"Troubles ahead?" by Rangi & Muma *** Casino * Living Dream Hotel *** The happy crowd in the casino laughed and chattered all around where Rangi sat. Now and then someone cheered and mixed exclamations of surprise and congratulations spilled over from various areas of the room where jubilant winners denied it was luck and claimed it as skill to their disbelieving friends. Shane too seemed to be on a winning streak and after every game pointed to a growing stack of coloured credits on the table in front of him and smiled widely at her. He seemed to have quickly forgotten Stephens and their trip to the infirmary and that surprised her. *** An hour earlier *** In the sudden turmoil that had followed Jasons collapse, a number of people had gathered around him, all giving advice and all trying to take charge. Rangi had forced her way through the crowd, Shane close behind and succeeded in kneeling down beside the engineer. "He's in shock." she said a moment or two later looking up into Shanes face but the gathered crowd parted when a commanding voice had said. "Let us through.We will deal with this." Two tall aliens had moved to them. They were unlike Z aba, being blue skinned instead of grey. Their heads were larger than his but their eyes were the same jet black. "We will take him to the infirmary." one had stated and no sooner said than done before a transporter beam carried all three away. Rangi had looked at Shane in disbelief and together they had hurried to the infirmary only to be met at the door by another alien who Shane seemed to recognise. He introduced himself to Rangi a Chla'dny and explained that there was no need to worry whatsoever, that the guest named Stephens was being cared for and that he was in no danger, having merely been overcome by excitement in the casino and perhaps by too many glasses of wine. Rangi hadnt been too happy with that explanation and had asked to see him. After a pause during which Chla'dny had seemed to inspect the woman in front of him, he had at last agreed although with some reluctance. They had entered the infirmary and found Stephens in a room to himself where another blue skinned alien, introduced as Doctor Li'ecba, soon confirmed Chlad'nys words and insisted that all would be well very soon. Rangi could find no fault with the care Stephens was being given and had little option other than to allow herself to be shepherded out of the room behind Shane. They had returned to the Casino, she pondering on the event and Shane commenting on the efficiency of the hotel staff and the excellent care that Stephens had been receiving. They had rejoined the game but Rangi had quickly grown tired of it because Stephens collapse and Okrins words filled her mind and her concentration on the complicated rules faded to nothing. She tried to think clearly. {A four year old stardate?...missing ships?.....when did the Oberth class go out of commision...I dont know..He wasnt drunk, he was in shock....and yes its true you can buy holoprogrammes anywhere and many 'are' the same...but its 'my' programme in our room. I've never seen one of Akaroa before, never....and the one of Shanes, where he played as a child..oh why didnt I tell him at the time?} She looked across at him and watched him play a move, wait and then grin carelessly again. {Another win...he's having a run of luck.} then with a slight shake of her head she thought { No he isnt. Noone wins that often. Look at him..he's so happy..so relaxed, enjoying every moment..and winning almost every try} A frown creased her forehead. {Okrins really worried. I dont know what to think} She glanced around the room at the merry crowd, the bright lights the whole atmosphere of a fun filled evening and stood up moving through the gathered players to a place beside Shane. "Shane...can we leave now please?" she asked quietly. Shane was in the middle of a winning crusade. This seemed to be a lucky day for gaming and he'd won a considerable sum of credits already. Not that money would matter much for a Starfleet CO in the 25th century, but there STILL were places where money were required and where spending money would be pleasant. He'd already forgotten about Okrin's suspicions ... after all they were all just wild ideas. When Rangi asked to leave, Shane looked with regret at the playing table ... he could easily win twice as much as till now ... but after a second of hesitation he nodded: "All right my love" he said and stood up from his chair. Smiling widely he added: "Looks like we need a bag for all the money ..." ====== In their room ====== "Z aba?...can you come to the room...there's a problem." "A problem?" the aliens voice queried. "I need to show you something." Rangi replied and cut the connection, turning back to Shane. "I just need to find out. " she said, walking to the sofa and sitting down opposite him."It just seems so strange that it should happen now, after all this time, after all the false hopes..it happens 'now'. I'm going to ask Z aba outright and see what he says." Shane rolled his eyes. It was abvious that Rangi shared some of those wild ideas of Okrin's and now she did similar as Okrin ... investigating. Shane thought that it was a pure waste of time ... but he's learned that better than trying to persuade Rangi about something she was not sure of ... its better to