Lt Alex Storm - Friendly Fire
Karen Morris
((OOC: Carter gave me permission to use Roy's thoughts.))
(( Holodeck 1 - Deck 2 - USS Artemis-A ))
Alex heard Roy’s, ‘Thank you,’ and while she nodded her acknowledgement and turned to head between them, he continued talking. ~~~ I’ve never liked holding one of these. Doesn’t matter how much training I get. It still feels like a small betrayal of what I promised to do. Or not do.~~~ Alex turned, waiting for Roy to finish ~~~ But… I get it. I do. ~~~ However, his mouth was not moving.
At that moment, her feet rooted to the floor as she played his words back. “Thank you,” had been meant for her to hear. But the rest … Her cheeks blossomed with a soft pink. She hadn’t been able to tell the difference between his spoken words and his thoughts. With a curt nod, she unstuck her feet and walked behind them both. To give herself time to think, she said…
Storm: Let’s see what you both have.
In the short space of time that the two fired, Alex pressed her feet into the ground, stood tall, and drew air into her lungs until they were as full as they could be. As the noise quieted, her cheeks were back to their normal color, though her brain still wasn’t sure exactly what had happened.
She started with Imril’s shots first. These phasers had been programmed to leave 2” round marks where they had landed on the wall. With the phaser’s initial impact, the marks showed black, but after ten seconds, they faded into a golden color - matching Imril’s uniform. After making sure the phasers were pointed at the ground, Alex walked down range. He had hit the target’s left shoulder, center mass, and then barely nicked the target on the left side.
Bancroft: Great shooting, Imril.
Storm: Overall, you did well.
Imril: Thanks. If I’m being honest, since the City-Ship I’ve been spending time in a holoprogram that involves a lot of shooting. If I’m being more honest, the program lets me cheat.
Bancroft: ::shrugging:: We use simulations all the time for surgical training. ::beat:: Funny how what starts out feeling like ‘cheating’ sometimes ends up, after enough reps, becoming real-world muscle memory. If it works, it works.
Storm: That’s encouraging that you’ve been spending time working in a holoprogram. And, I agree with ::she paused:: Lieutenant Bancroft. As long as the ‘cheating’ the program allows you to do, phases out over time, I’m all for it. Our goal is improvement, not immediate perfection. There is one thing I want you to watch for, though. Your shots drift left.
While facing Imril, Alex tapped each of the two golden circles on the left of the figure.
Storm: If you know your tendency is to drift left, you can make corrections more easily.
She made eye contact with the Bactrican, making sure they understood what she meant.
Imril: Response
Storm: Roy, I’ll want to see your stance one more time.
Roy nodded, the line of his shoulders settling as he stepped back up to the firing line. He adjusted his stance deliberately – one foot slightly ahead of the other, knees soft, elbows tucked.
Bancroft: Like this? ::beat, quirking a brow:: Feels a little… wrong.
Alex closed the distance between them. Her eyes moved from point to point, trying to see if she could put a finger on what might be hindering him. His stance looked good overall. Then, about three feet away, she stopped.
Storm: Your trigger finger looks stiff. ::She held out a hand to stop him:: Don’t pull the trigger now, but when you do pull the trigger, do you yank it or caress it? If you tend to yank at it, I want you to try caressing it. Imagine it were a woman, I hope you wouldn’t grab her and pull her to you, but you’d reach out gently and draw her close.
As she finished her description, Alex froze and glanced at Roy. Her mouth hung open, and her eyebrows drew in.
Storm: I mean… you know. If you prefer women. I suppose it would be the same otherwise.
Alex could feel the heat rising up her cheeks once again. She couldn’t understand why the lanky medical officer discombobulated her. Stepping off to the side, she said…
Storm: I’m going to watch from over here. I want to see you shoot again; let me know when you’re ready.
Alex stood only slightly in front of Roy but way off to the outside, so he couldn’t hit her unless he tried.
Imril: Response
He inhaled slowly, let half of it out, then held. Eyes forward. Focus tight. And this time, his awareness widened. Not just the target. The room. The people in it. The edges – they mattered, too.
Bancroft: Ready, ma'am.
Storm: Give me five shots this time.
Imril: Response
Alex watched his mechanics as he began, and after three shots, she noticed two other simple changes that could lead to significant improvements.
Storm: What’s your opinion of the Lieutenant’s shooting, Imril?
Imril/Bancroft: Response
Walking back up to the wall, Alex stood just off to the side of the target.
Storm: First off, do you always close your left eye when you shoot?
Imril/Bancroft: Response
Storm: Don’t. Shoot with both eyes open. It may feel awkward at first. But over time, it will help improve your aim. Next question. When you aim at the target, where are you actually looking?
Imril/Bancroft: Response
Alex’s lips curled up as she listened to Roy. She took a step over in front of the target.
Storm: Now, look at the target. ::She watched his eyes:: No…I’m not moving. Look at the target.
Alex’s head slowly tipped up and down.
Imril/Bancroft: Response
Storm: Look through me at the target. And when I eventually move, I want you to do the same thing still. Look through the target. ::Turning to Imril, and walking to the side.:: Your turn, Lieutenant. Five shots at the target.
~*~
Tags / TBC!
~*~
Lt Alex Storm
Tactical Officer
USS Artemis
O240103SK2