Log Date: 12/16/96, 12/17/96
Log Cast:
	Alexandra, Kevlan, Tamber (off-camera), Jerrik (off-camera),
Aje (NPC sledtech), Bernadette
Log Intro:
	Bolstered somewhat by his talk with medic Maggie about his
wife, Kevlan nevertheless doesn't have an opportunity to discuss the matter
with Berni, for when he next returns to their suite, Bernadette Sharr
is once more withdrawn and sullen and refuses his attempts to speak to
her. Worriedly, Kevlan gets what sleep he can, and on the next morning,
praying Maggie's promise to get him an assistant comes through, Kevlan
tackles the paperwork. He doesn't know, however, that his wife has crept 
out of their quarters, and has in fact gotten Kevlan's sledtech friend 
Jerrik to issue her her sled, so that she can head into the Ranges....

----------
You hear a soft chime and an electronic voice announces that Alexandra is in 
  Assistant's Area next to Deputy. You hear someone call out, "Dep'ty? Have ya 
  got a minute?".

To Assistant's Area, Kevlan's voice, startledly, calls out, "Alexandra?"

From Assistant's Area, Alexandra chuckles. "None othah..."

To Assistant's Area, Kevlan calls out, "C'mon in!".

Alexandra walks in from the outer office.
Alexandra has arrived.
Alexandra enters, a sheaf of pencil files cradled in her arm, a smile on her 
  face which fades ever so slightly as she takes note of the strained 
  expression in and around your eyes. "Howdy, Dep'ty Guildmastah...is this a 
  bad time?"

Kevlan rises from the desk, on which is strewn a fair amount of hardcopy and a 
  few empty disposable cups that have probably held coffee not too long ago. 
  "Howdy," he tells you, looking clearly rumpled, but pleased enough to see 
  you. "Ah-Ah-Ah'm okay, it's jes'...." He lets out a breath, shoves both 
  hands through his disheveled hair, and smiles wanly. "Gives me a chance t' 
  say 'How c'n Ah he'p you?', ma'am..."
Kevlan adds, sheepishly, "And heck, Alex, Ah ain't changed mah name....!"

Alexandra grins, and nods, "Fair 'nough, Kevlan," she chuckles. She taps the 
  pencil files in her arm and says "Ah was just wantin' to talk to you or 
  Maxwell 'bout these ordahs...or lack thereof...but first, how ya holdin' up 
  in th' new position?" She settles herself in the chair across the desk from 
  you, placing the files neatly on her knees.

Kevlan eyes the piles of hardcopy already on the desk, and says plaintively, 
  "Ah'm, uh, still kinda gittin' used to it...." He slumps down into the chair 
  and adds, "S'posed t' git an assistant, Miz Maggie says. Um.... anyhow... " 
  Nervously, he starts riffling through the hardcopy. "Ah-Ah ain't sure Ah got 
  anythin' from Marketin' Ah had t' look at..."

Alexandra asks "How come Berni ain't yer assistant? Seems like a nat'ral 
  choice..."
Alexandra adds, "Oh, an since Lowell went an' died, Ah ain't had a proper 
  assistant, mahself. So Ah ain't surprised you didn't get anythin' from 
  Marketin' lately."

Kevlan blinks, at the remark about Berni, and his already somewhat strained 
  face falls a bit. Completely missing the remark about Lowell, he murmurs 
  anxiously, "Berni... ain't been too happy with me, lately."

Alexandra quirks an eyebrow, frowning slightly, "No? Cain't imagine why 
  not..." She drums her fingers lightly on the pencil files on her knees and 
  asks quietly, "Wanna talk 'bout it?"

Kevlan's hands still their fidgeting across the paperwork, and he looks up at 
  you, expressive blue eyes glimmering for a moment. Clearly, he's torn: talk 
  about duty, or his personal problems?

Alexandra picks up a pencil file and waves it lightly, "Ain't nothin' heah 
  that cain't wait," she coaxes.

Kevlan swallows hard. And says huskily, "She, uh.... she's been havin' some 
  problems lately, ma'am...."

"Problems?" Alex prompts, setting the files on the floor near her seat and 
  leaning forward a little. "What kinda problems?"

Kevlan props an elbow on the desk before him, and leans his forehead into his 
  hand. Towards the desk, he says unhappily, "She keeps havin' bad dreams, and 
  not sleepin', and stayin' in our quarters, an' she won't talk t' me 'bout 
  it...."