have her a try ... she will see the truth soon anyway. Hardly two minutes elapsed before a gentle tapping was heard on the door. Glancing at Shane, she got up quickly and hurried to open it finding,, as expected, Z aba standing outside. "Please come in." she said, leaving him standing there and returned to the sofa, knowing that he would follow her into the room. The little alien looked at Shane who sat in one of the big comfortable armchairs in the room. He shrugged slightly indicating that it was not in his might to stop her nor did he know what will happen now: "Greetings" Shane said and nodded slighty. Rangi sat up straight, her hands folded on her lap. She looked at the grey alien with an expression that was devoid of any clue to her feelings. "Z aba ... last night when you brought me the padd, you explained how you monitor messages to the ships here. But you knew it was my father. You said so.....And then later you said it was it was from someone with my name... it could have been my sister , my brother, my mother...anyone from my family. How did you know it was him?" His large black oval eyes told her nothing but his skin began to pale. "Is it true?" she persisted "Did you forward a message meant for me on Chimera ...or... " She stopped then lifted her chin and said clearly "...or have you made it yourself ? Is it designed to make me happy?..you somehow found out whats caused me so much worry and tried to put it right? Is that why you did it?" Shane stared at Rangi with surprise. He was quite shocked about her words and that she accused Z aba of faking a message. Before the little alien could answer he jumped up from the armchair and said: "Erm ... excuse us Z aba please. I am sorry Rangi does not mean her words as they sounded." He flashed at Rangi and continued: "I am sure she doesnt want to say that the message was not genuine ... " He looked at her with the question {Are you mad?} in his eyes. She looked up at him, startled by his sudden movement and also by his words. It put her off her stroke, but not for long. "I'm merely asking him for the truth." she said evenly. "You have to admit that it was strange timing and after what Okrin said...It just strikes me as strange." She looked at Z aba. " Forgive me if I'm wrong..but I have to ask it. This means alot to me. My father is very ill and I want him to be well..I want to believe your message...but.." Z aba's black eyes blinked once. He looked at Shane. Shane shook his head like not believing his own ears. If Rangi and him hadnt spend the several last hours together, he would think that she's maybe drunk. For a fragment of a second he thought that *maybe* she wasnt that wrong with simple asking ... but then he blinked ... and said: "I think Rangi that now you are a bit unreasonable? I do not see a reason why should Z aba or anyone else create a fake message. All I see is that your questions are a bit insulting ..." Rangi began to feel annoyed. "Dont you think 'you're' the one being a bit unreasonable?" she asked him and got to her feet. " I asked Z aba a straight and simple question. You know whats happened to dad in the past...is it too much to ask for clarification?" She didnt like the expression she saw on Shanes face for it seemed to her he was dismissing her concerns entirely and treating her as though she were totally at fault. Shane shook his head again: "Did Z aba question if you are the Executive Officer of the Chimera?" he asked, "or if the Chimera isnt just a hijacked ship and all our crew a group of Terrorists?" He paused for a second and then answered himself: "No, he hasnt 'cause he believes his own eyes and trusts us. Now I expect you and everyone else from the Chimera to do the same ... to trust our hosts." Her lips ran into a thin tight line. She did not appreciate being chastised this way, spoken to as though she were an errant child. "Yes Sir." she replied coldly, knowing that Shane would understand her feelings and realize that she was politely telling him she didnt agree. Shane pierced Rangi with a hard stare but said nothing and turned to Z aba. "I apologize again for this misunderstanding and I am sure it wont happen again." He showed the little alien to the door and said: "Have a good day Mr.Z aba" Rangi stood unmoving watching the pair head towards the door then walked quickly in the opposite direction. The holoscreen showed dark clouds massing over the mountains, but Rangi didnt see them as she heard Shane bid Z aba a good day, heard the door close and knew he had returned into the room. She took and released a deep breath before turning to face him. Shane was back in his chair watching her and for a second or two the air fairly crackled with tension as they exchanged a long measured look. "I'll think I'll go down to the infirmary and check on Stephens!" she said suddenly, stepping forward and making for the door. She reached to her bag dumped on a chair earlier and swung it onto her shoulder. "Perhaps we can discuss this properly later." she said glancing back at him.When he didnt reply, she walked swiftly to the door and went out. For a moment Shane stard at the closed door but then only shruged. He was almost not aware about it ... but he felt somewhat strange. ====== End of log ====== Cmdr. Rangi Summers XO USS Chimera – A & Cmdr. Shane Guzman CO USS Chimera – A