** Rangi/Shane Room * Living Dream Hotel *** The next morning saw Rangi dressed in slate coloured fitted trousers and a soft sweater, off white with a scooped neckline. Its sleeves were pushed up midway to the elbow revealing a silver bracelet clasped around one wrist.Her feet were bare as yet. She hummed to herself when she walked from the bedroom into the sitting room a serene smile on her face, her whole being radiating contentment. From the spacious bathroom came broken phrases of song, each sung with great enthusiasm and interspersed with the sound of water. Shane was getting ready for the day. Rangi stood in front of the holoscreen. Its subtle changes had captivated her. The scene remained the same one of mountains and meadows.The full moon of last night had given way to an early morning with sunshine across the meadows. But today cloud shadows raced across the long grass which swayed in the wind.There were no deer but it seemed to her they stood just inside the darkness of the trees and might appear at any moment. The soft door chime made her glance around and she hurried to answer it, running a few steps and slowing as she arrived at the door. "Z aba!" she exclaimed, smiling at the small grey alien who stood outside with a loaded tray."Good morning" she said stepping aside for him."Its a lovely morning isn't it?" She smiled, pointing at the holoscreen. "Ah yes..." he said entering the room. "Good morning Commander. You are pleased with the little programme?" He followed her across the room, bearing the tray in steady hands. "Yes I am" she replied, glancing back at him "It reminds me of a place Shane took me too once...he made a holodeck simulation of a place he used to visit when he was a boy. Its in his own country..his own part of our planet. It was just like that" she said looking towards the screen then back to Z aba. "..and I hope to go there one day.We'll go together." He bowed acknowledgement of this fact and set the tray onto a low table. Through the open bedroom door came sounds of singing. .~Are you ready to flyyyyyy?~. Shanes voice could be heard from the bathroom. Rangi smiled to Z aba. "He'll be out in a few minutes." The little grey alien nodded and watched her face for a second or so before raising the corners of his small mouth. Rangi smiled wider. {He's so charming} she thought, moving to inspect the breakfast tray. "Not wishing to intrude." Z aba said quietly."..but the Padd I brought you last night...was it good news?" Rangi beamed at him. "The best." she said. "It was from my fathers doctor." Z aba paused in his preparation of setting the dishes on the table, giving his full attention to her. Rangi sat down on the soft chair, sinking a bit into the cushions. "My father's been ill for a long time." she explained. " He's been having treatment that hasnt really been of benefit. We thought the worst..you know?" Z aba gave a slow nod of understanding. "But the padd held wonderful news " Rangi continued smiling again. " The doctor said that after all the disappointments they have found a treatment ..they are almost sure..that will make dad well again." Z aba looked pleased. "That is good news indeed commander. " he said. "Yes...and already my father looks so much better. It will take time ofcourse..we cant expect everything at once....but he was even well enough to think of going fishing and he hasnt been able to do that for ages." Z aba smiled at Rangi who was so obviously delighted. He set out two plates and laid the cutlery beside them. Rangi watched him, thinking over the events of the night. "I cant 'wait' to leave." she said happily, then added "Ooops!" quickly reaching forward to catch a delicate china cup that fell from the tray. With a clatter, Z aba stood the coffee pot down and looked aghast. "You want to leave?" he asked in a shocked tone, then, recovering himself , apologised. " Forgive my clumsiness...what was I doing? I am very sorry...very sorry indeed." "Its ok" Rangi answered, surprised that he should be so upset by a simple mishap and replaced the cup on its saucer."Dont worry about it..it was a minor accident, no harm done." She smiled to him and saw that his skin had turned pale in the way it had once before. "Are you alright?" she asked frowning in concern. "Yes yes..I was clumsy..I have made a mess..." "Please Z aba..leave it." she said, reaching out a hand to him. "there's no mess and it really doesnt matter...forget it. I have." She flashed a smile to him and he hesitated before setting the cup straight and continueing with his work. "You want to leave?" he asked in a small voice as Rangi chose a small pink fruit from the plentiful selection in a silver basket. "Well yes." she answered. "I dont see my father very often and I've been so worried about him...and now this...ofcourse I want to go to see him." She bit into the fruit and tasted the tang of its flesh. ~Its all about us ... its all about us~. Rangi glanced towards the door thinking that Shane was very tuneful this morning. "The news has made you happy then." Z aba stated, stepping back from the arranged table. Rangi looked at him. "Very." she said. "Commander..I have to tell you that I feel very badly about your arrival here." Rangi paused midbite then carried on eating as Z aba continued. "...when I wrongly assumed that you were in company with Lt Cortez or that you would have other companions coming. I did not realize that Commander Guzman was your 'only' companion." "An easy mistake." Rangi said shrugging off the embarrassing moment of her arrival. "Perhaps you could explain to me...the human tradition?..if you dont mind me asking you." "The human tradition?" "Yes...I am a little confused. Some of your crew have come with one companion, some with none. Some with a companion who shares the same room and some with a companion who does not. How can I tell?" Rangi eyed him in silence. "Weeell" she said placing the fruit core onto a plate."Its not that easy at first glance I suppose.I see your difficulty." she added wondering exactly how to explain things. "Mostly a couple who love each other will stay together...share the room...but not always. It depends how far their relationship has gone..whether they are serious about each other and hope or plan to stay together in the future....but it doesnt always follow that rule." He seemed to consider this, his greyness returning slowly to its normal slateyness. "So you and Commander Guzman love each other" he stated. "Yes we do." "And you and Lt Cortez do not?" Rangi laughed." No we dont." she agreed reaching for a second of the small fruits. "He was being kind in carrying my bag for me thats all." She bit into the fruit and became aware that Z aba was studying her. "Is something wrong?" she asked. "No Commander.I did not mean to stare. I was arranging your explanation in my mind...so that I dont repeat the mistake again at another time...with other guests." Rangi smiled. "My explanation wasnt really that clear. " she said. "It's not always the reason people are together but in Shane and my case, its because we want to spend as much time together as we can.It makes us both feel happy and contented..it feels right." she said and bit into the fruit. "So you want to remain together for ever?" Z aba asked. Rangi looked at him. "Well...yes!" she answered. "That's a simple way of putting it. I hope that one day we will be married." Forestalling a question she went on "...thats a formal arrangement of being together.... its a commitment to one another and one I hope we will make one day." "Why haven't you made it now?" Z aba asked. It was an intrusive question and normally Rangi would not have enjoyed being asked by someone she didnt know well, but it seemed to her that Z aba asked with the almost childlike innocence, so she replied: "Well..I would like to...but I think Shane isnt ready yet. Oh I know he will." she added " because we've talked about our future and I know that he sees me in his as I see him in mine.He just hasnt asked me to...make the commitment." "You could ask him" Z aba suggested. "Well yes I could." Rangi replied " but I'm old fashioned enough to want 'him' to ask 'me'." She smiled at Z aba wondering if he really understood the finer points of relationships. "I hope he will." came the reply and then looking past her to the door Z aba bowed and said. . "Good morning Commander Guzman. I have brought a breakfast tray and hope it has all you require. If there is anything you desire that is not there then I will bring it immediately." Shane walked into the room, Rangi twisted in her chair and held out her hand to him, smiling up at his face. Z aba bowed again. "Good morning to you both...enjoy your day." he said quietly and backing away, he turned and left then alone. *** End Log *** Commander Rangi Summers XO USS Chimera-A & Z aba (npc) Rangi