Log Date:
	2/26/97

Log Cast:
	Jessalyn, Shenner, Kuxli

Log Intro:
	Having landed on Etti IV to find Simone Drake and question her about
the whereabouts of Han Solo, Jedi Master Luke Skywalker instead
found a fight with the Noghri Ahkaurakh, and a long-distance call through
the Force from Sabbath -- the Dark Lord who has imprisoned Solo. And
Luke found Shenner as well, when the girl, in the process of fleeing
the scene of his conflict, stopped up short at the sound of him gasping
out Solo's name and impulsively decided that she couldn't let him
be arrested by the Espos. Shenner tried to make Skywalker move, but was
herself cornered by Ahkaurakh, who ordered her to move away from the Jedi.
Luke roused, however, making the Noghri flee. Concerned for Shenner's safety,
Luke advised the young bardling that she should come with him lest the creature
kill her, and the frightened Shenner agreed.
	Luke brought Shenner up to the NRV _Alderaan_, and, upon being left
in the crews' quarters, Shenner met Jessalyn Valios and learned exactly who
her rescuer was. Jessalyn took an immediate liking to the youngster and made
sure that 'he' was settled safely down to sleep. And when the next morning
came....

----------
Jessalyn enters from the Aft Main Corridor.
Jessalyn has arrived.
Jessalyn stands in the doorway as it wooshes closed behind her, glancing 
  across the room toward the bunk where she left the youngster to sleep the 
  night before.

The kid is there, up and awake, sitting on the bunk in much the same position 
  as when you'd left before; the only difference now is that the youngster's 
  clothes and hair are more rumpled, and Shenner has a wooden flute out, held 
  in those skinny hands. A wary green gaze snaps up at the sound of the door, 
  and Shenner pauses there, unsurely, at the sight of you.

Jessalyn's green eyes note the flute curiously; her own expression is more 
  relaxed and definitely calmer than it was the night before. Her hair is 
  smoothed back from her face and clipped neatly at the nape of her neck. A 
  smile lights her face as she approaches the bunk, stopping at the foot of it 
  and settling down to sit. "Good morning. Feeling better?"

Shenner appears to have slept badly; the kid's eyes are a trifle hollow. But 
  the green gaze is, nevertheless, alert. "Yeah.... I guess," Shen admits.

Again Jessa looks down at the flute. "A musician," she murmurs, and the words 
  are not a question. Her eyes find yours. "I bet you're quite good," she 
  comments with a smile.

Shenner's mouth quirks into a lopsided grin, a slightly more at ease 
  expression. The kid lightly kicks the guitar case that rests propped against 
  the bunk, and allows, "I don't need a handle to carry a tune..."

Jessalyn folds her hands lightly in her lap, head tilted slightly to the side. 
  "Would you like to play something? I would love to hear you play." She 
  turns, bending her knees, to face you more fully, a somewhat eager 
  expression in her eyes.

The kid casts a somewhat wary glance around the room, as if expecting somebody 
  to roll out of a bunk or stride in through the door and issue a protest. 
  "Won't bug nobody, will I?"

Jessalyn chuckles softly, her eyes lighting up. "Certainly not. We could all 
  use a little music to lift our spirits around here." She gestures. "Please 
  go ahead."

Shenner shifts a bit, something of the tension leaving thin features and 
  hunched shoulders. "Um, 'kay... flute or guitar?"

Jessalyn shrugs slender shoulders. "Whichever you prefer. I'd be delighted to 
  hear either one."

"Well... I got this out, so..." The kid lifts the flute -- a dark-dappled 
  thing, delicately and subtly patterned in leaves along its length -- and 
  blows a few soft notes through it to warm it up. Then Shenner begins to play.

Jessalyn leans her elbows back on the soft mattress, her features relaxing 
  into a pleasant comfortable expression as her eyes haf-close, listening to 
  the music.

The song's a simple one, a major key, slow and airy and sweet; the notes are 
  on the true, as the kid's slim fingers shift to take the melody up and down 
  the register. Shenner slides a green glance sideways to the woman listening, 
  as if evaluating this audience.

Shenner plays for a few minutes, modulating the song up a key with each verse, 
  till at last it ripples to a close on a long and drawn out note.

Jessalyn's smile widens with delight, her eyes closing as her mind drifts 
  along with the melody. When the music fades she blinks them open and looks 
  at you, obviously impressed. "Beautiful!" she proclaims.

Shenner grins crookedly, perhaps relaxing a bit. "It's a good flute," comes 
  the reply.

