OOC: This is the start of a subplot named "Harker's Revenge" involving Rangi, Shane and an old enemy of his. The log takes place the morning after Chimera's departure.
"You know this doesn't fit you properly any more...do you 'really' want to take it?" Rangi lifted up the T shirt and eyed it critically. The faded yellow fish motif on the front seemed to eye her back.
"Yes!..yes yes.." Martin declared grabbing the hem of the garment. " ...it's my 'fishing' T shirt.. and I need it." he said, pulling it from her hands, giving it a hastey fold and stuffing it into the side of the holdall she was packing.
Rangi laughed. " Oh alright." she said and he beamed at her happily. She glanced around at the open wardrobe doors. " Now...what else do we need?" she asked thoughtfully. " Did you find your other flipflop? I'm sure its with your other shoes...why dont you look again?"
"It's not there. I already looked."
"Well please just try once more. If you can't find it then I'll come and search."
"Ok." Martin said and ran off towards his bedroom. Rangi watched him go, smiling to herself. He was so excited and had woken Shane in the early hours of the morning asking if it was time to leave yet.
The family were taking a short break. They weren't planning to go far, just to the planet and a small complex beside the Azure Sea that had been recommended by Lucy as a place to relax and unwind. All three had been keen to go and had talked about it for some weeks. With the current situation as it was, Rangi had
been doubtful that Shane would ever be able to spare the time but he said that it could be possible for forty eight hours or maybe just thirty six but it would be a break at least.
When the call came she expected it to be Shane, telling her he was on his way back. He had gone to his office 'just for an hour' two and a half hours ago. They were due to transport at 11.00 but the news was not good.
" Oh Shane." Rangi said, unable to hide the disappointment in her voice. She listened to him and nodded although he couldn't see her. "Yes..yes ofcourse I understand. Its' alright. Martin and I will go and..and get things sorted out. It can't be helped. We'll see you later this afternoon. No..no don't worry about it. I'll see to it. Byebye. I love you."
The call ended and Martin, returning with the missing flipflop, saw Rangis face and knew something was wrong. " I found it inside my Wellington boot.... whats the
matter?" he asked.
She knelt down in front of the little boy, placing her hands on his shoulders. "A slight change of plan." she said. "Daddy can't come with us at the moment. He has to deal with something very important."
"But I want him to come." Martin said, all happiness already evaporating.
" He will do." Rangi assured him "...it will be later though..this afternoon. That's not too bad is it?"
Martins disappointment was plain to see. His eyes began to fill with tears.
"Look..if we go first then that will give you time to look for the best pools..the best places to fish. You can explore a bit and then, when daddy comes, you can show them to him. You might even find some shells or something...wouldn't that be good?"
The idea cheered him a little and he held out the flipflop. " He will come won't he?" he asked and Rangi nodded as she took the rubber shoe.
"Yes...ofcourse." she said. "..he's promised." She smiled to her son and after a moment he smiled back. She hugged him then said. " Ok...lets finish this then. You
know?..we can even go a little earlier if we don't have to wait for daddy."
Martin was torn but the idea of exploring and finding shells to show Shane soon won. He nodded with enthusiasm and Rangi got to her feet.
=
Ten minutes later they were heading along the corridor towards the turbo lift, Rangi carrying the luggage and Martin running ahead carrying a fishing net and a bucket. He had already pressed the button on the edge of lift doors when Rangi caught up with him.
"We're going on holiday" he announced proudly as soon as the doors slid open and the passengers inside looked suitably impressed and envious enough to please him. "Where to Ma'am?" asked one of the passengers.
"Transporter rooms...civilian section please." Rangi replied, dumping the holdall at her feet.
The passenger pressed the button and the lift moved smoothly on its way. Martin jigged up and down. "~Holiday~ holiday~ " he sang to himself.
The lift came to a halt on the way to the civilian section and opened to allow two more passengers. One was a junior officer and the other was Major Varis Liev.
"Commander, what a surprise to see you," Liev greeted Rangi as he stepped inside. "Hello Martin, long time no see." He reached out and rubbed Martin's hair with his free hand, clutching the strap of his shoulder bag with the other.
" Major..hello." Rangi replied.
"I've brought my fishing net." Martin said, lifting it up and waving it towards Lievs face.
" Martin.." Rangi said in warning tone and the net was lowered though the jigging continued.
"Are you going on a holiday?" Liev asked, looking at the luggage.
"Yes, we're going to the seaside." Martin said, his eyes bright with happiness.
" Yes, for a while..." Rangi said ."..to Aerans Azure Sea....and you?"
"I need to go down to Aeran as well for a meeting with the governing committee," Liev answered Rangi's question. She nodded.
The lift stopped and they got off on the correct deck. As the three headed down the corridor towards the transporter room, Liev said, "I believe the Azure Sea is lovely this time of year."
"Yes, so I understand." Rangi replied. " A friend has spent a few days there and recommended it. I hope it's as good as she says."
They entered the transporter room which was empty save for the transporter operator standing beside the console. "We're all going down to Aeran," Liev said to the operator, then turned towards Rangi and Martin. "Are you two ready?"
"Yes!" Martin replied loudly and Rangi laid a hand on his shoulder to calm him down. " Step on the circle then and stand still" she said. He needed no second telling and as he began to climb the steps, Rangi turned to Liev. She had half expected him to be watching the child too and was surprised to see that he was staring at her but looked away as soon as she turned her head.
It struck her as odd, though why she couldnt quite define until it suddenly dawned on her that Lievs eyes were a golden colour, amber almost and she had never noticed it before.
Suddenly there was a loud explosion that tore through part of the civilian decks, causing the section they were in to temporarily lose power. The lights flickered
out and the deck shook and when the emergency lighting came on, the transporter operator was lying dead on the floor and Liev held a pistol pointed straight at Martin, but his eyes fixed Rangi with an evil stare.
"Are you going on a holiday?" Liev asked, looking at the luggage.
"Yes, we're going to the seaside." Martin said, his eyes bright with happiness.
" Yes, for a while..." Rangi said ."..to Aerans Azure Sea....and you?"
"I need to go down to Aeran as well for a meeting with the governing committee," Liev answered Rangi's question. She nodded.
The lift stopped and they got off on the correct deck. As the three headed down the corridor towards the transporter room, Liev said, "I believe the Azure Sea is lovely this time of year."
"Yes, so I understand." Rangi replied. " A friend has spent a few days there and recommended it. I hope it's as good as she says."
They entered the transporter room which was empty save for the transporter operator standing beside the console. "We're all going down to Aeran," Liev said to the operator, then turned towards Rangi and Martin. "Are you two ready?"
"Yes!" Martin replied loudly and Rangi laid a hand on his shoulder to calm him down. " Step on the circle then and stand still" she said. He needed no second telling and as he began to climb the steps, Rangi turned to Liev. She had half expected him to be watching the child too and was surprised to see that he was staring at her but looked away as soon as she turned her head.
It struck her as odd, though why she couldnt quite define until it suddenly dawned on her that Lievs eyes were a golden colour, amber almost and she had never noticed it before.
Suddenly there was a loud explosion that tore through part of the civilian decks, causing the section they were in to temporarily lose power. The lights flickered
out and the deck shook and when the emergency lighting came on, the transporter operator was lying dead on the floor and Liev held a pistol pointed straight at Martin, but his eyes fixed Rangi with an evil stare.
= To be continued... =
Commander Rangi Summers
Medical Advisor
1st Task Force, SB Unity
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Martin Guzman
Civilian Child
[NPC Rangi]
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Major Varis Liev
JAG Officer
1st Task Force, SB Unity
[NPC by Bren]