*** Guzman / Summers Quarters * SB Unity ***
Freshly bathed and dressed in cherry red pyjamas, Martin
hopped his way towards his bedroom, narrowly missing an
elegant vase of flowers positioned near the sofa.
"You'll have an accident if you're not careful." Rangi
warned as she followed behind him.
The hopping ceased for four steps.
"Rachel wasnt at school today" he said, breaking into a run.
"Wasn't she?" Rangi asked. " ..though I'm not really
surprised.
Martin catapulted himself onto his bed as Rangi reached the
door.
"Why aren't you? Isnt she very well?" he asked bouncing up
and down.
"Her Dad isn't." Rangi replied, stooping to pick up a toy
which she placed on one the shelves lining the wall."She may
have been saying goodbye to him."
"Is he dead?" Martin asked allowing himself to bounce to a
standstill.
Rangi glanced at him quickly. " No no." she answered. " But
he's....not himself." She walked towards a tall cupboard and
opened the door.
" What's the matter with him?" Martin wanted to know.
" He had a ...a mishap." Rangi said, opening a drawer and
carefully laying the clothes she carried into it.
"What's one of those?" Martin asked.
Rangi closed the drawer and shut the cupboard.
" It's when something unpleasant happens to you that you
can't avoid." she said and smiled to him as she turned to
face him.
"Is he going to be in the 'firmary for long?" came the next
question.
"The INfirmary." Rangi corrected automatically " No..he's
being moved to a facilty on Earth. The specialist doctors
there will be able to help him more than we can here." she
said "...but it will be quite some time before he's well
again."
Martin considered this briefly. " Poor Rachel." he stated
then asked "Will my dad be home tonight?"
"Yes..poor Rachel. " Rangi repeated quietly then answered "
Yes he will but not for an hour or so. He has alot of work
to do." She looked down at the little boy sitting on the
pillows of his bed.
"Is it because of the war?" he asked, looking up at her with
large brown eyes.
"Yes..get in please." she replied and he lifted the
coverlet, wriggling himself into bed.
He frowned."When will the war end?" he enquired with a tone
of complaint . " Daddy doesnt have time to play much now."
"I dont know." Rangi answered, pulling the coverlet
straighter. " Sometimes they can last a very long time."
"Well when I'm big I'm going to join the war." he said. " I
will be a tactical officer and my ship will win all the
battles like I do in the TacSim."
He looked up at as she bent to tuck him in, a confident
expression on his face.
"Wars aren't games Martin." Rangi said "They aren't fun and
I hope you never have to go to war."
She saw his expression change so stooped closer and kissed
him, smiling as she stood up to show she wasn't annoyed with
him despite the tone she had used. "Would you like a story?"
she suggested."
"Yes please! " he said at once " Noggin!!"
Rangi feined surprise. " Again?" she asked and he nodded
eagerly."Where is it?" she asked.
He pointed across the room "There." he said and snuggled
under the covers he had pulled up around him as she went to
find the picturepadd.
He grinned at her when she returned and moved so that there
was more room for her to sit on the edge of his bed.
She pressed a button on the beside table and immediately the
main lights dimmed, leaving only a pool of light shining
down on them.
"Ok..." Rangi said and looking at her son but already
knowing the answer asked : " Are we going from the
beginning?"
"Yes we are." he said, reaching out to tap the padd. Notes
of music began to play, a familiar introduction to the
stories.
Rangi settled herself with one arm around him as he leaned
against her and the pillows.
The first picture appeared on the padd and Rangi began to
read the words.
In the lands of the North, where the black rocks stand
guard.."
"Against the sea." Martin joined in. He looked up at her and
grinned. She smiled back. "The sea." she said in agreement
then continued: "...In the dark night that is.."
"Very long." Martin chimed in.
"The men of the Northlands sit by the.."
"Great log fires and they tell a tale.." Martin and Rangi
said together.
He settled down further onto the pillows and Rangi began the
stories as he watched the pictures change. He knew the well
loved tales very well and occasionally finished sentences
for her as the Sagas of Noggin unfolded.
He pointed to his favourite character when it appeared,
smiling up at her happily and Rangi read on about the
bravest soldier Thor Nogson and the strongest one.. Olaf,
finally coming to her own favourite... Graculus the Green
bird.
Eventually it was ended and Martin settled to sleep.
"NogBad the Bad never wins does he?" Martin said happily and
Rangi shook her head. " No..he never does." she replied "
Now go to sleep..it's getting late.... Goodnight."
They kissed each other and Rangi walked to the door.
"Goodnight" Martin answered as the light went out.
Rangi gently closed the door and wandered across to the sofa
glancing at the time as she went, wondering what time Shane
would get in.
*** End log ***
Commander Rangi Summers
Med Adv.1st Task Force
SB UNity
&
Martin Guzman
(npc) Rangi