Jessalyn straightens her posture, blowing out a pleasant sigh. "And an 
  excellent player," she adds.

The redheaded kid grins a little more widely. "Been workin' on it," Shenner 
  confides.

"Obviously." Her eyes stray down to the guitar case, then look back at you 
  inquisitively. "Are you as good at the guitar?" she asks cheerfully.

Shenner gives a low, husky chuckle. "Workin' on that, too." An airy shrug. 
  "Fair to middlin'. Gettin' better."

Jessalyn raises her brows. "Let's hear it," she smiles, brushing a lock of 
  hair from her eyes.

Shenner lets off another chuckle, then leans over and opens up the case. The 
  instrument within looks like it has a powered amplification system built in, 
  but Shenner doesn't turn this on; apparently, the guitar can be played 
  without it, for the kid strums readily enough at the strings, judging their 
  tone.

Jessalyn reaches out and picks up a pillow, hugging it to her chest as she 
  prepares to listen, chin sinking down into its softness. Her previous 
  worried and tense expression has disappeared, resolved into calmer lines by 
  the music.

The kid appears to think a moment, then abruptly grins again, almost 
  mischievously. Shenner begins to strum, a simple rolling rhythm. And then, 
  in that husky tenorish voice, Shen sings:

	'Twas long ago and far away (how I wish I'd joined the Rebels now!)
	The Emperor said, "Let work begin on the deadliest vessel that's ever
	  been
	(God damn them all!)
	I was told we'd just show up and the Rebels would fall, they never
	  would fight
	But I'll tell you! I'm a broken wreck after what I been through
	The last o' Grand Moff Tarkin's crew

Shenner delivers this verse in a voice that rolls into the rhythm being played 
  on the guitar, and gives you another speculative look while singing, 
  checking for a reaction.

	Oh, Grand Moff Tarkin looked around (how I wish I'd joined the Rebels
	  now!)
	For thousands of loyal troopers who would come and be the Death Star's
	  crew

Jessalyn's eyes widen, but not with outrage or criticism. Instead a merry 
  twinkle appears in her forest green eyes as her chin lifts off of the 
  pillow, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.

	(God damn them all!)
	I was told we'd just show up and the Rebels would fall, they never
	  would fight
	But I'll tell you! I'm a broken wreck after what I been through
	The last o' Grand Moff Tarkin's Crew

Seeing the woman begin to brighten, the young singer seems to brighten in 
  turn. A bit more confidence enters the tenorish voice as Shenner sings on.

	So fool I was, I signed away (how I wished I'd joined the Rebels now!)
	But when I arrived, how my jaw did sag
	'Cause it wasn't no ship -- it was a planet in drag!
	  (God damn them all!)
	I was told we'd just show up and the Rebels would fall, they never
	  would fight
	But I'll tell you! I'm a broken wreck after what I been through
	The last o' Grand Moff Tarkin's Crew

	The Death Star's crew had much to learn (how I wish I'd joined the
	  Rebels now!)
	But before the training course began, that princess stole our one
	  deck plan
	(God damn them all!)
	I was told we'd just show up and the Rebels would fall, they never
	  would fight
	But I'll tell you! I'm a broken wreck after what I been through
	The last o' Grand Moff Tarkin's Crew

Shenner's eyes glitter, and the kid's face turns particularly impish on the 
  next verse:

	Oh the Death Star's crew had a sickening plight (how I wish I'd joined
	  the Rebels now!)
	There were so many miles of passageways
	That to find the lavatory took two whole days!
	(God damn them all!)
	I was told we'd just show up and the Rebels would fall, they never would
	  fight
	But I'll tell you! I'm a broken wreck after what I been through
	The last o' Grand Moff Tarkin's Crew

Shenner sticks in, between verses, "Y'know, this IS a singalong..." And then 
  says on...

	We tracked the Rebels to their base (how I wish I'd joined the Rebels
	  now!)
	I tell you, we were sure surprised when out they came in their X's and
	  Y's
	(God damn them all!)
	I was told we'd just show up and the Rebels would fall, they never would
	  fight
	But I'll tell you! I'm a broken wreck after what I been through
	The last o' Grand Moff Tarkin's Crew

	So there I was in my gunpod (how I wish I'd joined the Rebels now!)
	One second I was safe in place -- then *boom!* and I'm adrift in space
	(God damn them all!)
	I was told we'd just show up and the Rebels would fall, they never would
	  fight
	But I'll tell you! I'm a broken wreck after what I been through
	The last o' Grand Moff Tarkin's Crew

Jessalyn laughs out loud at Shenner, and joins in during the next round of the 
  chorus, her own soft soprano joining in with your voice.

