*** Starbase Kinsi....Somewhere near the Outer Docking Ring *** Rangi had decided on her long crawl down to level twelve, that the best course of action was to act normally because trying to hide was a certain way of attracting attention. So climbing out of the Jefferies tube on level 12 section 3, she stood up, brushed herself down, flicked back her hair and looked around, trying to get her bearings. Cameron had been checking the docking ring passageway from the cargo vessel to the station. His captain...Seth.. had not returned for several hours since heading out for a few drinks that Seth seemed to enjoy every stop they made with the SS Pack Mule. Though it was not uncommon for Seth to be gone for long periods of time, Cameron knew Seth would threaten to throw Cameron off the ship if things were not in order, and the ship left unattended for long periods of time. So he busied himself while waiting for Seth the return. As he check the docking passagway for any problems he worked his way back to the opening in to the station. He heard a noise behind him and turned to look. There, crawling out of a Jeffries tube was the woman he had met some time before. She looked decheveled and a bit worried. He turned and called out to her. "Hello there lovely lady." forgetting her name." Is your chest of feet still chasing you?" he asked. It probably wasnt often that the sight of Cameron made a womans heart miss two beats...but that was the case right then. Rangi gasped and breathed a sigh of relief, hand at her throat as she recognised the very man she was looking for. "Mr Sikes!..." she said stepping towards him. " Am I glad to see you!" She looked around to see if anyone watched them, caught sight of the Luggage and looked back at Cameron. " ..er...yes it is." she replied with a weak smile. Cameron smiled, "Well I hope it is not bothering you too much. Would hate to see such a lovely lady like you to get all frazzled over such a silly thing like your friend." he pointed aimlessly in her direction. "So what brings you here? think you will be safe from your chest in the ship?" He pointed over his shoulder. Rangi looked in the direction he pointed and saw, just visible through the porthole, an ancient travel worn ship with the legend SS Pack Mule emblazoned on its side. She transferred her gaze to Cameron. "Well not exactly.." she replied. " But I would like to take you up on your offer of a safe haven." She paused, wondering how to say she was evading Kinsi security. "I'm trying to avoid the base security at the moment." she stated plainly. Cameorn looked form side to side wondering if security was near. "Evade Security? Why?" he scowled. "did you do something?" he asked wondering why such a lovely lady would be chased by security. Rangi shook her head. "No...no I didnt...at least I dont think I did." she added, a small frown touching her forehead. " Mr Sikes...I can only tell you what I know...and that is nothing. I was looking for Shane..and.... well..oh its all such a muddle. I really dont know where to begin." She glanced around and back at him." Do you think we go somewhere less ...open?" she asked hopefully. Cameron looked around one last time, "Sure. Sure." He motioned to the passageway. As Rangi approached he placed an arm around her waist to push her along. "Lets step in here." Rangi glanced at Cameron but did as he urged, walking in the direction he wanted.She gave a polite smile and detached herself from his arm as they entered the passageway, which, for the time being was empty apart from themselves. Cameron moved around Rangi and headed into the ship. "This way please, I know a place we can go." He motioned to her. He quickly walked through the rather small in appearence ship. Twisting and turning through the maze of small hallways he stolled in front of a door. He opened the door to reveal his hydroponics room where he grew his leek like plants. He urged Rangi to step inside. "Please, in here." He watched as she hesitantly went inside and followed her in. He then closed the door behind them. "So why do you think they are looking for you?" Rangi looked around the small room, thinking it must be some kind of plant nursery. "I really dont know." she said quietly and leaned back on one of the tables, standing up again quickly when one of the trays of seedlings rocked on its stand. She put out a hand needlessly to steady it and turned to Cameron. "All I can tell you is that Shane was being pursued by security guards who caught me. It was only by the best of luck I escaped them She looked at Cameron levelly and decided he had to know all the story. "Things are happening here that I dont understand. People are acting so strangely.... the CMO here...our counselor...some of the crew...and me..I have THAT following me!" she pointed to Luggage hovering near the door and to her horror felt the warm rush of tears." I cant think whats happened." she said and stopped, swallowing back a sob. Cameron looked back at where Rangi was pointing and saw nothing. {Oh he luggage.