*** Cabin * Romulan shuttle * Origin / whereabouts
unknown ***
Rangi stood in the centre of the small room looking this way
and that hoping against hope to see something useful.
Only one small ventilation grill set beneath the ceiling in
one corner broke the smooth bare walls. It was too high to
reach, even if she stood on the bed which was itself secured
into the floor.
The replicator was not the standard design she was used to
and was a merely a small niche which activated when someone
stood close to it.
The ensuite toilet had nothing that she could dislodge.There
was no mirror, the water and airdrier were also proximity
sensored.
There were no taps or handles anywhere, the whole place was
a design of perfect streamlined efficiency and held nothing
that she could use as even a very basic weapon.
With an inward sigh, Rangi looked at the sleeping child,
leaning down to pull the cover over him more fully.
His face was slightly flushed by sleep. He lay one his side,
a hand close to his face on the pillow and despite her
worries, Rangis expression showed a second of amusement as
she looked at the curled fingers, the parted lips and the
little chin, all of which were stained pale purple.
*
In an effort to keep things as light and normal as she could
and even though she didnt feel the least bit hungry, she had
suggested to Martin that they have something to eat.
The replicator showed activity when she stood next to it by
a dull green light and a disembodied voice telling her to
'state her preference'
"What would you like?" Rangi asked turning her head to
Martin. He shrugged.
"Spagetti?" she suggested knowing it was a favourite. He
nodded and moved closer to watch and eventually take his
plate.
" Spaghetti with tomato sauces." Rangi said.
The green light became stronger and a portion of the
requested food appeared before them. Martin reached up to
take it but Rangi exclaimed:" Oh!" for the pale spaghetti
lay in a pool of tomato sauce which began gently oozing its
way towards the edge of the replicator.
" Recycle!" Rangi said and glancing at Martin raised her
eyebrows and said " No plate."
Thinking it a malfunction she requested the food again. Once
more the light shone brightly and once again the perfectly
cooked meal appeared as before, minus a plate.
"Recycle!" Rangi repeated, frowning as the food disappeared.
Assuming then that the replicator needed detailed
instruction she made a third attempt and specified "...on a
plate with a fork."
This time no food appeared and the voice said. "Request
denied.Unable to provide cutlery or crockery."
"We didnt ask for them." Martin said, sounding puzzled and
Rangi explained that cutlery and crockery were cups and
saucers, knives and forks but as she said the word 'knives'
, she understood why the replicator would not provide them.
Such things could be used as a weapon, knives, broken glass
or plate.
"We need a food that doesnt need a plate then." she said
"..something we can eat with our fingers."
She only had seconds to recognise the mischievious
expression that appeared on the little boys face before he
jumped up and ordered " Jelly!"
His movement had been sufficiently close for the replicator
to register his choice and a red quivering jelly
materialised. Martin, ready to try it, stretched out an
eager hand but Rangi caught hold of it.
" I ..dont.... think so.." she said and he grinned to her.
It was what she had hoped for, a lessening of his fear, so
she grinned back then said: "Recycle." and the jelly
disappeared too.
In the end they decided on fruit.
Martin asked if he could have Blue Druvors, a particular
favourite that resembled a large plum. Rangi agreed and two
perfect specimens materialised.
They sat on the edge of a bed and began to eat but Druvors
were juicy fruits and in no time the sticky juice was
covering Martins fingers and chin.
Rangi had little success in washing it off so Martin had
remained tinged blue when he went to sleep.
*
Rangi watched him for a moment then moved to the other bed
and lay down on it.
She wondered how far they had travelled and where they were
going.
{He will have received it by now } she told herself,
remembering the message sent to Shane and pictured him
frowning when he heard her mention 'mountains' .
It was the only thing she had been able to think of in the
moments she'd had but she was confident he would realize
that something was wrong.
{...but what if he didnt pick up his messages?..what if he
hurried to join us on Aeran, reassured that we were safe?
How long would it take him to discover we were
missing?..that we'd never been there?.....and how will he
manage to track us?..if they can get through the Aeran
tachyon grid without being detected...and out again... then
where he will he start?...}
She looked worried and bit her lower lip thoughtfully.
{ Liev..no..Uahk.... he had access to whatever he wanted
more or less....that explains the missing Diophyletine. He'd
been helping himself and it worked perfectly. What a
disguise to adopt...Bren Ohmsfords husband...and he never
suspected anything.}
Martin murmured unintellible words and Rangi turned her head
to look at him but he was obviously dreaming.He didnt wake
and soon the dream had passed and he lay deeply asleep.
{They're going to use us as hostages.} she thought. { What
else could they want us for? Do they know the Federation
won't make deals with kidnappers or terrorists? ........They
think Shane will do as they ask simply to get us back.....
They think he will give in to their demands because we are
his family.}
She stared up at the ceiling.
They had discussed it in the past and both understood that
if ever the circumstance arose, they had no choice but to
maintain the Federations stance and that no matter what the
cost to themselves, the lives of others had to come first.
She knew Shane would leave no stone unturned in efforts to
find them but for now it was up to her to do something.
The question was....what.
*** End Log ***
Commander Rangi Summers
Med Adv1st Task Force.
CMO SB Unity
&
Martin Guzman
(npc) Rangi
