Ensign S'Rorr - Warmups

[S'Rorr]

(( Corridor, USS Astraeus ))

S'Rorr spun his tennis racket and settled into what he hoped was a cool pose.

S'Rorr: Well.. If you're not doing anything for the next hour.. Would you want to give it a try?

Shivara: Sure, let me just get iinto some exerciise clothes aand I will meet you there.

S’Rorr: All right! You'll like it, I promise!

(( Short Timeskip, Holodeck ))

S'Rorr entered the holodeck and served the fuzzy green tennis ball he held directly into one of the bare holodeck walls. In the big, empty chamber, each 'PTHOK' of the ball echoed about in a very satisfying way.

S'Rorr: Computer, run my tennis program.

The room faded from view and in its place, a tennis court. The ground was a tough reddish clay. The court was divided in two by a short net divider. Around the court, S'Rorr had designed the program look as much like Ferasa, his home planet, as possible. There were incredibly huge trees that looked a little like Terran redwoods all around. The sky was the right color, but the air didn't smell like Ferasan air. The temperature wasn't scorching and humid. But.. At least it looked the part.  There was a large park all around with caitian people walking in caitian dress. In the distance, the city of Cari'Ol with it's towering, shiny buildings and shuttle traffic.

Three Caitians appeared with tennis rackets of their own, one on his side and two on the other.

S'Rorr: Ah.. actually, computer, please remove the other players this time.

They vanished in an instance, then the Arch appeared mid-court and Shivara arrived, dressed in not just generic athletic gear but in authentic tennis gear, skirt and shoes and everything. S'Rorr flashed her a friendly smile and waved a hand.

Shivara: S’Rorr, I finaally maade iit.

S’Rorr: Great! You look like a tennis player, you must have done some quick research.

Shivara: Yes, I deciided thaat if I was going to do thiis, I should maake iit aas authentiic as I caan.

S’Rorr: Well, you did a good job! So, let's start with some warmups. We don't have to play against each other until you've got the hang of it.

The counselor beckoned for her to join him on his side of the court.

S'Rorr: I edited the basic program to make things a little easier for us, so if you want the ball, ::holding out his hand:: just hold out your hand and say 'Ball'.

A fuzzy green tennis ball appeared in his hand. He tossed it up and served it with a pleasant 'PTHOK' sound over the net to the other end of the court.

The two began to just hit some balls. The game was easy to pick up. S'Rorr had always wondered if Caitians would have an easier time with sports like this. Caitian eyes had evolved to be very good at tracking small moving objects. There was no doubt that S'Rorr was nowhere near as good as Serena Williams (he knew from experience, he'd played against a holographic Serena many times), but he imagined that he'd picked it up a lot faster than a human would have. He was sure the sport would come just as naturally to Shivara.

As he warmed up, he carried on some casual conversation.

S'Rorr: Ever been to Cari'Ol?

Shivara: Response

S'Rorr: I grew up there. My family has a home on the east side, near the river.

Shivara: Response

S'Rorr: Well, there's my mother, M'Yown, and my mother, M'Mir. They're both doctors. Then there's my older sisters. M'Sanda is a doctor like our parents. M'Noa and M'Han, she's my favorite, study xenobiology and particle physics with the Vulcans.

Shivara: Response

S'Rorr: D'you have family?

Shivara: Response

S'Rorr and Shivara took a short break from practice and S'Rorr drank some water from a canteen he'd carried with him. He rolled his shoulder to warm it up a bit, then perked his ears, tilting one to the side in a very Caitian 'quizzical' expression.

S'Rorr: You've got a good serve.. Feel like you're read to jump the net and see if you can get some points on me?

Shivara: Response

Ensign S'Rorr

Ship's Counselor

USS Astraeus

A240206S04