts belatedly, "Kevlan Sharr!"

Bernadette smiles and raises her eyes to Reef. "Plesure, Reef."
Bernadette smiles over the rim of her mug at Kevlan and sips her juice 
  again.

Amber unwraps her bundle and holds up a smallish lap harp. "Um...anyone 
  mind if i play? Music normally helps me unwind."

Reef frowns at a beeping on his writunit. "Been a pleasure, but I'm needed 
  elsewhere."

Bernadette rubs her temple with the fingers of her left hand, and shakes 
  her head at Amber. "I don't mind."

Amber nods to Reef and sighs quietly herself, touching her locket. "It has 
  been one of those days, no?"

Bernadette looks at Reef again. "Nice to meet you, Reef."

Kevlan says tentatively, "Amber plays right purty. 'Night, Reef... "

Reef walks to the main lift area.
Reef has left.

Amber smiles at Kevlan. "Thank you."

Bernadette chuckles into her juice at the familiarity of those words.
Bernadette drinks some more of her juice and stares forward, lost in 
  thought, her foot tapping.

Amber settles her harp upright and makes herself comfortable in the chair, 
  touching the strings of the harp lightly and sending off sparkling minor 
  descants.

Kevlan says earnestly to Amber, "Berni plays gitar... Ah don't know nobody 
  else who plays harp, though."

Bernadette blinks as she continues to stare forward, apparently not aware 
  of the conversation.

Amber smiles. "You wouldn't know anyone who plays woodwinds, do you?" She 
  looks down, her finger flipping the locket open and closed. "I miss...playing 
  duets."
Amber turns her head to look at Bernadette, one hand still trailing on the 
  strings of the harp. "What's wrong...?"

Bernadette sips her juice again.

Kevlan blinks, looking between the two young woman baffledly as Amber 
  trails off.

Amber begins unconsciously to play something, as if by rote. She begins to 
  sing in a low, melodic voice...a harmony to something. The melody is missing. 
  She glances at the two others in the room, but is still unaware of what she 
  is playing.

Kevlan mumbles, "Ain't a flute player... "

Amber starts at the mention of a flute player and stares at her harp, 
  stopping in mid-song.

Bernadette holds her empty glass, still staring blankly, thinking.

Kevlan blinks again. "Did Ah say somethin' wrong?"

Amber clutches her locket as if it were life itself. "No...no."
Amber wraps her harp and turns to Bernadette. "Are you sure you're all 
  right?"

Kevlan looks between the two, and says uncomfortably, "Maybe...A-Ah better 
  go?"

Amber leans forward, still clutching her locket. She holds up the other 
  hand and looks concerned. "Please stay...I don't mean to 
  upset...just...again, memories."

Bernadette remains silent.

Amber looks extremely concerned, her eyes flickering sadly between her two 
  companions. "I always have to wreck any conversation I enter, don't I..." she 
  mutters under her breath.

Kevlan says helpfully, "It's okay... " And then glances at Bernadette. 
  "Berni? Hey, Berni?"

Bernadette chews on her lower lip, the fingers on her right hand ticking 
  off someting.

Kevlan reaches over to tap the recruit's juice glass. "You done with this? 
  Ah-ah c'n put it back in th' caterer...?"

Bernadette blinks and jumps with a start. "Huh?" She looks at Kevlan with 
  wide eyes, then at the glass. "Oh...sure." She hands it to him.

Amber keeps silent, her eyes widened as she almost recognizes something in 
  Bernadette's expression. She looks extremely concerned, and yet vulnerable.

Bernadette looks around at Amber and Kevlan, blinking. She blushes and 
  mutters "Sorry...my mind was somewhere else..."

Amber taps a few keys on her notepad, her eyes straying back to her 
  companions, obviously worried.
Amber smiles comfortingly at Bernadette. "It is not a problem."

Bernadette smiles at Amber in return, still blinking and not all together 
  paying attention.

Kevlan ushers the empty mugs over to the catering unit, and mumbles 
  something that might be, "Ever'body's sad 'round here... "

Bernadette blinks and looks at the bundle in Amber's lap. "Weren't you 
  going to play?"

Amber notices her locket hanging open, revealing a holo of a young man, and 
  flips it immediately closed, looking at Bernadette worriedly. "I was, indeed."

You say "She done played, already."

