*** Deck Five * USS Chimera *** Rangi was heading to her quarters. The afternoon had been long and she was looking forward to a few relaxed hours, beginning with a shower and a meal. She walked along the corridor away from sickbay, the padd held in one hand, swinging slightly at each step.She had downloaded it earlier,intending to read it in the evening.Its main title suggested it wasnt 'light bedtime reading' Rangi reached the turbolift and glanced back along the corridor waiting for the doors to open. As they did so, she stepped forward, too slow to avoid the young woman hurrying out. "Oh..I'm so sorry." she said, bending to help retrieve the womans bag and its belongings now scattered on the floor. "My fault...." the woman replied, bending down too and reaching for the opened bag. " .....The clasp is loose and I meant to have it fixed." Rangi, gathering two or three items of cosmetics looked up and met a quizzical expression on the womans face. They regarded each other in a momentary silence. "Commander?" the woman asked almost as though she couldnt believe her eyes. "Yes?" Rangi replied wondering why the woman was looking at her in that manner. She stood up and a second later the woman did too, seeming to shake herself into action. Forcing a small smile as Rangi handed the items back to her she said " Thankyou ma'am...sorry..but I... thought for a moment I'd..bumped into you before!" She gave a short self concious laugh. Rangi smiled too and said "No...only this once. Have you got everything?" "Yes..yes..thankyou I think so." came the slightly flustered reply. Rangi stepped back ready to continue her journey when a movement on the floor caught her attention. "Wait!" she cried and bent again to pick up a small silver object. Stranding straight, she looked down at it and held it out on the palm of her hand. "You almost lost this." she said. "Its very pretty." The woman stared at the object, raised her eyes to Rangis face and then slowly looked back at a little model of a dragon on the outstretched hand. "Yes it is." she said quietly, reaching to take it. "..it's supposed to be a lucky charm.." Rangi, wondering now at the womans behaviour gave a polite smile. "Right" she said and waited for the doors to close. When they did so, she shook her head and sighed as the lift moved away. {Mmmm!} she thought and dismissing the incident, turned her attention to the padd. The computer had answered her request and supplied a comprehensive dissertation...'Arthropoda Insecta Orthoptera'. {Grasshoppers.} Rangi almost shuddered.{I'll read it later...and see if there's something we could use....} The lift stopped on deck 2, Rangi made her exit and was soon standing at the door to her quarters, glad to be done for the day. Stepping inside, she walked into the main room, dropping her bag onto a chair as she passed and making her way towards a console where an amber light flashed once each second. {Personal message...from Dad!...excellent!...mmmm...four days ago....} She pressed two buttons, the screen lightened and her fathers familiar face appeared. He was sitting in some unrecognised chair, a display of lilly like flowers in a bowl behind him. "Hello moppet.." he said, his loved face smiling warmly at her. "How are things? I wa......" Rangi paused the recorded message, freezing her father in midword,leaving him looking rather 'goldfish like' suspended as he was with that word. Pleased to know she had a message, she smiled to herself at the thought of listening and replying to it after she had eaten. Still holding the padd, she walked to the bedroom and glanced around. Tossing the padd onto the bed, she opened her wardrobe and surveyed the contents. "Computer...music" she said scanning the row of clothes. [Insufficient parameters...please specify type] Rangi reached up to unhook a hanger. "Play the last selection" she said, turning away and pushing the door as strong keyboard chords began to play. Rangis taste varied and sometimes went to extremes. She was working her way through archives of twentyfirst century music and was often surprised to recognise currently popular titles that had their roots in the past. She had recently found such a collection and personally preferred them in their original form. ~ I walked across.... an empty land ~ a mans voice began to sing ~I knew the pathway like the back of my haaaand ~ Rangi joined in... ~I felt the earrrrth... beneath my feeeeet ~ she sang quietly, kicking off her shoes ~ Sat by the river and made it compleeeete....oh simple thiiiiing..... where have you gone? I'm getting old and I need something to relyyyy on.~ She headed to the bathroom and began to pull off her uniform. ~ So tell me when.... you're gonna let me in~ came a muffled voice as her undershirt came over her head. ~ I'm getting tired and I need somewhere to begiii...in ~ Her clothes dropped to the floor. ~ I came across...a fallen treeee ~ the song continued and Rangi stepped into the shower. Water sounds drowned out everything else for sometime. The song ended and another began, a steady drum beat and keyboard this time. Rangi towelled herself dry. ~ Yooou say you waaaander your owwwwn laaaaand....But when I think about it... I dont see how you can ~ the voice sang. She began to dress, putting on pretty underwear and humming along with the tune. She brushed her damp hair into style. ~ Hmm..hmmm.mmm..and I can see the pain in your eyes ~ she sang, almost in tune ~ Says everybodys changing and I dont know whyyyy~ She walked back to her bedroom and pulled on faded jeans and a pink shirt that had seen better days. Nothing was smart but she felt comfortable and relaxed. ~ So little tiiii..ime ~ she sang in tune now with the singer. Collecting the padd from her bed, she returned to the main room and moved to the small kitchen area and the replicator. ~....because everybodys changing and I dont feel the saaaame ~ "Scrambled eggs..lightly done..tomato garnish." she requested. ~ ..soon you will disappear,fading into beautiful liiiight ~ she and the singer sang together as a plate of eggs appeared. "Crusty bread..oh..and a glass of apple juice." she said, taking the plate and waiting for the rest of her meal. ~.... changing and I dont feeeel riiight~ A second plate appeared along with a tall thin glass of amber liquid. Rangi looked at the plate and padd in her hands,the cutlery the second plate and the glass. {Mmmm......} ~ ...trying to make a move just to stay in the game ~ the voice sang She juggled her load, putting the padd under her arm, setting the glass on the plate next to the bread and gingerly carryied both plates into the main room. "..trying to stay awake and remember my name.." she repeated the words to herself as she carefully set the plates onto a low table. She retrieved the padd and placed it beside them. She picked up a piece of the bread,causing flakes of its golden crust to fall to the plate. "Computer..end music" The room was silent. Rangi stepped to the terminal where her fathers frozen face waited mid word.She tapped the button, releasing him into action. "...anted to tell you about an amazing thing!...guess who I met yesterday?" He paused, giving time for her to guess. Rangi smiled at him and bit into the bread. *** End Log *** LtCmdr Rangi Summers CMO/2XO USS Chimera OOC Rangi is listening/singing with Keane ....'Somewhere only we know' & 'Everybody's changing' Well 'I' like it! :;grins::