Alexandra says "Is she talkin' to anybody? Maybe I c'n talk to her?"

Kevlan's drawl roughens, and he doesn't look up. "She don't like nobody but me 
  comin' t' see 'er.... even Tamber 'n' Jerrik.... Ah-Ah promised Miz Maggie 
  Ah'd ask 'er 'bout seein' 'er, but Ah-Ah-Ah jes' ain't sure, an' Ah got all 
  this othah stuff Ah gotta think on, an'...." He trails off, and then 
  blushes, finally lifting his gaze and looking horrified, perhaps at blurting 
  such things on the job.

Alexandra reaches across the desk and pats one of your hands, her warm fingers 
  lightly grasping yours. "How long's this been goin' on, Kev? Don't sound 
  like Berni t' be like that. She don't want any he'p?"

Kevlan meets your regard, and says softly, tone just on the edge of misery, 
  "Longer'n' a year....!"

"Star Lady!" Alex breathes, shaking her head. "No, that don't sound like Berni 
  'tall!" she blurts before she blushes and clears her throat, "Ah mean, Ah'm 
  sure you done ever'thang you can to he'p her, Kev. Whar's she now?"

Kevlan's broad shoulders slump. "Ah been heah all mornin', so 'less she's left 
  our suite she oughtta be down theah...."

Alexandra blinks and looks at Kevlan contemplatively. "You try bein' strict 
  with her? Y'know, kind of shock her outta it?"

Kevlan smiles, but there's not much mirth in it, and he says sheepishly, 
  "Kesya thinks now that Ah'm th' DGM, even if Ah'm jes' standin' in f'r Miz 
  Vyana, Ah oughtta order her t' see a medic.... been thinkin' on it. Ah.... 
  Ah ain't sure Ah c'n do it..."

Alexandra points to Kevlan's wrist unit. "You oughtta order her on up heah 
  raht now. Ah know she's a stubborn one as well as you do. She ain't gonna do 
  nothin' on her own lest y'make her."
Alexandra says encouragingly, "Ah'll stay heah if y'want."


Kevlan smiles wanly, and says, "Well... Ah-Ah guess it's worth a shot...."

You communicate to Bernadette:  Bern'dette. Berni honey, this is Kevlan.... 
  you theah?

Static is all you hear in reply.

Kevlan frowns as his communicator hisses static at him. "What?"

Alexandra glances between Kevlan and his communicator. "Maybe her wristunit's 
  broke?"

Kevlan flicks a worried blue look at his visitor, and whirls in his chair, 
  speaking into the air, "Computah." He gets an alert chirple from the room's 
  computer system, and he goes on, "Computah, patch me down to mah suite. 
  Sharr Suite, Level 11. Buzz the terminal, please."

"Working," replies the computer blandly. Then, after a beat, it adds, "There 
  is no response to terminal query from Sharr Suite, Level 11."

Kevlan scowls. This is not a normal expression for the face of Kevlan Sharr. 
  "Ah don't like this," he murmurs, starting to get up, restlessly. Worry 
  fills his eyes.

Alexandra stands, too, asking, "Want me to he'p ya look?"

Kevlan glances at you worriedly for a minute, then flicks his wrist unit on 
  again. "Tamber? Hey, Tam, you theah?"

The voice of Tamber al-Acorrin flows out of the little unit, smoothly. 
  "Assuredly, dear boy. How may I be of assistance?"

Alexandra fidgets, uncertain of what to do.

One foot still fidgeting nervously in thumps against the carpeted floor, 
  Kevlan confers with his friend, and learns that Tamber has not seen his 
  wife. Another flick to Jerrik Rawn Deegan, however, yields: "Sure, Galahad, 
  she's taken out the _Gold_."

Kevlan blinks at this news.

Alexandra quirks an eyebrow and says "Ah thought she was hidin' out in yer 
  suite?"

Kevlan gives you another limpid blue glance, then says anxiously into his 
  unit, after swallowing the lump in his throat, "She... look okay to you, 
  Jer?"

"Well..." The sledtech's voice hesitates. "She wouldn't look at me, kid, but 
  other than that... she seemed worried, but otherwise alright. Thanked me for 
  getting her sled down. Want me to get a satellite tracking her?"

Yet again, Kevlan blinks, not having thought that as Deputy Guildmaster -- 
  even on a temporary basis -- he would have the authority to order just that.

Alexandra looks at Kevlan and shrugs one shoulder, as if to say 'it's your 
  call...how worried are you?'

