===== Some corridor, SB Bragg ===== Lt Foster walked on along the corridor, having received acknowledgement from the CMO and XO as they passed. Rangi had returned the small smile he had given her. "He's a good man" Rangi said, turning to Shane. "...besides his work on that disruptor I mean. He was very kind.." Her smile widened and she explained. "He turned up with a tray of sandwiches in the ready room and said he thought it was time I ate something.Wasnt that unusually thoughtful? You know? " she added, pausing to think it out, ".... I think he's lonely......if you consider his situation...it must be difficult for him." Shane glanced at Rangi and said nothing for a moment. He was not jealous (or at least thought so) but he was not very happy about any other officers bringing sandwiches to his girlfirend. Sure, Rangi was a smart looking attractive young woman, but Shane (maybe foolishly) thought that noone with at least some common sense would approach the XO's girlfriend. On the other hand he would never think that Foster would try his luck that much, so he dismissed the jealousy thought immediately. "I agree. He's one of the most capable Ops officer I have ever served with. A bit quiet, but more than worth the money SF pays him." he replied with a smile and then nodded: "Well, the distruptor would be of an immense help for the away team on the Kzenti station and would save us much troubles ... a pity that it was finished after the team departed. But still" he said looking at Rangi,"he's got another plus point in my evaluation sheet." He pretended to be serious: "Well, I must look fat ... cause he brought never sandwiches to me ..." Rangi laughed and pointedly eyed Shane up and down as they walked along. "Quite!!" she said and grinned at him, completely dismissing all thoughts of Andersen Foster. The two senior officers were returning to their ship for a reason. Shane had suggested that he and Rangi have dinner in a small restaurant on the base. Although SB Bragg could not boast a great variety, it did have one gem..... a small select place, renowned for its delicious food.Though hardly qualifying for the term 'restaurant' for it could seat no more than eight couples at any one time, a table there was highly sought after and Rangi had felt very gratified that Shane had told her he had managed to book one for them. Her smile of pleasure had faded fast though. "What can I wear?" she'd asked him. " I only brought one dress with me...and it isnt suitable for 'Golden Sunrise'. Would you mind returning to Chimera? It wouldnt take long." Shane looked at Rangi with the tiniest sigh in his eyes. To be honest, he didnt quite mind clothing much, for him almost everything would be suitable for a dinner and the dress Rangi took over to Bragg was very lovely, but on the other side he already 'learned' that women (and Rangi was no exception here) regarded 'proper' dressing for occasions as very important. "Not at all my love, lets go" ====== Rangi's quarters, USS Chimera, some later ===== Now Rangi stood in front of her wardrobe and with satisfaction, took down the evening dress she'd had in mind, running her hand across its soft material, knowing that the burgundy colour suited her very well. {Just right} she thought but as she turned away, a second dress caught her eye and she hesitated, turned back and considered it. Her hand touched the deep blue satin that was almost black. It shimmered as her fingers lifted a fold of the skirt. Rangi reached up and unhooked the hanger. She knew Shane didnt remember it , but it was very special to her. Indecision gripped her. Carrying both dresses, one over each arm, she walked to the doorway where she smiled to Shane as he looked up at her from his seat on the sofa. "Which one shall I wear?" she asked. There was a thing on fleet uniforms that was unique and quite appreciated by the male Starfleet officers. Aye, I am here talking about the fact that the fleet uniforms were quite tight and body contured. Every woman dressed in the uniform looked nice, nice woman appealing and appealing woman attractive! Shane wouldnt mind eating the dinner clad in uniforms, but Rangi made up her mind and well ... Rangi looked QUITE attractive in long evening dresses. Looking from one dress to the other Shane shrugged his shoulders slightly: "I dont know darling, both are nice". And again, ignoring one of the fundamental things man should know about woman and dresses, Shane suddenly found himself on a thin ice. "Well yes I know!" she said, an amused expression matching the tone of her voice, "...but you must have a preference." With a slight sigh Shane looked again at the two dresses and replied: "Rangi my darling, both dresses are very nice and you would look wonderful in any of them, so please choose one." A small frown appeared between her eyes.She looked from the burgundy dress to the deep blue and then at Shane. Stepping towards him she smiled at his nongrasping of the situation and sighed patiently. "But sweetheart...I want to look nice for YOU...You choose...which do you prefer?...this one?...or the blue?" She held up the dresses in turn and waited for his decision. Shane was still a bit surprised about the importance that the choice of the dress seemed to have to Rangi. To him there was no difference. Rangi would look great in any of the dresses, but well, he now saw that he HAD to pick on of the two. After a second of consideration he said: "The blue one Milacik, you will look very pretty in it." "The blue one..ok..." She looked pleased and turned away, intending to rehang the other dress and pack the blue one. She got as far as the door. "Shane..." she said slowly, looking back at him " ...You're not just saying that because you think 'I' like this one are you?" Shane shook his head: "No way Rangi, you would look very pretty in the other dress as well. You look very pretty regardless of what you wear ..." he said, not knowing WHAT did he say. His father could warn him about such danger ... but he hardly spoke with his father about women ... He could tell by her expression that he'd made a mistake somewhere.She eyed him thoughtfully. { He said the blue because he knows I like it...even though he's forgotten why!.......what does he mean.. I look good in anything!!!...doesn't he care what I look like?...whats he saying exactly?} She lifted her chin and with a tiny edge of frost to her voice asked " Why dont you like the red one?......you think it doesnt suit me?" Shane began to feel a bit pushed on a wall. Of course he liked the red one the same as the blue one. In fact both dresses were the same nice. He didnt see the point of which one to choose, the point was to go to a restaurant and have a meal, wasnt it? Somehow he began to doubt it. "Oh no, I like the red dress as well and I am sure you will look like a queen when dressed in it. Its very smart" he said in the desperate try to 'save his skin'. This didnt seem to be a satisfactory answer for she said. " So you dont like the blue one...right...well...." She came to stand in front of him, the shimmering blue satin draped over one arm, the soft burgundy folds over the other. "I dont want to look like a ragbag when I go out!" she stated, totally ingoring the fact that each dress had cost 'far' too much to count as sensible. "...so shall I wear something else?" {Aaaaaarhg} a little voice cried in Shane's head. Now he was certain that the ice he was just now walking on is a VERY fragile one. He knew that his next words will be more important then any words said in the last month. He felt like being surrounded by 10 bloodthirsty Romulan Tal'shiar agents ... what he needed was an idea. ANY idea! "Milacik, in the blue dress you will look like in times when we met first and that was the best thing that occured to me for my life, so please take the blue one" he did his bet on a SINGLE card. Rangi looked at Shane with suspicion, sure that he didnt remember what she wore on their first evening together.And yet.. {Why would he say that if he doesnt?...perhaps he 'does then after all...and pretends 'not' to so that I think he's...all manly and not sentimental.} She looked at him in silence, considering his words. He nodded encouragement, glancing at the blue gown and back at her. Rangi beamed at him, stepped forward and kissed him. " You DO remember!" she said happily, turned away and headed for her room. "Wont be a minute" she called, disappearing through the doorway. Shane sat back on the sofa and gave a sigh long of relief. *** End Log *** Commander Shane Guzman Executive officer USS Chimera & LtCmdr Rangi Summers CMO USS Chimera