A confused look flicks across Bernadette's face as she catches sight of the 
  holo in the locket, but she smiles at Amber and nods, sitting back to listen.
Bernadette looks at Kevlan in surprise. "She did not."

Kevlan blinkblinks, and glances to Amber for confirmation?

Amber smiles gently. "I did." Softly, she mutters to herself something that 
  is probably the name of a song...

Bernadette looks at Amber for a moment, then back at Kevlan and blushes. "I 
  didn't hear it..."

Kevlan says to Bernadette, "She plays real light 'n' sparkly like. Not like 
  me 'tall."

Amber sits up and suddenly smiles warmly at her companions, just sitting in 
  her chair.

Bernadette smiles softly. "Well, I'm sorry I missed it...I must have been a 
  million miles away.."

Amber remembers suddenly. "Sad...no, more in the way of reflective."

Bernadette says "Sad? Who's sad?"

Amber smiles. "I will play again for you some time, doubtless."
Amber shakes her head. "No-one is sad."

Bernadette smiles at Amber. "I'd like that."
Bernadette nods at Amber. "I didn't think so.."

Kevlan suddenly blushes, and eyes the wall.

Bernadette pulls her legs up onto the chair, tucking her knees under her 
  chin.

Amber toys with her locket, flipping it open and closed, open and 
  closed..."What need have we for sadness? It is worth it to be sad sometimes, 
  but not all of the time. We have..." she blushes..."friends."

Bernadette looks at her fingers as she mumbles 
  "Latitude....longitude...quadrant.." ticking each off on a separate finger.

Kevlan grins halfheartedly at Bernadette, and then nods, gravely, to Amber. 
  "Yeah," he mumbles, "... friends." He suddenly looks crestfallen for some 
  reason.

Bernadette looks up and nods, mumbling, "Friends...," before looking at her 
  fingers again.

Kevlan blurts, "Play somethin' else, purtylike?"

Bernadette doesn't tick things off, though, she just looks at her fingers 
  quietly.
Bernadette whispers to herself "Friends.." again and sighs.

Amber smiles and nods suddenly at Bernadette, letting her locket hang fully 
  open. She unwraps the harp and lets out a cloud of sparkling notes which 
  coalesces into a beautiful melody.

Bernadette hugs her knees, resting her chin atop her kneecaps.
Bernadette glances at Kevlan while Amber plays 'purtylike'.

Amber brushes the metal strings with her fingertips, swaying to the melody, 
  playing another reel-type song.

Bernadette lays her head to the side on her knees and smiles at Amber as 
  she plays, enjoying the music.

Amber adds a second difficult descant behind the melody and smiles up.

Kevlan hums quietly, his low earthy baritone somewhat incongruous with the 
  ethereal harp notes, but then, his pitch is unerring.

Bernadette looks the picture of a person relaxed, except for the white 
  knuckles of her hands as she clutches her forearms around her knees.

Amber plays on, the song growing faster and faster until it virtually 
  explodes into stars of music and finishes, her hands brushing the frame. She 
  looks down at her locket, noticing the two holos inside, and just looks up.

Kevlan pauses in mid-hum, and suddenly blushes. "There words t' that, 
  ma'am?" he asks Amber. "Ah don't think none o' th' words Ah know'd fit that."

Amber smiles. "There are...she begins to hum in a slow, sweet voice the 
  words. "A dream for my love, who waits for me here..."

Bernadette picks her head up and drops her feet to the floor, resting her 
  hands beside her thighs as se listens to the lyrics.

Kevlan tilts his head, listening consideringly.

Amber says "A butterfly floats, in the river so near..."
Amber says "And where has he gone, but to wait for the rainbows..."
Amber says "To wait for me only on the side of the forest."
Amber finishes with a huge smile. "We should rejoice in those we loved," 
  she says, "not mourn them as they would not want to be."
Amber flips the locket closed on that note.

Kevlan pauses, and he suddenly swallows hard. "That... only works if... "

Amber stretches her legs out and wraps up her harp reverently. "Only works 
  if...?"

Bernadette blinks and looks at Kevlan, waiting to hear what he was about to 
  say.

Kevlan abruptly turns scarlet-cheeked.

Amber speaks gently. "If...?" she prompts again.

Kevlan averts his gaze to the floor and mutters, "If whoever y-you love... 
  passed on.

Bernadette sighs softly.

