*** Rangis Quarters USS Chimera *** Rangi sat bolt upright in her bed, heart pounding, lips parted and eyes wide looking quickly around her dimly lit room. "Computer...lights" With a sigh of relief, she sank back against the soft pillows as the dimness brightened,closing her eyes,glad to be free of the receding dream. After leaving Athena outside the mess hall, Rangi had thought she had been tired enough for sleep but it had proved to have been a fitful restless hour.She had dreamed of Shane, of Aliens, Athena and Rob. All had become jumbled together, their voices echoing through her troubled mind,mixing the present with the past.A tendril had reached out to Shane and Rangi, crying out to him, saw not an alien but Athena. Now Rangi opened her eyes, turned her head on the pillow and gazed out through the window into space. {I wonder where they are...what's happening to him} She looked away, realized that sleep would elude her and with a sigh, left her bed. She showered,standing for a long time in the warm water, her face upturned to the spray. {How come...} she thought fifteen minutes later {...I have three uniforms, all the same and this one is tight!} She pulled at the tunic, wriggling this way and that to feel comfortable.The doorbell chimed and Rangi looked towards the door enquiringly. Her father stood outside. "Dad!" she said, pleased to see him as the door opened, "...come in!" "Can you spare a moment?" Wes asked stepping forward. "Always." she replied, her welcoming smile fading as she took in her fathers serious expression."Whats wrong?" "You've...heard about Richards?" he asked tentatively. Rangi hesitated for a second and replied simply: "Yes." Wes Summers followed her as she walked back into the main room, hearing the door close behind him. Rangi stood in front of the replicator. "Tea?...coffee?...." she asked half turning to him. "If you're having some." he said and took a seat on the sofa. Rangi ordered a sweet milk tea and a glass of juice. "How did you find out?" Wes asked. Rangi collected the small tray, carried it the short distance to the sofa and setting it down carefully on the low table answered. "Shane told me." She handed the white china cup and saucer to her father and sat down near him. "Ah...I see.." Wes replied lifting the silver spoon and stirring the tea.He glanced at his daughter."Are you alright?" he asked. "Ofcourse." she replied at once. Wes laid the spoon into the saucer and took a sip of his tea.Rangi reached for her glass of chilled apple juice. "I cant pretend that I ever liked the man." Wes said slowly "...but I'm sorry he came to such an end." Rangi answered nothing, watching the light glimmer in the golden yellow juice. Wes sipped his tea. "Dad...." He looked at his daughter who, still studying her drink continued: "We never spoke of it did we?" She raised her head and met her fathers gaze."Perhaps now is the time." A little puzzled at this suggestion, Wes set the cup and saucer onto the table.Rangi waited until he looked at her again. "I'm sorry." she said quietly."I hurt you terribly because of him didnt I? ...and bless you..you've never once questioned me." "Now Rangi, I..." "You were right ofcourse." Rangi continued, not giving him time to speak.".. I should have listened to you, taken your advice but..." She stopped as her father laid his hand on her arm. "No Rangi" he said with a shake of his head "...don't think that." He squeezed her arm reassuringly. "You have your own life to lead....but I love you and only want you to be happy, that's all. It's sometimes hard not to be over protective." He patted her arm and looked away, leaned forward to reach for his cup, lifted it and put it back down.He stared at it, considering. Rangi, thinking he was remembering the past, was surprised when at length he said:"I heard a rumour yesterday." He turned his head and met her eyes. "Oh?" She smiled, slightly flustered."I heard it too." Wondering that she could smile about it, Wes said quietly, watching her reaction, "I dont generally give credence to rumours...but it's true that often there's no smoke without fire." Rangi gave a puzzled frown."Athena explained.It was Steve who undid her wet nightgown." Wes blinked."Wet nightgown?...what wet nightgown?" Rangi looked at him, gave a small shrug and answered "The one she was wearing?" Wes leaned back in his seat."Steve?" he questioned. "Yes." "You mean Desoto?... That Steve?" "Yes!" Rangi was confused. "You've lost me!" she said smiling though with a dropping sensation in her stomach. "I dont see where Steve comes into it." her father replied. "The counselor met...Guzman... at her doorway..she was dressed very provocatively and he went inside...... for sometime." Like a fish,Rangis mouth opened and closed. She frowned, shook her head and said, mystified "Who told you this?" "It's running rife on the ship." he said bluntly. He watched her look away, saw her lost in thought.He didnt like it. Rangis attention drifted from her glass... to the table top...to the floor. {What did Athena say?...Steve had helped with the nightgown...Shane didnt mention that.....but she said Steve was there......what exactly did Shane explain.? He looked....guilty of something ...but he said he loves me.He talked about trust...about us trusting each other ....and I do trust him...I do.} She lifted her head and looked back at Wes. "You know how things get twisted and exagerrated." she said."...and on a small ship, people love to gossip." He nodded slowly."There does seem to be some confusion." he agreed evenly, "but Rangi.....I cant sit by and see you hurt a second time." "Theres no question of that." she replied immediately. Wes looked steadily at his daughter. "Are you sure?" he asked. "Yes" For a moment he thought he saw a flicker of doubt in her blue/grey eyes. "You're not telling me that you think Shane is the same as Rob Richards are you?" she asked "...because he's not. He would never treat me like that." Wes dropped his gaze and flicking an imaginary crumb off his knee replied :" No...I can see he's a totally different calibre....but then.." he glanced at his daughter "...he's the XO" Rangi looked at him blankly."I dont follow you." she said after a second. Wes shifted round on his seat to face her. "Two marines, on escort duty, were ' told' that they fell asleep." he told her.Rangi frowned, trying to make sense of what he said. "Lt Wellington is an extremely beautiful woman, very attractive to any man." Wes continued. "...and Guzman?...well... doubtless theres something women like.....though nothing that a decent haircut couldnt improve!" he added half to himself. Rangi sighed, her lips showing slight annoyance as her father added: "He's young..bright..intelligent..."Wes shrugged dismissively. "...and he's an XO" "What are you implying?" Rangi asked after a long moment."You're saying that an executive officer would use his position to..to....oh thats so 'stupid'!Shane would never do that!" "Its a possibility Rangi...and if you can explain to me how two trained marines can both 'lose' an hour...go right ahead. I'd be interested to hear it.If its all innocent and above board, then I'm sure he will explain it to you." Even as he spoke, Wes saw the pain in her eyes. "Rangi.." he said quietly, reaching for her hand."I know you love this man. I know you want it to be perfect.I'm not trying to ruin it but please...'please' go carefully.There were rumours before...like this in a way.. and Richards talked his way out didnt he?....not once, not twice" Wes shook his head and left the sentence incomplete. Rangi looked down at her fathers hand holding hers and said nothing. "Please Rangi, for your own sake...tread carefully now." Rangi closed her eyes and didnt reply. *** End Log *** LtCmdr Rangi Summers CMO/2XO USS Chimera & Wes Summera Weapons Advisor (npc) Rangi