*** Near the Promenade Starbase Kinsi *** A large group of people, each eager to get into the turbolift first,surged forward as the doors slid open. Rangi flattened herself back against the wall and tried to edge herself out. "Excuse me......sorry, can I just squeeze by......OW! ..thankyou.....do you mind if I...." With a relieved sigh and a frowning glance back at the crowd,she gained freedom at last. "Hey!" Someone gripped her arm, calling the warning too late as she collided into them. "I'm so sorry ...." she began, taking a step back.Her apology died as she looked up at the figure in front of her."Martin!" she exclaimed,her lips widening into a smile."I AM sorry.Did I hurt you?" With his thoughts still with Athena and her leaving ... Martin paid little attention to his surroundings and only the mighty punch in his ribs returned him to reality. Releasing Rangi's arm he said: "Ah ... thats you ... Rangi" Looking around he searched for Shane. Not seeing him he turned to Rangi quite surprised and said: "I am fine, dont worry. Where have you lost Shane?" Two stragglers to the group pushed their way to the lift door, causing both Rangi and Martin to step back for their own safety.For a few moments they watched the group crowd into the turbo lift. The doors closed and all was peace. Rangi smiled as she stepped forward."I havent lost him exactly. I was called to the infirmary but have been far longer than I thought. Hopefully he'll wait for me." she added glancing over Martins shoulder along the promenade.She returned her attention to Shanes brother."You've missed the lift!" she stated. "I hope you're not in a hurry..." Martin chuckled: "Well ... Shane was never too patient ... so I wouldnt count on finding him any soon." He shrugged at the lift: "Another will come. I am not really in a hurry, even if I am going to meet someone." He smiled at Rangi again: "But I have still almost two hours." Not really thinking about his last agreement with his brother, Martin continued: "I wonder if you would be up for a coffee" It was eighter that he was a good actor or the little happening with Athena didnt touched him too much ... Rangi hesitated, not wanting to appear impolite but eager to be gone. Her lips parted to form a word but instead she gave a small apologetic laugh and, smiling, shook her head. "Thankyou, but no. I really want to find Shane. I told him I wouldnt be long.But...you're more than welcome to join us." she suggested. Martin nodded: "All right Rangi, lets look for my brother first and if we wont see any clue for him lets have a coffee. I would not worry about him finding us" he said virtually responding to Rangi's a bit worried expression: "Shane is a SSF officer, he will find us ..." Pleased that Martin agreed, Rangi glanced along the promenade again and indicated they move that way. "He mentioned a bar...The Four Aces or something....shall we?" Her attention turned to Martin as she asked the question and she found him looking at her. He inclined his head in agreement and together they set off towards the crowded centre. "This is a popular place" Rangi stated scanning the advertizing signs for anything indicating an Ace "Have you been here long?..had time to look around?" Martin chuckled: "Well, it surely isnt something called a quiet place." Pointing to three little and a bit dirty playing card aces near the main entrance." he said: "Have heard that the fourth ace was broken apart by a drunken Klingon party few weeks ago. I wonder if the greedy guy of a Ferengi owner will rename this local to Three aces or buy a new ace ... first seems more likely" he continued shaking his head. Martin looked around carefully, trying to see if Shane was inside. Not seeing him anywhere he shrugged slighty: "Looks like Shanie isnt there yet, are you sure you have to meet at this bar?" Rangi frowned. It wasnt the usual sort of place that Shane would take her to. "Yes..." she said slowly, with a degree of uncertainty. "I'm sure this is the place he mentioned." She looked back at Martin and gave a weak smile."Perhaps he'll turn up?" Martin nodded: "All right, lets wait for him for a while" He led the way to an empty table when he saw an empty biliard playing table. In his old school days he was quite good at biliard, maybe it was time to polish his knowledge a bit. Turning to Rangi he smiled and asked: "What do you think Rangi, would you like to play a round or two of biliard? I take it that you know the game ... and if not, I was known for being a good ... teacher" Rangi glanced around then looked at Martin. She shrugged her shoulders."Ok!" she agreed. Martin smiled and stepped towards the table. Rangi followed. "I havent actually played the game, though I know the basic rules ofcourse." She surveyed the table while Martin collected two cues."Do we play for a prize?" she asked. {Yes, you} he thought but said different: "If I'll win, you will tell me what happend to my brother in the past two years and if you will win ... well" he smiled, "you can choose your prize by yourself". Grinning evily he added: "But I would not bother with it ..." Rangi laughed and accepted the offered cue. "We