You proceed onward to the recruit lounge area.
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:
Bernadette
Lhovrik
Catering Unit
Recruit Information Screen
Training Schedule
Online Terminal
Obvious exits:
Hallway  Lifts  Wing

Tamber comes into the room, looking around casually.

Bernadette sits quietly at her booth, and watches Tamber passively.

Bernadette
A petite woman, standing at just barely 4' 11", with a slight build. She 
  appears to be in her third decade. Berni has long, straight light brown hair, 
  light brown eyes and a small, oval cherubish face. Her hair is pulled back 
  from her face and secured in a ponytail at the back of her head, the ends of 
  the long tresses reaching the bottom of her tailbone. Very independent, she 
  usually has difficulty keeping friends, although she's be no means an 
  unfriendly person. She's dressed in a light violet coverall, belted snugly at 
  her small waist, and black boots.

Lhovrik says "Yes."
Lhovrik nods gravely to Tamber.

Bernadette glances at Lhovrik again. "So you know the story. Liquor talks."

Tamber quirks his mobile eyebrows at the sight of Bernadette, and ambles over 
  near Lhovrik. "Quiet up here tonight, recruit?"

Bernadette shrugs. "There was a bit more activity when Sean and Dalyc were 
  here."

Lhovrik rubs absently at his cheek again. "Yes."

Bernadette folds her arms on the table in front of her and stares at her 
  hands.

Lhovrik says "To regret their absence."

Tamber nods consideringly, and glances at the big recruit.

Bernadette shrugs again. "Make no difference to me."

Tamber says airily, "Wanted to see what's going on. Somebody I know needs 
  some cheering up."

Lhovrik seems oblivious to the glance, well-nigh lost in his own thoughts.

Bernadette says rather sarcastically. "Gee. I wonder who."

Tamber gives a level shrug. "Well, you know how it goes. Can't even play his 
  gitar, due to what happened out in the Ranges today... "

Bernadette raises her eyes to look at Tamber. "Only he's not up here for you 
  to cheer up."
Bernadette says politely, but without enthusiasm, "What happened today?"

Tamber smiles serenely. "I'm scouting, dear." And then he adds, more 
  earnestly, "Had a little mishap with his cutter."

Bernadette looks slightly more interested. "Mishap?"

Tamber shakes his head, and sighs gravely. "Quite difficult to play the gitar 
  with only eight fingers, you know."

Bernadette narrows her eyes and says "Scouting for what?"
Bernadette raises an eyebrow. "Eight fingers?"

Dalyc emerges from the corridor.

Sean emerges from the corridor.

Lhovrik looks over to Dalyc and Sean.

Sean enters carrying five stones. "Good night, all."

Dalyc sneaks back into her chair beside Lhovrik, trying hard not to disturb 
  the conversation.

Bernadette waves distractedly to Sean.

Tamber nods, and says in that same sort of detached, casual tone, "But, then, 
  if it's quiet up here I suppose I will have to see if I can't rustle up a 
  card game or something." He bows, and smiles, and turns to leave. "Good 
  evening, recruits... "

Sean nods to Tamber seriously.
Sean smiles at Bernadette.

Lhovrik nods to Tamber.

Bernadette stands up and says "Wait a minute..."

Dalyc looks to the floor. "Good night Sorter, Sean."

Tamber glances over his shoulder. "Yes?"

Bernadette says "Aren't you going to elaborate?"

Sean watches for a moment.

Dalyc looks up at the interchange.

Tamber asks smoothly, "About...?"

Bernadette says "About why Galahad only has eight fingers."

Sean listens closely to the conversation.

Tamber gives Bernadette a level, earnest glance. "Well, my dear, I did say he 
  had a little mishap with his cutter."

Dalyc tilts her head and raises one eyebrow.

Lhovrik listens in an absent fashion.

Sean mumbles. "They'll grow back."

Bernadette says "Yes, well, mishap is a rather broad term, don't you think?"

Dalyc looks a little queasy.

Tamber shrugs easily. "As Sean points out, they will grow back, in time."

