Logged Sept. 21, 2001
Logged by Ashton
Titled:  Something Amiss? 
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Characters: 
Ashton 
Tai Jinn 
Kastanje
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Ashton
    A powerfully built man whose eyes and smile coincide with his young 
and athletic-looking physique. Averaging these two factors, a guess that 
the human male is somewhere in his early twenties is close to accurate. His 
light brown, almost sandy-brown hair is just longer than collar-length with 
a slight wave at the bottom as if it's starting to curl. He has light hazel 
eyes, more green than brown, but this changes with his mood or outlook. He 
is rather average in height; no more than five foot ten inches tall.
    Ashton is wearing a worn-looking, gray flight jacket, made of a soft
nerfhide. The jacket is light enough to wear indoors and still seems like it
could withstand the elements rather well. Under the jacket is a collared 
shirt, designed in a muted shade of blue. His pants are black and tucked 
into a pair of comfortable-looking shin-high boot.



Kastanje
-------------------------------------------------------- Kastanje ----------
   Your glance singles out this young woman, despite her somewhat 
short stature. She's on the slighter side of average for a human, no 
more than 5'4", and doesn't compensate with flashy clothing. Narrow, 
Seasmoke-blue eyes are set symmetrically into an aristocratic face of 
smooth, sandalwood skin. Despite an appearance which could easily turn 
haughty, the eyebrows on this young woman are almost always arched 
with mirth, her eyes pulling up into crescents. The faint hints of laugh 
wrinkles branch from the corners of her eyes, but they're too shallow to 
put her in more than her late twenties. Her slightly frizzy fox-brown hair 
is pulled back into a long, practical fishbone braid. A few wisps manage to 
poke rebelliously out of the neatly kept style, keeping it from seeming too 
severe. There is the sickly yellow of faded bruising around her neck and on 
the inside of her left elbow. Her chin has a slight abrasion on it, as if 
from knocking into something rough.
   A vision of etched metal and loose fabrics make up her uniform. A
kidney-shaped golden helmet is accented with silver metal wings and 
chin guard. Three red pips are connected to the front center of the 
helmet, denoting the Major's rank. Overlapping rings, protecting the 
neck, meld down to jointed metal vanes curving over her collarbone and 
around the upper back. Her shoulders are capped with curved scales of 
gold, layered so as not to hinder movement. The torso is shielded in ribs 
of silver, extending downwards over the abdomen and sculpted to allow for 
the curves of a woman's body. A loose shirt of silky purple is visible under 
the armor where it gathers over the upper arms. Golden gauntlets protect 
the hands, with linen wrappings underneath extending up to the elbow. A 
small metallic square of etched gold is attached near one elbow, it's twin 
by the other. Linked panels of inscribed gold squares hang off a golden 
belt over the loose purple pants, protecting the officer's thighs, while 
smaller etched scales attach to a long gold cloth in front. Short shoes 
cover her feet, and silver accents highlight golden shin and knee guards 
strapped to the lower legs.
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Tai Jinn
-------------------------------------------------------- Tai Jinn ----------
   The man before you looks little more than a boy in actuality. His face
is youthful, attesting to an age of no more than 20, perhaps 21 at the 
most. His hair has grown long, with strands falling down over his right eye, 
one curling towards the bridge of his nose, and the other hanging along 
the outside of his blond eyebrows. A pair of other strands hangs down 
over his face, but doesn't fall quite as far, being lifted up underneath his 
other hair, causing them to curl outwards than towards his forehead 
about half an inch above his eyebrow on the left side. The hair strands 
alternate in color from red to blond, with red being on the farthest right. 
Throughout his hair, it continues to alternate occasionally, red and yellow 
exchanging places to give the hair an almost orange look at times. 
Beneath the blond eyebrows are large eyes that seem afire with life and 
youth. They are a deep and bright green that almost seem to glow. 
Although a bit larger than normal human eyes in appearance, they only 
add to the boyish appearance of the man. His face is rather normal in 
shape, his chin proud and strong. The man's nose is a bit large around the 
nostrils but not in a disgusting manner as it allows him to flare them rather 
easily to show distaste at something. The long hair falls down over regular 
looking ears, a braid falling behind the left ear down to his shoulder with 
alternating red and yellow braids.
   His body is covered in brown, earthy robes of a Jedi Padawan. They 
are loose about him, nearly smothering the man and engulfing his frame, 
hinting that he might be fairly skinny underneath it. A black belt is about 
his waist, underneath the brown robes but above the white clothes he 
wears about his body. Black boots cover his feet.
---------------- http://members.spree.com/sci-fi/bijutsu/tai-sketch.jpg -----

