*** Rangi / Shane Quarters * SB Unity ***
"But 'why' are you going?" Martin insisted.
"Because I have orders and I have to obey them." Rangi
replied, laying more clothes into her case.
"But I don't want you to go." Martin said in a fretful tone
and caught at Rangis hand as she straightened up and looked
around the bedroom.
" I want you to stay here." he said looking up at her with
tearfilled eyes.
It caught at her heartstrings and she knelt down, bringing
herself to his eye level.
" I know you do." she said softly "...and I dont want to go
either...but Chimera needs a CMO and I've been ordered to
fill the position."
"Why cant the other CMO do it?" Martin asked.
"I don't know." Rangi said honestly. " There must be some
problem."
"How long will you be?" he asked turning more tearful by the
second.
Rangi hugged him to her and repeated her answer. " I dont
know sweetheart..if I did then I would tell you. I hope it
wont be for very long."
She felt his warm tears soaking into her uniform. "Please
dont cry." she said patting a hand against his back in
reassurance but feeling like crying herself. She looked up
at the ceiling and blinked a few times as she felt his
little body go rigid in his effort to stop his tears.
Ater a moment she leaned back on her heels and smiled to
him.
"Thats better. I dont like to see you crying and it will be
alright...there's nothing to cry about is there?...hhmmmm?"
He forced a glimmer of a smile back and she gently wiped a
huge tear from his cheek with her fingers.
This had all come as a huge shock out of the blue.
Orders signed by General Kera had arrived telling Rangi to
report to the Chimera-C an hour before departure to take
command of sickbay. No reason was given and with only three
hours left until Chimera - C left the Starbase, it had made
time of the essence.
She had called T'Vel to her office and told her of the new
orders. T'Vel would be acting CMO for the time being and
Rangi expressed her confidence in handing the position to
her deputy.
Once that was settled, Rangi made haste to her quarters to
begin packing but before she did, she contacted Shanes
office.
Pakosii had answered her call telling her that the Commodore
was in a meeting that couldnt be interrupted for any
reason.He would certainly tell the Commodore at the first
opportunity that the Commander wished to speak to him.
Rangi began packing.
Soon after that Martin had returned from school under Lauras
care and Rangi had explained the situation to the young
counsellor adding that she hadnt yet been able to speak to
the Commodore and asking if Laura could care for Martin
until Shane arrived home.
Laura said she could but asked for a short time to complete
something else she had planned for the rest of the afternoon
and with permission, left.
It was then that Martins questions had begun.
"When will Daddy be home?" he asked now and once again Rangi
felt the repeated answer form on her lips so changed it to
sound more definate.
" Probably before you go to bed." she said but I'll see if I
can find out.... lets go and call his office."
She stood up and Martin walked beside her to the console in
the main room, where he scrambled onto one of the high
stools and listened to the conversation.
Pakosii was apologetic.
The Commodore was still engaged in the important meeting and
could not be disturbed. Yes, he said, he would certainly let
him know the moment he was free that the Commander wanted to
speak to him urgently.
Rangi ended the call feeling frustrated and worried too but
kept both hidden from Martin.
"That's Pakosii." he little boy said " I like him alot." and
Rangi agreed that she did too although that would have been
far from the truth if she had known that as soon as the call
ended, Pakosii had entered Shanes office and told him that
Commander Summers had just called again.
He told Shane that he had repeated the message Shane had
ordered him to give if the Commander called, namely that the
commodore was in a meeting and could not be disturbed for
any reason.
Shane thanked him and Pakosii withdrew back to his own small
domain leaving Shane alone and worried.
The door chime sounded.
"That will be Laura back again." Rangi said cheerfully and
Martin ran to open the door as Rangi went to collect her
case.
"I'm afraid I still cant get hold of the Commodore." Rangi
said, returning to the hallway where Laura and Martin were
greeting each other. "..but hopefully he'll be back before
Martin goes to bed."
Laura said it was fine and that she and Martin had plenty to
do to amuse themselves. Martin grinned at her and Rangi took
reassurance from the fact that her son was so happy with
Laura.
She bent down again and said . " You'll be a good boy wont
you? Promise?"
"Yes I will...I'll be very very good." Martin said and had
hugged her in almost a strangle hold before kissing her
warmly and with great enthusiasm.
She stood up, smiling down to him but feeling suddenly
nervous though she had no idea why.
"Ok then...I'm off." she said. " Thankyou Laura...byebye
Martin."
He beamed to her and blew an airkiss when she turned to look
back at him as she left their quarters.
{ I wonder if he knows about this} she thought as she set
off along the corridor { I suppose it depends when this
meeting of his started...perhaps my orders came through
after that. At least Pakosii will tell him to call me as
soon as he's free.}
*** End Log ***
Commander Rangi Summers
MedAdv 1st TF
CMO Chimera-C