Bernadette stares at Tamber silently for a moment, purses her lips and says, 
  "Is he okay?"

Lhovrik glances at Dalyc and makes a mental note.

Bernadette twists her hair absently, waiting for a reply.

Tamber gives another casual sort of shrug, and says, "He needs cheering up."

Sean looks at Bernie.

Bernadette sighs. "Not my specialty, I'd say. Did a rather poor job of it 
  yesterday."

Dalyc leans over to Lhovrik and mumbles something quietly to him.

Sean smiles sadly. "He's hurting."
Sean continues. "It isn't easy to move on."

Bernadette glances at Sean. "Aren't we all?"

Lhovrik murmurs a quiet rumble in return.

Sean almost laughs and touches his jaw.

Tamber gives Bernadette a gravely wistful sort of smile, and murmurs, "But 
  then, it is quiet up here this evening. Good evening, recruits." He bows 
  again, and turns back to the door.

Sean nods. "Yes, Bernie, we are."

Bernadette takes a few steps and hooks her hand around Tamber's arm. "Where 
  are you going?"

Dalyc nods at Sean and Bernadette's interchange.

Sean suddenly speaks. "Tamber?"

Tamber pauses, and glances down at the young woman. He smiles a bit to her, 
  and then asks Sean, "Yes?"

Bernadette doesn't remove her hand, but looks at Sean, also.

Sean looks at the man directly. "I wouldn't have dropped it."

Dalyc watches Bernadette's comfort with the men somewhat wistfully.

Lhovrik smiles slightly at Dalyc. "In time."

Bernadette glances up at Tamber, to see what his response is to the cryptic 
  statement from Sean.

Sean continues. "And it wouldn't have mattered if I did. those things are 
  indestructable."

Bernadette looks at Sean quizzically, piecing things together.

Sean looks at Bernie. "I'll explain later."

Tamber says serenely to Sean, "You should tell that to Diamond, whose cut it 
  was you commandeered for your bluff. I only sort the crystal, dear boy, I do 
  not put my heart and soul into singing it." He glances back to Bernadette, 
  his vivid green gaze surprisingly gentle. "I must continue to scout, my dear."

Dalyc nods to Lhovrik and sighs. She smiles slightly and slips off to her 
  room.

Bernadette says "Actually...you got socked because you were messing with 
  someone's crystal, huh?"

Dalyc walks into the accommodation area for recruits.

Bernadette looks up at Tamber again, hand still firmly gripping his arm. "But 
  what are you scouting for?"

Sean shakes his head. "No I got socked 'cause I was trying to stop someone 
  from dying."

Bernadette turns her head again towards Sean. "Did they die?"

Sean says gravely. "If they put their heart and soul into the crystal. Maybe 
  they should remember to take it back."
Sean shakes his head. "No, security showed."

Tamber answers Bernadette simply, "A way to cheer my young friend." He adds, 
  "Michael is well enough, considering, and Tyron has been confined. There 
  should not be a repeat of today's incident."

Bernadette says "Well, all's well that ends well. Sorry your jaw didn't end 
  up so well."

Sean smiles. "I learned how fast and strong singers are. I won't get caught 
  twice."

Bernadette returns her upward gaze to Tamber. "I'd like to...um...help you 
  find a way to cheer him..."

Sean smiles slightly at Bernadette. "Then convince him to get off-planet."

Tamber suddenly smiles. "Well, my scouting trip _has_ been somewhat of a 
  failure... "

Sean begins juggling the stones he walked in with. "Boy thinks too much. 
  Can't be helped."

Lhovrik considers that quietly.
Lhovrik says "Is good for spirit."

Sean smiles at Lhovrik and keeps the stones mobile. "The juggling?"

Lhovrik says "The thought."
Lhovrik says "Juggling good, too."
Lhovrik says "Teaches timing."

Sean smiles. "Thinking too much is as bad as not thinking at all, sometimes."

Lhovrik says "Cannot think too much."
Lhovrik says "Can take too long to think, perhaps."

Tamber murmurs wryly to Bernadette, "I recall that you play the gitar, my 
  dear?"