} he thought.He looked back at her and listened, seeing her visibly upset. "There there,. you will be safe here. At least for now." He thought about what she had said. True, this base did seem much more 'friendlier' than normal. but to him it was merely comfortable, not crazy. He shrugged his shoulders, "As for this base and people acting strangely, well I am not the best judge of that." he said pointing to Harvey. "So are they only after you them? or are they after others? I noticed the base went on red alert.." Rangi hastily brushed a tear from her right cheek, glancing down at the empty space Cameron pointed to, knowing that he saw a rabbit sitting there. She swallowed."They're looking for all Chimera crew I think." she said raising her eyes to Cameron. "I dont know if they want anyone else. Mr Sikes...I HAVE to get back to my ship....and I HAVE to find Shane first. I cant use the combadge because security could track me. I spent ages in the Jefferies tube...and then I remembered you...can you think of 'anything' that will help me?" Cameron thought with a look of introspection. He considered how he could help. If the base was surely strange, then may be something was going on he was not aware of. And though his starfleet days were long over, he still felt he had to help some how. He looked at the various walls in the room, like they would provide an answer. He then looked back to her. "Well I guess I could help you there. If I can get the station to let the Mule undock then I could take you to your ship, providing we can find her." he paused a second. "Though Seth will be mad, he never likes helping anyone," he grinned "but I never liked that son of a bitch any way." he chuckled. Rangi looked uncertainly at the man in front of her and gave a watery smile. "Really?...could you do that?...but what about Shane?..we cant leave him here...and the others..." Her words trailed off. She knew she was asking too much and that if Cameron could get back to Chimera, action could be taken to secure all the crew far more easily than she and Cameron could manage on thei rown. She nodded agreement. "I'd like to try it..if you're willing to give it a go?" Cameron smiled back, trying to reassure her." Yes I would. if something is happening here like you say, then you need to report back to your captain and let him know." He walked forward and started playing with one of the few flowers he had left. He bent over and smelled it. He then looked back at Rangi. "But this 'Shane' you mention? I dont know what he looks like. And if he is running away form the base security it might be hard to find him. Do you think you are up to going back out there and finding him and leading him back here?" Rangi looked at the flowers. {Go back to the base?...where would I start to look?..what if I get arrested?...what chance do I have to find them all?...and worse than that...will they come with me?} Rangi bit her lip remembering Acheson. She looked up at Cameron. "Yes I am." she said and raised her chin a little. "But we need a time scale and a backup plan. Give me two hours to find them. If I'm not back the, please go to Chimera and tell them what you know......Will you do it?...please?" Cameron nodded, "Ok, but for your sake I hope you make it back here. This captain? is the one I beat up on Aurora? He might not listen to anything I have to say." He said with a straight face. Rangi looked serious before her expression softened as she saw the hidden amusment in Camerons eyes. "I believe it is the same one..yes!" she said and smiled at him."Dont worry...he WILL listen." She stepped forward "Mr Sikes?...thankyou." Cameron smiled. "You're welcome." He looked back and pressed a button to open the door. "I dont know how long it will take for me to convince them to let me depart, but I have an idea of how to convince them. It will take me an hour to rig up something to simulate a problem with the warp core.. But please hurry because if things are getting bad, I dont know how much time we can afford to stay here." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a pass card. "I will lock the outer hatch once you leave. You will need this to get back in." He stretched out his arm and handed her the card. Rangi nodded understanding and accepted the card, looking at it both sides. "I'll be as quick as possible.If I cant find them or at least all of them, then we must leave them behind." She placed the card into her tunic pocket and looked up at him, holding out her hand. "Good luck then" she said and smiled with more confidence than she felt. Cameron shook her hand, "All I seem to have is bad luck. May be you will have the good luck today." he grinned. Rangi laughed. "We'll both go for the good stuff." she said and moved toward the door. *** End log *** Cameron Sikes Civilian (npc) Indy & LtCmdr Rangi Summers CMO/2XO USS Chimera