<<<Backlog...follows part 1 >> *** Sickbay * USS Chimera *** Rangi nodded still held in Shanes gaze. After a moment or two she forced a small smile and reached out to give his face a fleeting touch. "I know." she said and added "...but its not true." Shane shook his head: "Of course they are not. Thay are just rumours that are created as a derivate from something very ordinary. Lets take the dinner with Governor Smart last evening, Athena was there as well, but I am sure that some might think The Governor or me asked her to come to have ... fun with her ..." Shane shook his head again: "Thats just ridiculous!" Rangi stiffened and the faintest frown appeared on her forhead for no more than a second. She pushed herself off the edge of her desk and returned to her chair. {A formal dinner?.. with the Governor?...and so why ask Athena?..'that's just ridiculous '...is it?...ofcourse it is!...} She sat down opposite Shane and gave him the briefest flicker of a smile. "Shane...why didnt you ask me to go?" she said in a reasonable tone. "I mean...after all..I'm' acting XO...and a governor to dinner?..well...It seems strange you would ask Athena instead of me" Shane frowned a bit at this question. It reminded him again at the tone many of the other crew used when asking him about Athena ... "To say the truth, it was Athena's idea to invite the governor and she only asked ME to join her and the governor. And the second reason was that all the invitation was just about to solve a personal problem the governor seemed to have with Athena. I didnt think you might be interested ... or that Athena would want an another person there." He looked at Rangi: "I hope you dont mind that. If it would be an official dinner between the Chimera Command and the local goverment you would be there of course ... but ..." "Ofcourse...I misunderstood. I'm sorry...I didnt realize the situation." She paused, then smiled across the desk at Shane. {You sound like a shrew} she told herself {...questioning everything...its not fair to him...get a grip!} "Can I get you something ?" she asked, standing from her place and moving around the desk."Some of that tea you like so much?" She stood beside his chair looking down at him,smiled and leaned forward to drop a kiss on head, then moved to the replicator adding as she walked "...something to eat too?" Shane smiled a bit. He had the feeling that this discusion wasnt over and that Rangi still distrusted him with Athena. He replied: "Yes, black tea with bergamont will be enough, thank you Rangi" but asked himself if he should push this issue more and eventually make an end to the whole Athena issue. But something in Rangi's reactions of today prevented him from doing that. Instead he turned the conversation to an earlier point: "So please Rangi, tell me about the pollen effect you are still suffering. Can I help you in some way? Do you want me to make AXO someone else?" Rangi requested Shanes tea and a hot chocolate for herself, glanced quickly at him over her shoulder then turned back to the replicator where her order was just materialising. "It's really not that bad." she replied, lifting the small tray carefully from the replicator. She turned and walked slowly to the desk. "I can handle my duties and those of AXO fine at the moment." The tray was set on the desk ."...and I really hope that it wont get worse." She moved back to her seat. "Professor Griffin advised talking to a counselor....so that's what I'll have to do." She smiled as she took her chocolate and lifted it to her lips.It was difficult to tell what she thinking as she sipped the bitter hot drink. "You've been to the Brig?" she asked as the speckled mug was set down again. "I was so surprised to see him...do you know why he was on Tetris?" Shane nodded to his beloved. "But please tell me when you begin to feel worse or when you think the XO's duties together with your own CMO's are too much. I dont want to wear you down my love" he smiled, "I need you, dont forget that" "Well" he started to reply to her last question, "I've seen Mr. Birt. Seen but not talked to cause he was still asleep. But I think I pay him a visit soon. We cant have him and the girl on board when we will head on an mission, no way" He looked at Rangi's desk and added: "I was very surpised when I've read your report about him. I would never imagine to meet him on a planet like this. Did he tell you what happened to him?" Rangi shook her head. "No...to be quite blunt...he was drunk..totally incapable of taking charge of his daughter and ready to fight anyone who got in his way.It will be interesting to talk to him when he wakes...what could possibly have brought him to such a state?" A moment passed while both tried to think of a reason. Shane shook his head finally and said: "One's destiny sometimes has strange ways and I suppose there is quite a story behind Mr. Birts presence on Tetris II. But I think we wont learn about that until he chooses to tell us." He looked at Rangi and added: "I think I really have to pay Mr. Birt a visit now, we are leaving the orbit soon and till that I have to decide." Taking Rangi's hand into his again he squeezed it and said softly: "Dont forget that I love you Commander." and beamed a warm smile at his beloved when he stood up from the chair to leave. Rangi moved from her seat and followed him to the door where he turned and looked at her. She came to stand beside him, looking up into his warm brown eyes. She smiled softly but neither spoke though each knew there was still an unresolved problem. Rangi stood on tip toe, reaching to kiss his lips and he bent forward to her. "I love you too." she whispered. *** End Log *** Commander Shane Guzman ACO USS Chimera & LtCmdr Rangi Summers CMO / AXO USS Chimera