*** Mess Hall * USS Chimera *** Athena stood at the door of the mess hall greeting each arriving guest. "Rangi!" she said with a warm smile and turning to Shane, standing at Rangis side, she said: "Hello Shane...I've been waiting for you..I wondered where you were." She smiled up at him and while Shane made some excuse for their late arrival, Rangi glanced at Athenas dress. It was much like her own in colour and length, though was velvet as opposed to satin....but it had a low neckline. {Why is she standing like that!} Rangi thought, for it seemed to her that Athena stood up straighter and even pulled her shoulders back a little. Shane laughed at Athenas reply and glanced at Rangi who smiled at the counselor and made the appearance of being at ease and eager for the evening. "Shall we go in?" she asked Shane, glancing at him and saw he looked at Athena...and her neckline. Rangi looked quickly away, into the crowded hall and a second later felt Shanes hand on her shoulder, gently encouraging her to move forward. He found a table for them, waited for Rangi to be seated and went to the bar to order drinks. Rangi watched the dancers closest to her, then looked around at the glittering snowflakes, the candelabras,the beauty of the whole room and back at the candle in front of her. She felt sick. {All he did was look at her...he was being polite..you know it means nothing...pull yourself together and stop being so 'silly'}she tld herself and looking towards the bar, saw Shane moving back to their table. He smiled as he drew near and setting a glass in front of her, took his own seat and smiled at her again. "To a happy evening" he said raising his glass. Rangi lifted hers and touched it to the side of his with a 'chink' sound. "To the evening...and to us." she replied. Shanes smile widened and he touched her glass in responce. "To us" he echoed and took a drink. Rangi looked toward the door where Athena was greeting Lucy Fleming and her escort. Almost an hour passed. Shane was an attentive and amusing companion and the feeling of distrust that had settled on Rangi, melted away in the happy atmosphere of the Ball as she and Shane danced together.After a while, Shane went to refill their glasses and Rangi found herself with new company. "Oh my 'feet' !" Sally Schuman exclaimed. "Can we join you for a minute?" Lucy asked. "Ofcourse" Rangi replied looking up to see a small group of sickbay crew and turning to the young med.technician asked; "Whats up Sally?" "That man has three left feet." Sally replied darkly and sitting down on Shanes chair, bent forward to rub her right foot. Rangi mouthed 'who?' at Lucy who signalled with her eyes and a tilt of her head, that Rangi should look towards the bar. Rangi gave a slow silent nod of understanding as her glance settled on George Pucker a fellow med technician and great friend of Sallys.The young man in question was staring at Shanes hair with a thoughtful look on his face. "Ohhh..Rangi!...that's beautiful.May I?" Anne reached towards the lovely bracelet that adorned Rangis wrist. "Ofcourse." Rangi lifted her hand, the better to display Shanes gift. "Oh it is." Sally said "Its really pretty." "Did ..ummm... a certain ACO give it to you?" Lucy asked innocently. "Yes he did." Rangi smiled a reply of pleasure. "Where did he find it?" Lucy asked, touching the bracelet and admiring the design. Rangi shrugged. "I've no idea. He had it with him tonight...when he came to collect me...and asked me to wear it if I liked it." "Oh thats so romantic" Sally said dreamily. "What a sweet thing he is." Lucy grinned at Sallys expression as the young woman realized what she had just said about the Acting Commanding Officer.She blushed and began to apologise."Sorry...I didnt mean ..." Rangi smiled, looking down at the bracelet herself "Its alright" she said and glanced up at Sally. "...actually he is!" Sally looked selfconcious but smiled then turned her attention to her partner propping up the bar and staring into the crowd. She followed his line of sight and frowned deeply. "Excuse me wont you?" she asked, getting to her feet and headed toward the bar determined to find out what exactly George found so rivetting about a tall woman in a silver dress with a neckline that plunged to her lower stomach. "Greetings ladies, all of you look lovely" Shane smiled at the group as he set two glasses down on the table top. Anne and Lucy exchanged a hidden smile each thinking of the 'sweet thing' remark of a moment before. "If you