Sean smiles. "Can fill head, be worthless, yes."

Bernadette says "Well, yes..."

Lhovrik says "To think poorly, then."
Lhovrik says "Any amount bad, then."

Sean smiles and catches the stones neatly. "Bingo, Lhovrik."

Lhovrik says "Bingo?"

Tamber considers, and says thoughtfully, "Perhaps there _is_ a way... "

Bernadette looks dubiously at Tamber. "What way?"

Sean smiles. "Old earth expression. Have no idea of its origin, but it means 
  'precisely.'"

Lhovrik says "Ah."

Sean shifts his gaze between Tamber and Bernadette.
Sean shrugs. "Good night all. I have to go figure out how NOT to roll onto my 
  jaw."

Bernadette remembers she's still holding Tamber's arm and releases it quickly.

Sean smiles at Lhovrik.

Bernadette looks over at Sean. "Good night."

Tamber says to Bernadette, eyeing her with a glint in his gaze, "Perhaps if 
  we sang to the songbird... "

Lhovrik nods quietly to Sean.

Sean smiles at Bernadette. "Keep trying, Bernie, he's just fixating..."

Bernadette says "Well, I don't know if he wants to see me...."

Sean smiles at Tamber. "You may even end up liking me again, Tamber."
Sean waves. "Bye, all."
Sean walks into the accommodation area for recruits.

Tamber chuckles warmly. "You need not be _seen_ to sing, my dear."

Bernadette considers. "Ok, I'll play, you sing."
Bernadette says "And I'll keep out of sight. I seem to agitate him."
Bernadette says "If I sing, he may recognize my voice and get agitated 
  again."
Bernadette thinks aloud. "I must have a grating voice or something..."

Tamber chuckles again, and winks. "Neither of us will _need_ to be seen, my 
  dear, and he knows my voice as well, I can assure you. But, have you a gitar?"

Bernadette frowns. "No, I always used the one at my school. Is there 
  someplace I can purchase one, perhaps?"
Bernadette says "Oh, he doesn't get agitated when you talk...or sing...to 
  him, though."

Bernadette checks her credits.
Bernadette says "I think I've earned enough for a pretty basic gitar if 
  there's a console I can purchase one through..."

Tamber leans against the wall, and considers. "Not at _this_ hour, I 
  daresay.... but, then, I've never tried to buy a gitar."

Bernadette says "Don't suppose you could get a hold of Kevlan's, hmm?"
Bernadette says "I could always hum."
Bernadette says "If I knew the song you were to sing, that is."

Tamber chuckles, and hrmmmmmmmms slyly....

Bernadette smiles.

Tamber ambles over to the comm unit, punches up a particular sequence, and 
  holds an earnest conversation with the speaker for a moment, before flicking 
  a mischievous glance over his shoulder. "It seems we are in luck. Come."

[Tamber and Bernadette proceed to the lifts.]

You follow the dull orange stripe to the central 'lift' area.
Lift Area - GF
The ground floor of the JPF is the main activity hub seconded only by the 
  infirmary (*gulp*). The Hangar is the largest area of this level. The sorting 
  floor is the most active. Several multicolored and textured stripes run 
  through the corridors indicating functional areas.
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 GF. There is a 
  button set into the wall, you may summon a 'lift.'
Obvious exits:
Hangar  Sorting  Reception Area

Bernadette approaches the 'lift' area from the reception area.

Lift #1 arrives with a soft *whoosh*.

Bernadette obediently follows Tamber.

Tamber murmurs conspiringly, "I am told young Galahad has gone to the 
  gymnasium, and a Singer will meet us to grant us access into those levels." 
  He flashes you a brilliant grin.

Lift #1
The smooth metallic walls surround you. You notice to your right is a control 
  panel which contains a row of darkened buttons indicating the levels of the 
  Guild complex. Just 'press' the desired level number and you'll be on your 
  way.
Contents:
Control Panel
You step onto the lift.

Bernadette steps into the lift after the doors *whoosh* open.
Bernadette smiles in return.

