Lt Alex Storm - Not Lack of Ability - Anticipation

[Karen Morris]

((Holodeck 2, Deck 2, Artemis-A))

Alex had seen phaser quals end in less than thirty minutes because someone was just that good.  There had been one where she nearly got hit by someone who just squeaked by in their Academy qualifications.  And then, there was the last one where she and Roy got caught staring at one another, and Imril cleanly shot her.  Despite her vast experience, she still wasn’t sure how this one was going to turn out.  It never depended on skill alone.

Storm:  Let’s see what we’re working with.  Fortunately for you, these targets don’t shoot back, at least not yet.  Three shots at the bulls-eye downrange.  When you’re ready.

Breys:  Alright, still stun. Right?

Alex blinked as a tickle flitted across her mind.

Storm: Yep.

Stance was only a part of a good shot. Alex took a step behind and off to the side of the ensign.  The biggest thing she found with new ensigns - especially those not in a tactical field - was lack of confidence. 

Breys: Okay. Right.

The nerves emanating from the ensign reminded Alex of ripples from a stone dropped in water—sharp, immediate, and spreading.

Breys squeezed three shots off, one at a time. Alex didn’t look at the target right away. She watched the ensign instead.  When she finally looked down the range, her eyes tracked the pattern left behind.

Not random. Not lack of ability.

Anticipation.

Storm:  Two out of three tells me you can hit the target.

Alex tilted her head slightly.

Storm: Missing tells me something’s getting in your way.

Breys: I’m sorry sir, I’m having trouble holding it straight. It just makes me nervous to fire a phaser. It's a lot of power in a little container.

Storm: Fortunately, on stun, you can’t really hurt anyone.  Besides, right now, the only thing you’re fighting… is yourself.

Breys: Response

Storm: Lower the phaser a second.

Alex stepped just a fraction closer.

Storm: And reset.

There was a second's pause while Breys got situated again.

Storm:  Make sure that when you shoot, your arms don’t stiffen up.  They should stay bent.  That might be one reason why you’re having a hard time holding it straight. 

Breys:  Response

Storm:  When you took your qualifications at the Academy, did they talk to you about sighting with your dominant eye?

Breys: Response

Tags / TBC!

~*~

Lt Alex Storm

Tactical Officer

USS Artemis

O240103SK2