[NOTE: This log is compiled from two original smaller logs; since the
events were concurrent I decided to throw them together into the same
file.]

Log date: Late June, 1994

Log intro:

Kevlan Sharr finally returned to the Ranges, after having spent several
days lingering in the Guildhall, simultaneously trying and not trying to
keep an eye on Elissa. At last, his need to cut his crystal outweighed
his desire to be near the girl he cared for, and he flew off to his latest
claim. However, while there, Kevlan spent several hours wrestling with
the crystal's seductive song.

At last bringing his minor scale of black pyramids back to be sorted by
his compatriot Tamber, Kevlan remained in a giddy state while Sorter Aria,
several recruits, and the Singer Diamond showed up for Aria's sorting
demonstration involving Diamond's green dodecs. Kevlan's distractedness
was noticed and remarked upon by Tamber and the recruit Bernadette
Marshall, and the two of them talked quietly between themselves while
Kevlan absently wandered off. After he left, Elissa showed up, causing
Tamber to tally a few _more_ things in his head, but Elissa, being
somewhat tipsy from polly wine, wandered off herself. And found a thralled
Kevlan outside the Guildhall, staring blankly into the Ranges.

Elissa slapped Kevlan back to cognizance of his surroundings, but,
oddly, Kevlan remained plaintive and heartsick of expression, growing
more unnerved as Bernadette wandered out of the Hall herself....

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.
Obvious exits:
Path to Southern Side  Quiet Spot  Path to Northern Side

Bernadette appears from around the northern corner of the Facility.
Bernadette climbs the slope and sits down against the wall on the left of the 
  Hangar mouth.

Elissa looks after the recruit curiously.

Kevlan looks faintly panicked as he sees Bernadette clambering along the 
  path. He then shoots you a visibly frightened - frightened?! - glance, and 
  flees.

[Kevlan makes it back to the shuttle area... ]

Kevlan runs down the path, clutching his gitar to him as if it were a 
  lifeline.

You shuffle through the dust back toward the Shuttle Area.
Shuttle Area by Joslin Plateau Facility(#79RJ)
The shuttle area has black coated runways for arriving and departing shuttles 
  to land on. The material is such to withstand the Mach storms of Ballybran. 
  Maintenance personnel have access to the facility through a shuttle-sized 
  lift. The scream of shuttles fill the air reminding you of the sweet, 
  sorrowful sound of crystal shear. Scoria's rays flash off the distant sea 
  resulting in a glorious display of color as Scoria slowly sinks below the 
  horizon.
The western White Sea throws the tang of salt into the breeze. The northern 
  green-purple hills of the Masord Upthrust soothes your eyes as they wander 
  from the sharp lines of the Joslin Discontinuity to the south, and on the 
  southern horizon, the Brerrerton Ranges. The ramp to the east leads up to the 
  massive blocks of the Joslin Plateau Facility. Above the entrance is the 
  impressive Guild Shield.
Contents:
Waiting Area
Obvious exits:
Path North Around Complex  Ramp

Elissa walks up from off the northern path around the Facility.
Elissa sighs. "Kev, please stop."

Kevlan comes to a skidding halt.

Bernadette walks up from off the northern path around the Facility.
Bernadette walks slowly, lost in thought. She stop abruptly as she sees the 
  two singers, surprised.

Kevlan stands on the ramp, not facing Elissa; his gaze is ducked to the 
  tarmac, and his shoulders are shaking. He clutches a carisak and his gitar to 
  him as if in desperation.

Bernadette starts to smile tentatively, but it fades when she senses 
  something is "not quite right."
Bernadette says quietly, "Um...I'm sorry. I hope...well...I hope I'm not 
  intruding...?"

Elissa looks at Bernadette, then at Kevlan, then sighs and shakes her head, 
  grinning a bit sadly. "Gods, I'm such a fool." She walks off, not turning 
  around as she brushes by Kevlan.
Elissa walks up the ramp and enters the Heptite Guild base.

Bernadette looks confused at the retreating Elissa.