The lift doors slide shut and you feel the slight *pop* of air pressure 
  changes.
A soft chime sounds and a computer-generated voice announces:
"Tenth Level (Singer Level: Violet and Green Quadrants)."
The doors *whoosh* open.

Bernadette walks out at her destination.

At your destination, you step off the quiet lift.
Lift Area - 10(#258RL)
The textured strips leading outward are vibrantly colored in various shades. 
  The color-coded quadrants titillate your memory. Soft carpet underneath 
  shields your bones from the crystal resonance inherent on Ballybran.
This well carpeted area circumscribes a circle with the center being filled 
  by a shiny lift tube. On the doors to the tube is the number 10. There is a 
  button set into the wall, you may summon a 'lift.'
Contents:
Bernadette
Lift #1
Obvious exits:
Violet Quadrant  Common Lounge  Green Quadrant

A tall, handsome blonde-haired Singer is lounging against the wall, you see, 
  when the doors whoosh open. He winks a brown eye at Tamber, and says, "You 
  owe me one, Tam."

Tamber bats his eyelashes at the Singer, purrs, "Count on it," and he 
  saunters casually into the violet quadrant.

You walk down the hallway.
Violet Quadrant
This is the Violet Quadrant, where Crystal Singers have their suites. A 
  purple stripe runs along the wall, embellished with swirls of dark violet and 
  lavender. The carpet cushions your footsteps and absorbs the sound coming 
  from the lift and lounge areas.
Obvious exits:
Talia's Suite  Kevlan's Suite  Lifts

Bernadette enters from the lift area.

The door slides open, and you step inside.
Kevlan's Suite(#3986R)
These spacious Singer's quarters are sparsely but pleasantly furnished. 
  Offsetting the pale cream hue of the walls and the darker beige color of the 
  carpet, the three chairs here - one an upholstered desk chair near the 
  computer terminal, the other two amorphous and baglike of shape, perhaps 
  intended to be simply curled up on - and the pillows and linens scattered 
  over the bed are all of various harmoniously tasteful shades of blue and 
  green. Along the back wall stands a bookcase, and in the center of the floor 
  lies a fluffy, intricately patterned and multi-hued 'rug'. The wall screen 
  over the computer terminal has been set to display an Estenari mountain 
  sunset, for the evening hours.
The primary door here leads out into the corridor; a smaller one back by the 
  bookcase leads into the bathing chamber.
Contents:
Kevlan's Crystal Cutter
Carisak(#2166)
Gitar(#2097)
Catering Unit
Obvious exits:
Bathing Room  Out

You carefully pick up the old gitar.

Bernadette steps in from the hall.
Bernadette looks around, nervously.

Tamber holds up Kevlan's battered gitar, smiling in feline satisfaction.
Tamber says "My dear...? Are you alright?"

Bernadette says "I feel like I'm invading his privacy..."
Bernadette smiles at the gitar. "Let's get out of here, then."

Tamber smiles back, and simply nods.

[Tamber and Bernadette return to the lifts.]

Bernadette enters the hallway.

Tamber blows a mischievous kiss at the handsome Singer, who vanishes off into 
  the green quadrant as you both go.

You step onto the lift.

Bernadette steps into the lift after the doors *whoosh* open.
Bernadette smiles and refrains from comment.

Tamber, looking infinitely pleased with himself, punches up level 3.

Bernadette says "Well, I hope this does help to cheer him up..."

The lift doors slide shut and you feel the slight *pop* of air pressure 
  changes.
A soft chime sounds and a computer-generated voice announces:
"Third Level (Gymnasium Game Room Auditorium)."
The doors *whoosh* open.

At your destination, you step off the quiet lift.
Lift Area - 3
The main entertainment level allows every guild member, no matter what rank, 
  to socialize in comfort and style. The auditorium serves as a meeting place 
  for various functions within the guild. The most prevalent are movies from 
  past Passover storms.
This well carpeted area circumscribes a circle with the center being filled 
  by a shiny lift tube. On the doors to the tube is the number 3. There is a 
  button set into the wall, you may summon a 'lift.'
Contents:
Lift #1
Obvious exits:
Main Lounge  Gymnasium  Game Room  Auditorium

Bernadette emerges from the efficient lift.