Amber opens her locket. "You see these two?" She points to a holo of a 
  brown-haired young man and a smaller holo of a red-haired girl not more than 
  2 years old. "This is Dar...my husband...and Eliana, my daughter. They died 
  in a fire 3 years ago." Her voice quivers.

Bernadette looks at Amber. "What a bitter-sweet song."

Amber nods. "It was Dar's favourite. We used to play it...together. He was 
  a flute player."

Bernadette looks sympathetically at Amber. "How terrible. I'm so sorry."

Kevlan looks at Amber abashedly, and then scowls, but at himself.

Amber speaks softly. "They passed in peace...and i still keep them alive, 
  here." She thumps her heart. "Just as they would have liked."

Bernadette looks sadly at Amber, tears welling in her own eyes. She pulls 
  her knees up to her chest again and puts her forehead down on them, hiding 
  her face.

Kevlan stands, and backs to the door, muttering, "Selfish... "

Amber smiles. "Through my music and my memories, they still walk with me. I 
  know they will be waiting for me on the other side of the forest..." She 
  snuffles quietly into a handkerchief and motions to Kevlan. "Don't go."
Amber wipes tears from her eyes and smiles. "Please don't cry..."

Kevlan looks over awkwardly, and gruffly says, "Ah... Ah ain't sure what t' 
  say, ma'am."

Bernadette listens to the additional words and stands hastily, covering her 
  face and mutters, "Excuse me..." and plunders her way towards the door at 
  full speed.
Bernadette walks to the main lift area.

Amber smiles up through her tears, which she wipes away. "You don't have to 
  say anything." She stands abruptly and rushes after Bernadette, gathering up 
  her harp.
Amber walks to the main lift area.

[Bemusedly, Kevlan lingers, trying to figure out what to do... ]

Amber wanders in from the lift area.
Amber re-enters, sighing quietly. "I'm so sorry if I upset anyone..."

Kevlan stands slumped against the wall, frowning to himself. He 
  blinkblinks, and looks up.

Amber bites her lip. "Please...if I offended, I am very sorry."

Kevlan shakes his head quickly. "It's okay, ma'am. Berni, she's all 
  bothered 'bout th' sled tests, an' me... well... " He shrugs.

Amber sighs. "I shouldn't have brought it up. It upsets a lot of 
  people...but I always thinks it helps to talk about it..."

Kevlan says awkwardly, "Ah... Ah guess it does. Mah momma died when Ah was 
  a kid."

Amber nods understandingly and offers you a handkerchief from her pocket. 
  "Here."

Kevlan grins shyly, and says, "Ah-Ah ain't cryin', ma'am, but thanks... "

Amber smiles and puts the fabric back into her pocket. "I'm afraid I should 
  really get going, but...if you ever need to talk, I'll be in my quarters. 
  Second floor, MediTech Wing. Just knock first. :)
Amber walks to the main lift area.

[Continuing to be bemused, and somewhat worried over the distraught mood
 Bernadette had been in, Kevlan ventures out to try to find her. A search
 through the Hangar Floor and the simulators does not turn her up, although
 Tamber is alerted to the situation when Kevlan asks him if Bernadette has
 been seen. The Sorter tells him no, and Kevlan heads up to the recruit
 levels... ]

You want to check out the recent `catch' and wander over to the recruit 
  areas.
Recruit Lounge
This expansive room functions as entertainment area, classroom, and meeting 
  place for the Heptite Guild recruits. On one wall is an entertainment 
  complex, and along another is a row of booths. Several comfortable chairs are 
  arranged in rows across the width of the room facing the screen. In addition, 
  several tables dot the floor space.
A vivid turquoise stripe, textured in a fine hatched pattern, leads the way 
  through the doorway off to the left, heading to the accommodation wing for 
  recruits.
The accommodations for recruits are in a long wing to the left of the 
  corridor.
Contents:
Lhovrik
Dalyc
Kilanjth
Catering Unit
Recruit Information Screen
Training Schedule
Online Terminal
Obvious exits:
Hallway Lifts Wing

Kevlan ventures tentatively into the room.

Dalyc can't quite see into the box yet, but the scent reminds her of home.

Kilanjth grins, watching Dalyc opening a big box.

Dalyc looks up to smile at Kevlan and returns to her surprise.
Removing the lid fully, Dalyc leans over to get a closer look.

Kevlan blinks, and pauses uncertainly, venturing, "Any y'all seen 
  Bernadette?"