Kevlan snaps his head up at the sound of Bernadette's voice, and jumps out of 
  Elissa's way as if scalded.

Bernadette bites her lip. "I'm sorry. I...I didn't mean to interrupt..."
Bernadette looks embarassed and ready to retreat, as well.

Kevlan mumbles thickly, his voice roughened, husky, "Ain't... ain't nothin' 
  t'... interrupt... "

Bernadette looks at Kevlan wide eyed. "Are....well...are you okay?"
Bernadette stands, wringing her hands together in a nervous gesture.

Kevlan blurts, "Ah... ah... " He scowls angrily at himself, rubbing a hand 
  across his eyes, and without another word, he charges off back up the path.

You follow the path south and around the corner of the Facility.
Path Around Complex, Lower Southern Side
There is a bit of shelter from the strong wind due to the slope to the west, 
  but the loose dirt still occasionally stings your skin. The view of the 
  Brerrerton Range is even better here, and past the Discontinuity you can see 
  several sleds speeding from the Facility to their claims.
You cannot see the sunset to the west because of the rising slope, but you 
  still can admire the colored spectacle in the sky above. To the east you can 
  see Ballybran's moons peeking over the horizon.
Obvious exits:
West  Path to Eastern Side

Bernadette appears from the eastern side of the complex.
Bernadette walks in very quietly, still uncertain as to what to do.
Bernadette stands quietly in indecision.

Kevlan is curled up huddled against the wall, barely noticeable in the 
  shadows.

Bernadette bites her lips as she just barely discerns his form.
Bernadette steps closer and squats down. She reaches a hand out, as if to put 
  it on Kevlan's shoulder, pulls it away, changes her mind and touches Kevlan 
  very lighty on the shoulder, saying in practically a whisper, "Kevlan..?"

Kevlan's belongings have been tossed carelessly on the ground beside him, 
  even the battered gitar. For whatever reason, his enhanced Singer's senses 
  don't seem to catch the approach of the recruit behind him until you speak, 
  then he stiffens.

Bernadette pulls her hand away quickly off of his shoulder as she feels him 
  stiffen and shifts her weight forward to sit on her knees, holding her hands 
  to her chest.

Kevlan coughs, and mumbles thickly, "Wha... dyou want?" His voice is slurred, 
  rough, his accent much more tangible than usual in his words.

Bernadette looks hesitant and says softly, "I...um... Well, I was 
  concerned....You, well, you didn't look very well. And, well...I wanted to 
  see if you were alright. And, um...to see if there...well, if there was 
  anything I could do...?" She wrings her hands.

Kevlan isn't looking at you; his head is bowed against the wall of the 
  complex. "Ah-Ah-Ah'm alright," he says roughly, but his voice sounds no 
  better than it did before.

Bernadette clears her throat gently and says "Well, ummm...you...you don't 
  _sound_ alright..."

Kevlan stiffens again, as he scrubs his eyes with the back of his hand. Still 
  not looking at you, he mutters morosely, "Ah... Ah cain't... d-deal with 
  nobody right now, Miz Marshall... "

Bernadette looks pained (which you can't see, of course) and says sadly, 
  quietly, "Oh, okay. Sorry..."
Bernadette gets up and walks back to the corner of the building, the way 
  she came, pausing to turn around and look back at Kevlan.

Kevlan makes a noise which sounds suspiciously like a sniffle, and that is 
  the only answer he gives you.

Bernadette mutters "Sorry..." again and turns around, leaving along the path 
  a lot quicker than when she arrived.
Bernadette disappears around the eastern corner of the Facility.

[Meanwhile... Whether it's beknownst to anyone or not, is unknown. 
However, while Kevlan is busy carrying a torch for Elissa, Berni has 
been carrying a torch of her own since she made it to the planet and saw 
Kevlan. Hampered by Kevlan's taciturnness and her own attraction to
him, Bernadette as of yet has not managed to get to know him very well.
Not knowing how to interpret his anguished dismissal of her, and troubled
by his calling her "Miz Marshall" even after asking him not to, she
creeps back to the recruit quarters... only to run into Tamber.]