Tamber sidles down the hallway, and glances in through the doors to the 
  gynasium. Within, the solitary figure of Kevlan Sharr can be seen, as he 
  apparently struggles to do one-handed chinups on a suspended bar.

Bernadette peers in around Tamber.
Bernadette holds out her hand for the gitar.

Tamber leans against the wall, and presents you with the gitar as if giving a 
  weapon to a warrior about to do battle.

Bernadette accepts the instrument and very quietly plucks the strings, tuning 
  those that may need it.

Tamber murmurs, pitching his voice to keep from carrying into the gym, "What 
  sort of song, do you think?"

Bernadette says, in a whisper, "What song do you want me to play? 
  Oh....something upbeat, I should think, if we're trying to cheer him up."

Tamber winks, and murmurhums a few measures to you, to give you an idea of 
  the song he has in mind.

Bernadette nods as she recognizes it.
Bernadette positions her fingers on the frets and runs through the fingering, 
  recalling how the song goes. She nods, finally, to indicate she's ready when 
  you are.

Tamber glances in once more at the tall lean figure of the Singer, gives a 
  theatrical but soundless sigh, and then winks and cues you to play a few 
  intro measures... then he comes in on a high, warm tenor, singing:

	I'm riding the rainbow
	Hitting the highway to happiness
	Oh yes, I'm looking to find

Bernadette strums the gitar and hums along, harmonizing, since she doesn't 
  know the words.

	Someone who's meant to be mine...

Inside the gym, Kevlan suddenly halts in his efforts, glancing outside 
  startledly.

Tamber goes on breezily, his voice ringing,

	I'm living to love
	And loving to live

Inside the gym, Kevlan stands for a few moments, half-grinning sheepishly. 
  But he comes in on the beat, echoing Tamber's sung lines back at him...

	I've got a heart (Ah've got a heart)
	I'm longing to give (Ah'm longin' t' give)

Bernadette continues to accompany on the gitar, vocalizing now, with "ahs" 
  and "lahs".
And then, both men harmonize, together:

	Oh oh oh I'm riding the rainbow
	I'll follow my star

And then, Tamber drops out smoothly, leaving Kevlan's earthy baritone:

	To where you are.

Bernadette plays a little rift when she senses a break in the singing before 
  continuing normally.

Kevlan, still ducking his gaze somewhat embarrassedly, comes nearer to the 
  door, but continues singing,

	I'm riding the rainbow
	Heading for heaven and happiness
	I guess somebody somewhere
	Someday will teach me to care

And then, once more, with both voices:

	But being alone (But bein' alone)
	Don't bother me (Don't bother me)
	I'm free to have fun (Ah'm free t' have fun)
	It's fun to be free (It's fun to be free)

Bernadette smiles, as she accompanies the men on the gitar, listening to them 
  singing.

	While I'm riding the rainbow
	I'll follow my star

Bernadette adds her own soprano to the chorus that she recognizes now.

	Oh oh oh I'm riding the rainbow
	To where you are...!

Tamber cues you to halt, and grins in at the shy young Singer as Kevlan halts 
  at the door.

Kevlan has arrived.

Bernadette draws out the final chord and lowers the gitar.

Kevlan shuffles out sheepishly, and glances at you both, not quite meeting 
  your gaze as he asks at least a little amusedly, "Singin' at me, Tam?"

Bernadette rests its base on the floor between her feet, holding the neck 
  lightly.

Tamber smiles warmly to the youth, asking, "It worked, did it not?"

Kevlan glances between you both, and admits sheepishly, awkwardly trying to 
  shove a bandaged left hand into his pocket, "Ah-Ah feel a little better."
Kevlan adds earnestly, "Y'all sound nice together."

Bernadette smiles from her place against the wall.
Bernadette says quietly. "You and Tamber sing well together, too."

Tamber pats Kevlan's shoulder. "You are the songbird, young Galahad." He 
  winks at Bernadette, though.