will see then!" she said Martin assembled all the biliard balls on the mark and shuffled them with the triangle to form the typical formation for begin of the play. Seeing that Rangi held her tago in her hands already he smiled and motioned her with his hand: "Ladies first" Rangi brushed back her hair, took a deep breath, smiled at Martin and stepped to the table with an air of determination. ... some time later ... Martin watched Rangi considering the angle from which she will make her next turn and finally decided to ask her: "Hmm ... Rangi, can I ask you something about Shane?" Not really waiting for an answer he asked again: "I wonder if you know a certain woman, tall dark hair, pretty ... called Athena ..." Rangi, biting her lip in concentration, played her shot and straightening up looked across at Martin. "Athena?" she asked skirting the table."Athena Wellington?... why yes...she's the ships counselor." Coming closer Rangi paused, surprised at the sudden expression that crossed Martins face. Small lines of concern appeared between her eyes. {Shane?..Athena?}The recent suspicions she'd known returned in a flash. She moved forward and forced a normal smile. "Why?...do you know her too?" Martin noticed the faint disharmonic tone in her voice, barely hearable... but to a' with years of dimplomacy skilled ear' ringing like a church bell. He of course knew not the reason for that, but he was aware of the fact and carefully pursued it. {Counselor?!} "Yes, I met her ... actually had lunch with her. Interesting woman, pretty and independent and all went good till she began to talk about Shane ..." Rangis gaze fell to where her hand rested on the edge of the table.{She's talking about Shane? what about him? why would she want to talk to his brother about him?} Her slim fingers ran along the edge of the curved wood. She raised her eyes to Martin then lifted her head and looked at him fully. "Well, they know each other.... pretty well.They were on Aurora." She couldnt hold Martins gaze and looked quickly at the array on the table. "I think you have a difficult shot!" she said with false gaiety and after a second, turned her head to look at him.The corner of his mouth curved in a smile and he bent forward to line the next move. Rangi watched him aim but her interest no longer lay with the game. Martin played his turn first. He hit the white ball with his tago and after a complicated bouncing pattern ... a yellow '11' was placed in one of the corner holes. Only then he looked up at Rangi and said in an innocent tone: "I wont hide the fact that we have our differencies with Shane ... and I openly state that ... but Athena seemed not to like that. In fact ... even if not saying that of course ... she seemed a bit fond of him to me ..." Rangi watched the ball disappear into the corner pocket. Not for a world would she have let herself betray the sudden emotion Martins words caused. She turned away from the table and looked desperately toward the door as if willing Shane to walk in.Knowing that she must say something she turned back to meet his steady gaze. "Really?..well,they're... good friends I suppose you'd say." She smiled feebly and tried to change the subject, though it was the one thing she wanted to know about. "May I ask?..." she said quietly "..Is there something very wrong between you and your brother?" From the little hints Rangi gave him, Martin created a theory that there isnt everything in best terms between Rangi and Shane ... {I wonder if Athena is the cause ..}. He was keen to learn a bit more, but as Rangi changed the subject, he had to reply: "I would say it is just brother rivalry, but to be honest ... Shane was the favoured son of us two. Better at school, more clever ... a right Guzman ..." Trying his best Martin beamed a smile at Rangi: "You are not trying to make me unfocus on the game, are you? Two more balls and the prize will be mine." He glanced at her: "You can better start thinking about all Shane's history ..." Rangi returned the smile, thinking that she hid her inner turmoil perfectly and watched him judge his next shot."I don't think you're unfocused" she told him. He grinned at her and walked to the opposite side, eyed the target and prepared to aim. Trying his luck in the straight way Martin asked while leaning to the table, trying to adjust his position for a perfect shot: "Can I ask how long are you two together by now? I take it that you charmed him away from Athena ... didnt you?" The question took Rangi by surprise. She watched the cue strike the billiard ball with a sharp 'click' and waited until Martin straightened up from the shot before she answered. "We've known each other for nearly..three years now.I arrived on Aurora shortly after he did." Her grey eyes met Martins gaze directly. "I dont think I charmed him away from Athena. " she said with open honesty. "There was an instant attraction between us two." She paused for a moment, lifted her chin slightly and said quietly: "I love your brother very much........and he loves me." *** End of Part One*** LtCmdr Rangi Summers CMO/2XO USS Chimera & Martin Guzman Civilian... XOs brother (npc) Muma