*** Living Dream Hotel *** The notes faded away and silence descended into the plain white room. A figure, sitting on the piano stool, sat unmoving looking at the grey and gold keys thoughtfully, then reached for the music, stood up and placed it neatly inside a folder laying on the pianos lid. Moving away from the modern instrument to an extensive shelving unit, the folder was placed back into its original position. "End programme" In an instant, the room disappeared to reveal a holodeck, in many ways similar to Chimeras though not the same. The door opened and Scott stepped out into the corridor. He looked left then right along its length, recognised the back of a person who must have passed the door a few seconds before and broke into a run calling "Rangi!" She looked back and responded to the familiar smile he flashed at her as he slowed to a stop beside her. "On your own?" he asked. "Yes...on my way to check on Lieutenant Stephens...what are you up to?" "Been in there." he replied indicating the holodeck with a wave of his hand. "Have you got a moment?" "Certainly" Rangi said and they moved on along the wide corridor side by side. " When I woke up this morning I had the idea to play music" he said. "That's nice" Rangi replied "You're quite accomplished with a guitar." He grinned at her, dismissing her praise. "No I thought I'd try something else so came down here to see if they had any programmes." "And they did." "Yes." he nodded. "Thought so." she said and they exchanged a grin. "I wanted a piano." Scott said and at Rangis enquiring expression explained: "I wanted to try a piece my mother taught us. It was in my mind when I woke up.Simeuqu you know him?" Rangi looked doubtful. "Ofcourse you do...~Daaa da da dadadaaaaa~" "ohhhh..yes" Rangi smiled widely and Scott smiled slightly, glad that she was keeping up. "So this programme gave me a room with a piano,modern design, beautiful tone and the acoustics were perfect...." Rangi nodded in acknowledgment of two science officers from Chimera who passed them. "....and a whole selection of music to choose from." Scott added. "Including Simeuqu?" "First one I picked out!" Scott answered. {Why doesnt that surprise me!} Rangi thought. They reached a corner and headed along the next corridor. "I tried it out." Scott said. "Not with great success...its been ages since I played a piano...years I think, but I was surprised I did so well with it so I tried it a second time and did alot better." Rangi glanced at him ready to make a remark about 'practise making perfect' but said nothing, for his expression was serious and a little puzzled as he looked ahead of them. "By the third try I wasnt making many mistakes and by the sixth.." he met her gaze "...I wasnt making any." "That's good ...isn't it?" Rangi asked. Scott shrugged. "Yes and no. That piece is difficult. My mother, who's a good pianist, struggles with some phrases herself...but I played it perfectly." He shook his head slightly, not understanding how he had managed it and came to a standstill. "I tell you Rangi.." he said seriously "It made me realize how people can devote their whole life to music.It was amazing...wonderful. I mean...it wasnt just that I could play the right notes and the right rhythms...but I 'played' it." he said stressing the word and clenching his fist as though it might make her understand the experience. "The music was alive.... it spoke.... it had everything that Simeuqu wanted us to hear...and I brought it out.Rangi, it was fantastic. 'I' did that." He smiled to himself reliving the moments. "I didnt realize you played so well." she said quietly looking at the expression on his face. He turned his head to her. "Thats just it...I dont." he said and smiled at her confusion. They began to walk on. "I am at best a mediocre player." he said. " I can pick out tunes, play simple things...but nothing like that. So I tried a different piece, selected randomly.It was T'rath" "And?" Rangi asked, knowing the Vulcan composer he named and remembering the mind numbing music the woman had composed. "Same thing." Scott replied. " I began poorly, improved fast and could play it...perfectly.I even enjoyed it and its really not what I'd go for." They walked a few paces in silence. "Was this a teaching programme?" she asked. Scott shook his head. "No...I checked that. It was simply a music room, an instrument and music of all tastes.The piano played as I made it play. It wasnt programmed to do it. I was definately playing it...got the aching fingers to prove it." This time they didnt smile. "It was fantastic, but weird." he said "...really weird." Rangi stopped and Scott retraced a step to stay with her. "Scott....I've had a message from Professor Madock. He said they have discovered a cure...for Iversons." "What?" Scott frowned and knowing that the possibility was very slim didnt asked."How?" "How?" she asked. "Do you mean how did they find it or how did I get the message?" "Both." "Apparantly they monitor all messages for docked ships and anything seemingly important is relayed straight here. Quite" she added seeing his expression. "Okrin has gone to check on it...in the medfiles." He nodded. "Scott...I want to believe it...I do, but..." He placed a hand on her shoulder. "I understand" he replied in sympathetic tone. "What does Commander Guzman say?" Rangi sighed. " He said, he wants us, to trust, the hotel staff." "Right." Scott said in a non commital way and let go her shoulder."Right." he repeated and looked along the corridor. "I'm going to check on Stephens. Hopefully Okrin will be back by then and depending on what he says..well...whatever he says!...I'm going back to our room and report everything to Shane. I'll tell him about your music." Scott had returned his attention to her."Ok.Tell me what he says." he replied, meaning Okrin. "I will." Rangi replied, including Shane. "I need a bite to eat." Scott said changing tack a little. "But then I want to try an idea." "Oh?" "Yes. I think I'll go back to the holodeck and see how good I am at composition. I might try a symphony...." He smiled to her as he saw the idea take root. "You do that." Rangi replied. "I'd be interested in hearing it." "Give me hour or two." he said. "Though it probably wont take that long. " *** End Log *** Commander Rangi Summers XO USS Chimera & Scott Fisher AMO USS Chimera