Bernadette strides in, wringing her hands and frowning.

Tamber comes up quickly from the lift area, and stops, catching sight of the
worried-looking recruit. "My dear, whatever is the matter?"

Bernadette stops as she realizes someone is here also and looks at Tamber
confused a moment. "It's Kevlan."
Bernadette paces a bit, looking sad, twining and un-twining her fingers
agitatedly.

Tamber's eyebrows go up, and for once, he looks utterly serious. "What's the
matter with Kevlan?"

Bernadette looks up at Tamber with wide eyes. "Well, he's upset. And...I think
he may be crying."

Bernadette frowns again and mutters "And you said he needed people with him
now...."

Bernadette resumes pacing, muttering to herself "He obviously doesn't like
me...the man practically told me to get the hell out....What a dolt I am...."

Tamber murmurs fervently, "By all the gods." He shoves a hand through his red
hair, and then lifts his eyebrows again. "_Galahad_ told you to get the hell
out?"

Bernadette stops pacing and looks up sullenly. "Well, not in so many
words...But he clearly didn't want me in the vicinity." She paces some more.

Bernadette goes from wringing her hands to twisting her hair, as she paces,
muttering "What was I _thinking_??" She shakes her head.

Tamber sighs, and tells you forthrightly, "My dear, our young Galahad has not
wanted anyone in his vicinity since he first saw Elissa bringing in duo cuts
with Michael."

Tamber goes on briskly, "Where is he?"

Bernadette stops and stands up straight, turning to look at Tamber as it dawns
on her what Galahad's problem is. She looks defeated and sighs. "He's on the
Lower Southern Path."

Bernadette drops her hands to her sides and walks towards the recruit area.

Tamber glances at the young girl shrewdly as he strides over to a communit, and
punches a button. "Jerrik? Tam. Get up here. Galahad needs us."
A somewhat sleepy voice mumbles a reply through the speaker, and Tamber nods,
then, turning around once more.

Bernadette mutters, nodding to herself..."Yeah, he needs _you_.." emphasizing
the 'you' as she enters the left hallway.

[And meanwhile, back with Kevlan...]

A faint hint of crystalsong resonates over you. It seems to come from not too 
  far away.

Elissa appears from the eastern side of the complex.

Kevlan lies huddled against the wall of the complex, his belongings strewn 
  around him. He is barely discernible in the shadows.

Elissa throws up her hands, looking skyward in obvious dismay before trying 
  to quietly sneak past Kevlan. She stops midsneak, looking at him in concern. 
  "Oh hells, Kev, are you thralled again?"

Kevlan starts, and scrambles to his feet. "Aw, freg," he whispers 
  frantically, roughly, not looking at you.

Elissa stiffens slightly. "Well, I suppose not. I did not mean to disturb 
  you."

Kevlan mumbles hastily, "Aw, naw, Ah-ah-ah ain't disturbed...!" If you didn't 
  know better, you'd swear the boy was being sarcastic.

Elissa nods coolly, trying to retain some of her dignity even though a slight 
  polly-wine-scented cloud surrounds her.

Kevlan trembles violently, moving now to gather his scattered belongings, and 
  desperately trying to avoid your gaze. He mumbles again, a little 
  hysterically, "Ain't d-d-disturbed 'tall... "

You grab the carisak.
You carefully pick up the old gitar.

Elissa stomps her foot, piqued. "For the gods' sake Kevlan! Stop racing away 
  from me everytime I walk by."

Kevlan halts in the middle of straightening up, and he whispers miserably, 
  "Ah... Ah'm sorry... Ah... "

Elissa plops down to the ground and rests her head in her hands. Her voice 
  comes muffled, "Kevlan, what happened? We used to be such close 
  friends......."

Kevlan stands trembling, and he makes a noise that sounds suspiciously like a 
  choked sob.

Elissa sighs deeply, looking out towards the Ranges with an undeniable 
  longing tinged with a hint of disgust. "Gods, it's crystal, isn't it...you've 
  forgotten already."