Courtyard -- Jedi Praxeum Coruscant 
   This vast courtyard is where much of the daily life of the Jedi can be
observed. A park-like area near the bridge is often used as a study area, 
and the open areas in that park are teaming with life as students and 
teachers alike take part in sports and athletic activities, honing the body. 
At each corner of the square compound is a tower that is easily 200 stories 
high. Paths criss-cross the entire compound and run the perimeter, from 
tower to tower. At the north end of the compound is a large hill 
constructed of many different types and sizes of boulders.
   In the center of the courtyard is the largest tower, rising another 100
stories above the other towers in the complex. The double-wide, ornate 
doors to this tower are always open. Unlike the other towers, this one has 
a wide section near the top that removes the tapered look the other towers 
have. Above this bulge is where the Jedi Council Chamber is located.

"Planting things? Hey, can I join in," Kastanje responds, catching a hint of 
their conversation as she makes her way closer. Shoes don't even clunk on 
the stone with her careful walking. "I take it you've all a break in training 
if you're talking gardening."

Cerin smiles a the flower, then nods his head once more, and then looks 
up towards Kastanje, "A small break... but a break nonetheless..." he 
turns to face the woman fully, standing up straight now, "How are you 
Kastanje?"

"Actually, we were talking about gardening Kas..." Smiling as the woman 
approaches, he quirks an eyebrow at her. "And if you want to help out, 
we'll make an afternoon of it... I figure you can stand on top of the 
towers and deflect the sun down to the flowerbeds with your uniform."

Ah, Kas bashing. Too bad Moira can't sit in. "If you all will excuse me, 
I've some meditating to do. Everyone have a good night." Moira hops off 
the bridge, waves, and then trots off to the Residence Tower.

Standing up slowly, Cerin bows his head lightly, and then smiles softly, 
"I'm afraid that... I'm about to fall asleep on my feet here. I will talk 
with you all later... it was good to see you Kas."

Ashton enters the courtyard from the south, apparently returning from ...
somewhere. Strangely, he's not in his tunic and even more strangely, he's 
actually carrying his lightsaber in one hand. The Knight has a determined 
step until he makes it halfway into the courtyard. From all appearances, 
Ashton looks completely beat. His face is grim with determination as he 
slows his walk to a slow stalk.

Kastanje wrinkles her nose at Tai, her own walk slow enough she still hasn't 
quite caught up to the Padawan. "I'll send you a few of my captains. 
How's that? I'm not big enough to reflect light for much of a garden," she 
notes with a wink. "Though you'd better have elevators going up there. I 
don't think I'd want to be responsible for anyone you were lifting up 
there..." Ashton's arrival earns a bit of a double-take.

Tai as well quirks an eyebrow at Ashton's arrival and notes the man has 
lightsaber about. "Knight Quince... is something amiss?" Tai inquires to him, 
loud enough for Ashton to hear, but as quiet as he can so others don't 
hear anything of the statement. Tai begins to move to intercept the pair, 
sending Cerin and Moira quiet 'goodnights' through the force.

Ashton doesn't seem to notice the approach of Kastanje ... or Tai for that 
matter. As a matter of fact, he seems quite oblivious to anything centered 
on the Force whatsoever. Tai's greeting brings the Knight's head up, but it 
takes a moment for the young man... or the voice to register. He slows his 
step and then notices Kastanje. His eyes revert attention to the padawan. 
"Oh Tai... No, nothing." Not quite convincing, but he manages to add a bit 
of sincerity to his voice.

Kastanje was actually heading north up from the bridge as well, though at 
her slow pace compared to Ashton's preoccupied walk, he'll likely pass 
her and reach Tai first. The Major levels a suspicious look at the knight. 
"You're acting like me when I've gotten into something, Ashton," she notes 
matter-of-factly, brow furrowing. "Saying everything's good when there's 
signs it's not. What's with the lightsaber, then?" She questions, leaving 
alone the Knight's appearance for now in favor of more obvious 
evidence. 