It takes a few moments, long ones, in which indecision tracks a visible course 
  through the Singer's features. But at last, with a furtive glance at the 
  watching Marketer, he finally says slowly, "Naw.... if she's gotten up th' 
  gumption t' come out again, Jer, Ah gotta trust 'er, let 'er know that's 
  alright...."
Kevlan adds, "Ah'll send 'er a call, though. Scrambled, so's nobody c'n listen 
  in."

Alexandra nods supportively, tipping a wink at Kevlan.

Jerrik's voice sounds encouraging, from the little communicator. "You got it, 
  Galahad. Jerrik out."

Alexandra takes the hint and stoops to gather up her files. "We c'n talk 'bout 
  these latah, Kev."

Kevlan blinks, then looks up quickly. "Aww, hells, Ah'm sorry..."

Alexandra smiles as she straightens and reaches over to pat Kevlan's arm. 
  "Don't you worry none, Dep'ty. Like Ah said, ain't nothin' in heah that 
  cain't wait."
Alexandra adds, "We ain't got the crystal cut f'r most of 'em, anyhow."

Palpable gratitude shines for a moment in Kevlan's eyes, forceful enough that 
  it makes him look as though he's throwing the full weight of his heart into 
  his expression. "Thank you. Ah'll ring you, soon's Ah gotta moment."

Alexandra smiles again, adding another couple of pats to the younger 
  Estenarian's arm. "Take yer tahm, hon," she comments before turning to 
  depart.
Alexandra walks out to the assistant's area.
Alexandra has left.

Kevlan turns at last back to his terminal. With Alexandra gone, he can allow 
  himself to pause a moment, wrapping his arms about himself, shaking 
  violently; his head lowers, too. But after a few minutes, he pulls himself 
  together, and buzzes the JPF communications center, to put through his 
  request to be patched on to the _Harvest Gold_.

"You have a clear channel, Deputy Guildmaster," Kevlan is then informed.

Kevlan nods, though no one can see him, then says hopefully into the air, 
  "Bernadette, honey? You theah raht now?"

After a few moments, Bernadette's voice, sounding thinner than usual and a bit 
  strained, can be heard. "I'm here."

Kevlan's face starts to light up, though he pauses, feeling a lump in his 
  throat reform at the sound of his beloved's words. Again he must force 
  himself to regain his composure, but when he finally speaks, his voice 
  carries all the weight of emotion his expression had earlier conveyed to 
  Alexandra. "Jerrik... tol' me you want out, honey. Ah got Communications t' 
  patch me through... Ah jes'... wanted t' say, darlin', Ah'm proud of yah, 
  an-an' Ah love yah, an' come back t' me safe, okay?"

Again a few minutes of silence ensue before Bernadette replies. Her voice 
  cracks as she speaks forlornly. "I can't come back safe... *sniffle* I..I 
  broke my arm."

Unconsciously, Kevlan stiffens and straightens in his seat. He nearly leaps 
  out of it, but keeps himself steady, at least for now. _She's there an' 
  talkin'. She cain't be too bad off..._ Somewhere in the middle of the 
  thought, the words shift into Tamber's voice, as he remembers advice from 
  the Sorter. _It's just as when you had to recover from your ordeal before, 
  my dear boy; you needed us to be gentle but firm to you, and encourage you 
  to do things on your own. Bernadette needs you to do this for her, now._
Kevlan swallows, then says huskily, as straightforwardly as he can manage, 
  "How bad is it, honey? Can you fly?"

The response comes quickers this time, though Bernadette's voice wavers, its 
  pitch on the level of that of a small girl. "I can fly."

_Praise th' Lady...._ "That's grand, honey, that's real grand..." Kevlan 
  presses his eyes closed for a moment, mind racing as he searchers for the 
  right words to say. "Ah need yah t' tell me somethin' else, darlin'. You got 
  a splint on that arm?"

A hesitant pause before the response. "No..." she says in a small voice.

At that, Kevlan slumps a bit. How to get her to do this? After steeling 
  himself, he goes on, trying for a tone of gentle encouragement, "Okay, 
  honey... well, you think 'bout that arm, 'kay? If it was mah arm busted, 
  what would yah do?" _First aid, darlin'. C'mon, Berni honey, Ah know you 
  know where th' triage kit is in th' Gold_...._

"I would put a splint on your arm, Kevlan," Bernadette replies, as if it's the 
  most obvious solution in the world.