could please excuse Rangi for a moment, there is something that requires her presence". Rangi looked up in surprise and stood up. "Of course sir" Anne replied. Shane smiled at Rangi and led her toward the bar where Athena now stood. "Athena" Shane started, "is the pie ready?" he asked. She nodded and beckoned the barkeeper. Shane looked around and signalled to Lt.Foster standing a little way back from the crowd.He headed toward them immediately and handed a full holdall to Shane. "Thank you Lieutenant" he said to Foster. Foster nodded and walked away, but not too far, as though he expected to be needed soon. Athena placed a pink pie on the bar and grinned as Shane. "Thank you Athena, very kind from you." he said."Athena, would you mind Rangi doing the pie-ing this time?" "Not at all, Shane" Athena replied. the thoughts {Athena?....Pie?....My 'Gown!!} flashed through Rangis mind but Shane shrugged slightly and said: "Its one of Rangi's staff, so I guess she would love to be the one with the pie ..." Athena gave him a strange look, but her expresson changed back to normal in a moment: "Yes, of course. Have fun" she said turning to Rangi and smiled at her. Shane was not sure if Rangi noticed the moment, but now she smiled back at Athena and took the pie. Then she turned to Shane and asked: "When are you actually going to tell me who it will be?" Shane only smiled: "Have patience my love ..." He beckoned Rangi to follow him and both went to the little podium. There was a pause in the flow of music that was going on most of the evening and Shane turned around, back to the wall, facing the crowd. Slowly the noise level in the room settled as the crew was interested to see what the ACO was going to say. "Can I have your attention please!?" Shane said a bit loudly. He waited a minute for all being quiet before going on. "I am glad that all of you came to this wonderfull ball this evening. Please let me express my thank to LT. Wellington and Commander Summers for making all the preparations for this happening. And now there is one more issue I wanted to address tonight." People were staring at Rangi and the pink pie she was holding ... and asking themselves who will be promoted ... . Several woman looked at their lovely robes and at the pie and looked like a bit scared ... "Ensign Maikai Quiocho, front and center" Shane ordered. From behind the first lines of people, the young AMO reluctantly stepped forward, looking sheepishly at Rangi and then at Shane. He stepped closer to Mai and pulled out the small blue velvet box. He opened the box and revealed a single hollow pip. Then he looked at Mai like considering where to put the pip on. Grinning at Mai he said in an official tone: "Ensign Quicho, your duty record is full of excellent evaluations from your superior officer Commander Summers, and I think its no longer appropriate for you to wear the rank of ensign. Therefore I promote you to the rank of Lieutenant junior grade with all the rights and responsibilities tied to this rank." He extended his hand and added: "Congratulations Lieutenant" and handed her the box with the pip. Shaking her hand, Shane looked over to Foster and nodded. Rangi saw the lieutenant hurry forward and swirl a white surgical robe around the startled AMO.At the same moment Shane produced another and swathed his beloved in it whispering in her ear "Your turn lovley" just before he and Foster beat a hasty retreat to a safe distance. Rangi looked down at the pink pie in her hand and weighed it with an up and down movement. She glanced at Maikai who stood uncertainly in front of her. Rangi smiled an apologetic..'sorry but I have to do this!' look at the new Lieutenant and stepped back to aim. Wes Summers had taught his daughter well when it came to aiming at things, so even though Maikai realized she was about to be on the receiveing end of a soft mallow pie and made a movement of attempted avoidance, Rangi allowed for the distance in her aim so the pie flew the short distance through the air and splattered square on into the AMOs pretty face. The watching crowd broke into cries of congratulation and loud applause. Rangi stepped back and looked at Shane who was laughing as much as she herself. He moved towards her and pulling off the pie spattered robe whispered. "Remind milacik...'never' to stand near you when you have a pie in your hand" *** End Log *** LtCmdr Rangi Summers CMO/AXO USS Chimera Sickbay crew (npc) Rangi Commander Guzmans words/actions taken from Mumas log