The kid's grin widens. As you join in, the kid instantly drops to a harmony 
  for the parts that repeat for each verse, but ringingly sings out the parts 
  that change.
Shen then, on the next verse, drops the volume a little, puts on a wistful 
  expression, and sings:

	The war for me is over now (how I wish I'd joined the Rebels now!)
	The Rebels locked me safe away -- and the prison ship landed on Hoth
	  today
	(God damn them all!)
	I was told we'd just show up and the Rebels would fall, they never would
	  fight
	But I'll tell you! I'm a broken wreck after what I been through
	The last o' Grand Moff Tarkin's Crew

And with that, the kid belts out the last lines with particular vigor, before 
  crashing the song to a close.

Jessalyn's hands clap ecstatically, her laughter ringing through the room as 
  the last notes fade, and after a few moments she reaches out impulsively to 
  hug the kid around the shoulders. "Oh, that was wonderful!" she chortles, 
  green eyes dancing as she leand back again to look at you.

Shenner blinkblinks, stiffening briefly in surprise at the hug, but awkwardly 
  accepting it and telling you in gruff wryness, "Well, uh, I kinda figure you 
  folks'd like that one better than the folks planetside, yah know?"

A soft, unobtrusive hand touches your cheek briefly as the woman's eyes gaze 
  at you, an unmistakable fondness glinting in them already. "True enough, I 
  suppose. Etti isn't too kind to our types."

Something about the kid's expression seems awkward and unsure again at that 
  kindly touch to the cheek, though Shenner answers glibly enough, "What, 
  y'all got more street rat bards around here?"

Jessalyn's bright red head shakes as she chuckles. "None that I've seen. It 
  might be nice to change that, though," she remarks casually.

Shenner shrugs a bit, fingers playing a bit across the guitar's strings. 
  "Guess I gotta think about that," the kid mumbles.

Jessalyn chews on her bottom lip, her brows knitting as her gaze lowers in 
  some inner contemplation. She rubs her hands over her trousers, smoothing 
  the material over her thighs, and gives a soft sigh. "We all have difficult 
  decisions to make," she muses quietly. "And sometimes what we think it is 
  we've prepared ourselves to become turns out to be something entirely 
  different."

"Well, um..." Shenner glances up at you, slowly but visibly morphing away from 
  confident musician back to clearly frightened youngster, and says 
  sheepishly, "I ain't... too sure how what I wanna be works in much with 
  what's goin' on around here, lady."

Jessalyn nods slowly, conceding the point, and leans back on her elbows again. 
  "It's not for everyone," she agrees. "I myself had no such ambitions. Just 
  wanted a chance to work on ships. But... somehow bigger things get in the 
  way." She sighs resignedly, tilting her head to give you a sidelong look. "I 
  don't do this because I love it. I do it because.. I'm compelled to. If 
  one's gifts can be used.." She shrugs. "I dunno. Listen to me, I'm just 
  babbling on..."

Shenner blinkblinks at all of this, as if not _quite_ sure what you're talking 
  about. But Shen says hastily, "It's okay... I don't mind..."

Jessalyn glances over at you, an amused smile touching her lips. "Shenner, 
  where are you from?" she asks suddenly. "Not Etti.. right?"

Shenner eyes the top of the guitar, then looks back at you sideways, not quite 
  meeting your gaze. "Nah, I'm from Belsavis."

Jessalyn nods slowly, her head tilted as she considers you. "I'm from Yavin 
  IV, myself," she offers.

The kid's mouth quirks up on one end, in a sort of uncertain smile. "The, um, 
  Yavin as in, 'where the first Death Star blew up', right?"

Jessalyn chuckles, her eyes shining softly. "Yes, that's the same one." He 
  raises her brows. "I was there, in fact! Just a kid, but I got to watch the 
  Rebels fly off to take on that blasted battle station."

Shenner lifts that green gaze not too unlike yours to regard you, looking 
  suddenly impressed. "Wow," comes a murmur.

Jessalyn giggles softly. "That's what I said!" Her hands clasp together in her 
  lap as she sits up straighter. "I guess I was inspired after all, looking 
  back on it."

Perhaps not quite knowing what to say, the youngster just smiles a bit, 
  lopsidedly. "That's, uh, great, I guess..." Another low mumble, that.

"Shenner..." the voice takes on a soft, lightly urgent tone. "Is something 
  troubling you? Did I do something?" She rubs absently at the bruised side of 
  her face.

Perhaps a bit too hastily, Shenner shakes that rusty head, assuring, "Nah... 
  I'm alright!"

