*** V.I.P. Guest Quarters Starbase Kinsi *** "La donna mobile..... " Rangi grinned at her reflection as Shanes 'tuneful' singing emanated from the shower. "Qual piuma al ve..en...tooooo" She glanced at the vague shadow in the steamy cubicle. "Da da da da daaaaaa" Shane continued with vigour and broke off to lather his neck chin and face. Rangi looked towards the door to the main room, thinking she heard something there. She did. Peering around the doorway she saw the comconsole was 'bleeping'. "Drat it" she exclaimed turning back into the shower room and grabbing a towel for her wet hair. "La donna MOBILE" Shane sang with gusto.Rangi pulled the belt of her white robe tightly about her waist. "Qual piuma al VE..EN..TOOOO" With one hand holding the towel on her head, Rangi tapped lightly on the shower screen with the other. "You sang that four times already!" she said. "Da da da...." A hand rubbed a clear space on the steamy screen and Shanes soapy face peered out. He smiled. "Did you want something?" he asked innocently. Rangi grinned." No!" She pointed to the door way "Theres a call for us." Shane shrugged. "Da da da da DAAAAAAAAA" Rangi sighed, pushed her feet into her slippers and shuffled to the main room. "Its for me!" she called looking at the view screen. She pressed the button to open the com channel, surprised to have another call from the infirmary. "Summers here" "Commander? I need you to come down here right away...." Rangi frowned, pausing in the act of towelling her wet hair. "LT Lawrence?" she queried concern showing on her face. "Yes..its me..look..can you possibly come down here? Somethings going on and I'm...well...I'm .." "Ofcourse" Rangi interrupted." Give me...fifteen minutes? I'll be there as soon as I can." "Oh thankyou" came a relieved reply. "Lawrence out" Rangi straightened up and walked back into the bedroom. Something in the CMOs tone as well as in her words, made Rangi wonder what was going on. {She sounds...almost in a panic} Rangi thought and glanced towards the shower room. There was a lull in the operatic effort. "Shane..." she called. "...I have to go out." ** Twenty minutes later ** The turbo lift stopped at deck 12 to allow another passenger on. Seeing Rangi already there, the woman hesitated before stepping into the lift,taking a position in one corner and eyeing Rangi suspiciously. She carried a large bag which she held protectively to herself, occasionally glancing inside it. Seeing that her actions had aroused interest, the woman flickered a conspiritorial smile at Rangi. "They say its one of life's sinful little pleasures" she said quietly "...but personally I dont see anything wrong with it at all." Rangi watched her peer into the bag. "How can anything this wonderful be bad?" the woman asked herself and hugged the bag a little tighter.She looked up and Rangi gave her a small polite smile. "I'm not going to feel guilty about it you know!" the woman said 'matter of factly' "..oh no!...those days are gone..." She chuckled to herself and smiled happily at Rangi who returned the smile briefly and looked away. "Its actually good for you, you know" the woman began. Rangi glanced at her. "Sorry?" she queried realising her companion was intent on engaging her in conversation. "This..." the woman said indicating her bag. "..Its actually good for you...healthy...that's a scientific fact" "Oh?" Rangi asked glancing at the package. "Yes...and you should do all you can to look after your health shouldn't you?" the woman asked. "Well, yes...certainly" Rangi replied."Its a good thing to..." "Exactly!" she woman interrupted."..and thats why I'm not going to feel guilty about it. I dont care what my husband says..in fact, I'm going sit down in front of him and eat it." "You are?" Rangi asked doubtfully. "Oh yes indeed....no more hiding it in that little recess behind the replicator.If I want to eat it..then I *will*" she said with determination in her voice. "Right." Rangi watched the woman carefully caress the bag. "Ummm...what exactly is it?" she asked. "What is it?" The woman repeated Rangis question in astonishment."Why...the most wonderful thing." She opened the top of her bag and peeked inside. "Look at it." she said with a tone of affection."Melts in the mouth...the sweetness...the bitterness! " She closed her eyes and smiled "Mmmmm....the fragrance...its devine....so.. smooooooth...so....luscious..." Rangi stood with an expression of amazement and the woman opened her eyes. "Chocolate!" she explained. Rangi couldnt suppress a grin. "Right!" she said with a slight laugh. "I see...chocolate" The woman stepped nearer. "I've got all sorts in here." she said opening the bag to reveal the contents. "Terran..Bajoran...Drakanian..though I'm not too keen on the nuts in that...Vergosian...with raspberry flavouring...Orion 'Delight'...the incomparable richness of Quonos Supreme..." She sighed. "I've got just about one of everything I think!" The bag was closed and the woman had a look of pure satisfaction at the thought. A few moments passed in silence.Rangi looked away, an amused smile lifting the corners of her mouth. "Did you know you're better to give up coffee than chocolate?" the woman asked. "Errr.....you're thinking of caffiene" Rangi questioned uncertainly. "Yes!" came the pleased response.The woman shifted the bag so as to be able to move her hand freely. "One little piece of chocolate.." she began demonstrating a small space with her thumb and forefinger " ..has less caffiene than a cup of coffee!" "Well ...yes...thats true but.." "Oh it's true alright..I know it...a cup of coffee contains over a thousand milligrams of caffiene." Rangi shook her head." No...I think its nearer a hundred and fifty." The woman shrugged. " Whatever!" she said."...but do you know how much a bit of chocolate has?" "About.... six to ten?" Rangi replied wondering what was coming next. "There you go...so whats more healthy?...ten cups of coffee a day..or ten little chocolates?" Rangi smiled at the logic. "And..." the woman continued, warming to her theme "..it has..endo...endosomethings...they're good for you" Again Rangi smiled and had to nod agreement at the eager expression on the womans face. "Endorphins" The woman nodded eagerly, recognising the name." And what do they do?" "Well...they act like a natural opiate in treating pain...they induce a relaxed state of mind." "Yes..thats it..endorphins...and there are other things aren't there." the woman asked furrowing her brow and looking at Rangi expectantly. "Seratonin?" Rangi suggested. "What does that do?" the woman asked, leaning forward, eager to hear of more benefits. "It's a neurotransmitter...acts on your body as an anti depressant." The woman smiled, pleased to have met someone who obviously had an interest in chocolate to equal her own. "And chocolate has vitamins doesnt it?" Feeling as though she were undergoing assessment Rangi replied..."Errr...B1..B2...D and E, I think, as well as magnesium and potassium." "All that goodness...as well as the joy of eating it...and so no need to feel guilty!!" The woman positively beamed happiness. "Well...moderation.." Rangi councelled."... but incorporated into a balanced , healthy diet......" "Oh I dont 'do' diets...no no...if I want a wicked indulgence then I'm going to have it." The woman prepared to leave as the lift slowed and stopped. "Its been nice talking to you.....enjoy you're day!" and with another warm smile, she clutched the bag tightly and stepped out of the lift. Rangi followed her. "You too." she answered as the doors slid shut. The woman walked away and Rangi turned in the direction of the infirmary. "Chocoholics!" she thought with a smile."well...there are worse things to be." *** End Log *** LtCmdr Rangi Summers CMO/2XO USS Chimera & 'Chocoholic' woman (npc) Rangi