Dalyc smiles and laughs out loud "Black soil belt... best land under the 
  domes...!"

Talia emerges from the corridor.

The crate is almost full of a deep, black loam, a few dozen sprouts packed 
  carefully next to it for shipping. A holocassette lies next to the sprouts, 
  and a small scrap of paper lies on top of it.

Kilanjth shakes her head at Kevlan's inquire, "No."

Talia wanders in, stopping to lean against the wall near the door and 
  listen in.

Dalyc jumps up and hugs Lhovrik exuberantly. Forgotten is her shyness. She 
  is still laughing at his gift.

Lhovrik chuckles very softly, and hugs Dalyc lightly in return.

Kevlan blinks, evidently puzzled by a box full of dirt....? But he says a 
  little sadly, "She lit outta here like her tail was on fire... Ah don't want 
  her frettin'... "

Kilanjth chuckles at Dalyc's response, then turns away from watching the 
  other two recruits to converse with Kevlan. "She hasn't come through here at 
  all in the last several hours."

Dalyc goes back to the box and digs her fingers deeply into the soil, first 
  discreetly pocketing the small scrap of paper on the top of the box.

Talia pushes her mirrorshades further back, and speaks. "The recruits are 
  getting stranger. Are they not, Kevlan?"

Lhovrik smiles faintly at Dalyc, crimson eyes glancing briefly over at 
  Talia.

Kevlan nods earnestly to Kilanjth. "Y'all... keep an eye out for 'er, 
  maybe? She was awful nervous 'bout the sled tests... Ah'll look 'round a l'il 
  more, see if Ah c'n find her... " He turns to go out, and blinks as he spots 
  Talia.

Lhovrik says "Quite strange."

Kilanjth grins, "The sleds are fun. Been flying them for several standard 
  years... Though those winds in the simulators are a bit more than anything 
  I've encountered. Even crashed once in the simulator." She frowns softly.

Dalyc is still running her fingers through the soil, lovingly touching the 
  small seedlings bedded in its richness.

Kevlan smiles halfheartedly. "Ain't no stranger'n any o' our class, 
  Talia... y'all 'scuse me... "

Talia's eyes are on Kevlan.

Lhovrik's voice is a near-subsonic rumble. "To thank you for instruction, 
  Dalyc."

Dalyc returns her attention to the fact that there are others present in 
  the room.

Talia says "A pity about those fingers, gitar boy..I did so have a fancy to 
  hear you play."

Kilanjth smiles and nods to Kevlan as he looks like departing.

Dalyc begins to feel slightly self conscious about her reactions to a box 
  of dirt, in her eyes, an incredibly thoughtful gift.

Kevlan blushes, and says sheepishly, "They're growin' back okay... "

Talia pushes away from the wall and walks slowly towards Kevlan, a rather 
  predatory smile on her red lips.

Lhovrik smiles faintly and leans over to whisper to Dalyc.

Talia murmurs. "Good..such..agile fingers would be a pity to lose.."

Kilanjth grins, seeing the look on Talia's face, stifling a chuckle.

Dalyc attempts to lift her prized box and then looks imploringly to Lhovrik.

Kevlan stammers, "Ah-Ah better find... Berni... "

Lhovrik leans over and carefully hefts the box.
Lhovrik says "Lead, Dalyc."

Dalyc leads the way to her quarters.

Lhovrik walks into the accommodation area for recruits.
Lhovrik has left.

Talia places a well-manicured hand on Kevlans arm, still smiling..

Dalyc walks into the accommodation area for recruits.

Talia says "Do you, now..whatever for?"

Kilanjth grins, as she guesses very little changes with certain... desires 
  after adaptation.

Kevlan manages awkwardly, "She was awful upset... "

Talia leans closer, whispering to Kevlan.
Talia whispers "Sweet boy...why pretend? (That whiff of perfume, again..)"

Kilanjth sips at her wine, enjoying a different sort of show than the 
  earlier one she watched.

Kevlan blinkblinks, looking somewhat nervously between Talia and the exit. 
  His nose wrinkles a little, and he looks baffled, as if at a scent...

Talia whispers "Why are you so afraid to..give in, to your feelings? It is 
  quite..normal, to want to see somebody..for other reasons than helping them."
Talia whispers something else, then smiles, and moves half a step away.