Kas takes the words right out of Tai's mouth, literally. He was about to 
speak when she does. The questions already asked, he places his hands 
behind his back patiently and quirks an eyebrow. "Indeed..." Casting his 
agreement with her statements as he awaits the knight to answer them in 
earnest this time. 

Ashton comes to a dead stop at Kastanje's words. At the mention of his 
lightsaber, he looks down and actually looks surprised to see the gun 
metal blue hilt in his left hand. "Oh..." he says, looking up with an 
arched eyebrow. "Was easier than putting it away." As if to prove is words, 
he reaches around behind his back, lifts his jacket and slides the saber 
hilt into its concealed sheath. Dropping the jacket over the weapon, it 
covers the bulge neatly. "No... everything's fine. Just..." and his voice 
trails off for a minute as his eyebrows furrow in contemplation. "I'm sorry. 
It's not something I can talk about right now." His eyes flicker up to the 
top of the Council tower, as if that has something to do with his secrecy.

Rruka's tail suddenly appears hanging from a nearby tree.

Kastanje's expression practically brims with curiosity, but she shows 
restraint, and finally catches up with Tai's seat on the edge of the bridge 
as well. "Easier, I see... Though that nice concealed location seems a bit 
silly when you're just holding the thing in your hand... Usually a reason you 
take those things out in the first place?" Voice lifts in a question, but she 
doesn't push the issue. She's got enough experience not feeling like telling 
people things, although being secretive might be a novel idea for the 
medic woman. Kas settles down to sit on the stonework, right foot 
stretching out in front of her and resting only lightly on the ground.

Rruka's tail suddenly appears hanging from a nearby tree.
Rruka's tail twitches a little.

Tai's eyes don't stray from Ashton... nor does his posture indicate he's 
about to let things simply 'slide' away from what's going on. "Knight 
Quince." He repeats again in the creepily calm voice Tai has learned to 
utilize in situations. If a Jedi has their lightsaber out, they intend to 
use it. What could have possibly spooked Ashton into silence and to carry 
a lightsaber out... in public... on Coruscant.

Ashton offers a smile of reassurance to Tai, then one of fondness to 
Kastanje. "Really, I'm fine..." And suddenly, he's back to his old self 
as his naively charming smile spreads onto his face. And then the eyebrow. 
"What are you two doing out so late anyway? Something going on here 
tonight that I missed out on?"

Rruka's tail disappears again. And there is a slight tremor from the branch 
as if something was preparing to jump...

Kastanje flashes a grin over to Ashton, though there's a hint of lingering
suspicion and curiosity in her eyes that suggests she'll be keeping an ear 
out for details on this that might slip out. "Oho, turning the questions 
back on us now? Something about gardening, from what I heard, and a rather 
uncharitable remark from this Padawan here about the military uniform's 
applications as a gardening tool... It's quiet I think tonight." So far. 
Who knows. Kas is wearing her armor.

Tai buys Ashton's story for about the whole of a second. He doesn't say
anything though, merely let's the Knight sense his disbelief with the 
statement and change of demeanor. "All has been quiet tonight Knight 
Quince. There is a seminar this evening on desert survival I believe, 
however I decided not to attend due to already having the knowledge 
from growing up where I did." 

Ashton chuckles at Tai's mentioning of the seminar. He nods to both of 
their answer that all was well. He softens his demeanor for a few moments, 
almost being the same Ashton that everyone knows. That lasts for a few 
moments and then his eyes avert to the Council Tower again. Biting the 
inside of his lip, he bows his head acquiescently. Lifting his head, he 
offers a reserved nod to both Tai Jinn and Kastanje. "I'm sorry... if you 
both will excuse me." Now wasn't that odd. And to top it off, he doesn't 
even wait for their reply before starting past Tai, on a direct path to 
the Council Tower. With his intense walk, he's upon the entry to the tower 
in a matter of moments. A quick eye might catch that his lightsaber is 
back in his hand before he even crosses the threshold to enter the tower.

"All you can do is play along that you don't notice until they want to tell
you," Kastanje notes softly as Ashton leaves abruptly for the council 
towers, waving after the knight just for the habit and thereby watching 
him as the lightsaber pops back into his hand. "Tai? Do you have any idea 
what's going on?"

END OF LOG