Sleepless Night "
By: Miranda, Lounge Manager, [RNPC]
Giuseppe Silvio, Chief Engineer, [RNPC]

Stardate: 58205.09 2330

=Silvio's Quarters=

==23:30== Silvio dropped Patia off at her quarters and decided to call it a night. Returning to his quarters, he checked his messages. Having no urgent messages he got undressed and climbed into bed. Silvio pondered the evening.

Silvio was very perplexed. Patia seemed to hold her emotions at a very long distance. Was she even interested in having a relationship? Silvio did not know. He could not get a read on her. Silvio tossed and turned restlessly as he pondered the evening’s events, replaying them over again in his mind.

==00:05== All he knew was how he felt, which was even more perplexing to him. All his adult life he chased women not caring one way or another about having lasting relationships. He never desired such a thing in his life. He had been a *love them* and *leave them* kind of guy and it seemed to suit him very well in the past.

"What about now," he thought, "Why do I feel so different now?" Silvio rolled over and punched his pillow. He could not put his finger on the answer, What was so special about Patia Zoei that made him think about her several times each day. Why did he care?

It was remarkable; Silvio realized that since he joined the Zion he had not once sought the companionship of a woman. It seemed to Silvio like there was something more important happening in his life.

==01:25==

Silvio was now becoming more and more frustrated. Sleep was not coming to him and he continued tossing and turning and thinking about Patia Zoei and the crisis these new feelings had brought into his life. Silvio thought about the boy Lucio. Patia had said that she loved him. He remembered an odd feeling come over him as she said it. Could it be that he was jealous. Silvio could not believe that. Lucio was a child? No Silvio decided he was not jealous. What was it then? Silvio did not know. He wrestled with his thoughts and still was not able to find sleep.

==03:45== Finally Silvio could stand no more. He got out of bed and dressed. He looked at himself in the mirror. "What is your problem," he asked his mirror image. It did not reply. Silvio left his quarters and went to deck 10. He decided to take his boat our for a few hours to clear his mind. When he got off the turbolift, however, he noticed the light still on in Miranda's. peeking in the window he could see her sitting by herself at the bar.

Miranda looked up surprised to see Silvio walk slowly in. "Hello Silvio what are you doing up at this hour? Can I get you something?"

Silvio sighed. "Relax Miranda you are off duty I will get it myself."

Silvio went behind the bar and ordered a big cup of coffee and then stood across the bar from where Miranda sat. Silvio could not help but think that this was an odd reversal. "I could not sleep," he said.

Miranda looked at the coffee cup in his hand. "That is not going to help you sleep you know."

"I am past sleep now. I am already working on keeping myself awake for the day." Silvio stared moodily into his cup.

"Did you eat something that soured your stomach then," asked Miranda.

"Huh," said Silvio dumbly.

"Why can't you sleep Silvio," asked Miranda.

“I am confused,” he said.

Perhaps you should go talk to the ships counselor,” suggested Miranda. “I hear she is good.”

“Silvio studied Miranda for a second. “I don’t think that is a good idea.”

“Well, what are you confused about?”

“A woman.”

“Really? I am almost certain that no man has ever faced that problem before,” Miranda teased. “What are you ever going to do?”

“Almost all my adult life I have never cared for a long lasting relationship. It has always been purely a physical thing. “

“And now that has changed?”

“Yes, I think about her all the time and tonight I cannot sleep because of her.”

“You have never fallen in love before,” asked Miranda

“LOVE,” Silvio jumped back from the bar nearly dropping his cup. “I am not.”

Miranda laughed, “Poor Silvio.”

“Now you are just making fun of me. This is serious.”

Miranda forced a serious look on her face. “You’re right. I am sure you will learn how to deal with it in time.” Miranda got up “I am going to go to bed now. You have a good night.”

Silvio watched her leave and he was certain that he could hear here giggling as she walked out. “Love,” said Silvio aloud. He sighed and got another cup of coffee