Kevlan blurts, "But Ah do wanna he'p her!"

Talia's lips curl in a smile. "And I am sure you will do it 
  as...skillfully, as you do all else. Come now..we are not children."

Kilanjth grins, chuckling softly.

Talia turns to the catering unit, walking away from the speechless Kevlan 
  to order a drink.
Talia looks at Kilanjth as she waits for it. "Your classmates seem to have 
  fun with their box."

Kilanjth smiles, "A bit of courtshipping, I think. A bit more subtle than 
  what you two are doing." She grins a bit. "Dalyc and Lhovrik are becoming 
  closer.. He just had some plants imported from her home planet as a surprise 
  for Dalyc."

Talia says "How uncommonly kind of him...though they are likely to die off, 
  in this atmosphere."

Kevlan blinks, looks at Talia askance, then turn crimson and slips out.

Talia spins the menufax around to display the wine selections.

[Kevlan makes it out to the main reception area before Talia catches up
 with him... ]

Talia steps off the ramp from the recruit area.
Talia says "My, such a hurry.."

Kevlan skids to a halt, and looks timidly over his shoulder.

Talia says "What is the rush, boy? Come, let me give you a ..hand, with 
  whatever it is."

You say "Well... Ah jes don't want Berni frettin', y'know?"

Talia saunters up, and takes your arm. "You never did tell me what she was 
  fretting about. Why don't you do so as we walk?"

Kevlan says earnestly, "She's awful n-nervous, 'bout th' sled tests 'n' 
  all... an' Amber's story fretted 'er, too... "

Talia says "Ambers story?"
Talia says "I have not heard. Do tell.."

Kevlan nods gravely, glancing around in a few directions. "Amber's husband 
  'n' daughter died."

Light breezes blow past outside, heralding a change in the weather.

Talia keeps a tight hold on your arm. "How sad. Mmm..daughter? As in, 
  child?"

Kevlan nodnods, shifting uncomfortably from foot to foot. "Yeah... Amber's 
  daughter... " He frowns at the clouds that scuttle past.

Talia says "But there are no children..not here."
Talia looks faintly curious.

Intermittent pattering sounds can be heard outside, a sign of the light 
  rain which is beginning.

Talia notices a change...and looks up.

Kevlan says absently, "'Fore she came... " He frowns and mutters, "Ah had 
  'nough rain t'day... "

Talia says "Rain... I used to like rain."

Kevlan smiles crookedly. "Ah flew in on a storm t'day... "
Kevlan glances around, though, trying to catch sight of anybody out here.

Talia looks down at your hand. "You are..daring."

Softly at first, then with slightly more force, the rain outside begins to 
  fall, creating a light, pattering sound which echoes quietly through the 
  structure.

Kevlan shrugs dismissively. "Lunkheaded, 'swhat Ah am... " he says, 
  dejectedly.

Talia turns to face you full on again, and takes your chin in her hand. 
  "None of that."

Kevlan blinks?

The delicate pattering of rain against wall and roof creates a whispering, 
  intermittent rhythm as the light shower outside finds it strength.

Talia looks straight at you. "Stop putting yourself down. Stop..stop 
  _evading_ all the time! You act as if you should apologize for being around."

Kevlan closes his eyes, and says disheartenedly, "Ah kinda feel that way, 
  Talia. Anybody with a lick o' sense don't go cuttin' off their own fingers."

Water collects on the windows, falling quickly downward in tiny rivulets. 
  The quiet pattering continues, barely audible over the hum of the light 
  fixtures.

Tamber emerges from the central lift area.

Talia snorts. "As if accidents never happened. That is an excuse, and you 
  know it."

Kevlan says gruffly, "It happened 'cause Ah'm... aw, never mind... "

Talia gives Tamber a distracted wave in greeting, still glaring at Kevlan.

Tamber strides lazily into view, and lifts his eyebrows. He comes over and 
  looks the two Singers up and down. "Galahad, what's going on here?" he asks 
  Kevlan smoothly.

Talia jabs a finger at Kevlans chest. "He is being dense, that is what is 
  going on."

Kevlan looks at Tamber embarrassedly, muttering, "Ain't no never-mind, 
  Tam... "

An almost imperceptible quieting occurs, heralding the coming of this light 
  rain. It is possible, now and then, to see an occasional sunbeam poking 
  through the clouds outside.

