**** Christmas Party * USS Chimera-A **** Shane leaned back in his chair and watched Rangi talk to the barman. She was getting drinks for them both and stood waiting her turn. He looked down at the small box on the table in front of him, stretched his hand, picked it up and opened it. The silver medal cushioned on its bed of blue/black velvet glinted at him. He smiled to himself, remembering an hour earlier when he had presented it to Rangi, the last of all the awards that evening. She had accepted it glanced up at him and then down at it and back to him before replying simply.. "Thankyou Sir". A faint blush had coloured her cheeks as the applause broke around them. He had ended the short ceremony with an order to "Enjoy yourselves" and the crew had immediately fallen back into the swing of the party. Rangi had stepped to him "You didnt tell me" she had said quietly but had returned his smile and held his gaze for a long moment. Shane closed the box with a snap and looked in the direction of the bar. Rangi was talking to the tall barman.She half turned and pointed in Shanes direction. The barman leaned to his right the better to see who she pointed to. Catching sight of Shane watching her, Rangi beamed a smile to him and turned back to the bar where a serious conversation then took place. Shane saw the barman place a glass on the bar top and then select four bottles from the shelves behind him. He proceeded to mix a drink, pouring various amounts from each bottle with greatest care. At one point, Rangi stepped back quickly as though she expected an explosion and Shane saw the barman grin at her and say something which caused her to laugh and retake her place. The glass was put on a tray, Rangi thanked the barman and turned to make the return trip to Shane. The barman took a cloth and wiped the counter but watched his customers progress through the throng bowing his head when Shane caught his eye. "Try that" Rangi said, placing a tall glass on the table in front of Shane as she took a seat next to his.He brought his attention back to her with a smile, sat more forward in his chair and lifted the glass. He wanted to know what it was. "No idea" Rangi replied honestly shrugging her shoulders slightly. "I asked the bar man for something refreshing and he made this." Shane peered into the colourless liquid and sniffed it suspiciously but found it wasnt unpleasant. "He said it would...' revive an Elf and give him renewed vigour and strength' " Rangi quoted. She lifted her own glass of sparkling apple adding .. " I thought that sounded promising" and took a long drink, observing Shane over the rim with a mischievous look in her eyes. "He said its called Miruvor or something" she stated, setting down her glass. "In that case..." Shane replied, raised his glass to her and drank deeply from it. Rangi laughed and looked around at the party goers. It was good to see everyone enjoying the spirit of the party.Only one or two were more sombre. Rangi knew them to be marines and understood their reason. She looked away and caught sight of two figures on the other side of the Christmas Tree. One she recognised as Lieutenant Foster. His costume had caused some comments and he had explained..with growing exaggerated patience that 'no' he was 'not' the mythical Earth creature Neptune, nor a winter Sprite but was infact portraying the historical character of.. "The Great King Ebiregc of the Kelstrom Empire...whose home planet, the ice world of Ekslaf..discovered in 2325 ish (Andersen was slightly unsure of the date)..held great strategical importance." "You still look like that Neptune type...what with the trident and all" had come the reply. Rangi peered through the branches to see who he was talking to for she had heard a womans voice say indignantly "How 'dare' you!" In surprise Rangi recognised the Snow Queen Commander Palmer. Shane set his almost drained glass back on the table top, smacked his lips and frowned, wondering what his beloved was doing with her face hidden in a Christmas Tree. "oooh...bet that hurt!" she said having just witnessed Samantha land a stinging slap to Andersens face. She twisted round in her chair as Samantha stormed past, a glittering personification of contained anger. Rangi met Shanes enquiring eye. " Clash of majestys?" she said and grinned at him. "Drink up" she added nudging the glass."Time to dance." *** End Log *** Commander Rangi Summers XO USS Chimera-A