A friendly challenge.

[Dustin_Marks 0]

With a third volley of phaser fire, Lieutenant Junior Grade JP Marks

took down the several targets floating in the background as the bell

sounded. He breathed heavily as the level bumped up to level 14 and the

Holodeck targets would stop appearing at set intervals. He shook his

muscles slightly as he waited for the buzz to sound again to start the next

level. It sounded and he quickly started firing as the flashing red

balls appeared all around the Holodeck.

 

2Lt. Hanna-Beth Rieve had freshened up since the deployment to the

warbird was canceled. Since then, she had showered, ate a light meal,

slept a night's sleep, and completed a day of relatively light duty. She

was wearing her normal duty uniform now, which, despite its stuffy

nature, was much more accomodating than the BDUs. During the past day, she

couldn't help but think that had she been a slightly better shot, she

could have prevented Cpl. Steele from dying down on the planet. So, she

booked some holodeck time with the target practice simulator.

 

When she arrived at the Holodeck, she found it already running the

program. She checked the time and the identity of the current user, and

then hit the yellow button that would let her enter the field, whether

the user was finished or not. As quietly as is possible, she walked into

the simulator and stood by the side as Marks hit his targets.

 

JP missed a target and cursed himself as he continued to roll and fire.

He suddenly heard a noise behind him and quickly whirled around to

fire. His eyes widened as he realized that it was someone walking into the

Holodeck and quickly stopped himself from drilling the entrant between

the eyes. JP stared at the Marine and sighed as the simulation came to

an end. "Can I help you?"

 

Hanna-Beth hoped that the man in the yellow undershirt had remembered

to set his phaser to the low training setting. Either way, wasn't going

to let this man, this Lt.(jg) Marks, know that it was uncertainty that

brought her here. "Not bad for someone on level 14," she said, before

matter-of-factly stating, "You're overtime."

 

JP looked at the Marine and shrugged. "If you say so, I thought it

would be proper procedure to wait until the end of a training scenerio...

Errr... 2nd Lieutenant..."

 

Hanna-Beth noticed the pause. "Rieve, ... Hanna-Beth Rieve ... It is

Lt. Marks, I presume, who seems to be having some trouble keeping track

of allotted time," she said. Her tone was not really accusatory. It

was more like trying to save-face than anything else.

 

JP raised an eyebrow. "Well Miss Rieve, the Holodeck is all yours. I

suppose the Marines could use the target practice." JP smiled ever so

slightly, meaning the comment to be more humerous then mocking.

 

The woman slowly and nonchalantly walked towards the center platform

that served as the user's firing point during a simulation. Before Marks

could take a step, she turned towards him, but directed her request

upwards. "Computer, load target simulator, level ... FIFTEEN."

 

JP's cleared his throat slightly. "Is that a challenge?"

 

Hanna-Beth looked him straight in the eye, rested one hand on her hip,

and intoned, "Do you want it to be one?"

 

JP lets a small sneer pull at his lips. "Young lady, you are about to

learn why Security should be heading the missions on this ship." With a

setting of his feet and the pointing of his phaser, he let out as an

after-thought. "Loser buys the drinks."

 

Hanna-Beth mimicked JP's mouth motion, "Deal. Red targets are positive

points, Green are double, Blue are negative." She removed her duty

jacket and left it by the arch at the entrance to the Holodeck. She drew

her hand phaser, and set it to the training setting. "Ready?"

 

JP cocked an eyebrow. "Always."

 

"Then let's go." Hanna-Beth stepped to the right of Marks, and gave

the computer the command. "Computer, begin level. Three second start

countdown." The computer unemotionally counted down... three... two ...

one .... Hanna-Beth held her phaser at ready.

 

Targets began appearing in the air at random intervals. They flew

around, some with a recognizable trajectory, others shimmeyed and swayed,

with the "intent" to punish the practicer. The computer recorded two

scorecards, which displayed on a floating "screen" at the back wall of

the holodeck. Each had four entries. One for red balls, one for green

and one for blue, and one that computed the total score. Target

practice at level 15 wasn't just a shooting competition, it was a rigorous

exercise program as well.

 

The phaser fire from the two hand weapons was flying fast and loose.

Sometimes the beams crossed as the two combatants tried to hit the same

target. Only one would get the points added or deducted from the

score.

 

JP fired with increased enthusiasm, looking to prove some sort of

professional victory with a win against the Marine. He was doing his best to

stay ahead with the targets but quickly found himself draining of

energy as the targets continued to come out. He shot a glance over at Rieve,

wondering how she was holding up.

 

Hanna-Beth was trying to keep up with and best the security officer.

She fancied that he probably thought this was some kind of vindication of

his career choice. The winning score fluctuated, changing almost as

frequently as a beam left a weapon. Hanna-Beth noticed that Marks was

glancing over, and that at that particular moment, she was two points up.

She let out a jibe, "*huff* I have expensive ... tastes, .... you

know?" She missed a target while opening her mouth.

 

JP fired another burst and went up by one. "I'm a... *cough* easy

person to buy *huff* drinks for..." He nailed another target. "Saurian

Brandy if you WILL!"

 

The friendly combat continued ... and so will this log...