Tamber, with the look of one clearly familiar with this situation, comes 
  over and regards Kevlan quietly. But it's Talia he addresses, as he says, 
  faintly amusedly, "Our young Galahad is dense only in a few ways, good lady."

Talia rolls her eyes. "Don't just stand there like a..oh, why do I bother. 
  You are a man, Kevlan..A flesh and blood one, no hollow mythic knight."
Talia looks over to Tamber. "In the ways that matter.."
Talia suddenly smiles. "Though he does play a nice gitar, I'll give him 
  that."

Kevlan turns red, and grumbles, "Ah don't wanna talk about it... " He turns 
  to stalk off, head lowered.

Talia smiles. "Running away.."

Tamber says with surprising gentleness, "No, good lady, his problem is that 
  he knows too much."

Kevlan glowers at the floor, ignoring both the Sorter and Talia as he flees.

Silence returns, marking the shower's end as the light breezes push the 
  cloud cover away.

Talia says "Is that the way of a knight? Oh pooh, Tamber..his pretty head 
  is filled with empty thoughts. He should think less..and do more."

[Dejected and confused by his encounter with Talia, Kevlan retreats to his
 quarters, and there fervently finds himself wishing he didn't know any
 girls. Tamber, in the meantime, continues his conversation with Talia.]

Talia bites her lip, looking after Kevlan.

Tamber frowns, and says bluntly, "His pretty head, good lady, is filled with 
  the knowledge that the girl he is in love with loves another man."

Talia's face darkens.
Talia says "Love. Bah!"
Talia says "That is exactly his problem. Love..and honor..and being the 
  "Galahad" at all times. Pure and chaste and innocent.."

Through the windows or portals sunlight can be seen streaming down, making 
  the landscape dry once more.

Talia starts pacing the room, fiddling nervously with an empty place on her 
  bracelet.

Tamber says stiffly, "There's a lot of heart in that boy, Singer, and a lot 
  that's hurt. From where I stand, the only way he is dense is in letting 
  himself heal. Now if you will excuse me, I'm going to go about trying to help 
  him do just that."

[Uncommonly upset, Tamber strides out into the damp night, having a suspicion
 that recruit Bernadette has fled outside for refuge. He is not wrong, either.]

Tamber scowls, an unusual expression for him, and inspects the landscape 
  briskly.

[He strides around the complex, and catches a muffled sound... ]

Tamber calls quietly, "Bernadette? My dear, are you out here?"

>From afar, Bernadette sighs and answers. "I'm here."

You climb the slope to the left of the Hangar, and sit down against the wall 
  of the Facility.
Quiet Spot
You can almost feel your symbiont recharge itself as you relax against the 
  wall of the Facility. The low bushes are within arms length, although they 
  are a bit sparse; apparently many before you had the same idea as you pick 
  the leaves, releasing their strong spicy scent. Every few minutes, you hear 
  the roar of a sled's engines as a Singer zooms out to the deep Ranges.
The rising moons peek over the quickly darkening horizon. Although you cannot 
  see the setting Scoria, its sunset colors the Ranges before you.
Contents:
Bernadette
Obvious exits:
Path

Bernadette sits against the wall in the mud.

Tamber comes up the slope, and pauses a short distance away. He tsks softly, 
  and with apparent disregard for the fastidiuous cleanliness of his worksuit, 
  he sits down beside you. "I was looking for you," he says gently.

Bernadette stares out at the ranges. "Were you?"

You say "Indeed, I was. It's quite the disheartening thing, to sit alone in 
  the rain, and some people were worried about you, dear."

Bernadette sighs. "Who'd be worried about me?"

Tamber smiles quietly. "Me, for one. And some of the older sled techs, who 
  have noticed the work you've been putting in on your practices." He shrugs a 
  bit, leaning against the damp wall. "And a young Singer I know was searching 
  the Hall for you."

Bernadette glances at Tamber with puffy eyes. "I'm alright."

Tamber's shrewd green eyes hold a knowing expression. "Well, now, you would 
  know that better than I. But, should you wish to talk with someone, about 
  being alright, we Sorters listen rather well....?" He looks you up and down, 
  and turns slightly, as if to go.

Bernadette sighs. "It's just...well, things have been getting to me.."

Tamber looks back, quietly. "It is not easy, to be a recruit here," he agrees.