Kevlan nods anxiously, though he knows he can't be seen. Somehow he manages to 
  sound calm, and approving. "That's mah Berni.... you're a real smart gal, 
  honey. So whaddya think you oughtta do now?"

Another small pause. "I guess I should bind mine up..." she says, her voice 
  getting more distant and harder to hear as she moves about in the sled to 
  locate the triage kit.

"You do that, darlin'. Ah'm right heah, ain't goin' nowheah." Kevlan waits, 
  still gripping the desk, unaware that the pull on the tendons in his hands 
  is making his knuckles turn white.

With the commlink still active in the _Gold_, you can hear Bernadette's 
  stifled sobs as she deals with the pain of setting her own makeshift splint. 
  A few moments pass and her sniffles become louder as she moves back to the 
  front of the sled. "Okay," she says at last.

Kevlan's voice softens, turning into a husky, slightly ragged croon; at the 
  sound of those sniffles, he blinks away a few tears of his own. "That's mah 
  gal, that's mah gal. You're doin' real good. You jes' take your time, honey, 
  then you tell me if you think you wanna cut some moah, or come back t' base 
  an' let a medic check that arm for yah, 'kay?"

"I shouldn't have come..." she moans softly. "I didn't cut anything...I broke 
  it before I could..." she adds, louder.

"Awwww..... shh, now, darlin'.... it's alright...." Tears come a little harder 
  for Kevlan, now. "It's jes' a l'il bit o' bad luck. All in a day's work, f'r 
  a Singah. I'm still proud of yah. It's alright."

Another couple of sniffles and Bernadette says "I'm coming back, okay?"

Kevlan again nods to his unseen wife. "Okay, honey. Ah'll be waitin'. Ah love 
  you." If a voice can relay an embrace, Kevlan's does.

[When he is sure that his wife is in transit, Kevlan leaves the DGM's office,
 and hastens up to the Hangar to wait for the _Harvest Gold_ to come in.]

Bernadette's sled has arrived.
A sled with 'Harvest Gold' spelled out in bright paint on the hull slides 
  precariously in for a landing.

Kevlan looks up from where he's been pacing by the wall, under the watchful 
  eye of the duty tech. As soon as Bernadette's sled comes in, it's all Kevlan 
  can do to keep from throwing himself at the door of the vehicle even before 
  it lands.

Hangar Floor
The immense cavern that serves the guild faces the eastern sky. The blue sky 
  merges with the harsh browns of the long plain of the Joslin Plataeu far to 
  the east. The smoothly tiled floor is scarred by myriad gashes and scratches 
  caused by wind-tossed sleds. The northern and southern walls contain 
  over-large double doors while the western wall is set with observation 
  windows. Looking around (+view), you notice several signs posted. The hangar 
  is half hidden in shadows as Scoria graces the sky high above. The horizon 
  merges with the sky in hazy bands of blue. The sled racks are illuminated 
  slightly. 
Contents:
  Kevlan, waiting, out of the way.
  Bernadette's sled 
  Old, battered sled 
  Repair Bay 
  Sled Tech Desk 
  Radar 
  Corbin 
  Hangar Terminal 
  A large map, for instructional purposes 
  Sled rack
Obvious Commands ("." for list):
  .wall  .sleds  .desk  .radar  .map  .hangar door  .floor
Obvious Exits:
  Processing  WWSF Transport  Met Transport  Equipment Room  Simulators  
  Catwalk  Sorting  Ready Room

Bernadette steps out from the cramped interior of the airsled "Harvest Gold."
Bernadette has arrived.
Bernadette emerges, holding her damaged arm close to her body.

Kevlan breathes, "Berni honey..." And he is here, hastening closer, announcing 
  his presence.

Bernadette huddles close to her sled, looking around the hangar with eyes 
  filled with pain and fear, like a rabbit caught in a snare. "Kevlan!" she 
  cries, as her eyes light on the Deputy Guildmaster, and she bursts into 
  tears.

Barely able to breathe at the sight of Berni so stricken, Kevlan moves to her 
  side as if magnetically drawn, and wraps his arms around her. "Ah'm heah, 
  honey, Ah'm heah.... jes' like Ah promised...."

With little regard for her arm, Bernadette practically throws herself at 
  Kevlan, burying her face in the front of his shirt. "I shouldn't have 
  gone..." she blurts, "But I was just so...so MAD that you can't cut with me 
  anymore..." She doesn't complete the sentence, instead her seemingly frail 
  body shakes with fresh sobs.