Kevlan mutters roughly, "Ah-Ah-Ah only sung four times, 'Lissa... Ah ain't 
  forgettin', yet... "

Elissa doesn't even seem to hear as she grabs up a non-descript piece of rock 
  and throws it towards the Ranges.

Kevlan goes on miserably, blurting suddenly, "Ah wish Ah could forgit! Ah-ah 
  wish... " He trails off, and glances at you, his face wet with tears.

Elissa finally looks up, noticing your tears in startlement. "Gods, 
  Kev...what?" She holds a hand up to her head, as if in pain.

Kevlan starts to shake his head as if in denial, stumbling a step or two 
  backwards. "Ah... Ah cain't... "
Kevlan swallows hard, as a fresh glimmer of dampness wells up in his eyes.

Elissa sighs and rests her chin on her pulled-up knees. "Kev, I'm sorry, I 
  won't drag it out of you...I can't, that wouldn't be fair." She looks sadly 
  out towards the Ranges. "Maybe in the end, Talia would have been a better 
  friend to you."

Kevlan mumbles brokenly, "T-Talia ain't... w-wh-who Ah... " He trails off, 
  hastily scrubbing his hand across his face, and averting his gaze from you.

Elissa sighs again, shaking her head. "I just don't get it, Kev." The 
  undertones of sorrow are evident in her voice as she stands up carefully, "I 
  guess I'd better leave you be."

Kevlan whispers, "T-T-T-Talia ain't who Ah-Ah.... " He swallows hard once more; 
  his voice is barely recognizable as he finishes, "c... care f'r... "

Elissa rubs at her eyes, pinching the bridge of her nose between her fingers as 
  she says wearily, "Ye gods, Kev, I _know_ you don't care much for Talia, I 
  don't know what made me say that."

Kevlan risks a glance over his shoulder; his profile is caught in the 
  moonlight, and the tears still on his cheeks glitter wetly.

Elissa closes her eyes, staying that way a moment, face turned skyward. She 
  moves back towards the path slowly. "Good night, Kevlan. I could stand out 
  here all night and try to drag whatever is bothering you out, but I am just 
  too tired."

Kevlan's mouth works a little, as he seems to struggle for words. He pulls in a 
  breath, and, just barely audibly, you can hear him trying to sing, "Take... 
  m-mah hand... t-take mah whole life, too... "

Elissa stops halfway to the path, back still turned to Kevlan, but her head is 
  tilted slightly so she can hear better.

Kevlan's voice wobbles a little, but steadies as he sings huskily, "For Ah... 
  cain't... help... fallin' in love... "
Kevlan trails off in the middle of the phrase, his head lowered dejectedly.

Elissa takes a deep breath, then turns. You see the faint glistening trails of 
  tears on her cheeks. "Gods, Kevlan," she says softly, "Why now? Why, when I 
  wanted you so badly, couldn't you say that?" Her voice holds shades of pain 
  and confusion. "I would have done anything for you, but you treated me like a 
  buddy, a pal...why?!?" She hides her face in her hands, her shoulders 
  convulse once in a silent sob.

Kevlan blurts, "Aw, 'Lissa... p-please don't cry... please... " He turns, 
  instinctively stepping closer.
You say "Ah-Ah don't wanna see you sad..."

Elissa takes a few deep, quick breaths, scrubbing at her eyes with the sleeve 
  of her coverall. "Well, looks like life is rough all over, huh?" she comments 
  harshly, sniffling.

Kevlan jerks back as if slapped. He mumbles an abashed apology, and turns to 
  stumble away. "Ah-Ah shouldna said nothin'... ain't no good 'tall... "

[With that, Kevlan flees - and is intercepted on his way back into the
 Guildhall by Tamber and Jerrik, after Tamber had heard from Bernadette
 that a distraught Kevlan was crying outside. The Sorter and the sled
 tech solicitously escort Kevlan down to his quarters, carrying his gitar
 and carisak for him; they give him a bit of wine, get him into a radiant
 bath, and stay with him until he sleeps at last.]