Bernadette leans her head back against the wall and covers her eyes with her 
  hand. "And then to hear Amber singing her song and talking about her husband 
  and daughter...."
Bernadette drops her hand from her eyes and looks at Tamber. "I haven't told 
  anyone, but one of the reasons I left Chanuuk was because my fiance was 
  killed. On *my* farm."
Bernadette mutters as she looks down at the mud between her knees. "I was 
  trying to forget." She starts crying again.

Tamber settles down beside you again, and asks simply, "And you could no 
  longer stay?" His vivid eyes express compassion.

Bernadette sniffles, rubbing her arm across her eyes. "How could I stay? He 
  was gone. My farm was where he died....everywhere I looked, all I saw was 
  him."

Tamber sits companionably close, but not enough to intrude; his very presence 
  and stance speak of quiet comfort. "To have to remember such things is a 
  trial indeed," he says solemnly. Something in his voice goes past simple 
  sympathy, although he does not speak further.

Bernadette sighs again. "Water under the bridge, so they say, so I'm trying 
  to get on with life and just keep hitting one brick wall after the other."
Bernadette grabs a handful of mud and flings it away from herself and Tamber, 
  frustratedly.

Tamber asks gently, "Are the walls that difficult to scale, my dear?"

Bernadette sticks out her muddy hand in front of it and grabs a finger, 
  bending it back. "The simulator. I panic when things get hairy and can't 
  think fast enough to do the right thing." She grabs another finger. "Waiting 
  for the symbiont illness to strike. I try not to, but it lingers there at the 
  back of my head." She grabs a third finger "Finally thinking you're over 
  someone and falling for someone else when you realize neither are 
  obtainable." She drops both hands and looks at Tamber sadly. "Yes, they're 
  very hard to scale."
Bernadette adds, muttering, "One's dead and gone..the other just isn't 
  interested."

Dalyc climbs up from the area below the hangar.
Dalyc comes running up in tears.
She almost runs into you before she realizes there is someone else there.

Bernadette looks up from her brooding spot in the mud. "Dalyc? You ok?"

Dalyc says "Oh, I'm sorry."
Dalyc turns back the way she came.
Dalyc walks back down the slope to the path below.

Bernadette sighs.

Tamber says reflectively, "Well, I do not know how much advice I can give 
  on the sleds - I failed my flight practices horribly." He smiles a bit. "The 
  symbiont sickness is a thing to be worried over, indeed, but if it helps, it 
  aided me immensely to just let it stay in the back of my mind, when I had 
  mine. And as for loves... "
Tamber sighs a bit, and tells you with a bit of annoyance in his voice, 
  "Someone of whom I do not approve nevertheless seems to have something of the 
  right idea, in that a certain young Singer is quite afraid of his feelings."

Bernadette sighs again. "You can't force someone to like you."
Bernadette draws a heart in the mud with her fingertip, then scribbles it out 
  fiercely.

Tamber scowls briefly, considering something. His expression then clears, and 
  he asks searchingly, "You don't think he hates you, do you?"

Bernadette looks up and says slowly. "No, I don't think he hates me. He just 
  thinks I'm a lowly recruit who pesters him about sled flying and such."

Tamber responds promptly, "I think, my dear, that if he felt pestered, he 
  would not have been searching the hangar trying to find you."
Tamber adds airily, "Besides, dear girl, I would be more than surprised if 
  Galahd considered anyone more lowly than himself." He sighs, and scowls 
  again. "She had that, right, too."

Bernadette sighs and crosses her legs beneath, resting her elbows on the 
  insides of her thighs and cradling her head in her hands. "What am I going to 
  do?"

Tamber eyes you consideringly. "What do you _want_ to do?"

Bernadette talks to her lap. "I want to become a singer. I want to be able to 
  fly a sled capably. I want..." she swallows hard. "I want..."

Tamber asks pointedly, simply, "Why?"

Bernadette says "Why what?"
Bernadette looks confused.

You say "Why do you want these things?"

Bernadette says "Well, I want to be a singer, because I want to go out into 
  the ranges and experience the wonders that are out there...crystal singing to 
  you in the morning sun, singing with crstal as you cut it from the face of 
  the vein...just singing."
Bernadette goes on. "And I want to learn to fly the sled because I need to be 
  able to do that to go out into the ranges and get back in from the ranges."

Tamber smiles gently, in acknowledgement of the need to sing the crystal, but 
  his eyes are searching as you continue.