Kevlan ignores the quietly sympathetic look he gets from the duty tech; Aje, 
  the tech in question, shakes her cropped head softly, and creeps off, glad 
  she's deaf and doesn't have to pretend she's not hearing what she can tell 
  is a clearly private conversation. In the meantime, Kevlan cradles his wife 
  to him. Diplomatically refraining from mentioning that _he_ has spent 
  several of the last weeks cutting alone, he murmurs soothing nonsense, 
  inwardly hoping to let Berni calm somewhat before talking in earnest about 
  his change in job.

And calm she does...somewhat...after a few moments before sucking in a little 
  gasp and saying in a low, frightened tone to Kevlan, "We should go back to 
  our suite...." as she casts wild glances around at the different faces in 
  the hangar.

Ssudia's sled has arrived.

Kevlan, keeping his arms looped protectively around Berni's slender shoulders, 
  says gently, "Ah think we bettah git you down to th' Infirmary first, honey. 
  Git your arm looked at."

Bernadette looks up at Kevlan with a new expression of dread and asks "Isn't 
  this good enough?", as she gestures to her own sloppy handiwork.

His head leaned down so that the much smaller Berni can easily meet his gaze, 
  Kevlan says earnestly, "You wouldn't want me t' leave mah arm untended if Ah 
  broke it, would yah?" His baritone voice is as tender as he can make it, his 
  blue gaze steady -- the same gaze he'd worn once long ago, while comparing 
  flying a sled to dancing, and the same gaze he wears when singing his most 
  heartfelt songs. "It'll be alright, darlin'. Ah'll go with yah. Ah promise."

Bernadette blinks up at Kevlan for a few moments and then meekly nods. "Okay," 
  she consents quietly.

_Now_ can be seen, as a light in his eyes, the same gentle approval the 
  earlier commlink transmission had carried with his voice, and now, Kevlan 
  backs it up with a tender squeeze of the thin frame in his arms. "That's mah 
  brave lady. C'mon now, honey....?" A slight nudge, to encourage movement.

Bernadette nods again, keeping herself pressed as close to Kevlan as she can 
  without tripping him, and begins to move haltingly towards the exit.

You escape the swirling wind of the hangar.
Hangar Observation Area
The hangar ready room functions as an observation area for the hangar 
  activities. Several ergonomic chairs ring a display console which debriefs 
  the pilots before they leave the Joslin Plateau Facility.
As you gaze into the hangar, you can see the dust swirling as the wind whips 
  by the hangar entrance. Soft lights glow brighter as the shadows grow deeper.
You may view the activity of the hangar floor by asking the computer to relay 
  the activity to you. Type <on> or <off>.
Obvious exits:
Hangar Floor  Lifts  

On the hangar floor, Bernadette ducks into the ready room, escaping from the 
  swirling wind.
Bernadette escapes from the swirling wind of the hangar floor.
Bernadette has arrived.

[With his arm kept looped about his wife's small frame, Kevlan leads her
 unerringly to the lifts, and down to the Infirmary on level 12. Bernadette
 remains huddled against him, as they go....]

You walk into the clinic of the infirmary.
Infirmary(#403RAM)
The main infirmary is a bustling place with medics, orderlies and patients 
  constantly moving about. The floor is covered with a sterile-looking white 
  tile, the walls painted with stripes of various colours. A velvet black 
  stripe leads past several medical offices to Long Term Care, while a dark 
  red stripe leads off in the direction of Short Term facilities. At the 
  nearest end to the lifts, a large administration area has been set up, 
  complete with monitors and computer equipment lining the walls behind the 
  long counter. Towards the other end of the room, several examination tables 
  sit quietly amongst movable privacy screens and sterile cabinets. Since the 
  infirmary is so buried so far underground, only the strongest Passover 
  storms produce any sub-vocal resonances. The ever-present smell of medicines 
  and antispetics hangs in the air. The lighting on this level has been set to 
  a steady warm glow for the afternoon hours. 
Contents:
Dr. Bear
Catering Unit
Obvious exits:
Private Door  Long Term Care  Short Term Care  Lift  

Bernadette walks softly from the lift area.
Bernadette has arrived.

Kevlan, bringing you into the busy infirmary, looks about for a place to sit 
  until a tech can be summoned.

Bernadette trembles with a combination of fear, shock and pain, refusing to 
  leave your side.
Bernadette shifts in her seat beside Kevlan, gingerly cradling her arm, as she 
  continues to wait for an available tech.

[And as the two Singers anxiously wait, we end the log. To be continued...]