*** Guzman / Summers Quarters * SB Unity ***
Martin was unwell.
He had trailed into Shane and Rangis bedroom during the
previous night, holding his favourite soft toy Zaba the Frog
by one leg and had come to a stop, thumb in his mouth, next
to the bed.
He stood for some moments looking at the sleeping figures of
his parents then patted Rangis shoulder with the hand that
held the little frog.
She stirred, settled herself and sighed.
Martin frowned and patted her again but not as gently this
time.
" Mmmmmm?" Rangi murmured rising from the depths of sleep as
the insessant patting continued. She blinked open her eyes
only to meet the sight of Zabas happy grin a few inches from
her face.
"What's..." She turned her head as she spoke."
Martin?...what's the matter?" she whispered, seeing his
forlorn figure watching her.
" I dont feel very well." he replied sorrowfully, still with
his thumb in his mouth and Rangi hurriedly propped herself
up on one arm and reached to him. He moved closer and she
touched his face knowing in an instant that he was feverish.
He stepped back as she sat up and swung her legs out of bed
then moved to her again as two large tears spilled over and
trickled down his cheeks.
" Shhhhh...it's alright." she said gathering him into her
arms. She stood up.
" Whatsamatter?" Shane asked from his side of the bed, still
more than half asleep himself.
" Nothing.." Rangi replied. " Martin needs a drink...go back
to sleep." she urged.
This seemed to satisfy Shane who, after a few over long
days, was only too glad to return to his rest.
Rangi moved towards the door and Martin nestled his head
against her neck as she carried him out of the bedroom,
closing the door behind them.
It didnt take long for her to know that the child had a mild
illness of the sore throat, headache and letheragy type.
Her medkit contained a suitable treatment and once that had
been administered she gave him a drink and took him back to
his own bed where she sat with him for some time until he
fell asleep.
The following morning he was a lot better but not well
enough to go to his playschool and it was decided that Rangi
would stay at home and care for him herself.
She organised things with her yoeman while Shane kept an eye
on his son and then, once content with that Martin was on
the road to recovery, kissed the little boy, told him to get
well soon, patted Zaba on his head and told him to care for
Martin, kissed Rangi goodbye and left for his office.
So it was that some reports lay unread on Rangis desk that
day. In fact they would remain unread for a few days until
she caught up on the backed up padds, as the report sent
from Science was listed as a grade three priority.
**
During late Summer, the harvest on Alpha Leonis, an M class
planet in a system relatively close to the Klingon border,
had been ruined by a decease. The first of the crop was
hardly in before the rest was lying in ruins, razed to the
ground.
Some of the farmers had developed a brewing business, making
a modest but growing success of a Honey Mead which
incorporated the local wheat and that year their produce too
had been severely cut.
**
Thirty thousand light years away, the inhabitants on Aurelia
Prime were enjoying the promise of a good harvest until
that is, within a week, the plants above ground had withered
and died, victim of a 'stem rust'.
The origin of the problem lay to the north of the main
colony and the invisible clouds of wind born spores
travelled undetected for hundreds of miles, devasting
cultivated crops along the way.
Both of these incidents were reported to the Agricultural
Office where the cropping figures were analysed, the spores
were investigated and new resistant strains were developed.
It wasn't until the early winter that medical Officers on
both planets would begin sending reports of an unknown
condition suffered by a small percentage of the farming
populations.
No deaths occurred and the illness itself was extremely
mild, causing in 99% of the cases, nothing more than a short
lived sore throat and headache.
One interesting feature though, common to both, was a
resulting pattern of visible dark lines on the patients
upper torsos.
They did not itch or cause any problems at all except from
a cosmetic point of view.
**
It was interesting to note that a Ferengi trading ship, the
FMS Me-Vetra, had collected eighteen cases of Honey Mead
from Alpha Leonis.
This fact would result in a diplomatic incident, for the
Federation Colonists were accused of selling tainted goods
at extortionate prices.
The Ferengi based this surmise on the fact that the captain
and senior crew of the ship had drunk some of the Mead at a
celebration party and days later had developed a pattern on
their skin which they blamed on the wine.
**
By the time Rangi had read the reports, she would feel that
'dark lines' were beginning to haunt her.
*** End Log ***
Commander Rangi Summers
Med Adv 1st Task Force.
CMO SB Unity
&
Martin Guzman
(npc) Rangi