Bernadette thinks. "And somehow, I think it might help my non-existent 
  relationship with Kevlan if I were a singer and able to relate to the things 
  he experiences." She takes a deep breath, sits up straight and looks Tamber 
  levelly in the eyes as she admits, "I want to be able to sing with Kevlan in 
  the ranges. I want Kevlan to want to sing with me."

Tamber's gaze is equally level, his voice quiet as he asks directly, "Why 
  Kevlan?"

Bernadette blinks. "I wish I knew. There's something about 
  him....a...gentleness. A vulnerability that just makes you want to...hold him 
  and tell him you care. I can't explain it." She looks helplessly at you.
Bernadette thinks aloud "From the first time I saw him up on Shankill at 
  final disclosure...."

Tamber smiles almost sadly. "And he does have divine shoulders... believe me, 
  my dear, I understand."

Bernadette smiles slightly. "But I can't tell him."

Tamber goes on, evidently satisfied with your answer, "Not now, at least." He 
  frowns gravely, and tells you, "Our young Galahad has not had an easy time of 
  it, here. Those jaded souls who work for this Guild find it... difficult to 
  believe that someone so innocent could actually _be_ so, and not have it be 
  artifice... "

Bernadette nods slowly.

You say "More than once since his arrival here, unkind - and unjust - things 
  have been said of him." From the stony look in the Sorter's eyes, it's 
  evident that he takes this personally. "Half the Singers are infuriated at 
  him, and most of the rest sardonic... I have watched him react to all these 
  things, with the look of a chick turned loose in a world of hawks."

Bernadette nods. "I had a run in with Tance today. He was talking pretty 
  hostilly about Kevlan."

Tamber finishes, "It has not helped him in the least that his young heart was 
  captured by the first soul who showed him kindness here - when that one 
  herself loves another. But it is kindness that he desperately needs, right 
  now."
Tamber chuckles faintly. "Tance Vokrim is an odious boor."

Bernadette says "I try to be kind...I don't think I've ever intentionally 
  done anything to hurt him..."

Tamber answers straightforwardly, "You, dear girl, have not caused him any 
  hurt. He was, in fact, quite concerned over your worrying about your sled 
  tests. He told me" - he smiles slightly, slipping into a flawless imitation 
  of Kevlan's drawl, "'Tam, Ah tried t' explain it o 'er, but Ah jes' messed it 
  all up an' all... '"

Bernadette looks upset and says in a rush, "Oh no! It's not his fault at all. 
  He was VERY patient with me and he taught me really well. I do understand 
  what I'm supposed to do...I just have trouble DOING it under stressful 
  weather conditions!"

Tamber pats your shoulder, and adds, "I admit I didn't understand quite what 
  he meant about dancing... "

Bernadette blinks. "He never got to explain that to me, either...Amber came 
  in and started singing her song and...and..." she says quietly, "I ran out."

Tamber quirks an eloquent eyebrow, and then suggests gently, "Perhaps that, 
  my dear, is your next move. Ask him what he meant."

Bernadette blinks a few times, looking at Tamber. Then she smiles. "I'm glad 
  you reminded me about it."

You say "In fact, perhaps that will help you with both your problems, hey?"

Tamber grins warmly at you.

Bernadette smiles and leans over, dropping a kiss on Tamber's cheek. "Thank 
  you for listening, and your advice, and everything." She continues, "I'm 
  sorry I caused you and Kevlan to worry."
Bernadette notes, "I'll apologize to Kevlan next time I see him."

You say "There is absolutely nothing for which you must apologize, dear girl. 
  I would have worried more, had we not talked!"

Bernadette smiles and looks gratefully at Tamber. "Why are you so easy to 
  talk to?" She shakes her head, not knowing the answer herself.

Tamber smiles, and lithely gets to his feet. His worksuit, despite being 
  dampened from the aftermath of the rain, nevertheless still somehow looks 
  immaculate; with easy grace he offers you a hand up. "I have years and years 
  of practice," he confides with a wink.

Bernadette smiles and takes Tamber's hand with her clean one, climbing to her 
  feet.

Tamber, looking confidently pleased now, escorts you back into the Guildhall.

[And as Tamber sees Bernadette back to the recruit areas of the Facility,
 Talia pauses in front of Kevlans door, sees the red light on, and 
 retires to her quarters with a sigh.... End log.]