Jessalyn shifts uncomfortably. "All right," she murmurs, tapping her fingers 
  against her thighs. "Is.. is there anything I can do for you..? Anything you 
  need?"

"I'm al--" the kid begins, then frowns and cuts off as if disliking that 
  answer. Shenner looks down and mutters ruefully, "I, uh, guess I'm still 
  kinda shook by all this."

Her hand moves slowly to cover yours, slender fingers curving to clasp it 
  gently. "That's quite understandable, Shenner," she says, her eyes warm and 
  compassionate. "If there's anything I can do to help you, please let me 
  know. And once you've decided where and when you'd like to return to after 
  this battle, I'll make sure it's done."

The kid's head jerks up. "Battle?! Hells... guess you _are_ shootin' it out 
  with the Imps then..." Shen frowns, deeply worriedly, and finally looks 
  straight at you. "Um... is there maybe... somebody in charge I could talk 
  to?"
Shenner adds uneasily, "I don't think my... boss knows I'm up here."

Jessalyn frowns slightly. "I'll see if I can find the Admiral for you," she 
  says slowly. "And we don't plan on shooting it out with the Imperials. Our 
  only goal is to escape."

Shenner chews briefly at his -- her? -- lower lip, then blurts, "You guys find 
  General Solo yet?"

Jessalyn blinks quickly, drawing her hand away from yours. "Did Luke tell you 
  about that?" she whispers.

A shake of the head from Shenner, and the kid's green eyes turn solemn, 
  anxious. "No. That's... what I gotta talk to somebody about."

Jessalyn frowns even more deeply. "What do you mean?"

Shenner's voice lowers as the kid murmurs to you, "Well... my, uh, boss is... 
  lookin' for him."

Jessalyn lowers her lashes slightly over her eyes which cloud with concern. 
  "Your boss?" she whispers. "Who is your boss?"

Shenner murmurs, "His name's Grathix. He was with me, planetside, when the... 
  when the Jedi had the fight, see? But we got separated, and I dunno if Grath 
  knows where I am now..." The kid shifts worriedly on the bunk.

Jessalyn sits back consideringly. "I see." The green eyes search yours 
  intently. "And why did he want to find Captain Solo?"

Thin features grimly earnest, the musician says softly, "He didn't pay me to 
  ask, and I didn't ask, but he said... you guys might be helpin' him. So I 
  kinda figured. He's gotta know where I am."

Jessalyn leans back, frowning slightly. "Is your boss an NR operative?" she 
  asks warily.

Shenner says straightforwardly, "Like I said... I wasn't paid to ask. I didn't 
  ask. Didn't think I needed to know, yah know?"

Jessalyn seems quite disturbed by this information as she settles back to 
  consider you. "I see," she murmurs. "Shenner, would you like me to go see if 
  I can find the Admiral. I agree, you need to talk to someone."

The kid nods gravely, holding the guitar neck close, now. "I'll wait here."

Jessalyn rises somewhat unsteadily from the bed, forces a smile onto her face, 
  and slowly turns to walk out of the room.
Jessalyn enters the Aft Main Corridor.
Jessalyn has left.

Kuxli enters from the Aft Main Corridor.
Kuxli has arrived.

Shenner is parked on a bunk, guitar sitting in 'his' lap, clutched close. The 
  kid's gazing pensively at the floor.

Kuxli steps through the door as it opens, making sure his tail is inside as 
  the door closes with an audible swish. He begins to head for a bunk, a small 
  duffel bag in one furred hand then notices the person sitting on a bunk, he 
  studies the figure a moment, sniffing slightly before hopping on top of a 
  bunk opposit the one Shenner sits on, placing his duffel bag beside him. He 
  tilts his head back, then asks curiously, "Shenner?"

Shenner's head snaps up. Green eyes blink, then go wide. "Kux!"

Kuxli breaks into a toothy grin, he glances downwards at the floor then back 
  up at you, ears laid back some as he asks, "What are you doing here?"

Shenner drinks in the sight of you, the beginnings of a big lopsided grin 
  starting up across 'his' face... but it falters. "It's... ah, hells, Kux, 
  it's a long story." Shenner blushes a bit, and adds, "I, ah, kinda bumped 
  into a Jedi planetside, last night..."

Kuxli growl-chuckles, nodding his furry head every now and then as you speak, 
  "I won't ask then." he says with the bat of his ear, a grin still on his 
  face.. he pauses a few moments, then says in his feline accented basic, 
  "Heh, sorry 'bout leavin Etti so fast... how ya been since then?"