Bernadette looks at the tops of the gitar between her hands.
Bernadette smiles at Tamber.

Kevlan blushes. "Aw, Tam, you have t' call me that in fronta ever'body?"

Bernadette looks at the floor "I hardly think I'm everybody..."

Tamber smiles mischievously, and tut tuts. "Come now, Galahad, the name _is_ 
  appropriate. You may thank me, later, but at least thank this nice young lady 
  now." He bows, and airily turns to stride off. "I have a favor to repay, 
  myself. Good night, both of you!"

[Tamber vanishes into the lift.]

Bernadette watches Tamber leave in astonishment.

Kevlan blurts, "Tam...?"

Bernadette tightens her grip on the gitar's neck.

Kevlan blinkblinks, and looks down uncertainly, before looking back at you. 
  "You... uh... play right purtylike... "

Bernadette doesn't meet your gaze. "Thanks. I'm, um, a little out of practice."
Bernadette clears her throat. "You sing....magnificently."

Kevlan turns a mild shade of pink, and mumbles, "It ain't nothin'... "

Bernadette looks at the gitar clutched in her hands. "Oh!" She holds it out to 
  you. "Tamber and I, um, borrowed this..."
Bernadette glances up at you quickly as she holds the gitar out, dropping her 
  eyes again.

Kevlan ohs, and automatically reaches with his left hand before blushing, and 
  replacing it with his right. "You... uh... played it right purty." He giggles 
  a little. "Ah said that already."

Bernadette smiles and nods. "So you did."
Bernadette she nods towards his left hand and says "I heard about what happened 
  from Tamber. I hope you're okay..."

Kevlan grins, if a little solemnly. "Ah... Ah weren't payin' attention, Ah'm a 
  lunkhead... "

Bernadette smiles lifting her gaze again to look at Kevlan. "Everyone makes 
  mistakes. Luckily, we tend to learn from them."
Bernadette blurts "I'm sorry about the other evening...barging in on you and 
  Elissa, following you around, bugging you...you had every right to ask me to 
  leave...I was being a pest, and I'm really sorry..." Her voice trails off, 
  her eyes looking a little shimmery and she drops her gaze to the floor again, 
  blushing.

Kevlan's eyes are very blue, and very earnest, as he shrugs sheepishly, 
  beginning, "Ah'm jes' a fool... " He glances at you and blurts, "Aw, Berni, 
  don't cry... "

Bernadette waves a hand dismissively as she swipes at her eyes. "I'm not 
  crying."

Kevlan says "Aw, now, Ah... Ah don't want nobody else frettin'...."

Bernadette sighs. "I just felt...awful about being such a bother." She looks at 
  you again. "I just wanted to apologize." She shrugs.
Bernadette looks at you for a moment.

Kevlan says earnestly, "'Sokay... Berni."

Bernadette smiles and giggles as she wipes at her eyes again. "I'm glad you've 
  dropped the 'Miss Marshall...'"

Kevlan grins wanly. "Ah... Ah kinda got a habit 'n' all... "

Bernadette smiles and looks at her wrist as her chrono beeps. "Oh my. Is it 
  that late?" She looks up at you apologetically. "I have to get back to my 
  room...I've got to report to Corbin early in the morning to clean sled." 
  Makes a face.

Kevlan grins a bit, again. "Corbin's a bograt. Ah cleaned sleds for 'im, a 
  lot." He pauses, and blurts, "You... you take care now, 'kay?"

Bernadette smiles. "Okay. You, too...no more shearing off fingers." She grins. 
  "See you around..."

Kevlan says "Ah-Ah'll do mah best. And, uh... thanks."

Bernadette waves.

Kevlan waves back, shouldering his gitar.

Bernadette looks puzzled. "For what?"

Kevlan says "For he'pin' Tam... cheer me up."

Bernadette smiles. "It was my pleasure. I hope yo liked it. Goodnight!"

Kevlan says "'Night, now!"

Bernadette looks over her sholder and smiles again before stepping into the 
  lift.