The grin _does_ broaden a bit, then, on Shenner's face; the human's looking 
  vaguely overwhelmed. "Pretty much okay... mostly. Should see the money I 
  started rakin' in singin', pal...!" Shenner chuckles, slightly shakily. "The 
  Espos startin' harassin' me about it, in fact."

Kuxli tilts his head back curiously at the last statement, then nods, "Ah 
  well, they wont be botherin you up here." a small smile on his feline face, 
  "Say, whatcha doin stuck in here?"

Shenner flicks a look at the door, and admits, "Well, um. I gotta stay here, 
  at least till that lady gets back... I, uh, gotta talk to somebody in 
  charge, see. To tell that long story."

Kuxli's smile fades back into a thoughtful look, he glances at the door also, 
  his gaze on it for a bit longer, then looks back at you, eyes narrowed 
  slightly in thought, ears perked up, "Know her name?"

Brow crinkling a bit, Shenner thinks, then provides, "Jessalyn. She said her 
  name's Jessalyn." The kid's own grin fades entirely, and Shenner finishes 
  tinily, "She's gone to get somebody for me to talk to."

Kuxli's eyes widen to their normal size, a faint grin reforming on his furry 
  face, "Jessalyn eh? Sheesh small galaxy, I know her.. hmm maybe they 
  wouldn't want me around when ya go tellin that story, they can be pretty 
  tight about security and stuff ya know.."

Shenner half-smiles wanly. "Well... um, I _don't_ know, really. I don't know 
  squat about these guys. Except stories any street rat'd hear, and one 
  woman's Imperial opinion on the matter..." Shen looks around almost 
  randomly, clearly unsettled.

Kuxli nods his furry head slowly, the smile remaining on his face, "Ah, ok.. 
  hmm any idea on when they'll be back?"

Shenner's own head shakes, almost plaintively.

Kuxli leans back on his bunk, his back against the wall as he lets a yawn 
  escape, he doesn't bother covering his mouth, "Oh well.." he says, adding in 
  a slight shrug, "You've gotten anything to eat yet?"

Again, Shenner's head shakes. "Ain't really thought about food," the kid 
  mutters.

Kuxli pauses a moment, then glances at the door, slowly looking back over at 
  you, "How long have ya been in here for?" he asks, a frown appearing on his 
  furred face.

Shenner plucks a string on the guitar, making a single note sound in the room. 
  "Since last night..."

Kuxli lets out a growl-sigh, running his claws over the fur atop his head, 
  "Well, you must be hungry.. least I dont think you humans can go that long 
  without wanting food.. want me to see if I get someone to find some stuff 
  for ya?"

Shenner looks up again, and smiles half-heartedly. "That'd be awful welcome, 
  Kux. I'm feelin' kinda wiped and I'm kinda nervous about goin' anywhere."

Kuxli smiles slightly, his ears perking back up as he hops off the bunk, "Ok 
  then, I'll be back soon." he heads for the door, keying it open.

Shenner bobs 'his' head, fidgeting there on the bunk, fingers fretting with 
  the guitar.

Kuxli steps through it as the door opens with a swish, making sure his tail is 
  well out of the way as it closes behind him.
Kuxli enters the Aft Main Corridor.
Kuxli has left.

Winter enters from the Aft Main Corridor.
Winter has arrived.
Winter enters the Aft Main Corridor.
Winter has left.

Kuxli enters from the Aft Main Corridor.
Kuxli has arrived.
Kuxli steps in, carrying a dull grey trey with a meat of some sort on it, with 
  assorted vegetables and a bottle of generic ale. He walks over to the bunk 
  your at, "Couldn't find any cider, so I got the next best thing they had." 
  flashing a toothy grin.

Shenner looks up, and smiles relievedly. "You're a life-saver, pal..." Shen 
  sets the guitar aside and accepts the tray, with obvious gratitude, and 
  settles in to eating with ravenous vigor.

Kuxli's ears lay back and his tail swishes a bit faster in the horansi version 
  of embarresment, "Er, no prob.." he says, then turns back to his own bunk, 
  hopping onto it, "If ya dont mind, im gonna get some sleep.. been a busy 
  day."

Shenner nods, without speaking, mostly occupied by the food.

Kuxli lays his down on the single pillow, closing his eyes, not before to long 
  the young horansi is asleep.

[End log.]

----------
[NOTE: The song quoted here is "The Last of Grand Moff Tarkin's Crew", as
 sung by the L.A. Filkharmonics on their tape _In Space No One Can Hear
 You Sing_.]